"So, obviously, we have Cho, she's from Ravenclaw. Now, we need someone from either Slytherin or Hufflepuff."
"Well, I'd rather get someone from Hufflepuff, rather than Slytherin," Hermione shot back.
Ginny watched as her two friends argued about who the fifth member of the team should be. She was sitting in one of the oversized chairs in the Gryffondor Common Room, while Harry stood at a window, and Hermione paced.
"You cannot trust anyone in Slytherin, and I mean anyone. You," Hermione pointed at Harry. "Of all people should know that."
"I never said they were a trustworthy bunch, Hermione. All I said was that having a powerful ally in Slytherin could prove to be a useful resource, and a strong team member, provided Crabbe and Goyle aren't on this team."
"It's also a liability, Harry!"
Ginny coughed. Neither noticed, so she coughed again.
"Yes, Ginny?"
"I have the perfect person in mind."
"Who?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
Professor McGonagoll listened to their suggestions. "Very well, I approve of these. However, I am a little concerned about your selection of Draco Malfoy. Given your history, can you accept him as a full member of this team?"
"Yes, Professor. I may have a problem with him, but I promise it will not affect the efficiency of this team. We decided to recruit Draco because he is powerful, his father is a death eater, and he could be a valuable resource."
"Very well, Mr. Potter. I see Ms. Granger has suggested Alice Hughes, from Hufflepuff. An excellent choice. She is an animagus, and has high marks in Defense against the Dark arts. I approve this list.
"These two students will be contacted very soon, and I will set up a meeting to orient you to your new assignment. Please go to your classes."
The rest of the week was uneventful. On Friday, Professor Dumbledore rescinded the curfew, so things were mostly normal again. On Saturday, The Student Defense Corps held its first meeting.
"So, Potter, still hanging out with that mudblood, are you?"
"Harry, no!" Ginny shouted as Harry flipped his wand out.
Harry calmed down, glaring at Malfoy. His cheeks were red, and Malfoy was grinning.
"Oh, Potter, I see your girlfriend is defending you again."
It took all of his restraint not to petrify Malfoy. "Draco, we need you to help us. Someone has got to stop the students from being killed. Last night, two fourth years were thrown off the marble staircase outside the Great Hall. Needless to say, after falling thirty feet, and hitting your head like that, they didn't survive."
"I didn't hear about that," Draco said.
"It's because Dumbledore's trying to keep it quiet so we can attempt to find the killer."
"Well, Potter, I'm sure your girlfriend and I can-"
"Draco!" Harry screamed. He flung his wand and shouted, "Stupefy!"
Hermione shoved Draco out of the way, allowing Harry's stunner to sizzle harmlessly into the wall.
"Mr. Potter! I will not allow you to harm other students. There is enough of that going on already. Ten points from Gryffendor. Now, where is Ms. Hughes?"
"Here, Professor!"
Alice was running behind Professor McGonnagoll, and stumbled into the room. "Sorry, I'm late. I had a study session that ran a little long."
"Very well, Ms. Hughes, just don't be late again."
"Yes, ma'am."
McGonagoll sat behind her desk. She took out her wand, and conjured several glasses of butterbeer.
"Now, you are tasked with protecting the student body from any dangers you may encounter. You are only authorised with patrolling Student designated areas, not the refugee areas, just dormitories, used classrooms, the baths. Nowhere else. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor, but I have a question."
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Are we allowed to use the three unforgivable curses if necessary?"
McGonagoll took her glasses off her face. She looked at Draco.
"No, Mr. Malfoy, you are not. As Azkaban is under the Control of He- who- must-not-be-named, you are most likely to be executed for using one of those spells."
"Thank you, professor." Draco visibly gulped.
"Well, I'd rather get someone from Hufflepuff, rather than Slytherin," Hermione shot back.
Ginny watched as her two friends argued about who the fifth member of the team should be. She was sitting in one of the oversized chairs in the Gryffondor Common Room, while Harry stood at a window, and Hermione paced.
"You cannot trust anyone in Slytherin, and I mean anyone. You," Hermione pointed at Harry. "Of all people should know that."
"I never said they were a trustworthy bunch, Hermione. All I said was that having a powerful ally in Slytherin could prove to be a useful resource, and a strong team member, provided Crabbe and Goyle aren't on this team."
"It's also a liability, Harry!"
Ginny coughed. Neither noticed, so she coughed again.
"Yes, Ginny?"
"I have the perfect person in mind."
"Who?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
Professor McGonagoll listened to their suggestions. "Very well, I approve of these. However, I am a little concerned about your selection of Draco Malfoy. Given your history, can you accept him as a full member of this team?"
"Yes, Professor. I may have a problem with him, but I promise it will not affect the efficiency of this team. We decided to recruit Draco because he is powerful, his father is a death eater, and he could be a valuable resource."
"Very well, Mr. Potter. I see Ms. Granger has suggested Alice Hughes, from Hufflepuff. An excellent choice. She is an animagus, and has high marks in Defense against the Dark arts. I approve this list.
"These two students will be contacted very soon, and I will set up a meeting to orient you to your new assignment. Please go to your classes."
The rest of the week was uneventful. On Friday, Professor Dumbledore rescinded the curfew, so things were mostly normal again. On Saturday, The Student Defense Corps held its first meeting.
"So, Potter, still hanging out with that mudblood, are you?"
"Harry, no!" Ginny shouted as Harry flipped his wand out.
Harry calmed down, glaring at Malfoy. His cheeks were red, and Malfoy was grinning.
"Oh, Potter, I see your girlfriend is defending you again."
It took all of his restraint not to petrify Malfoy. "Draco, we need you to help us. Someone has got to stop the students from being killed. Last night, two fourth years were thrown off the marble staircase outside the Great Hall. Needless to say, after falling thirty feet, and hitting your head like that, they didn't survive."
"I didn't hear about that," Draco said.
"It's because Dumbledore's trying to keep it quiet so we can attempt to find the killer."
"Well, Potter, I'm sure your girlfriend and I can-"
"Draco!" Harry screamed. He flung his wand and shouted, "Stupefy!"
Hermione shoved Draco out of the way, allowing Harry's stunner to sizzle harmlessly into the wall.
"Mr. Potter! I will not allow you to harm other students. There is enough of that going on already. Ten points from Gryffendor. Now, where is Ms. Hughes?"
"Here, Professor!"
Alice was running behind Professor McGonnagoll, and stumbled into the room. "Sorry, I'm late. I had a study session that ran a little long."
"Very well, Ms. Hughes, just don't be late again."
"Yes, ma'am."
McGonagoll sat behind her desk. She took out her wand, and conjured several glasses of butterbeer.
"Now, you are tasked with protecting the student body from any dangers you may encounter. You are only authorised with patrolling Student designated areas, not the refugee areas, just dormitories, used classrooms, the baths. Nowhere else. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor, but I have a question."
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Are we allowed to use the three unforgivable curses if necessary?"
McGonagoll took her glasses off her face. She looked at Draco.
"No, Mr. Malfoy, you are not. As Azkaban is under the Control of He- who- must-not-be-named, you are most likely to be executed for using one of those spells."
"Thank you, professor." Draco visibly gulped.