"Ally, have you done the Defence homework?" Collin asked me at breakfast on the second day back.
"Do you actually think I do my homework for that toad faced bitch? She gave us homework over the Christmas holiday, who does that?" It really annoyed me when teachers set homework over the holidays. Did they think we had nothing better to do?
"The spawn of Satan," Ginny answered bitterly.
"Hem, Hem" a voice sounded from behind us.
"Do I want to turn around?" I asked Seamus.
"I wouldn't," he smiled. So I didn't. I just ate like there was no one there.
"Hem, Hem" she coughed again. We continued to ignore her, gaining many snickers and laughs from the surrounding houses. "Weasley, Tonks," she practically squealed.
We turned around slowly and smiled sweetly.
"Oh hello Professor," Ginny said. "Didn't see you there."
"Yes, you should have really let us know you were there," I grinned.
"Detention," she shrieked, as though they were two separate words.
"For what?" Harry asked. He was always the gentleman/idiot for interfering.
Umbridge smirked. "Detention for you Mr Potter too. I shall expect to see the three of you tonight at seven."
"Yes Captain Inquisitor." I saluted sharply. The entire hall snorted and then erupted into giggles.
"It seems as though one is not enough. Double detention, the other shall take place tomorrow morning at six."
My insides were screaming. I was not getting up at 5:30. However I just nonchalontly shrugged and said: "Fine."
"We had a meeting tonight," Hermione whispered sadly.
"You two can still run it," Harry said, pointing to Ron and Hermione. "We'll come later if we have time."
However, we didn't have time and Umbridge kept us until well after eleven.
"She did that on purpose," I yawned. "I have to see her tomorrow at six and she wants me as tired as possible."
We sauntered into the common room and found it empty apart from Ron and Hermione.
"How was the meeting?" Harry asked, sitting down between me and Ginny. I stretched out slightly, trying to force them together. I know he was dating Cho and I know I shouldn't have interfered, but I couldn't resist.
"It was mental," Ron sighed. I had a feeling we were about to hear volume 47732 of The Many Woes of Ron Weasley. "They paid no attention. Especially that Smith, i would love to hit him. It was so hard too, all they did was complain and whine for help. I have a new found respect for you mate."
"They want to move on to something more challenging," Hermione continued. "I was thinking patronus' in a few weeks?"
I grinned happily, my mood suddenly lifting. The patronus was by far my favourite spell. Ever since The DA started I had been looking forward to learning it and finding out my animal.
"Maybe in March," Harry said. "Many people still can't to an adequate shield charm and Ginny's the only person who has mastered 'Reducto."
I smiled at the couple next to me. They were so cute; I couldn't wait until they got together. Although I couldn't interfere anymore. Oh well, there's always Ron and Hermione...
I said a quick good night before going up to bed. I had to be up unnaturally early for my stupid detention with stupid Umbridge.
I crawled out of bed at 5:20 and quietly got ready.
For once I was early and had time to run down to the kitchen, grab some toast and then go back upstairs to Umbridges office.
She was still in her fluffy pink dressing gown when I arrived. She was drinking tea, and a small table sat opposite her desk.
"Lines?" I asked. She nodded.
"I don't think they quite sunk in last time." She raised her wand and the evil quill and the parchment floated towards me. I sighed and began to write.
It hurt more this time. The wound was half healed and the quill was just ripping it open.
But like last time, the pain subsided and my hand became a pool of bloody nothingness.
She kept me well into breakfast and did not let me go until five minutes before lessons started.
I had no time to change, so I had to go down to potions in my blood-stained shirt.
I arrived to Snape's class two minutes too late.
"Sorry I'm late sir," I rushed in and sat down beside Ginny. "I was with Umbridge."
"Fiv-" His eyes zeroed in on my hand and I was sure I saw a wave of pity fly over them. "Find page 34," he continued.
I was sure to begin with that he was going to take points. Maybe he liked me after all. Though that was very unlikely.
As I was copying out the text book, a small tingling sensation went through my hand. I looked at Snape, who had just walked past and then to my hand and gasped.
The small carvings were quickly healing until just a scar remained. All of the blood was gone and so had the pain.
I looked over to Snape who was looking anywhere but me. What was going on? He hated me and now all of a sudden he was helping me. So many confusing things had been happening lately, I couldn't keep track and like the others, I tried to forget.
But at the end of the lesson, I told my friends to wait for me outside the door.
I walked over to Snape, who was writing at his desk, and sighed loudly, so he knew I was there. Unsuprisingly, he didn't look up and ignore me.
"Listen," I began. "I don't know what you did or gave me, but I wanted to say thank you. It was a decent thing you did."
He continued writing as though I had never said a word. Grinning, I left the room and went up to A History of Magic.
"Have you heard?" Oliver asked me as we walked there.
"What?" I asked confused. There was about a thousand things going on. How the hell was I supposed to know what he was talking about?
"The death eaters," Ginny explained quietly. "There's been a huge breakout at Azkaban. Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband... Ten of them have gotten out. Here it's in the prophet."
She began to pull it out of her bag, but I stopped her.
"I don't read that trash. After everything they have done to Harry and Dumbledore, I don't want to know."
I knew everything anyway. And the thought of Bellatrix Lestrange on the loose scared me, because in just a few short months, Sirius would be dead.
:-:
After the Death Eater escape, people began to panic. They knew something was up and that the prophet was hiding something.
The DA gained two more members and was slowly gaining more recognition.
Umbridge was hot on our tail and knew almost everything, but thankfully, had no proof. However that didn't stop her from awarding us with random detentions.
"I've had it." Harry stormed into the Room of Requirement and sat down in our little group that consisted of Ginny, Luna, Ron, Hermione and me. The meeting didn't start for another ten minutes, but we always arrived early. "Luna I want to do it."
"Do what?" Ginny asked.
"An Article," Luna answered dreamily. "In the Quibbler. It'll show everyone that Harry's innocent. Would you like me to write to daddy?" she asked.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, and I'll write to Rita. I'll schedule it for next hogsmede trip."
"Wait!" Ginny butted in. "Rita? Please don't tell me it's who I think it is."
"How many Rita's do we know? Besides, she'll behave."
The others started to arrive, so we abandoned our conversation and got to work.
:-:
Harry Potter speaks out at last: the truth about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the night I saw him return.
The headline blared all around the Great Hall. Word had gotten out that Harry was doing an interview, so almost everyone had ordered a copy. Most people had brought it for a joke, but there was a solid few who read it religiously over breakfast. Even some of the teachers had a copy.
"Hem, Hem" Umbridge stood up at the end of breakfast and glared at the hall. "The New Educational Degree number twenty-seven has just been approved."
She strolled down the space between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables and collected a few copies of the magazine. "Any student found in possession of The Quibbler shall be expelled." the hall began to groan and mutter. "You have one hour to rid yourself of these rags."
With a wave of her wand, the stack of magazines she confiscated caught fire and then disappeared.
I rolled my eyes as people began to stash them away, didn't anyone have any guts?
My mood suddenly cheered up when I got to CoMC, and Hagrid was there.
"Hagrid," Ginny said happily. The Gryffindors all crowded by the giant while the Ravenclaws stood back looking disappointed.
"How you been Hagrid?" Collin asked.
"I'm fine. Took a little break... To Fr - Aust'alia... For me health," he added quickly. Anyone who believed that must have been completely stupid.
"Ahh, You must be Alyssa," he said, noticing me suddenly. He looked very happy he had spotted me as he was eager to change the subject.
"Yes, it's very nice to meet you Hagrid."
He said something to me, but I couldn't really understand his accent, so I just nodded.
While Hagrid began to talk about some magical animal that healed a dragon bite, everyone began to read the daily prophet. It was really the quibbler disguised, but I don't think Hagrid would care. It actually wouldn't surprise me if he began to sell them behind his hut.
I just stared blindly up at the sky with my hands in my pockets. My hand began to burn slightly, and I realised it was The DA galleon. I took it out of my pocket and saw it held tomorrows date.
"You know what this means?" I asked, showing Ginny the coin.""Patronus'"
:-:
"I can't do it!" I whined for the tenth time, it was almost the end of the lesson and at least half the group could produce a patronus. I was normally one of the first to get a spell, but now...
"Whats your memory?" Harry asked again. I shrugged.
"I don't know, I don't have any really happy memories." I stomped my foot childishly on the floor. A few people laughed.
"Do you realise you're acting like a toddler?" Fred asked, his lion sauntering around me. I glared at it angrily.
"Just try again. Try to calm down, the stress isn't helping."
I sighed heavily and thought back to the fun and joyous time I had at Grimmauld Place. It probably was the happiest I've ever been.
"Expecto Patronum," I called loudly. A strong silver wisp came out of my wand and formed a shield around me.
"See that's an improvement," Harry congratulated. He moved over to Cho and began talking about her swan.
"This is frustrating," I muttered, trying to cast the blasted thing. Nada.
A small tapping was heard, and then it suddenly developed into bangs. We all stopped and looked at the far wall near the entrance.
Everyone else looking confused, but I knew. It was Umbridge.
Harry and Collin slowly edged forward and looked through the hole that had just been formed.
"I'll make quick work of this," Her squeaky voice sounded. "Mombarda Maxima."
The entire wall was blasted through, causing large rubble and bricks to be thrown at us. Fred grabbed my arm and pulled me to the floor just in time. We all lay down on the floor until we were sure it was safe.
I tried to get up, but Fred's arm was draped around my shoulder, securing me to the floor. I pulled it off and took out my wand. I saw the other DA members had done the same. Harry turned to us and shook his head. It was over.
We all dropped our wands and stared blankly at Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad. Marietta Edgecomb was standing dumfounded beside them. I wanted to slap her.
"Don't let any of them escape," Umbridge comanded. The Inquisitorial Squad ran into the room and surrounded the edges.
"Make a note of all their names."
"There's no need," Filtch called. He took the original list of the wall and waved it. "Dumbledore's Army: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Alyssa Tonks, Seamus..."
"Alright Filtch, we don't need to know all their names. There's only one person I'm interested in." Umbridge snatched the list off Filtch and then grabbed Harry's arm. "The minister is waiting for you in the Headmaster's office. Come along Marietta."
"The Minister?" Neville called out. "Isn't that a bit brash?" we all stared at him in shock. Neville never said boo to a goose; and now he was questioning Umbridge. Go Nev.
"Mr Longbottom if you could refrain yourself please. Now you must all return straight to your Common Rooms. Your Detentions shall be nights from Six until Nine. I shall let you know if any charges will be pressed."
We glared as she strolled away with Harry and Marietta.
"You heard her, to your dormitories." Crabbe gave me a large push, making me fall to the ground.
"Oi," Seamus said, squaring up to him. He was a good head shorter and a lot skinnier, however Seamus looked murderous. "Touch her again, and I'll break your arms."
I was never the Damsel in Distress type, but it felt nice to be defended.
The Slytherin's all laughed loudly at Seamus comment. He turned around as though he was walking away, but then swung back, hitting him square in the nose. It was a good shot, and Crabbe's nose started to bleed.
"Serpen -" Malfoy began.
"Expelliarmus," I shouted. He was thrown backwards, conveniently out the new hole. I caught his wand swiftly and twirled it in my hands.
The rest of the Inquisitorial Squad took 'fight stance.'
"Now I don't want a fight," I told them. "So you guys leave, and then I'll give your little leader his wand back. But if not, I'll snap it in half."
One of them sneered. "She's bluffing."
"Am I." I held one end in each hand. All it took was a simple movement.
"Just leave," Malfoy said, a look of pure panic across his face. They all sauntered away looking extremely disappointed.
One they were well out of site, I threw Malfoy's wand back to him.
"If I was you, I'd watch my back," he threatened.
"That's the second time you've said that," I shrugged. He stared at him pointedly before pushing past him and going up to the common room.
:-:
The news that Dumbledore had gone spread like wildfire. As did the news that Umbridge was the new head mistress. I was extremely huffy and was exceptionally mean to her; And Seamus.
As predicted, his stupid antics had caused us both to have a longer detention; and for some reason, Harry as well.
At first I felt all important that he had stood up for me, however it wasn't until I thought about it, I realised why he was so assy.
Fred had saved me from the rubble, so he had to claim back his territory. And look where that got us. But as Seamus threw the first punch, he got an hour longer than me and Harry. Served him right.
After we were let go, Harry and I went to the kitchens. We were hungry, and I wanted something very strong to drink.
Thankfully, Dobbie was there so he brought us over two bottles of Firewhiskey.
"I don't drink," Harry said, pushing his bottle back to the tiny elf.
"Come on Harry. It helps deal with the stress of that toad."
He shrugged and took a sip. As it burnt down his throat he pulled a face.
"That is disgusting," he said, popping it back down.
"Have another sip," I commanded. He obeyed and smiled. "See, tastes better second time around. So how are things with Cho?"
They had broken up, and I felt really bad for him. He had liked her for three years, went out for three months, and then they were finished.
"It was for the best," he said sadly, taking a big gulp of his firewhiskey. "She was sticking up for that Marietta anyway."
"They're cows, ignore them," I smiled. "There's plenty of other fish in the sea."
"Like who?" he asked dully.
"Well there's this girl. You know her really well. She's liked you for ages, but doesn't think you like her back. She kind of has a boyfriend too, but that problem can be resolved. He's a bit of an idiot." I really can't help myself. I just have to interfere. It's in my nature. Ginny and Harry will be together by Christmas. My vow.
Harry smiled at me slightly, his pupils wide. The firewhiskey was affecting him already. I think it was getting to me too, but I could handle it better than him.
"And why won't this girl tell me?"
"She's afraid of getting hurt I guess."
He smiled at me sweetly before leading in and kissing me softly. I jumped back.
"Dude, what are you doing?" I asked, sounding very hysterical. Harry looked down sheepishly.
"I thought you liked me?" he asked, standing up too.
"It's Ginny, you douche!"
I grabbed my sandwich and firewhiskey and stormed upstairs. I was never giving Harry firewhiskey again.
Dedicated to Fallenarchangel who was the fiftieth reviewer ;)
This was just a bit of a filler before the next one, which is going to be action pact. I'm really reluctant to write it, as i think I'll mess it up, so just bear with me. Hopefully, it'll be up this weekend.
Now to the reviews. They were amazing! I was so happy when I logged on this morning and saw I had 55. That's ten for last chapter! For some people that really isn't a lot, but for me its great. Thank you so much PhaedraDelamire (If I could knit, I would make you a sweater ;) NeOn BlOoD, blink, inluvwitheverythingpotters, 2featherbraids, Fallenarchangel (Number 50!), Nightgrace (a little while to go, maybe a few more chapters…) Fruityloops156 (Who is amazing and always reviews) ChaygraceDaya and Sensula (Another amazing person who has been here since the beginning ;)
Thanks for reading, let me know what you think :)