'What do you mean...see to his mind?',Ginny said sounding concerned.
'Erm..I can feel how he is feeling and sometimes I think I get little flashes too.', Harry replied.
'That's..that's..ominous!'
'Nothing to worry about really, Ginny!', Harry said looking up at the sky trying to sound casual. In some part of the world, Voldemort was there. He was there, he existed and he was trying everything to kill Harry as soon as possible. He didn't want to share these thoughts with Ginny but he didn't want to hide either. He brushed aside his thoughts and looked back at Ginny.
'You are coming tomorrow right?'
'Of course Harry!'
'By the way Ginny..do you know of a place where we can practice it and do the meetings?'
'No...'
'That is what is worrying us. If Umbridge catches us-'
'We will get expelled and you can stay in burrow. Not a problem.. Don't worry. Dumbledore is still here, Harry!',Ginny said swiftly. 'And we can work as an underage order member for Dumbledore-'
'Wait!',Harry cut in. 'That reminds me of Dobby..'
'DOBBY', Harry shouted into air. The sun was still visible behind the Hogwarts castle. It looked ethereal to Harry.
'Harry Potter Sir!', squeaked Dobby suddenly.
'Dobby I need a help.'
'Anything for you sir.'
Ginny replied, 'We need a place where no one can invade us. About twenty people needs to practice spells in that room!'
'Twenty people!?' ,Harry exclaimed. He had certainly expected about five to eight people for the club. Not twenty.
Ginny continued, 'The room should be big enough. And by no means of magic there should be any intrusion.'
'Yes I know such a place. Harry Potter sir and Ginny ma'am.'
'Where?', Harry said suddenly.
'The Room of Requirement.'
'Thank you Dobby. Thank you so much. Can you show me the place tomorrow?'
'Sure sir.'
'Done! Thanks Dobby!', Ginny and Harry said in unison.
Dobby bowed and then vanished with a crack.
'Now,what do you mean by twenty people?'
'Did you invite someone? It is supposed to be secret and with so many-'
'Of course! I invited a few people I know too..Hermione's asked. Luna Lovegood, you know her. She's from my year and she's coming.'
'What! You invited people? Hermione said she would invite a few students. Like four or five !',Harry said.
'Four or five? You don't know Harry how many people wants to learn from you. Quite many students are coming. Don't worry. By the way, I gotta go. Michael said he would meet me.'
Harry just realised that they had reached near the Entrance Hall. Time passed so easily talking with her. If only she would've stayed some more time. She belongs to someone else now. He has lost his chance. Can't their be a second chance to ask?, Harry wondered. He forgot all about how many people were coming and everything. His mind thought of Ginny and he walked upto to the Gryffindor boys dormitory passing Colin Creevey in the common room who whispered into his ear that he would be coming tomorrow with his brother.
Hermione was sitting in Ron's bed. Ron was looking at Hermione. Hermione was writing something in a parchment. No books were there. It wasn't schoolwork. Harry had noticed Ron's change in behaviour towards Hermione for the last couple of months. It wouldn't be bad but the only thing he hoped that he wouldn't be third wheeling or that they wouldn't break up and their trio friendship for 4 years wouldn't break.
'What you guys doing?',he asked clearing his throat,his Firebolt still on his shoulders.
Ron jumped. Hermione, a little shocked looked at Harry. She said,
'Oh! We are just listing the possible names who could come to the DADA club. And discussing a name for it! We would strike out the ones who wouldn't come?'
'How many are expected?', Harry asked sitting down.
'About 20, mate!', said Ron.
Harry nodded. Hermione soon walked out as Neville,Seamus and Dean came in.
time skip to meeting time.
AT HOG'S HEAD BAR.
People interested have arrived and are sitting in a circle surrounding Harry, looking at him curiously.
Hermione cleared her throat and spoke up, 'Hi everyone! Ya'll know the purpose for this meet up.'
A few students glanced at each other and nodded back.
Ginny who was sitting beside Michael smiled at Harry.
'We..well,We will hold some regular meetings for the practices and it would all be fun. And Harry will guide us through it.', Hermione concluded.
Zacharias Smith suddenly cried out from the crowd, 'All well and fine but why him? And we don't yet have the proof except Dumbledore's words that he didn't kill Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff gem.'
Ginny suddenly stood up. 'HE...',her fists were clenched tightly,'He didn't!',she said through gritted teeth.
She sat down.
Everyone turned towards her.
Harry murmured, 'Its ok Ginny. Calm down.'
He wasn't used to people standing up for him in Hogwarts.
Ginny opened her mouth.
'Ya'll ask what he did? You all are alive, I AM ALIVE', Ginny ,'because he was there at the right time at the right moment! In the first year, he saved the Philospher's Stone from You Know Who risking his own life again, you gits!
'In the second year, he saved Hogwarts from a whole Basilisk. He destroyed it single-handedly.', Ginny said and took a breath. Because of something, she was shaking with anger.
Neville said for her, 'In the third year you fought thousands of dementors at once. Didn't you Harry?'
Harry nodded his head subconsciously. He wasn't used to this. People were speaking for him. They did believe him. Not all people believed The Daily Prophet. A lot among these students believed him but wasn't sure of it.
He felt content and happy after many days.
Fred said as he laughed, 'We can say what he did last year! We saw it in our own eyes, the Triwizard Tournament, him fighting dragons when he was fourteen, in our own eyes,you know!'
'Well not him facing Merpeople and You know who!', Ginny said.
'Yes little sister. We didn't see that.',George nodded.
Zacharias interrupted again, 'This ain't leading anywhere! What's the proof? His heroism?'
Cho said,'Yes. I too believe in him.'
Ginny raised her eyebrows. Harry saw that Cho had smiled at him.
Luna said, 'You can produce a patronus?'
'Yes.', Harry spoke finally.
'Well then will you teach us how to conjure them? Dad says they are the lost part of our lives.',she said in her dreamy voice.
'See guys. Most of you don't know how it actually was. It wasn't like memorizing spells and putting them into practice. It was...it was like coming up with right idea at the right moment or else I wouldn't have been standing here.', Harry said.
'Oh Harry you're just being modest.',Ginny said fiercely.
'Yes, Harry is just trying to be modest-',Hermione was saying.
'No I ain't. It wasn't like school. I am not being modest. It was having external help all the time at the right moment! Do y'all get it?'
'Still Harry, You Know Who is out there somewhere and if you teach us, it would be a great help.', Hermione added.
'Yes..and to be equipped and knowleadgeable to fight him..',Ginny flinched,'V-Voldemort would be a great help,a great strength that he's not ready for. Ain't it Harry?', Ginny said a little softly.
Harry looked at her and she looked at him and then, Harry nodded.
Time passed pretty quickly as they discussed the meeting dates. The first meeting would be on next Wednesday.
Everyone had parted on their way back to the castle including Ron and Hermione who said they would go the library. Harry didn't want to go to the library. Harry went to his lone dormitory and called out, 'Dobby!'
crack.
'Sir!', Dobby squeaked.
'You said you would show me the Room of Requirement.'
'Yes sir. Now?'
'Sure.'
Harry went out with Dobby, the Marauders Map on his pocket which didn't display such a room and him under his invisibility cloak.
As he reached the fifth floor he found-
'You are still not over Ravenclaw's lost and today you say this -', Ginny was saying.
'We shouldn't. You are interested in him. Admit it!'
'YES. We shouldn't!'
She stormed off.
Michael rolled his eyes and went away.
A monster roared in triumph inside Harry. They were not together anymore. But then he thought of Ginny...Ginny definitely must be sad. Wouldn't she?Of course.
'Harry Potter Sir?',Dobby said.
He had stopped picturing a moment with Ginny where they were quite alone in this corridor..alone in..
Dobby couldn't see him and now couldn't hear his footsteps.
He looked around and pulled off his cloak, 'Dobby wait for me in the seventh floor. I'm coming.'