A/N: Here is the fourth chapter. Sorry for the long delay on this one, hopefully it is worth the wait.
Disclaimer: All rights to J.K Rowling
Chapter Four – Sugar Rush
Hermione had not been back to the trapdoor on the third floor since her first year, but she was glad she made the trek now. It was the perfect place for the DA to meet. The corridor was still unused and no devil's snare lay beneath the trapdoor to prevent their using the space below it.
"So that's where the Philosopher's Stone was hidden?" Ginny asked as Hermione lifted the creaking door, and nodded. "It seems kind of obvious. I mean a trapdoor in the middle of the floor isn't exactly hidden."
"Well there were other obstacles," Hermione said as she looked at the door thoughtfully. "But we should probably use a concealment charm on the entrance after today's meeting. A three headed guard dog would be kind of obvious." Hermione proceeded to conjure a ladder for them to climb into the opening. With the devil's snare removed, all that remained was a large, damp, stone-walled room. It was not nearly as comfortable as the room of requirement, but it would do.
Before long students began descending the ladder and waiting for the meeting to start. It was the old DA members first, who Hermione contacted using the galleons. Followed by people they had spread the word to of the time and place of the first meeting. Once it seemed that everyone had arrived Hermione hesitantly cast muffliato on the room to block their voices from travelling to the corridor above.
"Alright everyone," Ginny called across the room, getting their attention much faster than Hermione would be able to. "Welcome to the first meeting of the newly reformed Dumbledore's Army. Those of you were members before know what it means to put your name on this parchment. We take this very seriously. The DA is no longer just about learning defensive magic, but also about standing up to You-Know-Who." There was some uncomfortable shuffling when she said this, especially amongst the younger years. Hermione was surprised to see the number of second and third years that had shown up. So she quickly interjected Ginny's speech.
"We know some of you are uncomfortable breaking the rules. So for those of you who do not want to take part in our demonstrations, that's fine, but you are still sworn to secrecy about the members and activities about the DA," Hermione said, adamant that second years would not be involved in anything dangerous. "Does everyone understand?" They nodded their assent and continued to pass the parchment along the circle.
"Why can't we use the room of requirement again?" Michael Corner called out, looking at their surroundings with apparent disproval. Ginny opened her mouth in apparent agitation, but Hermione beat her to it.
"That will be the first place Umbridge looks," Hermione explained. "The room's protection was broken last time when a member breached the contract, we cannot afford for that to happen again." In all fairness, no one would be able to fully breach the contract this time. Hermione had taken more extreme measures when writing it, and anyone who tried to expose them would be faced with a silencing charm that only Hermione could undo.
"Isn't the location going to be obvious with all of us marching down here?" A fourth year Ravenclaw girl asked.
"We could use that disillusionment charm Hermione," Neville responded quickly.
"That's a good idea," Hermione said. "The magic is quite advanced, but I'm willing to teach it to sixth and seventh years and they can help the younger students." This was met excitedly by all the older students.
The enthusiasm died down quickly when two new students descended the ladder. A hush fell over the crowd, but Hermione recognized the straggly blonde hair immediately.
"Hi Luna," Ginny called up to her. Hermione couldn't help but look at Neville and she noticed his neck was turning red. Luna smiled at her but her attention was on the second year girl with her. Hermione took a closer look and saw that the girl had a bleeding hand.
"She was just in detention with Umbridge," Luna explained, squeezing the girl's shoulder warmly.
"Essence of Murtlap will heal that," Hermione said "I'm sure Madam Pomfrey has some in the Hospital wing." The girl nodded and sniffled. Tearstains were still visible on her face and the blood on her hand was smeared up her arm.
"I was hoping you knew a healing spell," Luna said frowning, "I tried snargaluff pod juice but it didn't help." One of the girls in the circle hurried over to help her friend. "Can you take her to the Hospital Wing?"
"Okay Luna," she replied. They departed a moment later, only waiting for the injured girl when she insisted on signing the parchment to make her an official member of the DA.
Hermione frowned as the girls left. That had been an unpleasant reminder of Harry. His hand was still scarred from their fifth year. "I think that pretty much wraps up our first meeting," Hermione announced to the sobered crowd. "I have some extra galleons so we can announce the next meeting. If all the sixth and seventh years could stay behind and we will start to work on disillusionment charms." The younger students left gradually in small groups. Hermione and Neville ushered out some fifth years trying to stay behind with the older students. The lesson went by without issue and at the end someone finally brought up the issue that was occupying most of Hermione's thoughts.
"We should do something about Umbridge's detentions," Dean Thomas said as they were packing up to leave. Those remaining were keen on the idea and Hermione was relieved that the group seemed to be on the same page.
"Some of Fred and George's products might do the trick," Ginny suggested. "Their Decoy Detonaters could be a great distraction."
"Or Peruvian Instant Darkness powder," Neville added no doubt remembering the night Dumbledore died last June.
"She used to have tea and bon bons during detentions," Seamus added, "Maybe we can swap some for skiving snackboxes or their ton tongue toffee."
Before long plans were finalized to disrupt Umbridge's next detention session and Hermione found herself outside the defense of dark arts class room dropping decoy detonators into a classroom full of detention dwellers. Seamus had already swapped her candies and Hermione backed away anxiously as Umbridge plucked a colourful toffee into her mouth. She gagged audibly and several students looked up in surprise, especially when her tongue turned acid green and began to sag from her mouth.
As Umbridge struggled to her feet attempting to find her wand, Hermione saw Neville dart into the classroom gesturing the students to leave. They started stampeding out of the room leaving a seething Umbridge behind with her lolling green tongue.
Hermione went to bed satisfied with the DA's efforts. Most of the students' hands were raw but no longer bleeding. She woke with a nagging apprehension building in the back of her mind. Her anxiety climaxed during breakfast. Professor McGonagall had a grim expression on her face, and Umbridge, a few seats down, was suppressing a look of pure triumph.
Hermione's concerns were confirmed when Umbridge rose to her feet and Professor McGonagall scowled.
"Hem Hem." All eyes were immediately drawn to Umbridge as she looked pointedly at Professor McGonagall. She smiled tightly and rose to her feet.
"Attention please students," she called across the hall, "Professor Umbridge would like to convey an announcement from the Ministry of Magic." Umbridge stared across the hall, her beady eyes pausing for a moment on the Gryffindor table where Hermione, Neville and Ginny sat.
"I am displeased to say that Hogwarts has not improved since I first taught here," she said, "and once again the Ministry feels its involvement is necessary at Hogwarts." There was some outcry at this, but at Umbridge's hard look the crowd fell silent. "Educational Decree number twenty-three has been reapproved and I have been reinstated as the Hogwarts High Inquisitor." The response was worse now and students began yelling profanities. With a flick of her wand the doors to the great hall opened and Ministry of Magic security wizards flooded through the threshold. The crowd silenced at once and Professor McGonagall rose to her feet once again.
"Students," she said, "I ask you to contain yourselves and act in a manner that follows Hogwarts' protocol at all times. Ministry of Magic security wizards will be conducting daily patrols of the castle as well as acting as personal protection for the High Inquisitor." McGonagall paused here, the words clearly painful to say, but she continued normally, "now off to class all of you." The students bustled away whispering about what just occurred and eyeing the security wizards with a mixture of fear and suspicion.
As Hermione left the great hall she felt Neville come up behind here with Ginny. "This is not good," Ginny whispered once they were away from the security wizards.
"I guess we won't be disrupting any more of her detentions," Neville added. "Next thing you know we are going to have another wall full of daft educational proclamations."
"Huh," Ginny said a mischievous smile reminding Hermione of Fred and George. "A wall of daft educational proclamations could be promising." Without another word she disappeared in the crowd heading to the dungeons. Neville raised his eyebrows at Hermione and they joined Dean and Seamus on their way to charms.
Ginny's idea was made clear at lunch when she intercepted Hermione and Neville and dragged them to the library before they got a chance to touch their bangers and mash. She refused to tell them anything until they were seated alongside Luna, Dean, Seamus, and another Ravenclaw girl Hermione recognized but could not name offhand.
"Okay Ginny, what's so important that we have to miss lunch?" Seamus asked somewhat grumpily. Hermione knew that Seamus, like Ron, was rather unpleasant when not fed three square meals a day. Hermione saw several scraps of parchments hastily piled in front of Ginny and even more next to Luna who was scribbling away absently.
"I got the idea from Neville this morning," Ginny said breathlessly, "we are going to make a bunch of daft educational decrees and post them in that wall off the great hall!" Everyone appreciated the idea, especially when Ginny started handing out the ones she and Luna had already made. Hermione saw one entitled Educational Decree #37 prohibiting the excessive use of pink. A similar one banned decorative cat plates with an exception made for Professor McGonagall. But it was Luna's proclamations that were the best ranging from mandatory spectrespecs to implementing nargle checks for all students.
"These are hysterical," Dean laughed as he continued to read through the pile.
"We are going to make some more tonight and put them up after curfew tomorrow with a permanent sticking charm," Ginny said.
"If you had it all planned out why do we need to skip lunch," Seamus grumbled.
"Because I have detention with Umbridge so someone else needs to help Luna put them up," Ginny snapped. "And we've only made about twenty of these when we need about fifty so you lot better start writing." Ginny distributed the spare parchment and everyone shuffled about looking for quills.
"I'll help Luna put them up tomorrow," Neville said quickly, and Hermione could not help but notice his blush.
"I can help too," Dean offered.
Blushing in earnest Neville declined, "I think we can handle it, we don't want too many people or else it will attract attention." Hermione caught Neville's eye and he looked away quickly. Hermione smiled at her poor attempt at a proclamation, knowing exactly why Neville wanted to be alone with Luna.
On Monday evening Hermione waited anxiously in the Gryffindor common room pouring over her copy of the Standard Book of Spells Grade Seven. Ginny had left dinner and went straight to her detention. Neville and Luna were probably putting up their proclamations at this very moment and Hermione was alone by the fireside. She had gotten one of the best armchairs and was gazing sadly into the flames. Some silly part of her brain secretly wished that Harry's head would pop up from the flames like Sirius had done so long ago.
Hermione, not one to wallow in her sorrow, turned instead to a paper on human transfiguration she was working on for Professor McGonagall. She had finished about three feet of parchment when Neville stealthily entered the almost deserted common room. Seeing Hermione he made his way to the fireside and plopped into the chair across from her.
"How'd it go?" Hermione asked, setting aside her quill.
"Really well," Neville said happily, and Hermione was quite sure he was not just talking about the DA. "Brilliant actually. I can't wait to see Umbridge's face tomorrow morning. Especially after she looked so smug yesterday at breakfast. Fat lot of good those security wizards are." Neville trailed off and soon after headed to bed leaving Hermione to write another half-foot before proceeding to her conclusion.
Unsurprisingly Neville was right. The next morning Umbridge looked like she sucked on a lemon and giggles and whispers filled the hall. Hermione had to contain her smile when she passed Filch and a couple of security wizards attempting to remove the proclamations from the wall. They gave up after a day and Hermione loved the sight of students stopping mid-step to read some of them and chuckle before heading in or out of the great hall. This became such a common occurrence that Filch took to guarding it with a broom ushering people away and threatening them with detention.
Apart from that the week went by smoothly, and Hermione walked into dinner at ease on Thursday night. She planned to eat dinner with Ginny and Neville as was becoming her custom, grab some books from the library, and then return to the common room to finish a charms paper and begin working on a gruesome one for potions that was due the following week.
Hermione's plans were ruined just as dessert of plum pudding was served. Umbridge rose and took her favourite spot at the headmaster's podium. Hermione's stomach turned and she dropped her spoon losing her appetite at once. Umbridge never had good news and deep down Hermione knew sooner or later she would retaliate.
"Good evening students" Umbridge said, her voice falsely sweet. "I know many of you have seen the display outside the great hall." Voices faltered and students shifted in their seats. Hermione's breath caught in her throat. She did not expect Umbridge to address the situation head on. "I know many of you found this display amusing, but I can forgive this immaturity for it is easy for young minds to be led astray. While this display was cleverly hidden behind Ministry letterheads, it was indeed an act of vandalism. I do not blame the student body for the actions of a small group of miscreants. However, the group indentifying itself as Dumbledore's Army has made it clear to the Ministry that it is not acceptable to have any trips to Hogsmeade this year. Educational Decree Number Thirty-Three places an immediate halt to all trips to Hogsmeade for an indefinite period of time until the Ministry sees fit to revoke this measure."
The great hall erupted in angry backlash from the students, but once again the Ministry's security wizards entered the hall en masse and every one quieted. Hermione waited for Professor McGonagall to rise and ease their minds as she had done previously, but she did not. Instead she swept from her chair and exited the great hall followed quickly by many of the staff. Hermione took that as her cue to leave, not wanting to be left in the hall with Umbridge and the Ministry officials.
"We need to have an emergency DA meeting now," Ginny hissed as soon as they were clear from the mass of students.
"Alright," Hermione conceded, pulling out a sickle from her pocket. "But only for the leading members, I don't want a bunch of second years here for this." She waved her wand over the sickle, which was charmed like the galleon all members of the DA had, but these were only given to the older students willing to bend the rules.
As soon as she had finished, Hermione slipped out of the alcove with Neville and Ginny and made their way to the trap door beneath which they found a small assembly waiting for them. Luna, Dean, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender, Susan Bones, and a few others were whispering anxiously until they entered and all talking ceased.
"They can't stop us from going to Hosgmeade," Lavender said her eyes shining with unshed tears, "it's our last year!"
"Bloody 'ell," Seamus said angrily, "Everyone is going to hate the DA now. We are going to lose all our followers."
Hermione suppressed a frown at both of them. She always thought Lavender was a bit petty, but she had expected better at a time like this. And she didn't particularly like Seamus referring to the other members as their followers it was too close to Death Eaters for her liking.
"What we need is something to boost morale," Susan said.
"Definitely, something to remind everyone what we are standing up against is more important than butterbeer and candy," Dean added.
"Speak for y'self," Seamus muttered, "I love butterbeer."
"We need to stop whining and start thinking," Ginny retorted angrily, pulling at her long red hair. Her new Quidditch captain badge glimmered from the torchlight and a thought struck Hermione. All those years of Fred and George appearing in the common room after a Quidditch match with armfuls of Honeydukes sweets and butterbeer. Hermione felt instantly guilty, she had always chided harry for using that passage, but it would be the perfect solution. She hesitated, she wanted to tell them, she really did, but she could not be responsible for so many students knowing a passage out of the castle. Not to mention she still considered it Harry's passage, it would feel like a betrayal to leak his secret.
"I have an idea," she said, and they all looked at her hopefully. She exhaled slowly. They were not going to like what she said next. "What if tomorrow morning at breakfast the house elves served candy from Honeydukes?" Some listened with confusion others with excitement.
"How?" A Ravenclaw boy asked sceptically.
"I know how," Hermione said, "I just need to know if you guys want it done?"
"Definitely," Parvati agreed.
"It sounds like a great idea," Neville added. "So how many people do we need to pull this off." Here came the glitch Hermione thought to herself.
"Well, the truth is this is something I have to do alone." They all rejected it at once but after a few moments Hermione managed to convince them. So they all trickled out of the room. Neville and Luna left last with a concerned look from the formers and a warning about the questionable ingredients from Transylvania that Sugar Quills contained from the latter.
Just as Ginny was heading out Hermione decided that maybe she did not have to do this all by herself. If there was one person here that Harry would trust it would be Ginny; after all her three of her brothers knew about the passage anyway.
"Wait Ginny, wait," Hermione called as Ginny stumbled poised on the first ring of the ladder. "I need your help." The girls left together, Hermione explaining her plan on their way to the statue of the hump-backed witch.
"So this leads straight into Honeydukes," Ginny asked in disbelief, "I must have passed this statue a hundred times." Hermione shushed Ginny and eased into the passage after her, ensuring no one saw them as closed it behind her. Luckily the Ministry wizards seemed to be occupied in other parts of the castle tonight.
Hermione had never gone down this passage herself, so she was just as curious as Ginny as they made their way through the passage. After a while Hermione got impatient with the winding tunnel and was relieved when the tunnel sloped upward and they soon found themselves in the basement of Honeydukes.
"Woah," Ginny said as she took in their surroundings. There were sacks of Bertie Botts beans and toffees and crates of sugar quills, chocolate frogs and fudge. Hermione and Ginny shrunk down a selection of the candies filling a couple of spare sacks and leaving a satchel of galleons, sickles and knuts in their place.
The trek back to Hogwarts took even longer as the dragged the sack behind them, but at last they made it out of the statue slightly out of breath. But the job was not complete, they had to sneak back through the castle lugging the candy filled sacks with them and dodging Ministry security wizards. Hermione knew exactly how to get to the kitchens after her various S.P.E.W efforts with the households. So she was not surprised that once she and Ginny entered they were surrounded by house elves offering food and services.
"Dobby!" Hermione exclaimed happily once she saw the familiar elf.
"Miss Hermione," he beamed at her, and she was happy to see he was still wearing one of the hats she knitted. "Dobby is so pleased to see you. Harry Potter has not come to visit Dobby in a long time."
"Oh," Hermione faltered, "Uh, Harry isn't here this year." Dobby's green eyes widened and filled with tears.
"Harry Potter is such a great wizard. He freed Dobby from the bad bad Ma-" Dobby cut of abruptly and ran head first into the nearest table. Hermione and Ginny pulled him away, but the other elves looked on in approval.
"Dobby is naughty," one piped up, "He should not say such things about his masters." Others nodded in agreement and Hermione bristled.
"They are not his masters anymore," Hermione defended him automatically, "You should all be more like Dobby and accept fair wages for the work you do." The elves started muttering darkly at this, and some even covered their bat like ears, stomping their feet as to ignore her. Hermione sighed in defeat.
"Dobby," she said turning her attention back to the elf, "I need a huge favour."
"Anything for a friend of Harry Potter," Dobby said bowing deeply. Hermione sighed in relief and deposited the sacks of candy in front of him, charming them back to their original size, which drew the attention of the other elves who were busy stuffing Ginny's arms with food.
"I need you to send this candy up to the house tables tomorrow morning with breakfast," Hermione said. The part of her that was two dentists' daughter cringed at the thought of all that sugar, but she ignored it. "Oh, and the staff table too."
"No, no, no," one of the elves squeaked, "This is against the rules it is!"
"Miss Hermione asked Dobby to do it, not you Frolly," Dobby said angrily.
"But we alls will get in trouble, we will," the elf retorted and several others started to agree with him. Hermione met Ginny's eye anxiously. If the elves would not agree their plan would go to waste.
"Please," Hermione begged, "It would mean so much to us."
When Hermione's pleas did not work Ginny tried a different attempt. "It would mean so much to all of the students. And don't you live to serve people?" Hermione stuttered angrily, but the elves seemed to waver.
"Okay, how about we make a deal?" Ginny suggested. "If you do this for us, Hermione will stop badgering you about wages and clothes." Hermione would not have agreed to this, but the elves responded with such enthusiasm that she had no choice. Moments later they were ushered out of the kitchen and Hermione had the feeling they were glad to be rid of her. Well, except Dobby who was trying to show her his collection of socks.
The next morning Hermione heard excited voices before she even entered the great hall and knew immediately that the candy was a success. Even the staff seemed elated and Hermione spotted Professor Flitwick trading Chocolate Frog cards with Professor Sprout.
The weekend that followed was so wonderful that Hermione felt almost happy for the first time since she'd been back at Hogwarts. Ginny held the Gryffindor quidditch tryouts and the team looked promising even without Harry as the seeker. At least that was what Ginny told her, even after all the years Hermione spent watching Harry play she did not know much about the sport.
They spent the evening celebrating the success of the DA on Friday morning, the Gryffindor tryouts, and Luna and Neville's approved engagement. Dean and Seamus even managed to snag some of Fred and George's fireworks which they set off in the grounds much to Umbridge's displeasure.
All of the Slytherins were in high spirits as they made their way to the dungeons for potions on Monday Morning. While they would always hate the Gryffindors the candy at breakfast was great. Especially because Umbridge spent the rest of the day looking like she ate a vomit flavoured Bertie Botts bean.
They settled into their seats waiting leisurely for the potion's master to arrive. He soon did sweeping his cloak behind him and turning to face the class the traces of a smirk evident on his face. Draco rolled his eyes at Blaise. Snape always had a theatrical air about him making Draco secretly suspect that he was gay.
"Settle down," Snape said pulling Draco away from his thoughts. "Today we will be brewing an exceptionally difficult potion, and I assure you candy and fireworks will not prepare you for it." Draco almost snorted at that, but Snape was too busy intimidating Longbottom to notice.
Unsurprisingly Snape was right and the potion was extremely difficult to concoct. As Draco worked he noticed Snape prowling the rows more viciously than usual, even turning on the Slytherins on occasion. Draco wondered what had put him in such a foul mood. There had been no Death Eater meaning that weekend, but Draco knew the Dark Lord sometime called on Snape separately. Draco's thoughts wandered down this path as he waited precisely four minutes for his potion to simmer. He was quickly distracted, however, by Granger who had completed the potion and would probably receive top marks for it as well. She was staring at something intently under her desk and Draco's curiosity was inflamed. Figuring he had another two minutes until his potion needed his attention, he moved to the store cupboard to get a better view of her. He rolled his eyes for the second time that class, no surprise, she was reading. He wondered what was so important that she kept it hidden under the desk. A letter from Potter perhaps? Draco looked around to make sure no one was watching before using a spell his father had taught him to get enhanced vision.
Occlumency. So Granger was learning Occlumency. Aunt Bellatrix had taught Draco some the previous year and he was getting quite good at it. Returning to his seat and his potion Draco considered the possibility of using Legilimency on her. Getting into her mind would give him some clues on how to motivate her to switch sides or at least give him minimum hassle. He dropped the idea quickly; he was not a practised Legilimens and he did not want to draw attention to his orders.
Draco waited until the end of class to approach Snape meaning to ask him about Legilimency as he was supposed to begin learning it soon. Draco approached his desk and those thoughts vanished when Snape turned on him sharply. "What do you want Draco?"
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Draco asked coolly. Snape was seldom short with him, so Draco knew something was up. Snape sat back in his chair pressing his long fingers to his temples.
"That toad," he grumbled, and Draco assumed he meant Umbridge, "went and complained to someone at the Ministry about the candy incident on Friday. Unfortunately, that someone was Travers so naturally he ran his mouth about the issue too."
"So what are they going to do about it?" Draco asked.
"You'll see."
Hermione was elated Monday afternoon when Defense Against the Dark Arts was cancelled. These sorts of things usually devastated her, but she would be much more productive studying in the common room than in one of Umbridge's classes. Her study session was disturbed that night when McGonagall entered the Gryffindor common a pamphlet in hand. She tacked it to the notice board and turned to face the occupants of the room who were watching her attentively.
"Things are changing at Hogwarts," she said shortly, "I trust all of you to think carefully before you act now more than ever." With that she left the room abruptly and everyone dashed to the notice board. Hermione heard a gasp from the front and a couple of curse words. As a prefect she would typically reprimand profanity, but she was too curious.
"Umbridge was sacked!" Someone said incredulously. Hermione was shocked. The Ministry had handpicked Umbridge for this. Why would they sack her?
"Who's replacing her?"
"Amycus Carrow," Lavender replied hesitantly, "Isn't he a…"
"A Death Eater," Ginny whispered.
The next Defense Against the Dark Arts class came and the seventh year Gryffindors sat silently, waiting to see if the rumours were true. The Slytherins on the other hand looked completely at ease. Most of them were family friends of the Carrows or related somehow as most purebloods were.
Carrow strode into the classroom taking in the students with his pale eyes. He did not look intimidating on first glance, but Hermione could tell he was leanly muscled beneath his robe. His face was evenly proportioned and showed the beginning of a five o'clock shadow. If Hermione did not know who he was she could consider him handsome, but his leering smile eradicated that possibility. She repressed a shudder remembering Carrow from the previous June. Behind his pretty face was a sadistic murderer, and he was her Professor.
"Welcome," He said, his voice smooth and there was a hint of an accent Hermione could not place. "As I am sure you all know Professor Umbridge has chosen to take a leave of absence," he smiled here, and Hermione wondered what they did to Umbridge. "She was not fond of the academic environment. However, I assure you that I love influencing young minds. Students are so full of untapped talent, and if educators stay within strict guidelines this talent can go to waste." So he was not planning on following any rules, Hermione thought.
"The Dark Arts is an immense and unchartered area of study, so we will be delving into to several areas ranging from curses to magical artifacts. For successful defense of the dark arts, one must have intimate knowledge of the arts themselves. You must know what an unforgivable feels like, the incantations for curses, history of spells, how to implement basic human assaults and the weave of more complicated spells like blood tolls."
He began the lesson which was a brief introductory to the Dark Arts. Professor Carrow had come well prepared with disturbing pictures, whether to frighten them or inspire them, Hermione was unsure.
Once Carrow turned his back to write something on the board, Neville poked Hermione and whispered, "I didn't think it get any worse than Umbridge."
Coming Up in Til Death Do Us Part:
Even the Slytherins appeared unsettled and they all shot Draco curious looks on their way out.