It seemed like it had taken an eternity. There had been every kind of delay imaginable. But finally, Harry was standing before a group of students, who had placed their trust that he would teach them defensive magic. In truth, Harry had so much more in mind.
"Apologies to you all for taking so long." Harry started as soon as the last student arrived in the Room of Requirement.
"Harry?"
Harry turned to see Hermione looking sort of pensive. "I think we should do a few things first, and get them out of the way," she said. Harry shrugged and let her take center stage.
"Right. I think we should vote on who the leader of our little club is, just so there's no arguments later."
"Are you barking?" Fred shouted.
"Yeah, Harry's our leader." George pointed out. There was a murmur of agreement, to which Hermione simply nodded.
"I agree as well, but we should just make it official. Is there anyone who is opposed to Harry being the official leader of this group?"
No one said a word, nor made any move to contend. Hermione waited a few moments, watching everyone before she gave a small smile. "Right, then. It's official, Harry is our leader. Now, I think that we should have some kind of name for our club, for lack of a better word."
"The Defense League." Someone shouted.
"The Ministry Of Magic Are Morons Group." Fred laughed.
"The Anti-Umbridge Brigade!"
Several more names were shouted out, none of which were very flattering to the Ministry or Umbridge. It seemed the Weasleys, all four of them present, were masterminds on the matter of naming the club, yet none of them really stuck, and it was starting to get a bit out of hand when Hermione cleared her throat.
"Enough." Hermione said loudly. Harry was trying to stifle his laughter, as Hermione regained control of the situation. She gave Harry a glare before continuing.
"I was actually thinking of something that didn't advertise what we were doing, so that we might talk about it outside of this room."
"Why not call it the Defense Association." Cho Chang said proudly, staring directly at Harry. "We can call it the D.A. for short. No one will know what it means that way."
"If we're going to call it the D.A., why not make it stand for Dumbledore's Army." Ginny Weasley asked. "I mean, Fudge already thinks that's what's going on here."
There was more murmuring as the group contemplated the suggestion. Cho looked a bit upset that her idea had been twisted, but she didn't seem to mind how it had been changed either.
"Alright." Hermione said. "Dumbledore's Army it is." Hermione went back to sit next to Neville, who was smiling quite proudly at his girlfriend. Harry stepped up in front of everyone again and all conversation stopped.
"Alright, I thought for tonight I'd give you all a run down of what I have planned. Then, I thought we'd work on Disarming spells."
"Disarming spells?" Zacharias Smith looked incredulous. "We already know that."
"But, can you perform it perfectly every time you cast it?" Harry asked. "Can you disarm an opponent every single time you use it? The best way to beat your opponent is to make sure he can't cast a spell."
"But, Zach's right." Ernie MacMillan said. "We all know that spell. I thought you'd be teaching us, like, advanced stuff."
"Everyone, clear the floor." Harry sighed. "Ernie, you and Zach stay there." Harry was staring both Zacharias and Ernie down as the rest of the group split. "Since you both seem to have the spell down, disarm me then."
Ernie looked to Zacharias, who looked just as nervous as Ernie felt. Both of them drew their wands, just as Harry pulled his own wand out.
"Expelliarmus." Ernie said, casting the Disarming spell. Harry slipped to the left avoiding the spell and casting one of his own. Ernie watched helplessly as his wand was torn from his hand and sailed right into Harry's. Before anyone could blink, Harry had done the same to Zacharias.
"You cannot hesitate. You can't spend time thinking about what you're going to do. You can't ask your opponent to stand still. You need to be able to cast without thinking. One spell may be all that keeps you alive, and it might end up being the most simple spell you know."
Harry tossed the boys back their wands as he turned to address the rest of the room. "Defense isn't about how many spells you have in your arsenal. It's about surprising your enemy. Keep them off balance, don't be predictable. And I don't mean just with magic. We're all going to be learning how to fight like Muggles. We're going to be learning how to use weapons. Death Eaters rely on Magic, we shouldn't. I'm not saying that it will work, but the more we know, the better chance we have at staying alive, or protecting people we love."
Harry was looking at Daphne as he said this. The Slytherin girl nodded at him, a look of understanding on her face. Harry looked at each and every face, each of them mulling over his words.
"This isn't about grades, or tests. It's about staying alive. Do not be fooled by the Ministry. Voldemort is alive," there was a wave of shuddering and Harry shook his head angrily. "Sooner or later he's going to be coming for all of us."
Harry allowed for the silence to hang for a moment so his words could sink in. He then got everyone to pair off and begin disarming each other, while he walked around the room helping people. He was surprised at how bad many of them were at the spell. In fact, other than Hermione, only Fred, George, and Luna Lovegood appeared to be fairly proficient.
"Harry?"
Harry turned to find Cho Chang standing behind him. "I can't seem to get it. Could you help?"
"Daphne!" Millicent called. Daphne tore her eyes away from where Harry was helping Cho with her casting. "I've waiting for you to try."
"Sorry, Millie." Daphne said. She tried to cast the spell and missed entirely. Her mind was clouded with bitter irritation at the Asian girl, who was obviously trying to flirt with Harry. She hadn't forgotten all the trouble she had caused Harry when she'd kissed him in the first week.
"Expelliarmus!"
Daphne felt her wand fly out of her hand, and she was forcibly brought back into reality as Millicent shouted with delight. Not only had she managed to disarm Daphne, but had caught her wand as well.
"Great job." Daphne said as she took her wand back.
"You shouldn't worry." Millie said, patting Daphne's shoulder. "I see how he looks at you. Like you're the only girl in the whole world. Don't worry until you actually have something to worry about."
Daphne had to smile. She watched as Harry gave Cho a pat on the shoulder and turned to help Dennis Creevey, who was partnered with her younger sister. Daphne noticed the way Astoria looked very nervous next to the Gryffindor second year.
"Not to get nosey, but do you think you're sister has a thing for that scrawny kid?" Millie asked, a smirk on her face.
"What can I say?" Daphne grinned. "We Greengrass girls like our men scrawny and sweet. Come on. I believe it's my turn."
Harry kept them at it for three hours when Hermione noticed the time. Harry allowed everyone to leave in pairs, watching the Marauder's Map carefully to make sure no teacher was near the Room of Requirement. As it was so late, Harry was denied the privilege of walking Daphne back to her Common Room. There was no way, even with every secret passages he knew, and the Marauder's Map in his hand, that he would make it back to his own Common Room before curfew, though he was more than willing to risk it.
"No, Harry." Daphne said firmly as she finished kissing him goodnight. "I intend to keep you out of trouble, and if that means I have to walk myself to my Common Room, then so be it."
"Don't worry, Harry." Astoria grinned. "I'll see to it she gets back ok."
"See?" Daphne grinned. "I have an escort. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Fine." Harry conceded . "Next time, I'll make sure we end earlier."
"You'd better not. This was really good." Astoria said firmly.
"Why? Because you are now able to disarm someone, or because you spent the entire time with that little blonde boy?" Daphne prodded. Astoria's face went a brilliant shade of pink and she made a strange squeaking noise. Without a word, she began tugging her sister out the door before Daphne could utter another word.
Harry was left alone with Ron now. They waited a few seconds before they to left the Room.
"It was a really good lesson, mate. And they way you handled Smith and MacMillan. It really made people realize how serious this is."
"I wasn't trying to embarrass them." Harry shrugged. "I just wanted to show them that it could be the easiest…"
"Harry, I get it." Ron cut him off. "I'm glad you're doing things this way. I didn't even realize how weak my Disarming spell was. By the end of the lesson, I was able to disarm Tracey nearly every time. And Neville…I never thought he could cast that well. And against Hermione."
"Everyone did really well tonight." Harry smiled. "I'm anxious to see how they do with Shield charms."
The two boys arrived in the Gryffindor Common Room to be met by a very excited Hermione.
"Harry!" She said as she ran up to her two friends. "You'll never believe it. I was looking out the window and I saw…"
Hermione was practically jumping up and down. Harry looked at Ron who appeared just as confused.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Hagrid's back!" Hermione whispered, her eyes glowing with happiness.
Harry turned on his heel and started walking out of Gryffindor tower. Ron grasped his arm.
"Where are you going?"
"To see Hagrid." Harry said, tugging his arm out of Ron's hand.
"Harry, you can't. It's past curfew now." Hermione said as if Harry had suddenly lost his mind.
"You're right. I'll go get my cloak." Harry said, beginning to head up to the dorm.
"Harry, NO!" Hermione snarled, clutching Harry's shoulders. "I know you've missed him. We all have. But, you can't leave the castle tonight. Filch has got the doors closed for the night by now, and Umbridge is just looking for a reason to get you back in detention. We'll all go see him tomorrow."
"Listen to us, for once, Harry." Ron said calmly. "I'm just as anxious to see the big guy as you are, but if we go now, and get caught…"
Silence fell while Harry thought over everything. He desperately wanted to see Hagrid and find out where his half-giant friend had been all this time. At the same time, he knew Ron and Hermione were trying to keep him safe. He turned to look at them both, each wearing identical looks of pleading on their faces. Slowly, Harry nodded his head. He would wait until the morning to go visit Hagrid.
"Draco, A moment, if you please." Professor Umbridge said as her fifth year class ended. The Slytherins and Ravenclaws were all collecting their books and heading out for their next classes. Daphne spared a glance at the her fellow Slytherin and the hated Defense teacher, before Tracey tugged her along.
"Yes, Professor."
"I wanted to be the one to tell you that you will no longer be having detention with Professor McGonagall. I have overturned the Headmaster's ruling." Umbridge smiled at the blonde, who looked rather puzzled.
"Um…Thank you, Professor." Draco stuttered.
"Yes. I, of course, know you to be innocent. After all, your father is quite an upstanding man."
"Absolutely." Draco said, still feeling wary.
"I find myself in need of help. I need students who are trustworthy and who believe in discipline and order. This institution of learning has become a mockery of itself, and I intend to restore it to it's once proud glory. To do this, I need your help."
"My help?" Draco asked incredulous.
"Yes. I am putting together a group of students to help me monitor the school and help to keep order. They must be upstanding students, who can be trusted not to abuse the power they'll have."
"And what power is that?" Draco asked, his inquisitiveness getting the better of him.
Umbridge smiled. "You will be able to hand out detentions, just like a Prefect, but you will also be able to take away and reward House points."
Draco's eyebrows rose so high they might have been lost in his hairline. "House points?"
"Yes. I will also have other duties for you to perform, as well. I would like you to lead this group."
Draco smiled. "I am honored, Professor. Of course, I will be happy to help you clean this school up."
"Very good." Umbridge clapped her hands together. "Your first job will be to find more students to help us. No more than twenty. Also, I think they should be from prominent families. Pure bloods. I want students who are loyal to the Ministry, do you understand?"
"I do." Draco said, as he thrust his chest out proudly. "I'll get to work on it right away."
"Please bring your candidates to me. Together, we shall have this school cleaned up in no time."
Draco gave a small bow before leaving his Defense teacher. He was shocked at how things had changed so suddenly. He'd only had one detention under McGonagall, and had hated it so much. The way she watched him, so judgmentally. As if she was so much better than he was. She was little more than Dumbledore's stooge.
But now, he no longer had to do those detentions, and he'd been given back his Prefect status. No, he'd been given something better. He could now take away or reward House points. Prefects couldn't do that. Prefects couldn't give detentions either, they could only report offenses to teachers so they could give detentions. Draco was even more powerful than the Head Boy and Girl. He would have other students looking up to him.
It was now very clear to him that Umbridge coming to Hogwarts was the best thing that had ever happened to the institution. Yes, he would help Umbridge. And while he helped the High Inquisitor, he would help himself.
Draco had a score to settle, and now it looked like he would have the means to get back at Daphne Greengrass.
It was one of the most difficult things he'd ever had to do. Harry could not concentrate on any of his subjects because all he wanted to do was to go and see Hagrid. The half-giant had not been at breakfast, but neither was Professor Grubbly-Plank.
He didn't have Care of Magical Creatures today, and he did not know any one who did. Harry's neck was in serious risk of snapping off his head with as much as he kept turning it during lunch, hoping for a glimpse of his first friend in the world. Every time he passed a window that he knew looked out on Hagrid's hut, he checked to see if there was still smoke coming from the chimney.
Finally, when classes were finished, Harry, along with Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Daphne all raced down to the half-giant's hut, where Harry began banging loudly on the door.
The smile that appeared on his face when he heard Hagrid's great boarhound's loud barks was something Daphne could not remember seeing. He looked like Astoria at Christmas. That smile intensified as they all heard sounds coming from the cabin, and finally the voice of the long lost groundskeeper.
"Out o' the way yer dodgy mongrel."
Daphne had only had a few encounters with the Hogwarts Groundskeeper, and had found him somewhat oafish. At the same time, she knew him to be a kind and well meaning man. She had heard stories about the man through Harry, and knew how important Hagrid was to her boyfriend.
"Ah bin expectin you three." Hagrid smiled as he opened the door to his cabin.
"Oh, Hagrid." Hermione said, her hands covering her mouth. "What happened to your face?"
What little of Hagrid's face that wasn't covered with hair, was a mass of purple and black bruises. His left eye was nearly swollen shut. There were fresh cuts on his face and hands. Hagrid waved off Hermione's concerns.
"I'm fine, don yeh worry. Come in, come in!" Hagrid waved them all in. "So good ter see yeh."
The five students stepped into Hagrid's hut and took seats. Harry and Daphne shareed a chair, while Hermione and Neville took another. Ron had a seat to himself, and Fang immediately laid his head on Ron's lap, his doleful eyes bright as Ron patted the dog's head.
"Where've you been, Hagrid?" Harry asked as the mountain of a man bustle about making tea.
Hagrid turned and gave a wary look at Daphne and Neville and then shrugged. "I don know if I should be telling yeh tha." Hagrid said. "At least not in mixed company."
"So sorry." Harry said shaking his head. "Hagrid, this is Daphne Greengrass. My girlfriend."
Hagrid nearly dropped the mugs he was setting on the table. "Girlfriend? Since when 'ave you got a girlfriend, 'Arry?"
"Since nearly the start of the year." Harry said wrapping an arm around Daphne, who settled her head on his shoulder. She was feeling desperately uncomfortable under the half-giant's gaze.
Hagrid appeared to be sizing the girl up for several moments. Daphne noticed both Ron and Hermione watching with bated breath. Daphne herself wondered what Hagrid's judgment might mean for her in Harry's world.
"I imagine yeh've gotten a bit o' trouble for crossing House lines, eh?" Hagrid asked. Daphne gave a weak nod, which Hagrid returned.
"I don't mean to sound prejudiced or nuthin like tha, but you Slytherins do tend to stick to your own. If you don' mind my askin', why 'Arry?"
Daphne cleared her throat, and sat up. "I don't know if there's really one answer to that question, Professor Hagrid. I've liked him for a long time. I had a lot to prove to him when we first started getting to know each other, but while he was getting to know the real me, I got a look at the real Harry, and that's the boy I fell for. Maybe if there weren't houses, there wouldn't be those stupid house lines, and I would have gotten to know Harry much sooner."
"Hagrid, I trust her as much as I trust everyone else in this room. She's proven to me beyond any doubt that she really cares for me. If I trust her, you can too." Harry said.
Hagrid looked over at Hermione, as if he was going to ask a question, when he saw her gripping Neville's hand.
"You and Neville?" The half-giant's beetle black eyes looked as if they might pop out of his head. "Yeh all grew up while I was away."
The half-giant looked to Ron, who was scratching Fang behind his ears, making the dog's back legs twitch. "Wha about yeh, Ron? Have yeh got yerself a young lady now, too?"
Ron's face burned crimson, and he shook his head. "Not at the moment."
"Well, not to worry yehself. Your brothers didn't date too much when they were your age, either. In fact, Percy was the only on to have a girlfriend while they were in school."
"Hagrid, where've you been all this time?" Hermione asked, changing the subject to save Ron further embarrassment.
Hagrid shook his great head. "I already told yeh, I can't be telling any of yeh."
"Did you find the giants?"
Hagrid spun so fast, Harry thought for sure he was going to fall over. "How…How…"
"It was kind of obvious, if you think about it." Ron said, shrugging. "Who better to go talk to them than a half-giant?"
Hagrid looked nervously at them all, lingering on Daphne.
"Why did it take you so long to get back?" Hermione asked. "And what happened to you? Did the Giants do that to you? Have you been held captive?"
"No, no, no." Hagrid said firmly, waving his hands in front of him as if he were swatting at bats. "No, nothing like tha." Hagrid heaved a great sigh and sat heavily in the only remaining seat that creaked a bit under his weight. "Too bloody nosy fer yeh own good." Hagrid muttered. "I've said it a hundred times. Alright, I'll tell yeh, but I'm warning yeh all to keep it between yeh." Again he eyed Daphne in particular.
Hagrid spent the next hour filling them in on his adventures through Europe with Madam Maxine. Harry and the others could tell he was trying to be very vague, but he ended up telling more and more as the youngsters prodded the information out of him. Though he sounded troubled by sharing the story, there was an obvious spark in his eye, that told them all he was quite proud of them. They hung on his every word, as they heard all about his experience trying to open relations with the giants, and the ultimate failure when Death Eaters showed up.
"You're not telling us everything." Harry accused. "Madam Maxine made it back by the start of term. Something else happened, didn't it?"
Hagrid looked out his window nervously, but shook his head. "Nothing yeh need to know. Now, tell me about wha's bin goin on around here. Dumbledore was pretty hazy on the topic last night."
"You saw Dumbledore?" Hermione asked, looking confused.
"Yeah, right after tha Umbridge woman informed me she'd be inspectin' me classes. Dumbledore told me to beware of her. Said she's working for Fudge. Dumbledore reckoned I should try and keep it simple this year."
"And he's right." Hermione was out of her seat. "She's a horrid woman."
Hermione was joined by the others in informing their friend of Umbridge's one-woman crusade against Harry and all the things that had happened since the start of term. Hagrid became truly outraged when he learned of the new Defense teacher's detention methods, and demanded to see the scar on Harry's hand.
"Did yeh not go to another teacher?"
"Hagrid." Harry sighed. "It's been made quite clear what will happen to me if I open my mouth."
"Besides, she's got the Minister behind her." Ron snapped.
Hagrid shook his great bushy head, muttering about the corruption in the Ministry. Harry smiled to Hermione, who was grinning as well. Harry gave his girlfriend a squeeze, and she smiled at him. She knew that she was an outsider in this group, and she could tell from Neville's silence, and his awkward looks that he was feeling just as strange as she was. But at the same time, she felt exhilarated. Harry had wanted her here with him. She had been accepted by the man whose opinion seem to matter the most to Harry, despite the fact she was from Slytherin House.
Daphne knew there was more going on than she knew, and she also knew she was not going to be told everything. She had kept her questions to herself during Hagrid's tale, as she had been frightened of making the half-giant nervous. She didn't like the thought of being kicked out because Hagrid thought she was from a family of Death Eaters. She could tell by his occasional looks of suspicion that even though Harry trusted her, Hagrid was still suspicious.
Daphne knew from the beginning that she was going to have to constantly prove herself to people who Harry felt were important. The experience with Ron had proven that. But she knew he was worth it. She loved him, and she would do anything to keep him in her life.