Don't own, don't make money off of, and please don't sue. Thank you very much to MrsBates93 for being my Beta. All the mistakes are mine.
*This story follows Harry so watching Hermione and Draco interactions would be only if Harry sees them…if anyone wants to write the missing scenes you are welcome to do so.
The third change that happened to Harry in the second week of classes was how he dealt with Umbridge.
After having detention the whole first week of classes and knowing the pain of the Blood Quill, Harry kept his head down as much as he could. He didn't challenge her in class, even when her remarks were pointedly made to get a reaction out of him. He didn't talk about how Voldemort was back in any public forum that she could possibly over hear. Harry didn't even complain too loudly when she gave them nothing but reading assignments. Harry didn't even think about what to do regarding the Umbridge situation until she started to monitor his other classes.
They were called 'Educational Decrees.' These decrees were authorized by the Minister of Magic himself and they kept giving more and more power over Hogwarts to Umbridge. A first the decrees didn't affect many things and they were a little silly but with subsequent ones the noose felt tighter and tighter. The worst one was 'Educational Decree' number twenty-three which promoted Umbridge to High Inquisitor. Umbridge now had the power to go into any classroom and decide whether or not the lesson was acceptable for students.
Harry felt as though Umbridge's appointment to High Inquisitor was due to her not being able to punish him directly. He continued to believe that her increased presence was due to him even though other students mentioned her watching their classes as well. By Thursday night that week the whole Gryffindor Common Room were annoyed at Umbridge interrupting their lessons not to mention her lack of teaching them anything.
Hermione and Harry had an appointment to meet with Draco at Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and were both feeling anxious to get there due to the increased pull due to them not being together for a few days. Harry was currently waiting on the couch for Hermione to get off Prefect duty for the night so that they could go when she stormed into the Common Room with Ron behind her.
"That miserable excuse for a witch," Hermione spat as soon as she sat down next to Harry, "do you know what she did?"
Harry shrugged and looked at Ron who was looking like he had when he threw up slugs in their second year. Luckily, Harry didn't need to ask as Hermione just continued ranting.
"She has effectively taken away the power of the Prefects by creating a new group of 'mature, responsible students who understand what education should be' called The Inquisitor Squad, who are supposed to monitor us Prefects!"
"Not only that, Harry, but can you guess who is the head of The Inquisitor Squad," Ron continued after Hermione stopped to take a breath. "You guessed it," even though Harry hadn't said anything, "that ferret, Malfoy."
Harry's eyes narrowed at Ron's insult and he felt his wolf was unhappy at the thought of someone speaking badly of his mate. The other half of Harry was thinking: what the hell was Malfoy playing at?
Ron continued to grumble over Malfoy's position on the new squad and Hermione had a look of pure concentration on her face leaving Harry to ponder this new development. All Harry really knew was that something had to change and the Professors didn't seem to be effective at creating any change.
Hermione abruptly stood up and said "Oh, look at the time! I nearly forgot about that thing we had planned. Harry, we have to go or else we are going to be late."
Harry glanced at the time and was surprised that ten minutes had gone by.
Ron didn't look up from where he was and grumbled "Have fun at the library, you two."
Harry sent a questioning look to Hermione and once they had left the Common Room she explained that she had told Ron that they were planning to go to the library again. Hermione seemed to be distracted again with whatever she had been thinking about before they left so Harry took the lead making sure that they didn't run into anyone.
Draco was already in the bathroom when they arrived and he looked relieved to see them as the pull was starting to become uncomfortable. They all took a breath feeling the wonderful release that being together gave them.
Harry took a moment to relax before narrowing his eyes at Draco and snarled out, "What the hell are you doing becoming a top member of this Inquisitor Squad?"
Draco looked stunned for a second and then snarled back, "I am keeping up appearances, Potter, so that you won't have to save me any earlier than you have to."
"The excuse that you are keeping up appearances is starting to wear thin, Malfoy," Harry growled. "It seems to me that you are enjoying the perks of playing both sides."
"You have no idea what I am going through, Potter! So don't presume to know what I am enjoying or not enjoying." Draco spat.
Harry was suddenly so angry at the whole situation. He wanted to tear out Malfoy's throat. Harry felt himself suddenly change into wolf form and dragged Malfoy with him. Harry didn't even know he could change now so long after the ritual or that he could force Malfoy to change as well. He truly did snarl at Malfoy then and snapped his teeth.
Malfoy looked stunned for a moment and had to dive to the side as Harry lunged for his throat. Harry had had enough of Malfoy's attitude and was a little relieved to find a release for the anger. Harry was about to lunge for Draco again when Hermione's voice cut through the red haze of anger he was feeling.
"Stop it Harry!" Hermione shouted at him, "This isn't his fault."
Harry paused for a moment and cocked his head to the side to listen to Hermione. Draco snarled and the fight almost started again but Hermione whirled on Draco.
"Don't you start either, Malfoy! Although it isn't your fault, you have not helped the situation," Hermione snarled. The air around her simmered but she held on to calm down and didn't change.
Harry decided he would hear Hermione out but he kept in wolf form because if he didn't like what she had to say he was determined to have it out with Malfoy.
"This whole situation which has been caused by Voldemort and the fact that the Ministry is targeting Harry because they don't want to acknowledge that he is back. We cannot fight each other just because we are frustrated by what is happening around us, we have to come up with a plan to fight back." Hermione stopped shimmering as she noticed that she had the attention of both boys.
She continued, "Umbridge's position in the school is hampering our learning. We have to be able to learn how to use magic to defend ourselves especially with the exams coming up. I think the best course of action is to find another teacher who would be willing to teach us defence. I have been hearing others in not only our class but the other classes as well talking about how they are going to learn. I have been thinking about this a lot and I think I know the perfect person to teach us defence."
Hermione beamed at Harry as she said, "Harry, I think you should teach as many students who want to learn, Defense against the Dark Arts!"
Harry met Draco's eyes as Draco snorted, before backing down immediately. Harry looked at Hermione then and thought at her, "R-i-g-h-t, I bet that Malfoy's reaction will be the same as everyone else's."
"Umm, well, to tell you the truth Harry, I have already talked to a few people and everyone I asked was interested." At Draco's and Harry's stunned expressions, Hermione continued, "I told them that we could meet this weekend at the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade."
Harry started to shake his head but Hermione kept talking, "Just listen Harry, we need to be taught defence and no Professor in the school is going to be able to teach us due to their fear of Umbridge and the Ministry. You have fought Voldemort and come out alive, you survived the Tri-Wizard Tournament, you have killed a Basilisk, and do I have to continue? You are talented enough that you can teach this. Please, Harry." Hermione finally stopped.
Harry stared at Hermione. How was he supposed to teach a bunch of kids magic that he barely knew himself? Yes, he had survived but not by talent, he was just lucky. Harry was amused that Hermione was the one begging him to break the school rules and start this, as she was always the one who wanted him to be more careful. The one thing that really stood out was the fact that Hermione was right that the Professors were too scared of the Ministry to do anything about the fact that Umbridge was taking over Hogwarts. Harry started thinking about how he could do this.
Harry looked at Draco then as the reasons that he decided to help Malfoy was what was going to spur him into doing this. Harry transformed back into human form and started pacing the bathroom.
"You are right, Hermione. The Ministry has overstepped its bounds in trying to silence me to the point it is putting the entire school in danger. Something had to be done. Someone has to fight back and if the Professors and other adults are too scared then it is up to us." Harry said, while he continued to pace.
Hermione's eyes widened as she realized that Harry wasn't just agreeing to teach a few students some defensive spells. Draco raised his head up and looked more interested as Harry continued to talk.
"First we would have to find a way to neutralize Umbridge at Hogwarts and then find a way to make the administration at the Ministry change their policies so that Voldemort cannot gain any more ground there. Of course the elimination of Voldemort would be the ultimate goal but that won't happen until people are willing to fight." Harry stopped and looked at the others, "Well, am I crazy or can we do this?"
Draco took the moment that Harry stopped talking to change back into human form and immediately gave his thoughts on the subject.
"Well, I'll be, Potter has finally grown a pair," Draco stated and continued after he got matching glares from Harry and Hermione. "Might I suggest a few things though, if we are going to neutralize Umbridge, teaching some students how to do a shield charm isn't going to cut it. We are going to have to completely rebel against everything she of the students that you recruit to learn defensive spells are going to be in just to learn enough to pass their O.W.L.S, some might seem ready to fight with you but they will be as frightened like their parents are and they will betray you, and finally some will be willing to follow you completely. These are the people that you will want to keep by your side. These are the people that we should do the ritual with so that they will have similar protection and more power when the time consequences come at us. What I would do is start off slow with recruiting and make it seem like teaching them for the O.W.L.S. is the ultimate goal. As you teach them and spend time with them we should be able to tell who will be loyal during this rebellion."
Hermione gaped at Draco.
"It seems like you have gave some serious thought about this," Hermione said questioningly.
Draco smirked and replied, "Well, I am a Slytherin and I do like to think about how power works, whether it is political or magical. So, yes, I have thought about how one would take over Hogwarts"
"Why doesn't that surprise me," Hermione muttered under her breath but still loud enough for everyone to hear.
Draco's smirk grew into something that looked like a genuine smile.
"Ok, so we meet the students at the Hog's Head this weekend and see what happens from there." Harry said after shaking his head.
"Hold on, I don't think Draco should be there," Hermione said at the same time as Draco stated "I don't think we should meet them at the Hog's Head."
"Why shouldn't we meet them at the Hog's Head?" Hermione said sceptically.
"No one goes to the Hog's Head and if a whole group of students go, it will be obvious that something is going on, especially if Harry is involved." Draco calmly retorted, "We need to keep a low profile until we have the power to strike."
"That sounds a lot like what Voldemort is doing," Hermione stated.
"Well, that proves how effective it is now, doesn't it," Draco shot back.
"I think Hermione's point is that we do not want to become like Voldemort, and besides he has had the whole summer to start, while we are woefully behind at this point. Especially since he would have started with The Ministry and we have to start at Hogwarts," Harry said slowly.
Draco nodded and replied, "All I am saying is that we should meet with the recruits in places that you always go to when you frequent Hogsmeade. It would attract less attention than if you and several students went to the Hog's Head."
Hermione finally conceded by saying, "Fine, I will let them know that we will be meeting in small groups around Hogsmeade at different times. I hope no one overhears what we are talking about."
"Hermione, I think we can use spells to prevent others from eavesdropping," Harry said soothingly. He continued, "I also don't think you should be visible during the initial meetings, Malfoy. A lot of people will walk away when they see you because they don't trust you which would hamper our recruitment. The other reason is that we are protecting you and it is easier to protect you while no one knows you have switched sides. However I do want you there, so I will lend you my dad's Invisibility Cloak and you can observe from under there when we meet the recruits."
Harry looked around at both of them and asked, "Are we agreed?"
Hermione and Draco stared at one another but finally both of them agreed to the plan.
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