Luminescent
Part Ten
Dumbledore's Army

Disclaimer: For what seems to be the billionth time, I don't own Harry Potter or its associated characters. However, as I dislike people sueing my ass even less, I'll continue to put this in my chapters.

Warnings: This is, of course, slash. River and Rayne being, well, River and Rayne. . . but that's almost a given at this point. . . I think that covers it, at least for this chapter.

Author's Note: Another chapter down. Whew. This book is not moving at fast as I would like, I have to admit. Once again, I apologize for the delay in updates and fully admit that I will try to put another in this week since I am on break. Also, a shout out to my lovely beta PrincessXXMoonXX! Other than that, I hope everyone enjoys the latest chapter.

To EgyptianFireFly: Honestly, I think you're right and I did have Harry change from Divination at one point. Since he's in in now, he obviously changed it back. (Phyrrus appeares and rolls his eyes. "What she means is that her dumbass forgot. Therefore, he's taking it again." He disappears to go molest Harry a bit.)

To Morgan Eddasil: Thank you for reminding me. I need to go back and revise a little, but I don't want to do that until I'm finished with book five. If you'll bear with the mistakes for a little long, I promise and cross my heart that I will go fix them.

To Silversongs: I'm so touched by the review, I just had to thank you personally! I'm still so shocked so many people like this, and it was nice to hear. (Stokes Ego) Thank you very much!

To Everyone: Here's the more most of you have been waiting for (That rhyme was entirely unintentional, I'll have you know.) Anyway, As always I request you review and, as always, I will not (and will never) hold any chapters hostage for them. I will have another chapter out at some point this week because I am on break, but after that the next will take awhile because school will have started again. I'm sorry for the long wait for this chapter, I do try my best.

Now, one last teeny, tiny, little bitty request. . .
please enjoy.
oOooOo

Three days after the almost explosive incident in the potions classroom, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Phyrrus decided that it was time to relax a little bit and put their homework to the side to head out for a walk. Phyrrus, who had been antsy since the year started, herded them toward the quidditch pitch to work on his kata and play with his quarter staff while the others talked quietly. Harry leaned back against the base of the stands, still staring at his boyfriend. Phyrrus was dressed in his gi, and Harry just loved to watch the other teen.

"Earth to Harry," Ron waved a hand in front of his best friend's unfocused green eyes. "You can stop drooling, now."

"Hm? What?" Harry blinked, glancing to Ron and blushing slightly.

"Hermione and I want to start a Defense Against the Dark Arts group," Ron restated, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh," Harry nodded. "That's a good idea."

"Well, we aren't learning anything in class," Hermione huffed. "And O.W.L.s are coming, and you-know-who is back. We can't afford to just sit around and learn theory. So I was thinking that we could just start our own group. Meet in Hogsmeade next weekend to see who's interested, and then we could start the week after that."

"Who did you have in mind for a teacher?" Harry finally asked, not liking the looks on Ron and Hermione's faces.

"Well, we were thinking that they had to have experience with the Dark Arts outside of school, and they had to be able to teach it well, so we were thinking . . . you." Hermione finally told him, twiddling her thumbs a bit in nervousness. "I mean, you're the only one of us with any real practical experience, and you've been around it, and people listen to you. And you're a good teacher."

"I haven't had that much experience," Harry protested. "It's all been luck! There's no way I can teach DADA! I'm just a kid!"

"Harry, you're the only person that can." Ron finally pointed out. "You know more about this than anyone, and it's your best subject. I think you'd be good at it."

"Ron's right, you know," Phyrrus pointed out, looking up from his kata.

"You've been listening?"

"They told me a few days ago. Just to see what I thought you'd say. I rather figured you'd do this. But they're right. You know about the practical stuff. Not like the rest of us. I mean, I know I've had some weird things happen to me, but I've never really dealt with the Dark Arts. This is your area of expertise." Phyrrus shrugged. "I do have a suggestion, though."

"Do you think I could really teach them?" Harry bit his lip.

"You've taught me plenty." Phyrrus pointed out. "I'll go to you before Hermione in Defense, and you know it." Hermione made a face at him, but winked to show she wasn't at all hurt.

"You think I can teach them."

"Yes. However, I also think we need at least one adult we can trust around. Just in case. And I know two in this school we can trust and that has dealt with the Dark Arts." Phyrrus turned to eye his boyfriend.

"You're right. There are things I'm still learning. This will be difficult." Harry nodded absently in agreement, puzzling the matter over. "I'm not exactly a seventh year, and they'll need help, too. And I can't put what they do wrong to rights. And we'll need advice. Umbridge can't find out about this club, she'd disband it almost immediately."

"Well, the people I'm thinking about also have a tendency to sneak around. Really, they'd be perfect for this." Phyrrus smirked.

"What do you have in mind?" Ron had an idea, but he wanted to hear Phyrrus say it.

"Uncle Sev and Uncle Leon. Who better than the ex-DE, and the spy? They can fix whatever we do wrong, they'll be there for practical advice, but with Harry actually running the group, we can say it's just a study group. They're two of the best, really. Not to mention we can teach at least a little physical defense. I've noticed that wizards here do a lot with their wands. A couple of moves physically and you'd have some sitting ducks." Phyrrus smirked.

"Why aren't American wizards all about magic?"

"We used to be. A couple hundred years ago when we first settled America, it was all about wand waving with our witches and wizards. Then we met the Amerindians. They did the wand waving, but they also used physical attacks and kicked our scrawny white asses. So, we learned physical fighting to go with our magic. And then, well, we were a little more evenly matched."

"You seriously got your asses kicked by the Indians?" Ron grinned.

"Sure. They were really good at it." Phyrrus laughed as well. "We let the mundanes deal with them, mostly, because we were scared they'd keep kicking our asses. Not that the mundanes did a great job, and we kind of regret that now, but. . . now we know things we didn't before. Knowing what we know now would have changed a lot then."

"You did treat them badly." Hermione frowned.

"And in many ways we still are," Phyrrus agreed, staring at his hands. He shook his head. "I can't do anything about it. Not yet. But it does teach us an important lesson now. You rely too much on your wands. What if you loose them? So Leon can teach hand to hand, too."

"You could teach that," Ron snorted. "You're really good."

"You've never seen my uncle." Phyrrus smirked. "But I guess it's the same thing with Harry. Having an adult in charge makes us subject to rules. Having a study group, however, makes it a little bit different."

"Then it's decided. We'll put out the word and meet in Hogsmeade this weekend. I was thinking the Hogshead. It's off the beaten track, and should draw less attention." Hermione banged down her fist decisively. "What do you think?"

"Let's talk to Uncle Leon and Uncle Sev today. Then put out the word. They might have some suggestions." Harry pointed out, standing. "Are you done running kata, Phyrrus?"

"For today," Phyrrus tucked his staff away and followed Harry.

"We'll need somewhere to meet, too," Harry reminded his friends, still frowning. "Does anyone have any ideas? It has to be someplace everyone can get too, but we'll need somewhere hidden, too."

"Ponder that for awhile," Hermione ordered. "We'll talk to Leon and Professor Snape and see what we come up with."

The four sighed and headed towards the dungeons, feet and hands numb from the outside chill, but in high spirits as they talked quietly amongst themselves about their new club. Hopefully they could get all the houses involved, using their various connections between the houses to get the word out. Passing several students on their way to the dungeons, they tried to look like they weren't plotting anything, just in case they were spies for Umbridge, though Harry still had no idea who she'd been talking too. The feelers he'd put out at the beginning of the entire fiasco still hadn't brought back news.

"Is there a reason you four have invaded my dungeons?" Severus raised a dark brow, ushering them into his office.

"Sorry, professor, but we wanted to talk to you and Leon," Hermione broke in, hoping they hadn't interrupted anything, though she could clearly see the papers he was marking sitting out on his desk.

Severus sighed and knocked a few times on the back wall, and the students blinked in awe as a door appeared. Leaning into his personal quarters, Severus gave a shout for Leon and shifted, waiting for the man to exit before shoving the door closed and watching it melt back into the wall. "They want something." He pointed out, returning to his papers.

"It. . . kind of pertains to both of you," Harry began hesitantly, and smiled when Phyrrus wrapped an arm around his waist. "We. . . we aren't learning anything in DADA, and with Voldemort back, we need too. Umbridge is blocking us at every turn, so Ron and Hermione suggested a study group."

"And this has what to do with us?" Severus raised an eyebrow, never pausing as he graded an essay.

"Well, we need a student in charge so it stays a study group and we don't have to go through proper channels, but. . . we'd have all age levels and really wouldn't be able to handle just anyone so, um, we thought you two could come and help teach and make sure no one got turned into a newt or anything." Harry held his breath as both men glanced at him, smirks crossing their faces.

"I have to say, that is clever," Leon admitted, winking at Severus. "What do you think, Sev?"

"For Gryffindors, they are quite devious," Severus agreed, putting his quill down and steepling his hands in front of his face. "And how do you intend to get the word out?"

Hermione explained their plan, watching them nervously. None of them had any experience with breaking the rules on this kind of level, but it all made sense to her when she'd thought it over. Severus and Leon, however, hemmed and hawed over it. "You need a reason they won't tell Umbridge about it," Leon finally told them, and Hermione blushed.

"I was going to have them sign cursed parchment," Hermione admitted. "If they told, it'd give them horrible and painful acne. They'd regret it, because there really isn't a counter spell, and we'd know exactly who it was."

"Clever girl," Severus praised, shocking all of them. Severus did not hand out praise lightly. "There is another matter, however."

"Yes?"

"You shouldn't meet in Hogshead," Severus frowned. "Although fewer students visit there, it would draw attention because of the location. Especially if it was a large group of students, as I suspect it might be. Meeting in the three broomsticks wouldn't draw as much attention because it's noisier and it's common to see groups of students there. Have them meet there originally, then give notices to groups of friends to meet you separately somewhere else. The Shrieking Shack, Honeydukes, Hogshead, and so on. Have them sign the paper then."

"We also have another problem," Phyrrus sighed and stared at the ground. "We don't know where to have a meeting. I mean, there's nothing really secret in this school."

"That I can't help with," Leon bowed out. "I don't know enough about Hogwarts to help. Severus?"

Severus shook his head slowly. "I can only offer rumours, though you may know something of them. There is a room on the seventh floor, across that terrible portrait of the man getting clubbed by the trolls. I'm not sure how it appears, the house elves might have more information, but I think it might do."

"It's like a secret passageway?" Hermione looked confused.

"I'm not sure. I've heard several professors and students mention it in passing, but I don't know much about it, myself. I just know that it's always in the same place, and almost none of them have ever found it a second time." Severus shrugged.

Harry smirked at his friends. "I say ask a house elf. And we know one always willing to please."

"Don't call it in my office," Severus ordered, shooing them out. "He'll damage it."

"A house elf?" Phyrrus raised an eyebrow. "Don't they live to clean and stuff?"

"Slaves is what they are." Hermione muttered.

"Whatever." Phyrrus waved a hand. "They're just different."

"You've seen them, right?"

"Once or twice. Some people mom knows have them, but we never have. So if he's a house elf, why would he wreck Uncle Sev's office?"

"He's very. . . enthusiastic," Harry admitted, heading towards the kitchens and tickling the pear to pull open the portrait. He was almost immediately knocked over by a screeching ball of house elf, dressed in a pair of ragged blue shorts and a bright tee-shirt with a scarf wrapped around his head.

"Harry Potter!" The elf cried, hugging him tightly. Harry choked, shoving the elf off and gasping for air.

"Hello, Dobby," Harry managed, pulling him off to the side and repeating Severus' inquiry. Dobby's eyes lit up.

"Dobby knows that room, sir! Dobby does!" Dobby bounced enthusiastically. "Dobby knows it well, sir! The room is being calls the come and go room, sir! Or the Room or Requirement. Dobby has uses it when Winky is very drunk so shes can sleeps it off, sir. On the seventh floor, by the nasty painting." He continued to describe how the room appeared only when the user had need, and even detailed how to get inside. Harry smirked.

They found their room. Now all they had to do was plan the meetings.
oOooOo

Leon and Severus had been right when they'd told Harry and his friends that the meeting wasn't going to stay small. Just by mentioning it to a few people, word got out in the fastest, most efficient way possible.

Gossip.

Nothing traveled around Hogwarts faster, and nothing was ever hidden from the professors so well. It was also insurance that only trusted confidantes heard it. The news might travel through different groups, but only did people tell it to friends they knew wouldn't tell. Harry was dumbfounded when he stepped into the Three Broomsticks Saturday at one and found nearly forty people inside. Groups of people from every house were spread around the pub waiting on Harry. Hermione had arranged a signal. Every group that wanted extra lessons had brought their defense book and set it on the table, some reading it, some looking ready to set it on fire.

"This is more than I thought we'd have," Hermione muttered, looking at the students. They ranged from first to seventh years, and they were all surprised to see several Slytherins there. Cyrrus winked at them from next to Draco. He was talking to Pansy, nodding occasionally, and they had several Slytherins from other years near-by.

As they entered, Hermione discreetly placed a small bit of parchment on the books, giving another time and place to meet, to ensure secrecy. Harry chewed his fingers as Phyrrus ordered them all butter beers. "Calm down," Ron muttered to Harry, shaking his head. "Someone'll catch on to your nervousness."

"Easy for you to say," Harry muttered, sipping at his butterbeer. Phyrrus rolled his eyes, gripping Harry hands and pressing kisses to his chewed fingers, allowing Harry to free them only long enough to sip at his drink.

"We'll be fine," Hermione told him, quirking a grin in his direction. "We're following Leon's orders, and we should have it fine. Now, come on. We need to start heading out to the other places to meet the groups so people don't seriously wonder about our sanity."

Disappearing and heading out towards the shrieking shack first, Harry had to wonder if he was really going insane. What kind of idiot had an unofficial "study group" under the nose of one of the most sadistic women in the world? And what kind of normal, sane person actually wanted to create a secret defense club with her around? Harry finally put it down to reaching fully-fledged insanity and added another tally to the list of people he felt Hogwarts had driven completely mad. Pondering the list, he felt himself in fairly good company. Dumbledore was insane, his father and all his friends had long since gone mad, Voldemort--though he wasn't really good company--Hagrid, and several others. Fudge did not make the list, since he tended to be stupid rather than barking mad, and that was no fault of the Hogwarts staff.

"Are you awake in there?" Phyrrus pressed a kiss to his hair and wrapped an arm around his waist.

"Fine," Harry told him flatly, leaning closer. "Just thinking about how I've gone stark raving nutters."

"You're in good company," Phyrrus echoed his previous musings, and Harry sighed, nearly groaning. Well, at least they hadn't been caught. Yet.
oOooOo

Their first meeting was the very next weekend. Everyone Harry had met with agreed to sign the contract, and so a class of forty fresh victi--er--students appeared in the room of requirement early Saturday afternoon, wands and books in hand. Harry was at the front, on a small stage, staring around the magnificent room. It was full of dark detectors, sneakscopes, practice dummies, reference books, a few chalkboards, a large fireplace, and had mirrors on several of the walls. Articles from recent news papers on dark activity were pinned up around the room, and Harry knew this was the perfect place for everyone to practice.

"Welcome to the first meeting of our little group," Hermione greeted, looking around the room. "It's nice to see everyone here. We have a few matters to discuss before we get started, so I need everyone to pay attention. The first order of the day is to decide on a leader. Ron and I thought that since Harry has the most living experience with the dark arts, it should be him. Are there any objections?"

The group looked around, shaking their heads. "Of course, we'll have to work together," Hermione added. "Some of the older students are going to know things we don't, certainly. But moving on, we also need a name for the group. Any suggestion?"

"Defense Association," Harry pipped up almost immediately before several of the Slytherins smirked.

"Dumbledore's Army," Draco's voice was clear over the murmuring crowd. "He is the only one protecting this world, and if we are to learn to defend it, why should we not do it with his name in the title?"

Hermione eyed the nodding faces, then looked at a surprised Harry. "I think we can agree to that," Hermione nodded, writing the name down. "However, to avoid trouble outside of the group, we shall shorten it to the D.A. If anyone asks, then call it the Defense Association. It will prevent more rumors. Not that you should really be speaking of it much, anyway."

"She has a point," Ron muttered in agreement to Harry. Phyrrus grinned as Hermione glared at them both, then continued.

"Now that the name and the leader have both been decided on, we have a few more things to cover. Next, Harry suggested that we learn some physical defense training. Since the wizarding world as a whole seems. . . out of shape, I thought it seemed like a good idea." Nods of agreement swept the room as Hermione continued. "Since we don't care to be sitting ducks should we happen to loose our wands, I suggest we allow Flame Lugovalos to teach us some muggle defense."

More murmurs and nods drifted around the room, and Hermione held out a hand. "Good, good. Now, in addition to that, Harry also pointed out that we have various levels attending the class. Since he has not yet gone over seventh year material, despite all his practice with the dark arts, we have brought two trusted advisors to help with the more advanced spells just in case. I would like you to welcome Reikatsuken Byakko and Professor Severus Snape. Both adept at Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"I should certainly hope so," Leon's voice drifted down from the ceiling as he drifted down, setting Severus on the ground before ending the charm that kept him afloat. Some of the students tittered at the comment. "I'm glad all of you have chosen to further your learning in DADA, and I must applaud the name of your new club. Severus and I are here as advisors only, and to help out with the more advanced spells. We are in no way head of this. . . study group. I hope you will welcome our intrusion, however."

The Slytherins looked thrilled to have their Head of House in on the Secret, and the other students seemed to be interested in having Reikatsuken as a part time teacher. They knew he was Leon Lugovalos, but it was hard to remember it when he wore the mask, his personality always becoming darker and more serious. Leon grinned, removing the grinning fox mask, and stepped to one side with his lover. Severus also bowed slightly, following Leon, and gesturing for Hermione to take the floor again. "One more thing, then," Hermione winked. "You've all been so patient, but there is another important matter. How on earth are we going to tell you about meetings? Well, I found a great spell that allows us to use fake galleons."

She pulled out one of the coins, explaining that Harry would set the date of each meeting on his own coin, and the numbers on the coin would change to reflect it, as well as warming slightly to let the other members know a new date had been set. "Just don't spend them by mistake," Hermione joked, handing them out. The other students chuckled, praising her idea, and tucked the coins away.

"Excellent," Harry clapped his hands. "We still have a little time left, so no reason not to start today. How many of you can cast a successful disarming charm?"

The number of hands that went in the air was. . . rather depressing.

"Okay," Harry managed a smile. "We'll start there."

The boy-who-lived preformed the charm several times on Phyrrus to demonstrate how to do it, and Phyrrus repeated the favor a few times in retaliation. "As useless as this spell may seem, I used it on Voldemort himself. It allows a wizard a great advantage over his opponent, even if it just allows you a few moments of respite to collect yourself." Harry divided the students into groups, placing at least one student capable of doing the charm in each group and taking a supervisory role to oversee their progress.

Leon and Severus also patrolled, occasionally correcting students when Harry wasn't near them, or preforming the charm themselves as demonstrations for students that just didn't seem to understand the correct movements. They spent another half an hour on the charm before gathering their things to leave. "Real quick," Harry called out, waving a hand. "Each person think of a few useful spells for defense for next time, and we'll try some of them over the rest of the year! I do have some already in mind, too. See you next time!"

The other students waved and disappeared through the door, leaving Harry to sigh and sink back against the wall. "Wow."

"Harder than you thought, Mr. Potter?" Severus' silky voice made Harry start, but when he glanced at Severus' black eyes, he realized the potions master was teasing.

"Yes, thank you, Professor Snape," Harry agreed, grinning up at the professor. "How do you do it?"

"Scare the shit out of them," Severus winked, reaching down to ruffle Harry's dark hair before wrinkling his nose. "You're all sweaty."

"Thank you, captain obvious," Harry muttered, yet another phrase he seemed to have picked up from the Lugovalos family.

"Well, I think it's hot," Phyrrus broke in, running his fingers through the sweaty strands and leaning down to claim a kiss. Leon groaned and smacked his nephew across the head once they'd parted.

"Information I did not need, Phyrrus," Leon scolded, frowning.

"You could leave," Phyrrus pointed out. "It's not like we're unchaperoned." Hermione and Ron were still snickering in another corner, watching the exchange.

"All of you, out." Severus ordered, pointing to the door. Hermione collected her list, tucking it away, and followed Harry to the door.

"The list, please," Leon caught her arm before she could exit. "It'll be safer with me. Umbridge can't search my things, after all. Besides, I think she's too scared." The last part was added almost as an afterthought.

"Sadly, he has a point," Severus rolled his eyes.

"I don't know why people think I'm so frightening," Leon protested, tucking the list into his own robes.

"It's the face," Severus confided. "Only a mother could love it."

"What about you?"

"I close my eyes." Severus told his lover smarmily before taking off down the halls, Leon at his heels, demanding to know what Severus had meant by such a remark and if he really, really meant it, and what was so ugly about his face, anyway? Was it his nose? Did he have warts?

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Phyrrus stared after them for a moment before Phyrrus turned away, shaking his head. "I don't want to know," He decided, heading quickly towards the common rooms. "Let's go before they start making out."

"Too late," Ron dead panned, making Phyrrus groan and walk faster.

What had he done to deserve such an insane family? Was it something in a past life, because Phyrrus had no idea what could have given him karma that bad, unless he'd wiped an entire civilization off the face of the planet or something. And even then, wouldn't that mean he was reborn a cockroach or something?

"Phyrrus?" Harry touched his arm, leaning over the couch Phyrrus was sprawled on, face buried in the cushions.

"Why me?" Phyrrus groaned, not moving his head.

River and Rayne chose that moment to enter and jump on their big brother, making him wheeze in surprise for a moment. He groaned again, making Harry chuckle. "Why you what?"

"Why is my family insane?" Phyrrus demanded.

"Well," River announced, perfectly serious, "we saw Uncle Sev and Uncle Leon making out in the hall, so it can't be them, right?"

"Besides," Rayne added, bouncing a little for emphasis and making Phyrrus choke slightly as her weight forced his lungs into strange positions, "it's not like we're that bad. Just think, we could be like that toad."

No one had to ask to know she meant Professor Umbridge. "She could use a good make-out session," River agreed, nodding.

"Or just a good fucking," Rayne added. No one looked up at their cussing. They had to have learned it from Phyrrus, and they did it often enough it no longer drew attention.

"It might do the stick up her ass some good," River mused. That comment did catch the attention of everyone in the common room.

"They're all staring, aren't they," Phyrrus whimpered, putting his arms over his head and hoping to disappear.

"I don't know why," Harry looked around. "Its not like they don't hear worse from those two on a semi-regular basis."

"I am an ostrich and it will go away," Phyrrus muttered to himself, pretending he could sink through the floor. He did not, to his displeasure, develop that amazing power within the next ten seconds it took for Rayne to decide to engage her mouth again.

"Does she have a stick up her ass?" Rayne finally muttered. "You'd think it'd be up her--"

"Girls!" Ginny snapped, and nearly snickered when she realized Phyrrus knew exactly where that sentence was headed and that his ears had turned bright red. "That's enough."

River and Rayne shrugged, looking at each other and bouncing off Phyrrus to go bother Hermione. Phyrrus groaned. "Thanks, Ginny."

"You're bright red," Ginny told him, then went to make sure the twins weren't finishing that particular line of thought, though from the look on Hermione's face, they were definitely in for a tongue lashing for starting it in the first place.

Phyrrus groaned again. He must have taken out more than one civilization and killed off a few sentient races in his past lives to deserve this!
oOooOo