Hey, Rick Dias here.
It's finally here, Chapter 13! Of the chapters I've written, 13 is a pretty big turning point. Admittedly, this part was very enjoyable to write about. So yeah.
To all the readers, thank you. I started writing this fanfic quite a while ago just for my own amusement. When I started posting it, it was kinda beyond my imagination to have more than a dozen readers, yet here we are.
To the people who write the reviews (you know who you are, it seems to be the same people), thank you. I did kinda expect offensive PMs or flames. I'm actually not quite sure on most of the details of the plot. All I do is reread a chapter of OotP and imagine what Nanoha would do in that situation, which is the cornerstone of several scenes. The rest just come to mind, or are part of the overarching plot (which kinda isn't much). What I'm trying to say is, someone might write something that I could include into the story. That would be awesome.
Anyway, on with Chapter 13!
Chapter 13 - Undermined
The Gryffindors were in their common room, celebrating the winning of their first Quidditch match, against Slytherin.
"And when we got the thousandth point...", said Katie, giggling.
"...Yeah, maybe we should make our own verses of 'Weasley is Our King'.", hiccuped Ron. Somehow he managed to sneak some Firewhiskey in.
"...It's pretty bad though, that Umbridge banned you three from Quidditch, for 'cheating'.", said Dean to Harry and the Weasley twins. "You didn't cheat for real, did you?"
"Nah. And it doesn't matter, we'll get our brooms back, one way or another.", said Fred. "And I'm pretty fine being banned, if it's for the year. It's not like we won't win Quidditch this year anyway."
"Yeah, how will any other team get two-and-a-half thousand points anyway?", said Seamus. Everyone laughed again.
"How did you guys learn all that anyway? Madam Hooch was frothing at the mouth, she wanted to know.", asked Neville.
"...Nanoha.", the team said in unison. Everyone laughed after they heard it.
The teachers held another emergency meeting after the first and most ludicrous Quidditch match of the school year.
"How did they all fly like that? The brooms shouldn't be able to do that!", said Flitwick.
"What did you do to them, Minerva? How could you have gotten your team like that?", asked Snape, snarling.
"I couldn't have known all that! You all know I haven't flown in decades! Rolanda didn't even know half the moves or formations they did!", shouted McGonagall.
Madam Hooch was in the corner. She was twitching, and repeatedly muttering something unintelligible. Comforting her was Nanoha.
Everyone then faced Nanoha. "You! What did you do?", exclaimed Flitwick, Snape and Sprout, in unison.
Nanoha responded with her usual smile. "As far as anybody knows, I didn't do anything. What we know is that they cheated, didn't they, Dolores?", Umbridge shot her a nasty look.
The other teachers were shocked and exasperated. "You don't really think they simply cheated, do you? We know you helped them somehow!"
Nanoha's smile then formed and evil grin. "Oh, no. They definitely cheated, like Dolores said, right? That, or she was wrong, and wrongfully punished a few people I simply trained to fly, instead of cheating. But she did punish them, so they obviously cheated and I had nothing to do with it..." Nanoha then turned to Umbridge, still with her grin. "...ne?" Nanoha then left the room.
Everyone then released their held breaths after she left. They then turned on Umbridge. She whimpered.
"There's nothing we can do then, because the High Inquisitor has decided not to let us question her. Nice to see someone doing her job right.", snarled Snape.
"But, but...", whimpered Umbridge, grasping at straws.
"Oh no. 'The High Inquisitor's word is final.', it's on the educational decree. Nanoha was just reading it and left the copy there.", said McGonagall matter-of-factly. "We can't even deduct points because you already decided that the only punishment is to ban them from Quidditch this year. Oh Merlin, the points!"
"We can't change the outcome of the match, so now...", Sprout said.
"...Gryffindor has already won the House Cup.", finished Flitwick. "We must make Quidditch points separate from House points this year, else the hourglass will explode."
Nanoha spent the next week avoiding the other teachers, especially McGonagall, Snape, and Hooch, as they would interrogate her on how the Gryffindor team learned to maneuver in Quidditch. She did not want to explain to anyone how she learned to fly without a broom, so she stayed outside the castle for most of the day, for about five days by then. She spent most of her time training with her classes and with volunteers that wanted extra work, mostly Neville, Eckhart, Dorian, Harry, Luna and Ernie, and a few others, albeit infrequently. On that afternoon, she spotted the High Inquisitor enter the cottage, and remembered that the groundskeeper and Professor for Care of Magical Creatures arrived that day. She followed after her so she could find out more about Earth's more elusive wildlife. Professor Grubbly-Plank was very knowledgeable about most common magical creatures, but Nanoha was told Hagrid knew many... "interesting" creatures.
As she approached the cabin, she could hear Umbridge talking to Hagrid, who was already partly flustered.
"...the Ministry is determined to weed out unsatisfactory teachers. Good night-", said Umbridge as she turned to leave, only to find Nanoha open the door to enter. "-eep!" Umbridge bolted, nearly tripping in the snow.
After Nanoha saw Umbridge leave, she turned to see the groundskeeper. "Uh, hello, came in to drop by."
"I don't want ter be rude," said Hagrid staring at her, "but who the ruddy hell are you? Another Ministry woman?"
"Ah, no. I'm this year's Defense Professor, Takamachi Nanoha. Just call me Nanoha. I'm a mage, and not from the Wizarding World, so I got this job to see what Hogwarts was like. I just saw that you already got here from whatever it is you were away for. I came to ask about your classes and about the more unique creatures you've encountered, the substitute Professor only knows enough about the common ones."
"Ah, Dumbledore got a teacher in time. I heard some about what ye've done, an' I hope yer not like the ones that kick th' bucket. Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper and Professor for Care of Magical Creatures. I'd hate ter disappoint, but it's bin a long day, so you can jus' come and sit in fer the classes if you want ter know."
"Or you're making me leave so you can let the three hidden students leave too. I don't need to see to know you're there." Nanoha motioned toward the patch of what seemed to be empty space.
"Blimey, how'd you know? Can you see past Invisibility Cloaks, too?" Ron said as they removed the cloak.
"Mages can sense concentrations of magical energy, especially since your energy has been refined by training. The Cloak helped but you can still be found if I'm this close."
"Merlin, we can't hide anything from you anymore.", muttered Ron.
"Anyway, I'll just wait for the classes then." Nanoha then turned to leave.
After she left, Hermione then remembered Umbridge's visit. "Hagrid, we have to make sure you don't get sacked! You have to make sure you act like a good teacher!"
"Or...", Ron started deviously. "We get Nanoha to sit in whenever Umbridge comes to inspect you. All the teachers are terrified of her, Umbridge especially!"
"I hate to say it, Ron, but that could work. No way Umbridge could even think straight while Nanoha's around."
"Why? Wha'd she do to Umbridge?", asked Hagrid.
The other three spent another half hour going over what they knew of her.
"Merlin, that's some teacher.", was all Hagrid could say.
"Anyway, maybe you should make your lessons more interesting, so Nanoha'll hang around more often, so Umbridge can't even get close.", suggested Ron.
"Aye, that I'll do."
A few days later, Umbridge walked to the forest to begin her inspection of Hagrid. She made sure to come early to ask questions to the students about Hagrid's methods. That might even be enough to suspend that half-giant, at least for the year. As she came to announce her presence, Hagrid and his class turned to greet her, as they were about to enter the forest. As much as Umbridge loathed to go into the forest, she would have to go to inspect the class.
Behind Hagrid, a smaller figure popped out. Nanoha was about to greet her, and she bolted back into the castle.
"Wow, that was fast. I bet she's thinking she could just hide behind a castle wall for the rest of the year.", Ron remarked.
"Not that I would go after her or anything, but that won't help. If I was out to get her, I'd just shoot past the walls.", responded Nanoha.
"I thought you read 'Hogwarts, a History'? It would be easier to take down an entire building of reinforced concrete than put a sizable hole in the castle walls.", replied Hermione.
"That's not too hard.", said Nanoha.
Not much more was said about that idea.
After Hagrid led them into a clearing, he set the cow carcass he had brought along and started making an odd bird call of sorts. After a few minutes of waiting, Hagrid called out, "Oh, 'ere comes one of 'em!"
Nanoha turned and saw a rather peculiar creature much like a skeletal black winged horse came out to tear into the meat laid on the ground. Another then stepped out to join in the feeding.
Hagrid then called out, "Now, put yer hands up, who can see 'em?" Nanoha, Harry, and Neville raised their hands.
"Excuse me, but what exactly are we supposed to be seeing?", asked Malfoy, with a sneer.
"Thestrals! I take care of a herd of 'em fer the school. They pull the train and do other useful things fer the school.", explained Hagrid. "Now, why can only some o' you see 'em?"
"The only people who see thestrals are those who've seen death.", answered Hermione.
"Yeah. Now, who did you see die, er, Nanoha?"
"A friend to a friend of mine." Nanoha's thoughts then turned to the first Reinforce. She was one of the reasons Nanoha decided to work as a full-time mage, to prevent incidents like that to happen.
"Er... I'm sorry ter bring it up." Hagrid noticed that Nanoha was a little distressed. Most of the class did too.
"It's alright. She was happy when she died. It could've been a lot worse." Everyone remembered the kind of things their Defense Professor hinted at doing before coming to Hogwarts. They didn't say much for the rest of the class.
The next day, Harry, Ron and Hermione were discussing Hagrid's inspection during breakfast.
"I can't believe that woman! She doesn't even come for the lesson yet she still has some stinging comments for Hagrid!", said Hermione vehemently.
"How?", asked Ron.
"After class, she went to the Slytherins and asked them about Hagrid. Obviously Malfoy and his friends fed her what she wanted. I overheard Pansy talk about what they said."
"That's not fair! She didn't even see the class, Hagrid did really well yesterday! I mean, thestrals were cool, and didn't bite anyone!"
"There's nothing we can do then, if she wants Hagrid out she will eventually."
"Well, at least we've got Nanoha's surprise coming tonight.", said Harry.
"Wait, what?", asked both Ron and Hermione.
"You haven't read the Defense schedule? Defense classes are cancelled until Christmas, and Nanoha's got some announcement after dinner outside."
Considering their teacher, they knew something big was about to happen.
That night, everyone gathered outside after dinner to find out what's to happen to their Defense class that year.
Nanoha then started to address the student body, using the enchanted microphone normally used for Quidditch matches.
"I believe everyone saw the schedule today, and so we're all here. For those who are not here right now, please inform them of this announcement afterwards." Every student was already on the field; no one wanted to miss the announcement. "Many of you seem surprised and confused about the cancellation of Defense classes until we start again next year. This is because I simply have nothing left to work with you all in basic training. All of you are now fully capable to do the exerises alone, and I hope you continue doing so. Our basic training is over, so feel free to train during these free periods, or otherwise work on your other subjects. The other methods of magic: Charms, Transfiguration and the like are very important in defending yourself, I would like you all to apply yourselves in that way as well when you continue your lessons in these classes. Anyway, next year, we will only continue the exercises. However, all of you are free to apply in a more advanced form of training next year for Defense. Instead of Basic Training, you may choose to apply for Squad Training. We will form a voluntary mock militia outfit and form squads for its battalions." The teachers present, Flitwick, McGonagall, and Umbridge were then shocked, and nearly shouted in outburst. "All may apply, and choose to form squads of four to six students. These squads will be better explained soon enough. In squad training, you will learn how to fight and defend yourselves as a group, instead of duelling one on one. I don't see why wizards wouldn't fight in groups to defend themselves, so I will show you how. These squads can be formed with any other students, regardless of House or year level. In fact, I have Dumbledore's permission to have all the Defense classes at the same times. The new schedules will be out after holidays. those who will not form squads will simply continue basic training. Oh, and there are requirements to be part of a squad. Each squad member must at least be proficient in these spells: Disarming Charm, Shield Charm, Summoning and Banishing Charms, and Stunning Spell. For the more advanced, aerial squads, their members must also know the Reductor Curse, Impediment Jinx, and common countercurses and counter-jinxes." Harry smiled at this, as he knew these were the spells he taught the DA. "To those who cannot learn these in time, please try to get tutored by your upperclassmen. I recommend sitting in with Dumbledore's Army, headed by the fifth-year Gryffindor Harry Potter. I will ask Harry to teach many of you during your newly freed up periods. That is all for tonight." Harry and the rest of the DA were shocked. Umbridge ran off back inside, and Nanoha presumed she was off to send an owl to the Minister. Nanoha readied herself and went back to Dumbledore's office.
Fourteen minutes later, Harry found himself dragged to Dumbledore's office by Umbridge. They found Nanoha already inside, drinking several potions, presumably to counteract the curses Hermione said she put on the parchment.
"You! I knew you were in on this, this plot to form an army! Admit it, you're here to take over the Ministry!", Umbridge shouted, as she walked in. "And you!" Umbridge faced Harry. "I also knew that you were teaching them in secret! I heard about Dumbledore's Army, yes I did." Umbridge then produced an evil grin.
"What's wrong with the Army, may I ask? The Squad training is part of my Defense curriculum, and so is the DA.", Nanoha said. "Harry was acting under Orders, so he's not at fault for anything here."
"But the Educational Decree! No illegal secret clubs!", wailed Umbridge.
"It wasn't a secret club, Dumbledore and I separately approved it. No one told you because they were simply under Orders."
"How can an Educational Decree be overriden by a school rule? My decision is final and absolute, not yours!"
"Yes, on other matters. However, my Orders are just within the original Hogwarts guidlines formed by the founders themselves. It clearly states that teachers are allowed to use whatver methods so long as they are effective, acting in teacher's confidentiality. There are other parts to that statement, but those are the original guidelines, nonetheless. They do hold more sway than any Ministry Decree as Hogwarts is an older institution, built before the International Confederation of Wizards, and in effect, the British Ministry of Magic. The DA was completely legal."
"Then I'll have you sacked for this!"
"On what grounds? On the Educational Decree, 'The High Inquisitor is allowed to remove any teacher after finding him or her unable to meet standards after negative evaluation.' However, I have recieved no evaluations from you, and you never show up at the classes to evaluate me, so any evaluations you do produce will be no doubt false defamation, and libel, which is definitely illegal. In fact, if the same rights are granted to wizards, I can accuse you of having already done that to Rubeus Hagrid, for fabricating an evaluation without seeing his classes. Anyway, to defend myself, I also gave out my own evaluation about my teaching. I gave two surveys out last month, the first to seventy random students about their opinion on my teachng ability, and the other to eight teachers, Dumbledore included, about this years' students in terms of the growth of their Defense capability. Both came out rather positively for me, and I can give you my gatherings if you'd like."
"How could you have given out your own survey? Why would you?"
"I passed it in secret as part of the impartiality of the test, so no one would know who else would do it. Also, I gave it out as part of standard procedure. As this is my first time teaching wizards, I needed to know how well I did. I can tell you now it's been quite satisfactory in its entirety."
"Bah, I will inform the Minister of this!" Umbridge then stormed out the room.
"Glad that's over." Nanoha sighed in relief.
"So, you planned this all?", asked Harry, still shaken.
"Of course. everything went rather well, and maybe I'll recieve a visit from the Minister. That could be fun."
"I hope you don't pull another stunt like that again. Using the school rules like that, I was hoping you wouldn't pull the trump card so soon.", Dumbledore remarked. "Oh, and give Hermione my praise, her curse was dififcult to counteract."
"Oh, I still have a few other failsafes. You would not believe the influence I have on most people in the Bureau..."
There was then a knock on the door. Dumbledore was slightly surprised, as while he intended the teachers to voice complaints about Defense, he knew none of the teachers knocked before entering; they knew they were free to do so.
Contract-mage Stracci Lagrangio walked in.
"I have heard that the High Inquisitor raised an alarm for the Ministry. What'd you do now!", he said in Japanese.
Nanoha replied in English. "No need to hide it, Dumbledore speaks about any language you can try. Anyway, what about leaving me alone? I am simply on... a vacation."
"My superiors... told me to investigate. What did you do now?"
"These superiors... who is leading this... group anyway?"
"I do believe you know them. They told me you know them as Burgess and Kaldr."
"Those two? This makes it easier. Just go back already, tell Kaldr I can come back to finish his flight training and tell him to give Burgess this." Nanoha then whispered something to Dumbledore, who then produced an adult diaper. "They'll know what I mean. Then tell them to leave me alone."
Stracci was puzzled. "What?"
"Ah, you're a contractee, you never underwent training. They'll know, trust me." Nanoha smirked.
A very confused mage then went out the door.
"What was all that?" Harry asked.
"Well, mage training is very... demanding."
"That's how you hold sway with the Bureau members?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes, well, I don't want what was said to leave this room, okay? I need to prepare for the holidays, and Harry will need to prepare for the new recruits for Dumbledore's Army. Good night, Dumbledore." Nanoha then led Harry out.
"So, you wanted DA to succeed so you could incorporate it in your training?" asked Harry on the way out.
"Yes, I knew I couldn't teach the appropriate spells, so I left it to you."
"And the diaper..."
"Burgess soiled himself once during a mock battle with me. I remember all my students, you know."