My Father's Only Rule {DRACO MALFOY X SNAPE'S DAUGHTER}

Chapter Eleven: Dumbledore's Army

November 1995 - Hogwarts

Not long after that night, Hermione had gathered some like-minded people and we agreed to meet at Hog's Head on a snowy November day.

"This is mad," Harry said as we dragged him there. "Who'd wanna be taught by me? I'm a nutter, remember?"

"Look on the bright side, you can't be any worse than old toad-face," Ron said.

"Thanks, Ron," Harry said sarcastically.

"I'm here for you, mate."

"Who's supposed to be meeting us then?" Harry asked as we approached the building.

"Just a couple of people," Hermione said. The door creaked open and we saw just how run down the place was.

"Lovely spot," I said.

"Thought it would be safer somewhere off the beaten track," Hermione said. The four of us stood in front of the crowd of students who had joined. I recognized a few faces among them. The Weasley twins, the Patil twins, Neville, Ginny, Luna, Cho, and Dean.

"Um...hi," Hermione said nervously as she stood up. "So you all know why we're here." She didn't like to speak in front of crowds. "We need a teacher. A proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the dark arts.

"Why?" someone asked.

"Why?" Ron repeated. "Because you-know-who's back, you tosspot."

"So he says," the kid said, gesturing to Harry.

"So Dumbledore says," I said back.

"So he says because Dumbledore says. The point is, where's the proof? If Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed..." The mention of Cedric in that tone made me tense, and Harry noticed.

"I'm not gonna talk about Cedric," Harry said, standing up. "So if that's why you're here, you might as well clear out now. Come on, Grace. Let's go." He grabbed my hand and started to pull me away. "They're just here because they think I'm some sort of freak," he said to Hermione.

"No, wait," Hermione said as Harry started for the door.

"Is it true that you can produce a Patronus charm?" Luna asked, stopping Harry.

"Yes," Hermione said. "I've seen it."

"Blimey, Harry. I didn't know you could do that," Dean said.

"A-a-and he killed a basilisk," Neville stuttered. "With the sword in Dumbledore's office."
"It's true," Ron said. "Third year, he fought about 100 dementors at once." I smiled to hear about all the things Harry did before I knew him. It made me happy to know that he's always been amazing.

"And last year," Hermione said. "He really did fight off you-know-who in the flesh."

"Wait," Harry said. "Look, it all sounds great when you say it like that. But the truth is, most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half the time. I nearly always had help."

"He's just being modest," Hermione said.

"No, Hermione. I'm not. Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake, you can just try again tomorrow. But out there, when you're a second away from being murdered or watching a friend die right before your eyes...you don't know what that's like." The room went silent as everyone took in Harry's words.

"You're right Harry," Hermione said. "We don't. That's why we need your help. Because if we're going to have any chance at beating...Voldemort..."

"He's really back?" A first-year student asked. Harry nodded hesitantly. Then one by one, people signed their names on a piece of paper that was labeled Dumbledore's Army. Now that we were established, we headed back to school to get organized.

"Right," Harry said. "First we need to find a place to practice where Umbridge won't find out."

"The shrieking shack," Ginny suggested.

"It's too small."

"Forbidden forest?" Hermione said.

"Not bloody likely," Ron said back.

"Harry, what happens if Umbridge does find out?" I asked.

"Who cares?" Hermione said, to everyone's surprise. She was concealing a smile."I mean, it's sort of exciting, isn't it? Breaking the rules."

"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" Ron said.

"Oh, and there's something you two should know," she said to Harry and me.

"What's that?" I asked.

"I couldn't help but notice," she said. "Cho couldn't take her eyes off Harry." Seriously? Is this happening again? Would we cause a social division over Harry Potter too?

"Oh," he said. "I thought everyone knew that we're together," he said.

"I guess we just have to make it more obvious," I said, stopping in the middle of the bridge to school. When I knew everyone would see, I grabbed Harry's face and kissed him right there. The Weasley twins whistled as they passed us and patted Harry on the shoulder.

"Good for you, mate," Fred said.

"Don't let her distract you from quidditch," George said. "That goes for you too, Grace." We laughed together.

"Do you think that's obvious enough?" I asked him. He smiled as he pulled me in closer.

"I think one more time would do it," he said, and he kissed me again.