Disclaimer: I find myself once more declaring I don't own Harry Potter and wishing that I do!

Chapter Eleven. The Fifth House

Harry flipped the parchment over to browse through the first parchment.

Certain peoples of the castle being notified. Harry chewed on his bottom lip. An early detection system? Now that could be useful! Interesting and fatal defence mechanisms.

Now that sounded even better! But how could he activate these defence mechanisms, without more information? Indeed it was probably Godric who wrote the law. He doubted that he had left him written instructions anywhere; the founder didn't seem like the type of gentleman to flout wizarding law.

Harry finding that he was zoning out and was staring blankly at the piece of parchment dumbly without any thoughts in his mind, decided it was probably a good time to go to sleep. He tucked the parchments carefully under one of his numerous feather pillows and slipped under the cover.

'Those wards are awfully close,' Harry thought as he drifted off to sleep, his hand curled around the amulet.

"Must you go?" Harry turned towards the speaker and found he was looking into a pair of mournful golden brown eyes.

"Yes I must…" Harry found himself answering involuntary, although the voice did not belong to him. "If you hear from Harry…"

"Salazar," the deep voice of his companion chastened, "He's not coming back."

Harry sighed heavily and figured a little object in the pocket of his robe; a simple gold coin, warm under his fingers. "I hold hope in seeing him again."

His companion shook his head sadly.

Harry twirled the coin in his hand it was steadily growing warmer. "Have faith Godric, it is not over."

"We've given him everything we could."

Harry felt his lips curl sightly… "All but our allegiance…"

Harry woke early and in high spirits. He dressed hurriedly and jumped most of the stairs into the common room, only to find a nasty surprise waiting for him by the portrait of the Fat Lady… Professor Snape.

Snape took one disapproving look at him and sweeping his long black cloak around him snapped, "Come."

Dumbfounded to have come face to face with the Slytherin Head of House in the Gryffindor common room, Harry obeyed like a meek little lamb. Snape didn't pay him any mind however but kept a brisk pace until they came to an old abandoned classroom.

Snape swung the door open and Harry hesitantly entered the room, fearing the worse. The door snapped shut behind Harry with a morbid click. Harry flicked his fringe out of the way and looked up innocently up at Professor Snape innocently; for surely the Professor had something to accuse him of.

"Firstly, the flying ferret display…" Snape drawled slowly, Harry desperately tried to look surprised by the statement.

"I am not fooled by your pretence, Potter," Snape snarled, obviously his morning dose of extra black coffee with plenty of sugar had not kicked in as yet.

Harry made not attempt to reply, what he could say to appease the Slytherin Professor.

Snape glanced at the closed door then back to Harry and made a show of narrowing his eyes. "Did Slytherin teach you that?"

Harry shook his head. "No."

"Then were did you acquire the… skill?" Harry could see that Snape was becoming more and more suspicious.
"Slytherin taught me about controlling a force such as a wind or a slap…" Harry opted for telling the truth. But Snape still looked doubtful so Harry added carefully, "I extended from what I understood and… well once I had the ferret…" Harry forced down a cheeky grin upon remembering Malfoy zooming around the classroom. "It was easy…"

"Hmmm…" Snape's lips were thin as his dark eyes bored down into Harry's emerald eyes. "You are to report any new powers to me…"

Harry opened his mouth to protest against the unfairness of it all.

"Headmaster's orders." Snape said. Harry could tell, was enjoying this. "I am after all the defence against the dark arts teacher."

Harry's face fell, but Snape was not finished.

"Do you have anything else to confess?"
"No," Harry lied.
Snape narrowed his eyes; he did not trust Harry at all.
"Furthermore you are to report the workings of your little defence band to me."
"But…"
"Headmaster's orders," Snape said casually, "You're the student; I'm the professor. Now that the headmaster is recognising your band as a 'fifth house' it is only right."
"Recognise…?" Harry repeated dumbly.

"Hmmm," Snape didn't look at all pleased by this prospect. "You'll find new uniform robes by your bed. Your army is now known as the Fifth House and you will meet tonight in the Great Hall to elect senior members from each of the five houses to be your… assistants."

Harry goggled at this news. A new uniform? Why would he have a new uniform?

"I will see you at the meeting then," Snape said none to pleasantly and turned on his heal and left without glancing behind him.

Harry almost reeled at all this information coming from his least liked teacher. And how on earth did he ever get into the Gryffindor common room?

Harry walked very slowly back to the Great Hall for breakfast and for a change sat down beside Neville. They most spoke of trivial matters about the weather and the mail being late, until they were interrupted by Professor Spalding.

"Harry you aren't in the correct uniform," Professor Spalding noted looking Harry up and down.

Harry blanched and looked up at her.
"Professor Snape hasn't told you?"
"Oh…!" Harry said remembering the strange conversation. "I thought I would have breakfast first before going to get the correct uniform," he lied.

Professor Spalding nodded and shot another look at Harry. "No turning any of my students into ferrets in my classes, thank you."

Neville snorted into his cereal bowl; milk and cereal sprayed over Dean Thomas who was sitting opposite them.

"Of course, Professor," Harry murmured not sure if Professor Spalding was being serious or poking fun at him.

Harry grabbed a piece of toast rammed it into his mouth then waved goodbye to Dean and Neville before racing back to the common room.

By the time Harry reached the Gryffindor common room, it was deserted. He jumped up the stairs taking four at once more coming to a grinding halt beside his four poster bed.

His bed had already apparently been made by a house elf and new crisp robes were lying neatly on his bed and on top of them was a gold pin. Harry picked up the pin curiously and squinted – it was the Hogwarts crest. He impatiently pulled off his old school robes and picked up the new ones gingerly before throwing it over his head. Whoever had ordered the robes had checked what size Harry was, because they fit like a glove.

However the first thing Harry noticed were the three red bands around the wide cuffs of the robe. The last band was thicker than the rest.

'Curious,' Harry thought before he hurtled towards his first class; Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall.

Harry was just in time for class, he rearranged his school bag and stuffed his hands under is arm pits to hide the red bands from his classmates. He wasn't sure if he was ready for them to see his new 'uniform'.

McGonagall however was waiting to start the class and Harry hand to uncross his arms to take his bag off his shoulders and set his books on the desk along with his wand. Of course as he did so, the red bands became visible once more and Ron, whom Harry had seated himself next too couldn't stop goggling at his sleeves.

Harry turned his head ever so slightly and found the rest of the class eying him too.

McGonagall smiled thinly at this display of interest from the student population.
"Dumbledore has decided to formally recognise the find attributes of the students who stood up to Umbridge last year and those in the order as indicated by Harry will have a similar uniform change."

This was news to Harry, but welcome nonetheless. He was starting to think that he was the only one being made an example of! The class murmured for a brief moment before McGonagall put a stop to it with a simple curt look. Harry was trying not to look at either Ron or Hermione.

Harry finished his classes happily that night, skipped dinner and then wandered with Hermione and Ron to the Great Hall for the meeting. Most of the DA or rather the Fifth House was already gathered and Snape was standing to the side.

Snape lifted one bony finger and indicated for Harry to stand beside him. With an exasperated smile to Ron, Harry walked through the members of the 'Fifth House' towards Snape. Once Harry reached Snape, Snape raised his hand indicating for silence.

Most of the members had heard about what was happening in at least three or four of their classes that day. But Snape repeated the news. Harry half listened even as his name was mentioned.

"… Harry of course is your 'founder' so to speak, but all your activities will be passed through me first… Harry is aware of this fact…"

Harry was still half asleep as they started for the elections from each of the houses. Harry had been left out of the voting because he was already in position. The secret ballot went slowly and Harry along with Snape (as odd as it may seem) counted the votes for each of the houses.

"Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw…" Harry called finishing one lot of tallying.
"Neville from Gryffindor!" Snape called looking slightly disgusted. Harry smile to himself, Neville deserved a chance.
"Hannah Abbott, Hufflepuff."

Snape looked pleased as Harry finished but looked around a frowned at the two first year Slytherins. "We're working on it," Harry murmured, following Snape's gaze.

"I of course will be of assistance," Snape replied.
"No Malfoy!" Harry spat vehemently before he could stop himself. "I just won't have him."
Snape's lips twitched. "Of course… how about Carmen Hallcroft and Astah Corwin, seventh years, bright?"

Harry looked blank he had never heard of these two girls. "If you don't think they be making trouble," Harry replied, "If they give me trouble I'll make sure you will get your share."

Snape didn't reply but Harry fancied he looked somewhat amused. Which was difficult to imagine as the ex-potions master as adept at looking neutral verging on disapproving twenty four, seven.

"Thorne, Myles go and fetch Carmen, Astah, Tristram, Neal…" The first year Slytherins scampered off to do Snape's bidding, Harry had not even heard of these names before… "Luther and Louise as well…"

A few silent moments past; most of the fifth house sat and chat waiting for the Slytherin students to arrive. Harry stood by Snape uncertainly and watched his Gryffindor companions laughing and having a good joke especially Regin and Bree.

"Will you be present at our meetings?" Harry asked to fill in the silence.
"Some. Not all," Snape replied dispassionately staring straight ahead.

Thankfully Harry was saved by the arrival of the Slytherins. They entered briskly and only had eyes for what Snape had to tell them. Harry was happy for this fact as Snape was left to explain. They split to find their elected assident and came up with Astah Corwin.

They senior Slytherins all shook Harry's hand and thanked him for his invitation. Harry was surprised by their reactions… these Slytherins were obviously the quieter less vocal of the group. The girls seemed opposites with the great cow Pansy Parkinson and the boys contrasted greatly with Malfoy and his lapdogs.

With the conclusion of the meeting Harry was held up by Snape who drilled him once more on his role and responsibilities and the rules that had been set down in front of him.

But finally Harry was released and found Ron and Hermione at the Great Hall doors. "Hermione could you make a few more of those coin things you did last year… enough for the elected leaders and a few… proven members?" Harry asked cheerfully.

"What an earth for?" Hermione asked, "Snape is to know everything…"

"What Snape doesn't know won't hurt him." Harry grinned evilly, "Besides I want to try something with just a few people at a time… I don't know if it will work…"

"Oh… but what happened with your last coin?"
Harry looked sheepish, "I … erm… I gave it to Slytherin…"
"What an earth for?" Contrary to what Harry had been fearing Hermione only looked amused.
"A token to remember me by…" Harry blushed… "It seemed appropriate at the time."

Hermione only laughed at him. "Sure… I'll do that… but don't you go doing anything dangerous…"

.…are extremely dangerous to the unexperienced spellweaver…

Harry shuffled uncomfortably and confessed about his outing last night and about the parchment signed by G.G.

Hermione was positively breathless when she heard this bit of information. "Harry!" she cried almost jumping up and down frantically. "Do you realise what we can do with this information?"

Harry didn't have time to comment. He turned at the sound of a pair of feet slapping the cold stone and came face to face with a Slytherin seventh year...

Action coming soon! Promise! And I choose Neville for the Gryffindor leader just because I wanted to do something impulsive and unexpected!