Chapter Five

After lunch Harry again walked with Ginny to her lesson, despite this Harry was deep in a conversation with Remus in the DADA classroom when Ron and Hermione arrived.

"Hello, I do hope you learned something over the summer" Remus said. "This class is devoted to Spell theory and both theory and practice on what are viewed as Dark Creatures, many of which are indeed malevolent but others which are the result of wizard mistakes or misunderstanding long in the past."

"Like Dementors?"

"Yes, but others like Basilisks, Werewolves, Wendigos and Trolls are dangerous in whole or in part because of wizards." Remus said.

"How?"

"Does no one know?"

Harry and Hermione put up their hands.

"Hermione."

"Basilisks like Dementors were created by wizards, Werewolves are wizards or more often muggles that are cursed, Wendigos were human at one time before they too were cursed, Trolls dislike humans of any sort because of the noise and light they make."

"Harry."

"Good but incomplete, Werewolves are the result of a curse cast by a Dark Wizard in 543 BC, in a successful attempt to drive a wedge between Rome and its most dangerous allies."

"Who were they?"

"People who were able to transform instantly into werewolf like creatures but retain their full mind, the curse and resulting wizarding prejudice all but wiped them out."

"Wish they were around." Neville said.

"A counter-curse was created at one time but no-one could be found who could cast it and the spell was later lost."

"Too bad."

Transfiguration was next, as the walked to it; Hermione asked Harry how he had learned so much in so short a time.

"Read about fifty books a day for over two weeks, and as many books a day as I could whenever and wherever I could later on."

"Fifty Books a day!" Ron exclaimed, "Even Hermione doesn't read that many."

"I had six weeks to learn more than what every Gryffindor before me took twelve or thirteen years to learn, and I can't screw it up."

"I'll say, I mean no pressure, it's only the whole flipping world at stake."

"Like you say, no pressure."

They reached the Transfiguration Classroom, a whitish blond haired girl called Harry over.

Harry excused himself and walked over.

Harry met a pair of laughter filled purple eyes and grinned.

"Miri, I told you the ferret made a better looking girl, you kept your eyes though, I like them better."

"I know he does, thanks, I bet he would like them too."

"Isn't he a bit young for you"

"I'm a teenager again, besides who else is there?"

"You could flirt with Tonks." He said, Miri giggled.

"A metamorphmagus, I never tried that before, Thanks."

"Cool, is there a point to this or did you come to flirt with me?"

"The pack is ready, they come north with the first snows."

"Good, I free the wolf tonight."

"First DA meeting is Friday, okay." he said so others could hear.

"Thanks." Miri said and melted into the crowd.

"New DA member, I thought I knew everyone?" Hermione asked.

"She's new to Hogwarts" Harry said. Hermione looked unconvinced.

Professor McGonagall arrived and ushered them into the classroom.

When they were all seated "Today we will be studying to become Animagi, is anyone here already familiar, with the theory."

Harry, Hermione and two Ravenclaws put up their hands.

"Miss Garret."

"Animagi are wizards with the ability to become a particular animal, this is predetermined by characteristics of family, personality, magical ability and others, for this reason they are extremely rare and closely monitored."

"Thank you, ten points to Ravenclaw, open to Chapter five." McGonagall said and moved over to stand over Harry.

"You have covered this already?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Give the impression of working hard."

"Yes, Professor" Harry and began planning the upcoming DA meeting in his head.

After the class they went to the Great Hall to eat.

"Who was that girl you were talking to before McGonagall's Class?"

Harry made eye contact with Ron and Hermione "A new DA member."

"Right" they both said, all doubt suddenly erased.

They finished eating and went to the Common Room to do Homework, which Harry soon finished, he went off to see Remus.

"Harry, Dumbledore called a meeting." Remus said.

"Right."

Harry reached the Gargoyle, which stood aside and bowed, Harry patted its head band went up.

Tonks, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and Flitwick sat in a circle; Remus and Harry took the empty seats.

"Potter." Snape said with grudging respect.

"Professor Snape."

"It is Harry's right too be here, both by who and what he is."

"Harry, who is this mysterious girl we are told you met before Minerva's classroom?"

"I didn't meet her then, I knew her already, she was passing on a message."

"Alright."

"What about that explanation of werewolves, I know you something left out?"

"Yes, although werewolves are carnivores. They seek out humans not to curse them, but to free what they sense inside."

"What?"

"The wolf, it isn't a curse but a gift. As I told you it was corrupted over two thousand years ago by a dark wizard."

"Can it be undone?"

"Yes." Harry stood "this will hurt. A lot"

"I'm ready." Remus looked Harry in the eyes and took several deep breathes.

The air blazed with magical power, Harry wrote signs in fire in the air and spoke. "Wild heart, True heart, shatter your chains, break free from cage of flesh and bone." Remus floated till he faced Harry, growing bigger, muscle bulged, limbs twisted into new shapes. "Wolf of Gryffindor, awake and hear the call" fur covered every inch, yellow eyes and snarling jaws erupted from the head, wicked claws erupted from the fingers and the toes tapping the floor.

"Do you like it Remus or should I call you Moony."

The towering dark grey furred man-beast said in a near growl. "Remus, Moony is in the past now." He shrank and become human again.

"Thank you, Harry I wish it could have happened sooner."

"It couldn't, James didn't have either the power or heritage to do the spell."

"How can you?"

"Slytherin."

"I see."

"Can we get on?" Snape asked scathingly.

"Professors, Tonks this will be the worst battle in recorded history, Riddle has found the control spells hidden by the Ambrose when Rome was destroyed, with them he will bring Vampires, Trolls and Dementors to his side, the Giants as you know have joined although they were few, and most of the remainder will never reach Britain. But Riddle will still have the largest force ever seen."

"We are recruiting from the Aurors as fast as we can, but Fudge or dark friendly wizards are blocking us as much as they can." Tonks said.

"Will the DA be ready?" Remus asked.

"Yes, or at least ready enough."

"But they are children."

"Not anymore." Harry said to the others who nodded grimly.

Soon the meeting broke up and Harry and Remus went to the DADA office.

Harry sat down opposite Remus, who took out two shot glasses from the desk drawers, placing a large bottle of amber liquid beside them.

"So who was that girl?"

Harry looked at Remus "a friend, now shut up and pour, dog-breath."

Remus filled both glasses "I do not have dog-breath."

"Ah, Remus." Harry grimaced "this stuff is horrible." Harry waved a hand and glasses and bottle vanished.

Harry took a dark brown box out of a pocket, tapped it three times and threw it on the carpet where it expanded into a trunk sized box, Harry opened it took out several bottles of golden liquid and a pair of shot glasses which he placed on the table, Remus read the labels and whispered.

Harry took out a pipe and an oiled cloth pouch and sit down.

"Want any, Remus?"

"Alright, got another pipe?"

"Sure, have it." Harry handed him a similar pipe.

Remus poured two glasses, lit his pipe and sat down with a smile.

The next day, Hermione and Ginny after not finding Harry in Gryffindor tower, went to The DADA office to ask Remus if he had seen him. They found Remus passed out on a chair and Harry sitting in the opposite chair, smelling of alcohol and smoke.

"Okay." Harry said cheerfully.

"Harry, you're drunk." Ginny said who saw the twins and Charlie drunk last year

"I am not drunk." Harry said, "I'm pissed."

"And Stoned." Ginny pointed out.

"I am seventeen, I can get stoned or pissed or both if I like." Harry pointed out.

"But we have classes." Hermione said.

"True." Harry closed his eye and then opened them, all trace of effect gone.

"I'll meet you in half an hour in the Great Hall for breakfast."

"Ginny." Harry held out his hand; Ginny gave him back the pouch.

"McGonagall would kill me if I gave anyone in Gryffindor any of this."

Ginny came closer "I can't convince you?" She asked.

"DA meeting is on Friday, after that maybe, but only if no teachers call me on it."

"Thanks." Ginny said, they kissed and she left.

The first DA meeting was well attended. Of the forty-six students who were members last year, thirty-seven returned, as did dozens of new members, although they also had dozens of younger students arrive but Harry confirmed that no new members could be under fifth year.

"But they are members and they are below fifth year."

"Yes, but a) they were members last year and b) they can out duel many of the other members. Go to Dumbledore or your Head of House if you want permission to join."

They left and the members gathered round Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

"The new DA badges well be handed out at the end, are there any questions."

The door opened Miri, Seamus and Colin beckoned Harry over.

"We have some Slytherins outside wanting to join. That okay Harry?"

"Send them in, and come in yourself." Miri nodded.

Seamus, Colin and Miri entered followed by three Slytherins including Blaise.

"Welcome, This is the Defence Association, it was originally called Dumbledore's Army, but we changed it."

"Why?"

"Because its not Dumbledore's Army, its mine." Most people laughed.

"But now its time to get serious, anyone not willing to fight Riddle's Army when it comes, leave and join the Defence Club, right now." Nobody left.

"I think I speak for everyone when I say, we will do whatever is necessary to take that bastard down." Neville said, everyone cheered.

"I am going to cast a spell on all of you, you can leave but its permanent if so."

"What does the spell do?" Neville asked.

"Nothing normally, but if you tell anyone at all, about anything that happens in the DA, it will kill you."

"Isn't that a little extreme?"

"No, if you are captured by Him, you'll thank me and if you sell us out, it's only the world at stake."

"Put like that, go for it."

Everyone confirmed they were willing.

Harry gestured and gold light flared for an instant and vanished.

"It's done, now we practice."

They practiced for over an hour, at one point Seamus, Dean, Ron, Neville and Luna all attacked Harry at once, his first spell dropped all but Neville, and they duelled for nearly a minute before Harry disarmed him.

"You're good you're probably the fourth best duellist in here, after me, Ginny and Hermione."

"I know I couldn't beat you, but I wanted to try."

"There are few duellists that can equal my knowledge, and none that can equal me in strength, speed or magical power. You did amazingly well to last that long."

Neville grinned and went to get a drink off the table in the corner.

"I can't believe how much Neville has changed in two years, almost as much as you." Ginny said as she sat down beside Harry.

"I know, I don't worry about winning, I know and can plan for that, I worry about what it will cost and even more important what the world we live in afterwards will be like."

"I don't know, but we will be together."

"So mote it be."