Chapter 25- Preparations
The days after the Dementor invasion seemed to pass like months for Harry. Everywhere that he went people were constantly throwing questions at him and chatting him up as if they were best friends. People like Colin and his group of friends followed him to every class and to all the meals in the Great Hall. Whenever Harry thought that he finally had a moment of peace to himself somebody would come up and interrogate him. Others however didn't say a word. They'd see him walking in the hallway, clear out of his way, and stare at him until he was out of sight.
Headlines in the Daily Prophet and most wizarding magazines had revolved around the whole fiasco, titles like "The-Boy-Who-Saved-Hogwarts" and "Another Fudge Folly: Dementors on the Loose" were the most common. Every morning when he entered the Great Hall it seemed like every student received twelve different periodicals just to see different interpretations of the story (as Harry had only told his "full" story to Ron and Hermione).
Thankfully, his two best friends were always at his side to clear off the solicitors when it got too rowdy. Harry still had a very numb feeling in his brain and people crowding around him just made it worse, and the amount of fans seemed to increase by the day. Once Saturday rolled around Harry had nearly half the school following him to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Harry took his seat between Ron and Hermione as the Gryffindors who were following him in the hallway took up every other seat around him. Even if Harry wasn't answering any of their ridiculous questions, they just seemed to be honored to be in the presence of the "Great Harry Potter." As Harry poked at his omelet he heard Dumbledore call for silence by giving a loud whistle that rang through the Great Hall. Harry's head snapped up at the sharp sound and saw the Headmaster standing at the staff table, waiting for his students to become silent.
"I'd first like to thank all of you again for your patience and cooperation you showed a few nights ago," he started. "After these events however, I feel that it is necessary to make sure that each and every one of you receive extra education in Defense Against the Dark Arts. And so, I'd like to reinstate a club that most of you should be familiar with."
"I still can't believe this," Harry said happily as he stroked Hedwig's feathers. He, Ron, and Hermione finally found some time to themselves. All of Harry's followers from the past two days had gone off with their own friends, most likely to talk about the re-established club. After being cooped up for so long the trio thought it would be nice to spend some time outdoors. They chose a spot underneath a beech tree on the edge of the Great Lake to finally have a conversation in peace.
"Its not really that hard to believe," Hermione said, flipping through her Arithmancy book. "I mean, Dumbledore did take the fall for you when the D.A. was discovered. And it really did help a lot of people learn what we were supposed to be learning last year in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Plus…"
"Ok Hermione we get it," Ron said monotonously as he threw another rock into the lake with a small splash. Hermione gave Ron a fierce look before shaking her head and returning to her schoolwork. "So what exactly does Dumbledore have in mind for this thing anyway?" Ron asked, ignoring Hermione's look. "He can't expect you to teach the whole school Defense Against the Dark Arts, can he?"
"I'm supposed to go to his office after dinner tomorrow tonight to talk about everything."
"So he's definitely asked you to help run it then?" Hermione questioned, taking a break to look up from her book.
"I guess so," Harry said, shrugging a bit. Dumbledore hadn't directly said that Harry would be some how help organize the D.A. again but he figured that if Dumbledore didn't want him to then he wouldn't have asked Harry to speak with him.
"What do you think ever happened to that Umbridge woman?" Hermione said, her voice dripping with venom as she mentioned her name.
"She's probably got a bed at St. Mungo's right next to Lockhart," Ron said, throwing another rock, causing a bigger splash than the first.
"Ron you're going to wake the squid if you keep doing that," Hermione warned him.
"I will not," he replied childishly as he threw yet another stone into the lake. As soon as it entered the water however he saw large purple eyes appear above the surface that began to move towards the group at an alarming speed. As it came closer and closer to them a horn began to poke out of the water as well in front of the eyes.
"Uh-oh," Harry said, as he started to back up behind the tree, fearing whatever was coming at them. Ron had a frightened look on his face while Hermione however, had her head tilted to the side and looked deep in thought, trying to identify the creature coming for them.
The 'thing' finally emerged out of the water, but Harry couldn't exactly see what it was as he crouched behind the tree. All he saw was a great mass of a pinkish-red color slowly approaching Ron.
"Thank goodness," Hermione said, breathing a sigh of relief, Ron on the other hand was still whimpering.
Harry turned to look at the other side of the tree to find Greg (who had now grown to the size of a baby elephant) staring down Ron with angry violet eyes, his teeth bared.
Ron chuckled nervously and said, "H-h-h-hi Greg, b-b-buddy. S-s-sorry about the rocks, it w-w-was an accident r-really. I didn't mean t-t-o…"
But Ron never got a chance to finish as Greg took a deep breath and released a flurry of flames out of his mouth, which miraculously hit Ron but nothing else.
"Nice to see you again too," Ron coughed as Greg turned and headed back into the lake.
Ron turned his charred face towards Hermione in a fixed glare as he watched her laugh madly behind her book.
After dinner that evening, Harry diverted away from his normal route to the common rooms and headed towards Dumbledore's office. He stated the password (Chocolate Frogs) to the stone goblin that moved out of his way so he could enter the winding staircase.
Upon entering the office, Dumbledore was already waiting for him behind his desk. He motioned for Harry took take a seat in front of him and Harry did so.
"Harry," he started, taking a lemon drop from the small bowl on his desk. "I'd like to thank you personally for the assistance you gave us a few nights ago. You showed extreme bravery and kept a cool head under pressure. Not many wizards would be able to do so when faced with Dementors."
"It was my pleasure Professor," Harry replied, smiling a bit. Dumbledore returned his smile and continued speaking.
"Now, I was wondering if you were interested in helping out with the D.A. I figured I'd ask you first, being the founder and all."
Harry nodded energetically and waited for Dumbledore to continue.
"Yes, I thought you'd be excited to help out," he said, beaming down at his student. "Now, I think I've set up a way in which we can make the club available for all students without putting too much pressure on the students. There will be different divisions for all of the different years. I've compiled a list of younger students that I see fit to teach their respective years, leaving you in charge of teaching the sixth years. This job is a large responsibility and if you need any help, don't be afraid to ask for it."
Harry nodded. He figured that if the D.A. hadn't been too much of a problem last year when they had to keep it a secret, it would be incredibly easier to run it when it was allowed.
"It would be preferred if at least one meeting would be held per week. You may pick any day that's convenient for you and you may organize the lessons in any way you like. Any questions?"
Harry shook his head. It seemed as though Dumbledore had thought out everything for a very long time. Then it occurred to Harry that this must've been what Dumbledore had planned to tell him when he had turned into a toddler so many weeks earlier.
"Just one more thing Harry," Dumbledore said, shuffling through some of his papers. "I feel that you should start practicing your Occlumency again."
Harry groaned at his proposition, sounding very much like a whiny child. "Not lessons with Snape again…"
"Professor Snape Harry," Dumbledore corrected him. "And no, I feel that its better for the both of you if you are not required to take Occlumency lessons from Professor Snape. Although he is highly qualified for the job if you ever change your mind."
Harry shook his head vigorously, refusing any unnecessary contact with Snape.
Dumbledore gave a small chuckle to Harry's rejection and continued. "All I ask of you is that you practice clearing your mind before going to sleep. If you promise to do this every night, your Occlumency will naturally increase without having to take weekly lessons. And to ensure that your performance is raising, I'm sure that Cassandra wouldn't mind trying to read your thoughts."
Harry nodded in a slight daze. He was already thinking of all the things that he would be required to research in order to teach his classmates properly. He was sure that Hermione would gladly volunteer to help him out, and he'd need all the help he could get.
"Well, now that this is all sorted out I suggest that you make up some kind of schedule and make sure that all of the notice boards in all four common rooms get a copy. And this," he said, slipping a hand into the pocket of his robes, "is one of the keys to the Restricted Section of the library." He put the key down in front of Harry, who took it in his hands and dumped it into the pocket of his jeans. "You may return to your common room if you don't have any questions."
Harry nodded, gave Dumbledore a quick goodbye and headed towards the Gryffindor common room, ready to recruit Hermione as his research partner. He approached the portrait of the Fat Lady, spoke the password (Honeydukes) and clambered through the portrait hole.
Upon entering the center of the common room, Harry was pleased to see that younger students no longer attacked him. They seemed to be heavily engrossed in their own conversations to even notice that he had entered the room, and Harry preferred it that way. In the corner he saw Hermione and Cassie sitting at a table together. Hermione was scribbling away at a rather long piece of parchment and Cassie was lazily thumbing through a book.
"I'm back," Harry announced as he stood over them.
"Hi Harry," they chanted.
"So," Hermione said excitedly, "What did Dumbledore say?"
"Well basically, he wants me to organize the seventh year division of the D.A. I have to make up a schedule with meeting times and he gave me a key to the restricted section so I can do research."
Hermione's eyes lit up at his last sentence. "Can I help with that?" She practically begged him.
"I guess so," Harry said sarcastically. "He also wants me to start practicing Divination again. So Cassie…"
"Sure," she answered casually, already knowing what he was going to ask.
"Great. Um…where's Ron?" Harry asked, just noticing his absence.
"Ron went up to bed," Hermione explained.
"He said he wasn't feeling too well," Cassie finished.
"Oh," Harry replied sadly, wondering what could be wrong with Ron. "I think I'm gonna turn in for today. 'Night."
Hermione and Cassie bid Harry goodnight as he headed up the stairs for the boys' dorms. As he opened the door he saw that all the curtains around Ron's bed were drawn, seeming to separate him from the outside world.
"Ron?" Harry asked quietly, unsure if he was asleep yet. He received a simple groan as a reply.
"Are you okay?"
"Headache," Ron answered bluntly.
"Just a headache?" Harry persisted, wondering how a headache could reduce Ron to such a state. Once again Ron groaned but this time Harry just let him be, deciding that bothering an already cranky Ron would be bad. He changed for bed and settled himself in his four-poster (deciding that he could practice his Occlumency tomorrow night) and slowly drifted asleep.
