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Dumbledore's Army and the Students
Who Refused to Let Fear Win
BEFORE THE BATTLE OF HOGWARTS:
The Order of the Phoenix is well-known as a large part of the resistance against Lord Voldemort. An organization created by Albus Dumbledore when the Dark Lord first rose to power, their courage has long been praised, and it is no question that the Order’s contribution was vital to the defeat of Voldemort during the Second Wizarding War.
There was, however, another resistance, which may not have been as instrumental in the War itself, but was perhaps just as vital to the defeat of the fear and hatred which Voldemort’s regime imposed. This resistance was Dumbledore’s Army, a group of Hogwarts students initially brought together in 1995 by Harry Potter himself to learn to defend themselves when their professor, Dolores Umbridge, refused to teach them practical magic. Together they mastered spells with skill that surpassed that of their peers, and by spring 1996 their professor left Hogwarts and the secret meetings ceased. In the fall of 1997, however, those remaining at Hogwarts took up the fight against their newly-appointed headmaster and professors – the Dark Lord’s own Severus Snape and the siblings Alecto and Amycus Carrow.
While Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger were trying to find a way to defeat Lord Voldemort and the Wizarding World lost hope in the Chosen One, Dumbledore’s Army was kindling hope at Hogwarts. Led by Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood, the D.A. members would sneak out at night and paint anti-Voldemort slogans on the corridor walls, such as Dumbledore’s Army, Still Recruiting. They defied their new teachers and the purist propaganda they spread, standing up for Muggles and Muggleborns, as well as younger students. This often resulted in brutal punishments; sometimes beatings, other times subjugation to other students’ practice of the Cruciatus Curse, all overseen by the Carrows. On one occasion, Longbottom, Weasley, and Lovegood even snuck into the Headmaster’s office to steal the Sword of Gryffindor, believing it would help Potter. They were unsuccessful, however, and served detention in the Forbidden Forest as consequence.
The D.A.’s momentum slowed as Luna Lovegood was taken by Death Eaters after Christmas and Ginny Weasley went into hiding with her family at Easter. Neville Longbottom remained strong, but realized the danger students were facing when they released a first-year, only for Michael Corner to get caught and tortured. Longbottom ceased the larger-scale resistance, but continued to lead Dumbledore’s Army in secret until he was discovered as the ringleader and had to go into hiding himself.
These students, many of them underage, showed incredible strength and courage in standing up to the Death Eaters who had no qualms about using the Unforgivable Curses. This constant defiance and refusal to accept Voldemort’s regime spread hope to the other students who felt powerless against the Carrows. It is because of these young wizards and witches that the Dark Lord never truly succeeded in taking over Hogwarts. They never faltered in their beliefs, and their perseverance taught their fellow students to fight for what is right despite their age, despite their fear, despite the consequences. Dumbledore’s Army proved that war is not simply fought by adults, and that hope can always overcome fear.
The Order of the Phoenix is well-known as a large part of the resistance against Lord Voldemort. An organization created by Albus Dumbledore when the Dark Lord first rose to power, their courage has long been praised, and it is no question that the Order’s contribution was vital to the defeat of Voldemort during the Second Wizarding War.
There was, however, another resistance, which may not have been as instrumental in the War itself, but was perhaps just as vital to the defeat of the fear and hatred which Voldemort’s regime imposed. This resistance was Dumbledore’s Army, a group of Hogwarts students initially brought together in 1995 by Harry Potter himself to learn to defend themselves when their professor, Dolores Umbridge, refused to teach them practical magic. Together they mastered spells with skill that surpassed that of their peers, and by spring 1996 their professor left Hogwarts and the secret meetings ceased. In the fall of 1997, however, those remaining at Hogwarts took up the fight against their newly-appointed headmaster and professors – the Dark Lord’s own Severus Snape and the siblings Alecto and Amycus Carrow.
While Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger were trying to find a way to defeat Lord Voldemort and the Wizarding World lost hope in the Chosen One, Dumbledore’s Army was kindling hope at Hogwarts. Led by Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood, the D.A. members would sneak out at night and paint anti-Voldemort slogans on the corridor walls, such as Dumbledore’s Army, Still Recruiting. They defied their new teachers and the purist propaganda they spread, standing up for Muggles and Muggleborns, as well as younger students. This often resulted in brutal punishments; sometimes beatings, other times subjugation to other students’ practice of the Cruciatus Curse, all overseen by the Carrows. On one occasion, Longbottom, Weasley, and Lovegood even snuck into the Headmaster’s office to steal the Sword of Gryffindor, believing it would help Potter. They were unsuccessful, however, and served detention in the Forbidden Forest as consequence.
The D.A.’s momentum slowed as Luna Lovegood was taken by Death Eaters after Christmas and Ginny Weasley went into hiding with her family at Easter. Neville Longbottom remained strong, but realized the danger students were facing when they released a first-year, only for Michael Corner to get caught and tortured. Longbottom ceased the larger-scale resistance, but continued to lead Dumbledore’s Army in secret until he was discovered as the ringleader and had to go into hiding himself.
These students, many of them underage, showed incredible strength and courage in standing up to the Death Eaters who had no qualms about using the Unforgivable Curses. This constant defiance and refusal to accept Voldemort’s regime spread hope to the other students who felt powerless against the Carrows. It is because of these young wizards and witches that the Dark Lord never truly succeeded in taking over Hogwarts. They never faltered in their beliefs, and their perseverance taught their fellow students to fight for what is right despite their age, despite their fear, despite the consequences. Dumbledore’s Army proved that war is not simply fought by adults, and that hope can always overcome fear.
Dumbledore’s Army: Harry Potter Ron Weasley Hermione Granger Neville Longbottom** Ginny Weasley** Luna Lovegood** Hannah Abbott Katie Bell Susan Bones** Terry Boot** Lavender Brown** Cho Chang Michael Corner** Colin Creevey** Dennis Creevey** Justin Finch-Fletchley Seamus Finnigan** Anthony Goldstein** Angelina Johnson Lee Jordan Ernie Macmillan** Parvati Patil** Padma Patil** Alicia Spinnet Dean Thomas Fred Weasley George Weasley ** member 1997-1998 |