Time passed quickly. Just as quickly did Harry realize the answer to all his questions. He already had forgiven Katie, he was just being so caught up in the fact she lied to him to realize it. He didn't know about loving her, but he certainly liked her as more than a friend. Ron kept smiling at him whenever Harry's thoughts turned to her, as though he could read Harry's mind, which scared Harry a bit.

The only D.A. lesson that stuck out in Harry's mind was the lesson where Snape had been involved. The lesson was the promised Imperius lesson, to try and make the D.A. better able to throw off it's power over them. They had moved to Snape's classroom so that he wouldn't know where they held their weekly meetings. Harry had presented his case to Dumbledore on a homework-free Saturday, and Dumbledore had given his consent for Snape to help the D.A. Snape, as was expected, was not particularly delighted in his task, but didn't dare disobey an order from the Headmaster. Therefore, Harry and the D.A. had been caught late one Wednesday night at Snape's classroom door.

"What is it?" Snape said sharply before opening the door to his beloved classroom.

"We're here," Harry answered, rolling his eyes slightly.

Snape slowly opened his door, giving himself time to glare sufficiently at each and every one of them. "I see." He turned away from the door with a swish of his cloak and sat down behind his desk.

The D.A. followed him, taking seats at the tables. An evil grin spread across Snape's face as Harry, the last of them, sat down. "Well, Potter, how about you give us a demonstration?"

Harry didn't answer immediately. Snape would likely do something much worse. "Okay," was his simple reply.

Snape stood and swept to the front of his desk with a rather pleased look on his face, worrying Harry severely. He looked back at Ron as though he would never see him again, then turned to face Snape.

"Class, you are about to see the spell and it's effects on a person, unless Potter can fight it off, as I've heard," Snape said. "Imperio!"

Harry went into a dreamy wonderland, where nothing mattered, where he didn't care. A cloudless dream, flying across the sky, walking on the soft, lush grass. It was so simple, not needing anything, not wanting anything. Just staying here for eternity was like heaven….

Go drink the potion…

What?

Go drink the potion…

Why? What's the point?

Drink it… Drink the potion…

Why should I? I don't think I want to.

Drink it… DRINK IT NOW!

"NO!" Harry staggered for a moment, shook his head, then straightened.

"THAT is what I want to see," Snape said, turning away from Harry. "If you don't do that, you may be surprised where you next find yourself… Longbottom."

Neville gulped.

"So… who will be first?"

No one raised their hand or volunteered.

"No one…? My, my, so many to choose from, then…. Shall it be… Weasley?"

Ginny and Ron exchanged a worried glance.

"Yes, yes… Miss Weasley, come here!"

Ginny stood and slowly walked forward.

"Miss Weasley, prepare yourself."

Ginny showed a look that clearly wished she knew how.

"Imperio!"

And so it went. As it turned, Ginny was one of the few who could nearly throw off the curse, though no one did it entirely. Neville managed to make himself sick when Snape told him to go drink a deep red potion, when Neville suddenly keeled over and vomited uncontrollably. Ron did absolutely pitiful, though Harry was careful not to say anything. He did everything Snape told him to do, though did finally make a feeble attempt to not smack Ginny across her face.

Nine-thirty came quicker than Harry expected, and much sooner than Snape seemed to have anticipated. It seemed he was rather enjoying controlling the absent-minded Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws. He sighed resentfully at the time and dismissed them, as though it was class. Harry stopped them from going their separate ways in the Entrance Hall.

"I know it wasn't very helpful, but I'm sure it was illuminating," Harry said, looking each member in the eye as he spoke. "Congratulations to the few of you who overcame it. To those other of you, perhaps if it is used on you at the Bryth, you will be able to at least realize that it is being put on you, which is the first step. I'll see you all next week, if not sooner. Goodnight."

Classes went by in a rush of knowledge as Harry and the other members of the D.A. gulped down the knowledge they were presented with, even a few things in History of Magic, which they quickly found would help them none. McGonagall became very austere in her lessons, showing them spells that she thought might help them. Flitwick, surprisingly, became very strict within the coming week toward the quest to the Bryth, allowing no one to talk and making sure most people had the charms down well enough before the end of each lesson. Snape also taught them many remedies that they might need for things the Death Eaters would throw at them, or other deadly things they might encounter. It was at this point in time more than any other that Harry was quite glad he didn't have Trelawney breathing down his neck in Divination, proclaiming how he would die on his "fruitless" quest, as he heard her telling Professor Vector.

There was only one odd thing that happened, though few people paid attention to it. The Monday before the adventure of the Bryth, the Gryffindors and Slytherins were standing outside as usual in Care of Magical Creatures, listening to Hagrid talk about a Pogrebin, for which he had mysteriously found a specimen of. Hagrid was just telling them about how it launched its prey into a fit of despair so that it could devour it when two odd-looking winged beasts were noticed flying towards them.

Only a few people noticed these odd creatures, and pointed them out to their friends. Soon the entire class were watching the birds fly towards them, asking Hagrid about them.

Hagrid looked up at them and squinted his eyes, trying to make out what they were. One was a dark green, the other a pale yellow, shiny and scaly like a dragon, but with sharp claws like a bird. They were a little larger than owls with sharp-pointed ears and what might have been horns in between. "Hmm… looks like a breach o' the Ban on 'Sperimental Breeding… like an owl an' a dragon or somethin'…." Hagrid mused.

"Hey, look at that!" Dean shouted. "It's carrying something! It's… it's carrying someone's message!"

Indeed, as Harry looked he saw a piece of parchment clutched in the creature's scaly claws. The students and Hagrid looked on until it disappeared out of sight. Hagrid called attention back to the lesson and most people paid attention, but Harry was one of the few who's minds remained on the mysterious bird.

Finally Harry woke up on a beautiful March twelfth. Harry desperately tried to pay attention during his classes, but found his mind wandering to what horrors awaited him the next day. He was deeply annoyed with himself by lunch time.

It was then that Dumbledore asked Harry to follow him, which Harry did without question, knowing what the subject of Dumbledore's query was.

"Harry," Dumbledore said, closing the door behind him of an unused classroom, "are you sure you want to go?"

"Yes, Professor," Harry said swiftly. He'd made up his mind about that long ago.

"I thought so, but I was under oath to ask. Molly--Mrs. Weasley--sent me a very… ah hem, nice owl about how I should 'under no circumstances' allow you to go."

Harry laughed softly. That was Mrs. Weasley all right.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly, watching Harry. Harry looked up at him, feeling there was more to this than Dumbledore was telling. Indeed, Dumbledore smiled at Harry's apparent anxiety to hear what else he had to say.

"Also," he said, smiling at Harry's knowing smile, "there are a few others who have asked, or rather told me they would like to go with you."

Harry smiled a bit. "Like who?"

"I'm sure you can make some decent guesses," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling a little more bright. "The Secret Students have 'officially threatened me' that if I don't let them go… well, we'll not go into that. Elyse and Heather, not surprisingly, have said in not the slightest nicer terms their desire to go with you into the Bryth. A few teachers also have decided they will go." He smiled. "None of them asked. They believe this could be the final battle, and are determined to do whatever they can to help you."

Harry gaped. "They… they all want to come with me? To help?"

Dumbledore smiled again. "They do indeed."

"And… and are you coming?" Harry asked hopefully.

Dumbledore's smile widened. "I will."

Harry gave a huge smile. "Thank you, Professor."

"It will be my pleasure," Dumbledore said. "Though I cannot do much to Voldemort."

Harry nodded. "I understand. But you could easily take care of Voldemort's Death Eaters without even needing the D.A.!"

Dumbledore smiled wanly. "Maybe. I would highly encourage you bringing all those in the D.A. willing to come, however."

"They all want to," Harry assured.

"Well then, Harry, I suggest you let them all know they have some more people coming. I'm sure it would lift their spirits," said Dumbledore.

"I think it would, too," Harry said, smiling. He walked out the door, then rushed into the Great Hall, quickly telling them all of their new allies. Harry's own spirits soared higher as he watched each person's face fill with hope. They could do this, Harry realized with each face that glowed bright. They could do this, and they would. They had to.