Hey everyone!
I'm really, really, really sorry, that I kept you waiting for so long, but I had to do a lot of work for school and then my beta's internet didn't work.
Even though this chapter isn't read by knitchick, I decided to post it for now. But I will re-post the beta-ed chapter as soon as I can.
So don't be surprised... there possibly will be some really annoying mistakes in here.
I really hope I didn't loose readers because of the delay... anyway, thanks to everybody who put up with waiting!
Chapter 22
On Monday morning – two days after their meeting in Hogsmeade - Harry yawned and sat up in his bed. He stared out of the big dorm window and a grimace formed on his face when he saw the thick clouds looming on the sky, darkening it.
"Looks like the summer's finally over, eh?" asked a sleepy voice to his left and Harry looked at Blaise who was standing near his cupboard, a pair of socks in one hand, while brushing his dark hair with the other.
"Yeah…," Harry nodded and went over to his own cupboard. "And Padma just had to set the first Quidditch practice for today…"
"I don't understand why we have no classes today anyways…," mumbled Blaise absentmindedly. "It's no holiday or something like that."
Harry just shrugged. It suited him just fine, because it meant that he didn't have to sit in Umbridge's class for the day, being bored out of his mind.
Now Terry joined their discussion with a groan from the other side of the room. "I hate Padma… I bet she heard the muggle news or something and did it on purpose!"
Harry rolled is eyes. "It's impossible to use any kind of muggle technology in Hogwarts." He smoothed his white muscle shirt and put his wand-holster on his right arm. "Padma had no way of knowing today's weather. And the Daily Prophet arrives only at breakfast."
Suddenly the bathroom door opened and Ernie came out. They all sighed irritably when they saw the smug grin on the ex-Hufflepuff's face. "It'll be a good training for you I bet. It's more difficult to fly and the Snitch and the Bludgers are much harder to spot."
Terry threw a pillow at him and rolled out of his bed while Blaise gave an annoyed huff. "You're the one to talk! You'll be in the Common Room with Rose and Euan, teaching them about Quidditch rules and history."
Ernie held his hands up in a defensive posture. "Hey! It's not my fault that they're both muggleborns!"
"I'll meet you after breakfast then," said Harry and pocketed his shrunken Firebolt.
The three other boys nodded and Harry left the dorm, very well aware that one of them was following him.
"Potter?" called Blaise when Harry reached the door. "Harry?"
He turned around and looked at Blaise when he was sure the Common Room was empty except of them.
Blaise opened his mouth to say something, but Harry held his hand up and shook his head. "I know… and your guess is right. I can oblivate you if you've decided to change your mind."
The ex-Slytherin raised an eyebrow in return. "So you'll really be teaching the Dark Arts?" He frowned. "Istn't that a little risky?"
Harry shrugged. "You can't beat Voldemort with a simple Expelliarmus."
"But you did. Or so Draco says…"
"I distracted him with it. Nothing else," replied Harry simply. "And that was just possible because of my wand. I won't go into detail why this is the case."
Blaise nodded in understanding. "Doing something like this directly under the nose of a Ministry official… that's really a bit dangerous, isn't it?"
"Don't remind me," answered Harry with a dry chuckle and looked at his watch. "Sorry, but I've gotta go. Tell me if you change your mind or not. You've got time until next Friday, that's when the first meeting probably will be held."
After Harry had left a slightly thoughtful Blaise behind in the Common Room he waited until the door disappeared and then started to pace in front of the wall to enter their training-room. His thoughts were lingering on Blaise and how he knew that they won't only be teaching light spells.
The door had just appeared when Draco rounded the corner and raised an eyebrow as he saw the slight frown on Harry's face.
"What's the matter?" he asked and opened the door
Harry eyed his friend out of the corner of his eyes when they entered. "Your friend Blaise… is either very observant, or just really sharp-minded."
Draco tittled his head and they sat down on the armchairs near the empty fireplace. "Yeah. You could say he's both. Why?"
Harry leaned back and several books flew over from the shelves and landed on the table in front of him. "Tell me… how did Blaise come to the conclusion that we're going to teach some of the Dark Arts?"
Draco chuckled. "He noticed, didn't he?" He shuffled trough a stack of papers with different potions written on it that had flown over to him from the potions section and then looked at him. "He must've seen it in your aura."
Harry stared at him with slight disbelief on his face. "He's able to see auras?"
When Draco nodded he shook his head and frowned. "This is not something you can just do, Draco. And you know that yourself as well as I do, because we're trying to get that down since we started training."
"He was born with it," shrugged Draco. "I know that it's one of the most difficult things to learn - that's out of question - but he says he's able to do it as long as he remembers."
"Then he's lucky," said Harry still slightly surprised and stared down at one of the books in front of him. It was about magical ways of silent communication. "But that doesn't really explain how he knows what we'll be teaching."
Draco tittled his head and more papers landed in front of him. "He probably saw the change in your aura. He once told me, that someone who just uses light magic has a white or very softly colored aura. The color depends on the person's personality. Someone who has a specific trait or can turn into an animagus usually has two or more colors. He said McGonagall for example has an aura split in four different colors. But don't get me started with Dumbledore."
Harry chuckled. "The old man's probably a whole rainbow. But let me guess… someone who's learning dark magic has a much darker aura and the colors are no longer soft, but more defined."
Draco nodded and looked up from his stack of papers when Hermione entered the room with a small yawn. She wasn't wearing the school cloak today, but black jeans and a white and blue pullover.
"Good morning Harry. Draco," she greeted and sat down on Harry's lap.
With a smile she leaned down and gave him a deep kiss. When she slit off of his lap and sat down next to him, the other two entered and Neville sat down on the last free chair, while Ron yawned wildly and flopped himself down on the sofa with his feet high in the air and his hands clasped over his face.
Hermione sighed exasperated and looked out of the window and then at Harry. "Do you really have practice after breakfast?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah… I think there's no way around it today. I guess you'd better stay in the school then." Hermione opened her mouth, but Harry silenced her with a small kiss. "I know you wanted to come, but you'll just get a cold in this weather."
"Since when are you interested in Quidditch?" asked Neville surprised.
Hermione frowned. "I'm not really interested in the sport and the games, but it's interesting to watch people flying around when it's just for the fun of it."
"Playing in a game is also just for fun," stated Draco and Hermione nodded.
"Maybe it's part of it, but there's always the competition and it ruins some of the fun."
With a snort Ron looked up at them from his lying position. "When you're okay with flying when it's just for fun, then you can go flying yourself also, can't you?"
Hermione was silent and bit her lip. Then she looked at Harry and smiled slightly. "I guess I can try flying when it's not because of something dangerous like rescuing someone on a hypogriff."
Harry chuckled and when they finally brought Ron to sit up they started to work on their new training schedule and their plans for the Defense Group.
******
"I don't get it!" cursed Terry and stared at the one other ex-Ravenclaw after breakfast when they slit down the now wet grass to the Quidditch field.
It had started to rain shortly before breakfast and seven slightly grumpy Quidditch-players followed a seemingly happy Padma down to the pitch.
"Why do we have to play in this weather again?" asked Daphne with a dark look on her face when a strong gust of wind nearly threw her broom out of her hand.
Padma stayed silent until they reached the locker-rooms and then she turned around with her hands firmly on her hips, looking at each of them with an expression that really reminded Harry of his former Quidditch captain Oliver Wood.
Fred and George seemed to have the same thought, because they chuckled slightly.
"We're extremely late for having our first practice, if you've noticed," said Padma sternly when they positioned themselves in a half-circle around her. "It's the middle of October. The other teams are training for at last three weeks already and have the big advantage to know each other."
"But we know each other too!" pointed Hannah out.
Harry chuckled quietly and they all looked at him. "I don't know anybody of you, except for Fred and George."
"But-," started Daphne perplexed and looked around to everyone except Padma looking as baffled as herself.
"Let me explain," said Harry and looked at Padma who nodded. "Of course I know all of you, but I never played Quidditch with anybody of you except the Twins. I don't have a clue how each of you plays in a team."
"Exactly," nodded Padma and pointed at Blaise. "The Keeper has to know where the Chasers will catch the ball he throws at them and when he has to get ready to save a goal," she pointed at Daphne, Hannah and Terry. "The Chasers have to know each others movements and be able to predict where they have to throw the ball to." Padma started pacing in front of them and looked at Fred and George. "And each of the players must be able to trust the Beaters to keep the Bludgers away from them. The only one who really hasn't much to worry about with his team-play is Harry, who just has to look for the Snitch and avoid the Bludgers."
"But what has it to do with training in this miserable weather?!" whined Terry after a short silence.
Blaise looked at Padma and then out of the window where a full-fledged storm was giving his best now. "If we can play well in this weather, we won't have any problem with our teamwork under better conditions and our movements will be much more precise because we have to be careful not to drift off in this weather."
Harry clapped his hands. "So what are we waiting for? Let's get it started!"
He opened the door and left the room. Even before he had enlarged his broom he was wet to the skin and standing ankle-deep in the mud.
"This'll be fun…," he mumbled when he mounted his broom and rose into the air.
A little more carefully than normal he flew some rounds around the pitch to get used to flying on a broom again. He hadn't been flying on a broom fore more than six months and was used to fly around as a Phoenix by now, so needing a broom to fly was a little odd for him.
"Harry, I'll release the Snitch and the Bludgers for you while the others are warming up. I want to see you chasing it around as if your life depends on it!" shouted Padma.
Harry chuckled. "That's a little exaggerated," he said and the Snitch zoomed around his head before disappearing in between the thick rain-drops.
He immediately had to duck both Bludgers when they came racing at him at full-speed and did a small looping to get ridd of them. He frowned when he heard a swishing sound and looked at the two Bludgers that were flying in front of him. Where was the sound coming from?
He shook his head. The better question was: What was making the sound?
Harry rose higher into the air while looking at the two Bludgers. When he turned around as the swishing sound once again appeared his eyes widened.
"Holy shit!" he cursed and rolled around on his broom to avoid two more Bludgers.
Witch a sharp turn of his broom he dived down once again and started to search for the Snitch. While his eyes drifted over the field and from Bludger to Bludger. In total there where eight of them now and he guessed that he never in his life had to do so many maneuvers and tricks to avoid getting hit.
******
"You weren't kidding when you said my life depends on the Snitch," grumbled Harry at Padma after thirty minutes when the Snitch was safely in his right hand.
He glared at the Bludgers that immeadietly went motionless.
"Told you so," grinned Padma and blew her whistle so that the rest of the team would come over. "Now you're going to play three against three. Harry Fred and George, you'll be playing against the others. You three know how each other plays, so you can be a better challenge for the Chasers."
"Yes Ma'm!" saluted Fred and George who seemed to have no problem in the weather at all.
Harry wished over his wet face and was thankful that he didn't need his glasses anymore. He remembered all to well how blind he had been in his third year before Hermione had cast a charm on them.
"You're all playing on Blaise's goal," Padma shouted after she was on the ground again with the Quaffle in her hands. "I wan't to see everyone playing with their full power!" She threw the ball high into the air. "GO!"
Harry didn't even try to dive after the Quaffle, but flew over to Fred and George to tell them something. He didn't bother to whisper, because the wind was loud enough to hinder the others on overhearing them.
The Twins nodded and flew over to Daphne who currently had the Quaffle – fighting against the strong wind. While George attacked her, Fred flew down slightly and hovered a meter over the ground. Daphne tried to pass the ball, but Terry wasn't fast enough and George caught it. Simultaneously Fred started to race forwards, still not far from the ground.
Harry looked around and saw Hannah flying at the goalposts near Blaise and Terry trying to reach Fred, while Daphne raced after George.
He smirked and dived down, so that his feet touched the ground and leaned flat on his broom. In no time he was flying exactly under Fred and rolled around so that his back was facing the ground. He couldn't be seen by the others now.
He saw how George passed the ball over to his brother and when it reached Fred, the redhead pretended to catch it and leaned down on his broom so that the Quaffle was no longer seen.
Harry grinned when Fred chuckled and the Quaffle fell down in his outstretched hand. He himself slowed down now and sat back upright, while Fred raced forwards to the goals. Immediately Daphne and Terry flew after him – their eyes darting between the Twins – forgetting all about Harry.
He relaxed, rounded the pitch and then flew over to the goals. When he passed Padma he caught her eye and gave her a small victory sign.
"Hey Blaise!" he called and then threw the ball with full force trough the left goal.
Blaise's eyes followed the ball, startled, and Padma blew her whistle. Harry shook his head to get the wet hair out of his eyes and flew down to the captain.
"What the heck was that?" asked Blaise when they got off their brooms.
"Yeah!" demanded Daphne. "Fred had the Quaffle! How come you threw the goal?!"
Fred, George and Harry grinned at each other and Padma laughed excited.
"I never really caught the ball," answered Fred grinning.
"What?" asked all of the others simultaneously and Terry shook his head. "But I saw how you caught it and dashed forwards!"
"That was what I call teamwork," chuckled Padma. "Why don't we just put you three as Chasers? Then we don't have so much work ahead of us," suggested the indian girl jokingly and looked at Harry. "I guess the trick you just pulled was your idea, so you're going to teach it to Daphne, Terry and Hannah. You've got two hours."
"I still don't get it," shrugged Hannah perplexed.
"Just wait…,"
"-we show you," said Fred and George.
"Watch carefully," added Harry and rose in the air once again…
******
"You look like shit, mate," commented Ron when Harry and the rest ot the ream entered the Great Hall for lunch.
They all were covered in mud from head to toe and Harry really felt like he had not a single clean spot on his body.
Draco chuckled. "I'm just happy that we don't have training today."
Harry scowled at him. "Yeah, because you set the date and time for the practice."
The blond shrugged. "That's the favor of being the captain."
"Really, you look like you live in a hole…," grinned Neville broadly.
"What did you expect?" giggled Hermione when Harry wished some dirt off of his nose and hair. "Look at the ceiling then you see under which conditions they trained."
Harry carefully sat down next to Hermione and helped himself to some food. "What are you doing here anyways? Normally we all sit on our own tables for lunch."
Draco and Ron looked at each other and then at Ernie who was sitting next to the two first years, clutching a piece of paper with a very worried expression on his face.
"We've got something here… and we're not sure what to make of it," said Draco unneeded and Harry leaned over the table and grabbed the paper out of Ernie's hands to read it.
It was looking like an very official letter and at the bottom was a neat and curly signature.
*
BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS
All student organizations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded.
An organization, society, team, group or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.
Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).
No student organization, society, team, group or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.
Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organization, society, team, group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.
Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor
*
Harry dropped the fork and stared intently up to the staff-table where Umbridge sat, happily munching her food.
Padma, who had read the note over his shoulder started to shake him furiously. "You all know that this includes Quidditch as well, don't you?! Our team is disbanded! Did you hear me?!"
Harry pushed her hands slightly annoyed away from him and looked around.
"D'you think she knows about our group?" asked Neville quietly "Or is it just… a coincidence that this appears two days after our meeting?"
Harry scowled darkly when he met Umbridge's eyes. "Maybe it is a coincidence... but then it's one I'm planning to shove up her damn ass!" He stood up and felt his own magic flaring around him in angry pulses.
He immediately felt Dumbledore's eyes on him, but ignored it for the time being and stalked over to Umbridge. With a huff he slammed the paper in front of Umbridge with so much force, that the staff-table shook a little bit.
"What is that?" he asked in a dangerously low voice and the whole hall quieted down to listen.
Umbridge looked up startled and narrowed her eyes at him after she had looked at the decree. "I would have thought you are able to read Mr. Potter," she stated sweetly. "As you can see this is a Ministry decree."
Harry rolled his eyes and once more grabbed the paper. "I want to have a clear answer," he hissed and suddenly the paper burst into black flames. "What… is… this… about?"
Umbridge didn't answer, but was staring wide-eyed at the paper in his hand and the flames that were growing, licking on his wrists, without hurting him in the slightest.
"I… I don't have to answer a mere students question," said Umbridge then and looked briefly in his eyes before quickly looking away again.
"I don't like to repeat myself," growled Harry and the black flames intensified, just like his glare. "Why is every club, team or group to be disbanded until it's reformed and approved by you?"
"This shall be none of your concern," replied Umbridge with one of her fake coughs.
Dumbledore cleared his troath when the plates and glases on the staff-table started to shake slightly. "I believe we're all interested why this decree was deemed necessary, Dolores."
The headmaster looked at Harry from the corner of his eyes and Harry leaned away from Umbridge. He took a deep breath and the flames in his hand died down. Left was just a small heap of ash that fell on the floor and the desk.
"The Ministry doesn't need to present reasons for invoking new decrees concerning the education of students," spat Umbridge while staring at the small heap of ash on her desk.
"I believe it to be a lost cause Albus," came Snapes oily voice from beside Nicolas, "We could ask her the same question over and over again. She won't answer."
Umbridge huffed angrily and with another of her fake coughs stormed out of the Great Hall, away from all the students that were staring at her.
Harry clenched his fists when he looked after her. He really was itching to hex her into next week. Slowly he turned around to face the headmaster and took a deep breath. "Can I at least talk to you privately?"
"Certainly, my boy," replied Dumbledore nodding. "How about my office in five minutes? Then you have a little time to clean yourself up."
Harry looked down at his dirty Quidditch robes and nodded curtly before leaving the Great Hall. When he passed Fred and George he slightly tittled his head and nodded then very slowly. They grinned from ear to ear and gave each other high-five.
Despite his slightly bad mood, Harry grinned and went up to the headmasters office. Before he tried to enter he waved his wand over himself and his dirty Quidditch robes were replaced by a casual red sweater and black jeans.
To his surprise the gargoyle guarding the headmasters office didn't require a password from him and he just stepped on the moving staircase without it.
He smiled softly when he saw Fawkes sitting on his perch, looking back at him and tittling his head. 'I see you took my advise to heart, child,' he heard the deep voice of the Phoenix in his head. 'You learn the ways of our kind very fast.'
Harry nodded. 'Thank you, but I still loose some feathers while transporting myself with the shadows.'
Fawkes clicked with his beak in understanding. 'It takes time to get rid of that nasty little side effect. Have patience and practice it.'
At this moment Dumbledore entered his office and Harry's head immediately snapped over to him with a slight 'crack' that made himself and the headmaster wince slightly.
"I want her gone," he stated calmly. "Now."
Dumbledore sighed and gestured Harry to take a seat in front of his desk while he himself sat down behind it. "I'm afraid this won't be possible."
"Then make it possible," responded Harry and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You're the headmaster here. I know the reason she invoked that stupid decree, because I used Legillimency on her. And I tell you, if she pulls something like that again someone will be in very grave danger this year."
"So you also know that she presented an entire different reason to the Minister to get her wish?" asked Dumbledore with a slight twinkle in his eyes.
Harry snorted. "Of course. She couldn't very well have said that she doesn't like the fact that the Quidditch team of my house is too good for her liking now, could she? Seriously, she must really hate the new house to invoke a decree because of Quidditch. A game!"
Dumbledore shuffled trough the drawer of his desk and took out a small glas of lemon drops. "Do you want one?"
Harry couldn't resist the urge to chuckle and popped one of the sweets into his mouth. "Thanks. But sir, a Cheering-Draught won't do any good for me now."
The headmaster smiled. "You're the second one who noticed the little side effect of the sweets. The first had been Professor Snape."
"I can imagine," nodded Harry and then his face turned serious once more. "How can the Ministry believe her ridiculous claim? They don't actually believe that you're trying to get the Minister's post, do they?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "Alas, that's exactly what Cornelius fears. It is a very far-fetched reason to act on, as I have refused the post two times already."
Harry stood up and started pacing. "Professor, with all due respect, but what were you thinking? You gave Umbridge the responsibilities coming with a teacher's post and she absolutely isn't suited for something like that. She's biased, narrow-minded and just plain dumb to begin with."
Dumbledore also stood up and went over to Fawkes. He petted the Phoenix who gave a trill of happiness and shook his head. "Some things just can't be avoided. There are things not even a headmaster can prevent."
With a shrug Harry turned around and looked out of the window. The storm was still going on and thick drops of rain splashed on the glass.
"Sir," said Harry a little colder than before. "I want her gone. And I'm by god not the only one. I can't stand her and she hates my guts, Merlin knows why."
He felt Dumbledore's eyes on the back of his head but didn't turn. "You see Harry…," answered the headmaster, "This is one of the things I, as the headmaster, have no say in. She was sent here by the Ministry and is to stay."
Harry sighed and turned around. He looked Dumbledore in the eyes and shook his head. "I would lie if I would say I just want her gone because she annoys me," he drove a hand trough his hair. "The problem is… that I can't guarantee that she'll be alive at the end of the term when she stays." This earned him a raised eyebrow. "Should I loose my temper – which I tell you I'm trying not to – then I could hurt her very badly, or even kill her."
Dumbledore's eyes took on a piercing look when he studied his face. "You would be able to do that to someone when you loose your temper on them? You would kill somebody?"
Harry didn't blink and nodded. "Yes, I could loose control like that. It… it wouldn't be the first time…"
Dumbledore looked at him sadly and sat down behind his desk. He stayed silent for a moment and Harry also sat down once more.
"So you've killed before?" asked the headmaster then, quietly.
Harry nodded. "It's something I'm not proud of, but yes, I did. Two people actually. When you leave Quirrel from my first year out of it."
He was silent for a short while and then looked at Dumbledore. "It was… five months after Draco, Fleur and I had started training. We were in Australia, not far away from the village Nick and Penny lived in, when it happened," he briefly closed his eyes to remember what exactly had happened. "We encountered some Voldemort-wannabe's, I don't know their names but they were five. All of them knew my name and of my heritage. When two of them insulted my mother over and over again… I just snapped. I don't know what I did to them, but seconds later they were death. Killed by dark magic."
Dumbledore nodded. "It's highly possible to unleash a wave of raw magic – may it be dark or light – when you're angry. I understand those circumstances very well. But… are you certain you can't control it?"
"Positive," replied Harry.
"Then I will see what I can do, but be careful," answered the headmaster and popped another lemon drop into his mouth after having another one offered to Harry. "I'm afraid I have other matters to attend to now."
Harry nodded and went over to the door. 'I'm not really surprised… it would've been to easy to get rid of her that way,' he mused silently when he left the office.
"And Harry," he heard Dumbledore say, "If something else bothers you, don't hesitate to come to me or another Professor."
Harry said nothing and with a chuckle went down the stairs.
He strode down the corridor to meet with his friends while whistling the music of a muggle-movie he had seen when he had been travelling with Fleur and Draco. 'Oh yes… this year's really proving to be more interesting than I thought not necessary in the good way, but still…I just have to wait and see what happens…'
******
"I'm bored…," complained Harry for the third time in thirty minutes and Hermione chuckled once more. "Why'd I take Ancient Runes again?"
Hermione softly shushed him with a slight jab of her wand and he playfully stuck his tongue out while Professor Babbling wasn't looking.
"And why the hell don't we have Defense today?" he asked then, "First the lessons are cancelled on Monday and now Defense is cancelled on Friday."
Hermione frowned and Harry knew that it was not because of the translation they were doing.
She looked up from her pice of paper and tittled her head. "Maybe Umbridge has a new decree and needs her time to run to Fudge?"
Harry sighed annoyed and swiftly finished his last word before putting his quill away. "It surely won't be good for her health if she does so."
With a shake of her head Hermione, too, finished her assignment and looked back up at him. "You really would hurt her? I understand that she's a…"
"I won't hurt her," stated Harry and cracked his knuckles. "I'd hex her into oblivion and then I would torture her, before transfiguring her into a frog and then I'd slowly rip-"
"I get your point!" interrupted Hermione his little speech and he smiled sheepishly. "Really now, someone would think the school should already be in ruins now, the way you're talking."
Harry chuckled and gave her a peek on the nose and took her hand. "But that's what I've got you for," he replied quietly, "You can always hold me back and I'm sure I won't be complaining. Isn't that right, honey?"
Hermione blushed and opened her mouth to say something, but they were interrupted by a slightly amused cough. Harry clicked his tounge and looked up at Professor Babbling.
"I'm happy that your relationship goes well, but would you hold your shows of affection back for outside the lessons and get back to work? Miss Granger, Mr. Potter?" the Professor asked.
Harry rubbed the back of his head while Hermione blushed a deeper shade of pink. "I'm afraid we've already finished our assignment and- " Just then the bell rang and he smiled. "- and the lesson seems to be over anyways. So…"
The Professor just raised an eyebrow in return when he handed her Hermione's and his assignment with a small bow.
He shrunk his things with a swish of his wand and gave Hermione another peek on the cheek. "The lesson's over. Affections are allowed, aren't they?"
Professor Babbling shook her head with an amused smile. "You're hopeless Mr. Potter. Just go already."
With a cheeky grin Harry took Hermione's hand and they hurried out of the classroom.
When they were in the corridor of the sixth floor Hermione softly punched his arm – a blush still on her face. "Don't do that again. It's embarrassing!"
Harry pouted and looked at the ceiling as if praying. "That's what you get for cherishing your girlfriend…"
******
They arrived at the Room of Requirement – or the Phoenix Common Room (which it normally was known for) – and entered after the door had appeared.
They weren't surprised when they saw Ron, Draco and Neville already sitting there – the later brooding over a big tome about animagus-transformations - while Draco was reading the Daily Prophet and Ron sorting trough a bunch of papers.
"Hey guys," greeted Hermione and Harry nodded before flopping down on the sofa.
"So… you ready for the first meeting of our little Defense group?" asked Ron and handed Harry the papers he had been going trough.
Harry looked down at the papers and realised that they were the lesson-plans they had been making over the last week. He nodded and leaned back while going trough them once again.
"What I don't understand…," began Harry after five minutes, "… is why I have to teach them. Why not someone of you?"
Draco snorted. "Because you're Harry bloody Potter! The Boy-Who-Lived, Saviour of the Wizardring-World, Winner of the Triwizard-Tournament and newly installed publicity-icon of the Ministry."
Harry grimaced. "Geeze… you just ruined my evening with that, but I get your point."
Draco nodded and once more disappeared behind his newspaper, just to throw it on the desk with a groan. "Not again…"
"What is it?" wanted Harry to know and Draco just pointed at a small photo with an article under it.
*
Sirius Black once more seen in London!
Due to a courageous photographer of the Daily Prophet the Ministry has acquired new information about Sirius Black's (mass-murderer, convicted for the deaths of thirteen muggles and the wizard Peter Pettigrew) whereabouts. The convict yesterday was seen in muggle London near the entry of the - for muggles famous - attraction 'The London Dungeons'. The Ministry guesses that due to his healthy appearance Black may be hidden by one of his former friends from school, or a clueless muggle.
We suggest extreme caution, because Black seems to be in London quite often these days and is dangerous.
If you have any information regarding the convict, please inform the Ministry immediately.
*
Harry stared at the article with slight disbelief and then at the moving photograph. It clearly was Sirius on the photo and he was merrily smiling and waving at the camera.
"I don't care if I loose more feathers...", mumbled Harry and rose to his feet. "I'm going to Grimmauld Place."
He just wanted to change into his Phoenix form when he looked at the fireplace and nearly lost his balance.
"D'you really think it's wise just to disappear?" asked Hermione concerned. "I mean… what if he isn't even there and you get hurt while flashing? It's a big - Harry?"
Harry still hadn't changed into his Phoenix form and now lay sprawled on the carpet with his head turned to the fire. A small scowl on his face.
"Mate?", asked Ron slowly as if testing if he was still sane. "You okay? What are you doing on the floor?"
"I just saw the mutt's head in the fire." Harry explained calmly.
"He wouldn't, would he?", asked Draco and also looked at the flames. "We could be everywhere in the castle right now. And he was already seen in London. The mutt surely isn't that st- Sirius!"
"Told you so," chuckled Harry while standing up and glanced at Sirius who was grinning at him from out of the flames. "What are you doing here?"
Sirius huffed and some ashes blew over the carpet. "I just wanted to make a quick visit. Where are you guys anyways? I don't recognize the room."
"S-sir-sirius B-black!", stammered Neville after having looked up from his book and at the newspaper. He had raised his wand, but was slowly inching behind the sofa. "Wh-what is h-h-he doing h-he-here?"
Harry glanced at Neville, who was covering behind the sofa now, staring at Sirius' head in fear and then looked back to his godfather. "We're in the Room of Requirement. Also normally known as the Phoenix Common Room. It's a little complicated to explain, but somehow this room can be used for multiple things. I believe it's currently used for four different causes."
Sirius stared at him and Harry could nearly see the question-mark forming over his head.
Draco chuckled. "I think it's safe. You can step trough."
With a quick nod Sirius head disappeared and two seconds later green flames shot out of the fireplace and Sirius stepped out of the fire with a small grin on his face.
The grin however was blown away when Harry took the Daily Prophet from the table and held it under his nose.
"Um… nice photo, isn't it?" chuckled Sirius weakly.
"I'm definitely not amused," growled Harry and threw the paper back on the table. "What the hell were you thinking?! Heck, did you even think?! What if someone had captured you?! What if someone had followed you?! Did you even think about that?!"
Sirius stared at him and then blinked. "Woah… sorry pup. I didn't know that it would cause you such a fuss."
Ron, too, was staring at Harry with his mouth slightly agape. "Mate… I think Hermione's rubbing off on you. You sounded just like her."
Hermione glared at the redhead while Harry sighed slightly annoyed and sat down again.
"Really Padfoot… I'm worried about you. You can't just run around while the Ministry is still after you. One day… when the rat is captured maybe… but not now," said Harry in a much softer voice and looked at his godfather pleadingly.
"Yeah," threw Draco in. "At least change your will before you get captured. You still must include me in it. After all I'll be the last one in the line of Black then and therefore everything should go to me."
"Cheeky brat," mumbled Sirius and raised his eyebrows when he saw Neville covering behind the sofa. "Um… is he okay?"
Hermione sighed and tapped Neville on the shoulder. The Hufflepuff straightened his shoulders and stood up. He was still slightly shaky when he sat down again and his eyes never left Sirius.
"You're Sirius Black," Neville said quietly.
Sirius grinned. "I know that. And you must be Neville Longbottom. Frank's and Alice's son, aren't you?"
Neville ignored him. "And… you're here in Hogwarts. Just like that."
Harry snorted and Sirius nodded slowly. "Yes… so what's your point?" He leaned to Harry and whispered: "Is he alright… I mean mentally?"
"Why the hell aren't you trying to kill Harry then?!" asked Neville loudly and they all broke out laughing while Sirius stared at him surprised.
"Why should I kill my… oh!" replied Sirius and looked at Harry and the others. "You didn't tell him, did you?"
Ron shook his head. "Nope. Not a single word."
"You see Neville," said Hermione gently. "Sirius is innocent. He never killed all those people and he never wanted to kill Harry."
When Harry looked at Neville he nodded and the next ten minutes they told him together why Sirius was innocent.
******
"Oh… um… so you aren't on Voldemort's site then?" asked Neville after they had finished their explanation.
Sirius chuckled. "No. I'm not that cracked up." Draco snorted, but Sirius just ignored him. "My family may've been a bunch of mental idiots, but I'm not like my dear cousin Bellatrix."
Neville stiffened and then clenched his fists. "Never again mention that name in my presence! Do you understand?"
"I- oh. I'm sorry," answered Sirius slightly ashamed. "I didn't think about your parents when I said that."
Neville nodded and they all were quiet for a little while.
"So?" asked Harry then and Sirius flinched at his tone of voice. "What were you doing near the London Dungeons?"
His godfather chuckled sheepishly. "Tonks told me about it and I wanted to see if it really was as scary as she made it out to be. I was disappointed to be honest. Voldemort is way more scarier than a little fire."
Hermione clicked her tongue. "That's maybe because it was build for muggles. They have no such things as dementors and Voldemort to be scared of."
Draco stared at his cousin. "Let me get this straight. You… risked to be captured… just because you wanted to take a little ride on a horror-train?"
Sirius sighed. "I know, I know… it was a stupid idea. But I…"
Harry shook his head. "I understand that you want to be outside. Even though Grimmauld Place looks better now, it still isn't a place you want to be twenty-four-seven."
"Exactly what I mean," nodded Sirius and for the first time looked around in the Room of Requirement. "Damn!" he whistled, "This thing has a better equipment than Auror-School!"
Ron chuckled. "And believe me, Harry and Draco ensure that we get to use all of the stuff in here."
Neville smiled slightly. "At least we won't be the only ones being tortured by those two now."
Sirius perked up at this. "It reeks of rule-breaking here." He eyed his godson who smiled innocently. "Are you planning something illegal Mr. Prefect?"
Harry shook his head and pointed at Hermione. "It was her idea to begin with. But yes, we're doing something that's not necessary legal. Look."
He gave Sirius the lesson-plans and they all could see as his eyes widened with every line he read.
After he had browsed trough the papers he looked at Harry and Draco in amazement. "I was always told James and I were crazy in school… but you… you must be totally mental then!"
"We do what we can," shrugged Draco and Harry nodded.
Sirius suddenly grew serious. "Are you sure you want to go trough with this? I mean… learning the Dark Arts alone is illegal, even if it's for the safety of others, but teaching them to others in a Defense group… I don't know."
Harry sighed. "I know what you mean. I'm not really comfortable with it, but I see the point Hermione wanted to bring across by suggesting it. I realised after the Triwizard, that you have to fight fire with fire."
His godfather nodded and looked down at the papers before placing them back on the desk. He then looked Harry in the eyes. "I understand, but… I don't want to see my godson in Azkaban…"
Harry smiled softly. "I'll just have to follow your example then, won't I? Breaking out of Azkaban… this comes just after breaking into Gringotts on my to-do-list."
Sirius snorted. "Yeah, both those things normally are impossible. But happened all the same."
Harry stiffened when suddenly a small tingling appeared in his hand and then looked to the door. "You've gotta go Padfoot. The members of our small group are coming."
Sirius nodded and gave him a small hug. "Look after yourself pup. And don't do something I won't."
With a laugh Harry nodded. "So I can do what I want then. Bye Padfoot and… don't send me another Howler like at the beginning of the year."
Sirius took a little bit of floo-powder and grimaced. "So you send one back to me? No, thanks. Once was enough. Bye you four!" he said to the others and vanished into the flames.
Draco was already at the door. "We don't want to train them in this room here now, do we?"
Harry shook his head. "Absolutely not. A room with a forest area and training dummies is enough."
"So then, come on," said Ron and went outside.
They followed him and saw nearly all the members of their group already assembled in front of them.
"Okay…" said Harry when the door had disappeared and Draco had started pacing in front of the wall again.
They entered one after another and Harry heard the exited whispering when they saw the part with the clearing of the forbidden forest, where they had been training before.
Training dummies where positioned on the right side of the room and so were stacks of cushions on the left.
Harry slowly took stance in front of the crowd. "Well then… welcome to the first meeting of our Defense group."
There you have it. The latest Chapter of my story. To make up for the delay it's longer than the others.
I hope you liked it!
Please, give me a review! They may be able to give me a boost.
Dark Phoenix of Slytherin