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 27: New Beginnings

As it was still early, the Gryffindors stayed up talking about their final meeting. While Neville seemed sad, Hermione could not stop going on about Harry and Ginny's duel. Of all of the present Gryffindors, she knew the concentration required to maintain a conjured creature the size of a dragon was extreme. The level of discipline that Ginny displayed unnerved her, but she was still too much in awe to feel afraid.

After a while Ron piped up, "So what made you pick a bear Harry?"

Turning amused eyes onto the red haired teen, he replied, "Why not? I mean, Ginny was a wolf, I wanted to be something bigger! But I was already stuffed, so I couldn't change myself into a Chimera which was my first choice!"

Hermione's eyes widened, "Y-You couldn't possibly change yourself into one of those Harry! It is considered nearly impossible to be able to transfigure a human into a magical creature."

He rolled his eyes, "Not impossible, just very, very hard. I couldn't possibly count how many times it took me before I could do it."

"Could you teach us how to do it?" Ron asked curiously.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Ron, we just had our last DA meeting remember? Harry can't teach anything anymore, leastways not at school. He swore an oath, and to break it would cause extremely bad things to happen!"

"Oh, yeah, right." Ron replied, looking crestfallen.

Time passed quickly, and soon enough the Gryffindors were saying goodnight and heading to bed. Ron looked at Harry and Ginny before sighing, "At least try not to get caught you two. I do not want to be the one to tell mum that you were caught wandering the halls after hours."

Ginny smiled and hugged him gently, "Don't worry Ron, we won't. And thank you."

He sighed again nodding, "You're welcome Ginny. I only hope I do not come to regret my selflessness."

She grinned at him and slapped him lightly, "Prat!"

No sooner had the common room emptied then Fawkes flashed them to the Nest. As had become the norm, the founders were sitting in the lounge drinking hot chocolate and talking softly. Helga smiled when the two teens appeared, "Ah! Finally escaped did you? Can't even go one night without breaking the new rules?"

Harry snorted, "Well I did give McGonagall fair warning that I would not obey her. I didn't swear an oath to stay in bed like a good little boy."

He plonked himself down on the plush rug, Ginny cuddling up to him and he stared at the founders, "So, did you like the little performance?"

Rowena's eyebrows rose, "Which one? There were several duels which were very impressive. I particularly enjoyed the one between Mr Longbottom and Mr Finnegan. Extremely entertaining if you ask me."

Ginny looked insulted, "Are you telling me that conjuring up a dragon and keeping it under control for over 10 minutes wasn't entertaining!" her voice rose an octave in mock insult.

Godric laughed, "Oh trust me, seeing Harry going scampering all over the room for his life was extremely fun to watch. I haven't been able to make him dance like that since Salazar taught him the advanced shield."

Harry rolled his eyes, "I am glad you had fun at my expense, but I would like to point out that I did actually win the duel."

Ginny glared at him, "Only because you sat on me!"

Harry's eyes twinkled, "You don't usually mind if I do."

Her mouth twitched, "You also don't usually weigh over a tonne, have gigantic claws and teeth either."

Rowena smiled, "Well at any rate, I think McGonagall was quite surprised at the magic displayed by you and the DA. She obviously hadn't intellectually accepted the fact that most of you could beat her if a fight occurred. I think now though, she is probably starting to question the wisdom of alienating you all."

Salazar shook his head, "I must disagree Rowena. That woman is far too stubborn and set in her ways to even entertain the possibility that she could be wrong. Only when her empire has completely crumbled will she start to look at herself." His gaze cleared, "Now, I believe you asked me to peek into the thoughts of the DA members yes?"

Harry nodded, his eyes snapping to those of the snake founder.

The older man smirked, "Well, for starters, it is obvious that natural Occlumency is a non-existent talent nowadays, if your group is anything to go by. I encountered no shields at all, each mind was open like box, ready to be sifted through. However, you will be pleased to know that your members are loyal only to you. There are some who are wary of your actions, but are still willing to follow you, even behind McGonagall's back."

Harry was smiling broadly, "So we still have an army then?"

Salazar nodded, "Indeed, and once we four start instructing them, a formidable army it shall be."

Harry gave a mock glare, "And here I thought I had done a good job of teaching them myself."

Helga patted him on the arm, "Of course you did dear. Salazar is just pushing buttons as usual." The snake founder pulled an innocent face, but the wicked grin gave him away.

Harry sighed, "Well, all we have to figure out not is how to talk to each of the members and get them to come along without alerting McGonagall to out little rebellion."

"Why don't you get Fawkes to do it?" Ginny asked.

Harry smiled gently, "He may be discreet Gin, but when trying to pass messages to that many people, someone is going to notice and get suspicious." He paused for a moment, thinking seriously before shrugging, "Still, I suppose that over the course of the next week I can send out letters by owl to them all. I'll stagger it so that McGonagall doesn't get suspicious, and I'll seal them so only the person it is addressed to can open it."

Salazar nodded, "That is a good idea. It would also be prudent to make sure that the person reading it knows not to talk at all and to destroy the letter upon reading."

Harry nodded in agreement and summoned a piece of parchment and his ink and quill set. Ginny peered over his shoulder as he began to write. After several drafts and multiple spells he finally passed the finished copy to Salazar and let him read it.

Dear [Insert Name Here]

If you still endeavour to fight Voldemort, and are willing to work with me, I can provide you with the means to do so. However, before I can outline my plans, I must have your oath that you will not reveal the contents of this letter or any other information that comes into your possession regarding me.

Understand that if you take the oath, you will be tying yourself into a magical contract that if you break will cause some extremely harsh consequences for you. I say this only to warn you so that you do not feel you have been tricked in any way.

So, do you [Insert Name Here] do so swear that you will keep secret the information contained in this letter as well as future information divulged to you in the course of the war, only discussing such information with others who are also trustworthy?

If you do not so swear, please destroy the letter as an act of good faith.

Regards
Harry Potter

~*~*~*~

If you are reading this part then I thank you, your loyalty means more then I can say, and I am honoured that you are still willing to fight against Voldemort during these dark and terrible times.

I swore an oath to McGonagall that I would not initiate nor partake in any DA meetings at school. I have every intention of keeping that oath. However, I did not make an oath regarding outside of school. I have the means with which to transport you outside of school where we may still hold our meetings.

Due to the actions of McGonagall, the meetings will now be held on weekends during the day so it doesn't matter if you disappear for a couple of hours or so. I know that this will impact on your schooling, but let's be frank, the war is also important!

Please proceed to the Room of Requirement at [Insert specific time here] on Saturday. Simply think about finding me and you will be able to get into the room.

With much thanks
Harry

PS, please, once you have read this, destroy the letter. As you can imagine, it would cause us great trouble if it fell into the wrong hands.

He smirked after a moment and his eyes twinkled, "Harry, you misspelt endeavour, and I am not sure you used it in the correct context."

Harry scowled and hurried over, re-reading the sentence, "No, that is right! Please do not insult my intelligence, I was after all the best speller at school!"

Rowena sighed and snatched the parchment, her eyes whipping through the letter. She shook her head, "Honestly Salazar, it is written very well, why do you always have to poke fun?"

Godric piped up, "Because it's Salazar? That is pretty well the only answer you will ever need."

Rowena rolled her eyes and turned back to Harry, "Yes, that is very good, and I am pleased with the strength of the secrecy charms. Helga told us you were doing very well, but I have obviously still underestimated you. I would be amazed if there are more than a handful of magical people who could undo them."

Harry grinned, "Cheers." He took the letter back and waved his wand over it muttering under his breath. Instantly it reproduced itself many times, and each piece folded itself neatly into a pre-addressed envelope.

As soon as he finished Helga clapped her hands, "Right, I think it is lesson time don't you?"

Ginny groaned, "And here was me thinking that you were going to give us the night off after our spectacular duel!"

Salazar shook his head, "Of course not, where on earth did you get an idea like that? Now is when we are going to push you even harder, we are going to find your limit tonight and hopefully bring you over it."

Harry slumped slightly, "Oh joy and happiness. Are you guys like this with your own students or just with us?"

Rowena laughed, "Only with you. I think the parents of our students would lynch us if we tried to do to them what we do to you."

He rolled his eyes, "Well lucky for you I don't have any to try it!" There was no bitterness in his voice, only a light joking tone so the founders didn't flinch at the implied grief, but Ginny still put a reassuring hand on his arm.

Godric stood up, "Come on Harry, we have got Duelling first up and I know Rowena has been dying to improve Ginny's Goblin."

Ginny grinned at Harry, "Sucks to be you right now!" she mouthed.

He shrugged and mouthed back at her, "At least I don't have sword fighting later!" Ginny winced in anticipation but blew him a kiss nonetheless.

The next morning at the breakfast table, Harry and Ginny were busy reading the newspaper when two owls flew down to deliver letters to Hermione and Ron. Looking deliberately interested, Harry asked, "What you guys got there?"

Hermione shrugged, "Don't know, the writing is fairly non-descript." She opened it gently and pulled out the letter. Ron was simply watching her instead of opening his own.

She started to read and stiffened slightly. However, without any difference in facial expression she muttered softly, "I do."

Ron looked perplexed but Ginny shook her head at him subtly to keep him quiet. He shrugged and went back to watching Hermione whose eyes were almost glowing in happiness. After finishing the letter she shrugged and pointed her wand at it, igniting it.

She gave a quick smile to Harry before looking at her boyfriend, "Oh Ron, I just remembered, we were supposed to go and see Tonks about some duty for tonight. Come on, bring your letter with you, you can read it on the way."

He moaned slightly, eyeing off the mountain of food in front of him, but at his girlfriend's insistence he picked up the letter and followed her. Harry gave Ginny a grin, "Well, that went well. We don't even have to worry about Ron making a scene, because Hermione has dragged him away so he can discover our plans by himself."

Ginny nodded, "Indeed, she is quite the little actress, she didn't even flinch when she read the letter. Quite impressive."

Harry grinned, "I wonder how they are all going to take it when we let them in on our secret?"

Ginny laughed, "I pity our special friends, I really do, Hermione, once she gets over her shock is going to be so full of questions, they won't be able to get a word in edgewise!" She turned serious for a moment, giving a little shake of her head, "Ron will probably be jealous and upset that you didn't tell them to begin with. But considering how he acted after the Hogsmede attack, he can go jump."

Harry smirked, "That is a little harsh love. Still, I suppose you are right, as usual."

She batted her eyelashes at him, "And don't you forget it. So who is next on the list?"

"I think Michael and Padma, with Parvati to get her's soon after. Then batch after that will come this afternoon. By Friday all letters will be out and then the fun begins."

The rest of breakfast passed quickly and Harry trooped off to potions as Ginny made her way to the Transfiguration classroom. He was just about to enter Slughorn's room when Hermione grasped him by the elbow, cornering him by the wall.

Startled, he half spun but relaxed when he saw who it was, "For crying out loud Herm, don't do that!"

She smiled apologetically, "Sorry, I thought you knew I was there." Her eyes narrowed, "Why on earth didn't you tell us? Making us think that you had ended the dmphgf!"

Harry slapped his hand over her mouth, glaring at her, "Hermione! You need to learn to keep quiet. Everything will be explained later, but you don't know who is listening right now." He inclined his head to the empty portrait near them.

She nodded, her eyes wide with realisation. He let her go and she rubbed her cheek, "Sorry, I guess I was just so excited and surprised."

He smirked, "So what else is new? Don't worry, everything will make sense in a couple of days." He took her gently by the arm and steered her into the classroom and sat down next to Ron who was already pulling out various ingredients.

Over the next couple of days, all of the remaining members received their letters. Most had the sense not to try and talk to Harry about it, but for those few who were not thinking, Ginny and Harry very quickly shut them up.

The founders had been busy at Potter Castle, getting various rooms ready for training the group with the house elves' help. Dobby particularly was extremely enthusiastic and was always eager to do more jobs. When Saturday morning arrived, Harry inspected the rooms and was amazed at the changes.

He had set the portal up in the middle of the Room of Requirement and was waiting with Ginny for the first of the members to arrive. He had deliberately staggered their arrival times so that no one would get suspicious. Unfortunately that meant they would be waiting for a while.

Ron and Hermione arrived first with Neville and Luna coming in a few minutes later. Over the course of an hour or so the rest of the members assembled into the room. Counting heads, Harry was pleased to see that all 40 that were invited had turned up.

Smiling at them he stood up and said, "Hi all, thanks for coming. You have no idea how glad I am that so many of you decided to do this. I know that you all probably have lots and lots of questions, but let's wait until we get to our new location before we discuss anything. After all, here, we are just a group of friends meeting on a Saturday morning, anything else and unpleasant things could happen!"

Several people laughed, understanding that he referred to the oath. Harry walked over to the trunk and opened the door, revealing the portal. Gasps echoed around the room, but Harry ignored them, simply gesturing for Ginny to go through to show the others what to do. She gave him a quick wink and stepped into it, disappearing instantly.

Harry looked at the dumbstruck faces surrounding him and grinned, "Don't worry, this is a really easy form of travel, not like flooing, and it'll only take you to one destination. Just when you get there, do as Ginny says!"

Slowly the members approached the portal, each giving him a nervous look before being whisked away. Finally only Harry was left and he quickly entered in, appearing moments later in Potter Castle. He was amused to see the awestruck faces that were examining the entrance.

"Harry, what is this place?" Lavender asked, her eyes reflecting the gold on one of the vases she was examining.

Harry waved his arms around as if to encompass the entire castle, "Welcome all to my home. Welcome to Potter Castle!"

There was a dumbstruck silence before Seamus summed up what most of them were feeling, "Bloody Hell!"

The tension broken, laughter rang through the hall, and Harry gestured for them to follow him. Leading them quickly through the passageways, he took them to one of the large auditoriums. Dobby had already filled it with comfortable sofa's and Harry quickly plopped himself down on one, gesturing for the others to copy him.

When they had fallen silent Harry smiled and simply said, "Welcome to the new DA!"