Harry

As the winter months drew on, a gloom settled over the castle. A bitter chill pervaded the halls and hurricane-force winds rattled the windows. Despite Will's best efforts, Harry's hand began to scar, a constant reminder of the new Hogwarts High Inquisitor who stalked the corridors, dishing out punishments with a sugary reprimand and a simpering smile.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Harry grumbled as they trudged up the road to Hogsmeade, the raw wind whipping at their cloaks.

Despite his initial reluctance, in the weeks since Hermione had suggested starting a Defence Against the Dark Arts group, he'd found himself thinking about the spells that had best served him in his various encounters with Dark creatures and Death Eaters and even, on occasion, subconsciously planning lessons. Percy had been especially enthusiastic about the idea and Harry had to admit he needed the extra help – magic didn't come as naturally to him as sword fighting did.

"Where are we going, anyway?" asked Ron, "The Three Broomsticks?"

"Oh, no – it's much too crowded," Hermione said, rubbing her hands together for warmth, "I thought we'd meet in the other bar, the Hog's Head. It's supposed to be a bit, you know… dodgy, but not many students go there so we're less likely to be overheard."

"I still don't get why we're sneaking around," Percy complained.

"Because I doubt Umbridge will be very happy if she finds out what we're planning," Annabeth said. She was swaddled in Percy's cloak, her nose, bright pink, peeking out the top.

They turned off the main street onto a narrow alley that led to the Hog's Head. Unlike the Three Broomsticks, the bar was dingy and unwelcoming, with straw littered across the floor and the stench of goats hanging in the air. "Smells like Grover when he hasn't showered," Percy commented as they stepped inside. Harry wondered who Grover was and why he smelt like an unkept barnyard.

"Seven butterbeers, please," Hermione asked the old bartended timidly. He accepted her money with a barely audible grunt and handed over the drinks, which they carried to a table in the corner, as far away as they could get from the other patrons; a veiled witch by the fireplace, two men shrouded in dark hoods eerily reminiscent of Dementors and a hunched figure – it was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman – at the bar, wrapped in dirty grey bandages.

"So, who did you say is supposed to meet us?" Harry asked as they sat down gingerly around the table, careful not to touch anything they didn't have to.

"Oh, just a couple of people," Hermione replied, checking her watch and exchanging an anxious glance with Annabeth, "I told them to be here about now and I'm sure they all know where it is – oh, look, this might be them now."

The door creaked open, a shaft of dusty sunlight lighting up the room for a moment before being blocked by the oncoming rush of a crowd of people.

First came Neville with Dean and Lavender, followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with Cho Chang and her boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, along with one of Cho's usually-giggling girlfriends, then – looking so dreamy she might've wandered in by mistake – Luna Lovegood; then Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff girl with a long plait down her back whose name Harry didn't know; three Ravenclaw boys he was pretty sure were called Michael Corner, Anthony Goldstein and Terry Boot then Ginny, followed by a snub-nosed boy Harry recognised from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and, bringing up the rear, Fred and George and their friend Lee Jordan, all three bearing large paper bags from Zonko's joke shop.

"Just a couple?" Harry said hoarsely, "Just a couple?"

He watched numbly as the large, chattering group ordered Butterbeers from the very surprised bartender and settled down in twos and threes around the group. Some looked excited, others curious, others cast suspicious looks at Percy, and some made no attempt to hide their disgust at his presence. When everybody had pulled up a chair, the talk died down. Every eye was upon Harry who glared meaningfully at Hermione – this was her idea, after all.

"Er, hi," Hermione began shrilly, "I think we all know why we're here and that's because – um, well – Harry had this idea-" He threw her a sharp look, "fine, it was my idea – that those of us who want to study Defence Against the Dark Arts - really study it, not that rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us – I thought we could, well, we could take matters into our own hands. I thought Harry could teach us how to defend ourselves properly, which is important because…" she took a deep breath, "because Voldemort is back."

The effect was immediate and predictable. Parvati shrieked and slopped Butterbeer down her front, Neville yelped, and Terry Boot shuddered. Percy flushed as all eyes turned accusingly to him and Harry's stomach swooped with sympathy for his friend.

"What makes you say he's back?" the snub-nosed Hufflepuff demanded.

"Who are you?" Ron asked rudely.

"Zacharias Smith," he said, puffing out his chest, "And I think we have the right to know."

Hermione took a breath, "Well, Dumbledore-"

"If you believe You-Know-Who's back," Smith said, "Then do you also believe he's his grandson?" He jabbed his finger at Percy.

"Yes," she shot Percy an apologetic look, "I do believe Percy is his grandson."

"Then why is he here?"

"Percy has as much right to be here as any one of you," Harry wasn't sure when he decided to speak, just that he couldn't stay quiet any longer, "You want to know why I think Voldemort's back? Fine. I saw him, I fought him, and I would be dead if it wasn't for Percy and Nico."

"Percy was dead," Nico pointed out. A surge of confusion rippled across the room.

"What does he mean?"

"How could he be dead?"

"Quiet, please!" Hermione piped up, "That's not really what today is about-"

"Is it true you can produce a corporeal Patronus?" the Hufflepuff girl with the long hair asked, "My auntie said you can."

Harry blinked, "Is your aunt Amelia Bones?"

"Yes," she smiled proudly, "My name's Susan."

"He killed the basilisk with that sword in Dumbledore's office," Neville said suddenly, "That's what one of the portraits told me when I was in there last year!"

Annabeth whistled, impressed, "I never knew you killed a basilisk, Harry!"

"And we all saw him defeat the dragon last year," Cedric added, "and he won the Triwizard Tournament!"

"Technically, I drew-"

"I heard he stopped You-Know-Who from stealing the philosopher's stone in first year!"

His classmates' eyes were as round as galleons.

"Yeah, I did all those things," Harry admitted, "But I had loads of help!"

"He's just being modest," Hermione argued.

"No, I'm not!"

"Nobody helped you get rid of those dementors this summer," Susan Bones pointed out.

"Well, no, but-"

"Are you trying to weasel out of showing us any of this stuff?" said Zacharias Smith.

"Here's an idea," said Percy loudly, before Harry could say anything, "Why don't you shut your mouth?"

It was the first thing Percy had said in the meeting and his words had an immediate effect. The chatter died abruptly. Smith's face turned mottled red and suddenly he seemed unable to speak.

"Well," Hermione broke the silence timidly, "Are we all agreed that we want to take lessons from Harry?"

There was a murmur of agreement. Smith crossed his arms and said nothing, perhaps because he was too busy avoiding Percy's piercing gaze.

"Right," said Hermione, seemingly relieved that something had been settled, "Well, then, the next question is how often we do it. I really don't think there's much point in meeting less than once a week."

"Hang on," said Angeline Johnson, "We need to make sure this doesn't interfere with our Quidditch practice."

"I'm sure we can find a night that suits everyone," Hermione said rather impatiently.

"Once a week sounds cool," said Lee Jordan.

"Where are we going to meet?" Ginny asked.

"Erm… well, that's the next thing we have to decide," said Hermione, "Any ideas?"

The group fell silent.

"Library?"

"Maybe an unused classroom?"

These ideas were quickly shot down. For all that Hermione had said about study and homework groups being allowed, Harry had the distinct feeling that this one was a bit more rebellious.

"How about the Forbidden Forest?" Nico offered. The demigods nodded their agreement, but the rest of the group stared at them as though they were crazy.

"The thing about the Forbidden Forest, Nico…" Lavender said quietly, "Is that's it's sort of… dangerous."

Percy snorted. Hermione jumped in hastily, "I don't think the Forest's such a good idea," she said, "We'll try to find somewhere, and we'll send a message round to everyone when we've got a time and a place for the first meeting."

She rummaged in her bag, producing parchment a quill and hesitated, as though steeling herself to say something, "I-I think we should all sign this, so we know who was here today, but also," she took a deep breath, "If you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge – or anyone – what we're doing, because she'd find a way to stop us."

There was a murmur of agreement. Fred reached for the parchment and signed his name cheerfully, though Harry noticed not everyone seemed so eager.

"Er…" Zachariah said, not taking the parchment George was trying to give to him, "I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the first meeting is…"

But Ernie had turned rather red, "It's just… well, we're prefects!" he spluttered, "And if this got out…"

"You really think I'd leave this list lying around?" Hermione said sharply.

"No, no – of course not!" he bit his lip, "I- well, yes. Of course, I'll sign."

There were no more arguments after that. Percy was the last to sign in his usual scruffy handwriting as the rest of the group took their leave in twos and threes. There was an odd feeling in the room – as though they were all bound by something – and most seemed eager to escape it. Harry relaxed as he was left alone with just his friends, letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"Well," Annabeth said drily, watching Cedric and Cho drift off, hand in hand, "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

It's been a while! I'm so sorry for the wait – if you're still reading this, thank you for your patience! I lost my passion for a while but I'm back and eager to continue the story! There's a bit of a time jump between the last chapter and this one, as I really wanted to get to the part of the story I was interested in telling. As always, any and all feedback is greatly appreciated so please show your support by favouriting/following the story and make sure to leave a review telling me what you thought!

Lileaf, xoxo