D.A.
The remaining time on the train passed uneventful. So did the carriage ride from Hogsmeade station to Hogwarts. As Draco entered the Great Hall, he sat at the top of the Slytherin table, the seat of the leader. This particular spot was vacant until last year when the blonde sat there the first time to claim this position.
Since his first year in Hogwarts, it was predetermined that he, the Malfoy heir, would take the place as Slytherins leader. Then, he was too young to be taken seriously, but he was well respected, and nobody dared to take the leader's seat in his presence. With fifteen Draco was acknowledged as unofficial head of the house, because he had built himself a reputation: he was feared for his power as a wizard and for the power the Malfoy name holds.
But he was also loved because of his kindness and loyalty to his housemates. He helped them with homework, rescued the younger Slytherins from bullying, and initiated revenge against the bullies. He played the agony column and solved conflicts between the Slytherins fairly. This kind side never reached the other houses, of course.
Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff only saw the nasty, arrogant und indifferent Draco Malfoy, so they called him Ice Prince – still ‘Prince’, because he had, despite his personality, the features of a Prince Charming and aristocratic manners. The Slytherins called him secretly Queen, because he ruled and protected his subjects like a mother would. Not that they would tell the blonde of course, they were quite aware of Draco’s temper. They knew if they pissed him off they would visit the hospital wing for at least two days.
Draco's gaze wandered immediately to the Gryffindor table and sought out a pair of green eyes. He found them at the head of the table. Of course, Potter was the unofficial leader of Gryffindor house. Smaragd locked with silver in acknowledgement of their positions. Then they turned their attention to the happening sorting.
After the last first year took her place at Hufflepuff table Dumbledore started his speech. The Forbidden Forest is forbidden, Filch wants more respect for his hallway rules, blablabla. Draco blocked him out. He was annoyed by the constant twinkling in the old man’s eyes that seemed to know something that he didn’t.
But then Dumbledore mentioned a new club and the blonde listened up. Last year Potter and his friends founded a secret organization in which Defence against the Dark Arts was teached as opposition to Dolores Umbridge who was a very incompetent Defence teacher and for a short time a very incompetent headmistress when Dumbledore was once again absent to solve some ministry problems. The Name ‚Dumbledores Army’, short D.A., was a sign of loyalty to the old man. Now that Voldemorts activities became more aggressive, and war was approaching the headmaster found it necessary to prepare his pupils for the upcoming conflicts. Therefore the D.A. would continue as an official club under the leadership of Potter and Co.
The idea was definitely interesting. Draco had already thought about how he could protect his Slytherins if the Dark Lord dared to come to Hogwarts. Learning self protection would be useful. But the blonde knew that no Slytherin would go to Potter’s club. Especially not if it implied pledging loyalty to Dumbledore. Slytherins held loyalty to noone but their own kind.
Besides, Potter would only teach light magic. Draco thought it more effective to use the opposite. Most of the Slytherins came from pureblood families which held tradition in the Dark Arts. And what was better to counter a Dark Lord than dark magic itself? They would fight the maniac with his own weapons. The Dark Arts were more effective anyway. Furthermore, such gatherings would provide the perfect stage to convert some Death Eater children and Voldie supporters. In his teachings, Draco could subliminal turn the Slytherins against the Dark Lord.
The blonde turned to his friends and displayed them those thoughts. “Then we start our own club!“ Pansy said enthusiastically.
“I know a location in the dungeons where we can train unnoticed by the teachers“, Blaise offered. Draco nodded satisfied.
“Help me assemble all Slytherins in the common room after dinner“, the blonde demanded. Blaise agreed and mock saluted, “Yes, sir!“
“I already got the perfect club name“, Pansy beamed.
When Dumbledore finally ended his speech with “Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!“ the tables filled themselves with food and the feast began.
Satisfied from eating good food Draco looked over the heads of his gathered housemates in the Slytherin common room. All staring back at their blonde prince in anticipation. They knew his little speeches from when he was planning a prank or was rambling about “Saint Potter”. But those monologues were always meant for specific groups. That he was speaking to the whole house was a first.
“Welcome back home fellow Snakes and welcome to our Slytherin family“, Draco began his speech looking fondly at the first years. The older Slytherins greeted the newcomers with soft hisses.
“As we are a family, we have to stick together in those dark times. It’s not a secret what I think of our ‚esteemed headmaster’” – Draco didn’t bother to hide his sarcasm – “but surprisingly he has made a valid point. The Dark Lord has risen and begun to establish his rule. The dark and the light are going to clash like they had sixteen years ago. There will be war.“
Draco paused to let his words sink in. When the Slytherins began to murmur, he spoke again putting the whispers effectively on hold. “I don’t care if you will fight in this war and on which side you choose to fight. However, what I care about is your safety and survival. Potter and his lackeys aren’t able to provide what we really need in the D.A. Therefore I will start our own secret club where we can learn and practice how to use what’s in our blood: the Dark Arts.“
The Slytherins hissed in agreement. They were enthusiastic to strengthen their families magic. When the students had calmed down a bit, Draco explained when and where they were going to meet. Two times a week they would gather in one abandoned classroom in the dungeons to learn how to defend, attack and especially how to hide, escape and heal. The focus was surviving and not being stupidly heroic after all.
“’Cause we’re opposing Dumbledore's little fan club, it’s important to keep our gatherings secret. To emphasize that we’re not loyal to Dumbledore our clubs name will be ‘Dark Army‘, we are the other D.A.“, Pansy said smirking.
“You know, it’s a clever wordplay. Our people can speak about the club without raising too much suspicion. Everybody will think they’re talking about Potter’s club“, Blaise confided in Draco who nodded.
After making arrangements for the first club meeting, the first years were shown to their dorms as the other students went about their own business.