The Granger Son

Harry; Hermione; Dr. Grangerx2

Rated T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

The Granger Son

Chapter 18

It was Friday night, dinner having finished and everyone departing the Great Hall for their respective Common Rooms, the library, or wherever for a bit more time to be with friends before curfew. For the members of Potter's Army, they made their way up to the Seventh Floor to the Room of Requirement. They made sure non-members did not see them enter the hidden room, being certain that no prying eyes were watching. It was almost time for the first meeting of Potter's Army to commence.

Inside the Room of Requirement, everyone that was willing to be there was in attendance, patiently waiting for the meeting to start, though it was obvious they were waiting for a few stragglers before everything fully started. And as they waited, Harry found himself to be ridiculously nervous. He wasn't sure that he'd be a good teacher, let alone a good leader, but he also knew that everyone was looking to him. When the last few straggling members entered the Room of Requirement, Harry looked at his sister and friends nervously. Hermione, Draco, and the others all gave him reassuring nods before Hermione gestured towards the waiting crowd. Taking a deep breath, Harry nodded before turning to address the other students.

"Hello everyone and thank you all for showing up to the first meeting of Potter's Army," Harry began, giving everyone a small smile. "As you all know, the reason that we are all gathered here today, along with the formation of this secret defense club, is because we are not being properly taught anything relatively close to Defense Against the Dark Arts in said classroom. The reason for this is because of Umbridge not doing her job, and the Ministry breathing down Hogwarts' neck. However, we will not let that stop us from learning how to defend ourselves this year, or any year following. Especially with Vold-, uh, You-Know-Who having returned—whether you believe it or not—we must be prepared to defend ourselves and fight back if we must."

Harry took a minute to collect his thoughts before continuing. "It is also important to remember that it is crucial to keep these defense meetings a secret, otherwise we will all face consequences for forming an unauthorized club. I'd also like to ask for your patience with me in this, but I promise to teach all that I can to you lot. And I hope that you all will learn as well. If for any reason I am not available to head these meetings, either Hermione or Draco will take over for me. Are there any questions?"

"What will we be going over first?" Parvati Patil asked, her twin sister Padma next to her.

"I thought that we could start with a review to go over everything that we already know. You know, a refresher course so to speak. Afterwards, I plan to move on to the curriculum that we should be learning." Harry glanced at the Weasley twins, the only Seventh Years present and willing to join Potter's Army. "If you are a Sixth or Seventh Year, this may simply be review, even for you, but learning or relearning something is better than nothing."

Susan Bones, a Fifth Year Hufflepuff, raised her hand and asked, "Will we be learning the Patronus Charm? Will we be able to produce our own Patronus?"

Harry nodded and replied, "Eventually, but not right now."

After a few more questions, Harry let his sister step up, as she had something to speak about now. Hermione looked at everyone before saying, "As you all know, you all showed up tonight via word to mouth to ear, but it is important that we can communicate about these meetings without having to pass word around by whisper. I will have our secret method of communication ready by our next meeting, so that should help to eliminate talk and to prevent word from getting to the professors, and at worse, Umbridge."

"If you all have friends that are also thinking they are in the same boat and may want to join, they are welcome and you can bring them to the next meeting," Daphne said from her spot next to Draco.

Blaise nodded from his spot next to Hermione, reiterating firmly, "Again, all of this must be kept secret, or else."

With that hanging in the air, everyone taking in the severity of the secrecy, the Granger siblings believed that they all understood and wouldn't do anything to betray the group. Draco looked at them all before turning to his best friend. Looking Harry in the eye, he said, "I'm ready to begin. Are you, Harry?"

Nodding, Harry said, "Yeah, I am."

And it was there that Harry and his friends began the first class of Potter's Army.

Two weeks had gone by since the first meeting of Potter's Army, and things were running smoothly. Everyone that was a part of P.A. were finally learning and were glad to be. As Daphne had suggested, many members brought friends along that were sick of how things were going in Hogwarts concerning D.A.D.A., and the club was getting bigger. Luckily, the Room of Requirement adjusted itself to accommodate the extra Hogwarts students inside. Like Hermione had told them, she had their secret method of communication ready at the second meeting and passed them around to everyone. She had created fake Galleons and enchanted them to alert everyone to when the next meeting of P.A. would be. It really was clever of her, and she received high praise from not only her brother and friends, but the members of Potter's Army as well. The one that gave her the most praise, even calling her brilliant, was Blaise, his words causing the brunette to blush.

The old textbook that Professor Snape had provided Harry was also of great help, too. In fact, it was doing wonders for them, especially Harry, as he was able to look through it and figure out what he would teach, taking the time to practice before performing the spells in front of Potter's Army. Draco knew the book was given to his friend from his godfather but promised not to tell anyone after learning from Harry how his godfather came to give him the old book. He had to admit he was surprised his uncle figure would go so far as to help Harry go against Umbridge and the Ministry, but he also knew that it was important for his godfather to not be found aiding and abetting them. Despite this, he and Harry went through the book looking for good spells to teach at each meeting, practicing in secret before being ready to teach it. And, as Harry said, whenever he wasn't present due to his Occlumency lessons, Draco or Hermione took over and taught in his stead.

Due to all their secretiveness during the two weeks, it seemed to catch Umbridge's unwanted attention. The pink woman knew that many of the students of Hogwarts, most of them seeming to be Fifth Years, were all up to something. Unfortunately, she didn't know what it was. And if there was one thing she hated, it was not knowing anything, especially if it affected her work from the Ministry and Minister Fudge himself. Knowing she couldn't have any disorder happening under her watch, Umbridge decided it was time to question the Headmaster, as well as remind him about the Ministry of Magic and Minister Fudge's eyes on him, as well as Hogwarts.

Twinkling blue eyes lost their shine when his office door was suddenly thrust open and none other than Dolores Umbridge marched inside. Closing his eyes briefly, he opened them again and greeted the—as the students were secretly calling her—pink toad politely saying, "Hello Dolores. To what pleasure do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Umbridge stopped in front of his desk and looked at him haughtily saying, "Professor Dumbledore, I have reason to believe that many of your students are acting suspiciously. Many of them, mostly in their Fifth Year, act and seem to be sneaking around suspiciously. Furthermore, it would seem that Harry Potter may possibly be the ringleader of this suspicious activity, and I am sure he is as he has no problem shirking authority. I'm sure you know what to do with this information."

Dumbledore looked at the witch for a moment without blinking, before finally doing so and replied, "That is very interesting to hear Dolores, but from the sounds of it, it sounds like you have no actual proof of your unfounded suspicions."

"The students are acting shifty around me Albus, especially Potter and his bunch. And the looks they share definitely are suspicious and telling."

He wasn't sure about that, but Dumbledore couldn't help but think that he'd be shifty around her as well if he were still a student.

Umbridge stepped up and slammed her hands on his desk, bending forward to look the old wizard in his eyes. "I am warning you, Albus. If you don't get control of Harry Potter and his friends, as well as stop whatever it is that they are doing, I will involve the Minister for allowing such nonsense to go on under your nose."

"Again Dolores, unless you can come up with proof of these unfounded suspicions, there is nothing I can do. So, until then, leave me and these students alone. And you will do well enough to do your job rather than complain to me about teenagers doing teenager things. I've got better things to do listen to you rant about something you have no proof of."

Looking completely offended, the pink woman let out an outraged huff and stomped out of the Headmaster's Office, slamming the door as she left. The moment she was gone, Dumbledore let out a sigh and rubbed his temples. Dolores really didn't need to come to him about Mr. Potter. He was already aware that Harry, Hermione, and others were secretly doing something. But, like Umbridge, he had no idea what. Perhaps it was time to call the boy to his office for a little chat.

McGonagall was instantly annoyed to see Umbridge march into her classroom right after dismissal. This woman was an obnoxious, annoying pain in the arse as a student, and doubly now as an adult. She had been happy to be rid of her after she had graduated, but it seemed the gods wanted to punish her with having her back at Hogwarts again, and in a position of authority.

The moment the last student had exited her classroom, she waved her wand to close the door before asking, "What do you want, Dolores?"

Umbridge ignored the disdain the older witch used while saying her name and said, more so demanded, "I implore that you help me stop Potter and his friends from their secret activities."

Secret activities? This was the first Minerva had heard of this. Despite this, she made sure her face remained neutral, completely void of betraying her surprise. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "What do you mean?"

"Minerva, it is my belief that Harry Potter and friends are doing secret, unauthorized, possibly illegal activities within the walls of this school right under Headmaster Dumbledore's nose. I want your help in stopping him since Albus won't do so without "proof". As Deputy Headmistress, it is your job to step up when the Headmaster won't. Therefore, you will help me stop Potter."

"I could do that," McGonagall began, "but if Mr. Potter denies such activity, and there is no proof of him doing so, then there is nothing that I can do."

Feeling completely frustrated with the turn of events, Umbridge pursed her lips and her fist tightened next to her hip. However, she then took a deep breath and smirked at her former professor. "Alright then. If both you and Albus refuse to do your duty, then I will write a letter to his legal guardian on behalf of the Ministry. I'm sure that will carry more weight and put things in action."

Minerva herself then smirked. "If that will make you feel better, go right ahead, Dolores."

She watched as the pink toad walked to the closed classroom door, opening it and strutting out, her head held high as she seemed very proud of herself. Minerva shook her head, smirking more at the thought of how Dolores would react upon finding out just who was Harry's legal guardian.

Umbridge was at the Ministry of Magic in her personal office, parchment and quill at the ready to begin writing her letter to Potter's guardian. She was feeling especially proud of herself, as she knew that his guardian would surely stop him from doing the wrong that he was. All she was doing now was waiting to receive word on who the boy's guardian was. Taking a sip of her tea, she watched the clock on her wall for a bit before a knock finally sounded on her door.

A wizard opened the door and stepped inside with an envelope saying, "Here is what you requested from Gringotts, Ms. Umbridge."

"Yes, thank you," she told him before dismissing him.

Finally, she had the letter with the information she needed to right this letter. Opening it, she read it a bit before her eyes widened in shock at the name of Potter's guardian. The boy's legal guardian was Minerva McGonagall.