Chapter 108: Follow You, Follow Me

Harry stared out the windows of Geneva and twirled his wand. Today was the first meeting of the new DA year and attendance was higher than any year before. As he absently twirled his wand, he thought of last night's discussion for what felt like the thousandth time.

Flashback

"You can't put that into the sign-up sheet, Hermione," Daphne said as she poked the parchment on the table.

"Why not?" Hermione said. "Why can't I say 'You will not use what we teach you to harm another student'?"

"Because that's way too vague," Susan interjected, trying to keep the peace, fragile as it was. "Say we teach a student Depulso and they accidentally use it on a student at the top of the stairs. It wasn't their intent to hurt the other student but they did and the contract will come into play."

"This isn't a contract," Hermione said.

"It might as well be," Daphne said heatedly. "You're asking students to sign a piece of paper which will have consequences if they break it. It's not a Life Debt but it is a contract and you better believe there will be consequences."

"What's the difference between this and a Life Debt?" Harry asked, trying to give them a break from the argument.

"Life Debts are a very specific and rare thing," Hannah said. "You have to save someone from mortal peril at great risk to your own life."

"So Harry saving me from the troll?" Hermione asked.

"Not quite," Neville said. "He didn't go looking to save you from the troll and you also saved his life so anything would have canceled out. However, there's a very good chance Ginny owes Harry one. He went to the Chamber specifically to rescue her and slayed a magical beast while doing it."

"My hero," Ginny faux swooned.

"How would you call in a Life Debt?" Harry asked.

"It doesn't have to be anything formal," Daphne said. "It can be called in by either party. For the person who owed the debt, they can call in the debt at any time. It has to be face-to-face, you have to inform them of the specific debt and how you intend to collect it. On the other side, if a person owes someone a Life Debt, they have to tell the person they are calling it in and how they intend to fulfill it. The other person can either accept or reject. Doesn't have to be verbal either, just a simple nod will do. The owner of the Life Debt could also call it in, asking for anything in return. If the terms are not met, the consequences are severe. In some cases, they can lose their magic or in others it straight up kills them. There's an entire wing in the Department of Mysteries devoted to this. It's behind a door that cannot be unlocked except by one person's magical signature. It's also supposedly called the Room of Love, even though it's a misconception because you don't need to love someone to risk your life for them."

"Is there a statute of limitations on these?" Harry asked.

"Life Debts pass to the Next of Kin but only one generation," Susan said. "If they are not called in by the end of that second generation, they are voided. However, they cannot be nullified by the life debtor killing or even plotting to kill the debtee who holds the Debt. If they even plan that, then the Life Debt Penalty will be carried out."

"And if someone vows to do something that will call in the debt if they fail by their action or inaction, the Penalty will also be carried out," Daphne said. "It's very tricky stuff and why most witches and wizards try their hardest to stay out of life-threatening situations."

"Okay, So how do we word this so that we are protected?" Harry brought the discussion back to the topic at hand.

"I don't think you can," Daphne said. "There's nothing you can do to keep those attending from telling those around them what they learned. And I'm not sure you want to stop them."

"What do you mean?" Hermione said, almost hysterically. "Why do you want these people to tell our enemies what we're teaching?"

"Because we want them to know we're ready," Neville said. "We are not teaching these people to kill, we are teaching them how to stay alive. We also want Tom to know he can't push us around and that we're ready to stand up to him."

"And we want others to pass what we teach on to their friends and family," Harry said. "I know you're scared of the Death Eaters spying on us but if they're going to spy, let them see what we can do. They were effective last time because they sewed fear and thrived on the chaos it created. They didn't have to do anything; by the time they arrived in their masks, the fight was over. This time we push back."

"Which isn't to say we're going to show our hand," Hannah said.

"We have this room," Susan gestured toward the Room of Requirement in which they stood. "Here we will keep hammering in on the training that Moody put us through. We'll be doing that weekly with the Fire Squad as agreed upon. I also want to pull Dean, Fay and Seamus in. They're trustworthy and Dean is working on something I know he'll want to keep a secret. I also think Justin, Ernie, Anthony, Lisa and Megan are people who we should add to this group."

"Thoughts?" Harry asked the group.

"Agreed on all," Hermione said. "I'd also like to bring in more of the upper years if we think they can trust them. Maybe Fred and George will be a good resource for who we can trust."

"We can also help," Penny said from the perimeter of the room. "Wasn't long ago we were all students, a lot of us prefects. I can tell you a few people in Ravenclaw that would be good best to be trustworthy."

Flashback ends

"You ready?" Hermione brought Harry out of his reverie.

"Ready as I'm going to be," Harry said. "Still feels weird. I keep expecting him to come through that doorway into the room."

"That castle feels empty without him," Fay said as she entered without him noticing.

"It's just a little darker too," Harry nodded. "How are you holding up?"

"Barely," Fay admitted. "Some days I'm doing just fine and..."

"Some days you don't want to get out of bed," Harry said to which Fay nodded. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you're around."

"Shared tragedy and all that," Fay scoffed. "I'm just ready for the dark fuckers to attack so I can put them down."

"Well said," Ginny added with venom. "They don't get to attack our families and walk away."

Definitely keeping an eye on her, Harry thought. They needed to be careful lest she go off the rails. Harry turned to see the room filling to capacity with more students at the back standing on their tiptoes to be able to see him.

"Well hello," Harry shyly addressed them. "It looks like we have quite the gathering. For those of you who don't know, I am Harry Potter."

"As if anyone doesn't know who Harry Potter is," Fred said.

"Thanks," Harry said sarcastically to which Fred pursed his lips in a kissing motion toward him. "Yes, I am Harry. Not the Boy-Who-Lived, not the Chosen One, nor the Triwizard Champion, or anything else you might know me as. In this room, I am Harry and I am here with a. group of my closest friends to help you learn how to better defend yourselves.

"This group started three years ago thanks to a defense professor who was the absolute worst professor imaginable. A group of students came together to form the Defense Association or D.A. for short. One of those students was Cedric Diggory. To those who did not know him, he was the kindest, most loyal and hardest-working man you would ever meet. Unfortunately, he was killed last summer by Lucius Malfoy. It's not fair but that just makes it even more important to learn to defend yourself."

Harry walked around the room if only to let the energy he had burn off.

"Cedric was an incredible student and one of the best duellers in the school," Harry said. "Yet he was killed. If I could, I would trade my life for his but I know that wouldn't do any good. Instead, I want to do my best to ensure no one else dies."

"Behind me are Hermione Granger, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Neville Longbottom, Gregory Goyle, Ginny Weasley, Vincent Crabbe, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, Luna Lovegood, Millicent Bullstrode, Fred and George Weasley. We spent all summer training in defense so that we can teach it all to you. We want to teach you how to get yourself out of a bad situation and how to protect yourself as well as your friends and family, all in the memory of Cedric Diggory. As such, the name of this group will be changing. I talked with Head Boy Roger Davies and he agreed.

"No longer is this the Defense Association. We are now, forever more, the Diggory Academy."

"Academy?" Lee Jordan said with a tilted head. "No sod off with that. We're Diggory's Army. We will make sure we protect each other so other parents don't have to bury their child. And, failing that, we will avenge those we have lost."

"Or a child to bury their parent," Ginny said to which Fred, George and Ron nodded. Harry still wasn't sure about Ron but he did look different from the previous years. Harry still wondered if that was a good thing or not.

"And, failing that, we will avenge those we have lost," Lee finished.

"Alright well first I want everyone to come up here and write down their name and year," Harry said. "With our numbers, we might have to separate this group into two days but first I would like to learn all your names."

Nancy Mulligan sprinted up the front and had her name down before Harry finished speaking with Dennis Creevey right behind her. Harry spotted Astoria moving toward the front with two of her housemates. Turning back to the room as a whole, he spoke again.

"Everyone here is here to help you, as are the members of Fire Squad who I am sure you have seen patrolling the castle. If you are having any issues or questions, they will be glad to help you in any way they can. While you are here, there are a few rules. First, no casting dangerous curses at one another. We will have dummies for you to learn those spells. If Pomfrey's ward fills with students from this group she'll strap me down to one of her beds and use me to test potions."

"And she'll do it too," Millie said with a smirk.

"Second, this is a place where houses do not matter. I don't care if you're a Gryffindor and your partner is Slytherin. House rivalries do not matter in this space and have no place in this group. If any of us catch you antagonizing anyone for their house, you will be escorted from the room for the rest of the night. Got it?"

Heads nodded around the room as Hermione smirked. Guess I am intimidating, Harry admitted, though he didn't like the satisfied way she smirked at him but he could live with it because she also looked like she wanted to devour him in the most pleasurable way possible.

"Third, and this goes with the second rule: blood status. We are all students here and none of us are superior to one another in any way, shape, or fashion. This group only works if we trust one another. That will be all for tonight. The next meeting time will be posted in your respective common rooms. Attendance is not mandatory. If you don't want to come you don't have to, though I hope to see you all back here shortly. Thank you."

The room filled with excited chatter as the students filed out. Harry caught some of the words and glances of the girls and suddenly found himself intimidated.

"Tom Riddle? No problem," Hermione teased. "Horny teenage girls? Harry Potter wants to run away."

"Have you seen the way they look at me?" Harry said quietly.

"I have," Hermione said as she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "I see it in the mirror every day. I admit to indulging in the same thoughts those girls are having."

"That is not a shock," Harry startled as Luna came out of nowhere, her voice announcing her presence. "Harry and Neville are the most attractive. Add in the power that Harry carries with him into a room, and when he speaks, I can admit the entire package is enticing."

"Hands off, Lovegood," Hermione exaggerated a protective hug on Harry.

"He's not my type, Granger," Luna fired back in her usual airy tone. "You, however, are more my speed. Good thing Harry keeps you busy and Tracey keeps me sated. Otherwise…"

Luna let the end of her sentence drift off as Harry laughed at Hermione's obvious look of discomfort while Flitwick approached them.

"Well done, Apprentice Potter," Flitwick said with a smile. "I am eager to see what you do with the group this year."

"Thank you, Master Flitwick," Harry inclined his head toward the diminutive professor.

"Are you two ready for your next meeting?" Flitwick asked.

"Getting there," Harry said. "It'll be the first time being in the same room with the man since the end of the tournament, not counting a brief discussion in Diagon. Do you know what he intends to speak with us about?"

"Not a clue, as usual," Flitwick said. "Good old, Albus. He loves his secrets, that man does."

"Well he better be turning over a new leaf," Hermione said. "First time he holds something back, we're done."

"Oh my word, Miss Granger," Flitwick chortled. "I do love that fire of yours. Just please remind me to never be on the receiving end of it."

Once the path was clear, Flitwick led them toward Dumbledore's office. Giving the password, Gobstoppers, the Gargoyle leaped to the side to allow them through.

"Good evening," Dumbledore stood the greet them as they entered the office. "Thank you for meeting me tonight. I know you had your first meeting and I thank you for making time out for me."

"Well, I admit to being curious about what you wished to teach us," Harry admitted. "Though I remain skeptical."

"Yes, I can see that," Dumbledore said as he moved to one of the bookcases. "This year I will be teaching you two things. One of them will be Tom Riddle, his history, and how he came to become Lord Voldemort."

"And the second?" Hermione asked, still glaring at the headmaster.

"The second," Dumbledore extended his withered arm toward the bookcase and pulled a book to reveal a large training room behind. "I will be teaching you about yourselves, your magic and how the two interact. Follow me."

Flitwick followed the two youngsters into the training room, his eyes scanning the cavernous room.

"Didn't know this room existed," Flitwick said.

"It is something known only to a select few, one of them being the headmaster of the school," Dumbledore said. "This is a place where the headmaster can retreat to study, train, or- as is the case for us today- teach. Now did you both read the book that I gave you?"

Harry nodded while Hermione pulled it out of her bag with a notebook full of notes that she took on the book itself.

"And what did you think?" Dumbledore asked.

"It was interesting," Hermione said. "The author seemed to think our magic and our bodies are intertwined and even when we cast, our magic still is our own."

"Exactly," Dumbledore said with a smile as he flicked his wand to let a flame whip out of the tip. "The reason we all have wands is that it allows us to channel our magic. But it is more than that. It connects our magic to our bodies and gives us a conduit through which to exert our magic.

"But your magic is not just spells and incantations," Dumbledore said as he plucked the flame whip from the tip and let it wrap around his good hand. "If I were to let this whip go, it would still be mine until the magic runs out. Even when that happens, there will still be traces. It is one of the ways Aurors can detect and trace magic. Everyone's magical signature is unique, a fingerprint as the muggles would say. No two signatures are the same. Once you realize that, you realize that your magic and your body are intertwined and the better in tune you are with both, the more you can do."

Dumbledore drew the flame between his hands, extended it as far as he could and with a flourish, the flame turned to a silk scarf.

"That is also why Gringotts and the Ministry use Blood Quills for all important contracts and documents. It draws a little of your blood and creates a magical imprint on the page. Even through ink and quills you impart a little of your magic. It is everywhere around you. It's why we continue to use them and how professors and academics check if someone plagiarized another's work."

Dumbledore turned the scarf to smoke and pulled the smoke back into his body.

"I will be teaching you to get in tune with your magic," Dumbledore said. "When you master it, incantations, and wand movements all become less important. You will just let your magic guide your body and allow your body to create the spell you are visualizing.

"When we start training students how to control their magic, we start with the wand movement and the incantation; first separately and then together. After that, we go nonverbal. At every stage, it's about streamlining the process so it happens without a conscious thought. Eventually it happens so easily, that most take it for granted and stop there."

Dumbledore raised his arms and a rainbow went from one palm to the other stretching above his head.

"Occasionally, we will have a student who comes through and understands this is not the end of the journey, merely that it is the beginning. They need to have a nice reserve of power, a great mind and an innate understanding of magic. I was one of those back in my school days, so was Gellert and Tom another one. As with all three of us, you can see how tempting it is to take this too far. You feel superior to everyone else.

"About five years ago, I saw something in the both of you and I thought you might have it in you to take that next step. You, Harry, were able to transfigure the club of a troll into something else and you, Miss Granger, picked up what he was doing and used what Harry had made to incapacitate the troll. I know Filius saw it too as he has worked as hard with the two of you as I have ever seen. You've faced more than your fair share of challenges and you've come out of each of them stronger."

When Dumbledore closed his hands, a bolt of lightning shot from his clasped hands with a loud thunderclap.

"I am sorry to say I'm adding more to your considerably full plates," Dumbledore said. "I am going to teach you as much as I can to feel your magic while at the same time coming to understand who Tom is and how he came to be who he is."

Dumbledore walked toward the stunned trio and smiled.

"When you do your occlumency exercises at night, I want you to focus on yourself," Dumbledore instructed. "See if you can find your magical core and what happens when you get in touch with it. Go easy. The first time I tried it, I set my room on fire and vanished the bed at the same time."

Once they exited out of the office back into the corridor, Flitwick stopped them.

"Before you retire for the evening," Flitwick said. "I know you are tired, but I wanted to let you know I have full faith in you, not just to do what Albus has asked but to beat Tom as well. I've seen a lot of students and none of them work together nearly as well as you do. As long as you work together, you'll come out on top. In the meantime, I will see you tomorrow night for our weekly mastery class. Excited to see how you've come on your spell crafting, Miss Granger."

The young duo turned and walked toward their common room, neither saying a word. Once inside, they kissed each other good night and trudged toward their respective rooms. Shutting the curtains, they both meditated and let the noise of their dormmates fade into the background. As they both tried to get in touch with their magical cores, they never noticed the faint glow that appeared around their bodies.

(A/N: Rumors of my demise have been exaggerated, though it didn't much feel like it through February and March. Between a couple health problems and me wanting to get this right, it took a while. A lot was discussed in this chapter and it sets up some things down the line. Thank you as always for reading and commenting.)