Chapter 10 - DA Resurrected
Ron's revelation to Harry didn't surprise him as much as it bothered him. It just didn't seem right, for some reason. He had always known Ron liked her, but some how had a feeling she didn't feel the same. Like his relationship with Ginny, comfortable, but not complete.
The morning after the funeral brought a clear bright day, bringing a fresh start to the world. All of the injured students had returned, except for Parvati. Harry had been staring at the ceiling letting all his thoughts flow through his mind.
"Oy, 'arry, you up?"
"Yeah, Ron. I didn't sleep much after…"
"Yeah, I know. I couldn't sleep either."
"Then who was snoring in your bed all night?" Neville asked.
"Funny, I don't snore!"
"Like a lumberjack, you do."
A well-aimed pillow stopped the conversation, and commenced an impromptu pillow fight. The release of the tension everyone had felt since the incident at the train station was immediate for all in the room.
The boys had enjoyed the camaraderie they felt for the past five years begin to return, and one by one, left for a shower and to dress for the day.
Harry and Ron were the last two to leave the room, and Ron stood in front of Harry as he sat tying his shoes. An out stretched hand startled him and Ron asked "We ok, mate?"
"Yeah, I guess so." He took his friend's hand, and the red-haired boy wizard pulled his friend up into a hug.
"I meant what I said, Harry. I expect you to let me know when you need to talk."
"Fine, but you won't understand anything."
"Don't Harry, let's just leave it. Come on, let's go to breakfast."
The two friends left the dorm room together. They found Hermione and Ginny waiting for them in the common room. Both girls heard from Seamus and Neville about Harry's latest outbreak, but neither boy heard clearly what he screamed, only Ron, since his bed was closest to Harry's. Ginny slipped next to Harry, taking his hand to her lips and gently placing a kiss on the back of it.
"Was it the same dream?" She whispered in his ear.
"Yeah, but I saw more detail." He whispered back.
"Oy, if you're gonna start that up with my baby sister, we need another talk, mate." Ron said with a grin. That comment earned him a double smack on each arm from each of the two girls.
"Ron," Hermione said firmly, "What did I say to you about that?" And she whacked him again.
"Hermione, it's ok. I was just telling her she looked cute today." Which caused the younger girl to blush.
"I'd have rather you did say that." She whispered in his ear followed by a peck on his cheek.
"Harry," Hermione handed him a sealed note, "I was asked to make sure you got this. It was from Parvati."
"Umm, thanks, I'll read it later."
"Like you read our letters? No, you need to read it now, we'll wait."
Harry,
Thank you for coming to see me. I couldn't speak when you came. You really helped to pick up my spirits, so soon after…
I know you talked to my father. He seemed relieved after you told him what you did. He wouldn't tell me though.
I wish I were there for my sister's service. I heard almost the entire school was there. Thank you for standing up to those Slytherins at dinner the other night, that was noble of you.
I can move my fingers a little, and these Muggle doctors say I will be able to use my arm again. I would gladly trade it for Padma, to just see her and talk to her again. I miss her so.
I want to be there when you face who did this, I want to continue working with you to help when we face them.
Harry, you've been a good friend and protector. I should be back in a week, and I can't wait to see you again.
Until then
Parvati
He read the letter and brushed back his hair, wiping his hand across his cheek, removing the streak. He remembered he promised her a spot in the DA when she returned, but hadn't thought about it since he made the promise.
"Harry, what did she say?"
He handed the letter to Ginny and walked away. Hermione and Ron crowded around to read it. They followed after him after quickly reading the letter, catching him outside the Gryffindor tower.
"I need to see Dumbledore."
"About the DA?" Hermione asked for the rest of the group.
"Yes," he replied
"We're all going too. We can help you run it, like last year, take some of the burden off you." She once again spoke for the group.
Thoughts of breakfast disappeared as the four left the tower for the headmaster's office. Harry knew in his heart that he had to resume training his friends. But he wasn't sure how he would do it, he had already gotten off on the wrong side of the new DADA professor and there wasn't much more he could teach them. This year they could work in the open, with the protection of the school, the Ministry was not concerned with the internal affairs of Hogwarts this year after the embarrassment the Ministry suffered the past June's attack.
Within a few minutes, they arrived at the familiar statue waiting to enter the formidable office fortress. Again, as it did the day before, the staircase opened itself to the students as if they were expected. The climbed the steps, to present the case for the need to continuing the practice sessions. Once at the top of the stairs, the door to the office.
"I see I have a committee to see me this morning, what service can I provide?" the headmaster inquired.
Harry spoke first, "Sir, I, well, we all want to resume the extra training we started last year, to help everyone practice and learn new defensive spells."
"I believe that is the role of your Defense Professor, why come to me?"
"Sir," Hermione took over. "We all learned so much from Harry's experience last year, and this year is going to be worse, if the incident last week is just the beginning. We all need as much extra training as possible. Harry has given everyone more hope last year that we can defend ourselves, and there are more students that will need that extra training this year."
"So you feel Harry will do a better job at training the students then the Professor Thomas? Maybe I should appoint Harry that position."
"Sir," Harry interjected, "I don't want to take over for Professor Thomas, but we all need the extra practice, just in case. And it seems they have an easier time without feeling like they're getting graded on their performance. I'm willing to help anyone I can."
"Professor, if he can help improve anyone, I think that would help him relax, and not feel responsible for us." Ginny added.
"Then here's my proposal, I'll approve your training sessions for anyone that wishes to participate under these conditions: First, Harry MUST continue his Legilimency and Occlumency training." He raised a hand to stop Harry's reaction. "Second, Harry will be under the direct supervision of Professor Thomas and must list all training he plans. That is to include a list of the spells he plans to teach and practice. Along with that condition, he will spend an extra session prior to these training and practice sessions with Professor Thomas so he can learn more advanced spells and defensive spells. And lastly, so he won't be alone in this, I want the four of you to act as his lieutenants in this effort; it will fall directly on the four of you to take the burden of scheduling and organizing the meetings."
"So, I have to get additional training from Professor Thomas and plan the spells we'll practice. They-" he points to the others, "will set up everything else, is that the plan?"
"Yes, and you will continue your Legilimency and Occlumency training."
"I won't work with Snape on that. Unless you will train me, that won't happen."
"Please Harry, Professor Snape. He is the best person to give you that training you need, but I will share this task with him. Since the incident last year, Harry, I will begin working with you for the next several weeks. Then he and I will trade sessions. Is that agreeable?"
"I guess."
"Good. Let me add that I am pleased that you all have shown the initiative to take this task upon yourselves to help your fellow students. I believe I know the room you plan to use, so it will be at your disposal. One other thing, I will add a safety measure so that no one can be seriously hurt, but a direct hit could and will be felt. That will remind those that won't concentrate to give all their effort. And Harry, can you remain for a minute. The rest may leave."
Hermione leaned to him and whispered, "We'll all wait at the bottom of the stairs."
The group of four left the inner office.
"Harry, I need to have a talk with you on several points, first about the incident last night. I understand your anger; not only with those that were making those callous remarks, but also with me. I should never have put you in the position to defend the honor of Miss Patil and Miss Abbott. That was my own grief clouding my judgment. However, that was no cause for you to consider the curse you were about to use. I thought you had better judgment then that. That spell should only be used if your life or the lives of others is in eminent danger that was not the case last night."
"I know, sir. I almost lost control, I was angry. I'm still angry."
"Just be sure you direct that angry to those that truly deserve it. Mr. Nott didn't."
"I expected Malfoy to be leading them, but he wasn't there. Why?"
"Since his father has been sent to Azkaban, he has become disillusioned with the direction of his life. I believe you can expect a significant change in him some time soon. He is the only member of his house that is not included in the detention punishment I dealt last night. I want you to think about that when you deal with him in the future. That's all I wanted to talk to you about. Is there anything you want to say? Anything bothering you I can help with?"
"I, well, there's, ummm, I feel lousy about something, and I can't talk about it."
"It's about Miss Weasly, isn't it?"
"Well, yes. Since I came back, she and I have gotten, well, closer. But I don't know how I feel about her. I know how she feels, but I can't return that. It's making me feel like I'm using her friendship."
"Does she know exactly how you feel? If she does, and she still continues helping you the way she has, and I must admit, what ever it is, I've seen an improvement in your mood. There are times when you will have to take help in what ever form it's given, and when it's given freely without expectation of anything in return, that is a special gift. One day, you may be in the position to give freely as she is doing so now. I understand you do not wish to hurt her, and that feeling alone is comfort enough for her. Now go, your friends are waiting."
Harry turned and left the office with far more to think about then he expected when he woke this morning.
Satisfied with the re-organization of 'Dumbledore's Army', the leaders retrieved down the tower to the great hall for the last few minutes of breakfast before the first class began.
The first weekend of the term arrived with the first official meeting scheduled for the original members on Saturday. Hermione and Ron planned out the schedule; the first meeting would be for the remaining original members. They would reorganize and begin recruiting for additional members.
During the planning stage, Harry pulled Hermione aside.
"I want to keep our activities confidential, so if we have a new member join that has a family member that is or was a Death Eater, I want them isolated. We'll have to create a special group for them."
"I think that's a good idea, we can keep tabs on them to make sure of their loyalties."
"Add that to the plans with Ron."
Ron and Hermione finished the planning and organization for the first meeting the Saturday of the first meeting. At the first meeting, Harry addressed the group. "First, I want to let each of you know I'm glad to see you back. And to remind everyone this isn't about who knows more spells. It's about keeping yourself safe and alive. If what I can teach you can help you hold out just a few minutes more, help will come. Last June, six of us held off a larger group of Death Eaters until help arrived. Some of us, well most of us were hurt, but we all survived because we fought as a team.
"Today, I want to review everyone's skills to see how much you remember. Then we'll all split into smaller teams, Hermione and Ron have set the teams together. When we get new members, they'll be added to the teams to learn from the original members."
With Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Luna's help they quickly got the groups set up and started the reviews. To everyone's surprise, everyone had remembered and retained most of what Harry taught last year. After the reviews, they broke into small teams to have team duels, like the battle they had that June. The teamwork was where everyone needed to concentrate. But after a few mock battles, everyone was not only adding to the fights, but protecting each other. The first meeting finished with every member thoroughly exhausted and exhilarated from their accomplishments.
Parvati returned to Hogwarts a little more then a week into the term, escorted by her father and the headmaster. Her arm was encased in a hard shell to prevent the bones from moving, the damage to her arm was repaired, but she was in pain whenever she tried to move her fingers- a task her doctor required to prevent scar tissue from forming around the repaired tendons. The scar she would live with resembled a cross, the initial wound around the forearm and the cut made to try and repair the damage went from her elbow to her wrist.
The pain she had didn't match her grief when she passed the plaque honoring those injured and killed as she entered the castle. When she saw her name and her sister, she lost her composure and fell to her knees, sobbing. Her father, who also had trouble keeping his eyes from tearing, helped her to her feet, and held her up until they reached the Gryffindor tower. There Professor Dumbledore escorted her into the common room. Many of her house-mates were quietly sitting some studying, some reading, others talking to friends. She noticed four particular students sitting together and approached them.
"Harry, I want to thank you for visiting me. You have no idea how much having someone there meant to me. I have something for you." She leaned over placing a kiss on his right cheek, returning the one he gave her in the hospital. "That was from Padma, and this one is from me." She placed a second kiss on his other cheek.
Hermione stood and gave her a 'welcome back' hug. "I know how bad a cast is, I broke my arm when I was little. If you need help with it in the shower, please, I'll help. I know you can't get it wet."
"Thanks, Hermione. I need to return next week so they can change the dressing and see how it's healing. Last time they did that, I swear they moved the bone." Her attempt at levity helped lighten the mood, but her pain was still very real. Harry observed the strength of character this girl displayed, her sister died in her arms and she nearly lost her arm, and yet she is trying to lighten the mood. It was obvious why she was a Gryffindor.