Chapter 9: The Snake breaks free

Need to talk with you. Meet me the same time and place we met last time. Don't tell anyone.

-The slimy, evil Slytherin

Harry read the short text for the third time. It didn't change.

The slimy, evil Slytherin- Cole must have stuffed the parchment into his pocket today in Herbology, when he ran right into Harry. But –the question remained the same- why?

If this was some idea Cole and Malfoy had cooked up together... It sounded suspicious like the time in their first year when Malfoy had challenged him to a duel after curfew, only to send Filch after Harry. But Malfoy wouldn't go for something as childish and harmless again... Harry remembered only too well the threat on the train.

Don't tell anyone. He definitely didn't like that bit. If something happened to him no one would even suspect Cole, no one knew they had met before.

On the other hand Cole had helped some Muggleborns then. Could it all have been a set-up? Trying to make Harry trust Cole so they could –well, could what? Maybe it wasn't simply Malloy's plan, maybe it was far greater, another scheme of Voldemort? But wouldn't he rather use the same ploy as last year –since it had worked so well?

Harry grimaced. It was no use. He could not determine what Cole wanted and if he was honest or would lead him into a trap. He could only trust his judgement and considering the consequences of his choices last year that wasn't a very encouraging thought.

Did he trust Cole? No. But if he didn't go he might never find out what it was all about. So, go but bring someone else with him? Under his Invisibility Cloak? But if Cole had some good reason for meeting him alone...

Harry made his decision, turned to the staircase to descend the tower and made his way to his dormitory. He took the Map and Invisibility Cloak out of his trunk, hoping this would give him at least some advantage of surprise, and then wrote a short note. It was addressed to Ron and with the same timer spell that Cole had used Harry set an alarm on one o'clock in the night before stuffing the whole thing under his pillow.

If he wouldn't return they would at least know where he had gone and whom he had met. Then he suddenly felt foolish, like the paranoid hero of some bad crime story, and was tempted to tear the note up. A quick glance at his watch however prevented that –his Occlumency lesson had started five minutes ago.

It was just Harry's bad luck that Dumbledore decided to have their first 'real' lesson that day. Meaning that for the first time Dumbledore actually used the Legilimens spell on him.

Harry concentrated on his paperclip, trying to block all other thoughts out, trying not to think anymore. But what if it was a trap? The paperclip wavered, then was pushed aside by other images. Cole pushing him against the table in Herbology, Malfoy trying to insult him before Potions, Harry standing on top of South Tower... -no, he could not let Dumbledore see that, the Headmaster would want to know about the meeting, most likely forbid it-

No, you don't see this! Harry realised he was on his knees, on the soft carpet of Dumbledore's office.

"Now, Harry, I'd say you still have some work to do on preventing me from entering, but you have a rather effective way of pushing one out." Dumbledore was pinching his nose with two fingers. "Can you tell me why you lost focus on your paperclip?"

Harry thought fast –he always thought that the Headmaster had some way to know if he was telling the truth. Well, there was nothing for it, he only hoped whatever Cole wanted was worth it. "I had a lot on my mind today, and I didn't have time to clear my thoughts."

"Something I can help you with?"

"Uh, no, not really –I –well, Professor Sanfter just told me today of his brother and the asylum..."

Dumbledore had a faraway look in his eyes. "Yes, Detlef and his brother... he has not been the same since..." Then he seemed to remember Harry and added with a bitter smile, "It is a shame that the Ministry never managed to clear it up –it wasn't too high on their priorities´ list last year, I suppose."

No, if Umbridge was anything to go by the Ministry had most likely tried to cover the whole thing up, especially when there had been some Dark Magic used... And since there were no insistent relatives demanding results and an explanation it had probably been all too easy to just close the case.

"But that is another story for another time. We should get back to our lesson. How did you push me out?"

It took Harry a moment to gather his thoughts. "Well, I just realised that it was you who wanted to see my memories –and that I didn't want you to. I, erm, sort of remembered what I'm doing here and what I wanted –It's a bit like the Imperio, you have to remember who you are."

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "As I've said before Occlumency is different for every individual. If that method works for you –and it apparently does- then you stick to it. Now all we have to work on is strengthening your focus and concentration so you can block anyone from entering your thoughts in the first place."

And they practiced. Harry managed well enough on the next few tries, though he suspected that Dumbledore was holding back, but towards the end of the lesson his nervousness returned. He hoped Dumbledore would call it a day soon –'same time as last time' meant shortly after curfew, and it was nearly that late already.

Finally the lesson was over and Harry tried not to leave too hastily. Covering himself with the cloak on the staircase ride down he sneaked through the deserted corridors. Pausing in a shadowy corner he pulled out the Map and activated it. 'Graham Cole' stood by the Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor. Peeves was three classrooms further down the corridor but otherwise there was no one near them.

Harry thought he'd rather not reveal all his secrets and took the cloak off. After putting the disillusioning spell on himself he took a deep breath and decided to get this over with.

"So you've come."

"What do you want?" Harry trained his eyes on the moving shape near the cabinet. Great, now they were both disillusioned, again.

"Not here. We'll talk somewhere else, where we won't be that easily overheard."

"No." Harry was not about to follow the Slytherin to Merlin knows where. Not when he couldn't check the map to see if someone else was lurking around there. "If you want to go somewhere else I decide where we go."

Cole hesitated a moment. "OK. But do you know a good place?"

"Hm." It was Harry's turn to hesitate. He didn't really want to bring the Slytherin to the Room of Requirement but couldn't think of another good solution. At least he knew how to seal the Room so no one else could enter, thanks to Terry's research. "Alright, follow me."

Neither said a word while they walked to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and his failing dancing lessons. Harry walked three times up and down the corridor and could almost feel the Slytherin's bewildered stare. Then the shining brass door appeared and Harry led them in. A small, plain room with two armchairs greeted them, and a large mirror hung on one of the walls, looking oddly out of place.

Harry sealed the door with a quick move of his wand and then, after a brief thought, took off his disillusioning spell. He sat down in the armchair facing the mirror and waited for Cole to do the same.

The Slytherin took his time but finally dispelled his own spell and faced him. Harry for the first time had the opportunity to look the other boy in the face and noticed the guarded look behind half closed eyelids. Both sat in silence; Cole either had lost his nerve or wanted Harry to begin.

"So, we're here, no one can overhear us. What do you want?"

"You haven't told anyone about the other night with Doves, or the night in the forest?"

"No, I haven't."

"Or about today?"

"No." Harry was slowly growing impatient.

"You have to promise that you won't tell anyone about what I'll tell you. I want your Wizard's Oath on that."

"Wizard's Oath? And what do you want to tell me?"

"First the Oath."

Harry sighed. "OK -what exactly is a Wizard's Oath? How do I swear it, and erm, what happens if I break it?"

"It's a magical binding, it binds you to keep your word. You really don't know?" Cole looked surprised. "I don't know what'll happen if you break it, that depends on the caster, and the promise you made, and how important it was... But it won't be nice. I've heard of a guy who lost some, er, rather private parts –of course he had promised not to see his friend's wife anymore..."

Cole leaned back in his armchair. "Now just say the words, you don't even need your wand, the Oath works itself into the magic within your body."

"I, Harry Potter, swear on my Wizard's Honour that I will not reveal any information about what you tell me this evening without your consent. I am bound by my word and magic," Harry repeated the words after the Slytherin. "Satisfied? Can we then finally move on to the reason for this meeting?"

"I know something." Cole watched his hands again. "The first Hogsmeade weekend, on Halloween, something will happen."

"Er- so? What?"

"I don't know what. All I know is that something bad will happen!"

Harry got the feeling that this was maybe some kind of weird joke –or Cole was a bit mental.

"Look, I know how it sounds –but it's true! I've heard it from Malfoy; there is something planned for the first Hogsmeade weekend, for the students. The Slytherins won't go –they will sign up for it but then arrange something to stay behind, so it won't look suspicious."

"Then we should go to Dumbledore! He can cancel the weekend, or put more security there."

"NO! I can't tell him, no one can know that I've told this to anyone."

"Then what? Why did you come to me?"

"Well, I couldn't go to Dumbledore, but I can meet you without anyone knowing."

"But why? If you don't want me to tell Dumbledore, if I can't tell anyone, what can I do? Why tell me if all I can do is sit around and wait for it to happen, whatever it is?"

"You seem to get through everything... I told you so you'd be prepared... And I can't risk an increase of official security, they would know that someone had leaked that information to Dumbledore, but if some unofficial security measures were taken, something unexpected... They would be surprised and wouldn't know that it happened because you were prepared, because you knew before... -I, well, I think you could use this Defence group of yours from last year."

"You're mad! We are not good enough yet, we don't have enough experience or knowledge or practice! You honestly expect us to fight God knows how many Death Eaters or whatever else they have planned? You don't even know what exactly they have planned! How could we be prepared? And we're only a few; we're not enough people! This is insane!" Harry exclaimed disbelievingly.

Cole crossed his arms defensively. "It's the only way. I'm not going to tell anyone else. Either you do something or you don't, it's your decision."

"I can't believe you! Even if you get into some trouble with the other Slytherins you have to go to Dumbledore! How can you just sit back and do nothing? Do you really want to risk lots of students to be killed just because you don't want to disappoint your housemates?"

"You understand nothing! I'm not sitting back and doing nothing! I told you! And that's all I'm going to do, the rest is up to you," Cole hissed.

"Yeah, great! Tell me and leave me in absolutely no position to help –so you can tell yourself you did everything you could, and I'm the one to blame if something bad happens!" Harry shouted back just as angry.

"You don't understand. I can't help you more –if anyone finds out I'm dead."

Harry snorted. "Dead, yeah? How do you expect me to understand if you don't tell me?"

"I can't." Cole was speaking to his hands again. "Well, if you can't do anything then, I guess, there's nothing more to talk about." But he made no move to leave.

Harry silently watched the mirror on the wall opposite of him until it slowly dawned on him that it wasn't a mirror at all. There were foggy shapes in it, and he thought he saw two glinting red slits once; it was a foe glass. It had not gotten clearer since he had been in the room with Cole –apparently he wasn't an enemy then. But not exactly helpful either.

"So," Harry finally sighed, "the only way is to have the DA fight. –Why did you come to me at all? Why do you want to stop that attack?"

The Slytherin seemed to have an angry retort on the tip of his tongue but then only responded warily, "Would you ask another Gryffindor that? Or a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw? Just because I'm in Slytherin doesn't mean that I don't care if some students are killed."

No, he wouldn't have asked if Cole were in any house but Slytherin Harry thought, but -"Well, it might help against the prejudices if Slytherins decided not to act like them all the time. –But back to Hogsmeade. I need to tell the DA something."

Cole looked up quickly. "Tell them that you've got a bad feeling, with this being the first Hogsmeade weekend after the Dark Lords official return. Just don't mention that you've heard it from me, or from any Slytherin. Don't say anything about Malfoy, or the Slytherins staying at Hogwarts."

"OK, but I want something from you as well." Harry looked sharply at the other boy. "I want you to try and find out as much as you can about the attack and tell me. How much Death Eaters there'll be, dark creatures, when they'll attack, what's their into me in Herbology and we'll meet in the evening."

Cole swallowed and nodded; and as both of them realised how late it already was they quickly hurried out and parted for their different common rooms.

# # #

Harry spent the night tossing in his sleep, dreaming about Death Eaters burning down the village of Hogsmeade and the sound of a high, cruel laugh echoing over the fire and fallen students. Needless to say he wasn't in the best mood the following day. Snape grated on his nerves during DADA and he lost Gryffindor thirty points for 'looking disrespectfully at a Professor'. Hermione kept eyeing him concernedly. Ron asked him where he had been so long last night, luckily out of Hermione's earshot. By lunch he felt ready to scream.

The worst was that he still didn't know if had made the right choice. Or if he had made his choice already. He could still go to Dumbledore and risk breaking his Oath. Any student that died in Hogsmeade would be partly his responsibility if he didn't do everything in his power to prevent it. Could he really put his own well-being –in not breaking the Oath – over the life of another? Did he have the right to keep quiet? On the other hand did he have the right to break the Oath? He had given his word after all. And he didn't like the possibility of losing any body parts –how could he fight Voldemort if he lost his wand arm for example? Above all Harry was angry with Cole for bringing him into that situation in the first place.

Finally the last period of the day began and Harry, who had that period free, ran to his dormitory and grabbed his Firebolt. He spent an hour with the most daring and reckless moves he knew, barely pulling out of Wronski Feints and scraping the grass in Vicious Spirals. He hadn't found a solution when he landed breathlessly and a bit dizzy, but felt much calmer and ready to face the DA meeting.

"I have been thinking since our last meeting and, well, I've come to an alarming conclusion. The next Hogsmeade weekend, on Halloween, will be the first since Voldemort is officially back. And I'm worried. Voldemort doesn't have to hide anymore, the Dementors have already joined him and on Halloween it'll be exactly fifteen years since he lost his power. From what I've seen from him so far he has a weakness for dramatics –yeah, Zacharias, how else would you call the Dark Mark over his victims´ houses or the whole 'Lord' thing? –and what better way to announce his return than an attack on Hogsmeade and at the same time on Hogwarts' students?

I've got no proof or anything definite but I've got a bad feeling. I'm sure Dumbledore and the Professors have already planned for this possibility but I thought we could change the DA meetings a bit to be better prepared. Instead of learning much new spells I want to concentrate more on duelling and fighting until Halloween, and on the Patronus. We will still learn a few new spells but our main focus is for the moment on how to use them in a fight."

Harry surveyed the DA members sitting in front of him briefly. They seemed serious but not panicky. "I don't want you to repeat this to anyone –remember the promise you made when you signed the parchment. We don't want to start rumours and cause a panic – most probably nothing will happen. OK? Then get together in groups of three –we'll start with duels two on one today. In a real battle you'd most likely be outnumbered or against more skilled and experienced opponents too."

It didn't go very well. Most students could not concentrate on fighting two opponents at the same time and the duels were over soon –only Parvati, Lavender and Hannah Abbot ended up in a stalemate because they all put up shields and neither did attack. They had a lot of work to do.

However the members seemed to feel Harry's anxiousness and urgency and despite it being the toughest DA meeting so far and Harry pushing harder than ever there was little protest and only few growled under their breaths. By the end of the lesson some students could hold their own against two opponents at least for a short time but Harry felt it wasn't enough, not by a long shot.

"OK, good work today everyone. Until our next meeting I want you to practice shield charms –so you can get them up in an instant without thinking. Also look over the Patronus –Hopefully we will be able to see how well you do against a real Dementor by next week."

Harry earned a lot of disbelieving stares. Not only was this the first time he had assigned any 'homework' but the DA also wondered how he would get a real Dementor.

Soon only Ron and Hermione remained behind. "What's going on, mate? You didn't say anything all week that you're worried about Hogsmeade. I didn't even know we had a Hogsmeade weekend on Halloween at all."

"You didn't have another dream, did you? If you know something you should really go to Dumbledore, Harry, he could cancel the weekend."

"No, I didn't have dream and I won't go to Dumbledore –I don't know anything. It's just that I've got a really bad feeling about it. –Maybe I'm getting as paranoid as Mad Eye." Harry hated how much he lied to his friends recently –and how good he had gotten at it.

Even Hermione seemed convinced. "I guess it's only normal with the prophecy –and it can't hurt if the DA is prepared even if nothing happens."

"You don't think I overdid it today in the meeting?"

"It was pretty intense but we knew why you were so serious about it –and I think it's a good thing to step the practice up a bit."

"Yeah, mate, and the two on one was cool –it's different from a normal duel but once you've gotten used to it it's fun."

Harry grinned and shook his head. Ron, along with Dean and Padma, had managed to defend himself longest against two others. The difference between Harry's best friends had been very obvious during the duels. Hermione, while brilliant when concentrating on one thing, had difficulties with keeping focus on two opponents. Ron on the other hand rarely concentrated on one thing –while he did his homework he managed to tease his sister, play a game of chess with Harry and devise a new Quidditch strategy. This ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time helped immensely during the chaotic fights.

While they silently walked back to the common room Harry wondered how he could get a Boggart for the next meeting –and whether Cole would find out at least a bit more information about the attack.

# # #

The next morning the Daily Prophet brought news that sent the whole school –well, almost the whole school –into an atmosphere of worry and near panic. First years walked only in groups from class to class, Flitwick gave Ron a detention for laughing and Harry overheard a fourth year from Ravenclaw telling her friend that You-Know-Who would take over the school at dinner. Malfoy smirked pleased. Beside him only Trelawney was in her element. Any members of the DA that might have had some doubts about Harry's new training style revised their opinions.

Azkaban had fallen last night.

According to the newspaper the sickly green light of the Dark Mark greeted the new shift of guards upon their arrival. In the prison they found only the corpses of the previous guards and a few dead prisoners. No Death Eaters were among the bodies. The Prophet printed a list of all those who escaped –Harry found the names of all the Death Eaters from the Ministry from last June. All counted over two hundred prisoners had escaped. Fudge was not available for a comment. The newspaper warned that not only were most of the escaped ones Death Eaters, but most others were dangerous criminals, sentenced to long-term imprisonment and probably insane by now. Reactions from people all over the country showed fear and anger towards the government.

Harry put the newspaper down and concentrated on his lunch. After reading the article again he knew what had bothered him all morning –he wasn't surprised. It was as if he had been waiting for this all the time, and he knew it was only the beginning. Malfoy looked up from his plate and into Harry's eyes and smiled, the same cold, knowing smile as on the train, and then he winked before turning back and talking with Graham Cole again.

After the meal Ernie and Susan waved Harry, Hermione and Ron over into a quiet corridor. Padma, who had seen it and apparently had had similar intentions, grabbed Anthony Goldstein and followed them.

"This is a grave change of the present situation, it requires serious adjustments on our part. We all have to make sacrifices, and we are ready and willing to do so –it is our duty as students of Hogwarts and members of the DA!" Ernie declared.

Harry, who had no idea what the Hufflepuff expected him to answer, raised his eyebrow questioningly at Susan for help. She seemed to fight the tiniest of a smile but became serious when she answered, "We want to ask you to hold the DA meetings more often. It's now more important than ever, and we need to learn as much as we can as soon as possible."

Padma nodded at her side. "Yes, and you were right. Hogsmeade is too good an opportunity for You-Know-Who to pass up on it –now, with all the Death Eaters free..." Her voice shook slightly.

"You'd really want to fight them? Even if we train and practice more often we'll be inferior..." Harry countered doubtfully.

"Why do you think we stayed in the DA this year? You made it very clear that this was a possibility, and with You-Know-Who's return we all knew what we got ourselves into."

Hermione smiled at Anthony and said, "Well, it's not sure if Dumbledore and the teachers will even allow a Hogsmeade weekend with the news of the break-out. But even if they don't I think it's a good idea to be as prepared as possible."

"If you all think so..." Harry thought fast. Getting the DA more prepared was always a good idea, but real hope gave him Hermione's first thought. Maybe the whole problem with the attack would be solved without the DA fighting or him breaking his Oath. "OK, then we'll meet more often –at least those who want to. I'll set a new meeting time with the Galleons, maybe some time on the weekend?"

After general nods they parted ways and Harry hurried outside to Hagrid's hut. If they met so soon he had to get a Boggart fast. Hopefully Hagrid could help him with that, after all Boggarts were magical creatures even if they had learned about them in Defence. Harry was sure that Snape would rather dress up as Neville's grandmother than help Harry with anything.

"Aye, Harry! What brings'ya down here? D'ya want ter see my Cusith? –He's really coming 'round now, lots friendlier than when I found 'im!"

"Uh, er, no, Hagrid." The giant green dog was chewing viciously on a bone that was as long as Harry was tall. "No, I wanted to ask you a favour, Hagrid. You see, we decided to practice a bit more Defence, review things from the last years... and one of the things was Boggarts."

"Hermione's already made ya study plans for the NEWTs, hm?" Hagrid asked chuckling. "The girl's really looking our fer ya!"

"Erm, and we need a Boggart to practice on..."

"I'm supposed ter get rid of any of them on the school grounds – wouldn't do ter scare the firs' years half ter death."

"Couldn't you keep one of them for me? I promise we won't let it escape. We've all learned about them with Professor Lupin already. Please Hagrid, I can't ask Professor Snape, you know he hates me."

"Na, Harry, o' course he doesn't hate ya! He's a teacher, I'm sure he woul' help ya."

"But you're the Professor for Care of Magical Creatures, and they are magical creatures, aren't they? I'm sure you can tell me all about them!"

Hagrid blushed under his beard. "Just Dumbledore who lets me teach... I'm no Professor; just have a hand fer animals, great man, Dumbledore... Boggarts –yeah, I can tell yer a few things about 'hem. All right, I'll keep one fer ya, I'm sure ye can handle it."

"Great! Thanks, Hagrid! And do you know if there's any way to keep a Boggart in a shape it has assumed? For example, if you're afraid of spiders to keep it an Acromantula even if another person is in front of the Boggart after you?"

"Don' know if tha's possible –guess ya would have ter stay nearer to the Boggart than the other one so it keeps yer form. -But why would anyone be afraid of an Acromantula?"

Harry said goodbye to Hagrid soon later without telling him about the shape Ron's Boggart took. All considered the visit went well –Hagrid would get them a Boggart for the DA meetings and the members would have a Dementor to practice on as long as Harry stayed closest to it. Well, maybe he should go to the kitchens before the meeting and ask Dobby for a huge stack of chocolate -he would surely need it, and most likely many other DA members too.

# # #

The rest of the week dragged on. After a few days with nothing more happening the students calmed down a bit about the break-out. One of the escaped criminals was caught –he was dancing madly over the market place of a small town in Wiltshire, singing 'Avada Kedavra' and pointing at Muggles. Luckily he didn't have his wand with him.

The Daily Prophet reported that Aurors had stunned him and he was now heavily guarded and held by the Ministry in some top-secret location. Fudge told the papers that it was only the Ministries' tireless efforts that led to the capture of the prisoner and kept the public safe.

"What a bragging idiot! Neville's toad would have realised that he's a criminal! He was singing Avada Kedavra, for crying out loud!" Ron said when he read the paper.

On Friday the Quibbler wrote that the Ministry didn't find out more about the break-out and couldn't get any reliable information about the Death Eaters' current location from the caught prisoner –he was simply too crazy. The voices demanding a new Minister were getting more and louder but Fudge had over the years perfected the art of clinging to his office. His government was sending out leaflets like 'What to do when a crazy criminal or a dangerous Death Eater enters your house' and 'Be prepared but do not fear –the Ministry is watching you'.

Harry set the next DA meeting on Sunday morning so they would have a lot of time. Luckily this didn't interfere with any Quidditch training –it was the Slytherin's practice time. Hagrid had found a Boggart in the dungeons and Harry had stashed the furiously shaking box into the Room of Requirement the evening before, carefully sealing the box as well as the room before he left.

Now he was waiting for the other members to arrive while Dobby popped in and out of the Room of Requirement with heaps of chocolate and Neville and Hermione were duelling Ron.

"Hey, Harry," Ron shouted while picking up his wand, "you should do some duelling too! You normally don't get much practice during the meetings."

Harry knew Ron was right –he couldn't teach and at the same time duel and practice. It hadn't mattered much as long as the DA was simply learning new spells because he had learned all the spells before them to be able to teach but he would have to find a solution for it now.

At this moment the door opened and the DA members began to file in. Hermione seemed relieved and Neville dropped onto a pillow on the ground.

"OK everyone. I think you've all heard why we'll meet more often from now and I'm glad you could all come. Today I want to go over the Patronus again –you all can produce at least some mist by now and a lot of you can do a corporeal Patronus." Harry exchanged a brief smile with Susan.

"Now we'll take it to the next step and you try it against a Dementor. I doubt Dumbledore would approve if I brought a real Dementor so I've managed to get a Boggart. It'll take my shape –a Dementor –and you can practice against it.

I've come across a Ministry leaflet yesterday –'Defying Dementors' by August Schwaetzer –please don't take that seriously! I doubt an Auror would reach you before the Dementors even if you send an emergency fire-call and you can't learn the Patronus from a leaflet that gives you nothing more than the incantation."

Harry opened the box of the Boggart and braced himself for his worst memories. He had expected his parents' death and only when he had told Hermione about his plan had she pointed out that he had another really bad memory since he had last faced a Dementor. Of course she was right. Although he could still hear his parents' voices in the background the taunting of Sirius and Bellatrix' answers were much more clear.

Harry could see the arc and the veil and his godfather falling... he quickly stuffed some chocolate into his mouth and to his relief the Room of Requirement came back into focus and the voices became muffled. He saw that Hermione had taken charge of the DA and instructed the members. Suddenly the cold lifted a bit –Padma had produced her Patronus, a stork.

And then, it seemed, her success spurred the others on. Hermione's otter jumped forward and Ron's fox joined her. Neville eyed his huge bear proudly, Parvati admired her flamingo and Zacharias' Patronus for the first time took a solid shape, a snake. A dog, an elephant, a butterfly and something nobody had seen ever before, but Luna claimed it was a Snorkack. More and more shining animals crowded the room and charged at the Dementor, who turned and searched but could not escape and finally fled back into the box.

For a moment there was a stunned silence and the Patroni slowly faded since they had nothing to do anymore. Then loud cheering broke out and DA members could be seen yelling and jumping and dancing over the room, celebrating their victory. Harry smiled tiredly but proudly. It had cost him much but it was worth it; the DA had fought their first Dementor and won.

After they had calmed down they repeated the whole ordeal a few more times, the last time with everyone facing the Dementor alone. Dennis Creevey and Justin Finch-Fletchley were the only ones that couldn't do a corporeal Patronus by the end of the lesson, everyone else managed to drive away the Dementor.

The DA left in a euphoric mood and Harry went to Gryffindor tower with his friends. He was exhausted and wanted to take a nap but not even the sight of a crying Paul Wheeler –again! -could subdue his grand feeling.

A.N.: Longest chapter so far! Thanks for the reviews!

samyjoc -Hope you like what the slimy, evil Slytherin wanted. Though he isn't really that evil... or is he...?

Muus -Thanks, und 'August Schwätzer' ist ganz allein für dich!