✓ Heavenly

019. Only In My Dreams

Ron opened his mouth to retort but nothing came out and after a moment he closed it again in a defeated sort of way.

"She's an awful woman," said Hermione in a small voice. "Awful. . . we've got to do something about her."

"I suggest poison," said Ron grimly.

"—or a hex." Constance recommended.

"No . . . I mean, something about what a dreadful teacher she is, and how we're not going to learn any defense from her at all," said Hermione.

"She got the job, she's here to stay, Fudge'll make sure of that." Harry sighed, clutching onto the vial of yellow liquid Venus gave him.

"Well," said Hermione tentatively. "You know, I was thinking today. . . ." She shot a slightly nervous look at Harry and then plunged on, "I was thinking that — maybe the time's come when we should just — just do it ourselves."

"Do what ourselves?" said Harry suspiciously, still massaging the essence of murtlap tentacles into his hand.

"Well — learn Defense Against the Dark Arts ourselves," replied Hermione.

"Come off it," Ron groaned. "You want us to do extra work? D'you realize Harry and I are behind on homework again and it's only the second week?"

"But this is much more important than homework!" said Hermione. Everyone goggled at her. They didn't realize anything in the universe mattered more than schoolwork to Hermione Granger.

"I don't believe what I'm hearing right now," Constance giggled.

"Don't be silly!" said Hermione, and Venus saw, with clouded awareness, that her face was suddenly alight.

"It's about preparing ourselves, like Harry said in Umbridge's first lesson, for what's waiting out there. It's about making sure we really can defend ourselves. If we don't learn anything for a whole year—"

"We can't do much by ourselves," said Ron in a defeated voice. "I mean, all right, we can go and look jinxes up in the library and try and practice them, I suppose —"

"No, I agree, we've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books," said Hermione, this made everyone's eyebrows shoot up. "We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use the spells and correct us if we're going wrong."

"If you're talking about Lupin . . ." Harry began.

"No, no, I'm not talking about Lupin," said Hermione. "He's too busy with the Order and anyway, the most we could see him is during Hogsmeade weekends and that's not nearly often enough."

"What the hell is an Order?" Venus heard Constance mutter to herself. Hermione was too enveloped in her thoughts to recognize her mistake.

"Who, then?" said Harry, frowning at her. Hermione heaved a very deep sigh.

"Isn't it obvious, idiot?" Venus said. Harry looked up at her wearily. "She's talking about you, Harry."

There was a moment's silence. A light night breeze rattled the windowpanes behind Ron and Constance while the fire guttered.

"About me what?" asked Harry obliviously.

"I'm talking about you teaching us Defense Against the Dark Arts." Harry stared at Hermione. Then he turned to Venus, then Constance, finally at Ron.

The redhead didn't have the usual bothered expression he had when Hermione had an —unusual— plan. Ron did not look exasperated. He was frowning slightly, apparently thinking. Then he said, "That's an idea."

"What's an idea?" said Harry. Venus could pummel him to death right about now.

"You," said Ron. "Teaching us to do it."