Harry Potter and the Return of Heritage

by Jayan phoenix

Book One of the Heritage Series: Following the Dementor Attack, Sirius must claim his heritage and rise to the position of Lord Black in order to help is Godson. However his godson is unaware of his own heritage and has a great deal to learn, all the while still being a target of the Dark Lord whose power grows daily, the world is changing and they have to be ready to fight.

26. Chapter Twenty-Six

Book One of the Heritage Series:

Harry Potter and the Return of Heritage

Chapter Twenty Six

Enemy of the Blood

Luna had told them that the article would be out either the following day or the day after depending on if the owl made it to her father in time.

The interview had not been easy especially with Skeeter sitting there with a quill in her hand, but with the support of Hermione and Sirius he was able to tell her exactly what had happened the year before and how Voldemort had returned. Skeeter had also probed him for more information asking numerous questions to get a further scoop and when it was over Harry wondered how many people would actually read the story, the magazine was not known for its factually correct articles.

Hermione had reassured him on the way back to the castle that people would read the story for an alternate view on what happened at Azkaban, as the Ministry was not giving the public the details they actually needed to know and people were beginning to question it.

Harry felt a great satisfaction that he had done something to fight back against Voldemort and his followers, he hoped that it would at least make the Death Eaters who walked free watch their shadows. He had quickly filled Ron in on the details as he had been on the Quidditch pitch with the Twins practicing, and he too thought it was a great idea as he helped himself to the food from the table.

"I cannot wait to see Umbridge's face when she sees that you have gone public." Dean said eagerly, Harry noticed that the entire time that they had been talking Seamus had been playing with the food on his plate, and he had not been subtle with his expressions which proved that he has been listening in to the entire conversation.

"I could imagine it was tough talking about it," Neville said in a low voice "especially to that woman, but it was the right thing to do."

"It was, but what is slight discomfort to me when the entire community needs to know before Voldemort murders them all?" He asked bluntly.

"You're right" Neville agreed, "we need to be on our guard, the Death Eaters are a threat on their own but with him back they have become organised and deadly."

Harry smiled sadly at his friend, his parents had got swept up in the defeat of Voldemort and that was when they were hit, the moment they had thought they were safe. Neville then got up and left the Great Hall with Dean and Seamus, the latter having given Harry as small fleeting look, but Harry had met his eyes and waited but Seamus had not said a word.

"I think he has realised that he was wrong at the start of the year" Ron said to Harry. He turned and saw that Ron was watching their dorm mates leave. "Seamus's downfall is his pride, and he is going to have to unbend it and accept that he was wrong and that he will have to apologise."

"He must also have noticed that nearly all of the upper Gryffindor's leave for the DA meetings, and that he is the only one missing from our year." Hermione said.

"Well if he apologises then I will accept," Harry said "but I am not making the first move, this was a problem he created so he can start fixing it."

Ron laughed "you are very stubborn sometimes."

"Well now you are hardly one to talk Ronald" Hermione said joining the laughter.

Ron just stuck his tongue out at her which made her laugh louder "anyway how did you time with Katie go?"

"Good actually" Harry said thinking back to it, "she kissed me before running off into the Three Broomsticks"

"What do you mean she ran?" Hermione asked still smirking,

"Well she smiled like she was up to something, kissed me then walked away without saying anything." Harry explained.

"What was the morning like" she asked casually.

"Fine to be honest, not unlike talking to a friend." He said honestly and he didn't know if that was a good thing.

"Maybe it just isn't meant to be." She said as she continued eating dessert.

The next morning was Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch match. If Harry was honest it wasn't great, Ron had saved three quarters of the goals but the beaters were not up to par compared to Fred and George. The chasers were struggling to score against the opposing keeper. The game was called to a halt when Ginny caught the snitch from under the nose of Zacharias Smith, he had been furious and less than a gentleman in his loss.

There had been a small party in the Gryffindor Common room to celebrate, but the twins used it as an excellent way to showcase some of their newer products, which Hermione had even agreed was very advanced magic.

The day after the match seemed to start just like any other, but Harry and his friends were eager for the post to arrive, the article should have been run today and they were eager to read it. Many of the Gryffindor's noticed that they were looking impatient and kept glancing up at the ceiling but only a few of them knew why.

Harry began to get impatient so he chose to actually eat something whilst he waited, four owls that he did not recognise suddenly flew down to his area of the table and all presented their legs to him with letters attached so he glanced at the addressee on them

Harrison Black-Potter

Great Hall

Hogwarts School

Frowning he reached for the first owl, when another seven soon flew down to join them, they began to bicker amongst themselves for room on the table.

"Why are they all here for me?" Harry asked as he began to detach the letters from Owls as quickly as he could and Ron and Hermione began to help with the task but they were soon swamped in more owls and letters.

"Harry these must be from readers of the Quibbler article." Hermione said as looked at the Owls with delight. She then spotted something in the large parliament of perched owls and she quickly plucked it from the owl. "Open this." She said and threw a cylindrical package to him.

He opened it and saw a picture of himself staring back, it was a picture that Sirius had had taken at the Danvers ball. Under the large picture was the headline:

HARRISON BLACK-POTTER SPEAKS OUT

THE UNTOLD TRUTH: THE NIGHT OF THE TTHIRD TASK OF THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

ANDTHE RETURN OF THE DARK LORD VOLDEMORT

"Oh they have arrived" said Luna who had drifted over from her own table and joined them squeezing between the twins, "these letters will be from the readers, Daddy sent you a free copy, but he sent me a letter saying he has sold out already! He is reprinting."

Harry began to read the article;

On the 24th of June 1995, Harrison James Black-Potter was competing in the renowned Tri-wizard Tournament; The Third Task was a gigantic maze filled with obstacles that the four champions were to overcome to locate the cup that sat in the centre of the Maze and whoever touched the cup first would win the Tournament.

Harrison was only fourteen years old at the time of the task, competing against students over the age of seventeen but he was joint first place with Hogwarts second Champion Cedric Diggory and they were the first to enter the maze.

"The Maze tested not only our magical ability but also our perseverance and courage. Inside that maze you couldn't hear the crowds outside, all you could see was the giant hedges and late summer night sky, but mostly it was dark and silent, you were lost and you did not know what you would see around the next turn." Harrison said speaking of the maze.

Harrison was able to navigate the maze and eventually found himself in the centre of the Maze with Cedric, both were attacked by an Acromantula: A Giant breed of Spider that is both vicious and intelligent. The Hogwarts Champions worked together to take down this fearsome creature that had injured Harrison.

They both stood in the centre of the maze looking at each other and the cup but neither of them would take it, each wanting the other to take it as they felt they did not deserve to win. In a twist of cruel fate, both Champions agreed to take it together, a join win for Hogwarts and with the spark of School Unity they grabbed the cup together.

"When we stopped the spider I wanted Cedric to take the cup and I told him to, but he refused, he said that I had saved his life twice in the maze and I should take it. There we were feet away from the cup and we were arguing over who should take it. He was so sincere I couldn't believe he wouldn't take the cup when it would mean that the tournament would finally be over, and I really didn't want to win. He walked away from the damn thing refusing to take a win he thought I deserved because I had helped him in the maze and warned him about the dragons in the first task." Harrison said.

"I felt that we were both even in the task, he helped me with the clue for the second task but he said I should have beaten him, he said he should have stayed behind to help. It was my idea to take the cup together, he wasn't sure but he accepted the idea and he got me back on my feet and helped me to the cup and we took it together."

What neither of the Champions knew was that the moment they touched the fabled cup that they were portkeyed out of the Hogwarts Grounds. When they settled the boys were in a graveyard, a Muggle grave yard.

Both of the champions had no idea what was going on, the very idea that this was another part of the tournament had them on the defensive wands at the ready for any danger. They realised that they were not alone and a short hooded figure walked towards them holding something in his arms.

"I didn't know who the figure was but I knew that there was only one man who can make my scar hurt, and I have never been in such agony, I felt like my skull was being ripped open, and through the pain being induced through the cursed scar given to me by the wizard who killed by parents I heard a high and cold voice say words that still haunt me: Kill the spare. Cedric was struck with the curse that cannot be blocked by any known magic and was killed in front of me."

The killing curse had been used by the wanted criminal Peter Pettigrew, he tied Harrison to a tombstone whilst he began to prepare a dark magical ritual in front of him. Harrison recounts how Pettigrew prepared a stone cauldron into which he placed a creature unlike any which young Harrison had ever seen.

"I will not go into detail of what the ritual entailed as it was one of the darkest kinds of magic that I have ever seen and I do not think people should know how to create another body out of magic. But what Pettigrew threw into the cauldron, it was a remnant of Voldemort, he was a weak pathetic creature, like a badly disfigured baby. The entire time that it was within the potion I remember praying to any higher power that it drowned, I was terrified of what would happen and I just wanted it to fail and the creature drown.

"But the ritual didn't fail and from the depths the darkest wizard in modern history was made anew and returned to a physical form. His body was made using magic that I never thought possible and Pettigrew had stolen my blood to make his masters body, the blood which I share with my parents, blood which Voldemort spilled trying to murder an infant."

Pettigrew robed the Dark wizard and return to him his wand which Harrison believed Pettigrew somehow acquired from his house in Godrics Hollow. Lord Voldemort pressed his wand into Pettigrew's arm onto the Dark Mark that Voldemort placed there himself and summoned his Death Eaters to him. Harrison remembered that it was instantaneous; the moment the mark was touched the Death Eaters began to arrive and form a circle around their master.

"The Dark Mark is like a living connection to Voldemort" Harrison commented "His followers were marked with it and it is imbued with his magic and after I vanquished him fourteen years ago the mark was reduced to a faint scar but over the last year that mark has been growing clearer and darker on their skin, they knew he was returning."

Harrison witnessed the arrival of the Death Eaters and can name those who bent the knee to their master, many of them walk amongst us today, you may even welcome them at your dinner table or they may have children that share a room with your children at school.

Jullian Avery

Mr Avery was captured during the last war and was arrested under the suspicion of being a Death Eater. When it came to Avery's trial he pleaded that he had been under the influence of the Imperius Curse and had been forced to do the Dark Lords bidding. Avery was later cleared of all wrong doing and released by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

- Avery was placed under the Cruciatus curse for throwing himself at Voldemort's feet begging him for mercy.

Hector Crabbe

Mr Crabbe was never identified as a Death Eater during the last War, but was a known sympathiser and friend to many known Death Eaters and had been questioned by the DMLE who were unable to find evidence to tie him to the Death Eaters.

- Voldemort order him to do better this time

Terrence Goyle

Mr Goyle was never identified as a Death Eater during the last War, but was a known sympathiser and friend to many known Death Eaters and had been questioned by the DMLE who were unable to find evidence to tie him to the Death Eaters.

- Voldemort order him to do better this time

Walden Macnair

Mr Macnair was another who was captured during the last war and pleaded that he had been under the influence of the Imperius curse. Macnair escaped conviction and Azkaban to return to his position as an executor of magical creatures in the Ministry.

- Voldemort promised him that in future he will have better victims as he remained in his service.

Lucius Malfoy

Mr Malfoy was a known Death Eater, who handed himself in after the fall of his master and pleaded that he had been under the Imperius Curse and pushed into the service of Voldemort by his own father. Mr Malfoy's never saw a day in court and the charges were dropped suddenly.

- Voldemort was disappointed that Malfoy never looked for him, but was glad to see that he had not renounced the old ways, and still partook in muggle torture, and complimented Malfoys work at the Quidditch World Cup.

Lord Robert Nott

Lord Nott is the Head of the Ancient and Most Ancient House of Nott. Lord Nott was arrested at the end of the last war under the suspicion of being a Death Eater but due to insufficient evidence was never tried or convicted and the charges were dropped.

- Lord Nott was told that he must do better in their next campaign but Harrison was not certain what Lord Nott's role was.

Eldard Yaxley

Mr Yaxley was a known supporter of the Lord Voldemort but managed to escape imprisonment as the department of Magical Law Enforcement could not find enough proof for a trial.

Voldemort spoke of other Death Eaters who had not chosen to return;

Igor Karkaroff

Igor was caught and convicted of being a Death Eater during the last war, however he made a plea bargain to escape imprisonment in exchange for selling out his former comrades. On his release Igor fled to the continent where he became Highmaster of the Durmstrang Institute.

- Igor fled the night he felt the dark mark burn on his harm in fear.

Voldemort mentioned an Unnamed Death Eater who he had placed at Hogwarts, a loyal servant who had never let his devotion wane of his years of imprisonment.

There were people from Voldemort's inner circle who were unable to return as they were entombed in Azkaban; they had acted out of loyalty and had not renounced him to save themselves. He told his Death Eaters that soon the Dementors of Azkaban would return to his service as his allies when they broke out his faithful servants for their sacrifices and would re-join their ranks with honour.

Voldemort suddenly took note of Harrison where he was bound and had him released so that he could finally defeat the boy who posed a threat to him. Voldemort wanted to duel Harrison in front of his servants so they could never doubt his power.

Harry shook his head and snorted in disgust "Voldemort didn't want to duel me, he hides behind theatrics and a front, and he wanted to humiliate me in front of his servants so that those that doubt his abilities would not question him. He mocked me and forced me to follow duelling etiquette and bow to each other, he used magic to force me to bend low to him. He placed me under the cruciatus curse and eventually relented; he mocked me again and tried to make me beg for him to not do it again, when I wouldn't he resorted to the Imperius Curse to force me to beg but I wouldn't bend to his will."

Eventually Harrison was able to create a distraction that allowed him to flee and he ran to the body of Cedric Diggory and grabbed the Tri Wizard cup which returned him to Hogwarts.

After the traumatic experience Harrisons first thought was to notify people that Voldemort had returned and he alerted both the Minister of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Headmaster of Hogwarts School, Supreme Mugwump of the international Confederation of Wizards, Albus Dumbledore.

But the terror of that night was not over, Harrison was taken back to the school by Retired Author Alastor Moody who had been teaching at Hogwarts that year, He spoke to Harrison about what had happened questioning him on Voldemort. Eventually he revealed that he was not Alastor Moody but in fact Bartemius Crouch Junior under Polyjuice potion he then tried to kill Harrison for his master.

Harrison was recused by Professor Dumbledore who questioned Crouch Junior under the effects of Veritaserum, he confessed to the murder of his own father, and also of how his father had smuggled him out of Azkaban using Polyjuice potion, and exchanging his place for his dying mother. He confessed that he had captured Moody in the summer and had placed himself in the school to enter Harrison into the tournament so that he could be used in the dark ritual.

The Minister for Magic was notified by Harrison that the Darkest Wizard in modern history and the biggest threat to the people he had sworn to protect had returned and what did our esteemed Minister do? The Minister denied the entire affair, he makes sure that Crouch cannot be a witness by summoning a Dementor and having his soul removed preventing evidence to support the return of Voldemort.

The Minister a day later has a very long meeting with Lucius Malfoy who as Harrison informs us is a Death Eater, a day later whispers and rumours begin to discredit Albus Dumbledore and Harrison only a day after the return of Voldemort.

"I do not know what Minister Fudge and Mr Malfoy discuss in their private meetings but it is common knowledge that Malfoy "Donates" generously to the minister's office and other such "charities" If one was paranoid they may think they were poorly concealed bribes." Harry admits.

Minister Fudge rose to fame at the end of the last war for being heavily involved in the Death Eater Trials after his "famed" capture of Sirius Black, there seems to be a pattern to the Death Eaters who walked free, it seems most of the cases where he was involved seemed to end with a plea of being under the Imperius Curse.

I asked Harrison what he felt about the Ministry and the Minister of Magic, they seem to be targeting the young man who by all accounts was considered a hero only a year previously and someone Minister Fudge went on records saying "Harry Potter is a hero to our community."

"I have no faith in Minister Fudge. He is not a Minister who can lead us, He a Minister who thinks that if he pretends the problem is not real then it will just go away. And trying to discredit me and Professor Dumbledore or even my adoptive father Lord Black will not help him."

"When Voldemort reveals himself, and he will, the British public will want answers and I believe he may be the downfall of this country. My faith in the Ministry of Magic is tainted by what I have experience at the hand of the Minister of Magic and his senior staff, I do not feel that current regime has the necessary skill or even ability to combat this threat and Fudge is blocking the DMLE from doing the job, and preventing the people from preparing for a war that will come."

Mr Black-Potter does not like to speak of the traumatic events that happened in his life easily, but when he speaks of the safety of the people of this country and the failings our government there is a heat and power to his words that will make many question what is going on and this reporter will be digging into this entire scandal and find out what else the Ministry is trying to hide.

Harry smiled "Not bad",

"I am sure Sirius would have had her head if she didn't" Ron said also smiling as he read the four page article, but the amount of owls that were flying over them was becoming ridiculous.

They removed all of the letters from the owls to free up room on the table, and the responses varied; some now believed him and they were angry with the Ministry, or more directly the Minister himself. Some however commented that whilst his story matched the holes they did not want to believe it, but would begin to prepare.

"What is the meaning of this" said a false girly voice.

Harry looked up and saw that Professor Umbridge was standing there staring at all of the letters trying to find the source of the commotion.

"Oh hello professor" He said smiling happily "These are letters, letters from readers of an article that I had published."

"Article?" Umbridge asked looking aghast.

"Yes Professor" Harry sad and he was taking a considerable amount of joy out of this and stood and held up the copy of the Quibbler which cleared showed his picture on the front page "This here is a publication to which I have given an article which details the interview I have given a reporter."

"You gave an interview to a reporter?" she said quietly not believing him.

"Yes Professor" Harry said loudly projecting his voice "I gave an interview, I would imagine your Minister of Magic will be in touch soon, I will be honest it doesn't put him in a good light."

The entire Great Hall was silent as they watched what was happening at the Gryffindor Table and most looked at Harry shocked never seeing him in this light before.

"I don't want to give out too many spoilers" Harry continued and threw the copy of the article at Umbridge and was making sure everyone heard him "The article names every Death Eater that walked three, details what happened the night of the Third Task and I have made sure to tell everyone how Minister Fudge is hiding the truth, a truth he has known since that night and I doing my duty to our community, Fudge will get us killed if he remains in power as he is a liability and cared only for himself."

He looked up to the staff table, he saw that Dumbledore was watching him with interest, and he saw that his eyes were twinkling, Professor McGonagall was having a hard time hiding her smile as were the rest of the teachers and student body were whispering excitedly now.

Umbridge could only stutter incoherently "I - You – how – how dare you – this will mean det – "

"Detention?" Harry laughed loudly and returned to his calm voice which made people flinch "I have broken no Law or Hogwarts rule so if you think you will silence me Madam Umbridge you are sorely mistaken."

Umbridge gave him a look of pure hate, which made him smile "Detention for causing a ruckus in the Great Hall Mr Potter" she said in the most disgustingly forced sweet voice he had very heard.

"Ruckus?" Harry asked with icy amusement "I must apologise to the students, I thought you were deaf and so I speak loudly so that you may hear me clearly, as you obviously are as you cannot hear me when I tell you that my name is Black-Potter. Now go away Delores I have mail to read and reply to. Perhaps go back to pretending to grand and important as you make such a good show of it, just don't open your mouth the dung you speak will put me off my morning breakfast."

Harry sat back down and ignored her and pulled a letter towards him and pretended to be oblivious to the silence that ran through the hall and to the blank blinking look of the woman in front of him who was still clutching the magazine.

"Potter – "she said in an insistent voice.

Harry's temper flared briefly and he looked up at her with a knife in his hand slitting open a letter

"I do not care what you have to say, you are the most despicable and malicious person I have ever had the misfortune to meet. I would rather have a troll be our professor, we would learn the same amount of magic you teach but I would not have to deal with the stench of your foul perfume and those disgustingly hideous pink robes and cardigans, if anything a troll would be a dam sight better thing to look up and see."

The hall was full of sniggers and whispers at his words, he saw that McGonagall had turned away from the show, but he could tell that she was doing it to hide her smile.

"That is a week's detention for disrespect to a teacher Mr Black-Potter." Umbridge spat out, her face now purple.

Harry rolled his eyes and replied in a bored tone "When is it?"

Umbridge paused and her eyes swept the room before she licked her lips "tonight at six o'clock. My office." She said and with that she walked out of the Great Hall but she immediately began to read the article and her face was furious.

"Don't worry Professor I will even be ten minutes early just for you!" Harry called after her but she ignored him.

"Harry, why on earth did you do that?" Hermione asked looking terrified.

"She had got on my last nerve and I wanted to belittle her in front of the school" he replied with a shrug, they continued opening the letters and found that they continued on the same lines as the others they had already read.

By the end of the morning large signs had been posted all over the castle

BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS

Any student found in possession of the magazine

The Quibbler will be expelled

The above is in accordance of Educational Decree

Number Twenty-seven

Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High inquisitor

Both Hermione and Harry would smile when they saw a sign and Neville and Ron couldn't understand it, eventually asking "why do those signs make you both so happy?"

"Simple, for the same reason we paid no attention to Dumbledore's warning about the third floor in first year" Harry said with a smile.

"If something gets banned for no apparent reason, students will want to know why and they will look at the thing that is banned." Hermione continued.

"After this morning and are spat most will have tried to read it, but she has just ensured that every student now reads it to find out why she wants it banned so badly." Harry said happily, "Hermione have I told you how much of a good idea it was?"

"No you haven't, but I thank you anyway" she said. "And I also know that the article has gone round the entire school, I was in the loos and a group of seven sixth year girls were in their discussing it. Once they saw me they started to ask me questions about it as I know you."

"Well I think your idea worked well" Neville said" I just wonder what Umbridge will do."

Umbridge had been stalking the corridors the entire day, stopping and searching students at random, looking for the article. However the students were of course well ahead of her, they had been enchanted to look like their notes from class or sheets of blank parchment, or even pages taken from library books.

The Professors he had that day all awarded him points for rather simple things he did, Flitwick gave him five for holding a door open for students, Sprout for passing a watering can, he knew that they were unable to comment on the article directly because of the Educational Decree twenty six.

He also saw more of them huddled together in quiet corners for the rest of the day.

The second highlight of his day was when he was encountered Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and a rather reluctant Theodore Nott. The former three had just glared at him as he passed. They couldn't comment on the article as that would be a breach of the Decree so Harry just smirked as he went passed and whispered "A Malfoy bows to no one? I saw your father kissing the hem of the son of a Muggle." Malfoy had gone to retort but Nott had grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

Crabbe and Goyle on the other hand cracked their knuckles menacingly at him and looked like they were about to lunge at him, but soon backed off when they saw that Harry had his wand out and pointing at them. They were not stupid enough to try anything, Harry had quite the formidable reputation this year from his increased interest in his school work, many students had seen what he could now do with his wand.

He went to the library to return some books after the confrontation, but also found an interesting book of magical creatures that he checked out, on his way down to dinner he met a rather large crowd of student in the Entrance Hall in the centre of the large ring was Professor Trelawney, she was standing rather lopsided, with a bottle of sherry in one hand and her wand in the other. She looked more dishevelled than ever, her shawls were hazardously falling from her slight frame and some trailed to just above the floor, and her thick lensed glasses were askew, making it look like she was using a magnifying glass.

At her feet were two large worn leather trunks, Harry looked around trying to find the source of the commotion but he could only see the students around him who were muttering to their friends, they looked shocked, he could only see one professor in the crowd and that was McGonagall and she was as white as a sheet

"No!" Trelawney shrieked "NO! You cannot do this, I refuse this!"

"You didn't see this coming" said a falsely cheery voice "do you not peer into your own future dear?"

Harry turned sharply to his left and pushed to the front on the line of students, Professor Umbridge was standing there looking at the professor with a triumphant look.

"As you are so incapable of predicting so much as the weather, your inspections failed and when there was no improvement dear you couldn't honestly believe that I would allow you to remain in this castle dear?" she said with girlish laugh that put Harrys teeth on edge.

"You cannot" Trelawney howled, tears flowed down her face "You can't - Sack me! Hogwarts - is my home! I've l – lived in this c – castle for sixteen years!"

"Well it is no longer your home now dear." Umbridge said smiling even wider, "you have received your order of dismissal, which was counter signed by the Minister of magic himself, you are causing a scene now leave this castle immediately, you are embarrassing us. If you do not leave I will call the Aurors".

Whilst Umbridge stood there gloating, McGonagall had drawn herself upright and looked the angriest that he had ever seen her, she walked to up to Professor Trelawney and patted her on the arm and have her a large tartan handkerchief "There, there Sybill. Calm down, blow your nose on this and do not worry you will not be forced to leave this castle."

"Oh really Professor McGonagall?" said Umbridge in a deadly cold voice, she may have been a stout short women but she was not imposed by the Scottish women. "And on whose authority do you suppose you -"

"That would be mine "said a deep calm voice.

The large oaken front door of the castle opened, and before them stood Professor Dumbledore. He gazed levelly at Umbridge. The students began to mutter about the sight, in truth it was rather the impressing entrance, it was rather misty night and all that could be seen was the professor.

"Yours Headmaster" Umbridge spat with an unpleasant laugh "I am afraid you have overstepped what authority you still have Dumbledore" she pulled out a scroll from her pocket "I have the order of dismissal signed by myself and the Minister. Under the terms of Educational Decree number twenty three, the High Inquisitor had the power to inspect, place on probation and dismiss any professor who does not meet the standard required by the ministry."

Dumbledore smiled at the professor, and he saw that Umbridge took a step back. "You are quite correct Professor Umbridge you do indeed have the authority to dismiss my teachers. You do not however have the authority to banish them from this castle or grounds; that power still resides with the Headmaster." He then looked directly at Professor McGonagall, "please escort Sybil back to her quarters Professor McGonagall."

She nodded and began to guide her towards the staircase, a moment later Professor Sprout came and joined her and helped guide her up the steps, and Flitwick came from below Harry's eyes level and with a flick of his wand guided Trelawney's trunks up behind them.

"And where will the new Divination teacher stay when I appoint them?" Umbridge said dangerously,

"That will not be a problem Professor" Dumbledore chuckled pleasantly "I have already found a replacement, and her lodgings and classroom will not be required as the teacher requires lodgings on the ground floor."

"You have found –"Umbridge shrieked "you have no right to do that Professor, under Educational Decree Twenty-two –"

"The Ministry has the right to appoint a suitable candidate if and only if the headmaster cannot find a replacement." Said Dumbledore with a small and his eyes were twinkling the students all laughed quite loudly at seeing Umbridge looks like she was choking on a fly. He then continued in a loud voice "May I introduce you?"

He turned to look out into the misty grounds, as did all of the students, the only thing they heard for a moment was hooves, however there was a shocked murmur of interest around the students as the newcomer trotted into the Entrance Hall.

Harry immediately recognised him.

"This is Firenze" Dumbledore said happily to the shell shocked Umbridge who was staring open mouth at the Centaur. "I think that you will find him suitable."

Harry laughed, he knew that Umbridge would not find him suitable at all, she detested half breeds, and not that he thought a Centaur was a half breed at all.

After dinner that night Umbridge cancelled all of his detentions, and put him to work with Professor Snape, as she was too busy. Harry wondered if she was trying to gain more power. Snape as last time had him brew potions for the Hospital wing.

The next morning Umbridge was mysteriously missing from breakfast, and in her lesson she hardly paid any attention at all as she sat with a number of books at her desk and was writing quickly on a piece of parchment.

Harry couldn't help but wonder what she was doing, he had never seen her so distracted, he met with the DA that night and they started on a spell that everyone was quite excited about: the Patronus Charm.

"The Patronus charm is one of the most difficult spells that I have learnt, to use it you must not only say the spell, you must channel your emotion into it." Harry said to the DA, there were a number of new faces in the group fifteen more from the four houses, Seamus had finally unwound his pride and apologised so he too had now joined his best friend in the group.

"If you do not find a powerful, happy memory you will only be able to produce a smoke shield, whilst it will offer some protection, it will not drive a Dementor away." Harry explained and then demonstrated he thought of his time with Katie in Hogsmeade. "Expecto Patronum!" a large amount of silver mist shot out from his wand and he held it for a few minutes.

"However the full patronus, the animal guardian. You need the happiest memory you can conjure." He then thought of the day that he had presented Sirius with his acquittal papers that stated he was a free man. "Expecto Patronum!"

At the words, Prongs sprung from his wand and cantered around the Chamber throwing light everywhere. "They will only stay as long as you concentrate on the memory and your connection to your animal, if you lapse for even a moment." he then thought of Umbridge's face when she spoke to Trelawney and the patronus dispelled into nothing.

He had them first begin with thinking of a memory that thought would work for a few minutes then had them cast the spell, he saw that most conjured smoke with various success. "That was good for a first attempt, but your memories were not strong enough try again."

By the end of the lessons there had been ten successful patronuses;

Hermione's was an Otter, Luna's a hare, Cho's a swan, Seamus' a fox, Ernie's a boar, the twins' identical hyenas, Daphne's was a falcon, Susan's a cheetah and Ginny's was a horse.

"Well done to everyone who conjured their patronus today, next lesson we will practice them again" Harry said with a smile "but remember it is easier to control them in a controlled environment, but if you were confronted by a dementor it would be harder. If only I could find a boggart, I could have it transform into one."

"Don't be such a Killjoy Harrison" Daphne said from where she was standing.

"Yeah that would be scary" Lavender said with a shudder,

Harry frowned, they had to get used to being scared to cast the spell. He looked around the hall for a moment and then had an idea for the next lesson.

A week later, Harry prepared for their next lesson before he collected everyone. The week had gone well enough, Umbridge was back to her usual self but she had not put him back in to detention, yet, but he was not going to give her the chance before his next lesson.

He conjured hundreds of snakes, and using parseltongue he had them hide in the furthest corners until he called for them. He then collected the DA and brought them down to the chamber, and spent over an hour practicing the spell: a few more people got it including Ron who's Patronus was a Jack Russell and Neville, which was a bear.

After that hour he told them he had an exercise for them, he was going to have them stand in the dark and they had to conjure the Patronus, the only difference being there were dark creatures in the room and the only spell they could use was the Patronus. There was an excited murmur in the room.

"So who will be first?" Harry asked looking around at them all, and to his slight surprise Neville stepped forwards.

"I will Harry" he said with a determined voice.

Harry nodded. "Good well done Neville, right everyone else is to leave this chamber and congress in the entrance chamber." Quickly they all left, and Harry faced Neville. "Right, I will turn off the fires and it will be dark, you won't be able to see anything ok. There are going to be creatures after you and to stop them you will have to cast the spell, once it goes dark wait a minute and then cast ok?"

Neville nodded, he looked slightly worried but he had a look of steel in his eyes and his was held steady in his hand.

Harry retreated to the far end of the chamber under the statue of Slytherin. "Ok Nev, lights are going out now, remember wait a minute or so then start." He then looked at the closest statue of a snake and said in parseltongue "extinguish the lights in this room" and in that moment Harry could see no more, he took a breath and hissed again "my friends, find the boy in the centre of this chamber, scare him, bind him but do not injure him." He then stood still and listened, he couldn't hear Neville's breathing, he counted to sixty and he then heard a shout come from his friend.

"Ah they are on me!" he exclaimed, then in a determined voice "Expecto Patronum!" but he only conjured a small amount of smoke.

Harry called his wand and with a flick he created a number of loud noises.

Neville had continued to attempt the spell but had not succeeded, after a five minutes he was about to call a halt when Neville suddenly roared "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" and the great bear appeared

Harry smiled and hissed "Cease! Return to your positions and well done." The snakes then unwound themselves from Neville and retreated back to the shadows, "Lights!" and the hall was flooded with light.

Neville was standing in the centre still with his bear in front of him; he was however covered in sweat and looked slightly jumpy. "Well done Neville, you managed it."

"That was very difficult." Neville panted, and he took the chocolate that Harry offered him.

"It was supposed to be." Harry responded "now I am going to let you join everyone else but I have to ask you not to tell anyone what happened". Neville nodded. Harry soon got his next volunteer Hermione.

He started the same thing again but after a minute of not being able to cast the spell she lit her wand and Harry called an end to the test. "Sorry Hermione but you failed. You could only use the Patronus Charm."

She looked incredibly angry with herself, but she didn't argue.

Next was Daphne Greengrass, he gave her the same warnings and then the test began, he listened to her and he could tell that she was controlling her breathing. He heard her draw a breath when the first snakes reached her but she wasted no time in starting the spell but produced smoke. She then tried again and it looked like it was going to work but Harry quickly set of a loud bang and her concentration slipped and is dissolved into nothing.

A few more attempts passed before she was able to conjure her falcon and Harry called a halt.

"That was an unusual test Harrison, but I like the use of snakes" she said taking a small bite of the chocolate. "It must be a handy gift for things like this."

Harry smiled and led her out "actually this is the first time I have ever actively used it."

The rest of the DA also attempted to produce the charm in the test, the only others who were able to was Luna, George and Antony Goldstein.

He called them all back into the hall and they all waited "well done to everyone who attempted the charm under difficult circumstances, I know it was difficult but I was trying to create fear in the face of the unknown, but remember a Dementor makes you relive your worst memories which will counteract your own. " there was some appreciative nods, "now for those who cannot perform the charm do not worry, it is a hard charm to learn and you need to work on it independently, you need to find a memory that is powerful and that is something you have to find on your own, you can all create the Patronus shield so well done to everyone."

"So what was the test?" said Joshua Danvers eagerly.

Harry smiled, "well as we are now done for the day I will show you all" he then mentally thought of the snakes he wanted to speak to "come my friends into the light so that all may see you."

The students who had not seen the snakes flinched backwards,

"Do not worry they will not harm you, I only conjured them" Harry said, "actually Draco Malfoy taught me how in second year, and this is the first time I have ever used the spell."

Many students laughed at the memory. Justin had gone red as he remembered what he had accused Harry of, Harry was surprised about how used they had all gotten to his parseltongue ability, they used to flinch when he spoke it but now they didn't care.

With a flick of his wand the conjured snakes disappeared in puffs of smoke. "Now I think it is time I called an end to today's lesson, next week I think we will have a duelling lesson." The DA began talking with great interest about that, they did enjoy duelling.

"Harrison will you partake in this one?" Daphne asked him as they stepped onto the moving platform.

"Perhaps I will, I would like to practice as much as any of you." He said with a smile. "And if I face you I give you permission to use Dark spells against me."

"Then I hope we get to partner up" she said with a smile mischievously.

Harry quite enjoyed the next few days; he was starting his OWL revision and was reviewing a lot of material from previous years. All of their teachers were also beginning to pile on the work and many of the students were beginning to have small break downs, the first of which was Hannah Abbott in Herbology, she began to panic hysterically when she couldn't remember how to cut a basic first year plant, she had been escorted to the Hospital wing to get a calming draught.

He was in the middle of Dinner on Sunday night when Hermione had pointed out that Umbridge was glaring at him, it seemed that she was now back to her usual self and had got something she wanted and was now out for him again after she had let him off the detentions.

On Monday he had managed to sit through a history of magic easily and was just reading his book. Potions had progressed as it always did, Snape left him alone and he brewed a perfect potion.

It was however with some force of will that he pushed himself to leave his assigned classroom and make his way to the third floor Defence Against the Dark Arts.

He took his usual seat at the back but was soon joined by Hermione who was only on the floor above and a few minutes later by Ron who had come down from the divination tower.

As was usual the students pulled only their books, quills, ink and parchment out ready for the lesson. Professor Umbridge then walked in through the door with a malicious grin on her face

"Wands away." She said, although not a single student had bothered to take theirs out.

"Today we will be discussing the dangers of magical practices." She said sweetly. "In recent times there have been dangerous witches and wizards who have used magic to Instil fear into the minds of or our society."

"Can anybody name a dark witch or dark wizard?" She asked and many a student exchanged a look, what was she up to? Harry took her bait wondering what she had planned and raised his hand. "Yes dear, which family member are you going to tell us about?"

Harry could not believe her nerve, the only time that she recognised his Black heritage without him correcting her was to insult him. "I am sorry professor I do not understand who you are referring to."

Umbridge smiled at him "well you are a member of the Black family are you not, the darkest wizarding family for the last four hundred years. It is little wonder that a child was found dead under your hand in your fourth year. Who knows what dark magic you have witnessed?"

Harry felt rage boil under his skin, and felt his magic rise but he pulled it back immediately. "I beg your pardon professor. It would seem that you are insulting my family. Whilst I do not deny that House Black has born rather dark wizards, to attack my ancestry is to attack the rest of the pureblood population, also you would be insulting a large number of half-bloods and perhaps even the Muggle-born's."

"Most wizarding families can trace their blood back to my own. If you are however referring to the death eater by the name of Bellatrix you are obviously ill informed as she is not a daughter of House Black."

Umbridge gave him a gleeful look "you defend your heritage and wear it like a crown. Tell us dear what magic did you use against Mr Diggory?"

"How dare you!" Harry exclaimed "as I told your bloody Ministry on the day he was murdered, he was murdered by Peter Pettigrew on the orders of Lord Voldemort. All because he was with me when he shouldn't have been"

"So you admit that you are the accomplice to his murder" Umbridge said eagerly. The rest of the students took an intake of breath.

"He was murdered because of Voldemort! And as I know that you have read the interview In the Quibbler, he is alive and on the bloody move!" Harry said coldly, he could not believe her nerve to accuse him of being an accessory to murder.

"Detention Mr Potter for your outburst." She said with a smug smile. "I will make this very clear to you all. The dark wizard who this boy says has returned is a lie, no spell can bring back the dead."

"Wouldn't it then be a logical response to say that in 1981 that He Who Must Not Be Named was not killed" said Padma Patil.

"He Who Must Not Be Named was vanquished meaning he was killed that night." Umbridge said through clenched teeth.

"Vanquished maybe, but that does not mean dead. You are neither qualified or experienced enough to make that claim professor," Harry said casually "so you should probably keep quiet until the Ministry passes a new statement which you can recite, after all that is all you are in truth, a puppet of the mMnistry. Here to make sure that we cannot defend ourselves."

"Enough!" She said and her cheeks had turned red "I will not have you speak to me like that whilst I am standing in my own classroom."

"Take a seat if you prefer then professor." Harry said building up momentum, "but when the British Isles falls to Voldemort I will make sure that the history books name you as the reason that people could not defend themselves."

"Detention for the rest of the year!" She exclaimed "one more word from you and I will have you expelled!"

"Try it, but I will only transfer to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic or perhaps the Durmstrang Institute I have connections to both schools because of the tournament last year." Harry said his closing argument. "I will also make sure that descendants of House Black and Potter and the cadet lines never attend this school again. I will also take with me every student from the Ancient Houses who pay the largest tuition fees that keep this school operating and I will make sure that every nation, every member of our community knows why the Ancient Houses no longer attend Hogwarts School and I will continue to tell the truth which you so blatantly are trying to cover up. But of course that is your choice Delores, expel me or sit down and shut up and let us pretend to read your crappy excuse for a course text."

Umbridge had turned a purple that would have made uncle Vernon proud. "I shall see you at seven o'clock tonight." She snarled and then directed everyone to read a chapter of the book that they had already read whilst she went out about scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment.

"That was bloody brilliant." Ron whispered to him with a huge smile on his face.

"Your arguments were well reasoned," Hermione said but she looked worried "but you should be more careful, she will be after your blood now and I am worried what she will be doing to you in that detention."

"She has had it coming for a while." Harry said with a shrug. "Don't worry too much; I will have Sirius with me the whole time." He tapped his pocket which held the mirror.

o-HP-o

Review - Favourite - Add to Communities

o-HP-o