DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or anything else in this story.
WARNING: This story contains HP/DM pairings and that means SLASH (soon). Don't like it, why are you even here? But if for some reason you are here by some mistake I suggest that you leave now.
a/n: I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed my story so far and even those who read and don't review! Here's the next installment, enjoy!
Chapter Six: Out with the old and in with the new
As Harry stumbled out of bed the next morning he realised that today was the beginning of a new year for the DA. He, Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Draco had organised the first meeting. Ginny had informed all the Gryffindors about the meeting and told Harry that their response was one of great enthusiasm. Everyone understood the dangers that lay before them and wanted to be as best prepared for them as they could be.
"Morning, Harry!" Draco called as he saw Harry make his was to the bathroom. Harry's only response was a grunt in the general direction of Draco's voice. Draco smiled and shook his head Harry was always like this in the morning.
A few minutes later a fully awakened Harry made his way to the Great Hall with Draco walking beside him, "I don't understand how you can get ready so fast. You should really do something with your hair or maybe your glasses…"
"Shut up, Draco. Lay off my look, it's my trademark in case you haven't noticed," was Harry's only reply.
Draco smirked, "Yeah I've noticed. I've also noticed the increasing numbers of look-alike-trademark-Harry's wandering around." Ever since the Ministry had publicly apologised to Harry for that year when they had been saying that he was simply a crazy, attention seeking adolescent the younger kids had begun idolising him again. This didn't bother Harry as much as it used to, but it was still a bit weird to see little 'Harry's' wandering around.
"Maybe you're right Draco. It's time for a change."
"Excellent. Leave it to me!" Draco clapped excitedly like a small child and Harry wondered just what he had got himself into.
His thoughts were interrupted as they reached the Gryffindor table. "Hi Harry. Over here." Neville waved them over from where he and their fellow 7th years were sitting.
"Hi guys, is everyone clear about tonight?" Harry looked around and the group. They all nodded. Harry had divided up the house so it wouldn't look too suspicious. A whole house going to a room which most of the school didn't even know existed was suspicious in its own right and Harry didn't want any more attention to what they would be doing.
"The meeting starts at 9 tonight, start bringing students up at 8 or earlier if you can manage," added Hermione. Harry could tell that she was looking forward to the meeting as much as he was.
After class that day Draco had dragged Harry back to their dorm. It seemed that he had spent the day contemplating Harry's new 'look'. He seemed very excited and wanted to unveil it at the DA meeting. Harry didn't know whether to be excited also, or be scared. He decided that what he felt was a mixture of both.
Draco sat Harry onto a chair which he had conjured in the bathroom. "Okay," he began in a very business-like manner, "the glasses must go." Harry didn't have any time to protest when Draco whipped Harry's glasses out and tapped the end of Harry's nose with his wand muttering an incantation under his breath. Suddenly Harry's vision became crystal clear.
"Wow, how come no-one ever did that before?" Harry looked around the room with his now perfect vision.
"Probably you were too young and of course they were part of your trademark look." Draco said, "Now for the hard part, the hair."
Several hours later Harry and Draco were waiting in the Room of Requirement. Harry felt nervous. He loved his new look and knew that Draco loved it too, but he couldn't help but feel anxious about the reactions of his other friends.
He heard voices approaching the room. The door burst open and Hermione and Ginny stopped dead, indignant cries came from behind them, evidently from the group of Gryffindors they had just led to the room.
"Harry…"Ginny managed to gasp out before returning to simply staring. It seemed that Hermione had no words as she took in Harry's appearance. Before her stood what seemed to be a god. Harry's dark brown hair was tamed into messy spikes, his green eyes appeared more luminescent than usual and set off his tanned skin beautifully. Harry shifted uncomfortably under their gaze.
"Um, guys you're blocking the door." Harry said.
"Oh right," Hermione said, recovering from her shock. As she moved to allow the other students to enter the room she said, "Wow, Harry. You look amazing!"
"Thanks Hermione." Said Harry visible brightening, feeling his confidence return at her obvious approval. Ginny too was recovering and had walked over and said to Draco, "Nice job. I can't believe he let you do that to him! He's had the same look for years. I'm glad you got rid of those glasses."
"Hey, what was wrong with my glasses?" Harry exclaimed defensively.
Draco and Ginny exchanged exasperated glances. He would never understand.
Harry suddenly became painfully aware of the fact that all the people in the room were either staring at him or whispering to their friends. Harry caught some of what they were saying, 'whoah! I didn't know Harry had it in him…he's soo HOT…his eyes!' Harry felt a blush rising.
Ron entered the room along with the last of the Gryffindors. Ron's eyes widened slightly as he walked across the room towards Harry. "What happened to you?" he exclaimed, "It looks good…but different." Harry was relieved at his friends reaction to his new look.
"Tell me about it, Draco said I needed a new 'look' and this is what happened."
Ron now noticed all the eyes in the room were focussed on Harry, many girls were watching him in a predatorily way. Ron shivered, "Glad it's not me is all I can say." Ron quickly made his way over to stand next to Hermione and Harry began the meeting.
"Er. Right, well you all know why we're hear," a few people nodded dumbly, Harry had a feeling that they weren't really listening. "And yes I have done something different to my hair, thankyou all for noticing" Harry smirked at Gryffindors around him; a few of them shook their heads, becoming aware that they had been staring. A few of them even blushed.
"Glad to get you're attention." The group laughed, and Harry continued with the meeting. "We're here tonight to learn how to defend ourselves. I'd like to welcome our newest members and welcome back some others from the past two years, it's great to see you all again. This year we've worked out a new program. There will be six leaders. Draco and I will be teaching Wednesday and Sunday night practices. Ron and Hermione will be taking Tuesday and Thursday night and Ginny and Neville will be taking the Monday and Saturday night practices. If you could sign you're names up for a maximum of two practices per week we'll organise the groups properly. For tonight we'll break up into three groups and practice some of the more basic spells. If this part of the room will follow Ron and Hermione through that door," Harry pointed to the wall; a door appeared there and opened onto a large classroom perfect for the DA. "Okay, half of you follow Ginny and Neville into that room and the rest stay with Draco and me."
The group split into three groups and moved to their respective room to practice.
"Right," Harry addresses the group of students he and Draco would be teaching, "We're going to start with some of the more basic defensive spells, everyone pair up. For the next half an hour we'll do Expelliaramus,the disarming spell. Draco and I will wander around to help anyone who needs it."
Draco smiled encouragingly at Harry, "How about we do a demonstration before they go?" he whispered. "Give them something to work towards? We are the best duellists in the school after all."
"And so modest! But, yeah that's a good idea." Harry agreed. "I'd better go help those two," he pointed to a pair of second years who seemed to be in a bit of trouble due to an incorrectly cast spell.
Thirty minutes later everyone in the room had managed to cast a successful Expelliaramus. This was very encouraging as many of their group were first years and had the least experience.
This time Draco made the speeches, "Great work everyone! Harry and I hope that you will all become members of the DA, but just in case you're still not sure we're going to do a little performance to show the kind of duelling which you will achieve through attending these classes."
Without a seconds break Draco cast a stunning spell Harry's way. Slightly off guard Harry only narrowly missed the spell, but immediately came back with a confundus charm, which hit its goal but was shaken off by Draco. Draco shielded himself with Protego and blasted Harry with a tickling charm, causing Harry to double over with laughter. Harry managed to gasp out "Expelliaramus", disarming Draco and ending the fight before reversing the effects of the tickling charm.
Harry smirked at Draco who was looking slightly put out but turned to the audience, "See how effective that simple Expelliaramus spell can be?" He received nods and people began to clap. Harry noticed that the other two groups had also entered the room and had also seen their duel.
Harry and Draco bowed and bid everyone good night. Together they left the room and made their way back to their rooms.
Harry felt something change between Draco and himself that night, he couldn't be sure but he thought that it was a confirmation of those feelings he had been feeling for the past few weeks. As he lay back in his bed he smiled.
a/n: and that's the end to another chapter! Did you like it? How about the new Harry? Things to look forward to in the next chapter: news of Draco's father and developments in the 'relationship'. Review!!!!!