Fred, George, Lee, and I were walking to Hogsmeade to for the meeting that Hermione set up.
"How do you think this is going to go?" George asked.
"Not sure. I don't even know how many people will show up," I said.
When we got to Hogs Head there were a handful of students already there. We found some seats toward the front. Hermione sent me a nervous grin when she saw me. I sent her a reassuring smile back.
"Ummm hi. So you all know why we're here. We need a teacher, a proper teacher. One that can help us to defend ourselves against the Dark Arts
"Why?" asked a boy named Zacharias Smith
"Why? Because you know who's back you tosspot," Ron said.
"Says him," Zacharias replied.
"Says Dumbledore," Hermione's said.
"So Dumbledore says because he says," Zacharias challenged, "The point is where's the proof."
"If Potter could tell us a little more about Diggory's death," a first years said.
My body tensed up and I felt Fred grab my hand instantly calming me. I hadn't thought much about Cedric since being back at school. I try and keep the dark thoughts of that night tucked away.
"I'm not going to talk about Cedric so if that's why you're here you might as well leave now," Harry said standing up.
Harry started whispering something in Hermione's ear.
"Is it true you can produce a Patronus charm?" asked Luna.
"Yes," Hermione said, "I've seen it."
"Blimey Harry, I didn't know you could do that," Dean Thomas said.
"And he killed a Basilisk with the sword in Dumbledores office," Neville added.
"It's true," Ginny said.
"In third year he fought off about 100 Dementors at once," Ron said.
"And last year her really did fight off You Know Who in the flesh," Hermione added.
"Hermione," Harry said cutting her off, "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 and I nearly always had help."
"He's just being modest," Hermione cut in.
"No. Hermione, I'm not," Harry said looking at her, "Look, facing this stuff in really life is not like in school. In school if you make a mistake you can just try again tomorrow. Out there when you're a second away from getting murdered-
Harry's words sent goosebumps over my body. I knew things were getting bad but I didn't want to think about anyone else getting murdered, or watching a friend die right before your eyes...again.
"You don't know what that's like," Harry finished.
A long silence fell over the room.
"You're right Harry, we don't. That's why we need your help, because if we're going to have any chance of beating-
Hermione paused what she was saying.
"Voldemort," she finished.
"He's really back?" a first year boy asked.
Harry just slightly shook his head.
"Right, I think we should sign a sheet just so we can keep track of who was here today," Hermione said putting a piece of parchment and a quill down on the table in front of her.
I was the first one to stand and the twins followed. We walked over and signed the parchment stepping off to the side to let others sign it. The rest of the group got in a line to sign their names.
We were all now heading back to the castle.
"Right now we need to find a place to practice where Umbridge won't find out," Harry said.
"The Shrieking Shack," Ginny suggested.
"That's too small," Harry replied.
"The Forbidden Forest?" I suggested.
"Bloody no," replied Ron.
"Right, I forgot about the giant spider," I said.
"Harry, what happens if Umbridge does find out," Ginny asked.
"Who cares?!" Hermione said all giddy, "It actually quite exciting really. Breaking the rules."
"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" George asked.
"Anyway. At least we know one positive things that came from today," Hermione said.
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"Cho couldn't take her eyes off you could she." Hermione said.
I looked over a Ginny to see her face drop. I knew she had a crush on Harry but she had yet to tell anyone. We had walked all the way back to the castle as this point.
"Right, over the next few days we should each come up with a couple of possibilities of places we could practice We have to make sure that wherever it is there is no chance we'll get caught," Harry said.
That afternoon Filch was hammering another Educational Decree into the wall.
"All students organizations are henceforth disbanded. Any student in noncompliance will be expelled," Lee read.
"What about quidditch?!" George said beside me.
"This woman is running our lives!!" Fred exclaimed.
"Calm down you two before you get in trouble! I'll go talk to her," Angelina said.
...
"You've done it Neville. You've found the Room of Requirement," Hermione said as we stood in an empty room.
"The what?" Ron asked.
"It's also know as the come and go room," I added.
"Yes, the room only appears when the person has real need for it and is always equipped for the seekers needs," Hermione said.
"So, say you really need a toilet," Ron said.
"Charming Ronald," I said with a disgusted face.
"That is the general idea," Hermione's added.
"It's brilliant!" Harry said, "It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back.
We ended up having practice that very night. Harry wanted to get started as soon as possible so that we would have more time to practice.
We were split up into two lines, Neville and Harry in the front.
"Expelliarmus!" Neville shouted waving his wand at the dummy in front of him.
Neville's wand shot back toward all of us. We all ducked barley missing getting hit by it.
"I'm hopeless,"Neville said.
"You're just flourishing your wand too much. Try it like this," Harry said getting the ready for the spell.
"Expelliarmus," Harry said swishing his wand successfully disarming the dummy.
...
We all spent the next few week sneaking into the Room of Requirement to have practices. It was hard to sneak past Filch and Mrs. Norris who were always lurking the halls in watch.
"Stunning is one of the most useful spells in your arsenal. It's sort of a wizards bread and butter really," Harry said walking to the other end of the room.
"Come on them Nigel, give it your best shot," Harry said to the first year boy standing in the room opposite of him.
We were all lined up on both sides of them almost making a wall to keep them in.
"Stupefy!" said the boy waving his wand.
The spell hit Harry right in the chest sending him flying backwards. Unfortunately Nigel also went flying back because of his spell.
"Good, not bad at all Nigel," Harry said getting off the ground.
Nigel got off the ground looking stunned that a spell that strong came out of his wand.
It was now Ron and Hermione's turn to duel.
"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you," I heard Ron tell Hermione.
"This should be good," I said talking to Fred and George.
"Come on, Ron," several people in the crowed said including the twins.
"One sickle," I heard George whisper to Fred behind me.
"Your on," Fred replied back.
Ron started to raise his wand to say a spell but before he could Hermione beat him to it.
"Stupefy!" she said sending Ron hurdling through the air with a scream.
The crowed laughed. George pulled out a sickle to give to Fred.
"Thank you," Fred said.
"Shut up," George said back.
"I let her do that," Ron said walking over to us, "That's being a good man innit."
"Yeah," I said patting Ron on the shoulder while the twin nodded their head agreeing.
Another Educational Decree had gone up, "All students will submit to questioning about suspected illicit activities"
Umbridge started pulling kids into her office and started questioning them.
...
"Today we are going to be practicing the levitation spell. Wingardium Leviosa," Harry said, "Please spilt off into partners or groups."
Fred and I had been partners so I walked toward him so that we could practice.
"Now you all have done this spell before, but today we are going to be practicing on people," Harry said.
My eyes went wide and Fred sent me a smirk.
"Absolutely not!" I said looking at Fred.
"Come in love, I won't drop you I promise," he said giving me puppy dogs eyes.
I continued to look Fred in the eyes and he continued to beg.
"Fine, but I swear if you drop me Frederick I will kill you!" I said.
"This should be good," I heard George say to Lee.
I sent him a glare before walking in front of Fred.
"You ready?" Fred asked.
I nodded my head closing my eyes tight.
"Wingardium Levios," Fred said.
I felt my feet come off the ground as I floated to my stomach. I kept my eyes squeezed shut because I was scared to open them.
"Open your eyes Mal," Fred said.
I slowly opened my eyes looking to see how far off the ground I was. I was quite far off the ground and it made me nervous.
"They key to this spell is to stay focused!" Harry said.
I saw him walk over to Cho helping her adjust her hand. Cho got distracted dropping Nigel. This caused most people to laugh including Fred. I started to wobble in the air because Fred started to lose focus.
"Fred!" I yelled.
Fred snapped his head back to me regaining control.
"Put me down NOW!" I said.
Fred slowly lowered me to the ground. I held my breath until I felt my feet touch the ground. I walked over to Fred to slap his across the arm.
"You said you weren't going to drop me!" I exclaimed.
"I didn't!" he said.