Monday, 18th September

After yet another delightful Arithmancy class, Harry reluctantly made his way to Defence and as soon as he entered the classroom, he knew that Umbridge's shock over their yelling match last week had well and truly worn off - she had a gleam in her eye that just screamed trouble.

He was right.

At the very end of class, as everyone hurriedly shoved their books into the bags, looking forward to dinner, she called out in her girlishly saccharine tone.

"Mr Potter, a moment, if you please".

He froze, turning slowly to face her. She was already smiling, a smug, self-satisfied thing that made Harry's stomach churn.

"Detention" she announced with a cheerful voice, "Tonight. My office. Seven o'clock sharp".

Well, at least he wasn't going to miss dinner.

"What on earth for?!" Blaise burst out next to him, ignoring Harry's sharp look in response.

"For… oh, let's say his consistent failure to respect this institution's authority" she replied, "And if I were you, Mr Zabini, I would watch my tone before you end up joining him!"

Harry bit back the retort that burned at the tip of his tongue, shoulders rigid as he picked up his bag and turned away. As the class filed out, he saw Hermione hovering just outside the door, her bright brown eyes alight with something he couldn't quite place.

"Harry!" she called, quickly darting over to him, "Can we- Can we talk?"

For one wild moment, his stomach dropped as his mind groaned, Oh Merlin, not you too! All bloody day he'd been fielding off far too many sly looks, smiles, and outright invitations from witches and even a few wizards who, all of a bloody sudden, deemed him worthy of their attention. Hermione, who always seemed to be focused entirely on books, hadn't even crossed his mind as yet another potential paramour.

"... Sure" he said slowly, before turning to Theo and Blaise, "I'll see you guys in the Great Hall, alright?"

Theo nodded, his gaze lingering on the girl for a moment, whereas Blaise gave him a far less subtle look, a wide grin spreading across his face as he turned to walk ahead of the pair. Harry shot him a dark glare that promised swift retribution should he even dare think of commenting on it.

Waiting until the other boys were far enough ahead to be out of earshot, Hermione gave him a cautious yet somewhat hopeful look.

"I, uh… I wanted to ask you something".

Oh Merlin!

"Look, Hermione" he quickly said before she could get started, "I'm- I'm flattered, honestly, but-"

"Flattered?" She frowned at him, clearly confused. "Flattered about what? What are you talking about?"

A tidal wave of relief - as well as embarrassment - swept over him almost immediately.

"Nothing" he said, feeling his cheeks flush, "Never mind. Sorry. So, uh, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"It's about Defence Against the Dark Arts" she started, her voice low, "Or, rather, our complete lack of it. I was just saying to Ron and Neville this morning about what a dreadful teacher Umbridge is, and how we're not going to learn any defence from her at all! I think… I think it's time we did something about her".

Now this, he most certainly had not seen coming.

"Wow, Hermione, I'm- I'm honoured, truly. The fact that you came to me, out of everyone, is just- I mean, I'll have to think about it, of course, but I am in Slytherin and I do have access to Professor Snape's more, uh, illegal potions, so it shouldn't be too difficult to-"

"I'm just going to go ahead and stop you right there" she interrupted, raising a hand, "I am not, and I repeat not, asking you to murder Umbridge, Harry!"

"... You're not?"

"No!" she exclaimed, "God, why would I- Okay. Look. Just- Just listen, alright?"

He silently nodded, admittedly feeling a little let-down.

"I was thinking that… Maybe the time's come when we should just- just do it ourselves. Learn Defence Against the Dark Arts ourselves" Hermione said haltingly, "We need to prepare ourselves for what's out there! We need to make sure that we really learn how to defend ourselves! If we don't learn anything for a whole year… Look, we've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books. We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use the spells and correct us if we're going wrong so… so what do you think?"

"I think it's… a good idea" Harry started slowly, "But who would you get to teach us?"

"Well, isn't it obvious?"

"... Not really, no".

Hermione heaved a very deep sigh. "I'm talking about you, Harry".

There was a moment's silence, and then, "About me what?"

"I'm talking about you teaching us Defence".

He laughed. She didn't. He stared at her.

"... You can't be serious".

"Why not?" she countered, her tone fierce, "You're clearly intelligent! You're tying with me for top of the class in at least half our subjects, despite the fact that you've missed four years at Hogwarts! And, yeah, I know that your wandwork isn't perfect, but you're still powerful! Stupidly so! And you're definitely the best at DADA despite what that- that toad says! You've been able to answer every single question she's thrown at you, including a few that aren't even on the curriculum!"

Hermione, somewhat magically, didn't seem to be running out of air.

"You also somehow managed to teach yourself magic without any professors or even a bloody wand over the past few years so obviously you're a good teacher! And with all of that combined, is it really such a terrible idea to have you teach us? I wouldn't expect you to do it all by yourself of course - I'd help and so would a few others, I'm sure, but you were the first person that came to mind when I started properly considering this so I just had to ask. You'll do it, won't you?"

Harry blinked at her, caught completely off guard.

"... You're serious".

"Completely".

He considered her for a long moment. The idea of teaching - or even just helping out - made him feel uncomfortably exposed. But the thought of leaving everyone else to flounder under Umbridge's non-existent curriculum was somehow worse. This was exactly the sort of hair-brained anti-authority stick-it-to-the-man idea that Sirius would have leapt at if he were still in school. And yet…

Harry recalled the look of pure unrestrained hatred on Umbridge's face when he hadn't done anything wrong. Perhaps it'd be best not to give her something that she could actually find fault in.

"Just… Just think about it?" Hermione pleaded, sensing his hesitation, "Please?"

They'd reached the doors of the Great Hall, and she didn't wait for a response before heading towards the Gryffindor table. As she walked away, Harry found himself shaking his head. Of all the things he'd expected to happen today, this most definitely had not been one of them.

Tuesday, 26th September

Hermione made no mention of Harry giving Defence lessons for an entire week after her original suggestion and Harry was beyond grateful for it. Between his classes, his homework, Quidditch practice, and the occasional detention with Umbridge, he barely had time to think most days, let alone consider any act of rebellion.

On top of all of that, Romilda Vane continued to be horrifyingly persistent, and he'd been getting more than a few dirty looks and hissed insults from other students too. Emma looked a lot like her sister, which made it easier to avoid her, but he was relying solely on his friends to point out the others the twins had mentioned and it was exhausting. The only thing he could really be thankful for was that no one had tried to hex him yet.

Although if they did, then he'd sure as hell make them regret it.

Fortunately, a distraction came in the form of Lady Malfoy one Wednesday morning as her eagle owl delivered a response to the letter he'd sent previously. Unfortunately, Harry hadn't gotten a single chance to open it until now, an entire week later.

Dear Lord Gloucester,

I was most pleased to receive your letter, and I must express my gratitude for your willingness to accept my offers of assistance. It will be a pleasure to share my knowledge, and I trust you will find the process both enlightening and useful in your pursuits. I gladly await any questions you may have.

Draco has informed me that you two have recently bonded over hairstyles and certain misconceptions, which brought a smile to my face. It seems you have made quite an impression on him, and I must say, I am delighted to hear that he seems to like you considerably more now. As you may know, Draco inherited much of his father's arrogance as well as my own temper - the worst of both his parents, I'm afraid - and at times I worry he can be far too proud for his own good.

I am relieved, however, that this does not seem to be hindering your growing rapport. For all his bravado, Draco is, at his core, a young man in need of guidance, and his interactions with you have offered me hope that he is, at long last, beginning to appreciate the value of allies rather than adversaries. For all of his faults, and for as much as he may push others away with his arrogance, I have long hoped that he would find a peer with whom he could develop a meaningful bond. It seems that peer may be you.

I must admit that I was initially concerned that Draco's inclination to protect his own pride might lead him to dismiss you, or even to distance himself unnecessarily. But I believe you have managed to break through that barrier, even if just a little, and for that I am grateful. I know he has grown increasingly aware of his position and the choices he must make - some of which are very much linked to those of his peers, including yourself.

The future of our families, and of the wizarding world as a whole, rests in the hands of a generation of young men and women with strong convictions. It is my sincerest wish that Draco will come to understand the importance of forging alliances, not out of obligation, but because they will help shape the course of things to come.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or any other matters you wish to discuss.

Until then,

Narcissa Malfoy

Duchess of Wilshire

So the most powerful woman in wizarding Britain had just agreed to his personal tutor for free...

Neat.

He tapped the feather of his quill against his chin. She'd told him to send her any questions he had but the problem was, he had so many! He needed to be smart about this. The duchess was an important woman with limited time on her hands - the fact she was even using some of that time to write to him at all was incredible, so he didn't want to waste anymore of her time by asking questions he could get the answers to elsewhere.

That ruled out French, then, although perhaps he could write to her using the language someday just to get in a bit of extra practice. Things like legislative procedure and the process involved in passing a bill were also things he could learn on his own. No, he needed to ask her something that only she could answer… Something like a personal insight into the minds of Wizengamot, perhaps?

Harry had plenty of plans, after all, and already the amount of laws on The List that he wanted to pass was more than he could count, but it didn't matter how perfectly crafted the bills he proposed were, if the current lords sitting in Wizengamot didn't agree with them, they wouldn't get passed.

Now, asking someone such as Lady Malfoy to send him a list of his most likely adversaries, as well as a few suggestions on how to win them over, on the other hand…

Harry grinned, dipped his quill into a pot of ink, and began to write.

Later that day, as he searched the library shelves for Asiatic Anti-Venoms, partly because he needed it to write Snape's essay and partly because hiding among the stacks seemed to be the only safe place for him these days, Hermione finally cornered him again.

"Harry!"

He flinched at the sudden hiss of his name coming from far too close and turned to find Hermione peering back at him through the bookshelf where she stood on the other side.

"... Hello".

"Hello" she repeated, her voice low, "I was wondering whether you'd thought any more about Defence Against the Dark Arts. I mean, the idea I had - about you partly teaching us?"

Harry didn't answer at once. The fact was that he had given the matter a great deal of thought over the past week. Sometimes it seemed an insane idea, just as it had on the day Hermione had proposed it, but at others, he had found himself thinking about the spells that had served him best at St Brutus, spells that Umbridge wasn't teaching him - and found himself, in fact, subconsciously planning lessons…

He spied the book he'd been searching for two shelves below and crouched down to grab it. Hermione followed him, her dark skin and bright eyes filling in the gap where the book had stood, an expectant look on her face.

"Well" Harry said slowly, "Yeah, I… I've thought about it".

"And?" she asked eagerly.

"I… don't know" he admitted, "I mean, it wouldn't just be for you, Ron, and Neville, would it? You want to make this a- a school-wide thing!"

"Maybe not a school-wide thing, but definitely the people in our year, and I know that Ginny thinks it's a good idea too so maybe we'd be teaching a few fourth years as well - anyone who wants to learn, you know?"

"I do" he replied dryly, "Just as I know that there are very few people in our year aside from them who'd want to be taught by me".

"Two weeks ago, maybe, but not since Skeeter's article about you! People are all but falling over you these days!"

"And you think they'd act any better in a semi-structured environment? Those types of people wouldn't be showing up to learn, Hermione".

She flushed but had no other choice but to nod in agreement.

"And besides, it doesn't matter how good at defence I am or- or how much spell energy I have, does it? No one will want to go to a defence club being taught by a Slytherin!" he exclaimed, before adding, "Aside from other Slytherins, that is. Actually, have you talked to Theo about this? Because he's easily one of the best students in our year and he's great at explaining things - maybe he could be your teacher?"

Hermione looked… somewhat embarrassed. Harry immediately narrowed his eyes at her.

"What?" he asked, "What is it?"

"Well… it's just… I was talking to Ron about it and… well, you know how he is with Slytherins and whatnot and… well… he said that… maybe we shouldn't, uh… maybe we shouldn't… include… any… other… Slytherins…"

Harry stared at her.

"It's nothing personal!" she rushed to say, "I mean, obviously, it's nothing personal because we all agreed to ask you to join us but- but it's like you said, isn't it? Slytherin students don't really have the best reputation and- and if everyone knew that people like Draco Malfoy or- or Pansy Parkinson would be there, then fewer people might come and we also have to think about the secrecy of the whole thing - if Umbridge finds out about this, she'll kill us! So we all - that is, Ron, Neville, Ginny, and I - we all, uh, well, we decided that maybe it'd be best if we just… you know…"

"Didn't invite the Slytherins?" he asked, his voice perfectly even but cold, "Right. Okay. So, let me get this straight: you want me to risk getting into massive trouble with Umbridge - who already has it out for me - so I can teach Defence Against the Dark Arts to everyone except my own Housemates?"

Hermione winced. "Harry, it's not like that! It's just-"

"It's exactly like that!" he interrupted, his tone sharp, "You're asking me to pick and choose who deserves to learn how to defend themselves based on something as stupid as what room they sleep in!"

Her cheeks flushed even darker. "It's not about Houses! It's about- about practicality! If the wrong people find out-"

He abruptly stood, and on the other side of the bookcase, she did the same, her eyes just about visible over a copy of Potion Opuscule.

"The wrong people?" he cut off, "Do you even hear yourself?! You're talking like my entire House is full of spies and Death Eaters! Do you think Theo would run to Umbridge? Or Blaise? Or even bloody Malfoy?! They care more about protecting themselves than half the Gryffindors I've met!"

"Of course, I don't think that!" Hermione protested, "It's just… not everyone will see it that way, Harry. You know how people are about Slytherins".

"Oh, I know" he said bitterly, "I've had plenty of time to learn how people are about Slytherins, especially since I am one!"

He crossed his arms, his glare cutting through Hermione's flustered expression.

"If this Defence group of yours doesn't include the others in my House, then I'm not joining it either".

She blinked, taken aback. "But Harry, we need you-"

"No, Hermione. You want me, and only as long as I don't bring the rest of my friends along with me". He shook his head, his expression resolute. "That isn't fair, and I'm not doing it. Either you include all of us, or you get none of us".

For a moment, Hermione said nothing, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for the right argument. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"I understand why you're upset" she whispered, biting her lip, "I do, really, but… we talked about it, and we decided that this is the only way we'll get enough people to join. If we invite Slytherins, people outside of Slytherin - people who need to learn just as much - won't come. And if this is going to work, we need them to feel safe… I'm sorry".

Harry stared at her, his expression unreadable, before he exhaled sharply. "So that's it, then. You're okay with teaching everyone but Slytherins, even if that means leaving me and my friends defenceless?"

Hermione flushed deeper, her discomfort evident. "It's not ideal, I know. And I feel awful about it, Harry, really, I do! But we don't have another choice if we want this to succeed".

"Well, I do have a choice" he said flatly, "And I choose not to be part of a prejudiced, bigoted group that's happy to write off an entire House because it's 'practical'".

"Harry-"

"No" he said firmly, holding up a hand to stop her, "If you're going ahead without Slytherins, you're going ahead without me too".

She looked stricken, but after a moment, nodded reluctantly. "I understand... But I hope you'll still practice Defence. You're brilliant at it, Harry, and it's not fair for you to miss out just because-"

"Don't worry about me" he interrupted, his voice softer than before, "I'll practice, but I'll do it with people who actually respect me and don't expect me to leave half my friends out… Why don't we all study together in the library sometime? You, me, Theo, Blaise, maybe Tracey and Milli too - we'll have a proper group, one where no one gets left out because of the colour of their tie. You once promised to study Arithmancy with me, remember?"

She smiled, but it was half-hearted at best. "Yeah, I- I'd like that… I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't want this to happen. I thought…"

"I know. But you can't expect me to be okay with it".

"I don't" she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, "Our first meeting will be in The Hog's Head this Saturday, just in case you change your mind-"

"I won't".

"... Alright" she replied, looking away but not before he caught a telltale shimmer in her eyes, "I'll, uh… I'll see you around, then?"

"Yeah" he agreed softly, "You will".

Was it how he'd wanted this conversation to go? Most definitely not. But was it how this conversation had to go? Most certainly yes. The whole issue of leaving out other Slytherins aside - and what a bloody big great massive issue it was - the fact remained that he was a Slytherin himself.

Hermione didn't consider that to be a problem since she was friends with him, but he highly doubted that anyone else would see it that way. As it was, half the castle was calling him the next Dark Lord, a blood traitor who had renounced his "good" Gryffindor ways to "turn evil" in the den of snakes.

No one aside from his friends would agree to be taught by him - especially once they realised that his best spells lay in the more murky territory of legality, not to mention the handful of truly Dark curses he'd learned over the summer in the Black library.

It was better this way, he decided, returning to his table with Asiatic Anti-Venoms gripped just that little bit too tightly in his hands. This way, Hermione could teach as many Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws as she wished without the pesky issue of a Slytherin getting in the way.

Saturday, 30th September

Harry had been looking forward to the weekend trip into Hogsmeade - it was the first time he'd be leaving castle grounds since he'd gotten there, and although he was no stranger to being locked up in one place for months on end, he'd be glad to go somewhere new for once.

The morning dawned bright but windy. After breakfast, they queued up in front of Filch, a strange, curious man who acted as caretaker, and who matched their names to the long list of students who had permission from their parents or guardians to visit the village. Harry hadn't even known permission slips were a thing until Sirius had shoved it into his hands the day before he'd left for Hogwarts - apparently, the Hogsmeade weekends were meant to be the highlight of his entire year.

Sandwiched in between Blaise and Theo, they strode through the grounds at a brisk pace in an effort to warm up. Walking through the tall stone pillars topped with winged boars, they turned left onto the road that led to the village, the wind whipping their hair into their eyes.

"Where are we going anyway?" Harry asked.

"I was thinking The Three Broomsticks myself" Blaise remarked, blowing on his gloved hands and then trying to rub some warmth into them, "I could do with a hot drink right about now".

Theo grimaced. "But that place is always packed and really noisy - especially on a day like today. Isn't there anywhere else to go?"

"Well… there's always The Hog's Head" he suggested, "It's not up to our usual standards, of course, but most students wouldn't be caught dead in there so-"

"No!" Harry blurted, suddenly remembering, "Uh, no, I mean- I mean we should, uh, we should go to The Three Broomsticks instead".

They both gave him a disbelieving look, clearly knowing a poor attempt at deflection when they heard one.

"Why not The Hog's Head?" Blaise asked, sidling up to him, "Something going on in there you don't want us to see?"

"Not at all" he replied, recovering himself, "I've just never been to The Three Broomsticks before and I've heard it serves the best butterbeer around".

"Uh-huh". The older boy clearly didn't believe him. "Alright, well, how about we get a glass of butterbeer first and then wander down to The Hog's Head to see what's really going on in there. Plan? Plan".

Fortunately for Harry, the pub was indeed packed and noisy and it took them a while to be served and even longer to find a seat - and that was before Blaise got into a heated half-drunken argument with a sixth-year Ravenclaw about something to do with Ancient Runes.

Harry had to take Theo's side on this. The Hogsmeade weekend was nothing to get excited over; in fact, it was an introvert's worst nightmare. He felt bad about forcing the boy to sit through it all, but he was hoping beyond hope that by the end of their- what, third? fourth? fifth?! mug of butterbeer, Blaise would forget all about The Hog's Head and, failing that, the meeting that Hermione had told him about would be long since over by the time they reached them.

He was only half right.

At Blaise's insistence, they faced the biting cold wind once more to make their way down to the, apparently, much shadier pub. According to Theo - who Harry was starting to suspect was a secret gossip - it was a dingy inn owned by Aberforth Dumbledore.

Harry silently admonished Hermione in his head for picking such a terrible place to meet. It sounded like there would be all sorts of unsavoury characters there who would sell them out in a heartbeat - not to mind the fact it was run by Dumbledore's brother! Did she honestly expect their so-called "clandestine" meeting not to get back to the Headmaster?! Or, even worse, get back to Umbridge?

They walked down the main street past Zonko's Joke Shop, past the post office, and turned up a side street at the top of which stood a small inn. A battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over the door, with a picture upon it of a wild boar's severed head leaking blood onto the white cloth around it. The sign creaked in the wind as they approached.

It was, undoubtedly, The Hog's Head. And that was, undoubtedly, half of their entire bloody year coming out of it.

"Well, well, well" Blaise drawled, "I wonder what just finished up in there. Any guesses, meu amor?"

"None whatsoever" Harry replied immediately, and then, because that sounded a bit too defensive, "Perhaps some sort of school club?"

"A school club taking place outside of school?" he countered, "Doesn't sound like something Dumbledore would approve of".

"Or Madam Umbridge" Theo added, scorn dripping off of each and every syllable, "What're the odds that tomorrow morning another Educational Decree will be announced?"

"Quite high, I would say" Blaise replied, "She's clearly a woman who is against all things fun and joyous and outside of her control. I think the power's gone to her head".

"I don't think there's much else going on inside of her head".

Harry winced as a familiar redhead stepped out of the pub, followed closely by yet another familiar blond. Ginny clocked him almost immediately and headed straight for him, her eyes promising murder.

"Hi" she said shortly, crossing her arms as she stopped in front of them.

"Hi yourself" he replied, keeping his tone light and easygoing, "Windy day we're having".

"Fuck your windy day, Harry Potter!"

Next to him, Theo took a startled step away from the girl, while Blaise seemed to lean in even closer.

"I've got a bone to pick with you!" she continued, jabbing one finger against his chest.

Next to her, Luna nodded very seriously, her braided hair dotted with wildflowers. "It's about Cornelius Fudge and his private army".

"... I'm sorry, what?" Harry said, completely completely thrown by this unexpected piece of information.

"Yes, he's got an army of heliopaths" she continued, and Ginny shot her a look. "No, he hasn't!"

"Yes, he has!"

"What are heliopaths?" Blaise asked, looking intrigued.

"They're spirits of fire" Luna explained, her silver eyes widening so that she looked madder than ever, "Great tall flaming creatures that gallop across the ground burning everything in front of-"

"They don't exist, Luna!" Ginny interrupted.

"Oh yes they do!" she shot back, "And the Minister has personally sent one to our school to burn Harry! Is it still trying to control him?"

This last question had apparently been directed at Theo, who was looking startled and flustered at suddenly being dragged into their conversation, but also, somewhat amused.

"Yes, it is" he replied solemnly.

"And you're not stopping it?!" She looked positively indignant. "What sort of friend are you?!"

"Luna!" Ginny snapped, "We didn't come over here to talk about Fudge's imaginary army!"

She blinked, slowly. "... We didn't?"

"No!" the redhead yelled, "We came over here to ask him why he didn't agree to-"

Ginny abruptly cut herself off, casting a suspicious, almost distrustful eye over Harry's two friends. He didn't bother trying to hold back his sigh.

"How about we speak over there?" he reluctantly suggested, gesturing at the sheltered alcove above the door of The Hog's Head.

She nodded once, sharply, and then spun on her heels to march back to the pub. Harry gave the pair an apologetic look.

"Sorry, do you mind waiting with Luna for a minute? This shouldn't take too long".

Theo readily nodded, whereas Blaise seemed more than a bit unsure about the arrangement. Quickly following Ginny to the alcove, he couldn't help but find the situation he'd left behind equal parts terrifying and hilarious.

"I feel like I've just left a kitten in the care of two dragons" he mused, watching as Luna pulled a flower from her hair and offered it to a rather panicked-looking Blaise.

"They'll be fine" Ginny said shortly, "What's not fine is you refusing to come to our meeting today! I know Hermione told you about it, and even asked you to be our teacher sometimes too!"

"And everyone would've been okay with that, would they?" he shot back, although secretly he was pleased that she was no longer blushing around him, new haircut and fancy title and all, "Being taught by a slimy Sytherin?"

"That's not- We don't- It isn't-" She cut herself off with a frustrated groan. "... Alright, yeah, I'll admit that a few people would've thought twice about coming if they knew you'd be leading it, but dammit Harry, this is more important than- than bloody school rivalries!"

"I couldn't agree more" he said coolly, "Which is why I refused to come. If my friends aren't allowed to join just because they're in Slytherin, then I'm not going to join this bloody club either! Umbridge already hates me enough as it is - I'm not going to risk getting caught and getting into even more trouble with her for the sake of a few meetings with a bunch of bigoted prats! My DADA grade isn't worth that much".

"This isn't just about your stupid Defence grade!" she snapped, "This is bigger than that! Bigger than all of us! This isn't just a- a study club or whatever - it's about preparing for the real world! Preparing to stand against You-Know-Who and win!"

Harry blinked, caught off guard by her vehemence, and also caught off guard by her insistence that Voldemort really had returned. He remembered, briefly, what the twins had told him in Grimmauld Place all those weeks before - how Mr and Mrs Wealsey were convinced that Lord Slytherin was You-Know-Who because Dumbledore had told them so, and how Ginny was convinced of it too, albeit for unknown reasons.

"... Why are you so certain that Lord Slytherin actually is Lord Voldemort?" he asked curiously.

She flinched at the name but held her ground. "Because he is! That's why!"

"But why are you so sure?" Harry pressed, "How are you so sure? From what I've seen, the man hasn't put a foot out of line once, and he certainly doesn't look like Voldemort".

"Yes, he does! He's just-" Ginny stopped, took a deep breath, and lowered her voice. "Look. I'm only going to tell you this once because, quietly frankly, I hate even thinking about it, much less remembering it, but… when I was in first year, there was this… whole big thing about-"

"The Chamber of Secrets" he realised, quickly doing the maths, "A handful of students got petrified, but then the attacks stopped straight after Christmas. That idiot Lockhart claimed he'd vanquished the monster".

Ginny scoffed and rolled her eyes. "That utter buffoon couldn't even vanquish a cup of tea! No, the attacks stopped because… because I stopped. I found this old diary in my school books, and I started writing in it, except… except it started to write back… He said his name was Tom and that he was a student, just like me, and that he understood how- how I was feeling about being a first year and having hand-me-down clothes and not knowing anyone and-"

She glanced away, quickly blinking.

"The fact is, whatever the hell was in that diary managed to take control of me. I was the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets. I was the one who released Slytherin's monster to petrify those students. I was the one who… who was responsible for it all… Once I realised what was happening, I tossed the diary and told my parents, who made me tell Dumbledore. But I saw him, Harry". Determined brown eyes pinned him in place. "I saw Tom Riddle and Tom Riddle is Thomas Slytherin! I know it! I even asked Professor Dumbledore about it, just to be certain, and, well, you know, he didn't exactly want to tell me the truth, but he didn't deny it and then he said that Thomas Slytherin was You-Know-Who and that means that-"

"The diary once belonged to Voldemort" he finished, his mind racing, "Tom Riddle is Voldemort…. But where's the diary now? I presume Dumbledore got a hold of it somehow, so why doesn't he use that as proof of Lord Slytherin's true identity?"

"Because someone took it" she said simply, "I stole- I mean, I borrowed one of Fred and George's extendable ears to listen into an Order meeting one night after Lord Slytherin first appeared in the papers. The Headmaster said that diary had been stolen the day of the final Triwizard Tournament task but he didn't know by who since so many people were at Hogwarts that day. He can't use the diary to convince the Ministry because the diary is… well… gone".

Harry had to admit - he was rather impressed by Lord Slytherin's level of planning. He remembered that Daily Prophet article, about the winner of the Triwizard Tournament. He could picture Cedric Diggory holding the Cup high, a wide grin across his face, and Dumbledore standing at his shoulder. He could remember just how tense the Headmaster had looked too and at the time, he'd wondered why. Now, it would seem, he had his answer.

"... Where did you say the Chamber of Secrets was?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. I don't think I was ever there myself, and if I was, then I don't remember it, but the first attack happened right outside the girl's bathroom on the second floor, so I always supposed that the entrance to the Chamber must've been somewhere around there". She shook her head. "But that doesn't matter. Don't you see! Tom Riddle is Thomas Slytherin! And Thomas Slytherin is Slytherin's heir! That's how he was able to release the monster and that's why he wrote what he did on the wall too - all that nonsense about the heir of Slytherin returning and how their enemies should be careful! Thomas Slytherin is You-Know-Who, and we need to be ready to fight against him!"

Oh yeah. The defence club. Harry had forgotten what their conversation was meant to be about.

"That's why we need to learn defence, and that's why we need a competent teacher to help us learn it!" Ginny finished, "Dumbledore says that You-Know-Who is just biding his time and- and gathering his forces before he attacks us again, and if there's going to be another war then we need to be prepared!"

Harry pitied her. Here was a girl with so much spirit and valour, burying herself underneath a pile of fear and anxiety, stressing about a war that would never happen. Lord Slytherin was far too clever to make the same mistake twice, after all.

Returning to where the others stood shivering in the wind, Harry was amused to see a daffodil tucked behind one of Blaise's ears, whereas Theo currently had his arm outstretched as Luna finished tying a daisy chain around his wrist.

"Not one word" Blaise bit out as Harry grinned at him. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah" he replied, "Are you?"

"I was ready ten minutes ago" Blaise groused, "'Shouldn't take too long', my shapely ass! We've been standing here for ages!"

"And you looked very pretty doing so" Harry said, continuing before the boy could get a word - or a particularly mean hex - out, "I'll see you later, Ginny, alright?"

"Alright" she said, still somewhat cross, "Just… think about what I said, okay? I know it isn't fair, but… isn't it better than the alternative?"

The alternative being that Harry would be totally unprepared to fight against the Dark Lord's future imaginary army that he didn't even fully disagree with.

"I'll think about it" he said, more so to mollify her than anything else, "Bye, Luna".

"Goodbye Harry" she replied dreamily, holding out a light green stem that had multiple pale pink flowers emerging from it, "Don't worry about the heliopath; you'll get rid of it someday".

"... Thanks" he said, frowning down at the flower. It wasn't one that he was familiar with - and that really was saying something given the garden that the Durlseys had made him maintain. The blossoms were trumpet-shaped, arranged in a vertical row along the slender stalk - they almost looked like foxgloves except… No. No, they were more elegant than that, and more delicate too.

"So, what did the Weaslette want?" Blaise asked once the girls were out of earshot.

"Oh, it was just something, uh… personal. You know, something that she wants to keep quiet for a while".

"Oh yeah?" His words were light, but his voice was... strange. "A love confession, I suppose?"

The boy's frame was just as tense as his tone was, and Harry's mind started to whirl even as he replied.

"Blaise" he said, entirely serious, "I am very, very, very gay".

Theo snorted loudly and Blaise shoved him in retaliation.

"I was only asking!" he protested, "Merlin, it isn't as if you haven't already been propositioned by half the bloody school!"

"Ugh, don't remind me of it!" Harry complained, "At least Ginny is one of the few people I can trust not to ask me out in the middle of dinner".

"She's already got a boyfriend then?"

"Nah, she broke up with Corner a few weeks back apparently, and thankfully, she seems to have gotten over her childhood crush on me too… But why the sudden interest?"

"I'm not interested" Blaise said, far too quickly, "I just think she's… surprisingly tenacious, is all. Most Gryffindors bark a lot without biting, but she seems like the type to, uh… follow through".

Theo looked downright mischievous. "And, uh, her bite is… something that you've thought a lot about?"

"I'll bite you if you don't shut up!"

"Now, now, Zabini, save it for the bedroom".

Harry wandlessly cast a quick Impedimenta as Blaise lunged for the boy, not entirely trusting them to remain civil. Knowing his luck, their brawling would attract Umbridge somehow and he'd be the one blamed for it.

"That's enough" he said firmly, "Blaise, no punching your friends. Theo, let him have his little identity crisis in peace".

"Potter-"

"Anyway" he interrupted loudly, "Let's get out of this weather, yeah? The Slytherin fireplace is sounding better by the minute".

And then, after they'd warmed up, Harry had a Chamber of Secrets to find…