Thanks for all your great reviews. It's very rewarding to receive them. Hopefully this decently quick one will make up for the long delay before.

Chapter 12: A New Target

Harry's first thought was to go to Umbridge and teach her a lesson. It certainly would make him feel better. A blood quill, really. However, Harry decided to be a little more rational, and he went straight to Dumbledore's office.

"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore said. He was turned around, attending to a newly born Fawkes. He continued without turning around. "I told Professor McGonagall today that Professor Snape really should consider keeping the pink hair. I must say it looked rather dashing. And the strangest thing…new Marauders, I wonder who they—"

Dumbledore turned around, and saw that Harry was not in the mood for fun. "What is it?"

"Are you aware that Professor Umbridge has given Ginny detention for a week and—"

Dumbledore seemed relieved and broke in, "Ah, yes. Professor McGonagall informed me on this. Some devotion she has to you. I must tell you there is not much I can do about these detentions."

"You mean you know she had Ginny use a blood quill?" Harry asked incredulously.

Dumbledore's face immediately turned stern. "I was not aware of this." Dumbledore sat down and pulled out a parchment and began writing on it.

"Professor, please stop me before I go and do something I will regret…well I might not regret doing it, but the consequences I will regret."

"Harry, don't worry. I am sure I can use this to our advantage. I hope that the Wizengamot will take action on this, regardless of Fudge's incompetence. The detentions will stop, whether the Wizengamot stops her or not. I will not allow unnecessary harm to come to my students while at Hogwarts."

Harry took that as his invitation to leave. "Thank you, Professor."

Dumbledore looked up, and before Harry left, he said with a light smile, "I think the Marauders will be targeting someone new….I do hope they do a good job…"

Harry smiled before he left in a burst of flames.

"HARRY POTTER WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"Easy, Gin. I just took care of—"

"Don't give me that! What did you do to her?"

"Nothing yet…but if you help me, I'm sure we can think of something great to get back at her."

"Where did you go then?" Ginny asked, but she looked much more relaxed.

"Dumbledore's office. He's taken care of it. No more detentions, and possibly a suspension on her part."

Ginny's brow furrowed, but she left it at that. "Well, I'm tired so I'm going to—"

"What are you two doing?" Ron had come down, and was asking in a rather insinuating tone.

Harry just smiled, and noticed Hermione, too, had come down from the girls' rooms. "Nothing, Ginny just got back from detention. Umbridge made her use a blood quill."

Ginny's brow was still furrowed; then Harry picked up her hand and ran his fingers across it soothingly. "It doesn't hurt anymore, Harry."

"I'm sure…"

Hermione broke in, "So what are we going to do about her?"

"I was thinking we could actually turn her into a toad…and make it so she—" Harry started.

"No, about her lessons. No one is going to learn anything, and unlike you, Harry, most people aren't geniuses. They wouldn't be able to stop one Death Eater all together, let alone a group of them."

Ron picked up after this. "What we need is someone to teach us, you know, a bunch of us that know what's going on, and know we need to be prepared."

"If you're talking about Lupin, I doubt he'll be able to—"

"No, no," Hermione broke in. "Someone who knows a lot, who has been there. Someone who is always here."

"Dumbledore is far to busy to—"

Ginny interrupted, in a rather bored voice, she said, "You, Harry."

Harry opened his mouth, but nothing came out. So Hermione took the opportunity to speak. "Yes, think about it. You know more than anyone except Dumbledore, probably. You don't exactly have a full schedule. You had your work done before we finished class…"

"Now, see here…I can't teach. No one would listen, they all think I'm a—"

"That," Ron interrupted, "is why we get the ones that believe you. You heard Seamus. It's scary. They need you, mate."

"And you can teach, Harry. You taught Ron, Ginny, and me all summer. It'll be easy for you. You're a born leader."

Harry looked down at Ginny for support, but she was merely smiling. "They're right, Harry. If you want our generation to be prepared…you are the one that will ensure it."

This, more than anything, convinced Harry to give in. "Alright…but we'll need a place, to keep it secret from that toad, whom I still want to turn into a toad by the way. Also, you can only tell those you completely trust. And they can only tell those they trust entirely. I'll talk to Dumbledore tomorrow to see if we have his ok."

"Look at this," Ron said. "He's already taking the initiative."

"Yea, yea…it's late, go to bed."

Harry kissed Ginny and went upstairs, already planning lessons in his head.

"So, you think you can manage it?" Harry asked the twins the next morning.

"It took us weeks to get it before…I think it will take longer to do a full one," George said uncertainly.

"Listen, I don't mean to be prideful, but if you give me a start, I'm sure we could get it by the weekend." Harry wanted desperately to get back the Cardigan Queen. So with the knowledge that by the end of the week something would be done, Harry walked happily with Ron and Hermione to Transfiguration.

"Welcome to your fifth year Transfiguration class," Professor McGonagall started, "and also your O.W.L. testing year." Hermione sat up straight to listen to more warnings and promises of the future. Harry slumped back in his seat and tuned her out, thinking of Ginny.

"Potter! Please pay attention. Unless you can already perform a Vanishing Spell?"

"Oh, sure," Harry said as he waved his wand and muttered the incantation. The class gasped, and for once, the stern professor looked surprised. The snail had disappeared completely, leaving no trace of its existence.

"Well…ten points to Gryffindor." By the end of the class Hermione was the only other that was able to do the spell, the Ron had said hopefully that his looked a bit paler. The whole class, excluding Harry and Hermione, was given homework.

Charms went over much of the same way. They reviewed summoning charms after a boring lecture from the small man that was Professor Flitwick. When it came to Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid didn't give much of an O.W.L. lecture, but took them to the bowtruckles straight away and began to teach.

"That was a really good lesson," Hermione said, walking away from Hagrid's cabin looked very happy. She and Harry had earned over seventy points that day alone. Some of the fourth years were coming from the green houses, including Ginny and Luna. Ginny was covered head to foot in dirt and soil, but laughing her head off.

Harry walked up to her, looked her up and down, and said, "Hey, beautiful, I think you got a little smudge of dirt on your face." That earned a smack on his arm, leaving a handprint of dirt on his robes. "What happened?" Harry waved his wand over her robes and she was instantly cleaned up.

"Luna thought it would be fun to put the Fronicus completely under the surface. Little did we know, it doesn't just pop its head up…it practically blew the whole pot up. I happened to be standing right next to it when it did."

They laughed all the way to lunch.

After an interesting Herbology class, and a chess game, at which Harry still couldn't get the better of Ron, and some nice alone time with Ginny, Harry decided it was time to go to Dumbledore.

This time, he flamed to the outside of Dumbledore's office, and felt around with his mind to make sure no one was inside before knocking on the Gryffindor knocker. "Enter."

"Ah, Harry, I hope you have more pleasant news for me this time."

Harry grinned, "It all depends on whether or not you think it will be pleasant."

"I suppose…"

"Well…Yesterday I had such a wonderful time in Defense class. Hermione and Ron couldn't agree more…and let's just say Ginny wants to end her teaching more than most."

"Yes?"

"Well, after coming back last night, from our talk, the three of them convinced me that our generation will be terribly lacking in proper defense knowledge, thus putting them at a major disadvantage should any trouble find them."

"Go on."

"So…being the great friends they are, they volunteered me as a teacher in a…club, to help prepare the students. Now…It is quite obvious to me that we must keep this a secret from the great Professor Umbridge; however, I felt I should ask your permission to start a secret club."

Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled merrily. "Thank you for coming to me. I think this new club will be very useful. I am curious as to where you will hold this club."

"Ah, but there were two reasons I came here. For there happen to be four people who know more than Marauders, and the new Marauders for that matter. Godric? Have any suggestions?"

Dumbledore whirled around to the four portraits behind him. The man in question grinned at Harry. "There is a room…"

"We're all set. Seventh floor, across the hall from Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach those trolls to bailey dance or something. I suppose we will be meeting on Friday at Seven."

Hermione beamed at him. "Ok, we've got a few people who have graciously accepted the idea."

Ron shifted nervously on his feet, looking out the common room window. Before Harry could ask what Ron was nervous about, Angelina Johnson came up to Harry. "Harry, we've got quidditch tryouts next week, and I want the whole team there to look for the two new recruits."

"Two? I thought only Wood left," Harry asked confusedly.

Angelina sighed. "No…Alicia said, 'I've got to get my priorities straight.' After all, it is N.E.W.T. year, you can't really blame her." Hermione nodded in agreement.

"So one keeper, and a chaser, then?" Harry glanced over at the youngest Weasley's.

"Indeed, next Wednesday…be there."

Harry turned once again to the two red heads. "So, will there be four Weasley's on the team this year?"

Ginny smiled and nodded, but Ron stared at the ground. "Ron? You've got to try out. You were brilliant at the Burrow. Not quite up to Wood's level, honestly, but with time I know you could be."

"Thanks, we'll see what happens then."

The dark clouds overhead and the rumbling that awoke Harry Friday morning could not be a good omen. But, seeing as how Harry ditched Trelawney's for (in his and Hermione's opinion) a much better class, he didn't think twice about the weather as the day wore on.

6:30 found Harry and Ginny walking by a door thinking very hard on the words, we need a place to learn defense, where no one can find us.

After the third passing of the bare wall, a door appeared. Harry turned the beautifully crafted gold knob and swung the mahogany door wide. Ginny gasped beside him. It was, perhaps, because Harry had an image of the Chamber thousands of feet below him in his head. Or, the room saw it fitting to make a very close replicate of the room at which Harry spent so much of his time the previous summer.

"Looks familiar, huh?"

"Yea…no bed and bath, though…pity…" Indeed, instead of a living area, there was a dueling stage, very similar to the one in the great hall during the dueling club in Harry's second year.

"Quite. So how many people are coming, you haven't given me a straight answer."

"About thirty." Harry blinked twice and walked to the library.

Fifteen minutes later, Ron and Hermione came in. Hermione instantly walked over to the books where Harry was. "Harry, are these the same as the ones in your training room?"

"Nope, they are nice and new. These could be helpful. Oh, and Hermione…how many people are going to be here?"

Hermione shifted nervously. Harry decided to have some fun. "Because any more than ten, and I am not going to do this…There is no way can teach even ten…let alone if there were like…oh I don't know, thirty or something."

Hermione looked up, wide eyed. Harry looked at her. "How many?"

"There are…well, just a few people we talked to…"

"A few…oh well, ok, because I would have walked out if you said 'about thirty.'"

"Oh, Harry you have to do it, you are the only one who can."

Harry feigned confusion. "I already said I would, Hermione."

"There are thirty-ish, Harry…please, you have to do it. It's the best way to get back at Umbridge." Hermione was now pleading, and Harry took pity on her.

"I already knew there were thirty, I was just messing with you." While Hermione was hitting his arm, Harry continued, "I also don't think this is the best way to get back at her…tomorrow, some things will be finished up…and I can't wait for Monday…it will be…never mind."

Hermione turned around huffing as a few people filed in. By seven, twenty-seven people were gathered in the sitting area. Harry knew the majority quite well; however, there were a few students that Harry didn't know. Harry stood up and cleared his throat.

"Welcome to the Room of Requirement, and to our first meeting. I'm sure all of you know this is a group to learn defense because we, unlike Umbridge, know what is lurking outside of the safety of these walls. Voldemort—" There was a collective gasp from the crowd, and Harry closed his eyes and plowed through. "—Is back, and he will become known very soon. He has already shown signs that the ministry has turned a deaf ear to.

"As I was saying, we are here to learn defense because said ministry has seen fit to not teach us anything of great importance. I do not know how great of a teacher I will be, but I'm sure we can work together to become the best we can be. Hermione, you wanted some time?"

Hermione shuffled nervously to the front of the crowd, and spoke in a soft voice, "We should thing up a name, to make it…unofficially official."

Everyone was quiet at first, but as soon as Fred and George had shouted 'Breath Eaters' and 'Hogwarts Hurters,' people began shouting reasonable names. Finally everyone stopped when Cho Chang shouted, "Defense association…the DA for short when we are talking in public."

Several nods, but then Ginny said, "I like the DA…but how about Dumbledore's Army? He is, in my opinion the leader of the good side, after all."

More people nodded and there were several shouts of agreement. Hermione called for a vote, and it was unanimous. "So we are the DA or Dumbledore's army," she said as she wrote the name on the paper.

She sat down and Harry stood back up. "Any questions?"

Once again everyone was quiet until Zacharias Smith gathered the courage to speak. "How are we supposed to know you can teach us."

"I already talked abou—" Harry instantly didn't like this guy, but before he knew it, he was interrupted, and no longer in the conversation.

Ginny loudly called back at him, "Did you not listen to what he was saying, besides, can you question Harry Potter? Do you know what he has done?"

"Gin, plea—" Harry started, but he was, indeed, out of the conversation.

"First year," Ron said, "you've all heard renditions of what happened, but ultimately, he took out you-know-who and the defense teacher to save an object that would've brought back you-know-who."

Ginny spoke up again. "Second year. Despite people thinking he was the Heir of Slytherin," Here, she looked at several people pointedly, "he got past the criticism, some of which he faces again, now, and stopped the monster that was running loose on all the muggle-borns."

Cho, of all people, spoke next, "Not to mention winning a tournament that was designed to be very difficult for seventh years."

By this time, Harry had stopped trying to interfere with the conversation. Hermione then blurted out, "He learned how to conjure a Patronus in third year." Several people gasped at this and turned to Harry.

"Well, thank you. You must know I had a lot of help with all that…I mean, it sounds great when you say it like that, but…Listen, I'm not that great ok?"

Zacharias once again spoke up. How can our leader be so unsure of himself, going on about how he can't fight."

Harry smiled. "Oh, Zacharias, right? Well, I said I may not be able to teach, and I'm not that great…I never said I couldn't fight."

"I'm sure; you're just trying to sound big now that I called you out on it."

Ginny was now grinning as well. "Hey Harry…How about we have a duel to show them what to expect at the end of the year. You versus who…Zacharias?"

The boy in question was now looking very nervous. However, it seemed he either wanted proof very badly or he wouldn't back down, because he stood up and said, voice cracking, "Alright."

"Would you like a formal duel on the stage or in the dome?"

He gulped and pointed to the stage.

Harry smiled again. "That sounds good. No permanent damaging spells, and no pointless pain. Alright?"

Zacharias nodded as they made their way to the raised platform. Harry stood on the opposing side and bowed to his opponent. "Count us off there, Zach."

"One…T-two…th—thr—three." Zacharias began shooting spells as rapidly and sporadically as he could. He wasn't very good.

Harry began merely blocking spells with his shield. He smiled again and began teaching as he dueled. "Protego can be a very—protego—useful spell that, if cast—protego—correctly, can block just—protego—about any levels one through six—protego—spells."

Harry then began moving from side to side, up and down, and any direction to dodge the spells. "It is important to be able to read direction of spells carefully because many will not be blockable with a simple protego."

Harry then went on the offense. "Stupefy," he said as he cast the spell, "is the most common, easiest, but weakest stunner. It is a shame that Zacharias went down on it…"

And he had. The stunner hit him squarely in the chest, causing him to fall with a thump to the stage floor.

As Harry walked over to the still figure, he said, "Many death eaters can withstand a simple stupefy if it is weak, and it is very difficult to get the spell through any shield, weak or strong. Enervate is a common awakening charm, though it would need to be strong to wake any of the stronger stunners." Zacharias had been awakened when Harry said the incantation. "So?"

"Ok…you're good."

Harry turned to the group. Most of their mouths were hanging open, excepting Ginny's, who was trying unsuccessfully not to laugh, and was doubled on the floor clutching her sides. This made Harry smile once again. Ron and Hermione had knowing looks and were also smiling at the situation.

"I don't know where you got the idea you couldn't teach, Harry." George, who was between impressed and amused, was soon backed by the rest of the DA.

"Ok, good. We have less than ten minutes left, so let's agree on the next time."

After juggling quidditch practices, other clubs, and duties, they decided on the time Slytherin had their quidditch practice. Because the time would always be changing, Harry decided they would have to be notified. "Next week, I will have a way of telling you when each meeting will be from then on. Until then, think of anything you feel we will need to cover, I'll take suggestions."

Soon, it was only Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Harry who were left. "Oh you did great, Harry," Hermione said. "We will need to bind everyone to a contract as well, so if they rat us out, we can tell."

"I was thinking the Protean Charm would be useful for telling everyone when to meet," Harry said thoughtfully.

"I got it! I'll take care of it. You worry about teaching." She then ran from the Room of Requirement muttering under her breath.

Ron sighed. "She's never going to stop doing that, is she, mate?"

Harry smiled and said, "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Before he could stop himself, Ron said, "That's for sure, she great the way she is." He then realized what he had said and turned red and walked out the door without looking back.

Ginny started giggling at her brother's antics, and Harry interrupted her. "You do realize, Miss Weasley, we have a room that becomes whatever we want all to ourselves."

Ginny got a mischievous smile. "I do realize this Mr. Potter. What are you suggesting we do about it?"

"I've got a couple ideas," he said, kissing her softly.

Several minutes later, the couple sat down on the couch. "So, Gin, have you been working on your mind exercises?"

"I can tell when you are around, and my family…but everything else is just a jumbled mess. When we came here, everything went haywire. I can't focus on anything outside of the castle."

Harry nodded. "I was the same way, but I'm a little more used to it now; it just takes time, Gin."

Ginny shifted on Harry's lap so she could kiss him, and then she said, "You really did a good job today, Harry."

"Thanks…actually, I figured something out today." He continued with Ginny's intrigued expression. "An Auror isn't the only thing I can see myself doing. I would enjoy teaching at Hogwarts…it's the first home I've ever had, and I feel like I should give something back to it somehow."

Ginny smiled up at Harry. "You know, I think that is a great idea. Who knows…maybe I'll get a job here…and we'll still be together."

Harry didn't think twice before he said, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The next morning, Harry and Ginny snuck up to the seventh year dormitory. Seven minutes and sixteen seconds later, they came out with Fred and George. When they reached the common room, Harry said, "We can use the Room of Requirement."

The four Marauders walked to the seventh floor, and opened the door that appeared for them. There was a potions lab, several books, and countless ingredients.

"Let's get to work," Harry said. So they set out to finish the job Harry and the twins had been working on all week.

About twenty minutes in, Harry suggested a different route to take to the twins. Fred looked up at Harry and said, "You know, that will probably work…cut our time by a good deal, that will."

They spent the greater part of the morning there, and by the end, they had figured it out. George said casually, "What happened to Mum will be nothing compared to this. Anyway…When are we going to go to the kitchens to get the first step done?"

"Tonight," both Harry and Ginny said.

So, they made their way down to the kitchens that night, tickled a fruit, and walked through a passageway. At the bottom of the stairs, Harry was tackled by an elf. "Master Potter has come to see Dobby!"

Dobby began bouncing around the kitchens, telling all of the other House Elves that Harry had come to visit. Harry interrupted him by saying, "Dobby, I need your help."

Dobby stopped bouncing, and looked, wide eyed up at Harry. "Master Potter is requesting Dobby's help, sir?" Harry nodded, and Dobby beamed up at him. "Whatever you asks, sir."

"We need Professor Umbridge's food to include a cup of this potion on Monday."

Dobby quickly shuddered. "We's not supposed to harm anyone…It is against the rules. Even if Madam Umbridge is an evil woman."

"Oh, Dobby…Don't worry. You won't be harming her. It's just a bit of fun…The headmaster told me to do this."

Dobby's face then broke into a grin Harry had never seen on his face before. "Well, then…that be ok, then. Dobby will make sure Master Potter's job is being completed, sir."

Harry thanked him and led the others out the kitchen. "Harry," George started. "Did Dumbledore really tell you to do this?"

"Not in those words…I believe he said, 'I think the Marauders will be targeting someone new….I do hope they do a good job…'"

"Wicked," said Fred looking over at his twin and at Ginny. "He has to be the coolest Professor here. One time, he caught us down here at midnight, and he thanked us for making the house elves happy…then he went and asked them for more lemon drops…"

Harry smiled, and suddenly he felt something in his mind. He looked to his left, and saw no one, but he knew Dumbledore was standing there, invisible, so he grinned in the general direction.

Before Harry could do anything about it, the weekend came to a close and Monday morning was upon him. It was agreed that the prank would be pulled during Harry's class, and Ginny and the twins would get out of class somehow to be present.

Harry looked up at the staff table and prayed Dobby hadn't backed out. The morning passed quickly, and before he knew it, it was time for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry stopped short at the door and peered inside. She was not in at the moment.

Harry did some improve pranking and crossed the hallway to a suit of armor and cast several spells on it, muttering words under his breath. He then went into the classroom and sat next to Ron and Hermione.

"What is this…what are you doing?" Shouting came from just outside the door, and everyone leaned in their seats to see the commotion.

A deep voice filled with creaks echoed through the halls. "Please, I love you, Professor. Don't turn away from me! What do the others have that I don't? THEY AREALL SUITS! EVERY ONE OF THEM! I can give you so much more." The suit of armor was on its knees pleading at Professor Umbridge, blocking her way in.

"What is the meaning of this? Get out of my way!"

"Don't…please…" The suit of armor had bent down low, groveling at the toad.

Umbridge took out her wand, and the suit of armor moved slowly out of the way. The professor walked into the room which had quieted almost instantly, but the students were still trying to hide snickers unsuccessfully.

"Take out your books and turn to chapter 2 and read it silently," she said in an exasperated voice.

She went to her desk and sat down, but looked up as Harry raised his hand. "Yes, Mr. Potter?"

Harry was sure every eye was on Professor Umbridge so he wordlessly activated the potion.

The class gasped, stood silent, and then burst out laughing hysterically as their professor was changed into a large, oversized toad. It was as if a toad had fallen into an enlarging potion.

The toad seemed surprised by the sudden outburst and made to reprimand the students when a load croak was heard over the laughter. It seemed strange to Harry, that a toad would be surprised by its own noise…but even more strange was that the toad looked down to find itself a toad and let out an astonished croak.

The toad then hopped off the chair at professor Umbridge's desk and hopped towards the door and disappeared from view. Shortly after, a deep voice was once again heard. "I don't care what they've done to you! Don't you see I love you…If anything you look better, anyway! Look me in the visor and tell me you don't love me! Please come back, I will feed you…"

The soft sound of a hopping, croaking sound followed by a creaking, clunking noise disappeared slowly down the hall.

Everyone except Harry was laughing. He walked outside the door to find the other Marauders standing there openmouthed. Ginny spoke first. "Not only did our potion work, but that armor bit was genius, Harry!"

Harry grinned as the twins offered their own praise. "Suit was stunning. Potion worked great…Mum just turned a bit into the penguin…This, a full transformation…and the croaking too…ahh…"

"She headed off to the hospital wing. Colin will be able to tell us what happens there—that was my excuse to get out of potions. I accidentally spilled some potion on Colin. I almost had to carry him there…I barely got here in time for this. Glad I didn't miss it, though."

"I'll see you all at lunch, then," Harry said and turned back into the room from whence the toad came.

"Harry! You did that…how could you attack a teacher?" Hermione was whispering urgently, but Harry knew she just wanted to know how to make the potion.

Ron merely looked at Harry with awe. "That…was…"

Hermione interrupted. "Bloody brilliant? Wicked? Is every prank pulled brilliant and wicked, Ron?"

"No…Just ones pulled on Umbridge and Slytherins," Ron stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Harry was glad for the distraction from himself as the two argued relentlessly until the bell sounded, signaling time for lunch.

News of the Toad Trick, as it became known, traveled like lightening. It was the topic of conversation for all of lunch. Harry gazed up at the staff table. Dumbledore, smiling broadly, was talking to a very stiff McGonagall who seemed like it was taking all of her strength not to also laugh heartily. She was, indeed, smiling, however, and Harry always took this as a sign that the prank was truly magnificent.

Snape…never before had Harry seen Snape try to not smile. He sneered, and smirked, yes, but that is not the same thing as a true smile. His face seemed to contort and twist at odd times, as he struggled to contain a small smile from appearing.

It was apparent, by the jubilation of the staff table, that none of the teachers liked Umbridge at all. The abhorrence was probably only rivaled by the detestation of the arrogant and ignorant Gilderoy Lockhart, or in Snape's case, Remus Lupin.

Dumbledore turned his body to face Harry, and he held up his hands and applauded visibly in the Marauder's direction. He mouthed the words, 'James would be proud.' He paused and then mouthed, 'Lily would not.'

Harry smiled softly to himself as he bit into his treacle tart.