A trip to Hogsmeade, and Cortney sat in a room with like twenty others or so. She sat next to Neville and Ginny. Hermione, Ron, and Harry came in. Everyone looked at Harry.

" Um, hi. So, you all know why we're here. We need a teacher. Proper teacher. Who have had real experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts," Hermione said nervously.

" Why ? " asked a second-year Gryffindor.

" Why? Cause You-Know-Who's back, you toss pop," Ron snapped

" So he says," the kid said.

" So Dumbledore says," Cortney said

" So Dumbledore says because he says," the kid snapped. " Point is, where's the truth? "

" If he could tell us more on how Cedric Diggory got killed," a third-year Hufflepuff said. Harry stood up to leave.

" I'm going to talk about Cedric Diggory if that's why you're here you might as well clear out," Harry snapped. " Come on Hermoine let's go they're here because they think I'm some sort of freak".

" Is it true that you can produce the Patronus Charm? " Luna Lovegood asked.

" Yes. I've seen it," Hermione said.

" Blimey, I didn't know you could do that," Dean said

" A-And Harry killed a Balisik with a sword in Dumbledore's office," Neville said.

" It's true," Ginny said.

" And I heard he fought off about a hundred Dementors at once," Ron said.

" And last year he really did fight You-Know-Who in the flesh," Hermione said. All eyes were on Harry.

" Wait. It sounds great when you say it like that. But the truth is most of that was luck. I didn't know what I was doing half of the time. I nearly always had help," Harry said.

" He's just being modest," Hermione said.

" No. Hermione I'm not," Harry said. " Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake you can always try again tomorrow. But out there, when you're a second away from murder or watching a friend die right in front of your eyes. You don't know what it's like," Harry said as he sat down. 

" You're right, we don't, that's why we need your help," Hermione said. " Because if we're going to have any chance at beating...Voldemort," Hermione breathed.

" He's really back," Nigel breathed. Harry nodded.  People got up to sign their name on parchment, under the name Dumbledore's Army. On their way back to the castle, they figured out where this would be held.

" Right, first we'll need a place to practice where Umbridge won't find out," Harry stated.

" The Shrieking Shack? " Ginny suggested.

" That is too small," Harry said.

" The Forbidden Forest? " Hermione suggested.

" Bloody no," Ron said.

" Harry, what happens if Umbridge does find out? " Ginny asked.

" Who cares? I Mean it's sort of exciting isn't it breaking rules? " Hermione said excitedly.

" Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger? " Ron asked causing Hermione to blush.

" Anyway, at least we know one positive thing that came from today," Hermione mentioned.

" What's that? " Harry asked.

" Cho couldn't take eyes off you could she? " Hermione asked as they entered the castle, making Harry blush.

" Over the next few days, we should come up with a few possibilities for places to practice. Got to make sure whatever it is there is no chance she will find us, " Harry said.

************

Cortney was in the Gryffindor room with Harry.

" Cortney could you possibly scoop out places, like late at night? " Harry asked. " Be the fox".

" I can see what I can do," Cortney said.

" Thank you," Harry said gratefully. AT that moment Neville came rushing in with Hermione and Ron. He brought them over to a wall and into some secret room. The door was like a gate, inside the room was spectacular. It had a ceiling way high up, a variety of mirrors, statues.

" You've done it, Neville! " Cortney breathed as she crossed her arms.

" You've found the Room of Requirements. I've heard about this room many of times; but I never thought it existed," Hermione breathed.

" What's the Room of Requirements? " Ron asked.

"It's also known as the come and go room. The Room of Requirements only appears when the person has real need of it. And always equipt for the seekers need," Hermione explained.

" So...say you really need the toilet," Ron suggested.

" Charming Ronald. But yes, that is the general idea," Hermione said. They all left the room, going into separate groups and walking away from each other. 

" Has Seamus come around? " Cortney asked.

" No, his mum still doesn't believe Harry, so he doesn't," Neville said. 

" He believes what his mum believes? " Cortney asked.

" You should know this Cort," Neville pointed.

" Oh, yeah," Cortney said softly.

" Got to keep up with this stuff! " Neville exclaimed as he playfully punched her. They round the corner, encountering Seamus and Dean.

" What up dorks? " Cortney greeted.

" You know, just looking for our two favorite people," Dean said sarcastically.

" How adorable," Cortney said. They went to the Great Hall for food. Cortney sat with the three boys.

" Hey Cort," Seamus said nudging her.

" What? " She asked. 

" Somebody has eyes for you," Seamus said wiggling his eyebrows. She looked at him confused, he turned her head so she would look at Theodore Nott. He was heading her way.

" Oh no," Cortney said. 

" Hello Cortney," Theodore said with a smirk.

" Hello Theodore," Cortney greeted. 

" Remember what I told you about not knowing what's good for you? Hanging out with Longbottom, a filthy half-blood and a mudblood," Theodore said.

" Shut up! " Cortney snapped. " I know what's good for me. And it's not you".

" Try again sweetheart," Theodore said putting his hand on her face.

" Don't touch me," Cortney said. Theodore raised his hand to hit her. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for the blow. SMACK! BOOM! Except for the hit never came. Cortney opened her eyes to see Seamus standing up and Theodore on the ground. 

" DON'T YOU DARE HIT HER YOU BLOODY PRICK! " Seamus shouted. 

" You want to fight Finnegan, outside right now," Theodore said. No one moved, everyone was staring. Theodore and Seamus both whipped out their wands and pointed it at each other.

" Seamus," Cortney said grabbing his arm. He ripped it out of her hand angrily. This caused her to stand up.

" Anteoculatia! " Theodore shouted. Cortney whipped out her wand and stepped in front of Seamus.

" Protego," Cortney said simply. The spells hit her shield and hit Theodore. Antlers grew on his head. People started giggling. Theodore touched his head and got upset.

" How could you? " He asked feeling the antlers.

" Would you like a red nose to go with that? " Cortney asked, Theodore, stormed out of the hall without another word.

" Why did you protect me? " Seamus angrily. " I can fight my own battles".

" So can I," Cortney said returning the anger. Dean and Neville sat there and drank their pumpkin juice. As Dumbledore sat in his chair and watched as if his favorite show had just come on. Everyone else was just simply watching.

" No. You can't," Seamus said. " You were about to let him hit you, I did not see you do anything to stop it".

" Yes. I can," Cortney argued. " This was just one time".

" That's all that it takes Cortney! One blimey time! " Seamus shouted. " Then you'll let it happen all the time! "

" No, I won't! " Cortney shouted. " Seamus, I can protect myself! "

" Prove it," he growled. Cortney rolled her eyes, grabbed her stuff, and joined Pansy and Draco. Everyone returned to what they were doing.

" Things got pretty heated over there," Pansy commented.

" He's right," Draco said. 

" Why are you siding with him? " Cortney asked.

" Your wand wasn't out or anything," Draco pointed.

" I didn't expect him to try to hot me in the middle of the Great Hall," Cortney defended herself.

" She has a point," Pansy said.

" Thank you! " Cortney cheered.  Cortney pull out homework to work on as Pansy and Draco carried on their conversation. She looked up and saw Seamus sitting with his back towards her, obviously too mad to look at her. ' Legilimens' Cortney said in her mind. She navigated his mind, yet again.  She went through his mind after a few seconds and went back to work.