Flames Of Destiny : Conflicting Emotions // HJP [2]

Chapter Eleven : Hogsmeade

For two weeks after her initial suggestion, Hermione made no mention of Harry teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts. In the meantime, (Y/n) had completed the crochet crop top for Ginny, presenting it to her with a grin, and she and Harry's detentions with Umbridge had finally ended. Yet, even as the cuts on (Y/n)'s hand had begun to fade, she doubted the scars would ever disappear completely.

They'd also managed to make progress in Transfiguration— all four of them had successfully Vanished their mice, and (Y/n) and Hermione had even moved on to Vanishing kittens, which felt like a small victory in itself. It wasn't until the end of September, on a wild, blustery evening as the four of them were hunched over potion books in the library, researching ingredients for Snape's latest sadistic assignment, that Hermione brought it up again.

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

Harry, who had been peering moodily at a list of Asiatic Anti-Venoms, didn't miss a beat. "Course I have," he replied grumpily, "can't exactly forget it, can we? Not with that hag teaching us –"

(Y/n) couldn't help but let out a chuckle at this, but Hermione pressed on.

"I meant the idea Ron and I had –" Hermione shot Ron a look as he turned pale and quickly shook his head. "– Oh, all right, the idea I had, then, about you teaching us."

Harry didn't answer straightaway, keeping his eyes fixed on the book as if hoping it might save him from answering. (Y/n) exchanged a glance with Hermione, both of them silently gauging whether one of them might guess what he'd say.

At last, unable to pretend the Anti-Venoms were captivating him any longer, Harry sighed. "Yeah, I – I've thought about it a bit."

(Y/n) sat a little straighter, her interest piqued.

"And?" Hermione prompted eagerly.

"I dunno," Harry muttered, stalling. He looked over at Ron, who seemed more than ready to chime in now that Harry wasn't about to blow up.

"I thought it was a good idea from the start," Ron said, a little too brightly.

Harry shifted in his chair, clearly uncomfortable. "You did listen to what I said about most of it being down to luck, didn't you?"

"Yes, Harry," Hermione replied, her voice gentle but firm. "But there's no point pretending you're not good at Defence Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were the only one last year who could completely throw off the Imperius Curse, you can produce a Patronus, you've done all sorts of things even adult wizards struggle with. Viktor always said –"

Ron whipped around so fast it was a wonder he didn't sprain his neck. "Yeah?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "What did Vicky say?"

(Y/n) rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh as Hermione continued, unfazed.

"He said Harry could do things even he couldn't," she replied, a touch bored. "And he was in his final year at Durmstrang."

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

Hermione raised an eyebrow, her cheeks tinged with pink. "And what if I am? I can have a pen-pal if I like—"

"He didn't just want to be your pen-pal!"

Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation, firmly ignoring him. She turned to Harry, her tone shifting back to business. "So, what do you think, Harry? Will you teach us?"

"Just you, (Y/n), and Ron, yeah?"

"Well..." Hermione's face took on that cautious look again. "Please don't fly off the handle, Harry, but... I think you should teach anyone who wants to learn. I mean, it's about defending ourselves against – Voldemort." She flinched at the name but held her ground. "Oh, stop it, Ron. It wouldn't be fair not to offer it to everyone who needs it."