Ron and Neville burst through the portrait door into the Gryffindor common room.
"That was bloody brilliant Neville" Ron laughed.
"Yeah it was, though I wish I had done better."
"You'll pick it up in time Neville. You got better as class went by anyway."
Harry walked over to the two of them.
"So what so great you guys?"
Ron looked at him "Let's go up to the dorm and we'll tell you. I need to change before we go see Professor McGonagall anyway."
They ran up the stairs and locked the door behind them.
"Well Directed studies is supposed to be a way for us to make up for some things we fell behind on like potions. We spend half our time working on potions and stuff like that but we spend the rest of the time dueling." Ron gushed. "So far only Neville and I are in the class. For some reason they think we are both in immediate danger."
"They let you guys duel? Who is teaching the class?"
"That's the best part it's members of the Order. Moody taught today but it's going to rotate. From what I understand Tonks, Lupin, Moody and McGonagall will be teaching. Moody said that if we can pass the potion N.E.W.T.'s we can still be Auror's."
Harry looked at Neville "You want to be an Auror Neville?"
"Yeah Harry, ever since I found out what happened to my parents but until you guys started helping me I never thought I could do it."
"Well Neville you were a big help to us in the Department of Mysteries. Your parents would be proud."
Neville got a bit misty eyed and just nodded.
"Your parents are proud of you too Harry. I know they told me." Ron said softly
Ron pulled off his shirt looking for a clean one and Harry saw his torso had multiple bruises.
"Ron mate what happened to you?"
Ron looked down "Well Moody plays rough sometimes." grinning.
Ron slipped on a different shirt. "Neville will you do me a favor?"
"Sure mate if I can."
"Well I think you can and will enjoy this one. Can you tell Luna we are all going on a little trip Saturday morning? We will meet by the Quidditch pitch. I want to show you guys something. Oh yeah if she can't fly you might have to share your broom with her. Is that alright?"
Neville blushed "Yeah I can do that."
"Ready Harry?"
"Yeah lets go talk Quidditch."
"Professor you wanted to see us?" Harry asked sticking his head into Professor McGonagall's office.
"Yes come inside boys and have a seat. Please close the door behind you."
"I asked you both to come here so I could let you know who I have decided to make the Grffindor Quidditch Captain. While I think both of you would do an excellent job I had to pick one of you to fill the position."
She pulled open a drawer in her desk and pulled out the Captains badge.
"Congratulations Mr. Potter I know you will make all of Gryffindor proud."
"Well done Harry." Ron laughed shaking his hand. "I knew it would be you."
"Thanks mate. I hope I do a good job."
"I meant what I said Mr. Weasley. It took me a long time to decide and frankly the deciding factor was Harry's experience."
"Of course Professor, Harry is the best choice."
Professor McGonagall listened for any signs of jealousy or resentment in Ron's voice but thankfully didn't find any.
"Now I suggest both of you go to your common rooms and review your notes from last year for tomorrows Transfiguration class."
"Yes Professor" Harry grinned.
Ron stood up "Come on Captain we need to get to work."
They arrived back at the common room to find Ginny and Hermione waiting for them. Ginny instantly noticed the badge in Harry's hand.
"Congratulations Harry I know we will win the house cup this year with you in charge.
Harry blushed "Thanks Ginny so what do you guys think?" as he held the badge up to his shoulder.
"I think it suits you mate."
"It looks perfect Harry." Hermione smiled "though if the truth be told I sort of have a thing for Keepers myself."
Ginny snorted "Maybe one great big git of a keeper."
Ron shot Ginny a fake hurt look "Oh to be maligned by my own sister."
"Anyway what's the deal about Saturday?" Neville told us what he had to tell Luna.
"Well Ginny I want to show you guys something but we are going to have to fly a bit to get there."
Hermione got pale "Fly?"
"Yes Hermione we will have to fly but I promise it will be worth it."
"But ..but I can't fly."
"Well then you will just have to ride on my broom with me." he said softly.
"I'm afraid of heights Ron."
"I know Mione but I swear I will never let you fall, never."
The next day Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville were walking down to the hall to their first Defense against the Dark Arts class and talking about what the class might be like.
"Well they have to prepare us for N.E.W.T.'s so I bet it's going to get a bit harder." Hermione guessed.
They got inside and found seats. The class was somewhat larger than their other classes and a good many of the students were from the DA Harry noted with a good bit of pride.
Professor Leonidas walked into the class room and up on the elevated platform that stood towards the back.
"Good morning students, I have reviewed your backgrounds and I can see that you have had a through grounding in fighting basic magical creatures. Now we are going to focus on fighting the most dangerous users of the dark arts, your fellow man. You will be assigned an opponent who you will fight every week. As you fight each other you will learn each others strengths and weaknesses. This will make it harder for you to defeat each other. So you in turn will have to try harder."
"I must stress that these will be real fights and you will be graded on the outcome. The only spells you may not use are the Unforgivables. Other than those you may use any and all spells and I encourage you to learn spells outside of what you will learn in class."
"The pairings have been chosen at random. I have placed all of your names into the hat and the hat has paired them based on skill level. These pairing will be for the entire year though there will be times when you are allowed to duel other class members."
"Since there is no time like the present I am pleased to announce the first pair of combatants is Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter."