Thursday's D.A. meeting has arrived, and every student gathered in the Room of Requirement stands eagerly anticipating tonight's session. But Harry's roll call reveals a mysterious absence. "Marietta Edgecombe?" he calls, looking over the crowd of thirty seated students. "Where is she? We've never been short of our full crew, which is now 32 after Seamus, Fay, and Eloise joined..."

Cedric, seated near a corner of the room, turns to look at an equally bemused Cho who responds. "She said she was on her way earlier, all of our coins showed tonight's meeting starting at six, correct?"

Nods and murmurs of agreement fill the room before Padma speaks up. "Six till half-past eight, that's tonight's session as we're all aware. I could've sworn Edgecombe was having dinner at our table."

More Ravenclaws consult one another with regards to their Housemate's whereabouts. Anthony, Padma, Luna, Terry, and Cho all chat fervently as the rest of the room sit in silence.

"Something doesn't feel right tonight," says Yasmin, sitting along the left wall between Fred and George Weasley. "I'm not gonna throw accusations but I've just got this hunch."

"Slytherin instincts?" asks Fred, eliciting a roll of the eyes by the Head Girl.

"There's no such thing, duh. But I have noticed Miss Edgecombe being less than enthusiastic for Harry's sessions."

"So, she maybe skived off? The nerve of her!" says Ron, while Dean and Seamus also voice their disapproval of Marietta's absence. "No offense to any Ravenclaws here but Edgecombe gives off this vibe that she thinks she's too good for Harry's lessons."

"We agree," says Colin Creevey, on behalf of himself and his younger sibling. "I don't understand why anybody would run away from getting such awesome lessons like these every week."

Zacharias Smith now speaks up as he sits with a few Hufflepuffs. "There has been a noticeable amount of childish humour and flirtation, particularly between Potter and Granger, going on in these meetings. I can't blame Edgecombe for skiving off if that's true."

"Oh, shut up," mutters George, "Can't you see we're all trying to stay in smiles for tonight's long awaited meeting?"

More D.A. members express their curiosity and concerns over Edgecombe, including Susan Bones. "Perhaps she's run into a bit of a delay? Could be anything, really."

"If she's betrayed us..." warns Hermione, "She'd better have a good reason for being late. We're already ten minutes into our session."

"She's not committed," says Ginny, "I honestly don't think she gives a rat's arse about these sessions."

Fay Dunbar groans while looking around. "We're all assuming the worst, but what if she is just genuinely late? I hope nothing bad's about to happen. I mean, we three only just recently joined!"

Harry now calls aside the twins, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione for a meeting in the bedroom. "All of you know about my Map, so let's have a look and see where Marietta's at..." They gather around as the Marauder's Map reveals Marietta walking beside Umbridge on the second floor corridor.

"That bitch!" shouts Hermione, startling everyone in the bedroom. "Well, well, well, I'd love to see what her traitorous face looks like now. Hehehe..."

"Oh darn..." Harry's knees feel rather weak. Not from the apparent betrayal but rather from Hermione's wicked side.

"Now's not the time to be drooling over Granger, Harry," says an alarmed Fred, "We have to warn the others."

"We can't," says George. "Nobody but us in this bedroom knows about the Map. If we bail out the room now, forewarned, it'll be obvious we knew they were coming."

Ginny nods in agreement while shifting her gaze to Harry. "If they catch him here, though, the Ministry and Umbridge will go absolutely mental. Can't we all silently sneak out to other places? The library or owlery, for instance."

Shaking his head, Ron appears truly concerned. "Edgecombe might've said exactly what's happening in here now, and Umbridge will be expecting to catch us off-guard. An empty Room of Requirement will definitely seem suspicious, right?"

"I have someone on the inside of Umbridge's little gang," says Harry. "If we're all gone by the time they come, my spy will come under scrutiny."

"But we have to do something!" says Hermione. "I vote in favour of erasing Harry's name from the sign-up list."

"And then the others will be punished while I get off scot-free," Harry groans and balls his fist. "What a coward they'll see me as. Pathetic, really."

"Put your pride in your pocket," says Ginny, "For us it's probably just detention and House Points. But for you it's... I don't even want to think about it."

Before Harry can respond, he spots Marietta lingering in Umbridge's office while the Inquisitorial Squad converges on the second floor. Various names now arrive from the dungeons including Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, Nott, Zabini, Montague, Vaisey, Dawson Fawley (a burly seventh year boy, according to what Harry remembers), and Hayden Rowle (another seventh year).

"Our biggest threats are those two seventh-years Fawley and Rowle," says Harry, "Forever against me in Slytherin. No doubt they're the capable muscle in the group, as opposed to useless Crabbe and Goyle."

"It's like 31 against 10 now, if they dare attack us," says Fred, "No way they're that stupid, right?"

"No, they're waiting on the second floor. I suspect Marietta must've told them about our sign-up list."

Ginny appears ready to fight. "If they grab that then they'll have all our names! Let's torch it right here, right now."

"Or we let them get the list," says Hermione, "without Harry's name on it. What do you say, Mr. Slytherin?"

"You're the one with the biggest brains of us all here," replies Harry, causing Hermione to give a soft laugh.

"Hermione's plan seems fine," says Ron, "Everyone knows the crazy big risk Harry's taking just to be here—"

Shrieks and yells can be heard coming from the practice area. Since the Room of Requirement does not show on the Marauder's Map, Harry has absolutely no idea what's happening.

"Stay here," orders Hermione, "While the rest of us go check it out."

Ron nods while looking at Harry. "Yeah, you're the king in this game of chess, mate."

All but Harry exit the bedroom while the latter keeps track of Umbridge's crew. It appears that they're slowly taking up key positions on various floors. The prospect of an ambush increasing by the second as Harry spots Pansy, Malfoy, and Nott heading up the grand staircase. Now the bedroom door bursts open as none other than Dobby attempts to warn him of Umbridge's imminent arrival. But with many flasks and brewing cauldrons scattered about the bedroom, there's little time to pack up.

"Dobby, please take my trunk first to Sirius' place, then come back as soon as possible, okay?"

"Yes, Harry Potter, yes!"

Hermione storms into the room as Dobby hurriedly packs various clothing and textbooks into Harry's trunk. "I've warned the others and they're leaving as we speak. Forget letting them get us in here. You won't risk blowing Parkinson's cover because she's been with the Squad since Edgecombe's betrayal. They can't blame Pansy."

Harry looks over Hermione's shoulder to see dozens of students flocking out the room. "The Squad's already taking up position as we speak. Pansy, Nott, and Malfoy are on their way to the seventh floor. So... help me pack up wherever I've stashed my flasks. Damn, I knew I should've kept them in my trunk but noooo I just had to put them in drawers and whatnot."

"Stop arguing with yourself and think!" Hermione sighs while looking around the bedroom. "Take what you can but vanishing will be needed to save time. I don't think Pansy knows you've been warned, so it's gonna be real tough for her to help you out now." She walks over to the filled cauldrons before vanishing them (and their scent) entirely. "I'm sorry! But priority is getting your pretty arse out of sight before the others find you."

"All my brewing just... gone," Harry gasps while gathering as many filled flasks as possible. About four doses are withdrawn from the drawers while his trunk contains enough ingredients for approximately one more cauldron's worth of Polyjuice.

"You're far more valuable than any potion, Harry," says Hermione, doing her best to salvage any more of Harry's stored flasks. She now withdraws two more, making it half a dozen laying on Harry's bed before Hermione requests his assistance. "There's no time for dawdling! We need to vanish all these drawers and dressers even with your other flasks still in them. If Umbridge gets even the slightest proof of Polyjuice in here..."

"There's nothing but flasks stashed in them, nothing important. Okay, Evanesco!"

"Evanesco!"

Every bit of furniture is soon vanished before Dobby returns to collect some flasks. Then, Harry checks the Map to see Malfoy and Nott racing across the seventh floor trying to catch any stragglers while Pansy's name disappears. Seconds later, after Harry shoves the concealed Map into his back pocket, the bedroom door opens to a gasp.

"Harry..."

He spins around to face one of his dearest friends.

"Pansy, I'm sorry I haven't been speaking to yo—"

"Forget about it," Pansy spots Dobby trying to gather up some flasks before she smiles. "So that's how you've been getting in and out of the castle. House Elf Apparition, clever. But not clever enough if you don't get your arse out of here right now! Save the sappy reunion for later, Umbridge and the rest are on their way. They've already rounded up the Weasleys and Patils."

Dobby Disapparates before returning to retrieve any leftover flasks. This leaves the circular stone room with just an emerald four-poster bed in it while Pansy looks at Hermione.

"They're out for you, Granger, and Umbridge isn't playing games."

"She can try, I'm not in the least afraid," scoffs Hermione.

"Yeah? Well you'd better hope she doesn't scar that pretty face of yours too. Speaking of which, something odd happened to Edgecombe when she snitched on you lot."

"Let me guess, S—N—E—A—K across her face? That'll be my little present for her," says Hermione. "But as for you..."

Pansy pulls an odd expression upon being kissed on the cheek by Hermione. "What the he—"

"That's for helping us. Now, I'll take the fall for Harry while he gets his nice arse out of here."

"Why's it always my arse being discussed—"

"Shut up!" Pansy and Hermione both grab him by the scruff of his neck.

"Ow! Wait, hold on!" He stops the girls from shoving him towards the awaiting Dobby. "I've got a better idea! Dobby, fetch my Invisibility Cloak from my trunk and bring one Polyjuice flask please. Pansy, let me be you so I can see exactly what 's gonna happen now."

Dobby Disapparates once more while Hermione gawks at Harry.

"Are you nuts? There's no time for fancy plans right now. I'm not losing you to Azkaban again... So get the hell out of here right this instant, Harry James Potter!"

"I think that's a brilliant idea," says Pansy, "Oh, what the hell. We've got ten minutes until Malfoy and Nott storm this room. For you, Harry, I can strip in far less than that. And you can watch, snuggle Muggle wuggle."

Hermione's eyes widen as Pansy shuts the door before swiftly stripping down her clothes. Harry follows suit until they're both stark naked in the room.

"OH MY GOD!" gasps Hermione, who's probably never seen either of them like this before.

"Meh, it's nothing I haven't seen before. You'll probably be getting with that broomstick in the future, mm-hmm," says Pansy, to which Harry laughs. Then a popping sound announces the return of Dobby who gifts them the Cloak and a flask before returning to the kitchens. As instructed, the Elf is forbidden from harming himself or revealing his assistance to Harry and the rest.

"Take her hair, Harry," says Hermione, while Pansy places her arms on her sides.

"What? Too scared to come take some on your own, Granger? Don't be shy now, it's clear that Harry can't choose between either of us. See anything you'd like to grab?" Pansy does a twirl before giggling at Harry. "Calm down, boy. Now's not the time to be getting excited." She pulls out a few hairs from her head then adds them to the flask in Harry's hand.

The mixture now turns a shade of burgundy while giving off a sweet scent of cherry which Harry swiftly gulps.

"You taste quite good."

"And not just the potion, my baby Potter."

After vanishing the flask, both girls gape as Harry's body morphs into a girl with lengthy black hair: Pansy Parkinson.

"Seeing that so vividly was just... wow is all I can say," says Hermione.

"Yeah, same here, Granger, same here. I can't believe I just watched Harry lose his stiff willy and turn into me. Polyjuice sure is weird."

"I got these again!" laughs Harry, displaying his chest at an unamused Pansy and a red-faced Hermione. "So perfect, Pansy, so perfect."

"Quit perving out on my body and get dressed already! Actually, turn around quickly... ah, so that's how my arse looks from the back, and my hair too. Not bad, mm-hmm. Nothing wrong with complimenting myself, is there?" Pansy tosses her uniform for Harry to wear, while Hermione battles to control her laughter.

"He's... he's putting on girls' underwear... Hahahaha! Put on your bra, Harry, and your knickers too. Oh my goodness... this is too much... But you do have a, um, nice body, Pansy."

"Nice?" Pansy looks at Hermione. "I'm bloody hot, that's what. Bask in my sexiness, Granger, bask in it!"

"Alright, fine, now get dressed in that boy clothing, Pansy." Hermione then startles Harry by grabbing and slapping his arse.

"The hell?"

"Pansy did say I must bask in her sexiness, didn't she? Oh you're so cute as a girl, Harry. Shall we braid your hair? Make ponytails? Slick back?"

Pansy, meanwhile, easily slips on Harry's casual wear. "What? It's not like there's a huge size difference between me and my baby Potter. Oh, I'm so pretty in uniform, aren't I? Say yes, Harry..."

"Yes! Of course you are. No need to threaten me to say it," Harry smiles as he's fussed over by a sighing Pansy now.

"Even when you're me, I still have to look after you. There, nice and tidy. Enjoy walking around in a skirt, girl."

As he's now a near flawless imitation of Pansy, Harry requests her wand while holding out his own. The yew one eliciting a gasp from her.

"Is this your new wand? Where have I seen it before...?"

"Voldemort," says Harry, "Don't ask how, but I got me a wand that's more than just a lookalike of the Dark Lord's. Please, I beg and beseech you not to inform your mum about this."

"I won't, now can we hurry along before Malfoy and Nott barge in here in a few minutes' time?"

Harry walks right up to Pansy who stares her doppelganger in the eye. "This is my best protection against Voldemort, explanations can come later. Right now, he probably thinks I've got some other random wand. Don't tell your mum, in case he reads her mind."

"I said I won't tell," Pansy narrows her eyes, green staring in identical green. "Don't you trust me? I've always been on your side, Harry, even if mom's a Death Eater."

"Don't cry, Pansy."

"Me? Cry? Go get your eyes checked, stranger Granger who's now in danger. Right, lemme get Invisible and then you two can play your act. Although..." She glances worriedly at Hermione. "I can't be sure of how the High Inquisitor Frog is going to treat you now. She hates Muggleborns, truly."

"High Inquisitor Frog?" asks Harry.

"Yeah, she's a toad bitch, that's what. I miss the good ol' folks like Marcus Flint," says Pansy. "When Umbridge snapped your wand, he threw those chocolate frogs at her like a real ninja. Sneaky hidden and all that at our table. Ah... but now we have prats like Malfoy and Nott taking control. I'll be in our favourite empty classroom on the sixth floor, come spend some time with me, Harry."

Minutes after Pansy slips beneath Harry's Cloak, the Room of Requirement's double doors are kicked open. Malfoy and Nott now rush into the bedroom where they stop in their tracks.

"What the hell?" Malfoy looks around. "This looks like... a Slytherin girl's dormitory? Plotter truly is here... find him!"

"Parkinson!" barks Nott. "Good work catching this Mudblood filth but where's Potter? Why's this room look like this?"

"I was tired," says Hermione, before Malfoy aims his wand at her.

"Shut up, Mudblood. Speak only when spoken to. This is a Slytherin bedroom and not your Gryffindor trash, however that looks."

"I've checked this entire room," says Harry, "Although it could've appeared because I'm getting tired from all this chasing."

"Potter knows what the girls' dormitories look like," says Malfoy, "and this room doesn't really look like us boys' side of the common room, Parkinson. I'm telling you, that dolt is right here somewhere. Let's cast spells all over until we hit something... or someone." He now raises his voice. "Potter! I know you're hiding beneath your Invisibility Cloak in here." Zabini soon enters the room and join in on the casting:

"You can't outrun all these... Petrificus Totalus!"

"Stupefy!" Nott orders Harry to block the front doors, which the latter does. Meanwhile, Harry forcibly withholds his amusement as the three boys fire spells everywhere.

"Everte Statum!"

"Depulso!"

"Stupefy!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Rictusempra!"

"Tarantallegra!"

"Glacius!"

"Accio Invisibility Cloak!"

"Accio Harry Potter's Invisibility Cloak!"

"Accio Harry Potter and his Invisibility Cloak!"

"Flipendo!"

"Locomotor Mortis!"

"Locomotor Wibbly!

"Accio Mudblood-lover Harry Potter!"

Sighing, Harry realises that if Pansy had not been on his side then one of these spells would've surely hit him. This is especially true as Harry now remains stationed at the room's exit while more spells are fired across the bedroom and practice area. Five minutes later, he grabs Hermione by the shoulder as the group make their way towards the second floor corridor, soon reaching the gargoyle one.

Nott, walking beside Harry, holds the D.A. sign-up list as they walk past a few captured D.A. members lined in the gargoyle corridor. Fred and George are kept gagged by Fawley and Rowle while the Patils are guarded by Crabbe and Goyle. Vaisey holds Ron in place against the wall while Ginny is subdued by Montague.

"Any luck finding Potter?" asks Umbridge, standing at the gargoyle leading to Dumbledore's office. "Our informant has informed us that he was leading the group. If you have any proof, well, the dementors will be happy to accommodate Potter... for life."

"NO!" screams Ginny, before Montague silences her with a spell.

"We've found this list, ma'am," says Nott, "but there's no mention of Potter. However, look whose name is here, and right on top." He hands over the parchment to Umbridge, the latter's expression now turning to malicious glee.

"Well, well, well, the Minister will be absolutely delighted to see this! Well done all, 10 points to Slytherin to each of you here today. So that's 100 for the ten of you. A job well done in bringing Ministry-approved order. What is this...?" Umbridge looks up from the parchment, her expression conveying surprise. "It seems we will be in need of a new Head Boy and, especially, a new Head Girl. How dare Ms. Shafiq join such an illegal organisation right under our noses. The traitor!"

"To be fair, Marietta Edgecombe also qualifies as a traitor," says Harry. "There's no denying that."

"She has made the right choice, especially given her mother's position in the Ministry of Magic. Making the right choice does not count as betrayal in our eyes, Miss Parkinson. Now, stay here while the adults sort things out."

While the Inquisitorial Squad guards six captured D.A. students in the gargoyle corridor, Umbridge speaks the password before heading up to Dumbledore's office. A tense few minutes begin as Harry now stands in the centre of the corridor.

"A new age of order and Ministry regulations is about to dawn on this school," says Nott, pacing about and smirking at the restrained D.A. students. "Dumbledork's getting the sack and it's off to jail with him. Meanwhile, we Inquisitorial Squad members will have power beyond the Head Students!"

Hermione, now disarmed and restrained by Malfoy, speaks. "Well it's too bad that Harry truly is innocent today. You went in expecting him to be there? Sorry to disappoint you."

"I know he's in this castle, he's gotta be!" says Zabini, "We'll check each and every damned classroom if we have to! Edgecombe told us straight what was happening in there."

"She's a trait—OUCH!" Hermione's words are cut off as Malfoy kicks her hard against the leg.

"Shut up, Mudblood. We're sick of hearing your voice all the time."

"You've gone quiet, Parkinson," says Nott, "Something wrong?"

"Yeah, why do you look so worried? We've got Fumbledork's terrorist group caught red-handed," says Montague.

"Whatever," Harry struts forward in an impeccable imitation of Pansy before sitting down along the wall. "Stop staring at me, Nott, go find some other Pureblood to try and get with. Same goes for any of you."

"One day you'll wake up and realise that you've gotta marry a respectable Pureblood," says Nott, "It's your choice, but the choices are remarkably few."

"Okay, sure, whatev—" Harry's reply is cut off by a series of loud bangs coming from within Dumbledore's office. Instinctively, Harry draws Pansy's ebony wand and takes aim at the gargoyle.

"What the heck's going on in there? Is the decrepit old man putting up a fight against the Minister and two Aurors? Not to mention Madam Umbridge and Marietta Edgecombe being present against him. Surely he wouldn't hurt a student? Or is Dumbles really that power hungry?" asks Vaisey.

"Maybe he's teamed up with McGonagall for a stand-off," says Malfoy, "Yeah, that old Gryffindor hag seems fiercely loyal to her Headmaster. I say chuck them both to the dementors!"

In a matter of minutes, silence is followed by a scuttle of feet coming down the spiral staircase behind the gargoyle. Now, a dishevelled Umbridge emerges and addresses the packed corridor. "Gone! Just like that! In a flash of fire that conspirator has fled the scene."

Jeers, mockery, and groans of disappointment come from the Inquisitorial Squad members. Then, Fudge, Kingsley, Dawlish, Percy and Marietta all step out into the packed corridor.

"Get Edgecombe off to a hospital bed," says Fudge, "Can't believe she changed her story at the last minute. Anyway, it's no big deal." Fudge's grin has Harry battling to control his emotions as the Minister happily urges Percy to scribble down tonight's events. The older Weasley gives Fred, George, Ginny, and Ron swift looks of disappointment before carrying on beside his group.

"You traitorous students are fortunate that Dumbledore has claimed full responsibility for this army," says Umbridge, after ordering the Squad to release their captives. "Off to bed right now! As of this moment, the Inquisitorial Squad is in full effect. Members, come up to my office for your badges now."

"This is it, this is what real power feels like!" says Malfoy, "Even Crabbe and Goyle are bosses these days. Let's go get our authority, boys."

Nott sneers at Hermione. "Guess what, Prefect Mudblood? We can dock points from you guys too. Cheers, losers."

Harry follows the group as they head for Umbridge's office to receive their badges. With the tiny silver 'I' pinned beneath his Prefect badge, Harry excuses himself out the room. Given the powers granted to Umbridge's new squad, Harry now exploits them to create his own Prefect patrol for tonight. A perfect cover to find Pansy. He soon finds her swinging her legs while seated atop an old desk in an abandoned classroom. The Invisibility Cloak lays neatly folded beside her as she looks at Harry.

"I want a hug."

"With yourself? Isn't that a bit weird?"

Pansy shrugs, seemingly nonchalant with regards to Harry's transformation. "I've always wanted a sibling, might as well settle for a temporary twin."

The statement draws a smile of understanding from Harry as he walks up to his Pansy. Slytherin's 'alpha female', in Harry's opinion. Now he stands before her and wraps his arms around the girl.

"That's a good boy."

"Good girl, you mean."

"Yes, Harry, you're my girl."

They sit in silence on the floor as Harry contemplates tonight's events. The biggest blow being that his hideout has just been compromised. "Now, I dunno what's going to happen. The Room of Requirement was my only safe house in this school. Do you understand why I couldn't tell you about it?"

"Granger's jinx, yeah. I think it still would've punished you for telling me since, technically, I'm on Umbridge's side." Pansy checks her watch and sighs. "How long do you reckon it'll be until your potion wears off?"

"About another three hours, if it's anything like my usual doses. I'll stay right here if you're wanting to see me again."

"Of course I'm wanting to see you again," Pansy tries to keep her voice low but Harry merely laughs. The latter reaching into the back pocket of his trousers which Pansy's wearing. "If you're trying to feel my arse then just ask, silly."

"No, silly." Harry withdraws the Marauder's Map before activating it right in front of a shocked Pansy. Then it takes a good bit of explanation as she stares at him.

"You've been keeping this a secret from us for so long?"

"I wanted to make it a surprise someday for when we're Prefects... Fat chance of that happening now, for me that is."

Whatever anger Pansy might've felt immediately dissipates at Harry's words. She now lays on his shoulder while scrolling through as much of the school as she can.

"You're like a kid at Christmas with this thing," says a laughing Harry.

"Are you crazy? Who wouldn't be? Look at it, real-time surveillance over this entire school! And it sees through disguises too. This is absolutely nuts! Let's see if anyone's sneaking out for some night fun... Nobody? Aw man, how boring. Is Umbridge making people so scared that they won't even go out for a snog!?"

"Whoa there, calm down little Parkinson."

"I'm soooo telling the other girls about this. How could you keep such a wicked Map hidden from us all these years? Don't you trust us? We're your friends, Harry."

"I said it was supposed to be my big surprise," Harry's expression drops a fair bit as he explains the origins of the Marauder's Map.

"Oh, I see... Daddy's Map, huh? I didn't mean to touch a nerve or anything. You should've just it's very personal, no need to beat yourself up with the past."

"Well, it's not like the present's any better now, is it? Look at my life, all screwed up since last year." Harry lets Pansy hold the Map as they sit together in the dimly lit classroom.

"It's been dreadful without you around in person, really awfully dreadful. The jokes are boring, the atmosphere is super pretentious, the Quidditch parties are friggen annoying, and they all keep making fun of you—"

"I understand, no need to beat yourself up with the present," replies Harry.

"The present can be changed, but not the past. What are you going to do from here on out? If Umbridge is in control of this school... you don't stand a chance at making things right. The old man was your best ally around."

"You'd better be prepared, Pansy, because I think all hell is gonna break loose around here. Dumbledore's Army was really keen on learning Patronuses, then the betrayal happened before we even started," says Harry, running his fingers through Pansy's hair. "It's so strange seeing you with long hair; a good strange, that is."

"Yes, I really do look pretty, don't I?" Pansy takes to having Harry lay across her lap as she strokes what is essentially her own hair. "Now this is what I call loving yourself, and quite literally so."

"Make the most of tonight, because I think I'll be heading home soon."

"To the Muggles!?"

"I can't tell you where my other home is. Sorry, but that's far too risky," says Harry. "Just keep your cover going here. Do whatever Umbridge expects of you as an Inquisitorial Squad member, okay?"

"Of course, and hopefully you'll be able to come back again. We need you back, Harry, you're our baby boy. Who's gonna look after you in the big bad world out there?"

"I can take care of myself, and there's Sirius Black," says Harry, now stretching his legs out before him. "I've always liked your legs, nice and shapely, mmm."

"Those legs haven't had a good dance in a long time. I want you to come back, and then we'll have a big party to celebrate. Oh, and part of it will involve kicking out all those who made the most fun of you, yep." Pansy grins wickedly at the prospect of getting revenge.

"We can't kick them out the common room, though."

"But we can kick them out the party because they're uninvited!"

A few hours later sees Harry reverting back to his own body, and the pair now swap their clothing again. This is followed by Pansy grabbing him into a kiss that has them falling onto a nearby desk.

"Damn, girl!"

"I told you I've missed you, didn't I?" She grabs him into another kiss before gently pulling back. "Let's see how much you've missed me."

With just a few hours to go until midnight, Harry snogs her numerous times before taking his possessions and seeing Pansy off to the dungeons. Their reunion now comes to an end as Harry returns to the empty classroom on the sixth floor. Although he'd prefer to stay, the risk of being discovered has increased dramatically since Marietta's betrayal. Therefore, Harry summons Dobby to side-along Apparate him to Sirius' Place where he spends the rest of the night.

A few days pass by until the arrival of March. Harry, who's now pacing about the drawing room at Grimmauld Place, tries to think of a plan with Sirius.

"I knew we should've kicked Marietta out the group, I just bloody knew it!"

"Stop kidding yourself, Harry. If you were that certain of a traitor then you'd have acted. Look on the bright side, at least nobody died from your little betraying scenario."

Harry continues pacing up and down the room, passing the family tapestry for the umpteenth time. "What am I supposed to do now, huh? There was hope when Dumbledore was Headmaster. What's the point in me preparing for O.W.L.s when there's that... thing now in control of the school? And my one and only way back seems impossible."

"You need a drink," says Sirius, seated on a couch with wine glass in hand.

"I'm not going to drink. I'm just so damn angry right now."

"But that's exactly why you need a drink."

"But that's exactly why I'm not going to drink."

"Come on, Harry, you're stressing yourself to bits. Fact is, there's absolutely nothing we can do right now," Sirius takes a sip from his glass while watching Harry moving about the room. "Add a black cloak and you'd look like Severus walking around angry, uh, I mean 'normally'. That git is, and was, always angry over everything. Don't end up like him, chill."

"I want to finish this year, Sirius, I need to finish this year. Hermione's counting on me to make the most of things so that we're together for N.E.W.T. classes."

"I'd ask Professor Dumbledore for help, but I have no idea where he is or what he's doing now. Let's wait and see what happens..."

With the Room of Requirement exposed, and Harry's Polyjuice stocks nearly depleted, he only travels to Hogwarts for his lessons with Professor Snape. In this case, he forgoes using his Polyjuice reserves and side-along Apparates directly into the Potions master's office.

"I know this sudden popping outta nowhere around six o'clock is annoying, but there's no other choice, sir," says Harry, after arriving in Snape's office on the second Monday of March. "Even House Elf Apparition comes with a loud pop, so travelling to classrooms is always risky. At least down here there's hardly anyone in the vicinity."

"Have you been practicing, Potter?"

"Yes, sir," Harry walks through the office to take his seat. Given his improvements thus far, the need to remove his explicit memories is reduced.

"Legilimens!"

A rather crazed-looking witch with long, unkempt dark hair sits behind a row of bars before him. Her stare proves unnerving but only for a brief second as Harry battles to compose his mind. While flushing his emotions, he sees Professor Snape coming into view. The Potions master, muttering beneath his breath, grows clearer by the second. Now, Harry attempts to tense up without seeming tense at all as the image of a staring Bellatrix fades away.

"Enough," says Snape, "You have successfully thrust me from your mind, Potter, which is acceptable. Although not as good as the best, that provides a decent framework to build upon. Clearly there's been some progress since—"

BOOM!

"What the—?" Snape (and Harry) glances upwards and around as a series of distant explosions can be heard. These are succeeded by screams and cheers as the turmoil begins.

"The heck's going on around here?" asks Harry, "Are they rioting or something?"

"It seems your little army has taken to stirring a rebellion. Sounds like fireworks and spells, yes," Snape stands up from his seat before heading for the door. "Do not leave this office, Potter. Even an Invisibility Cloak would not protect you against a stray firework or spell. I daresay it would be difficult to explain a patch of fire running amok as the Inquisitorial Squad are aware of your Cloak."

And with that, Snape hurries out before slamming the door, leaving Harry alone in the office. Minutes pass by as he eyes the Pensieve most keenly. The hidden thoughts of Snape, whom Harry knows essentially nothing about, lay vulnerably exposed. What could be lurking about in this swirling, silvery substance? Could there be any information on the Department of Mysteries?

Harry paces around Snape's desk while keeping his gaze fixated upon the stone basin. One little wave of his wand... just a little peek might shed some light on his mysterious Head of House. He approaches the Pensieve, hesitant, listening, and pulls out his wand. Then he holds it above the silvery substance, inches away from prodding into them. Seconds from prodding into the mind of the enigma that is Severus Snape.

"And what if these were mine? What if someone broke into my thoughts and viewed my innermost secrets?" ponders Harry, before turning around to approach his seat. No sooner does he sit than the office door opens up as Snape strides in.

"Amusing people, aren't they? Setting off crates of fireworks at this time in the entrance hall."

Then, Harry sees Snape shutting the door before an alarmed expression crosses the Professor's face.

"Sir—?"

Snape ignores him while rushing over to the Pensieve where he waves his wand. A tense few seconds pass by before Harry sees a brief look of relief shown by Snape, though it swiftly turns to the Professor's usual stoic expression. "Now then, Potter, let us see how capable you are at shielding your mind through the surrounding chaos. Legilimens!"

As with Moody's sessions last school year, Harry's forced to focus his efforts through a loud racket. Now, it's more on maintaining his emotionless state than keeping up a protective shield charm. Harry, however, spots a great amount of similarity between both sessions which he tries to use in his favour. Memories of training Dumbledore's Army gradually fade to Snape's face while bangs and cheers can be heard in the distance. Then it all stops as Snape darts his eyes to the Marauder's Map nearby.

"Damnit, why now?" He looks around wildly before ushering Harry to a corner of the office. "Under the Cloak now, Potter, and don't you dare give in to temptation! Better this than risk the Headmistress chancing my Pensieve."

Before Harry can respond, Snape tosses the Map at him before carrying the Pensieve from his desk and thrusting it at the squatting Harry. This is followed by the latter looking down at the swirling memories as the Invisibility Cloak is wrapped over him. A knock on the locked door sees Snape opening it before Umbridge enters.

"Professor Snape, you are to clear the dungeons of these illegal disruptions immediately." She turns on her heels before walking off and issuing vague threats to the air. "If I catch whoever's chiefly responsible for such behaviour..."

"Lesson's over, Potter," says Snape, while approaching to yank off the Invisibility Cloak and return the Pensieve to the desk. "There's no telling when she'll be back tonight, and it can be wearisome watching both you and that Map. Dismissed."

"Thank you, sir, I do appreciate these lessons." Harry summons Dobby to transport him back to the drawing room of Grimmauld Place. Here, Sirius lays fast asleep on the couch while Lupin and Tonks sit at a nearby desk.

"Who's there—oh, it's our boy!" says Tonks, standing with wand at the ready. "Gave us a right fright there, man."

"Hello, Harry. In case you're wondering, we're just staying over for the night. This is our Headquarters anyway." Lupin glances at Sirius. "Drunk and fast asleep, what's new? So, how'd your Occlumency session go? Ol' Severus torturing your mind even further?"

"It went well, I reckon," says Harry, pulling up a chair to sit beside Tonks at the desk. "I hate being kicked out of school... I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!"

"Aw, settle down there, young laddie," Tonks pats the scowling Harry on the back. "Wherever Professor Dumbledore is, I'm sure he hasn't forgotten about getting you back in. It's just a pity that things got miles worse than before. How's Hogwarts doing?"

"It's in a bloody riot, yeah!" Harry beams with a smile. "Someone's set off crates of fireworks, and spells are also flying everywhere. It's completely nuts!"

"And you're missing out on all the action!" says Tonks, covering her gasp. "Uptight, Severus-Snape-in-the-making, Harry Potter is missing his big chance to enjoy a bit of mischief. That is truly a horrendous crime indeed."

"Snape-in-the-making, me? What?"

"Goodness me," says Lupin, feigning utter shock, "That is worse than turning into a werewolf. No potion can alleviate that syndrome, I'm afraid."

They laugh heartily as Harry folds his arms and tilts his head up. "You two are not funny. That's unamusing, yes, sir. Calling me uptight, hmph!"

"Oh cheer up, young one," says an amused Tonks, "Would the sad little man like to do some defensive practice? We've got a whole evening's worth to throw spells at one another. You're en garde first, schoolboy."

"Lemme wake Sirius up."

"No, leave him," laughs Lupin, "Let him get his sleep for the night."

"He sleeps like he's dead," says Harry, deciding upon leaving Sirius behind. The trio of Tonks, Lupin, and Harry now sneak down to the basement kitchen where they take up defensive positions. Each seeks out a corner, doorway or whatever else offers cover before slipping out to fire spells at one another.

"Protego!"

"That-a-boy, Harry," says Tonks, "Laugh a little, Remus, Rictusempra!"

Lupin deflects the tickling charm before stepping out from the toilet room. Then he shoots a Leg-Locker at Harry which is blocked before the latter attempts to petrify Tonks.

"Oh, getting serious now, huh? Tarantallegra!" The spell narrowly misses Harry. "We're having fun, lad, no seriousness needed tonight."

"Hey, guys, keep the action away from the boiler room," says Harry, "I'd rather not disturb Kreacher."

They move to the area around the table while firing and blocking throughout the evening. For Harry, this feels remarkably similar to his D.A. meetings which brings a smile to his face. Perhaps the prospect of having to wait things out might not be as bad as he thinks?