"Well Mr. Potter, I am glad you listen to Miss Granger at any rate"
With these words Harry knew he was being dismissed. He was fuming the entire way to the Gryffindor tower. How dare someone accuse him of lying? Wasn't it obvious to the whole world? Cedric hadn't dropped dead by himself. How can someone call murder in cold blood a tragic accident? It just didn't make sense, none of it. A spy at Hogwarts; Dumbledore ignoring him; the minister's slur-campaign against him; Voldemort's interest in the secret weapon; what could the weapon do, but-
"The thing which confuses me the most is why they all believed Dumbledore last summer when he told them about Cedric", Ron asked Hermione later when they were sitting in the tower.
"The thing is I don't think they believed him at all. We all had to leave for our houses before anyone could come to terms with anything. Then, they spent the entire summer reading how Dumbledore had lost it and you were an attention seeking brat. You can't really blame them Harry." Hermione sighed, looking defeated.
As Harry went to bed that night he couldn't help wonder how he was going to survive that year. One thing though he was sure. This year definitely would beat the rest of them.
-xxxx-
"Ah Miss Greengrass, I didn't expect you here in my room. To what do I owe this late pleasure", a visibly surprised Umbridge asked as she entered her quarters.
Daphne Greengrass was the elder daughter of Mathias Greengrass, lord of the ancient and most noble house of Greengrass. They came from seventeen generations of purebloods and like all purebloods, with enough gold to go through their entire lives without the need to work. They were a very respected and powerful family among the elite of society, right up there with the likes of Malfoys. Hence Umbridge knew the girl in her room meant trouble if she took a single step wrong. She would have to treat this situation very carefully.
"I always thought being the Senior Under-Secretary to the Minister required a lot of qualifications and achievements. But after today I think I can safely say they had removed brains from the list of requirements before they hired you", the Ice-Queen of the Slytherin house sneered.
"What do you mean", Umbrige was having a hard time controlling her temper at this insolent girl. Proud and haughty just like her father. If it had been any other girl who had spoken to her like this, Umbridge swore that girl would have spent the rest year in detention writing with that blood quill of hers.
"My father told me why you were sent to Hogwarts. You are supposed to be a spy. You are to keep an eye on Dumbledore and his movements. Weaken his strengths and credibility. Do you think that can be achieved by alienating half the student population? Don't you think it will be a matter of time before the whole population rebels against you? Wouldn't it be better if you managed to convince the whole student body against the Dumb-man himself? What do you think?"
"If you mean those bunch of dunderheads can harm me, then you are out of your mind, darling", Umbridge spat at her.
Daphne rolled her eyes. This was going to take time. This woman had brains, better than only Crabbe and Goyle and that too after a very close competition.
"Tell me, why did the minister send you to Hogwarts?"
"To make sure Dumbledore didn't use Hogwarts as his recruiting ground and overtly-influence the students"
"How do you think he can influence the students?"
"If you mean his status as headmaster, I assure you both the minster and I are taking steps to reduce the powers of the headmaster. By the end of this year he will not be more than a ceremonial head"
"What about Harry Potter"
"What about that brat?"
"How will you keep him from influencing the students? Don't you think the people here who have known him for more than four years will believe him more than the stupid prophet?"
Umbridge was speechless. Of course, how hadn't they thought of it? While they may convince a few people against Potter, but it would be difficult to convince the whole of Hogwarts and this was where the powers of headmaster lay. That stupid attention seeking brat would have to be stopped somehow. But how was the question…
"I know what you are thinking, and I know a way to put a stop to that brat!"
"How?"
"I will convince him to join our side!"
It was official the girl had totally lost it. And, to think she was the daughter of one of the most powerfully placed politicians in Britain. She would convince the Dumbledore's blue-eyed boy to rebel against his own mentor. The idea was so stupid that it wasn't even funny.
Daphne on the other hand was getting impatient. She realised that this was getting nowhere. She would have to explain the full detail.
"Why do you think Potter supports Dumbledore?"
"He is nothing but an attention seeking prat who will fall to any level to get what he wants."
"Then what makes you think he is above turning against his mentor?"
Umbridge realised this girl had something on her. She waited patiently for Daphne to continue.
"What you have to do is breakthrough Potter; convince him he is on the wrong side. Show him the benefits of being on our side. How to do it? I believe you were a Slytherin in your time at Hogwarts."
With this Daphne strode of without as much as a goodnight. Umbridge was left to ponder on how to get through that short tempered boy. They had already begun on wrong note what with she shouting at him and putting him in detention. It was a different matter that the boy deserved it; teenagers were hard to understand that way. Anyways she realised she would have to accommodate him if she wanted to use him. Sure enough a plan came to her mind. She couldn't wait to have the boy in her detention so she could finally start the execution.
-x-x-x-x-
Daphne sat on a comfortable couch writing a letter to her father.
Dear Father,
It gives me tremendous pleasure to tell you that our plans have been put in motion. I have managed to get Umbridge to trust me.
I shall befriend Potter at the first opportunity I get.
It shall be my pleasure to personally hand him over to the Dark lord when the time comes.
Your daughter,
Daphne
The first part of her plan already in motion. She now had the hardest part of getting potter-no Harry to trust her. If she was going to be his friend then she should get used to calling him by his first name. she sighed as made her way up to her dorm.
-x-x-x-
Dumbledore sat in his office looking at the silvery instruments. He was at a total loss on how to tackle the situation. Fudge's behaviour in the situation hadn't surprised him. He would have loved to be proved wrong but unfortunately it wasn't so. Fudge being Fudge only believed what was convenient to him. It was this very reason he hadn't managed to clear Sirius' name till now. The poor man was left a little better than a prisoner in the very home he had hated growing up. It was hard to decide which was worse Azkaban or 12 grimmauld place. No, at least here he could meet his friends even if he hadn't been able to help the Order in a more active role.
Then, there was Harry. Dumbledore would have loved to guide harry and train him to face his destiny. But, he had decided he couldn't deprive harry of his childhood. He had already been subjected to his ghastly relatives for more than a decade. He couldn't be allowed to suffer more. And, till the time he found how to save Harry from all this he would keep the boy away from the facts. He didn't deserve this mess. If, he Dumbledore had anything to say about it Harry would have the least part to play in this war. Till then Harry should be left alone.
-x-x-x-
Author's note: this is the first chapter. As you might have guessed this happens after Harry's first day of class. You can assume all events leading to this remain the same.