Ninja Wizard 36
By David
Author's Notes: All characters with the exception of "Tino" belong to JK Rowling.
Ninja Wizard 36
"Harry Strikes Back"
The castle was quiet. Harry crouched on the railing overlooking the great staircase. The new goggles he had gotten specially designed to work in the dark worked very well. He could see everything with clarity and ease. He stood up and stretched. He hadn't done this in a while and he was glad for the opportunity. But tonight wasn't for play. Harry was on serious business. He launched himself out into the great yawning space, moving gracefully into a swan dive as he fell past the third floor and his fingers on his left hand grasped the torch bracket he'd seen and the action changed his momentum from a fall into a swinging motion sending him towards the second floor landing. He landed perfectly and rolled forward into the black darkness of the shadows the torches couldn't reach. He listened very carefully but there weren't any other sounds except for the snoring noises from the paintings on the walls. Harry moved forward, making his way into the teacher's private quarters area. He passed McGonagall's room, Sprout's room, and Flitwick's room and then up ahead he spotted the room that Umbridge had taken for herself. He slowly and carefully eased her door open. Harry began to move much more carefully until he was completely inside with the door closed. Harry began using his wandless magic to do what he needed to get done. Once he was satisfied with what he had done Harry slipped out the door again and disappeared into the darkness of the night. He'd accomplished his mission and he couldn't wait to see the results in the morning at breakfast. This was going to be fun. He'd acted like he was slowly getting back to his old self and people were beginning to relax a little. Even Dumbledore seemed to be a little more composed around Harry even thought the old man still wouldn't look at him. Harry was used to it by now and he decided long ago he didn't care. He knew for sure there was something Dumbledore was hiding something from him and he's bide his time and when the moment was right he'd attack and wrest from the old man whatever secrets it was he was withholding from him. But first the Umbridge situation needed to be taken care of first. That took priority over everything at the moment. He'd had plenty of time to study her and felt the best way to attack was from two directions. The woman was vain and attempted to model the latest fashions that looked garish on her, and she was clearly on a power trip. Being in a position of power can do that to a person.
He crept inside the great hall and sat at the Gryffindor house table and let his mind wander. When he first came here he had been awed by the splendor of Hogwarts castle and thought it was a great place to be. Now in the time he'd been here he'd seen what was really going on behind the golden curtain so to speak and he was repulsed by it at first, questioning his decision to even come. Now he knew he had a mission to clean up the Wizarding World starting with Voldemort first and by God he vowed he would. He raised his head when he heard a sound and remained motionless for a moment and then he heard it once more. He casually leaned forward and rolled under the table and moved along the floor to another vantage point. He peeked over the staff table to see Argus Filch standing there in the middle of the hall. Argus Filch was the castle's caretaker. The man was loathed and hated by the students and Harry couldn't understand why. The man was responsible for the care of the castle just as much as Hagrid was responsible for the care of the grounds. Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat, was even more hated. How could anyone hate a cat? Harry liked Mrs. Norris and showed her affection and kindness every now and then, even leaving her a bit of tuna fish from dinner in a spot where he knew she would find it. Norris liked Harry and would greet him every now and then. Harry quietly moved out of the great hall by a side door and slowly made his way back up to Gryffindor tower and back inside. He sighed as he slipped into his bed and went to sleep.
Harry sat down at the breakfast table the next morning after his workout with Tino to find Hermione looking at the paper.
"Nothing unusual this morning," she said as she put it aside.
Harry nodded. "That's good. Glad to hear that. If he's silent that means he's in his hidey hole and the more time he spends in there means a whole lot more people get to live. Oh sure he's probably plotting something and that's fine, just means we need to be really alert at all times."
"When's the next meet?" Ron whispered.
"In a few days. I want to give people a chance to settle in first. I need to sit down and review things first," Harry said as the side door by the staff table opened.
Harry glanced up and saw her enter. He suppressed the smile on his face knowing that the show was about to begin. He hoped for a really good reaction and he wasn't disappointed at all. He watched as the really garish looking woman with the tie dye hairstyle and the multi colored robes took the stage as the room fell silent. But that wasn't all. On her robes were all kinds of witty sayings.
"Wave your wand if you love me," Ron whispered in total shock.
"Official Grateful Dead Groupie," Hermione whispered.
"Kiss me I'm A Witch," George read.
"I'm Not Bad Just Made That Way," Lee Jordan said next.
"I Brake For Potion Masters," Neville chuckled.
A moment later someone lost it and began to really laugh. Soon everyone was rolling on the floor with the exception of Slytherin House. Umbridge looked at everyone with a puzzled expression until she got a look at herself in the floor length mirror Dumbledore had gleefully conjured for her. She reacted in the manner that Harry had hoped for. Umbridge really lost it as she shrieked at the top of her lungs, heading for the same door she entered in. She opened it only to find Peeves on the other side. He shouted 'boo' in her face and she turned and raced out of the main doors.
"That was interesting," Harry grinned as he stopped laughing a moment later. "That certainly brightens up my day."
Fred and George were looking very pleased.
"It seems…" Fred started.
"We now…" George picked up.
"Have competition!" Fred finished, beaming.
Harry had to smile. "I'm sure they will give you a run for your money."
Both of them turned and began plotting. Harry went back to his breakfast and started reading a spell book for the next DA meeting. He needed to come up with new material for the rest of the year. Hermione had reported to him that the spells she had taught at the last meeting or two had gone over really well and Harry was pleased about that. Now was the time to emerge out of seclusion and start being active once more. He'd put the word out he was no longer interested in Quidditch but would be concentrating on other things and Hermione. He decided to have Fred and George whisper the rumors around Hogwarts in the next day or two and have them include the tidbit that he'd lost complete faith in the Ministry and was considering leaving the Wizarding World. By doing that he would be pushing the Ministry to act prematurely into doing something too soon. And speaking of doing things, Harry needed to connect with Snape really soon on those lessons he stated that he was ordered to give Potter by Dumbledore. The greasy git had put them off at least twice now and Harry was starting to wonder what was going on but it did give him time to prepare the trap he's constructed for Snape. Harry was going to enjoy this. He sent a short note to Snape by school owl before breakfast was over. Hopefully that would be well received.
The answer was sent back by return owl during lunch. Snape ordered Harry to report to his office at six that evening. Harry nodded and tucked the note away in his robe and continued to eat his lunch and not show any concern even though Ron was going hyper and Hermione was getting worried. Harry projected calm and peace and the both of them eventually settled down and relaxed. Harry promised them he would let them know what happened later. Harry was about to get more than he bargained for and it would change his mind about a lot of things.
He knocked on the door just a bit before six and heard Snape call out to come in. Harry opened the door and walked in, closing it behind him. He decided to use a respectful approach on the man.
"Good evening Professor Snape," he said, inclining his head towards the man.
Snape was taken back by the show of respect but managed to hide his shock. Harry knew he'd taken Snape off guard for the moment.
"I am going to assume you have done a bit of reading on the subject of Occlumency," Snape hissed.
"A little," Harry admitted.
"Good. Legilimens!" Snape shouted as he whipped out his wand.
Before Harry knew what was going on he was inside his mind and watching the scene. He saw Snape approach the door from the only direction he possibly could and that was because of the small weak light Harry had posted over the door. He saw Snape sneer at the door and kick it in, the door shattering into tiny splinters. Snape actually laughed as he walked through the doorway and continued on his way. Harry grinned. He'd taken the bait and was heading in the direction he had hoped he would. Harry slipped through the shadows to the front yard of the house. Snape emerged from the woods and stopped when he saw the house. He smiled and advanced to the front door and walked inside. Typical Snape, barging in when he hadn't been invited. Harry slipped into the house and watched Snape walk into the living room where he was greeted by a pair of the meanest Dobermans he'd ever seen.
"So very pathetic Potter," Snape smirked as he waved his wand at the dogs.
Nothing happened. Snape tried again. Still nothing. Both of the dogs stood up and began showing Snape their very sharp teeth. Harry heard Snape suck in his breath and wave his wand again but with no success. The dogs began drooling as they began voicing their displeasure at the man. Snape took a few steps back and the dogs advanced.
"Uh, oh shit!" Snape yelled as he turned and headed for the front door.
The dogs chased him all the way back to where the small wood gate had been but this time it was gone to be replaced by the stone wall. Snape screamed in frustration as he tried in vain to find the door. One of the dogs had removed the seat of his pants and the second one was gaining ground. Harry could see the duckies on his blue boxers and knew he was going to enjoy showing the memory to Ron and Hermione. Snape eventually gave up trying to find the door and began climbing the wall as the second dog grabbed his robe and yanked hard, pulling Snape down off the wall. Snape unhooked the cloak and let that dog have it just as the other one moved, clawing at it white shirt, tearing it with it's toenails. Harry saw a black shirt underneath the white shirt and it had something written on it.
"Got potions?" Harry read to himself. Then he saw the front. "Have You Hugged Your Potions Master Today?"
He did his best to conceal his laughter as Snape managed to get over the wall. He waved his hand at the dogs.
"Thank you Chico and Poncho. Job well done," Harry said as they licked his hands at the praise.
Both dogs trotted off with their prizes. Harry turned and exited his mind through a safe door and back into reality. He slowly came to and groaned in pain as he struggled to stand up. Just as he got to his feet and saw Snape lying on the ground against the far wall the door opened and Draco entered.
"Potter! What have you done to Professor Snape?" Draco yelled as he drew his wand and fired a spell at Harry.
Both Harry and Snape were still a bit out of it to react in time. The spell hit Harry in the side sending him into a cabinet that opened on impact. A large bowl started to fall and Snape reacted, his eyes going wide. Harry didn't think. He lunged for it and managed to catch it before it hit the ground. In doing so, his left thumb rubbed a rune on the edge of the bowl and he disappeared in a flash of light. Snape and Draco started at the spot where Harry had been moments ago.
"You little bastard!" Snape roared, getting into Draco's face. "Detention! With me! For the rest of the year!"
Both of them turned to the bowl and Snape carefully picked it up and set it on the table. Draco decided now was the time to get the hell out and he fled as Snape stared into the liquid inside the bowl. Harry had fallen into Snape's pensive.
He slowly came to with his head hurting. He sat up and looked around. He was on the school grounds and as he wondered just what in hell was going on, he heard voices coming. He scrambled to hide in the tall grasses and low bushes. He peeked out and saw who it was and nearly freaked out. It was his father with Sirius, Remus, and Pettigrew. They were sitting in the grass discussing a test while James was playing with a Snitch he had taken out of his pocket. Harry looked around and saw Snape sitting not too far from them examining a paper. Apparently he had not seen them arrive. He watched his father smirk. He grinned and Harry could see why the girls flocked to him.
"Gents, look who's here," he said softly.
The others looked to see Snape not too far from them. James stood up.
"Snivellus," he said delightedly.
Snape reacted faster than Harry thought possible but Sirius had his wand out.
"Expelliarmis!" he yelled and Snape's wand went flying.
Snape dove for the want but was caught by the Impedimenta spell, rendering him incapable of motion. People were not turning to watch the scene as James and Sirius advanced on a helpless Snape.
"How did the exam go, Snivelly?" James smirked.
"I was watching him the entire time as his nose was touching the parchment," Sirius said viciously. "There'll be great grease marks all over it and they won't be able to read a word!"
There was laughter at that pronouncement as Snape struggled to free himself but couldn't. He glared at the two Marauders.
"You wait," he snarled. "Just you wait."
"Wait for what? You gonna wipe your nose on us?" Sirius laughed.
Snape let out a stream of mixed swearwords and hexes, but with his wand ten feet away from him nothing happened.
"Wash out your mouth," James ordered. "Scourgify!"
Harry watched in shock as pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once, the froth was covering his mouth and it was making him gag, chocking him.
"Leave him alone!" the shout turned heads.
Harry looked to see a girl arrive and he knew beyond a doubt that this was Lily Evans. Her green eyes were flashing in anger as she walked up to them.
"What's he ever done to you?" she demanded. "Let him go!"
James appeared to debate his reply. "Well, it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean."
Many of the watchers laughed at the reply as Lily frowned.
"You think you're so funny do you, Potter," She said coldly. "You are nothing but a cold arrogant bullying toe rag. Leave him alone."
"I will if you'll go out with me," James said quickly, trying to turn this to his advantage. "Go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."
Harry watched as Snape began crawling towards his fallen wand as the Impediment jinx wore off, anger on his face and spitting soapsuds.
"I wouldn't go out with you if I had a choice between you and the Squid," Lily snapped back as a few of the watchers cheered.
Now Harry knew for sure he had gotten his temper from his mother. "You go, Mum!"
Suddenly Snape was on his feet and had directed his wand towards James. There was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the right side of James's face spattering his robes with blood. James reacted and a moment later Snape was upside down his robes falling down over his head to reveal his skinny legs and a pair of graying underpants. The crowd roared in laughter as Lily grew furious.
"Leave him alone!" she shouted at him.
James shrugged and waved his wand. Snape crashed to the ground and just as quickly Sirius cast Locomotor mortis on Snape, causing him to go still as a board and falling over once more. James turned to see a wand pointed at him between the eyes.
"I'll say it once more. Leave him alone," Lily hissed.
James backed up completely unnerved by the fire in her eyes. Harry watched in shock at the events. He couldn't believe what was going on. He barely heard what happened next as Lily lit right into his father and really dressed him down after he released Snape. James ignored her and turned to Snape.
"Lucky for you Evans was here to rescue you," he said. Snape's reply shocked Harry. "I don't need help from filthy Mudbloods like her!"
Lily blinked. "Fine. I won't bother in the future. And I'd wash out your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
Sirius roared in laughter as Lily walked away as James stared at her. He spun around and confronted Snape once more. Harry had seen enough. He closed his eyes and wished himself back into Snape's office and a moment later he felt a cool breeze on his face and opened his eyes to find himself on the floor. He struggled to his feet as his head hurt severely at the trip back out of the bowl. He looked up into Snape's face and then turned and raced out of the man's office. He needed to get away.
Harry spent the night out on the grounds in complete misery. He'd discovered his father had been anything but and he wasn't sure what to make of that. He sat in the doorway of the small barn that Hagrid kept the animals and watched the rain fall. He pulled his cloak around him and sighed. He finally understood why Snape hated him and called him the things he did. Harry leaned back against the doorframe and wondered what to do next. The most obvious thing for Snape to do was to go and see Dumbledore and tell him about what happened with the lesson and then tell the old man no more. Harry agreed with that. He'd more than established that his mind was well protected except for that one area that he allowed Voldemort to see. If the connection was completely broken Voldemort might go crazy and get even worse. Harry had decided to leave that spot be for now as long as his mental defenses were sound. He looked up when he heard a rooster crowing. He realized that it was dawning. He stood up and walked back to the castle, getting completely soaked before getting more than a dozen steps away from the barn. He didn't care at the moment. He went back to the Gryffindor tower and into the shower room and spent fifteen minutes under the hot water. He changed his clothes and slipped out of the room and down to the commons room. He watched the fire until Hermione came down. When she got a look at Harry she knew something was wrong. She steered Harry away from everybody and out into the school. She found a private place and Harry leaned into her and then she realized he was crying. He told her everything and she held onto him for a time. When Harry broke away he was feeling better.
"I need to send a note to Dumbledore and tell him I don't need the lessons anymore," Harry said. "I'm more than prepared."
Hermione nodded and Harry stepped into the boy's bathroom as she walked down the hall to a small two seater couch to wait for Harry. Apparently Dumbledore seemed to anticipate Harry's need for a meeting because he moved the tip of his index finger slightly in the direction of his office when Harry saw him up on the dais at breakfast. Harry ate slowly and then left the table with his mug of coffee and headed to the headmaster's office. He walked in and stroked Fawkes's feathers for a bit. The Phoenix rubbed it's head against Harry's cheek for a moment.
"There are times when I am glad to have his companionship," Dumbledore said from his desk. "He has been a source of great comfort to me."
Harry sat down and sighed. He looked up into Dumbledore's face and suddenly found himself back in his mind. Harry watched as Dumbledore walked along a path lit up by glowing fairies. Dumbledore arrived at the house that Harry built and a lady was waiting for him there.
"A good day to you, "Dumbledore bowed in respect.
The Japanese lady returned the bow. "I am honored to have you as a guest here."
"I am honored to be a guest here. Thank you for inviting me," Dumbledore bowed once more.
"I am Mariko, daughter of my master Koshou," she said.
"I am Dumbledore, master of Hogwarts," Dumbledore introduced himself.
She directed him to a chair and the offered him some tea. They began to talk. As Dumbledore left the house fifteen minutes later, he suddenly realized Harry had outwitted him and he chuckled.
"I am very impressed Harry," Dumbledore said as Harry blinked, realizing the moment was over. "You are indeed very powerful in your mental defenses. Severus was right. He has informed me of last night's events, something I had not known and if I had, would have taken steps to ensure that your father would have paid for his bullying of Severus. This has changed how you see your parents, has it not?"
Harry sighed and started talking. He told Dumbledore everything he was feeling and what he had felt and saw during the episode in the pensive. Dumbledore said nothing but listened. He nodded when Harry told him he had every intention of writing a letter to Snape expressing his thoughts and feelings on the event that he had witnessed.
"You are definitely not your father," Dumbledore said at last. "You are beyond all of that. You are indeed an honorable man, something I think your father possibly failed to learn when he was your age."
That surprised Harry to hear Dumbledore say that and he considered the old man's words carefully for the rest of the evening. There was no doubt in his mind that Dumbledore was right in what he said. Harry went into the library and wrote a long letter to Snape. He hoped the man would accept his apology on behalf of the Potter/Evans Clans and make peace with him. Harry did consider that it wasn't likely to happen and he would leave it at that. He'd done what he could and the rest would be up to Snape. He left the letter on Snape's desk the next morning during potions and slipped out after the rest of the class. He would know the answer to the letter by the end of the day, much less learn it in class the next day. He hoped Snape would be man enough to accept it.
"Potter," came the voice he knew so well the next afternoon in the hallway between classes.
Harry looked up to see Snape standing there looking so arrogantly. He instantly knew what the answer would be.
"There never will be any peace between us, Potter. As long as you exist I will continue to hate the Potter Clan," he said and turned away.
Harry nodded and headed off to the next class. During a break in the class he wrote a quick note to Dumbledore and tapped it with his wand. It disappeared and Harry turned back to the class once it got going again. Harry decided to put that issue aside for now and deal with the more immediate problem, that problem being one Dolores Jane Umbridge. She had appeared later in the day madder than a wet hen after clearing her office of a load of stink bombs looking for a victim to take her anger out on and chose Harry. Harry sat there calmly as she snarled, spit, and hissed at him all class long. Harry sat there and totally ignored her and by the end of the day had gained much more respect from many people. What Umbridge had not realized was that she inadvertently started a war with Harry.
Hermione was examining the Daily Prophet the next morning as Harry sat down next to her at breakfast. He'd had a strange experience during his workout. His scar had flared up but the feelings he got were one of great joy. That worried Harry a lot and as soon as he saw the front page he knew why. Hermione squawked as Harry took the front page section from her hands and then she went quiet as Harry studied the dozen pictures of the Ministry's top wanted along with an article about Black being the possible rallying point for the escaped Death Eaters. Harry handed the paper back to Hermione and calmly ate his breakfast. He needed to figure out a way to create a special communications line to Sirius, one that would be a thousand times better than chancing the fireplace. He sighed. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought.
"Sirius being the main point for the DE's is a load of crap," Ron snarled later in the day. "He'd find a way to prank them all!"
Harry burst out in laughter. Ron had deliberately said that in an effort to get his friend out of the blue funk he was in and it had worked.
"That he would, Ron. That he would," Harry smiled. "That announcement in the paper has made me consider doing some shield spells in the next DA meeting."
"Protego, Conto, and one other I can't remember at the moment," Hermione said, reaching for her spell book.
Harry chuckled. "Making you the official researcher for the DA has paid off nicely. You have found spells we can use easily and quickly that we haven't learned yet."
"I think now would be a good time to start team tactics," Ron said. "Use one person for the shield spells while the other man casts the defensive spells."
Harry grinned. Ron had just confirmed something he had been toying with in his mind for some time as Ron explained how that would work and then using a united front and other things. He would give Ron a few books off his shelf in his training room on Feudal Japan's Famous battles, The Book of Five Rings, and Sun Tsu's book as well. He was sure Ron would benefit from them.
Harry gave Ron the books in his training room that afternoon as Hermione and Tino looked on.
"This is your new assignment," Harry started. "If you are to be my general I need you to study these books and apply them to the DA and castle defenses. I want you to come up with three defensive plans for the castle by the end of the year."
Ron blinked. "Are you sure mate?" he asked.
Harry nodded. "You are so damn good at plotting your moves during chess. I know you can apply those skills to this new assignment. Tino can help you with anything you might not understand. I know you are perfect for this."
Ron choked up a little and then looked at Harry.
"I, Ronald Bilious Weasley, do hereby pledge my support and offer myself into the service of Clan Potter," Ron said, bowing.
"Ron," Harry said, deeply moved by what Ron had just done, "do you have any idea what you are doing?"
"Yes," Ron said. "I do this of my own free will, my Lord."
Harry nodded. "Then I accept you into my service, old friend."
Both of them shook hands and Ron took the books from Harry. He nodded and they left the room one by one. Harry turned to Tino.
"I will talk to him and make sure he understands what he had done," Tino said. "It is a very serious thing he has done. I do trust him absolutely."
"So do I Tino," Harry nodded.
Harry pulled the coin out of his pocket and set the meeting date to early Saturday morning and then left his training room.
Hermione and Harry were headed down to Hogsmeade one Saturday morning on a nice but cold February morning. Harry's mind was busy with new things as Hermione talked about the DA's progress that morning. They went to the local bookstore first to check out any new books that might have come in. The owner was glad to see them and showed them the latest books he'd gotten in. Umbridge was watching the mail owls and Hermione hadn't been getting any of the monthly sale catalogs and that had bothered her immensely. Harry knew that and hoped if she did get books that she would be able to smuggle the back into the castle without getting busted for having them. Harry and Hermione were feeling a bit of a strain on their relationship of late because of what they were doing so going to Hogsmeade was their only means of escape from the castle and the 'communist regime' as Hermione had so darkly put it. Harry agreed with her.
They went into the Three Broomsticks and Hermione took a booth in a corner while Harry went up to the bar for drinks. He returned to find Hermione deep in conversation with Rita Skeeter. Harry mentally groaned and sat down. Rita Skeeter looked terrible, Harry noted. She didn't look like the Rita Harry remembered from the Triwizard Tournament.
"Harry, what do you say to an interview with Rita?" she said as Luna Lovegood sat down at the table.
"Where am I going to print it?" Rita asked.
"I'll send it to Daddy," Luna piped up. "He owns the Quibbler."
Harry debated the question for a moment. "I have a few conditions."
Rita sat up immediately. "Name them."
"You print exactly what I say, no special or fancy writing with it, no slants, no speculations, or anything like that," Harry stated.
Rita grinned. "Deal."
Harry headed back to the bar and got a pot of tea and a few cups and returned to the table with them. He poured Rita a cup and set it in front of her.
"So, what do you want to know?" Harry asked.
Rita reached for her ever present pad and a quill. "Let's start with the current situation with Hogwarts."
Harry sighed and took a drink of his butterbeer. "Well, here we go."
For the next hour Harry talked about everything going on at Hogwarts under Umbridge, to his feelings about Fudge and the ministry, to Voldemort and the night of his rebirth, and the his feelings about the recent breakout. He held nothing back, just laid it all out. Rita would ask questions here and there as Harry talked. Hermione watched the crowd to ensure nobody strayed too close to the table as Harry talked to Rita. Once Harry was done talking Rita looked over the twenty or so pages she had written.
"Anything else to add?" she asked.
Harry thought for a moment. "No. Can't think of anything else. Send the article to the Quibbler and we'll do the rest. I suggest you lay low for a while. Any time you need to see me make contact through the Quibbler and it will get to me," Harry said.
Rita nodded and then slipped out the side door.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked.
"I'm feeling a bit tired," he admitted.
"Fredo's?" Hermione asked.
Harry smiled. "Sure. I'm in the mood. Luna, thanks for everything. Just be careful in your letters to your Dad."
"I'm going to use one of the Hogsmeade mail owls to send him a letter and inform him of things," she said. "When he's got the article I'll tell him to come up to the castle on a concerned father visit."
"That will work," Harry said as he stood up. "Thanks again."
Harry and Hermione walked out of the bar and headed down the street. Fredo's was open and he greeted them warmly and showed them to their usual spot. They sat down at the small table as the soft music came out of the hidden speakers. Harry sighed as he took Hermione's hand into his.
"I don't know what I'd do without your love and support behind me, love. Means a lot to me," Harry said.
Hermione leaned forward and kissed him. "I'm always here for you."
They spent a quiet afternoon together there in the restaurant before heading back to the castle. They made a slight detour when Lee Jordan whispered to them that there was an inspection going on at the door. Hermione wrapped the books in plastic and hid them inside a hollowed out dead tree intending to get them later. They headed up to the door where Filch and Umbridge stood.
"Open bags please," Umbridge asked when they got to the front of the line. "What is inside that container?"
Harry opened it. "Lasagna. Place in town called Fredo's. Great Italian food," Harry explained. "I highly recommend it."
"I shall go there then," she said. "Move along."
They went into the castle and headed up to the Gryffindor tower.
Two evenings later Mr. Lovegood showed up at the castle, citing a concerned father visit. Umbridge allowed it provided Mr. Lovegood left by the curfew time and he agreed. He made it a point to shake Umbridge's hand and told her it was a pleasure to meet her. As expected she puffed right up from the praise. As she walked away he wiped his hand off on his robe and Harry had to smile at that. They stepped into a side room and Harry got a look at the article. Sure enough Rita had kept her word and printed everything accurately. She did however, raised some damn good speculations and questions about what was really going on. Hermione read it as Harry played lookout and then she handed it back.
"It will go in about a week. Prepare for the worst," he said.
They stepped out of the side room and Harry told him what a pleasure it was to meet him. Harry and Hermione walked off in one direction, Harry being aware of Malfoy watching him. Once they got around the corner they disappeared into a secret tunnel. Hermione went up to the commons room while Harry switched to his ninja suit and tailed Mr. Love good all the way out of the castle and to the apparition point. He hadn't been challenged at all. Harry slipped back into the commons room well after curfew and appeared out of his dorm room. McGonagall was in the commons room.
"There you are, Harry. That… thing has us doing head counts now at curfew every night," she hissed in anger.
"Every toad has their day," Harry smiled. "It will be a great pleasure if I get the chance to stuff her back into her toad hole."
"You mean dog," Hermione corrected Harry. "Every dog has it's day."
"In her case it's toad because she looks like one," Harry said as the commons room broke out in laughter.
McGonagall smiled at that and turned to leave. The room settled down and Harry turned to find Hermione at one of the tables reading something. He walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek as the girls in the room sighed in unison.
"Good night love," he said.
Hermione looked up at him and affectionately scratched his cheek. "See you in the morning love."
All hell did break loose a day after the new issue of the Quibbler hit the streets. The mail owls dumped a ton of mail into the mailroom as they were supposed to but it was a little too late by then. A few of the more enterprising people had smuggled copies in and it was all over Hogwarts before Umbridge could react, and react she did. Harry barely stepped into the hall for breakfast when something slammed him against the wall. Harry stared down into Umbridge's eyes, seeing the red fire of anger in them. He ignored her wand pointed at his face. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Colin Creevey taking pictures and recording the event.
"You little bastard!" Umbridge hissed in fury, drool running down her chin from one corner of her mouth. "You insignificant little worm! You think you can walk all over the ministry do you? Where the hell do you get off telling more of your lies about Fudge and the rest of us at the ministry? Where the hell do you think you can get off telling lies about me and calling me that vile name, a communist?"
The entire hall had come to a complete stop. Nobody said a word. Harry stared down at her and decided it was time to scare her just a little bit. He let his power come up just a tiny bit, the fire rising up in his own eyes as he projected his will over hers. She suddenly got nervous and stepped back a little, letting go of Harry's shirt. Harry stepped away from the wall moving forward into the spot she had been in just moments before.
"I, Dolores Jane Umbridge, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, do hereby strip you of your Hogsmeade privilege so long as you are a student here. I have warned you many times about spreading lies you deranged attention seeking brat!" she screamed at Harry and then slapped him across the face.
Harry let even more of his anger out of him and at her as the fire in his eyes rose even higher. People were giving the both of them a wide berth knowing that a fight was about to happen. Harry reached down to the table and picked up a solid silver tankard and finished off his orange juice and then squeezed it hard. When he opened his hand and let it drop on the floor it was mangled beyond use. Hermione silently counted all five finger marks on the tankard and shivered. Umbridge gulped nervously and then turned away. Harry picked up a mug of coffee and then walked out of the hall very calmly with his head held high. There was no doubt in anyone's mind Harry clearly had been the victor of that confrontation. He had done the impossible and scared off Umbridge at the cost of his freedom. Harry wasn't finished yet. For the rest of the day anytime Umbridge crossed his path he made a point of staring her down and winning each stare contest. People stayed out of his way and didn't dare to approach him.
Umbridge attempted to strike back the next morning as signs appeared all over Hogwarts with the latest decree.
"By order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, any student found with the magazine the Quibbler in their possession will be expelled immediately. Signed her Holiness her majesty Umbridge the Toad," Fred sang out as people laughed.
That gave Harry an idea for the lunch hour and he slipped away first chance he got and slipped inside the hall and used his wandless magic to spell one of the suits of armor to make the announcement and the five others to play trumpets and then slipped right out again. He appeared next to Hermione from a secret route to the third floor and they went into class together. He knew Fred and George were up to something and Harry hoped it would slightly delay her for a bit and it did. She walked into the hall a few minutes into lunch. All at once the five suits of armor lifted their trumpets and blew a few musical notes, gaining the attention of everybody in the hall. The one suit of armor that Harry had charmed stepped forward with a snap and saluted.
"All rise and make obeisance to her Royal Majesty Her Holiness the Queen Umbridge the Toad!" the suit of armor sang out and then remained at attention.
Umbridge gasped out loud as he eyes bulged out in anger and shock as the hall dissolved in laughter. McGonagall was making no effort to conceal her laughter. Hagrid's hand was shaking the table very hard each time it came down. Dumbledore was leaning back looking up at the ceiling and Harry wasn't sure of the old man's reaction. Snape flew into a rage and was barely heard over the din. Harry was enjoying every moment of it as Colin had snapped even more pictures. Umbridge turned around and was now hopping up and down in rage trying to restore order and then finally gave up. She stormed out of the hall through a side door and slammed it shut. Eventually people calmed down and went back to their lunches. Harry glanced up at the staff table and noticed Dumbledore saying something to McGonagall. He went right back to his lunch unconcerned.
As the day went on anytime Umbridge walked around Hogwarts the sound of frogs could be heard. Harry watched as it drove her nuts. Harry walked into DADA and saw a large toad on a wall wearing a crown on it's head and dressed in garishly pink robes. Harry could only guess who did that one. Umbridge walked into the room and it started to croak. She turned and saw it on the wall, whipped out her wand, and burned it off the wall. Harry saw Colin snapping pictures of her setting fire to the wall and knew the boy wonder as he called him was recording the deed. Colin sat down quickly and slipped his camera back into the school bag by his desk. Umbridge glared at Harry but didn't say a thing. She went right on with the lesson.
That night Harry had another vision. This time Voldemort was standing in a darkened room standing over a nearly prostrate man.
"I have been badly advised it seems," Voldemort hissed softly.
"Master, I crave your pardon," the man on the floor shivered in fear.
Voldemort nodded slowly. "I do not blame you, Rookwood."
Rookwood bowed even lower. "Thank you master. Bode would have never taken it, my Lord. I should know, I used to work in there. Only those who are named upon it are capable of touching it."
"Are you absolutely sure of this?" Voldemort asked, turning to face the man once more, slowly cracking his knuckles.
"Yes my Lord," Rookwood said.
Voldemort nodded. "Very good. You have done well to tell me this. We shall have to begin once more now that I know what to do."
Harry sat straight up in bed as his scar pained him a little. He slipped out of bed and grabbed a bit of parchment and wrote out what he had seen and heard and sealed it. All he had to do now was wait for an opportunity to give it to Dumbledore. He needed to know this immediately. He went back to bed and lay there awake for the rest of the night. He slipped into his training room at the usual time and found Tino there.
"Are you going to see Dumbledore anytime soon?" he asked Tino.
"Yes why?" he asked.
Harry told him what he saw last night and Tino nodded gravely. He took the roll of parchment from Harry and nodded.
"He will have it within the hour. Start working out," he directed Harry.
Harry went right to work.
Sybil Trelawney got the sack two nights later. Harry arrived in the main foyer in time to see a very drunk Trelawney standing there in a state of hysteria. Umbridge stood on the stairs staring down at the woman.
"NO!" Trelawney shrieked. "This cannot be happening! Hogwarts has been my home for sixteen years! I refuse to accept this!"
"You didn't realize it was coming?" Umbridge asked in her high falsetto. "Hogwarts was your home. Now it is not your home any longer. You have failed as a teacher to impart anything useful to the students. You failed in even the simplest things, like predicting tomorrow's weather. I charge you for being a fraud and completely useless. Now leave. Your shameful emotional display is embarrassing us."
Before anything else was said McGonagall appeared by Trelawney's side and started to help her.
"Calm down now, Sybil. It's not as bad as you think it is. You are not going to have to leave Hogwarts," McGonagall said.
"Oh really?" Umbridge said, glaring at McGonagall. "And your authority for that statement is?"
"Mine," rumbled Dumbledore.
There was nothing gentle about Dumbledore's face at the moment, nothing kind of grandfatherly about him. The power that came off him scared people and they all backed away from him and Umbridge. Harry silently urged Dumbledore to deep fry the toad on the spot. Umbridge tried to appear unafraid but failed miserably.
"Yours, Professor Dumbledore?" she said with a tiny laugh. "You do not understand the significance of Educational Decree Number Twenty Three gives me the power to inspect and dismiss any teacher I see fit that is not performing up to scratch. I have here an dismissal order signed by me and the minister to dismiss Trelawney!"
Dumbledore nodded. "I understood that very well, Umbridge. But you do not have the authority to send my teachers out of the castle, and that authority lies with me and me alone. It is my wish that Miss Trelawney remains here at Hogwarts. My dear Miss McGonagall, would you so kindly escort Sybil back to her quarters? I shall be along in a bit to see her."
"Of course," McGonagall said and turned to Trelawney and helped her to her feet. Professor Sprout appeared and took Sybil's other side and both women escorted Trelawney up the stairs as Flitwick made the two large trunks move past a furious Umbridge. She glared at Dumbledore.
"Where am I going to put the new teacher once I have appointed them?" she loudly demanded.
Dumbledore brightened up and smiled. "I have already found a new teacher who prefers lodgings on the ground floor."
"You what!" Umbridge shrieked loudly. "May I remind you…"
Dumbledore smiled. "Yes you may remind me. However I have found a very suitable individual and he has agreed to teach. May I introduce you?"
He turned to face the open doors that the night mist was slowly drifting through. Everybody in the hall heard what sounded like hooves and then a moment later the person revealed himself. Harry recognized Firenze and grinned. He'd send Umbridge into insanity before long. Firenze stopped next to Dumbledore as the old man turned back to Umbridge.
"This is Firenze. He shall be the new Divination professor," Dumbledore smiled grandly at a clearly thunderstruck Umbridge. "I think you'll find him very suitable."
Umbridge just stood there with her jaw smacking the floor as people snickered.
The hall the next morning was buzzing with the news of last night's events. People were talking loudly about it and speculating about Firenze and what he might possibly talk about. Harry was looking forward to the class. Hermione sighed and put the paper down.
"Nothing new today except for the one letter to the editor about the article in the Quibbler," Hermione reported. "It was a friendly letter, taking the editors of the Daily Prophet to task for not printing the article."
"What was the reaction to that?" Harry asked.
"There wasn't any," Hermione replied. "I was sure they'd jump all over the letter for what it said."
Ron leaned over. "Could be that it got overlooked and put in by mistake."
"I agree with that," Harry said. "I am sure someone will see it today and comment on it and there will be a fire and brimstone article tomorrow."
Hermione giggled at that. "You sure of that Harry?"
"Anything's possible," Harry said as he shrugged his shoulders. "We can wait and see. In the meantime I gotta go. Firenze is first this morning."
Harry found classroom eleven right where Dumbledore had announced it would be. He walked in and was shocked by what he saw. The classroom had been changed into a forest type setting, trees, bushes, grasses, and even a tiny brook running down the far side of the room where a wall should have been.
"This is cool," Ron remarked.
"The perfect environment to make Firenze feel comfortable," Harry said.
Firenze appeared next to Harry. "And it has. Now I understand why Dumbledore is a great man. It is not all of the power he has, but what is inside the man that makes him great!" Firenze declared.
Harry thought about that for a moment and knew he had just learned something very important. "You're right," he said, looking at Firenze. "You're absolutely right about Dumbledore being a great man."
The bell rang right at that moment and class got started.
Harry found Peeves in one of the halls later on in the day and he smiled at the poltergeist, making Peeves narrow his eyes at Harry.
"What are you up to Potter?" Peeves demanded.
Harry smiled as he placed a large box of balloons on the window ledge next to him. "Just wanted to give you a little something to use against Umbridge with is all. She did try to get you thrown out of the castle because of that last stunt."
Peeves growled in anger. "She'll regret the day she crossed me."
Harry smiled as Peeves grabbed the box and opened it to react in surprise at what else he found inside the box. Harry laughed at Peeves's reaction.
"Go get her, Peeves. Open season on Umbridge," Harry grinned as Peeves did a triple flip in joy.
Harry nodded as Peeves flew down the hall intending to get busy as Harry headed off to meet Hermione at the library. He needed to see what spells she had come up with for the next meet of the DA.
"All of you are here because I need help in controlling Hogwarts," Umbridge said to the students sitting in chairs in front of her. "Things are starting to get out of hand and I cannot be everywhere at once. Your primary mission is to catch the people who are pulling these awful pranks on me, thinking it's so funny. Well they shall think twice when I expel them for their crimes against the Ministry and me! To that end I shall give you power over the prefects and the head boy and girl. They will be subject to your authority. The individuals I need watched are Harry Potter, the Weasley twins, Lee Jordan, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley. I shall add more names to the list later. All of you are the Inquisitorial Squad. You answer to me and nobody else, not even that horrible man Dumbledore!"
Draco Malfoy smiled smugly as he polished the silver I on his robe above the Slytherin House patch on his robe.
"It will be my great pleasure to bring you Potter on a silver platter, Madame Umbridge," Malfoy bowed.
The other Slytherin students laughed right along with Draco Malfoy, making Peeves shiver in fear as he remained in the dark shadows above them. He slowly melted into the ceiling and came up into the corridor above the classroom. He needed to find Potter right fucking now.
"The Inquisitorial Squad," Harry nodded after Peeves told him everything that he heard and saw. "Don't do anything to them yet. Keep chasing down Umbridge. I really appreciate the information, Peeves. I owe you one."
Peeves nodded. "I'll spy on her every chance I get."
Peeves disappeared and Harry turned to the table where a concerned Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and the twins sat.
"What are we going to do mate?" Ron asked.
"Nothing for now. We keep on keeping on and let her make the next move with the Inquisitorial Squad. Once we know who they are we'll make plans for them as well. An attack on us is an attack on Hogwarts," Harry said.
The twins grinned their special fear inducing smile. "And we shall prepare some special things for them while we wait."
"Great! You guys are really good at that. Would be nice to know what they are planning to get us with," Harry said.
"You know it's going to be something very nasty," Ginny said.
"Harry, I'm really worried," Hermione said. "Things are really getting out of hand here and someone is bound to get hurt soon."
"That's the last thing I need and want," Harry sighed. "Okay. Business as usual."
Little did he know that things were going to get really hot fast.
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Next Episode: Umbridge Attacks! Hogwarts Retaliates!