Okay, so… I Basically bullied myself into writing the first paragraph of this chapter. I re-write it like, four times because I didn't like how it came out. Though, I eventually got the hang of writing again, and the rest of this chapter appeared. I think I've gotten some motivation back, so updates might be more frequent than I thought. This is still a bit shorter than I'd like it but whatever.

I also haven't written anything for this story (with the exception of the chapter 13 bonus) since March, so it might seem a bit off.

I'd also like to thank Schattenfluch for the really nice review, it caught me at a low point in my day and made me smile, so thank you.

The Magical Room With Really Arbitrary Rules About Accessing It.

Gilbert told Roderich that Harry's owl had been attacked by Umbridge some days earlier. This made the nations worry. How were they to notify Arthur what was going on? Luckily, they had so much homework and other things to worry about that none of them paid it much mind. Arthur could wait.

-Linebreak-

Roderich was not looking forward to the second defense club meeting. Sure, it was bound to be interesting, but he wasn't all that great a magic and if anything, it would give Gilbert an excuse to make fun of him. Fortunately, the meeting was postponed until they found a place to hold said meeting.

Unfortunately, they found that place pretty quickly. He was told to visit the seventh floor, near a portrait of some wizard (Elizabeta had surely told him who was painted, but he had a habit of forgetting names). He was to pass it three times asking in his head for a place to practice defense against the dark arts in secret.

He met up with Ludwig, Lilli and Basch (who was so petty as to refuse to acknowledge Roderich's arrival) and they followed the instructions given, trying to look casual (about as casual as one can when walking in circles).

On the third time, a large ornate door appeared. Roderich had seen this exact same thing happen earlier in the year!

He had seen the room appear when he really wanted his piano! Did the wizards create a room that only shows itself when you really need it? But then why would you have to walk past it three times?

They entered the new room and found about a dozen other people already there, including Gilbert and Elizabeta. The room no longer held a piano and books filled with sheet music. Instead, shelves of thick, dusty books lined the walls. Some shelves held frightening looking devices that whirled and whizzed around on their stands, and the floor was littered with pillows.

Roderich was taking everything in when the meeting started. He would have looked for longer, but Elizabeta elbowed him in the side as everyone started raising their hands. What were they doing that for? Oh, shoot, what had he missed? He raised his hand, not wanting to be left out.

Harry was blushing a bit. "Er- right, thanks. And- what, Hermione?"

"I also think we ought to have a name. It would promote a feeling of team spirit and unity, don't you think?" She must have thought this out.

People started throwing out suggestions for club names. The Anti-Umbridge League, the Ministry of Magic Are Morons Group, and the Defense Association, the last of which was approved of by many. Then, someone threw out Dumbledore's Army due to the Ministry's fear of Dumbledore and his nonexistent army.

Hermione asked for a vote, and pretty much everyone put their hands up. Roderich liked the idea of naming the club after the Ministry's worst fears, it seemed to fit with what they were doing, which was defying the Ministry.

Harry started issuing instructions in an uncomfortable manner. Maybe he hadn't been in a position of authority before? Nevertheless, he told them to divide into pairs, and he obliged, perhaps a bit to late, because Lilli had paired with Elizabeta, and Ludwig was with Gilbert. That left Basch, who looked at Roderich as though Roderich was the last person he would want to talk to.

Reluctantly, Roderich asked if he wanted to partner up. Basch agreed, and they took positions opposite each other.

"One... two... three!"

Roderich's wand was immediately thrown from his hand into a pile of books behind him. Basch looked smug. The next time Harry said "three" however, Basch's smile was wiped off his face as his wand went flying. Roderich was the one to look smug, now.

They went on like this for quite some time and, although both would say otherwise, Roderich and Basch enjoyed the back and forth spell casting. Roderich could here Lilli and Elizabeta laughing beside him, and Gilbert was being his usual loud self. Even Ludwig was smiling. This was the happiest he had seen any of them in a long while.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end (Roderich really disliked that phrase). Before anyone knew it, it was past nine at night and past their curfew. They were allowed to leave in groups based on their houses, Basch left first by himself, considering he was the only Slytherin, and then the Lilli, Ludwig, and the Hufflepuffs.

Roderich and the Ravenclaw were the next to leave, and he met up with Luna on their way to the common rooms.

"Interesting lesson, huh." She whispered.

"Mmhm." He hummed. "Very interesting."

"You seemed to know what you were doing. You and the Slytherin were both quite good."

"Thank you. You were quite good as well."

She laughed, "you didn't see me, but thank you anyway."

He smiled, "You're quite right. I didn't have the opportunity to see how you were doing, but I am sure you did well."

She grinned widely. "Thank you. For someone of your kind, you're rather nice!"

Roderich's heart stopped.