Chapter 1
"Everyone wants something different out of life. The boy next door wants to be a healer like his mum. The girl down the street wants to work in the ministry like her father. Even the teenager who has never met his parents wants to be able to become something to make the world a better place.
At a young age, we set goals and work towards those goals hoping that we will have a fulfilling life. We make decisions and it is those decisions that characterize who we are. Our decisions guide us, help us…define us." –Keely Lupin
Fifth Year
"Do it! Expel me! There is nothing you can do to make me afraid of you," Keely shouted. Umbridge had taken detentions one step too far. "I am also not afraid of telling Dumbledore exactly what you have been doing. It is against at least 50 school rules."
Umbridge's face contorted into what Keely could only describe as a pack of angry, rabid thestrals ready to attack.
"How dare you, you evil wretched girl," Umbridge seethed as her hands clamped onto her desk causing her knuckles to turn white. "How dare you mock my authority!"
"You don't have the authority to do anything," Keely glared. "The ministry isn't supposed to interfere at Hogwarts. You are only here because your precious Cornelius Fudge is afraid that Dumbledore is building some sort of secret weapon to take over the ministry."
"Are you confessing that Dumbledore has plans for a weapon? Cornelius will love to hear about this. It is the perfect opportunity to get rid of Dumbledore once and for all."
"I never said anything like that. I merely meant that Fudge is so worried that someone will take his cushy seat of power that he will allow any ridiculous idea go through that pea-brain of his."
"No! I will not stand idly by and allow you to run that wretched little mouth of yours and disrespect the minister of magic," Umbridge said as she whipped out her wand and advanced on Keely. "As of this moment, you are no longer a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You, Miss Lupin, are hereby expelled!"
"You don't have the authority…"
"As of 7:53 this morning I was appointed, by the minister himself, as high inquisitor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Umbridge boasted. "I have the right to hire and fire as I see fit, including the right to suspend and expel nasty, little, bad mouthing, disgusting children like yourself. It is clear that you do not learn what I have to teach and therefore not fit to continue your education here. You will never amount to anything if you do not learn the truth of the world."
"You are bloody right I don't want to learn from you. You teach us nothing and expect us to respect a cow of a professor like you? I believe it is you who refuses to acknowledge the truth of the world. You're going to get us all killed with your blatant refusal to see the dangers we will soon be facing outside of these walls!"
"THAT'S IT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" Umbridge screamed. She showed so much fury towards Keely that the office began to shake violently causing Umbridge's collectibles to go crashing to the floor. However, she didn't seem to care as she shoved Keely out of the office. "YOU HAVE ONE HOUR, YOU WRECHED GIRL, TO GET OUT OF THIS CASTLE!"
"She's cracked," Keely muttered angrily as she made her way to Dumbledore's office. Once at the doors of Dumbledore's office, Keely barged right into the Headmaster's quarters without the courtesy of knocking.
Sixth Year: Current Time
I can't believe it has almost been a year since Umbridge tried to expel me from Hogwarts. It feels as though that was a life time ago and now here I am one year later trying to get Snape to expel me. Merlin, that man is getting on my nerves.
The portrait door opened and I immediately sat up from my position on the couch. The figure was cloaked in shadow and seemed to be moving at a snail's pace towards me.
"Harry, is that you," I quietly called. He told me earlier in the evening that he had a remedial potions session with Slughorn. That would have been believable last year when Snape was teaching potions, but now Slughorn worshiped the ground Harry walked on. In fact, Harry was the top of the class in potions and no one could figure out how he had gotten so good all of a sudden. Of course, Harry had shown me the Half Blood Prince's book, but I didn't think much of it at the time.
"Keely," Harry whispered. "What are you doing up so late?"
"Where you with Dumbledore this entire time," I asked him, making sure no one else was in the room.
Harry stared at me wide eyed. "How did you know about those meetings?"
"How else do you think," I laughed as I held up a piece of parchment which held various dots of people throughout the castle…The Marauder's Map.
"Did you nick this from my trunk," Harry asked me skeptically.
"Of course, who do you think I am," I questioned giving him a small smile and a wink. "You of all people should know whose child I am."
Harry nodded his head as he sat down on the couch next to me, our shoulders touching as we leaned into each other. Harry and I had been friends since before either of us could remember. I would often spend a few days out of each month with a woman named Figgs. She lived a few houses down from Harry. Of course, Harry and I didn't meet by accident. My entire life had been planned out for me and our 'chance' friendship just happen to be part of that bigger picture.
"So, what did Dumbledore want from you tonight," I asked nudging Harry a bit with my shoulder.
"He said that he needed me to get some information from Slughorn," Harry explained running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "I don't know how I would be able to extract this type of information. I'm just a student."
"But you are his golden goose egg, his bright shiny Harry Potter trophy," I said which earned me a harsh shove off the couch. "Ow!"
"If you aren't going to be much help, then I am going to bed," Harry announced before letting out a yawn. I could see that smile flicker on his face; the one that was amused that I had actually fallen off the couch.
"Fine be that way," I huffed.
"I will," Harry got up and patted me on the head. "Night, Keys."
"Night, shiny trophy," I said from my position on the floor causing Harry to roll his eyes.
I watched him retreat up the steps to the boys dormitories, a smile on my lips as I did so. I had begun to develop a minor set of 'more than friend' feelings towards Harry over the past few months; my father would be ecstatic to hear such a revelation. In fact, most of my day was spent thinking about him, through no fault of my own. It was all part of the greater plan. However, acting upon my feelings for Harry could be detrimental to the cause.
Snapping myself out of my short lived fantasy, I checked the common room one last time before I got up from my position on the floor and walked out of the portrait hole.
It was definitely passed curfew and the only ones circulating the hallways were the castle ghosts, who would ignore me. They were used to seeing me wandering the halls late at night throughout the past six and a half years. However, last year was much more difficult with Umbridge being around. My 'nightly wanderings' had been what sent me to her office that faithful night she tried to expel me. Such fond memories I had of that wrenched woman.
Soon I came upon a set of gargoyles guarding a section of the wall. I said the password and the gargoyles jumped aside to allow me access into the passage.
I sighed when I saw that the stairs had disappeared. I really hated when he did his so I took a breath and pressed my hand against the wall of the passage and concentrated for a moment. A set of stairs became visible, but they flickered. One more thing I would have to work on, I suppose.
Once at the top of the stairs, I didn't even bother knocking on the door that stood in front of me before I entered.
As soon as, the door closed behind me there was flash of light sent in my direction. I hardly had any time to react, as I ducked. Pieces of wood and plaster showered down on my hunkered down form. "Damn."
A/N: Hello everyone. Thank you for taking the time to read this story. This story is actually based off of my other story 'A Path Not Chosen.' It has the same concept as this one, but begins a year before. Once I am far enough along in this story, I am going to delete 'A Path Not Chosen' from this site so I can use more of the content in this story.
I welcome questions, comments, concerns about any of my stories.
Always,
orangezauber
