"I still think we need to consult with someone about all this. Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Lupin, even Siri...Snuffles... could probably offer us valuable advice!"

"Why yes, Miss Granger, I certainly believe that you are the reincarnation of Rowena Ravenclaw. Now, why don't we head on over to the Hospital Wing? Or better yet, let's visit a ward at St. Mungo's for a little while. Just a routine check-up of course!"

A blushing Hermione had to admit that Ron could do a fairly accurate McGonagall impression when the situation demanded. Even when it didn't, for that matter. "Ok, fine, that does sounds little weird, but what about the business with the horcruxes? Shouldn't we let someone know what we've discovered? Also, mind your frog, Harry, it appears to be making a break for it."

"Hermione, given the whole business with the diary second year, it's fair to assume that Dumbledore already knows," Harry reminded his friend as he casually pointed his wand at the bullfrog currently hopping toward the other side of the table and its perceived freedom. With a quick "Accio" from Harry, the bullfrog flew back to its initial position in front of Harry, its attempt foiled. While normally the trio wouldn't dare have such a discussion in public, the combination of pouring rain outside, bullfrogs and ravens cawing and croaking while students tried to silence them, and a quick, inconspicuous privacy charm Hermione had learned from Rowena was enough to assure that no one would overhear. "If he'd directly asked me what happened when he visited me in the hospital wing before Pomfrey released me, I might have told him, but since he just wanted to make sure nothing seemed wrong, I let it be. As Ron pointed out, I don't want him thinking I'm a complete nutter."

"Besides," Ron continued, as Harry was now occupied with an uncooperative bullfrog, "at this point there's still a whole lot that we don't know. Better to wait and figure out what needs to be done and who we can trust, using the element of surprise while we can, than to blindly rush in and get ourselves into a bigger mess than we know what to do with."

"Silencio!" Hermione muttered, jabbing her wand out at the bullfrog in front of her and rendering it speechless as Professor Flitwick wandered near their area of the classroom, watching students practicing the charm and correcting any mistakes if necessary. All three students had found that their spells were significantly more powerful, and it had taken a bit of effort to make sure they didn't accidentally overpower anything without meaning to. "Who are you and what have you done with Ron Weasley?"

"Very funny," Ron answered, rolling his eyes. "It's simple tactics, Hermione. If you'll remember from a certain high-stakes chess match we all played, I've always been good at tactics and strategy." As if to prove that he was indeed Ron Weasley, said distracted wizard proceeded to jab his wand so harshly while attempting the Silencing Charm that he accidentally poked his bullfrog in the eye, causing Ron to emit a sigh and Hermione to suppress a giggle. "Anyway, Godric's instincts are even better than mine as he actually spent time as a military commander. And right now, the two of us are in agreement that we need to understand our situation and surroundings a whole lot more before we start bringing more people in on this."
Hermione sighed. "While I don't like it, I can't deny that that makes a lot of sense. While we certainly can't do everything on our own, we should probably first get an idea of what needs to be done. Wouldn't you say, Harry?" Both Ron and Hermione turned to look at their friend, who hadn't seemed to be participating much in the conversation lately.

Harry had tried to pay attention. He really, really had. But then Salazar started helping him brainstorm ways to take Umbridge and Malfoy down a peg or too and he just couldn't resist.

I'm not saying it's impossible. I was there when Barty Crouch Jr did something similar while pretending to be Moody. But just because he could do it doesn't mean I could, even if it's a great idea!

"Well, power-wise there shouldn't be much of an issue. We would need to practice the spell for a while to make sure you can control it adequately, but I can guide you through it. Besides that, though, it's quite straightforward. You put the kitten in the classroom long before students would arrive so she'll be alone with it and then she'll very likely take it to her quarters, which will prevent his escape! They'll realize he's missing, but she'll never make the connection and no one else would go in her quarters!"

"Harry?"

But still, forced human transfiguration? Couldn't he fight it while I'm doing the spell?

"Stun him. And you're forgetting the best part: after it's all over, we make buttons that say 'Malfoy's a Pussy' on them!"

"Harry!"

"What?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly. First of all, class just finished, so unless you'd like to sit here for the rest of the day…"

Blinking, Harry realized that she was right. Everyone else was putting books and quills in their bags and leaving the Charms classroom.

"And second, oh wait, hold on, Angelina looks like she's got something to tell us-"

"I've got permission!" the witch exclaimed excitedly to the trio, pushing through groups of students in the hallway to the Gryffindor trio exiting the classroom. Noticing their blank stares, she elaborated. "Permission to re-form the Gryffindor Quidditch team! I didn't think Umbridge would allow it, but I think McGonagall fought tooth and nail for her lions! Anyway, be at the pitch by seven tonight. We're only a few weeks before our first match, after all!"

As Angelina left to likely inform other members of the team, Ron glanced out the window, glumly watching the downpour still occuring outside the warm, dry castle. "Well, hopefully it clears up a bit before then."

"What's on your mind, Hermione?" Harry asked, noticing Hermione appeared somewhat distracted, blankly staring at the window.

"Just thinking about how much has happened in the past day…" she replied, still looking lost in thought.

"Fair enough," Harry agreed. "Yesterday one of the biggest things on our minds was teaching people Defense Against the Dark Arts. Now we've got a lot bigger things…both on and in our minds."

"Was that an attempt at a fat joke?"

Really, Salazar? What do you think?

"I think that you possess far too many characteristics valued in my house for me to discount the possibility, especially after you so nonchalantly dismissed my question without actually answering."

Paranoid old man.

"Again, you never said I was an incorrect one."

"Speaking of that," Ron noted, interrupting further banter between Harry and Salazar, "are we still thinking of following through with that whole thing? I know we'll be a lot busier what with all the latest craziness, but we've still got a lot of people who want and need to learn defense from someone who will actually teach them."

"Well," Hermione answered, "I think you're right about its importance. Regardless of all the new information we've been handed recently, we're still stuck with an utterly horrendous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who isn't preparing us for O.W.L.'s at all."

"And this way, if we ever need help, we're ensuring that we'll have plenty of friends well-equipped to defend themselves, each other, and to support us." Harry agreed. "That said, I'm not sure if the Chamber is really a good spot anymore. It would take a good amount of work to get supplies and students in there, and the...um...the mess inside would take us a quite a while to clean up, even if we get outside help. That would all delay when we could start meeting."

"Hold on!" Hermione interrupted excitedly, almost jumping in the air much to the amusement of Harry and Ron. "Rowena just told me about another place that might work. It's on the seventh floor across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. The Room of Requirement! Apparently it molds itself into whatever type of room the user needs, including materials and furniture!"

"One of our finest works. The Room of Requirement would indeed be an ideal place to hold your defense meetings, leaving the Chamber free for our exclusive use with more sensitive information, storage, and meetings as an added bonus," Salazar confirmed.

Harry and Ron both voiced their approval. Now they wouldn't have to do any cleaning either! At least not for a little while.

"Well, it's settled then!" Hermione decided as they neared the Gryffindor Common Room. "You two have your Quidditch practice tonight, and I wouldn't mind doing a bit of study with Rowena's help in preparation, so let's spread the word that the first meeting will be held there tomorrow at eight o'clock!"

As they went up the stairs to their dormitory, Harry heard Ron mutter through clenched teeth, "Again, Godric, for the love of Merlin, no, I don't want to hear about all the witches you showed that room to!"

Unfortunately, the weather had not significantly improved by seven o'clock that evening. Ron, in fact, was certain it had gotten even worse. Had Godric and Slytherin not provided instructions for a warming charm and a particularly useful water-repelling charm that could both be applied to their robes, the two friends would surely have been equally soaked and miserable by the time they reached the Quidditch Pitch. Even so, trudging through stretches of mud and long, wet grass amidst relentless rain and dark, grey skies was enough to dispel any excitement or optimism about running flying drills in weather like this. The constant rain and occasional clap of thunder made any conversation nearly impossible, so instead the two friends trudged silently toward the pitch.

Walking into the changing rooms was thus a great relief to all, despite the fact that such shelter from the elements was only temporary. As Harry slipped on his arm guards and gloves, he couldn't help but smirk as he heard Fred and George considering their own Skiving Snackboxes as a means to evade what would surely be a miserable and completely unproductive practice.

"Those two would be an obvious choice to bring in and help our cause."

Didn't we just agree a few hours ago that we were going to keep all this to ourselves for now?

"Of course, and we are. But that's not the permanent stance, just the temporary one until you're more comfortable with what's going on. It's your allies that make or break your position in a war. My fellow Founders and I can train you three to be incredibly powerful and skilled, even when compared to adult wizards and witches. That's all for naught, though, if it's you three against an army of Death Eaters."

….You really think it will come to war? Harry grimly fastened his knee and shin guards. Of course, he'd been wondering where things would lead ever since the graveyard in fourth year. Somehow he'd always convinced himself that war couldn't be inevitable. It wouldn't come to that. Unfortunately, it seemed his fears hadn't been ill-founded.

"Had Riddle not yet returned and we had more years and resources, it's not unreasonable to think we could have altered the political climate and his potential resources to the extent that he'd be left with a very limited power base. Instead, we have a society that has remained almost unchanged since his apparent defeat that Halloween night. Old followers are rushing to his side in either fear or disillusioned loyalty, and I'm sure he began gathering resources shortly after his return last year. In short, he's gotten big enough to make significant trouble."

Harry nodded, pulling his boots on and donning his Quidditch robes. He'd always known. Somewhere deep inside he'd always known that it would come to this. The only difference was that now he couldn't ignore it anymore.

"Gather round, people!" Angelina's voice echoed from near the Captain's office, shaking Harry out of his own (and Salazar's) thoughts. Pushing himself up off the bench he'd been sitting on, Harry walked out of his changing room to stand with the rest of the team.

Angelina was standing poised and proud on the bench outside the Captain's office, broom in one hand and a determined expression on her face. No one actually used that bench for sitting, at least not in recent memory. For as long as any student could remember, the bench outside the Captain's office was a revered monument, reserved for riveting speeches from slightly-insane captains to their dejected, lazy teams in need of a wake-up call. It wasn't simply to ensure that the captains could be seen, though in Angelina's case it was certainly helpful to stand above the three Weasleys who normally towered above her. A modified Sonorous charm infused into the bench, likely implemented by a long-gone Captain tired of a sore throat after every practice and before game, ensured that Angelina's words would be forcibly heard by all, whether they wanted to or not. While pranking the revered artifact against the Captain was unthinkable even to the likes of Fred and George, it was said that they had added to the already extensive list of wards and jinxes that supposedly punished any non-Captain attempting to use the bench. While no one was really sure they believed that (Fred and George could easily have spread those rumors themselves), testing those claims was a task no one wished to undergo.

Ron quickly noticed that Harry seemed more grim than when they had arrived, but a look from Harry told him that now was not the time or place.

"Listen up, people, I know we're not really facing ideal weather conditions," Angelina began, choosing to ignore the groans, eye rolls, and muttered comments, "but that doesn't mean now is the time to slack off. Due to some interference from certain...people...we've been set back a bit, and Slytherin's got a head start on us since they got permission to re-form earlier than us. So now's not the time to be lazy. Unless you've all been keeping in shape and working out while we got the team re-formed, which I highly, highly doubt, we've got three weeks to get back into our rhythm before our first and most important game of the season! So let's get out there and learn how to deal with this weather now, because there's a very good chance it'll be like this for a while, maybe even on game day." Turning to look at Harry, Angelina looked as if she'd had a sudden inspiration. "Harry, didn't you do something to your glasses to stop them from fogging when we played in that storm last year? For that matter, you and Ron showed up barely wet or shivering while the rest of us looked like we'd been taking a swim in the Arctic. Anything you've got could really help us out!"

As Harry and Ron taught the rest of the team the charms Godric and Salazar had just recently given them, Ron couldn't help but enjoy being on the opposite side of things for once. Usually he was the one out of the loop and being taught an incredibly useful charm. Being the one in the know and doing the teaching felt good.

Soon the unfortunate Gryffindors were zooming back and forth on the Quidditch pitch. While the charms helped prevent them from becoming instantly chilled and soaked, it was dark and rainy enough that no one could really see what was going on with everyone else, and Harry swore he could still feel the cold and the rain seeping into him. Salazar's comments on Quidditch were also less than helpful.

"What fool decided that making a broom fly should be the best means of transportation? Sure, it's inconspicuous when not in use, but how can you stand to sit on that wooden pole while flying through the air? How can you stand after sitting on that wooden pole while flying through the air? Cushioning Charms and padding only help so much!"

"Unless some famous or important figure was named Quaffle, and my sincerest condolences to that poor soul if that's the case, this game was invented by complete nutters!"

"So are you trying to get hit by those death-balls you call Bludgers, or is the goal to simply see how close you can get without having your brains bashed out?"

"I understand that your purebloods of today revere this so-called sport as a time-honored tradition and supplement to culture, but to me it's just another stupid fad created by disillusioned youths that are trying to drive their elders insane!"

When Angelina finally admitted defeat and called it quits an hour later, Harry was pretty sure that the voice in his head actually was driving him crazy. Drying himself off in the changing room and putting on clothes that weren't splattered with mud was a relief, and listening to Fred and George complaining about ruptured boils was just the sort of ridiculousness needed to bring his mind away from the completely different ridiculousness of his everyday life. Making sure that the charms to help keep his robes warm and dry were still in effect, Harry left the changing room and joined Ron to make the long, wet, muddy trek back to the castle.

"Godric just loved Quidditch!" Ron whispered joyfully once he and Harry made it inside, free of the overwhelming downpour of rain to impede conversation. Luckily, the castle seemed empty as most students were smart enough to be in their Common Rooms curled up in blankets by the fire.

"Figures," Harry muttered as Salazar's voice assured him that it wasn't his fault that the game didn't make one bloody ounce of sense.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing," Harry sighed, resigned to having many more conversations with Salazar on the subject. "Just a bit caught up in everything lately. Salazar basically told me he thinks we're destined for war."

"Oh...yeah," Ron's expression darkened. "Godric and I were talking about that too earlier today. Kind of scary when you think about it. Hell, really scary if you ask me. But it's felt like we've been going down that route for a while now. I felt it even before we met with the Founders."

Harry nodded, nothing more to say.

Noticing this, Ron added, "Harry, we've been facing this since first year. He's not going to let you go for all the times you've stopped him, and me and Hermione aren't going to let you go just because some bloody psychopath's got it on for you. We're taking this on together. Now that we've got the Founders on our side, and once we start teaching Defense and bringing more people to our side, we're not going down easy. You're not in this alone, Harry. Never."

Looking at the conviction in his friend's eyes, seeing that he meant every word, Harry couldn't hold back a smile. "Thanks, Ron. It's just...sometimes I still feel like that scared little kid in the cupboard, you know?"

"Oi, Potter, Weasley! Looking for Granger? I heard she was-"

"Shut it, Malfoy, I'm not in the mood."

Draco opened his mouth to finish what would have been an equally clever and provoking quip against the muggleborn witch, but something stopped him. He'd seen the two entering the castle and thought he'd have some easy fun, but something about Potter seemed different tonight. This wasn't the usual Potter trying to throw insults or sloppy threats back at him. Something had darkened Harry Potter's mood beyond simple taunting, and while Draco didn't see any reason to fear an angry Harry Potter (especially with Crabbe and Goyle at his side while Potter only had the Weasel), there also wasn't much point in needling him when it could bring up a lot more serious conflict than Potter's usual, relatively harmless and altogether entertaining responses.

"Well, perhaps you'll be in a more receptive mood after we've demolished you on the Quidditch Pitch. Better run off and get some more practice in, even though it won't be enough." With a parting, scornful smirk from Malfoy, the three Slytherins were gone.

"C'mon, Harry, let's go on back to the Common Room." Ron took Harry's shoulders and gently pulled him in the general direction of the Fat Lady's portrait. Letting himself be pulled away by Ron, Harry couldn't help but agree with Salazar that it was high time Slytherin House realized how low it had sunk. Even if it didn't have a major effect on the behavior of the house as a whole, certain blonde pureblood princes were in dire need of some humbling.

"Filch, Mrs. Norris, and Umbridge are all far out of the way," Harry announced, Marauder's Map in hand, as he, Hermione, and Ron approached the seventh floor at around half past seven the following night. "No one else is nearby either. Coast is clear."

Letting the Founders guide them to the exact spot, the Gryffindor trio came to a blank stretch of wall that looked as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Together, they walked past the empty wall three times, each thinking about their need for a room that would be perfect for teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Turning in sync in such a way that any outside observer would probably have found amusing, Harry, Hermione, and Ron opened their eyes and moved to look at the empty wall. However, where there had once been a bare stretch was now a large, impressive-looking set of wooden doors. A push from Ron saw the doors silently glide open with a smoothness that Harry was certain could only be achieved through magic. Peering inside, the three were met with a space that certainly exceeded all expectations.

The room was massive, easily bigger than either the Charms classroom or the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, possibly as big as the two combined. Most of the space was nothing but smooth wood paneling, and Hermione couldn't help but compare it to a dance studio she had gone to occasionally when she had been younger and going through a ballet phase. The flickering torches on the walls created dancing shadows on the floor that made it seem much more mysterious, as if they were looking upon some secret sanctuary rather than a simple empty room. The entire right-hand side of the room was lined with bookshelves, which Harry was sure would be extremely useful for teaching unorthodox spells and jinxes as well as counters to more obscure Dark curses. Hermione was certainly excited upon seeing the books.

"What was that sound? Did you hear that, Ron?" Harry asked, glancing at a blushing Hermione who was now covering her mouth with her hands. "I heard a funny squeaky sound!"

"Huh?"

"Nevermind, Ron," Harry sighed. "You'll get it this Christmas. I'll make sure of it."

"Oh." In truth, Ron was distracted too, though not by the books. Next to the bookshelves were a large number of body-sized silk cushions, and besides the amazing naps Ron imagined one could take on one of those great big bags of happiness, they would also be very useful when practicing Stunning Charms and really any other time students expected to be knocked off their feet. Godric had suggested that a bit of physical combat, while now frowned upon by pureblood society, had been extremely helpful for him in battle. If opponents weren't expecting that a wizard or witch could still do damage without a wand, it could mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield.

If one side of the room appeared to be geared toward study, the other side was definitely equipped for practice. Various life-sized dummies that Harry was sure could be charmed to move around and possibly even shoot spells were lined up in the corner, and there were a lot of different objects neatly arranged that would be useful to practice accuracy on.

Harry and Ron were very eager to start fussing with the practice dummies and Hermione had just plopped onto one of the cushions with the first book she could get her hands on when they heard a loud creak. Startled, they all turned to see Neville, Ginny, Parvati, Dean, and Lavender in the now-open doorway, who were now looking around the room with a mixture of surprise and awe. Realizing that it was now eight o'clock, Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved toward the door and began greeting the new arrivals. Evidently the door wasn't silent when more people were entering, Harry noted, or perhaps, as part of the security against unwanted intrusion, it could only be heard from the inside. After all, that would prevent bystanders near the hallway from realizing what was going on while also giving everyone inside a heads-up when newcomers arrived.

"Great Merlin! This room is amazing. I never knew a room like this existed in Hogwarts!" Dean exclaimed, taking in the room's magnificence.

"It's called the Room of Requirement," Harry announced. "It's been specifically created by Hogwarts itself to meet our needs of teaching defense." Salazar had suggested the phrasing because, while exactly true, it gave the implication that Harry, Hermione, and Ron had special authority in Hogwarts (which, in a way, since they were being aided directly by the Founders, they kind of did) while neglecting to mention that anyone could use this room for any purpose, helping prevent its misuse.

"Blimey, Harry, it looks like your plan worked!" Neville exclaimed, knowing that Harry, Hermione, and Ron had been painstakingly brainstorming where to hold secret defense lessons for quite some time. After all, he shared a room with Harry and Ron, and the two had been busy or gone so often lately, likely exploring potential locations.

"No, Neville," Harry answered, shaking his head and smiling. Maybe it was the connection fostered by Helga, but as his eyes swept across the room to see his two best friends, he could almost imagine what they were mentally discussing with their fellow Founders. Ron, excitedly welcoming students but also frequently glancing back at the dummies, was no doubt listening to Godric's battle stories and figuring out how to turn students into skilled fighters. Earlier that day Ron had eagerly told Harry about his dream-training with Godric, which had involved a lot of physical combat and even a bit of swordsmanship to incorporate into usual dueling. Hermione, on the other hand, was pointing students to the various bookshelves, all while holding a book in her hand and turning back to it at every reprieve. Harry was almost positive she and Rowena were analyzing every spell and magical theory claim, deciding which were actual breakthroughs since the Founders had lived and which were misconceptions promoted after years of ignorance, either conclusion used to improve how magic could be understood and better utilized.

As more students had started to enter, Salazar had pointed out the fact that many students his age and even some in sixth or seventh year were coming to receive instruction from none other than Harry himself. This group of students, all displaying commitment to truly learn how to defend themselves rather than accept whatever the Ministry fed them, would likely be the ones who would hold positions with the Auros, the Ministry, and other important parts of the magical world. Here they were effectively establishing Harry as their leader. Salazar had called the group "Potter's Army," and Harry knew he was only half-joking.

"No," Harry continued, turning to face Neville with a mixture of excitement and pride on his face as students continued to enter the Room of Requirement, "our plans have just begun."

/:Note:/ Well, um, yeah. It's been a while. I can't really predict when I'll be free to add to this story, but I hope you liked this latest addition. I also, while re-familiarizing myself with the previous chapters, fixed a few typos I had missed before. Thanks for your support!