48 Defensive Action

"Can we talk to you?"

Harry looked up and was surprised to see the group standing before them. Hermione and him were hidden away in the back of the library, working on one of their side projects and were not used to being disturbed. That it was a group of students, representing each of the four houses, was even more surprising. He quickly glanced around, ensuring no one else had seen the group as it would lead to trouble.

It had been almost a month since Umbridge went on her warpath. There were twenty-seven new educational decrees in effect, one of which was no student organizations or gatherings over two students were allowed without prior approval. This was her way of killing any student study groups. One of the decree's insidious side effects was that he had had to resign from the Gryffindor quidditch team just so Umbridge would approve it.

With a surreptitious wave of his wand, he erected a mild notice-me-not ward over their corner of the library. Harry returned his attention to the foursome before them. He heard rather than felt Hermione shift a little, pointing herself both at the four and at the path anyone would have to approach them from.

Leading the group was Neville, though since the other three were female Harry doubted he'd been given much of a choice. It also made sense as he was their friend. Next to him was Susan Bones from Hufflepuff. The busty redhead had adjusted her attitude some since visiting them last year, and while still a bit bubbly, seemed to realize there was more going on around her. Padma Patil seemed to be the Ravenclaw representative. Her quiet and calm demeanor didn't fool Harry: he could see the intelligent eyes searching and tracking the room. She was a thinker, one who didn't act without a plan. The final member was a surprise, for Daphne Greengrass was a Slytherin. She was their year, but she and her friend Tracy were not one of Draco's cronies, nor were they pro anyone, making them as close to a neutral party as a Slytherin could be. She had a reputation as being the Ice Queen of Slytherin, so for her to speak to the Hero of Gryffindor was saying something.

"What can we help you with Nev?" Harry leaned back in his chair, just happening to change his position enough that the group was now covered by his wand.

"We want you to teach us that," Neville waved at the air around them. "You are the best defense student in our year, probably the whole school, and we're not learning anything in that class. It's our OWL year, and what's more he is back. We need to learn how to defend ourselves and it won't happen in that class."

"And how do you intend to get around the restrictions under the education decrees? Teaching the four of you individually will take a lot of time," Hermione asked calmly. They had already figured out how, even before McGonagall had gotten involved, but she wanted to see what they had to say.

"Well, it's not just us," Neville rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"Oh? And just how many of you are there?"

"That we know for sure?" Neville looked at the others before continuing. "Fifteen Gryffs, seven Puffs, about a dozen claws, and three snakes."

Harry shared a look with Hermione, that was more than they had expected, especially for a first approach. Not a lot more, but the fact that any Slytherins were involved was surprising as well.

"That's a lot," Harry said neutrally. "And you still haven't told us how you plan to get Umbridge to approve it."

"We never said she would," Daphne said conspiratorially.

"Look, I'd like to help, but we're already number one and two on her hit list, if we got caught doing this…"

"What if we found a way?" Susan asked, stepping up beside Neville. "What if we found a way to do it that she couldn't stop?"

"You already know how, don't you?" Hermione asked accusingly.

"Auntie Amelia told me," Susan admitted. "Said defense could be an issue and if it was, to try to get you two to teach me."

"And the solution you came up with?" Harry pressed, noting the surprised looks Neville and Daphne were giving Susan, while Padma stayed calm and collected.

"The solution," Padma said in her smooth accented voice, "is to hire you as tutors. The Hogwarts charter specifically allows students to receive private tuition from privately hired tutors so long as they are registered with the school. You two are already registered as Defense tutors, I checked. You're actually registered as tutors for a surprising number of classes and year levels, including NEWT levels."

"Very good Miss Patil," Harry spoke kindly, imitating any number of their professors. "Saturday is a Hogsmeade visit. One o'clock in the basement of the Hog's Head, bring everyone who wants to join. We'll need to make some adjustments, since we didn't expect that many, but we'll make it work."

"You knew this was going to happen," Daphne stated, looking at the pair in awe.

"We've known the Ministry would interfere since summer, and with some assistance made some contingencies."

"Time to go," Hermione cut in, looking up from a large piece of parchment. "Inquisitorial squad on the way."

"How could you…"

"No time, Saturday, be there," Harry told them, making a get going sign with his hand as the group took off. Neville and Susan split off and made it look as if searching for a book down a side aisle, while Padma and Daphne began discussing something concerning a Runes assignment a few tables away.

Thirty seconds later, Draco and his goons showed up, but despite their obvious desire couldn't find anyone to harass and were quickly chased off by Madam Pince.


Throughout the week, Harry and Hermione started to see pockets of students whispering. There were never many, and always between classes in the hallways, but they were there. The couple also began searching for an appropriate place to practice, as their plan to use an unused classroom might become a bit crowded. The second day they were looking, they both felt a pull on their magic, almost like hearing someone just out of sight. Following it, they found themselves on the seventh floor in a rarely used corridor. There seemed to be nothing around save a tapestry of a wizard and some trolls in tutus.

"Welcome." Both turned and faced the ghost passing out of the wall across from the tapestry. They recognized her as the Grey Lady, the Ravenclaw house ghost, and if rumors were believed, a near mute.

"Thank you," Harry said softly, bowing slightly. "I apologize, but do you know why we're here?"

"Hogwarts helps those in need," the lady responded cryptically. "And so she guided you here. It has been many years since any as attuned to her as you visited."

"We would gladly accept your help my Lady, but I'm still confused."

"Each founder left something unique, a legacy of sorts," the Grey Lady spoke in an ethereal voice. "Salazar left his Chamber and Hufflepuff her Grotto. Gryffindor left a living legacy and cultivated the forest, creating a sanctuary for the creatures within. And my mother left her study."

"Your mother…" Hermione looked up in awe. "You're Helena Ravenclaw."

"I was once, I am now the Grey Lady," the ghost responded sadly. "I lost the right to call myself her daughter a long time ago. In any case, Hogwarts wishes you to use the study to help your fellow students. To enter, walk past this tapestry three times, thinking about the room you require."

A glance and a quick conversion later, they tried as the ghost instructed. To their surprise, a door melted out of the wall opposite the tapestry. Carefully opening it, they found a mix between a muggle dojo and a combat training gym. Half the room was padded, with one wall covered in mirrors, the other half made of hard stone with training dummies. Books lined the opposite wall and Harry felt his wife's excitement.

"This is perfect," he breathed in awe, then turned back to the Ravenclaw ghost. "Thank you, my Lady. This is perfect."

"It was needed," came her cryptic response. "Tell no others how to control the room, it is for you only. Others may stumble upon it, but only you may know it's true power."

"Thank you," Harry bowed deeply before looking at the ceiling. "And thank you Hogwarts. This is perfect to help our friends."


Saturday came far quicker than they were ready for, and before they knew it they were walking towards an old dilapidated building with an actual hog's head mounted above the door. If you looked carefully, you could see the structure below the peeling paint and rotten sign. It was actually a sturdy building, with good wood beneath the shabby exterior.

"You think he makes it look shabby on purpose?"

"Who?" Hermione glanced at him. "What?"

"The Hog's Head, you think the owner makes it look run down on purpose?"

"Well, I suppose it makes a bit of sense," Hermione conceded as she took another look at the building as they entered. "It would appeal to a certain clientele, ones that wish to avoid attention."

"Like us then."

"In a manner of speaking," Hermione waved slightly to the elder man behind the bar and moved to the door leading the basement. The gruff man nodded back, and continued to clean the mug in his hand with a dirty towel.

Descending the steps, they were faced with a much larger crowd than they'd expected. Close to fifty students sat in haphazard rows, some bunched together more than others but all turned to face them as they entered. In the front row were the four that had started this. At the far end was Daphne, flanked by her friend Tracy and what looked like a miniature version of herself they assumed was her sister. Next to the snakes were the Patil twins, then Susan and her best friend Hannah. Closest to the door was Neville with Luna seated beside him. The rest of the room was filled with others from the various houses, including the entire Gryffindor quidditch team, Cho Chang and her friend Marietta, and some unfriendly looking puffs, as if that wasn't a contradiction.

"I'm guessing everyone who's coming is here?" Harry began, pulling a small table from the corner and setting it in front of everyone. Hermione brought a pair of chairs and they sat facing the rest. The answer to his question was less than audible as everyone started to mutter and look at their neighbor. "Anyone know someone who wants to come and isn't here yet? No? Then let's begin. Let's start with the easy questions shall we? Who is here just to pass their OWLs or NEWTs?"

A couple of the older Ravenclaws raised their hands tentatively. A lot of the rest seemed skittish and refused to look at him. Looking around, he could guess what the answer to the unasked question really was.

"Okay, let's get down to it. Why are you here then? Ernie, why don't you go first?"

"Me? To learn defense."

"And is that the only reason?" Hermione pressed, and when he hesitated she continued in a hard tone. "I thought not. So why are you here? Anyone?"

"I'm here because I don't know what is going on." Everyone turned to look at Padma Patil who gathered up her courage and kept talking. "I'm here because things are getting weird and no one is talking about it. Last year, you claimed that You-Know-Who was back, and the Ministry and the Prophet are calling you a liar and saying he's dead. I don't know what to believe, except that I can't think of a single time you've lied and I know the Prophet does. That scares me, and I want to live if something does happen. That means being very lucky, or being prepared."

"What happened last year, Potter?"

"Yeah, what happened?"

"No. I will not discuss that night in any details. If that's all you're here for then get out," Harry's firm reply cut through the din that was rising as he stared back at everyone assembled. "There is too much, you don't realize…"

"That's why we need you Harry."

He looked up and saw Neville looking back at him. "We don't know what it's like, but you do. You do and you've lived through it. I don't think any of our teachers could teach us that."

"It was never just me, I had help along the way." Harry grabbed Hermione's hand on the table and squeezed it. "It's fast and if you try to think, you're dead. You just have to do."

"We can do that, teach you that," Hermione squeezed Harry's hand back. "But there are some things you have to agree to first."

"Like what?"

"Like commit. This isn't something you can just say 'oh it's too hard' and stop. If all you want is to pass some test, well we can do that, but you will get a lot less time from us. If you want to learn to survive, then you're either in or out."

"It isn't going to be easy," Harry took over. "Defense isn't just about casting spells. It's about honing instincts, it's about dodging and avoiding. It's about adapting and overcoming. In a battle between a dueler and a fighter, my money will be on the fighter every time. If you want to become that fighter, someone who will fight for your life or others, than we can help."

"Here are the rules we will require you to obey." Hermione consulted the list in front of her. "Do not discuss this tutoring with or around anyone not participating. That pretty much means you don't talk about it period."

"We expect you to work on and maintain physical fitness," Harry continued. "Shielding a spell is great, but dodging it entirely means you can attack instead of being on the defensive. Plus, there are some spells that can't be blocked."

"And quidditch doesn't count."

"No," Harry laughed at the faces of the Gryffindor team. "Quidditch doesn't count. You need to run, you need to work on flexibility and endurance. The harder to hit target generally lives longer."

"You will not quit." Hermione stared hard out over the crowd. "There are going to be times you want to, we guarantee it, but we won't let you. If we have to break into your dorms and drag you out we will. And we'll make you practice all the harder for it."

"If we're going to commit to helping you, you're going to commit to being helped," Harry finished flatly. "There will be repercussions for your actions, both good and bad.

"Now if you agree to this, you will each sign a contract with us. This allows us to tutor you in defense. What this means is we can teach you despite Umbridge's educational decree. It's part of the Hogwarts charter that guarantees the right of students to be taught by a tutor they hire if they so desire."

"Lastly, you will be given a pendant that will let us communicate where and when to meet. Do not take it off, do not lose it. If you can't make it, let one of the others or ourselves know so we don't come looking for you. And trust me, we will find you."

"Since we're going to teach you as a group, you're getting a discount rate. A galleon per term. We are not available for individual training unless we initiate it during a group session." Hermione pulled out a stack of parchment and a quill. "These are our terms, who still wants to be tutored?"

In the end, thirty-eight of the forty-four students signed the contracts.