Chapter Thirteen: Another Educational Degree Passed.

Emmalie and Hermione were the last ones out of their room. "Hermione, we are definitely doing the right thing. Voldemort's back. I rather be expelled then be out there just waiting for him to kill me."

"I suppose...it's just…"

"Don't worry, I bet Dumbledore knows what we're up too. He won't let us get caught before we have barely started."

"What makes you think Dumbledore knows?"

"He knows everything that goes on in this school. He's a genius."

Hermione said nothing and went out. Emmalie stayed behind. She was sure Dumbledore knew, after all a member of the Order was there listening to them. He would have told Dumbledore by now.

Emmalie slid down to the stairs, looked like a boy tried to get up. Once Emmalie walked into the common room she noticed a small group of people by the notice bored. She went up and found and new sign printed in big black letter.

–––––––––By Order of––––––––

The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

All Student Organization, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

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

No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with
Education Degree Number Twenty-four

Emmalie swore, She knew. She had to know. But how did She know. Emmalie ran down the corridors and quickly made her way to the Great Hall. Most people were walking fast so no one took any notice of Emmalie flying through the crowd.

She went to the Gryffindor table and found Neville, Dean, Fred, George, and Ginny a little bit in front of her; she went to them as they all headed towards to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"Did you see it?"

"D' you reckon she knows?"

"What are we going to do?"

"We're going to do it, anyway, of course."

Emmalie sat down. "Knew you'd say that," said George.

"The prefects as well," said Fred.

"Of course," answered Hermione

Emmalie gave Neville a smile, "Looks like Umbridge gave us an iron-clad reason to fight, huh."

He nodded in agreement. Together they headed to History of Magic. Emmalie didn't pay attention. She was too busy trying to figure out how Umbridge found out. She had to know or else she wouldn't have passed that stupid degree. But how…Emmalie racked her brain to try to remember what was going on in peoples mind at the pub.

But there were so many thoughts; she couldn't distinguish them from one another. She wasn't about to risk a peak in that hag's evil mind.

The bell rang and Emmalie gathered her things. Together they headed to potions. As they lined up in the Gryffindor line they heard Malfoy talking louder then necessary. Emmalie rolled her eyes, if they weren't just outside Snape's classroom…

"Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue playing straightaway; I went and asked her first thing this morning. Well, it was pretty automatic, I mean, she knows my father really well, he's always popping in and out of the Ministry…It's be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are allowed to keep playing, won't it.

"I mean," he raised his voice a little louder. "If it's a question of influence with the Ministry, I don't think they've got much of a chance…From what my father says, they've been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years…And has for Potter…My father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St. Mungo's…apparently they've got a special ward for people whose brain have been addled by magic…"

Emmalie caught a sight of Malfoy making an ugly face, his mouth open and eyes rolling before everything went out of focus and she was seeing memories that weren't hers.

She didn't see Neville fly pass her to Malfoy, didn't see Harry and Ron, or even Snape.

She closed her eyes and pressed hard against her head. She was seeing Neville memories. Something Malfoy had said has angered Neville so much his mind became extremely vulnerable. Emmalie tried to close her mind but his memories kept playing in her head.

Someone touched her; she reached out and held to them. She felt like she was going to fall. The memories subsided and she opened her eyes and saw Snape. She took a couple deep breaths.

"S-sorry…I…couldn't….control it." She said in between breaths.

He looked at her questionably. She felt better in his presence, considering his mind was closed, all she heard was silence. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"No sir, I'm fine now." She gave him a small smile, picked up her bag, and went into class.

Snape came in closing the door with a bang. "You will notice," he said in a low sneering voice, "that we have a guest with us today."

Emmalie looked towards the corner of the dungeon and saw Umbridge. Great she didn't need that seeing her head felt like crap.

"We are continuing with Our Strengthening Solution today, you will find your mixtures, as you left them last lesson, if correctly made they should have matured well over the weekend – instructions –– on the bored, carry on."

Emmalie tried to concentrate on her potion, but she was pretty interested in what Snape would say to Umbridge. Umbridge spent the first half of the class making notes on her clipboard.

Finally she got up and headed towards Snape who was bending over Dean's cauldron, which was next to Emmalie and Neville.

"Well the class seems fairly advanced for their level. Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer if it was removed from the syllabus."

Snape stood up straight and turned to her. Emmalie hid her smile, man she hope he gave Umbridge an attitude.

"Now…how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?"

"Fourteen years," He answered.

Emmalie couldn't tell what he was feeling. His expression was blank.

"You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?"

"Yes."

"But you were unsuccessful?"

Snape's lip curled, "Obviously."

"And you've applied regularly for the Defense Against the Dark Art's post since you first joined the school, I believe?"

"Yes," Snape answered, looking quite angry. Why was Umbridge asking questions she already knew the answer to?

"Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?"

"I suggest you ask him."

"Oh I shall." She smiled sweetly at him.

Snape narrowed his eyes, "I suppose this is relevant?"

"Oh yes, yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers' –– er –– backgrounds…"

She turned away and started questions Pansy Parkinson. Emmalie's eyebrow twitched as she put her head down to her potion. Interesting, she didn't know that Snape wanted to be the Defense post. Why was he denied?

Emmalie spent most of the day in an awkward silent with Neville and her thoughts on Snape. Earlier's incident had rattled her mind a bit, with more thoughts then usual she fell into an uneasy sleep.