Disclaimer: All charcters and world concepts are property of J.K. Rowling
Disclaimer: This is not the work of CNG25 but that of Lilausty, originally published on harrypotterfanfiction-dot-com.
Chapter 26: Coming To An End
Wednesday came around quickly, with many of the members eagerly anticipating Harry's final words to them. Hermione still had not given up on holding secret meetings, and she kept badgering Harry, but he merely shook his head.
For his part, he was encouraged that Hermione was still willing to go against the teachers, even if it meant losing her badge. It showed that she was still loyal to him completely, and wherever she went, Ron was sure to follow.
When dinner had finished, Harry and Ginny made their way to the Room of Requirement, with most of the members following him. They made quite an entrance to the room, where McGonagall and Tonks were waiting.
Completely ignoring them, Harry turned to face his followers and gestured for them to sit down and to make themselves comfortable. As the conversations stopped he smiled sadly, "Welcome everyone to our last DA meeting. I must ask that no one interrupt me, for this is going to be hard enough without arguing with you all."
Once he had received nods from them he nodded, "Ok, well, as you know we are being disbanded due to my actions during the attack on Hogsmede before Christmas. I am not going to go into whether or not I think this is fair because in reality that would be pointless. Professor McGonagall is Headmistress, and therefore she is in charge of the rules here. It saddens me that the actions of one could have such consequences to the whole, but perhaps as time goes on, some of you may want to start your own defence study groups."
He breathed deeply, "I have been truly honoured and grateful by the dedication that you have shown me. These last few months have been truly amazing, and we have seen marvellous accomplishments from all of you. I have no doubt that each and every one of you is a match for the enemies that roam our lands, and I hope that just because our school group is no more, you will not stop fighting."
Ginny came up and clasped his hands as he looked into the eyes of the students, "Now, if any of you have questions for me, please ask them now, remembering that I may not be able to answer them."
Anthony's voice immediately rang out, "I don't think anyone here has a major problem with it, but can you tell us why you killed the Death Eaters?"
Ginny gave a small smile, "I'll field that question since I also killed. The truth is, when I saw that young boy, an innocent bystander, be murdered right before me, part of me just went blank with rage. However, it was the part of my mind that wasn't overcome with anger that decided that these people were purely evil and the only thing that they deserved was death."
Harry nodded and took up the strain, "of course, the decision to be the one to kill them was something personal, and I cannot really explain it other than to say that some of you may come to make the same one."
"Potter!" McGonagall exclaimed, scowling.
He sighed, "I wasn't telling them to ma-am, just that some may decide that it is how they want to fight."
She sat back, still scowling deeply but didn't say anything else as Harry turned back to the DA members. "So, any other questions?"
Orla Quirke's hand shot up and Harry grinned, "Yeah?"
"Can you tell us where you learnt those spells? I mean some of them you have not even told us about, let alone teach us. They could be really useful in a fight."
McGonagall looked torn between interest and anger at the question. Harry however shrugged, "I am sorry, I cannot give you exact details due to present company, but suffice to say, some of those spells are extremely rare and many of you would not have the power to use them. I learnt them at Hogwarts during my spare time."
She looked confused, "But from where? I mean, the library doesn't have any books that describe what you two used, even in the restricted section!"
Harry grinned, "You looked eh?"
Grinning back the fellow Gryffindor responded, "Maybe but what can I say, I was curious!"
Shaking his head Harry sighed, "I can't tell you exactly where I got the information, but understand this, I am the last direct descendant of the Potter family, and as such, I have access to all of the possessions gathered by them over the years."
A few people looked confused, while others looked awed. Parvati stuttered, "T-Then it's true!"
"What is true 'Vati?" he asked, confused.
She blushed, "That you took sole control of the Potter fortune, making you the richest wizard in the world."
Gasps rang through the air and Harry's mouth twitched slightly, "Er, where did you hear that may I ask?" he asked, interestedly.
Nervously she eyed him, "Um, most pure-blooded families have heard of the wealth of the Potters. Some of the more, um, unscrupulous families that have blood and marriage ties to the Potter family were also trying to find a way to convince the goblins to let them have access to the vault. But as they always refused, the reports of the wealth were unsubstantiated."
Harry shrugged, "Well, yes, there is a lot of wealth in there, as well as many objects of interest."
Neville spoke up, "Well that raises a question that I have been wondering about since these new 'rules' have come into effect." He shot McGonagall a look before continuing, "Why don't you leave Hogwarts? Like permanently? I mean, it's not like you need the education here, you could probably teach yourself if your resources are good enough, and you would be free!"
The Headmistress looked alarmed at the suggestion but Harry merely smiled, "The answer is very simple Nev, merely look around you."
The fellow Gryffindor looked confused so he clarified, "If I left Hogwarts, I wouldn't be around you guys. You mean more to me then you will ever know." He wrapped an arm around Ginny and smiled at her, "Particularly Gin, as she is not yet of age, she must remain here and I could not leave without her."
Hermione in a soft voice murmured, "Love is his strongest weapon."
The eyes of those who heard her, fixed themselves upon the bushy haired girl and she blushed, "Sorry Harry, that just slipped out."
He shrugged, "It is no secret that I wear my emotions on my sleeve. And you are right, it is my greatest weapon simply because it is completely alien to Voldemort."
"But how can love be a weapon?" Hannah Abbott asked.
Harry opened his mouth but before he could answer, Tonks spoke up, "Um, aren't you getting a little off topic? I mean, this was supposed to be a final meeting, not a lesson!"
Harry gave a sad smile, "I cannot think of a better way to finish. After all, this has been a place of learning, contrary to many opinions." He turned back to Hannah, "In response to your question, it is a weapon in several ways. One is the purely physical ability: it can provide a power behind your spells making them harder to resist. However, that is not its biggest quality, you see, if you love someone, you will do anything possible to protect them from harm. It gives you courage when everything is dark, and it proves that a human heart still beats in your chest."
Ginny nodded, taking up the narrative, "Not only that, but because those of evil believe it to be a weakness, they cannot understand the strength that it gives, thereby giving you an advantage."
Murmurs filled the room, and Luna smiled, "It should not come as a surprise for many of you. After all, when you are with your boyfriends and girlfriends, don't you feel like you can do anything? That you are lighter than air? It's the same principle!" Startled looks were thrown at the blonde girl, obviously astonished that she spoke a sentence that they not only understood, but actually agreed with.
Ron spoke up, "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but before curfew hits, I would like to have one last duel! Perhaps a competition is in order?"
"Yeah! And the winner faces Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, grinning at her boyfriend.
"Ginny, you can't participate!" Lavender yelled out, "We all know that you'll kick our asses!"
She laughed, "Oh very well, just this once I'll be the spectator."
Harry raised an eyebrow, "Actually, why don't you be the ref?"
She nodded, "I can do that. Alright all, pair off quickly and we can get this duelling contest under way. Perhaps even show the teachers a thing or to!" she shot a wicked grin at McGonagall who was looking nervously at the students.
A resounding cheer went up, and within minutes the first of the duels started. Harry spent half his time watching in pride at the obvious capability of his members and the look of astonishment on the Headmistress as she saw the developed abilities of the DA.
Many of the duels were so close that they were only ended when one individual took a cheap shot at the other. Ron particularly, when versing Justin, couldn't resist conjuring several snakes that resembled the one that threatened him in second year.
The leaders of the DA deliberately versed others instead of each other, as they didn't want to get knocked out to quickly. However, soon came the matches that everyone was looking forward to, particularly between Hermione and Ron, who had not forgotten that she kicked his arse the last time they duelled.
Ginny eyed them both, "Right you two, we all know of your competitiveness towards each other. I am not going to tell you to fight fair because I want to see some sparks flying." The other members laughed as she raise her wand, "Three, two, one!" a bang resonated from her wand but it was drowned out by the noise emanating from Hermione's wand.
Ron managed to dodge the first couple of spells that she cast at him, but was forced to block the third. Conjuring a table, he hid behind it before rapidly throwing several mild curses back at her. Grinning, she avoided them, twirling to the left in a fast spin, casting two stunners back at him.
Harry couldn't help but be impressed with her moves. She had taken his advice of not dwelling to long on which spell to use, to heart. Consequently, the speed at which the witch hurled her spells at the red haired teen was amazing.
Still, Ron was avoiding most of them, and did not look like he was struggling, indicating his own endurance and ability had improved as well. Harry looked at Tonks and McGonagall out of the corner of his eye and saw with satisfaction the impressed grin on Tonks' face. McGonagall looked less pleased, but could not hide the look of amazement as she watched her two Gryffindors hurling spells at each other with deadly accuracy and efficiency.
The duel lasted for a good 10 minutes, with neither of the Gryffindor's looking tired or outmatched. The cheers and calls of encouragement from the watching members were reaching ear-splitting heights. Harry was sure he saw gold being produced in some of the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor's hands, but it disappeared before he could be certain.
Obviously deciding that the only way to end the duel would be to throw in an extra element, Ginny raised her wand and muttered, "Ectol Kappa voush!" Instantly 20 Kappa's appeared in the room causing several of the members to jump backwards, startled. McGonagall looked utterly floored at the magic displayed, and even Hermione and Ron stopped trying to curse each other to stare at the creatures running at them.
Harry grinned, yelling out, "Don't stop you two! I could have taken you both down by now!"
Hermione caught on quickest, turning back to Ron with a vicious stunner. Ron barely managed to avoid it, dropping to the floor and rolling away. The Kappas got right into the duel, sending their own magic at the two teens, forcing them to face attacks on multiple fronts.
Hermione started looking strained, as she fought off 3 Kappas while still blocking spells shot at her by Ron. A particularly strong bone-removal hex forced her to duck behind a previously conjured boulder and Ron gave a wicked grin.
Before she could re-surface, Ron cast a reductor curse straight at the boulder causing it to shatter, sending the debris straight into Hermione who jumped aside to avoid the flying rocks. Unfortunately, this meant she turned her back, however briefly, on Ron who wasted no time in casting a stunner to slam in her back.
There was several audible pops and the Kappas disappeared and then silence. Ron finally let his exhaustion show as he staggered over to Hermione and muttered, "Enervate."
Hermione's eyes opened and she looked around, slightly confused before realisation set in. She scowled slightly before taking Ron's proffered hand and stood up. Harry grinned and started clapping, the other members soon following.
Ginny's voice rang over the top, "Right, Ron win's the duel and the final, therefore he duels Harry."
Her brother's eyes widened, "Can't we wait a bit please? I mean, I am buggered, and he is fresh! We all know his is going to wipe the floor, but I would at least like to go with some dignity in tact." He exclaimed.
Ginny looked at her watch and frowned, "We don't have much time Ron, curfew is in 20 minutes, and I don't think Professor McGonagall will allow us to be out afterwards." She looked over at the Headmistress who was shaking her head firmly. Tonks looked like she wanted to argue, but didn't contradict her superior.
Ron shrugged, "Alright then, to give the rest of you something really to watch, I defer my place to Ginny. Let her fight Harry since both of them are fresh."
Ginny started coughing, "M-M-Me?" An evil grin appeared on her face as she stared at her boyfriend.
He paled slightly, "Ron, I think I would rather face you. I might even let you win, but please don't make me face her!" the DA burst out laughing and Ron shook his head, backing away and gesturing for Ginny to take his place.
She raised her wand, "What is the matter Harry? Are you scared?"
Reluctantly he took his position muttering, "Of course I am, who wouldn't be when you stare at them like that?"
Her eyebrow rose, "Is that a rhetorical question dear?"
McGonagall pushed her way through, "I want to referee this duel. I don't want any violent magic used. Is that understood?" she glowered at the two students who were staring at her in bemusement.
Harry shrugged, "Fine, we won't use any magic that is classified as dark by the Ministry rules."
She raised her wand, "Very well, three, two one!"
~*~*~*~
Harry landed flat on his back, rolling away desperately from the foot long claws reaching for him. Scrambling to his feet he shot three flame curses over his shoulder and heard the roar of fury that indicated at least one of them made contact.
He caught sight of Ginny leaning against the wall smirking, her wand held straight and her eyes fixed and staring. The audience was fairly quiet, in too much awe to do much of anything. A niggle in the back of Harry's neck caused him to jump aside once again, missing the swipe of the claws.
Utterly fed up with jumping and evading, Harry turned around and faced the beast that he had been avoiding for the last 10 minutes. The creature that Ginny had summoned stood nearly 20 feet high and its eyes glowed yellow.
It snorted, smoke pouring from its nostrils and it drew itself up to its full height, obviously realising that it's prey had decided enough was enough. The dragon was only a Common Welsh Green, but it was still terrifying to be so close.
Tonks, as soon as it had appeared had created a giant see-through dome around the two teens and the creature, to prevent any others students from being hurt. Of course, that did little to ease Harry's anxiety as he stared up into the enormous creature's face.
Keeping a wary eye on Ginny who he knew was spending all of her energy keeping the dragon under control, Harry raised his wand and cast the strongest stunner he could manage. The dragon met it head on and stumbled back a couple of steps, making the floor shake.
Its furious roar was enough to cause Harry to flinch and he was once again forced to dodge to the side to avoid a jet of flames. Seeing the flames gave him an idea and he started waving his wand in an intricate pattern. Ginny, seeing what he was doing, muttered something hastily under her breath but before she could finish an enormous dome, similar to the one Tonks had created, settled itself over the dragon.
This dome, however, was made purely out of ice, and it started shrinking itself to fit the form of the dragon completely. The creature lashed out, trying to break the ice, but it was too strong. Taking careful aim Harry then cast three spells that no one other then Ginny and the witnesses hiding in the walls could identify.
With a final roar, the dragon disappeared and Harry turned his attention back to his girlfriend. He was tired after facing the creature, but he was heartened to see that she was similarly exhausted for maintaining the spell for so long.
He started to move towards her, his wand raised defensively but before he could utter a sound she waved her wand over herself and instantly in her place was a wolf that charged him. Grinning slightly at her animagus form, Harry pivoted to the side and cast a stunner at her. She avoided it deftly, growling at him, her eyes obviously grinning, taunting him to try it again.
He rolled his eyes and sighed, before waving his wand over himself and letting his animagus form take over. Both he and Ginny were careful to maintain the illusion that they were transfiguring themselves, not that they could do it 'naturally.'
His bear form towered over the wolf-that-was-Ginny, and he let loose an enormous roar, causing several students to put their hands over their ears. He started to lumber towards her, his teeth bared and a deep growl resonating in his voice.
Immediately her hackles went up and she snarled back at him before charging. Momentarily stunned at her tactics, Harry didn't even try to avoid her as she leapt off the ground and onto his side, her mouth latching on and biting deep.
Pain lanced through his shoulder and he gave a slight yelp before easily shaking her loose and sending her tumbling to the floor. He looked at his shoulder and saw blood seeping through his fur.
He didn't even register the shout that McGonagall gave, telling them to change back to human form and to end the duel. Ginny's eyes were twinkling with mischief and he grinned at her, his teeth fully bared. He took a single step forward and stopped, eyeing the smaller animal before him.
She gave a slight yip and a deep play bow, inviting him to make the first move and he obeyed. In two bounds he had crossed the distance and was upon her, but being a smaller animal she was also more agile, and she dodged the paw that he swiped at her.
She weaved in and out of his legs, nipping at his ankles causing him to growl in frustration. Finally, sick and tired of her diving underneath him, he waited till she was directly under him before letting his legs go out and flopping to the floor.
There was a surprised and muffled yelp and Harry merely turned his head to look at his side. Ginny's wolf form was almost completely under his body, with only her eyes and snout peeking out at him. She started to yowl in annoyance, and her eyes pleaded for him to get off.
He yodelled at her in triumph, causing her to harrumph and lay her head back down in defeat. Harry then changed back into his human form and pointed his wand at her, "I think that means I win, don't you agree Gin?"
If she could have, Ginny would have rolled her eyes, but seeing as she was still in wolf form she merely got to her feet and gave him a glare. Turning back into her human form she sighed, "I suppose I should have seen you being a lazy arse and dropping on me."
His eyebrows went up, "Oh really? And who was it that bit me?" he gestured to the wound on his shoulder that was still bleeding.
She winced, "Sorry, got a bit carried away. I didn't realise I bit that hard, looks nasty."
He snorted, "You were a wolf Gin, of course it would be nasty. But it's no big deal, can you heal it for me please?"
She nodded and waved her wand over the wound causing it to disappear just as McGonagall approached them. Her face was one of astonishment, awe and fear, "That was a very advanced display of magic you two used in that duel. I have not seen such proficient human transfiguration in one so young in a long time. If I didn't know better I would have said that you two were animaguses."
Demelza looked confused, "How do you know? That they aren't I mean."
She gave her a bit of a patronising smile, "Because they were forced to use their wands to turn themselves into the animals. If you have an animagus form it isn't required, you can do it without aid." She turned her attention back to Harry and Ginny, "I have done as you asked and allowed you your final meeting. I expect you will keep your oath to me in return."
Harry nodded, "As if I had a choice." He muttered to Ginny who gave a slight smile.
McGonagall looked satisfied, "Very well, it is almost curfew so please return to your dormitories. If in a little while someone wishes to start up a defence study group, please talk to myself or Tons, but know that Mr Potter will not be able to partake."
There were a few dark mutterings and looks thrown at her, but Harry merely smiled, "Well, thank you all for coming tonight. I hope you all had fun but we have classes tomorrow, and I do not think the teachers would like it if we all fell asleep during their lessons." There was a smattering of laughter and applause as he and Ginny left, the other leaders of the DA following him back to the Gryffindor common room.