A/N: This is the first in an 8 to 12 chapter storyline I'm calling 'the Stag's Leadership' it will take place over a few years of Harry's life and will be full of shocks, twists and tears.
Chapter Twenty Four: The Stag Corps
It was the day after Umbridge's breakout from Azkaban and all the DA members and the members of the Order of the Phoenix had arrived in Potter Manor where Harry was about to address the huge crowd which seemed to hold old Phoenix members who died in the first and second wars as well as all the DA including Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang who were holding hands and smiling. Harry was wearing an outfit that looked like Bill's old curse-breaker outfit and was looking like a general about to address his army.
"Thank you all for coming, I understand that many of you are unsure of what is happening at the moment so I'll explain…Dolores Umbridge has escaped Azkaban and is now christened herself the Dark Mistress. We are all here to fight her but…as we all know the Order has been compromised by the final battle which put us in the light of all…so I'm creating a new organisation called 'The Stag Corps' all DA members and several Order members have a right to join and that's why we're all here, those who join I cannot guarantee anyone's safety so there are rules; no mothers or pregnant women, I'm not endangering families just to beat Umbridge now that's not to say you can't join." He said looking around at all the faces of old friends and faces he only saw through the picture mad-eye showed him in his teens.
"How can we join then?" Ginny asked looking angrily at Harry while holding Abi in her arms looking and realizing he was just being the good father and man he always tried to be.
"All mothers and pregnant women can join as Healers and can offer aid to any member in trouble. At such a point as a pregnant woman is near birth she can take leave and relax for a few weeks as Ginny will be doing." Harry answered looking at Ginny with his loving eyes but sounding like the same person who walked to his death.
"I must say Harry, you have thought of everything." Kingsley said looking impressed at the young man who was staring intensely at the crowds in front of him and smiling as many seemed to stand to join.
"Thanks everyone…now go home and rest till tomorrow then we meet at the Hogs Head in Hogsmeade for assignments and other things. And remember we of the Stag Corps are not members of the Order but we are allies of the Order so treat them with respect." Harry said shaking everyone's hand and smiling he signalled for Kingsley and Albus to stay behind which seemed odd.
"What is it Harry? Is everything alright?" Kingsley asked looking at the young man now looking his usual self and smiling as he looked at Abi in her mother's arms who was rocking her softly.
"A plan…you are going to make Albus the Minister now…then when the anniversary comes Umbridge will make her move trying to kill the both of you in one go…I'm assigning protection to the Veil and to the both of you…if my plan works on the anniversary we can capture Umbridge before another war begins to unfold." Harry explained sitting with his hands at his mouth and looking at the look of amazement on Albus and Kingsley faces.
"Amazing…such planning in a night Harry, it is the best plan ever!" Kingsley said looking at the young man who was now holding the baby who was napping in his arms and smiling. "You deserve to have a normal life Harry."
"I will after Umbridge is brought down…now I'm going to return to Hogwarts as I am still the D.A.D.A professor and I will restart a new DA using the seventh years as organisers, after that I will give them training books and we will teach the sixth and seventh years that way if Umbridge tries anything there at least we have a defending force." Harry said giving Abi to Ginny and looking at the two men in front of him.
"Good idea Harry, I do think that Alastor has had enough of teaching at the present time." Albus said in his usual calm voice although hinting at humour at Alastor's annoyance at teaching a bunch of children who all wanted stories of the Order.
After Albus and Kingsley left Harry went into Teddy's bedroom and read the young boy a story to help him sleep after reading nearly all of Beedle the bards stories Teddy finally fell asleep and Harry made his way into the nursery where Ginny and Abi were in the rocking chair looking like two redheaded angels in Harry's eyes.
"Gin…I want my mom and dad to live here with you while I'm in Hogwarts…ok?" Harry asked looking at her only two days at home with Abi and a natural at parenting a new-born baby as Teddy was a month old when they adopted him.
"Ok Harr. I would feel safer if they were here." Ginny said smiling at Abi who sensed Harry in the room and began crying until Harry took her in his arms and began rocking her side to side as Ginny watched and she smiled at her husband who was so in love with the little girl in his arms the little boy in his room and the woman in front of him.
"Also Ginny…I want you to promise that when September comes you will join the Harpies and play…no matter what is happening around you." Harry said in a voice that Ginny had heard before…he had used the tone of voice when he had to leave her in Hogwarts after Albus' assassination.
"I promise…as long as you promise not to do anything reckless or that will put you in harm's way." Ginny said looking at him. "I know Harry…that you think that you have to fix all the problems but for once you have something you wanted…this family." She said nearly in tears looking at him.
"I promise I will not endanger or ever try to mess up what I have right now but Gin…this is my fight as well I have to help it Umbridge is dangerous because she has something Riddle didn't…she has purpose…Riddle only had hatred but not Umbridge she knows how to do this right." Harry said looking at Ginny and placing Abi in her cot then taking Ginny in his arms. "I need to stop her because you didn't see what I saw when she had the Muggle-born Registration courts it was terrible she took joy in telling children and mothers that they belonged in prison…that they were thieves."
The two went to bed and slept the night as they embarked with the kids to Hogsmeade in the morning they were shocked to see the old inn burned down to ash and Aberforth looking like a lion about to strike down all in its path.
"Aberforth, are you alright?" Harry asked looking at the pub and instantly thinking Umbridge found out about the meeting which was convened in secret.
"Fine Harry…had a bad batch of Firewhiskey it was unstable and exploded after I tried to open a bottle…bloody shame." Aberforth said looking at Harry and laughing.
"I thought Umbridge had found out about the meeting…" Harry said catching his breath and taking the Elder Wand began repairing the pub in a matter of seconds. "…should be grand now Aberforth."
"Cheers lad, now the meeting is set for a half-hour so relax a bit ok." He said pouring Harry a glass of Butterbeer and one for Ginny who was holding Abi in her arms and Teddy sat on Harry's lap relaxing in his arms.
One by one the members came in all looking ready for their assignments Hermione and Ron were the first to arrive followed by the twins, Neville and Hannah, Parvati and Dean, and all the other Stag Corps sign ups who were casting silencing charms and ordering Butterbeer's for themselves by the time they were all there the pub was packed and silent as Harry rose to speak.
"Thank you all for coming…I have decided on seven leaders for the Corps; me, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Fred and George and Sirius Black who will be a buffer between the Order and the Corps." Harry said looking at the leaders. "Second and most important; the Corps will be making alliance's with Goblins and House-elves as well as Centaurs, Merpeople and Giants like Grawp who are allies of the Order and therefore of us." He said in a voice of leadership both threating and loving. "Third; all members will sign a contract like the one with the DA it has a curse only this one will kill any betrayers…so only signup if you have unquestionable loyalty." He finished holding a parchment that contained the name 'Stag Corps' on it as they all signed up without a thought of curses on the parchment knowing how important it is to have a safety net.
"We're all with you Harry you have shown bravery worthy of Godric Gryffindor himself…" Cedric Diggory said looking at him. "I didn't get to fight with the DA in the battles but now I'm here to help." He finished signing his name and shaking Harry's hand tightly.
"I want to help I lost seven friends as she escaped." Dean said signing and placing it back on the table.
"Count me in…I remember losing a few friends to the muggle-born commission…I want that bitches head on a plate." Parvati said signing her name on the parchment.
"If you'll have me as a member I want to join." Draco Malfoy said signing his name on the parchment
After an hour all the members had signed and left leaving Harry to say goodbye to Abi, Teddy and Ginny as he was returning to Hogwarts to teach and Teddy was crying so Harry thought it best to bring them to the castle for dinner that day and bring them home after it.
"Professor Potter, you're back!" Michael Bagshot said shaking Harry's hand tightly.
"Hey Michael…enjoying your holiday?" Harry asked looking at the young student who was looking happier than anything.
"Great sir, they brought me great-great granny back from the veil and she wants to see you soon sir." He said handing Harry a letter.
"I will have to soon Michael thank you." Harry said entering the Great Hall to a thunderous applause of students who were happy to see their teacher back amidst loads of whistles and claps Harry saw something he never saw before the portraits of the founders were all hanging behind the teachers table and were bowing to Harry all except Salazar Slytherin.
"HARRY POTTER SAVIOUR OF THIS FINE SCHOOL AND A PROUD MEMBER OF MY HOUSE!" Godric Gryffindor shouted as he bowed to Harry and held a painted sword in his hands.
"The one who saved my diadem from the dark magic in it I thank you." Rowena Ravenclaw said bowing slowly to him.
"A true friend to all he knows. And the one who showed the House-elves Dobby, Winky and Kreacher such kindness." Helga Hufflepuff said curtsying to him.
"The blood traitor, who killed my descendant, killed my precious Basilisk not to mention destroying my locket." Salazar Slytherin said spitting on the ground of his portrait. "One who disregarded all rules we the founders made in our school and I am expected to bow and thank him NEVER!"
"SALAZAR! This boy has proven his love for our school by fighting alongside Slytherin's, Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's as well as his own house. Now bow and show me the respect he deserves." Godric said as Salazar bowed his head and showed contempt at doing it.
"Founders, I thank you for the welcome but I am just a professor back to teach his classes." Harry said bowing to the four portraits three of whom were smiling at him while Slytherin was looking like he was about to strike out of it.
"I present a gift for the child of Gryffindor." Godric said as his sword appeared to twirl revealing a small silver dagger like the sword. "My personal dagger as powerful as my sword and coated in Basilisk venom in case of anymore need of it." The portrait said as the dagger went to Harry.
"Thank you proud warrior Gryffindor…I will cherish it always." Harry said bowing once more and sitting down with his family for a meal and then bringing Teddy home and tucking him in to bed as Harry went back to Hogwarts to relax and redecorate his office in one swish of his wand. "Ah good to be back…now classes aren't on for another week or so…guess I can relax and visit Hagrid and Olympe."
"Hello Harry." Godric said revealing a portrait of him in Harry's room.
"Professor Gryffindor, to what do I own this honour?" Harry asked looking confused as to why the founder of his old house is in his room.
"It's Godric to you Harry, I wish to apologise for Salazar…he has found the death of Riddle hard to manage and well he feels that you are the blame for all the pain he feels in his heart which is ridiculous my young warrior." The portrait said holding on to the sword in it and messing with his hair which was redder than Ron's.
"It's understandable I mean wasn't Riddle the last chain in the Slytherin blood-line I mean he's basically extinct now." Harry said looking at the portrait and thinking of how amazing it was seeing Gryffindor bow to him.
The rest of the night was spent with Harry and Godric talking about adventures in their respective lives and all the good times they had with friends and family. At dawn Harry woke up from a short nap and decided to work on the new DA that would operate as a defence force in Hogwarts. After spending an hour looking at the remaining students who wanted to stay in Hogwarts for the holidays Harry decided that Michael Bagshot and a seventh year by the name of Andrew Sykes would lead the new DA both students were intelligent and loyal to their friends and jumped at the opportunity to lead a new defensive brigade in Hogwarts.
"So the first thing is that you will need all these," Harry said handing them several D.A.D.A books. "I also think that all years should be allowed to join and all houses if they sign the hexed page." He said handing them parchment designed by Hermione. "Finally and most important; if Hogwarts is attacked again make sure all first to fifth years are evacuated before any fighting occurs." He finished shaking their hands and showing them the room of requirement which was back to the DA style used years previous to train.
A/N: Feedback on the new length and ideas please I know it's only a few hundred more words per chapter but it will add up in time. As usual I love you guys and shout outs to my beta to my friends who I annoy with the story a lot.