Ch 36: In need of a Teacher

                                    

                                          
As quick as the leaves reddened with the sudden fall, the snowflakes of winter blew in. The cold air finally settled in, taking its keep; winter had arrived in full. The students now wore their respective house colored scarves and thick coats to keep them warm from the colder temperatures. 
Around this time is when we also are granted permission to visit a nearby wizarding city called Hogsmeade. A small town filled with a multitude of shops for any possible need or even pubs that were commonly filled with a variety of people. This trip was different for us, normally we'd go and visit numerous shops, go and see the prank items at zonko's shops, fill up on snacks and butterbeer. This time we were meeting up with Harry and Hermione, a couple months back Hermione had invited the twins and I to come and possibly sign up for a defensive tutoring. 
"How many do you think will show up?" I ask, my breath visible with every word. I huddle my arms closer to my body in an attempt to keep myself warm. I had worn a heavy jacket and a thick scarf and hat, the cold weather here always seemed to still send a shiver. 
"Well," Fred started, looking up to the snow filled air, our footsteps crunched loudly as we walked through the snow covered streets "My guess is there will probably be a few people, maybe close to a dozen?" 
I shoved my hands deep into my coat pockets and nodded, "I hope there's a lot, or at the very least the three of them can persuade the others. Asking people to do this is probably a great risk" 
"It will be" George agreed, nodding his head "I have a feeling they'll be able to do it, they'll be hesitant of course, but hopefully those three can get them to understand." 
"Right," I grin, "and afterwards, we can go out for a butterbeer!" 
"Sounds good!" Fred nods, grinning. 


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Our estimate of just how many people would have met us there was lower than the actual number of people that appeared. Two dozen students stood cramped in the corner of one of the pub's side rooms, all looking at each other nervously. We had been shocked by the sheer amount of people that desired the same thing, a class to actually defend ourselves. The twins and I weren't the only ones surprised by the number count, standing in the front of the room Hermione and Ron stood with eyes wide, scanning the room standing beside Harry. Harry had been sitting at a makeshift desk they had prepared, his eyes tired as he scanned the room. He must have been nervous as well, given the fact that I hadn't seen him unclench his fists since we got here. 
The windows of the room had been kept shut to keep the majority of the cold out of the room, but ever so often a soft gust of wind would billow past, causing the curtains hanging over the window to billow as a few snowflakes wisped inside. The twins had found a long chair to sit in as we huddled close to the back, I stood next to them rubbing my arms with my hands. We all sat and waited in anticipation, until Hermione nervously stepped forward waving at us all. 
"So, you all know why we are here. We need a teacher, an actual teacher" her voice hesitating with every sentance "One who has already experienced defending themselves against the Dark Arts" 
"Why?" A random voice echoed from the once silent crowd. 
"Why?" Ron spoke, "Because you-know-who is back you tosspot" his face turning red, and not just because of the cold. The twins snickered watching their brother get so defensive. 
"So he says" The same boy replies, his eyes narrowing as he watches Harry. 
"So Dumbledore says" Hermione pipes up, her voice defensive. 
"So Dumbledore says, because he says? Where's the proof?" the boy asks incredulously. He wasn't entirely wrong of him to be asking said things, with only words being the explanation since no one had seen but Harry, and the badgering from the Daily Prophet, a lot of people had a hard time believing all he said was true.