A/N – Again, the reviews are lovely. I hope to get more, please…review! Like, you have no idea how much it makes my day. Now, here is a chapter I am half proud of and half weary of. I got to write a lot of other characters but…I'm scared of how I did them. I hope you all like it.

The night was dark and peaceful as Dumbledore sat in his office absorbed in nothing but his own thoughts. What he was thinking about nobody but the woman standing in the doorway knew. Dumbledore entwined his fingers together, frowning slightly as he turned to welcome her inside.

"Yes, Shaylene, come in" he greeted with a nod of his head. Shaylene Singlia entered and immediately took a seat in the chair facing Dumbledore. She seemed awfully sure of herself in his presence.

"You called me here to discuss, Albus" she prompted, leaning back in her chair lazily as she waited for their conversation to begin. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at her, amused.

"Straight to the point?" he asked, conjuring two cups of tea, milk and sugar with his wand. "That doesn't seem very much like you, Shaylene, at all. I would have thought you would have asked for refreshments first." He pushed the second teacup towards her and then summoned some small cakes.

"It is my aim to be the unexpected" Singlia shrugged, adding milk and three sugars to her tea before raising it to her lips.

"Indeed" Dumbledore smiled, looking all he could see of her up and down. "The students certainly find you rather a mystery. I trust you are keeping the plan just as mysterious"

"Of course" she swallowed her tea with a gulp. "Nobody suspects a thing. Hermione hasn't been able to figure out why we moved her to Slytherin house. How could she? It's not exactly something anybody would expect. I was rather surprised by the uproar it caused however. Especially with fights breaking out in the Great Hall…Dolores is bound to have our necks at some point"

"I, myself, did expect this but it can't be helped. And besides, Dolores Umbridge cannot punish us for something she doesn't understand. At the time I moved Miss. Granger to Slytherin house Dolores had no power. And if I'm honest, it seems she's rather enjoying the idea"

Singlia made a disgusted noise the back of her throat.

"Now, now, Shaylene" Dumbledore raised his hand, shaking his head. "You know that if there was anything I could do I would. The Ministry is taking over everything; they have more power than I. You know this. But they will not mess with the plan. I constructed it and I believe it is going to work out for the best"

"But Albus, I've been thinking…nobody has been able to change a prophecy, nobody! Prophecies are fact, they cannot be altered. My sister went through it with me; she doesn't think it's going to work"

"Yes, but Evanna had her doubts about me from the start, didn't she? And perhaps she doesn't wish me to succeed. It was after all her prophecy that I am trying to alter. You have been a brilliant ally to this point Shaylene; it would be a shame for you to take your sisters views on me now"

"But you know I haven't shown any signs of being a Seer, myself!" Singlia exclaimed, standing up and beginning to pace the room. "When I made my prediction I didn't even know it was happening. It seems ridiculous that a girl could ever change the future for Draco."

"Ah, but it must be possible. We have gotten this far, have we not?" Dumbledore said, raising a finger to stop her. "The two of them, despite the unfortunate scene with Ron Weasley and Harry this morning, seem perfectly content in their relationship. I believe that if anything can keep Draco Malfoy on our side where we need him, its love"

"Why love?" Singlia demanded, challenging him.

"Because that is the one thing Voldermort does not possess" Dumbledore said simply. "If I were to explain everything we would be here all night. I simply need you to trust me. Hermione Granger is the perfect person to show Draco the light, so to speak. And then, once he has her and begins to understand a thing or two, we will be prepared"

"You really think Draco's important to the fight, then?" asked Singlia, sinking back into her seat.

"Yes" Dumbledore told her, sternly.

"Okay, fine. I do trust you…it all seems very ridiculous though"

"That it is" Dumbledore chuckled, taking a sip of his untouched tea. "You have played your part well, I see. We've moved forward faster than I ever expected. However, I don't believe Professor Binns is very grateful to have to desert his post for the time being"

"Oh, he'll get it back" Singlia said, heaving a great sigh. "I don't think teaching is the gig for me. Especially trying to make that subject fun every single day, it's exhausting"

"However, you are a natural" Dumbledore told her and she smiled.

"Ah-ha!"

The two professors turned to see Professor Dolores Umbridge standing in the doorway. She was wearing a pink nightdress and had a triumphant gleam in her eye.

"I really must remember to lock the door when I have visitors" Dumbledore spoke calmly as if his important plan had not been overheard by a Ministry worker with the power to put a stop to everything. In fact, nobody knew how much Umbridge had heard, although it seemed like rather a lot.

"You are plotting and scheming behind the Ministry's back, Albus Dumbledore" Umbridge exclaimed, tottering into the room and raising her hands high. "Another plan centred around He Who Must Not Be Named as well! Did you think we wouldn't find out?"

"Dolores, my plan is for the greater good of the Wizarding Community and this school!" Dumbledore said, rising from his chair. Singlia watched the scene before her, eyes wide.

"Hah! So you say" Umbridge cackled, looking around the room with her squinty little eyes as if she was going to find further incriminating evidence there. "But you hired Professor Hagrid, did you not? Was that for the greater good of the school? You have a soft spot, a brain that nobody can understand. Who's to know if what you do is for the good of anybody"

"Dolores, calm down. I do believe you are appearing quite mad" said Dumbledore and behind his tone stood a force that caused Umbridge to blink several times.

"I will not take orders from you" she snapped, insulted. "In fact, nobody will have to take orders from you for much longer. As soon as I get the Minister involved, you will be finished!"

"We'll see" Dumbledore said simply, taking his seat once more and looking up at Umbridge with a small smile. She huffed and turned, exiting the room.

"Well, it appears we have hit a slight snag. However, it's nothing we can't work around. What Dolores Umbridge heard is in no way incriminating and I can't find a reason for Fudge to get rid of me. As I say, Dolores has no power over things she doesn't understand and nor does Fudge"

Singlia nodded, stunned into silence.

Still in her flowing pink nightdress, running with excitement, Umbridge exited the school. She apparated outside the school gates.

The street she ended up on was completely deserted and she began tottering towards a phone box not too far off, her gaze set. There was something funny about a little woman in a nightdress in the middle of the night but there were no muggles about to see her.

However, there was somebody about. This somebody recognized Dolores Umbridge as a Ministry worker. This somebody had a crazy mane of untamed black hair and heavily lidded eyes. She was accompanied by a man with long blonde hair who bore a remarkable resemblance to Draco Malfoy.

"Her!" exclaimed Bellatrix Lestrange, keeping her voice at a hiss.

"That would be Dolores Umbridge, she works for Fudge" Lucius Malfoy supplied, looking almost bored. He wasn't happy about being stuck working with a recently escaped maniac but that couldn't be helped.

"Perfect, she will be able to perform the task the Dark Lord wishes" she said, rubbing her hands together and watching the stumbling woman in the street. "We must try, one more time, whatever he wants he will get"

Lucius nodded, watching Umbridge as she reached the telephone box. "When she disappears we will enter" he decided, standing up and beginning to walk towards the phone box with Bellatrix striding behind him. Umbridge was let into the Ministry and Lucius and Bellatrix followed, entering the same way.

The reached the big entrance hall just as Umbridge was standing at the desk, looking around for somebody. Bellatrix let out a harsh laugh and Umbridge turned to look at them.

Her face froze in shock and her mouth opened as if to speak but before the word even formed on her lips Bellatrix raised her wand.

"Imperio" she said, calmly and Umbridge became instantly still, barely blinking.

"Go to the Department of Mysteries" Bellatrix commanded, wand still raised towards Umbridge. Umbridge immediately turned and led them through several doors and into the elevators.

"Must find Fudge…" Umbridge muttered, barely moving her lips and twitching slightly. "Must warn…about Dumbledore…Draco Malfoy"

Lucius looked up, eyes narrowing at the mention of his son. "Ask her what she's talking about" he demanded, turning to Bellatrix who frowned.

"Explain your mutterings, woman" she spoke, her voice harsh as she turned her wand on Umbridge once again. Umbridge turned towards them, eyes round like saucers. She fell still once more, the twitching stopped but she opened her mouth and began to speak.

In a short space of time she explained Dumbledore's intentions and the goings on at Hogwarts School. Every time Draco's name was mentioned Lucius clenched his fists and his face took on a murderous look every time Hermione's name was associated. When Umbridge finished explaining the elevator doors opened but nobody moved.

"Are you quite sure?" Bellatrix asked, raising her eyebrows and staring at Umbridge. "Draco has been drawn in by…Dumbledore's plan?" Umbridge simply nodded and Lucius immediately reached out and pressed the Ground Floor button.

"What are you doing?" Bellatrix hissed, glaring at him. "We were carrying out the Dark Lords orders!"

Lucius glared right back at her. "But now we have information the Dark Lord might be interested in…information about my son. If you had children Bellatrix, which I am not surprised you don't, you might understand my reaction better"

The minute the elevator doors opened once again Lucius exited out them with Bellatrix scurrying behind him talking loudly about how he didn't know what they were doing and if their information wasn't satisfactory the Dark Lord wouldn't be pleased. Umbridge was left frozen in the elevator, looking rather stupid.

"Ooh, waffles!" Scarlett reached out and loaded her plate and beginning to eat. Hermione, Amber-Rose and Draco all laughed, taking their own seats and beginning to fill their plates too.

"Why are you always so enthusiastic about food?" Amber-Rose asked, smiling as she took a bite of her pancake. "It's like you were starved as a child or something"

"Maybe I was" Scarlett said, trying to add an air of mystery to her voice. It was somewhat ruined however when she burst into a fit of giggles and dropped a pancake on the floor.

"Well, I'm a guy and Scarlett has a bigger appetite than I do. So, what does that say about me?" Draco asked.

"That you are not male…and Scarlett is" Amber-Rose shrugged.

Hermione just smiled as her friends…and boyfriend bantered back and forth. Everything seemed so different so suddenly. People were still talking about her but now that she had accepted her feelings it didn't bother her so much. She officially had a new group of friends and her previous friends couldn't stand her. While she had cried herself to sleep last night she was trying to act as if it was okay, otherwise her life was going to be miserable.

"Look!" Scarlett pointed up at the owls flying around the Great Hall delivering the mail. Two of them were heading towards their area. One landed in front of Scarlett and one in front of Draco. Hermione and Amber-Rose leaned forwards to see what had been sent.

Scarlett pulled out a letter and immediately fell into silence reading it, while beginning to eat the chocolate muffins that had sent with it. Draco also unearthed a letter and his face became more unreadable as he scanned down the page.

"What does it say?" Hermione asked in a low voice. Scarlett hadn't noticed the tension as she was still reading her letter but Amber-Rose was looking their direction, curious.

Draco sighed and handed it over to her, before looking at the tabletop and staying silent.

Draco,

We wish you to return home immediately. Only for a short time but there is some business we need to attend to and some things we can not tell you unless in person. Dolores Umbridge has arranged for the fire in her office to be connected to the Floo Network for an hour from 4pm Wednesday the 3rd of January and you will be free to use it. We have sent a note to the Headmaster and expect to see you at the arranged time. We miss you.

Sincerely,

Mum and Dad

Hermione read the letter through several times and then passed it across the table for Amber-Rose to read. She reached out and put her hand on top of Draco's and he smiled slightly. It seemed obvious what this was about. It would have something to do with You Know Who and that made both of them nervous.

"I suppose I should go and pack my things" Draco muttered as Amber-Rose handed him the letter back.

"I'll help" Hermione offered, rising to her feet also and taking his hand. Leaving Amber-Rose and Scarlett in silence the couple walked out of the Great Hall and down to the dungeons. Hermione walked with him up to his dormitory and watched as he began shoving things into his trunk.

"I wonder what…" she began and then fell silent, unsure whether she wanted to finish the sentence. "Do you think it has to do with…?" she let the half question hang in the air, watching him as he rose to his full height and looked at her.

"Yes, it has something to do with the Dark Lord. There couldn't be anything else they would want to talk to me about in person. The problem is…I don't know what and I don't really think I want to find out"

"Then don't go!" Hermione insisted, walking across the room and wrapping her arms around his waist. He laughed bitterly. "Honestly Draco, what are they going to do if you don't?" she asked, shaking her head. "They won't come here; they can't do anything to you. Maybe you could say you didn't get the letter"

Draco simply shook her off and sank down onto his bed, sighing. "You don't get it Hermione. You're family are Muggles…they're not like mine. There are plenty of things they could do. It's better if I just go and hear them out"

Hermione took a seat next to him and put a tentative hand on his shoulder. "I'll miss you" she whispered and he turned towards her and kissed her. They kissed for several beats before pulling apart and looking at each other.

"I'll…I'll miss you too" Draco told her, his lips curling in a half smile.

Then several hours later Dolores Umbridge ushered him up to her office and he disappeared into the flames of the fire.