human again / hp.

Chapter 87

Two weeks had passed since the first meeting of the DA, and already, I could see the changes in everyone. Neville was no longer the shy, uncertain boy he had been at the start. His posture had straightened, and the way he held his wand suggested a newfound confidence. Luna had also come a long way; her spells were sharper, more focused, and her eccentricities seemed to blend seamlessly with her growing skills. Even Zacharias Smith, ever the skeptic, had stopped grumbling quite as much. Every session felt like a small rebellion against Umbridge's oppressive rule, a reminder that we were doing something important. And for the first time in ages, it felt like we were fighting back in our own way—like we had something worth looking forward to.

Tonight, the four of us—Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I—sat together in the Gryffindor common room. The fire crackled in the hearth, sending a warm glow across the room, and the familiar, cozy feeling of home settled around us. Hermione was perched on the edge of her chair, as usual, her parchment and quill in hand. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, a telltale sign she was working through a problem in her mind.

The silence hung comfortably between us, broken only by the occasional crackle from the fire, until Hermione let out a soft sigh, her voice cutting through the stillness.

"We need a better way to let everyone know when the next meeting is," she said, her voice laced with frustration. She glanced up at the rest of us, her eyes bright with the kind of determination that only Hermione Granger could muster. "The current system isn't working."

Ron, who had been lazily sprawled out on the couch with his feet propped up on the armrest, looked at her with an expression of mild amusement. "Why not just tell them during the meetings?" he suggested, his tone light and casual.

Hermione shook her head, her bushy hair bouncing slightly. "Too risky," she replied briskly. "What if someone overhears us, or worse, what if one of the members gets questioned by Umbridge's lot and slips up? We need a more secure way of letting people know."

Ron raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by Hermione's concerns. "Fair point," he muttered, sounding skeptical. "So, what's the brilliant plan then?"

Hermione's eyes lit up, her excitement palpable. She leaned forward, her voice filled with enthusiasm as she pulled a small leather pouch from her bag. "We use fake Galleons."

"Fake Galleons?" Harry echoed, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "How does that work?"

Hermione nodded, clearly pleased with herself for having come up with the idea. She tipped the pouch over, and several Galleons—glinting in the firelight—tumbled out onto the table. I leaned forward to get a better look, intrigued by the sight of the coins. They looked almost identical to real Galleons, glimmering with a faint golden hue.

"These will look just like real Galleons," Hermione explained, her fingers hovering over the coins as she spoke. "But the numbers etched along the edge will change to show the date and time of the next meeting. That way, anyone who has one will know when it's happening."

"Wait, so you're saying these coins will change on their own?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. I picked one up, turning it over in my fingers, admiring its weight and shine.

"Exactly," Hermione said, a proud smile tugging at her lips. "The idea is simple, but the magic behind it is a bit more complicated."

Ron, ever the realist, frowned and leaned forward. "But how will the numbers change? That kind of magic is pretty advanced, isn't it? We're not exactly learning that sort of stuff in fifth year."

Hermione's smile faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly. "It's called the Proteus Charm. It links objects together, so when one changes, the others change too. It's difficult to master, and I've been working on it for weeks, but... I haven't quite gotten it right yet."