I know I really shouldn't be starting a new story when I'm having so much trouble updating the ones I have BUT IT WOULDN'T LEAVE ME ALONE! So, here it is.

Harry paused instinctively, listening intently in the silence that followed his sudden stop. Ron and Hermione watched him intently, startled into motion when he suddenly pulled them both behind a huge sycamore seconds before two figures appeared from among the speckled shadows.

"Do you want them all to die when Voldemort returns?"

The Golden Trio slid deeper into the gloom when the bickering pair stopped in the clearing beside them. Harry instantly recognized the pink-clad Professor Umbridge. The other figure, however, was garbed in a long, inky blue cloak that hid her form entirely from view. Only her voice gave away her gender.

"Lies! Lies! He is not returning!"

The cloaked woman simply turned away from the spluttering witch, resting a pale hand on smooth bark of the sycamore. She spoke again without looking at the woman to whom she spoke so familiarly.

"You are afraid Professor Umbridge. Fear makes one ignorant to what is right in front of them…but burying your head in the sand will not make the Dark Lord go away."

The cloaked woman faced Professor Umbridge once more. When she spoke, her voice was fierce and powerful, angry and sad.

"You must face the truth if any of us are to make it out of this alive! To continue to deny that Voldemort is back when all the evidence points to that very conclusion is arrogant and stupid. To smear anyone who attempts to speak the truth is the marking of a dictator at the brink of desperation. To-"

SLAP!

The woman stumbled backwards with the force of the blow, her back colliding with the sycamore. Harry and the others winced. Even they had felt the impact through the wood.

Professor Umbridge brandished her wand angrily, her fury only increasing when the cloaked woman made no move either to get up or to attack. She shrieked loudly, her volume and pitch rising steadily.

"How dare you question the Ministry of Magic? Spreading lies and rumors of He Who Must Not Be Named and debasing the Minister himself! You shall be tried for sedition!"

The cloaked woman laughed. She stepped forward and gripped the top of her hood.

"Sedition? You shall try me for sedition? I should very much like to see you try Undersecretary. Do you not remember what happened the last time the Ministry interfered in my affairs?"

Professor Umbridge backed away almost instantly when the mysterious woman removed her hood. Startled recognition morphed into confused rage. Harry and the others peeked curiously at the other woman, surprised to find a girl who looked to be only a few years older than themselves. Who was she that she brought forth this reaction from one of the most politically powerful women of the day?

"You…you…"

"Yes, me. Might I remind you Undersecretary, I am beyond the control of the Ministry. I can come and go as I please and you can do nothing. I can and have done things you could never in your wildest dreams imagine. I have battled creatures that would make Lord Voldemort tremble with fear."

Harry exchanged a startled glance with the others. Voldemort afraid? Who was this woman…and more importantly, what had she seen that could possibly be that terrifying?

Professor Umbridge backed away from the girl, her wand faltering in her grip. Her anger would not allow her to part peacefully.

"Crucio!"

Hermione gasped, covering her mouth to contain a cry of dismay. Ron turned his head away and Harry closed his eyes, though not quickly enough to see the girl collapse amidst a swath of blue clothing. Muted sounds of pain filtered into his mind before suddenly, there was quiet.

"That was very stupid Dolores."

Harry opened his eyes to see the girl standing, albeit somewhat shakily. Her cloak lay in folds on the forest floor, leaving the girl herself exposed. She wore robes of the same color as her cloak, though these were lined in gold thread. She held a crystal bow in her hands, a gleaming arrow aimed straight for the pale professor. A battered sword and a gold staff were tucked into a white sash patterned with blue and gold that engulfed her slender waist. An enormous boomerang rested on her back.

Professor Umbridge froze in panic for an instant before she turned tail and ran. The girl followed her with the arrow until she was out of sight before she finally lowered the weapon.

"All right you three. You can come put now."

Harry and the others shuffled guiltily forward, embarrassed at being caught eavesdropping. The girl merely observed them quietly before turning away.

"Shouldn't you be heading back to your dorms? I'm sure Hogwarts does not approve of its students wandering about in the Forbidden Forest this late."

The girl walked away and disappeared into the shadows before any of them could say a word in reply.

"Ah. You'll not wanting to be messing with that one now."

The three spun around instantly, surprised by the sudden voice behind them. They could barely discern Hagrid's kind face beyond the glow of his lantern.

"Why? Who is she? Is she a member of the Order of the Phoenix?"

"No Ron. Miss 'igurashi is an order all her own."

Hermione glanced up, her curiosity spiking at the mention of a name she didn't recognize.

"Higurashi?"

Hagrid paled.

"I should not 'ave told you that. I should not 'ave told you that. Now listen up. Jus' pretend ya didn't hear anything and follow me back to 'ogwarts before we all get in trouble."

Knowing they had no choice, the three Gryffindors followed Hagrid out of the woods. They would have to learn more about this woman. If she was really as good as everyone seemed to think she was, it was certainly worth looking into.