Dumbledore's Army (the D.A. for short) is a fictional student organisation in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series that is founded by the main characters, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, in order to stand up against the regime of Hogwarts High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge, as well as to learn practical Defence Against the Dark Arts. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Dolores Umbridge chooses to only teach the basic theoretical principles of the subject in her classes instead of practical applications, due to Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge's erroneous fear that Albus Dumbledore is preparing to assemble a student army in order to overthrow him.

This theory-only approach is widely unpopular among the students, especially those characters like Harry, who are in their fifth year and have to take their O.W.L. exams on the subject later in the year. Harry also believes that lack of practical experience makes them more vulnerable to Lord Voldemort's forces, though the Ministry staunchly refuses to accept that Voldemort has returned. This prompts Hermione to suggest founding a student group where Harry would teach practical Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Hermione and Ron recruit students from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw who all meet with Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the Hog's Head inn to discuss founding the group. When Umbridge learns about the meeting, she bans all unapproved student organisations, and meetings are secretly held in the Room of Requirement once a week for several months. Members told when to meet through engravings on enchanted fake Galleon coins created by Hermione.

Cho Chang suggests the Defence Association, shortened to "D.A.," as the official name for the group, but Ginny Weasley's suggestion of Dumbledore's Army, in order to mock the Ministry's paranoia and to show the group's loyalty to Dumbledore, is chosen.

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