Chapter Nine: The Defense Club And Cho
Harry knew that he would have to soon restart 'Dumbledore's Army' or DA as they called it. The circumstances this time was different. He no longer had to worry about keeping the whole thing secret. He remembered how Hermione had suggested the whole thing and how successful it had been for most of the students. Since Halloween was coming up he put it out of his mind for the moment.
Halloween came and went. The feast was as good as ever. Unlike all the previous years nothing unusual happened this time. Ron spent most of his time with Susan. Harry and Hermione were quite agitated because of his constant ignorance towards them. However since Ron had grown distant the two of them had become much closer friends. For the first time in his school life Harry thought that Hermione was his best friend and not Ron. Ron was unaware of all this of course.
After Halloween Harry put mind seriously about restarting DA. Hermione saw him deep in thought and wondered what had happened.
'What's the matter Harry', she asked.
'I'm thinking about how to restart DA. I think we should give it a simpler name. For instance 'The Defense Club' like 'The Dueling club'. Then it would attract more people',
'The name idea sounds good. I also think we should have a club president which will be you obviously', Hermione said.
'Yes we can do that. But you are the one who can really organize things well. So probably you should be the secretary. Yes I really mean it', he added seeing her face turn pink. Hermione took some time before speaking.
'Then we should draft the notice'
Harry nodded. For the next half an hour the two of them had their heads down on a parchment as they drafted the notice. When it was complete they took it to Professor McGonagall for approval. She gave the permission to form the club at once. After all it was Dumbledore who had suggested the formation of this. So Harry pinned it up later that night.
Dear Friends, After the enormous success of DA last year we have decided to start a similar thing named The Defense Club. Harry Potter, who will also be the president of this club, will teach all members some basic and advanced defense spells. Students interested can give their names to Hemione Granger who will be the secretary of the club. First meeting will be on the 5th of November at 6:00 pm in the Room of Requirements. Hoping to see you then. Harry Potter and Hemione Granger Within the next two days Hermione had a tough time in managing the list of names. All members of DA with the exception of Marietta Edgecombe had joined. Even some of the younger Slytherins had joned. Harry wondered if they had been sent as spies. He would chuck them out if they had been.
All was set for the first meeting. About fifty students were there. Harry decided to split them into amateur and advanced groups. All first and second years would be in the amateurs. The others would be sorted by skill. The members of DA of course went into the advanced group. The amateur group started with the Expeliarmus curse while the advanced group started with revision of the Patronous charm.
Things went pretty well during the first meeting baring one ugly incident after the meeting. Hermione was waiting so that she could walk back with Harry when she noticed that she was not alone. Also waiting there, probably wanting a word with Harry was Cho Chang.
'Hi Cho', said Hermione casually.
Cho didn't answer. Hermione greeted her again thinking that she hadn't heard. Still no answer. Now she got angry.
'You know I'm not responsible for your breakup with Harry', she shouted.
'Of course you are. I know that he always had feelings for you. You two have bee meeting in the quidditch stadium since God knows when. Yes I know it. I'd come to have a nice fly in the stadium but I saw it was already occupied. Can't you two use different brooms or you can't spend a minute without each other. Shit! How can someone like Harry spend time with an ugly hag like you? Imagine a bookworm flying. HA HA HA', Cho replied.
Hermione looked shaken. She couldn't utter a word.
'Yes, I've been meeting Hermione to teach her how to fly and that is none of your business. I have every right to help my best friend if I want to', said Harry coming out looking very angry.
Now Cho stuttered. 'I...I...didn't see you Harry', she blurted out.
'How dare you insult Hermione. She's worth ten of you any day. I don't want to see you in this club ever again. Now if you don't have to say anything to me you can leave. And yes I don't want to hear anything about our relationship last year. I don't have time for crybabies like you', Harry added.
Cho looked stunned. A few drops of tears appeared in her eyes before she stormed off.
Tears were now freely flowing from Hermione's eyes. She had been deeply hurt by Cho's comments about her but more than that she was overwhelmed by the way Harry had stood up for her. Harry came up to her and put a friendly arm around her for comfort. She buried her face into his chest as tears continued to fall.
'Don't worry Hermione. Don't take her seriously. As I said you are worth ten of her. I'm sure most people would agree with me', he said as he held her in a hug.
Finally Hemione looked up. Unable to speak much she sobbed, 'Thanks Harry, for always being there for me'
'Of course I'll always be there for you. What are friends meant for?' replied Harry. Hermione continued to sob. To avoid the others seeing her in this state he suggested that they go for a walk by the lake. Hermione nodded in agreement. During the walk Harry continued to comfort her as much as he could. When she seemed to have calmed down a little they went back.
Harry knew that he would have to soon restart 'Dumbledore's Army' or DA as they called it. The circumstances this time was different. He no longer had to worry about keeping the whole thing secret. He remembered how Hermione had suggested the whole thing and how successful it had been for most of the students. Since Halloween was coming up he put it out of his mind for the moment.
Halloween came and went. The feast was as good as ever. Unlike all the previous years nothing unusual happened this time. Ron spent most of his time with Susan. Harry and Hermione were quite agitated because of his constant ignorance towards them. However since Ron had grown distant the two of them had become much closer friends. For the first time in his school life Harry thought that Hermione was his best friend and not Ron. Ron was unaware of all this of course.
After Halloween Harry put mind seriously about restarting DA. Hermione saw him deep in thought and wondered what had happened.
'What's the matter Harry', she asked.
'I'm thinking about how to restart DA. I think we should give it a simpler name. For instance 'The Defense Club' like 'The Dueling club'. Then it would attract more people',
'The name idea sounds good. I also think we should have a club president which will be you obviously', Hermione said.
'Yes we can do that. But you are the one who can really organize things well. So probably you should be the secretary. Yes I really mean it', he added seeing her face turn pink. Hermione took some time before speaking.
'Then we should draft the notice'
Harry nodded. For the next half an hour the two of them had their heads down on a parchment as they drafted the notice. When it was complete they took it to Professor McGonagall for approval. She gave the permission to form the club at once. After all it was Dumbledore who had suggested the formation of this. So Harry pinned it up later that night.
Dear Friends, After the enormous success of DA last year we have decided to start a similar thing named The Defense Club. Harry Potter, who will also be the president of this club, will teach all members some basic and advanced defense spells. Students interested can give their names to Hemione Granger who will be the secretary of the club. First meeting will be on the 5th of November at 6:00 pm in the Room of Requirements. Hoping to see you then. Harry Potter and Hemione Granger Within the next two days Hermione had a tough time in managing the list of names. All members of DA with the exception of Marietta Edgecombe had joined. Even some of the younger Slytherins had joned. Harry wondered if they had been sent as spies. He would chuck them out if they had been.
All was set for the first meeting. About fifty students were there. Harry decided to split them into amateur and advanced groups. All first and second years would be in the amateurs. The others would be sorted by skill. The members of DA of course went into the advanced group. The amateur group started with the Expeliarmus curse while the advanced group started with revision of the Patronous charm.
Things went pretty well during the first meeting baring one ugly incident after the meeting. Hermione was waiting so that she could walk back with Harry when she noticed that she was not alone. Also waiting there, probably wanting a word with Harry was Cho Chang.
'Hi Cho', said Hermione casually.
Cho didn't answer. Hermione greeted her again thinking that she hadn't heard. Still no answer. Now she got angry.
'You know I'm not responsible for your breakup with Harry', she shouted.
'Of course you are. I know that he always had feelings for you. You two have bee meeting in the quidditch stadium since God knows when. Yes I know it. I'd come to have a nice fly in the stadium but I saw it was already occupied. Can't you two use different brooms or you can't spend a minute without each other. Shit! How can someone like Harry spend time with an ugly hag like you? Imagine a bookworm flying. HA HA HA', Cho replied.
Hermione looked shaken. She couldn't utter a word.
'Yes, I've been meeting Hermione to teach her how to fly and that is none of your business. I have every right to help my best friend if I want to', said Harry coming out looking very angry.
Now Cho stuttered. 'I...I...didn't see you Harry', she blurted out.
'How dare you insult Hermione. She's worth ten of you any day. I don't want to see you in this club ever again. Now if you don't have to say anything to me you can leave. And yes I don't want to hear anything about our relationship last year. I don't have time for crybabies like you', Harry added.
Cho looked stunned. A few drops of tears appeared in her eyes before she stormed off.
Tears were now freely flowing from Hermione's eyes. She had been deeply hurt by Cho's comments about her but more than that she was overwhelmed by the way Harry had stood up for her. Harry came up to her and put a friendly arm around her for comfort. She buried her face into his chest as tears continued to fall.
'Don't worry Hermione. Don't take her seriously. As I said you are worth ten of her. I'm sure most people would agree with me', he said as he held her in a hug.
Finally Hemione looked up. Unable to speak much she sobbed, 'Thanks Harry, for always being there for me'
'Of course I'll always be there for you. What are friends meant for?' replied Harry. Hermione continued to sob. To avoid the others seeing her in this state he suggested that they go for a walk by the lake. Hermione nodded in agreement. During the walk Harry continued to comfort her as much as he could. When she seemed to have calmed down a little they went back.