Disclaimer: Still not mine…ah well you get the point….
A/N: HeyHey! Sorry for the long wait! I kid you not; I had 6 projects due these past two weeks! I'm still only getting reviews from my regular reviewers!! Please tell your friends about the story or something…or if people are reading it and not reviewing, you don't have to put much. just something simple will make my day….~*Luvs to Reviewers!*~ Anyways… here you go…
Chapter 10- Rejoined
Two weeks had passed since Harry's first Occlumency lesson, the lesson during which, he had discovered a potentially useful bit of information. He had had two more lessons, but he could still not manage to defend himself with his mind alone. He always had to have help. Gradually, the conflict between Snape and himself escalated into unimaginable arguments. He dreaded every second of everyday when he had to face him, which consequently, was everyday. Dumbledore had still not found time to sit in on one of the lessons, or come to meals, or even show his face during the day. Harry still wondered desperately what he was up to. He thought daily on the people he had seen in Dumbledore's office, and about Harper.
Yes, Harper was a character. She became more and more frightening in her lessons every day. Recalling several spells commonly used by dark wizards was her passion. She would describe in gory detail the effects of a bending charm, or a flesh-dissolving curse, then demonstrate the counter curses, if there was one. Often times, she would tie other subjects into her lesson, stressing that all branches of magic are related. Harry remembered one class making a potion to repair the damage of a muscle-shredding curse. Harry couldn't deny that they were learning, oh no, but they seemed to stray off the normal subjects such as, vampires, werewolves, and dragons, and into the world that they very well could be facing soon enough. The world of Dark Witches and Wizards, is how she referred to it. However, Harry knew exactly what she meant. The world of Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
It frightened him still even more that she continued to attend his and Snape's lessons. She had helped him clear his mind only one more time before insisting that he could do it himself. Then, she just sat in the back of the room, occasionally chuckling, occasionally arching her brow, and occasionally starting an argument with Snape. She was as mysterious as usual, and Harry could feel her eyes on his back every time he turned away from her.
"Get up mate," Harry jumped as Ron pulled back the curtains on his wooden, four-poster. "Oh, sorry. Didn't know you were up, you got this." Ron tossed a copy of the Daily Prophet at Harry's chest. He caught it without hesitation. It had been lunchtime. Harry decided he needed some time to think, so his two best friends had escorted him to the common room to take a rest.
He carefully unrolled the copy of the Prophet and glanced at the headline.
Irish Ministry in Uproar
"Is this important?" He asked Ron before tossing it away.
"Mum wrote to me about it. Apparently someone or another has disappeared. They were part of the Order." Ron shrugged. "Mum also said that Dad is having to work overtime. His department is going crazy over this Muggle killing. They are trying to find the other one as well." He paused and seemed to think about it a little. "The Prophet still hasn't reported on that Muggle girl dying." Then he shrugged again. "I wouldn't think anything of it Harry,"
"I'm going to cancel this," He tossed the Prophet into the bin beside his bed and rubbed at his eyes. He rolled out of the bed and placed his feet on the stone floor. "How much longer until class starts?"
Ron looked at his watch. "About ten minutes, Hermione's waiting in the common room." Harry nodded in response, but said little after that.
The day dragged on, but not to Harry's surprise. After Transfiguration, he decided it was best just to not look at the clock. The only thing he wanted to do, was get this blasted day over with. Occasionally, Hermione tried to get his attention during Charms, but he ignored her. She was probably just going to tell him he was doing something wrong or not paying attention anyway. Finally, after hearing lectures about some ancient charm, which Harry didn't bother to pay attention to, they were released for the night. Al except Hermione, who had to more classes to complete.
"Harry!" Hermione grabbed Harry by the collar as he was walking out the door.
Ron spun around as well. Her voice sounded urgent.
"W-what is it Hermione?" Harry sputtered, grabbing at his throat.
"Harry! I've set it up!" She looked at her watch and then lowered her voice to a whisper. "Tomorrow night will be our first meeting. I have sent the letters. Everyone should receive one at dinner. Bye Harry, Ron!" Harry blinked quickly as Hermione rushed down the hallway.
"So you didn't catch any of that either?" Ron was looking over his Charms notes, which he had entitled, 'Ancient stuff I'll probably never use but have nothing better to do so I'll write it down anyway.'
"Hardly." Harry and Ron decided to wait in the common room for Hermione so they could go to dinner together.
The great hall was once again crowded, except for a good deal of Slytherins, and the majority of the Professors. Dumbledore had missed a weeks worth of meals, but was still only 3rd in the running for the 'most starved.' Harry had not seen Snape at the staff table in a good two weeks, and he hadn't seen Harper there since the feast. All the better. He smiled at Snape's absence, along with the absence of Malfoy and his crew. Ron was searching the hall for Hermione, Seamus, or even Neville, so they would have somewhere to sit.
"It's a mad house in here these days! I'm thinking about sitting at the Slytherin table! At least I would be able to move my arm to eat!" Harry just stared, surprised at what Ron had just said.
"Would you like to be cursed into a dusty mound?" Harry asked coolly.
"Your right. I'd rather starve. Oy!" At that moment, Ron waved his hand in the air at a bushy-haired girl that was looking just as lost as they were. Hermione came running up to them, her school robes flapping behind her.
"Where have you been?" She held up two letters, one addressed to Ron, and one addressed to Harry. The envelope was extremely boring. It-
"Looks like what my dad gets from work! What is it?" Ron studied the envelope.
"-Shush-" Hermione's index finger shot over her lips. "Just open it like it's no big deal!" Her eyes shifted nervously from table to table. She began to herd them to their usual places at the Gryffindor table.
Harry slowly began to open his envelope, not quite sure what was going to be in them. He remembered Hermione saying something about letters, but he couldn't recall exactly what. He pulled out a letter full of jumbled symbols. Harry tilted his head like a confused puppy. Then he remembered. A small circle was present among the symbols. He smiled now and turned his head right again.
"Genius Hermione." She smiled when he said this.
He touched his wand to the parchment and watched as the symbols transformed themselves into letters Harry could understand.
The D.A.
Due to recent events, Mr. H. Potter has decided that it is absolutely necessary for us to continue with the D.A. this year. It will be invite only, as we had a few problems with certain friends last year. If you receive this letter, please DO NOT discuss it with anyone that did NOT receive the letter. You will be sworn to secrecy once more, should you choose to join us for another year. The first meeting will be held in an empty classroom on the forth floor, to the right of the dueling portrait tomorrow evening at nine-o-clock. This will NOT be the usual meeting place, so if you do not take the oath, you will not be able to find us again. Bring your wands, your wits, and your heart, and be ready to keep a year long secret.
The D.A. Council,
Mr. Harry Potter,
Mr. Ronald Weasley,
Miss Hermione Granger
P.S. When you finish with this letter, rip it to shreds, place it in a glass of water and drink it. Do NOT let this fall into the wrong hands.
Harry looked up. Ron was blushing.
"Ronald? Hermione, my MUM calls me Ronald!" He began to tear his letter apart.
"Professor McGonagall calls you Ronald." She shrugged and handed him a glass of water.
"But is that the point Hermione? Is that the point?" He placed the paper shreds in the water and they disappeared, leaving the water a cherry red. Hermione began to drink the water.
Harry grimaced. "Hermione, are you drinking parchment?" Harry asked bewilderedly.
"Candy Notes," She shrugged.
"Candy-"
"-Notes, yeah." Ron paused and looked longingly at Harry's letter, and at a glass of water that was right beside Harry's left elbow. "Fred and George are making a killing off of these." He paused. "Once your finished taking notes, just put it in some water, and it tastes like candy." He continued to stare at Harry's letter. "Strawberry, blueberry, pineapple, cherry," He paused, "Chocolate, Lemon, Orange Cream," He licked his lips, "And chocolate covered raspberry."
Harry rolled his eyes and shoved the letter in Ron's chest, "Okay! Geeze! I get the point." Harry didn't feel much like eating he just watched Ron and Hermione gulp down their Candy notes, and eat mashed potatoes and juicy steak.
The crowd in the Great Hall thinning out was somewhat of a sign for anxious people to bombard Harry at his table. First, was Seamus, Neville, and Dean. They rushed up and stuck out their tongues. Neville's was orange, Seamus's was Yellow, and Dean's was brown.
"What were those letters?" Neville still held his glass firmly in his hand. "Those were excellent! I've never had them before!" He set his glass on the table.
"Excellent," repeated Dean and Seamus simultaneously.
"Candy Notes," said Harry simply, not really knowing what they tasted like. He suddenly wished he hadn't given his letter to Ron.
"Amazing!" Dean shook his head and patted Harry on the shoulder. "Can't wait! What will we be learning tomorrow? Huh? Do you know anything about You-Know-Who? Has he moved? Where is he? How-"
"-SHUSH-" Hermione once again moved her eyes around the room. "Keep your voice down!"
"Well?" Continued Dean, his voice now a whisper.
"Well actually-" began Harry.
"Are you going to teach us new Charms? Shields? Are you going to tell us about where the Death Eaters are?" Seamus eagerly jumped up and down in his seat. Harry's eyes immediately shot to Neville.
"Sorry, I thought they should know." Neville's face turned instantly red.
"What? Well in all actu-'
"But are we going to find out about….you-know-who? Are we going to try new curses? I need to practice more with my new wand!" Neville lowered his voice and studied his feet.
Harry had had enough. "WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I KNOW ANYTHING!" He pounded his fist on the table and stood up. Then something inside him told him to laugh. He wanted to laugh like he hadn't laughed in a long time. Hysterically, manically, evilly. "No, no," Harry squeezed his eyes shut. "Don't think!" He tried to remember Harper's voice. He couldn't get rid of the need to laugh altogether, but he could sustain it.
"Don't think about what?" Hermione, Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean were all staring up at Harry with disbelieving eyes. Ron's redheaded sister, Ginny, had now joined them. It was her that spoke.
"Nothing." Harry said, not realizing he had said anything out loud.
"Nothing? Hm. Oh well," She said cheerfully. " Can't wait for tomorrow!" She swung her wand around a bit. "I need to take out some frustrations on the Dark Arts," She laughed, but she was the only one that did. "So, what will we be learning? Charms, Curses, or will we just be-"
"Leaving!!" Harry stood up moodily and pulled Ron up with him. Luna Lovegood had just made her way over to the table, but didn't get a chance to speak as Harry dragged his friends away from the growing crowd. Hermione struggled to keep up as Ron and Harry sped through the corridors and up flights upon flights of stairs until they reached the common room.
"MERMAN!" Harry was panting, but still he screamed, startling the fat lady.
"Well you don't have to be so rude!" She swung forward then slammed closed behind them.
Even the common room didn't look inviting to Harry. He just wanted to chuck himself into the fire and go back to Sirius's house, but the floo network was closed in the common rooms now. Instead, he threw himself on the couch and squeezed his eyes shut.
Ron and Hermione exchanged looks of worry, and knelt down together in front of their friend. Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder, but Harry smacked it away.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice was soft and comforting. "What's wrong? I thought you wanted to have D.A. meetings."
Harry opened his eyes. They were angry, confused, everything he didn't want them to be. "I am SICK of not being told anything! If that's all people want to talk to me about, then I'm going to start referring them to Malfoy! I can't help what I did, I can't help that I'm not getting told, and I-can't-help-this," He pointed, with an accusing finger, at the lighting bolt scar on his forehead. Then, he clenched his fists, and began cursing softly.
"We know, Harry. We know." Hermione sighed and whispered something in Ron's ear, then went off towards her dormitory.
"What'd she say?" Asked Harry, really not caring about the answer.
"Noth-" Ron reconsidered his first answer, and sighed. "She said not to let you stay down here all night." He paused. "Come on mate," Ron held out his hand, which was accepted reluctantly by Harry. Harry was pulled up from where he sat, and began walking silently to his room.
He climbed into his bed, and collapsed onto the soft pillows, which consequently felt like bricks to Harry. He fell asleep without even thinking, without taking anything to help him sleep.
He was in a dead forest. A gray mist hung over the trees and the foliage that covered the soft earth. His stomach sank. He wasn't supposed to be there, yet his feet carried him. Carried him to the soft, whispering voices that could be heard in the distance. Damn his curiosity. He'd never in his life seen a forest like this. Not a single tree was living, or was it an illusion? He kept walking, until two darker patches of black were distinct. He could hear their whispers.
This felt like anything but a dream "Wake up! Wake up!" Harry frantically tried to snap out of this foiled reality, but came to realize quickly that he wasn't getting anywhere He ran over to the two figures. Their faces were masked in white, their bodies engulfed by blackness. Only their voices could be heard.
"Any day. Any day we'll get back our finest, and we will rule once and for all!" The first figure rubbed its hands together.
"And our course of action?" Asked the second figure. Harry was listening intently, not really knowing what was happening before his eyes. Was he really there?
"Attack the-'
Harry sat straight up in his bed and his hand made contact with his head. The place he knew his scar was. It was stinging so badly, that it felt as if someone had planted a flame on his head. He was sweating. The pillow was covered in cold droplets of perspiration. Rocking slowly back and forth, now on his knees, he tried to concentrate on anything but the pain. He replayed Quidditch plays in his head, he recited the names of charms and potions he knew, but it didn't go away. He turned around and buried his face in the pillow. He breathed in his own sweat, and let out a soft scream, which was muffled by the pillow. The pain began to fade, and Harry began to breath normally again.
He reached for his wand, which was usually on the table by his bed, but it wasn't there. His heart skipped a beat, and he leapt out of his bed. He began to hysterically throw the blankets and pillows off his bed. It wasn't there. It wasn't on his table, it wasn't in his bed and it wasn't-
Harry patted himself down and sighed. He had not changed out of his school uniform, and his wand remained at his hip. "Lumos," He whispered, and a soft glow filled the room. He climbed slowly back into his bed and drew the curtains. Taking out his watch, he noticed it was already four-o-clock in the morning. People would begin to rise in less than an hour. Slowly, he made his way down to the common room, trying not to disturb any of the sleepy rooms he passed.
Throwing himself down on the plush sofa, he summoned a book from the nearly bare bookshelf in the corner. It was not very often that you found Harry Potter reading outside of class, but he didn't want to think, and he didn't want to feel. He sighed as the book fell into his hands. It was a book entitled 'Exploring the Magical World; Quidditch" He read silently to himself, taking in the warmth of the fire. His thoughts mingled with the pages, and didn't stray. He didn't even care that he had not done his Charms essay, or practiced his Transfiguration. However, he did care that he had not practiced Occlumency.
He snapped the book shut and cursed. There was absolutely no way he could not ponder what he had just seen in his dreams, what he had just felt. It was too familiar. He knew he ought to tell somebody. He even thought for a second about telling Snape, but he thought this for only a second. The two voices echoed in his rattled mind.
"Any day, Any day," He thought, though his drowsy mind could not comprehend. "I keep it to myself then," he decided once and for all, and began to walk back up the stairs.
"Umf-" Harry's body collided with another's in the stairwell's darkness. He rubbed his head hard, and he could picture the other person doing the same. Clinging to the stone wall, he pulled out his wand, and lit it. There, doubled over and holding their head in their hands was Neville Longbottom.
"S-s-sorry H-Harry. I didn't mean to--" Neville started back up the stairs, rather embarrassed.
"No," Harry sighed and continued to rub his head. "It's okay Neville."
"Really?" Neville smiled and turned around. He began to descend the stairs once again.
Harry shook his head. He couldn't understand Neville sometimes. Nevertheless, he decided to follow Neville to the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry put away his wand, after extinguishing the light at the end and made his way down the stairs. When he reached the common room, he noticed that it was extremely dark. There had been a fire in the fireplace when he had first come down, but now there wasn't even an ember. Harry whipped out his wand once again, for he did not hear the sounds of life anywhere. His heart pounded.
"Neville," Harry whispered. Nothing. "Neville?!" His whispers grew louder and more distinct. He dare not light his wand. He had no idea what he would find.
"Incindio!" The sound of Neville's voice came from near the sofas. Within a few seconds, the fire was roaring again. "Eep!" Neville squealed and dropped his wand as soon as he saw Harry. Harry's wand was pointed directly at him.
Harry sighed and plunged his wand back into his robes. "Neville, what are you doing?" Harry picked up Neville's wand and handed it to him.
"J-just practicing. I'm getting better—I think. Now that I have this!" He showed his wand off to Harry.
"Yes," Harry agreed politely. "Much better."
Neville smiled brilliantly. "Thanks! I can't wait to try it out at the D.A. meetings! What are we doing tonight, Harry?"
Harry smacked his forehead. He had forgotten all about the meeting. He really hoped Hermione had something planned. He sure didn't. "Er—It's—It's a surprise. Wouldn't be fair if I told you and not the others, would it?" He sighed. Thank goodness for his ability to lie.
"No, I guess not." Neville plopped down on the couch and pulled a small book from his robes. He buried his nose in it. Harry supposed it was a Herbology book, but didn't bother to ask. Instead, he lay on the floor and studied the fire.
The day was uneventful, except for potions, where a cauldron exploded and Snape went into a cursing fit. He spat out every single curse he could think of, shooting them out the window, or at a jar of ingredients. He told everyone to get out and slammed the door behind him. Harry thought, that even for Snape, that was bad.
"I hope they sack him! No one should do that! I don't care who you are!" Ron shook his head and spat the words.
Charms was also more interesting than usual. They began learning the basics of sense binding. Harry distinctly remembered something about this particular subject being on a quiz in Defense class. Hermione became especially good at this charm before the class period was over, and earned Gryffindor thirty points. A good day it was.
By the time dinner rolled around, Harry found himself extremely nervous. He was surrounded by people that he was going to be teaching in only a couple of hours, yet he had absolutely no idea what they were going to be learning. Even some of the Ravenclaws had joined the Gryffindor table for this night. All except for one.
Harry looked across the table to a girl with long black hair. He sighed. Cho Chang was in her seventh year at Hogwarts. Harry found himself laughing. He shook his head and looked back to his friends. He still hadn't forgotten what she had done to him, and visa-versa. He wondered whether Hermione had even invited her to tonight's meeting. He didn't care about her at the moment.
"Say Harry, what's with you? You haven't said a word." Ron had a piece of pasta dangling from his lips. He slurped it up and began talking again. "Are you ready for tonight?" He lowered his voice a little, as he was sitting near the second years.
"You want the truth?" Harry poked his fork in and out of his meat. He wasn't hungry in the least.
"Well, if you were going to say no, then no, I don't want the truth."
"Okay. I'm extremely prepared; I've been practicing for weeks; I have memorized my speech line for line, and I know every single spell by heart." Sarcasm dripped from his mouth.
"Okay then, as long as you know what you're doing." Ron shrugged. That was Hermione's queue to begin speaking.
"Look Harry. We need to be there at least an hour early, I got an excuse from Dumbledore to miss Runes for this--" She was stopped by Harry's look. "What's wrong?" Harry's mouth had dropped.
"Dumbledore? When did you talk to Dumbledore!? I haven't seen him in weeks!" Harry was shaking his head semi-angrily.
"I bumped into him when I was patrolling the halls. I don't mind an extra class tomorrow." She shrugged, but Harry wasn't satisfied.
"What was Dumbledore doing when you –ehem- bumped into him?" Harry's eyes had grown wide with interest.
"Nothing." Ron looked at Hermione when she said this and squinted his eyes.
"Was too!" Ron blurted out, almost accidentally. His hands shot to his mouth. Harry tilted his head in confusion.
"Ron!"
"Hermione!"
"Dumbledore!" Harry snapped his fingers in front of Hermione's face. "What was he doing?" Harry was becoming irritated once again.
"Harry--" Hermione began sternly. "I will not tell you until you can do Occlumency." She lowered her voice to a barely audible whisper. Harry's face grew red with anger.
"What!? How do you know I cannot do Occlumency?! How do you--"
"Harry, we should go up to the room now and get ready." Hermione stood up and was gone before Harry or Ron could even get past the crowd.
Harry didn't talk or even grunt as he walked the halls with Ron. Ron had tried to ask him something, but he paid no attention. He was extremely upset that even his best friends were keeping things from him. He thought, that as soon as he got back from conducting the D.A. meeting, he would simply fetch his broom and fly straight out the window. No, he decided as they reached the door by the dueling portrait, it was too risky.
Harry did not go through the door at first. He had never really taken notice of this particular dueling portrait before. The only duel he had ever witnessed had been in his second year at Hogwarts. This picture was completely different. It was more complex. Two people stood about ten feet away from each other, wands outstretched in one hand, the anther hand above their head. They circled each other. Once. Twice. Three times they circled. Harry had seen this before; Harper and Snape had done this just before-
Streams of golden lights poured from one wand and into the face of the second person, while blue and violet streaks shot from the other. The wand movements were incredible. Fancy. They were being thrown about and caught and jabbed and passed from one hand to the other. Harry was puzzled, spells were being released, but no words were being spoken. Only when the two had finished, and one wizard with dark gray eyes and brilliant copper robes held his opponents wand, were there sounds. They sound of roaring applause.
Suddenly, Harry felt a jerk on his collar. "C'mon Harry, let's get in there," Ron jabbed a thumb over his shoulder towards the empty classroom. Ron had watched the dueling sequence as well. Harry had not even noticed.
They planned right up until the first people started to arrive. They decided they would only take oaths, discuss future meetings, discuss the dark events of recent months, and review the content from last year. All for the better, Harry decided. He wouldn't have to break his neck teaching. The first person to arrive was Ginny Weasley. Harry smiled As she nearly tripped over herself to reach Hermione. They embraced each other like sisters.
"I have not talked to you guys in weeks! Fifth year is by far the worst year I've ever had!" She plopped down in a chair and held her head in her hands. Fighting a yawn, she said, "L-l-loads o-of homework. Snape's the worst, and Harper, yeesh. Scary bird that one. She's--"
"Completely mad!" Continued Ron for his sister.
"Ay." Agreed Ginny.
Into the room bustled Neville, Seamus, and Dean. All of which were very close to screaming with anticipation. Neville practically shook, and Seamus was lighting and extinguishing his wand nervously. Dean simply rubbed his hands together making them turn a bright crimson color. None of the group spoke as they watched others file in. Colin and Denis Creevy jumped up and down as they entered. They ran directly for Harry. and began blabbering on about completely irrelevant things. Harry found himself completely surrounded by everyone from last year's meetings, with the exception of two people.
Cho Chang, and her friend that had told on the D.A. the year before were not present. Harry was seconds away from asking Hermione why, but she began shushing the room as soon as he got the courage.
"Now, now. Settle down, we haven't got all night. If you would please find your chairs, we will begin." The room fell silent as Hermione spoke. "Right then, now we will-"
"-ehem-" The sound came from the door. "Is it too late to join?" There, in the doorway stood a tall beautiful young girl bearing the Ravenclaw crest upon her robes. Harry sneered as Cho leaned against the stone wall. Why had Hermione invited her back? She hadn't done anything last year. Harry desperately wanted to stand up, push her out and lock the door, but he couldn't figure out exactly why he was so bitter.
"I suppose it's not," Hermione said frustrated. "Sit down would you? And lock the door behind you." Cho did this discretely as Hermione continued speaking. "Okay. First things first. We have come up with a council this year. Harry, Ron and Myself are in charge of everything that goes on with this club. You an come to any of us when you need to know about a meeting or a spell, or anything in general. We have a new oath technique this year. If you decide to take the oath, I will perform a spell on you that should you speak of the club to anyone outside this group, it would render you unconscious until a Rauginger Draft was administered to you."
Ron, who was sitting by Harry leaned into talk to his friend. "Where does she find these spells?! I'm not so sure I want to do this."
Harry shook his head. "I don't know mate. All those books I suppose."
"I always knew books were bad news." Ron sighed as Hermione spoke once more.
"Anyone who doesn't think they can control their mouths can get out." The room broke out into whispers, but not one person moved. Not even Zacharias Smith who had had his nose in the air since he walked in the room. "Good then." She looked around the room. "Luna, Neville, and Ginny first please." The three moved confidently to the front of the room. Or at least Ginny and Neville did. Luna just seemed to glide across the floor with a dreamy expression on her face.
Hermione stared at each of them in turn, and then decided to have Neville take the oath first. "Okay Neville. Say these words three times publicly if you want to be a part of the group." Hermione shoved a piece of paper at Neville impatiently.
Neville read over the statement for some time. "I-I agree to keep the secret of the D.A.and understand the consequences should I reveal this secret. I agree to keep the secret of the D.A. and understand the consequences should I reveal this secret. I agree to keep the secret of the D.A. and understand the consequences should I reveal this secret." Neville gulped rather loudly as Hermione held up her wand.
"Sinufe extormane" Neville's figure glowed a bright crimson for about a second, and then returned to normal. There were gasps from every corner of the room. "There. Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" She looked worried at what his answer might be. She too gulped.
"No." Neville smiled at Hermione. "Good job! I didn't feel a thing!" He skipped back to his seat and sat down. Hermione smirked at bit.
"Ginny, you next."
Hermione performed the spell on the entire room. First those three. Then Parvati and Padma Patil. Then Hannah Abbot, Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Creevy's. She went through everyone, but saved Zacharias Smith for last, because he was proving to be the person with which they were having the most difficulty.
"Zacharias." Hermione looked him up and down, tying to detect the slightest bit apprehensiveness. However, she sensed none.
Zacharias walked confidently up to the front of the room and said the line three times without even reading them. Hermione tilted her head. She didn't know what to think. She lifted her wand and pointed it directly between Smith's eyes. The spell rolled off her tongue smoothly, and Zacharias's form glowed just like all the others.
The oath process took about an hour, and Harry was dreading the end of it. For when the oaths were finished, he would have to speak. He made his way slowly to the front of the room, dragging a chair behind him. He stood on the chair and an uneasy silence fell over the room.
"First of all," Began Harry, sounding much like Snape. His voice was angry, and cold. He cleared his throat and began again, without the harshness. "First of all, let me just tell you, that I know as much as you do about what is going on with Voldemort-" There were not as many gasps as there usually were at the sound of the name. "They tell me nothing just like they tell you nothing. All I know is, he has been killing and he will continue to kill. Sure, we learn things in Harper's class, but she seems to frighten everyone so that they do not remember it. We really only learn about curses and the like used by Dark wizards, so my plan is to go the opposite way. Teach Defense without all the creepy lingo and graphic stories. This doesn't mean stop going to Defense class, and it doesn't mean you don't have to do the work, but it does mean that you are going to have to put in some extra hours to learn more. Understood?"
The whole room nodded. "Good. It's settled then. Now we—what Denis?--" A little third year in the back of the room was standing on his chair to be seen. He had his hand in the air.
"What about Harper? Where did she come from?" The usually hyper boy was uncomfortably calm.
"Dunno Denis—now—as I was saying—What?--" Once again, the small boy's hand had shot up.
"She told us about how—he—killed people. Manise Muldrow, a Hufflepuff was joking when she said 'I don't know what the big deal with this guy is. People die everyday.' Then Harper glared at her, and the room got all quiet and she told us. Manise ran out crying by the time she was finished. How does she know?" That explained Denis's calmness, he was traumatized. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other for a good five minutes. Hermione seemed to be searching her mind for something.
"I—Er---everyone knows about how he killed people, Denis. She is the Defense teacher your know. Nothing to worry about." Said Harry finally, but he himself was wondering why she would tell her class that. Denis sat back down in his chair and studied the floor.
"Anyways, I thought we would simply review this meeting, and we only have about half an hour to do so." Harry looked at his watch. "Okay. One by one, I want you to produce a Patronus." He pointed at Ginny.
"You first," said Ginny who looked rather nervous.
"Alright then," Harry took a deep breath and thought of everything happy in his life, which consequently wasn't much. "Expecto Patronum." Out of Harry's wand shot a beautiful silver stag. He smiled and thought of his dad. The silver faded as he dropped his wand. "Now?"
Ginny smiled, "Okay." Ginny lifted her wand and out shot her Patronus, as strong as ever.
"Excellent, next?"
The meeting ran over about fifteen minutes and each student had to be escorted to his or her common room by Ron and Hermione. Harry had to walk with them because of his protection rule, but for once, he didn't mind. He had one of his passions back, but then again, he had gained a worry.
When Harry, Hermione, and Ron reached the Gryffindor Common room, it was half past midnight and all three were utterly exhausted. However, they decided to stay up a bit and talk, like they always did. Harry found his place on the warm sofa and let his eyes fall closed for a minute.
"T-t-that was a good meeting," Said Hermione through a yawn.
"All except that little spill Denis gave us. Honestly. Doesn't he know we have Harper as well?" Ron's head fell forward on his chest, then darted back upright.
Hermione's eyes widened and she gasped as she ran off to the girl's dormitories.
"Oh, now what did I say?! Honestly, she does seem to be doing that more often. She is going to--" But what Ron thought Hermione was going to do, Harry never heard for he drifted off to the familiar stage of sleep, but because he had been thinking of nothing when he fell into this stage, he went without dreams, and he was thankful.
A/N: Woo. Next chappy is going to be filled to the brim with drama and action, one of many chapters like this. It may take a while to write because we get new projects everyday at school and I can hardly find time to write anymore…but I assure you…I WILL write! Muahahahah!!! ~Hasta luego~