A/N: Thanks for the reviews and the help with the evil plot that is stuck in my head. I warn you now. All Hell is about to break loose in my life so it might be a while between updates. I shall try to update as soon as possible but that might be a while. Until then, enjoy.
Chapter 38: The Halloween Ball
Professor McGonagall quickly instructed the DA (and the few dates that weren't) on how they were to enter the Great Hall. Those who fought at the ministry would come last with Draco, (who was included because of his new status as Harry's brother)Harry, and their dates coming at the end. The DA members would have tables reserved in the front with the last group sitting at a reserved table on the platform that had been created for the night.
As they reached the stage the group sat at the table while Dumbledore made a quick speech about why they were celebrating. He then called Harry forward to make his speech.
As Harry reached the podium, he noticed Rita Skeeter in neon orange robes with her Quick Quotes Quill ready. To the right of the table where he was sitting with Dumbledore, McGonagall, Remus, Tonks, and Moody, was a table of Order members that had been present on the train. To the left was a few tables filled with the Hogwarts Staff, and just in front of the other DA members was a table filled with Press members.
Harry took a deep breath. He was nervous. He could teach a hundred kids how to defend themselves, face down Voldemort and live, rush into a fight with five other students against all odds, but he was nervous about a speech.
He took another deep breath and began hesitantly. "Um… Welcome. I would like to begin by thanking you all for coming. I'll try to make this short.
Before you today are students who made a choice this year or last year to not stand by and remain helpless. Last year as you may or may not know, we were given a Ministry appointed Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. As the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, she refused to allow us to learn practical application of the spells despite Voldemort having returned. Many of the students decided that if she refused to teach them, I would. We created the Defense Association to help students learn to defend themselves and survive in the world where war is now happening. We trained for months and many of the students quickly became excellent duelists. We never relied how quickly those skills would be needed. This year as the students boarded the Hogwarts Express, it was attacked. The Defense Association fought hard along side the Aurors, preventing the Death Eaters and Dementors from harming the students. The results of the efforts was a death toll of zero.
Upon return to the school the DA was made an official club. Every member old and new has worked hard to meet the standards needed." Harry allowed Hermione to take over.
"My name is Hermione Granger, I am the secretary of the DA. Harry has asked that I explain the new organization to you. We will be dividing the DA, which has grown too numerous into 3 groups. Each group will have a different skill set and will learn different things at each skill set." Hermione let everyone think of what this can bring. "We will need volunteers to teach the beginning levels so we can reduce the student teacher ratio."
Harry took over with a quick note for everyone to have a good time and joined Ginny at the table on the stage. Camera flashes went off and chatter began as dinner was served.
Dinner was filled with pleasant conversation completely void of such topics as Voldemort, Umbridge, and other such things. That is until the reporters began harassing the group. It wasn't even Rita Skeeter that was bugging them. (Pun intended.) In fact, it was the other people who did so. Apparently, they didn't realize Harry and Draco's dislike of the press.
"Mr. Potter" both boys turned. "Can you demonstrate for us some of what you teach these students?"
"At the moment, no. I really would prefer to continue my dinner with my brother and our friends in peace. I do not feel like being displayed for your amusement.
"Brother?" one of the reporters asked.
"Yes, Draco here is my twin." Harry answered simply.
"Your revelation that you have a brother is quite sudden and unexpected. How is it that he all of a sudden appears with no record of him before it?"
Harry sighed. "For protection purposes, we were separated at birth. While I was hidden away with my relatives, Draco was hidden somewhere else. Due to circumstances beyond control, he was no longer able to stay hidden and we were reunited."
By this point, Draco was getting angry. The press was infuriating him with their questions.
"Hey can you lot just leave us alone. My brother might bloody care about pleasing the wizarding world by appearing to be the Gryffindor Golden boy, but you are delving deep into our lives now. This ball is not about us, its about the DA. Why don't you ask questions about that if you must ask questions?" Draco quickly stated to put the press in their place.
The press was quiet for a moment before they retreated. Draco had apparently gotten his point through to them, for the moment at least, and they knew what these boys were capable of.
The ball started with the four couples dancing to a waltz before other couples joined. Harry and Ginny rejoined the others at the table after a few dances to talk to Dumbledore and McGonagall.
Draco and Rachel were still on the dance floor, happily chatting as they danced.
"So what do you do when you aren't helping your brother teach and causing trouble?" Rachel asked him.
"Quidditch, chess, the usual. We really haven't known each other for very long so most of my time is trying to figure out my brother and learn about my parents. I'm also trying to gain some friends so my time is mostly spent making up those lost years."
Rachel was quiet for a moment. "Must be hard finding out that you are really Harry Potter's brother."
Draco thought about it before answering. "Not really. I don't really think of him as Harry Potter. When I first met him as Draco Potter, we were not in the best of situations. It was when we were living with my mother's muggle sister and her magic hating family. That helped us gain a bond of sorts and some common ground. After we got out of there, we had time to adjust instead of just survive."
They continued dancing in silence.
Harry smiled at his brother. At least he liked his date. Harry returned to his conversation with Ginny. They had spent the time getting to know each other in-between dances as well as socializing with the other members of the DA and the order.
Time passed quickly and all too soon they were off to bed. Harry smiled as he noticed Hedwig waiting for him in the dorm with a letter in her beak. Harry took the letter from her and set it on his bedside table. He would read it in the morning. It looked to be from Dudley, but he was too tired to open it.
The two boys fell fast asleep unaware of the danger their cousin would soon be in.
A/N: I'm finished! Sorry people, it seems like everything has been trying to stop me from finishing this chapter. I finally finished my research paper and what not. As it gets closer to graduation, the chaos begins. Thanks again for the help with my plot idea. I made my decision so enjoy when I reveal it.