Chapter Eleven

The First D.A. Meeting

"Hello you three, I was wondering you would come and visit me," as he let them in while holding onto Fang by the collar.

They came in and sat at his table although his furniture was twice the size of them. "I heard about what Professor Pierce did to Malfoy the other day," Hagrid said cracking a smile behind his thick beard.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione told Hagrid of how Malfoy got his detention and how Professor Pierce saved Harry from Professor Snape by using a charm that shows the previous spell cast from the wand. "How's Grawp" Hermione asked Hagrid.

Hagrid gave out a sigh as he poured them some tea, "He is now able to learn some more English and he is a little more controllable."
"That's great Hagrid," Ron said with a hint of sarcasm that Hagrid didn't seem to catch. Grawp was Hagrid's half-brother who he brought back with him on his way back to Hogwarts from visiting the giants.

It was near dinner when they left Hagrid's hut and made their way toward the school. Harry and Ron quickly ate and left to retrieve their broomsticks from their dormitory. Hermione jointed them as they were coming down the staircase and out onto the grounds on their way toward the Quidditch pitch. Harry and Ron left Hermione so they could change into their uniforms. After they had changed, they saw Katie Bell already in her uniform with Ginny and other Gryffindors who are trying out for the team.

"Okay, the team is already here now, so lets have all of those who are trying for Chaser mount their brooms and form a circle," Katie Bell said and then kicked off (with Quaffle in tow) with ten others following her. Harry, Ron, and the others who were left behind also kicked off and took a view above the circle to watch.

The Chasers started to toss the Quaffle to each other in the circle. Some of the participants dropped the Quaffle, but continued tossing the Quaffle. After a few minutes, Katie Bell blew her whistle, "Okay, we will now be in groups of three and we will try passing while at high speeds and shooting without a Keeper. I will tell you which hoop to toss through."

The tryouts continued as some of participants couldn't keep their passes accurate. Ginny was just as good as Katie and there was another girl who looked great teamed up with Katie and Ginny. Katie blew her whistle again, "Okay, we now will try with a Keeper. Ron, head over to the goalpost," Ron left and headed toward the goalpost that they were shooting at.

They were in threes again and most have failed to pass Ron, but that was not until Katie, Ginny, and one of the girls got past Ron. As it turned out, Ginny tossed the Quaffle up and behind her causing the girl to pass the Quaffle by kicking it to Katie who scored through the center hoop. Ron was expecting them to score through the right hoop. There was applause from the spectators watching and Katie wanted them to run it again. The result was the same but they scored through the right hoop.

Katie called for the Beaters for tryouts. She had the spectators throw bewitched targets so that the Beaters needed to hit. They each were randomly paired and after several pairings; many of the participants missed their targets. The only compatible pair that was able to defend against the Bludgers were Colin and Dennis Creevey.

The sun was just setting and Katie blew her whistle. "The team goes as follow: Chasers are Ginny Weasley and Erika Simpson; Beaters are the Creevey brothers. For those who did not make the team, keep practicing and don't give up," those who did not make the team landed and left the pitch. "Okay, we are now a new team and I think we can win the Quidditch Cup this year. Our next practice will be after dinner this Friday and again this weekend after lunch and I need everyone for our practice. I will also make sure we have the pitch this weekend and privacy so the Slytherins won't try to spy on us. Get some rest team since we will have a busy practice for the next two days," she spoke with the best, from what Harry could tell, of Wood's fiery attitude.

Harry changed, after they had returned to the changing room although he was not as sore as Ron was, but Ron was clearly up set that his own sister got passed him on a brilliant play. Ginny stayed behind so as Katie and Erika can think up some new formations they can use to keep the Keepers guessing. Hermione joined Harry and Ron outside the pitch. Ron almost didn't want to talk about the practice since Ginny's play scored against him.

"Ron at least you can protect the hoops from the Chasers and I think it is good to have some Chasers who can keep the Keeper guessing," Hermione pointed out.

Ron just walked faster leaving Harry and Hermione behind. Hermione thought that the tryouts were great and hoped that they would win the Quidditch Cup again this year. They made their way towards the tower to find a knot of people gathered around the notice board. By now Ron had calmed down enough to talk to them.

"The notice says that the D.A. will be meeting in the Great Hall at seven tonight and Professor Pierce is overseeing the meeting. It also says that we will be electing a student leader since the D.A. has been set up as a student-led club and seconds years and up can attend," Ron told them since there were people crowded around the notice board.

Hermione continued her Ancient Runes homework, Ron continued to do his homework he neglected, and Harry continued to practice his wand movements for Professor Pierce. Crookshanks came in moving swiftly through the knot of legs around the notice board and went around Hermione's legs before jumping onto Harry's lap purring loudly while he was being stroked by Harry.

As the time for the first D.A. meeting closer, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and several other students from Gryffindor left for the Great Hall. They entered the Great Hall to find that the four House tables were stood on their ends against the walls. Professor Pierce was in the center of the room standing on a chair with other students form the other House, and to Harry and Ron's disgust Malfoy was present.

"Can everyone hear me?" Professor Pierce asked and several students nodded. "I am here to just oversee any meeting in this club. You will now nominate a leader for this club. I, myself, cannot be nominated since this is a student club and it will be led by a student. Any nominations?"

"Harry Potter," Hermione said outright and Harry could hear Malfoy's scoff.

"Draco Malfoy," Crabbe grunted.

"Any others?" Professor Pierce asked but no one else spoke. "Okay, we shall vote for the leader of this club. First Mr. Potter." Harry could see that three-fourths of the students present voted for him. "For Mr. Malfoy?" Only the Slytherins voted for Malfoy making Harry the leader of the D.A. "It is settled, Mr. Potter is the student leader and he will be the one who sets what spell that will be practiced during the meetings."

"What is the name of this club Professor?" Malfoy asked interrupting her.

"That is for Mr. Potter to say and I will allow him to speak," she replied.

She stepped off the chair to allow Harry to stand on it to be heard.

"Okay," he started with his nervousness vanishing, "the name of this club is the D.A. which will now stand for Defense Arts. First of all, those who have been in the club the previous year will help those who are new in the club. I want each of you to pair up and to listen to those who have experience will the spells they have learned. We will practice--"

"Why should we listen to you when we can have a professor leading this club?" Malfoy interrupted Harry not bother keeping his voice down.

"I have been elected the leader by the students," Harry said resentfully.

"Yeah, for someone who could go insane when his scare hurts," several of the Slytherins chuckled.

"Mr. Malfoy, although I am here just to observe, I can still take away points and give detentions. If you have a problem with Mr. Potter's criteria, you may leave," Professor Pierce said making herself heard pointing at the door.

He and all of the Slytherins left with Malfoy in the lead.

"As I was saying," Harry spoke getting the others attention, "we will practice the spells learned the previous year. We will be practicing other spells throughout the year as with the light of the Dark Lord's return. We will first practice disarming," no one spoke until after Harry stood off the chair and the students started pairing off.

The previous D.A. started helping the new members with the spell as Harry went around watching and helping the members with the spell. After half an hour, most of the students mastered the spell.

"Okay," Harry said getting their attention, "we will now try the Shielding Charm that will protect you form most unfriendly spells."

Again they practiced the spells helping each other out. The Shielding Charm was much harder to master since wands flew in every direction due to failed charm spells and nervousness. Harry knew that it will be harder this year since they had more new members and some of the spells were higher leveled magic. They also practiced stunning, reflecting, and started on producing a patronus. There was excitement from the new members at the number of different varieties patronus shapes can it can form. They spent the last half hour trying to produce a patronus, but the new members only could produce a silver mist. Harry reminded them that they would no produce one on their first try.