The New DA and Revelations
The next three weeks continued well, Aurora became used to the students and they to her. Her only problem occurred with the sixth year class of Slytherins and Hufflepuffs. Normally the two houses in her classes got along well, but that was not the case with the sixth years. The problem, Aurora concluded one day as she sat rubbing her temples after a particularly trying class, was with Draco Malfoy. He seemed to believe that she, as a former Ministry Auror, was responsible for his fathers imprisonment, and took every opportunity to make her job miserable. At first Aurora tried to be understanding. His father's in Azkaban for being a Death Eater, almost the whole school dislikes him, and he can't beat Potter in any Quidditch game, she said to herself. After awhile though, she realized he was a chip of the old block, and began to punish him regularly for he blatant disrespect to her and the Hufflepuffs. She made him write a three foot long essay on the noble history of the Hufflepuff house after he told Hannah Abbott that Hufflepuff was a house of complete dimwits without a brain between them all. She had him clean out the infirmary bed pans after he smashed a glass vase over Ernie McMillian's head when they were practicing levitation, and today she had him stay for three hours of detention after he burned her desk to the ground. Aurora sighed again and lay her head on her newly repaired desk, realizing teaching could sometimes be very hard indeed. She closed her eyes, meaning to rest for just a moment....
Mmm hmm, coughed a voice softly in front of her.
Aurora shifted slightly in her sleep, but did not open her eyes.
Professor Lupin stood in front of her, watching as Auror's back moved steadily up and down in time with her breathing. After he had wandered back up to his room the night of their meeting on the first day, Remus had sat lying in his bed staring at the ceiling and thinking...
You can't do this, Lupin, it wouldn't work....But she's so...NO! You must stop thinking about her...Is she sick? Can I help her...Yes, you can help her, by staying out of her life!....When she smiles I want to... Do you not remember what happens when the moon is full?....
His mind had continued to switch back and forth between extreme happiness and despair all night. He had awoken in the morning tired and disgusted with himself for even thinking that he might have a chance with Aurora. He decided on a policy of friendliness with her, but nothing more. It was no use trying to think of something he probably wasn't even allowed to have. It had been hard, but he thought he'd done fairly well. He spoke to her just as he would any other teachers, and at night, when thoughts of what might have been clouded his head, he focussed on simple things such as his lessons for the next day.
Standing next to her, though, as she lay with her head on her desk, Remus had a hard time remembering his pact with himself. He wanted to reach out and brush away the piece of hair that was lying against her cheek. Quickly he clasped his hands behind his back.
Professor Knightly? he repeated.
she said, rubbing sleep from her eyes, and yawning. She opened her eyes wider and realized who was standing in front of her. Quickly she jerked upright.
Professor Lupin! I seem to have dozed off for a few minutes..Is there something I can do for you? Aurora felt thoroughly embarrassed that he had seem her having a catnap, she just hoped she hadn't been talking in her sleep....
As a matter of fact, Lupin replied,Dumbledore asked me if he could see us for a few minutes in his office.
Oh, of course, she said, feeling her hair and realizing pieces were falling down around her face, um why don't you go along and I'll meet you there?
All right, Remus replied, I'll tell Dumbledore you're on your way.
After Professor Lupin had left her office, Aurora ran down to the nearest teachers lavatory, and moaned as she looked at her impression in one of the mirrors.
Darn, she said under her breath, while looking at her wrinkled robe, and her hair that was falling out in little curls.
Quickly she said, while pointing her wand at her hair. Then she fixed the wrinkles in her cloak, splashed some cold water on her face, and placed her glasses on her nose, trying to make herself look more like a professional teacher. With a last look in the mirror, she hurried towards Dumbledores office.
As she walked quickly down hallways she reflected on Lupin's behavior over the past few weeks. He seemed to have made a special effort to be pleasant, yet very normal towards her. Sometimes, though, she caught him looking at her, and then hurriedly glancing away. On the surface Aurora was glad that nothing had happened between them. You're not ready for something like that...the future is too uncertain...what if something happened to one of us? But she couldn't forget how after she had said good night to him, she had gone to sleep not dreaming, for the first time in months, of a hood being drawn back....
Reaching the entrance to Dumbledores office she put these thoughts out of her mind, wondering instead on what the meeting could be about.
***
Lupin knocked on the door to Dumbledore's office, and let himself in when he heard Dumbledore's voice say, Come in.
Ah, Professor Lupin, greeted the Headmaster, waving his arm at a chair in front of his desk, please sit down.
Thank you, sir, replied Remus, Professor Knightly asked me to tell you that she will be along in a few minutes.
Dumbledore nodded his head, That's fine, in fact I had something I wished to tell you about, Remus.
Lupin looked at Dumbledore curiously, Yes, Professor?
Dumbledore looked down at his desk, riffling through some parchment that lay on it. As you likely know, I am a member of the International Confederation if Wizards. Recently, myself and the other members if the Confederation have been discussing the best way to fight this Second War against Voldemort. We began to go through some of our oldest records in an attempt to find out how we could create an International conglomeration of witches and wizards who would be able to fight Voldemort and his followers.
Remus looked confused, But, I thought the Order of the Phoenix was formed for that purpose?
Dumbledore sat back on this chair, Yes, indeed, I formed the Order those many years ago for that purpose. The Order will still be the best tool we have for fighting Voldemort, but I would also like to have international group of witches and wizard who are able to spread out across the area that Voldemort terrorizes. Sixteen years ago we were not as prepared as we are now, this time around I wish to take every precaution possible. Every site that witches and wizards populate will now be watched, any suspicious that Voldemort or his Death Eaters are in a certain area will be quickly followed up.
Remus nodded, still not sure what this all had to do with him, I see, it sounds like an excellent idea.
I hope it will be, replied Dumbledore, but I still haven't told you exactly what I wanted to speak with you about. He leaned up in his chair again, and looked at a piece of parchment. As we were going through these records, we found that there were many ancient, and admittedly barbaric, rules that would prevent us from hiring on certain witches and wizards, even if they were highly qualified. He looked at Remus over the top of his half moon spectacles, One of these archaic rules was this one. He handed Remus an old and browning piece of parchment., who read it with an increasingly sinking feeling.
International Confederation of Wizards of 1678
May it be recorded that no creature possessing of the following features be allowed in any way to gain admittance to a league or army formed for the purpose of the protection for the Wizard World. For the safety of our high and noble World, we, the leading Wizards of our day, do believe these creatures to be without sufficient intelligent, moral values, and strength of character to be be trusted in the protection of our peoples.
Remus looked down the long list of creatures,' running his eyes along and until he came to the bottom of the list and read Then he looked down at the end of the page.
May it also be recorded that the creatures called Vampires,' Knighthawks,' and Werewolves,' being as they are part human, shall not be allowed to marry or have children by a fully human witch or wizard under any cicumstances whatsoever.
Remus felt as though a door had been slammed in his face. He had often wondered if there were rules about marriages between werewolves and normal humans, but he had never bothered to look into it. He looked up at Dumbledore and handed him back the parchment. Trying to appear casual he asked him, How was it that I was able to join the Order of the Phoenix if this rule was in place?
Dumbledore noticed Remus had not mentioned that second part of the decree. The law only applied to international societies that might have been formed, not to private ones.
Seeing Lupin's troubled face he hurried to explain.
Remus, he said kindly, I didn't show you this to upset you. In fact, this should be something of a celebration, for the rules are going to be changed.
Lupin snapped his head up, and looked at Dumbledore. who continued.
I would like to think that I belong to a more open-minded Confederation than the one of 1678, for we have unanimously voted to take werewolves off the list. I shouldn't wonder that your services will be in great demand now.
Dumbledore got up from his chair and walked over to Fawkes, stroking the bird gently.
Oh and, he added lightly, looking at Lupin from the corner of an eye, the last part is, of course, being changed as well.
***
Auror knocked softly on the door of Dumbledore's office, and like Remus, let herself in when she heard Dumbledore's voice beckoning her inside.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, Professor, " apologized Aurora, after she had greeted him.
"It's no trouble, my dear," he reassured her, "Professor Lupin and I had a few things to go over anyway."
Aurora looked at Lupin, who seemed to be sitting very still in his chiar. He glanced up at her and said, "Hello, Professor."
"Uh, hello Remus," replied Aurora, staring at him with a crease in her brow. What in Merlin's name is wrong with him? He's sitting there like a stone statue...I hope he hasn't had bad news...She glanced at Dumbledore, who seemed to be enjoying watching them, for his eyes were twinkling and the corners of his mouth were twitching. Reassured that the Headmaster wouldn't look so pleased if something was the matter, Aurora took a seat beside Lupin.
Seeing that Remus looked a bit fazed and that Professor Knighlty a little confused, Dumbledore thought it would be a good time to get the meeting started. Clasping his hands in front of him, he began.
"At the beginning of the year, in fact before term began, I mentioned to both of you that, in addition to your regular teaching duties, I wanted you to perfrom an extra task. I know you, Remus, have heard about the secret Defense classes that were taught by Harry last year."
Remus nodded, and Dumbledore continued. "But, Professor Knightly, perhaps we will need to fill you in on the details?"
"Actually, sir," she relied, "I do know about the DA."
"Ah, good then, I can jump right into what I would like to tell you. Although last years club was successful, it was not, in fact, allowed. This year I would like to start a Defense Against the Dark Arts club that is not only encouraged, but that is also taught by two highly experienced professors. I would very much like it you two would be those professors." He looked at them expectantly.
Aurora looked at Remus, who nodded. She spoke for both of them, as Remus seemed to lost all powers of speech. "We would both be very pleased to start a Defense club, Professor. I think it's an excellent idea!"
"Wonderful!" replied Dumbledore, indeed looking very happy, for more than one reason, "You two, of course, can work out the days for it to meet. I will make an announcement in the Great Hall at breakfast tomorrow, and have sign-up sheets posted in all of the common rooms."
He paused for a moment, thinking, then went on, "Now, for the location. Do either of you know where the Room of Requirement is?"
Remus looked at Dumbledore in surprise, shaking his head. He had thought he had known every inch of Hogwarts. He looked over at Aurora, expecting a negative response from her as well, but she was nodding her head.
"Ah, well actually, Professor..." Her voice trailed off.
Dumbdore smiled at her, "Ah yes, I often wondered if you had found it. You and Bill Weasley, wasn't it?"
Aurora laughed a bit self-consiously, "Yes, the two carrot-tops."
Remus looked from Aurora to Dumbledore, they seemed to be sharing some private joke. What's this about Bill Weasley?
Dumbledore concluded the meeting, "Well, I believe that's all then. If there's anything you need, please just ask. I am quite looking forward to seeing what you two teach the children!"
They all said their goodbye's, and Remus and Aurora stepped onto the moving circular staricase that took them out of Dumbledore's office.
Lupin was still very quiet, and Aurora was tempted to ask him what was wrong. Instead she said, "Is there any time you would prefer to hold the meetings?"
"Wha-?" Her jerked his head up, lost in thought, "Oh, right. Well, how about Monday evenings at 8:00 o'clock?"
"Fine, why don't we meet their early next week, say about at 7:30? We can go over what to cover then."
"All right, I'll let Dumbledore know in the morning."
"Ok, "Aurora moved to walk away, "Good night then."
"Good nigh-, oh wait!" He ran back after her, "I don't even know where to go."
"Oh right, sorry!" Aurora flashed that deadly smile of hers. "Meet me at the large tapestry in the East Wing."
He made a mental note of it, and bade her goodnight.
***
Strolling towards his room with his hands in his pockets, Remus Lupin whistled a song he had heard some seventh year boys singing. He wandered along the long corridor that looked on the grounds of Hogwarts, and stared at the dusky, purple sky. Looking out at the Forest and Hagrid's hut, with the Quiddtich pitch in the background, Remus felt for the first time in his life like everyone else. He had job prospects ahead of him, the future no longer seemed so dim, and best of all, he could ask the girl he admired very much out on a date. Would she like Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade?...I could show her the Shrieking Shack... No wait, I could borrow Madam Hooch's Portkey to and take her to the coast! We could walk along the beach....With a smile on his face Lupin picked up his pace, feeling as though he was eighteen for the very first time.
Much to Remus' disappointment he was unable to do anything about his new found freedom, because of a full moon that appeared in the sky the day after his meeting with Dumbledore. In his excitement he had forgotten he would be unable to teach the first DA meeting. Instead he prowled around his room frustrated, and sick with cabin fever.
***
For Aurora, though, her schedule picked up just as Remus' slowed down. Waking up she glanced down at the schedule Lupin had given her and realized she would be teaching two classes that day. "Holy Merlin," she said out loud to herself, "DADA, Charms, and the first DA meeting!" She dressed very quickly, putting on a soft purple v-neck sweater, black pants, and a tailored robe. Her hair was pulled back in a young-looking ponytail and with a quick flick of her wand a little bit of makeup lit up her light coloured eyelashes and lips. "Right," she said, glancing at the large pile of books in her hand, "Charms textbooks, Dark Arts textbooks, schedule..." Lugging all her materials, Aurora stepped out of her portrait hole, preparing for a very busy day indeed.
***
On her way to her first attempt at Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Knightly caught sight of Ginny Weasley talking with a gaggle of friends. Hailing her with her free hand, Aurora went over to talk to the youngest Weasley.
"Ginny," she said, rather breathlessly from the slight trot she'd been moving at, "could I have a word?"
"Oh, of course, Professor Knightly," she replied. "See you guys later," she called to Colin Creevey and Anne O'Toole. "Yes, Professor?"
"Well, I happened to be looking at your Charms marks last night, " said Aurora, "and they are exceptionally good."
Ginny tried to look modest, all the time blushing a little.
"I was wondering if you'd consider moving up a year in Charms? It would mean you'd have to take your NEWTS a year earlier than planned, but I think you're up to it."
Ginny's eyes widened slightly, and for some reason went even pinker. "Uh, ya, I'd love to go up a year!" she replied very enthusiastically.
Aurora was a bit surprised at her quick decision. "If you like you can think about it for a couple of days. It would would a lot of extra work."
"No," replied Ginny, "I'd really like to do it."
All right then," Aurora pulled out a sheaf of paper from her stack of teaching supplies. "Here's a new schedule that Professor McGonagall drew up. Sixth year Charms is right after lunch."
Ginny nodded and took the paper from Aurora, who realized that she had better be moving along.
"I have to go, Ginny, but I'll see you after lunch."
"Right, Professor, see you then."
***
The rest of the morning for Aurora was spent running between her own classroom and Lupin's, all the time trying to make sure she didn't teach Charms in Defense and vice versa. Sitting at her own desk after lunch Aurora looked up as the sound of voices. Walking to the front of her desk, she hopped up on it, swinging her legs gently as the sixth years poured in.
"Ok, settle down everyone," Professor Knightly began. "Before we begin, I would like to welcome Ginny Weasley, who is joining us for the rest of the year."
The class cheered, still a bit hyper after their lunch hour, and Ginny did a little mock bow.
"Right, take out your wand please. We're going to continue tackling advanced Accio charms." She heard a few groans from the back rows. "Yes, Mr's Mitchell and Beck, they're not my favourite either, but we dont have much choice. They're standard on NEWTS." She noticed everyone looked a bit depressed at the thought of another day of calling various objects to them. To cheer them up she said, "How about if we make a deal? You endure one more class of Accio's and next week I promise we can strip down a Firebolt."
That certainly perked them all up. Dean Thomas actually jumping up from his chair, arms raised in joy as though he had just won the Quidditch Cup. Lee Jordan started to talk about the perfect balance in every Firebolt handle, so that it took about two minutes for Aurora to calm them all down.
"All right, all right, " she said, although she couldn't help smiling, "lets quiet down." She picked up her wand and hopped of her desk.
"Everyone pair up and practice two second Accio's. I'll be coming around to watch each of you."
They all began to pair up and as she walked along supervising them she saw Hermione hauling Ron over to be her partner. "But," he said, looking confused, "me and Harry were-"
"Harry," hissed Hermione, still tugging Ron over to an empty spot in the middle of the room, "is going to be Ginny's partner."
"But, why can't you be Ginny's partner? You know more than Har-" He broke of as Hermione interrupted him again.
"Ron!" She looked like she might stamp her foot on the ground. "Would you please just practice!"
Aurora looked over at Harry and Ginny, who were practicing in a corner, curious as to what was going on. Harry seemed to be showing Ginny in great detail how to flick her wrist properly, although Aurora knew for a fact that Ginny had already learned this. She wandered over towards them.
"How are you two making out?"
"Good," they said simultaneously. They looked at each other quickly, blushing.
"Uh huh....well call me if you need anything," Aurora wandered over to watch Seamus and Luna, smiling to herself as she began to see what was happening between the "The Boy Who Lived" and the youngest Weasley.
***
The afternoon flew by in a whirl of classes just like the morning, and it seemed that in no time it was almost time for the first DA meeting to begin. Letting herself into the Room of Requirement, Aurora was disappointed that Remus wasn't able to be with her. She would have like to have told him of some of her adventures here. Being a few minutes early she surveyed what the room had laid out. It was well lit by tall candles along the wall, a few sets of soft mats were stacked up in a corner, and at the front of the room was a tall box, presumably for Aurora to stand on. The room also seemed to have grown larger than she remembered it, perhaps in anticipation for a large crowd. Aurora felt a pang of nervousness and wished again that calming Professor Lupin was there. Just for professional help, of course...
***
The Room of Requirement had been right to expand its walls, for almost one-hundred Hogwarts students crowded into it for the first meeting of the new DA. Standing up on her stack of boxes, Aurora said "Magnifius" and pointed her wand at her throat, magnifying her voice so that everyone could hear her.
"Welcome, "she began, holding up her hands to quiet the boisterous crowd, "to the first meeting of the reincarnated DA!"
Cheers rang out, along with a few rude remarks about certain members of the Ministry of Magic, and Aurora raised her magnified voice.
"This is essentially an advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts class, but without those pesky things known as homework and exams."
More cheers were heard, although Hermione looked a little disappointed.
"Although he was unable to join us tonight, Professor Lupin will normally be your second instructor."
The handful of Slytherin students who were in attendance sniggered at this, and pretended to howl at the moon. Aurora shot them a severe warning glance.
"So, let's not waste anymore time. Tonight I will be teaching you the art of the Shielding Charm. Wands out everyone!"
For the next hour Aurora taught them how to shield a curse, and block especially nasty hexes. Up until that time the students had only thought of Aurora as their friendly Charms teacher; nice, very pretty, but generally an ordinary witch. Tonight, though, as she stalked up and down between them, handing out advice, and throwing sample curses left and right, they saw her as she really was; an extremely talented Auror. They were especially impressed when, half way through the lesson, she gathered them all around.
"Now, most of you likely think, "she said, eyes glistening, "that curses are mainly to be used on people. For the most part this is true. But, what do you do, for example, if your enemy suddenly erects a large brick wall in front of you?"
Aurora said something softly and a huge brick wall appeared at the far end of the wall. Appreciative oohs and ahhs filled the room.
She continued, "You could, of course, walk around it, but I would not recommend that. You enemy will be waiting to blast you the minute you turn the corner. You could, too, whack a hole in the middle of it, but once again your enemy will be prepared for you the minute your head pops into view. So," she said, grinning wickedly, "what would you suggest we do?"
Immediatly an ethusiastic roar of "Curse it!" rose up. Next to Quidditch, cursing things into smithereens was always a favourite sport with Hogwarts students.
Aurora nodded happily, "Shall I have a go then?"
The students all agreed that she should. Moving them to the back of the room, Aurora threw her cloak off and faced the wall. You realize you're showing of, don't you? Ya ya ya, but I haven't done anything like this for months, I'm getting tired of levitating feathers! Still, Aurora swallowed softly. I really haven't done this for a long time..
She raised her wand, more confidently than she felt, and said "Layhana Levo."
There was a horrendous crash and hundreds of bricks crashed down upon one another. The students erupted with hollers of delight, feeling that their Charms professor was a lot more interesting than they had originally thought.
Pointing her wand at the pile of rubble, Aurora said "Repairus" and the bricks gathered themselves back up into a wall.
"So, she said, having as much fun as they were, "would anyone like to try?"