SuperPotterLock - The Order of the Phoenix

In the Hog's Head

Two whole weeks passed before the subject of teaching came up again. In that time Cas had invited Dean to his Quidditch practice a few more times. He got to watch Cas's skills increase far beyond his natural ability with a broom, and as he became a sharp, decisive Chaser. It was a new colour on Cas, but Dean liked it and couldn't wait to watch his first real match.

They still spent a lot of time in the library too, and they were there when Hermione finally worked up the courage to bring it up.

'I was wondering,' she said to Harry, 'if you'd thought any more about Defence Against the Dark Arts.'

''Course I have,' Harry said grumpily, 'can't forget it, can we, with that hag teaching us-'

'I meant the idea I had about you teaching us.'

Dean put down his book to look at Harry expectantly.

'Well,' he said slowly, 'yeah I've thought about it a bit.'

'And?' Hermione said eagerly.

'I dunno... You did listen to what I said about a load of it being luck, didn't you?'

'Yes, Harry,' Hermione said gently, 'but all the same, there's no point pretending that you're not good at Defence Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were the only person last year who could throw off the Imperius Curse, you can produce a Patronus, you can do all sorts of stuff that full-grown wizards can't, Viktor always said-'

Ron rounded on her so fast he appeared to crick his neck. Rubbing it, he said, 'Oh yeah? What did Vicky say?'

'Ha ha,' Hermione said in a bored voice. 'He said Harry knew how to do stuff even he didn't, and he was in the final year of Durmstrang.'

Ron was looking at Hermione suspiciously. 'You're not still in contact with him, are you?'

'So what if I am?' Hermione said coolly, though her face was a little pink. 'I can have a pen-pal if I-'

'He didn't only want to be your pen-pal,' Ron said accusingly.

Hermione shook her head and ignored him. 'Anyway, what do you think? Will you teach us?'

'Well... Only if Dean helps. And it'll just be you lot, right?'

Hermione looked anxious again. 'Now don't fly off the handle again, please, but I really think you ought to teach anyone who wants to learn. I mean, we are talking about defending ourselves from Voldemort. Oh, don't be pathetic, Ron. It doesn't seem fair not to offer the chance to other people.'

Harry considered it for a moment, then said,' Yeah, but I don't think anyone else will want to be taught by me. I'm a nutter, remember?'

'Well, I think you might be surprised how many people would be interested in what you have to say,' Hermione said seriously. 'Look, you know the first weekend of October's a Hogsmeade weekend? How would it be if we tell anyone who's interested to meet us in the village and we can talk it over?'

'Why do we have to do it outside school?' said Ron.

'Because I don't think Umbridge would be very happy if she found out what we were up to.'

Dean became more nervous as the Hogsmeade weekend drew closer. It showed in his work, and Castiel made him stop writing one evening.

'You're not focused, Dean,' he said, gently taking the quill from Dean. 'What's wrong?'

Dean shrugged. 'I dunno... it's this teaching thing... I don't know what kind of help I'll be.'

Cas cocked his head. 'Why not? You help me.'