I want to thank everyone again for the support and I am so grateful to all the reviewers! I also wanted to say that I was unsure on what NEWTs Hermione took (only that she took seven) so I chose for her: Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, History of Magic, Potions and Ancient Runes. If I've made a mistake or missed something and it turns out it was said in the books I'm very sorry.

Artist728– I'm so happy you think my story is good! I do agree that there is a difference between having an opinion and imposing it on others and I will certainly keep writing

ora1168 – again, you put my feelings about the canon pairings into words! I admit I was slightly confused why the person read my story because, as you said, if they aren't comfortable with the pairings they have the option to not read it. I'm very happy you like my story and I will certainly update soon!
De nuevo, expresas mis sentimientos sobre las parejas canónicas en palabras! Admito que estaba un poco confundido por qué la persona leyó mi historia porque, como dijiste, si no se sienten cómodos con las parejas, tienen la opción de no leerla. Estoy muy feliz de que te guste mi historia y sin duda actualizaré pronto! Lo siento por el mal español, use el traductor de google ya que no hablo español jaja.

lady sesshomaru sama 949 – Ginny certainly will become a rather big problem! I agree that people like that just don't see the error to their ways but the remaining Weasley's will pull together and get through it. Molly will receive a rather amusing result though for her views.

articdranzer– I'm flattered you think my story is brilliant and delighted that you enjoy receiving an email that I've updated (I feel honoured, honestly). I really feel for Arthur as well, he's been put in a difficult position thanks to Molly but he'll get everything he deserves and more!

Apoleyna – thank you so much for your advice! It certainly helped me craft a reply where I did explain that no one made him read my story as it was clear this was Harry/Hermione and wasn't a Ginny friendly story. Also, thank you for bringing up JKR's point about Hermione and Ron only getting together on a whim of hers and Harry/Hermione would be what actually worked (I kind of wish she would rewrite the Deathly Hallows to show us what would've gone different if they had got together, wouldn't that be so cool!)

Chapter 12

Harry and Ron hurried along as Hermione dragged them to DADA, refusing to be late and get off to a bad start with Professor Minks. Harry was less concerned as she reminded him of Tonks due to her pink and blue hair. When Ron voiced that however, Hermione rolled her eyes and stated "Just because she has bright coloured hair means nothing about her personality."

She had a point but Harry honestly couldn't imagine someone horrible like Umbridge who loved pink dyeing her hair that colour. It just didn't match up.

They entered as one of the first people in the classroom, only Lavender and Parvati there. Ron gave Lavender a quick kiss before turning to Hermione, irritated. "See, even Professor Minks isn't here yet! I could still be eating the rest of my chocolate frogs in my dorm than be here."

"I'm glad you appreciate my class so much," a clipped voice said from behind him. The student whirled around, nerves building in Harry as they came face to face with the new Professor.

Ron began stuttering but she grinned, tucking a blue strand behind her ear. "Don't worry Mr Weasley, Tonks told me about you guys. I trust you."

Ron relaxed at that and Harry laughed when Hermione did so as well even though she hadn't done anything. He squeezed her hand gently before asking "So, you know Tonks then?"

"I went to Hogwarts with her but was in Gryffindor along with your brother Charlie. We then headed to the Auror academy together and I trained under Shacklebolt, who you guys know as well I believe?"

Hermione nodded, settling into her interrogation mode. "We lived in the Order Headquarters in fifth year which he was in. How come you weren't in the Order?"

"Never liked Dumbledore. Admittedly neither did Kingsley but decided to join as you know the saying 'keep your friends close but your enemy's closer'. Tonks really only joined to see Sirius as she was close when they were younger."

Before Hermione could keep questioning her the rest of the class began to pour in and Professor Minks moved to the front while they all sat down. Most Gryffindors seemed interested in their new teacher but the majority of the Slytherins looked bored or were whispering to their friends and laughing, clearly mocking her.

Everyone jumped at a bang and Professor Minks placed her wand on the desk, smirking as silence immediately descended. "I am Professor Tierra Minks, your new DADA teacher. I was an Auror at the ministry until McGonagall offered me this position. If you behave, we will have fun in our lessons. If you don't? Well, I haven't got awards for being one of the most scary Aurors for nothing."

Harry swore he could hear a pin drop with how quiet the class had fallen. They were the first class to have her in the school so no one knew what she was going to be like which meant they had gone in basically blind.

Suddenly Professor Minks grinned. "Well, everyone up!"

The sudden grating of chairs scraping along the floor as everyone swiftly moved to their feet, excited glances being exchanged. This was nothing like DADA when Umbridge taught it for sure, Harry thought.

"Right, wands out. Since you were all forced to do theory last year I doubt you are up to scratch on practical skills. In my lessons I will be focusing mostly on practising spells and the theory will be your homework as while you need to know the theory it is the practical work that is important. Today you'll start with the shield charm. This can block and reflect a multitude of spells, such as most jinxes, hexes and minor curses, as well as physical forces."

"Can't they be strong enough to knock people off their feet?" Lavender asked curiously, Harry having done so to her last year when demonstrating it in the DA.

Professor Minks smiled, nodding. "Exceptionally powerful Shield Charms are even able to knock people off their feet. However, this shield aren't completely impenetrable, as it can't block the Unforgivable Curses. You wave your wand like this," Professor Minks swiftly demonstrated, "and say Protego. Now split into pairs and practise this and help each other. Once you have achieved the spell, have your partner use minor jinxes such as the jelly legs curse to attempt to break it."

They all split up, Harry pairing with Hermione while Ron did so with Lavender, Parvati with Neville. All six of them already knew the charm from being in the DA previously so it was easy for them, swiftly moving onto to the pairs exercise. Professor Minks made her over to Harry and Hermione, interested when spotting Hermione stumble backwards at the force of Harry's, saving herself by conjuring one back to deflect most of the power.

"You're very proficient in it already? How come you already know the spell?" she asked with interest.

"Oh, last year since Umbridge was useless Harry ran a defence club and taught us a load of useful spells, this being one of them as he learnt this for the Triwizard tournament."

"Of course, I forgot you were in that! I was there for the last two tasks, very impressive I must say Mr Potter. So, tell me about this defence club?"

Hermione glanced at Harry who shrugged and everything spilled out. "Ron and I organised a defence club and asked him to lead it as he was by far the best in our year and has had the most experience in duelling thanks to Voldemort. We called it the DA, standing for Dumbledore's Army to spite Umbridge but referred to it as the DA and any person that learnt of it would refer to it as the DA or Defence Association. Some spells we did were the Impediment Jinx, Reductor Curse and the Stunning Spell. We also did the Patronus charm."

"You can cast a patronus?"

"Yes, but Harry's been able to ever since third year," Hermione said proudly, beaming at him. Warmth filled him and Harry grinned back, barely paying attention to the praise he received from Professor Minks. Eventually she left to help other students but told them they were allowed to start their essays on the properties of the shield charm which was their homework. Members of the DA started to join them as she deemed them proficient until most of the struggling students left were Slytherins.

The lesson passed quickly but when dismissing them, chatter arising about her the minute they left the classroom, Professor Minks requested Harry remain behind. Hermione and Ron immediately sat back down with him, Ron kissing Lavender goodbye and promising about three times to meet her for lunch before she was satisfied and skipped away.

"So I wanted to talk to you about the DA, or Defence Association. I think you should keep the club as so many people are far behind and in fact I believe you should expand it to include any student who wants it and that it should become a formal club at Hogwarts. I will of course be there but you can still lead it, I will only be there for help. I'd also be happy to help you plan the sessions if you wish."

Harry stared wide eyed at her, surprised at her offer but grateful. "We'd love that, wouldn't we?" he glanced at Ron and Hermione, immediately getting nods of agreement. "I'd be happy to do so but if we open it and people of all years want to join it, not only would that be too many people to manage on my own, even with your help but the range of levels would be too difficult to teach."

"That's solvable though. If there are a lot of different levels of skill as well as too many people to manage between us I suggest getting a group of skilled, trusted individuals together and all teach them, with Harry the leader. The first session you lot could assess everyone's skills and then divide them up into groups, with one of you leading per group?"

"That amazing!" Hermione said enthusiastically. "We could –"

She then fell silent, glancing sheepishly at Harry who grinned. "Obviously you'd be one of the teachers, as would Ron. I'll request Neville and Luna as well. Lavender and Parvati were pretty skilled as well, weren't they?" he asked, directing the question at Ron who nodded, adding "As is Dean and Katie."

"What about Hannah and Susan?" Hermione asked and Professor Minks smiled.

"I'm glad you've decided to do this. I understand you probably have a lot on but if you three could come to my office tomorrow evening at 8pm with the group you've collected to discuss this further that would be helpful."

"That's great," Harry said and they exchanged goodbyes before leaving. One out the door Ron burst out, saying "She's a bloody great teacher and I don't care what anyone says because it's true."

Harry laughed while Hermione huffed, snapping at him to mind his language before sighing. "You are right though, she is amazing. A world away from Umbridge as well and she actually understands that being a wizard involves performing spells rather than Umbridge's mantra 'if you understand the theory well enough you should have no problem performing the spell correctly first time'. Honestly that was the most stupid thing I've ever been told."

They headed down to lunch, Hermione still buzzing from the lesson. However her cheerfulness soon faded as they entered the Great Hall. Lots of girls turned around at their entrance, nudging each other and chattering excitedly. They were all looking at Harry.

Girls waved and called out to him, some even grabbing on him and having a quick conversation with him. Though she was there next to him, Ron smirking at Harry at this new development, Hermione felt isolated. All the girls were gorgeous, cascades of gleaming hair tumbling down their back, make up looks perfect. All smiles and laughs while she was just old, plain, bookworm Hermione. How could she compare to them?

Eventually they managed to sit down, Harry looking quite irritated.

"Popular eh, mate?" Ron said laughing, giving him a friendly shove.

Harry just groaned in response, rubbing his face tiredly. "I wish I wasn't. I never thought I'd prefer last year when I was loathed by the majority but you know what? Here I am wishing for that."

Hermione grimaced, reaching out to squeeze his hand. With the amount of death glares she received for just that, she couldn't imagine wishing for that. Upon voicing that, omitting the part about receiving glares Harry scowled.

"It's like, why would I pay attention to any of them?" He gestured around irritated. "I'm fine with just you two, my best mate and beautiful girlfriend. Why would I need anyone else? Especially considering these are the same people that shunned me last year."

Hermione felt her face flame when he referred to her as beautiful, ducking her head to look at her food. She was only ever complimented on her intelligence, never on her appearance, people preferring to instead insult her on it.

The conversation turned when Lavender joined them, kissing Ron passionately. Hermione wrinkled her nose at it, never a fan of public displays of affection and caught Harry's eye. He grimaced, shifting slightly away from the pair and Hermione grinned slightly at him due to his plight, getting a mock glare in return. When Ron and Lavender eventually broke apart breathless Hermione rolled her eyes at him before beginning to talk about the DADA class.

"We'll still be running the DA as the Defence Association and depending on how big the group is, as it is now extended to second years and above, I'll need some help. We were wondering if you would like to help teach along with Parvati?" Harry asked awkwardly. "You will be as well Neville and could you pass the invitation along to Luna, Susan and Hannah. You're invited as well," he said, nodding over to Dean who gave a thumbs up in reply.

"Speaking of," Dean asked, swallowing his mouthful. "What's going on about Quidditch? Don't think I didn't spot that Quidditch Captain badge."

Harry smiled sheepishly, blushing. "Yeah, I'm drawing up the trials for this weekend. Obviously we've lost most of the team now so it's really a chance for anyone to get in since we've got open positions on the Beater's, 2 Chaser positions unless Katie pulls out and depending on Ron, a keeper."

Ron looked nervous at that, paling slightly but saying "I'm going to try out and we practised a lot over summer and I have improved so hopefully I should stay in."

Lavender gave him a kiss for that, praising him on his bravery while the rest of the teens averted their eyes. Hermione glanced at her timetable and saw she had Ancient Runes next. According to the time she only had ten minutes to get there and panic entered her. Quickly saying her goodbyes she gathered her things and rushed off. Upon leaving the Great Hall a pair of eyes tracked her, the figure getting up and slipping after her. Unlike what Hermione thought, she wasn't going to be arriving at Ancient Runes anytime soon.