Then, on a wild, tempestuous night at the end of September, as the four of them hunched over dusty tomes in the library researching essays on Vanishing Spells for mice, the previously dormant topic of Defense Against the Dark Arts practice suddenly resurfaced like a phoenix from the ashes.
"I was wondering,"Hermione said in a carefully modulated whisper that somehow carried more weight than a shout, "whether you two have given any further consideration to our Defense Against the Dark Arts practice discussion."
"Of course I have—well, I've mulled it over somewhat,"Harry replied, his expression a battlefield of conflicting emotions. "I'm simply not certain about anything anymore."
He lifted his gaze toward Orli, green eyes searching for guidance in the lamplight.
"I believe we should attempt it, Harry,"Orli said with quiet conviction. She reasoned there could be no genuine harm in the endeavor—if Voldemort truly intended to assault Hogwarts as the original timeline suggested, students deserved every opportunity to learn proper self-defense and protection.
"You're all aware that everything I've accomplished was pure luck, aren't you? Please don't harbor unrealistic expectations..."Harry shifted restlessly in his chair, as if the very seat had become uncomfortable under the weight of their faith in him.
"Harry, you mustn't diminish your own abilities,"Hermione said with gentle firmness. "Have some confidence in yourself. Viktor always maintained—"
Ron whipped his head around with such violent speed it appeared he might have seriously injured his neck. Rubbing the strained muscles, he demanded: "What? What did 'Viktor' say exactly?"
"Oh, here we go again,"Hermione said in a tone dripping with exasperation, as if this particular argument had become as predictable as sunrise. "He said Harry possessed magical knowledge that even he lacked, and Viktor was completing his final year at Durmstrang at the time."
Ron fixed Hermione with a look of deep suspicion, his blue eyes narrowing dangerously. "You're not still corresponding with him, are you?"
"What if I am?"Hermione replied with icy precision, though telltale pink crept across her cheeks like dawn breaking. "Am I not permitted to maintain a pen pal relationship?"
"He doesn't want to be merely your pen pal!"Ron burst out with the desperate urgency of someone witnessing an approaching disaster.
"Ron!"Hermione finally detonated like an overcharged Exploding Snap card. She glanced toward Harry and Orli, who sat frozen in mortified fascination, her face now resembling a particularly vibrant tomato. "Must you argue about this here? In front of Harry and Orli, of all people?!"
Ron finally registered the full scope of his social catastrophe, sinking back into his seat with the deflated air of someone who'd just realized they'd been shouting personal secrets in the Great Hall. His eyes darted frantically around the library, as if seeking escape routes.
"Ahem, ahem—"Harry attempted to break the suffocating awkwardness but was so thoroughly uncomfortable that he produced the exact same artificially delicate cough that Umbridge employed—a sound that made everyone wince.
Orli desperately wanted to dissolve into laughter but managed to suppress it only by biting down hard on her knuckle, tears of suppressed mirth gathering in her eyes.
"Right, returning to our actual topic,"Hermione announced with wounded dignity, shooting them all withering glares. "So you two have agreed to instruct us, then?"
"Just you and Ron, you mean?"Harry asked, finally managing to restore some semblance of normal conversation.
"Well, please don't be angry when I say this..."Hermione appeared slightly apprehensive, as if preparing to deliver potentially explosive news. "But I genuinely believe that if people wish to learn proper defense, we shouldn't deny them that opportunity. We're discussing protection against Voldemort himself. It would seem fundamentally unfair to exclude others who might desperately need these skills."
Harry pondered this proposition for several long moments, his brow furrowed in concentration. "But who else would genuinely want to participate besides you two? Don't forget, according to the Daily Prophet, I'm that 'attention-seeking' fraud who fabricates stories for personal glory. The entire endeavor might proceed more smoothly if Orli handled the instruction alone."
"Oh, I suspect you'll be genuinely astonished by the number of interested students,"Hermione said with the quiet confidence of someone who'd already conducted thorough research. "The first weekend in October features a Hogsmeade visit—perhaps we could arrange for interested parties to meet us in the village for proper discussion?"
"Why must we venture off school grounds?"Ron inquired, still looking somewhat shell-shocked from his earlier outburst.
"Consider the consequences,"Hermione said with meaningful emphasis. "If Umbridge discovered our plans, her reaction would be... considerably less than pleased. In fact, I suspect she'd find creative ways to make our lives absolutely miserable."
The weight of that possibility settled over them like a heavy blanket, each imagining the pink-clad High Inquisitor's likely response to unauthorized defense instruction.
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