sorry to anyone who tried to read this at first, i decided to add some romance at the end
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Y/n's P.O.V.
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The Gryffindor Common Room is somber as the Quidditch team takes in the news. Umbridge has banned Harry, George, and Fred from playing Quidditch for life. Now we are down three players and my love and one of my best friends has lost a passion of his to that horrible woman.
Angelina states in despondent way, "I can't believe it...three players banned for life in one day..."
"I'm going to resign." Ron declares.
Harry shouts back, "You can't!"
"I'm horrible! I should have never joined." States Ron.
Harry fires back, "If you quit, we'll be out four players!"
Ron looks miserable as he says, "This is the worst day of my life."
Hermione tells Ron while staring out of the window, "I know something that could cheer you up."
"Hermione, give it up." Ron tiredly states.
"Hagrid's back." Exclaims Hermione.
I brighten up and look out the window, and see Hagrid walking to his Hut.
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Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I sit in chairs around a table in Hagrid's Hut, Hagrid boiling water for tea over the fire. Hagrid's face is bruised and cut, he looks like he took quite the beating. I can imagine how rough meeting with the Giant's was.
"Hagrid, what happened to you?" Ron asks, concerned.
Hagrid insists, "I'm fine, I tell yeh!"
"Come off it, Hagrid! We're not blind!" States Ron sternly.
I question Hagrid, "Did those injuries occur because of the Giants?"
There's a beat of silence before Hagrid informs me, "Can' answer tha', I'm afraid. Top secret, that is. Business of the Order."
"We know you were looking for giants, Hagrid. Dumbledore said so last year." Harry expectantly tells Hagrid.
"Oh. Well, yeah, I was, then. Went with Madame Maxine. Took us a month to get to their camp." Responds Hagrid.
Oh. My. Merlin. Fuck yes. I'm so delighted that Hagrid got to spend time with Madame Maxine as he seemed so smitten with her before.
Ron looks astonished as he asks for confirmation, "A month?"
"O' course! Can' do magic, not with the Ministry followin' us all the way. Plus, Giants aren't fond o' Wizards. Don' trust 'em." Hagrid elaborates to Ron.
Harry inquires Hagrid curiously, "So what did you to when you found them?"
"Waited 'till mornin' an' then marched righ' in. We gave 'em a gift, jus' like Dumbledore said. Gave 'em a Branch o' Gubraithian Fire, Everlasting Flame... Giants love magic, see, jus' not too found o' Wizards. Nuthin' a Giant loves better than magic." Hagrid tells us.
Harry urges him to go on, "What happened then?"
"We sat down, an' had a talk. Well, mostly listened good. But there were good signs... Well, they did 'till tha' night. Tha's when everything went wrong. There were a coup. Nex' mornin' there were a new Chief. We went back ter see what we could do with this new chief. An' then things got even worse. Death Eaters arrived, an' the new chief were all happy ter be seein' them! We figured, jus' cause some o' the Giants were flavorin' You Know Who doesn't mean all o' 'em were. The coup ha' driven the ol' Chief's supporters into some caves, so we wen' in after 'em." Hagrid recounts.
In awe, Ron questions Hagrid, "You went into the caves looking for Giants?"
"We foun' enough an' they seemed interested, at first. Then the new chief's lot raided teh caves. Tweren't many survivors, an' none o' them wanted anythin' to do with us after tha'." Explains Hagrid.
I ask Hagrid, "I assume that would mean that no Giants are coming to our aid, right?"
"Well, not righ' away. We brought a message, an' I expec' a fair few'll remember it before teh end comes." Hagrid discerns.
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I follow Harry into the Room of Requirement for the Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons. He brought me with him to find the Room, telling me all about how Dobby told him of it and it's properties. All Harry had to do was need a hideaway and a door appeared, then he had to imagine what kind of room and what we equipment we needed for teaching, and the Room listened, creating everything we need.
We have also worked out which spells to teach when and how. Everyone is free to help each other and learn the spell. It will help take pressure off of Harry and I while learning new spells ourselves.
The time with Harry doing all of this has been wondrous. He always looks so handsome when he's truly got his mind set on something.
"Glad to see that all of you could find the place." Harry states.
I snap out if my reminiscing and refocus on the group, addressing them, "We were worried someone might not have been able to find the door. Thankfully, that will be a problem for anyone other than all of us."
"Hey, Harry, Y/n, what is all of this stuff?" Neville inquires us.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts equipment. We shall need it if we all wish to properly educate ourselves in Defense Against the Dark Arts, if we can get far enough to use it all by the end of the term." I look at Neville and explain to him.
Harry begins the lesson by saying, "You need to understand something before we start, though. Defending yourself from the Dark Arts has less to do with magical ability and more to do with thinking fast and a lot of luck... We'll be doing Expelliarmus tonight, though hopefully we can move on to other things if we have time."
"Oh please. Professor Lockhart taught us that in second year." Complains Zacharias.
Ron pipes up, "Lockhart didn't teach as much as prune himself."
I stifle a laugh at Ron's insult, Umbridge really does look like a prune. She's just as gross as one too.
"Besides, it works. I used it against You Know Who last June. It saved my life." Harry states, squashing any argument against the choice of lesson.
I butt in, starting our session, "Well then, let us split into pairs and practice with each other. Harry and I will help you all as you do."
Everyone is yelling Expelliarmus, as Harry and I stroll between the students, correcting their stances, wand movements, or pronunciation.
"You want pronounce the ex harder and draw out the arm more, Cho." I explain to her with an encouraging smile, even though my skin crawls at the thought of helping this wench.
My attention is turned to Harry as he calls out to everyone, "Look here, you lot! Neville's really got the hang of this one" He turns to Neville and instructs, "Go ahead, again."
Fred tosses Ron's wand to him and Neville twirls his wand, casting, "Expelliarmus!"
Ron's wand goes flying out of his hand.
"I did it! I did it!" Neville cheers, joyfully.
Harry claps Neville on the shoulder, telling him, "Never forget this spell, Neville. It could save your life some day."
I move to the front of the room, a smile across my lips.
"That shall mark the end of this session. Harry and I have seen a lot of great improvement. We shall meet back here tomorrow at the same time, goodnight everyone." I state, clasping my hands behind my back.
They all begin to leave when the hallway is clear, of course, leaving just Harry and I. We straighten up the room and discuss who we think needs more help and who did well. We quickly finish and I decide to through cowardice to the wind and lay everything out.
"Harry...you do know I still am in love with you, do you not? I'm still waiting for you, I will not ever give up on what we, what this, can be. I'm ready to be with you and in public, to take all of the backlash from it. I will be here when you are ready as well." I spill out to Harry, watching as his calm face turns torn and flustered.
I do not wait for a response as I turn and leave, my heart pounding in my chest.