Chapter 2: Defense Against...Woolly Hats?/ The Anti Toad-Face Association

Four years later…

"Ron get off of him, you'll get into trouble and he's not worth it!" Esmerelda exclaimed.

Ron continued shouting as he was dragged off Malfoy by Fred and George. A crowd had begun to gather where the two boys had been.

"Bloody ferret was asking for it though, wasn't he. Calling Hermione a Mudblood. Who does he think he is?!"

Esmerelda had to agree. Hermione was one of her best friends and having to hear people - mainly Malfoy - say such things about Hermione frustrated her. "I mean you're not wrong, but just be careful. We're still in the dungeons and if Snape had seen that you know full well you'd have been given detention for life and that Malfoy would have gotten away scot free."

"And he would've taken fifty points from Gryffindor to boot," Fred added.

Ron shrugged and looked down at the floor.

Esmerelda started, "Next time, if you're planning on setting upon Malfoy, just make sure it's somewhere more private." She winked at Ron and saw him smile back at her.

Ron and she had always got on well because in many ways they were similar. For starters, they both had a mischievous streak that often saw them getting into trouble. Harry seemed to possess this particular trait as well (one that Hermione massively disapproved of most of the time. Not that that stopped their scheming of course.) Additionally, they both knew how it felt being so close to The Boy Who Lived. With Ron being his best mate and Esmerelda being his cousin, attention had always been drawn to them wherever they went. But it was Harry who was always the centre of attention. However, neither Esmerelda nor Ron held this against Harry of course. It wasn't his fault he always drew attention wherever he went, and they both knew he'd swap it all in a heartbeat to have a proper family. And ever since Esmerelda had found out that she and Harry were related four years ago, she'd tried her best to be just that. Esmerelda had hoped that after their discovery in first year, Harry would have been able to come and live with her, but Dumbledore had said something about Harry being safest under the protection of his muggle aunt and uncle and had left it at that.

"C'mon then Esmerelda," Ron started as he flung his arm around her shoulder, "it's lunchtime and I'm bloody starving."

"What else is new," she retorted. As Ron steered her up the stairs to the Great Hall, she glanced back and saw Malfoy and his cronies slinking away, presumably back to their common room. Before she turned back, she briefly caught his eye. He quickly looked away and then down before muttering something to Crabbe as they turned the corner.

They sat down at the Gryffindor table and helped themselves to the cottage pie in the middle of the table. Fred and George were sat opposite and had already almost finished their pie. They seemed to have arrived before them, having only minutes ago been restraining their brother after he had lunged at Malfoy in the Potions corridor.

"Where have you two been? We finished lessons ages ago," enquired Hermione.

"Long story," Esmerelda replied, looking at Ron. Harry raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Malfoy," Ron muttered into his cottage pie.

"Ah," Harry replied but Hermione looked concerned.

"Nothing to worry about," Esmerelda said, "it's all fine now." She glanced sideways at Ron who still looked a bit like he wanted to tear Malfoy's head off. "Malfoy's a prick, we all know this. He was trying to wind Ron up as per usual and it got a bit heated is all."

Hermione still looked worried, but she knew to let it go. If she asked too many questions Ron might get even more worked up. "Okay so I've been thinking about these Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons…"

"Not this again! Hermione, no one in their right mind is going to want a fifteen year old to teach them how to protect themselves. I'm not a teacher," Harry interjected.

"Look, Harry, you may not be a teacher but you're certainly more than qualified to teach us about the Dark Arts and how to protect ourselves against them. You've faced evil, escaped and won. That's a hell of a lot more than the rest of us can say for ourselves."

"Besides," Ron added, "old toad face Umbridge is a proper teacher, and she certainly isn't teaching us anything worthwhile. So, where's the harm? You can't be any worse than she is."

"Thanks Ron," Harry replied sarcastically.

"No he's right though Harry and you know it. So stop being so bloody modest and let Hermione create this defense group will you." Esmerelda glared at Harry. She knew he'd cave if she stared for long enough. A few more seconds passed.

"Fine! I'll do it. But Hermione, you need to tell people. It'll be a bit weird if I go around asking people if they want me to teach them spells."

"No problem. Ooh, I'll make a list of potential askees now. I'm just going to head to the library. See you later." Before they knew it, she'd grabbed her bag and she was off.

Esmerelda chuckled, "I don't think I've seen her that excited over a project since she started lobbying for SPEW last year."

Ron stared open eyed in dismay, "Oh Merlin, don't even get me started."

…..

A week later, Esmerelda and Hermione were sitting on her bed, attempting to write a particularly long and particularly boring essay on the Goblin rebellion. Esmerelda couldn't remember which one. Hermione was obviously having more luck, being the more academically minded of the pair. Esmerelda was fairly bright, and did okay at school, but lacked the attention span or patience required for doing such trivial things as homework. Hermione, as her best friend, was always offering to work together with her in an attempt to steer her down a better path. She was very grateful for Hermione's help, but felt that Hermione was, in some ways, fighting a losing battle. Today was one of those days.

"So, Hermione," Hermione glanced up from her essay, which was already at least twice as long as hers, "how have you been getting on with the Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons? Anyone interested so far?"

Esmerelda knew she'd thoroughly managed to derail Hermione now, and that all thought of the essay would be forgotten, at least for a little while. Hermione animatedly told her about all of her plans so far for how she thought they might meet and what she thought Harry should teach. It was all very impressive actually, and Esmerelda found herself getting excited over the prospect.

"So who have you managed to rope in so far then?"

"Well we've obviously got me, you, Harry and Ron. I've mentioned it to Fred, George and Ginny who are all very keen. I think a few of the Quidditch team are interested too like Katie and Angelina and a few others. Oh, and Neville. And I've also managed to ask some people in other houses. I think there are a few Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws who may want to join too!"

"Wow that's brilliant, you've done so much already in just a week. You certainly do get the bit between your teeth when you're passionate about something, Hermione. I think the house elves are only just recovering from your attempts to liberate them last year."

"Haha, very funny," Hermione retorted, rolling her eyes.

"No but really, you've done a brilliant job here. Harry's going to be really impressed."

Hermione smiled. "Thanks."

"Just promise me one thing though Hermione."

"What's that then?" she replied.

"No knitting woolly hats and socks this time please. I don't think I'd look quite as fetching in them as Dobby did."

Laughing, Hermione leant over and pushed her off the bed.

….

That Saturday was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year. While countless other students were planning where they were going to go shopping, or when they would meet up for a butterbeer, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Esmerelda were planning how they were going to pull this off.

"I've arranged for us all to meet in the Hog's Head, so that we're less likely to be spotted by anyone from the school," Hermione explained.

"Isn't that the pub on the edge of the village that smells like old people and goat piss?"

Harry and Ron snorted.

"Charming, Esmerelda, but yes, that's the place. I've asked everyone to meet us there at midday. Should give us plenty of time."

Harry was looking apprehensively at the others. "I don't know how I'm going to do this. What am I meant to say to them?"

"You'll be fine Harry honestly, and I'll do most of the talking anyway," Hermione reassured him.

….

"So, thank you all for coming," Hermione addressed the room. "You all know why we're here. We need a teacher. A proper teacher. One who has actual experience with the dark arts. Not one who is going to deny what is going on in the world and force us to spend the year reading out of a textbook."

Nods of agreement filled the pub.

The meeting went on for a while, and it took time for some of the attendees to be brought around to it, but eventually, everyone in attendance agreed that they'd be a lot better off being taught by Harry than by Professor Umbridge.

"So what should we call ourselves then?" Ron asked the room.

"The Defense Group?" someone suggested.

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts society?" Neville shouted out.

"What about The Anti Toad-Face Association," Fred offered up. There were quite a few giggles at that one, and some nods of assent.

"As much as I think that has a nice ring to it Fred, it should probably be something a little bit more professional sounding, right Hermione?" Esmerelda asked.

"Yes definitely. We want to take this seriously, so we should have a proper name."

"Worth a try," Fred replied, catching Esmerelda's eye and smiling slyly.

"Spoilsport," George chimed in.

Cho suggested, "The Defense Association? The D.A for short, so nobody knows what we're talking about."

"Yeah, the D.A's good, only let's make it stand for Dumbledore's Army," Ginny said. "It's what Fudge and the Ministry fear the most, isn't it?"

"I like it," Harry stated. So that was settled.

Half an hour later, 28 students were signing their names agreeing to become a part of Dumbledore's Army.

….

Author's Notes:

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far! These first two chapters are setting the scene, I promise Fred will be making more of an appearance in the next chapter!