Erised's Bane
Author's Note: Here you go, a brand new chapter for your viewing pleasure. Sorry, I know it took me a while but I was preoccupied with a couple of other things. Basically, extreme boredom and writer's block. But hey, I'm back and here we go with a brand new chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: You know the drill. Harry Potter ain't mine. Only Lord Hornswaggle, Megan Wyatt, and Sabrina Young.
Chapter Eleven: Return of the DA
For the first time in his memory, Harry emerged from Snape's dungeon in a considerably good mood. Certainly it wasn't because of the company he had down in the dank chambers (anything but that). It was the progress with Occlumency that had him in a rather elated state, so that even Snape's comment that Harry was making miraculous progress wasn't enough to deflate his pleasure.
Certainly Harry wasn't an expert at Occlumency yet, but he had managed to block a majority of Snape's probing and he had experienced no episode like that of his first Occlumency lesson that year. Of course Harry denied to himself that it was because of Snape being an exceptional teacher that he had caught on rather quickly--rather, he thought it was likely the motivation of getting the lessons over and done with that propelled him to practice even outside of lessons. Well, that motivation combined with the desire to get Voldemort out of his head at any rate.
"You're certainly in a good mood." Said Ron suspiciously when Harry sat beside him. "Who are you and what have you done to Harry Potter?"
"I was Harry last time I checked." He snorted.
"Well, what's with this--cheerfulness? Come on, you just spent an hour with Snape. You can't tell me that's what is leaving you so chipper."
Harry rolled his eyes and leaned over. "Listen, I've practically got this Occlumency thing worked out now. By the time I do that stupid press thing I'm sure I'll have gotten Voldemort permanently out of my head."
Ron flinched at the name but said nothing. "Good to know." He said after a moment. "But I wonder if blocking Snape is quite the same thing as you-know-who. Because it's going to be much harder fighting him off."
"I know." Harry hissed. "I'm not an idiot. But if I face him again--which knowing me will be by the end of the year, of course--I do not intend to be possessed. I've already done it once and it isn't a pleasant feeling."
Ron paled slightly at the idea. "Sorry--yeah, I get your point. I just can't--can't figure it out, I guess."
Harry shrugged. "Sure, I understand." He said.
"At least somebody does." Ron said defensively. "People reckon it's easy, you know, being the sidekick."
"The sidekick?" Harry said with an amused snort.
"Yes, the assistant to the world-famous Harry Potter. You're right hand man. Like the King Arthur to your Merlin."
"Actually, in muggle literature King Arthur is the important one." Harry said.
"Really?" Ron asked, frowning. "That's definitely one of the weirder muggle things I've heard. I mean, what did King Arthur do that was so important?"
"Knights of the round table." Hermione said as she plopped down a load of books next to Ron and Harry. "Hey, you two. I've just been to the library checking out a couple of things I thought you might like to help me scan through. I thought we could do some practice with some of the more...obscure hexes." She said with a small blush. "What were you talking about King Arthur for?" she asked, looking at Harry.
"Ron's claiming that he's my sidekick." Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh really?" Hermione laughed. "You mean, like he's the Robin to your Batman?"
"What?" Ron asked.
"Muggle thing." Harry said quickly. "Just forget it."
Ron, not being keen to hear a talk about muggles, just shrugged and flipped one of the books Hermione had laid down on the table. "What do you mean by the more obscure...oh!" Ron stared at the page he had opened to and began laughing.
"What is it?" Harry asked eagerly, looking over Ron's shoulder. He flinched when he saw the illustration on the page of a wizard whose skin appeared to be peeling away from the muscle and immediately recognized the Invisi Skeletor Curse, the same one that Young has used on Snape days before when the two had dueled.
"I thought it would be best to learn these if she finds them useful." Said Hermione, opening another book to the page on the Floridius Faunus hex. "But there are quite a few others she hasn't mentioned I thought we could learn, as well as a few chapters I found on using charms and curses one wouldn't usually think of using in a duel in different ways."
"Meaning..." Ron said, leaving the statement open for comment.
"Meaning using things like the cheering charm." Harry said, interpreting Hermione's meaning.
"Exactly." She said, smiling. "That's right, Harry."
"I guess it could work." Harry said after a long moment. "I mean, we could find some other use for things like summoning charms. Look what I did with that dragon fourth year."
"It's a good start." Hermione commented.
"But we would never have time to do all this in class!" Ron said in exasperation. "How are we going to learn these things?"
Hermione simply smiled and Harry caught on immediately. He watched her hand as it went down to her pocket and she extracted the galleons she had created for the DA the year before. "Are you mad?" Ron said immediately. "We almost got expelled for that last year!"
"Umbridge isn't here anymore." She said as she dropped them back into her pocket. "And besides, I don't intend to do it without a sponsor this time around. I've asked Professor Young if we could get a group together to practice dueling outside of class, and she thinks it's a brilliant idea. And she has already heard about last year."
"So we're doing it?" Harry said unsurely.
"Absolutely. Since we're already studying dueling in class, it isn't as if we're doing anything bad. And she's been encouraging us to practice all along, now she can't be held responsible since we'd be having scheduled practice sessions."
"And...will it be all the houses together?" Harry asked with a gulp, thinking suddenly of the Ravenclaws.
"Well yes, but since it's strictly on a volunteer basis I highly doubt we'll be seeing any Slytherins." Hermione said. "And it's open only to fifth years and above."
"Well, it sounds as if you have everything planned out quite nicely." Harry said as he leaned back.
"Young actually did most of the planning. To tell the truth, she had been up on the idea ever since she heard about the original DA. But there's one thing..." Hermione stopped abruptly, turning suddenly pink.
"What?" Harry said, realizing that she was sending small glances in his direction.
"Well..." Hermione took a deep breath. "She decided that since it will be a sort of club, it might be best if we had a student leader, and I kind of told her about how you taught most of us last year...."
"You mean you nominated me?" Harry said dryly. Hermione nodded and left him thinking for a moment. "I guess it's okay..." he said after a long moment. "But Young will be there, right? I mean, it isn't as if I'd be doing that much..."
"Actually, Young won't be there." Hermione interrupted, making both Ron and Harry groan.
"I guess we should start calling you Professor Potter now." Ron said after a long moment.
"Shut up." Muttered Harry.
"Well listen, I've got to get started spreading the word about the new DA. I'm sure Ginny and Neville will want to be there, as well as Susan Bones and Ernie Macmillan...Dean Thomas of course...oh, do you think Cho will come? I certainly hope she doesn't bring that rotten..." Hermione paused when she saw the expression on Harry's face. "Well, we'll see." She said hurriedly as she picked up her things and rushed off. "And we're not meeting in the same place as last year." She called over her shoulder. "Young volunteered her classroom for the DA."
"Just great." Said Harry when she was gone. "And when do you plan on having our Quidditch auditions, oh wise captain?" he asked.
"Next week, Friday if McGonagall lets us have the field. So no detentions, how about it?"
"I don't think so." Harry said with a grin.
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"Look at all these people!" Hermione said in excitement as she looked at the people milling about in the empty classroom as even more trickled in through the door. "It's more than I even expected!"
"Yeah." Said Harry, who was slightly ill at the prospect. "Would you look at them."
"And not a Slytherin to be seen." Hermione said. "Course, that's because if they were here they would have to listen to everything you said. And there isn't a Slytherin alive who is about to do that."
"Whatever you say." Said Harry, who wasn't listening.
He watched the people and shook his head. There was no way--no way--that he was going to be able to keep all these people under his control. He saw Ginny talking to Dean and Seamus while a group of Ravenclaws were speaking in hushed undertones nearby. Cho did not appear to be part of the group. Susan Bones had given him a friendly smile when she came in and he had been temporarily surprised to find that she was actually rather pretty--an observation he didn't know why he hadn't noticed before.
Neville had quietly greeted him when he entered and had spent the last few minutes quietly waiting. The episode in the ministry a few months before seemed to have given him a bit of nerve he had never had before, and Harry could scarcely believe it but Neville almost appeared anxious to start the dueling lessons.
The clock had just struck six o'clock, the scheduled time of the meeting, when Young poked her head in and peered about. "Can't stay long, Harry." She said as she walked in. "I just wanted to see if there was anything you needed for the lesson."
"Uhm...no." he answered, slightly embarrassed. "Not really, I'm fine thank you. Thanks for helping us restart the DA."
"I was just the first person you asked." She said. "Even Professor McGonagall was telling Professor Dumbledore it was high time you began some sort of group like this. In these times even young people like yourselves must be prepared--especially if it's your friends." She said, looking over at Neville, Ron, and Hermione. "Of course, you're not about to do anything like what happened last June." She said.
"Of course not." Harry said automatically. Young just looked at him for a long moment before shaking her head. "They told me how much you were like your father. But..." she paused for a moment before sighing. "No, I can see why they would think that. You're certainly protective as he was. Proud also...not arrogant. There is a difference." She took a deep breath. "But I see Lily as well. Harry, I..."
"Professor Young! Are you going to stay for a little while?" Harry and Young glanced over as Hermione jogged over.
"Oh no, I was just wishing Harry a bit of luck." Young smiled. "I hope all goes well, Harry." She said before nodding her head and turning out the door. Dejected that Young hadn't finished whatever she was going to say--it was, after all, the only time she had mentioned his parents even though he often got the feeling that she had known them.
"I guess we had better get started." He said with a sigh. He turned and almost immediately the entire room went quiet, making him turn slightly red. "Well, I guess most of you who weren't here last year have at least heard about the DA, so there isn't a whole lot to say." He ran a hand absently through his hair. "Uhm...I guess we'll start where we left off, and those of you who weren't here last year can catch up by hanging along with somebody who was here. Does anybody remember what we were doing?"
"We were just finishing up with the Patronus." Said Susan. "And we were about to start practicing with sleeping charms..." she drifted off when the door clicked open and everybody in the room turned. Harry could hardly keep his jaw from dropping when he saw Malfoy standing there, coolly assessing the room, with Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe, and Goyle beside him.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Harry asked dryly.
"It's a school-wide club, Potter." He said, gray eyes glinting maliciously. "Open to everybody. You can't keep me out."
Harry felt like cursing but instead restrained himself enough to say, "Are you sure you want to learn to defend yourself against dark magic? I'm sure Voldemort would be pleased to teach you a few killing curses."
Everybody, including the four Slytherins, flinched when Harry said Voldemort's name but Malfoy tried to shrug it off and strode into the room. "I think I'm doing the school a service. I'd think we need somebody sane in here. All we need is a deranged half-blood and his mudblood loving friends dirtying the entire school."
"If you cause trouble Professor Young is going to hear about it." Harry said. "Even though I can't kick you out, she can."
"And you think she will?" Malfoy laughed. "How much do you know about her Potter? Not much?" He walked forward. "If you ever want to hear the real story behind your new favorite professor, Potter, talk to the minister of magic. He fought very hard to keep her out of this school. Want to know why?"
"Shut up Malfoy." Hermione said as she came forward and put her hands on her hips. "It doesn't matter about Young, because she's here. And if I'm not mistaken, she's not the one on the Ministry's wanted list." She leaned forward. "I wonder if you father is going to be as smug as you when he's on the receiving end of a curse by an Auror?" Malfoy growled and Hermione blinked when she saw his wand pointed directly at her heart. Harry and Ron both darted forward but she rose her hand to stave them off.
"Oh no, I've been waiting to say this a long time." She said. "What do you think you're going to do, Malfoy? You know the benefits of fighting when you're outnumbered. And it isn't three to one, for a change." She said conversationally.
"What are you yammering about, Mudblood?" he sneered.
Hermione only smiled and she waved her hand. "Why don't you tell me?" Harry followed the movements of her hand with his eyes and he suddenly felt like laughing, something he did when he saw the look on Malfoy's face. Every person in the room who wasn't a Slytherin had their wand out and pointed directly at Malfoy, including Neville and Ginny. Hermione said nothing as she stepped back down and away. "You made a mistake coming here." She said as she rejoined the group. "But it's your loss."
A moment passed and Malfoy finally put down his wand as he and the other Slytherins slowly walked down and took an unoccupied space among the others, leaving Harry alone before the rest of them. He couldn't help but grin when he flipped open one of the books he had brought and laid it down. "Shall we begin?" he said, grinning and feeling that perhaps the DA might not be as bad as he had thought.
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"Harry, could you come with me?" Harry turned and saw McGonagall standing at the door. The DA had just let out and he was now in there cleaning up. Ron of course had protested that it was the duty of the house-elves to tidy up the mess, but Hermione would not hear of it and said that as the house-elves would be receiving no compensation for extra work, they should certainly do the cleaning themselves.
His friends looked at him as they all stared at McGonagall for a moment. "What is it?" Harry asked, unable to dispel the little ball that had curled up in his stomach, the same dread that had haunted him so often as of late.
"Just a few words with members of the Order on your press statement." She said wearily, making Harry sigh in relief.
"I'll see you in a little while." He muttered to his friends as he followed her out the door and up the corridor. They went towards Dumbledore's office and McGonagall opened the door, letting Harry go before her. She limped in behind him, obviously still rattled from the incident the year before but now walking without the aid of a walking stick. They went up the escalating stairs and reached the door, which had been left ajar. Harry poked his head in and grinned when he saw Remus and Tonks looking back at him.
"Hey there." Said Tonks, waving at Harry. "Like my hair? I finally got tired of the pink, and I just don't feel right as a blonde." She winked at him and ran her hands through it--it was slightly longer and black, in the same messy style Harry saw every time he looked in the mirror.
Remus laughed when he saw the expression on Harry's face. "Better change it back, I think you're scaring him."
Tonks grinned and her hair went back to the same platinum it had been when he had seen her last. "Sorry, had to do it." she grinned.
"That's fine, but I was just about to ask if you could plaster a scar up there and do the press conference for me." Harry said.
"Sorry, I'm camera shy." She said as she plopped herself down in a chair.
"I highly doubt that." Said Remus conversationally.
"But getting back on the subject of the conference..." interrupted Dumbledore, who had been sitting back enjoying the spectacle, "which is of course the reason you are all here."
"Right." Remus said. He extended his hand for McGonagall and led her to another unoccupied chair. "Anybody else coming?"
"I asked Sabrina but she declined. She believes that since she wasn't here when the events took place, she doesn't have a clear view of events and thus shouldn't be here."
"She's right." Remus said. Harry looked at him in surprise, hearing for the first time a hint of irritation in Remus' usually composed demeanor.
Ignoring the comment, Dumbledore went forward. "Now starting with the basic facts," he said, "We'll have to include everything that was said in the interview Harry gave last year. As it appeared first in the Quibbler, there are still those who doubt some of the facts Harry gave."
"Right." Remus said. "But what about what happened in June? The ministry still doesn't accept that Sirius was on our side. And as there is no...body...even when we say he was on our side they claim he might have rejoined the Death Eaters after all."
"Idiots." Tonks muttered. Harry, who had just felt a surge of anger, suppressed himself from speaking. The knowing glance he saw Dumbledore give him told him that he understood.
"As to that, I agree that Sirius should be left out of it." Dumbledore said quietly. "When the time comes, the people shall know what he did for them. But as for now..." he took a deep breath, "we will not let the Ministry drag his name through the mud." When he concluded a murmur of assent went throughout the room.
"What about all the other people that were there?" Harry said. "Not many people know about the ones that went with me."
"It might be helpful if they gave statements." Remus said thoughtfully. "Especially Ginny, Ron, and Neville, as they come from respected families--pureblood, as if it counts for much. But we'd have to ask Molly and Arthur first. And Neville's grandmother."
"Of course." McGonagall said. "But what about the fact that Harry went on his own? We can't ignore the fact that he was at the ministry that night, but we can't exactly flaunt it either. How are we supposed to say he got there?"
"That I can't answer." Dumbledore said quietly. "Harry will have to decide, because telling people about that would also be revealing the unusual connection Harry has into Voldemort's mind."
Harry frowned. "It's true." He finally said. "I guess I'll have to say something."
"No." Remus said, sitting up. "I don't think so. People are scared just to say his name. To reveal that you are that close to him could have devastating results. Do more harm than good."
"It's true." Tonks replied. "So what are we just going to say? Harry and a group of friends fell through the sky and landed in the ministry?"
"We'll have to tell the truth, that he was led there." Remus sighed. "And leave it at that."
"You mean, like say I was threatened?" Harry said. It was true enough--he had been threatened.
"Exactly."
"They'll want to know how Harry was threatened." McGonagall said. "And why."
"And as it wouldn't be intelligent to say much about the prophecy, that should also be left out." Tonks said.
"So what, I just say I was threatened to come down there so the Death Eaters could try and kill me?" Harry muttered. "It won't do much, they'll still be irritated. It doesn't exactly answer much does it?"
"No, it doesn't." Dumbledore said. "But they've spent enough time fabricating stories that I don't think it should be much of a problem."
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Okay, a chapter a bit shorter than most of my other ones. Sorry, I had writer's block! This story is going to be a bit longer than most of my other ones, I can see it now. Geez, I usually just barely manage thirty chapters, and this time I'm practically a third of the way through that and I've only gotten about a week into the school year. Of course, in OotP J.K. was only on the first day of the school by chapter eleven. So I guess I'm actually doing okay...
Well, thanks for reading my story. I really like the attention, you people sure do make me feel special! I can't believe I already hit a hundred reviews and I've only got ten chapters! That's the most I've gotten in such a short time, even though I've seen four chapter stories with a hundred and fifty reviews. Of course who can compete with the title Severus Snape, Sexy Slytherin? (Check that story out if you haven't already, by the way. It's damn hilarious even though it pokes a bit of fun at Snape and Harry)
E-mail me if you wish! I like attention. I might be changing my e-mail address soon by the way, so watch out.
Next Chapter, a gigantic, huge, enormous, massive, colossal surprise! And it involves the Weasley family, yay!