Sixth Year: The Steps Toward The End

by scaryisntit

After losing Sirius, Harry resolves to himself to become stronger, revive the DA and create his own 'army'. In one of the most trying year of his life, Harry will need everything he and his friends can offer to overcome the trails and tribulations before him.

2. The First Plans and the Prophecy

A/N: Thanks to chem prof for his beta work.

Chapter 2: The First Plans and the Prophecy

Within minutes from Harry entering his compartment, the Hogwarts Express was swamped by Aurors. Approximately fifteen minutes had passed since the screams had signaled the start of the attack. Harry briefly considered how many would've died had this been a massacre attempt.

It didn't exactly inspire faith in the Ministry and its new Minister to Harry.

The Aurors that came in the first wave consisted of a dozen individuals. However, Harry only recognized one. Without her customary pink bubblegum hair, Tonks looked run-down and ill. Her attitude didn't mimic her appearance, however.

"Harry!" Tonks exclaimed as she caught sight of him, forgetting that they weren't supposed to know each other. She was alone, thankfully. "What in Merlin's name happened? And who are these two?" she added at the sight of the two currently unknown Death Eaters.

Harry felt Hermione jump at the sudden noise through the seat. Sparing her a glance, he faced the clumsy Auror. "Bellatrix and two other Death Eaters were somehow onboard. We heard screams, went to investigate and ended up dueling them."

"B-Bellatrix was here?" Tonks stuttered at the mention of her psychotic aunt. She was one of the most feared of Voldemort's followers, after all.

"Auror Tonks!" a deep voice called out, snapping the metamorphmagus back to battle readiness. She called out to let her location be known and stepped outside the compartment, taking the captured Death Eaters with her. Once the door was closed, she engaged in conversation with who Harry assumed was her boss in the field.

Harry remained seated and wondered what was going to happen to next. The remainder of his trip to Hogwarts would probably be spent answering questions. You couldn't say he lived a dull life.

A minute later a different Auror entered the compartment. The man was tall, dark haired, with light brown eyes. He was carrying a white notebook with a black quill, hovering, waiting to begin recording his questioning. The Auror introduced himself as Williamson.

"I am here to ask you questions regarding your confrontation with the Death Eaters Rowle, Travers and Lestrange, if your peers are to be believed," Williamson spoke in an official tone, with a shred of disbelief edging its way into his voice at the mention of Bellatrix. "Tell me what happened from the top."

Harry spent the next hour reciting the events of the encounter with Williamson and then Tonks when he was asked to begin again. He was immensely grateful when the Auror said that he was done and, after minor pleasantries, left. Another, unnamed, Auror had come into the compartment sometime into the second explanation and reported that all the students were accounted for and unharmed. Moments afterwards another entered to report that after a thorough search there were no other stowaways.

With a final nod in Harry's direction – a sign of respect, possibly – Williamson left the compartment. Harry turned his attention to Tonks, who remained behind and was giving him scrutinizing looks. "I suppose you have some non-Ministry concerned questions for me?" he half-asked half-stated.

Tonks nodded and cast a Silencing Charm on the doorway. "Do you know what they were after?" she asked immediately.

Indeed, what had they been after? They'd boarded the Hogwarts Express, something unprecedented in its long history, and not hurt anyone at all. Harry had expected this and, not knowing how much Tonks was privy too, thought of what he would say while he'd been reciting his tale the second time.

"Me."

Tonks was unconvinced. "Why?"

Harry shrugged. "Why is he always after me?"

He found himself darkly amused now that he actually knew the answer to that very question. Hermione and Neville were giving him curious looks. Luna was ignoring everything except her magazine, and Ron was staring out the window.

"There's nothing more you can tell me?" Tonks eventually asked, having decided Harry was being truthful.

"I've already said what happened." Harry replied. "Twice, in fact."

Sighing, Tonks stood up and cancelled the Silencing Charm. "Dumbledore will want to speak with you." Having told Harry that, she bade farewell to the five of them and left the compartment.

Harry closed his eyes and leant backwards, releasing a bit of the tension in his shoulders. He was still drained from the experience of using two wands at once. This was probably why he'd never seen it before; it tired the user out too quickly.

Throughout most of the last hour, only Harry, Neville and Hermione had spoken, since they were the ones involved in the fight and therefore questioned. Ron and Luna had kept quiet for the entire time, either listening or off in their own world. Now, however, Ron had questions.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" he asked shortly. His face was beginning to flush the trademark Weasley red. That was never a good sign.

Harry sat back up straight and looked at his first ever friend confusedly. "Sorry?"

Hermione answered first, her tone surprisingly scathing. "Usually, Ronald, when someone gets attacked, you don't have the leisure of waiting."

"Wait, wait, what's wrong?"

"Ron's upset that he was left behind." Hermione replied immediately.

"That's crazy." Harry said dumbfounded. "You're not serious, are you Ron?"

Ron ignored Harry's question and respond to Hermione instead. "Well, you three were off so quickly –"

"–We don't get time to hesitate in battles, Ron." Neville cut across him, surprising all three of them. "I thought we all learned that in the DA, and if not then at the Department of Mysteries." Seeing the look Ron was giving him, he added, "That isn't to say we're perfect. We all hesitated during the fight but this time we weren't outnumbered so it wasn't as big a problem."

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione said exasperatedly, seeing he wasn't convinced. "It could just as easily been any one else in there but it wasn't. That's how it turned out. Now stop feeling sorry for yourself and be thankful we're all right and there are two more captured Death Eaters."

"Feeling sorry for myself?!" Ron yelled, incensed. Hermione appeared to touch a nerve. "Who said I was feeling sorry for myself?"

"At first I thought a Wrackspurt had you," Luna chimed in from behind her newspaper. She had stopped humming while she listened to Harry's tale. "I thought I felt one in here but it left ages ago. I have to agree with Hermione. You're very easy to read, Ronald."

Ron was about to yell at her next, but Harry stopped him. "Don't, Ron. You're overreacting." He then continued at the sight of more of the infamous Weasley red claiming his friend's face. "We'll say it again. We moved quicker. Had it been ten minutes beforehand, it would've been you, Hermione and me most likely. What's your problem?"

"I-It's always been us…" Ron replied weakly. Harry and Hermione shared raised eyebrows.

"Unless I'm mistaken, you're still here," Harry said sarcastically.

Sighing, Ron sank back into the seat and closed his eyes. "All right," he said. "Let's just not argue anymore."

Hermione was about to say 'well you started it', but Harry saw that coming and covered her mouth, and shook his head in a discouraging way.

The five of them sat in silence for the remainder of the trip, each rapt up in their own thoughts.

-x-x-x-x-x-

The Hogwarts Express arrived at Hogsmeade a little later than usual. The hundreds of students between the ages eleven to seventeen chattered away loudly about their summers, the upcoming feast, the attack on the train and other assorted topics as they made their way to the carriages that took them the last leg of the trip to Hogwarts. Harry, Hermione, Luna, Neville and Ron got into a Thestral drawn carriage together.

Harry stared outside the left of the carriage as the scenery passed; contemplating what he would do this year. He needed to learn more magic, learn how to fight so he could properly defend himself. The prophecy ensured that need. There was no luxury of time, he had to learn and it had to be now. At least he had proper motivation.

Ron was doing the same on the other side of the carriage. He had always been the last son, behind five others with their own achievements to their name. What could he possibly do to stand out? Head Boy, Prefect, Quidditch Captain had all be done before. Until the first day of Hogwarts, when he unknowingly befriended Harry Potter, there was nothing. That was when his life changed forever.

His best friend was the most famous child in Magical Britain, and perhaps the entire magical society. At first, Ron was ecstatic to stand side-by-side to a living, breathing hero. Then he began to fall into the background.

It wasn't like that at first. Harry had required his help during his first adventure, the retrieval of the Philosopher's Stone. He'd even been recognized for it, much to his surprise and happiness. He was awarded fifty house points and a commendation from the Headmaster himself for defeating Professor McGonagall's enchanted chess set. That was something his brothers had no claim to.

It was when the Tri-Wizard Tournament began that Ron really felt his was falling into Harry's shadow. It was Harry this, Harry that. The girls wanted to date him, and he had managed to trick his way into the Tournament. Or so he'd thought.

He'd abandoned his best friend when he'd been needed. Ron had felt immensely ashamed of himself when Harry stood up to a dragon by himself, in a competition designed for students three years older than him.

Ron's inferiority complex, initiated by his older brothers' continued achievements, only grew as a consequence to the actions of Harry Potter. Everything Ron did, Harry did something better. Quidditch, grades, during their adventures, Harry was in front always.

He'd escaped his brother's shadows only to fall into Harry's.

The Department of Mysteries had quietly been the chance Ron was looking for to enter the limelight again, to prove he was just as good as Harry. But he'd been the first to be struck down useless with a Confundus Charm.

He felt inadequate, lying in his hospital bed, recovering from the injuries he received that night. He'd been no help to Harry, proven nothing to anyone. Even Ginny had lasted longer than he had.

Then the final straw came. Today, the attack on the Hogwarts Express, Ron had not even been around to help Harry. Neville, the boy who everyone picked on, made fun of, had taken his rightful spot with Harry and Hermione. That was it, no matter what Harry and Hermione had said to talk him down, that was it. He'd made a decision.

His family had secrets and these secrets were going to help him get something Harry didn't have.

He'd have to thank his mother when he saw her at Christmas.

Neville let out a hiss of pain as the carriage bumped and he accidentally touched his newly forming bruises, bringing Ron out of his thoughts. Seeing nothing warranting his attention, Ron returned to his quiet contemplation.

"You all right, mate?" asked Harry. Hermione was giving him worried looks too.

"I'll be fine once I see Madam Pomfrey." Neville replied gingerly. He was trying not to move too much to prevent them from aching.

Sighing, Neville thought about how far he'd come. He'd never expected when he first came to Hogwarts to be fighting side-by-side with Harry Potter.

Having lost his parents to Bellatrix Lestrange early in life, Neville had grown up under the care of his strict grandmother's, Augusta Longbottom's, care. She was an intimidating elderly woman and Neville had grown up under that intimidation. It left him timid, shy and prone to make mistakes.

He'd arrived at Hogwarts as one of the few students to have a toad as a pet, one that constantly tried to escape. He also was one of the few that didn't have his own wand. He was using his father's wand by the wishes of his grandmother. She adored his father and wanted Neville to grow up into a man just like him, and that included the same wand. The expectations weighed on him and he was often the boy that was picked on due to his chubby face and lack of confidence.

His ill-suited wand and he came to a comfortable medium by fifth year when he joined the DA to learn to defend himself. There was a raw need inside Neville that the wand responded to, which allowed it to perform at its best for him. That very wand was broken during the Department of Mysteries fight. Neville's first thought had been…

Gran is going to kill me…

Thankfully, Augusta Longbottom was so proud of him for fighting the Death Eaters alongside Harry Potter, and being the only other left standing at the end, she'd bought him his own wand, one that fitted him perfectly.

His first years at Hogwarts had been littered with embarrassing incidents and mistakes, especially in Professor Snape's class. Harry and Hermione had helped him in little ways since he'd met them, and for that he was grateful. Quietly, he'd promised himself to help them, to repay them in some way. That promise had been called upon last year when Neville had seen Ginny being manhandled by Crabbe and Goyle. Interfering then led him down a path he never looked back from, a path he did not regret taking, leading directly to a confrontation with a dozen Death Eaters. He was determined, more than ever, to prove himself capable. And he had.

This signaled a new beginning for Neville Longbottom, a fresh start for him and his abilities. He promised himself to do his very best, to prove he was strong wizard and deserving of his grandmother's praise. That promise had been called upon today, and he'd proven to himself that he was capable. He'd stood up and not looked back when he faced with certain peril, alongside Harry and Hermione.

Neville Longbottom was no longer the chubby, accident prone, poor excuse for a wizard that stumbled through the Fat Lady with his legs locked together in his first year. He was as Gryffindors were characterized – loyal and brave – and Harry was to thank for that.

Neville was loyal to Harry, and he would stand beside him without hesitation.

A soft humming sound disrupted his thoughts. Luna, the strange girl that he couldn't figure out, was sitting there, looking straight ahead, with a smile on her face. Neville wasn't sure what to make of that. The carriage went over another bump and Neville winced again.

I just wish fighting wasn't so painful…

Luna heard another hiss of pain but knew her friend would be fine in a few hours.

Luna Lovegood was a peculiar individual. She knew that and didn't mind. She had long since accepted that others couldn't see or accept the existence of some creatures that she and her father could, and long since accepted that she would be teased for it.

Then along came Harry Potter.

At first she knew he thought she was loony, just like everyone else, but they ended up meeting several times throughout her fourth year and just talking. Nothing spectacular. Nothing mind boggling. Just talking.

She understood that they were both outcasts. Harry was stuck in the middle of a school war, with the student body unable to choose whether or not to believe him about the return of Voldemort. She was an outcast because of her beliefs. She knew of her nickname, 'Loony', but it didn't bother her. If that's what they thought, that's what they thought. She wouldn't try and change that. She was who she was. True friends would appreciate her through her eccentricities. Though she was sure he didn't believe the Crumbled Horned Snorkack existed like so many others, Harry still talked to her as an equal and never once insulted her.

His friends were a little less welcoming.

Hermione was the antithesis of Luna. She believed in things only if there were facts to back it up and logic ruled her life. Luna on the other hand, believed in things even if there was no evidence. Faith was enough. Luna found Hermione narrow-minded and she knew Hermione thought little of her, but there were moments when they acted like friends.

Ronald was mean to her, like most of the other students, but it no longer bothered her.

Ginny was in most of her classes and they often sat together. Luna thought Ginny was a nice person who enjoyed her 'quirkiness', and considered her to be her first friend.

Neville didn't know what to think, she was sure of that. He couldn't make up his mind if she was 'loony' or not. He eventually stopped caring if she was sane or not and they got along well enough.

Luna Lovegood had never had a friend until she met Ginny Weasley. Now that she had met Harry Potter, she knew she had a friend for life.

Luna knew she appeared unintelligent to others even though she was in Ravenclaw. What people didn't know was that she was a very observant girl. During their fourth year, Luna had noticed Ginny slowly changing. She wasn't sure why, or what caused the changes. All she could determine was that it had something to do with Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

Now that Ginny had taken a sudden interest in boys, Luna had been increasingly left out of Ginny's life. That was alright with her though. She had Harry.

Again, her observant nature allowed her to know exactly what she was getting into when she went to the Ministry of Magic that night in June. Harry was her best friend and she was going to help him no matter what.

The DA that she attended that year helped her become much stronger than she had been before, strong enough to defend herself in a battle against Death Eaters. She was the last of the six to fall that actually fell during the battle, proving that she was not some crazy air-head to her friends once and for all.

She knew instantly that Harry would take care of whoever screamed out. He did that. Nobody needed to have worried, and she didn't.

Luna was happy, and so she continued to hum to herself. Her life was improving by the day.

-x-x-x-x-x-

The castle came into view as the Thestrals pulled students, second year and older, deeper into the grounds. Harry, despite his many near death experiences and injuries here, despite how he was often viewed by his peers and despite the abuse he received from Snape and Umbridge, felt he was finally returning to only place he could currently consider calling home. Privet Drive had never been home, nor was Hogwarts now, but it was the closest he had.

Once the carriage pulled up outside the Entrance Hall, Harry disembarked from the carriage, and then helped Hermione and Luna down. Neville and Ron joined them on the other side and the five of them made the rest of the way to the Great Hall.

"Hey, Potter!" a voice called out, and Harry internally sighed. He knew there was something missing from his return to Hogwarts, and here it was.

"Malfoy." Harry acknowledged tiredly. "You called?"

Malfoy put on his customary sneer, standing in-between his usual servants Crabbe and Goyle, who apparently failed to grow any more intelligent looking over the summer. "Can't go one day without doing something that makes you news can you, Potter?"

"Guess not," Harry replied, shrugging. "Though I missed you on the train, Malfoy, how come you didn't come and visit? I suppose harboring three Death Eaters in your compartment is a full day commitment though, hey, Malfoy?"

He heard Hermione and Neville gasp behind him and saw Malfoy tense up slightly. He managed to hide the rest of his surprise but it was enough.

"Thought so," Harry said. He then turned and started walking into the Great Hall, leaving a flustered Malfoy standing in the entrance of Hogwarts.

There was no way Harry was going to let Malfoy walk all over him again this year. He'd had enough. With all that he needed to accomplish before the year was out, day in and day out insults would be a distraction he wasn't willing to let happen.

Harry said his goodbyes to Luna and proceeded to sit down at the Gryffindor table with his fellow sixth years. He saw Ginny and Dean sitting a little ways up the table. He caught her eye and she gave him a smile and wave before resuming her conversation with Dean, Seamus and some fourth year he didn't recognize.

Hermione sat down next to him with an expression that meant business. "Harry, explain."

"Every year, each train ride to Hogwarts, we've had a visit from Malfoy correct?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded. Harry looked her eyes and said, "His words last year, 'you're going to pay. I'm going to make you pay for what you did to my father.' I know you weren't there, but look me in eyes and tell me he wouldn't be serious."

Hermione held his gaze for a full minute before sighing and dropping it. "What makes you think that he was harboring the Death Eaters then?"

"Because he's a Death Eater…" Harry began. Hermione huffed, Ron looked at him disbelievingly and Neville looked at him, shocked. "…he wouldn't be about to dob in their hiding place would he?" Harry continued without pause.

"Harry, we've discussed this –" Hermione started before Ron interrupted.

"–He can't be a Death Eater mate, he's too young."

Harry glared at the both of them. How can they not understand that age doesn't matter?

"Not this again." Harry sighed. "He's the same age as us and we've been in this war since we were eleven. I've been in since…" Harry stopped himself. He nearly said 'before I was born.' He wasn't quite prepared to mention the Prophecy in the Great Hall when anyone could hear. Thankfully, neither Ron nor Hermione showed any indications that they figured what he was going to say.

"That's a little different mate, we –"

"–How is it different?" Harry interrupted. "We, full well knowing what may have happened, went after Quirrell that night. We chose to participate. You've seen Malfoy and his father together. They're just like each other. Don't tell me you think deep down inside he's just a boy starved for attention?"

Ron snorted. "Hardly, but –"

"–But?"

"Harry," Hermione cut in. "He wouldn't. He's a schoolyard bully, not some killer, or accomplice."

"Says who?" he retorted impatiently. "Half the Slytherins are in Malfoy's camp and are shoe-ins for the next generation of Death Eaters. You're acting like the Ministry has been. I just hope you'll realize it before you get hurt." Harry finished coldly, turning away.

He was sick of it. How could someone so smart be so unwilling to accept defeat? Some part of her had to know Harry was right… right?

Hermione looked ready to continue, but saw Professor Dumbledore stand and silenced herself. She gave Harry a 'this isn't over' look, which he failed to see since he had turned away, and turned her attention to Dumbledore.

Harry was so deep in his own thoughts he didn't listen to anything the Headmaster said and didn't even react when the feast appeared in front of his eyes. He ate slowly, ignoring Hermione and Ron and decided to strike up conversation with Neville who sat across from him. His fellow Gryffindor had not said a word during the exchange, instead sitting by listening to both sides of the argument. Neville wasn't ready to make a decision on who was right, not that he had the full details, but wasn't as quick to dismiss the notion that Malfoy was planning on being a Death Eater at the very least considering his attitude and parentage.

An hour later, the feast finally disappeared, much to Ron's dismay, and Dumbledore once again rose, stopping the drone of several hundred students having several hundred different conversations.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore spoke and everyone, minus the majority of the Slytherins, hung on every word. "We have dark and difficult times ahead of us, but we are as safe here as you could be anywhere. As the Sorting Hat has said, house unity can ward off the war from our doorsteps and keep it outside where it belongs."

"Now, as always, the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden…"

Harry stopped listening as the normal announcements began.

House unity, huh? Most of the Slytherins are in the Death Eaters' corner as it is. I'll have to find out just who isn't following Malfoy to know who I can trust if it comes to that.

"One more thing before you can retire for the evening. The Hogwarts Express…" Harry's ears perked up at this, "…was attacked earlier as you all know." Many of the students turned towards Harry who dutifully ignored them. "Two Death Eaters were captured and will be in Azkaban by morning. You are all safe at Hogwarts. So worry not. Remember classes begin tomorrow so off you trot!"

And with that, several hundred students rose and left the hall, chatting amongst themselves as they headed to their dormitories. Neville left for the Hospital Wing, complaining that it hurt to chew, while Hermione and Ron and the two fifth year prefects gathered the first years and led them up to Gryffindor Tower. Harry on the other hand, left towards Dumbledore's office, saving the need to be called upon.

The two gargoyles that guarded the entrance to the Headmaster's office were motionless and silent as he waited for the Headmaster to arrive from the feast. He did not have to wait long.

Professor Dumbledore walked purposefully towards his office. Just by watching him, Harry could feel the respect that he'd earned, not demanded, rise within him.

"Harry! I see you have taken the initiative and saved me the trouble of disturbing you on your trek to your common room. Excellent."

"Yes, sir. I figured you'd want a word," Harry replied.

Dumbledore stopped in front of the stone gargoyles, nodded at Harry, and turned back to the statues. "Screaming yo-yo's." The stairs appeared between the statues and Dumbledore and Harry climbed onto the revolving stairwell.

Harry looked up at Dumbledore and raised an eyebrow. "Screaming yo-yo's, sir?"

"I find amusement in the inventions that seemed to be designed simply to irritate Argus." he said with a chuckle. The stairs stopped and the two disembarked and entered the office. "Not to mention how unexpected it is," he added with a wiser tone.

Harry found himself in the very same office that he had trashed three months earlier in a fit of rage. He had smashed several of the Professor's peculiar items. Now they all seemed to have been repaired.

"I'm sorry, sir," he began, thinking back to that night.

"For trashing my office, Harry?" Dumbledore finished for him. He chuckled again. "Quite all right, Harry. It was an emotional evening and I hardly helped you with it at all. Now," he offered a seat to Harry, which he took, and then sat down on the other side of the table. "Shall we discuss today's events?"

"Bella was after my wand," Harry summarized.

Dumbledore didn't show any reaction with his movements, something he had undoubtedly perfected during his many years. "What makes you believe that, Harry?"

Harry related to Dumbledore the fight. Dumbledore sat quietly throughout Harry's tale, staring into his eyes, making him feel uncomfortable.

Over the summer, Harry had practiced Occlumency in the best way he could without materials to guide to try and help with his grief and to use up his long days alone. He was confident he had better than average shields and understood that eye contact greatly assisted in Legilimency. He was also confident that Dumbledore wasn't reading his mind as he felt nothing enter his mind, as he had always felt when Snape had. He figured that something as foreign as a Legilimens probe would always be noticeable, no matter how subtle.

When Harry finished talking, Dumbledore continued to stare into his eyes, not speaking. Harry held his gaze, occasionally blinking when he could no longer prevent it.

Eventually the Headmaster sighed at leaned back into his chair. "I concur with your assessment, Harry. I had heard the tale from Tonks just prior to the feast. She told me that you were their target."

Harry stiffened at this. "You haven't told the Order that Voldemort and I share brother wands." It was more a statement than a question.

"Correct," Dumbledore confirmed. "I felt this information should be kept secret. I am correct in assuming you haven't told Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger?"

Harry looked uncomfortable at this. It had crossed his mind but he never got around to it. It was still something he wasn't sure he wanted to share. "No, sir."

Dumbledore nodded and picked out a lemon drop for himself. Harry politely refused when offered one. "I believe you may have some questions for me, Harry."

Harry hadn't any idea how Dumbledore discerned that. However, it didn't matter as Harry took advantage of the offer and made a play he'd been thinking of since his stay at the Dursleys.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," Harry started. He opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to find the right words. "The Prophecy says that I must be the one to finish off Voldemort. I've made my peace with that." Harry by all means did not want to kill a person, but he would kill Voldemort to rid the world of the threat he created.

Dumbledore didn't react. Harry took a breath and continued. "I am no match for him at the moment. I have survived encounters with him four times now, and I know, if it came down to an all duel, I can't win… yet." Harry added belatedly. Dumbledore still didn't react and so Harry took another breath and finished his request.

"I want to use this year to get stronger and learn more. Regular classes… aren't enough. I am learning of course, but I need to learn to defend myself from the Death Eaters, Voldemort and whatever else he'll use against me. If all it took was regular classes, then the Death Eaters wouldn't be so feared."

Dumbledore picked out another lemon drop and popped it in his mouth before talking. "I understand your desperation to learn to protect yourself and the ones you care about, Harry. Are you prepared to undergo far more intensive classes this year? Are you prepared to take away your last dredges of childhood?"

Harry, for a brief second, hesitated. A part of him was not ready to let go of what childhood he had salvaged here at Hogwarts. Another part of him knew that he never really had a childhood. The Dursleys, Malfoy and Voldemort had effectively taken that away from. Sure, he had the occasional childhood thrills and spills during his years at Hogwarts. But the Prophecy, if the Chamber of Secrets hadn't or if the Dementors hadn't or if the return of Voldemort hadn't, removed the last chance of childhood he would have.

Harry locked eyes with Dumbledore. "Yes," said Harry with determination.

Dumbledore simply nodded and opened a drawer on his right side. He pulled out a piece of a paper, tapped it three times with his wand and put it back in the drawer. Harry gave the Headmaster a questioning look.

"I just let Minerva, Filius, Pomona, Serverus and Horace know that you be taking special classes the year," Dumbledore answered. "I didn't want to believe it would happen, but I expected this. I am, as are they, prepared for you."

"You will be taking regular classes… I assume that Transfiguration, Charms, Defense, Herbology and Potions were the classes you intended to continue?" Harry nodded. "You will be taking regular classes, but to accommodate the extra classes, and to make sure you get a decent night's rest, you won't receive any homework besides the regular note taking you will do so you can pass your written NEWTs next year. Instead you will be having extra classes with each of them to learn more specialized material."

Dumbledore had been looking directly into Harry's eyes as he said all this. It had to be a tactic.

"There is something else you wish to add, Harry?"

"Sir," Harry said, surprised. Whatever happened in the next year or two, Harry found himself wanting to know how to do that. "I want to continue the DA from the last year."

"In a more… official capacity I assume?" asked Dumbledore, a trace of good humor in his voice.

"Would make things a right easier, sir."

"Right you are, Harry. Is there something you wish to add as to the nature of Dumbledore's Army?"

Harry marveled at the Headmaster's perceptiveness and decided to reveal his real purpose, the one that he had figured out over the summer, the one that he had spent two months mulling over in his head.

"The war has its fighters, sir. This generation is growing in the war. The students here, especially the Muggleborns, will be targets. I want to train some people I know I can trust to fight when the time comes." Harry took a breath. "I am not alone in this. Hermione, Neville, Luna, Ginny and Ron made me well aware of that when they followed me to the Ministry in June. Nowhere in the Prophecy does it say I can't have my own group." Harry smiled wryly. "Voldemort has his Death Eaters. The Ministry has its Aurors. You have the Order of the Phoenix. I want to have my own army; an army that will train the rest when the time comes, and help me along the way."

Dumbledore smiled again, this time wistfully. "You're growing up, Harry. Much earlier than I wished, and I am surprised, but pleased, that you have been able to take Sirius's passing and the contents of the Prophecy so well. It will be the way you want it to be."

"Thank you." Harry replied sincerely. He hadn't expected to be so easily accepted.

"However, I recommend you fly under the radar, so to speak." Dumbledore warned. "If Tom finds out you have your own group… they will become high priority targets, as will anyone related to them." Dumbledore paused. "And other students will have more reason to dislike you due to my favoritism."

Harry couldn't help think that was the least of the possible problems this set up could cause.

"Now!" Dumbledore suddenly said brightly. "I believe it's time you went to bed. You have a busy day ahead of you now. I'm sure Ms. Granger at least is awaiting you in the common room. You shouldn't keep her waiting for too long."

Harry, extremely pleased with how readily accepted his requests were, as he had expected a fair bit more resistance, bade goodnight and made his way up to down the staircase.

I have extra lessons. I'll spend this year training so when I see Voldemort again, I'll be ready.

Feeling better than he had for a long while, Harry climbed the stairs to his common room and warm bed that awaited him atop Gryffindor Tower.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Harry winced as he held onto a handrail on one of the many moving staircases as he neared Gyrffindor Tower. He had forgotten the pain until a few minutes ago. His 'welcome' from Malfoy, argument with Ron and Hermione, the feast and his conversation with the Headmaster had drowned out the pain, but now that he was winding down for the night, his bruised knuckles ached whenever he moved them.

Note to self: don't punch people in the face so much.

All things considered, though, today had been a good day. His meeting with the Headmaster had gone well; he'd gotten what he wanted – extra classes and the reformation of the DA. Harry had not expected to be received so well. The Headmaster had always been less than receiving of his pleas before. What was different this time?

With Snape as the Defense Professor this year, the school might actually have an adequate Defense course for once. Given the history, it probably wouldn't last.

Consequently, for this year, they might have a teacher that knew the stuff. So why continue the DA? Snape would let them learn spells. Given his methods in Potions, Snape wouldn't spend much time, if any, on theory.

But students wouldn't get the chance to use their Defense knowledge in any real life situation unless the DA was active. They could practice outside of class freely and bounce ideas, aid and spells off one another. Just one question remained in Harry's mind. Who should he ask to join him?

Harry was forced to put that question on hold when he found himself in front of the Fat Lady. "Uh…"

"Lack the password, deary?" the Fat Lady asked in a tired tone. "No entry then."

As if having being watched, Harry heard footsteps approaching from behind him. He turned to greet the owner.

"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall addressed him. "You don't know the password I presume?" Her mouth twitched in her sole sign of amusement.

"Yes, ma'am, I was with Professor Dumbledore and forgot to ask for the password."

Ignoring his explanation, she continued in what was her actual purpose here. "I've heard that you will be taking extra classes this year to accommodate your… desire to be able to defend yourself. I strongly urge you to give it your all in these classes. I suggest you try and find the same passion for learning that Ms. Granger is so well known for. These classes will be difficult, and I will not alone you to be tardy or unfocused."

"Don't worry, Professor." Harry replied. "I'm motivated." And then some.

Satisfied that Harry had gotten her message, McGonagall turned to leave. "Oh, and the password is 'Cheshire'." The Fat Lady, who had been quiet during the short talk, opened to allow Harry access.

"Thanks, Professor," Harry said and climbed through the portrait door.

The common room looked the same as it always did. Several roaring fires filled the room with comfortable warmth that Harry savored after coming in from the cold castle. On one of the couches in front of the fire that Sirius had poked his head through twice was Hermione. She looked up from a book, which Harry took a stab at and guessed to be the newest version of "Hogwarts: A History". It was rumored to have a paragraph mentioning the Weasley twins' antics from previous years. He had not bothered to find out if it was true or not.

"Hermione?".

There was nobody else left in the room and Harry was mildly surprised that she was still up and that Ron was not with her too.

"There you are, Harry. Ron went to bed already." Hermione said as if reading his mind. "A first year stepped on his foot when the Bloody Baron floated by on the way up," she added to Harry's questioning look. "He… didn't take it well."

Emitting a small snort, Harry sat down next to her on the couch and stared into the fire. "Sorry, Hermione," he began. "For the way I was before the feast."

Hermione studied Harry as he continued to stare into the fire. He felt her gaze and wondered what she was noticing about his demeanor.

"I am too," said Hermione suddenly. Harry turned to her with a question on his lips, but Hermione continued before he could say anything. "For the way I was too. I should be listening to your concerns about Malfoy but some part of me just doesn't want to believe. How could there be a sixteen year old Death Eater amongst us? We're still students! Homework and NEWTs should be on our minds, not how to kill the person across from you."

Hermione lifted her feet off the ground and maneuvered herself to be sitting crossed legged on the couch. She lowered her head, brow furrowed in concentration.

"Hermione?" he asked. "Is there something wrong?"

Hermione sighed and closed the book she was holding, which Harry absently noted was indeed 'Hogwarts: A History'. "I'm worried about you, Harry."

"Why? I mean, that's great someone does, but I'm fine." Harry replied, confused.

"Harry, we left you grieving for Sirius." Harry winced involuntarily. He was not expecting a conversation about Sirius. He felt that he had put the blame where it belonged and was moving on. What could possibly still be wrong?

"When you came to the Burrow… you were dealing from what I could tell. While we were there, you changed. You've never been this… decisive or mature before. Not that I am saying you were immature!" Hermione backtracked when she saw Harry's expression. She sighed. "Can you just let me finish before doing anything?"

Utterly confused, Harry nodded. "When you arrived, we – Ron and I – tried to talk to you about Sirius, but that stupid invention of Fred and George's interrupted us and we never got a chance to really talk again. I wanted to be there to help you when term ended. Then Dumbledore told us we couldn't visit or Owl you."

"Gee that's new," muttered Harry quietly, then quickly apologized for interrupting when Hermione glared at him.

"You were as I expected you to be. I could see it in your eyes, that you were hurting. You prefer to keep your guilt inside of you. But, Harry! It'll eat at you if you don't talk about it. Just talk to me about Sirius please?"

Harry's mind went into overdrive. Hermione was rarely wrong. Had he really moved on? Was he just bottling things up or was Hermione just being strange? That seemed unlikely. This was Hermione after all. She was very rarely wrong.

"What do you want me to say, Hermione?" he asked more coldly than he intended. "I can't do the 'I wish' thing. It won't help anyone to wish he was still alive."

Hermione looked both hurt and angry at Harry's unintentional coldness. "Please, Harry…" she trailed off.

Perplexed at why she pushing the subject, Harry faced her and tried to examine her in the way he felt many adults had done to him over the years.

It didn't help.

"What?" Harry asked as gently as he could.

Hermione looked up at her best friend. "I-I…I need it too." Hermione whispered. She started, realizing what she had said and looked away. Harry looked at her aghast.

"The day you and I saved him was one the most confusing, topsy-turvy, best days of my life." Harry said after awhile. Hermione looked up, shocked, with unreleased grief radiating off her face.

"I know you think that I didn't like him, Harry," Hermione began. "I know you think I disapproved of him because he saw you as a second James and his reckless ways…but I liked him too. He was important to you and therefore to me too."

Hermione changed positions so she had her knees in front of her face with her head resting on them, looking at Harry. When she spoke next, he could hear the tears that she had held in for three months. "There's something I haven't told you. Harry, you were my first ever friend."

Harry stared at her in shock, again.

I was her first friend? Didn't she have friends in Muggle School? Didn't she have cousins or something that she spent time with before Hogwarts?

"My parents were both only children so I don't have any cousins." Hermione said, as if reading his mind again. "My grandparents on both sides are dead and so are their brothers and sisters. My parents and I are the only ones left in our family without having to go back generations to find some distant relatives."

"Because of my crazy hair," to illustrate the point she picked up a bit of bushy, brown hair and flicked it away. "And my large front teeth that I used to have, I was teased a lot in primary school. I suppose because of that I retreated into reading books. I finished everything in my parents' library by the end of my second year of school. I even read the books I didn't understand, just for something to read."

She stopped and smiled wistfully for a moment. "My first piece of magic was the following year. I was reading a series of books that were incredible. Detail, storyline, characters… The final book had recently come out when my parents took me to see the doctor, since I had a really bad cold. In the shopping centre, we passed a book store. I asked my mum if I could get the book I wanted. She said she'd think about it. On our way back, we passed the same store, but didn't stop. Right then, I wished for nothing more than to have that last book."

Hermione looked into Harry's eyes and gave him a small smile. "My piece of magic was a Summoning Charm." Harry blinked, then his eyes widened in understanding.

"Leave it to you to use, for your first piece of magic, a spell that took me until two a.m. the night before the First Task to learn, to get a book, on your first try."

Hermione laughed, and Harry couldn't resist joining it. The two of them kept at for several moments. The tension that had emerged eased.

Before Harry could speak, he heard a creak coming from the female dorms. He turned his head in the direction of the stairs. Hermione had heard it too, but neither saw anyone.

"All that time…" Hermione continued, turning back to Harry. "From when I first arrived at primary school till you saved me from the troll, I spent all my time in books. I still do," she added with a laugh.

Hermione wiped her eyes free of unshed tears. "You're probably wondering what this has to do with Sirius." Harry didn't say anything. Hermione was letting out a part of herself that she had never done before, not to anyone, and he knew enough about the situation to let her speak and not make an idiot out of himself.

Whatever maturity he had gained over the summer just did not help when it came to females.

"You and I share similar backgrounds, Harry," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "I did have a loving family though. Sirius…" she paused, and then rushed out the next part. "Sirius was your last real chance at having a parent, Harry. I wanted so much for you to have what I was able to have. We both were friendless, but I had a family."

"When you told me that Sirius asked you to live with him after we helped him escape, my heart broke. Your last chance at a loving parent was flying away on a Hippogriff and I couldn't do anything to help you. Then V-Voldemort returned and we all half lived at Grimmauld Place. I thought for sure that you'd be able to live as a family with Sirius."

"W-when I found out he had, that Bellatrix had… I felt that you just lost your last chance at a loving parent. All summer, before I went to the Burrow, I couldn't help but imagine what would have happened if my parents didn't love me or I didn't have them. I only made it to Hogwarts because of them. The Hogwarts entrance letter was like a second chance for me. I could go to a whole different world, one where I actually belong and I could make friends for the first time!"

Hermione turned to stare into the fire. A piece of kindling collapsed as the fire ate away at it. Change…

Harry continued to sit quietly, absorbing everything his best friend was telling him. All the things he never knew about her past.

"Then I came here and I was shunned straight away, just like before. My appearance and now my love of learning and reading turned people off before they even got to know me. Even you didn't like me," Hermione added as an afterthought.

Harry couldn't deny that. He had arrived at a place that was so… different from his Dudley shadowed school life and he wanted to enjoy it rather than sit down and study. He didn't hate Hermione. He hadn't approved of how rude Ron was towards her, yet he never did anything about it. Harry Potter was no saint. He was as fallible as the next person.

"I put up with it because this world is so incredible. I couldn't believe I was apart of it and I didn't want to leave. But it never let up. On Halloween, what Ron said was the last straw. I cried and cried and cried in that bathroom for hours till I couldn't anymore. I decided I wasn't going to stay here anymore. I wanted to return home and be a Muggle again. I couldn't bear to deal with another world that hated me. At least in the Muggle world I lived with my parents and not amongst those who hated me."

"Then along came the famous, Harry Potter." Hermione quickly smiled at him and then looked back into the fire. "You saved my life that night."

"I was sure that I was going to die when that troll appeared. I couldn't imagine anyone would rescue me or even care that I had died at this place. I still can't do a thing to repay you." Hermione shook her head, her bushy hair bouncing all over the place. "When you saved me, I knew there still hope for me in this world. So I stayed. I don't regret not leaving, regardless of the danger I get in when I'm around you, Harry."

Hermione turned back to Harry again, and leaned forward. She grabbed Harry's hands and squeezed them, looking into his eyes. "I know you're worried about us for staying with you. I know you don't want anyone else close to you to be in danger."

Hermione moved closer still and grabbed Harry in a hug, taking him off guard. For a moment, his arms were awkwardly held in mid-air. Hermione tightened her grip slightly and he slowly wrapped his arms around her and held her. "I'm not going anywhere, Harry. I don't care if I have to fight Voldemort for the right to stay by your side! Nothing you or anyone else does or can try will change that." She embraced him even tighter for a moment before releasing him.

"The only way I'm not staying with you is if I'm Confunded," Hermione grinned. She then wiped a few more tears off her face and sat back down, a little closer this time.

"Hermione," Harry whispered. "The Prophecy…" He had decided much earlier in the conversation to tell her. He couldn't bear to keep it bottled up anymore. Hermione was the person he trusted beyond anyone. He knew she would keep it a secret if he asked her to.

Then there was what she had just said. She wasn't leaving him. Not ever. The Prophecy wouldn't matter to her, would it? He had to put his trust in her. Trust that she would stick with him through and through.

Hermione had perked up at the mention of the Prophecy. "It got destroyed didn't it? Neville told me that one of the Death Eaters hit him with some spell that made him dance, the Tarantallegra I believe, and he accidentally kicked it across the Death Room." Hermione furrowed her brow again, a clear sign of being deep in thought.

"I still haven't gotten around to giving that room much thought," Hermione continued. "Every time I think of that night I…" she trailed off, reaching up to touch her chest. It was a gesture that went unnoticed by Harry.

"I think the Unspeakables may have been studying destiny," Hermione went on after a moment. "What other reason to keep all the Prophecies in a Ministry construct?"

Hermione's eyes widened as she realized something. She turned on the couch to face Harry properly. "That was only a copy wasn't it? You know it don't you?"

Harry inwardly marveled at her intelligence while nodding. "I do," he stated simply. Hermione gasped.

"Can you tell me?" she asked. Then, "You don't have to! Just… I-if you can…"

Harry leaned forwards on the couch. The fire was still burning strong even though they must have been sitting here for an hour. "Neither can live while the other survives." Harry whispered.

Hermione mouthed the words to herself. "Oh, Harry, does that mean that you have to be the one to kill him?" Harry nodded.

"That's so unfair!" Hermione shouted suddenly, causing Harry to flinch back in surprise and shock. There was a muffled thump from the stairwell again. Neither Harry nor Hermione paid it much attention. "Why…why must something so heavy…why must something so serious be placed on a sixteen year old? It's not fair! You've already had to deal with so much, can't it be someone else?"

Harry had asked himself the same questions over and over. He had been through more than anyone else his age. Nobody around him had had such a difficult life. It wasn't a vain statement, he wasn't searching for pity; it was simply the truth.

"It's okay Hermione." Harry reached out and put his arm around her. He couldn't think of anything else to comfort her. Strange, shouldn't I be the one in tears over this? "I've made my peace with it. I think a part of me has known for awhile now. Why else would Voldemort be constantly after me?" It was a rhetorical question, but Hermione mentioned several other reasons, each as unlikely as the next.

They sat together like that for awhile.

"I asked Professor Dumbledore for special lessons this year, aside from the ones he's already going to give me," Harry told her after awhile. "Instead of homework, I'll be having extra lessons with the Professors to get stronger, so I can fight better. I know I'm no match for him in an all out duel right now... but I will be when the time comes." Hermione grabbed onto Harry's sleeve at this. "I also asked to revive the DA officially and he said yes."

"Seriously?" Hermione sat up and looked at him with excited eyes.

"Seriously."

"Are you going to train us like you did last year?" she continued.

"Yes," Harry began. "But I don't know who I should let in. Now that it is a sanctioned club, I could really take in everyone who was interested. However, it's more complex than that. I now know that I have to be the one to finish off Voldemort, not the Aurors or Dumbledore. Merlin knows what makes me different."

Harry paused, thinking. "I spent a lot of my time at the Dursley's thinking this Prophecy business over and over. What is the point of free will if we all have a destiny? What's the point in having free will if we are already being pushed around the board like chess pieces? Are we just given the illusion of free will to keep us feeling like we have control in our lives?" He shook his head.

"I came to the conclusion that it's free will that enables destiny," he revealed. Hermione gave him a confused look. "Let me explain," he offered.

"Tom Riddle went off after school at some point and turned into the Voldemort we know and love." Hermione refrained from an undignified snort. "Until a short time before Halloween he had never heard of a Prophecy about his life or downfall. Then someone overheard the prophecy in the Hog's Head and ran off to Voldemort to tell him."

"Voldemort had a choice," Harry sighed and leaned back in the chair a bit more. Hermione leaned back with him. "He could've chosen to ignore the Prophecy. He could have chosen to not attack the new born child of a family that had defied him three times. Had he not, there would be no Boy-Who-Lived. I would've been an ordinary boy and Voldemort would not have become a specter."

"How can destiny be fulfilled if the first step isn't taken?" Harry asked rhetorically. "What would've happened to Voldemort if he hadn't come after the Potters? Right now I'm the only who can end this. Before, anyone could have done it as long as he was bested in a duel."

"So, in a way, his free will, the ability to make his own choices, created the situation we're in."

Hermione didn't respond, mulling over Harry's conclusions. It wasn't baseless conjecture at all, despite how it sounded. In a strange way, it made perfect sense. But in others, it didn't make any sense. Philosophy was not something Hermione had had the chance to delve into much. She liked reality.

"My choice right now is whether or not I create a DA where there are dozens or hundreds of students, whoever is interested, or a more limited amount that could help us."

"What do you mean?" Hermione questioned, despite being confident she knew the answer.

"Nowhere in the Prophecy does it say I can't have help." Harry said confidently. "I'm not foolish or hot-headed enough anymore to think that I can beat all the Death Eaters, Dementors and werewolves that Voldemort sends our way. What if I make my own group, my own Order of sorts?"

"Of course we're not going to be on as large a scale as the real Order is, since we are still in school and are underage." Harry conceded. "What if we ask a dozen or so people we can trust to train with us? A dozen or so that are willing to fight the war that the Ministry seems incapable of winning, Prophecy or no Prophecy?"

"This wouldn't be anything like last year. We can't just let in people we don't know. What if there's another Marietta? If we get people to join us in the fight against Voldemort, we'd have to fill them in on everything. A lot of that everything would be information Voldemort would love to have."

Hermione smiled, though Harry didn't notice. She had caught on, unsurprisingly, to his line of thinking. "If the Ministry has its Aurors, Voldemort has his Death Eaters and Dumbledore has his Order of the Phoenix, why shouldn't you have one? That's brilliant, Harry!"

Harry was speechless for a moment, before saying, "Those are pretty much the exact words I said to Dumbledore."

Then Harry sighed and ran his free hand through his hair.

"With the DA… the Sorting Hat is always talking about house unity … I've been thinking of following that advice. Each house has traits that would be invaluable. The problem is that most of Slytherin is in Malfoy's camp so unless you know any non future Death Eaters, that's never going to happen." Harry said ruefully.

Hermione stopped her thought process and glanced up at Harry. "There is one I know who fits the description." Harry cocked an eyebrow. "Honestly!" Hermione said exasperatedly. "She's been my partner a few times in Ancient Runes."

"Who?"

"Daphne Greengrass." Hermione replied determinedly.

Harry's mouth dropped open.

He had come across the girl in question a few times in the halls and heard many rumors regarding one Daphne Greengrass. "From what I've heard she's a… well, a total bitch." Harry felt completely uncomfortable using that word, which was only made worse when Hermione glared at him. "Dean and Seamus's words, not mine." he mumbled in defense.

Hermione relaxed her look a bit. "She doesn't befriend easily. I think it's because she's been labeled as a Death Eater sympathizer because of her parentage and blood. She… isn't modest about it either. Daphne doesn't care enough to correct people."

"Okay then. I trust your judgment. That solves the question of 'which Slytherin to add.'" Harry yawned. It had to be well past midnight and they weren't finished yet.

"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but we should consider each person's usefulness when we decided who to ask." Harry winced. He sounded like he was going to use these people. Maybe, in a way, he was. He was asking them to put their lives on the line to fight against one of the two most powerful wizards known in the world.

"Don't worry, Harry, I understand. You're concerned that some people will be more of a hindrance than a help." Hermione appeased. "Poor choice of words."

Harry was silent, in thought.

"Do you have anyone in mind yet, Harry?"

"Well I don't know who I could trust more than the five that followed me to the Ministry." He grinned. "I suppose you might be wondering who besides the six of us?"

"I have a few people in mind, Harry." Harry shot her a questioning look to which Hermione added, "Well, you mentioned house unity. We should gather more than just one member from each house, right?"

"I don't expect any other Slytherins would fancy fighting side by side with us, even if Daphne would." Harry shuffled on the couch, moving into a more comfortable spot.

Hermione let Harry have his right arm back. He opened and closed his hand, making sure it maintained feeling in there. Pins and needles were a pain.

Unfortunately, Harry had been distracted again and forgot about the pain he had been in on the way back to the Tower. He hissed as it flared up in his hand again. He'd have to see Madam Pomfrey if it wasn't better by morning.

Maybe he should consider reading up on some healing magic. Merlin knew he got more injuries than half the house combined.

"It'll be fine," said Harry, noticing Hermione's inquisitive expression which changed to compassion when she remembered his punch to Bella. "It's just not used to being abused in that way."

"Can I suggest a few people?" Hermione asked, at least temporarily appeased.

"Yeah," Harry said slowly, deep in thought. He flexed his hand again. It didn't hurt as much as the time before. "It's difficult to explain the type of people I'm after…"

Hermione nodded and relaxed back into the couch. "Well, others from Gyrffindor, besides Ron, Ginny, you and I would be… Katie. She trusts you and I'm sure you trust her. She was one of the few to not believe you were Slytherin's heir, second year. It's her last year too. I'm sure she would appreciate the training for her NEWTs." Hermione finished with a smile.

"What about her going to war?" Harry asked pointedly. "Instinct tells me that Voldemort won't be beaten in just a duel. How did he survive the Killing Curse the night he killed my parents? He must have performed some Dark ritual or something to make him harder to kill."

"Since the Philosopher's Stone has been destroyed," Harry went on, voicing his less certain opinions. "He can't have immortality that way. What if he had found a different way? Or, if true immortality is impossible, what if he found a way to survive conventional methods? We have to ask ourselves would these people be willing to fight an enemy that might not die if you shot him in the head."

"We can ask," Hermione shrugged. At Harry's exasperated look, she elaborated. "We can ask if they are willing to fight Voldemort or not. I'm certain everyone understands the risk doing that. If we get yes's, excellent, if no's, then we know they aren't ready for it yet."

"You'll never learn if you don't ask,"

"A personal motto, Hermione?" Harry asked half kidding.

"Not quite," Hermione replied seriously. "I prefer books to questions."

Harry resisted saying 'I beg to differ' and focused instead on continuing their more important topic. "You had suggestions?"

"Let me go through my list."

Harry nodded, inwardly smiling at his best friend's love for lists. Hermione went into her explanation mode. "Parvati and Padma are two possibilities. I talked with Padma a lot last year when we went on patrol and after prefect meetings. She didn't want to believe Voldemort was back when you said so, but knew you weren't any of things they Prophet called you."

Harry was skeptical and Hermione seemed to notice. "There are people out there that are far more observant than you realize. Padma is very intelligent, a polar opposite of Parvati. Parvati is more… err, focused… on looks than fighting. Lavender is the same, which is why they get along so well."

Harry absorbed this information and decided to ask Katie in the morning. There were already six Gryffindor's in the DA; he wasn't after a group of a hundred men and women. Like he had said, he was after a dozen or so trusted people.

"Seamus didn't believe you, obviously. I think those that didn't believe you shouldn't be considered." Hermione paused. "That sounds so insensitive."

"No, you're spot on. Those that didn't believe me over the crap the Prophet droned on about all year, they didn't trust me," Harry consoled her. "Anyway, aren't we being insensitive enough by limiting who can fight with us?"

Nodding absently, Hermione went back to explanation mode. "Dean didn't either, but he was smarter than Seamus and didn't vocalize his doubts. I don't think we should involve any other Gryffindors unless you have suggestions?" Harry shook his head. He didn't speak much with anyone outside of his year, even in his own house. "Ravenclaws then?" Harry nodded and Hermione thought for a moment.

"As much as I think she's crazy, Luna does trust you implicitly and I know you want her in. I trust Padma. She's not like Parvati at all, really; she'll be serious about learning. Padma's a wise woman for her age. She will understand the risks." Hermione paused. "Is there anyone else in Ravenclaw you have in mind?"

"What do you know about Su Li?" Harry asked. He had noticed the extremely quiet Ravenclaw in several of his classes. Su generated an intellectual presence that only could come from a Ravenclaw. Cho and Su were friends, but not one of the 'giggling' ones she was usually surrounded with.

Harry had considered Cho briefly. In the end, their disaster of a relationship had removed almost any chance at a real friendship and Harry felt it would be too awkward to have her involved. Hermione agreed when he mentioned her.

"Very little," Hermione replied. "She doesn't talk to many people, except for Padma."

"She doesn't talk?" Harry repeated.

Hermione gave him a withering look. "I said what I said."

"Michael Corner only joined because Ginny did, so he's out." Harry reasoned, moving on. "I know nothing about Anthony Goldstein either except that he's a bit of a moron."

"Nor do I. So, Luna and Padma from Ravenclaw, and possibly Su are okay?" Hermione confirmed. Harry summoned a scroll and Hermione procured a quill from somewhere and began to list the students mentioned so far.

"And lastly, Hufflepuff," Hermione said as she wrote a heading for Hufflepuff. "So, got any suggestions?"

"Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott spring to mind," Harry suggested. Hermione gave him a soft glare. "What?" he asked genuinely confused.

"Is it just me or are there an increasingly large number of women on this list?" Hermione asked, eyebrow raised and pointing at her list.

Harry had the decency to blush at that comment. "Unintentional! H-Honest, Hermione!"

Most of the evidence of her earlier tears was gone now which made her laugh visibly genuine.

"I happen to agree. You never took much interest in gossiping, naturally. Popular belief is that they both believed you, and adore you for that matter," Hermione said with a grin and a devilish glint in her eye that made Harry squirm. He had very rarely seen that mischievous side of Hermione. Most memorable was when she had said 'breaking rules is kind of exciting!' the previous year.

"I also think Ernie MacMillan," Hermione said. "He believed you when few people did last year. I'm going to use one of Ron's phrases," she visibly shuddered. "He's a bit of a pompous git, but his heart and loyalties lie in the right place."

Harry saw no reason to disagree so Hermione added Ernie to the list. "I suppose that's it," he concluded. "I've never really associated with any others. Let me take a look." Harry took the offered paper and reviewed it.

Gryffindor

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

Neville Longbottom
Ron Weasley

Ginny Weasley

Katie Bell?

Hufflepuff

Susan Bones?
Hannah Abbot?

Ernie MacMillan?

Ravenclaw

Luna Lovegood

Su Li?

Padma Patil?

Slytherin

Daphne Greengrass?

"So there are thirteen of us? That's reasonable." Harry commented. "Having as many as we did last year would be too difficult."

"What exactly do you have in mind, Harry?" Hermione queried.

"Well, whatever useful things I learn in my extra classes I'll definitely pass on, but… if everyone can learn to block their minds from Legilimency then I think I'd like to tell them everything," Harry mused. "Including the Prophecy," he added.

"You want to tell them the Prophecy?" Hermione asked, surprised.

"Eventually, yes, I think I will. Why shouldn't I? Nothing in the Prophecy says that I can't do it alone. The Prophet actually has it right for once; I suppose I am the 'Chosen One'."

Harry took on a serious expression. "I can't tell them everything straight off, can I? What if one of them does betray us, or says no? They will still know everything I've told them and could tell anyone."

"We can limit what we tell them until we trust them enough." Hermione offered. "We will have to give them something; people aren't going to fight Voldemort with us on blind faith.

"Whoever sticks with us deserves to know the full truth," Harry said in a voice that brokered no argument. "I'll tell them…"

Hermione let Harry decide exactly how much he would tell everyone while studying him. He had changed over the summer. He looked pretty much the same, albeit a bit taller and thinner than she had last seen him. Then again, he always grew and thinned during summer. The marked difference though was his personality. He was still the same caring, quiet, sometimes hot-headed young man she left at Kings Cross three months ago. Now however, there was maturity blooming within him. He was beginning to take charge of situations, especially his own life, and being more decisive. He was thinking things through thoroughly. In no way was the change a negative, in fact it was going to make him a better person. Hermione couldn't help but be saddened by this sudden growth of maturity because it meant that Harry had lost the remainder of his childhood and it had stemmed from the loss of a loved one.

Another aspect of Harry that had changed was his perceptiveness. "So, are you and Ron going out yet?"

Completely startled by this question, Hermione started blushing and stuttering, trying to deny it.

"Come now, Hermione." Harry grinned. "I'm not stupid. I know he's fancied you since the Yule Ball, and probably even before then, unconsciously at least."

Hermione continued to blush and looked away. "Y-yes well he and I… I and him… well I think I might fancy him too."

Harry's grin grew. "Really now?"

Hermione didn't respond.

"I'm on your side, Hermione." Harry said. "If you don't want anything to do with him that way, I'll tell Ron to back off and vice versa. Can I offer my opinion?"

Hermione nodded, but otherwise didn't respond.

"Half the time I see you without me around," Harry began a lot more seriously. "You two are arguing and the other half you aren't talking. Are you certain you two could actually work?"

Despite how it may have sounded to an outsider, Hermione could tell Harry was simply worried for her and nothing more. He also had a good point. She and Ron constantly bickered, if not all out argued. Some people around the castle had said they acted like an old married couple. In truth, there were times when Hermione just couldn't bear to be in Ron's presence anymore and so she retreated to the library. She and Ron had never spent an entire day together; even when Harry was unconscious in the Hospital Wing they had spent most of their time apart. At the Burrow they were always surrounded by the other Weasleys. Could she and Ron actually work? She figured she'd have to find out one way or another otherwise she'd waste an entire year, or longer, going after the wrong man.

"I honestly don't know." Hermione whispered. "I don't even know how I could like him. We always bicker… I never even would've been friends with him if he hadn't been your friend when you saved me…"

"Don't worry about it too much, Hermione," Harry said stifling a yawn. "You can always just go on a date and if you two can spend the entire day without killing each other, you can give it a shot."

Hermione gave Harry a small smile and then looked back into the fire. Something about it was captivating.

"Do you think I was a bit harsh in limiting the DA?" Harry asked suddenly.

"No," Hermione replied instantly. "You have seen so much betrayal, dishonesty and evil in your life Harry. You can't trust people as quickly and easily as other people do."

"It's not a bad thing," she added seeing Harry's dejected look. "Trusting too easily leaves people open to being hurt that much more easily, and not trusting anyone will leave you alone and bitter. Maybe that's what happened to Tom Riddle."

Harry nodded, understanding her meaning. "We should probably go to bed. We do have classes tomorrow."

"Oh no!" Hermione exclaimed, her mind going into panic mode. "I haven't even read all of the books yet, what if I get asked something that I haven't read yet?"

Harry chuckled, got up and leaned forwards towards Hermione, leaning on the cushions around her legs. Hermione stopped rambling at his close proximity.

"Hermione, even if you hadn't read half the books, you're still far ahead of everyone in the year. You're the smartest in the year and you're a Muggleborn. Don't let anyone put you down about your origins this year."

Harry sighed. "Malfoy and Snape have gotten away with insulting and favoritism for five years now, I plan to end that. Whether you believe me or not about him, Malfoy is nothing but a spoiled troublemaker at school and it's time that came to an end." That was a half-truth in Harry's mind. Now that Malfoy was a Death Eater, he was worse than a spoiled troublemaker. He was now a spoiled troublemaker who didn't care at all who he hurt to accomplish his tasks. Harboring three Death Eaters would give one that impression.

Harry pushed himself back into a standing position and pulled Hermione up. "Though I didn't actually talk about him, I feel a lot better. Thanks, Hermione." Harry gave her a hug and made his way to the stairs.

"Thanks for listening, Harry." Hermione smiled and made her way to her stairs.

Simultaneously the two said 'goodnight' and Harry climbed his stairs to his bed for the year.

And so we begin, he thought as he dressed for bed. Things will be different this time.

-x-x-x-x-x-

A/N: Originally I had Harry and Ginny get together early on this year and have a brief relationship before they broke up and went their separate ways. I even started to write some of that before I couldn't write anymore. I could not honestly be bothered writing about something I detest so much… To me, it was extremely difficult to justify their relationship so on the Ginny front, there's your daily dose of cliché's, with a slightly different take on things. It also goes a tad too long. Apologies.