The morning of the Hogsmeade visit dawned bright but windy, and covered in snow. It was late October and early snow had fallen overnight. Megan and the others were heading towards the already forming line in the Entrance Hall, when Cedric came towards them.

"Hello, stranger," Megan said.

"Hello yourself," Cedric smiled, kissing her. "Cho'll meet us later," he added with a wink.

"Great." Hermione said. "Let's go, then."

Megan then remembered that if it hadn't been for Sirius she wouldn't have been able to go to Hogsmeade at all. Well, not without breaking the rules. When she and Cedric passed Filch, he took a long sniff and then nodded her on curtly, looking disgruntled.

"Why was Filch sniffing you?" Harry asked behind them, an eyebrow raised.

"Probably checking for Dungbombs." Megan said, laughing. "I haven't told you..."

She told them about their encounter in the Owlery.

"Yes, I think Cho told me about that," Cedric smiled.

"I wonder who tipped him off...?" Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Malfoy, I expect," Megan said. "He'd find it a laugh."

"Hm... maybe." Hermione said, but she didn't look convinced.

As they made their way to the village, Megan and the others told Cedric about Sirius's "argument" with them.

"Well, like Hermione said," Cedric said. "he grew up with a reckless mind, and he's still reckless today..."

"Yes, he is..." Megan sighed.

"But don't worry, I'm sure he's not that foolish..."

They glanced at each other, the same "I hope so" look in their eyes.

"So where are we going?" Harry asked. "Three Broomsticks?"

"No, it's too crowded and loads of students go there, we could be ratted out before we even get a chance to start." Hermione said. "No, we're going to the other pub, the Hog's Head... I think it's a bit dodgy, but not many people go there, so we should be okay... I checked with Flitwick, students are allowed to."

They reached the small pub and entered. It was small, dusty and definitely less inviting than the Three Broomsticks.

"... Hermione, I don't know about this, don't you think Umbridge could be hiding here?" Megan asked in a low voice.

She glanced at a woman in a corner, whose face was veiled.

"Even if she was, we're not breaking any rules." Hermione said.

Just then, Neville, Lavender and the Patil twins came in, followed by Cho, a friend of hers, Luna, Katie, Angelina, and Alicia.

"Hermione, how many people exactly are coming?" Megan asked uncertainly.

"Just a few more," she said evasively.

"A few more" turned out to be Fred and George, Lee Jordan, carrying large Zonko bags, Justin Finch-Fletchley, the Creevey brothers, Ernie McMillan and Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones (she looked too much like Madam Bones to not be related, and Megan remembered her from her Sorting Ceremony), Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Terry Boot and Ginny, as well as a blond boy Megan thought she remembered was on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.

"A few more?!" Megan hissed at Hermione.

"The more the better, Megan, and we have other houses, that's positive too, we can spread the word further." Hermione said.

They all bustled about, getting chairs.

"What did you tell them? What are they expecting?" Megan asked.

"They want to hear what you've got to say," Hermione said. "I'll speak first, though, don't worry."

When the chatter died down, Hermione cleared her throat.

"Hem... so. We all know why we're here. We need a teacher. We really need to study Defence Against the Dark Arts properly, not that rubbish Umbridge does. And by that I mean actually using the spells, practising them. And to do that, we need someone who's got experience in fighting the Dark Arts."

"Why?" Asked the blond Hufflepuff boy.

"Because You-Know-Who's back, you dingbat." Ron said.

"But you want to pass your OWL, don't you?" Asked Ernie.

"Yes, but this is bigger than that. It's about more than just learning for an exam. It's about... preparing for what's out there. Because Voldemort is back." Hermione said.

There were a few gasps at the sound of the name.

"And fearing to speak his name is not going to help us fight against him," she went on. "We nee –"

"Where's the proof You-Know-Who's really back?" the blond boy asked.

"And you are?" Harry asked coldly.

"Zacharias Smith," he said. "And I think we've got the right to know what makes them claim he's back."

"It's not the point of this meeting–" Hermione began.

"It's OK," Megan said, standing up.

She looked at them all. She had expected something like this. Most of them had come hoping to hear the story first-hand.

"I say Voldemort's back," Megan said, "because I saw him. I fought him, and very nearly died, as did Cedric. But Dumbledore told you last year. So, if you didn't believe him then, you won't believe me now."

"All Dumbledore told us was that Cedric Diggory had been attacked by You-Know-Who and that you brought him back. We don't know exactly –"

"It was hell enough living it, I'm not doing it again for your sake." Megan said hotly. "If you just came to hear how Voldemort kills someone, you can leave."

She pointed to the door. Her temper was always close to the surface lately, and was rising again now. But no one left, not even Zacharias.

"Okay... so, we need to work out how we're going to do this, how often we meet and where..." Hermione said.

"Who would teach us?" Hannah asked. "You?"

"No, Megan is much more qualified to do it than me," Hermione said.

"Why is that?" Smith asked.

"Is it true you can produce a Patronus?" asked Susan. "A corporeal one?"

"You wouldn't be related to Amelia Bones, would you?" Megan asked.

"She's my aunt. She told me about your hearing. It's a phoenix, right?"

"Yes," Megan said.

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

"And she killed a basilisk in our second year," Ginny said.

"In third year, she fended off a hoard of Dementors." Harry added.

"And last year," Cedric said, stepping forwards, "she really fought You-Know-Who in the flesh. I was unconscious, but... I could hear it."

Megan stared at him. He had never told her that.

"And she got through the Tournament last year when it was meant for much more experienced students," Hermione said.

"Wait," Megan said, silencing them with her hands. "Look... it all sounds great and cool, when you say it like that, I know. But trust me... when you're inches from dying, or losing someone you care about... when you have no idea what to do... it's anything but cool. It's terrifying. Beyond your worst nightmares. Far more scary than whatever Snape does."

A few chuckles greeted those words.

"For most of this stuff the others mentioned, I got lucky and I had help."

They listened in mute tension. Megan paused a minute, thinking what to say.

"Facing that sort of situation... that kind of fear, is nothing like school," she said finally. "If you make a mistake in Charms or Transfiguration, you can just come back and try again. Out there, in the real world, it's not like that. You don't get second chances. Out there, if you make a mistake... it won't go unpunished. You could be dead... or changed forever."

A silence followed. She glanced at Neville first but quickly looked away.

"That's exactly why we need your help," Hermione said to her. "You know what it's like, and we need to learn as well, if we're going to have any chance at beating Voldemort."

As they left the pub in twos and threes, shortly after, everyone passed by the table to sign on a piece of parchment, which had already been signed by the gang.

"Well, Fudge would be happy. Dumbledore's getting his army," Fred grinned when he signed his name under George's. "C'mon George, let's move. We have some sensitive purchases to make, so we'll see you all later."

"Bye, guys, thanks for coming," Megan smiled.

As they left, Hermione looked at Megan excitedly.

"That's a great name! Dumbledore's Army! I mean, we are acting against Umbridge, and she's against Dumbledore, so it makes sense, don't you think?"

"Can't let Umbridge hear it, though." Megan said, smiling too.

And she wrote it above the list of names, which everyone signed. Then, they made their way back up to the castle.

"First thing we need now, is somewhere to practise, some place we can't be found in..." Megan said as they were crossing the covered bridge.

Now that she knew people believed in her, Megan felt more confident that she could make a difference. And Hermione could help if needed.

"Shrieking Shack? No one goes there," Ginny suggested.

"Too small, we'd be all over each other." Harry objected.

"Forbidden Forest?" Hermione said.

"Too risky, someone might hurt an angry beast in there," Cedric argued. "And we wouldn't fare very well against angry centaurs or Acromantulas."

Megan shuddered at the thought.

"No, you're right, the forest isn't a good idea... and it'd be suspicious if loads of students went sneaking in there."

"So where could we go? The classrooms will be too small, and people will notice if we cast spells..." Ron said.

"Well... over the next few days, we should all try and think where we could go." Megan said. "Somewhere Umbridge won't find us..."

They made their way through the snowy courtyard and into the castle.