Chapter Seventeen: The Last of Dumbledore's Army

"Harry…Harry wake up!"

"Hmm?" Harry mumbled groggily.

"Harry get up! We've been in here too long. We fell asleep. Lunch is sure to be over by now."

"Ugh, and I'm famished too."

"So am I, but I'll just be grateful if we haven't missed any classes!"

"Oh no, I'm so sorry Ginny. If you've missed anything important, I'll try and help you catch up. I'm sure Hermione's notes from last year can help too."

"I wonder how long we've been sleeping."

"Who knows, but I'll tell you one thing! I sure wish I could always wake up next to you like this!"

"Oh Harry! Honestly! Get up, will you?"

"All right, all right, I'm coming." He looked around the room as he lifted himself off the sofa. The fire was dying away and the windows were dark. 'I need a clock!' he thought, and one appeared above the mantle. "Oh no!"

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

"I have some good news and some bad news, which do you want first?"

"Bad, so the good can cheer me up afterward."

"The bad news is, we've missed all our afternoon classes, and quidditch practice."

"Oh crud!" Ginny sat down on the sofa, covered her face with her hands, and then peered up at the clock through her fingers just to verify Harry's announcement. "The good news?"

"We can still eat. It's dinner time."

"Yes, that definitely makes me feel better," she responded sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, Gin. I didn't mean to get us in so much trouble."

"The biggest trouble will start when Ron finds out where we've been all this time!"

"Oh…" Harry's heart began beating wildly and his palms began to sweat. "He's going to kill me!"

"Not if McGonagall gets there first. You've missed Transfiguration."

"Well, nothing to do now but go and face the music, I guess, are you ready?"

"Yeah, I just wish there were a mirror in here. Don't want to go down looking like…well, you know what I mean."

"Yeah, oh, look, the room has just given us one." Harry pointed at the wall behind Ginny's back.

"Thank goodness. Now, how about a hair brush!" she said as she examined herself carefully in the mirror. A small table with a brush, comb, and some barrettes appeared under the mirror. "If only it were so easy to find this stuff in my dorm!" Ginny commented as she ran the brush through her hair. When they had both fixed their appearances to their satisfaction, they headed down to the Great Hall hand in hand. Harry's dread grew with every step, wondering what his friends and teachers would have to say about his absence. If it hadn't been for everyone's fawning over his healed injuries, he could have claimed recuperation time. But he had told Tonks there was no longer any pain. He searched frantically in his mind for an excuse, any excuse for his absence, but the more he thought about it, the more he couldn't keep his mind off where he had actually been all afternoon, and a smile crept unbidden onto his face.

"Quit looking so happy!" Ginny warned.

"I'm trying, but I can't help it!"

"I know, neither can I!"

They stopped just outside the doors of the Great Hall and Harry turned to look at Ginny. Her eyes sparkled like dew on a summer's morning, and he leaned in for one last kiss before they had to face the crowd within.

"Oi, whatcha doin' to my sister?" Ron was standing with the door halfway open staring out at them.

"Hey Ron," Harry said distractedly, and knew he was sunk. He kept his eyes on Ginny a moment longer before turning to face his friend. He opened his mouth to say whatever might come to mind first, but nothing came out. He closed it again just as Hermione stepped through the doors and eyed them both suspiciously.

"And just where have you two been all afternoon?" she asked.

"Um…" Harry said.

"Well…" Ginny said at the same time.

Harry scratched the back of his leg with his foot, and Ginny scanned both Ron and Hermione's faces carefully before she said, "We fell asleep."

Ron looked at Ginny for a long time, as though analyzing her thoroughly, then looked Harry in the eye and asked, "Just sleeping?"

Harry's throat constricted, his eyes burned, there was no getting out of this. He said nothing, but it seemed no words were needed to get the message across, clear as day.

"Oh Merlin," Hermione breathed, and pulled Ginny away and down the corridor into an empty classroom, leaving Harry to fend for himself with a very angry looking Ron.

"Ron, I…"

"You what?" Ron said flatly. "You're sorry? You better not be!"

"No…no, I mean, I'm sorry if you're mad, but I'm not sorry…I mean…Oh Merlin," he finally echoed Hermione.

"You missed McGonagall's introduction to large mammal transfigurations, and some kind of nasty creature called an Occamy in Care of Magical Creatures. Looked like it was half bird, half lizard! Not to mention Quidditch Practice…" Ron seemed to be avoiding the topic at hand now, and Harry was all for that, but Ron was also leading him down the corridor, past the room where Hermione and Ginny seemed to be deep in conversation, and into the adjoining classroom. As soon as they had entered, Ron looked directly at Harry with an expression of utmost sincerity.

"I'm only going to say this once, Harry," he began, and Harry feared the worst. "You're the best friend I've ever had, you and Hermione, but I swear, if you do anything to hurt my little sister, I will personally feed you to Norbert, and I'm sure Charlie would help me arrange it to look like an accident!"

"Ron, I swear, I'm not going to hurt her!" Harry said, with every measure of honesty. "Ginny means more to me than anything else in my world. I would do anything to make her happy."

Ron searched Harry's face carefully, and seeming satisfied with what he saw, spoke again. "All right, I believe you, but…"

"What is it, Ron?"

"You never had anyone tell you…I mean, you were only a baby when your parents died, so how could they? It's just…" Ron looked exceptionally nervous, as though he'd been handed a test to take before the material had been handled in class. "You do know, don't you, that Ginny could…you know…get…" Harry suddenly figured out where Ron was going with this.

"OK Ron, you can stop right there! All I can say is, you have nothing to worry about, OK? I know all about all of that, believe it or not. There are other sources besides parents, and…we didn't…"

"You didn't?"

"No!…I mean…we did plenty of kissing and all…but…"

"Oh…" Ron looked thoroughly relieved, then suddenly extremely embarrassed. "We better go save Ginny from Hermione then! She's not likely to stop talking long enough to let Ginny tell her that."

Harry's eyes got wide and he dashed for the door. He threw himself into the adjacent room just in time to hear Hermione say the word "protection".

"Hermione…" Harry said, but she turned on him and said, "It's just as well you hear it too, Harry, you can't go around doing that sort of thing while we're still in school!"

"Hermione…we didn't!"

"And you certainly need to use…what?" Her face began to redden as she digested what Harry had said, but she pulled her composure together quickly. "Oh…well that's good at least. But McGonagall's going to be furious!"

"Yes, I'm sure she is. But for now, would it be all right if Ginny and I went in for dinner? We missed lunch already."

"Oh… right…of course…" Hermione looked from Harry to Ron and shrugged. "I guess I owe you both an apology, first, though. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that."

"No apology needed," Harry said. "It's nice to know you both care so much." Harry smiled and took Ginny's hand before leading her toward the open classroom door. "Come on," he said to Ginny, "let's go eat, I'm starving!"

"Are you sure you didn't?" Ron teased, and Harry chuckled lightly, but didn't answer.

Harry had just started on a second helping of mashed potatoes when the next round of reprimands came striding down from the head table.

"Good evening, Professor McGonagall," Harry said pleasantly as he set down his fork. He hoped if he were polite enough, it might stem the tide and he and Ginny might come out of this with fewer injuries to their consciences.

"I would like a word with you and Miss Weasley in my office in five minutes," said the Professor, and she immediately strode away. 'So much for small talk,' Harry thought.

Does she know legilimency?

'I sure hope not, but I better put up my Occlumency barrier just the same.'

Four minutes and ten seconds later, Harry and Ginny entered Professor McGonagall's office and the first thing Harry noticed was the concerned, almost motherly look on the teacher's face.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, thank you for joining me here tonight. I realize you have a D.A. meeting to attend later, but under the circumstances…"

"Professor? What circumstances are those?" Harry hoped it was something other than what he'd thought it was, but also dreaded whatever else it could be.

"I assumed you knew already…that is, I expected Miss Granger would have informed you, but," there was a brief flicker of…could that have been curiosity… on the professor's face, but it vanished and was replaced by the concerned expression again almost instantly. "Harry…"

'She's using my first name!' he thought in mild confusion.

"There have been some…accusations…made…at the Ministry," McGonagall began. Harry's full attention was immediately on his transfiguration teacher.

"What kind of accusations?" he asked.

"Minister Weasley…among others…has determined that an investigation into the safety of this school is in order after yesterday's events. Though no students were harmed, one teacher and several aurors, along with a few members of the Order, were taken to St. Mungo's. Only one died.

"Not Snape…" Harry breathed, fearing the worst.

"No, thankfully Severus is going to be all right in a few weeks. But Kingsley Shacklebolt was hit with the Killing Curse."

"No…" Harry sat in a chair in front of McGonagall's desk, leaned his elbows on her desk top and rested his head in his palms, his fingers running through his hair. Ginny sat down next to him and rested a hand on his knee, knowing his thoughts without need of the bond.

"It's not your fault, Harry."

"Miss Weasley is correct, it is not anyone's fault. Only Voldemort and his Death Eaters hold the blame for Kingsley's death."

"But the Order has lost their Ministry connection in the Auror department!" Harry mused.

"Tonks will be our connection from now on, but do keep in mind that this is information you are not to share!" McGonagall said.

"Then…she won't be able to teach…"

"This is true, but after all these years of losing Defense teachers, I believe we have learned how to find a decent replacement. In fact, this is part of why I've asked you to come here tonight."

"I'm sorry?" Harry could not fathom what he might have to do with their selection of yet another Defense teacher, unless….

"Mr. Potter, Professor Dumbledore has asked me to have you formally consider becoming the next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. You have, already, sufficient knowledge of the subject to be able to achieve at least an E on your Newt level test, and I would be surprised if you achieved anything less than the same grade you had on your OWL test." Harry couldn't help blushing at the compliment.

"However," the professor continued, "There is another matter for us to discuss."

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"For the next short while, until the ministry has concluded its investigation, I must ask you to refrain from holding any more meetings of Dumbledore's Army."

"Oh?" Harry wondered if the Ministry still had the same opinion they'd had the previous year about the purpose of the D.A.

"It seems," said McGonagall with an air of slight exasperation, "that Dolores Umbridge has had some influence upon our new Minister."

"Ah…I see. We'll hold off until you notify us again. But…"

"I imagine you are concerned about the need to continue training the students?" McGonagall asked wisely.

"Yes, very much so! If there was ever a time when such training was needed, I'd say this would be it."

"I would have to agree. Therefore, I believe we have come up with a satisfactory solution." Harry listened apprehensively, wondering if he was going to like this solution. McGonagall brought out a shiny, odd looking pendant which Harry remembered seeing around Hermione's neck during their third year, the year he'd met his godfather, Sirius Black.

"If you think you can handle the strain of extra hours added to your day, we would like you to attend the Defense classes of all seven grade levels for the remainder of the term. With your other classes and quidditch practices, you'll need this to be able to do it. My greatest concern is the level of fatigue you'll have to endure for an undefined amount of time."

"I see," Harry repeated, feeling very much at a loss for words.

"Consider your decision carefully, Harry. What we are asking you to do requires a great deal of stress management. It will also require you to pass your Newt level Defense exam come this Friday, since the ministry requires teachers in this subject to have at least an E on a Newt to be allowed to have this assignment."

"But…I've been teaching with Tonks all this time without that. Is this a new requirement?"

"You have been assisting, technically. Now we are asking you to be the main teacher. These last two months of class will qualify as your teacher's training time, which is a minimum of two months of practical experience in all seven levels of the class."

"So…even when the Ministry's investigation is done, you'll need me to continue teaching…till the end of the term?"

"That is correct, Harry. Next fall, we will create a more favorable schedule for you to allow you to attend all your classes as well as teach Defense without the aide of a time turner, but I'm afraid it is far too late in the term now to rearrange so many classes which include so many other students."

"Of course. Can I have some time to think this over?"

"I did not expect to allow you to answer me right away. Think on it, sleep on it, and come to me tomorrow. I wish I could give you more time, but Friday is only a week away, and the next time Professor Marchbanks will be available to test you will be at the end of the term when all the seventh year students are tested. This, of course, would be much too late to allow you two months practical experience."

"Yes, I see. Is that everything, Professor?"

"Almost," she said with a wry sort of smile. "I am curious as to what kept the two of you from your classes this afternoon." Something about Professor McGonagall's demeanor told Harry that she would not need Legilimency to know if he was lying.

"We were…um…" Harry started, but had no idea how to continue. Thankfully, Ginny took over from there.

"Professor, we're awfully sorry. I've been studying so much, what with OWLs and all, and Harry here had that injury yesterday, which, incredibly, did heal, but I think it made him rather tired as well. Anyway, we met up for our mid-morning break, and at some point we must have both fallen asleep because the next thing we knew it was time for dinner." Ginny spoke in a rush, trying to get all the words out before any more misconceptions got in the way.

"I see," said the professor, one eyebrow raised as she considered Ginny's statements carefully. "And where were you both when you…fell asleep?"

"Um…" Ginny said, and Harry knew she was concerned that if she told the truth they'd be in some trouble, but to say they'd been in Gryffindor tower or the Library would have been certain disaster since it would be easily proven untrue.

"We were in the Room of Requirement," Harry supplied, causing Ginny to sigh and the professor to train her searching gaze upon him once more. "It's quieter there, easier to study…" he tried to justify.

"Yes, and easier to…fall asleep…I daresay."

"Yes, Ma'am," Harry and Ginny replied in unison.

"You must understand, I cannot allow this discrepancy to go entirely overlooked. There were few, at least among the Gryffindor students, who did not notice your absence, and they will not take well to your teaching them if we allow you to be above the rules, Mr. Potter." Harry frowned, reminded of all the times Snape had accused him of being so arrogant as to think himself beyond reproach, and he wasn't sure if perhaps it had been McGonagall who'd gone to St. Mungo's and this was actually Snape under the influence of a Morphus Draft.

"I think a couple of evenings of detention this week should be sufficient punishment for you both," McGonagall concluded. "Please see me here at precisely seven o'clock tomorrow to serve your detentions."

"Yes, Ma'am," Harry and Ginny both said again, more quietly this time.

"Miss Weasley can use the time to catch up on the material she missed in class this afternoon," the professor added, "and you, Mr. Potter, can use your detention to prepare for the exam I hope you'll be taking next Friday?"

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said, and Ginny smiled, relieved that their Head of House did not seem to be as angry as Hermione and Ron had been.

"You may go," McGonagall dismissed them, but Harry paused a moment.

"Can the D.A. still meet tonight, one last time? Only, I had an exercise I wanted to use before we broke off at the end of term."

"One more evening shouldn't hurt anything. The Ministry's investigation won't begin until Monday. What sort of exercise did you have in mind?" the professor responded.

"Sort of a test, I would like to use the Great Hall as well, if that's all right?"

McGonagall studied Harry for a few brief moments and finally said, "Of course. Shall I notify the Headmaster?"

"Sure…"

"Very well, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, you may go," Harry opened the door and Ginny stepped out. Harry was about to follow when Professor McGonagall added quietly, "And do try to win for us tomorrow, Potter. I do so enjoy having this trophy in my office!" Harry grinned happily and nodded as he stepped out of the office.

They headed for the D.A. rooms then, since it was now time for that meeting to start.

"I hope everyone won't be too disappointed about the D.A." Harry said as they approached the corridor that led to the three rooms where the others were most likely waiting.

"I expect a few fifth years and seventh years will feel robbed of practical experience for their OWLs and NEWTs, but they'll feel better when they find out you're teaching."

"It's too bad we can't just tell them," Harry said.

"Yes, but they'll get over it when you show up in their classes next week."

"You seem so sure that I'll decide to do that," Harry commented, glancing sidelong at her smiling face. "You do realize this will mean I'll have a lot less time to spend with you for the rest of the term?"

"I know," she said, "but I know you. You always do the right thing."

"Well, I know your opinion, then. I'll miss you dreadfully, though!"

"I'll be at the fountain, every night, at the very least."

Harry stopped in mid stride and turned to her, his hands resting on her shoulders, "Do you know how much I love you?"

"Yes," she responded happily, "I have the rare blessing of knowing exactly how you feel about nearly everything. And you know that I love you just the same, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. I'm going to marry you someday, if I am fortunate enough to live that long."

"And I'm going to say yes when you ask."

He gathered her into his arms then and hugged her to him tightly, knowing as he had known for some time now, that if anything got him through his final confrontation with Voldemort, it would be her love for him and his need to stay by her side.

They continued on into the D.A. rooms where Ron was waiting for Ginny, and Neville and Luna already had their class under way. They made the announcement that everyone should assemble into Harry and Hermione's room, and when everyone had settled down, Harry began to give them the news.

"I am very sorry to have to tell you all this, but the time has come to have to stop meeting as Dumbledore's Army." A chorus of disappointed groans and "why's" met him and he had to wait a moment for his explanation to be heard. "Due to the attack on the school yesterday, the ministry will be investigating the school's defenses to ensure that students are safe while in attendance here."

"But Harry," Neville said, "that is exactly the kind of attack that we are preparing for in here. It was because of the D.A. that we were able to hold off the dementor attack until the teachers arrived. Why would it not be good for the Ministry to know that?"

"Don't forget who is at the head of the Ministry right now," Harry reminded, "Not to mention that Dolores Umbridge has had communications with Minister Weasley in recent days. She will have reminded him of the day we were caught last year and of what they thought was the purpose of the D.A. I doubt if he will like our club any more than Fudge did."

"Oh dear," said Luna in a rare moment of lucidity, "I can see why we'd need to disband then. But how will we be able to prepare for future attacks, and for some of us, tests?"

"Plans are being put into place for making Defense classes at all levels more advanced and…well…more like D.A. meetings. I can't tell you everything now, but, the best advice I can give you is that you pay close attention to what you're being taught in Professor Tonks' classes."

The D.A. members looked around at each other, but most seemed slightly dissatisfied. Malfoy stood up then and voiced everyone's complaint when he said, "She's not a bad teacher, and don't get a big head or anything, Potter, but the two hours we spend in here are far more enlightening than a whole week in class!" Harry stared at Malfoy for a long moment, unsure, for the second time tonight, if he was looking at the real person or a perfectly disguised stand in.

"Well," Hermione said with a smile, "at least you don't get hexed from behind when you're in Tonks' class."

Malfoy regarded Hermione coolly, but then the oddest thing that had happened since Malfoy's induction took place. The corners of his mouth turned up just a bit. He was actually smiling at Hermione. "No, I suppose not. But then Potter here doesn't dish out nasty detentions for foul language either."

"Hmm, guess I should have thought of that sooner," Harry mused, "I could have, you know. But hexing you was more fun, anyway."

"And it was good experience, too. Death Eaters aren't likely to wait until you face them to hex you. They'll hit you in the back as surely as they'll catch you from any other angle."

"Are you sure you're Draco Malfoy?" Harry asked, feeling as though he'd stepped into an alternate universe.

"Of course I am, you brainless ninny!"

"Hopeless git," Harry returned.

"Swooning fainter!"

"Bouncing ferret!"

"Golden Boy!" But for the first time in all their years at Hogwarts, they were both smiling at each other as they threw each insult. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were standing with their mouths hanging open, looking from the one to the other, trying to convince themselves that they were seeing it correctly.

"Well then," Harry turned his attention back to the room as a whole. "Let's get on with our last formal meeting as Dumbledore's Army. I would like to find out how much each of you has learned over the course of our meetings. I had intended to save this for the end of term, but…"

"You're giving us a final exam?" Seamus asked incredulously.

"Of sorts, yes," Harry replied and there were quite a few groans around the room. "Not to worry, I am certain you will all enjoy this much more than any other exam you'll take come June. But this room is entirely too small. I think we'll need the Great Hall for this."

"The Great Hall, Harry?" Ron asked, and Harry nodded, but then something occurred to him. "That is if it's all right with you, Malfoy." There was a stunned silence in the room as everyone there registered that Harry Potter had just spoken out of deference to Draco Malfoy.

"My father knows everything by now, or at least suspects," Malfoy answered. "What difference does it make if the rest of Slytherin finds out?" The comment was nonchalant, but Harry could see there was something else stirring in Malfoy's grey eyes, rebellion, perhaps, a need for freedom from the expectations with which he'd always been saddled.

"All right then, Neville and Luna's group, stand in the far corner there." He indicated the far left hand corner with a brief jab of his finger. "Ginny and Ron's group in the other…" he swept his hand toward the far right hand, "and the group that meets with Hermione and me come to the front here." The students separated into their groups, and when the shuffling of feet died down, Harry spoke again. "I want each group to split itself down the middle, even numbers on each side. Leaders, will you do the honors?" Luna, Ginny, and Hermione stepped up to their respective groups and separated them again.

"All right," Harry said then, "I want one half of each group to head down to the Great Hall and wait there for further instructions. Hermione, Luna, and Ginny, go with them please, and kindly move the house tables to the storage room so we will not damage them during our exercise." The three girls nodded to Harry and Ginny winked quickly as they left, half the room following in their wake. Harry blushed slightly at Ginny's wink, and Malfoy, who had caught the silent exchange, raised an eyebrow in Harry's direction.

Ignoring Malfoy as best he could, Harry began instructing the rest of the D.A. "Here's the plan. Your job is to capture as many of the students in the other half of the D.A. as you can. Use only stunning spells and binding spells. The point of this exercise is to keep your head in a fight and capture the enemy."

"So, it's like playing Capture the Flag, Harry?" Dean Thomas asked.

"Capture the what?" Malfoy asked. Harry ignored him and went on.

"Exactly, Dean," Harry explained, "Only the flag is a person. If I'm not mistaken, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall will be in attendance tonight. They will be our 'flags' so to speak. Or, as in Chess, our King Pieces. Our object in stunning and binding the other half of the D.A. is to capture the Professor at the other end of the room, as well as protect the one at our end of the room. Any questions?" Harry looked pointedly at Malfoy.

"Are we going to get a detention if we stun the Headmaster or the Deputy Headmistress?" Neville asked, and Harry turned his gaze on him and laughed.

"No, I don't think so, Neville. It's just an exercise in speed, tenacity, and evasion. I have to go inform the other group. Neville, Ron, and Malfoy," the three of them looked up at Harry as he spoke their names, "I would like you to lead these students down to the Great Hall in five minutes. That should be sufficient. We'll start when I open the doors of the Great Hall." Ron and Malfoy looked at each other for a moment, Malfoy sighed and Ron grunted, but they wasted no words on each other. Harry rolled his eyes and exited the D.A. classroom.

He entered the Great Hall to find that Hermione, Ginny, and Luna had already removed the tables and were sitting on the floor with the rest of the group, waiting for him. Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Tonks were seated behind the head table, watching him as he walked in.

"Professors," Harry addressed them first, "I'm so glad you could join us tonight. I have need of your assistance."

"What can we do to help, Harry?" Tonks asked gleefully.

Harry gave her his most mischievous grin and responded, "Be the bait?"

"Excuse me?" Tonks' smile faltered slightly.

"I would like you and Professor McGonagall to join Hermione's half of the D.A. Professor Dumbledore, if you will, you and I will join the half that will be waiting outside those doors in a couple of minutes."

All three Professors smiled and stood up. Professors McGonagall and Tonks walked over to stand next to Hermione, and Professor Dumbledore placed himself to Harry's left. Harry explained the game to this group as he had done with the others, and then he and the Headmaster exited the Great Hall. A minute later, Ron, Neville and Malfoy descended the stairs into the Entrance Hall followed by around fifty other students. The silence was broken only by their pounding footfalls which echoed off the walls of the corridors. Harry watched in awe as they came, realizing at once that these people were indeed a veritable army, trained and prepared for many a foe. Pride, wonder, and a sense of accomplishment washed over him, and he thought he had never felt so good in all his days at Hogwarts. This, he thought, was a sight to behold, a wonder to witness. All these people had trusted him, believed him, and learned from him, and they were ready and willing to fight for the cause he believed in, even Draco Malfoy, incomprehensible as it once had been. He was overwhelmed with an emotion he could not name, but felt suspiciously like brotherly love, as they came to a halt in front of him and awaited his signal to start. With a single nod of his head, Harry turned to the doors of the Great Hall, placed one hand on each door handle, and suddenly threw them wide open.

Harry stepped into the Great Hall at the head of his little army, Dumbledore's Army, with his wand out, his first spell ready to fly. The others streamed in after him, and the game began.

Voices echoed through the room, shouts of spells and cries of fury. As friend battled friend in what felt like a game, but looked like a melee, stunners caught his beloved battalion one by one, and he began to see it as though the other team were the Death Eaters and his side was the Order. He fired shot after shot, bringing at least one person down with each casting, until he found himself standing across from two of his favorite people in the world, Ginny and Hermione. The imagery of the Death Eater attack melted away and he stood stalk still, waiting for them to strike if they would. Time slowed down for Harry as he watched Hermione bring her wand to the ready and aim it directly at him. He almost didn't hear the word that formed on her lips, and then, as though someone had turned a up a dial on the continuum of time, he sped back into action, ducking just in time to let the stunner sail over his head and crash into the floor behind him. He scrambled away, looking for anyone else to duel against, because he knew one thing for certain now: He could never attack one of his best friends, even just for fun. It was a weakness he knew Voldemort would joyfully exploit if he knew of it, but it simply couldn't be done.

The game continued until Harry, Malfoy, and Seamus Finnegan had surrounded Professor McGonagall with Ron and Neville pinning Tonks against the wall. Having secured the definitive win, the five boys backed away from the Professors, and four of them were smiling gleefully. Harry was not. He had learned a dreadful lesson from this exercise, and as he turned around to survey the Hall, the lesson expanded. Many of his friends, from both teams, were lying in heaps on the floor, and the image burned into the back of his mind and strengthened his resolve to do what he knew he must. He would teach, whatever the expense in time or rest; he would prepare them. They should not fall, not a single one, if he could help it, when the time came for them to face the real enemy. The Professors and Harry's assistant leaders in the D.A. moved about the room to revive the fallen students, who then chatted noisily as they assembled to the front of the Hall, but gradually fell silent in anticipation of Harry's parting words. He felt his throat constrict and his breath catch as he looked into their happy, expectant faces. He found Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna, and Malfoy with his gaze, each in turn, and suddenly he knew what to say.

"There have been friendships and animosities between us. There have been both joyful and painful memories. We have had a short time to meet together to prepare to defend ourselves, and for some of us, just getting here was the hardest part." He let his gaze fall on Malfoy as he continued. "The time has come to put off old rivalries and animosities." He then shifted his gaze to take in the whole group. "We cannot meet as Dumbledore's Army, but we still are Dumbledore's Army. It is up to us to extend the hand of friendship, loyalty, and trust to the rest of the school, to as many as will receive it, answering the Sorting Hat's call for unity, and fortifying the walls of this castle, our greatest protectorate, against the onslaught of our enemy's revenge upon us." Harry paused here, feeling oddly as though the words he spoke were not his own, but meant for his ears more than his mouth. "Voldemort is coming, sooner or later. He will do all he can to destroy Hogwarts. But love," his gaze traveled between Ginny, Hermione, and Ron, "is stronger than fear, friendship," he looked at Malfoy again, and then at Neville, Seamus, and Dean, "is better than servitude, and loyalty," his eyes took in the group together, "is far greater than personal gain. I learned a valuable lesson tonight," Harry finished as tears welled up in his eyes, "I cannot harm my friends. And you are all, every one of you, my friends. I will do all that I can," he pledged, "to never allow our common enemy to harm you either."

Professor Dumbledore, who had been standing behind Harry, placed a fatherly hand on Harry's shoulder and addressed the D.A. "Thank you, to each of you, for the friendship, loyalty, and bravery you have shown by being a part of the D.A. Remember the lessons you have learned, and be prepared. The hour is late. I ask you all to return to your dorms. But as you go, please remember, what Harry has said is true. Love is stronger than fear. Goodnight, my faithful soldiers."

The D.A. members began to filter out, almost more quietly than they had come. No one spoke, and no one glanced around as they went, each consumed by his or her own thoughts. Harry watched them go, just as pensively, and it did not escape his notice that Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stopped in the Entrance Hall to wait for him, or that Malfoy and Zabini stood just inside the door, their eyes trained on the floor.

Harry turned to look at Professor Dumbledore, who regarded him meaningfully before asking, "Is there something else you wish to say, Harry?"

"Yes, sir, that is, I'll do it sir. I'll take that test on Friday next and I'll teach. It's the least I can do." Harry looked down at his shoes as he added, "I don't fancy myself a Professor, sir. But I have to help."

"Whatever you may or may not fancy yourself, Harry, you have earned the title of Professor already. What you have done with the D.A. in such a short period of time is nothing short of phenomenal. Their performance tonight was spectacular. The Order could stand to take lessons from them."

"Sir?" Harry looked up into the smiling face of the Headmaster and was surprised somewhat by the sincerity written there. But he thought about how many of them had fallen and he frowned slightly and shook his head. Dumbledore seemed to read the gesture accurately.

"Yes, Harry," the old man said, "many of them fell. But they were battling each other. Had their skills been matched against any average fully grown wizard, they would each have triumphed marvelously! You have done exceptionally well. I dare say, should a band of Death Eaters attack the school and manage to bypass the wards, defenses, and armory, your D.A members would still be able to push them back."

Harry smiled a small smile, a ray of hope suddenly welling up within him. "Thank you, sir."

Dumbledore nodded serenely and said, "Off you go, Harry, your friends are waiting."

"Yes, sir," Harry responded, and he made his way toward the exit. He stopped in front of Malfoy and Zabini when they looked up at him expectantly.

"Did you really mean that?" Malfoy asked.

"Every word," Harry said.

"How do we do it?" Zabini asked.

"Do what?"

"How do we get Slytherin house to stand behind Dumbledore and…and you?" Malfoy clarified.

"Some of them never will," Harry acknowledged, "but many of them already do. Just do what you can. By the way, Malfoy," Harry grinned at his former enemy, "the offer still stands, and Dumbledore approves. Let me know."

Malfoy's eyes grew wide for a moment, then a hint of a smile washed over his pale face. Zabini let out a small, whispered, bewildered, "What?" but Harry ducked quickly out of the Great Hall to avoid giving any explanation. He gathered his friends and they moved silently through the corridors to the Fat Lady's portrait. Ginny gave the password and the four of them climbed through into the common room. They took their usual places by the Gryffindor fire, which despite the number of students milling about, seemed to have been reserved just for them.

Seeing them enter, Neville joined them shortly, and it was he who finally started the conversation.

"That was some exercise you gave the D.A. tonight, Harry," Neville said. Dean and Seamus, having heard the broaching of the topic, wandered over then as well.

"Some speech too," Dean commented. "I almost thought it was Dumbledore talking, except that it was coming out of your mouth, Harry!"

Harry glanced up at his fellow Gryffindors. With so much on his mind, their words seemed to hold a hollow echo for him. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Gosh, Harry, it was amazing!" Neville gushed. "Even Malfoy was listening!"

"I think Malfoy had more reason to listen than anyone else," Harry said. "Friendship is a new concept for him."

Neville laughed, but Ron said, "I still don't know how you can trust him, Harry. After everything he's done to us!"

"What else can I do, Ron? I have to believe that even he can be reached. Look what he's done for us since the day he joined the D.A! He saved my life for starters, and did it in front of his father! I have to admit, if anyone had told me a year ago that Draco Malfoy would ask me for entry into the D.A., I'd have told them they were insane and that by no means would I ever allow Malfoy to join us. But, things change, given time."

"Have you seen him when he's around Parvati? I've never seen him blush so much!" Seamus added. "Brought her flowers, he did, just the other day, and a load o' chocolates last Hogsmeade trip. I'd say it's cupid's arrow's what brought him 'round!"

"Whatever it was," Hermione said thoughtfully, "it's still better having him on our side. He's a formidable opponent, quick and steady in a duel,"

"Though a pair of ice skates'll take him down, eh, Mione?" Ron interjected, and Hermione smiled and laughed.

"That one was priceless!" Ginny agreed.

"As was your bat bogey hex last year," Hermione grinned. "But, it's all in the past, now. What's important is what's coming in the future. One thing is certain, and Harry already pointed it out tonight. Voldemort is still out there, planning, among other things, to attack Hogwarts. The only person he ever feared was Dumbledore. He will want to conquer that fear sooner or later. And that will bring him here."

"That, and I'm here," Harry said, and all eyes turned toward him. "It does seem that he has quite the habit of trying to kill me, doesn't it?" There was also the small matter of the fulfillment of Prophecy, but this was hardly the time to bring that up. "Whatever it is that brings him here, he will come. And we will have to be ready for it. Voldemort's ability to control people and gain power is based upon fear. Our greatest defense against that is friendship. In the end, that is the main reason why I am trusting Draco Malfoy to keep his word. That measure of trust is a show of friendship. And friendship is a kind of love. That's what will defeat Voldemort, if anything can."

"There he goes again," Seamus said, "sounding like Dumbledore."

"Sounds more like Dumbledore every day, doesn't he?" Dean agreed.

"Who better to emulate than Dumbledore?" Hermione asked them, and then added, "Besides, he's right, too."