Late at night, the lights were still on in the windows of the Gryffindor common room, and Harry Potter was sitting at a round table next to a blazing fireplace, copying homework. He felt a little sleepy, so he held back his yawns, rubbed his sore eyes, raised his hands and stretched, and in his free time, he turned his head to look at the pouring rain outside the window, held back another yawn, and continued to pick up his quill under the heavy workload.
This matchmaker was targeted by the toad, and the Quidditch team had to train hard regardless of weather conditions, which resulted in Harry having almost no time to complete the homework assigned by the professors, so he had to stay up late every day to do his homework.
He casually glanced at the scar on the back of his hand, which was left with a shallow mark from repeatedly copying sentences with a punishment quill.
Fortunately, Umbridge's recent experience was even worse than his, which made Harry's originally gloomy mood much better.
In order to further fight against Umbridge, Harry joined the Anti-Toad League.
Yes, the rumored Anti-Toad League certainly exists.
Harry knew long ago who was causing trouble for Umbridge.
Was this Albert Anderson's idea
Or is this a trick of the Weasley brothers
Harry didn't know this, but the truth didn't matter to him. What mattered was that Umbridge was punished.
Yes, Harry didn't feel any guilt for playing such a prank on Umbridge, and he never even thought that he would hate and be so hostile to someone.
Pulling his thoughts back to his senses, Harry continued to bury his head in copying his homework until almost dawn, when he put away the homework on the desk. He then took out the Mortella Tentacles Pain Relief Ointment provided by the Weasley brothers from his pocket and applied it on the back of his hand. The wound left by the punishment quill sometimes hurt slightly, and it is said that adding dittany extract to the pain relief ointment can avoid leaving scars as much as possible.
"Does your arm still hurt?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"You haven't gone to rest yet?"
Harry looked at Hermione who was still sitting next to him with some surprise. In the past, Hermione would go back to rest before the early hours of the morning. It was said that staying up late was bad for the skin.
"Hermione said she wanted to talk to you about something." Ron also threw down the quill in his hand, wanting to hear what Hermione was going to say.
"Hermione, just tell me what you want to say," Harry said calmly.
Hermione probably had something important to say, otherwise she wouldn't have chosen this time. She undoubtedly didn't want others to hear the conversation between the three of them.
"What did Sirius say?"
Hermione's first words confused Harry and Ron. They obviously didn't understand what she meant. Hermione seemed to realize it and added, "I was talking about practicing Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Oh, I contacted Sirius last night, and he agreed that I should stand up to Umbridge." Harry understood what Hermione meant and said with a smile, "Sirius also recommended a good place for us to practice spells."
"Where?" Ron asked.
"The Shrieking Shack," said Harry. "He thinks the Shrieking Shack is a good choice if we don't want Umbridge to find out. We'll go to the Shrieking Shack every week to practice magic. If they're free, Sirius and Remus will also go there to teach us."
"Harry, if it's just the three of us, the Shrieking Shack would be a good place, but..." Hermione was interrupted by Harry with a frown before she could finish her words.
"More than just the three of us? Oh, you mean Fred, George and Lee Jordan?"
To be honest, the Weasley twins were also very good at Defense Against the Dark Arts. They had trained in Defense Against the Dark Arts with Albert before, and Harry even doubted that he could beat one of them in a duel.
"I heard their joke props are very popular." Ron felt that those guys were just trying to make money.
"There may be more than three of us." Hermione coughed and explained, "The original Defense Association was quite large, and... I think most of the Anti-Toad League members would be willing to participate."
"Hermione, I think you're kidding." Harry glared at Hermione and said unhappily, "I'm not Anderson, and I don't have his charm. How many people do you think would be willing to believe a weirdo like me? Besides, we don't have that much room to move around."
"Hermione, I think Harry is right." Ron agreed, "If you really want to re-establish the Defense Society, you should let Anderson preside over it. Only he has the ability to reorganize the students of Hogwarts."
Both of them had previously thought that Hermione was planning to set up a three-person Defense Against the Dark Arts team, but now it seems that Hermione is planning to reorganize the Defense Association.
Harry felt that if he did what Hermione did, he would probably become a complete laughing stock. After all, there were many students in the school who thought he was a liar.
"And you think Umbridge had no reason to put me in detention?" Harry asked with a strange expression.
"Harry, when have you ever been afraid of Umbridge? If you want more people to stand on your side..." Hermione was interrupted by Harry before she could finish her words.
"Hermione, I really don't know how to convince them. At least I don't think I have that ability." Harry was very pessimistic about Hermione's plan. It was totally unrealistic.
If it was just a Defense Against the Dark Arts group, it would be a very good suggestion to find some good friends to communicate with each other and improve the level of Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Harry felt that Hermione's "ambition" was a bit too big.
"A lot of people are willing to believe you. I think you should give them a chance." Hermione said after hesitating for a moment.
"Give them a chance to laugh at me?" Harry said self-deprecatingly, "Don't kid yourself, Hermione. You know very well what other people's mentality is."
"I think Harry is right. Take our dormitory for example. Only Neville is willing to believe Harry." Ron stood on Harry's side. He was very clear about the attitudes of others.
"If you want to reorganize the Defense Society, you should talk to Anderson. He's better at that kind of thing," Harry repeated.
"He's not available, Harry." Hermione said helplessly, "And you don't have to underestimate yourself. You're also very good at Defense Against the Dark Arts, and there's this..."
"What's this?"
"Albert gave it to me." Hermione handed the book to Harry.
Harry took the book and looked at the silver stamp on it: A Guide to Self-Defense.
"The Self-Defense Guide?" Ron asked suspiciously, "Is this a book written by Albert?"
"Yes, they said it was an early Christmas present for me. I've read it several times. It's all in the spells we practiced in the Forbidden Forest last semester." Hermione explained to Harry: "It is said that this book also refers to the training of Aurors. As long as you master the content inside, you will have some self-protection ability."
"Books compiled by Albert?"
Harry was a little surprised. He flipped through the Self-Defense Guide and found that it contained some very basic spells. He had already learned many of them, such as the Shield Charm, the Disarming Charm...
“It feels pretty average.”
That’s right, Harry’s first impression of this book was just average.
"Harry, this is just the most basic knowledge. You will gain a lot as long as you finish reading the whole book." Hermione could understand Harry's thoughts because she thought so at first, but after reading the whole book, she found that after five years of Defense Against the Dark Arts, she had not even learned the most basic things.
After reading it, Hermione even felt that this book was more suitable as a textbook for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class than "Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Defense".
"I dare say you don't even know the most basic spell-casting techniques. As long as you master the knowledge in this book, your self-defense ability will be greatly improved." After reading the book, Hermione admired Albert very much. She continued, "It records a total of 66 spells and teaches everyone how to deal with various situations."
“Is this book really that powerful?”
Ron also came over to take a look at the books that Hermione was praising.
“I feel pretty average.”
Harry really couldn't see the brilliance of this book, as he had already mastered most of the spells in it.
"No, Harry, I think Hermione is right." Ron took it and flipped through it, then nodded and said, "This book is really great."
"real?"
"Harry, you feel it's so ordinary because Sirius has tutored you and you understand a lot of things, so naturally you feel it's so ordinary." Hermione reminded, "You have to turn to the back of the book."
"Okay, Hermione, I agree with you. Can you lend me this book for a while?" Harry casually flipped to the back part and found that it actually taught tracking and anti-tracking techniques.
He had to admit that he really didn't understand this stuff. At least so far, no Defense Against the Dark Arts class had taught him about this stuff.
Later on, it teaches others how to use the Disillusionment Spell, how to build a simple and safe temporary camp, and various practical knowledge and skills.
Well, Harry admitted that compared to this book, "Magical Defense Theory" really only deserved to be in the trash.
"I'm right, this book is very suitable as our teaching material."
"But we have nowhere to practice spells."
Harry flipped through the book again and saw how to cast a spell on his house to protect his family from bad visitors.
"If Umbridge found out what we were going to do, I'm sure she'd be happy to give us all detention."
"We can first set up the prototype of the Defense Association, and then we can slowly look for a place to practice magic." Hermione said excitedly.
"Can we ask Fred to use their activity room?" Ron suggested.
"I'm afraid not. I don't think Albert would agree." Hermione shook her head and said, "Practicing magic might ruin the place. Fred and George have already agreed to help find an activity room."
"Aren't you going to give up that unrealistic idea yet?" Harry closed the book and looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow.
"You always need some support." Hermione said without hesitation: "And there are some things that require everyone to learn from each other and make progress together."
"Okay, Hermione, tell me honestly what you want to do. I don't believe you just want to learn some magic." Harry looked at Hermione and asked seriously, "Your reasons are ridiculous to me. If it's just a Defense Against the Dark Arts team, I believe that as long as we are willing, there will be no problem in getting a dozen people together."
Ron moved back and forth between Harry and Hermione in confusion.
"Okay!" Hermione took a deep breath and said seriously, "The main reason is that I hope to learn more about how to protect myself. But you should also know the current situation in Hogwarts. Umbridge is not popular, and she has disgusted others recently. I think it is not a good idea to provide opportunities for others and gather those who are willing to believe in you. You need more supporters, Harry, so that everyone is willing to believe in you. I think you don't want to be isolated!"
"My plan is to recruit people from the Anti-Toad League first." Hermione continued, "The Anti-Toad League already has nearly a hundred members. I believe there must be some among them who are willing to believe in you. I think we can combine with each other. I believe everyone is willing to participate. They are all fed up with toads."
"Hermione, I think your ideas are really naive," Harry said suddenly.
"What?" Hermione was a little surprised.
"Actually, there is a way to convince them right away."
"What is the solution?"
"To put it bluntly, the whole thing is about whether Voldemort is still alive." Harry went straight to the core issue. "For wizards who have never seen Voldemort's resurrection with their own eyes, it is indeed a bit difficult to make them believe the cruel reality, so..."
"so?"
"Just let them face the cruel reality. Sirius told me that there is a stone basin in Dumbledore's office that can present memories to everyone. As long as others watch the memory of Voldemort's resurrection, no one will doubt whether Voldemort has been resurrected."
Hermione opened her mouth, stunned by Harry's method.
"You're right, but... would Dumbledore be willing to lend us the basin?" Ron actually wanted to see the scene of Voldemort's resurrection. "And, if that's really possible, why didn't Dumbledore let Fudge watch your memory?"
"Because Fudge doesn't want to step down!" Harry sneered, "Whether he sees it or not, Fudge won't believe it. Once he admits that Voldemort has resurrected, he will have to step down and get out."
"What to do then?" said Ron.
"If you want to form a Defense Against the Dark Arts team, then do as I say," Harry said to Hermione. "Invite those who are willing to believe, and forget about those who don't believe. Tell them clearly what we are going to do, instead of finding a reason to invite them."
"But Harry, everyone..."
"I never feel that I need recognition from anyone, nor do I want to spend time convincing anyone," Harry interrupted, "Anyway, I don't want to be treated as a monkey in a zoo, and I don't think I can make friends with a group of people who want to laugh at me?"
"I'm sorry, maybe I said something a little too harsh." Harry apologized to Hermione, "But I think Fred and George are right. You are indeed too naive in some ways."
"Lend me this book for a while. I want to study its contents." Harry took the book and left.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Ron asked worriedly.
"Do you also think my method is unreliable?" Hermione asked Ron.
"I don't know," Ron shook his head. "But I just want to learn something useful. I'm sure Harry wants to learn the same thing."
Chapter 1004: Self-Defense Guide