The next day, during breakfast, Harry was silent. Hermione had noticed because she kept on glancing at him, obviously dying to ask him something.
"Spit it out Hermione." Harry groaned after seeing her giving him that look again. Hermione glanced uncertainly at Ron who began talking.
"We just want to know what's been happening with you last night. I know you came in late but we would like to know what happened with Snape."
Harry felt his face grow red. He had thought about sharing his experience at the Dursleys with his friends but had thought better of it before, using the excuse that he was not ready to share yet. But yesterday, he had shared. And it had felt good to do so. He sighed and wrote a note on a piece of parchment. "We'll talk tonight I'll tell you everything". Ron and Hermione looked at the note, Hermione burnt it and they both nodded. Harry was thinking about were to meet. The common room was way too crowded for such a talk and Umbridge had spies everywhere. The bell rang to announce the beginning of class and Harry was brought out of his reverie by the sound of students walking to their classrooms.
After lunch, Harry decided to walk around alone. He needed time to think. He was walking around in the seventh floor when he suddenly felt something tugging at his sleeve.
"Dobby!" Harry exclaimed. The elf was obviously very happy to see him because his ears where flopping rapidly like the wings of a bat.
"Harry Potter sir !" Dobby started, almost jumping around in excitement. "Dobby is very happy to see you sir. You is having Dobby worried during the summer."
Harry felt an urge to hug the small creature.
"Dobby, how can I thank you. You saved my life." He said. Then he had an idea. He began searching through his bag and found what he was looking for, it was his first year jumper Mrs Weasley had knitted for him. He always kept it inside his bag to conceal his invisibility cloak. It would be a bit long for Dobby, but Harry knew Dobby would make it fit. He handed it to Dobby. The eyes of the elf widen in surprise and he began sobbing as he put the jumper on. Dobby hugged Harry tightly and wiped his eyes with on of the tea cozy he had on his head.
"Harry Potter is a noble man sir. Can Dobby do anything for you sir ?" Dobby asked expectantly. Harry was ready to tell him he did not have to do anything, but he thought better.
"Actually Dobby. I need to find somewhere I can talk with Ron and Hermione that's completely hidden from view. I don't want anyone to know. Especially Umbridge. Do you have any idea ?"
Dobby took Harry sleeve and began dragging him towards a tapestry.
"The come and go room sir. Among wizards it is the Room of Requierment. You can ask it to become what you like sir. You just have to think very hard about what you want and the room provides. You have to walk three time thinking what you want sir." Dobby looked very pleased with himsef. Harry looked at the tapestry. It represented apparently someone named Barnabas the Barmy dancing with trolls.
Harry began pacing in front of the blank wall facing the tapestry. "I need a place to talk very privetly" he did this three times. The blank wall began to form a door with a golden handle. Harry opened the door and found a room built like the Gryffondor Common Room but much quieter. This will do perfectly Harry thought. He got out of the room and the door dissolved. He quickly thanked Dobby and went to join the other for the afternoon class of Defense Against the Dark Arts.
They had been practicing a large panel of defensive spells. None of them were very advanced, but it was enough to defend yourself. It would not do against Voldemort's Death Eaters however. Osborn had been trying to teach them enough to allow each student to not be killed right away if the castle was attacked. When Harry arrived in the class everybody was already seated, Osborn spotted him.
"Ah! Potter. Since you are last to arrive, come to join me on the platform. Wand only, leave your bag."
Harry dropped his bag on the floor near Ron who gave him an encouraging smile. Not that Harry needed it, he trusted Osborn, if she wanted to curse him it would only be for sports. He got up to the platform, wand firmly in his hand, ready to face Osborn. She simply nodded.
"Last term was spent reviewing spells you already knew. I am glad to say you all made great progress. I would like to spend time on more advance spells. Mr Potter, I understand you are able to produce a Patronus Charm, would you demonstrate ?"
Harry paused for a moment. He had been relieving his worst memories during Snape's lesson yesterday, he needed to focus on one good memory. He began to think about Sirius' face during Christmas. Mrs Weasley's cooking.
"Expecto Patronum" The silver stag shot out of Harry's wand. It began galloping around the classroom and vanished. The class broke into applause, making Harry blush. Osborn gestured the class to be silent.
"Thank you Mr Potter. Patronuses are useful as a defense against Dementors. You might think that you would never encounter a Dementor in your life. This is wrong. As you are all aware, the Ministry is trying very hard to dismiss any evidence that Voldemort's back. He is. And he will raise an army. Dementors will join him because it is in their nature. You will have to learn the charm to defend yourself. A Patronus can take many forms, mainly animals. Mr Potter's is a stag. It will be a different animal for each of you. For exemple."
Osborn took out her wand and casted her Patronus charm. A badger shot out and began running on the tables before vanishing when Hermione tried to touch it.
"I don't expect any of you to be able to produce a full Patronus at the end of this class. It is a spell difficult to master. Now let's get to work. Potter, I want you to take the right side of the class and to explain to your classmates how to do it."
The class exploded in noise. Harry did as he was told, he began explaining to Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean, the complicated spell he had learnt with Lupin.
Towards the end of the class, the only person having successfully produced anything was Neville. He had produced a small mist and had appeared very surprised of himself. When Harry began to leave the class, Osborn called him back.
"Potter, I'm afraid our little scheme is over. I can't keep giving you detentions for us to see each other. I would like to meet you every Tuesday at the usual hour, in my office. Wear your cloak. If you think Umbridge suspects something, do not come. Am I clear ?"
"Yes Professor."
"Very well, you may leave."
Harry left the classroom to join Ron and Hermione. He grabbed their arms and led them to the Room of Requirement.
"I've never heard of it. It's nowhere in Hogwarts a History." Hermione said, gawping at the inside of the room.
"It's Brilliant Harry. Remind me to give Dobby something to say thank you." Ron had said, jumping on one of the sofas.
After chatting excitedly about Osborn's last lesson, Harry began telling them what had happened during Snape's Occlumency lesson. He told them all about the Dursleys, Osborn's encounter with Umbridge and Snape's lack of insult towards him.
Ron and Hermione were appalled at the way the Dursleys had treated Harry all theses years.
"I swear. If I ever see their face again, I'll curse them into oblivion" Ron said, pacing. Hermione was silent for a moment and then gasped.
"Oh Harry! Where are you going to go during the summer ? You can't stay here!" She said, a panic look across her face.
"You'll come with me mate! Mom already adopted you. It won't be a problem." Ron assured him quickly.
"I don't know yet. I'll probably discuss it with Osborn tomorrow." Harry thought for a moment. He wanted to share what he had heard when he had eavesdropped after the meeting with Snape and Osborn.
"I have something else to tell you" Harry went on to recount what he had heard Osborn tell Snape.
When he was finished, Hermione was in deep thought.
"Who's Aden ?" Ron asked, "Who knew Snape could actually be decent" he joked.
"I don't know. Osborn did not seem to want to talk about it much." Harry turned to Hermione. "What do you think ?"
She raised her head to meet Harry's eyes.
"I think you need to be careful Harry." She said quietly.
This surprised Harry, if anything, the fact that Osborn cared for him was good, comforting even. He did not think he had to be careful around her. He trusted her.
"Why ? It's good that someone is starting to think about him as a regular guy." Ron interjected.
"I know. But think about it. Osborn was obviously attached to this Aden too, and we don't know what happened to him but I don't think it ended well. Can't you ask her about it ?" Hermione replied.
"I don't know, she told Snape to get lost, and I was not even supposed to hear this. I don't want her to be mad at me." Harry said. Of course he wanted to know what had happened to Aden, but he did not want to lose his sole alley.
They kept on talking for a while. Throwing the wildest of theories around about Osborn. At one point, Ron speculated that Osborn was a time traveler. They all got back to Gryffondor Tower at a reasonable time and Harry started working on his Potion's essay. Snape had left him alone most of the class and Harry had succeeded in making an Acceptable potion for once. This alone gave him confidence to write his essay. As he was working he heard the noise in the common room becoming more and more present as people started gathering around the notice board. Umbridge had passed many Educational Decrees since her appointment as High Inquisitor. Some forbade the students from forming groups, standing too close to each other, banning the Weasley products and so on. Harry got up to see what all the fuss was about and asked Seamus.
"The teachers have to submit to an inspection of their classes. Umbridge is trying to sack those too close to Dumbledore" He told Harry, Ron and Hermione. They shared a knowing look. This was about Osborn's burst Sunday night. Umbridge wanted her out.
"What are we going to do ?" Ron said. "If Osborn's sacked, we can't practice our defense, and when You-Know-Who attacks, we won't be prepared." He had a panicked expression on his face. Hermione put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Ron. She's only going to inspect Osborn. Although, I think that she won't like Harry helping us with the Patronus Charm. You will have to back out Harry." She said, pensively.
The week would be very interesting. Harry was particularly fond of the idea of Umbridge inspecting Snape or McGonagall. He went up to bed that night happy to have told Ron and Hermione and looking forward to Umbridge's inspections.
A/N: A small chapter today. I wanted to explore the aftermath of Harry's confession to Osborn. Next one will be fun. As always Read and Review