Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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"He's out! I can't believe it! He was our only witness to the event of Voldemort's return. We needed him and he's escaped!" Harry mumbled while they were making their way to Hog's Head. 

"Barty did mention that he was going to be leaving some time soon. I didn't expect this was what he meant. I figured that they were moving him off somewhere else... maybe even returning him to Azkaban." Hermione mumbled to herself while they were walking into Hog's Head. 

"Do we know how he even got out?" Ron asked. 

"It didn't say exactly. Apparently, Ministry Officials refused to comment. Probably because they don't want to admit they just let a dangerous psycho out of their midst. Personally, I feel he had a little help with say... a dementor." Hermione admitted as they walked over to the farther area where no one could overhear them. Soon people began to show up. First was Neville with Dean and Lavender who were followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with Cho and one of her friends, then Jordan with Luna then Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, and Angelina Johnson, Colin and Denis Creevey, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, an unknown Hufflepuff girl, three Ravenclaw boys, Ginny with one of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team members, then lastly the twins and their friend Lee Jordan. 

"Hermione... this is not a couple of people!" Harry grumbled to Hermione while Fred was ordering everyone butterbeers, "What have you been telling people?" 

"They're just here to see what we've got to say. You don't have to do anything yet, I'll speak to them first." Hermione assured him as she stood up and cleared her throat to earn everyone's attention. 

"Well-- er-- hi," Hermione started off, feeling a bit nervous, "You... erm... you all know why you're here. I had the idea-- that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defense Against the Dark Arts-- and I mean, actually studying it, you know... and not that rubbish Umbridge is doing with us-- because no one would even call that Defense Against the Dark Arts," she paused as someone in the crowd shouted 'hear, hear' before continuing, "I thought it would be good if we, actually, took matters into our own hands." 

She paused again, to make sure everyone was listening before continuing, "And when I say leaning how to defend ourselves properly, I mean not just in  theory, but actually using real spells--" 

"You want to pass your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. too though, I bet?" someone called out. Hermione felt a hint of rage began to fill her before taking a deep breath. 

"Of course I do. But I want more than that. I want to be properly trained in Defense because Voldemort's back." Hermione claimed to them all. She took in all the different reactions before continuing, "That's the plan anyway. If you want to join us, we need to decide how we're going to--" 

"Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?" the Hufflepuff player asked in an aggressive voice, which Hermione didn't care for. 

"Because both Harry and myself witnessed Voldemort do it and Dumbledore--" she started when he cut her off again. 

"Dumbledore believes because you two claim to have seen him," the boy cut in again. 

"Who are you?" Ron asked, rudely. 

"Zacharias Smith," he answered, "And I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes you two say You-Know-Who's back." 

"Did you seriously not hear what I said? Harry and I both saw him. Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you don't believe us, which makes me wonder why you're even here in the first place? Because we're not wasting an afternoon trying to convince you guys." Hermione said firmly in a voice she almost didn't recognize as her own. Her voice sounded colder... heartless even. The whole group seemed to hold its breath when Hermione spoke before Zacharias said dismissively,

"Dumbledore only said Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you two brought back his body. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murder--" 

"And good for Dumbledore to do so," Jordan cut in, leaning over the back of her chair as she glared at Zacharias, "There are somethings in this world, you don't want to know. Cause once you learn it, it's not going away anytime soon... and If you think hearing word for word how Cedric Diggory was murdered will help you decide whether Voldemort's back in business or not and won't be causing you to lose a bit of yourself, then you're a bloody fool." 

For a moment, no one said a word. Hermione soon took that cue to speak. 

"Back to what I was saying, if you want to learn some defense, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet and where we're going to--" 

"Is it true you and Harry can produce a Patronus?" Luna suddenly spoke up. 

"Yeah," Harry answered. 

"Is it true they're corporeal Patronus? My auntie told me Harry can make a stag Patronus and there was a rumor around the Ministry Hermione can make a Basilik Patronus." a girl, Hermione remembered as Susan Bones, asked. 

"Yes," Hermione answered this time as Harry nodded in agreement.

"And is it true Hermione you took back control of the Basilisk so it could stop harming other people from the person, who was sending it out to attack?" another spoke up. 

"Yes." 

"And in our first year, Harry and Hermione savied the Sorcerous Stone--" 

"Um-- Sorcerer's," Hermione corrected him. 

"Yes, that, from You-Know-Who." Neville finished. 

"And not to mention," Cho spoke up, "all the tasks they had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last year-- getting past dragons and merpeople and acromanturals and things like that." 

"Okay, look everyone--" Harry spoke up again, "I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be modest or anything but Hermione and I had a lot of help with all that stuff..." 

"Not with that dragon, you didn't," a boy stated, "With Hermione just walking right up to it and then riding it off across the sky... that was awesome!" 

"Yes but--" Hermione tried to explain until she was cut off again. 

"And way about those dementors you got rid off this summer, Harry." Susan Bones pointed out. 

"No... no... okay I know I did bits of it without help, but the point I'm trying to explain to you all is--" 

"Are you trying to weasel out of showing us any of this stuff?" Zacharias Smith asked. Hermione tightened her fists together, getting real tired of his shit that he was spitting out when Ron thankfully spoke up for her. 

"Here's an idea, why don't you shut your month?" 

"Well we've all turned up to lean from them and now he's telling us he can't really do any of it." 

"That's not what Harry said, you imbecile! He's just stating it's not a one-man show!" Hermione growled at him. She quickly noticed how the entire room was suddenly looking at her like they were expecting her to rip their heads off with a wave of her hand. Hermione clear her throat again as she lightly clapped her hands together. 

"Getting back on topic... are we in agreement we want to take lessons from Harry and me?" Hermione asked with a stern look. At first no one made a move... until slowly one by one, people began to raise their hands in agreement.