The day after, Jake had shown up to the Quidditch Field after classes and dinner. He felt weird being back on grass, wearing his Quidditch Uniform again. He was the second one there after Angelina, and she was patiently awaiting the arrival of her team.
"Evening, Jake," Angelina greeted him.
"Evening, where is everyone else?" He asked her.
"There isn't going to be anyone else for today. I told them it was just going to be you," she said.
"..." He stood there quietly, analyzing her for a moment, "You want to see if I've still got what it takes to be Seeker, don't you?"
"Your deductive reasoning shines through again," she smiled at him, "well, almost anyway, yes, it's just you, but not entirely accurate in what I'm going to have you be doing." She walked over to the crate that housed the Quaffle, two Bludgers, and the Golden Snitch, "I want you to catch the Snitch, but with each attempt, I want you to do it faster."
"I understand," he said and mounted his broom, awaiting her release of the Snitch.
She released it and he waited Ten Seconds, plenty of time for the Snitch to get away from him. After ten seconds, he bolted into the air and Angelina started her Stopwatch. The first attempt he took 1 Minute 53 Seconds. He whittled that down several seconds each attempt, really pushing the Firebolt to its limit. Eventually, on his Fifth attempt, it took him 1 Minute 24 Seconds.
As he was landing, Angelina hurried over to him, "Jake, are you sure you don't want to become our Main Seeker?"
"No, that's Harry's spot. He earned it in First Year. I'm just a Reserve," he replied. He wasn't going to take away one of the few things Harry enjoyed at this school from him. He wouldn't be a good friend if he did that.
"Alright then, I can't make you, but thank you for rejoining the team," she gave him an appreciative smile, "see you Friday with the rest of the team!" She bounded back up to the Castle in significantly higher spirits.
Jake stood out there, Firebolt in hand, and he looked around at the empty Stadium. Or rather, it would've been empty, but up in the stands, Hermione had gone unnoticed until now. Upon being seen by him, she stood up and hurried down to the field. She ran across the grass and almost tackled him to the floor with an embrace, "I love you so much, Jake."
He had dropped his broomstick to embrace her safely, "I love you too, Hermione..." even though it was true, it was hard to forget his own infidelity. Sure, he and Hermione hadn't gotten sexual with their interactions, but it was still there.
"What's wrong?" She asked him, sensing some inner-conflict.
"Do you want to fly, Hermione?" He asked as his answer.
"F-Fly? I-I don't know... I hate flying..." She stuttered out.
"I won't let you fall," he said, used Accio to bring his Firebolt to his hand, and he mounted his broom, "I'll have an arm around your midriff, holding you securely against me."
Hermione's face burned with embarrassment and lewd thoughts. In the end, she agreed, "Okay," she mounted his broomstick, sitting with her back pressing against his toned chest, and she gripped the broomstick handle with both hands in vice grips. She closed her eyes just as the broom took off, but it was slow, not the jerky motion she expected. She opened her eyes and saw the sky getting closer, or maybe it was just her fear of flying making her iffy. Whatever the case, she was not letting go of the broom, not until both her feet were safely back on the grass.
She suddenly felt an arm going over her stomach, a hand resting gently on the right side of her waist. Her breathing slowed to a normal pace, not even realizing it had quickened in the first place. She looked around carefully, finding the sight to be oddly beautiful. She still hated flying, but if it was with Jake she could handle it no problem.
Jake was looking down at Hermione's hair, "A beautiful sight."
"It really is," she replied, not knowing what he was talking about.
"Whenever you're ready, let me know and we will go back to ground level," he said, but she didn't say anything right away.
Hermione was going to consider this as a small date between her and Jake, just the two of them, alone, on a broomstick, his arm around her to hold her securely. This was wonderful to her.
It was only after ten minutes passed before she said anything, "Can we go back to the ground now?" She asked him.
"Of course, my love," he said, and even though he couldn't see it, he had no doubt her face was burning.
They got down safely and Hermione turned to him, looking up into his eye, "Kiss me..."
He didn't say anything as he bent down and captured her lips with his own. It lasted only a few seconds, but that was enough to satisfy them both for the time being.
They separated and Hermione grabbed his hand. He quickly showed his Firebolt in his pouch and let Hermione lead him up back to the Castle, "You want to patrol the Corridors for an hour or two? Just to have a reason for being out so late?"
"Sure," he said and they simply wandered the first and second floors for an hour.
During that time, Hermione talked to him about what happened last night, "So you were serious? About teaching us?"
"Of course, I'd be happy to start this weekend, but you want it to be Harry and myself, and he has at least fought Voldemort..." he trailed off.
"That's why I want him to be a teacher for us. You know practically every spell in existence by now, but you know how each spell learned at Hogwarts works, you can correct us where we fail. Harry can too, but he doesn't know Sixth and Seventh Year spells," Hermione said.
Jake was quiet for a moment, "Okay... so far you've only given reasons for me to teach y'all, why do you want Harry to? Besides having fought Voldemort, of course."
"Mainly so he has a chance to take his mind off-" she stopped herself. She almost revealed the secret Harry wanted kept from Jake, "- h-how difficult the year has started for him, that's all."
He looked at her for a moment, "Okay, that's fair. He has had it rough, but if he learned to stop talking back to Umbridge, he wouldn't be so behind on schoolwork."
"That's what I told him last night before you came back," Hermione said, both of them walking up a flight of stairs.
"Well, he better not take too long to decide, because as I said yesterday, the sooner we start the lessons, the better chance everyone can have at passing their Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.," Jake said as they walked up to the floor Gryffindor Tower resided on. They spoke the password to the Fat Lady, and she let them in, fussing about something, but neither of them could understand what.
They had minimal homework to do, it was only Wednesday, but they were good about getting homework done early, especially Jake, and Hermione couldn't figure it out. She thought about the homework Snape set forth for them, and if her last assignment was apparently only A worthy, maybe she should ask Jake for help? Even the thought of asking made Hermione nauseated, she hated asking for help, especially when it came to Schoolwork.
They sat down to work on it, Hermione was going to have to work harder in Potions class, but she also figured Snape was just being his usual self. She felt like she'd do so much better in the actual O.W.L.
*******
Two weeks had passed for them. Harry had managed to not get detention again in that time, which meant Jake only had to go to Practices Monday and Friday. At the practices Jake went to, Ron had done much better than previously, but there were no Slytherins to distract him, so Game Day would really prove how he will do as Keeper.
It was now the tail end of September, and Jake was in the library with his friends, helping them look up Potion Ingredients for Snape when Hermione suddenly brought up the question she had been patiently awaiting an answer for, "I was wondering, Harry, if you'd thought any more about teaching with Jake and helping us with Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
Harry didn't answer her right away. He didn't even look up from his paper that he was reading, or pretending to read, Hermione guessed. She watched him patiently, "Well - yeah..." he started unsurely, "of course I've thought about it..." She saw Harry glance over at Ron.
Ron looked up when he felt eyes on him, "Don't look at me, I thought it was a great idea from the start."
"Look, Potter, it's a simple question with a simple answer, either you and I tag team this, or I do it myself. And I think we should extend the offer to more than just Hermione and Ron. We aren't the only ones suffering that bitch, so I think anyone who wants to learn should be allowed to," Jake said, giving an ultimatum to Harry.
"Alright, alright..." Harry said loudly enough for Madam Pince to shush him, "fine... I'll help you..." he turned to Hermione, "what did you have in mind?"
Hermione suddenly became gleeful, "Okay, so the first weekend in October is Hogsmeade Weekend, right?" They nodded, "Well, I think we should host a meeting there, Ron and I can ask some people we think might be interested."
"Why do it outside the school?" Harry asked her.
Jake was the one who answered, "Because if Umbridge heard about it, she wouldn't be happy, and it'd be problematic for us."
Hogsmeade Weekend quickly approached, and Harry had voiced his fears and concerns involving his Godfather to his friends, "Well, I can't blame him for being angry, but until Voldemort is out in the open, and it's proven that Sirius is innocent, because firstly he doesn't have the mark, secondly when he starts attacking Voldemort's actual followers, it'll be shown that he was never on his side," Hermione said to Harry.
"I know that... and I'm sure he does too... but none of you know what it's like to be shut in for extended periods of time..." Harry said in defense of his Godfather.
"Don't be so sure..." Jake said, his gaze looking distant.
"Jake, I-I didn't-" Harry started.
"Don't," Jake looked at him, "just don't."
"So Ron and I have been sounding out people we feel would be interested in learning from you both, and a few of them seem interested, so we told them to meet us at Hogsmeade," Hermione said, shifting topics quickly.
"Good, hopefully they can retain interest after we start," Jake answered her.
Hogsmeade Weekend dawned bright, but windy. After breakfast, they queued up in front of Filch, who matched their names to a long, long list of students who had permission from their parents or guardians to visit the village.
When Jake got up there, Filch stopped him, "Hang on, your names not on here," a wicked smile was forming on his face.
"Bullshit," Jake, "let me see the list."
Filch tried to keep him from seeing, but Jake was too fast and quickly scanned the list. To his complete surprise, his name was not on there, "I told you you weren't on here."
"I'm going to Hogsmeade anyway," Jake said defiantly.
"You're not going anywhere, boy , you'll be staying right here at the school," Filch's smile widened sickeningly.
McGonagall walked up when she saw the line hadn't moved in a bit, "What's going on here, why the hold up, Mr. Filch?"
"He's trying to go to Hogsmeade without his name being on the list," Filch said.
"Mr. Filch, have you forgotten that Kidd does have permission to go to Hogsmeade, or shall I go and get the Headmaster?" McGonagall challenged the Caretaker.
Filch conceded almost too quickly, "No, that won't be necessary, get going," he said the last bit to Jake, who casually walked past him with Hermione.
"Stupid fuck..." Jake said when they were out of the Castle.
"I have no idea what that was about... why wouldn't your name have been on there?" Hermione asked as they walked to meet Ron and Harry, who were ahead of them in the queue.
"Probably something to do with Umbridge... she hates me, clearly, but she hasn't given me detention yet... why?" He looked at Hermione.
The girl in question felt a little lightheaded, "Pr-Probably just doesn't want to... to..." Hermione failed to think of a reason.
"Is she afraid of me, you think?" He asked her.
"Yes, yes that's it, that's got to be it," Hermione agreed, but not too quickly to arouse suspicion.
They met up with Ron and Harry on the road to Hogsmeade, "So," Harry said as they walked, "where are we going, The Three Broomsticks?"
"Oh, no," Hermione said, "no it's always packed and really noisy. I've told the others to meet us at the Hog's Head, that other pub, you know the one, it's not on the main road... I think it's a bit dodgy , but students don't normally go there, so I don't think we'll be overheard."
"I've got a bad feeling... we should've done it at The Three Broomsticks..." Jake said.
"But it's noisy in there and always packed, like I said," Hermione reiterated.
"That's the point, though... never mind, forget it... you know last year, I asked Fleur if she wanted to go to the Hog's Head, but she said no," Jake said, changing topic.
"You still talk to Fleur?" Hermione asked him.
"Only once in a while, she said she might not get to respond for a while in the last letter she sent, but I wrote a reply anyway, and I haven't heard back from her, but she has a life, and so do I. Besides, I'm not worried about her, she can handle herself," Jake said, looking down at Hermione.
She looked up at him, but she had no concerns, Fleur was his friend, and Fleur considered her as a sister.
They continued on to the Hog's Head, despite Jake's concerns, and stood in front of it. Jake walked in casually, but heard the door shut behind him too quickly. He turned around and saw they were hesitant. He opened the door again and walked out, "What's the holdup?"
"Nothing," Hermione said, steeling her nerves and walking in, Harry and Ron following her, Jake bringing up the rear.
The interior was the complete opposite of the Three Broomsticks; where the main pub gave off an air of cleanliness and warmth from its large bar area. The Hog's Head bar, however, consisted of one small, dingy, and very dirty room that smelled of what Jake believed to be goats. The bay windows were so encrusted with grime that very little daylight could permeate the room, which was lit instead with the stubs of candles sitting on rough wooden tables. The floor, upon first glance, seemed to be Earthy, but just stepping on it proved to be stone.
As they walked in, there were a few patrons, all of whom were hiding their faces, 'We should've gone to the Three Broomsticks...' Jake thought to himself.
A man at the bar had bandage wraps on his head, but was still able to drink through a small slit around the mouth area. Two figures shrouded in hoods were talking in heavy Yorkshire accents at a table next to one of the windows. And near the back corner was a Witch with a long black veil that went down to her toes, and her long, pointed nose was sticking out the edge of the veil.
"I don't know about this, Hermione..." Harry said with uncertainty, "what if Umbridge is hiding under that veil?"
"Umbridge is shorter than that woman," Hermione answered, "and even if she did come into the Hog's Head, we aren't out of bounds. I double and triple checked the rules, and just for good measure, I asked Professor Flitwick if students were allowed, and he said yes, but advised me that we should bring our own glasses. And I looked up everything I could about study groups and homework groups, and they are definitely allowed we just don't want to be parading it around."
"No," Harry said dryly, "especially as it's not a homework group you're planning exactly, is it?"
"Could easily qualify as a study group, though," Jake interjected.
The barman then sidled towards them out of the backroom. He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of long gray hair and beard. He reminded Jake of Dumbledore, and briefly wondered if this man was related to him, but when he spoke, the thought escaped his mind, "What?" He grunted at them.
"Four Butterbeers, please?" Hermione asked him.
He looked like even the thought of serving someone was going to kill him, but with great reluctance he reached underneath the bar and slammed down three dusty looking bottles, "Eight Sickles."
"I'll get them," Jake said and walked up to the bar.
"How'd you get the eyepatch?" The old man asked him.
"Why do you ask?" Jake asked, putting down One Galleon, which seemed to really frustrate the old man, "keep the change."
"Whatever," he said and swept up the Galleon.
Jake grabbed the drinks and made his way back to his friends, who retreated to the table farthest from the bar.
"You know... we could probably order anything we want in here," Ron said as he opened his butterbeer.
"I'm not paying for it, whatever it is," Jake said, taking a swig of his butterbeer.
Ron's face dropped slightly, "So who did you say was meeting us?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Just a couple of people, and I told them if they knew anyone, to invite them as well. I assume Ron did too?"
"Yeah, yeah totally," Ron lied.
Hermione sighed irritably, "Well, I told them what time to be here," she checked her watch, "they should be arriving any min- oh, that must be them now," Hermione said as the door opened, revealing a large band of students, way more than Hermione described would show up.
First came Neville, followed by Dean and Lavender, who were closely followed by Padma and Parvati with Cho Chang and one of her usually giggling friends, with Luna walking in next, a dreamy look on her face like always; Katie came in next followed closely by Alicia and Angelina, both Colin and Dennis Creevey were next, Ernie MacMillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott (The sight of her caused Jake's heart to skip a beat, but not for the reason most would think), Susan Bones, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Terry Boot, Ginny came in with a tall skinny boy behind her, who Jake believed to be Zacharias Smith, and last but not least was Fred, George, and Lee all bringing up the rear, their arms filled with bags from Zonko's no doubt.
"A couple of people?" Harry asked in shock, " A couple of people ?"
"I guess the idea was popular," Jake said, not making Harry feel better about it.
The barman froze upon seeing so many people in his bar. He had been wiping a mug with a dirty rag that looked like it had never been cleaned, but he threw it down onto the table when Fred ordered Twenty-five Butterbeers. Jake stood up and set down three Galleons on the bar.
"If they are Two Sickles each, comes out to just under three Galleons, keep the change," Jake walked back to his seat.
"What have you been telling people?" Harry asked Hermione just as Jake sat back down.
"I've told you, they just want to hear what you have to say. Don't worry about saying anything first, I'll get the crowd to listen first, then I'll hand it over to you and Jake," she explained to Harry.
"Hi, Harry," Neville said as he sat down opposite Harry, his face beaming.
Luna sat down at the table nearest them, "Hello, Jake, a pleasure to see you as always."
"Hey, Luna, you doing alright?" He asked her.
"I am, thank you," her dreamy smile ever present.
"Luna..." Hermione said slowly, but Luna interrupted her.
"Don't worry, Hermione, you don't have to apologize," Luna smiled at her.
"But I do... I am sorry for what I said... I was having a bad day and I took it out on you, and that was wrong of me to do," Hermione explained.
Luna looked touched, "Hermione... thank you, your apology is sincere and heart-felt."
"Still want to be friends?" Hermione asked.
"Of course," Luna smiled dreamily as Hermione returned it.
She then turned to the crowd as a whole and stood up, but as her mouth hung open there, Jake realized she lost her voice. He stood up beside her, "Hello everyone, I assume you all know why you're here?" He asked and they all nodded. He glanced at Hermione, who was looking at him, "I'll let Hermione take over from here."
He sat down and every eye focused on Hermione, a few eyes occasionally glancing back to Jake or to Harry. "So you all know why you're here... to study proper Defense Against the Dark Arts, and you will have noticed by now, any class with Umbridge is atrocious and you aren't learning anything proper in the way of Defense," Hermione spoke with wavering confidence, but one glance back to Jake reinvigorated her, giving her a newfound momentum, "so I thought it a good idea to take matters into our own hands."
"Hear hear!" Ernie said, and Hermione smiled.
"We have to teach ourselves proper Defense, not just garbage Theory, but real spellwork-" she was cut off.
"You want to pass your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. too, though, I bet?" Michael Corner asked her.
"Of course I do, but this goes beyond just passing our O.W.L.... I want to be properly trained in Defense... you know why? Because Voldemort is back, dammit, and he's not going to take it easy on us!"
The reaction to the name was expected among many of the students: shrieks of terror, shudders of fear, cringes of discomfort.
"That's the plan anyway," Hermione said, "If you want to join us in learning Defense, then we-"
She was cut off by a Hufflepuff boy, the Hufflepuff called Zacharias Smith, and he spoke aggressively, "Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?"
Jake glared at him, wondering if he could cover the entire inside of this pub with Smith's blood. "Well," Hermione started, "Dumbledore believes it-"
"You mean, Dumbledore believes him !" Smith pointed right at Harry.
"Smith, I advise you to speak calmly and politely to Hermione," Jake said.
"And why should I be taking advice from you? You seem to blow up every other day at someone," Smith fired back.
"You're right, I did, but unless you want that to be directed at you... do as I fucking say," Jake said in a threatening tone, "Voldemort is back, if you have a problem with that, there's the door, off you go, nice knowing you."
Smith said nothing on the specific matter, but stayed in his seat, "I think we have the right to hear what makes him say that You-Know-Who's back," Smith nodded towards Harry.
"I really don't think-" Hermione started.
"It's okay, Hermione," Harry stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. She sat down and Harry looked right at Zacharias, "What makes me say Voldemort's back? I saw him, I fought him, and Dumbledore said at the end of last year he has returned. If you don't believe him, you don't believe me. I'm not going to waste an entire day to try and convince anyone that Voldemort has returned."
Zacharias spoke dismissively, "All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory was killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought his body back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered. I think we'd all like to know-"
"If you've come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone, then I can't help you," Harry said.
"And if you don't shut the fuck up, Smith, I'll show you how I think he murders people," Jake said darkly, causing everyone a shiver down their spine, "and trust me, I know how to keep you awake and alive so you can watch the brutality unfold." He actually didn't know how to do that because it was impossible; he would know, because he looked it up.
Smith actually sunk in his seat from the fear he felt.
"Look, I'm not here to talk about Cedric, and if that's all anyone showed up for, then clear out now, because I'm not doing it, and I'm not going to entertain the possibility of it. So leave if that's all you came to hear about," Harry said to the quiet bar.
No one got up, not even Zacharias Smith, but he still gazed intently at Harry, "So..." Hermione began again, "so, like I was saying... if you want to learn some Defense-"
She stopped when the door opened again. In walked the last person she expected, or really wanted to see, "Sorry I'm late, had trouble finding the Hog's Head."
"Pendragon..." Jake said.
"Hey, Jake, always good to see you," Logan said, smiling. He ordered himself a butterbeer and sat down, "So, what all's been said?"
"We are going to be gathering for learning Defensive Spells," Jake answered.
"Wait wait wait..." Fred spoke up, "he's a Slytherin, why is he here?"
"He's probably the only Slytherin in the entire House," Jake said, "he won't tell any of them about it."
"So, again..." Hermione huffed at having to repeat it for a Third Time, "if you want to learn some Defense, then we need to work out how we are going to do it. A day we can meet up that doesn't conflict with all of our other extracurricular activities."
Before she could continue, someone spoke up, that someone was Susan Bones, "Harry, is it true? You can cast a Patronus?"
"Yeah... it's true..." Harry said, almost defensively.
"A Corporeal Patronus?" Susan asked again.
"Wait, you don't know Madam Bones, do you?" Harry asked her.
"Well, she is Susan Bones , I would imagine they are related," Jake said.
"Right... yeah, I can cast one..." Harry said.
"Is it also true that it's a Stag?" Susan asked eagerly.
"Yes," Harry actually smiled when he answered.
"Blimey, Harry," Lee said, looking deeply impressed, "I never knew that!"
'Jake can cast one too... an Alligator... or did you conveniently forget that, Harry?' Hermione thought to herself, 'And why is Jake not saying anything?'
"Mum told Ron not to spread it around," Fred said, grinning at Harry, "she said you got enough attention as it was."
"She's not wrong..." Harry mumbled, and a few people laughed.
Jake caught some movement from the veiled Witch in her seat as she shifted very slightly. He squinted at her, 'Fletcher? Next time we talk to Sirius, I'm going to demand why Fletcher was here.'
"And did you kill a Basilisk with that Sword in Dumbledore's Office? Back in Second Year?" Terry Boot demanded more than asked, "That's what one of the portraits on the wall told me when I was in there last year..."
"No, no that was actually Jake," Harry said.
Jake turned upon hearing his name and many eyes were on him; he caught sight of both Parvati and Padma as they said 'wow' softly.
"But in our First Year," Neville said to the group at large, "he saved that Philosophical Stone-"
"Philosopher's Stone," Hermione corrected.
"Yes, that, from You-Know-Who!" Neville finished.
"Yeah, but I'd have never gotten through the fire trap if it weren't for Hermione, that Giant Chess board we only got by because of Ron, and Jake killed that Manticore, which would've shredded Hermione and me apart," Harry said.
"But you were the one to face off against him to save the Stone!" Justin said loudly.
"And that's not to mention," Cho said, getting eyes on her, "all the tasks he had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last year - getting past dragons and merpeople and acromantulas and things..."
"Jake also saved some of us from that Horntail, though, before that giant rock crushed us," Ginny said.
"And he dove into the water to save Fleur's sister, coming back with severe injuries," Luna said in admiration.
A murmur of impressed agreement around the table was heard for both Harry and Jake, "And Jake is easily the strongest Wizard on Earth, he knows more spells than most adult Witches and Wizards, and he's unbeatable in a Duel," Logan said.
Jake looked at him carefully, unsure of where Pendragon was going with it.
"So, are we in agreement that we want to learn from both Harry and Jake?" Hermione asked them as a whole.
"Why not just Jake?" Padma asked, eyeing him suggestively.
"Because I've not faced Voldemort," a shudder went through most of them again, "Harry has."
No one could really argue with him on that. They probably could've, but they didn't want to invoke his wrath, so they stayed quiet. Smith sat there with his arms folded, like a child would for not getting their way.
"So... about meeting times..." Hermione started, "I know every House has Quidditch practice, but we shouldn't meet less than once a week, so we will find an evening to schedule practices."
"Really, we should meet more than once a week," Jake said, "because what good are O.W.L.s or Quidditch if we are all dead?" He raised a very good point, but then said, "However, I won't deny anyone for caring about their future or enjoying the simple pleasure of Quidditch matches."
"He is right, though," Ernie said, "this is really important, probably the most important thing we'll ever do this year, and I, personally, can't find a valid reason as to why the Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher upon us at this critical period. Obviously they are in denial about You-Know-Who's return, but to give us a teacher who is trying to actively prevent us from using defensive spells-"
"Well we actually think the reason Umbridge doesn't want us trained in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hermione said, "is that she got some... some mad idea that Dumbledore could use the students in the school as a kind of Private Army. She thinks he'd mobilize us against the Ministry."
Nearly everyone looked stunned at this news; everyone except Luna, who then piped up, "Well, that makes sense. After all, Cornelius Fudge has got his own Private Army."
"What?" Harry asked, seemingly completely thrown by this news.
"Yes, he's got an army of Heliopaths," Luna said solemnly.
"Well, if he does, they're no match for me," Jake said.
"That's true, they wouldn't be a match for you, Jake," Luna said in admiration.
"So, once a week for the meeting, yes?" Hermione asked them. A hum of agreement sounded out, "Okay, next question is, where do we meet?"
Jake sat there, thinking for a good while. While doing so, others offered suggestions, "Library?" Katie suggested after a few moments.
"I can't see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us doing jinxes in the library," Harry said.
"Maybe an unused classroom?" Dean suggested.
"Yeah, McGonagall might let us have hers," Ron said enthusiastically, "she did when Harry was practicing for the Triwizard Tournament."
"Well, we'll try and find-" Hermione started to say.
Jake cut her off, "I think I might know a place..."
"Where?" Harry asked.
"I can't be too sure yet... I need to actually find it first, but when I do, I'll send a message round to everyone when I've found it."
"And the time we'll be meeting for our first meeting," Hermione tacked on. She rummaged in her bag and produced parchment and a quill, then seemed to hesitate, like she was steeling herself to ask a difficult question of everyone, "I-I think that... everybody should write their name down, just so we know who was here. But I also think," she took a deep breath, "that we all ought to not shout about what we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge - or anyone not in this room - what we're up to."
A few, Fred, George, Lee, Neville, and basically all the Gryffindor, plus Pendragon, cheerfully put their signatures down. Jake, however, noticed some people were no longer as keen on the idea as they once were.
"Er..." Zacharias said slowly, not taking the parchment from George, who was trying to pass it to him, "Well... I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is."
'Why am I not surprised...' Jake thought.
But Ernie himself was looking rather hesitant too. When Hermione and Jake looked at him, he began to stammer, "I - well, we are prefects ," Ernie burst out, "And if this list was found... well, I mean to say... you said yourself, if Umbridge finds out..."
"You just said this group was the most important thing you'd do this year," Harry reminded him.
"I - yes," Ernie said, realizing he couldn't stumble his way out of that, "yes, I do believe that, it's just..."
"Alright, listen up, all of you," Jake said, standing up, his presence becoming more menacing by the second, even the barman and other patrons found him to be intimidating, "Hermione and I are Prefects too, and we are doing what we think is right for us, for the future of the Wizarding World. If Voldemort is allowed to return to full power, then every little simple-minded, stupid, pathetic thing you care about right now, will mean jack-shit. If you aren't going to sign this paper, you stand the fuck up right now, and walk out that door," he pointed towards the exit, "I will not tolerate our precious time being wasted. So I will say this once more, and only once more... Sign or Walk."
Jake sat down, his breathing steady, the menacing feeling leaving the room, and everyone soon felt like they could breathe again. When it seemed calm enough, Hermione spoke again, "And Ernie, do you really think I'd be so careless as to leave parchment lying around?"
She caught Neville's face, and she realized he was still blamed for leaving a paper with the passwords written down, even though it was Crookshanks who got them, no student ever found that out besides her and her friends.
"No... n-no... no of course not..." Ernie said, stammering worse than before, "I-I'll s-s-sign..."
He did indeed sign his name, including everyone else. No one got up to leave, even after Jake said what he did. The last person to sign was Zacharias, and after he did, Hermione took the parchment back and slipped it carefully into her bag. There was an odd feeling in the group now, unrelated to the feeling Jake had given them. Jake and Hermione knew the truth about the parchment they had everyone sign, if anyone spoke about the Group to Umbridge or anyone of that nature, they would have something very bad happen to them.
"Well, time's ticking on," Fred said briskly, getting to his feet, "George, Lee, and I have got items of sensitive nature to purchase, we'll be seeing you all later."
In twos and threes, the rest of the group took their leave too. Cho made rather a business of fastening the catch on her bag before leaving, her long dark curtain of hair swinging forward to hide her face, but her friend stood beside her, arms folded, clicking her tongue, so that Cho had little choice but to leave with her. Jake noticed that as her friend ushered her through the door, Cho looked back and waved, and he could only assume it was to Harry.
"Well, I think that went quite well," Hermione said happily, as she, Harry, Ron, and Jake walked out of the Hog's Head into the bright sunlight a few moments later, Harry and Ron both still clutching their bottles of butterbeer.
"That Zacharias bloke's a wart," Ron said, who was glowering the figure of Smith just discernible in the distance.
"I don't much like him either," Hermione admitted, "but he overheard me talking to Ernie and Hannah at the Hufflepuff table and he seemed really interested in coming, so what could I say? But the more people the better really - I mean, Michael Corner and his friends wouldn't have come if he hadn't been going out with Ginny-"
Hermione stopped talking when Ron, who had been draining the last few drops from his butterbeer bottle, gagged and sprayed butterbeer down his front, "He's WHAT!?" Ron demanded in outrage, his ears now resembling curls of raw beef, "she's going out with - my sister's going - what d'you mean, Michael Corner?"
"Well, that's why he and his friends came, I think - well, they're obviously interested in learning defense, but if Ginny hadn't told Michael what was going on-" Hermione got interrupted again by Ron.
"When did this - when did she-?"
"They met at the Yule Ball and they got together at the end of last year," Hermione said composedly. They had turned into the High Street and she paused outside Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, where there was a handsome display of pheasant-feather quills in the window, "Hmm... I could do with a new quill..."
"Let me buy it for you, I missed your birthday... again... so let me buy it, whichever you want," Jake looked at her.
Hermione walked into the shop, followed by her three friends, "Are you sure? I mean... I have the money."
"Which one was Michael Corner?" Ron demanded furiously.
"The only other dark-skinned boy in our Year," Hermione said.
"I didn't like him," Ron said at once.
"Only after you found out he's dating your sister..." Hermione said under her breath.
Hermione continued browsing for a Quill set that Jake offered to buy for her when Ron continued talking, following her around like a lost puppy, "But... I thought Ginny fancied Harry!?"
Hermione looked at him rather pityingly and shook her head, "Ginny used to fancy Harry, but she gave up on him months ago. Not to say she doesn't still like you and see you as a friend, of course," Hermione added kindly as she examined a long black-and-gold quill.
Harry, on the other hand, was not paying much attention, 'Probably stuck on Cho... that will only end in heartbreak...'
"Wait," Harry said, apparently having caught the last bit, "So that's why she talks now? In front of me? She never used to..."
"Exactly," Hermione smiled triumphantly as she found the quill set she wanted, "yes, I think I'll have this one..."
Before she could grab it, Jake swooped it up and walked to the counter, handing the clerk fifteen Sickles and two Knuts. Hermione had the misfortune of Ron practically breathing down her neck, muttering to himself.
"You see, this is exactly why Ginny hasn't told you about her dating Corner, she knew you'd take it badly, and you're the only one who is. Fred and George both know, but they aren't muttering to themselves about what they will do to him if he breaks her heart," Hermione said bluntly, "I'm sure Michael Corner is very well aware of what Fred and George will probably do to him, so he probably got the message very quickly."
"Speaking of..." Jake said, handing Hermione her Quill set, which she happily, but reluctantly accepted, "What's with you and Cho, Harry?"
"What d'you mean?" Harry asked quickly.
"It was obvious she couldn't keep her eyes off you, could she?" Hermione asked him.
Harry was looking anywhere but his friends, and resorted to saying nothing as he and Ron left the shop. Hermione and Jake followed, but they lagged behind, "He should watch out for her..."
"Watch out for who, Cho?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah... I've got a feeling that it's not as clear-cut as it seems with her..." he turned to Hermione, "remember, she and Cedric were a thing in the second half of last year. Her intentions may not be free of malice..."
Hermione would've argued, but Jake had been right numerous times when he got a bad feeling about something. She decided she'd keep an eye on Harry and Cho, just to be safe.
Hermione suddenly grabbed Jake's hand and darted off to an empty alley to steal a quick snog with him. Long enough to be enjoyable, but not long enough to risk getting caught.
At least, not yet.