To Howl in Harmony
Chapter 6: New and Improved"Alright!" Harry yelled angrily one day after classes as he stormed into the pack-room, "I am so tired of this!"
Ginny looked up at her mate from the couch where she'd been reading, asking with concern, "What's wrong, Sparky-luv?"
"The students! They won't leave me alone!" Harry growled, throwing himself into an armchair.
"Won't leave you alone about what, Spark?" Ron asked from his position on the couch beside his sister where he was sitting upside down.
"The D.A! They want me to start it up again!" Harry said, then, noticing his friend's position, said, "Knight, you're going red."
"I know," Ron grinned, "I want to see how red I can get."
Hermione, who'd just entered the room, scowled at her mate's feet, which hung over the back of the couch. Then, with an impish grin, she grabbed hold of his feet and pushed forward, causing him to tumble head over heels.
"Ow! Booky!" Ron yelled, glaring up at his mate.
"Hello, luv," Hermione grinned.
Draco and Rose came tumbling out of their room-looking quite disheveled- glancing around defensively. All 6 stared silently at each other- and then promptly burst into laughter. Both Ginny and Hermione had tears streaking down their faces, Draco and Rose were leaning against each other for support and Harry had fallen from his chair to land beside Ron. Moments later, when Neville and Luna entered (Neville from the Potions room where he'd been brewing some potions that exploded upon impact and Luna from the infirmary where she'd been tidying up and stocking herbs and potions.) glancing around in confusion, the group started laughing all over again, Neville and Luna joining in.
"We need to laugh like that more," Ron said with a gentle smile, pulling himself up to lean against the couch.
"Yea," Hermione agreed, rounding the couch to sit between Ron's legs and lean back against his chest, "That was fun."
The others voiced their own agreements as they settled themselves about the room comfortably. Harry remained on the floor, stretching himself out and using an arm as a pillow. Ginny slithered off the couch, tucking herself up against her mate's side as his other arm came around her. Luna claimed the couch, placing her head in Neville's lap, who ran his fingers absently through her hair. Draco took Harry's vacated chair, pulling Rose down into his lap. Rose sat sideways in Draco's lap, her head tucked under his chin.
"We haven't done this in a while," Rose murmured.
"Done what Blue?" Draco asked, resting his head atop hers.
"Sat together like this. We used to do it all the time in the Realm, just lay around and chat. But we haven't really had all that much time since we came here." Rose explained.
"Yea," Ginny murmured, "I missed doing this. It's almost like we're not really part of each other's lives anymore. I don't like that feeling. We used to spend all day together and now it's like we only see glimpses of each other."
"Tell us about your day," Harry murmured as he tugged Ginny closer to his side, "All of you."
Ron went first, discussing the rotten day he'd had because Professor McGonagall was irritable. In turn, all the students had been grumpy, acting rude and immature.
Hermione talked next. She told the Pack of her own rotten day with Lily. Lily had taken every opportunity to find fault with Hermione because Hermione had been overheard insulting the older woman.
Then Draco told them about his morning spent wandering the forest was, for the most part, pleasant. However, while afternoon lessons had been alright as well, he's gotten a threatening, insulting letter from his father only 20 minutes after the end of class.
Rose then went on to explain her own bad day. She'd gotten into an argument with-of all people- Pansy Parkinson, and they'd gotten into a cat-fight. The cat-fight had been stopped by Professor Dumbledore and Rose had gotten a considerable talking to.
Neville talked about his day next, about how at least one cauldron in each class had exploded. This, of course, had resulted in Snape reverting to his old self and snapping at Neville all day long.
Even Luna had had a bad day. Some stupid twit had rearranged all the potions in the storage cupboard, even going so far as to switch labels. This resulted in a vomiting girl getting a Pepper-Up Potion and ending up worse off, and a boy with a broken arm getting a Dreamless Sleep Potion-among others.
Ginny had also had a bad one. The were taking a refresher course for the first years and one of the Slytherins had purposefully flown his broom into her while she was shielding a smaller Gryffindor from the boy's destructive state.
"Looks like today wasn't a good day for the Pack all around," Harry observed.
"But, what about you, Sparky?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, my day was bad, too. Remus had the bright idea to go into detail about our training in one of the 6th year classes a few days ago. And since then Sirius has been trying to sneak attack me at every turn and ended up smashing my face into a wall today while I was distracted with helping a student. And on top of that, every damn student who was in the D. A has been bugging me to restart the D. A and teach them everything we learned in the Realm." Harry said, voice filled with exasperation.
"You know, that wouldn't be such a bad idea," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Of course it would!" Harry protested, "Sirius and Remus are good Defense teachers, the students are learning enough from them."
"But they could learn more from us," Ron pointed out, "Remus didn't ever really participate in our lessons in the Realm, so we could teach them more."
"Remus and Sirius are only going to teach them the magical side of fighting. We should teach them the physical side-martial arts, fencing, dagger handling, all the stuff we learned in the Realm." Draco said.
"It's more than possible that they'll end up in a situation without a wan. We did." Luna pointed out.
"We have the means." Neville said, "And when Voldemort comes, it'll be better to have them able to hold their own in any situation."
"Ok, Ok!" Harry cried laughingly, "I get it-you guys think I should restart up the D. A."
Giggling, Ginny pinched his cheek, jokingly crooning, "Aw, what a bright little boy you ARE!"
Harry laughed, sticking his tongue out at her. Ginny's eyes danced, and she leaned forward, kissing him soundly. Harry pulled back with a groan, but only when the rest of the Pack's yells of "EW! Gross!", broke into their mindlessness.
Harry grinned, stage whispering, "I love it when she does that."
The Pack burst into simultaneous laughter once again. When, 10 minutes later, Sirius and Remus entered through the wolf-statue that guarded their room, they were still laughing.
At Remus' amused "What's going on in here?", they just laughed harder.
Shaking
his head at the teens' antics in mock-exasperation, Sirius
declared, "Pups!"
XoXoXoXo
The next morning-a Saturday- there was a new notice up on the board's in each common room. Identical, they all read;
Dear Students,
If you are able to read this, then you are a trustworthy student, fourth year and above. For only the Dark may not read this notice.
You are all being given the chance to learn how to physically defend yourself should the need arise, as it invariably will in the coming war. Should you not wish to join, or attempt to tell someone not able to read this notice, your mind will be erased completely blank of any and everything to do with this.
However, should you wish to participate, go through the door on the 7ht floor opposite the tapestry of Barnabus(?) the Barmy being clubbed by trolls at 7:30 PM tonight.
H.
Potter.
XoXoXoXo
Harry was amazed to find that the group had more than tripled from the original 25(well, 23 since neither Cho nor Marietta were welcome). The Room of Requirement had expanded itself to fit everyone, providing quite comfortable-looking cushions for each person. Despite the large number, however, Harry noticed, with a frown, that the Slytherins sat away from the other three Houses.
Finally, the clock chimed the half-hour. Roughly 80 students from 4 different Houses sat silently on the cushions, staring up at Harry expectantly. Harry stood in front of them, back ramrod straight, hands behind his back. The Pack stood on either side of him.
"Hello," Harry said finally, his soft tone carrying through the room, "And welcome to the D. A. The D. A was an organization that was founded last year by myself and others to help us learn the practical side of Defense since Umbridge refused to teach us.
"This year, we have two very talented and capable teachers. Of Magical defense. However, you shall not always have magic at you disposal, and as such, should have knowledge of physical defense. That is where we come in." Harry gestured to the Pack, who all gave curt nods to the assembled students.
"We will be helping you build up your endurance by running, sit-ups, push-ups and other suck activities. You will learn many different forms of Muggle, physical defense, like Martial Arts, hand-to-hand and others. You will learn how to successfully use a sword and dagger-which you will never, ever, use outside my knowledge unless you've proven to me that you are capable of using it properly. This will take a lot of work and a lot of determination
"Any questions?" he finished.
"Yea, I got a question," Seamus Fineggan called out. After Harry's nod, he continued, "Why are there Slytherins here?"
A petite, blonde-haired, brown-eyed 6th year Slytherin by the name of Daphne Greengrass sneered, "We're having a tea party-What the fuck do you think we're doing her, idiot?"
"Fuck you, bitch," Lavender sneered back in retaliation for her boyfriend.
"You want to go Brown?" Daphne hissed, rising angrily into a standing position, Lavender doing the same across the room.
"Enough!" Harry bellowed, causing Lavender and Daphne to stop in their tracks and the rest of the D. A to stop their shouts of encouragement.
"Brown, Greengrass, sit!" Harry stated sternly, eyes flashing angrily. Immediately and obediently, both girls sat, staring in awe with the rest at the imposing figure Harry made when he was pissed off.
"The Slytherins are here because they are not choosing to go to the Dark side."
"How do you know that?" Zacharias Smith interrupted rudely.
Harry's eyes flashed again, "I put extensive spells on those parchments, Smith. No one, and I mean no one outside this room knows that the D. A has been reinstated, and that is simply because they can't be trusted to keep it quiet or to keep out of the way. Every person in this room is trustworthy." There was another flash in his eyes, "If there's anyone in this room who feels they won't be able to cooperate with everyone else in this room, leave now. Prejudice will not be accepted in this room while I'm in charge. And, should you ignore that rule, your memory will me modified and you'll not be allowed in this organization ever again.
"Before we go on, is there anyone who wishes to leave?" Harry let his emerald eyes travel the room, meeting each gaze steadily.
No one stood.
"Good." Harry gave a curt nod and a slight smile, the pride shining in his eyes, "I'm proud that you all have your priorities straight."
Everyone in the room- Slytherins included- felt a great deal of warmth at Harry's words.
Harry walked backwards and forwards in front of the crowd before speaking again, "I know it will be hard to adjust to working together after years spent hating each other because of prejudices ingrained long ago. But those prejudices aren't necessarily true. I've met more than on Slytherin who's chosen not to become a Death Eater, and a Gryffindor-turned Death Eater turned on my own parents.
"The point is: a House doesn't define your loyalties. Not all Slytherins are Dark, and not all Gryffindors, Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs are Light," Harry said.
"Every person in this room has placed their loyalties with the Light-for their own reasons. Every one of us is united in one cause-defeating Voldemort." At the name of the most feared man in the Wizarding World, the room (minus the Pack) gave a collective flinch.
Harry gave a low growl of frustration and said, "That's going to be our first lesson."
"What?" the group echoed in confusion.
"Voldemort is just a made up name," Harry said, causing the room to flinch again.
"VOLDEMORT!" he roared loudly, causing several students to jump and 2 girls to scream.
"What the hell is your problem?" demanded a disgruntled Blaise Zambini, a black-haired, obsidian-eyed 6th year Slytherin.
"I'm proving to you that nothing happens when you say that name." Harry answered, eyes dancing with amusement, "In fact, Voldemort isn't even his real name."
Harry stopped in the center of the front of the room. With his wand, which he barely ever used anymore, he wrote, in emerald green, TOM MARVALO RIDDLE twice. With a wave of his wand, he changed the second rendition of the name to spell I AM LORD VOLDEMORT.
"So you see," Harry said simply, "Voldemort is just a made-up name-a crappy one at that- made to make people more fearful. It worked, of course, but I myself don't understand it.
"Another thing about Voldemort is that he isn't even a pureblood. His mother was a pureblood witch descended from Slytherin himself and his father was a Muggle who left his mother when he discovered she was a witch. Voldemort was raised in a Muggle orphanage. That, I believe, is where his hate stemmed from.
"A very wise man once told me 'fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself.' By letting the alias 'Voldemort' make you flinch, you are letting Riddle win."
"Are you saying we shouldn't be afraid of You-Know-Who?" Terry Boot demanded incredulously.
"I may be a Gryffindor, Harry, but I'm not that brave," Dean added.
Harry shook his head, "You would be stupid not to fear Voldemort. He is an extremely powerful, very sadistic son of a bitch. He is not even a man anymore, the hate he holds is too much for any man to hold and stay human.
"But don't be afraid to say his name. Names won't hurt you, only the master will. If you ever, God forbid, come face to face with him, being afraid of his name will be the least of your problems. But being able to say and hear that name, without flinching in fear, will be a victory for you, even if it is a small one," Harry said.
"Now," he said firmly, "Say it, Voldemort."
"VOLDEMORT!" the rest of the Pack roared behind him.
Harry turned, giving them a stern look, 'though his eyes twinkled with amusement, "I know you can say it. I want them to say it!"
"Sorry Harry!" they chorused in childlike voices, dropping their eyes in mock-submission. Harry stuck his tongue out at them childishly, and turned back to the amused D. A members. Before he could begin speaking again, however, Blaise's soft, somewhat unsteady "Voldemort" sounded like a gunshot into the silence.
Harry himself started, shocked at Blaise being the first to say the name.
Blaise gave the shocked room a lopsided grin, saying, "Well, I figured if the 8 people who spent days under Voldemort's hand are able to say his name, I should be able to do it too."
Harry gave the somewhat-shy teen a proud smile, saying, "You're very brave Blaise.
"Now, on the count of 3. One…two…three!"
"Voldemort!" Only the Pack and Blaise managed to sat the dreaded name above more than a whisper, but Harry knew that it was at least a start.
"Again," Harry commanded firmly, "Louder."
"Voldemort!" they repeated, voices at normal speaking level.
"Louder!"
"Voldemort!" they said, just above speaking level, "Voldemort!" they chorused, almost yelling. "Voldemort!" they yelled.
"Again! LOUDER!" Harry commanded again.
"VOLDEMORT!" the room roared, then promptly looked around at each other in amazement.
Harry grinned. Then threw back his head…and howled. Within moments, the rest of the Pack joined him. And then the D. A was all on their feet, screaming and cheering and jumping for joy.
Harry's proud smile would not-could nor-stop from making it's way onto his face.
Maybe,
just maybe, they'd win.
XoXoXoXo
A/N Yay, Go Harry, go Harry, go Harry! Lolz Oh, sorry about the wait guys, but it's going to be like that for about two more weeks, 'cuz I've got exams coming up and I've got to cram. But I'll do my best, kay? Well, gotta jet!
Luv,
Red