"Mad!" Harry shouted, stomping angrily past the Whomping Willow, "The whole school's gone mad!"

It was a beautiful night – high in the eastern sky, the night had already faded to a deep blue, stars beginning to emerge, while the last vestiges of pink clung to the western horizon. The cool evening air and the damp grass did nothing to cool Harry's temper, however – Dinner had been an unqualified disaster.

"This is awful," Hermione moaned, "We're never going to be able to finish out the year like this. How am I going to get any studying done?"

"How am I going to [I]eat[/I]?" Ron asked grumpily, rubbing his growling stomach, "Why did we even go to dinner at all? It's a nightmare."

"Is that all you can think about?" Hermione snapped.

"Well, seeing as I've gone all day without food, it's on my mind a bit, yeah!"

"Stop fighting," Harry said wearily, "My head is killing me. I've a lump the size of an ostrich egg."

"It's just like the Sorting Hat said," Hermione said worriedly, "The houses are divided."

"No they're not! Seems like three against one to me!" Ron said.

"Exactly," Hermione said, exasperatedly slapping the back of her hand into her palm, "We've got to be careful about ostracizing Slytherin –"

"Right," Ron snorted, "Because they're [I]so[/I] anxious to make friends."

"It's not just that," Hermione continued angrily, "Slytherin is divided amongst itself. And they're not the only ones...There's dissention and argument all over the school – about whether Voldemort is really back to full strength, about whether Harry is safe or not..."

"Well, they seemed pretty united to me when Derrick was giving Harry a hard time!"

"But for all the wrong reasons!" she pressed, "How long do you really think this is going to last? You've seen them over the years – Like with the Chamber, or that Triwizard nonsense..."

Harry didn't bother to mention he'd just been thinking the same thing a few hours earlier...he was annoyed, however, that Hermione was probably right, as usual. The lump on his head gave a particularly painful twinge.

"They're with us today, but they could turn on us just as easily, as soon as something bad happens –"

"Can't you two pretend to get along for five minutes?" Harry snapped.

They arrived at Hagrid's modest cottage feeling exhausted, irritated, and angry with one another. Hagrid flung the door wide open, and ushered them in with great sweeps of his massive arm.

"Come on, come on then. In you get."

They entered the cottage to find a roaring fire waiting for them, and four massive mugs full of tea. There was a tray of Hagrid's infamous rock biscuits sitting on a tray above the fire.

"Those're nearly done," Hagrid said, "Should be nice an' golden brown in a mo'."

Hermione, knowing that golden brown would be a carcinogenic black, rushed over and took them off the fire.

"Oh," Hagrid said, a bit surprised, "Well, I guess you could eat 'em now if y'like em a bit underdone..."

"We do," Ron and Harry said together. Finally, all four of them sat down at Hagrid's one, multi-purpose table, sipped their tea, and heaved a collective sigh of relief. Harry felt as though he were going to melt into a puddle on the floor.

"Insanity," Ron muttered, "Utter insanity."

"I know," Hagrid said, "Felt bad fer you lot, but couldn' do much, know what I mean?"

"Take it from me," Harry said, the hot tea slipping down his throat, warming his chest, "What you did was perfect."

"Best detention I ever served," Ron declared, leaning back in his chair with a grin, "Good idea, Hagrid."

"This is wonderful, Hagrid," Hermione said, the fight having gone out of her, "Thank you."

"Mmph," Hagrid grunted, by way of "You're welcome." He was squinting at Hermione, who was dejectedly staring into her tea mug.

Hagrid put a beefy finger under her chin, and lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Now, I know you're not the type to ask fer it," he said, "An' yer probably sick to death of hearin' it. But there's some benefits to bein' the size I am, an' if yer ever in trouble, you know you can jes' let me know about et, an' I'll sort it out for yeh, and see it [I]stays[/I] sorted, come to tha'. Tha' goes for all of yeh, o' course."

Hermione smiled the first genuine smile Harry had seen on her in hours. "Thank you, Hagrid," she said.

"Mmph."

He leaned back in his chair, and rested his teacup on his beard, spilling some of it.

"I dunno," he sighed, shaking his head slightly (which did nothing to help balance his tea), "I jus' don' know. You kids...Got a lot on yer minds, don' yeh? More'n I ever did. But that's not sayin' much, is it?" he added with a jovial wink, "Not exac'ly a NEWT scholar, am I?"

"Hagrid, you shouldn't say things like that," Hermione started frowningly, "Just because other people have certain prejudices against–"

"Ah'm jes' havin' a little jest, 'Ermione. Never you mind. I jus' worry over you lot, sometimes."

They spent about an hour in Hagrid's cottage, sipping tea, eating rock cakes (which were actually quite good when not cremated), and not talking about anything in particular. Hagrid asked them how their classes were, and they told him little bits and nothings about their first week. Harry felt as though all of the ill will and anxiety was slowly leeched out of him by the warmth and idle chat. Fang came over and put his droopy head over Harry's knee, and he scratched behind his ears drowsily. Hermione was chatting quietly to Hagrid about their house elves lesson, but he wasn't really paying attention...He closed his eyes...

Harry was sitting at a table in the middle of the Quidditch pitch, playing chess with Ron, only his pieces wouldn't do what he told them too. They just ignored his every suggestion, and started hacking at each other nonsensically. Derrick Bole told him it was his fault, and the whole school started shouting at one another and throwing things down from the stands. Hermione was trying to call out instructions to them, but she was trapped under the bleachers, and he couldn't hear her over all the noise...

He was walking down a corridor at Hogwarts. He heard Ron shouting up ahead...what was he saying? It sounded like he was angry...no...angry, or scared? He quickened his pace, trying to reach him, but he was suddenly walking down the corridor to the Department of Mysteries. He felt more awake, somehow...very alert and aware of himself.

"Sirius is dead," Harry reminded himself gently, "You don't need to keep coming here."

He sighed as he involuntarily opened the door, and stepped into the blue- torch room. It was as though his body was acting and his mind was simply along for the ride. He closed the door behind him, and the room began to spin.

As Harry pondered which door to take, he suddenly realized he was looking for something... "What am I looking for?" he asked himself.

"Oi! Harry!"

He jerked awake, spilling some tea down his front.

Hermione sighed with a smile, and did the same tricky little spell she had used last year, causing a jet of hot air to come out of the tip of her wand, which she directed at Harry's sweater. Harry saw that Ron was blinking drowsily as well.

"It's almost time," she said, "We should head over to the Room of Requirement."

"Now?" Harry said, automatically checking his broken watch, "What time is it?"

"I know, we'll probably run after curfew," Hermione said, "But there are more important things."

"You're not planning..." Harry squinted, "You're not going to tell everyone...about what I told you this afternoon?"

"Of course not," Hermione said, "We always send everyone home before us, and check for them on the Map, to see they get home safe. I figured since we were leaving last, we'd just stay, and you could tell us all about it."

"Should I be hearin' any o' this?" Hagrid said with a knowing smile.

"Oh...err...probably not," Hermione said.

"Right," Hagrid said, leaning back in his chair, "No need to worry, 'Ermione. Mum's the word."

Harry noticed that Hermione didn't seem too comforted. Hagrid's secret- keeping skills were not exactly renowned. But it was too late now – at least she hadn't given specific details.

"We'd better get going," she said. She and Ron got up and headed for the door, Harry following.

"Harry – could you 'ang on a minute?" Hagrid asked.

"Oh, err...sure, Hagrid. Go on, I'll catch up," he said to Ron and Hermione.

"I jes' wanted to see how you were gettin' on," Hagrid said, "I know yer blamin' yerself, same as you always do."

"Well, we've sort of been through that, already," Harry said smiling bravely, "It's not fun, but we'll get through it."

Hagrid met his eyes and the same strange look came over his face as before. "Blimey, Harry, you really do look like 'im." Harry felt the familiar comfortable sadness in his chest he frequently felt when he thought of his parents...it was the same loving, longing feeling he'd felt looking into the Mirror of Erised.

"I don't understand how I look more like him this year than any other," Harry said, "I don't think I've changed all that much."

"Wait, look righ' at me..." Hagrid looked deeply into Harry's face for a moment, and then another, squinting. Harry began to feel a bit awkward.

"Summat's different, I know it," Hagrid said, "I jus' can' say what it is. It'll come to me."

"Right," Harry said, shifting uncomfortably, "Well, until it does?..."

"Right, sorry," Hagrid said, smiling broadly, "You go on an' catch up."

"Thanks, Hagrid. For everything."

"Ah, Harry. You can always come by 'ere, whenever it strikes yer fancy."

Harry smiled, gave Fang one last scratch behind the ears, and stepped out into the cool evening. For the first time, he was able to notice what a beautiful night it was.

After a quick stop at the Gryffindor common room to pick up the Marauder's Map, they headed to the hallway of the Room of Requirement. Harry tapped the map with his wand.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Hogwarts castle lay spelled out before them, in miniature. He saw Filch patrolling the Transfiguration corridor, and Peeves just outside Snape's office door. He secretly hoped he was being particularly obnoxious. All of the professors were safely in their offices – the coast was clear.

They walked up and down the hallway several times together.

"We need a room again," he thought, "Like last year – somewhere to practice Defense Against the Dark Arts...Somewhere safe, and hidden."

The door appeared, as usual, and with one last glance down the hallway, Harry opened it.

The door had appeared just as usual. The room, however, was not as it usually was.

It had doubled in size – the hardwood floor was gleaming, and on top of it, instead of the stack of pillows he'd been expecting, was a shiny blue tumbling mat that took up about two-thirds of the floor space. There was a chalkboard at either end of the room, and he noticed there was an extra bookshelf as well, full of beginner-level books. All of the instruments were there – the Sneakoscopes, the Foe glass, and some other ones he'd never even seen before. A full-length mirror ran along one side of the room, so they could all observe one another, and study their form.

"Hermione," Harry said sternly, "Exactly how many people are coming tonight?"

"Oh," she said nervously, "Well, people might have told their friends..."

Harry shook his head. The D.A. was already quite large – he'd be hard pressed to give everyone equal attention if they had a large number of new members.

But he had no time to think about it, because the door opened slowly, and Neville poked his head in and took a look around.

"Wow," he said simply, taking in the gleaming floor, and shiny new mat. He was followed in by a trembling Arthur Aaronson, and a very keen Broderick Johnson, who looked around the place excitedly. They'd hardly stepped in when the door opened again, and the Gryffindor Quidditch team arrived, along with Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Ernie MacMillan, Justin Finch- Fletchley, Zacharias Smith, the two Beaters from the Quidditch team, and several other Hufflepuffs he'd never met hot on their heels.

Harry glanced anxiously at the Marauder's Map. The hallway was a mass of black dots.

In came Cho Chang, with Terry Boot, Michael Corner, Padma Patil, and Luna Lovegood. Dean and Seamus showed up escorting Parvati and Lavender. Finally, the Creevey brothers arrived with Anthony Goldstein in tow, and a few first years Harry recognized from the hallways. One of them was that girl from the Sorting...Electra something-or-other.

Harry did a quick scan, and altogether counted thirteen new members, and twenty-two returning. He shot Hermione a dirty look, and she grinned helplessly.

Ron whistled softly, scanning the room, "Good luck, Harry."

"Thanks," he said wryly.

"Don't worry," Hermione said reassuringly, "I'll start us off." She stepped up to the chalkboard.

"Hi," she said, "Well, first of all, I'm going to pass around a new list...if everyone could sign it, please?"

Harry grinned slightly, as several of the new faces fell a bit. The whole secrecy thing seemed a bit silly now – especially now that they had Lupin's express permission. But Hermione was right – Voldemort was still on the loose, and it couldn't hurt to be extra cautious, no matter how unlikely it seemed that He would ever find out about the D.A.

"Then again," he reflected darkly, "He might have guessed something at the Ministry last year...And I didn't think he'd be able to find out who my Secret Keeper was either." He glanced at Neville, and realized he'd better switch as soon as possible.

Everyone sat on the gym mats cross-legged, and began signing the list and passing it along.

"Excellent," Hermione said brightly, "Well, I suppose you all know why we're here," she began, but was interrupted by that Electra girl's hand shooting up into the air.

"Oh," she said, surprisedly, "Yes?"

Electra stood up with a sweep of her black hair, "Electra Bellanova, Ravenclaw," she announced, "What exactly happened today? I've been hearing the most ridiculous rumors."

There was a murmur of agreement among the people gathered. The smile fell from Hermione's face. She was going to have to relive this over and over...moreover, it would mean revealing [I]why[/I] Draco had attacked her, which would put Neville in danger...not to mention himself...

"Look," Ron said, "That's not why—"

"I'll field that," Harry said, stepping up to the chalkboard. Hermione gratefully stepped aside.

Harry turned to face everyone, and saw thirty-five faces looking at him expectantly. His stomach did a little flop. Why was everything always up to him?

"Hermione and I were attacked today," Harry said, "By Draco Malfoy. We think he's trying to get information and leak it to the Death Eaters."

He was careful not to say what information, or how Hermione had obtained it, and he was especially careful not to use the "V" word. He didn't want to scare away the first-years right off the bat. Nonetheless, there was a murmur of shock and disbelief.

"It's true," Luna Lovegood said calmly, "Draco's father is a Death Eater. We battled him last year at the break in at the Ministry of Magic. You may have read about it this summer in the Quibbler. Or the Prophet, maybe," she added as an afterthought, "But they watered the story down a bit."

A chuckle met this pronouncement from about half of the people gathered there. Harry felt angry, but what could he say? Luna did have a reputation for believing the unbelievable...

"I was there, too," Ron said, "At the Ministry of Magic. And there was nothing funny about it."

"So was I," said Neville.

"And me," Ginny said.

The room grew quiet once more. Harry sighed inwardly. It was time to lay all the cards on the table.

"Lord Voldemort is back," Harry said frankly, and there were several muffled shrieks...he could see several of them jump, "He's killed before, and he'll kill again. He's back to full strength, and he's not going to stop until..."

He caught himself just in the nick of time.

"He's not going to stop."

"Stop what?" Electra Bellanova asked, "Just what are his plans?"

Harry hesitated, "We don't know too much specifically. There's a lot of older wizards working on it...but we haven't heard much ourselves."

He wasn't about to tell everyone here about the prophecy...

"All we know is that Voldemort-" (There was another jump) "-has only one true love, and that's power. He won't be able to rest until he's the most powerful wizard in England. I dunno...maybe the world."

Another long silence met this pronouncement.

"Well, if we don't even know what he's up to," Electra said, raising an eyebrow, "Shouldn't we just leave it to the Aurors? How do we even know we're in danger? It's not like he's going to show up at Hogwarts."

"Sit down," hissed Cho under her breath, yanking her by the wrist. She gave Harry a half-hearted grin and a shrug, as though to apologize.

"Of course Cho brought her," Harry thought to himself angrily, "Because she's so good at picking her friends..."

"The point I want to make," Harry continued, addressing Electra directly, "Is that his influence is getting stronger and stronger. He's been reunited with his Death Eaters. And we learned today," he said with a glance at Hermione, "That we are no longer safe here at Hogwarts. We started Dumbledore's Army last year because Umbridge wouldn't even let us learn Defense."

There were some muffled boos and hisses at her name, while the first years looked about, bewildered. Harry smiled.

"But we continued exactly [I]because[/I] we didn't know what Voldemort was planning. We knew we would need to stand together, and be prepared for anything."

Electra pulled a doubtful face that seemed to express her distaste in Harry's lack of clear-cut information. Harry caught a couple others glancing at each other out of the corners of their eyes.

"I'm not," he cautioned, "Going to prove to you that Voldemort is back, or tell you his plans," he said, "Or give you the blow-by-blow of things that happened last year, or the year before, or even today," he said with another glance in Hermione's direction, "So if that's why you came, I'm sorry."

"Why are we here then?" Electra asked pointedly.

"To kick some Dark Arse!" Seamus said emphatically, fired up with purpose. There was some appreciative laughter, and a few people clapped and hooted. Harry saw the light in their eyes, and grimaced inwardly. They didn't know...They didn't know what it was like to watch your friends falling all around you, they didn't know what it felt like to lose someone to a Death Eater...

"Now look," he said sternly...he [I]had[/I] to make them understand. "We're also not about to go chasing after the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters, picking a fight..."

Electra rolled her eyes. He knew he was losing them – he kept denying them what they really wanted to hear, but what could he say? "Yes, you're absolutely right, we're going to learn some fourth and fifth year spells and go take on Lord Voldemort?"

"I made that mistake once," he mentally punished himself, "And I won't make it again." He felt as though Sirius were watching him, shaking his head...That he was leading all of these [I]kids[/I] astray...not so much the returning members, but the first years were just eleven-year olds...Of course they couldn't understand...Had he really understood in his first year the sacrifices he'd be called on to make?

"Look, we trained in this very room nearly the entire year last year," Ron said, his irritation plain, "And we all nearly died anyway...Hermione and I were in hospital for weeks...but the thing of it is, without the D.A., we would have been goners fifty times over."

Harry nodded in agreement, "The point of the D.A. isn't to go looking for trouble. But if you join up, you're going to be able to defend yourself whenever you need to, and you'll have a much better chance of making it out alive should you ever run into a dark wizard."

He paused, and thought back to that morning.

"Hermione and I weren't expecting to have to defend ourselves this morning," he said slowly, "Nobody does. Nobody walks around waiting to be attacked. The point is to be ready when it does happen. That's what we do here."

An appreciative silence reigned...even Electra Bellanova seemed thoughtful, and then she smiled and nodded at Harry.

"Well, glad I have your stamp of approval," Harry thought, feeling both slightly irked and deeply relieved to have earned it.

"Right!" he said, with a grin, "Well, I guess we'd better get to it!"