Whew. I am sorry that I haven't updated sooner. The past two weeks have been Hell at work. I do most of my writing at night because it is easier to concentrate without interruption. And for the past two weeks I have been denied my nighttime writing time because of those blasted early mornings. Morning shifts in the food industry are HELL! I thoroughly dislike those early birds. (Farmers + Harvest Ravenous Beasts.)

Enough ranting about me. You guys are so awesome! After my disappointment with chapter 4, you came back and reviewed for chapter 5. And not mention more than doubled my hit count for HP and the Phoenix Blaze. Over 1600 Hits! Thank You! I hope I give you a few surprises in this chapter. There will be foreshadowing in this chapter.

Disclaimer: (Daydreams) If HP were mine, Hermione would have been let loose to wander as she pleased and not reigned in like a chained animal. (Sighs in sadness) Hermione is my favorite character in the books. I was short-changed.

Chapter 6: The DA Additions

By: Tojot

"I have a few announcements to make." Professor Dumbledore called over the noisy din, which quieted immediately. "As some of you may have noticed an unfamiliar face among us." He paused for a moment and continued. "I am pleased to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, J. A. Gryphon." Clapping sounded throughout the Great Hall as Gryphon gracefully stood. "We are pleased to have her back to teach at Hogwarts this year." Harry saw that Snape didn't look pleased at all. Whispers could be heard through the Hall about her appearance, though.

"Another announcement I am sure that not all of you are aware of. Yesterday, the followers of Voldemort attacked Diagon Alley, due to a few brave souls there were no casualties. But I ask you to constantly be on your guard. Hogwarts is libel to be attacked." The headmaster said gravely. "If you wish to know how to defend yourselves in this emergency there is a group called Defense Association that has been organized by Harry Potter. Defense Association or the DA as they call it, takes place regularly on unspecific dates. If you wish to join please speak to Mr. Potter or Miss Hermione Granger and they will get you set up. Now, as you are." He promptly sat back down to his dinner. The noise levels seemed to rise now that these announcements were made. Harry noticed a lone Slytherin boy with brown hair stand up and come over to the Gryffindor table.

"Can I join the Defense Association?" He asked Harry, who gaped at him in shock. Neville fell off the bench he was sitting on.

"B-but you're a Slytherin!" Ron blurted stupidly.

"I know that, is there anything wrong with me wishing to know how to protect myself?" The boy looked about Harry's age.

"Don't mind them." Hermione said to the boy, "They're in shock. You're Blaise Zabini, right?"

The boy nodded eagerly. "That's right." To Harry this Slytherin looked different from the others.

"Well come and talk to us tomorrow morning and we will get you set up with a coin and where we meet. You have Potions with us in the morning correct?" Hermione said as Neville pulled himself back up onto his bench

"I do." Blaise smiled. "Is it okay if I sit down?"

"Sure." Harry said and Blaise sat down next to him.

"Aren't you buddies with Malfoy." Ron spat.

"Absolutely not!" Blaise said with a shudder. "I wouldn't even come within ten meters of Malfoy with all his pureblood mania. Urgh. I already know of the rivalry between you and him." He told Harry. "Always in the common room shooting his mouth off or in the corner planning a new way to get back at you. Some of the things he says aren't very noble, in my opinion."

"So you're not friends?" Harry asked.

"No. I am a half-blood. Half-bloods and muggleborns don't make friends with purebloods in Slytherin like I know they do in the other houses. They're ostracized and not just by Slytherin Purebloods but from all the houses because we're Slytherins." Blaise said sadly.

"That's terrible!" Hermione cried.

"Well why did Malfoy want to be my friend in first year?" Harry said. "I am a half-blood, too.

"Oh, I know the answer to that." Blaise said, "Two reasons: One, you're famous see and what Slytherin wouldn't want to be famous. And two, if Malfoy is a dark wizard like his father what better way to easily hand you over to You-Know-Who on a silver platter."

"All too true." Harry said wearily. "The goal of all Deatheaters is to hand my head to Voldemort on a silver platter."

Blaise gasped. "You said his name!"

"I am not trying to be brave of anything." Harry said "I have met and survived Voldemort four times and I am calling him by his name. It's my choice."

"Wow! You of all people."

"Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself." Hermione commented. "That is why I have started saying Voldemort's name too."

"And you're a muggleborn." Blaise looked bewildered. "Listen, there are others from Slytherin who want to join too, but they're too chicken to come over. There is about fifteen of us from all different years. We've heard of your brushes with dark wizards and creatures over the past six years and we feel that you know what you're doing."

"I see. Well, Professor Dumbledore said that all you needed to do was come to us and we'll set you up with what you need to know. Just tell them that. The only Slytherin we mind are Malfoy and those who choose to be friends with him." Hermione said.

Blaise grinned. "Thanks." He then set off for the Slytherin table and sat far away from Malfoy. There was an obvious gap in the Slythrins. The group in question sat on the far end of the table. Harry could see the people Blaise mentioned start chatting with and nodding with looks in Harry's direction. In Harry's opinion they looked like a decent group of witches and wizards.

"Not all bad are they." Harry said thoughtfully.

"No. Blaise was never one to give us any trouble." Hermione said.

"Look at Malfoy." Ron said directing their attention away from Blaise. Malfoy's pointed face was turned in Blaise's direction. The shear look of loathing disfiguring it.

"Looks like the Slytherins are quite segregated." Hermione said. "But I am glad a few want to join DA. Why didn't we know last year?"

"Toad lady would've noticed something was up." Harry said, "and Blaise pointed out that they were ostracized."

"Blaise Zabini seems like a decent fellow, doesn't he?" Neville said. He had been listening in on the conversation. "Weird."

"You could say that again." Ron added.

Now that people knew about the DA, all the Slytherins in Blaise's group joined and more Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs joined by getting in contact with Harry, Hermione and Ron. No longer a secret they could go about things freely, they could now have meetings in the Great Hall (which was better proportioned for the swell in ranks) instead of the Room of Requirement, but the old DA members before kept their galleons to inform the new members about meetings. Hermione gave Blaise a galleon to inform the Slytherins of meetings. Due to all this Monday morning went by in a flash. It didn't bother Harry, who was looking forward to the afternoon and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in the front of the class as they waited for Professor Gryphon to arrive. They heard the door to the classroom swing shut.

"Please take thy places so this lesson may begin!" Gryphon called. She seemed to command reverence and respect from all those within the class like Professors McGonagall and Snape. "Please bring forth thy copybooks to write within." She commanded in a firm voice as she strode to the front where the blackboard was placed. She pulled a white colored wand from inside her blue robes and tapped it on the board. Writing appeared as if an invisible person was writing them down.

"These be the objectives that this Sixth Year NEWT level class must recognize." Gryphon told them as she indicated to the board.

Defense Against the Dark Arts: Newt Level

Class Objectives:

1. To learn and execute defensive spells… PROPERLY.

2. To understand what you are able to do in a dangerous situation to defend yourself and perhaps others.

3. To discern what is considered brave and what is stupid in these particular situations.

4. To also learn non-dark offensive jinxes. A wizards duel does not consist of you defending yourself all the time.

5. NEWT Level students will also learn how execute spells without saying them out loud.

"Tis important for thee to know all this." Gryphon added in a soft dangerous tone.

"True Defense tis not for the squeamish. Tis not about throwing curses at thy opponent in hopes that one may win and glory be to thee. Nay. Those who fight against the Dart Arts have been cut a very raw deal. Ye can only go so far till ye are using the Darts Arts thyselves to be rid of the Dark wizard. Sacrifices are made, losses are suffered and death may be eminent." What she said and how she said it sent shivers up Harry's spine; mouths from the class were gaped in awe. Professor Gryphon knew what she was saying.

"Before I go any further…" She continued as she strode over to the desk and picked up the class register, scanning it quickly before speaking again. " As I call thy surnames, please indicate with a 'here!' … Abbott!" she went through their names like she had done this a hundred times before. "Now, do any of ye have any questions to ask of me?" Hands went up. She called on Seamus first.

"Did you really stick Malfoy to the ceiling?"

"Aye, but tis not a matter I shall boast about." She answered humbly. She chose another hand. A thought had popped into Harry's mind and started niggling at his thought processes. It was something Dumbledore had said she knew about. He raised his hand.

"Mr. Potter?" She said pointing at him.

"What do you know of Protection Charms?" Harry asked. The stern demeanor she had taken on for class dropped slightly when a mischievous glint glittered in her eyes with a slight curve to her mouth to match.

"Protection Charms range from the simple 'Protego' to highly advanced and complicated charms that have to be done in a particular fashion or they could go completely wrong. From the looks of it, one of these advanced charms was placed on thee as a babe by thy own mother." Gryphon replied with those creepy silver eyes directed at Harry. Harry froze in surprise, so Dumbledore was right, she did know her protection charms. But did Dumbledore tell her about it?

"I am very happy that ye asked that question, Mr. Potter, because Protection charms will be studied in the later term of the school year." She waved her wand once more and a sheet appeared in front of each of them. "This be the lesson syllabus for this term." She said and returned to her desk.

"Erm. Professor?" Ron raised his hand nervously.

"Aye, Mr. Weasley." She said.

"Are you sure we can get through all this in one term? Those books aren't exactly thin and I am not a fast reader. From the looks of it, you are having us do two years worth of work in one term." Ron pointed out.

"Ye will be able to get through it, trust me. As for the work, ye have had some pathetic teachers in thy past: Quirrel, Lockhart, and Umbridge. I do believe ye have a bit of catching up to do after them." Gryphon answered. More hands went up.

"Do you plan on staying with us longer than a year?" Dean blurted.

" I have heard that rumor that this profession tis jinxed, but do not worry, I have survived through things that ye can only imagine." She answered with a chuckle. "In other words, I have planned on being here for much longer than a year." The lesson went on from there. She had not assigned any homework, having Hermione slightly worried as they left Gryphon's class.

"McGonagall told me that she was a fair and responsible teacher. But what did we do all lesson? Discuss the first and second chapter of the first book! No written assignments, no notes, no essays and nothing accomplished!" Hermione ranted.

"Is it me or can you remember everything and every word that we discussed in class too?" Harry pointed out. Ron nodded. Hermione's rant stopped immediately as her eyes went wide as she looked back into the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class room at Gryphon's peculiar form.

"I've just realized!" Hermione said, "Excuse me, I must get to the library." And she hurried off.

"Hey we have practice in fifteen minutes!" Ron yelled down the corridor Hermione had just taken. "There she goes again. Yet another library excursion trip. Wonder what's going on in that head of hers."

"Believe me, Ron, both you and I don't want to know." Harry said.

"Your probably right." Ron said. "Let's get to practice."

"I'll meet you down there with Hermione in a few minutes, I have something I want to speak to Professor Gryphon about." Harry said as he too looked back at Gryphon's figure at the teacher's desk.

"All right, mate. I'll keep you to your promise." Ron said as he walked away. Harry went back into the classroom and up to the teacher's desk.

"What be ailing you, young Potter." Gryphon said without looking up. She seemed to be writing ancient rune symbols in a very thick, scarlet, velvet-covered tome. A picture of a fire in a fire pit with rune symbols around it filled the page next to the one she was writing on. It seemed to grab his attention. Harry had never seen anyone write rune symbols like it was second nature, not even Hermione.

"What's that you're working on?" Harry asked curiously.

"Tis research and discovery on a theory I have been working on for years." She sighed as she turned back through a thick clump of pages, all full of writing and diagrams. "Ye came in here to ask me a question?" Gryphon mentioned, getting them back to the original topic.

"Yes. Did Professor Dumbledore tell you about the Protection Charm my mother placed on me?" Harry asked getting to the point.

"Nay. He did not. He has been very busy these last few days and has not the time to tell me what I already see." She said wearily. "I could see the fading charm when I arrived and met thee."

"You know all that?"

"Albus and I don't need to consult each other to know what the other wants." Gryphon explained.

"So do you know what to do to fix it so it continues to protect me?" Harry asked.

"Aye. I do, but tis not as simple as you wish, though." Gryphon replied. "This place is not a place of safety, thus we will discuss this further in a different place at a different time." Their meeting ended as she motioned to the door. There was something about Gryphon that Harry found creepy, but he couldn't help but trust her. As he left the DADA corridor he saw Malfoy walking towards it. They exchanged a hateful glare at each other before going their separate ways.

Harry managed to pull Hermione from her beloved Library and down to the Pitch for Quidditch practice. Ron explained that Malfoy couldn't control his mouth in front of Gryphon again and earned himself detention for that day. Madam Hooch was watching over all quidditch practices at Dumbledore's insistence of safety. Practice went well, but the broom that Hermione was on didn't suit her in Harry's opinion. He made a mental note to do something about it, but for now that broom would have to do. And he remembered that Hermione's seventeenth birthday was coming up on the nineteenth. Hermione had told Harry that she would be gone on the weekend after her birthday to celebrate with her parents and to take the Apparation exam at the Ministry of Magic.

The first Hogsmeade weekend approached on them with excitement from the third years. The weather was drizzling with rain. Ron said he needed to restock his sweet supply from Honeydukes. Hermione wanted to get a new book from the bookstore. Now that Lupin had been named Harry's new guardian in Sirius' will, Harry was still able to go to Hogsmeade with his friends. He used the opportunity of couple of minutes away from them to look in the Quidditch shop. It was lucky that only a few seconds after he had finished speaking to the store clerk that Ron and Hermione came in to see what he was doing.

"I was just looking." Harry lied as they left the shop.

"So what did you see? Any awesome new brooms?" Ron asked.

"There are a few new ones, but none of them are as fast as the Firebolt. Though, I really think that the Nimbus Zero is decent broom. It has precision with a strong but sleek, aerodynamic handle for great speed…" Harry continued on. Little did Hermione know is that he was giving her a clue on her birthday present. But Harry wasn't buying this gift alone. Both Professor McGonagall and Hagrid had pitched in with the costs of it

But Harry still didn't feel adequate enough just with a combination gift, so he found a small shop that sold jewelry when they had split up again. He found a gold pendant necklace with a bright green emerald jewel wrapped in intricate gold metalwork with rune symbols etched into the gold. He asked the shopkeeper what they meant before he bought it and went on his way.

The first Defense Association meeting went really well, to Harry's surprise. The Slytherins that belonged to the group Blaise Zabini made friends with didn't cause any trouble. Though there was noticeable animosity from the other houses. Now seeing that there could be good Slytherins, Harry didn't see anything bad with them.

September the nineteenth came around. Hermione was expecting to get something from both Ron and Harry that morning. Harry avoided Hermione completely. Ron's gift to Hermione was a lurid pink stuffed bunny. Harry knew Hermione's favorite color wasn't pink. Hermione had told Harry that she liked green, she had never told him why. When Ron gave her the bunny, Harry noticed that lack of a 'thank you' in her comment, it seemed like Déjà vu. Harry had a plan for the gift he got Hermione. Though it came very close to his plan being ruined. He kept fiddling with the necklace that he had placed in his pocket, slightly worried that Hermione might not like it. Harry managed to get Hermione alone in the Room of Requirement that evening to give her the gift.

"Harry, what's this all about." She said looking at him incredulously.

"I wanted to wish you a happy seventeenth birthday." Harry said as he pulled out the long white necklace box.

"Harry you shouldn't have." She said in awe, as she opened the box to look at the necklace.

"You don't like it."

"Actually Harry, I love it… it's just…you shouldn't have spent so much on me. Because these are really rare."

"Well, have it make up for this useful pocket watch you gave me for my birthday." Harry added, pulling out his watch. "Plus, it's your seventeenth birthday, your of-age, I figured you wanted an adult gift after Ron's."

"True," Hermione chuckled, "but this must have cost you in the neighborhood of fifty to sixty galleons."

"I am not telling you how much it cost. You can't buy friendship. Though, I want you to read the runes."

"Partnership, Protection and Friendship will bind us Forever." Hermione smiled and gave Harry a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It alarmed Harry slightly. "Thank you Harry." She whispered into his ear.

"Here." Harry said breaking the hug. "Let me help you put it on." She put the necklace in his hand; he crossed behind her and swept her hair back to place the necklace around her neck. But something odd happened. Just as the latch was clasped, a soft vibration ran through Harry. And from the looks of it Hermione as well. She shivered but didn't say anything about it. Truthfully, the sensation wasn't unpleasant so they thought nothing of it.

They soon made their way back to the common room in comfortable silence. Hermione gave the password to the Fat Lady. The common room seemed bursting with activity around a table. Harry already knew what it was. He didn't want it delivered that morning where everyone could see when it was still a secret among the Gryffindors.

"What's this all about?" Hermione asked. People quickly turned their heads in her direction in awe.

"Hermione!" Ron said from the middle of the queue of people. "You have a delivery!" the group let her through so she could see what it was. Harry just placed himself well away from everyone, in his chair by the fire. Something was going on that felt really weird to Harry, like things would never be the same as they were before.

"Harry!" Hermione stepped out of the crowd, in her hand was the broomstick. "You spent too much on me." She said as she sat down in a chair near Harry.

"Are you sure it was me?" Harry said.

"Harry, this was the broom you were talking about at Hogsmeade." Hermione pointed out.

"Actually, Hagrid and Professor McGonagall helped pitch in to get you that. I just added to pay for any difference that was left over." Harry said modestly.

"I still think it was your idea to get me a broom, though." Hermione continued.

"It did cross my mind." Harry said sheepishly. "At least you don't have to use the school brooms. Can I have a look at it?"

"Go ahead." Hermione said as Crookshanks leapt into her lap. Harry had seen before that this broom was very different from the regular series. The letters 'NZO' was stamped into the smooth polished handle. Harry had heard the manufacturers of the Nimbus nicknamed this broom. It was also said that this broom was only second to the Firebolt in many fields.

"Here." Harry handed it back. And went back to watching the flames from the fire as he had done before. Thoughts swirling about his head. It seemed so long ago that he had last seen Sirius. Harry knew he missed him. He knew he had to think of the others he might put in danger; and now that the Prophecy had reared its ugly head, he needed to be even more careful. For once in his life Harry was truly afraid. IF he lost either Ron or Hermione he didn't know what he'd do.

"Harry, what are you thinking about?" Hermione asked, startling Harry out of his painful reverie. It had become late. Everyone else had gone to bed, leaving him alone with Hermione.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked.

"He went to bed already, while you were lost in your thoughts. So, what are you thinking about?" She pressed.

"How much my life is messed up." Harry said as he continued to watch the flames dance.

"You miss him, don't you?" Hermione asked as she stroked Crookshanks fur.

"I do." Harry sighed, "If I could change what happened I would, but that would probably throw the current timeline out of line. As you said yourself 'no one is supposed to change time."

"I'm happy you listen to me and that you're thinking very rationally." Hermione commented.

"Irrational thinking gets the people I care about killed, Hermione." Harry whispered dangerously. "I experienced that first hand when we went to the Ministry. I experienced it three times that night. I thought I lost you and I panicked and then Ron with the brains. I don't want that to happen again. I don't want to lose either of you!" This speech ended with Hermione's arms around him.

"Harry if there is one thing I can tell you about this situation its this." Hermione started softly in his ear. "The ones we love never really leave us and you can always find them within your own heart, watching over you. I have a feeling… that when the time comes, you will see him and all your loved ones who have passed on once again." These words were very soothing to Harry's aching soul.

"Thank you, Hermione." Harry said breaking off the hug. "I think we best be getting to bed. You have a test to take tomorrow and I think you may need to have your strength about you."

"I think you may be right about that." Hermione added as she gathered Crookshanks into her arms. There was a slight waver in her voice. Was she scared? "Good night, Harry." She said as she walked to the Girls' staircase.

"Good luck." Harry called after her. She lingered at the door, turned around like she wanted to say something. Their gazes locked, Harry gulped.

"It's nothing." She said quietly, losing the courage to say something, and disappeared up the staircase without delay. But that odd feeling had come back again for Harry. He felt like he had been punched in the stomach, without the pain. What was going on? For one more time in his life, Harry was completely confused.

It was a couple of days later that Harry and Ron were waiting for Hermione to return from her weekend home. Harry was anxious to hear about how Hermione did on her exam, or weather she splinched. Harry hoped it hadn't come to that. At five, the Portrait Hole opened and through crawled Hermione. Harry and Ron stood up from their chess game, wanting to hear the news.

"How did you do?" Harry asked.

"I splinched." Hermione said in an unreadable expression. Harry felt an icy panic sweep through him as he pictured Hermione in pieces. Not a pretty sight. Then Hermione's expression broke into laughter.

"That look is golden you two." Hermione giggled. "Truthfully, if you want to know, I passed with flying colors." Somehow she was in a very good mood.

"Don't joke like that." Ron sulked. "I'm up next to get my license. If you fail, what would that say about me?"

Author's Note: I made Blaise Zabini a good person. I am glad I did. If Horace Slughorn is JKR's example of a good Slytherin, she has poorly represented them. If you didn't know I wrote this chapter before the sixth book came out.And there will be TWO deaths in this story, but that will be much later on in the story. I do hope you review.

As for the next chapter: Chapter 7: Hidden In A Different Perspective. It will be the take off chapter into our first of the fascinating adventures of HP and the Phoenix Blaze. Remember this story is already over 140 pages long on Word, which is roughly 267 pages in book print. By the way, I am still not even close to being finished, but I am enjoying the journey. :)

-Tojot