Chapter 14
Chapter Thirteen
As it became clear that no one would learn anything useful from Umbridge’s so-called “Defence Against the Dark Arts” classes, Hermione thought of what to do. Now that Voldemort had returned, everyone (except perhaps his followers) needed to know how to defend themselves against Dark Magic. Hermione suggested to Harry, “I think the time’s come when we should just...do it ourselves—learn Defence Against the Dark Arts ourselves.” “Who would teach us?” asked Harry. “Lupin’s not allowed near me, albeit for a completely bogus reason. Sirius has had experience with Dark Magic, but Headmistress McGonagall has told him to stay at home, apparently so that I won’t put myself in danger rescuing him.” “Isn’t it obvious?” asked Hermione. “I’m talking about you, Harry. I’m not just biassed because Professor Lupin is your father—he’s the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher we’ve ever had. You would make him really proud—if we find a way to let Sirius know about this without Umbridge interfering, Sirius will tell Professor Lupin for sure.” “You can call him Remus, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind,” said Harry to Hermione. “He is my father, after all, and you two are my best friends.”
When the Hogsmeade trip rolled around, Harry and Ron followed Hermione, and Harry asked her, “Where are we going? The Three Broomsticks?” “Oh, no, we’re going to that other pub, the Hog’s Head. I think it’s a bit dodgy, but students don’t normally go in there, so I don’t think we’ll be overheard.” Just then, Andromeda, Ted, and Nymphadora walked up. “Harry!” Andromeda said. “Want to go to the Three Broomsticks with us?” “Sorry, Andromeda,” said Harry. “We’re going to the Hog’s Head. We’re meeting some people there.” “What for?” asked Nymphadora. “I can’t tell you. I can’t tell anyone…” said Harry, and then he whispered in Nymphadora’s ear, “...because Umbridge wouldn’t approve.” The Tonks family walked away, and Nymphadora said to her mother, “We’d better tell Sirius, hadn’t we, Mum, if Harry is doing something in Hogsmeade that he doesn’t want us to know about?” Nymphadora—who could change her appearance at will—then changed her hair colour to grey and put some hair sticks in it; she also made her face look older, and then she followed everybody into the Hog’s Head, where Harry didn’t recognize her.
Harry was surprised by the number of people who showed up; Hermione had told him that there would only be a couple. The list was as follows;
- Fred and George Weasley—Ron’s elder twin brothers
- Colin and Dennis Creevey (both Gryffindor)
- Angelina Johnson—the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain
- Cho Chang (Ravenclaw)
- A friend of Cho’s (also Ravenclaw—but it seemed like she didn’t want to be there)
- Ginny Weasley—Ron’s younger sister
- Anthony Goldstein (Ravenclaw)
- Terry Boot (Ravenclaw)
- Parvati (Gryffindor) and Padma Patil (Ravenclaw)
- Neville Longbottom
- Michael Corner (Ravenclaw)
- Lavender Brown (Gryffindor)
- Susan Bones (Hufflepuff)
- Ernie Macmillan (Hufflepuff)
- Hannah Abbott (Hufflepuff)
- Zacharias Smith (Hufflepuff)
After the meeting, Harry passed by the Three Broomsticks; Tonks had Apparated there after spying on Harry, and she had resumed her normal appearance. The Tonks family came outside as Harry was passing; Andromeda told him, “Sirius wants to know what Umbridge has been doing to you during her detentions. Can you show us, please?” Harry did show Andromeda the scars on his hand; Andromeda said, “No one hurts my sort-of adopted son and gets away with it. I’ll be talking to Fudge about Umbridge.” To Andromeda’s disappointment, Umbridge apparently had not done enough for Fudge to justify removing her from Hogwarts.