Dumbledore's Army

That night, Cedric joined us in the Gryffindor common room after everyone else had gone to bed. Hermione was venting about Umbridge.

"That foul, loathsome old gargoyle! We're not learning how to defend ourselves, we're not learning how to pass our O.W.L.s, she's taking over the whole school!"

"It gets worse," said Cedric. "Those disappearances on the news? Fudge is blaming them on Sirius."

"I'm going to kill him," I said, as I crumpled up today's issue of the Daily Prophet and tossed it into the fire.

"Helena!" hissed a voice.

Our eyes fell onto the fireplace where Sirius's face was. "Sirius?" I gasped. "What're you doing?"

"Answering your letter," he said. "You said you were concerned about Umbridge. What's she doing, training you to kill half-breeds?"

"No, we're not learning how to use magic or anything useful at all!" said Cedric.

"I'm not surprise, word is Fudge doesn't want you all trained in combat," said Sirius.

"Trained in combat?" said Ron. "What, he thinks we're forming some sort of wizard army?"

"That's exactly what he thinks. Fudge is getting more paranoid by the minute," said Sirius. "The others wouldn't want me telling you this, Helena, but things aren't going at all well with the Order. These disappearances are just as how it started before."

"What do we do?" I asked.

"I don't know. I wish I could be of more help, but it seems for the moment, you're on your own," said Sirius.

Sirius then disappeared and there was a flash of thunder and lightning, reminding us of the storm outside.

"He's really out there, isn't he?" said Hermione. "We need help. We need someone to teach us."

"Who? Lupin?" I asked.

"I meant you."

I stared at her. "Me? Hermione, are you insane?"

"I think it's a brilliant idea," said Ron.

"But why can't Hermione or Cedric do it, they're better than I am, surely!"

"No, we're not," said Cedric. "Helena, you're the best suited for the job."

"Come off it! Who'd want to be taught by me or work with Cedric? We're both insane liars, remember?"

"Helena, listen to me. Look at all you've done," said Ron. "First year, you fought off You-Know-Who for the Sorcerer's Stone and saved Cedric."

"If it hadn't been for my mother's protection and if Dumbledore hadn't turned up—"

"You killed a basilisk with a sword single-handedly and saved Cedric—" said Ron, ignoring my interruption.

"If it hadn't been for Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, I never would've—"

"You fought off a hundred Dementors at once, twice—"

"That was a fluke! If it hadn't been for the Time-Turner—"

"Last year," said Ron, nearly shouting now. "You fought off You-Know-Who again—!"

"LISTEN TO ME!" I shouted, making him shut up. "Just listen to me, alright? You two don't know what it's like! You don't know what it's like to have those you care about threatened with the Cruciatus or the Killing Curse! Fighting, doing it in real life, it's not just saying a bunch of words and performing a spell, it's more than that! Do you think it was easy to go through all that? It wasn't! I was scared nearly all the time and I barely scraped through it! Out there, in the battlefield, all you've got is your guts and your brains and hope you've got a lot of luck because you could be dead within one second!"

Cedric rubbed shoulders as I slowly calmed down. Hermione and Ron had stopped smirking.

"You're right, Helena," said Hermione. "We don't know what it's like, but you do. Even though Cedric was there when you got the Stone away and he was there when Voldemort returned, he didn't fight him. You did. You're an outstanding witch and you've got what we need to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Come on, mate, who else are we going to turn to besides you?" said Ron.

I sighed. "Okay, fine. When?"

"Hogsmeade weekend's tomorrow. Ron and I'll spread the word."

The next day, we journeyed down into the snowy outdoors. "So, how many people did you get to agree to meet us?"

"Just a couple of people," said Hermione.

"And where are they meeting us?" asked Cedric.

"Hog's Head. I thought it should be somewhere a little more…discreet."

When we went inside, there wasn't just a 'couple of people,' there were twenty-five students, including Fred, George, Lee Jordan, Ginny, Neville, and Luna. This was a couple of people? Good grief!

There was silence and awkward stares until Hermione said, "I've asked you all here because I feel that we're not getting the kind of learning experience we need. We need a proper teacher, one who's had real experience facing the Dark Arts. Someone like Helena."

"Potter?" said Zacharias Smith. "You can't be serious. Why her?"

"Because she's the best suited for the job," said Ron. "Cedric may have been there last June, but he didn't fight You-Know-Who, Helena did. She's more experienced."

"That is insane on so many levels! First off, we don't an inexperienced girl teaching us. Second off, what do we need protection for?" he asked.

"Helena's far more experienced than all of you put together! You need protection against Lord Voldemort, because he's out there," said Cedric.

"Says who?" said Smith.

"Says Dumbledore, you moron," said Ron.

"Dumbledore says because they said it. The point is, where's the proof?" said Smith. "I think we'd all like to know what really happened last June when those two turned up wounded and half-dead."

I stood up, angrily. This was why so many had turned up. They'd come just to hear the story of what had happened in the graveyard. "We're not here to talk about how Cedric and I almost got killed by Lord Voldemort. If that's why you're here, then clear out now!" I glared at them, but no one moved. Perhaps, I'd been mistaken.

"Is it true you can produce a Patronus Charm?" asked Luna.

"Yeah, it is," I said.

"Blimey, Helena! I didn't know you could do that," said Lee Jordan, looking impressed.

"She fought off You-Know-Who for the Sorcerer's Stone in her first year," said Ginny.

"And she killed a basilisk with the sword in Dumbledore's office," said Neville.

"Third year, she fought off a hundred Dementors at once," said Ron.

"Look, hold on a minute," I said. "It sounds really impressive when you say it all like that, but the thing is, most of that was just luck. I nearly always had help and I was usually scared to death when it happened."

"She's just being modest," said Hermione.

"No, Hermione, she's not!" said Cedric, sternly. "Sit!"

Hermione sat down as I stood up.

"Look, facing this stuff in real life is not the same as it is in school. In school, if you mess up, you can just try again the next day. But out there in the real world, when you're a split second away from death, or being forced to watch someone you care about be tortured or faced with the threat of someone you love being murdered after being tortured into insanity, your entire world changes," I said, unable to fight back the tears that rolled down my cheeks.

"He's really back, isn't he?" said a third-year boy.

"Yes, he's really back," said Cedric. "We wish he wasn't, but he is."

"And this is why we need Helena. Because if Voldemort comes for us, then we need to be prepared. So, are we all agreed that we're going to learn under Helena's tutelage?" asked Hermione.

"Yes," they said, in unison.

"Good." Hermione held out a scroll of parchment which she'd secretly jinxed. "All of you please sign this."

Everyone, including Smith signed the paper. Then we started to choose our name and a location to practice as we walked back up to the castle.

"Can we be the Anti-Umbridge League?" asked Angelina, Fred's girlfriend.

"Tempting, but that'd tip off Umbridge for sure," said Hermione.

"How about the Ministry of Magic Are Morons Group?" suggest George.

"Definitely not," said Cedric. "However true that may be."

"The Defense Association?" said Cho Chang. "The D.A. for short, so no one knows what we're talking about?"

"That's a great idea, but why not let it stand for Dumbledore's Army because that's the Ministry's worse fear?" I suggested.

"Perfect," said Ron. "But how we maintain contact without alerting suspicion?"

"Already taken care," said Hermione. She handed everyone a fake Galleon. "These have been bewitched a Protean Charm. When Helena changes the dates on her coin, the coin will burn and then numbers on the coin will change."

"Hermione, you're a genius," I said, admiringly. "We'll hold D.A. meetings at least twice a week."

"Now comes the next problem," said Ron. "Where do we meet?"

"The Shrieking Shack?" suggested Ginny.

"No, too cramped," said Cedric. "Not to mention, we can't sneak twenty-nine students pass the Whomping Willow."

"The Dark Forest?" said Fred.

"Not likely," said Ron, turning pale. "What about an empty classroom?"

"We'd be caught for sure," I said.

"Helena, what happens if we do get caught?" asked Ginny.

"Who cares?" said Hermione, surprising us. "It feels good, doesn't it? It's exciting, isn't it? Breaking the rules?"

"Who are you and what've you done with Hermione Granger?" said Ron, as we burst out laughing.

The next two weeks were spent trying to find a suitable spot to practice in. However, it was Neville, who managed to find the right place. After breakfast one late Friday afternoon, he found a special room and alerted us to it.

"You've done it, Neville," said Hermione. "You've found the Room of Requirement. It's commonly known as the Come-and-Go Room, only appearing when one has dire need of it."

"This is perfect," said Cedric. "Look at all this. Defensive books, mirrors, Sensory Sensors, everything! Neville, you're brillaint."

"Thanks," said Neville.

I changed the date on my Galleon and had everyone come into the Room after sending Dobby off to fetch them. Everyone was excited about the Room of Requirement, including Smith.

"Alright, now we're going to start out slowly. Stunning and Disarming. I know it seems small, but trust me, those spells are lifesavers," I said. "Neville, please join me up here. Now, you've got to wave your wand like this, but don't flounce it too much and say, Expelliarmus!" the model's wand was blasted out of its hand. "See, just like that. Now, you try, Neville."

"Expelliarmus!" said Neville. "I did it! I did it!"

"Good, really good! All of you get a partner and practice for thirty minutes and then we'll move onto Stunning."

Thirty minutes later, everyone had managed to disarm their opponent after I made sure they knew what they were doing.

"Excellent, now, Stunning can be tricky, but useful. Ron, Hermione, would care to demonstrate?"

They did and Hermione managed to Stun Ron on her first try. Fred lost a Sickle to George after betting on Ron to beat Hermione.

"Alright, now, just like that. Wave you wand like this and concentrate! Stupefy!" We went on practicing until we had to leave. We began practicing weekends and sometimes on weekdays when we were free. We knew Filch thought something was up, but he couldn't prove it as he never got into the Room of Requirement and ate some of Fred and George's Fever Fudge which put him in the hospital wing for a few weeks.

"You just need to concentrate and try not to let your emotions control your spell. With some spells, if you're really nervous and can't think straight, it'll backfire," I instructed, as we worked on the Levicorpus spell. "That's it, better."

We worked on Reductor Curse and the Bat-Bogey Hex, which Ginny proved to be the best at besides Hermione. Time passed quickly as we practiced the Hover Charm, Leg-Locker Curse, Jelly-Legs Jinx, Stinging Hex, Incendio, Bedazzling Hex, Riddikulus, Trip Jinx, Tongue-Tying Jinx, Protean Charm, Body-Bind, Hurling Hex, Impedimenta, Conjunctivitus Curse, Banishing Charm, Summoning Charms, and so much more.

"Think of it this way, every great witch and wizard started out as nothing more than we are now, students. If they can do it, why can't we?" I said, during one very trying afternoon when we were trying to improve everyone's Shield Charm.

The words seemed to inspire them as their progress improved dramatically overnight. Two days before Christmas Vacation ended, we wrapped up our last Shield Charm lesson and then I made an announcement.

"Now, we're not going to be meeting again until after the holidays—" everyone groaned at this. "But you've all done extremely well these past few months, really, really well. So well in fact, that we'll be ready for the Patronus Charm after another meeting or two." This made them all cheer. "In the meantime, keep practicing, and really fantastic job, guys. All of you. Merry Christmas."

Everyone murmured "Merry Christmas," as they left and soon I was by myself gazing at the taped photos to the mirror. I thought of everything and nothing. Had we been better prepared, would Voldemort's resurrection even have happened? Would my parents be proud if they knew what we were doing? Were the D.A. members going to make it through this war? I didn't know.

"Hey," said Cedric, startling me. "You've been a little quiet today. Are you okay? I heard Umbridge gave you a rough time the other day."

"Yeah, I'm fine. She's a big problem, but she'll be gone by the end of the year, hopefully. I've just got a lot on my mind. I'm worried about what's lying ahead for the students and I hope we're really making a difference," I said, sighing.

"Of course we are. You're a great teacher, you know. I couldn't do half these spells until you taught me."

I smiled. "Thanks."

"What else is on your mind? Tell me."

I hesitated but then said, "I'm just thinking about last June."

Cedric nodded and then said, "Helena, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" I asked.

He took a deep breath, "Back in the graveyard, when I was forced to watch you being tortured forced to fight Voldemort, I was ready to tear him apart with my bare hands. I was scared that he was going to take you away from me and if that had happened, I would've gone mad because I'd have lost everything that matters to me. For a while now, I've been struggling with my feelings, trying to figure out how to tell you this, but now I-I…" He sighed. "What-what I'm trying to say, Helena, is I love you. I love you more than anything and I—"

He was cut off when I pulled him close and we shared a kiss. My arms were wrapped around his neck, he had one hand around my waist and the other tangled in my black hair. It was the happiest moment of my life. We finally broke apart for air and gazed at each other. His handsome grey eyes met my simple green ones.

"I love you too, Ced," I murmured. "I think I always have."

"Why didn't you just say so before?" he asked.

I sighed as I struggled for an answer. "Because I didn't think that you would love me. It never made sense for you to," I admitted. "I mean, I'm the one who keeps putting you in danger just by being with you. I'm nothing."

"Helena," said Cedric, sounding choked. "I'm in danger because I'm willing to stand against Voldemort and because I choose to do it. You aren't nothing. You're everything to me. You're everything."

I was so touched that I couldn't speak. My only response was another passionate kiss. When we broke apart, I touched his face. "Cedric, that night when I showed you the Mirror of Erised, what did you see?"

"I saw you and me, together," he admitted.

I was stunned. "Even back then you loved me?"

"Yes," he confessed. "But I never knew how to tell you until now."

"And that's all that matters." I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I love you."

"I love you too," he whispered. "Helena, promise me you'll let me protect you no matter what happens."

I pulled back and looked at him. "Cedric, you already do so much for me. I-I can't ask you to do that."

"You're not asking, I am. I want to be there for you."

"You already are and you always have been. There's nothing more you can do."

"There is so much more. Helena, please. Please, just let me protect you. I love you so much. Every moment that I'm not near you, it hurts. Promise me."

I sighed again and nodded. "Okay, I promise."

We then held each other close and smiled.

"Will you go out with me next Hogsmeade weekend?" he asked.

"Yes. I love you."

"I love you too," he said, as we kissed again. I could never tire of saying and hearing those three little words as long as I lived.

When I got back to the common room, I ended up telling Ginny, Ron and Hermione why I was in such a cheerful mood. Their reactions to my news were not quite what I had expected.

"It's about time!" said Ron. "I thought you'd never do it."

"It was that obvious?" I said, embarrassed.

"Pretty much," said Hermione, looking apologetic. "Come on, Helena, you can't say you didn't notice how you two look at each other? Or how he only asked you to the Yule Ball last year when he turned down half the school? Or how he's so protective of your or how you ran off with him last summer?"

"Well…"

"I'm really happy for you, Helena. How was it?" asked Ginny, referring to the kiss.

I turned red. "Let's just say, really, really good."

They all burst out laughing and then suddenly, so did I.