The Speaker and His Wraiths

Recruitment

Don't Be Suspicious

Harry and Hermione both looked around carefully, shushing each other as they waiting in an out of the way corridor.

"She'll show up." Harry stage-whispered, "Don't worry."

"We're breaking so many rules!" Hermione exclaimed semi-quietly as she buried her face in her hands. "Besides, shouldn't we ask Dumbledore's permission?"

"You know we can't, and besides, the name 'Dumbledore's Army' was Ron's idea of a joke." Harry waved her off with a huff, "Don't worry, Dumbledore hears about literally everything, I wouldn't be surprised if he already knows about all this."

"Hey." Hermione turned towards the voice faster than Harry did, but they both blinked dramatically at the sight of the two girls approaching. "I brought my sister, by the way."

"This is stupid." Padma declared, crossing her arms as the twins came to a stop in front of Harry and Hermione. "I can't believe you talked me into this!"

"Come on, everyone hates Umbridge." Parvati snapped, "Haven't you been complaining about how little we're learning? I know for a fact that some of your fellow Ravenclaws are absolutely livid that Umbridge isn't teaching them anything on their O.W.L.s year."

"Alright! I get it." Padma glared at her sister.

"Um, hi." Harry said, looking at Hermione in support and receiving a shrug in response. "Anyway, thanks for agreeing to meet with us."

"Listen, I don't really believe that nonsense about You-Know-Who being back and all." Padma narrowed her eyes at him, "But I know you're capable of teaching us better than Professor Umbridge."

"I'm so sorry about her." Parvati smiled apologetically, "Anyway, you said this... club... would just be Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons?"

"If you're asking whether it's a real army or not, don't worry." Hermione grinned sheepishly, "The name was Ron's idea. He's an idiot, but y'know. He wanted to help."

"Lovely of him." Padma deadpanned, and Hermione winced.

"I know he didn't show you the best time at the Yule Ball last year, but he's actually not that bad."

"Whatever." Padma huffed, examining her nails boredly.

"So you're in?" Harry asked mainly Parvati.

"We're in." She confirmed, "When will we be meeting?"

"You're actually the first to agree." Hermione smiled, "Here, would you mind signing your name? We're making a list of members."

"Sure, of course." Parvati signed with a smile, and Padma rolled her eyes.

"The things I do for you, honestly." Padma gave her twin the side eye, but she dutifully signed her name under Parvati's with a flourish.

"That's actually all we need for now." Harry grinned, "We're going to be asking everyone else today and tomorrow, so you'll know when the first lesson is in the next few days."

"Great." Padma sent her sister a look and then promptly stalked off.

"I'm sorry about her, again." Parvati sighed, "When you asked me about it in the Common Room and I said I'd get back to you, it was really just so I could include her. You know?"

"I understand." Harry nodded, "I'm just glad I can help with the whole 'lack of Defense classes' problem."

"Me too." She smiled, "Well, see ya Harry!" Parvati waved, and she turned to walk down the hallway after her sister.

"That went well." Hermione sighed out, smiling when Harry patted her shoulder.

"Who else are we thinking?"