Chapter 4.
The next morning, Hermione awoke with a jolt to realise she was not in her dormitory. Sitting up straight in bed, she looked over at the sleeping blonde beauty next to her in the bed.
"Shit," Hermione whispered, delicately climbing out of the bed with the caution of someone defusing a bomb. She rapidly got dressed before slipping quietly out of Fleur's room and making her way back to the Gryffindor dormitories.
She sighed heavily as she threw herself into a couch, looking at the clock. It was just hitting 6am.
The portrait slammed again and Hermione leapt up to find a muddied Harry walking into the common room with his broom over one shoulder.
"Bit early for you to be out practicing?" Hermione commented, as Harry stepped over to warm himself by the fire.
"Got up early to talk to Sirius then didn't feel like going back to bed," Harry replied, "Speaking of… Same clothes as yesterday? Did you stay over with the same person that gave you those hickeys?"
"No!" Hermione snapped, turning bright red. Harry laughed.
"This new mysterious wild Hermione takes some getting used to," he chuckled, before turning towards the staircase, "Anyway, I'd better go, Dumbledore finally wants to meet with me."
"Still getting those visions?" Hermione asked, paling and biting her lip. Harry nodded and looked away before silently walking up the staircase to his dorm.
Hermione got up and ascended the stairs to her own dorm. She had a headache and hadn't had much sleep.
"Did you see the latest Educational Decree?" Ginny asked as she sat down beside Hermione at the table in the Great Hall.
"No more meeting in groups? Yeah… Wonder what inspired that?" Ron said darkly, "What're we gonna do for the DA now?"
"We'll think of something," Harry replied distractedly, "Anyway, so Dumbledore wants me to take private lessons with Snape of all people,"
"That slimy git?!" Ron exclaimed, "Why on Earth?!"
"To learn Occlumency…" Harry said dejectedly, "Apparently Voldemort is amazing at Legilimency and I need to defend my mind against him."
"…And Snape is the best choice to teach you how to protect yourself?" Ron asked, aghast. The two devolved into outraged muttering on the other side of the table and Ginny turned to Hermione.
"So what happened last night with Fleur?" Ginny asked quietly.
"I chickened out," Hermione replied, equally quietly. Ginny looked at Hermione in disbelief.
"Hermione! Come on! Pansy and I wasted our last chance to play look out for you!" Ginny exclaimed in an agitated whisper.
"Last chance? What do you mean?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Well… For a while at least…" Ginny said, looking around to make doubly sure that nobody was listening in, "We both got detention."
"For the fireworks?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Erm, no actually… For breaking Educational Decree Number Thirteen…" Ginny replied awkwardly.
"Thirteen?" Hermione asked, eyes widening as she remembered that particular Decree, "You and Pansy?!"
Ginny blushed lightly.
"Erm… Yeah… We both kind of got caught up in the moment…And then got caught by Umbridge herself," Ginny replied.
"Ginerva Weasley! And you were so horrified when I told you I had been kissing her," Hermione smirked. Ginny shrugged, still a little red, turning back to her plate.
"You were right though…" Ginny said quietly.
"About?"
"The part about her being a good kisser… And actually being kind of nice," Ginny replied, reddening a little more.
"Oh my God, do you like her?!" Hermione asked, but they were interrupted by Ron and Harry loudly returning to the conversation.
"So, whaddaya think?" Harry asked, perked up now as he turned to Ginny and Hermione.
"Think about what?" Ginny asked, rubbing the back of her neck as her slight blush subsided.
"Having a toss around with a quaffle down at the pitch before I have to go to my session with Snape tonight," Ron answered eagerly.
Ginny shook her head, "Sorry, I'd love to but I have a detention with Umbridge tonight,"
Harry shot her a sympathetic look, "Hermione found out that murtlap helps with your hand. Speaking of, are you keen to head down to the pitch tonight Hermione? You don't have to play; you could just watch."
"As much as you know that would thrill me, I'm planning on going to the library to get my big Arithmancy assignment done tonight," Hermione replied, a grin tugging at her lips. Harry and Ron never seemed to tire of trying to get her interested in the sport.
"Suit yourself," Ron said, shovelling food into his mouth, "You're the one turning down fun to be boring instead."
"Yeah, but in her mind, Hermione is choosing the fun option and avoiding the boring one," Ginny added with a laugh.
The others laughed as they packed up their bags and headed to their last classes of the day. For the Trio, this was Double Potions.
"I am seeing waay too much of Snape for my liking," Harry groaned as the last part of Potions crawled along. Him and Ron had ruined the last of their tentacles and were about to have to ask Snape for some extras from his supply cupboard. They headed up to the front of the classroom morosely.
"So how did it go with Delacour last night?" Pansy asked, sidling over to Hermione while her friends were likewise distracted.
"Thought Ginny would have told you by now," Hermione smirked, noting the blush that rose in Pansy's cheeks.
"You know about that?" Pansy asked, lowering her voice even more.
"Yeah, I do," Hermione answered, "Hope Umbridge wasn't too tough on you."
"Er, she said one more strike and I'm off the Inquisitorial Squad," Pansy said with a grimace, "And I actually have to do detention too,"
"Sorry, Pansy," Hermione said sympathetically, patting Pansy's arm. Pansy's mouth quirked into a smile.
"It was worth it," Pansy smirked, "That Weasley… she sure is fiery,"
"Pansy Parkinson, do you have an honest to Merlin crush?" Hermione teased, "Just as I was convinced you were incapable of feelings."
"You're lucky you're cute, Granger," Pansy smirked, before glancing over at a returning Harry and Ron and moving away again.
"What'd Parkinson want?" Ron grumbled as he deposited a handful of slightly squashed tentacles onto the table.
"To borrow some tentacles," Hermione lied quickly. Ron grimaced.
"Nobody is getting any of our tentacles after the verbal lashing Snape gave us," Ron said darkly, "Enjoy him tonight, Harry, he's extra Snapey today."
Harry groaned.
After Potions and dinner, Harry and Ron grabbed their brooms and headed down to the pitch. Hermione shouldered her satchel and headed down to the library where she studied in happy solitude for hours.
Finishing her Arithmancy work with a flourish, she packed up the books she had used and began to put them away in the shelves. As she made it to a further away shelf, she spotted Fleur leant over a stack of papers, running a hand through her hair and looking stressed.
"Fleur?"
Fleur looked up, still looking unhappy at first, before smiling at Hermione.
"Ah, 'Ermione, you snuck out zis morning before I could see you," Fleur smiled.
"Yeah, sorry about that," Hermione answered, sitting down at the table beside Fleur, "How is the, er, auditing going?"
"Tiresome," Fleur sighed, leaning back and rubbing her forehead, "Umbridge keeps challenging all my findings so I 'ave to keep starting all over again."
"Oh no, so you might be stuck here all year?" Hermione said with a smile, leaning her head on her hand while looking at Fleur. Fleur scoffed.
"At least!" Fleur smiled. Hermione felt her heart swell at Fleur's perfect smile again.
"Would you fancy another wine tonight?" Hermione asked. Fleur arched an eyebrow.
"Two nights in a row? I am leading you astray 'Ermione," Fleur smirked.
"I am happily being led astray," Hermione smiled back, "If we left now, I wouldn't have to worry about being caught after curfew and most people will be in their common rooms or at evening activities."
"Well, I do need a break from these numbers," Fleur agreed, packing up her things.
They slipped quietly through the halls to Fleur's quarters, where Fleur produced another couple of glasses and some wine. It didn't take long until they were several glasses deep and the conversation was well lubricated.
"So 'ow are zings wiz Pansy? Still 'aving fun?" Fleur asked suddenly, with a coy wink. Hermione laughed.
"No, but she is having fun with someone else now… And I think they both like each other!" Hermione grinned, drinking at her wine.
"Oh zat is so cute, but a shame for you, 'Ermione!" Fleur said sweetly. For a moment, Hermione wasn't sure if it was her tipsiness or something else, Hermione got lost in Fleur's eyes again. She blinked hard and shook her head.
"I'm sorry… I…"
"Feel my zrall?" Fleur finished for her, quirking an eyebrow. Hermione blushed.
"Erm… I suppose…" she mumbled awkwardly. Fleur put her hand on top of hers on the table. Hermione almost twitched at the contact, it felt like electricity was running through her.
"It is okay, I 'ave noticed ze way you appear affected sometimes, alzough zankfully you do not lose your faculties and agree wiz everyzing I say like some affected do," Fleur smiled, "Ze more you are around me ze faster you become immune to it."
"I'm sorry, Fleur, I hate to be another drooling fool around you," Hermione said, now beet red.
"It is okay, it 'appens to everyone new I meet 'oo is attracted to women," Fleur smiled, "Do not worry, I will not read into it."
"What if I want you to read into it?" Hermione asked, her Gryffindor courage suddenly making an appearance. Her blush, however, was also at the ready, burning at her cheeks as she asked.
"You… want me to?" Fleur asked, raising her eyebrows slightly. Hermione momentarily cursed Fleur's ability to hide her thoughts from showing on her face. "'Ow do I know zis is not ze influence of ze zrall speaking now?"
"I guess you'll have to spend more time with me until I'm immune to the thrall," Hermione said with a smile. She felt quite brave and bold now, like she had well and truly justified the Sorting Hat placing her into Gryffindor.
"Mn, I guess so," Fleur said with a smile, although infuriatingly, Hermione still couldn't read her expression.
There was a loud commotion from outside Fleur's quarters and both girls put down their glasses of wine and moved to the door. There was definite shouting outside.
"You go first, in case zere is someone outside," Fleur prompted, "I will follow soon after,"
Hermione nodded, slipping carefully out of Fleur's quarters and undetected into the throngs of students making their way to the staircase in the Entrance Hall. Hermione was relieved she had not imbibed too much wine before being forced into the company of her fellow students as they jostled to join the crowd watching the scene unfold.
Professor Trelawney was halfway up the staircase, screaming wildly. She had burst into tears, brandishing a note in one hand and an empty wine bottle in another. The crowd of students had parted at the base of the stairs for a familiar stout figure dressed all in pink.
"Come on, Sybill, we don't want to make a scene in front of all these impressionable students," Umbridge called sweetly up the staircase. Trelawney let out another wail.
"This is my home! I have nowhere else to go!" Trelawney sobbed, waving the bottle of wine wildly.
"Well, you know what they say, home is where you make it," Umbridge replied, still speaking in her sickeningly sweet tone, "You'll have a new home in no time."
"Hogwarts will remain Sybill Trelawney's home for as long as she needs," boomed the voice of Dumbledore. The crowd of students parted again, revealing the elderly but powerful looking wizard standing in the Entrance Hall.
"She has been fired in accordance with the High Inquisitor's findings," Umbridge defended waspishly.
"Which we of course respect," Dumbledore replied, with a tone suggesting that he did not respect them at all, "However, that is an entirely separate issue to where Sybill resides. She is more than welcome to remain living on Hogwarts property."
While he spoke, McGonagall pushed through the crowd, wrapping a tartan blanket around Professor Trelawney's shoulders and beginning to usher her back up the staircase. Professor Umbridge looked livid.
"How kind of you, Professor Dumbledore," Umbridge replied finally, her voice becoming even more menacingly sweet. Dumbledore simply bowed his head politely before disappearing again into the throngs of students.
"What are you looking at?" Umbridge said shrilly, addressing the student populace, "If I'm not mistaken, we are heading towards curfew and none of you appear close to your respective dormitories!"
The students began to scatter. Hermione spotted Fleur through the crowd, who caught her eye and smiled with a nod. Hermione sighed, reluctantly heading towards the staircase to Gryffindor tower. She would have to continue her progress with Fleur another time.
Hermione reached the common room and found Ginny sitting in front of the fire, resting a hand in a bowl of liquid.
"Pansy lent you some murtlap then?" Hermione smiled, ensuring no one was close enough to overhear them.
"Yeah, she did. She's actually pretty awesome," Ginny replied, the tips of her ears reddening.
"I think Fleur thinks I only look at her the way I do because of her thrall," Hermione said, sitting on the rug beside Ginny.
"Don't you, though?" Ginny replied, looking up from the bowl nursing her aching hand, "I mean you are attracted to her."
"Yeah, but its not because of the thrall," Hermione countered, "Or at least… Not just because of the thrall. She's really intelligent, Gin. She reads Muggle and non-Muggle fiction... And she does these amazing drawings…"
"Okay, yeah, it definitely isn't just the thrall," Ginny smirked, "That is one hell of a full blown crush you have there."
"I know," Hermione conceded with a small smile, "But my problem is, Fleur is never going to see anything I feel as more than a typical reaction to her thrall."
"So you'll never be able to see if you actually have a shot at her, because she'll assume you're just like all the others under the influence of the thrall?" Ginny surmised. Hermione nodded.
"She did say that it affects people the hardest when she hasn't met them before, that people get immune to her thrall through exposure to her over time," Hermione replied.
"Well, I guess you've just got to 'expose' yourself to her," Ginny giggled at the double meaning. Hermione swatted her, but changed the subject as Harry and Ron came to join them.
"Think that has to be the only time I have ever actually felt sorry for old loopy Trelawney," Ron commented, throwing himself on the rug beside them. The others nodded. Harry looked sympathetically at Ginny nursing her hand in the bowl.
"She make you write something rotten too?" Harry asked. Ginny reddened a little, obviously reluctant to show the others what the lines were that had been carved into the back of her hand.
"My advice is to wear long sleeves that are easy to pull down until it heals," Harry added. Ginny seemed to visibly relax at Harry not wanting to pry into whatever it was she had been forced to write. Hermione felt a tug of affection for her best friend for being so sensitive.
"How was your first lesson with Snape?" Hermione asked. Harry ran a shaky hand through his messy spikes of hair.
"Traumatising," he admitted. He then began to explain exactly how it felt to be subject to Legilimency and how Snape had acted as if he simply weren't trying hard enough to block it.
"I mean it was your very first go!" Ron added in defence of his friend. The others nodded sympathetically.
"Its okay, Harry," Hermione said, "I can research it in the library and see if there are some less aggressive ways we can help you learn. I mean we all know Snape is absolutely mad insinuating that you actually want to keep having these awful visions."
Harry looked away, somewhat guiltily, and Hermione made a mental note to follow up with him on this later. It was a little worrying to think of Harry welcoming Voldemort's creepy little mind-share.
"On lighter topics, Fred and George pointed out a great place that the DA can meet," Ron interrupted, "The Room of Requirement. It'll be perfect!"
"Great, we can organise the first meeting," Hermione beamed.
Having an insider on the Inquisitorial Squad proved incredibly valuable for organising the first DA meeting. Ginny and Hermione spoke to Pansy who agreed to keep the squad's patrol away from that particular area of the castle around the start and end times of the meeting.
The charmed coins Hermione had based on Fleur and Gabrielle's watch messages worked perfectly, and everyone arrived on time. Hermione was extra pleased to note that Fleur was in attendance.
The first part of the meeting was simply working out the logistics of working with such a varied group of students. They had everyone from First Years to Seventh Years. It was agreed that Fleur would help the Sixth and Seventh Years wherever Harry was unfamiliar with the content. For today, however, Harry would teach the entire group how to conjure a patronus.
Hermione had never tried to conjure one herself, and felt a little self-conscious at being anything less than her 'best in class' self in front of Fleur. She busied herself with taking attendance while Harry explained how to do a patronus to the group.
A couple of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had dropped out, but they had even more new members to replace them. Hermione looked up as Harry reached the end of his explanation, creating a stag that cantered around the room. Fleur then produced her wand and cast the spell herself, resulting in a luminescent falcon that flew around the room.
Harry instructed that they split off into pairs as Hermione finished her attendance. Hermione's first picks for partners, Ron and Ginny, paired off with Seamus and Luna respectively. Hermione looked around a little forlornly as others paired off quickly.
"'Ermione, would you like to pair wiz me?" Fleur asked silkily, appearing beside her. Hermione noted that she no longer felt a warmth in the air pre-warning her of Fleur's presence. She must already be developing an immunity to the thrall, she thought, smiling to herself.
"Sure," Hermione smiled, heading off to a corner of the room with Fleur, "Thanks for helping with this by the way,"
"It is important now more zan ever to be able to defend ourselves," Fleur said with a grim smile, "Now, do you 'ave a memory or zought zat can make you feel 'appy?"
Hermione decided to focus on the day she found out that she was going to Hogwarts. She scrunched her brows as she focussed hard on the thrill and excitement she had felt.
"Expecto patronum!" Hermione exclaimed. But only a hazy bright cloud came out of her wand.
"Zat is not bad, it would at least keep ze Dementors at bay from you," Fleur said encouragingly. Hermione shook her head.
"Its not good enough," she sighed. Fleur drew closer to her and put a hand on her arm encouragingly. Hermione felt the familiar butterflies flutter uncomfortably in her stomach.
"Try a different memory, one zat brought you extreme joy. Or per'aps a moment when you felt most content. Sometimes memories from more recent years are more clear in our minds so can be more effective," Fleur tried to help. Hermione bit her lip as she thought of a recent memory.
"Got one?" Fleur asked. Hermione nodded. "Alright zen, let us try again,"
Hermione focussed on how she had felt lying in Fleur's bed the other night with Fleur spooning her. The butterflies were fluttering harder in her stomach now.
"Expecto patronum!" Hermione shouted. This time, a fully formed patronus erupted from her wand.
"Ohh!" Fleur exclaimed as the patronus came to dance at her feet, "It is so cuuute!"
Hermione blushed at the little otter that was wriggling around. She had kind of imagined that her patronus would be something impressively tough or elegant.
"An otter?" Hermione asked. Fleur noted the disappointment in her voice.
"'Ermione, I love it! It is like ze well 'idden playful side of you!" Fleur grinned. She drew closer to Hermione again. "Do you want to try again?"
"Erm… No, I think I have it. I'm a fast learner," Hermione said, noting how otherworldly beautiful Fleur looked in the candlelight of the room. "Do you really think my playful side is 'well hidden'?"
Fleur laughed, "I zink you show it to zose close to you. But you can appear quite serious a lot of ze time."
"Well… maybe we just need to be closer?" Hermione said quietly. Fleur stopped laughing, meeting her gaze intently. She looked like she was about to reply when Harry called out for everyone's attention.
"Great work everyone!" he called out, "I think I made it around most of you while you were practising and it seems like almost everyone has got the hang of it. Have a practice on your own when you're sure you won't get caught by Umbridge or her squad and we will have a short revision go at the start of the next meeting."
The room erupted into loud and cheerful chatter as the group began to organise the smaller groups they would be exiting the room in, to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Hermione reluctantly moved to join the queue of people waiting to leave the room. Ginny was just coming over to join her when she felt a tug on her arm and she turned to see Fleur.
"'Ermione, would you like to spend ze next 'Ogsmeade trip togezzer?" she asked, again with a painfully unreadable expression. Hermione smiled widely.
"Of course!"
Fleur nodded and swept through the crowd, exiting the room alone rather than joining one of the student groups trickling out.
"Well, well, look who's making progress with the ice queen," Ginny smirked as she reached Hermione. Hermione elbowed her.
"Hush, she's not really an ice queen at all. Not when you get to know her. She's quite sweet."
"Be sure to tell her that on your date to Hogsmeade," Ginny teased. By now most of the other DA members had trickled out. They looked to see Ron ambling towards them, leaving Harry alone with Cho.
"Seems love is in the air these days," Hermione smirked, looking at Ginny who reddened at the insinuation. Ron made it over to them.
"Course Harry would have the best luck romantically out of all of us too," Ron grinned, although Hermione could detect his usual jealousy rearing its head.
"Um, Hermione did date Krum!" Ginny interrupted, but Ron was already looking a little sulky as the three of them left the room, leaving Harry and Cho behind.
"I mean Dumbledore picks him to learn this cool mind magic," Ron continued as they made their way towards the Gryffindor tower.
"With Snape! And only because he keeps getting horrific visions of Voldemort," Hermione countered, irked at Ron's pettiness again. Was he constantly going to go through these jealous phases?
"But still! Dumbledore didn't ask if the rest of us wanted to learn how to read minds or block people from reading ours. Imagine if I could learn how to read minds… Could finally figure out if Lavender is flirting or just being friendly…"
Ginny looked at Hermione and rolled her eyes, Hermione returned her look of exasperation.
Suddenly Draco Malfoy appeared in front of them all in the hallway, puffing out his chest as if to make his Inquisitorial Squad badge more prominent.
"Well, well… Two weasels and a mudblood creeping around after hours," he sneered, "That'll be fifty points from Gryffindor."
"Shove off, Malfoy," Ron spat, stepping closer to Draco.
"I think you Gryffindors might need a detention to get the message," Malfoy smirked. Ron shoved him, hard.
"Big mistake, Weasley," Draco said, losing his temper, "My father has incredible pull with the Minister and the High Inquisitor."
Pansy rushed up to join Draco from further down the hallway.
"Draco, lets just let them go," Pansy interrupted, holding Draco's shoulder firmly to stop him from retaliating against Ron.
"Yeah you'd love that wouldn't you, Pans," Draco spat, wrenching his shoulder out of Pansy's grip. "Don't think I didn't hear about the reason for your detention with Umbridge. You're lucky you're still on the squad."
"Draco… Don't," Pansy began. But Draco stepped back from them all and tapped his Inquisitorial Squad badge twice. It glowed ominously red. Within a few moments, Umbridge herself clipped swiftly down the hallway and over to the students.
"Thank you for alerting me, Draco," Umbridge greeted Malfoy, who smiled smugly, "Now what appears to be the issue?"
"Three Gryffindors outside of curfew, and this one," he gestured at Ron, "Assaulted me."
"Assaulted?! Bloody hell, that's an exaggeration and a half!" Ron exclaimed, but was silenced by Umbridge.
"And what exactly are these three particular Gryffindors doing roaming the castle outside of curfew?" Umbridge asked suspiciously, looking at all three of them, "Aren't you usually in the company of Mr Potter?"
"Well, we are, but these days we stick to groups of no more than three," Ginny replied, "We would hate to break the Educational Decree around meeting in groups,"
"Yeah just like you hated breaking Decree Thirteen by snogging Pansy," Draco retorted.
"Draco!" Pansy screeched, colouring. Ron's face drained as he looked from a smug Draco to a mortified Pansy and Ginny, to the unsurprised Hermione and Umbridge.
"That's enough, Draco," Umbridge replied, although she was smirking, "Ms Parkinson has been reformed and we will say nothing more on the matter. Ms Weasley and her friends on the other hand… Seem to have a habit of breaking rules. I will schedule appointments for all three of you to meet with me separately and be interviewed. I need to get to the bottom of this pattern of behaviour."
With that, Umbridge curtly sent them all on their way. Ron, Ginny and Hermione walked in uncomfortable silence before they reached the Common Room.
"Pansy?" Ron said hoarsely as they entered the empty Common Room.
"She's not actually as much of a dick as she seems," Ginny said defensively, crossing her arms.
"But… But she's a girl!" Ron exclaimed.
"Great detective work there, Ron. Has anyone told you that you'd make a great Auror with powers of deduction like that?" Ginny retorted.
"I mean… It was bad enough that you were making your way around most of the guys in Hogwarts… But now the girls too? Jesus, Ginny, dya know what people will say?" Ron said, his ears reddening.
"That I have game?" Ginny responded, looking at Ron challengingly.
"That you're… That you're a slut! And a queer one at that!" Ron exploded.
"Ron, calm down before you say something you regret," Hermione interrupted. He looked at Hermione wildly, still outraged.
"Something I regret?! Hermione, have you lost your bloody mind?! We just found out that Gin's been getting off with Pansy Parkinson and you're acting like they just announced that Snape's a git! Why aren't you more shocked?!"
"Its not that big a deal," Hermione said calmly.
"Maybe in the Muggle world!" Ron bellowed, before turning on his heel and marching up the staircase to the boy's dormitory.
"I don't get it… Your family is hardly blood status mad," Hermione said, turning to face a fuming Ginny.
"Yeah… Unfortunately, they are less progressive on other issues," Ginny responded, throwing herself onto a couch and sighing, "I suppose this will be all over the school by tomorrow."
"Viktor said not everyone cares about it, that its like Muggles," Hermione replied, sitting beside Ginny.
"Sure… And just how many openly same-sex couples have you seen in all your time in the wizarding world, 'Mione?" Ginny asked.
"None, I suppose… But—"
"And why do you think even Fleur decided to go with a guy to the Yule Ball rather than any one of the female hotties from her school?"
"Well, she probably was just interested in the guy," Hermione countered. Ginny covered her eyes with her hands.
"It's the stigma, Hermione, its everywhere," Ginny replied, "Not even Fleur would be uncaring enough to be out in the open with a girl."
"Do you want to talk about it Gin?" Hermione asked softly, "I never asked you if you'd felt like this about girls before Pansy…"
"Not now, Hermione," Ginny said, not removing her hands from her eyes, "Sorry, I just need some time to process all this."
"Sure," Hermione said softly, patting Ginny on the arm.
The next day at breakfast, Ron was avoiding Harry, Hermione and Ginny.
"What's got into Ron?" Harry asked, looking at the sulky redhead shovelling food into his mouth down by Seamus and Dean.
"Jealousy, as per," Ginny said darkly. Harry smiled.
"He needn't be jealous," Harry replied, "I did get to kiss Cho, but…"
"But?" Ginny pressed.
"But she kind of… ended up crying into my mouth…" Harry finished sheepishly.
"Oh my God," Hermione laughed, covering her mouth.
"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, before dissolving into laughter too.
"Erm, speaking of snogging," Harry started, pushing at his toast with his butter knife, "I just wanted to get it out in the open now, Gin. I heard about the Pansy thing from the guys in the dorms this morning. I just wanted you to know that I don't judge you at all about it being a girl. Just slightly about it being a Slytherin,"
Hermione looked at Ginny who, surprisingly, smiled easily.
"Cheers, Harry," she responded, "Don't blame you for judging me about it being a Slytherin, considering how many points Malfoy took from Gryffindor last night."
And then Ginny proceeded to tell Harry all about the previous night, including the real reason why Ron was avoiding Hermione and Ginny.
"Oh, shit," Harry muttered, "Well, I'm sure its no different to why he's sulking with me. He'll get over it."
Hermione nodded as two small paper planes flapped their way over to Ginny and her at the table. She saw a similar one winging its way over to Ron. She unfolded her one.
"My interview time with Umbridge," Hermione groaned, "Right after breakfast. You'll have to tell McGonagall why I'm late, Harry,"
They glanced at their watches, realising it was in fact the end of breakfast, and Hermione shouldered her bag with another groan.
"Good luck," Ginny said to her as they parted ways outside the Great Hall.
Hermione made her way to Umbridge's insipid office. She knocked at the door, which was already ajar. Receiving no answer, she pushed the door open and entered. There was a teapot on Umbridge's desk and two teacups freshly filled with tea and steaming. One was on Umbridge's side of the desk, and the other was on Hermione's side. Hermione looked around before sitting down. She watched the kittens on the teacups dance around ridiculously, rolling her eyes slightly.
"Ah, Ms Granger," Umbridge said sweetly, entering the office and shutting the door behind her, "Have you tried the tea?"
"Erm, yes, lovely," Hermione lied, eager to keep the conversation on something lighter than the inevitable interrogation that was about to come. But Umbridge was set on her course of action.
"Great," she said, sitting down at her seat and pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, "Are you aware of any illegal groups meeting in Hogwarts grounds? Have you or your friends been breaking the Decree about meeting in groups?"
"Erm, no, not at all Professor," Hermione answered, alarmed that Umbridge had led with such a big question.
"Hmm, do you know of any students behaving inappropriately?" Umbridge asked, scribbling furiously on a parchment in front of her.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione answered, Umbridge looked up predatorily, "The Inquisitorial Squad are clearly abusing their powers."
"Oh, don't you worry about them, dear, they are under my jurisdiction," Umbridge replied, frowning as she returned to her scribbling. Hermione picked up her cup of tea and took a big gulp. Umbridge was clearly using these interviews as a fishing expedition.
"And have you been breaking any of the other Decrees?" Umbridge asked, pausing in her scribbling. Hermione prepared to lie again, but with horror, felt her tongue resisting. With alarm, she realised the tea must have been spiked with Veritaserum.
"I have previously engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Pansy Parkinson and I have been secretly meeting with Fleur Delacour without previous written approval from the High Inquisitor," Hermione answered, blushing as she answered. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
"Really? That is interesting… So it appears Ms Parkinson has been lying about her indiscretions being a one-off," Umbridge muttered, scribbling some more, "And why are you meeting with Ms Delacour? Is it on the orders of Dumbledore? Are you two engaged in some 'mission' for Dumbledore?"
Hermione strained so hard she felt she was going to have an aneurysm. 'Please, not Umbridge… please I would tell anyone but Umbridge,' she willed herself internally. But the potent Veritaserum worked its charm again.
"I have been meeting with Fleur because I have a crush on her," Hermione answered, now turning beet red. Umbridge paused in her scribbling, looking up with extreme disapproval.
"Ms Granger, you are aware she is a Veela?"
"Part-Veela, yes."
"And a woman?"
"Yes, Professor."
Umbridge sighed, putting down her quill and pushing her reading glasses up again.
"This school is a mess. It appears I need to make further effort to reform corrupted students. I will inform you of your punishment in due course, Ms Granger. You are free to go, but forbidden from interacting with Ms Delacour and shall not engage in anymore 'unnatural relations,'" Umbridge said curtly.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione said, getting up from her seat shakily. Thank Merlin she had lied about sipping the tea before the questions about secret groups. She would have to warn Ginny and Ron before their interviews.
After throwing up rather violently in the girls' toilets, Hermione made her way to her Transfiguration class. McGonagall paused slightly, taking in Hermione's pale and sweaty appearance, before returning to her lesson.
Throughout the lesson, Hermione tried her best to try to talk to Ron, but he was very aggressively continuing to ignore her. She sighed, at this rate the DA would be revealed by the end of the day.
McGonagall approached her, "Ms Granger, would I be able to have a word with you in my office at the end of the day?"
"Sure, Professor," Hermione replied. McGonagall nodded and returned to her rounds, inspecting the student's wandwork as they transfigured furniture.
At the end of the class, Hermione grabbed Ron roughly by the arm and wrenched him to one side in the hallway.
"What is it?" he demanded crankily.
"Umbridge," Hermione replied curtly, "She's spiking the drinks in her office with Veritaserum. I almost revealed the DA to her. You'll have to pretend to drink it, but don't actually."
"Right," Ron replied, looking surprised, "Erm, thanks. Is that it?"
"Go easy on Ginny," Hermione replied, "At the end of the day she's your sister and she isn't hurting anyone."
"Hermione—" Ron began, but Hermione silenced him.
"Just promise me you'll think about it?" Hermione said forcefully. Ron closed his mouth and nodded.
"Fine, 'Mione,"
He turned around and walked off silently down the hallway. Hermione hoped he would keep his word of reconsidering his views.
Thankfully Hermione had managed to track down Ginny before her interview with Umbridge and given her a similar warning. She went through the rest of the day in a daze, still a little traumatised at telling Dolores Umbridge about her crush on Fleur. Before she knew it, classes and dinner were over and she was heading towards McGonagall's office.
She threw herself into the chair across from McGonagall, feeling thoroughly defeated.
"Ms Granger," McGonagall said quietly, "I couldn't help but notice you appeared a little under the weather when you returned from your meeting with Professor Umbridge. Did something happen?"
Hermione hung her head, cringing.
"Did you reveal to her about the covert Defence Against the Dark Arts club you have started with Mr Potter?"
Hermione looked up, shocked.
"Yes, I know about that, Ms Granger. Is that what has you so upset?" McGonagall asked softly.
Hermione shook her head, tears springing up in her eyes. Before she knew it, she was unexpectedly sobbing. McGonagall looked alarmed, before producing a box of tissues and a tin of biscuits, pushing them both towards Hermione.
"I-I-I told her th-that I like girls," Hermione sobbed. Minerva was taken aback by this. She hadn't expected this from Hermione. She stood up, moving to sit on the same side of the desk as Hermione. She rubbed Hermione's back soothingly.
"Hermione, its okay," McGonagall said softly, as Hermione pulled at the tissues and dabbed at her eyes.
"Its not… Its bad enough anybody knowing, let alone her!" Hermione sobbed.
"There, there, Hermione," McGonagall soothed, picking up the biscuit tin, "Shortbread?"
Hermione shook her head, blowing her nose.
"You might be surprised to know that despite it being disapproved of by some in the wizarding community, many prominent witches and wizards also experience same-sex attraction," McGonagall said softly.
"Really?" Hermione asked, looking up at her with a tear stained face.
"Dumbledore himself has attempted to be a prominent 'out' wizard, although he is foiled by authors and reporters alike referring to his partners as 'close personal friends,'" McGonagall smiled, "And I myself have had a history of female partners. I suppose Madam Hooch won't mind me telling you that we have been seeing each other for the past ten years."
"Really?!" Hermione replied, tears beginning to stop streaming. McGonagall smiled.
"It might not always be approved, but it doesn't change the fact that there are a lot of us out there," McGonagall replied, "What you feel is entirely normal, Ms Granger."
"Thanks, Professor," Hermione said, sighing and reaching for a biscuit.
"How exactly did Professor Umbridge manage to get you to admit that, but not to the Defence club?" McGonagall asked, turning to the issue at hand now that Hermione had calmed down. Hermione explained what had happened with the Veritaserum. McGonagall looked horrified.
"The use of Veritaserum on students?! Severus had mentioned her asking for his supplies… But I never…" she trailed off and looked at Hermione, "Ms Granger, you are dismissed, I will be reporting this to Professor Dumbledore."
Hermione nodded and headed for the door, pausing to look back at McGonagall.
"Thanks for the talk, Professor," Hermione said. McGonagall looked up, her pursed lips turning to a light smile momentarily.
"Any time, Hermione,"
Hermione slung her bag back over her shoulder, heading back through the corridors. She caught sight of Millicent Bullstrode, Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy hooting and jostling ahead of her. She narrowed her eyes, casting a silencing spell on her shoes before creeping along behind them in the shadows.
"Umbridge really caught Pansy with the Weasley girl?" Crabbe was asking.
"Yeah, plus I caught her mooning over that Mudblood Granger a while ago… I'm telling you, she's lost it," Draco was saying in an obnoxious tone.
Hermione bit her lip to stop herself from calling out to Malfoy to stop being a prat. Instead, she silently followed them for several corridors before they arrived outside Fleur's quarters. Umbridge was waiting there.
"Great, now I will teach you the locking charms we will be placing on Ms Delacour's quarters each evening and lifting each morning," Umbridge began. She began placing high level locking charms on the door to Fleur's quarters.
"What on Earth?!" Hermione exclaimed, finally leaving the shadows to burst out and confront the Slytherins and was the breaking point.
"Ms Granger," Umbridge greeted, not lifting her eyes from the charms she was placing on the door, "You do not need to see this, you can continue on your way to your evening activities."
"Why are you locking Fleur in her room?! You can't do that!" Hermione exploded. Umbridge paused and looked up at her. The Slytherins silenced their chattering.
"Ms Granger, Ms Delacour may be mandated to stay here while she completes her work, but as a dangerous creature—"
"She's only part Veela!" Hermione interrupted
"As a dangerous creature," Umbridge continued, undeterred, "It is for the safety of students such as yourself that we are taking measures to keep her away from the student body when not in work hours."
"This isn't fair! She's a living person!" Hermione exclaimed. Umbridge looked at her icily.
"As the High Inquisitor, it is for me to decide what is fair and what isn't and for you to follow my orders. Get out of here Ms Granger!"
Hermione balled her hands into fists, but looked at the Slytherins outnumbering her. She exhaled shakily and backed off before walking away. She was fuming. She had made it 3 hallways away when she ran into Pansy who she pulled away to talk to.
"Pansy! They're trapping Fleur in her room! They say they'll be doing that every time she's outside work hours like she's some… animal. You've got to help!"
Pansy pulled Hermione's hands off her, straightening her robes. She looked despondent.
"As much as I would love to call in a favour for you, I'm off the Inquisitorial Squad." Pansy said slowly, "Umbridge knows about you and me… And all the Slytherins know about me and Weasley. I have no power at all anymore."
"Shit… I'm sorry, Pansy," Hermione said. Pansy shook her head.
"Its okay, Ginny told me about how Umbridge used Veritaserum on you. That's pretty fucked up."
"Yeah…" Hermione replied, sighing and leaning heavily against the stone wall of the hallway. She was feeling thoroughly defeated and powerless.
"Its okay… Delacour's a talented witch," Pansy replied, "I highly doubt she's even in her room right now, even if they went as far as chaining her in there."
"I hope you're right," Hermione sighed again, before a smile made its way to her face, "Wait… you've seen Ginny today? So that's still going on?"
Pansy smiled despite herself, "Probably the only good thing to come out of this whole mess. She's pretty great."
"Yeah she is," Hermione grinned, "Although if you treat her badly, this weird friendship of ours will be over."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Pansy smirked, continuing to walk down the hallway, leaving Hermione to her thoughts.