"I was right, wasn't I? Everyone's happy that the Dumbledore's Army meetings can continue."
As the three of them left the Great Hall, Ron excitedly explained to Harry the main reason everyone was so enthusiastic about the meetings.
"Bill said the Ministry of Magic's Defense Against the Dark Arts training has been very popular. In these turbulent times, everyone wants to learn something useful to protect themselves."
"Although Snape knows more about the Dark Arts than most Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors, there's actually very little he can teach us..."
"Ron..."
Hermione interrupted him, feeling that Ron's assessment was rather unfair.
"At least, it's completely meaningless until you've had real practice." Ron shrugged. "You can't expect to become a great Defense Against the Dark Arts expert just by memorizing a whole pile of spells."
"I've heard similar things plenty of times. Sometimes, I really don't understand where all their enthusiasm comes from." Harry noticed Hermione's expression and asked in confusion, "What's wrong, Hermione?"
"Oh, Harry, I'm sure you've realized it." Hermione's expression was strange. "You've become popular, actually. But that should be a good thing."
"A good thing?" Harry truly could not understand what Hermione meant. "I don't think that's a good thing at all."
"At least lots of people support you and are willing to attend the Dumbledore's Army meetings." Ron raised his eyebrows slightly, clearly not liking what Harry had said.
"Without Fred, George, and Cedric helping us, we simply couldn't manage, much less teach so many people." Harry felt that Hermione and Ron were overthinking it. He had never cared much for being popular. "Don't forget what happened last year. Plenty of people thought I was some brain-damaged idiot because of the newspapers, and now, because of another newspaper, they see me as the so-called Star