disclaimer: Don't Own Harry Potter
Chapter 10: Umbridge, Defense and Breaking rules.
The pain in Harry's scar has eased off some, but that didn't stop his head from pounding. He was confused at first to what happened and then it all came back to him. Hogs Head, the other students. Ginny talking to them about learning defense. Well, Harry doubted very much that he would have to teach them now. Who would want to learn from him after witnessing one of his so-called 'fits' The down side to it was who would believe him now. Unless Voldemort was to show himself, no one was going to believe him that he was back.
Harry couldn't understand why he would have a seizure now, he had a few last year, but hasn't had one since before the last task of the Triwizard Tournament. His scar did hurt most the time, and he hardly got sleep last night because of it and the dreams he keeps having. But he hasn't had a seizure, and to have one in front of half the student body, was not fun. Okay maybe it wasn't half the student body but nearly half. Close to nearly half anyway. Too many, and one of them happened to be Seamus Finnigan, there were only two people he hated more, which would be Voldemort and Snape and Seamus was coming close to be hated as much as Snape. If not more. Harry just wished everything could go back to normal. For everything to be like it was before Fourth Year. No hurting scar, no weird dreams, no seizures, and no Voldemort coming after him. Why couldn't that Snake-Face bastard stay dead. Or whatever it was he was. If someone came back why couldn't it had been his parents. They had been great people. Why did it have to be the evil one that came back. And why couldn't the people in this room just shut up. Didn't they know Harry's head was killing him.
"Everyone just shut up!" Harry cried. He realized he said it out loud when he heard soft laughter on his right. He looked to see his brother-in-law Caleb sitting there. His dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, wearing a silk black shirt, and black jeans.
"Caleb." Harry cried in surprise. "What..." He rubbed his forehead. "What are you doing here?"
"So, you do know him?" Cody came up to Harry's left. "Hang on, is this the same Caleb you were with when you disappeared this past summer."
"Cody, you make it sound as if I was gone all summer." Harry said. "It was one day."
"And yes. I was the Caleb that brought him...home." Caleb said. "But I was not the one he was with. Well, sort of, but it was my wife Harry was visiting."
"Your wife?" Cody demanded.
"Yes, my wife Sophia." Caleb said. Cody's eyes got big.
"Sophie?" He yelled, his eyes dropping to the wedding band on Cable's left ring finger. "You're married to Sophie?" He looked down at Harry. "You were at Sophie's, Harry, if Jesse knew that he would have a fit!"
"Cody, please don't yell?" Harry said. "My head is killing me."
"Just your head." Caleb asked, laying his cold hand on Harry's forehead." Harry gave a nod, thinking Caleb's hand felt good. Almost like having an ice pack laying on his forehead, but Caleb moved his hand and looked toward the group of people talking, in much too loud voices.
"Madam Pomfrey" Caleb called. "Could we get a Headache potion for Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey looked taken back a moment, but then nodded.
"Yes, of course." She said. "I'll just go get one." She turned and went toward her office. She had been talking to Dumbledore, Snape, Filtwick, Grimes and McGonagall.
"Harry, you are awake." Dumbleddore walked over followed by the others. "I was told of what happened in Hogsmeade. I was also told about your hand."
"His hand?" Cody demanded. "What's wrong with his hand?"
"You do not know?" Flitwick asked.
"Know what?" Cody demanded. "Would someone please tell me what is going on with my brother?"
"Look at his hand." Professor Grimes spoke up. "I'm surprised you don't have any. Didn't you ever get detention from Umbridge?"
Cody shrugged. "Never went to any of her classes. Skipped them all." Harry shook his head. Only Cody would admit that in a room full of teacher's and the school Headmaster.
"Mr. Potter!" McGonagall snapped. Cody just gave her his cocky grin. "We will talk about this later in my office. You can't just skip classes." On Harry's right Caleb was laughing a little.
Madam Pomfrey came out of her office carrying and Headache potion and handed it to Harry, he took a drink and his headache immediately started to fade.
"Harry. what is wrong with your hand?" Cody demanded.
"Just take a look at it." Professor Grimes reached his cold hand down and picked Harry's hand up with it and Cody leaned over and frowned as he read the words there, then his eyes widened and anger crossed his face.
"Umbridge covered in your skin?" Cody demanded. "That...that.."
"Cody, calm down." Harry said. "She didn't cover in my skin, she made me write with this quill, that made that appear on the back of my hand."
"I'm going to kill her." Cody cried, he actually turned to leave, but Professor Grimes grabbed his robes and pulled him back toward the bed.
"Mr. Potter, calm down." Dumbledore said. "I've talked to the school governors, and they are talking over what to do."
"What to do?" Harry cried. "They're not going to do a damn thing. You're the Headmaster, fire her."
Dumbledore laid his hand on Harry's shoulder, but did not look him right in the eyes as he said. "If this was last year, then maybe I could. But due to the new Law passed this summer and the fact she was hired by the Minster and okay by the school governors, I can not do anything without going through them. I have told them of the quill and they are talking it over. I'm sorry but my hands are tied. I can not do anything, but give Umbridge a warning, in which I have already done."
"The school governors aren't going to do anything." Harry said. "They are in Fudge's pocket."
"That maybe, but we have to try." Dumbledore said. "In his pocket or not, even they would not like the idea of students getting their hands sliced open by a quill." He patted Harry's shoulder then moved back. "I shall go speak with them again." He left taking Snap and McGonagall with him.
"I shall be going to, Harry." Flitwick spoke up. "I'm going to address the Ravenclaws." He left, leaving Harry with Caleb, Cody, and Grimes.
"It's not going to do any good." Harry said. "Dumbledore can talk to the school governors until his face is as white as his hair. They are not going to listen."
"Maybe not to him, but I'm going to tell you what I told your friends." Professor Grimes said. "There is other complaints that even Fudge can not ignore." Harry frowned.
"Who is that?" Harry asked.
"Parents." Grimes said. "If we get enough parents to write or even go into the school governors and complain about Umbridge, even Fudge could not ignore them, the parents or guardians of students have every right to know and complain about how their kids are being punished at school. If they do not agree with Umbridge, then something would have to be done about her."
"I'm going to go write Jesse." Cody said. "I'll come check on you later." he left the room before Harry could tell him not too. He didn't want Jesse to know about his hand, he will just yell at Harry for getting so many detentions.
"That is where your friends are." Caleb said. 'Your lovely lady is writing her Mum, Teddy is writing his parents, and Rigel it writing his Uncle. Professor Grimes gave them the same idea, and even a boy name Neville Longbottom is writing his gran as he put it."
"Miss. Ginny said she would get Luna to write her dad and ask Padma Petal to write her forks." Professor Grimes said. "You see there should soon be enough parents complaining to the governors and some might even go to Fudge himself."
Harry nodded. "Caleb you never said why you were here?"
"I was sent to talk to you about Umbridge." Caleb said. "Tristan here sent a letter to my father telling him about your hand. He sent me to check it out instead of Sophia, because we know her temper and once we tell her she is going to go off."
"You haven't told her yet?" Harry asked. Caleb shook his head. "And whose Tristan?"
"I am." Professor Grimes said. "That is my first name."
"How do you two knowing each other?" Harry asked.
"I am a leader of the second house." Professor Grimes said. "And a good friend of Vaughn's. He asked me to teach here so I could keep an eye on you."
Harry looked between Caleb and Professor Grimes confused.
"Our clan lives in three different houses." Caleb explained "Ours is the main house and the largest. My father is the leader of the whole clan every house has to answer to him, I am his second in command and our house answers to me also, Tristan is the leader of house two, but since he is here I have looked after things there. There is also house three. Olivia Blackstone is the leader there."
"And Vaughn is the leader of everyone?" Harry asked. They nodded.
"My father is the eldest and strongest of our clan." Caleb said.
"Oh, " Harry mumbled lying his head down. They were just confusing him and if he felt better he would protest about Professor Grimes keeping an eye on him. But the headache potion was making him too sleepy.
"You go on to sleep." Caleb said. "Sophia would have my head if she knew I was stopping you from resting. We'll talk another day" Harry just nodded and rolled over and fell asleep.
Harry had to spend the night in the hospital wing, and was let out first thing the next morning, to whispers and more pointing at him. Something he could have done without. He was also shocked to find that most the people at the Hogs Head still wanted to learn from him. The only one backing out (and Harry was glad) was Seamus Finnigan. He also found out Rigel was keeping an eye on Seamus to make sure he wasn't up to something.
Harry and his friends stayed hidden most of Sunday and on Monday morning Harry entered the common room to have Ginny point out a sign hanging on the Ravenclaw Noticed Board:
- BY ORDER OF-
The high inquisitor of Hogwarts
All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.
An Organization, Societies, Teams, Groups or Clubs, is hereby defined as regular meetings of three or more students.
Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge) .
No student Organization, Societies, Team, Groups, or Clubs may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Societies, Team, Groups or Clubs that had not been approved by then High Inquisitor will be expelled.
The above is in accordance with
Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge.
HIGH INQUISITOR
Harry looked at Ginny with his eyebrows raised.
"Someone told?" Harry said. Ginny nodded with a scowl on her face.
"Seamus." She said. "I bet anything it was him."
"Bastard." Harry mumbled. "If I didn't have reason enough to hate him."
"You're not the only one." Ginny turned from the sign. "What I ever saw in him is beyond me."
"You weren't thinking clearly." Harry said. Making Ginny grin a little, then her grin fell.
"Do you know that means Quidditch also." Ginny said.
"I figured that." Harry reached and took her hand. "Come on, lets' go see if the same sign was up in Gryffindor."
They didn't have to search for their two friends, Teddy and Rigel cut them off as they we about to enter the Great Hall.
"Did you see the Noticed board?" Teddy demanded.
"Yeah, we saw." Harry said. "We're still doing it though, if anyone shows up is up to them, but we can do what we can."
Teddy grinned. "Knew you would say that."
"You guys realized that, not only does it mean Quidditch, but the rule goes for us hanging out together too." Rigel asked. His face unreadable.
"What?" Teddy demanded. "How do you get that, we aren't a group or club of any kind. We've always hung out together."
"An Organization, Societies, Teams, Groups, or clubs is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students." Rigel repeated words from the noticed. "There is a reason she picked under four to be the amount of students to be considered some kind club, plus we hang out all the time, we're more than three. And we even have a name for our little 'group' Rigel explained.
"I never thought of that." Ginny said. "Damn Umbitch is trying to stop us from hanging out on top of our ...other thing we plan to do."
"It's not going to work." Harry said. "No one can tell me who I can and can't hang out with. We've been best friends since forever and no one has ever considered us some kind of club. We don't even do anything."
"No Queen of Toads is telling me what to do." Rigel said. "We'll get together after classes and talk about what we're going to do." They all turned and headed into the Great Hall for breakfast.
Harry was pleased to find that most the talk about what happen to him in Hogsmeade had died down, or had switched to the Noticed on the board. They had not heard from any of their parents or guardians nor has any of the teachers said anything about what might happen to Umbridge. Rigel had given them the idea to use the Room of Requirement as a place to have their 'meetings' Ginny had told the students that had turned up if they did not want to do it anymore, just don't show up for the first meeting and keep their mouth shut. She assured Harry and their friends that she and Hermione had gotten together and made sure that if anyone else told they would know who it was and they would regret it.
The Slytherin team was the first to be told that they could play Quidditch, something Malfoy was very vocal about bragging. The Hufflepuffs were told next, but the Ravenclaws and the Gryffindors had not been given the okay and you had to be real stupid not to know why. It took McGonagall going to Dumbledore to get the okay for the Gryffindor team to go ahead and play, but the Ravenclaws were still not given the okay. Something Harry wished he could jinx Umbridge over. He and his friends had taken to just skipping her classes now. Pranking her and humility her didn't seem worth getting their hands cut open every night for anymore and just took to planning the defense classes Harry could teach. If anyone besides them showed up. They didn't also have to make sure not to have meetings during Qudditch time, but also had to make sure to avoid the full moon, since Britney would be there with her friend Tiffany.
On Tuesday Harry, Teddy, and Rigel entered on Divination class to see Professor Trelwany in a very bad mood, she was even slamming copies of The Dream Oracle on the tables. The reason for her foul mood, when the twin sister of Rigel's newest girlfriend asked she had answered that she was on probation.
"Why couldn't it be Snape." Rigel said. "Get rid of him." Umbridge had inspected him during Rigel and Teddy's potion class on Monday. The only class she had not inspected had been Professor Grimes. And that would end on Wednesday.
On Wednesday afternoon Harry and Ginny took seats at the front of Care of Magical Creatures like they always do. Professor Grimes looked up from his table under the tree and gave them a nod. Then went back to whatever it was he was doing while he waited for the rest of the class to come in. When they all were seated Professor Grimes stood.
"Hello, class." Professor Grimes greeted them. "I decided we would do something different today. Now I know these types of creatures aren't usually taught in this class, but I thought it might be a little fun to switch from what is normally taught." Professor Grimes walked around the front of his desk and leaned against it.
"Now, I wish for you to a pair of twos." Professor Grimes smirked. "Any more than that and it might upset Professor Umbridge, don't want to be considered a club do we." The class laughed. "Now, I want you to get a partner and I have this old book you may use. They are all about what you will be learning. You have a month to make a report on this creature I have in mind, and in a month you will be presenting what you have learned and show the rest of the class." He picked up the books. "There is enough here for one to two people, so make sure you pick someone in your own house. That way you will be able to look at the book and be able to work together when not in class. Miss. Ginny, if you would please come up and pass the books out you guys can get started."
Ginny got up and took the books from Professor Grimes and started passing them out. Padma Petal raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss. Padma." Professor Grimes asked.
"You didn't say what we are studying." She said.
"Oh, yes, I forgot." Professor Grimes smiled. "You will be doing a report on Vampires." He gave Harry a wink, making him frown. "These books are very old and are written by the father of a close friend, many years ago. Your report is on how to tell if someone near you is a vampire, what to look for and how to tell the good ones from the bad-yes Miss. Hannah.
"Sir, isn't all Vampires bad?" She asked. Professor Grimes laughed a little.
"No, my dear, that is like saying all wizards are bad." Professor Grimes answered. "They are good and bad in everything, yes, even muggles have good and bad people."
Ginny sat the book down on the table as she took her seat next to Harry. Harry looked down at it the book was all about Vampires the different types and how they looked. It was also very old-looking, and was written by a man name Vald Bloodburg. Ginny snorted at the name and opened the book. They were about to start reading, when.
"Hem Hem." The whole turned to see Professor Umbridge standing there.
"Dolorous." Professor Grimes said. "In what do I owe this displeasure."
"I believe you got a note telling you of your inspection." Umbridge said. Professor Grimes frowned and walked around the back of the table.
"Oh, you mean this." He asked, holding up a piece of pink parchment. "Is that what it says. Sorry, but I couldn't read your writing." Harry had to cover his mouth to stop from laughing.
"I see." Professor Umbridge snapped. "Well, just go on with what you were doing, I'll just walk around and ask questions if you do not mind."
"I do mind." Professor Grimes said. "But there is nothing I can do about, so do whatever."
Professor Umbridge walked around looking at what the students were doing and frowned at the book. Wrote something down and then went to the next.
"Miss. Bones, how do you like this class?" Umbridge asked.
"Oh, I like pretty good." Susan said. "Professor Grimes really knows a lot about creatures."
"I see." She wrote something down and went on. Every person she asked seemed to have something to say about Professor Grimes, something Umbridge did not seem to like.
"Professor Grimes, there is just a few things a wish to ask you." Professor Umbridge said walking up to him.
"Now, you don't usually teach here do you?" She asked.
"You know I do not." Professor Grimes said, in an unfriendly tone.
"I see." She write something done. "I believe you were not Dumbledore's first choose to take Hagrid's place were you not?"
"No, I was not." Professor Grimes answered. "It was a Professor Grubbly-Plank, but she had suddenly...um... came under the weather and could not make it. So I stepped in and took the job."
"I see." She wrote down more. "Do you know where Hagrid is or why he has not turned up."
"No, Dumbeldore did not say when I was given the job." Professor Grimes said. "And I did not ask. Since it was not my business. What he may or may not be doing, has nothing to do with me."
"Very well." Professor Umbridge wrote down more. "That'll be all. I'll let you know your results of the inspection in a few days." Professor Umbridge then turned and left as if she could not get away from Grimes quick enough. Harry turned and looked at him and he gave Harry a creepy looking smirk.
The week flew by and Harry and his friends decided that Friday night would be there first defense meeting. So at seven Friday night, Harry, Ginny Luna, Padma, Britney and Tiffany made their way up to the 'Come and go Room' when they made it to the blank wall opposite of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy: Rigel Teddy, Neville, and Parvati were already there.
"Hey guys." Harry said. Rigel nodded, then walked back and forth in front of the wall until a door appeared, he then opened it and everyone headed in. Harry looked around in surprise.
The walls were lined with wooden bookcases. There were also large silk cushions on the floor. A set of shelves at the far end of the room carried a range of instruments such as Sneakosopes, Secrecy Sensors, and a large, Foe Glass.
"These will be good when we're practicing Stunning," said Teddy, enthusiastically, kicking one of the cushions with his foot. He looked up at Harry, rubbed his hands together and grinned real big. "I'll have a Reason to stun Trouble. Something I have always wanted to do."
Harry laughed, but Rigel who was standing behind Teddy with his lips attached to Padma Petal's, raised his hand and without breaking his kiss smacked Teddy on the back of the head. He yelped and grabbed his head. Harry turned around shaken his head at his friends.
"Just look at these books." Ginny cried. Running her finger along the spins of the large leather-bond tomes and started reading them all off, she then turned to look at Harry, who was smiling at her. "Babe, this is so cool, everything we need is right here. This is everything Umbridge should be teaching us in class!"
"We'll send her a list of the books." Harry said. Ginny hit his arm lightly, just as the door opened and in walked Cody, Fred, George, Hermione, Lee Jordon, and Ron.
"Hermione, come here." Ginny called to her. "Look at all these books." Hermione's eyes lit up and came over and looked at all the books. The door opened again and in came a few Hufflepuffs along with Lavender Brown, and Lisa Turpin, who walked over to stand with Padma.
When they realized no one else was going to show up Harry walked over to the door and turned a key, and it clicked, everyone fell silent looking at him.
"Well," said Harry, slightly nervously. "This is the place we've found for practices, and you've-er-obviously found it okay-"
"It's fantastic!" Lavender cried. Making Ginny roll her eyes.
"It's bizarre." Fred said. "We once hid from Filch in here, remember George? It was a broom cupboard then."
"Hermione and I once came in here." Cody grinned. "It looked like someone's bedroom then." He grinned over at Hermione who was sitting by Ginny, her face turned blood-red as people snickered.
"Well, we didn't need to know about that." Harry said, making a face. "Anyway, I've been thinking about what we ought to do first and-er." He noticed a raised hand. "What Hermione?"
"I think we ought to elect a leader." Hermione said. Her face was still a little red from what Cody had said.
"Harry's leader." Ginny said, at once.
"Yes, but I think ought to vote on it properly." Hermione said. "It makes it formal and it gives him authority. So-everyone who thinks Harry out to be leader."
Everyone put up their hands even Rigel, though he did it halfheartedly, Rigel didn't like to be bossed around be anyone.
"Er-right thanks." Harry said, his face burning. "And-what, Hermione."
"I also think we ought to have a name." Hermione said, brightly.
"What the hell do we need a name for?" Rigel demanded.
"It would promote a feeling of team spirit and unity." Hermione said. Rigel rolled his eyes, making Cody glare at him.
"Can we be the Ant-Umbridge League?" Angelina asked hopefully.
"That sounds stupid." Rigel said, making Angeline look a little hurt.
"Or the Ministry of Magic Are Morons Group." Fred suggested.
"I was thinking more of a name that didn't tell everyone what we were up to." Hermione said frowning at Fred. "So, we can refer to it safely outside meetings."
"The Defense Association?" Padma said. "The DA for short, so no one knows what we are talking about."
"I don't like the sound of that either." Rigel said. Padma glared at her boyfriend.
"DA is good." Cody said. "But what about it standing for Dumbledore's Army?"
"No." Harry said, at once, making Cody frown at him. "We're not an Army and we have nothing to do with Dumbledore."
"The time is ticking away." Ginny said. "How about we come up with something later, right now we could be learning stuff."
"Okay, moving on then." Harry said. "I was thinking , the first thing we should do is Expelliarmus, you know, the Disarming Charm. I know it's pretty basic but I've found it useful-"
"Oh, please," said Ernie MacMillan. Folding his arms crossed his chest. "I don't think a Disarming Charm is exactly going to help us against You-Know-Who."
"No one asked what you thought." Rigel snapped.
"I've used it against him." Harry said. "It saved my life last June." MacMillan opened his mouth stupidly. The rest of the room got very quiet. "But if you think it is beneath you, you can leave." No one moved. "Alright, I reckon we should all divide into pairs and practice."
It felt odd to be issuing instructions, but not nearly as odd as seeing them followed, even by Rigel. Who was parted with Teddy, and every time Teddy picked his wand up off the ground it would be cursed right out of his hand. He glared at Rigel who just smirked back at him. Harry knew he liked to pick on Teddy and smack him in the back of the head when he said something goofy, but Harry also knew if anyone else picked on Teddy or messed with him, they would have Rigel to answer to. It was the way their friendship was. It was a bit weird, but it worked for them.
Harry moved from his two friends and passed Ginny and Hermione who paired with one another. They seemed matched, both finding it hard to curse the other one.
"Neville and Ron were paired together, Ron disarmed Neville, but when Neville tried disarming Ron, he missed and instead hit the book shelf knocking a book off on Lee Jordon's head. Cody who had been his partner doubled over in laughter.
"It's alright, Neville." Harry patted, him on the back and trying not to laugh. "We've all wanted to hit Lee with a book." Cody heard Harry and started laughing again. Lee glared at Harry. He pointed his wand at him to disarm him, but with just one wave of his wand the spell was blocked. Harry moved on giving Lee no more thought, Britney was doing a good job disarming her friend Tiffany.
"Good job, Britney." Harry patted her on the shoulder and her face turned red. She has had a crush on him since she was seven. He moved on to Fred and George who were goofing off more than they were disarming each other, they were picking students out and then disarming them when they were about to disarm their partner, leaving them confused to what happened.
"Guys, come on, now." Harry said. "You're suppose to take this seriously."
"Sorry, Harry," they said at the same time. "We couldn't resist." Harry moved on rolling his eyes.
"Alright everyone, stop." Harry cried. "STOP!" I need a whistle Harry thought and he immediately spotted one lying on top of a roll of books, he picked it up and blew it. Everyone stopped at once.
"That wasn't too bad." Harry said. "But there's definite room for improvements. So, let's try again and please this time no goofing off."
Harry stood in the back so he could watch the whole room this time. Then he began to walk around again, he was pleased that no one was goofing off this time. He thought everyone was doing pretty good, Harry even saw Teddy disarm Rigel. An hour letter Harry called it a night and everyone left, he and his friends being the being the last to leave.
"Did you see me, Lightning-Bolt? Teddy cried. "I did it, I finally disarmed Trouble."
"I saw it." Harry said. Smiling at Teddy excitement.
"Only because I let you." Rigel said.
"Did not." Teddy cried.
"Did too." Rigel said. Teddy made a face at him, then pulled out his wand and sent Rigel's flying out of his hand. "That makes twice."
"You're going to pay for that!" Rigel said. He picked his wand up. Teddy yelped and took off running toward Gryffindor Tower, Rigel just walked calmly after him.
Ginny and Harry smiled at each and entwined their hands together. And headed toward Ravenclaw Tower. Harry decided he had enjoyed teaching the other kids defense. Maybe that's what he would do when he left Hogwarts. Instead of being a Qudditch player. He'll teach defense. But somewhere other than Hogwarts. He didn't want a curse job after all.
A.N. I'm ending the chapter there, and hope it was good. I didn't name them yet because I want something other than Dumbledore's Army since Harry is mad at Dumbledore right now. And I couldn't think of anything. I'll give them a name their next meeting, just hope I can think of something good.