A Different Beginning

Chapter XXXVI - The DA

The next morning, Harry was shocked to find a new decree up on the notice board banning all types of student meetings without permission from the High Inquisitor. Harry's first thought was that Nott had squealed but when he had mentioned it to Hermione she had shook her head no. Apparently, she had charmed the parchment that they signed so that whoever squealed would be easily noticeable. Angelina was angry when she saw it because apparently they needed permission to reform the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She made a big deal out of telling Harry to please behave in Umbridge's class so that she didn't have a reason to say no.

Harry found that he had something else to worry about when Hedwig showed up late during his History of Magic class. Her wing was hurt. Harry had immediately brought her to Grubbly-Plank who promised to fix her up right away. McGonagall warned Harry that communication in and out of the castle was being watched. Harry took the letter from Hedwig, glad to see that it was simply the payment for the extra potions ingredients that he had ordered.

He had immediately pulled out his mirror and snuck into a secret corridor that he had remembered from the map. "Da."

James' face appeared in the mirror. "Harry, what's up? Shouldn't you be in class?"

Harry nodded. He quickly explained about the new decree and about Hedwig. "Something huge is going on."

James nodded. "You're right. Don't send letters home anymore and we won't write. We'll talk through the mirror as much as possible. Also, what's this I hear about you forming a secret Defence Against the Dark Arts group?"

Harry looked at his father in surprise. "How did you know?"

"Tonks was in the Three Broomsticks under an invisibility cloak. She's been keeping an eye on you when you were in village - just in case anything happens you are being watched when you go into Hogsmeade, so don't complain - but she overheard the meeting. Interesting idea and right under Umbitch's nose."

Harry grinned. "It was Hermione's idea. She thinks that I'll be a good teacher."

James nodded. "You will be. I don't think that you're going to have a problem with it at all. If you need any help let me, Sirius, or Remus know."

Harry nodded. "Speaking of Uncle Remus and Tonks - are they together yet?"

James laughed. "Noticed that attraction, did you? No, not yet. From what I've gathered from the situation, Moony keeps putting her off. Says that he's not worth her time because of his furry little problem and because he's nearly ten years older then her."

Harry groaned. "Doesn't he want to be happy?"

James sighed. "He's stubborn, Harry, and Moony thinks that what he's doing is for the best. Don't worry; Tonks is just as stubborn and I think that I'm going to enjoy watching her wear him down."

Harry nodded. "And Uncle Sirius is still sending O'Bryan flowers?"

James nodded. "He's not going to give up. Besides, I think she's just being stubborn - she likes him too."

Harry grinned. "So where's your girlfriend?"

James snorted. "I have other things to do like worrying about you on a regular basis. Besides, no one has ever managed to catch my eye like Lily. Maybe one day I'll have what I want, but not now. So how's your girlfriend?"

Harry grinned. "Ginny's great. We're good together."

James nodded. "You continue to treat her well and you'll always be good together. I'll see you on Sunday. Get back to class."

Harry nodded. "Bye Da."

He shoved the mirror back into his pocket and then headed to the Great Hall for lunch. He told Ron, Hermione, and Ginny about Hedwig and about what McGonagall and his father had said.

They had potions that afternoon and Malfoy was taunting the Gryffindors about Slytherin already having permission for their Quidditch team since Lucius was such an influence in the ministry. He also started making fun of Mr. Weasley and saying that he was such a nutter being obsessed with muggles that it was only a matter of time until he was sent into the special ward at St. Mungo's. Neville had gone berserk at this and dived at Malfoy. Harry and Ron managed to hold him back in time. Harry pulled Neville aside away from the group, ignoring Ron and Hermione's questioning looks.

"Nev, you've got to get a hold of yourself. Malfoy doesn't know about your parents otherwise he would have used that in the past. Okay?"

Neville nodded. "It's not funny though."

Harry nodded. "I know. I've been to see them before too. But you have to ignore him or he'll only make matters worse especially if he ever finds out."

Neville sighed and nodded before he followed Harry into the potions class. Ron and Hermione had asked Harry about Neville but he had shaken his head. That wasn't his secret to tell. Potions class was interesting since Umbridge was asking Snape why he had been turned down as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher every year that he had applied. Snape had hardly looked thrilled to be answering those questions. Divination was just as bad as Trelawney had received the results of her inspection and she was none too thrilled in what could only be bad results.

That evening in the common room, Fred and George made a show out of showing their new products - Skiving Snackboxes - it was a candy that made you vomit enough to get out of class and then there was another candy that made you back to normal to enjoy in pleasures of your choice. The twins were rolling in the dough on that invention. Hermione was not pleased. But then again, Harry wasn't sure what offended her more - the twins selling the products, or the idea of skipping class.

The Gryffindor Quidditch team finally got permission to start up again and their first practice was in the rain. The weather was terrible and they could barely see anything. Not to mention that Ron hadn't done as well as one would hope. When they finally returned to the locker room, wet and grouchy, Harry's mood hardly improved when he received a sharp searing pain through his forehead. The only thing he knew was that Voldemort was very angry. He wanted something done but it wasn't getting done fast enough. He quickly told Ron what had happened and Ron goggled at him. It was then that Harry realized that he was reading Voldemort's emotions. He immediately found a place to be alone and filled the Marauders in. James promised to talk it over with Dumbledore and get back to him.

Harry was down in the common room later on that evening looking over the Marauder's map. He was trying to find a place big enough for thirty-six people to practice defence secretly but he had yet to find a good place yet. Then he found this area opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. He wasn't sure what it was, but the room looked pretty big. He pulled the mirror out of his pocket and asked for Sirius.

"Hey Harry," Sirius replied. "It's late, you know?"

Harry grinned. "I know, but I need to ask you something. I'm just looking over the map and across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy there seems to be a large room but it doesn't seem to always be there and I'm confused."

Sirius grinned. "The Room of Requirement. You walk past the room three times thinking hard about what you most require and a door should appear leading to what you need. It would be a perfect room for a secret defence group."

Harry grinned. "You read my mind. Thanks Uncle Sirius. Hey, any luck with Professor O'Bryan yet."

Sirius grinned. "She loves me which is why she can't resist me. Don't worry, I've got it all figured out."

Harry laughed. "I'm sure you do. Goodnight."

"Night."

Harry slipped the mirror back into his pocket before he headed up to bed. Now he just had to inform everyone of the meeting place for the defence group and when they would meet. He grinned to himself as he closed his eyes. It was all coming together now.

************

Harry stepped into the Room of Requirement the next evening and gasped in surprise. The room had expanded itself to be a large room with bookshelves that lined the walls. The books were all about defence: A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions, The Dark Arts Outsmarted, Self-Defensive Spellwork, and Jinxes for the Jinxed were just a few of the books offered. There were also some foe glasses and Sneakoscopes lying around. Harry only had to wait a few minutes before Ginny came in with Colin, Luna, and Dee.

"Wow, Harry, this place is neat." Ginny replied as she walked towards him to kiss him softly before taking a seat on one of the pillows that had been provided.

Colin nodded as he sat down next to her. "Yeah, this place is neat."

Luna only continued to look around almost dreamily with her wand tucked safely behind her ear. "Kind of an odd place."

Harry grinned. "Well, I guess now we just wait for everyone else."

Ginny nodded. "A lot more people are coming, then who was just at the meeting, you know."

"What do you mean?"

Ginny shrugged. "Well, since Dee and Dennis want in and they're second years, they have some friends who are interested who have friends that are interested and vice versa. The news has spread so Hermione will have to update the list ASAP."

"How many people do you think will be here?"

Ginny grinned. "A lot. Everyone knows what you're capable of, Harry, and they want to learn from you."

Harry could only nod as he began to pace the room, slightly nervous at the idea of an even larger group of people arriving.

Within ten minutes the room had filled up with everyone. Once everyone was comfortably seated on the pillows, Hermione spoke up.

"Hi everyone, I think that before we officially start this meeting we should choose a leader."

"Harry's the leader," Cho replied, giving Hermione a look that plainly said: 'duh'.

Hermione nodded. "Well yes, but I think that we should make it official. So everyone in favour of Harry being the leader, raise your hand." Everyone raised their hands and Hermione carefully wrote it down. "I also think that we should have a name. Something that we can refer to outside of this room without being suspicious."

"Kind of like a code?" Dennis asked, bouncing in his seat.

Hermione nodded. "Exactly."

"What about Hogwarts Defence Class?" Ernie called out.

"Or the Hogwarts Defence Learning Class?" Wayne suggested.

Hermione shook her head. "Well, something less long."

"The Defence Association," Cho suggested. "We could be the DA for short."

Ginny shook her head. "I like the DA, but instead of Defence Association why not Dumbledore's Army, after all, that's what everyone's afraid of, right?"

Harry grinned. "I like that."

"All in favour?" Hermione called out again and everyone raised their hands.

"Good," Harry replied. "Now that that's been taken care of let's just see who couldn't attend the meeting in Hogsmeade but wants in on the DA. Will you guys please stand up and head over to Hermione to sign your name on the list? Then we will just take attendance from there to make sure that everyone is here."

Once everyone had signed the list, Harry began to call out the names (Hermione had organized it according to house and year). The DA had managed a huge list of people:

Dumbledore's Army (DA)
Led by: Harry J. Potter

Gryffindor 2nd Years:
1. Demelza Robbins
2. Dennis Creevey
3. Victoria Frobisher
4. Geoffrey Hooper
5. Andrew Kirke
6. Jack Sloper

Gryffindor 3rd Years:
7. Romilda Vane

Gryffindor 4th Years:
8. Ginny Weasley
9. Colin Creevey
10. Dana Anderson
11. Andrea Donald

Gryffindor 5th Years:
12. Hermione Granger
13. Ron Weasley
14. Neville Longbottom
15. Lavender Brown
16. Dean Thomas
17. Seamus Finnigan
18. Parvati Patil

Gryffindor 6th Years:
19. Katie Bell

Gryffindor 7th Years:
20. Fred Weasley
21. George Weasley
22. Lee Jordan
23. Angelina Johnson
24. Alicia Spinnet

Ravenclaw 2nd Years:
25. Stewart Ackerly
26. Orla Quirke

Ravenclaw 4th Years:
27. Luna Lovegood

Ravenclaw 5th Years:
28. Anthony Goldstein
29. Michael Corner
30. Terry Boot
31. Dominique St. Clair
32. Mandy Brocklehurst
33. Morag McDougall
34. Padma Patil
35. Lisa Turpin
36. Su Li

Ravenclaw 6th Years:
37. Marietta Edgecombe
38. Cho Chang
39. Eddie Carmichael

Hufflepuff 2nd Years:
40. Laura Madley
41. Eleanor Branstone
42. Owen Cauldwell
43. Kevin Whitby

Hufflepuff 3rd Years:
44. Rose Zeller

Hufflepuff 4th Years:
45. Zacharias Smith

Hufflepuff 5th Years:
46. Ernie Macmillan
47. Hannah Abbott
48. Wayne Hopkins
49. Meghan Jones
50. Justin Finch-Fletchley
51. Susan Bones

Slytherin 2nd Years:
52. Malcolm Baddock
53. Graham Pritchard

Slytherin 5th Years:
54. Theodore Nott
55. Blaise Zabini
56. Daphne Greengrass
57. Tracy Davis

Everyone was present but Harry was still completely overwhelmed by the huge list of people. Hogwarts barely held five hundred students so with fifty-seven people in the DA, not including himself, Harry was impressed.

"Okay, first of all, I just want to say thanks to all of the Slytherins who joined this group because it is very rare of them to do anything like that. Okay, now let's get started. I think that we should start off with Expelliarmus, I know it's really basic and all that jazz but I think it's good to use and -"

"A disarming charm?" Zacharias Smith snorted. "Pul-lease! How the hell is that supposed to help us?"

Harry sighed. "That's up to you. But I used it in June against Voldemort and it saved my life."

The room had gone dead quiet upon hearing that statement. Nobody had anything else to comment upon hearing so Harry told everyone to break off into partners. He ended up partnered with Neville as he carefully watched everyone around the room. There were a lot of people who couldn't even perform the disarming charm. He was glad that he decided to start with something so basic. By the end of the first meeting he was pleased with how it had all worked out.

"Great job guys! And is everyone agreed on next Wednesday for a meeting?" Everyone agreed so he grinned. "Alright. Those of you, who have still not mastered the disarming, please practice if you can."

Everyone left the room except for Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

"Well, how did it go?"

Ginny laughed and ran into his arms. "Wonderful! You are a natural born teacher." Then she kissed him softly. "Let's get rid of those two and find somewhere we can be alone for a bit."

He grinned. "Sounds like a good plan." He kissed her again and then they left the room, walking hand in hand, ignoring Ron and Hermione (who were bickering), they headed straight to a deserted corner in the Gryffindor common room.

********

By the time that Wednesday came around, Harry was excited to get back with the DA. At the beginning of the meeting, Hermione handed out these galleons for each member. She had placed a Protean Charm on them so that when Harry touched his coin and wrote the date and time on it, everyone else's coin would show that as well. The coin would become hot in their pocket when the time was changed so they would know when the meeting was. That way if the meeting had to be changed at the last minute, everyone wouldn't be running around to try to get a hold of everyone to tell them. Everyone was extremely impressed with her skill. A few people had even asked her why she wasn't in Ravenclaw.

They continued to work on the disarming charm before Harry moved into some more basic hexes and jinxes. He continued to have everyone work in partners and he walked around to correct people if and when they made a mistake.

When he approached Ginny, who was partnered up with Colin, he slipped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. Ginny laughed.

"I am busy trying to hex Colin, Mr. Potter."

Harry grinned and kissed her cheek. "And doing a marvellous job, Miss Weasley, please continue."

Colin laughed. "Don't you have a job to do, Harry?"

Harry grinned. "You need to practice more, Colin, because Ginny has been kicking your ass."

Colin grinned. "Meh - not the first time."

Harry laughed as he headed over to see what everyone else was doing. He did notice something weird going on, however. Every time that that Zacharias Smith opened his mouth to disarm his opponent his wand would fly out of his hand. Then Harry noticed Fred and George over in a corner.

"Guys, come on now."

George grinned. "We couldn't help ourselves, Harry. He's a git."

Harry laughed. "True, he has been bugging the crap out of me. But leave him alone, alright. Besides, you're supposed to be working on the hexes now not the disarming charm."

Fred grinned. "You drive a hard bargain, Harry."

Harry grinned. "All in a day's work. How's the inventing going?"

"Great! We can't thank you enough for the money to start up, Harry! We've got so many great ideas and we're looking for a place to rent." George replied.

Fred nodded. "Preferably in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, but we hope to make a good go out of the joke shop."

Harry nodded. "You two are already making a fortune so I think you'll do brilliantly. Let me know if you find anything. Oh, I'm going to need one of every invention you've got by Christmas - Da and Uncle Sirius love them."

Fred laughed. "We'll give you them for free no buts! We bow to the original Marauders themselves."

George nodded. "Yeah, no cost."

"Besides, you gave us the money to start up so everything you want is free."

Harry sighed. "You two drive a hard bargain."

Fred grinned. "Why thank you!"

Harry smirked. "Now get back to work and leave Smith alone!

George grinned. "We'll try."

Harry laughed, but he knew that he would be keeping a closer eye on the two of them for the rest of the meeting.