Part Fifteen
You sat alone in your common room. Listening to the radio and decompressing from the stressful day.
"Security has been and will remain the Ministry's top priority. Furthermore, we have convincing evidence that these disappearances are the work of notorious mass murderer... Sirius Black." You scoffed and turned the radio off.
"He hasn't hurt anyone. Absolutely ridiculous." You pulled out a piece of paper to write to Remus. In leu of the Ministry watching the school you used his nickname.
"Dear Moony,
It's been difficult without you here. After Cedric died I've felt alone. My only true solace is your letters. They keep saying awful things about Sirius and Harry in the paper and on the radio. I'm glad you have each other now. I wish I could see you. I miss your company, and your chocolates. I've been trying to make sure Harry is ok but every time i get close to talking with him one of us gets pulled away. I plan to stop him later this week and chat before dinner or something. I'll write you soon.
Sincerely,
Little Moon" You used the secret passages to get to the owlry and sent off the letter. You hoped he'd respond soon.
A few days later you finally caught Harry.
"Harry!" He was with Hermione and Ron.
"Yeah?" The group stopped.
"I'm glad I finally caught up to you. I've been meaning to talk to you for a while. Can we talk now?" He nodded.
"Sure." You smiled.
"Well, first off I wanted to say, I believe you. You know I do and always will. It's horrible what they're saying about you in the paper. And it's down right criminal that they're blaming Sirius for everything that's happening. If you ever need to talk or if you need help with anything let me know."
"Thanks. I could use all the belief I can get right now. I'll ;et you know if I need anything." Hermione Spoke up.
"Actually, We could use your help with something." She leaned in close and whispered in your ear.
~~~~
The four of you walked up to The Hogs Head.
"This is mad. Who'd wanna be taught by me? I'm a nutter, remember?"
"Look on the bright side: you can't be any worse than old toad face."
"Thanks, Ron." He rolled his eyes.
"I'm here for you, mate."
"Who's supposed to be meeting us, then?" Harry seemed a little nervous.
"Just a couple of people." Ron scanned the building.
"Lovely spot."
"Thought it would be safer off the beaten track." Soon people arrived. Some sat others stood. Hermione stood at the front with Harry to her left, Ron next to him, you, and then the twins.
"Um...Hi. So you all know why we're here. We need a teacher. A proper teacher. One who's had experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts." One student spoke up.
"Why?" Ron scoffed.
"Why? Because You-Know-Who's back, you tosspot."
"So he says."
"So Dumbledore says."
"So Dumbledore says because he says." Another student spoke up.
"The point is, where's the proof? If Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed..." You tensed slightly and Fred took a quick glance at you.
"I'm not gonna talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here, clear out now. Come on, Hermione. They're here because they think I'm some sort of freak." As Harry stood to leave Luna spoke up.
"Is it true you can produce a Patronus Charm?" Everyone looked at Harry but Hermione answered for him.
"Yes. I've seen it."
"Blimey, Harry. I didn't know you could do that." Neville Spoke next.
"And he killed a basilisk, with the sword in Dumbledore's office."
"It's true."
"Third year, he fought off about a hundred Dementors at once." Ron added.
"Last year, he really did fight off You-Know-Who in the flesh." Hermione spoke again but Harry stopped her.
"Wait. Look, it all sounds great when you say it like that... but the truth is, most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half the time. I nearly always had help."
"He's just being modest."
"No, Hermione, I'm not. Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake, you can just try again tomorrow. But out there... when you're a second away from being murdered... or watching a friend die right before your eyes... You don't know what that's like." You looked down at your clasped hands and squeezed then tighter.
"You're right, Harry, we don't. That's why we need your help. Because if we're going to have any chance at beating... Voldemort." The group looked around at each other before a student in the front spoke.
"He's really back?" Harry and the rest of you in the front nodded. A silence fell over the crowd. When they set up the sheet to sign everyone lined up and wrote their names, Those who believed from the start signing first. After everyone had signed and the majority had left Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Fred, George, and you all walked back together.
"Right. First we need to find a place to practice... where Umbridge won't find out."
"The Shrieking Shack." Ginny suggested.
"It's too small." Harry dismissed the idea.
"Forbidden Forest?" Hermione piped up but Ron shot her down.
"Not bloody likely." Ginny spoke again.
"Harry, what happens if Umbridge does find out?" Hermione got a pep in her step.
"Who cares? I mean, it's sort of exciting, isn't it, breaking the rules?" Ron smirked.
"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione?" She rolled her eyes at him.
"Anyway, at least we know one positive thing that came from today." She moved her smirk to face Harry.
"What's that?"
"Cho couldn't take her eyes off you, could she?" Harry seemed flustered but you noticed Ginny look a little upset at the revelation.
"Right. Over the next few days, we should each come up with a couple of possibilities of places we can practice. We've got to make sure, wherever it is, there's no chance she can find us."
"Will do, Harry." For the next few days the lot of you searched for a place. Neville was the first to pull through.
"You've done it, Neville. You found the Room of Requirement."
"The what?"
"It's also known as the Come and Go Room. The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has real need of it. And it's always equipped for the seeker's needs."
"So say you really needed the toilet..."
"Charming, Ronald. But, yes, that is the general idea." Harry smiled.
"It's brilliant. It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back." After a while everyone gathered and started practicing. You all started with Expelliarmus. Some struggled, none more than Neville.
"I'm hopeless." Harry walked to him.
"You're just flourishing your wand too much. Try it like this. Expelliarmus!" He demonstrated the flourish again for him.
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