Chapter 35 - Year 5, part 6

September 29th, 1995

Hermione, Daniel, Neville, Harry and Ginny were sitting in the empty common room with each their own homework, when Hermione decided that she couldn't take it anymore. She sighed hard and pushed her homework away in frustration.

Things were going downhill, rapidly. Umbridge had been assigned 'High Inquisitor' by some stupid educational decree, and had started wreaking havoc on school already. She had acquired some of the Slytherins (they say it's voluntarily, but one can have one's doubts, right?) to snitch to her if needed and Filch following her around like a bitch in heat. Then there were the facts that her classes were like being under dictatorship and anything said and done there without the explicit acceptance, would lead directly to detention.

"I've had enough. I'm not learning anything from her."

"Except to leave your wand at home, because half of you guys only have half a right to it anyway." Daniel said, pointing from her to Harry with his quill.

"Ugghh." Hermione groaned loudly and threw her head backwards and over the back of the chair, which in turn creaked in protest. "We need a new teacher. Someone that will actually teach us something useful!"

"Maybe Remus can do it again?" Harry requested after drawing a line across his star-chart.

"Can't - the board wasn't too keen on his furry little problem, remember?" Neville reminded.

"Think we can collect the remaining dust of Quirrell in the dungeons? He'd still be a better teacher than her." Daniel said with a laugh, and no one said anything against it. They all knew it was an impossible task, but since they were already discussing how to get rid of a teacher and who to take her place, who were they to ignore even the most impossible solutions?

They needed someone competent. Someone who knew advanced defense-magic while also knowing how to teach that knowledge to others. They needed a leader. They needed…

"Harry!"

"What?" Harry asked, and gave her a look of utter confusion. "I swear I'll get this chart right, there's no need to-"

"No, Harry. The new teacher, it's you. We need you." She said calmly.

"Have you eaten nails or something like that Hermione? You seem kind of feverish?" Harry looked at her like she had actually gone ill, and then turned to Daniel and Neville -possibly looking for support in his statement.

But he didn't get it. Instead, Daniel looked at her, deep in thought, then back to Harry. "It's not a bad idea, Hermione.

"Gee, thanks for the enthusiasm, Dan." She said, rolling her eyes at him.

"No, He's right. It's not a bad idea. Remember how you taught me to do the hex reflection properly, after Moody gave up. You're brilliant, mate!"

Harry was grinning, almost maniacally so. "I'm not a teacher, guys, come off it."

"But you're the best at DADA in our year! And you've saved our asses so many times I can't even count them anymore." Daniel countered, obviously having none of it.

They started listing all of his accomplishments from doing the Patronus-charm at thirteen to beating Voldemort three bloody times, but he didn't seem particularly impressed.

"I got lucky, or I had help. It's not like I'm some sort of grand person who does everything right! I'm not a teacher!" He said, sounding utterly flabbergasted. Like he didn't believe one word they were saying. But then he got angry instead. "You're taking the piss, right? It's a stupid idea, and I'm not doing it! Look, half of the school already thinks I'm more loony than Lovegood for just mentioning what happened at the graveyard. Thank Merlin for Wills and all, but no one wants to be anywhere near me. And I don't blame them. I don't want to be near me either!"

While Ginny took his hand, Hermione, Neville and Daniel shared looks. They knew things were bad with Harry, it wasn't exactly a secret among their closed circle of friends. They all knew that Harry's nightmares had picked up at full force, that Umbridge was making a full-on scapegoat out of him and that this year's O.W.L.s hanging over his head wasn't helping. Then there was the new aspect of the newly instated inquisitorial squad, doing everything in their right to make life a living hell for him.

She couldn't even start to fathom what would have happened if he had been prefect as well. All hell would have surely broken loose. Again.

"We really think that this is the way to go mate, and you won't do it alone." Neville started, then added sheepishly, "I mean, I'm good for nothing… But I'll help in any way I can. Hermione's a mean researcher and Daniel insanely good at counter curses. I won't even mention Ginny back in the duelling club with Snape and Pedo-hart." Harry seemed to pick up a bit at that, until his face fell again.

"But no one'll come, Nev."

"Then that'll be their own issue once exams start. Then the four of us will just be the only ones passing - and Ginny will be doing top marks next year! It's that simple!"

"I bet Fred and George would want to join. Lee as well. Natacha, too. And Luna - she's a bit strange, but really sweet." Ginny guessed with a shrug.

Hermione found herself thinking about her Slytherins. Would they be welcome as well? Should she even invite them? Would it be a problem to anyone?

"But where would we be able to train, where different houses wouldn't be an issue?" Harry countered, though he looked like he was peeking up a bit.

After they had all sat in silence for a while, Daniel looked like he got the greatest idea of all time. "What about the Chamber of Secrets?"

"The one with the big, dead snake in the middle of it? A bit intimidating, isn't it?" Hermione thought out loud. It would either be the best thing in the world, or the reason for bedwetting becoming a thing among the older students. She got chills just from the thought of it. Yuck.

"Intimidating - or motivating decor." Daniel said, winking at her and using his fingers as guns.

She shivered again, and Neville chuckled lightly. "I'm not buying it, sorry. What about… The forest?"

"You mean the forbidden forest? That we aren't allowed to be in? Also, it's too easy to sneak up on us or spy - it's basically an open invitation for detention." Harry dead-panned with a sigh.

They needed somewhere to train in peace. Where they couldn't be found…

It hid her like a brick.

She remembered getting yelled at in the library. Remembered running through the halls like death was licking at her tail. Remembered pacing. Screaming. Shouting. Crying… Hurting.

So much hurting.

"I think I know where we can train." She whispered, more in chock than because she wanted to keep it hidden. "It's perfect, I think. No one will be able to get in, they won't know we're there and it'll give us what we need."

"But where, Hermione?" Daniel asked, his tone telling her that he didn't believe one bit that such a place existed.

"I… I'll show you." She sighed. She didn't exactly want to go back, knowing what had happened there… But she also couldn't keep such a place to herself, when they were obviously in need of it.

…

A short while later the five of them were standing in front of a blank piece of wall, looking utterly confused.

Hermione looked around, made sure she was standing directly across from the tapestry with trolls trying to do the ballet - or whatever they were doing - took a deep breath, closed her eyes and started pacing.

I need somewhere for us to study Defense against the dark arts without being seen or heard.
I need somewhere for us to study Defense against the dark arts without being seen or heard.
I need somewhere for us to study Defense against the dark arts without being seen or heard.

When she heard her friends' collective gasps, she knew it had worked.

Opening her eyes, she faced a wooden door that had definitely not been there before. with resolute steps, she went and opened it - inviting her friends inside.

"What is this place?" Ginny whispered as she spun slowly in the middle of the room.

"It has multiple names." She sighed as the door closed behind her. "More commonly it's known as the Room of Requirement. The room of hidden things or 'The-Come-And-Go-Room' are also used."

"And you just stumbled across it?" Neville asked in awe as he looked around the room.

A lump formed and turned to rock in her throat, as she opened her mouth to answer him. But no words emerged. Looking up, she found Harry looking at her with questions in his eyes. Question, that quickly merged to understanding and sadness. Turning away from him, she crossed her arms in front of her chest and redirected the focus: "It changes appearance according to what you want from it. If you want the entire ambiance of the room to change, you would need to leave - but minor things can change instantly." On que, a large chair appeared beside Neville and he sat down, heavily.

"How many people could fit in here?" Daniel asked into the room, though it didn't sound like it was directed at anyone particular. "It looks like… a minimum of fifty people."

"Fi-fifty?! Are you mental, Daniel?!" Harry turned and gawked at his best friend. "There's no way in hell I can teach so many people!"

"We don't even know how many will sign up, Harry." Ginny added.

…

October 7th, 1995

Hermione looked around at the assembled in the empty living room, feeling… Pride. She held her head high as they neared the end of their meeting, sliding the paper forward that she had prepared.

"Only one thing left to do - signing this paper is a binding contract." She said as she laid down the quill by the ink.

"Binding?" A Ravenclaw quipped from the back. "What? So, we can't leave?"

"Oh, absolutely. You can leave at any time you'd like. But those who have signed this paper, can only talk about what we do to those involved."

Hushed whispers were heard around the room, but no one dared question her. She didn't know if they were scared of what would happen, or if they were simply more scared about Umbridge… But one by one, they all signed the paper.

Convincing the lot had been more challenging than she'd thought, but all in all it had gone well. William casually gave her a thumbs up from the side of the room - cheering her on like he always did. Even if he looked very uncomfortable while doing so.
She didn't blame him.

Throughout the meeting he and Harry had had to defend themselves multiple times. Apparently, it helped that they were two people who had seen the same thing. But people were afraid, and she didn't blame them either, for needing something concrete to believe in. No one wanted to take their word for it if they ended up being wrong.

This was war after all - and people died in war.

But still, the amount of hissing and screaming had still been a surprise to her. She hadn't anticipated the hostility. She also hadn't anticipated that it would be Susan Bones that would come to their rescue - all because she was interested in Harry's ability of casting a corporeal Patronus.

After that it was like someone had opened the floodgates. Everyone wanted to know if Harry had done this and that - even the details of it.

Harry looked so confused. She knew he hadn't seen it coming from miles away that anyone would have any kind of interest in what he had or hadn't done. She really hoped it would give his confidence a well-deserved boost.

"The Advanced Defense Club will meet for the first time this coming Monday after dinner seeing as this date seems to fit around everyone's schedules, for now. We'll meet on the left side of the 7th floor, in front of the tapestry with the dancing trolls. When you leave this house, be aware of your surroundings and go in different directions. Thank you for coming!" Daniel said chipperly and clapped his hands.

Almost instantly people stood and started leaving the room, some while sending questioning looks in their direction while others looked a bit more optimistic.

"Well, that went well." Hermione said and nearly slid so far down her chair that her bum touched the dirty floor. It was pure exhaustion at this point.

…

October 8th, 1995

The following morning, the students woke up to a new Educational Decree. They thought they had been careful; choosing an abandoned house at the outskirts of Hogsmeade, only talking of the advanced Defense Club to those involved - and doing so very quietly - splitting up to not draw attention to themselves. So, what had happened?

"But who talked?" Daniel whispered as he leaned in across the breakfast table that Sunday morning. Beside him, Harry sat leaning back in his chair with a detached look on his face. it was almost like he had lost something before he had even gotten it in the first place.

Hermione casually looked around the room. "No one, I think. What if someone simply saw us, walking around? I mean; she already has a problem with us, so maybe it just didn't take much for her? Maybe it's just a slight coincidence."

Hermione chanced a look at the faculty's table, and found the toad herself, staring daggers at what seemed to be the back of Harry's head. Hermione lifted her tea cup to her lips and tipped, but didn't drink.

"Stay normal, Harry. We've got a spectator." She whispered against her cup, and instantly Harry's eyes went to hers - even as he continued reaching out for a plate on the table.

"This is going to be harder than I thought." He murmured.

…

October 9th, 1995

There was really only one way to describe this day; chaotic.

When they arrived at breakfast, bright and early, they were met by the information that Professor Trelawney had been put on probation. Hermione scoffed at the word. She didn't particularly like neither Trelawney nor her teachings, but using the word probation in regards to teachers? that was simply foul, and the word tasted sour in her mouth.

It was a word used for criminals, not one of her own damn colleagues.

Then followed History of Magic, where everything had been as snoozy as ever, when suddenly Hedwig showed up - injured - out of nowhere. Harry somehow managed to fake himself ill without their ghostly teacher realizing that an owl was in his classroom, and ran off to find Professor Grubbly-Plank for help. Hermione and Daniel shared a look when Harry ran off.

Hedwig had been out with a letter for Sirius…

…

After Class, she, Neville and Daniel walked to the dungeons to have potions. "Do you think she's alright?" Daniel whispered under his breath after they passed a group of older Ravenclaws, walking in the opposite direction.

"I'm sure Professor Grubbly-plank will have her up and flying in no time." Hermione said, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. "She knows her way around magical animals."

"What about the…" Daniel didn't finish his sentence. It could be dangerous to do so around here.

Around here. It wasn't a sentence she had ever thought she would be using in negative connotations, about anything Hogwarts-related. But here they were.

"I guess we'll figure it out at some point. Either from being called to the headmaster's office or from being collected by Aurors. I guess, you never really know with that woman."

Neville stopped dead in his tracks, making her and Daniel stop as well to look back at him in confusion. "A-aurors?" He stammered, a frightened look in his eyes. If he was more scared of the prospect of being arrested, or from his grandmother being told about it, she didn't know. But either could be valid, when talking about sweet, kind, Neville.

Hermione went back and looped her arm around his, dragging him along so that they wouldn't be late for class. "Don't worry Nev - we'll all be going in that case. And we'll make them regret every damn second of it!" She reassured him with a grin.

…

Normally, Professor Snape acted pretty neutral. He was calm and collected, but overall fair to all students. No one messed around in his classes, and no one messed around with him.

But not today.

When the Slytherins and Gryffindors arrived and took their seats, they found Umbridge already sitting in the corner, on a stool with her pink-tinted parchment and matching Quill. The atmosphere in the room was ice-cold, and made her draw her cloak further in around her shoulders.

"This won't be good." Neville whispered as he sat down beside her. He wasn't good at Potions on any sort of level, and if anything exploded it was almost guaranteed to be from his cauldron. Or Seamus - the ever-charming Pyromaniac.

Hermione was fully set on helping Neville in keeping his head down for the entire class.

They quickly continued working on their Strengthening solutions from the week prior - theirs had matured nicely - by collecting and preparing their ingredients. They hadn't been at it for more than ten minutes, though, when Umbridge started her inquisition. One that sounded oddly, like it should maybe have taken place in private.

Snape was pointing something out in Dean's cauldron when Umbridge made a snarky comment, about the students working above their levels and advising against teaching them a potion that the Ministry would probably see removed from the syllabus. That made Snape straighten his back instantly, and he turned to her with a look in his eyes that looked an awful lot like contempt.

"It is a potion that the minister himself, forced into the fifth year Syllabus when he came into office - instead of leaving it with the sixth year's where it belongs." He said in a voice that dripped with acid. Hermione almost fell off her chair by the revelation that they were actually doing a sixth-year potion - and succeeding at it as far as she could tell.

Umbridge ignored his hit against her, and continued her questioning of his person and his subject.

When the word 'Obviously' rolled off his tongue with obvious hate, you could hear a pin drop to the floor in the room. Then he instantly turned towards the back row and called out in a calm voice that Mr. Weasley should be adding his chopped batwing now, or his cauldron would be bubbling over in 34,3 seconds, there was no sign of the hate that had just been obvious to the entire class.

Then he turned back to the pink bitch and narrowed his eyes on her. "I am here, in this classroom, teaching a subject that I have mastered and perfected since I was 6 years old. I stayed in that field, because I am exceptional at it. Which is also why these talented young people can do a potion that is well above what should be their level. Because they have proper teaching and guidance. I think you would be wise in remembering that in your own class, Professor. Regarding my wishes and unfulfilled desires as to moving into the subject of Defense Against the Dark arts, I have simply wanted to further my personal education by looking into a secondary mastery - while also seeing a need for proper teachers in the field. A need that, apparently, still seems to be… Lacking." Umbridge's jaw seemed to collect dust on the floor as Professor Snape finished his monologue before turning to his class. "Don't you have things to do, or are you just very excited about doing detention tonight?" Without more hassle, the class resumed their potioneering in complete silence.

…

That same night after dinner, the Advanced Defense Club met for the first time. Daniel was by the door with the map hidden, making sure that students weren't being followed and welcoming them in when they arrived in front of the tapestry. Before long, everyone was there - all 27 of them.

The room was magnificent. Large and grand, with mirrors and bookcases filled to the brim with all kinds of scrolls or books that might be useful. Off to the side, were sneakoscopes and foe-glasses, tables and chairs, and dummies that they might be using for spells and jinxes.

"I'm thinking we'll start out with the Expelliarmus, since it's the easiest one. So, let's pair up -"

Harry had barely finished when Zacharias Smith immediately argued about it being a stupid spell to start with. Hermione smiled smugly, when Harry immediately disarmed him. It would probably have been fine, if the spell hadn't been so well executed, that not only did Harry catch the wand immediately - Zacharias also fell backwards, hard, landing directly on his back.

Harry walked to where the boy was just getting up. "Are you sure you don't want to learn it? Or do you want to start with Protego instead?" Harry handed him his wand back. The Hufflepuff didn't answer him, but simply grabbed the wood like Harry's hand might burn him if they were in too close proximity for too long. Then he mumbled something low, as he turned around and grabbed one of his friends to go stand to the side of the room.

"That's what I thought. Pair up everyone - Neville, you're with me."

Hermione made eye-contact with Daniel and lifted her wand in open challenge. His smile grew and they moved to a spot on the floor where there was enough room.

Sometime later after having practiced for a while - both of them knowing that they're spellcasting was fine - they suddenly heard a yell that quieted the room instantly.

"I DID IT!" Neville yelled victoriously, raising two wands into the air, "I've never done it before - I DID IT!"

"That's great, Nev!" Daniel called back to him, high-fiving his as their mate came running - still holding Harry's wand. The room was an echo of clapping - some more polite than others - and 'congratulations' in different varieties.

After that, Neville joined her and Daniel, until she had to yell at Harry to be aware of the time. They then agreed on the next meeting, and by the help of the maps, they all left in groups of threes and fours.