Chapter Five: United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking.

-Mahatma Gandhi

They had no idea what was walking among them, it was hilarious.

Rumors quietly but quickly spread, all talking about a secret meeting for all houses to come. There was a buzz in the air at Hogwarts, it was almost electric.

Draco led the Slytherins, in the middle of the night to the meeting. From first years to the older seventh-year students, they walked in the shadows of the night towards the room of requirement. When they got there, the other houses were there, all the students whispering loudly as they noticed the Slytherins. Up in the front, Harry, Padma, and Susan were waiting for him. Draco made his way towards them.

"What are they doing here?" A Gryffindor, Harry squinted at his house. He thinks it might have been McLaggen or Angelina, he couldn't tell from the number of people in the room. They could feel the tension, rising, ready to explode in this room.

"They are here," Harry explained loudly as the students quietly settled down. "To learn, like the rest of you. Truth be told, all of us are here because Umbridge hasn't been teaching us at all. She doesn't care about us, like houses or people at all. Just kids who need to be told to shut up and do as their told. That's why they are here, along with the rest of you."

Draco spoke up, looking at each of the students. "How many of you have received detention from her? How many of you have gotten the exact brand of punishment that she has inflicted?"

It was slow at first, hesitation was written on some of the students but as each student rose their hand, more followed. Draco counted at least twenty-one, all of them have scars on the back of their hand by the blood quill.

"This will be a type of safe haven for learning what Umbridge and the Ministry don't want to teach us. Susan will be teaching the first, second and half of third years who came. Padma will be teaching seventh, and sixth. Draco and I will be splitting the fourth years and our year mates together. We will be meeting here on Fridays and Sundays after curfew." Harry told them. Susan told them to go to the sign in sheet, that was being held up by Padma. As a line formed, the chattering continued, most if not all of them were excited.

He could see the Gryffindors, mostly from his year were not too happy being taught by Draco which he didn't care. As long as his housemates were safe, it would be fine. But as everyone left, he noticed Potter frown at whatever Granger was telling him. She was pointing at the sign in sheet and something told him, that was not a good sign.

He was right.

Apparently, Granger was the one to do this sign-in sheet, giving it to Padma to have everyone sign it. What she forgot to mention was that the sheet had a nasty jinx, meaning that whoever even dared snitch on what they were doing, something bad was going to happen to said snitch.

"Are you crazy?" The blonde Slytherin hissed at Granger. Weasley was about to either sock him or yell at him but Harry grabbed the redhead. Draco didn't say anything else, pinching the bridge of his nose as if he was getting a headache. Maybe he was, Harry couldn't exactly tell.

They couldn't counteract the thing, considering Granger was too stubborn and prideful to tell them what she used. So, they just left it as it was, hoping that nobody in their right mind gave their secrets away.

The first lesson was a disaster. As Padma, Susan, Harry, and Draco returned for another lesson, they poured through every DADA textbook they could find in the library or in the RoR before the next meeting. Hermione came with another idea, to have coins bewitched to show what time and date for the next meeting. Harry gave them each a bag to give out to the students from their houses.

"What about Dumbledore's Army?" Ginny Weasley said, explaining that the name could cause fright to the Ministry. Draco internally rolled his eyes. "No" He simply said. That alone caused an uproar between the Gryffindors, directing their anger at the blonde Slytherin. Harry looked at him with a really? look.

"I'm sorry to you Dumbledore fanatics but if we name it Dumbledore's Army, it will get us into more trouble Weasley." He sneered. "And I think we don't need any reminder that some people have parents who work in the Ministry. If Umbridge finds out about this, including the name, she'll punish not only us but the parents who work in the Ministry as well."

Some could be heard agreeing with Malfoy. Susan looked at them, an idea sprouting out of her head, hoping this might end this tiny squabble.

"What about HID?" She offered to her fellow founders. They looked at her with confusion, Padma asking "HID?"

She nodded. "Hogwarts Initiative Defense, it's inclusive to the four houses." She looked at them. Draco shrugged. "I think it's a better name than Dumbledore's Army. Brilliant idea Susan."

Harry and Padma agreed as well; all the other students agreed with the name.

She blushed at the compliment Draco threw at her. "Thank you." She smiled at him, to which he returned with just a tiny one. Harry coughed getting their attention.

"Yeah, you two going to keep looking into each other's eyes or should we leave you two alone?" He grinned cheekily at them as Draco glared at him. "Shut it, Potter."

Once the name was settled, they started lessons. Zacharias Smith, a Hufflepuff boy in their year scoffed when he heard that Harry was starting with Expelliarmus. What came next quieted everyone in the room.

"That spell saved my life in the graveyard last year." He said, looking at Smith, daring him to say anything. He didn't. Cho Chang could be heard sniffling at the reminder of what had happened to Cedric.

The lesson commenced with a bang as students directed by the four teenagers started pointing at the dummies crying out, "Expelliarmus!"

Some did well, the seventh and sixth years did a bit better with the fifth years struggling (Neville had to be coaxed by Harry to focus and not give up) while the fourth, third, second and first years struggled to grasp it. One that did surprise them was a little Astoria Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass's little sister, a petite thirteen-year-old girl with dirty blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, the fourth year Slytherin grinned at Draco after managing to have the dummy's wand fly out haphazardly.

"Nice work Astoria." Harry praised, coming out of the shock that everyone had to the fourth year. "Thanks, Harry!" She was cheerful for a Slytherin, her hair swishing as she helped Luna Lovegood with her work.

After a few more hours, it was time call it in. "Great work everyone!" Harry said. "Keep practicing, we'll be meeting sometime in the coming week." With that, the meeting was disbanded.

Harry turned to look at Draco, who was looking around the room. "It's weird. How this is happening, maybe in time all the houses will stop fighting." Draco said out loud.

"Yeah unless it's on the Quidditch pitch," Susan spoke up. She and Padma walked towards them. "Speaking of, you two are facing off against one another soon." She looked at both boys, who shrugged. They both seemed a bit distracted.

Harry eyed the three people. "I got word back from my godfather." That had their attention instantly. "He wants to meet you, along with your aunt. He said that you should be receiving a letter sometime soon from your aunt." Draco nodded at the black messy haired boy.

"We better start this plan soon, whatever it will be. I have a feeling that Umbridge is just about ready to launch her attack on the student body soon." Padma said ominously. They didn't disagree with her, knowing full well that Umbridge had the Minister in her hand, she was about ready to unleash her full power over Hogwarts soon.

NOTES: Whaaaaaat? Another chapter, what a surprise! I know me to guys, I surprised even myself for even finishing this chapter in only two days! Anyways, here is the new chapter, it's pretty short compared to the other ones but I liked where it ended for the next chapter to begin. I don't own the quote btw.

Also, timeline wise in-case anyone was confused, this chapter is Mid October. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, the next one is coming soon!

Leave a comment down below folks!