The following week they searched for a place to hold their meetings. It wasn't easy because the obvious places wouldn't do any good, especially with such a large number of people. During breakfast on Monday morning, an announcement was made in a sugary-sweet voice, "All students who take part in an organization more than once a week and with three or more members will be expelled from Hogwarts if the group activity is not reported to the High Inquisitor! Thank you everyone and enjoy the rest of your day."
Ginny froze in the middle of a waffle and stared at Harry, who was being flanked on either side by Julia and Rebecca. Ron and Hermione sat on either side of Ginny and they all glanced between each other nervously. They couldn't say anything with the other two girls being there. Rebecca had so obviously tried to coax Harry into drinking his pumpkin juice, but Harry had blatantly refused, which had caused Ginny, Ron and Hermione to smirk at each other.
Now Rebecca sighed and shook her head, "These rules are becoming an absolute nightmare! Enjoy the rest of you breakfast Harry," she said winking at him and she even blew him a kiss. Ginny felt like she was about to burst with laughter at the irritable look on Harry's face as he murmured, "Bye Rebecca." Julia followed her raven-haired friend and the second they were out of ear-shot Ginny let her giggles explode and she clutched her stomach as she laughed so hard. The look on Harry's face was priceless!
He rolled his eyes as Ron and Hermione joined her and commented, "Yeah, yeah it's all hilarious!" She grinned at him and replied, "Oh come on, Harry, you've got to see the funny side…" he shook his head and groaned, "Nope! It was funny last year. It's getting old quickly."
She was still smiling as he whispered in a low voice, "Do you think someone betrayed us?" Hermione shook her head as she ate yoghurt with fresh strawberries and shook her head, "No they couldn't have. I enchanted the parchment so that it would tell me if anyone did." Harry nodded and sighed, "Well…we still need to find a place. Keep a look out for one today guys. Tell Neville to do the same if you see him. I know we can trust him at least."
They all nodded just Angelina approached them and sat down beside Harry, "Can I have a word?" He nodded and Angelina took a seat beside him, "You heard the decree that was just passed, right?" They all nodded and Angelina sighed, "Listen, Harry, I just want to say I'm all up for defending ourselves, but I cannot let you risk the Gryffindor Quidditch team if it means standing up to Umbridge and getting yourself detention on a regular basis. She also had a right to disband the team." Harry rolled his eyes, "I know, Angelina. But imagine if someone consistently called you a liar in front of everyone? You would want to defend yourself, wouldn't you?" Angelina shrugged her shoulders, "That may be the case, but Harry it's not worth arguing with her. It's honestly not. That goes for all of you." She looked at the three of them pointedly.
Harry nodded, "Fine. I will try. Happy?" She shrugged her shoulders, "Only if you follow through with this. Ginny, why didn't you try-out for the team? I was expecting you to." Ginny paused and swallowed her pumpkin juice before replying, "I uh…well there's a lot on my plate." Angelina frowned and shrugged again, "Fine. But I expect you to try out next year."
Ginny was quiet and only Hermione knew the reason why she had given up Quidditch- because she wanted Ron to be known for it on his own terms. It had caused far too much tension between them when she had tried out in her second year and been Angelina's replacement for one game. It wasn't worth the sibling rivalry she had thought it was.
Later that evening, she was in the library doing work when Hermione approached her eagerly and whispered, "Neville's found us a meeting spot! We're going to find it now!" Ginny picked up her bags and quickly stashed her things away. The she hurried after Hermione and whispered, "Where?" Hermione was practically beaming, "Well…you know Dobby? The house elf?" Ginny nodded, she had heard Harry mention him on several occasions as Hermione continued, "Harry met with Dobby earlier today. He's working in the kitchen at Hogwarts! He mentioned the room of requirement to Harry and today when Neville was trying to get out of Umbridge's way, he stumbled across it!"
Ginny nodded, trying to keep up with the story. They hurried down and corridor where they met Ron, Harry, the twins and Neville. They smiled at the two girls and suddenly a massive doorway appeared in front of where the boys were standing. Ginny jumped back in surprise and she felt her mouth flounder as she gasped, "H…how?" Harry grinned at her and Hermione supplied, "It's the room of requirement. Neville thought that he needed a place to hide three times when he trying to avoid Umbridge and it appeared in front of him!" Ginny beamed in excitement, "Great job Neville!" She high fived him and he blushed, "It was nothing really."
They all entered the room which was about the size of three classrooms put together and Neville laughed, "There wasn't a table in the middle of the room last time!" They all looked at the table and Ron frowned, "So, say if you really needed the toilet?" Hermione rolled her eyes and replied, "Charming Ron. But yes, that is the idea." Ginny giggled and Harry laughed with her.
They walked around the space and Fred asked curiously, "Do you think this will do, Harry?" Harry nodded and replied, "Yeah! This is perfectly big enough. Hermione, could you conjure some mats please? I want to demonstrate with Ginny." Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise and Hermione did as she was asked, levitating two long black mats into the air and placing them on either side of the square room.
Harry smiled in thanks and Ginny went to go and stand on her mat. Ron said firmly, "Better not be a serious spell, mate. You've got three elder brothers watching!" Ginny rolled her eyes as did Harry and they grinned at each other. Harry said to her, "I'm going to cast a spell at you, but you must use Expillarmus to defend yourself okay?" Ginny nodded and got her wand into a defensive position.
Seconds later Harry yelled, "Rectumsempra!" Ginny waited several seconds as the spell got closer to her before she yelled, "Expelliarmus!" and the spell went ricocheting off a wall."
Harry smiled at her and Ginny turned to Ron, "Can't defend myself, Ronald?" she asked sarcastically. He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "You're putting words in my mouth, Gin. I only told Harry to go easy on you!" She folded her arms and shook her long, red hair angrily and grinned, "Right then. Ron you're next against Harry!"
She giggled at Ron's surprised expression. Honestly after all these years he should know her by now. Harry and Hermione seemed less surprised by this announcement than Ron did. The twins chuckled in unison at his expression and Ron gulped, "Uh…alright then." He took her place on his mat and you could tell he was nervous. He held up his wand and Harry sent another curse his way. Ron shouted, "Expelliarmus!" a little too soon before the curse reached him and sent him flying back onto his mat.
Ginny couldn't help but laugh. Hermione grimaced and said, "Okay, guys enough! I think we've proved that there's more than enough space! I think we need to come up with a name for these meetings. Like a code name so no-one else knows what we're talking about."
Ginny nodded and Neville suggested, "How about D.A?" Hermione frowned and Neville explained, "Like Dumbledore's Army. It's ironic because it's their greatest fear that we would fight back, isn't it?" Ginny couldn't help but nod in agreement and she saw the others nodding too. Hermione smiled, "Sounds good to me! We can propose it to the others. I think our first meeting in here should be tomorrow night at five, since we're all already behind. Does that suit everyone?" They all nodded and Hermione grinned, "Perfect! Spread the word around guys but don't make it obvious!"
Ron shook his head in wonderment as they all filed out of the room, "Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" Ginny giggled and Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "If others refuse to teach me then I'll learn in another way."
They broke up into groups as they entered the Great Hall and Neville went to sit with Dean and Seamus a few seats along. Even though Seamus had apologized to Harry, they weren't sure they could trust him yet. Hermione mentioned as she began to dish food onto her plate, "Oh Harry, I keep forgetting to tell you! There's some other interesting news I discovered on Saturday morning in the meeting." Harry frowned and put a wing of chicken on his plate, "Oh yeah? What's that?" She grinned happily and replied, "Cho couldn't keep her eyes off you."
For some reason, this caused Ginny to sit up straight and pay close attention. The butterflies that had fluttered in her stomach on Saturday had been bothering her immensely. She hadn't felt them since at least third year and now they seemed to be appearing more and more frequently in Harry's presence. She tried to stop thinking about it, but every time she did, her thoughts would cloud with that moment in full force. She had been struggling against the feelings, but they seem to be taking over. Now at the mention of Cho's name, she felt a little bit jealous.
However, Harry's face seemed to brighten at the mention of her name and Ron chuckled, "You've got it bad, mate." Ginny let her eyes roam briefly over his face and realized that he had bags under her eyes as well dark rings. She frowned and asked quickly to change the topic, "Harry, have you had enough sleep recently? You look exhausted." He shrugged his shoulders carelessly, "Just had some bad dreams that's all."
Ginny looked worriedly at Hermione and suddenly Umrbidge's voice echoed over the hall, "All students who wish to join the inquisitorial squad for extra credit must please meet in my room after dinner. Thank you." The four of them turned towards the teachers table and Ginny couldn't help but make a face in disgust, "Next thing she will prevent us from breathing." This caused the Ron and Hermione to laugh but Harry remained solemn.
On the way back to the dormitory, Ron said, "Harry and I are going to the library to study. See you guys later." Their O.W.L exams were approaching and Ginny had never seen the boys so set on studying. It was refreshing. Ginny grinned as she asked Hermione, "Aren't you going to join them?" Hermione shook her head, "Nope. I'm ahead of them already." Ginny rolled her eyes, "Of course you are."
Hermione was silent for a bit before she asked, "Gin…can I ask you something?" Ginny nodded reluctantly, "Depends…" Hermione smiled, "I saw you watching Harry at the meeting on Saturday." Ginny paused mid-step and clenched her fingers tensely. Her friend watched her intently and Ginny sighed, "So?" Hermione shrugged her shoulders and whispered, "So…do you like him again?" Ginny groaned as they walked up their fourth flight of stairs, "I don't know Hermione." Hermione nodded in understanding, "Sometimes we want what we can't have. I think you're attracted to him now because he fancies Cho." Ginny shook her head adamantly, "No! No that is not it. And I don't even know if I do like him that way, Hermione! You're jumping to conclusions here." Hermione smirked and replied, "Alright, if that's how you feel." Ginny wanted more than anything else to rub that smirk off Hermione's face which was plastered there until they reached the common room.