"You're going to have to give him an answer at some point, Prongs."
"I'm aware of that Padfoot."
"And it's totally up to you what that answer will be. Cause really, when has other peoples opinions of what should and shouldn't be done effected you?"
"Another fact that I'm aware of Padfoot. But this is different from a pranking a classmate, there could be serious consequences for the kids involved."
"Only if you get caught," Sirius said with a wink. James merely sighed and went back to his thoughts.
Several days had past since Harry, Ron and Hermione asked James about teaching them Defense Against the Dark Arts. In those few days, James' thoughts on the matter had gone back and forth about what his answer would be. His first reaction was that of course he would teach them…then Hermione mentioned involving other students therefore making an entirely different situation. Teaching his son and two of his son's friends was something that could be done quietly without causing too much trouble. Parents were encouraged to teach their children things; James would simply be doing his part. Involving other students meant the risk became that much greater because there would be more students actively defying Umbridge behind her back, something that would not go unpunished if discovered.
"You don't have to give an answer tonight…" Harry had said, sensing his father's uneasiness. James took him up on that offer, promising the teenagers he'd give them an answer after thinking it over.
Once Harry and his friends left, James turned to Sirius who had been silent for some time. When Sirius didn't say anything James had let out a pointed sigh and ran a hand through his hair, a clear sign that he wanted to know what Sirius thought.
"Why do you need time to think? This is a bloody great idea!" Sirius had finally said.
James had tried to explain how more kids would cause more trouble, but Sirius remained firm in his belief that it was a great idea.
The next night there had been an Order meeting at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. James and Sirius flooed to headquarters early so that James could inform Remus of Harry's request before the meeting started. When Remus arrived James quickly pulled him aside and hurriedly filled the werewolf in. All Remus had time to do was raise an eyebrow before other members of the Order of the Phoenix began to arrive and demanded to give James their welcome backs.
"Tell Dumbledore," Remus whispered to James, who was shaking hands with Dedalus Diggle while the said wizard exclaimed over and over how happy he was to see James again.
Once everyone had greeted James and fussed over him, the noise of someone clearly their throat carried over the kitchen causing all eyes to look at the Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry who was standing at the head of the long table.
"I am deeply sorry to have to cut such a wonderful reunion short," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling at James from behind his half-moon spectacles. "But I would like to call this meeting of the Order of the Phoenix to order."
At his words, everyone moved to take their seats at the table. James took a seat next to Sirius and Remus took the seat on the other side of James. For a second James allowed his mind to take him back to past Order meetings…The seating arrangement had been the same then too: Sirius and Remus on either side of him. Lily had always sat across from him complaining that he would distract her if they sat together. Shaking his head to clear himself of such thoughts, James looked up at Dumbledore who had begun speaking.
After Dumbledore had gone over guard duties for the Department of Mysteries, listened to some member's reports of known Death Eater movements, and gave out a few new tailing assignments he began to call the meeting to a close.
"Before we all go our separate ways, or stay and celebrate the return of one of our own I will open the floor to anyone that has something they feel should be addressed."
Remus gave James a hard nudge, clearing indicating Speak up.
"Um," James began unsure of how to explain. He had thought he had more time to plan. "Yesterday Harry asked me if I would teach him and a group of students Defense Against the Dark Arts since they're not learning any real defense from Umbridge."
There was a moment of silence after James had spoken.
"Did you give an answer?" Dumbledore asked.
"No, I said I would have to think it over," said James. There was another moment of silence before Molly Weasley spoke sharply.
"Albus, you can not allow this. Umbridge will surely expel the lot of them should they be caught! And this is their OWL year!"
"Which is why it's so important the kids learn what they are going to be tested on," Said Sirius tersely causing James to at his best friend, shocked that he spoke that way to Molly. They had both known her during the war and liked her exceedingly well.
"And they're learning that from Umbridge. She needs them to pass; it will be a poor reflection on the Ministry if the children fail under their teachings."
"And what about everything that's going on outside of Hogwarts? They need to be prepared! Death Eaters are going to use more grown up spells then those used on the practical exam." Sirius fired back. Molly opened her mouth to argue back but Dumbledore held up a hand to stop their argument.
"There are no rules in Hogwarts that can stop a group of students from getting together and forming a…study group," Said Dumbledore, speaking slowly. "I can not imagine Dolores allowing a study group of Defense Against the Dark Arts, especially a group containing Harry Potter, to continue meeting if it comes to her attention however. If such a group is made, it would be best to keep it from her. Also, the less your hand is detectable in the group James, the better. Cornelius will be most uneasy should he learn you are teaching students to fight and that will cause trouble for many people."
"Yeah, I know," James said while is imagination ran wild full of thoughts of what would happen to Harry should the group be caught.
"The choice is yours then. I will not pretend to hide my wish for my students to be able to protect themselves from the dangers of our time. All I ask is to be kept up to date with whatever your decision is."
After that Dumbledore called an end to the meeting and left to, presumably, return to Hogwarts. Once again there was a rush to get at James as people didn't seem to have gotten enough before the meeting.
James sighed again has his thoughts returned to the present.
"Where would I teach them?" He asked.
"Does this mean you will?" Sirius asked in return, sitting up a little.
"It's a factor of if I will. There is no point in saying that I'll teach them, then have the whole plan fall apart simply because there was no where with enough room to teach them," answered James. Sirius scoffed at this.
"I don't believe I have ever heard such doubt in this castle from you before. This is bloody Hogwarts! There has to be somewhere in this place big enough."
"I guess…" James said trailing off. "It would also depend on how many kids are part of this."
"There are about twenty five people, not counting Ron, Hermione and myself." A voice from the door said. James knew the voice belonged to his son without turning to look. It was the number of kids that was the cause of James head whipping around.
"Twenty five!?" At James' tone, Harry began explaining at once.
"Hermione talked to all these people before I had any clue she was planning on it. And some of the people she said 'she couldn't turn away' when they heard her talking to others. I already told her she was crazy if she expected you to teach so many," James cut him off.
"Don't worry. It's, it's alright. I was just shocked."
"So…have you thought about it?" Harry asked walking over to the couch and sitting down facing his father.
"Yeah, I've thought about it. The thing is kid there are lots of risks in this. I wouldn't put it past Umbridge to do everything in her power to put an end to it."
"We know," said Harry. "But this woman is evil. Doing something this big under her nose is one of the reasons everyone wants to do it…And besides, we're sitting ducks here in school learning nothing."
It was hearing the words 'we're sitting ducks' come from Harry's mouth more then anything that caused James to say,
"I'll do it, Harry. I'll teach you guys."
Harry had proved in past years that he was not the kind to sit in the backseat and that he would effortlessly put himself into danger. If this pattern was going to continue, it would not do to have Harry unprepared. It would not do for James to allow his son to be a 'sitting duck' waiting for Death Eaters or Voldemort to attack and unable to stand his ground when they did.
"You're gonna teach a bunch of teenagers how to defend themselves?" Paige asked as she walked from the kitchen nursing a cup of tea.
"Yep," answered James stretching his arms high above his head. It was nearing midnight and he would have loved to be in bed right now, but Paige had showed up an hour ago and James knew Sirius would kill him if Paige was booted out. Plus when asked how her day was, Paige had answered 'bad' and James knew she came to get her mind off whatever had happened to cause her bad day.
"It should be interesting to see," Sirius remarked smirking whiling thinking of James playing the role of a teacher. At Sirius' words James threw a pillow at his best friend cause Paige to chuckle lightly.
"You do realize you're not going to be able to watch, right Sirius?" As soon as the words left James' mouth he regretted it. Sirius' face grew slightly dark and his fits clenched slightly.
"Yeah James, I did realize that." Sirius said in a tense voice.
"Sirius, calm down," Paige said sternly. "You're not going to be in this hiding situation forever."
"Don't tell me what to do, Paige." Sirius' anger at once moved from James to Paige.
"Then don't get angry at James because he said something about you being in hiding, clearly forgetting how emotional you can be." Paige fired back.
James looked between Paige and Sirius confused. This came out of nowhere. They had been fine for an hour; fine since reentering each others lives the night Paige brought James to headquarters. A little awkward maybe, but nowhere close to yelling at each other.
"Oh and you haven't forgotten me?" Sirius replied his voice dripping with sarcasm. This wasn't what James' expected to hear and judging by Paige's face it seemed she didn't see it coming either.
"What are you talking about?" Ask Paige completely bemused.
"Nothing, nothing at all. I'm going to bed." With that Sirius rose from his chair and stormed to the staircase and quickly descended the stairs. Once he was out of sight, James turned to look at Paige who was staring at the staircase with her mouth open in slight shock.
"What was that about?" asked James.
"No bloody idea," Paige answered him.
"You too have seemed…fine." James went on. Paige snorted humorlessly.
"Seemingly fine, yeah." Paige said standing from her seat. "I'm going to go talk to him… or maybe just hex him." With that Paige followed Sirius' footsteps and walked downstairs.
James sighed hoping things would work themselves out between Sirius and Paige. They kept each other strong and alive in the first war, which made the awkwardness between them odd to see for James. The last time he had seen them together before awakening in his tome they had been holding hands, kissing and James believed there were whispers of love.
Pushing thoughts of his two friends from his mind, James stood and headed up to the study. Since it would probably be best to avoid the bedroom floor James thought now would be as good a time as any to begin making a list of the spells to teach the Harry and his peers in this Defense Group.
A.N- It was a bit of a wait for this chapter, but not as long as the wait for the last chapter right? Please share with me your thoughts on this chapter and everything going on in it. Next chapter will have the conversation/fight between Sirius and Paige. And your reviews will help that chapter come sooner hinthint. They truly make me happy.
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Till Next time.