The news of Harry's encounter with Umbridge spread around the school like wildfire. News travels fast in high concentrations of teenagers. It didn't take long for the staff to get wind of it either. He was summoned into Professor McGonagall's office on Saturday afternoon. She sat him down in her office without speaking. She placed a cup of tea in front of him which he drank gratefully. She eyed him for a moment over her glasses and then set down her own cup of tea on the table.
"Potter. I don't really know how to broach this with you. Mainly because I agree with your actions." She said. Harry raised his eyebrows in shock. He had expected her to shout at him.
"Yes it may seem surprising. I am as adverse to the Ministry as you are. But you cannot paint yourself as a target to the Ministry." She said.
Harry shook his head, "Respectfully, Professor I must disagree. I already have a target on my chest. That hearing made Fudge angry and now he is gunning for me. I can't let up."
"Potter, this is an important year for you. Now is the time to gather your resources. There are plenty of people here, staff and student, willing to help you but you cannot make the Ministry aware to what you are doing. They will come for you if they deem you enough of a threat." She said seriously, staring at him intently.
"But if I let up now then I lose the fire. I also lose the support of those who may be on the fence about supporting us. If I wait then I let them!" He said desperately.
"Potter. I am not going to punish you if you decide to choose this path. I am simply advising you on the choice you have in front of you. This display of open hostility let's the Ministry know you are going to fight them and that might not be the best decision." She said warningly.
"I am here with Dumbledore. He can protect me. If he can't then no one can." Harry said dismissively.
"And what if Dumbledore isn't here?" She asked. Harry didn't say anything for a moment.
"Then I will leave. I have places to go. Grimmauld Place. Old Potter homes. The continent even. America if I have too." Harry said.
"The Ministry has the resources to find your old family homes. But yes you could go to those places. But they could paint you as a traitor and you would lose your allies." She said.
"I will have to take that chance then. This is the time for us to seize what we can. There is a storm coming and I must be ready when it comes." He said simply leaning back in his chair, taking a sip of his tea.
"Potter I will not fight you on this. When push comes to shove I will even help you in anyway I can." She said nodding her head to him. "You are indeed a true Gryffindor."
Harry smiled.
"But now we must talk about your punishment." She said setting her cup down again. Harry groaned.
"Professor-"
"One moment Potter and let me explain. If you do not get a punishment then Umbridge and consequently the Ministry will know that Dumbledore is protecting you. We can't have that yet."
Harry swore vehemently.
"She gave you a week of detention did she not?" McGonagall asked.
Harry nodded.
"Do it."
Harry dealt with the detentions. He didn't tell Ron and Hermione about what the evil hag was doing to him. He could deal with it. What he needed to focus on was the bigger picture.
Harry knew the first Hogsmeade weekend was coming up. That was his chance. But what would he do with it?
Harry needed supplies. He knew that much. He also needed to gain support. How was he going to get it? The school was not firmly against him but the majority of students thought he was crazy. Gryffindor house would certainly follow him. Most of them would at least. They were his family and they were fiercely loyal.
But how could he reach other students?
The idea came to him when he was sitting with Hermione and Ron in the common room two weeks before the first Hogsmeade meeting. They were all bashing Umbridge's lessons and her teaching. It was now a common topic of discussion with the students since she was such a and teacher. The Slytherins, however, loved her. She loved them too. It was disgusting. The Ravenclaws tolerated her but still moaned about the useless lessons. The Hufflepuffs hated her almost as much as the Gryffindors.
"We need to do something. At this rate we are going to fail our DADA OWL." Hermione cursed as she finished scribbling down the last few lines to a series of questions on the uses and theory of defensive magic for said hag.
"What do you think we can do?" Harry said throwing his hands up and laying back in his chair.
"Poison?" Ron suggested. The other two looked at him.
"What?" He said indignantly.
"Shut up Ron." Hermione said pointedly. Ron shrugged.
"We need to practice this magic. Otherwise we are never going to get anywhere in this." Hermione said.
"Yeah but I am sorry Hermione I don't give a shit about the OWL. We need to practice this to survive." Harry said leaning back in his chair.
"I have an idea." He continued. Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes.
"Why do I feel like this is going to raise hell?" Ron asked.
"Because that's exactly what I intend to do." Harry said leaning in closer to the other two.
"Look we have something here. If Umbridge makes herself unpopular enough then we might able to organize against her."
"But Harry a bunch of students can't change much. The Wizarding World is much more complicated than Hogwarts and the students in it." Hermione said.
"Well it's not like there aren't groups out there working towards the same cause as us? If we can reach out to the wider wizarding community, then we might stand a chance against Voldemort and the Ministry."
"We don't even know where to begin though" Ron said shaking his head.
"Look I am not saying it is going to be easy but if we start looking now then we might be able to get a head start." Harry reasoned. Ron shrugged his shoulders and nodded. Hermione pondered for a moment before nodding. Harry sat back and smiled.
Oh he was going to raise hell.
Harry soon realized he would not be able to focus on just this one goal. 5th year came with some interesting new developments. For one, OWLs were at the end of the year meaning the 5th years would be pounded with homework and more stress. The end of the year tests would help decide what career they could pursue outside of Hogwarts. Not that Harry really cared that much. He knew what he was going to be doing in his post-Hogwarts years. A few tests wouldn't help him figure that out.
The next problem showed up towards the end of the second week of term when Angelina Johnson came up to him in the hall.
"Oi, Potter." She said grabbing him by the arm outside of McGonagall's classroom.
"Hey Angelina!" Harry said smiling at her.
"I have been made Quidditch captain. And I need you on the team. Tryouts are this Saturday at 10. You don't need to tryout but I want you there. This year, we are going to win. There is no other outcome, " she said looking sternly at him.
"You got it Anjo," Harry said brightly. She rolled her eyes. She hated that nickname but somehow (through the magic of the Weasley twins) it had managed to stick.
The third obstacle came in a very unexpected way. Harry was walking back from dinner on that Friday with Ron when Dean Thomas came up to them.
"Hey Harry, Ron!" he called out, running slightly to catch up with them from the Great Hall.
"What's up Dean?" Harry said stopping to allow Dean to catch up.
"Are you guys going to the Ravenclaw party tonight?" He asked.
"Party? What party?" Ron asked.
"Padma Patil is throwing one." Dean said.
"Yeah I get that but how? Are we all just going to pile into Ravenclaw Tower or something with a bunch of nerdy 11 and 12 year olds running around?" Harry asked. "I dunno about you mate but that sounds like not a good time."
"I asked Padma the same thing but she says she has it covered."
"Covered with what? A blanket made of broken childhood memories or something?"
"Fuck if I know…" Dean said shrugging his shoulders.
Ron and Harry looked at each other. Harry shrugged. "Wanna go?" he asked.
"I mean... Could be fun?" Ron said.
"What do we have to do?" Harry said turning back to Dean.
"She said you need to fly to the Ravenclaw tower window around 9ish." Dean said.
"Fly? Why?" Harry asked. "How many people own a broom anyway?"
"Yeah because it would be weird to walk into Ravenclaw Tower just randomly. Apparently we need to be subtle. And enough apparently. Some people are going to shuttle."
"It's a party. The point is not to be subtle." Ron said laughing.
"Yeah well I don't make the rules." Dean said holding his hands up.
"Who else is going to be there?" Harry asked.
"No one under 5th year is invited. All of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. About half of the Slytherins, 5th year and up are invited."
"Snakes?" Ron said making a puking motion.
"Hey it's not like we have anyone else to party with." Dean said.
"That is a fair point Deets." Harry said snapping his fingers. "Alright sounds like we are going." Harry said looking at Ron who nodded.
"We better get moving. It's 7:30 now." Ron said looking at his watch. They hurried back to Gryffindor Tower. The 5th years were all in a flurry. Harry realized immediately when he got back that he had very few clothes outside of his robes to wear. He had never had a reason to use anything else.
"Hey Ron… Do you have any pants that don't look stupid that I can borrow?" Harry said.
"Um yeah I think so. Just shrink them a bit." Ron said tossing over a pair of black pants.
Harry fiddled with them for a moment before putting them on. He threw on some other clothes before looking at himself in front of the mirror. To him, he thought he didn't look half bad. But Dean and Seamus walked in a moment later.
"Oh boy. Lad, I am not letting you go in that." Dean said smiling at Harry.
A/N I literally know nothing about fashion.
"Better than the shit you wear Dean." Harry snapped. Dean laughed.
"Take this shit fool. You can't go wrong with this. Then again anything is a step up from that. You set the bar low."
Harry flicked his wand at the black boy and he yelped as a stinging hex hit him.
"Don't damage the goods!" Dean said hopping away from Harry as the others laughed.
Harry pulled on the clothes that Dean had given him and went back to the mirror. Well… Dean did have a point he looked much better. Grey pants, skater shoes, a thick belt, and a comfortable jacket over a teal shirt covered in graffiti patterns. Harry looked almost like a regular kid. He looked like the kids he saw in Magnolia Crescent. It felt weird.
A while later, Harry was ready to go. He grabbed his Firebolt from his trunk while Ron grabbed the new Cleansweep. Harry unlocked the window with a quick tap of his wand and pulled it open. The nights were still warm and the fresh air calmed down Harry's nerves. He had never been to a real party before.
The sun had already set so they head to fly by the lights of the towers. They headed close to the walls of the castle, flying quickly so as not draw any unwanted attention. Dean and Seamus followed a few moments later following their route around the castle to the tall tower where Ravenclaw's dormitories were. As they approached they sat a small light attached to a small pole sticking out a window. They flew over to the window and one by one floated slowly into the room. Putting their brooms aside they waited.
Padma Patil waved them in until all 4 were present. Harry turned to see Dean unapologetically staring at her. She did look very beautiful in a scheme of vibrant colors. They were standing in the 6th year Ravenclaw girl's dormitory looking around when Padma spoke.
"Follow me,' she said walking towards the back of the dormitory.
"Where are we going?" Ron asked as they followed her. She laughed and walked over to a large trunk. She tapped it with her wand and the top open revealing a small compartment. As Harry looked closer he realized there was a small set of stairs leading down into the trunk. He raised his eyebrows as Padma stepped into the trunk, onto the stairs, and disappeared down into the trunk. He looked at the others who shrugged and they lined up to follow Padma down.
Harry was the last to go. He started down the stairs which were small and tight with a small handrail to guide him. He could see the room was darker than the dormitory but could see lights in the room below. As soon as his head got below what would have been the bottom of the trunk the sound seemed to turn on. He could hear people talking and laughing with the loud booming of a wizarding stereo coming from inside. He got his first look of where he was. He seemed to be standing in the entrance room of a flat. Harry looked up and saw the ceiling of the dormitory above him. He shook his head for a moment. He would never get used to the wonders of magic.
He walked further down the hall to another door and opened it. There was a large room with maybe 30 people in it. There was a haze in the room coming from somewhere and a large crowd of people were gathered around a large table in the center. Over in a corner Harry saw the stereo with a few people around it. He walked in further and ran into Ron.
"Mate… This is pretty awesome." Ron said looking around the room. Padma had come back with more people from all the houses and the room was filling up quick. Ron and Harry walked over to the main table. They saw immediately they saw why the crowd was there. All around the table alcohol was strewn. Cups, conjured older students, piled on the table. Ogden's Firewhiskey sat at one end with a series of small glasses around it.
Ron walked to one end where a large brown barrel sat. It was a barrel of Rosmerta's mead.
"How the fuck did they get that…? Much less into the school." Harry asked.
"Psh I don't care. The less people know the better." Ron said walking over to it and grabbing a cup. Harry followed him. He poured himself a drink. It warmed his stomach when it hit.
Harry got used to the crowd as the next hour passed. More people had shown up and the trickle of people who were coming slowed down. The room wasn't uncomfortably crowded. It seemed to have grown the more people came into it.
Harry had just finished talking to a rather tipsy-soon-to-be-drunk Justin Finch-Fletchley when he noticed a small room off to one side. It wasn't the door where the stairs had led down to but a different room. He walked over and entered the room.
Immediately, he realized where the smoke haze had come from. The room was hazy with smoke, more the main one, and quite a bit smaller. There was more furniture in here. A large comfy couch splayed one wall while several comfy chair sat throughout he room. Most people in the room were puffing on some sort of substance that released hazy smoke and had an intense odor. But Harry forgot all about that when he took a closer look at one corner of the room.
Amidst the smoke, glass, and other smoking equipment throughout the room he saw a girl he had never seen before. She was on the other side of the room holding a small cigarette like object talking to a Ravenclaw whose name escaped Harry.
She was intensely beautiful. Harry never thought he would say he had seen a girl who could come close to Fleur Delacour's beauty. But here before him there was such a girl.
She was about a head shorter than him. She had dark brown skin that was partially covered in dark, flowing tattoos. They were hardly visible in the dim light of the room and Harry had to squint slightly to make them out. Even at this distance he still couldn't see much detail. Her hair was curly and cut short. A black top and blue jeans hugged her body perfectly.
Harry stared for a moment longer before turning to the closest group of people. Harry started when he saw the closest people were the Weasley twins, their friend Lee Jordan, Alice Spinnett, Katie Bell, and Angelina Johnson. Harry grinned as he walked over, the girl still in his mind. Fred and George waved him over, cheering as he came. He entered the circle and set down.
"Harry, what's happening mate? You want a smoke?" Fred said looking at him and holding out the piece of glass he held in his hand. Harry looked at it for a moment.
"What am I smoking here?" Harry asked.
"Knotgrass." George said.
"Don't corrupt him you two! He needs to remain nice and sweet!" Alicia said point at the trio. Lee Jordan laughed, readjusting himself on the chair he was in.
Harry rolled his eyes. He took the piece from Fred and looked in the bowl. He pulled out his lighter and made it so he could see inside. Harry nodded. Apparently Knotgrass and pot were the same thing. At least it looked like it. A few drinks in him didn't help make the decision quick. He place the bong and flicked the lighter. He had seen Dudley and his friends doing this a few times and knew what he was supposed to do.
He lit the bowl and pulled hard. The smoke filtered through the water and the piece bubbled as it flew into his lungs. Quickly taking the bowl out and clearing the piece he exhaled. It wasn't as harsh as a cigarette but it stung as it came out. He let out a small cough and handed the piece back to Fred. Alicia and Katie were sitting in shock as he passed it back.
Harry sat there for a few minutes passing the bong between the group. He cast a look over at the girl in the corner. She and her friend were looking around the room. She made eye contact but Harry looked. He looked back a few minutes later and she was looking in their direction. He turned back to the group and saw Fred, George, and Lee grinning at him.
Harry hung his head grinning for a moment before looking up at them again.
"Looking at something Harry?" Lee said popping his eyebrows at Harry.
Harry snorted, "What is there not to stare at?"
"That is a fair point." George said leaning back.
"Go talk to her Harry!" Fred said poking him.
"Mate I don't even know her name." Harry said. "I have literally never seen her before."
"Not surprising. She is a year ahead of you and in Ravenclaw." Fred said shrugging.
"So who is she?" Harry said looking back at her.
"That's Busuku Igorha." Lee said. "Suku for short. Her family is Xhosa from South Africa. Moved to Britain after the anti-shaman government fell in the early 90s."
"She is… Something else." Harry said shaking his head.
"She is. Luckily, I know her. She doesn't mind her Knotgrass." Lee said and before Harry could stop him he was on his feet and calling her over.
"Oi, Suku. Come over and sit with us. Got the grass too!" He said opening his arms in a welcoming gesture. She looked and then back at her friend before walking over.
"Harry, budge up." Lee directed. Suku sat herself next to Harry and her friend on the other side of her. Lee immediately began talking to her, leaving Harry to talk to Suku.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"I'm Harry Potter."
"Busuku Igorha."
Instead of shaking his hand she passed him the small cigarette like object she had. Harry smelled the Knotgrass burning and took the burning herb. He pulled on it gently before letting the smoke out slowly. She watched him and took the joint back and pulling on it herself. Harry's high had settled in and watched as if in slow motion as she let the smoke filter out into the space in between them. Harry felt the bass from the stereo against his heart beat. Everything slowed as they stared at each other for a moment, neither looking away.
They were brought back to reality with a snap. Fred was passing the piece around again, the bowl freshly packed. The moment was gone but both had noticed.
The night carried on. Harry sat with the group the whole time, talking and laughing. The slight buzz and the heavy high loosened his tongue a bit. He stumbled through sentences. But they all were.
As the night wore on he learned more about Suku. Her parents were Xhosa and had fought against the British wizards who had tried to keep the shamanistic culture of the southern African tribes suppressed just like their muggle counterparts had suppressed the ethnic majority. She was also a half blood. Her mother was a powerful sorceress who worked against the magical government while her father was a Muggle from Johannesburg who worked against the Muggle government. Her parents were not wealthy and she was only able to attend Hogwarts due to a scholarship for those less privileged than the old rich pureblood families of Britain.
She enjoyed DADA and Potions the most. Snape was a piece of work she said but he knew how to motivate students through hatred. She loved Muggle football and was a big fan of Bafana Bafana even though they were apparently terrible. She loved Quidditch as well, a fan of the South African National Team, the Black Panthers.
Her family was heavily anti-Voldemort. When Voldemort was gathering power in Harry's parent's time Voldemort had sent emissaries around the world to attempt to gather other nations and non-state actors to his cause including to those in South Africa, specifically with Suku's mother. The Death Eater who had been sent to parley with the rebel group she was a part of did not make it home to England. Alive at least.
As Harry talked to her he realized they had more in common than one might think. They had both grown up in troubled homes. She was often threatened with political violence while Harry had been met with domestic violence. She often felt she had to live up to her parent's fame just like Harry.
After hours of sitting and talking Alicia Spinnet stood up, pointed at George, and said, "You. Get up. We are going to go dance."
George immediately got up and followed her out of the room while Fred made a small whipping noise. Katie Bell then stood up and raised her eyebrow at Fred. Fred rolled his eyes and got up to follow her. Harry turned to Suku and gestured to the door, the words getting lost on the way to his mouth. But she understood what he meant.
She laughed, "Yes, let's go dance." She stood up and grabbed his hand, pulling him along behind her.
They walked out into the main room to the sound of loud bass, shaking the walls and table. The table had been moved to another corner of the room, the main area cleared to make a makeshift dance floor in front of the stereo.
The low rumble of the bass swarmed through the room and made everyone feel alive. It's interesting putting a room full of hormonal, magical teenagers together without any adult supervision and seeing what would happen. The rise in magical energy was palpable and only increased the emotions running throughout the room.
Harry watched Suku as she began to dance, her hips moving to the rhythm of the music. Harry followed suit, though not really knowing what he was supposed to do. The alcohol and the Knotgrass certainly made it easier for him to get away with bad dancing. Most of the people in the room were either slightly drunk or completely smashed. There was no real in-between.
As the beat wore on, Harry and Suku became closer, touching more and more frequently. Harry, fueled by alcohol and his second brain, realized he needed to make a bold move soon if one was to be made at all. As they danced closer and closer, Harry reached out and out his hands on her hips, watching carefully. At this she looked up at him, the music reverberating in their ears. Suku captured his gaze for a moment and held it. The crescendo continued and exploded around them. As the music reached its climax, Harry leaned down and kissed her.
The music continued playing, someone cheered, and the party continued around them as they kissed. Harry had never kissed a girl but he definitely liked this. The continued for what seemed like weeks but eventually broke apart. She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck pulling him closer, touching their foreheads.
The night continued on, hours passing by as people trickled out. By 3 in the morning there was very few people left. Soft music played now. The remaining people, including Harry, were sitting in the side room in a large circle, talking and laughing. The bong was making its rounds around the room for those who wanted it.
Harry had never felt so close to a group of people in his life. Having been denied intimacy for most of his life, Harry felt at home with the group of people. There were no worries here. No Voldemort, no Umbridge, no Dudley. It felt surreal. Is this what it felt like to be another person? Is this what it felt like to live without worry? Whatever it was Harry knew that this year would not be quite what he expected.
