As always, thanks to everyone who reviews and follows this story. There's no better motivation than your support.

I hope you enjoy the new chapter.

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WHAT IF

Chapter 19 - Heartbreak And Hope

The news of Fred and Angelina's break up would have been the latest and hottest school gossip if it hadn't been for Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge, who was constantly putting the students on edge. The realisation that they wouldn't learn anything practical in her classes had dawned the whole school after just one week. While some were merely disappointed, annoyed or bored by the theoretical lessons, others were already questioning how they should pass exams and why the ministry didn't want them to learn anything practical. Hermione too had thought about it constantly but only after the floocall from Sirius a few days later she got her answer. Fudge actually thought that Dumbledore was trying to build an army of school children to take over the Ministry. Hermione almost rolled her eyes into her head in annoyance when she heard this nonsense. But it gave her an idea of her own.

Hermione sat in front of the fire in the common room, knitting her elf hats, and watched how Ron tried to finish his homework. Harry was again - because he just couldn't keep his mouth shut - in detention with Umbridge. This morning they had gotten the news that Umbridge had been named High Inquisitor of Hogwarts and Hermione had the urge to do something - anything - to undermine the new Professor.

"Ron, I had an idea," Hermione announced.

"Oh no, that can't be good," Ron muttered as he finally packed everything up.

"Very funny," Hermione glared at him. "You remember when Si- Snuffles said that Fudge thinks Dumbledore is building an army? That he doesn't want us trained in Defence for that reason." Ron nodded with a big question mark on his face. "Well, I thought maybe we should... take matters in our hands? If Umbridge doesn't want to teach us then we should teach ourselves."

"Blimey, Hermione, we're already swamped with homework and you want us to study even more?" He stared at her, his mind obviously imagining hour-long study sessions in the library.

"Well, we need it, don't we? Things are changing, Ron." Hermione played nervously with her knitting wool while she talked. "Till now Harry always saved the day, sometimes with our help, but let's be honest, we were always lucky. If we want to help Harry, like really help him, protect him, we need to be ready. And maybe others are interested too? I mean, so many students are already complaining about Umbridge's lessons, there will surely be a few who would want to join us, right?" For a moment Ron thought about her words quietly, before he finally nodded.

"Okay, but how? I mean, we can't learn all this from books. We get enough of that from Umbridge."

"Yes, I thought so too! What we need is practice. And a teacher." Ron stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "I thought of Harry, do you think he would want to do it?"

"Harry? Hermione, I don't think... he's not in the best mood in the last weeks. I don't think he will be too happy when you ask him." Ron frowned.

"Well, it won't hurt to ask," Hermione huffed. She had expected more enthusiasm from Ron. But in the end, he promised to help her talk with Harry. And to a degree Ron was right. Hermione also feared Harry wouldn't be thrilled with her suggestion.

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A few weeks after Fudge had named Umbridge High Inquisitor of Hogwarts Hermione finally managed to convince Harry of her study group idea. Now she only needed to convince other people too. Naturally, Hermione started with the Gryffindors and the people closest to her.

Ginny was on board before Hermione had even fully explained everything. And she promised to bring Michael Corner and some of his friends. Hermione wasn't surprised at all but still more than happy. Ginny was popular and good with people, with her help, the news would spread quickly but safely only around trustworthy students.

Next on her list were Neville and Dean. Hermione was sure that Neville would be interested since he and his grandmother believed Harry. Concerning Dean, she was a bit unsure. On one hand Dean never treated Harry differently but on the other hand, he was still Seamus' best friend. And Seamus would surely never join. But when she told Neville and Dean of her idea together they were both excited and promised to come.

"It sounds fantastic, Hermione," Neville breathed and grinned widely.

"What sounds fantastic?" Parvati asked as she stepped around the corner with Lavender. Hermione cursed internally. She hadn't planned to ask Parvati and Lavender because of their fight on the first night back. Lavender and Hermione had politely ignored each other since then. She was sure they wouldn't rat them out to Umbridge but it was always better to tell as little people as possible.

"Hermione plans some kind of study group to learn Defence from Harry, are you on board?" Neville smiled with childish enthusiasm, clearly not remembering that Lavender was Seamus' girlfriend. And as predicted, Lavender pursed her lips in a very disapproving way. But Parvati eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I'm in, and Padma will be too. We detest Umbridge," she declared and then threw a meaningful gaze towards Lavender. The blonde only nodded but she didn't look very happy. Hermione only shrugged and gave them the time and location of the meeting during the next Hogsmeade trip.

"You can tell others, but only people you really trust. We're not doing something forbidden but we shouldn't make too much fuss about it anyway or else Umbridge will surely find a reason to make it illegal," Hermione whispered. With almost all of her Gryffindor year mates on board, Hermione couldn't help but feel a bit proud. She was sure that Neville, Dean and Parvati would spread the news around the other houses quite fast and carefully so Hermione didn't have to do much more. She had only two more people on her list and that made her heart flutter a bit.

With a nervous smile, Hermione approached them later that evening after almost everyone else had gone to bed.

"Fred? George?" She asked to get their attention. Currently, the twins were huddled together on a corner table over some papers. Hermione knew it had it was something about the shop and their products from the way they quickly started to hide them from her.

"Granger!"

"Hermione, how wonderful to see you,"

"Want to yell at us some more?"

"Give us detentions?"

"Threaten us with our mother?"

"What will it be today?"

Both Fred and George grinned in a nonchalant way but Hermione could see that they were still pissed off about their fight a few weeks before. Their eyes didn't match the too bright smiles.

"It's not about the shop or your product testing," Hermione frowned. Then she pulled a chair towards the small, round table and sat down beside Fred, George slightly opposite of her on the other side of Fred. She felt bold with choosing this place.

"It's about Umbridge." Now both twins perked up with interest, the taunting grins gone. "We're founding some kind of study group to learn Defence. Harry will teach us. Interested?" Hermione smirked when she saw how Fred started to smile honestly at her. The twins exchanged a quick glance and then turned back to her with a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.

"That's the best idea I ever heard," George declared.

"Yeah, absolutely brilliant." Fred nodded and quickly Hermione told them about the meeting in the Hog's Head. Secretly she had hoped it would take longer to convince them but that had been just wishful thinking. Of course, the twins would be on board with the idea of having a semi-legal group to study Defence and duelling.

"What are you working on?" She asked on a whim. Honestly, what she really wanted to know was how Fred was coping with the break-up. In the Great Hall or the common room, he seemed absolutely normal. He joked with George and Lee, advertised their products everywhere and was, in general, the same person as ever. He didn't seem like he was heartbroken at all. If Hermione didn't know better she would say that nothing had happened.

"Don't worry your pretty head over it," Fred waved.

"Just something highly immoral," George grinned.

"Nothing you would approve of," concluded Fred and both snickered. Just as Hermione wanted to argue with them that she was indeed interested, the door to the common room opened and Angelina stepped in.

Angelina was the living and breathing proof that something had happened. Unlike Fred, she wasn't good in pretending that everything was fine. The moment she saw Fred, she blushed a deep red and her eyes narrowed. It was the same odd mixture between angry and sad that Hermione had also seen back then in the bathroom. It was like Angelina herself couldn't decide how she felt. Instantly Fred and George both went silent, staring at Angelina with wide eyes. But she said nothing and vanished with large steps up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

Quickly Hermione looked at the twins and then she saw it. Fred's pained expression. Sadness. Regret. Guilt. His mouth a thin line to prevent himself from saying anything. A moment later it was gone and Fred was the same as ever.

"Well, I think I'm going to bed," he shrugged with an easy smile. "It's too late to keep working anyway. Night, Hermione," with a friendly clap on her back Fred went to the stairs. George stayed behind, his facial expression carefully indifferent as he watched after Fred.

"George, why did they break up? Everyone thought they were perfect together." Hermione asked while George started to pack the scrolls of parchment.

"Yeah, I thought so too," George stood up and with a soft smile he tousled her hair in a very brotherly way.

"Don't wrack your brilliant brain over it, Granger. Your idea with the defence group is the perfect thing to keep Fred's mind off. Night," and with that, the second twin vanished too. Hermione huffed to herself. She knew it wasn't her business but she was so curious. She wanted to know why they had broken up and why there were behaving this way. But ultimately she wasn't brave enough to ask Fred herself.

He thought they were soulmates, he was so sure, she remembered later in bed. Does that mean they're not? Is that why they broke up? A little flutter of hope made Hermione grin as she put a hand on her own soul mark. Maybe, just maybe, she had been right all along.

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Hermione was just on her way down from her room with her her cloak when she almost ran into Angelina, who was standing on the stairs of the girls' dormitories. It was right after breakfast and most students would head out to Hogsmeade soon.

"Oh, Angelina, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you," Hermione explained breathlessly as she steadied herself. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm just waiting for Alicia and Katie," Angelina shrugged, but she also glanced down to the common room nervously. Hermione leaned forward and saw Fred, George and Lee joking in front of the fire. She raised an eyebrow at the older girl.

"Yeah, okay, I don't want to go out as long as they are here. Katie and Alicia are probably already waiting for me." Angelina huffed with a shy smile.

"Well, why don't you come with me? We could pretend to talk about something and ignore them? Actually, I do have something to tell you," Hermione smiled and grabbed Angelina's arm, pulling her down the stairs. On their way out she told her about the meeting in the Hog's head this afternoon.

"But there's a catch, Fred will be there too. The twins both want to join," Hermione bit her lip. In the last days, she had been torn between asking Angelina or not. She didn't want any awkwardness in their defence group but it was also petty to exclude Angelina just because of her ex-boyfriend.

"Of course," Angelina snorted a laugh," they would want to participate in something like that. But I'm in, no matter what. It sounds good," she smiled gratefully at Hermione and they parted ways in the Great Hall, were Alicia and Katie were waiting for Angelina.

Hours later Hermione stood before the large group that had come to the Hog's Head. More people than she had expected. Hermione wasn't surprised to see half of Gryffindor House walking into the shady pub. With Neville, Dean, Lavender and Parvati, her year was almost complete, only Seamus was missing, and Ginny had invited the Creevey brothers. Angelina waved at Hermione with Alicia and Katie in tow but took a place as far away from Fred, George and Lee as possible.

But Hermione was surprised to see so many students from other houses. Thanks to Ginny Michael Corner, Anthony Goldstein and Terry Boot had come, but there were also Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang, who was accompanied by a friend, and Padma of course. And there were a lot of Hufflepuffs too. Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones, which Hermione both liked very much, were there with Ernie Macmillian, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Zacharias Smith.

In the beginning, the meeting was somehow stiff and a bit challenging. Hermione was nervous when she was giving her speech, trying to make it clear why learning defence was important. But especially Zacharias Smith was making is more difficult with his questions and provoking statements in between, making Harry boil. Hermione could see that her best friend wasn't happy with the meeting, with the many people and what they might expect of him. But in the end, everyone agreed that they wanted to participate and Hermione felt quite proud.

That feeling vanished quickly when the disbanding of all school clubs was announced the next day. Hermione almost flipped when she realised that somehow the old hag had gotten wind of their plans. Not it was official. Their club or group or whatever would definitely be illegal. But at least none of them was the rat, Hermione recognised satisfied, when no one turned up with a blemished face.

When Hermione saw how all the members tried to talk to Harry the morning after the announcement, she realised that they also needed a secret way to communicate. It was highly suspicious if Harry was in the middle of so many students from different houses talking to each other. And if they wanted to make arrangements for meetings and such, they couldn't do it in the Great Hall.

Hermione's first idea was to organise a phone tree, just without phones, as her elementary school had organised for the parents. Some kind of structure were Harry gave the information to several people, Gryffindors mostly, and they would have the task to give them to people from other houses during classes. That way the new could travel without everyone approaching Harry.

There has to be a magical way for this, Hermione thought as she strolled to the library. A magical way to communicate in secret. She first thought of Tom Riddle's diary and Marauder's Map. Charmed parchment could be a way and with a password, it would be safe. But it had risks. Someone could overhear the password or read the message accidentally. Or the parchment could be lost because it would have to look as plain as every other piece of parchment. And of course, there was the problem of having to communicate with several people at the same time. Parchment would work perfectly as two-way-charm, but not if so many people were involved.

A sick feeling spread through her stomach when she realised that someone had already found a magical way to communicate. Voldemort himself had a way to summon his Death Eaters with the Dark Mark. Harry had told her how Voldemort had used the mark on the cemetery to call for his followers. And in the end, that's what they needed too. A way to notify people that a meeting and a place was set. But preferably not branded on the skin but on an object.

Hermione felt how her thoughts were running in circles. Something that would be unsuspicious if found and still easy to use. An everyday object. Something every student had and used. Something Umbridge couldn't confiscate. Determined Hermione emptied her school bag on the table and looked at what she carried around.

Books, of course, parchment, quills, ink, a lip balm, a tissue pack, her beloved hand mirror - which had saved her life and was like a talisam since then - and a few Sickels and one Galleon. Everything but the money could be easily lost or confiscated. Carefully Hermione tapped one of the coins with her wand. As predicted she couldn't change the appearance in any way, probably as a way to prevent misuse. But maybe she could make… And it wouldn't be too hard, just a simple transfiguration charm. And then something to change all at once. She had read about this charm a while ago, that could work.

A grin spread over Hermione's face. It was perfect and she just needed some stones to make it work.

A week later Hermione presented her fake Galleons in front of the newly named D.A.

"Honestly, Hermione, those coins are brilliant," Terry Boot admired the coin while everyone else formed pairs to practice the disarming charm. "The idea alone is pure genius but actually being able to do the necessary charmwork…"

"It really isn't that special," Hermione blushed. She was used to being shunned for her intelligence and her skills, especially in their younger years. Most people just thought of her as a bookwork and attributed her magical capability to her hard learning, which was true for some part, but meant that they dismissed the talent she had from the start.

"No, don't say that. It is special and really, really brilliant," Terry grinned. He was a shy, mostly silent boy, but brilliant in most classes. He was tall and lanky, with dark hair and brown eyes. And that was all Hermione knew about him. Hermione had never really talked to him before. The Ravenclaws were all a bit odd - not as bad as Luna Lovegood, no one was like her - and mostly seemed to be in their own world.

"Do you want to practice with me?" Terry suddenly asked.

"Oh, I already promised Ron to practice with him," Hermione answered nervously. She was never asked for form pairs within classes or so. Her classmates either thought she was annoying - like in charms when she managed the spells too quickly - or she helped Neville in potions.

"It's okay, I just thought it would be good to train with someone as smart as you," he waved goodbye and went off to partner up with Michael Corner. With a shrug, Hermione walked to Ron, who was already waiting for her impatiently.

The first meeting was a pure success. Most of the members were more than willing to learn from Harry. And Harry, in turn, was very motivated as a teacher. Hermione had had the suspicion that her best friend could do it well, but to see him being so good at teaching that really was something. Harry was patient and motivating, explained everything carefully and helped everyone equally. He was a bit like Remus Lupin back in the third year, Hermione thought when she saw how patiently he helped Neville with mastering the disarming spell.

"Good work, Hermione, you won me a Galleon from Georgie here," Fred winked as they all headed out. George just rolled his eyes. "Betted against you." Hermione grinned. Harry had asked Ron and Hermione to duel in front of the group as an example and Ron had been terribly sure that he would win against her. Well, his confident grin had vanished quickly and Hermione was more than a bit proud about it.

"Well, that was quite foolish, wasn't it?" She winked at Fred who let out a surprised laugh.

"It was!"

"Oy!" Both George and Ron exclaimed at the same time.

"I'm not foolish," George protested, while Ron exclaimed that it wasn't foolish to think he could win against Hermione. A bubbling laugh escaped Hermione as she looked at Fred, who had a mischievous grin on his face and soon followed her laughter.

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Hermione and Ginny were holding hands while they watched how Ron missed one Quaffle after the other. Everyone could see that he was more than nervous and the singing of the Slytherins didn't help with that. Hermione was ready to hex the Slytherins - especially Pansy Parkinson, who was conducting the whole song. Maybe, will a well-aimed spell, she knock the cow off her feet even from this distance...

Suddenly a flying Bludger caught Hermione's eye and she watched with horror how the murderous thing flew directly at Harry, who wasn't paying attention. She grabbed Ginny's hand more firmly but then, out of the blue, Fred emerged on his broom and hit the Bludger away. For one second Hermione was relieved but then Crabbe, new beater on the Slytherin team, hit the Bludger back, hard and fast, and Fred was too close to react in time.

Ginny let out a shriek as her brother was hit in the stomach by the Bludger and struggled to stay on his broom for a minute. Hermione stopped breathing and she was so focused on Fred, that she almost missed how everyone cheered when Harry caught the Snitch.

"Come on," Ginny pulled Hermione to the stairs. They almost ran down to the field, eager to congratulate and to see if Fred was hurt. But when they rounded the corner they only managed to see how Harry and George were beating Draco Malfoy into a pulp. Angelina was trying to pull them both off Malfoy while Katie and Alicia were restraining Fred, whose face was coloured with a deep, angry red which clashed horribly with his hair.

The shrill sound of Madame Hooch's whistle cut the air and a second later Harry and George were pushed away from Malfoy by an invisible spell.

"You two," Professor McGonagall stormed towards them, almost screaming at Harry and George. "In my office. Now!"

Hermione, Ginny and the rest of the team watched how the two trotted behind their Head of House. Ron was missing and Hermione guessed that he was sulking because of his bad performance during the game. A minute later they all silently decided to go back to Gryffindor Tower. On the way, Angelina explained to Ginny and Hermione what Malfoy had said to get such a rise out of the boys.

They waited for Harry and George longer than expected. Seated in front of the fire, but no one saying a word. Even Angelina, who was obviously boiling with anger, wasn't saying anything. And Ginny also looked like she had a few choice words about her brother's stupidity.

When Harry and George finally entered the common room everyone just looked up tiredly and no one wanted to ask. They knew McGonagall's punishments were hard and the old Professor had looked downright livid. It couldn't be good.

"Umbridge was the one who decided our punishment," Harry started as he sank down beside Hermione. "She thought we would learn our lesson better that way." He looked into the fire, pausing for a long very painful moment. George just glared at the old carpet like it had personally ruined his life. Hermione imagined the worst while they remained silent.

"She gave us a lifetime ban from Quidditch," Harry explained, his voice monotone. "And Fred too."

"WHAT?" The team gasped as one while Hermione just buried her face in her hands. Damn Harry and his short fuse. If he just would be able to keep a cool head from time to time. But she would never say that out loud. Hermione knew her friend was suffering enough without her pointing out the obvious.

While Hermione listened to the others discussing the punishment, she caught sight of Harry's hands, which were dirty and bloody. Probably wounded while beating Malfoy. Hermione suddenly remembered how she had watched an action movie with her father years ago. He had explained to her how painful it was to actually beat and injure someone, especially in the face. And that often the attacker hurt himself because of the bones and teeth. She took one look at George's hands and saw that he was hurt too.

Without saying anything she stormed up to her room where she kept the Murtlap essence. She had wisely ordered more after Harry's first detention with Umbridge as she suspected he would get into more this year.

"Here," Hermione sat down again beside Harry and handed him and George both a full bowl.

"You're a goddess," George sighed as the marks on his hands slowly healed. Harry just murmured lowly and nodded, his eyes closed.

"I'm going to bed," Angelina suddenly announced. There it was again, Hermione noted, the mixture of angry and sad. Whenever Fred was around - and Angelina wasn't preoccupied with something different - her eyes got that hard look while her mouth started to quiver. "Maybe this will all turn out to be a bad dream… maybe I will wake up and we haven't played yet…"

Alicia and Katie followed her, both worried looks on their faces. Ginny followed shortly afterwards.

"Let me look at your hands," Hermione demanded after a while. "Looks good. You're lucky you didn't break something while reconstructing Malfoy's face. Otherwise only Madame Pomfrey could have healed it."

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry smiled tiredly and with a hug wished her a good night.

"I think we will call it a night, too," George sighed and went to the stairs. But just as Fred got up to follow George Hermione saw a how he winced. Her face blanched as she remembered the Bludger.

"Fred, wait!" She held him back and softly pocked his ribs. He let out a pained yelp.

"Merlin's saggy balls, are you crazy?"

"You've been hit by a Bludger. Why didn't you go to Madame Pomfrey immediately? That must have hurt like hell." Hermione huffed as he pushed open his robes. Fred still wore a shirt underneath but now it was much easier to scan the skin with her fingertips. A part of her enjoyed it far more than she should - even thought about asking Fred to strip his shirt off - but the larger part of her mind was occupied with searching broken ribs.

"You know, if you wanted to get handsy with me, you just had to ask." Hermione could hear the smirk in Fred's voice but her eyes were fixed on her own wandering hands. She didn't want to miss an inch. Broken ribs could be very dangerous if not treated. They could punctate the lungs or cause internal bleeding.

"Shush, I'm trying to concentrate here," she shot back.

"And what exactly are you concentrating on?" His voice now sounded awfully amused.

"Admiring your muscles," Hermione replied sarcastically but she felt how Fred stilled under her fingers.

"As I said, you just had to ask, love." He grinned but Hermione only gave him an eye roll.

"I'm searching for broken ribs. But seems like you're lucky. You probably just have the biggest bruise in the history of mankind. Crabbe really is a brute." Hermione slowly closed his robes again and with a clap, on the shoulder, she wished Fred a good night.

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Okay you all, I hope you liked the new chapter. Let me know what you think. I'm quite nervous about the changing in the dynamics and the things that will soon happen in the following chapters. I actually have no idea if you can feel broken ribs or if you need a scan in every case. For the sake of the story let's all pretend it works that way, deal? ;)