Their first Divination class with Firenze was interesting. He had them lie on the floor as he showed them constellations, explaining how one can read fortunes based on patterns in the sky.
"Centaurs have unraveled the mysteries of the star's movements through the heavens over centuries. Our findings teach us that the future may be glimpsed in the sky above us."
He pointed to the red star above Harry's head, "In the past decade, the indications have been that Wizard-kind is living through nothing more than a brief calm between two wars. Mars, bringer of battle, shines brightly above us, suggesting that the fight must break out again soon."
"How soon?" Parvati asked.
"We shall attempt to divine that by burning certain herbs and leaves and read the symbols created by the fumes." Firenze said.
And they did, however, no one seemed to see anything. Firenze seemed unconcerned, saying that humans weren't expected to be good at it.
"Can non-humans read fumes than?" Ron asked.
"House-elves, as you call them, might have the ability…with enough practice." Firenze answered.
"What about humans that aren't human?" Ron asked.
He got a confused glance at that.
"I think Ron is asking about humanoids." Harry said.
"Like aliens?" Dean asked.
Ron nodded.
"You can't seriously think aliens exist." Parvati huffed.
"You believe in Divination, but not in aliens?" Ron looked at her incredulously.
Dean snorted, "You don't watch the news enough."
Harry snickered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lavender hissed.
"There was an incident a few years ago in Greenwich." Dean said. "Were you there Harry?"
Harry shook his head, "That was before me. I know the story though."
Class ended and Firenze asked Harry, Ron, and Dean to stay after.
"What do you know of other lifeforms?" He asked.
The three boys looked at each other, "Not much"
"I just know that a large spaceship appeared in Greenwich a few years ago. And that two of the Avengers are aliens." Dean said.
"My uncle told me that a dark elf wanted to use the convergence to destroy the nine realms. The only way to do that was from Greenwich." Harry said.
"I remember a shift in the heavens. It was something we could not identify. This must have been the convergence you speak of." Firenze said.
"What's the convergence?" Ron asked.
"A phenomenon that only happens once every 5,000 years. When all of the Nine Realms of Yggdrasil are in alignment." Harry explained.
"Woah"
"You didn't know it was coming?" Dean asked.
Firenze shook his head. "The heavens foretold a great imbalance, but we had never seen such a thing. 5,000 years is a long time and knowledge of such a rare occurrence can be easily lost."
"Then how do you know about aliens if you've never heard of the Nine Realms?" Harry asked.
"Because I have met one." Firenze said.
The boys gasped.
"Who?" Ron asked.
"A woman." Firenze said. "She came to us near the beginning of your school year. We centaurs do not like trespassers, but we could sense something different in her aura. She looked human, and yet, she wasn't."
"What did she want?" Dean asked. "She wasn't a Death Eater was she?"
"Far from it" Firenze replied. "She came to tell us of the war and hoped for us to either stay neutral to the war or fight on Dumbledore's side."
"Really? I thought centaurs hated humans." Ron said.
"They do"
"They?" Harry asked.
Firenze grinned, "I have never shared my kind's hatred of humans. It is why I saved you, Harry Potter, all those years ago."
"Thank you, for that." Harry said.
Firenze nodded.
"So, are the centaurs with us?" Ron asked.
"Some may help, but most will stay neutral. We did vow not to side with the Dark One."
"Well, that's good at least." Dean smiled.
"She also told us that I would be called upon by Dumbledore to teach this class." He said.
"Really? Way back then?" Ron asked.
"Indeed." Firenze said. "I was already an outsider in my herd for helping a human, another slight like that and I would have been banished. She asked that I not be."
"Are you?" Dean asked.
"I am not. I am welcome back to my herd when the year has finished. However, I am not permitted to return to the castle once I have finished my position."
"Seems reasonable, I guess. Seeing as centaurs don't like humans. And at least you're not banished." Dean nodded.
Ron agreed.
"This woman, what did she look like?" Harry asked, even though he had a good idea of who it was.
"She looked like an ordinary woman, but her eyes were what set her apart. They were silver, and as bright as the stars themselves." Firenze said.
Ron's eyes bulged, "Blimey Harry; that sounds like Aileen."
"You know her?" Firenze asked.
"She's my older sister." Harry said.
Firenze nodded, "Send her my thanks, Harry Potter. I owe her much gratitude for keeping my place in my herd."
Harry nodded.
"You three should be going now, you will be late for your next class."
The three nodded and left the room.
"Why do you think Aileen talked to the centaurs?" Ron asked.
"Who knows." Harry said. "Maybe they sided with Voldemort in the future."
"I hope not" Ron said. "Well, at least they're on our side…sorta"
Harry chuckled.
/
In the next DA meeting, Harry decided to return to the Patronus Charm. More students were figuring it out this time. Hermione was one of a few who managed a full corporal patronus; an otter.
He was helping Neville with his when Dobby appeared next to him, "Harry Potter, sir…Dobby has come to warn you" the small elf shrieked.
"What's happened Dobby?" Harry asked.
"The house-elves are not supposed to tell, but she…she…"
"Who's 'she' Dobby?"
Dobby didn't reply. He didn't have to though, "Umbridge?"
Dobby nodded frantically.
"What about her? She hasn't found out about this – about the DA?"
Again, Dobby didn't answer, but the look in his watery eyes was answer enough.
"Is she coming?"
Dobby muffled a cry, he started stomping on the ground, no doubt hurting himself because he was instructed not to speak. "Yes, Harry Potter, yes!" He cried out.
Harry immediately straightened, "Everyone RUN!"
Everyone rushed for the exit, rushing in several different directions as they made their way out.
"Harry come on!" Hermione shrieked as she and Ron ran out.
Harry grabbed Dobby and followed them.
"Dobby — this is an order — get back down to the kitchen with the other elves, and if she asks you whether you warned me, lie and say no!" Harry said. "And I forbid you to hurt yourself!" he added, dropping the elf in a deserted hallway.
"Thank you, Harry Potter!" squeaked Dobby, and he streaked off.
With that done, he started to run, but something caught his legs. He fell hard on the floor.
"Trip Jinx, Potter!"
Harry turned back to see Draco Malfoy with his wand raised. He turned down the hall and shouted, "Hey, Professor — PROFESSOR! I've got one!"
Umbridge came bustling around the far corner, breathless but wearing a delighted smile. "It's him!" she said jubilantly at the sight of Harry on the floor. "Excellent, Draco, excellent, oh, very good — fifty points to Slytherin! I'll take him from here. Stand up, Potter!"
The jinx was lifted and she dragged him off to the Headmaster's office.
Once there, they quickly made their way inside. Harry was surprised to see McGonagall, Kingsley, Percy, and Fudge standing in the room.
"Well, well, well" Fudge said as Umbridge pushed Harry further into the office. "If it isn't Harry Potter. I had a feeling you were at the heart of all this."
"Malfoy cornered him" Umbridge grinned.
"Did he, did he?" Fudge said appreciatively. "I must remember to tell Lucius. Well, Potter, I expect you know why you are here?"
He was about to say yes, but a look from Dumbledore had him changing his answer. "No" He replied calmly.
Fudge's face went from gleeful to shock in quick succession. "I beg your pardon?"
"No" Harry repeated, "I do not know why I am here."
"So, you have no idea why Professor Umbridge has brought you here?" Fudge asked incredulously. "You are not aware that you have broken any school rules or Ministry decrees?"
"None that I know of, sir" Harry replied.
Fudge frowned, "Do you, or do you not know of an illegal student organization within this school."
"I do not" Harry said, hoping his face was convincing enough. Maybe he should ask his parents for acting lessons…if he was going to be continually interrogated.
"Perhaps I should fetch our informant, Minister" Umbridge suggested.
"Yes, do" Fudge nodded. Dolores nodded and left.
She was gone a few minutes, no one spoke or looked at each other…Harry could feel the tension in the air. When Umbridge returned, Marietta, a friend of Cho's was with her. Umbridge had to lead her into the room since she refused to uncover her face with the sleeves of her robe.
"Don't be scared, dear," Umbridge said softly, patting her on the back, "it's quite all right now. You have done the right thing. The minister is very pleased with you. He'll be telling your mother what a good girl you've been. Marietta's mother, Minister," she added, looking up at Fudge, "is Madam Edgecombe from the Department of Magical Transportation. Floo Network office — she's been helping us police the Hogwarts fires, you know."
"Jolly good!" Fudge clapped heartily. "Like mother, like daughter, eh? Well, come on, now, dear, look up, don't be shy, let's hear what you've got to — galloping gargoyles!"
As Marietta raised her head, Fudge leapt backward in shock, and Marietta gave a wail and pulled her sleeves back over her face, but not before the whole room had seen that her face was horribly disfigured by a series of close-set purple pustules that had spread across her nose and cheeks to form the word 'SNEAK'.
Harry thought back to Hermione's assurance that they would know if anyone spoke of the DA to Umbridge. Harry almost felt sorry for her…almost.
"Never mind the spots now, dear," Umbridge said impatiently, "just take your sleeves away from your mouth and tell the Minister —" But Marietta gave another muffled wail and shook her head frantically.
"Oh, very well, you silly girl, I'll tell him," Umbridge snapped. She turned back to the Minister. "Well, Minister, Miss Edgecombe here came to my office shortly after dinner this evening and told me she had something she wanted to tell me. She said that if I proceeded to a secret room on the seventh floor, sometimes known as the Room of Requirement, I would find out something to my advantage. I questioned her a little further and she admitted that there was to be some kind of meeting there. Unfortunately at that point this hex," she waved impatiently at Marietta's concealed face, "came into operation and upon catching sight of her face in my mirror the girl became too distressed to tell me anything else."
Fudge smiled softly in, what Harry imagined was a kind of fatherly look. He pat her on the shoulder and spoke softly to her, "It was a very brave thing you did, coming to Professor Umbridge. Now, will you tell me what happened at this meeting? Who was there? What was its purpose?"
But Marietta wouldn't speak. She merely shook her head and whimpered.
Fudge huffed impatiently and looked to Umbridge, "Haven't we got a counterjinx for this?"
"I have not yet managed to find one," Umbridge admitted grudgingly, and Harry felt a surge of pride in Hermione's jinxing ability. "However, I can take up the story if she cannot."
"Go on then" Fudge urged.
"As you know, Minister, I reported to you that Potter met with a group of students at the Hog's Head back in October. The purpose for this meeting, was to persuade them to join an illegal society. One where they would learn spells and curses that the Ministry has deemed unfit for students to learn." She said.
"I think you'll find you're wrong there, Dolores," Dumbledore said quietly.
"Oh?" Fudge challenged. "Let's hear another story from you Dumbledore. What is it now? We have several credible witnesses' accounts of Potter's meeting.
"I'm sure Mr. Potter will tell you that he was in the Hog's Head that very weekend, and that he was recruiting students to a Defense Against the Dark Arts group. I am merely pointing out that Dolores is quite wrong to say that it was illegal."
"It is illegal Dumbledore" Fudge said. "According to the Ministry Educational Decree –"
"–all student societies and groups are banned. Yes, but that decree was not put into effect until two days after this meeting."
"Yes, that is true, but we are now six months on. If the first meeting wasn't illegal, all those that have happened since are."
"We are assuming that there were any meetings since. Do you have any evidence that there have been any meetings?" Dumbledore asked.
"Right here" Umbridge pointed to Marietta.
"You merely stated she reported that there was a meeting tonight, not for the past six months." Dumbledore said.
They turned to Marietta, who was still covering her face.
"Just nod or shake your head dear, that shouldn't activate the jinx any further" Umbridge assured softly.
Marietta shook her head.
Umbridge frowned, "Did you hear the question?" She asked. "Have you been going to these meetings for the past six months?"
Again, she shook her head.
"And what does that mean dear?" Umbridge asked.
"I would think its obvious Dolores" McGonagall said coolly. "Shaking one's head usually means no"
Umbridge frowned and her fists tightened.
"It would seem there have been no illegal meetings for the last six months. Your witness has confirmed this." Kingsley said.
"Yes, but she did inform me of the one tonight. An illegal meeting where several students were in attendance. Once I got word, I was accompanied by a few trustful students to apprehend them. They must have been forewarned of my arrival since, when I reached the seventh floor, they had run. No matter, I had Miss Parkinson go into the Room of Requirement to see if they left anything behind…and they did."
To Harry's horror, she pulled the list of names they had pinned on the wall from her pocket and handed it to Fudge.
"As you can see, Potter's name is on there." Umbridge said.
"Good" Fudge beemed. "And look, the name they chose" He turned to Dumbledore, "I knew you were creating an army. Look what they've called themselves!"
Dumbledore took the parchment to see 'Dumbledore's Army' in bold letters at the top.
"Indeed, I guess you have found me out Cornelius." Dumbledore sighed.
"You recruited these students for — for your army?"
"Tonight, was supposed to be the first meeting," said Dumbledore, nodding. "Merely to see whether they would be interested in joining me. I see now that it was a mistake to invite Miss Edgecombe, of course."
Marietta nodded. Fudge looked from her to Dumbledore, his chest swelling. "Then you have been plotting against me!" he yelled.
"That's right," said Dumbledore cheerfully.
Harry wanted to protest, but Dumbledore sent him another look.
"Well, well, well — I came here tonight expecting to expel Potter and instead —" Fudge cheered
"Instead you get to arrest me," Dumbledore finished. "It's like losing a Knut and finding a Galleon, isn't it?"
The Minister was practically jumping with joy. "Weasley! Did you get that?"
Percy, who had been writing furiously on his parchment, looked up and smiled, "Yes, sir. Everything."
"Good, excellent. Make a duplicate of those notes and send one off to the Daily Prophet." Fudge instructed. "If we're lucky we'll be able to make the morning edition!"
Percy nodded and dashed from the room.
Fudge turned back to Dumbledore, "Now, if you'll just follow Kingsley here. He will take you to the Ministry where you will be formally charged and then sent off to Azkaban."
"Ah, I thought it might come to that." Dumbledore said. "I am afraid I simply cannot do that."
"cannot do that?" Fudge asked. "Cannot do what?"
"Go to Azkaban. There are many things that I still need to take care of." Dumbledore said.
Fudge frowned, "You don't have a choice Dumbledore. You are under arrest for your planning to overthrow me! Kingsley, arrest him at once."
Kingsley moved forward, but a bell-like trill caught everyone's attention.
"Farewell" Dumbledore said. He raised his arms and, in a burst of flames, he and Fawkes disappeared.
The room was silent for a moment before Kingsley turned to Fudge and said, "You may not like him, Minister...but you cannot deny he's got style."
I absolutely love that line from Kingsley, I had to add it.
Hope you guys enjoyed it ^-^