I do not own Harry Potter. Charlotte Potter, most of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team members and Arielle Hopson are my OCs.

The Formation of Dumbledore's Army

In the flurry of activity during Charms class the next day, Hermione and Charlie informed Ron of the close call with Umbridge. Charlie had wasted no time the previous night in informing her brother, interrupting his slumber with rather frantic telepathic thoughts.

"But how could she possibly have known?" asked Ron in disbelief, only half-attempting to practice the Silence Charm on the raven in front of him.

"She must have been the one who attacked Hedwig," said Hermione firmly. "She must be trying to read our mail!"

"But why Harry?" asked Charlie.

"Well, it's quite obvious that he's close to you. And you also don't have an owl, so there's a good chance that whenever Harry sends Hedwig off, it might be a letter from you or the content of the letter has something to do with you."

"If I didn't think she was out to get me before, I certainly do now," muttered Charlie. She gave her wand a sharp jab and said moodily, "Silencio."

"But how did she know about the fireplace?" persisted Ron. "There was nothing in the letter about that."

"You said that McGonagall warned you that the communication channels of Hogwarts are being watched," pointed out Hermione. "Umbridge probably kept an eye out for most of the evening."

"Can't even talk to my own godfather these days," grumbled Charlie. "What's wrong with this world?"

"Umbridge," returned Ron flatly.

"Miss Potter, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley," called Flitwick from his observing position at the front of the room. "Less talking and more practicing, please."

"Silencio," tried Ron, jabbing at his raven. The bird retaliated by snapping at his finger. "Ouch! It bit me!"

After another hour of Charms, the bell rang. The weather outside was atrocious, a sheet of rain pounding down on the castle. The three decided to spend their break in the library, and when they walked inside the relatively crowded space, they found Harry at their usual table, writing on a piece of parchment.

"Hey," greeted Charlie as she and the others dropped down into the chairs.

"Hey." Harry glanced up with a smile. "How was Charms?"

"We spent more time talking then practicing," said Ron.

Harry arched an eyebrow. "Isn't that how it normally goes?"

"Very funny," said Hermione. "I had a theory."

"I don't like theories," complained Harry. "They always start trouble for us."

"Like we're not going to get in trouble anyway this year," snorted Charlie.

"I was thinking that Umbridge is the one who attacked your owl, Harry."

The boy's eyes narrowed. "You really think so?" he asked, voice laced with anger.

Hermione nodded. "You remember what happened last night? The only way she could have known is if she tried to grab Hedwig. And remember what you said about Filch trying to confiscate your letter because he got a tip-off about you trying to order Dungbombs?"

"You think Umbridge was the one who gave Filch that information?" asked Charlie.

"She couldn't do it herself, without it being slightly suspicious. But Filch? He does that kind of stuff all the time," explained Hermione. "Umbridge could have tried to use him to get the letter."

"Looks like we're not sending any mail anytime soon," sighed Charlie.

"Charlie!" The girl looked up to see Eliza hurrying towards her, an eager smile on her face. "Guess what!"

"What?"

Eliza halted next to the raven-haired girl and beamed. "We have permission to re-form the Ravenclaw team!"

Charlie's eyes lit up. "No way!"

"I talked to Professor Flitwick, and he appealed to Dumbledore. Of course, what could Umbridge say? She didn't have much of a choice. We've got a practice at seven tonight on the pitch, okay?"

"Got it. See you then."

Eliza skipped off and Ron cast a glance at the downpour. "Here's hoping this lets up."

"Did Alicia get permission to re-form your team?" questioned Hermione.

The redhead nodded. "Pretty much as soon as she could. Umbridge granted permission the next day."

"I don't recognize your new Chaser. What's her name?"

"Arielle Hopson," supplied Ron. "I think she's a second-year. Maybe third. She's all right."

"Did your team get re-formed?" Charlie asked her brother.

"Yeah," answered Harry. "Umbridge didn't take long to give her permission."

Charlie furrowed her brow thoughtfully. "My brain has left me. Who's your team captain?"

"Uh…" Harry rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "That would be Zach."

"That prat?" exclaimed Ron. "How did he become Quidditch Captain for the Hufflepuffs?"

"He was pretty close to my previous captain, and despite his attitude Zach isn't a horrible captain." Harry shrugged. "It's not so bad."

"I'll believe it when I see it," said Ron dubiously.

"When is your next practice?" Charlie directed towards him.

"Tomorrow." Ron stared at the tabletop, his mood dipping slightly.

"I'm sure you'll do fine," assured Charlie.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask," said Harry. "How are your brothers doing with their Skiving Snackboxes?"

"Well, they've stopped experimenting on students, to my knowledge," answered Ron. "But they aren't discouraged from using themselves as test subjects. They've got some boils in not-so-desirable places. But I think they're making good progress."

Harry glanced over at Hermione, who appeared to be lost in thought. "What, no protests from you? The twins are about to unleash a product that will distract the student populace from their studies."

The bushy-haired girl looked over in surprise. "Huh? Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something."

"Obviously." Ron rolled his eyes. "What about?"

Hermione bit her lip. "I've just been wondering…is it really a good idea to continue with our idea?"

Harry pointed his quill at her. "Uncle Remus is actually allowing me to go through with this. Don't tell me we're suddenly calling it quits when I have permission to do something I normally would get in trouble for otherwise."

"But…well, Sirius is encouraging us in this endeavor."

Charlie arched an eyebrow. "This is a problem?"

Hermione squirmed uncomfortably. "It just kind of feels that he's trying to live through us, now that he's found you. This seems like the kind of stuff the Marauders would have done when they were in school."

"I think you're overthinking things," said Harry.

"Yeah," agreed Ron. "Sound a bit like my mother, actually. Try not to do that."

"You came up with the idea, insisted on it, and now we're going through with it," said Charlie, slightly annoyed. "We're not stopping just because you don't trust Sirius' judgement."

Hermione turned red and she yanked out her textbooks with a little bit of force. "Fine," she said tightly. "Let's just start our homework."

As Charlie dug out her own books, she couldn't help but feel that maybe Hermione had a point, though she didn't say another word for the rest of break.

…

Charlie met up with Cho in the common room and the two set off for their practice. Cho eyed the sparkling blue and bronze Quidditch robes her teammate wore in interest. "Those are really pretty. Where'd you get them?"

"Ron gave them to me for Christmas a few years ago," answered Charlie with a smile.

Cho looked impressed. "He's got good taste."

Charlie laughed. "I think his mother might have had a hand in it."

The two stepped out the castle doors and Cho groaned as they were instantly assaulted by what felt like a wave of water. "Shouldn't there have been a cancellation?"

"You kidding? This is Quidditch. There's no cancelling practices or games because of a little weather."

They went down the stone steps, which were slick from the rain. Cho's foot slid out from under her and she fell backwards with a shriek. Charlie attempted to grab out for her, but the weight sent them both down. They tumbled down the steps on their bottoms and ended up in a sprawl on the pathway.

"Ow, ow." Charlie struggled to her feet, though it was difficult due to the fact she was shaking with laughter. "You okay?"

Cho nodded, an embarrassed grin on her face. "Fine. Sorry, I can be quite the klutz."

"So can I. Let's try to make it to the pitch without injuring ourselves further."

They trudged through the rain, picking their way across the sodden grass and squinting through the heavy curtain of rainwater. They finally reached the changerooms, where the rest of their team members were waiting.

"Eliza is crazy," said Tommy the second the two girls walked in. "There's no way we can practice in this."

"We've done it before," said Charlie.

"That's what I've been telling him," said Aurora from where she lounged on the bench. "But he's in a complaining mood."

"Look, playing games is one thing, but practicing? It's ridiculous!"

"I know it's not really the perfect weather for Quidditch practice," said Eliza, stepping out from the captain's office. "But we have a game in three weeks. We have to be ready."

"How are we supposed to see anything in this?" complained Clancy.

"We can try the Impervius," suggested Charlie. "I used it once before, on my friend Harry's glasses."

"Genius!" exclaimed Danny.

Eliza nodded with a pleased smile. "All right guys, cast the Impervius Charm and let's get on the pitch."

The seven members chanted "Impervius!" and strode out to the Quidditch pitch, brooms in hand. They wrestled their way through the mud, and though they all had cast the Impervius Charm the visibility was still poor—the rain swept across the grounds and the little light that was left was rapidly fading.

"That charm didn't do jack!" hollered Tommy.

"On my whistle, guys!" called Eliza.

Charlie could barely hear the whistle blast over the howling wind. She kicked off from the ground and the wind instantly tried to buffet her around the pitch. An iron grip on her broom, she tried her best to move with the wind as she kept an eye out for the Golden Snitch.

The familiar whistling of an oncoming Bludger caught Charlie's attention and she hastily performed a quick climb a split-second before it would have smacked into her. "Who's trying to kill me?" she cried.

"Sorry!" called Clancy. "I thought you were Aurora."

"I'd knock your head in if I could find you!" Aurora shouted.

"Marco!"

"Shut up, Danny!" snapped Tommy. "Eliza, this is stupid!"

"Humour me," begged Eliza, who seemed to be somewhere near the goalposts, no doubt attempting to help Cho train.

For the next hour, they flew about in the rain, running into each other and Aurora's curses being as loud as the howling wind. By the end of the practice they were completely soaked, and when they entered the changeroom a puddle soon grew on the tiled floor.

"That was fun," said Tommy sarcastically, snagging a towel and drying himself off as best he could.

Charlie gratefully accepted the towel Cho handed her and rubbed at her face.

Ouch!

She managed not to utter her cry of pain aloud by biting down on the fabric of the towel. Her scar seared with a burning pain, stronger than it had ever burned before.

"See you guys later!" said Clancy, pulling his cloak tight around him and starting off with Danny and Tommy.

Charlie pulled her face from the towel and waved at her departing team members. Cho paused by the door and glanced at her curiously. "You coming?"

"I'm going to rest for a bit. I don't feel like going back out there quite yet," replied Charlie.

"Want me to wait?"

"No, no, go ahead." Charlie smiled. "Thanks, though."

Cho returned the smile and departed, leaving her alone in the room. Charlie finally succumbed to the pain, dropping to the damp floor and pressing a hand against her boiling scar. "Ow, ow, ow, ow."

'Charlie! Are you okay?'

Her brother's voice entered her mind, and Charlie waited until the pain subsided before answering. 'Fine, now. Sorry. Just my scar.'

'Should I get someone?' asked Harry in concern and fear.

'No!' said Charlie quickly. 'I'm fine.'

'He…He's not near, is he?'

Charlie sat up, her green gaze flickering to the window, where she could only see the heavy curtain of falling rain. But for some reason, she knew Voldemort was not lingering in the greyness, waiting to strike. 'No. He's just angry.'

She projected the thought without really thinking about it. It was if the words weren't her own, yet she knew they were true—wherever Voldemort was, he was absolutely furious.

'How do you know? You didn't get a vision, did you?'

Charlie stared at the wall, and as her mind settled from the pain, she could see a collection of faded shapes and the distant sound of muddled voices. 'He wants something. But things aren't exactly going his way.'

'So…was he mad when your scar hurt that time in Umbridge's office?'

Charlie thought back, though she didn't quite want too. She remembered staring into Umbridge's face, her pudgy fingers clamped around her wrist and the pulse of pain in her scar. But in retrospect, she realized there was something different about the way her scar burned.

'No, he was happy. He expecting something good to happen. But the night before coming Hogwarts, my scar hurt because he was furious.'

'Are you reading You-Know-Who's mind?'

The question was asked with a mixture of awe and fear. Charlie felt her heart sink at the question, because she had a sickening feeling that she did indeed have some sort of unwanted close connection with her archenemy now that he had returned.

'Not his mind, exactly. More like his emotions, I suppose. I can tell when he's on the brink of achieving his goals, or when everything falls apart.'

'You should tell someone.'

'Who? Can't tell Sirius. Not with the letters and fireplace being watched.'

'What about Dumbledore?'

Charlie felt a slight prick of annoyance at the name of the wizard who seemed to be ignoring her. 'He hasn't wanted to speak to me lately, so I'm not going to bother him. Don't worry about it. I gotta head back to the castle now. I'll see you tomorrow.'

'Okay. Be careful out there. Let me know when you're back in your dorm.'

She got to her feet and shuffled out onto the dark grounds; arms wrapped around her body as the rain eagerly assaulted her. Her mind whirled around what Sirius had told her before she had left for school, speaking about a weapon Voldemort was searching for, something he hadn't had before and was aiming to get this time around.

Whatever this weapon is, he doesn't appear to be getting his hands on it anytime soon, if his anger is anything to go by, she thought.

But what was the weapon? What could there be out there in the world that Voldemort wanted so badly, that his own power just wasn't enough for him?

Probably don't want to know.

She entered the castle and made her way to Ravenclaw Tower. She answered the riddle the eagle gave her and climbed the stairs, her shoes making a squishing sound with each step. The common room was empty, and she dropped down into the couch, exhaustion creeping up on her. She wearily wrestled out of her soaking robes, shoes and socks and let them lay in a heap on the floor.

Sagging sideways, her head rested against the arm of the couch. Her cat soon trotted up and snuggled her side, purring softly. It was not long before she fell into a slumber.

She was in the familiar, windowless corridor again.

Peering down the long stretch of floor and walls, she started to make her way down, towards the door resting at the very end.

Her footsteps echoed in the silence, and as the door came closer her heart pounded in eager anticipation. Just a little more, and her fingers would brush the doorknob…

"Charlotte Potter!"

Charlie jolted awake, hastily sitting up and fumbling to gain her bearings. "I didn't do it," she said groggily, squinting into the darkness to see who had addressed her. "Dobby?"

Her house-elf stood at the end of the couch, wearing a collection of hats, socks and scarves that looked to be all of the clothing Hermione had knitted in her attempts to free the house-elves of Hogwarts. Charlie took Snowy into her arms and asked, "What's up?"

"Dobby has just delivered Loopy his owl," he informed happily. "Dobby thought Miss would like to know that Loopy's owl is nice and healthy!"

"Thanks, Dobby. I appreciate it." She peered at him. "Um…are those all of the things Hermione knitted?"

"Dobby has also been taking some for Winky."

"How is she?" asked Charlie in interest.

"Doing a bit better, Miss," said Dobby earnestly. "Winky visits the grave of her master every day, and she is drinking less Butterbeer. Miss has helped Winky greatly!"

"I'm glad," said Charlie sincerely.

"Can Dobby do anything for Miss?" he asked hopefully.

Charlie thought for a moment before saying, "Yeah, but it's kind of a tall order. Could you find a space for about thirty-two students to practice Defense Against the Dark Arts without getting busted by teachers. We especially can't get caught by Umbridge."

While she wasn't certain of what reaction to expect from Dobby, a bright smile wasn't one of them. Dobby bounced on his toes excitedly. "Dobby knows of the perfect place, Miss! Other house-elves sometimes speak of it! It is known as the Room of Requirement!"

Interested, Charlie leaned forwards. "What is it?"

"It is a room that only appears when a person really needs it," he explained. "When it is found, it has all the seeker's needs inside. Very few know of this room, for once a student stumbles upon, they cannot find it again."

"Do you know where the Room of Requirement is?" asked Charlie hopefully.

Dobby nodded. "Yes! Dobby can show Miss right now!"

Biting her lip, she considered it. But she reluctantly decided that it was not the right time to go searching for a room that liked to pop in and out at its leisure. It was late and she was tired. "I don't think tonight is going to work. Can you tell me where it is, and exactly how to get there?"

If she could find this Room of Requirement, then something finally might go right this year.

…

The weather had not improved the next day. In fact, there was now hail in addition to the persistent rain. Hermione, Charlie and Harry picked their way across the flooded grounds to double Herbology, and then back to the castle for Care of Magical Creatures, which was being held indoors due to the weather-beaten field.

"Quidditch practice is cancelled," Ron informed his friends once they joined him at a desk. "Alicia isn't happy, but there's not much we can do in this mess."

"Well, that works out for us. We can have our first meeting."

Hermione frowned. "But we don't have a meeting place." Charlie quickly told them about Dobby's visit, and Hermione's frown only deepened. "His plans aren't really known to go well."

"Well, if it will put you at ease, I'm pretty sure Professor Dumbledore mentioned it in passing at the Yule Ball last year," she said. "Something about needing a chamber pot and stumbling upon a room full of them. Sure sounds like the Room of Requirement to me."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "That doesn't put me at ease at all."

"After class, seek out your Housemates and tell them we're meeting at eight o'clock on the seventh floor, opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by trolls. The four of us will meet outside Ravenclaw Tower at half past seven."

"Got it," confirmed Ron.

"Ditto," added Harry.

The rest of the day was spent hunting down the students that signed the parchment in Hog's Head. Evening soon arrived, and at half past seven the Golden Quartet set off in search for the Room of Requirement.

"You're going to get whiplash if you keep looking around like that," Ron said to Harry, whose head was indeed swivelling back and forth.

"I can't help it. I feel like we're going to get in trouble."

"We're not going to get in trouble for being out in the corridors," said Charlie. "Fifth-years are allowed to be out until nine o'clock." She dug around her robe pocket and pulled out a piece of aged parchment. She unfolded it, pointed her wand at it and said, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

A map of Hogwarts appeared, complete with labelled dots, showing where various people in the castle were. "Okay, Mr. Filch is on the second floor. Mrs. Norris is on the fourth floor, and Umbridge is in her office," said Charlie. "Let's move."

They hurried to the seventh floor, to the place where Dobby told Charlie to be. Opposite the described tapestry was a section of blank wall. "Now what?" asked Harry.

"Dobby said that we have to walk past it three times and think about what we need really bad," answered Charlie.

They did just that, wandering down past the wall and turning back around at the window at the end. Charlie closed her eyes and pleaded silently, We need somewhere to learn how to fight. We need to learn to defend ourselves. Please, please give us a place to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Charlie!" exclaimed Hermione, and the girl opened her eyes.

A door had appeared. Wasting no time Charlie grabbed the brass handle and pushed open the door, which led them to a spacious room. Silk cushions covered the floor, there were towering oak bookshelves that were lined with DADA books and a shelf at the back of the room held Sneakoscopes and other materials that Charlie suspected belonged in the office Bartemius Crouch Jr. once inhabited.

"Wicked!" breathed Ron.

"This is perfect!" said Harry with a wide smile.

Hermione hurried over to the books and scanned the titles with an expression of glee.

Not long after students began to trickle in, and soon all of them had gathered on the cushions on the floor. Cho looked around and asked, "Where did this place come from?"

Charlie explained what the Room of Requirement was as she locked the door behind them. When she finished Fred looked thoughtful. "I think we might have been in here once, though it was broom cupboard. George and I were trying to hide from Filch."

"What are all those things back there?" asked a brunette with coloured beads decorating her braid, and whom Charlie presumed to be Arielle Hopson.

"They're Dark Detectors," said Charlie. "They go off when someone untrustworthy, or someone who is our enemy, comes near." Hermione waved her hand in the air and Charlie stared at her in amusement. "Uh, yeah?"

"We ought to elect a leader."

"Charlie's the leader," said Cho, looking at Hermione in bewilderment.

"Well, I think we should all vote, to make it fair. So, all who want Charlie to be the leader?"

In little time everyone's hand went in the air and Charlie blushed slightly. "Well, er, thanks. So I guess—what, Hermione?"

"We need a name."

"How about the Ministry of Magic are Morons Who Don't Know What They're Doing?" suggested Fred.

"Uh, let's not be mean," said Charlie carefully. "We want something short, something that, if overheard, won't give anyone an inkling as to what we're up too."

"What do you think?" asked Cho.

Charlie thought for a moment. "Dumbledore's Army," she finally said, and despite her current distance from the wise wizard she knew this was the only name for their group. "We're fighting for him, fighting against Umbridge and what she has been sent here to do—undermine everything Dumbledore has taught us and done for this school."

"We can call it the DA for short," said Ginny cheerfully.

"Sounds good," agreed Charlie. "Everyone in favour?"

The majority of the group put their hands in the air. Hermione nodded in approval and got up. She attached the piece of parchment with all their names on it and attached it to the wall. In large letters, she wrote Dumbledore's Army at the top before sitting back down.

"Okay, I guess we ought to get to practicing. I think we'll start off with the Disarming Spell, Expelliarmus."

Zacharias crossed his arms. "How is the Disarming Spell going to help us against You-Know-Who?"

Charlie stared at him. "Well, it saved my life in the graveyard. Might save yours in a pinch too, if you know how to do it right." Zacharias did not have anything to say to that. Charlie looked away and said, "Divide into pairs and start practicing."

Everyone got up and found a partner. Neville was left standing alone, and so Charlie motioned him over. Soon everyone was chanting "Expelliarmus!" and attempting to Disarm their partners. Charlie was too quick for Neville and sent his wand flying. When he went to retrieve it, she glanced around to see that some spells were completely missing their mark while others weren't achieving the full effect.

Good thing we started out with something simple.

She jolted slightly when her wand was torn from her grip. She glanced up to see Neville beaming proudly, her wand in his grasp. "I did it!"

"You did," she said with a smile. She took her wand and directed him to practice with Ron and Harry while she made some rounds.

She corrected people's wand techniques, helped them adjust their utterance of the spell and gave encouragement. When things started to get a little out of hand, she thought, Ugh, I could really use a whistle right about now.

One appeared before her and she took it with grateful surprise. She let out a blast and everyone turned to her. "Good job, guys. Let's try it again."

They went through another session, and by the end there was significant improvement. There were a few incidents, like when Terry's wand hit Alicia in the nose and when Marietta's sleeve caught on fire, which she quickly extinguished.

"Oops," said Cho sheepishly as Charlie approached. "Sorry."

Charlie smiled. "You've been doing fine. I've seen you do it perfectly. Mistakes are natural."

Marietta looked at them in annoyance and turned away. Cho shook her head. "Sorry about that," she said softly. "I sort of forced her to come with me. Her mother works for the Ministry and doesn't want her to do anything that would get her in trouble with Umbridge."

"What about you?"

Cho lifted her chin. "My parents don't want me to get on the wrong side of Umbridge, either. But they don't understand. I told Cedric about this in a coded letter and he's in complete support."

"Coded?"

Cho nodded. "During the summer we came up with a code that only the two of us know, so that we could send letters without having to worry about them being intercepted. It was his idea."

"It's smart," said Charlie, impressed. "And thanks, for choosing to come. I appreciate the support."

"Anytime."

"What time is it?" Ron called. Hermione looked at her watch and answered him, and Charlie realized they had gone a bit past their previously established end time. She gave her whistle another blow.

"Sorry, guys, but our time is up. But you all did really good. Same time and place next week?"

"Can't we do it sooner?" asked Dean.

"We can't!" protested Alicia. "There's Quidditch!"

"We'll go with next Wednesday," decided Charlie. "We'll figure out other meeting times then. Goodnight, and don't get caught!"

They left in groups of twos and threes, and Charlie stared intently at the Marauder's Map to ensure they got to their Houses safely. Finally, it was Harry, Ron, Charlie and Hermione who were left. "That went really well!" said Hermione brightly as they exited the Room of Requirement. Once they were out, the door melted away and was replaced with solid stone.

"Yeah," agreed Charlie. "Come on. We'll bring Ron back first and then Harry."

As they began the trek through the castle, Charlie could not help but feel a flare of hope within her chest.

Maybe she could teach her friends the skills they needed to protect themselves. Maybe they could survive Umbridge's presence at Hogwarts by rebelling in their own secret way. Maybe the Ministry wouldn't win.

Maybe, just maybe, something will finally go her way.