AN: Sorry this took way too long to update. I finally discovered how to change things from edexcel to word (let's just hope I remember how to do it again for the others.)
Thank you to the people who offered to do it for me, and sorry I didn't get back in touch, 2017 was a crazy year in which some terrible things happened, so terrible many of you wouldn't believe it.
If anyone is interested in becoming a beta for my story/stories let me know please. My email is in the previous authors note, and this time I promise to get back in touch with whoever answers.
Reminder: This story was written in 2012/2013, so I don't agree with the style it is written in anymore, nor do I particularly enjoy reading back on it for editing, so a beta would help. Also as I've aged significantly since, the story would be completely different if I were to write it now. However I have no time to do rewrites, so I just plan to upload the rest of the series and see how it goes. If you want to read some of my newer works, I mainly use archiveofourown, under the same username I have on here. It's been a while since anything was posted to there though. Hopefully in 2018, especially during the summer when I have no exams, I'll be able to write more. I am not sure if this will be possible though as I am trying to currently write my own novel, for fun more than anything.
Please read and review, and to those who have been waiting for this story, I am so sorry about how long it took to update.
Thanks for the consideration.
Chapter Seven Harry's POV
I was sat at breakfast two weeks after my first day back and the Christmas holidays were already approaching. Hermione came and sat down next to me even though I was sat at the Hufflepuff table with Hannah, Susan and Justin. Cedric Diggory was sat not far from me and was talking to his friend about something and turned to look at Hermione before turning away.
"Harry I was thinking."
"What about Hermione?"
"Well about Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Yeah its an awful class." Hannah put in.
"Yeah but we need to do something about it."
"Like what? What can we do?"
"Do it ourselves."
"What do you mean?" Susan asked.
"Find somewhere and get someone to teach us ourselves."
"Who you know how I feel about Lupin." I said.
"Not Lupin, I was thinking you."
"Pardon?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"Why? No one hear will want to hear it I am a crazy liar according to most."
"There will be some who will listen and if they want to learn why can't we teach them?"
"Hermione I'm not a teacher."
"Yeah but as well as Charms you are the highest scorer in the year at Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"I'm not."
"You are. Will you at least consider it Harry?"
I looked around at Hannah, Hermione, Susan and Justin's determined faces. I thought it over quickly and I was still unsure. How could I help anyone? I'm not a teacher yet. Though it would be good practice.
"I'll speak to George."
She turned to look at the others and whispered excitedly.
"That's not a yes Hermione."
"No it is George thought it was a good idea I spoke to him already."
"Really? Thanks, I guess."
"He said as long as you wanted to do it then its alright."
"I'm not sure Hermione. Who would it be just us and maybe Lee, Katie, George, Fred, Angelina and Alicia at a push?"
"Well I thought maybe anyone who wanted to come..."
"But..."
"Please Harry."
"Fine but you are explaining to them that it was your idea and I don't think Umbridge would agree with it."
"I will keep it on the down low. Meet in the Hogs Head on the Hogsmeade weekend at midday."
"No meet in the three broomsticks."
"But it will be so crowded."
"Meaning we won't be over heard."
"Alright then."
"When is the next Hogsmeade weekend?"
"Next week. Do you have any idea where we can practice?"
"I think so I need to speak to Dobby."
"Alright."
I looked at my watch and walked with Hermione to History of Magic with the rest walking behind. Hannah went to sit with Martin Moon and Susan went and sat down with Justin. Hermione and I took seats in the middle and I took the book out and a piece of parchment. I read through the passage we were looking over today and then began doodling.
George and Harry Potter.
I drew doodles around it and snuck it into my bag when Hermione caught a glimpse of it and began cooing again. I shook my head and bit my lip and she patted me on the head and then turned to look at Binns again. I took another piece of parchment out and began doodling again.
"Here you go Hermione."
"Is that me?"
"Yeah."
"It's good."
"Thanks."
We went to Arithmacy and I finished the work quickly as it was easy and I had read over this bit when I wasn't in classes and done all the work for it anyway. I did it quickly and then started working on the work for next lesson and the next lessons until christmas.
The next weekend came quickly and we walked into the three broomsticks and reserved a room. We decided it was for the best and Madam Rosmerta promised not to interupt and we told her it was a study group. People were told to look for Hermione and then follow her.
I bought Hermione and myself a butterbeer and then we walked into the reserved room and it was pretty good. Hermione had cursed a piece of parchment to make sure if someone told about the group we were going to start then it would make the word 'sneak' appear on their head in spots.
"I'll go and see if anyone is coming."
She went out and a few minutes later Katie, Angelina and Alicia arrived and took seats near me. Then walked in some people that I didn't really know. I think their names were Michael Corner, Zacharias Smith, Ernie Macmillan and Anthony Goldstein. Hannah, Susan and Justin entered and took seats near me. Luna and Ginny entered with some of their friends. Cho Chang entered holding Cedric Diggorys hand and with some of his and her Lavender, Laura and Parvati and Padma too. Then Terry Boot and Colin and Dennis Creevey. Neville and Dean came too. Finally George entered with Lee and Fred. Everyone had a butterbeer as they were told that they had to buy something to stay here.
"Er...hi." Hermione said.
Everyone turned to look at her. Fred, Lee and George took their seats. They each had a massive bag of Zonkos products and I had a feeling Umbridge would be getting pranked pretty soon or Snape.
"Well...erm...you know why we're here. I had the idea that Harry here could run a Defence Against the Dark Arts group. I mean properly study it what Umbridge is teaching isn't defence."
"Hear hear!" Anthony Goldstein called.
"And by that I mean learning how to protect ourselves as well."
"Yeah but I bet you want to pass your defence owl as well." Michael Corner said.
"Of course but its more important than that. Vol-Vol-Voldemort has returned." She said.
The reaction of the people in the room was immediate. Some yelped or shuddered or slopped butterbeer down themselves in fright at the name. Even Muggleborns which I never understood why were they so scared of it when they had never grown up knowing it.
"Well...that's the plan anyway."
"Wheres the proof you know who's back?" Zacharias Smith asked.
"Well Dumbledore believes it-"
"You mean Dumbledore believes him."
"Who are you?" George asked.
"Zacharias Smith. I think we've got the right to know exactly makes him say you know who is back."
"Look..."
"It's fine Hermione. What makes me say Voldemort is back? I saw him return to his body and kill around ten police men."
"What are police men?" He asked.
"Muggle Aurors."
"All Dumbledore said was they were killed and you nearly were."
"If you want to hear how it looks to see people killed then you can leave. I don't want to talk about it."
No one left their seats not even Smith. They all just continued to stare at me expectedly and I turned to face Hermione slightly.
"So...so...like I was saying...if you want to learn some defence then we will..."
"Is it true you can produce a corporal patronus?" Someone asked.
"What's your name?"
"Lisa Turpin."
"Yes he can I've seen it." George said.
"A corporal patronus?"
"Yeah."
"What's the form?"
"A fox."
"Blimey Harry I didn't know you could do that." Lee said impressed.
"Harry didn't want it spread around." Fred said.
"He didn't want the attention." George carried on.
"True." I muttered quietly.
"And did you kill a basilisk with the sword in Dumbledore's office? One of the portraits said you did when I was in there last year." Terry Boot asked.
"Er- yeah I did."
"Wicked." Neville said whistling.
"And in our first year he rescued the philosophers stone." Justin said.
"Also that's not to mention what he did last year. Dragons, merpeople, acromantula and all that." George said.
"Look I don't want to try and sound modest or anything but I had a lot of help with that stuff."
"Not the dragon that was a cool bit of flying." Michael Corner said at once.
"Yeah, well-."
"No one helped you kill the basilisk." Lavender said.
"Well no but..."
"Are you trying to say you didn't do any of the stuff?"
"That's not what he said." George snapped.
"Would you like us to clean out your ears for you?" Fred asked pulling out a long lethal looking metal instrument.
"Or any part of your body we're not fussy." Lee said.
"Yes well... moving on are we all agreed to take lessons from Harry?" Hermione asked hurriedly.
There was a noise of agreement or a yes from everyone and she looked rather pleased. Zacharias Smith had his arms folded and was looking at the metal instrument with worry.
"Right I think we should meet once a week..."
"Wait this can't clash with quidditch." Angelina said staring at me.
"Nor our practice." Cho Chang said.
"Nor ours." Cedric added.
"I am sure we can find a time that fits everyone." Hermione said.
"Wait."
Everyone turned to look at me.
"If we cast a protean charm on something and I can arrange the dates to move depending on practices then we are less likely to be caught."
There was more nods and noises of agreement.
"Great!" Hermione said.
"The protean charm is sixth year." Terry Boot said.
"I've done it before trust me." I said.
"Really?" Some asked.
"Yeah right Hermione."
"True." She said.
"This is even more important than OWL's." Ernie Macmillan said.
"Fudge and Umbridge think we are creating an army against them."
"Well that makes sense Cornelius Fudge has his own army." Luna said.
"What?"
"Yes he has an army of Heliopaths." She said solemnly.
"No he hasn't." Hermione snapped.
"Yes he has."
"What are Heliopaths." Neville asked.
"They're spirits of fire."
"They don't exist." Hermione said.
I turned to face Hermione glaring slightly and she sighed.
"Sorry Luna."
"You're welcome." She said sadly.
I smiled at Luna and she smiled back.
"Where are we going to meet?" Katie asked.
"There's a blank wall on the seventh floor opposite a tapestry. Its the room of requirement. We can use that. Is next Wednesday at seven okay for everyone and I can hand out the things then." I said.
Fines were muttered around.
"I think everyone should write their name down." Hermione said.
Fred, Alicia, Angelina, George, Lee, Katie, Susan, Luna, Ginny, Hannah, Justin, Hermione and I wrote our names down without hesitation. Others were hesitating.
"I'm sure Ernie will tell me when it is." Zacharias Smith said yet Ernie looked unwilling as well.
"I well we are prefects." He said.
"I won't leave the list lying around." Hermione snapped looking quite insulted.
"No of course not." He said signing.
"Well times ticking on. George, Lee and I have got some items of sensitive nature to purchase, we'll be seeing you later." Fred said.
George came over and kissed me on the lips for a second before smiling and following Fred. Lee did the same to Katie and Fred winked at Hermione making her blush. In twos or threes people left until it was just Hermione and me left.
"That went well." Hermione commented.
"I am not keen on the Smith guy."
"Nor am I. He over heard me talking to Ernie and insisted on coming. I mean Michael Corner wouldn't have come if he was dating Ginny."
"Hermione why did you tell me that!? If George works out shes dating someone I won't be able to keep it a secret from him."
"Ooops."
"Argh!"
"They met at the Yule Ball and got together at the end of the year." Hermione carried on.
"Which one was Michael Corner again?"
"The dark haired one."
"Merlin hope that Fred and George don't find out."
We went into Scrivenshafts as Hermione needed a new quill. She bought a long black and gold quill and payed fifteen sickles for it. We then left the shop and wandered into Honeydukes before heading back up to the school.
We walked into the castle and Hermione and I went into her dorms. I sat casting spells on all Hermiones hair not that she noticed as she was writing something down. She went and looked in the mirror a minute later, after feeling a tingle run down her scalp.
"Harry what did you do?" She asked astonished.
"You see I found this spell to make hair permanently straight and I thought I'd test it but don't worry I have the way to turn it back." I said raising my wand.
"No don't turn it back!" She cried.
"You like it?"
"Yes."
"Great."
"But the make up?"
"I was bored." I said pouting.
"Fine."
"Yey!"
"Also how do you know make up charms?"
"I do them on myself sometimes."
"Cool."
"Protean charm?"
"Protean charm."
"What on?"
"Er..."
"Er..."
"Fake galleons?"
"That could work." She agreed.
"Only problem is if they accidentally spend it."
"I don't think they will."
"Good."
"It will burn hot and your coin will be the one that changes." Hermione said.
"Alright."
"Nothing suspicious about carrying a galleon."
"Also even Fudge for brains wouldn't let her take money from people."
"Fudge for brains?"
"I think it suits him."
"You have spent too much time with Lee, Fred and George."
"No."
"Yes."
" No."
" Yes."
" No."
" Yes."
I opened my mouth.
"If you say no Merlin, help you Harry."
"Alright."
"Good."
"No."
She took her wand out and cast a spell on me and I looked down and didn't see anything different. I looked in the mirror and saw I had a green afro and orange skin.
"Hermione you made me look like a tangerine."
"It suits you."
"Get it off."
"No."
"GET IT OFF GET IT OFF." I cried running around in circles.
"Alright alright."
She changed me back.
"Thank you."
"Let's start on the charm."
"Alright."
That night I slipped into the dorms and crawled into bed with George and sighed. I was tired. It had been a long day and Hermione and I had spent the day since getting back from Hogsmeade making fake gold galleons that instead of having a serial number had the date and time of the next meeting instead. If our pockets were turned out then carrying a galleon wasn't at all suspicious.
"'Ry?"
"Yeah Georgie?"
"Stop thinking so much and go to sleep."
"Alright."
"Good."
He placed a kiss to my nose sleepily and then pulled me down into his arms and held me tight. I smiled and snuggled closer into his embrace. He smiled before I fell asleep.