Author's Note: I'd like to thank Snuffles, whoever you are, for reviewing the last chapter. I really appreciate it. Yeah Gryffindor won, no big surprise there I guess. Hopeanyone reading thisenjoys this chapter, it's not one of my best, but I think you get to see some progression.

Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Harry Potter or any characters or places in this story, they belong to JK Rowling. I am making no money from this story.

Chapter 21 Stranger

It was several days following their Quidditch win that the next DA meeting was being held. Harry arrived early to get in some extra practice., figuring his friends wouldn't be far behind him, and he had his mirror just in case. He brought along the charmed cd player that Hermione had given him for his birthday, thinking it might be a nice change to his training routine. The intensity that he gave to every session seemed to grow with each fresh attack. It was his way of dealing with the war that he was meant to end. That, and talking with his friends. They seemed to be doing a lot of that lately, sitting late at night, discussing each attack, the students who were affected, and what the Ministry and the Order were doing. But there was little beyond that that they could do. Harry was disgusted with his own complacency, feeling that he should be doing something, anything to try to stop all the pain being inflicted outside the castle. And the more he voiced this belief to his friends, the more concerned they became.

So Harry put on his headphones and began warming up. The Room of Requirement was darkened and had provided him with targets to practice with. It was no where close to the real thing, but it was the best he could do. There were no curses being aimed at him, no death looming over his head in here. Just paper and his own imagination. He stood in the middle of the room, encircled by his paper foes, and they would begin to advance on him. Harry would push himself to duck and turn and cast spells in rapid succession. He was improving greatly, coming to the point where he did not have to speak the spells aloud. It allowed him to move more quickly, but his spells were weaker when he did this. Quickly he cut through the targets but more always came. Harry imagined it was a circle of Death Eaters, a situation he had faced a few times before. As he went on with the music playing in his ears he slowly worked up a sweat. He was so engaged with his private battle of demons that he didn't notice the other students beginning to filter in for their meeting. They were gaping at the force of intensity he displayed. They all stayed pinned against the wall by the door in fear of interrupting. When his friends arrived and had pushed their way in Hermione noticed that Harry was wearing the headphones and didn't notice the gathering crowd all staring at him. This was something that would greatly annoy Harry and she decided to interrupt. She waited until he was facing in their general directions and shot red sparks up in the air. In a heartbeat he had his wand trained on her, but he did not follow through with any spell.

He pulled off the headphones mortified, "How long have you been here?" he said breathlessly. Then he noticed the other students gathered near the doorway. "Oh great," Harry sighed, wiping sweat from his head. "So in and we'll get started. I uhh…."

"You're were amazing Harry, how long have you been practicing like this?" asked Hannah Abbott.

"Ahh…. about an hour I guess," He replied shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "Why don't we get started. If you'll all just find a place to sit for a minute…."

"No I think she meant when did you start doing this," clarified Terry Boot. They all began to move into the room and the lights flickered to life in their brackets on the walls. The targets had all disappeared without a trace that they had ever existed.

"Oh, a few months I guess. Anyway, this is one of the things I would like you all to try. If the idea of this is to be prepared for Death Eaters, then we have to step up the training," he said as they all took seats around the room. Harry found a squishy pouf and plopped down as he continued. "You have to realize that if you're faced with an attack it's usually not just one Death Eater. And the more you fight the more of them will come after you. Your best bet is to get one or two as quickly as you can and then try to get away. What else did you notice about this set up that is relevant, uh…. Ernie?"

Ernie thought about it for a minute before venturing a guess, "They were in a circle, right?"

"That's exactly it." Harry said, and he tossed a chocolate frog to Ernie that he had pulled from his robes. "Since I can't give out points." He chortled, earning a round of chuckles. "Now the next question. Neville, what can we do about this?"

Neville wasn't timid at all about offering his thoughts. "Well, you have to keep moving, not just dodging, but get the circle to work for you."

"How so?" Harry replied, handing out another frog.

"It depends on the situation, but if you go towards one side and they cast a curse at you, dodge it. They'll be shooting spells at their own people. It should make them think twice about how they attack, and what spells they use."

Harry nodded his head, feeling very proud of Neville. "Right then. What other tactics will help you out? Cho?"

"Find the weakest part of the circle, the place with the fewest or slower attackers. That's your escape route," she said proudly, and received her frog.

Harry grinned a little, "Okay, what's the one thing you don't want to do? Let's see what Colin has to say."

"That's pretty simple," The older Creevey brother boasted. "It's just like Filch and Mrs. Norris, you don't want to get cornered. Once that happens you've had it." This elicited another burst of laughter from the group.

"Alright, alright!" Harry said as he passed out the last frog. "As funny as that may sound Colin's right. You can't get pinned into a corner or backed against a wall. That's a sure way to get caught or killed." This statement ceased all the laughter. "So this is how we are going to start. Stand up and put your wands away."

Everyone did as they were told, and as Ron stood he cleared his throat but it sounded distinctly like he said "Umbridge!", which caused a bit more giggling.

"Now I want everyone to find a partner. Quickly now, it doesn't matter who. Great! Come over here and each pair take one balloon from the box." As he said it a box appeared from nowhere filled with large round balloons. "The idea of this game is to pop other teams balloons. The trick is to keep your own balloon from getting popped. So one person holds the balloon, and the other protects them and tries to pop balloons from the other teams. The rules are; no magic, no violence as in knocking other people down or pushing them to get their balloon. Once your teams balloon bursts you are out of the game. Last team un-popped wins." Harry glanced around the room. "Everyone ready? Begin!" He yelled, and the excitement began.

The game lasted for a several minutes. Everyone was laughing and cheering at the ensuing chaos. As the teams started to filter down, it got more intense, with teams trying to put distance between their balloon and the other teams, while still trying to attack. In the end it came down to the Creeveys, Ron and Hermione, Ginny and Luna, Ernie and Justin, and Dean with Seamus. Harry called a stop to the contest to keep it from getting ugly.

"Alright everyone, good job. Keep in mind that this may be fun, but in a real situation you have other elements that you may not be prepared for. Does anyone have an example?"

Hannah Abbott spoke up, "Well, I suppose there could be objects in the way, obstacles maybe, or you could have a smaller or larger space around you."

"Yes, you're right. Anyone else?"

"Brains." said Ron from the back, earning a few chuckles as well as some puzzled looks.

"Different light or environment could be a problem I guess," added one of the younger Ravenclaws.

"That's true too. So it's important not to rely entirely on what you've practiced, and remember to stay on your toes. Those ideas both deal with your ability to move, and your senses, like sight. There is something else that you may encounter that you can't truly prepare for until you've experienced it. Any ideas?" Harry asked.

"Fear." said Ginny.

"Good answer," said Harry, "How so?"

"It's like eating vanilla ice cream, until you've tried it you can't understand how it tastes. Even if you've had other flavors before, you can't appreciate how sweet and rich it is, or why it's significant. Unless you've been in a confrontation like that, you can't be prepared for the fear," she replied.

"So…" Seamus put in, "we should try being afraid?"

"No, she's saying that you can't understand it fully unless you've experienced it. Trying to comprehend fear isn't the same as being in a situation where you are afraid." Cho surmised.

"Right." said Ginny

"Keep in mind that fear isn't always a bad thing either. It can make you sharper, and faster. It's only if you are so afraid that you freeze up that it is dangerous. Alright, I think that's it for tonight. Next meeting we will work on new spells. If you have anything you'd like to try, get it to me Hermione or Ron in advance. Goodnight everyone." With that Harry turned to open the door, only to find Charlie Weasley waiting just next to it. "Err, hello Professor."

"Hey Ron, Harry, Hermione. Interesting meeting." Charlie said, nodding to each of them in turn. "Would you like to come down to my office, I'd like to hear a bit more about Dumbledore's Army." He finished with a genuine smile.

"Sure thing, are you two coming?" Harry asked.

"Nah mate, I have to finish my Transfiguration essay, and Hermione promised to help me with it. We'll see you back in the common room."

"Alright then, lead the way." Harry gestured.

It was a short walk down to the office, one that Harry had visited many times before. "Interesting game you were playing there." Charlie said as they took seats in his office. "What exactly was the purpose, if you don't mind my asking? Care for some tea?"

Harry nodded his head in acceptance. "Uhh, well the general idea was to get them used to moving and thinking on their feet. We were talking about what could happen if someone was attacked, and how they could end up facing more than one Death Eater. They got the general idea about evading or escaping, and I guess this is a way to start training everyone for that kind of situation. How long were you watching anyway?"

"Just a few minutes at the end there. It was impressive." Charlie replied as he handed Harry a cup of tea. "So your group actually gets into strategy and battle tactics. It's a bit more than just teaching jinxes and defensive spells then?"

"Yeah, well…we do a lot of that too, but if they can't apply it then it really isn't of much use, don't you think? Anyone can learn the spells really, it's a matter of having a plan or an idea of what to do that is going to help most though." Harry speculated.

Charlie snorted a little, "How's that worked out for you in the past?"

A knowing smile crossed Harry's lips, "True, but I'm hardly a normal case. I know that luck is what's kept me alive this far, and I don't think there was really anyway I could have trained for most of the things that have happened to me. I guess this is the best way I can help them to prepare for, well in case…"

"Do you really think so, about it being luck I mean?" asked Charlie. "Let me put it to you this way, do you think any of the others could have lead your group at the ministry last year?" He paused, seeing the obvious emotion this subject triggered in Harry. "Six underage wizards break into a secure government building, and hold off a dozen highly dangerous wizards. I can see how some would think it sounds like a glorious adventure story that any young man would be proud to tell, but you are hardly a child Harry. Look past that, and you'll see something extraordinary. What you call luck everyone else sees as natural ability and talent. It was your experience and quick thinking that kept you all alive that night; because you kept your head, and you were determined. Not everyone can do that."

"Not everyone survived," Harry mumbled.

"No, not everyone, and though I'm sure you've heard it before I'll say it again, Sirius' death was not your responsibility. You took care of your friends who came with you, and that was your job."

Harry nodded solemnly.

"And maybe no one has said it, but thanks," Charlie added.

Harry looked puzzled, "Thanks for what?"

"Look, I've heard the reports, but there were a lot of things that weren't said. I've talked to Ron and Ginny a lot about what happened. From what they told me, you tried to stop them all from going with you. You kept them safe even when they didn't listen to you. Especially Ginny."

"Huh? I didn't do anything special, what are you talking about?" Harry asked in a bewildered voice.

"They told me that when you were surrounded Bellatrix LeStrange threatened to torture Ginny to force you to give them the prophecy, and you shielded her from that." Charlie stated.

"But I would have done that for any of them."

Charlie looked Harry in the eyes, "True, and that is why so many people love you Harry. But look at it from my perspective. That's my baby sister, and while she is powerful, I wouldn't want her to go through that. It would break my heart. And you are the one that prevented that, kept her from suffering. You have no idea how high that puts you in my esteem."

"But Charlie, I'm the reason she was there in the first place!" Harry retorted in a disgruntled tone.

"No Harry," Charlie replied, "They made the decision to go with you, even after you tried to stop them. They were responsible for their own actions, just as you would have been if the roles were reversed. Tell me, would you have stayed behind had it been Ron or Ginny, or any of the others going off like that?" Harry looked pensive for a moment. "No, of course you wouldn't. But that would be your responsibility."

"Alright, I guess I can see your point, but I still think it's my fault that they were there, and that they got hurt" Harry muttered.

"Well, I suppose there isn't anything more say, but you should think about it." Charlie sighed and then took a sip of his tea. "So anyway, tell me a little more about your training."

Harry reclined back in his chair, "What's there to tell. We've been doing some new spell work that Hermione has researched, but other than that it's been mostly just practicing the things most of us already know."

"Yeah, I've seen, but I meant your training Harry. I've heard that this is an extension of your personal training, and that you've been going at it pretty hard. Your friends are concerned about the pressure you are putting on yourself."

Harry sat there stunned, "Really, well it's news to me. They haven't said a word. I have been putting in some extra sessions, but I thought they would understand. Why wouldn't they just ask me though?"

"On that I can only speculate, perhaps they don't know how to bring it up without sounding like they are accusing you of something. I believe that they are worried because they know what you have to face. And no, they didn't tell me what specifically, but I am smart enough to guess at what could make you push yourself so hard. Can't say that I wouldn't be doing the same thing."

Harry was grateful that they hadn't betrayed his trust, but he was still annoyed that they were worrying about him, particularly that they didn't come right to him. He didn't want anyone's pity regardless of the circumstances. He expected a little understanding about this though, it wasn't like he hadn't been upfront with them, so why couldn't they at least do the same for him.

"So tell me what you are doing Harry. I may even be able to share some other techniques that could help you," Charlie said, bringing Harry's focus back.

Harry began to describe the morning Quidditch practice he and Ron had been doing, and his meetings with Professor Dumbledore. It didn't occur to him until after he outlined his extra studying and practice sessions that he realized how much he had actually been doing. With the pressure he had been feeling from the war, and the DA, and if he were honest, the loss of Sirius, it had seemed like he wasn't doing nearly enough. It didn't make sense to Harry, but he was beginning to see that he hadn't left himself a spare moment since school had started.

"I suppose now you can see why your friends are concerned. You've been pushing so hard you didn't even realize it," Charlie interrupted Harry's thoughts.

"It's not enough," Harry replied in a stiff whisper. His eyes rose to meet Charlie's. "I'm five years behind where I could have been, where I should be if I'm going to win, and it's that much harder that I have to work now to make up for it. If I want to have any chance at all."

Charlie cocked his head in question, "Do you honestly believe that Harry, that the last five years haven't helped you to prepare?"

"He's had fifty years head start, and he wasn't slacking when he was a student here. He's only grown more powerful in that time. I've had sixteen years, ten of which I didn't even know I was a wizard. So five years of training, you tell me, how prepared am I?" Harry answered harshly.

"I understand what you're saying," Charlie said, nodding his head, "But I don't think you're that far off the mark, remember you've stopped him several times now. And don't overlook all you've gained in that time, your friends?"

Harry heard his own grave voice respond, "I'll lose a lot more than what I've gained in the last five years if I can't beat him."