Later that night, Harry, Luna, Susan, and Hannah were gathered in Classroom Eleven and were discussing who to invite to their Defense Against the Dark Arts club.
"So," said Hannah bluntly, "We need to start by identifying who we should definitely NOT invite."
"I agree," said Susan smartly, "Knowing who NOT to trust is often more important than knowing who to trust."
"People who join our Defense Against the Dark Arts club need to be serious about learning Defense Against the Dark Arts. They also need to be loyal and committed people. Potentially disruptive people also need to be left out," said Luna matter of factly.
"I'll get us started," piped up Harry, "This is very obvious, but Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are firm and fierce nos."
"Absolutely," agreed Luna matter off factly, "Your reasons for ending your friendship with them were and remain completely valid."
"It's also worth pointing out," added Hannah, "That Ron Weasley is a very lazy person and student who has never put any effort into his studies. The only things he cares about are Chess and Quidditch and I doubt he'd even work that hard at them."
"That's a great observation, Hannah," smiled Susan, "Luna? Hannah? Do either of you have anyone you do NOT want invited for personal reasons."
"Draco Malfoy," replied Luna instantly, "I haven't forgotten how he insulted my mom and her memory and how he tried to destroy my puffapod necklace that paid tribute to her on the five year anniversary of her death."
"I could just as easily say Draco is a personal no for me considering how he's treated me for four years," added Harry angrily.
"Fuck Draco Malfoy and fuck anyone who tries to defend him," snarled Hannah.
"At least he lost his prefect status," said Susan in a satisfied voice, "We also need to extend the list of definite nos to include anyone who was disappointed about Umbitch being removed from Hogwarts. Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, Milicent Bulstrode, Zacharias Smith, Cho Chang, and Marietta Edgecombe all fall under this umbrella."
"We've already eliminated the most obvious nos," observed Hannah, "Let's take turns suggesting other nos."
"Seamus Finnigan is a very firm no from me," growled Harry, "This evening in the Gryffindor Common Room, I overheard him talking to Ron and Hermione. He was telling them that they were lucky to get shot of me because I'm a liar and a madman. It's obvious to me that he genuinely believes that I made up stories about Lord Voldemort's return and doesn't believe the truth. When he saw me pass by, he literally glared at me. After I was gone, he proceeded to tell Ron and Hermione that they had escaped me at the right time because I'm a nutter. For what it's worth, Seamus has been talking to Ron a LOT these last few days and is clearly on Ron's side."
"A person who doesn't believe Lord Voldemort has really returned will also not be as serious about leaning Defensive Magic as a person who does believe the truth about his return," realized Luna, showing her perceptive side.
"I would also prefer Angelina Johnson not be a part of this," interjected Harry, "She's the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain now. She has yelled at me and lost her temper with me several times already. She chewed me out for receiving unfair detentions with Umbitch. Granted that she didn't know what those detentions would entail. But she's just way too high strung. I really think we need people who are very serious but are serious in a more relaxed way. I hope that makes sense."
"Harry?" asked Susan seriously, "Would you say that Angelina is obsessed with Quidditch?"
"Yes," replied Harry simply.
"That's another red flag," Susan made clear, "We don't want or need people in our club who might skip meetings because they just had to have more Quidditch practice."
"And that is a legitimate concern with regard to with regard to Angelina," declared Harry firmly, "I am also saying no to Cormac Mclaggen because he is a huge fucking asshole."
"Assholes and bitches need not apply," promised Hannah.
"I am also rejecting Romilda Vane," insisted Harry, "She is a sickly fangirl with a morbid crush on me. There should be a picture of Romilda next to the word fangirl in the dictionary."
"Are you worried about Romilda Vane slipping you a Love Potion?" Luna asked Harry.
"No," answered Harry smugly, "There's a better chance of Crabbe and Goyle getting twenty Os in N.E.W.T. each than there is of me ever accepting any food or drink from Romilda Vane."
"Fanboys and fangirls," said Susan fiercely, "Are people who have no conception of respect. They should absolutely be kept out."
"Is there anyone you would like to add to the absolutely not list, Luna?" inquired Harry.
"One thing that is even worse than a fanboy or fangirl is a slut," said Luna matter of factly, "Therefore, Michael Corner MUST NOT be part of this club. Michael is a girl crazy slut who sees any moment he isn't flirting with, making out with, or kissing a girl as a moment wasted. This has also resulted in him distancing himself from his previous best friends, Anthony Goldstein and Terry Boot, as he would rather flirt with, make out with, and kiss girls than spend time with his best friends."
"That is EXACTLY the type of person we need to keep out this club," said Harry warningly, "From what Luna is describing, I'd be very worried about Michael being a distraction to the girls in the club by wanting to hit on them in meetings when we all need to be focused on the task at hand."
"I don't have any more firm nos to add after that," finished Luna.
"I don't either," said Susan simply.
"Nor do I," said Hannah briskly, "Are any of you on the fence about anyone?"
"I have my doubts about Fred Weasley, George Weasley, and Lee Jordan," admitted Harry, "I don't think they're in league with Ron or anything like that. I am simply concerned that they are not serious enough people for a club like this. They love pranks and they mess around a LOT. They are addicted to goofing off."
"Well," said Susan slowly, "Just because people are normally fun loving and mischievous doesn't mean that can't have a more serious side."
"What kind of students are Fred, George, and Lee?" inquired Luna.
"Interestingly," revealed Harry, "They got three O.W.L.s each. These O.W.L.s came in Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration. Note that those three subjects are by far the most wand heavy subjects. I think wandless magic such as Herbology bores them. They don't have the attention span to focus on things that bore them."
"So, " observed Hannah, "They at least take Defense Against the Dark Arts seriously enough to have gotten an O.W.L. in the subject. Harry, I do think your concerns are realistic. However, I would vote for talking to Fred, George, and Lee about this club to get a feel for whether we should invite them."
"We would make it clear that members of this club are expected to take the meetings seriously at all times," interjected Susan.
"And we could always expel them later on if it became clear that they weren't serious enough about the club," Luna pointed out, "I vote for giving them a chance."
"That's where I stand as well," nodded Susan.
"I'll go along with giving them a chance then," agreed Harry, "But we'll keep an eye on them in the early meetings if we do decide to invite them."
"That makes sense," said Hannah crisply, "Now, let's start talking about the yeses. I have a very complex yes and his name is Ernie Macmillan."
"I know by reputation that he's an excellent student, piped up Harry, "Though he has always struck me as both stiff and pompous."
"Look," said Hannah clearly, "Ernie is one of my best friends and has been since we were babies. I agree with the view that he is stiff and pompous. He can also be very stubborn and overly proud. "
"I get the sense," said Harry slowly, "That Ernie might not necessarily have the best relationship with the other club members, but that he could be a very valuable asset. He definitely believes the truth about Lord Voldemort's return, and I have no doubt he would fight for us if it came to it."
"That last bit is important," exclaimed Susan a nanosecond later, "Ernie might not be the most likeable person or the easiest person to get along with, but he does have good values and morals, and he does have a caring side. We need as many people as we can get who we know would be loyal to us and fight until the bitter end and Ernie is that person."
"Not every member of our club has to be a charming and lovable person," acknowledged Luna, "Hannah, Susan, as Hufflepuffs, on a scale of 1-100, how confident are you that Ernie would fight for what's right if and when it came to it."
"100," chorused Susan and Hannah.
"Then we'll recruit him," chorused Harry and Luna.
"I would now like to add my close friend since childhood, Ginny Weasley, to the yes list," smiled Luna, "And don't worry about her being on Ron's side. Ginny and Ron get along about as well as Harry and Draco. Ron gave me the disgusting nickname of "loony," when I was three. Ginny has always gone out of her way to defend me against people who call me that disgusting nickname. Ron has never been very kind to Ginny and Ginny will thus never side with Ron. Ron regularly calls Ginny names such as idiot, moron, retard, loser, and numbskull. It's no wonder Ginny doesn't like him."
"I have no objection to Ginny," said Harry simply, "I am rather indifferent towards her. However, I do trust her NOT to side with Ron."
"I have no objections either," said Susan.
"Nor do I," finished Hannah.
"This may be controversial," said Harry slowly, "But I believe it could be useful to have some Slytherins in our club. I hereby nominate Terence Higgs, Daphne Greengrass, Astoria Greengrass, Tracey Davis, and Lily Moon."
"They way they reacted at breakfast would indicate they are on the right side. They were all for Umbitch being gone," Susan reminded them.
"It's also worth noting that we have NEVER seen them be chummy with Draco, or any of his cronies," piped up Hannah.
"We shouldn't exclude anyone on the basis of house," insisted Luna, "For all we know, good Slytherins could have skills and/or knowledge that would prove useful to us."
"Those five are finalized," smiled Hannah.
"Here are my confident votes of yes for Gryffindors not yet mentioned," declared Harry, "Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell, Demelza Robins, Richie Coote, Jimmy Peakes, Leanne Lynn, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevey."
" You are including the Creeveys?" questioned Luna, "They have seemed fanboyish to me in the past."
"In my second year and Colin's first year," confirmed Harry, "Colin did fanboy me. However, he has significantly mellowed out since then. I am more than comfortable with the Creevey brothers being in this club. They are a bit on the hyper side."
"But they are decent enough students," said Luna fairly.
"I really like the inclusion of Neville, " said Hannah thoughtfully, "He's never been a great student outside of Herbology, but I think this club could provide him with just the opportunity he needs to become a better student and a better wizard."
"Neville would benefit from the encouragement we would give him," said Susan warmly, "I've always sensed he'd do better with more self-confidence."
"I agree that we can help give that to him," said Harry in a businesslike voice, "Luna, what about Ravenclaws."
"Yes, to Anthony Goldstein, Terry Boot, Lisa Turpin, Mandy Brocklehurst, and Padma Patil.," decided Luna instantly, "Those five are excellent students across the board and have always stayed out of trouble. I considered Roger Davies but ultimately formed the opinion that he is too Quidditch obsessed even if he is friendlier and less stiff than Angelina."
"Good students who stay out of trouble are the target for this club," said Hannah bluntly.
"As for Hufflepuff," interjected Susan, "Let's go with Justin Finch Fletchley, Sally Anne Perks, Megan Jones, Heidi McAvoy, and Eliose Midgen."
"I agree with most of those," replied Hannah, "I'm not so sure about Eliose though. She does tend to be careless. Remember when she cursed off her nose trying to rid herself of pimples?"
"Remember," Susan reminded Hannah, pointing between Harry, Luna, Hannah, and herself, "That the four of us will be supervising what goes on in the club meetings. If someone acts in a reckless way, we can point it out to him or her and if someone is careless too often, we can expel him or her from the club. Besides, I don't think Eloise would behave recklessly in this club. She was just a little too self-aware and thus freaked out too much when she got pimples. I see it as a very isolated incident even though Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey were most displeased about it."
"Well, " said Harry matter of factly, "I think we've got it. We'll recruit tomorrow."
Luna, Susan, and Hannah all nodded.
Harry, Luna, Susan, and Hannah all exchanged smiles, confident that their Defense Against the Dark Arts Club would be a success.
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