Lady Black (Sirius Black's Daughter)

DADA study group

"Jane, wake up, love... Jane?" I pulled the blanket up and snuggled in to my pillow.
"Five minutes"
"Jane, you've got a visitor." Charlie continued his mission to wake me up.
"Who?" I asked while rubbing my eyes and sitting up. He kissed my cheek and gave me my answer.
"Hermione."

After putting on a robe over my PJ's, I entered the living area and greeted Hermione.
"What's going on?" I'm not a morning person so she shouldn't expect me to make small talk. She seemed to understand and immediatly explained the purpose of her visit.
"We're not learning anything in DADA with professor Umbridge teaching us. She won't even let us use our wands! So I though maybe you and Harry could teach us... I know Harry wouldn't want to do it on his own and you have the necessary knowledge and experience. Would you be up for it? We really need someone to show us how to defend ourselves especially now with V-Voldemort's return. Please, Jane?"

I sighed. Sure I would love to help but I've got kids to raise and my own classes to teach. Hermione was still looking at me with pleading eyes. Eventually I caved. I gave a small nod and she grinned.

"Great! We'll see who wants to join the lessons and search for a room. Of course we'll have to think of a name and a way to make sure no one tells. Then we'll need -"
"Wow easy there tiger! You might want to talk to Harry first. See if he's willing to teach. You shouldn't get to far ahead of yourself."

Hermione nodded sheepishly and with a smile said goodbye.

When she closed the door behind her, Charlie came in with Andrew and Tony. He handed me Andrew and sat down next to me.
"What did she want?" He queried.
"She wants Harry and I to teach Defense in secret 'cause with Umbridge no one will ever learn anything." We talked some more about it before moving on to the Great Hall for breakfast. Of course only after I got dressed.

Two weeks passed before Hermione visited me with more details on her idea.

"Harry is in. He doesn't expect anyone to be willing to learn from him but he's still up for it. We're organizing a meeting inthe Hog's Head during the next Hogsmeade weekend." She informed me.
"Why the Hog's Head?" I couldn't really think of a reason why anyone would like to go there. It's a creepy old pub with dirty glasses and questionable strangers. The place gives me the chills.

"I figured there wouldn't be as many people there to overhear us and tell on us. Why? Do you think we shouldn't go there?"
"We're better off in The Three Broomsticks. Yes, there are more people, but that also means there's more noice. You'd have to be close by to understand what's being said while at the Hogs Head anyone can overhear us and you don't know who goes there..."
She tought about it and nodded.

The next time I saw her and the rest of the trio was on the Hogsmeade trip during the first weekends of October. Charlie had taken the kids to go visit his parents so I could focus on the defense group.

Walking in to The Three Broomsticks, I was immediatly greeted by many familiar faces. Hermione failed to mention there would be such a big turn up. Let me tell you who showed up. To begin you had the trio, then there were Neville with Dean and Lavender, followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with Cho Chang and one of her friends, then Luna Lovegood entered, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner and Terry Boot. Those last three were Ravenclaws. Ginny entered closely followed by a Hufflepuff and then my group of friends arrived. Fred went to the Bar to order drinks for everyone while George and Lee made their way towards me.

After everyone was settled, Hermione stood up and made a speech. She started off unsteady but got her grip when she started bashing Umbridge's so called teaching. A few lines into her speech she mentioned the return of Voldemort with the usual reactions. There was even one kid, Zacharias Smith, who dared to have a go at Harry and Dumbledore.
"Where's the proof you know who is back?" He asked rather aggresively.
"Well, Dumbledore believes it..." Hermione said.
"You mean Dumbledore believes him!" Zach yelled while motioning in Harry's direction. Ron was about to interfear when I stood up.

"Look mr Smith. I have seen Voldemort too. Harry and I both witnessed his return and the death of Cedric. If you're calling Harry a liar, then you're calling me one as well and I'm not a person you want to call out a liar. So you can shut your mouth and listen to what they", I motioned towards the trio," have to say. If you can't I'll kick you out myself. Am I clear?" He nodded and the twins chuckled. I sat back down and let Harry go on a rant.

Afterwards there was an overrun of the last few years which resulted in an overal trust in Harry. Now we got their trust, all there's left to do are the practical stuff. The classes would be held once a week without clashing with the Quidditch practises.
Then the location was another point up to argue.
The library was out of question, an unused classroom would only get the teacher who's lending it in trouble and there were no other suggestions at the moment. Quess we'll have to figure that one out later...

After all of this, Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment. Everyone was to sign it so we'd know who came today but I think Hermione did something else to the parchment. She's clever. She wouldn't be as naive as to think that everyone who showed up today would be as dedicated as she is.

All by all it went well. Let's hope it will still go that way in the future.