Chapter 7-

The atmosphere was tense as Professor Umbridge swept through the classroom, her heels clicking as she glided past Harry and his classmates. No one had questioned Umbridge's methods since the outburst and Harry always made sure to keep his mouth shut no matter how hard he had to bite his tongue. The atmosphere of the school had become quite morose as Umbridge seemed to take more and more control of Hogwarts, even inspecting other Professors much to their chagrin. Hermione seemed to be getting more and more frustrated, even starting to pull on her hair and bite her nails, until one night when they were walking down the corridor after a night of studying.

"It's just not fair, it's our O.W.L year and they expect us to learn something from that stupid toe rag" Hermione cried causing Harry and Ron eyes to widen at the language she used

"Well, what can we do? Were just students, our words have no power" replied Harry

"Were students, we should have the most power. She's not even bothering to teach us, just slaps a book down and tells us to get on with it." said Ron

"We need a teacher… a proper one that actually knows what their doing… and i think i know just the person" said Hermione

"Lupin, can't do it… not after the backlash from before and from how Umbrige described him, she would have his head if she found out" Harry said miserably

"Lupin? What no Harry, you!"

"Me?" Harry grinned and thought she was just pulling his leg "I'm not a teacher, i can't"

"Harry your the best in defence in our year" Hermione said "You beat me in third year and that was when we had a proper teacher… besides i'm not talking about test results, just think about what you have done"

"What have I done?"

"Well first year you stopped you know who getting the philosopher's stone, second year you killed a bloody Basilis , third year you fought over one hundred Dementors and last year you fought off You-Know-Who in the flesh" said Ron looking at Harry as if he was stupid

"But that was all luck, I had no idea what I was doing half the time and I always had help. From both of you" Hermione and Ron began chuckling

"Would you stop!" their smiles vanished "Listen, you don't know what it's like to face him. Out there when you're by yourself and you've only got your guts and wand to rely on, you don't know what that's like, you don't know what he's like." Harry mumbled looking down as the memories of being tortured and watching Cedric die shimmered before his eyes "I never want to experience something like that again and even more so i don't want any of you to experience it"

"That's why we need you Harry, we don't have a choice anymore, pretty soon he will come and when he does we all need to be ready and we can't do that without you… please Harry if not for us then do it for him…" Hermione referencing Cedric was a low blow but it caused Harry to falter

"Fine… i guess i can try show you a few things but don't get your hopes up, i'm no Dumbledore" Harry replied

"Is that an offer for everybody?" Harry turned and his eyes widened as he saw Neville, Luna, Ginny, Daphne and Tracey standing there

"Er- i don't know its just-" Harry replied but was cut off as Daphne stepped forward and took his scarred hand into hers. Her blue eyes met his.

"Please" she said in a soft voice. Harry looked over at the rest and saw they also shared similar expressions of resolute

"Ok fine… let's get to work"

—-Harry stared into the blazing flames analysing the conversation, he had with the group. They had decided (after much persuasion) to go to hogsmeade and meet with those who would be interested in learning from him. In truth Harry had been looking forward to the weekend trip and had been planning on asking Daphne if she had fancied going, but his plans were ruined when Hermione and Ron had suggested their plan. He sunk further into his chair in the common room and let out a tired sigh. At that moment Ron and Hermione came bounding in (Hermione beaming) as she took a seat in the comfy armchair.

"We've been looking for people who might be interested and it tur-"

"Other people? I thought i was only teaching you and the others, now we're recruiting the whole school" Harry gave a sigh as his irritation began to rise

"Not the whole school, just people who are interested in passing their O.W.L.S and want to learn actual Defence Against The Dark Arts." Ron interjected

"Fine… when are we doing this then" Harry huffed

"Well we decided to meet in Hogsmeade tomorrow, we can make arrangements and plans there" said Hermione. Harry twisted round until he was laying on the sofa, his legs laying on the arm rest and covering his face with a pillow and groaning… tomorrow was going to be a long day

—-

The sun blazed down on the village of Hogsmeade as the wind roared to life enveloping the villagers and making any words shared between the students indecipherable. Three teens trudged towards the run down looking pub that stood alone on the emptier side of the street. A group of students began to enter and gave Harry smiles or polite greetings (something which he was not used to.) Harry went up to the barman and asked for three bottles of butterbeer, the bar man took out three dirty and old glasses of butter beer and held out his hand waiting for his payment. Harry gingerly dropped the sickles in his hand and took the bottles over to Ron and Hermione who thanked him although didn't look like as if they found the idea of dirty butterbeer very appetising, the bar got busier and busier and pretty soon the whole pub was filled with students who took their seats looking expectantly at Harry, Hermione stood up and said in a nervous voice.

"Well erm- hi, i thought that we… well we know why we're here first of all, and i think we can all agree that what Umbridge is teaching us is complete rubbish and that we need someone who is capable of getting us through our owls" Hermione said getting more confident the more she talked

"And for more than that, now that Vol…Vol… Voldermort is back we thought that people would want to learn how to defend themselves" Said Ron standing besides Hermione who gave him a grateful smile

"Where's the proof?" a blonde boy from hufflepuff demanded as he stood up with his nose upturned and a sneer on his arrogant face

"And who are you?" Ron said tensely

"Zacharias Smith" the blonde boy said

"Well Zacharias, if you don't shut your mouth i will do it fo-"

"Ron!" Hermione shouted outrage causing the entire pub to be filled with arguing as people began to debate whether they should support the Hufflepuff or throw him into the skip outside. The volume of the shouting increased and the bar mans jaw tensed as he continued to scrub a glass with a dirty rag, which seemed to be making the glass even dirtier

"THATS ENOUGH!" Harry shouted silencing the arguments among the students, at that moment Daphne and Tracey entered the pub, both their faces flustered as they took in the tense silence and Harry's red face. People began to turn and scowl as they saw the green on their robes. They made to sit down but as Harry's gaze locked onto them they changed their trajectory and moved to stand next to him.

"Look i don't want to be here, the only reason i am is because my friends forced me to… Now you can either shut up and listen or you can quietly make your way out" No one spoke and waited for Harry to continue (Zacharias seemed to be biting his cheeks to stop from shouting out)

"Is it true you can cast a patronus charm?" A girl with a long plaited hair called out

"Er- yes, yes i can" Harry replied

"A corporeal patronus?" The girl asked her eyes the size of galleons

"Yeah, since third year" Harry replied a red tint adorning his face

"Blimey Harry i didn't know you could do that" said Lee who surprised expression was shared between his peers

"And he fought a basilisk, with a sword from the Headmasters office, the portraits told me" Said a ravenclaw boy named Terry Boots

"Yeah that too but that was all-"

"He also saved the Philosopher's stone from you know who a few years back" said Neville looking more confident than ever

"And he survived all three tasks last year designed for those much older than him" Daphne said standing closer to him

"Look I'm not trying to sound modest or anything, but that was all down to luck… i wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for my friends an-"

"But it's not all because of us, you did those things yourself. You fought the Basilisk, you fought the Dementors and you fought You Know Who last year!" Hermione said "You like to down play it all Harry but you are amazing, anyone in your position would have cowered and broken down but you never did!"

Harry looked down, his embarrassment overwhelming him as he tried to ignore the open stares and whispering among his fellow classmates. He felt a small warm hand slip into his as Daphne gave him a beautiful smile before she turned towards the crowd

"I know the Ministry likes to make Harry look like the bad guy, but everything he's done was to protect you, I doubt he wanted to do it but when the occasion arose he didn't shy away, he stood up and fought for what was right" She finished clearly to the still stunned crowd who slowly began to nod although there was still a couple of people who still looked unconvinced

"Listen that stuff sounds all good and brave but half the time i was terrified and i had no clue what i was doing and last year when i saw him… do what he did… you can't imagine what that's like" Harry said sitting down feeling more sullen than ever

"That's why we need you Harry," Neville said as he put down his butterbeer. "With him back, we want the best chance of surviving, but that's impossible with Umbridge in charge" everyone agreed and began to write their name on a long piece of parchment Hermione had taken out. She wrote 'Dumbledore's Army' after Ginny had spoken up, offering a name for the new club. Cho, who had been peering at Harry with narrowed eyes when she saw how close he and Daphne were standing next to each other, left without saying anything with her red haired friend who gave the Slytherin a glare before slamming the door behind her.

"That went pretty well" Hermione said as they left the Hogs head and into the bright sunshine. Ron clutched his butterbeer and looked suspiciously over at Daphne who had not let go of Harry's hand

"That Zacharias bloke is a wart" said Ron who just finished taking a giant gulp of his drink and turning into Scrivenshaft's quill shop going down one of the columns with Hermione and surprisingly Tracey who decided to jump into the conversation and began to browse with them. Harry gave a slight wary glance at Daphne who began to lead him down a different row. He tried to look as if he were interested in the mundane products.

"Cool quills" Harry said senselessly trying to break the silence that had fallen upon them. She ignored him. He could not blame her.

"I really appreciate what your doing you know, so does Tracey" Daphne said not meeting his gaze

"Well i'm sure anyone who was in my position would" she gave a hum and nod in reply

"I know this is a bit out of nowhere, but the other day when you came into the hall with Cho… I couldn't help but wonder if you too are…" Daphne left her sentenced unfinished

"Dating? No, i mean i used to like her last year but with everything that happened i just don't feel that way anymore" Harry glanced at her noticing a slight relieved expression falling upon her face "Why you asking for"

"Because I fancy you" Daphne said admiring a certain quill, her tone of voice was one you would use as if you were talking about the weather. Harry's stomach twisted into knots and his hands began to feel unnaturally clammy.

"Oh… since when?" Harry said, hoping to carry on the conversation as they heard the voices of the others begin to get closer and closer. She grasped his hand and pulled him out of the shop

"Since third year… It was early in the morning and I sometimes get up to watch the sunrise" Daphne said smiling fondly at the memory "I had just gotten hot chocolate from the kitchens and made my way up to the quidditch stands, and imagine my surprise to find you zooming around on your broom. You were so stuck in your head you didn't even spot me watching you, I have never seen anyone look so happy before. I caught feelings instantly but was too shy to say anything, one of the things I regret immensely. Then i saw you on the train and then again at the carriages and i couldn't stop myself from talking to you, i practically jumped on that Toad just so i could introduce myself and-"

"Go out with me! Like sometime this week after lesson just go for a walk with me" Harry cut her off feeling more confident than ever. She looked momentarily stunned for a second before a shy smile crossed her features and she nodded. She met his gaze again and stepped in closer, her gaze flickered down to his lips as she subconsciously licked hers and began to tilt her head forwards. Harry could not think. A tingling sensation made its way through his body, paralysing his arms and legs. She was so close that he could count every freckle on her face…

—-

"She kissed you!" Ron said gobsmacked next to Hermione who had just spilled ink on the letter she had been working on "When?"

"Well you two were in the shop with Tracey and we got to talking and it turns out she's fancied me for ages and before I knew what was happening she was kissing me" Harry said with a small smile on his face. Ron made a triumphant gesture with his fist and let out a pearl of laughter making a pair of second years sitting next to them jump in their seats. Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to her letter.

"Well?" said Ron, his hand resting on his chin as if he were a teenage girl about to be told the juiciest gossip "How was it?"

"It was good… actually if i'm being honest it was bloody brilliant" Harry said with a dopey grin "were meeting to go for a walk around the lake wednesday"

"I thought you liked Cho"" Hermione said who had began to put her finished letter into an envelope and stick it shut

"I did last year, but things have changed." said Harry

"Because of Daphne?" She asked

"Because of Cedric… she was his girlfriend, i just could never do that to him you know and now i have this amazing thing with Daphne and i really don't want to ruin it because-"

"She's smoking hot?" Ron said insensitively. Hermione smacked him upside the head and gave him a glare causing the two to bicker. Normally Harry would get involved or leave but with today's earlier events he just sank into the cushions with a dreamy smile on his face and day dreamed about wednesday

—-

Harry and Ron stared at the notice bored in the Gryffindor common room. The new decree banned all groups and clubs unless they were specifically given permission by Umbridge herself.

"I bet it was Smith" said Ron "I knew we shouldn't have trusted him, hes obviously went off snitching the moment he left the pub"

"It wasn't Smith" Hermione said as she slided in between the two "In fact it isn't anyone who was at the meeting yesterday" she continued after Ron and Harry's questioning looks "If someone had tattled we would know, that list i handed out well lets just say if someone did tell, it would make eloise mIdgen look like she had only a spot or two" she whispered as they made their way out of the common room and into the great hall for breakfast, they were instantly swarmed by questions like

"Did you see it?"

"Do you reckon she knows?"

"Who would have told her?"

"Are we still going forwards with it" the last one was said by Ginny who stared at Harry awaiting his answer

"Of course we're still going to do it" Harry glanced around the hall and saw a bunch of students from the other houses throwing questioning glances in his direction. He shook his head as he poured himself a glass of water

"No one looks very spotty" said Ron who had noticed a few people from the meeting like Hannah Abott and Ernie Macmillian stand up from their table and make their way towards them as Ron mouthed to sit back down. He scanned the ravenclaw table as they began to retake their seats and accidently made eye contact with Cho who gave him a smile and wave. He only gave her a nod in reply.

"Do you think it was the Slytherins?" Geroge said as he glanced over at their table "This seems like something that's in their nature"

"Tracey and Daphne… No! They wouldn't do that" He glanced at their table but they were nowhere to be seen, perhaps they had left for their first lesson of the day. Harry finished with his eggs and began to trudge to Professor Binns' lesson where he spent the next hour talking about goblin revolts and giant wars. Hermione's constant nudging and prodding had only seemed to make the lesson drag on even longer than he thought possible. Eventually after what felt like hours the bell rang and Professor Binns as he floated through the door, Harry let out a yawn as he, Ron and Hermione exited the classroom and began to make their way down to potions descended the marble staircase as Hermione once again reprimanded them for not paying attention in class

"Honestly how do you expect to pass your O. when all you do in sleep in class and then beg me for notes later on" Hermione huffed as strided towards the dungeons

"It's not our fault Hermione, You know what Binns is like, he's completely rotten at teaching and amazing at putting anyone within hearing distance asleep" Ron said, defending himself as they turned the corner and were now mere seconds away from the classroom. They saw Dracos and his goons huddled in a group, whispering with bright smiles on their faces. Harry and Draco locked eyes and his smile got even brighter

"I went to see Professor Umbridge this morning, she gave the Slytherin team permission to play instantly" Draco said loudly "it will be exciting to see if the Gryffindor team manages to play won't it?"

Harry's fist clenched and his jaw tensed as he tried to imagine the many hexes he could use on Malfoy.

"Don't rise to the bait Harry" Hermione hissed, taking his hand and pulling toward the line outside the classroom

"I mean if it's a question of the influence of the ministry, I don't think they have much chance… Not that it matters, Potter gets injured every game. Father says it's just a matter of time before he joins his mum" Draco continued as his two gorilla bodies guards released a raucous laugh while Pansy squealed in glee. Harry's ears began to ring and his fingernails broke skin and they clenched into his hands, he easily outmanoeuvred his hand out of Hermione's grip and stormed his way over. Draco saw him approaching and his grey eyes widened significantly. The ringing in his ears intensified as he imagined every way possible he could rip the ferret apart. Before he could take the necessary steps required to break the arrogant ponce's jaw, a blur of blonde hair smacked into the Slytherin causing him to fall on his backside, holding his jaw as he groaned. Pansy instantly tended to his side. Crabbe and Goyle instantly moved onto the blonde Slytherin but stopped as Harry and Ron jumped on their backs and began choking them from behind, the door to the potions classroom creaked open making Harry and Ron instantly let go of the two bodyguards.

"What is the meaning of this?" Snape snarled as his eyes swept over the scene. Harry opened his mouth to think of any possible excuse possible but before he could offer a reply, Draco instantly spoke up

"Potter and his pets just attacked us unprovoked" Draco said standing up giving Daphne a cold glare

"He's lying! He was talking about Harry's mum " Daphne said red faced and returned Dracos equally cold glare. Snape's eyes softened for just only a second before he turned his back and swept into the classroom, the class followed behind him whispering about the incident as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Daphne and Tracey took their seats at the back of the classroom.

"Today we will make a start on our strengthening solution" Snape said in his usual drawl voice "For this assignment you will need to follow the instructions closely as this potion tends to be very temperamental. Grab a partner and the necessary ingredients and begin" Harry instantly turned beside him to Daphne who gave him a smile and told him that she would grab the ingredients. He turned to look at Ron who gave him a shake of his head and smile as he and Hermione paired up. Tracey went over to Neville as she asked to partner up with the timid boy who nodded. Harry set up his cauldron as Daphne returned with the required ingredients and they began to get to work on the potion. 20 Minutes went by as steam began to disperse across the room and many different coloured hazes covered the surrounding area.

"Thank you for earlier, but you didn't need to do that" Harry said as he began to stir the cauldron

"It was nothing, that prat shouldn't have been talking about your mum like that, anyone would have done it" Daphne said as she began to add powdered Griffin claw into the potion

"But no one did," Harry said as he stepped closer to her, their eyes locked and Harry got the sudden urge to kiss her, not caring if it was in front of the whole class. Before he could move Snape swept across his classroom and began to scan his potion looking for any fault. Coming up empty, he turned and moved over to Neville who seemed to be shaking just from the mere presence of the potion professor

"Told you all i need was someone to supervise me" He said as their shoulders brushed together "I'm excited for wednesday"

"Me too" she replied as she put her arm around his waist and gave it a quick squeeze. Eventually the bell rang and they put their potion into a vial before leaving the damp smelling class

"I really don't want to go to Divination" Harry groaned as he and Daphne walked a little behind the group "I want to skive it, but i know Hermione will have my head"

"Too bad you don't do Arithmancy, i wouldn't mind having you as a partner in that either" Daphne said

"Yeah but you wouldn't be able to keep your eyes off of me" Harry said, giving her a sly grin as she rolled her eyes. She kissed his cheek goodbye and turned down the opposite corridor. Harry never felt so happy before a divination lesson