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Harry spent nearly his entire break in the library, researching for his potions essay. Trust Snape to give them a ridiculously long and complex essay on the first day back! Consequently, he went to lunch feeling he had achieved absolutely nothing, because he hadn't even managed to put quill to parchment yet
At lunch he met up with Hermione and Ron, who had just come back from Ancient Runes or Care of magical creatures respectively.
"Honestly!" said Hermione as she piled some potato onto her plate. "Ernie McMillan...urgh. He's starting to get so...annoying."
"'E's always been 'noying, 'Mione", said Ron thickly, before he swallowed his mouthful. "I don't know why you didn't notice before." Hermione looked rather disgusted at Ron's eating habits, but chose not to reprimand him about speaking with his mouth full.
"I know he's always been annoying", she said, "but in Ancient Runes he started quizzing me on the roles of a prefect. He's becoming as bad as Percy!"
She realized as soon as she had said it that it was a mistake. The Weasley family still hadn't heard a word from Percy, even after the ministry had publicly announced Voldemorts return. Harry and Hermione had made a silent agreement not to mention Percy in front of Ron, because whenever they did, Ron would go into a long-winded rant about what an annoying git he was. This time though, Ron didn't say anything. He just stared moodily down at his plate, mashing up all his food with his fork. Harry caught Hermione's eye (who looked like she was about to ask Ron what was wrong) and shook his head to indicate for her to leave it for a while.
They spent the rest of their lunch in silence, before heading up to their dorms to get their Charms books. Ron had apparently gotten over his bad mood, because he spent the whole walk to charms chatting to Harry about Quidditch.
"So have you figured out when tryouts are going to be?" he asked eagerly.
"Not yet", replied Harry. "I have to do that tonight, as well as organize the DA and everything." They walked a few more paces in silence, until...
"Hey Ron?" Harry asked. "Listen, mate. I'm gonna be really busy this year. What with quidditch, and the DA, and my extra lesson with Ailey, I'll probably need all the help I can get. So, how would you like to be my vice captain?"
"Really, you mean it?" asks Ron, disbelieving.
"No", said Harry sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "I just asked you to get your hopes up...of course I mean it, I wouldn't have asked other wise."
"Thanks mate!"
"No worries."
They entered the charms classroom, Harry and Ron beaming from ear to ear, and Hermione rolling her eyes.
Charms, as it tuned out, was a lot easier then potions had been. Professor Flitwick was nice enough to give them a lesson of quick revision of everything they had done last year, in the hopes that they would all be prepared next lesson when the real work began. Harry walked out of the class thinking that perhaps this year wouldn't be so bad.
He was really looking forward to his defense against the dark arts class; it would be good to have a decent teacher for a change. He beamed at Remus when he entered the classroom, at sat at the front with Ron and Hermione. Harry was surprised when he looked around the classroom to see that the class made up completely of DA members. When the shouts of greetings and welcome backs to professor Lupin had died down, Remus started the lesson.
"Good afternoon, I'm sure you all remember me, so there's no need to introduce myself", he started, smiling at them. "You may have noticed that all of you here belonged to last year's DA group. There is a good reason for this; you see this isn't just normal defense against the dark arts. This is advanced defense against the dark arts."
Some of the class looked excited about this, other nervous and apprehensive. Hermione's hand shot up in the air.
"Yes Hermione?"
"Sir, I was just wondering, there hasn't been an advanced class previously, has there?" That was true, Harry had never heard of an advanced DADA class.
"Right on queue, as usual Hermione", said Remus. "Yes, this is the first year the class has run. Let me explain; never before in the school's history have such a large amount of students gotten above 95 in their defense exams, and so when you all did so well, Dumbledore thought it best to start up an advanced class. All of you in this room scored above 95."
The class all looked pretty impressed with themselves, and rightly so; they had all put a lot of work into perfecting their skills in the DA. Harry was especially proud that all his 'students' had done so well.
"Right", said Remus, once the excited whispers had subsided. "Who can tell me what you learnt last year in professor Umbridge's class?"
"Bugger all!" came Dean Thomas' shout from the back of the classroom, and the class chuckled appreciatively.
"Oh I know what I learnt", said Seamus. "I learnt that endless classes of theory can be really, really, boring!" Again the class laughed, and Remus looked like he wasn't sure whether to reprimand them or not.
"Ok then", said Remus. "Who can tell me what you learnt last year in the DA?" Hands shot up into the air instantly, and Harry beamed.
"How to disarm properly"
"The impedimenta jinx"
"The reducto curse"
"How to stun people properly"
"Patronuses", said Neville, to which Remus held up a hand to stop them.
"Hands up here who can produce a corporal patronus?" Every member of the class raised their hand to Remus' question. Remus let out a soft whistle; he was no doubt impressed.
"In that case", he said. "I've changed today's lesson plan. I want to see everyone's patronus. Mr. Longbottom, you can go first." Harry looked at Neville. He had come such a long way from the intimidated and shy boy he used to be. Now he stood proud and tall as he cast his patronus, and the class applauded.
The rest of the lesson flew by fairly quickly, everyone showing Professor Lupin his or her patronuses. Before Harry new it the bell had rung and the rest of the class was filing out. Harry stayed behind with Ron and Hermione to talk to Remus.
"It so good to have you as our teacher again, professor", said Hermione, as she approached Remus' desk.
Remus smiled "I'm glad some people think so. I was really worried that everyone would react like young Mr. Malfoy did, but this class was pretty good. The first years might be a different story, though, seeing as they don't know me yet."
"I already spoke to the younger Gryffindor students, the ones who you haven't taught yet", said Hermione. "And I told them not to worry, and that you were a friend of Harry's. That seemed to settle that matter. Also, I know Ernie is going to speak to the hufflepuffs, and Anthony to the ravenclaws, so it should only be the slytherins who give you a hard time, but they give everyone a hard time."
Remus gave Hermione a look of extreme gratitude, before he turned to Harry. "It seems I underestimated your teaching abilities. I cant believe you have them all doing patronuses!"
Harry shrugged. "They were all pretty keen to learn, 'cause of Voldemort and all, so it wasn't too hard."
"Your continuing the group aren't you?"
"Yep", Harry replied. "I just have to figure out times. I was thinking though, do you reckon you could stop by and give us a hand every now and then?"
Remus smiled. "Love to, just let me know when and where."
Hermione started digging in her pocket for something. "In that case", she said, pulling a gold galleon out of her pocket, "have a fake galleon. See the numbers? When Harry changes the numbers on his, everyone's will grow hot and show the date of the next meeting. It's how we kept things secret from Umbridge, but we might as well keep using them." Remus seemed suitable impressed.
"As to where", said Ron, "we use the room of requirement, do you know it?"
Remus raised an eyebrow. "I was a marauder, of course I know it. It was our favorite room."
"Ok", said Harry. "Now that that's sorted, I'm off to sort out quidditch. See you later, Rem...er...Professor!"
After dinner, Harry returned to the common room with Ron and decided on times for quidditch tryouts. They needed replacement beaters, because the ones that had filled in for Fred and George the previous year had decided not to play this year. They also needed 2 replacement chasers to take Angelina and Alicia's old spots. Katie Bell was still on the team, so they talked to her and decided to hold tryouts on Friday at 5. Ron made up some signs and stuck them to the notice boards.
Harry had talked to people from Ravenclaw and Huffelpuff at lunch and decided that the best time for the first DA meeting would be Thursday at 8. He took out his galleon and changed the date on it, before he headed up to bed for a well-earned sleep.