A True Hufflepuff

Chapter 4 - The DA Resurrected

All the returning students were sitting under a fierce, stormy ceiling, glad not to be first years as said students straggled, dripping and windblown, into the Great Hall.

"Is it just me, or are there more and more of them every year?" Justin asked quietly as the Hat was brought forward. Its song was similar to that of the year before; it described the Houses and urged school unity. One part in particular caught Susan's attention.

"We must stand strong together

For Hogwarts to survive.

Her foes draw ever nearer

Our school they would divide.

But renew old ties, put down your hate,

And they shall surely fail

The day has come, the time draws near,

Our friendship must prevail!"

"Does the Hat seem a little more desperate this year?" Susan whispered to Justin as Professor McGonagall began calling the new students forward. He nodded thoughtfully and started to reply, but a stern look from Professor McGonagall in their direction stopped him, and they turned their attention toward the Ceremony. They clapped as the Hat shouted each student's House, and cheered wildly each time the name "HUFFLEPUFF!" rang through the Great Hall to pass the time and keep their minds off rumbling stomachs, but even so, the Sorting seemed to drag on forever. But eventually "Ziegler, Colleen" was sorted into Gryffindor, and Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"Tuck in!" he said beaming. At once, the tables were covered in dishes full of every food imaginable and the students began filling their plates.

"What was the Sorting Hat talking about?" a lonely-looking first-year asked Susan timidly. "Is Hogwarts in trouble?"

Susan glanced at Justin, silently pleading for help. What should she tell this little girl? What did she already know? Justin was so much better at this sort of thing.

"You know that You-Know-Who is regaining power, right?" he asked kindly. The girl nodded. "Well, most people think that he'll eventually come here to get his revenge on Harry Potter." The girl looked frightened.

"But the Hat was saying that as long as the students get along, especially between Houses, he won't succeed," Susan finished. The girl nodded and turned toward another first year who was trying to introduce herself.

"But if the Hat thinks that Gryffindor and Slytherin will get along, then it's not as bright as it thinks it is, is it?" Ernie said.

"They have to," Justin said glumly. "We're supposed to 'renew old ties.' Gryffindor and Slytherin were best mates before Slytherin left, remember?" The group was saved from further discussion, however, when the Fat Friar settled onto the bench next to Justin.

"How was everyone's summer?" he asked brightly.

"Very good, thank you, Friar," Hannah said. "How was yours?"

"Oh, the usual. Hogwarts is really rather lonely when the students return home. There's never a shortage of trouble with Peeves, though. We had another Ghost's Council last week. I keep telling the others that if we just let Peeves into the Welcome Feast, he'd be much more manageable the rest of the year. But, alas, they won't listen. I suppose it's just in my nature, though. That's the mark of a true Hufflepuff, you know. We always want everyone to get along. We seem to have a knack for it, too."

The Fat Friar continued to talk animatedly with the table, and Susan soon relaxed into the familiar sounds and smells of Hogwarts. She sighed contentedly as the last crumbs faded from the dished and Dumbledore rose again.

"Welcome to another promising year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I have a few start-of-term notices before you can turn in to your respective Houses for the night.

"Firstly, I need to emphasise that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off-limits to all students, as the creatures who live there are no longer tolerant of wizard kind. Also, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that magic is forbidden in the corridors, as well as a lengthy list of items which is available upon request.

"Secondly, I have an introduction to make. I'd like you to meet our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dawlish." Professor Dawlish was a tall, grey-haired wizard who looked like he had seen his share of fights, though, Susan thought, not as many as Professor Moody had. She noticed that many of the Slytherins did not join in the applause, and she could guess why. Auntie Amelia was very fond of Dawlish, and liked to tell stories of the common criminals and Death Eaters that he had caught for her to prosecute.

All of Susan's worries came crashing down on her as they made their way down to the Hufflepuff common room. Each step seemed to take more and more effort, and the short walk took an eternity. It was all Susan could do to struggle out of her robes and collapse into her bed.

Susan later thought she must have been overtired, because her dreams were anything but restful. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was hurtling through space, colours swirling all around her. Slowly the colours took form and she was amid a raging battle. She saw familiar faces and white-masked strangers shooting spells at other students and teachers. She saw betrayals and valiant saves. She saw herself and her best friends cornered by Death Eaters, and she was falling...falling from the highest tower...the ground rushing up at her...

She was walking uphill. It was a long walk, but she needed to get there, and soon, or he would be angry. Finally the ground levelled out and she was on a cliff. The wind whipped up whitecaps on the water far below and pulled on her long white gown. Clouds scuttled across the stars. She was waiting for someone, but where was he? Suddenly the wind grabbed hold of her and pulled her over the cliff...

Susan awoke was a start. It was early morning, and everyone else was still asleep. Outside the birds were chirping sleepily in the grey light, but inside, Susan's heart was pounding. Maybe I should ask Lavender what it means, she thought. She's good at that sort of thing. Susan began to relax as the sun drifted lazily above the trees of the Forbidden Forest. The golden light seemed to dispel both the gloominess of the dark trees and the sense of foreboding that gripped her stomach. After a while the rest of the girls began to wake, but Susan pretended to be asleep.

"Do you think we should wake her?" whispered Akira Moon in her musical voice. Akira was a very shy, quiet girl who rarely spoke in class, though she was very smart. Whenever anyone needed help, they asked her. Susan wondered idly where the other girl had been the night before. Susan hadn't seen her on the train, or at dinner. Of course, she had been talking with Justin, Hannah, Ernie, and the Fat Friar, so maybe she had just missed her. Although, Akira tended to stand out with her long, black hair and olive skin; most of the Hufflepuffs had light hair.

"No, let her sleep," said Hannah quietly. "I don't think she slept well, she was tossing and turning all night. We can come back for her after breakfast." The three girls left the room, and Susan climbed out of bed. She took her time getting dressed, but she couldn't put off breakfast much longer or she wouldn't have time to eat. She hurried out of the common room and up to the Great Hall and began piling food onto her plate.

"Where have you been?" Justin asked. "We were about to send Hannah back to make sure you hadn't drowned in the shower or something!" Susan would have laughed if her mouth hadn't been so full. "Oh, and Professor Sprout handed out schedules already. We've got Defence Against the Dark Arts at 9:00 today." Susan groaned. She'd have to go back to get her books! She finished the rest of her breakfast in record time and sprinted back to the dormitory. Susan made it to class just in time and slid into the open seat next to Justin.

"The first thing you need to know is that I am a fully-trained Ministry Auror," Professor Dawlish began. Susan glanced around for the first time and noticed that there were no Slytherins present. It didn't really surprise her. "This year, there should be no reason for poor Defence marks. There is nothing more important right now than gaining the abilities to defend yourself, and my job is to make sure you do. Classes will be mostly practical lessons based on assigned reading, and since you are N.E.W.T.-level students, they will be fairly challenging, and not nearly as tame as you are used to.

"I understand that you have fair knowledge of most topics, though I don't see what point there was in teaching only theory to older students. Theory-based teaching is suitable for first years, but not for any year above that." Murmurs of assent broke out through the classroom. "And it seems that Professor Lupin in particular did a fine job teaching this class. However, knowledge alone isn't enough. In N.E.W.T. level classes we will begin developing your instincts. In a duel or battle, there will not be time to analyse the spells used against you. You will need to be able to react immediately. In fact, I think that's a fair way to finish class. Please line up at the front of the room, wands at the ready. Fight back with minor hexes and jinxes only. Your turn is over when you have been disarmed."

The class lined up apprehensively, and Professor Dawlish began to send spells at each student one at a time. First Stupefy, then Impedimenta, then Tarantallegra. No one could react quickly enough. All too soon it was Susan's turn. Wait! she thought desperately. I'm not ready! But she raised her wand anyway. She seemed to move in slow-motion, and her ears didn't seem to work properly. Susan suddenly found herself flat on her back, staring up at the ceiling, her wand in the professor's hand.

"It's not easy, is it?" Professor Dawlish asked as the bell rang. "Please read chapter one by Wednesday." The students filed out, many sporting minor cuts and the beginnings of bruises.

Justin, Hannah, and Ernie all headed back to the common room after lunch, but Susan started up the stairs to the sixth floor for Arithmancy. She was surprised to see seventh years in the classroom as well as sixth years, though it made sense. There were only enough students taking Arithmancy last year for one class, and there were even less this year. It was just Susan, Akira, Hermione Granger, three Ravenclaws who rarely spoke to anyone else, and two Slytherins who wouldn't even look in her direction. A class of sixteen made more sense than two classes of eight.

"Good morning, class," Professor Vector said warmly. "I'm glad to see you back this year, and even more glad of the marks our sixth years received on their O.W.L.s last June. Now, we only have enough students for the one class, so I'll teach sixth years on Mondays and seventh years on Thursdays. While the other half of the class is being taught, you will put what you learned into practise. Our seventh years can use this class as a refresher. Now, in N.E.W.T.-level Arithmancy we will not be simply analyzing people, but the future." The rest of the class was spent taking notes that seemed to get more complicated each minute. By the time the bell rang, Susan's head was beginning to throb.

Tuesday was no easier. The thought of two hours of Potions first thing in the morning had driven away Susan's appetite, which didn't help her any once she got to class. "I see you've all survived your O.W.L.s," Snape sneered. "Pity. I was hoping to never have to deal with many of you again." His eyes lingered on the back half of the dungeon where the five Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students had set up their cauldrons. "But since you have proven that you might be capable, I have no choice but to teach the lot of you. If you manage to pass this year, I will be forced to tolerate you another year. Let it suffice to say this will be difficult." The potion they brewed was one of the most complicated that Susan had ever seen. Even Hermione Granger had trouble with it, and Susan had heard rumours that she had brewed some advanced potions outside of class.

"That was pathetic," Professor Snape snapped condescendingly at the end of class. "I would not be surprised if this potion came up on your N.E.W.T. exams. I want a foot and a half on the effect of the phase of the moon on potion brewing to be turned in on Thursday. Be sure to include how today's potion would have been changed if made in the different phases."

After lunch, sixth years were subjected to two hours of lecture on the dangers of human transfiguration. "One wrong wand movement, or one mispronounced word, and the person you are trying to give a tail might permanently become a fish," Professor McGonagall warned sternly. "Madam Pomfrey and I are able to fix most problems, but I'm sure no one here wants to spend a week as a cat." Harry Potter and Ron Weasley started snickering across the room despite Hermione's indignant glare, but Susan couldn't see what was so funny.

Susan soon learned that N.E.W.T.-level classes were much more work than O.W.L.-level classes. Even without Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, and History of Magic, she could barely keep up with her assignments, and her strange dream of the cliff had continued. She wasn't getting much sleep. There was one person having more trouble than she was, though. Graham Pritchard seemed to be in the library every free moment of the day. None of the Slytherins his age were willing to stoop to his level and help him out, but he said it had always been that way, ever since his first few days of school. Often, Susan, Justin, Hannah, and Ernie saw him with bruises on his arms and a black eye or two, but he refused to go to Madam Pomfrey or tell a teacher. They helped him as much as they could whenever they got a break from their own work, but they could tell he was lonely. They didn't mind helping him out and enjoyed spending time with him, but Susan wished he had more friends than just the four of them.

Susan was in Arithmancy that first Thursday morning when she felt the fake Galleon, which she still carried out of habit, heat up. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw Hermione Granger doing the same. A quick glance at the numbers around the edge told her all she needed to know, and she made a quick mental note to tell Hannah, Justin, and Ernie, whom she knew did not carry their coins.

7:00 Saturday night found Susan sitting with much of the previous year's DA in the Room of Requirement. "I've talked to Dumbledore," Harry said. "He said the DA is perfectly legitimate this year." Many of the students cheered. "We have two choices now. We can make the DA a club, or it can be a study group. If we chose to make it a club, anyone would be able to join, and we couldn't turn them away. Even Malfoy could join if he wanted to. But we'd be able to teach most of the school. If the DA became a Defence Against the Dark Arts study group, we could limit it to just us and those we invite. We wouldn't reach as many, but we'd be able to learn more advanced magic and we'd be able to limit our members. So who wants to be a club?" Susan wasn't sure she wanted to keep people out of the DA, but she didn't think there was much point if they weren't learning anything new. It seemed most people thought that way, too, because only a few hands were raised. "And a study group?" Most everyone raised a hand. "Well then, I guess we're a study group. If you know of someone who would benefit from coming, bring them along, but I have to warn you, not everything we do will be strictly legal."

What have we gotten ourselves into? Susan thought as she lay awake that night. But she was sure everything would look better in the morning. It always did. Sure enough, the sight of the sun rising over the Forbidden Forest made everything make sense. We can't fight a defensive war forever. We have to know how to really fight. And besides, she knew how Graham could meet some people his age now.

Susan and Hannah ate as quickly as they could at lunch on Wednesday. They had decided that their plan might go over better if it was proposed by someone who could only be perceived as non-confrontational and concerned. The boys didn't quite make the cut. The two girls grabbed their bags and hurried to the library.

There he was, at his usual table in the furthest corner, nearly hidden by tall shelves, and surrounded by stacks of parchment and books. He was so focused on his Defence Against the Dark Arts assignment that he didn't even notice as they walked up to the table. How perfect.

"Hi, Graham!" Hannah exclaimed, waving, when he finally looked up. Then, before he could say anything, she ploughed right on. "Susan and I came up with a really good idea for you to meet some more people! And you could learn how to defend yourself from all those mean Slytherins who keep bothering you."

"It's a group that meets on Saturdays to learn how to defend ourselves. It's loads of fun," Susan explained. "It's led by the top Defence student in the school."

"Isn't that what Defence Against the Dark Arts class is for?" Graham asked sceptically.

"Well, yes," Susan admitted. "But the class is mostly Dark creatures and counter curses."

"You're not going to defeat a Death Eater by reversing his attacks," Hannah laughed. "You wouldn't last very long doing that!"

"In Dumbledore's Army, we learn how to fight. Not just practising spells, but how to duel. And we don't only learn it in theory. We actually practise it."

Graham still looked unsure. "Are you sure they would let someone like me in?" Susan and Hannah just looked at him, not sure what he meant. "I'm in Slytherin! From the nasty looks the rest of the school gives us, I don't think they would believe I'm not a spy."

"Don't worry, you're with us," Susan told him. "We're allowed to bring people we think could use a more advanced, private Defence lesson. And you've got a head start, already knowing all those counter-curses. You might even be able to help. Oh, and by the way," she added, looking over his essay, "it's intent that makes Dark magic dark, not the spell itself."

"Oh, thanks," he said, fixing his assignment. "That might be a good idea. I'm not very good at defence."

"That's great!" Hannah squealed. "We'll see you on Saturday! We'll meet you at two o'clock in the entrance hall. It's kind of hard to find the room if you don't already know where it is." The two girls waved and started to leave when Hannah turned back. "You might want to go soon. Class starts in five minutes." Susan could hear him throwing his books into his bag as they hurried off to join Justin and Ernie in Charms.

"So, how did it go?" Justin asked. "Is he going to come?"

"Yeah, he is," Hannah said happily. "He didn't think it was a good idea at first, 'cause he's in Slytherin, but he came around."

"That's good," Ernie said as Professor Flitwick climbed onto the pile of books he used as a podium.

"Good afternoon, class," he squeaked. "Wands away, please, you won't be needing them today." Susan grudgingly stowed her wand and took out parchment and quill. No class that began with the phrase "wands away" had ever been fun or exciting, and students had begun to dread it ever since Umbridge's shadow had darkened Hogwarts' door.

At least they were guaranteed an exciting time in Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Professor Dawlish introduced the class to a new Dark curse each week, and not only taught them how to block the curses, but actually showed what they looked like. It was like Mad-Eye Moody all over again, only this time not as mad. It was funny to watch the rest of the class being disarmed, too. No one seemed to be making much progress, but, really, how far could you get in a few lessons?

The last two days of class before the first official DA meeting went exceedingly slowly. It seemed all the teachers were bound and determined to drown the students in homework, but no one was able to focus on the assignments. No one really knew what was so exciting about continuing with the DA, but there was certainly a buzz in the common room.

"I can't wait 'til Saturday!" Hannah squealed Thursday as the four friends sat in the Hufflepuff common room.

"I think that's the fifth time you've mentioned that, Hannah," Susan said absently. She was desperately trying to finish the Arithmancy assignment they had been given that morning, but the numbers all looked like meaningless blurs. Arithmancy had fast become one of Susan's toughest classes, rivalling even Potions. It seemed just walking into the classroom gave her a splitting headache.

"No, that's the fifth time in the past hour!" Justin teased. He was sprawled on one of the sofas in front of the fire with his eyes closed. Susan didn't see how he could possibly sleep with so much homework due so soon.

"Justin, shouldn't you start McGonagall's essay?" Ernie demanded irritably. He had only dropped a few classes, and the combination of his workload and Prefect duties were beginning to take a toll. "Or if not, couldn't you at least be quiet?"

"Why bother?" he asked calmly. "None of it's due until after the weekend. And I'll never be able to concentrate now with all of the racket those first years are making. Not that I would anyway," he added hastily as Ernie made to get up.

"But won't it be fun to learn new spells?" Hannah asked, her eyes gleaming. She apparently hadn't heard a word of the boys' argument. Susan was vaguely aware that her friends were still talking, but she had tuned them out in favour of her essay. Before long, though, she slammed her book shut. "Oh, it's no use!" she grumbled. "Has anyone seen Akira? Maybe she can explain this to me...." But lately, Akira was nowhere to be found. She disappeared immediately after class, turned up briefly for dinner, and then promptly vanished again. When anyone asked where she went, she would reply, "Oh, I've been around," or, "You know, here and there." Susan wished she would spend some time with them. She was really a nice girl, but it's hard to get to know someone when you can't find her.

Eventually Saturday came, and Susan, Justin, Ernie, and Hannah made their way to the Entrance Hall a few minutes before two to find Graham already there waiting for them. They hurried to the seventh floor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and explained to the third year how to get into the room, so that next time he'd be able to come straight to the meeting.

Even though they were a few minutes late, they were by no means the last to arrive. It took another ten minutes for the remaining members to arrive, and it seemed everybody had brought at least one person. Zacharias had brought Akira, whom Susan suspected that he was trying to impress. Quite a few people had brought younger siblings and friends of siblings. Dennis Creevey, it seemed, had brought along half the third years. The group had almost doubled in size since the last meeting.

Susan thought the meeting went fairly well. Graham was partnered with a Gryffindor named Natalie MacDonald, who seemed more intent on talking than practising spells. Susan thought he handled himself very well, though.

"So, why haven't I seen you before?" she asked almost right away. "Are you a first year or something?"

"No, I'm a third year," Graham told her. "It's just that I don't get out much. It seems every time I leave the library I get cornered by Malcolm Baddock and his little friends. Every day's an adventure when you're a Muggle-born in Slytherin."

"What do you mean, it's an adventure?" she demanded suspiciously. "And how did you get here? I didn't think Slytherins were allowed in!"

"Well, take this morning for example. I woke up with antlers sprouting out of my head. Yesterday I had a tail. The day before that I was tied down. Madam Pomfrey knows to expect me every day for some kind of spell reversal; although, a lot of it I can do on my own now. And I'm here because I'm friends with some Hufflepuffs who're helping me out."

Natalie just stood there, shocked. After all, it wasn't in the nature of a Gryffindor to accept wild explanations easily. Graham took full advantage of her torpor, and her wand went flying toward the far wall. "Sneaky like a Slytherin, though," Susan heard her grumble under her breath as the girl chased after her wand.

It was a highly productive meeting. They got through almost all of the basic defence spells, and Harry promised that during the next meeting they'd work on more aggressive spells.

"It feels good to be doing something again," Susan commented as they made their way to the Great Hall for dinner. "There's nothing like training to fight evil wizards to make a person feel important."

"Yeah, that was fun," Graham said, smiling. "When's the next meeting?"

"We don't know yet," Hannah told him. "We've got these coins that tell us when to meet, and they update once Harry finds a time that works for everyone. We usually only have a day or two warning."

Susan couldn't help but smile as she drifted off to sleep a few hours later. The DA had been resurrected, more people were learning to fight, Akira finally had something to do with her classmates, and Graham had finally met some people his age who didn't hate him. Not even the looming mountain of homework could ruin her weekend.