He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, and he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere.-Ali Ibn Abi Talib; a hundred sayings.
Astra lay on the floor of the common room trying to catch her breath. She could hear Harry beside her doing the same. "Well" she gasped "That was sure close."
"Yeah" Harry gasped "Too close!" Astra sat up. "But it was sure worth it!" She laughed.
Her mood sobered quickly as the portrait hole opened to reveal Professor's McGonagall and Snape. Both had a scowl on their faces that could make a lion turn tail and run.
Astra gulped as McGonagall instructed the portrait not to allow anyone in. "What in Merlin's name did you think you were doing!" Snape shouted as the portrait swung shut.
Astra paled. "I will be damned if any child of mine is going to become a marauder!" He continued to scold her. "Your brother is terrified to even show his face in school now. I hope you're satisfied with yourself young lady!"
'Oh no!' she thought 'That wasn't what I wanted. I just wanted to pay him back for sicking peeves on me. Not terrify him.' "Just for this you will be receiving a month's worth of detention!" Snape scowled at her. "And fifty points from Gryffindor!"
"The same goes for you Mr. Potter." McGonagall told him sternly. "You should be a shamed of your selves! He maybe a first year but he is also only seven years old!"
Both Harry and Astra paled but didn't say a word. "And if I so much as see either of you two do another prank I will be forced to expel you both!" McGonagall turned to leave but Snape stayed for a moment more.
"I never thought I would ever say this to you Astra." Severus looked at his daughter. "But I am truly disappointed in you." And with that he left.
Astra let the words sink in. 'Oh gods! He's disappointed in me!' she thought as tears started to fall. 'He has never said that!' Astra collapsed onto the floor sobbing as the rest of the Gryffindor's piled in.
Not one of them said a word to Astra or Harry. They all just went up to their rooms. Hermione moved over to Harry. "Well Harry, I guess this one went too far huh?"
Harry nodded. "Poor Astra." Hermione looked at the first year in sympathy. "Well good night Harry."
"Night." Harry croaked and moved to touch Astra. Astra pulled away from him. "Leave me alone!" she sobbed.
Harry got up and went to his own room in silence. He sat on his bed thinking for a while before he finally fell asleep. Meanwhile down in the common room Astra had cried her self to sleep.
Astra woke to see that someone had moved her to the couch and covered her with a blanket. Her face was still puffy from her crying and her head hurt. She got up slowly and went to her room to get dressed. She went down to the great hall for breakfast. She was thankful that no one was there yet. She ate quickly and as the other students started to pile in she left the hall. She didn't really want to talk to anyone just yet. She made her way down to the Slytherin common room. She would wait for Sarul and this time truly apologize. She sat down and waited for the door to open. When it opened for the first time it was Malfoy and his two goons.
"Haven't you done enough!" Draco glared "Just leave him alone!" "Look. I want to apologize to my brother!" Astra said soberly. "I also owe you an apology Malfoy and as much as it pains me to do so I must."
"Oh?" Malfoy muttered arrogantly. "And why would I accept an apology from you?" "Look." Astra said impatiently "Accept it or not. I don't care Malfoy. But I am sorry for pranking you and I needed to at least say that." She finished.
Draco looked at her questioningly. Then he nodded and walked away. Just as Draco got out of sight the door opened again and Sarul's head peeked out and looked around. He spotted Astra and was about to go back in when she spoke.
"Sarul! Don't go!" she pleaded "please, I need to talk to you." "Why should I Astra?" he screamed "You made my clothes disappear! I can't even show my face in the great hall again.
"Yes you can Sarul. I'm the one who can't" she blushed furiously "Look. I came down here to apologize. I never meant to terrify you or hurt you. I just meant it to be funny."
"Well it wasn't!" Sarul screamed. "I realize that now!" she sobbed and flung herself onto her brother. "Oh Sarul please forgive me. I swear I will never, ever do anything to hurt you again!"
"Well." Sarul stammered "Ok Astra. But I am going to hold you to your word." "You don't have to do that. If I so much as prank again I will be expelled." She grimaced "So I have no other choice but to hold myself to my word. But I really am truly sorry Sarul."
"Well" a voice said from behind them. "I am very glad to hear that you two are finally getting along." They turned to see their father step out from behind the shadows.
"Oh daddy!" Astra sobbed "I am so sorry." "I know you are." Severus looked at her. "But what I want to know is have you learned your lesson?"
Astra nodded "yes I have." "Good." He said hugging her. "Have you eaten yet?"
"Yeah I ate before anyone came into the great hall." She told him blushing. "I didn't want to face anyone just yet." Severus nodded knowingly. "I understand. Well I know Sarul and myself have not eaten as of yet and I think it is time for you to show your face again Sarul."
"I can't dad." Sarul blushed "I can't face them." "You can and will Sarul." Severus smiled gently. "You can't let this rule you. You have to face them sooner or later. So why not make it sooner?"
"But they'll laugh at me!" Sarul sobbed. "Let them try!" Astra growled.
Severus looked at her questioningly "And just what do you intend to do about it?" "Let them think that anyone who dares to make fun of my little brother will suffer his fate!" she grinned evilly.
"Astra." Severus looked at her warningly "you can't prank anymore." He reminded her. "True, but no one said anything about threatening to prank!" She beamed "You just said that I couldn't prank and I have every intention of following that. But they don't need to know that."
Severus chuckled "I would truly hate to piss you off." "You don't have to worry about that daddy." Astra smiled.
"No. I guess I don't" he laughed as they started towards the great hall.
With the pranking issue out of the way, Severus's mind turned to the most serious problem. How could Astra protect herself? And quickly. He couldn't spare the time to teach her things she needed before the attack and unfortunately he still couldn't. but he knew the person that did have the time and could teach her. Snape fell in line behind Harry.
"Mr. Potter. My office now!" Snape growled. Harry turned to look at Snape. "What did I do?"
"Just move Potter!" Snape scowled. Harry looked at his friends and shrugged. He then proceeded to follow Snape. When they got to Snape's office Harry was hesitant to go in. Snape tapped his foot impatiently.
"Will you go in Potter!" Snape muttered annoyed. "I haven't got all day." Harry went into the room and watched as Snape muttered a silencing spell.
Snape then turned to Harry. His face showed concern and weariness. "Look Potter, you're not in trouble. I brought you here because I need your help." Snape muttered sitting down. All the while his face grew even more concerned. "I need your help in teaching Astra to protect herself magically."
"Me? Why me? Why not ask Hermione or one of the teachers to do it?" Harry asked. "I thought that, that would be obvious to you." Severus sighed. "She trusts you Potter. More than I'd like her to but. I can't stop her. As for the teachers, we are all too busy to take on any extra tasks. And since you ran the D.A. last year." He looked at Harry's surprised face as he said D.A. "yes I know about the D.A. Potter. Every teacher does now. Any way I figure that you are the best possible person to help me."
Harry nodded "Very well Professor. I will teach Astra what I know. But it will be as a favor to her, not you." "I don't care who you do it for or what reasons, I only care that she can protect herself. That is all I care about." Snape took off the silencing charm and looked back at Harry. "That is all Potter." Then Snape turned to his desk and started sifting through the papers.
Harry left and his mind started to reel with questions. Why would Snape ask his help? Why would he be so civil to Harry? All the questions boiled down to one simple answered. Astra. Harry went in search of Astra, he found her in the library.
"Hey Astra, can we talk?" Harry said sitting down. "Sure." Astra said with out looking up from the book she was reading.
"Look. Your father voiced his concern to me about you not being able to defend from attacks and I thought you might want to learn magical defense." He told her.
Astra looked up from her book in surprise. "What do you mean Harry?" "I mean that I can teach you how to protect yourself magically. Two years ago we started a training club called Dumbledore's Army or the D.A. now we stopped using the club at the end of last year and now I am offering you the knowledge that was in that club." Harry raised an eyebrow. "Like how to protect yourself when hit with a magic attack or how to duel properly. The choice is yours." "Well..." Astra muttered thoughtfully. "Okay." "Great. I'll arrange everything and let you know when we can begin." Harry got up to leave.
"Thanks Harry." Astra smiled at him as he turned to go. "You're welcome Astra" He smiled back then left.
After leaving the library Harry made his way to Dumbledore's office. He muttered the password "Lemon squares." The gargoyle jumped away and Harry proceeded to climb the stairs. He knocked on the headmaster's door.
"Yes?" Harry opened the door.
"Ah! Harry my boy. Come in!" Dumbledore beamed "what can I do for you." "Well professor. Um," Harry paused "I would like to gain permission to teach Astra Snape how to defend herself."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Ah yes, of course. But if you train her then why not train other's as well?" Harry looked at Dumbledore. His mouth gaped open.
"Close your mouth Harry." Dumbledore chuckled. "I am not telling you anything different than you have already done in the past." Dumbledore told him.
"What do you mean professor? Are you saying that we should bring back the D.A.?" "Precisely! This time you will have all of the graduates of the first D.A. to help teach the new students." Dumbledore cheerfully stated. "And you can once again use the room of requirement for the meetings."
Harry couldn't believe his ears. Somehow Dumbledore had just tricked him into starting the D.A. back up. He had no intention of doing this in his final year and he couldn't fathom how it had happened. But he also knew that Dumbledore was right. He would have more help this time than last. Harry nodded to himself. "Alright, Headmaster. I will bring back the D.A." Harry got up and left the Headmaster's office. There was a lot he had to do and he would need help. He went in search of Hermione. She was in a corner of the common room. He rushed over to her.
"We need to talk now!" Harry whispered in her ear. "Get Ron, Neville and Seamus and meet me in the room of Requirement. And hurry."
Hermione looked at him with surprise. "Why there? What's going on?" "I'll explain when you get there." Was all Harry said as he rushed up to his room. Hedwig was already there as if she had anticipated this. He got out a quill and parchment, then wrote a quick note.
Attention: All former D.A. members
Please meet in the room of Requirement immediately!
This is urgent! Once you have read this note please give it back to
Hedwig and make your way there.
Harry.
Harry then put the note on Hedwig and instructed her to take this to every former member of the D.A. and show them this note. But that she was not to leave until they attached the note back to her leg. Then he dismissed her.
She cooed with understanding then flew out the window. With that done Harry made his way to the room of requirement. He waited for everyone to arrive. Once people started piling in, Harry watched with satisfaction. He had taught these people everything he knew on how to defend themselves and now it was their turn. The door finally shut as the last person entered and sat down.
Hermione was the first to speak. "Harry, what's going on?" All the others murmured their agreement.
"Well. First I want to thank all of you for showing and yes Hermione I will be explaining everything." He said and Hermione relaxed a bit. "I was approached earlier about teaching a student defense, I promised I would and went to see Dumbledore about gaining the approval that I would need. Well I got the approval alright. Dumbledore also suggested that I not only teach this student, but others that wished to learn as well. In short he said that I should bring back the D.A. Now as he reminded me, I now have a fully qualified team of teachers to help me with this."
They all looked around and muttered in surprise. "Oh for Merlin's sake!" Harry growled. "I mean you lot! The original D.A.!"
They all nodded in understanding. "Now, what do you say? Shall we teach what we know to a new generation of students?"
All in unison the room erupted in cheers. Harry was a bit relieved that he wouldn't have to coax anyone into doing this. "Alright, first things first." Harry shouted to quiet them down. "We need to figure out who else will be in the D.A. Other than my student that is."
"Who is this student?" Neville asked. "Astra Snape." Harry said plainly.
They all gasped. "Harry is that such a good idea? I mean her father..." Seamus started.
"Has already given me his permission." Harry said matter of factly. "Yes, but she's a Snape!" A Ravenclaw shouted.
"And a Gryffindor!" Hermione glared. "Okay, look. We have had this argument one too many times. Astra is nothing like her father!" Harry growled "And besides, none of you have to train her. That is up to me, not you so stop the worrying!"
They continued through the rest of the day planning the first D.A. meeting. When they were satisfied Harry went to find Astra. He found her in a chair in the common room. Her eyes were streamed with tears and she was looking down at a letter.
"Uh. Astra? What's wrong?" Harry asked. "He's not my father!" Astra sobbed. "My whole life has been a lie and he's not my father!"
Harry looked at her confused.