-Chapter 10-
The next few months passed in a blur of school work, Qudditch, exams, and OWL preparations. Brooke didn't have much time to dwell on the Azkaban break out with Umbridge banning anything she didn't see could benefit her. She was taking over the school and now it seemed classes were everybody's only sanctuary away from her. The DA continued to meet, with lots of practices and defense, even Brooke had to admit she was proud of everything they had accomplished with it. Dumbledore was still ignoring her, she wasn't even sure how much he was at the school sense the only time he made appearances would be at dinner. Sirius and Remus continued writing to her, being very vague about what actually was going on and mostly trying to keep the conversation about school and her friends.
They were dueling tonight in the DA and Brooke couldn't have been prouder of how great everyone was doing. Ginny was showing excellent skills, Ron was showing amazing dodging techniques to everyone, and Hermione was helping anybody who was struggling with anything they were learning. They were coming to a close when a soft tapping noise was heard from the far wall.
A few people stopped, noticing the tapping noise was becoming more defined, when suddenly the whole mirror on the side wall shattered, causing everyone to jump back and form a small circle at the far end of the room.
Everyone's wands were drawn not sure at all what was going on as Brooke stepped forward, before being pulled back by Ron.
"I'm just going to see who it is!" she said, breaking away and walking towards the tapping that was increasing.
"I swear Professor this is where I saw them go in!" Draco Malfoy's whinny voice was heard.
"Well we will see about that Mr. Malfoy." Professor Umbridge's voice was heard.
"Yes he is right this is it." Cho Chang's voice whispered.
Brooke quickly backed away, "RUN!" she shouted as the wall exploded behind her.
There was a sense of total chaos as Umbridge and her little brown noses ambushed the room, making grabs at anyone they could get their hands on, which unfortunately for Brooke was herself.
"To the Head Masters office Miss Potter!" Umbridge snapped, her voice still laced with her sugary sweet fakeness that made Brooke's skin crawl.
"She was the only one we could catch how pathetic!" she heard Draco mutter to Crabbe and Goyle.
Brooke turned to give Cho a death glare that must have looked pretty scary considering Cho looked away with tears in her eyes.
"And just why are you man handling my student!" Professor McGonagall voice came from around the corner, and Brooke was never more relieved to see her head of house.
"Out of the way Professor, we have found YOUR student holding some sort of dueling group that was going to be used against us and we are taking it right to Dumbledore!" Umbridge instructed as they pushed past her teacher.
McGonagall hastily followed behind, giving Brooke a look to say she would handle this.
"Ahh Professor Umbridge, Minister, and Miss Potter, what a surprise!" Albus said, his eyes twinkling as the Ministry members entered the room along with the students and Professor McGonagall.
"Whatever is the meaning of this great get together?" he asked, looking casual as ever.
"We found Miss Potter organizing a group that was seen dueling, fighting, and conquering up plans to fight!" Umbridge stated, casting a glare in Brooke's direction, "If it weren't for Miss Chang here we never would have known."
"Interesting paper here Albus," Fudge stated his hat bobbling on his head, "It says here Dumbledore's Army, which in fact means it was you who formed this army as you call it."
Dumbledore looked if nothing else more pleased then ever at the two read him the riot act.
McGonagall placed her hands on Brooke's shoulder, letting her know she was there.
"NO!" Brooke argued, glaring at the Minister, "It wasn't his idea it was mine!"
"Now Miss Potter the name is Dumbledore's Army not Potter's Army and I will take responsibilities for my actions."
"N-" McGonagall squeezed her shoulder hard giving her the warning to be quiet.
"So you admit it Albus!" Fudge yelled, glaring furiously at Dumbledore.
"Well that solves it; you are immediately excused as Hogwarts Headmaster-"Fudge growled, stepping closer and closer to Dumbledore who still continued to look happy, "Shacklebolt you are to escort Professor Dumbledore to Azkaban where he will await trial for his crimes!"
"Really Albus starting an Army against us, you should know by now nothing gets by me!" Umbridge said, a smug smile gracing her face.
Dumbledore smiled, throwing a wink Brooke and McGonagall's way, "Well there is one problem with your little plan you have instructed me upon-" he explained standing tall and smiling at everyone in the room, "I don't plan on going to Azkaban-"
"Albus, don't make this harder than it needs to be." Fudge instructed as the 4 Ministry Officials crept closer and closer.
Brooke's head was spinning and her heart was beating fast as she watched what was happening right in front of her, "Professor-"
"Miss Potter have no fear, I won't be going anywhere with them-" he said his twinkle shinning brighter and brighter as he stood to his full height, casting one last wink at Brooke and Professor McGonagall, he said, "Tootles," before disappearing in a flash with Fawkes.
A blast sent everyone but McGonagall and Brooke back into a heap on the floor, before chaos erupted.
"He escaped!" three people yelled out looking around wildly.
"Find him now!" Fudge roared as he sent the 3 Auror's that accompanied him to find Dumbledore.
Umbridge looked displeased with the turn of events; however a smile formed when the Minister explained that she was the new Headmistress.
Brooke groaned, and looked back to see a very displeased look on her Professor's face as well.
"To bed with you Potter, I'm sure Professor McGonagall can lead the way for you!"
With a slight push from behind her she walked down the spiral staircase and followed alongside her Professor back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Professor, what does this mean, where could the Headmaster have gone and wha-"she started all at once, as the questions came flying out of her mouth all at once.
"Calm down Miss Potter, you know where the Headmaster has gone, think about it." She said, pausing to let Brooke process that thought.
Nodding that she understood she continued, "But what does this mean now?! Umbridge is the new Headmistress!"
"I am afraid so, but that does not change Hogwarts Miss Potter!"
"Doesn't change anything? Look around Professor!" Brooke exclaimed, pointing to the walls that were bare of portraits and the deserted corridor, "She already has changed Hogwarts!"
"Listen to me Miss Potter!" McGonagall said, as they stopped just outside of the portrait hole, "You need to watch what you are doing, don't go getting yourself into trouble, and stay out of Umbridge's way, she is trying to take you down and we cannot allow that!"
Brooke nodded slowly, showing she understood.
"Good, now get to sleep Potter, and remember what I said!"
Brooke nodded her lip trembling slight as she entered the common room to answer the never ending questions that were surely to be thrown her way.
2 months after Dumbledore's exit life at Hogwarts had become more like a mini Azkaban. Umbridge had made her mark and her reign on Hogwarts known , the hallways were dark and deserted of any sort of chatter or laughter, the portraits were removed from every wall, curfew was strictly enforced, and school became nothing more than a prison.
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Brooke wasn't sleeping, her dreams continued to be filled with those globes, and all it did was freak her out, wondering what it could possibly be about. It wasn't helping that OWLS were right around the corner and Hermione had she and Ron on a very tight schedule with any and all free time.
The Great Hall was filled with chatter when Brooke finally stumbled through the doors, grumbling a few good morning to her fellow housemates, and finally shuffling into her seat next to Ron and Neville.
"You look like death!" Hermione stated matter-a-factly as she placed her newspaper down.
Brooke managed not to roll her eyes, "Well good morning to you too Hermione."
"Did you sleep at all last night?"
"No mother I didn't!" she snapped, drinking in her coffee with a sigh of content.
Hermione frowned at that, sharing a concerned look with Ron. "Why aren't you getting sleep, are you concerned about your OWLS Brooke, because I can help-"
Brooke slammed her coffee cup down on the table, causing a few people to look down the table at the trio in concern.
"No Hermione the OWLS are the last thing on my mind!" she growled, "I keep dreaming of these globes, and thinking about the Azkaban breakout, and then there is the little fact that Voldemort is after me."
Hermione continued to stare at her with a small frown, while Ron stared at her with wide eyes.
Brooke rolled her eyes at the two, "So no the OWLS are no concern of mine."
'Brooke this-"
"I know Hermione, the OWLS 2 days, study, sleep, keep up with homework, I got it." She grumbled, before standing up and swinging her book bag over her shoulder.
"Brooke!" Hermione called after her.
She continued to walk, pretending she didn't hear her, she had things to think about, and going to class, studying, or sleeping weren't any of those options.
The halls were bare, meaning either kids were in their dorms, in the Great Hall, or heading to class, so she pushed the heavy doors of the entrance hall open and smiled as the sunshine spread across her face.
Taking a deep breath of fresh air, she sighed as she made the trek down to Hagrids.
"Eh there 'Rooke, how're you doing?" Hagrid greeted, his voice bursting in a deep rumbling sound.
"I just needed to get away for a bit."
"Hope Umbridge isn't givin' your too much trouble." He said sympathetically, wiping his hands free of dirt.
Brooke looked around the grounds, "Well she can't change the outside of Hogwarts can she?"
Hagrid's laugh echoed along the grounds, causing even her to laugh despite the mood she was in.
"Wharts on your mind the'r "Rooke?"
Sighing, Brooke ran a hand through her hair, "Things are changing Hagrid."
Hagrid just nodded, throwing some meat towards the Unicorns they were studying about this semester in the pasture.
"Like last time you said…"
Hagrid grunted, throwing yet another piece out, "'Rooke there 'r things about that time that-"
"I know!" she interrupted, "But how did you know they were starting to change again?"
"'Rooke…"
"Please Hagrid, I have to know!" she pleaded, turning her bright green eyes towards his, "Dumbledore's gone, I can't go to him for questions, and Snape and McGonagall are busy trying to stay out of Umbridge's way, everyone is!"
Shrieks of Centaurs could be heard along with a long howl of disdain from Merlin knows what came from the Forbidden Forest, causing both she and Hagrid to look into the dark gloomy woods behind them.
Hagrid sighed, running a big beefy hand through his beard, "Things like that 're happening again, they did last time to. Disappearances, attacks, unexplained things, the wo'lds changin' again."
Brooke's eyes continued to stare the dark forest down, looking for a sign of movement.
"He's out there 'Rooke, and he's getting' ready to attack."
Closing her eyes, Brooke hid the shiver that swept through her body, an image of her mother and father flashed through her head, followed by Sirius and Remus, then Dumbledore, her friends, the Weasley's, then Ron, all looking happy, before opening them again, eyes blazing with a new determination in them.
"Don't worry Hagrid," she whispered, her eyes following an outline in the forest, "We'll be ready."