I don't own Harry Potter, Vampire Knight or any characters within those series.

A/N: The DA is on the way, hope you enjoy! :D

Chapter 11: What makes a group?

A not-so-silent propaganda war had continued between Kaname and the Minister over the following weeks. It was no longer a source of power that Fudge could solely abuse. Yagari was no longer teaching the students were allowed no practice using defensive spells. The students of the castle were sure their exams would suffer as a result.

The previous night Hermione and Ron had approached Harry. They had brought up the idea of having him teach the students defensive spells, forming a club so to speak. A meeting to see if people would be interested had been scheduled in the Hog's Head pub in Hogsmeade.

The Hogs Head was a more dingy establishment than the three broomsticks. The trio seated themselves and waited to see if anyone had shown up. They had invited their friends and plus ones were allowed of course. Many of their year minus Slytherins had eventually turned up to the shabby pub, along with a few students from other years such as the Weasley twins. Aside from this main gathering there were few other people around. Believing they were rather safe from being overheard they began the discussions of their gathering.

"Well -um- we're all here because we want to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts." Hermione began.

"Real Defence Against the Dark Arts, not the stuff Umbridge teaches us. The stuff that we need to learn to pass our exams. The stuff that could actually help us defend ourselves against Voldemort."

"How do we know he's really back?" Someone yelled.

"Because I saw him kill Cedric. If that's all you're here to talk about I may as well leave." Harry replied.

"He can produce a patronus and has killed a basilisk." Hermione pointed.

"And he saved the philosopher's stone from You-Know-Who in our first year." Neville added.

"Then he completed all of the tasks last year." Cho finished.

"Well then who's in?" Ron asked.

Hermione was satisfied as everyone who attended the meeting signed up.

The meeting time and place was still to be decided.

…

The following notice appeared on the Gryffindor common room noticeboard the next morning. It would make things even more difficult for them…

…

BY ORDER OF HOGWARTS HIGH INQUISITOR

All student organisations, societies, teams, clubs and groups are henceforth disbanded.

A student organisation, society, team, club or group is defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Delores Umbridge)

No student organisation, society, team, club or group may exist without knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or belong to, an organisation, society, team, club or group formed without the High Inquisitor's approval will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.

Signed: Delores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor.

…

"What if she shuts down Gobstones club?" A worried-looking second year asked after reading the notice.

"I reckon you'll be okay with Gobstones." Ron assured him.

"We probably won't be as lucky." Ron said looking towards Harry.

"I don't think this is a coincidence, do you?" Harry replied.

"What?"

"She knows."

"How?"

"Dunno, maybe she was that witch with the dark veil over her face?"

"Well if Umbridge put a veil over her face it would certainly be an improvement, don't you think?" The two boys shared a small chuckle before Hermione cut off the small happiness.

"Don't laugh this is serious!" She insisted.

"What are we going to do about this?" She worried.

"We have to do something about it. We need this to work." Ron said.

"Then we just have to find a place to hold it so that Umbridge can't find us." Harry resolved.

"But, where?" Ron asked.

"Hogwarts has tonnes of secret passages. I'm sure we can find one she doesn't know about." Hermione suggested.

"Hermione, it's a great idea. But, it may be difficult to have that many people attempting to practice spells in a passageway." Harry pointed out.

"I know. Well, we'll just have to think of something soon. We need to get down to breakfast." Hermione said looking at the clock and realising the time.

They walked out of the common room towards the Great Hall for their morning meal, not taking much notice to the fact they had been overheard.

…

The pureblood walked out of the Gryffindor common room shortly after the trio. He had just finished a morning meeting with Takuma but had stayed back to finish the final mouthfuls of his synthetic blood drink. These new rules did not help with what he needed to achieve his goal. He had to intervene.

*Knock**Knock*

He announced his presence to the occupant of the Defence Against the Darks Arts teacher's office.

"Come in." A high pitched voice answered him.

He opened the door to find that the pink lady had all but taken over the office completely now that Yagari was no longer teaching and sharing an office with her.

"Mister Kuran. I must say I didn't expect you to pay me a visit."

"I'm sorry if I have disrupted you. I merely wished to ask something."

"What?" She asked somewhat suspiciously.

"How many classes take place every lesson timeslot?"

She really didn't know the answer to that one and was rather confused as to why he had asked it. His face was devoid of any particular expression making him hard to read. She was suspicious but couldn't see any harm that could be done with this information.

"I don't know. Perhaps Professor McGonagall or one of the other teachers could help you. But, why is it that you want to know that?"

A grin tugged at the edges of the pureblood's lips.

"I have my reasons." He then looked at his watch.

"Must be going now. But, Thank you. This conversation has been quite illuminating Delores." He smiled at her then left the room without another word, leaving a rather dumb-struck witch behind.

…

This particular morning Kaname had a free period to start the day. Taking his time, he leisurely strolled around the castle till he found the ex-Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher he was looking for. Yagari was to be found in the library, looking through various books.

"Yagari-sensei?" Kaname announced his arrival.

"Oh, it's you. What do you want bloodsucker?" Yagari replied gruffly, placing the book he was holding back on the shelf and turning to the bloodsucker in question.

"I have information for you that I think you would find quite entertaining."

"Entertaining how?"

"You could use it against Miss Umbridge."

"I'm listening." The hunter perked up substantially.

"Then come. I'd rather not talk here."

Kaname lead Yagari into a nearby empty classroom after checking with his senses that no one was within hearing range. He invited Yagari to take a seat.

"So, what's this information, punk?" the ex-teacher asked.

"You don't think I would give away information for free do you?" Kaname scoffed.

"Nope. What do you want then?" Yagari asked.

Kaname took one of the pamphlets that had been scattered this morning out of his pocket.

"This is the message about that new stupid decree banning clubs, what about it?"

"With this in place the students will fail their exams without practice won't they?"

"Most likely."

"I want you to teach them."

Yagari raised his visible eyebrow as he replied:

"I thought they had already got their own little group together."

"But do you think Potter is really suitable to run it on his own. They don't even have a place to practice yet!"

"No."

"Then he'll need help."

"And you want me to help him? How caring of you Kuran… I thought you purebloods only cared about yourselves. I'm touched, at least I would be if I didn't know you had your own intentions." Yagari replied.

"You're sharp sensei, that's why you make the perfect teacher. I do, indeed, have my own intentions. How did you know?"

"The fact that you are you isn't enough?" Yagari grinned. Kaname gave a small chuckle as well.

"Well put. But, back to the matter at hand. I can help you go against Umbridge and it will help our efforts to stop some of this ridiculous scheme the Ministry is concocting and it will help our efforts to stop Rido. You do want to get rid of him as well don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then do you agree to my terms?"

"I have no idea what you're planning, punk. But, I guess I have to, don't I?" He shook hands with the vampire.

"Yes." Kaname replied.

Kaname then explained a certain loophole in the notice he held that nearly made Yagari cry with laughter at the pink toad's stupidity. I don't know how she missed this but it's going to be good.

…

It was the second class of the day. Yagari was armed with his new information as he proudly strode into his old classroom. All of the students looked at him. Umbridge glared at him.

"Mister Yagari? I don't know what you're doing here. You are no longer teaching this class and it would be appreciated if you did not disrupt me during my lesson." She said stubbornly.

"Delores. I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. So I've helped to uphold your new rules to say sorry."

Umbridge had no idea what was going on. Surely this man couldn't have changed his personality so dramatically overnight. Yagari walked up to the front of the class without waiting for her answer.

"In order to have your approval will they need a certificate or something?" He asked regarding the new rules.

"Yes, they must have it in writing from me." She said, still suspicious.

"Ok then." He turned towards the children and then said:

"You heard the lady! Class Dismissed!"

"Yagari, what do you think you're doing?" Umbridge was shocked.

"I'm upholding your new rules. In case you missed the obvious powder-puff, it so happens that a class is a group of more than three students that meet on a regular basis. Under that definition written in your rules you're currently hosting an illegal class. You've been a naughty girl Delores." He grinned as the students around him applauded.

Her eye twitched a little as the students started filing out.

"No one's going anywhere!" She yelled.

"Classes are held by an adult and are obviously different than student clubs." She insisted.

"Shame it doesn't say that on the document. I'm afraid you're going to have to write out an exception notice for every class held in every period of the day if you want to keep these rules in place. All of the other teachers agreed with me after I pointed it out. We all thank you for giving everyone day off while you sort your paperwork." He left the pamphlet on her desk.

"Oh, and I heard that you wrote up this law yourself. Kaname feels that this kind of ridiculous loophole is a disgrace to the Ministry and shall be reporting your little mistake to the Prophet." He smiled even more.

"He can't!" Her face was as white as the purest snow.

"Look forward to it tomorrow morning!" He yelled back at her before nearly skipping out of the classroom with joy.

…

And so Umbridge filled out an exception notice for every class in every time-slot while the other teachers and students had a wonderful day off.