The next weeks seemed to fly by. The DA was the best part of the week, even though we couldn't have them every week, or even at the same time. It was probably a good thing though. It made Umbridge's classes unbelievable more fun to think about her face if she knew what we were doing. I thought I would have trouble keeping it a secret, but I never did. It actually made it more fun to think that she didn't know.

The amount of friendship I felt with the fellow members was also surprising. I hadn't really talked to half these people before the meetings, but now I considered almost all of them (save for a select few,) my friends. I was hanging out with more of them, greeting them in the hall, learning more about the houses than I'd ever know previously. I was getting just what the hat meant by unite within. Together we made a really great team, a lot like Hermione, Ron, and Harry. The Hufflepuffs loyalty helped hold the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws together; the Gryffindors persuaded the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws into action; and the Ravenclaws helped us all take a step back and ask ourselves, is that really a good idea?' We made a unbeatable group together. I could only imagine what we would have been like with a few Slytherins and their notorious cunning.

We were at our fourth meeting, and Hermione had just come up with a truly ingenious way of communicating. She held up one of the Galleons, examining it as she spoke. "You see the numerals around the edge of the coins?" she asked. The coin gleamed fat and yellow in the light from the torches. "On real Galleons that's just a serial number referring to the goblin who cast the coin. On these fake coins, though, the numbers will change to reflect the time and date of the next meeting. The coins will grow hot when the date changes, so if you're carrying them in a pocket you'll be able to feel them. We take one each, and when Harry sets the date of the next meeting he'll change the numbers on his coin, and because I've put a Protean Charm on them, they'll all change to mimic his." A deafening silence greeted Hermione's words. She looked around at all the faces upturned to her, rather disconcerted, clearly not recognizing the awe we were all looking at her with.

I beamed at her, hoping it would let her know we all approved. She smiled falteringly at me, still looking uncomfortable at the lack of response and all the eyes on her. "Well - I thought it was a good idea," she said uncertainly. "I mean, even if Umbridge asked us to turn out our pockets, there's nothing fishy about carrying a Galleon, is there? But . . . well, if you don't want to use them – " I opened my mouth to tell her just how brilliant she was but I got beat out.

"You can do a Protean Charm?" said Terry Boot with awestruck eyes. He was one of the members I didn't like, mainly because of the way he looked at Hermione. I was not going through this again. Merlin, do not make me go through this again. I just got rid of Krum!

"Yes," Hermione answered, completely oblivious to the fact that Terry was practically drooling at her.

"But that's . . . that's NEWT standard, that is," He said weakly. My hand tightened around my wand handle and I was drawing it out of my pocket with out another thought. Fred gripped my arm subtly, shaking his head at me. I took a breath and forced myself to relax. I released my hold on my wand and shot Terry a fierce glare instead. Git would be on my list now. If he even so much as looked at my girl again, he was going to be an unknowing test subject.

"Oh," said Hermione, looking embarrassed. "Oh . . . well . . . yes, I suppose it is."

"How come you're not in Ravenclaw?" Terry demanded, staring at Hermione. "With brains like yours?"

Hermione, still oblivious to his flirting answered happily. "Well, the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting me in Ravenclaw during my Sorting," she said brightly, "but it decided on Gryffindor in the end. So, does that mean we're using the Galleons?" There was a murmur of assent, and she moved to sit next to me again. I wrapped my arm around her loosely, subtly claiming her in a way she wouldn't notice. Terry's eyes narrowed and I didn't repress my smirk.

"You know what these remind me of?" Harry whispered. She turned her head and raised her eyebrows.

"No, what's that?" She asked.

Harry got an evil grin before he answered."The Death Eaters' scars. Voldemort touches one of them, and all their scars burn, and they know they've got to join him."

Hermione blushed vividly before fumbling with her hand. "Well . . . yes, that is where I got the idea . . . but you'll notice I decided to engrave the date on bits of metal rather than on our members' skin," she said.

"Yeah . . . I prefer your way," said Harry, grinning, as he slipped his Galleon into his pocket. "I suppose the only danger with these is that we might accidentally spend them."

"Fat chance," said Ron, who was examining his own fake Galleon with a slightly mournful air, 'I haven't got any real Galleons to confuse it with."

We all chuckled lightly at that before Harry told us to pair off again. I grabbed Hermione's hand in my own and led her to a far corner, noticing that Terry was walking towards us. Fred and Lee stepped in front of him and said something that made the Ravenclaw visibly turn several shades paler.

I grinned at my twin and best friend,, sending them the most grateful smile I could. They winked at me and went back over to Angelina and Alicia. I turned my full attention back to Hermione and started practicing impedimenta with her. She perfected the spell quickly, masterfully manipulating the magic around her with hardly any effort. Watching her move I was struck with just how smart, powerful, and beautiful she really was. She could really have her pick of guys, yet she happily chose to be with me.

I started to goof off a slight bit, thrilled when she let her laugh out. I loved her laugh; it was light, free, and always bubbled out of her as though she was really vocalizing her happiness. She wouldn't often let it out in front of other people, but when she did it always floored me and made me want to do a back-flip.

She'd laughed a lot more since we'd been dating, but usually only when we were alone. She wasn't doing that as much any more, she was laughing more freely. She always curled in on herself when she really laughed, clutching her stomach as her entire body shook with laughter. It always made me light headed and incredibly warm, filling me with the desire to ravish her completely. She had absolutely no idea how incredibly hot I found her, even though I told her frequently. I needed to find some way to make her believe it. At least until then I could enjoy her hotness.

-o-O-o-

The first Quidditch match of the year has officially arrived.

"'OK, I've only just found out the final line-up for Slytherin," Angelina said, consulting a piece of parchment while giving us the usual pre-match pep talk. It was her first one as captain, but she wasn't doing bad. Fred was pathetic though, he kept giving her this sappy look that made me want to smack him. The boy was completely smitten. "Last year's Beaters, Derrick and Bole, have left, but it looks as though Montague's replaced them with the usual gorillas, rather than anyone who can fly particularly well. They're two blokes called Crabbe and Goyle, I don't know much about them – "

"We do," said Harry and Ron together. I smirked at that. They certainly knew lots about them; they'd actually even been them at one point. I knew quite a bit about them as well. Especially since last year, they were still on my list of people to prank and test products on.

Angelina nodded her head before returning her attention to the parchment. "Well, they don't look bright enough to tell one end of a broom from the other," she said "but then I was always surprised Derrick and Bole managed to find their way onto the pitch without signposts." Fred laughed appreciatively at her humor while Harry assured her that Crabbe and Goyle were just as dumb.

"'It's time," Angelina finally said in a hushed voice, looking at her watch. "C'mon everyone . . . good luck."

We rose as one group, shouldering our brooms as we marched in a single file out of the changing room. Angelina led the way, followed by Katie and Alica, then Ron (who was extremely pale and looked like he was going to be sick), Harry, and finally Fred and I bringing up the rear. I hopped up on my broom and flew the lap around the pitch with Fred by my side. My eyes scanned the crowd quickly before I spotted Hermione. She was hopping up and down in one spot and waving her arms so that I could see her. I flashed her a big grin, feeling much lighter and happier.

The beginning of the game passed by in a flash. Fred and I beat the bludger away effortlessly, until we became aware of a song being sung from the stands.

'Weasley cannot save a thing,

He cannot block a single ring,

That's why Slytherins all sing:

Weasley is our King.

'Weasley was born in a bin

He always lets the Quaffle in

Weasley will make sure we win

Weasley is our King.'

Oh hell no. They did not just say that about my brother.

Yes, I am perfectly well aware that my brother was doing a terrible job as keeper, but that was simply because he was nervous. He was a brilliant keeper and there was no way I was letting this go by. At the moment though, there wasn't anything I could do. Fred and I beat the bludger at the Slytherin players even harder, nearly knocking a few of them off their brooms.

Harry somehow managed to catch the snitch and saved us from actually losing the game. We landed on the field with clear gratitude and I immediately made my way towards Harry to thank him for winning the game.

WHAM.

A Bludger hit Harry squarely in the small of his back and he flew forwards off his broom. Luckily he was only five or six feet above the ground, having dived so low to catch the Snitch. Fred and I ran forward to help him. I could hear Madam Hooch's shrill whistle, and an uproar in the stands compounded of catcalls, angry yells and jeering. We reached Harry and picked him up, checking him for any injuries as he held onto us to steady himself.

"Are you all right?" Angelina asked, reaching us. Harry nodded his head slowly, looking slightly sick. Rage filled me and I found my eyes scanning the sky to see who had sent it.

"It was that thug Crabbe," said Angelina angrily. "He whacked the Bludger at you the moment he saw you'd got the Snitch - but we won, Harry, we won!" Who the heck cared if we won? That git could have really hurt Harry! How was Crabbe even still in school here? He'd hurt half the people going here and couldn't pass anything!

Draco came up behind us but my ears were pounding from rage so I missed the first half of what he said, I did hear the end though.

' - we couldn't fit in useless loser either - for his father, you know - ' Fred and I both stiffened and rounded on Malfoy, fierce glares on our faces as we balled our hands into fist.

"'Leave it!' Angelina yelped, taking Fred by the arm. "Leave it, Fred, let him yell. He's just sore he lost, the jumped-up little –"

But that stupid git just kept on talking. "but you like the Weasleys, don't you, Potter?' said Malfoy, sneering. 'Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles, even the Weasleys' hovel smells OK –"

The blood was pounding so hard in my head that I could no longer hear anything but the rushing of it. I unconsciously raised my fist and lunged forward, my only thought that I wanted to cause Draco as much pain as possible. Harry grabbed me, holding me back with surprising strength for someone who was actually smaller than me. Yet still Malfoy kept talking. My ears were positively ringing with the blood pounding through it and my vision was turning red from the magic welling up inside of me. Draco must have said something to tick Harry off as well, because he let go of me and we both lunged at Malfoy.

"Harry! HARRY! GEORGE! NO!" I could hear girls screaming, but I didn't care. Every bit of me was focused on the single task of beating Malfoy to a pulp.

A spell hit me in the back and sent me flying away to land on the hard ground in a heap of robes and limbs.

"What do you think you're doing?" screamed Madam Hooch. I stood up slowly, glowering at everyone I could see. Malfoy was curled up on the ground, whimpering and moaning, his nose bloody. It gave me a distinct feeling of satisfaction to see him in obvious pain. "I've never seen behavior like it - back up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your Head of House's office! Go! Now.''

-o-O-o-

Could some one please, please, get me some Felix Felicis? I need some new, better luck. As if this year, with Umbridge and her deranged, evil, detentions, her lame class, and the guys constantly hitting on my girl, were not bad enough, I have now been given a lifelong ban from Quidditch.

The walk back to the Common Room with Harry was one of the longest of my life. I could barely make my feet go. A lifelong ban, a lifelong ban. Sure, Umbridge would only be here for a year so it would probably be lifted by next year, but this was Fred's and my last year to play.

That complete bitch had even banned Fred! He hadn't done anything and he'd been banned because of me.

"Flibbitgibit." Harry said, his voice hollow. The portrait hole swung open and we both stepped through, our body language reading defeat. I couldn't even think about the fact that we had actually won the game, I was too heartbroken. My one favorite past time I was banned from. She'd even locked my poor broom up.

Fred hopped up from the couch he'd been sitting on with Lee and Angelina and stepped towards me, his eyes instantly shooting to my hand. I shook my head and took a deep breath."We've just been given a lifetime ban from quidditch by Umbridge," I said, my voice emotionless. "She banned you as well." Fred sunk to the couch in horror, his eyes wide with shock and his face contorted in pain. I felt like jumping off the astronomy tower, I had taken my twin's favorite sport from him.

"Banned," Angelina said in a hollow voice."Banned. No Seeker and no Beaters . . . what on Earth are we going to do?" I sank onto the couch next to Fred and buried my head in my hands, fighting the headache that was coming on. I felt someone slip into the seat next to me and place a light hand on my arm. I looked over and saw it was Hermione. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to my chest in a hug, seeking solace from her. She held me tightly, letting me just hold her despite the number of people still in the room.

"A lifetime ban.." Lee muttered darkly. "Can she actually enforce that?"

I shrugged, I couldn't even bring myself to answer him.

"Its just so unfair," Alicia finally said, numbly. "I mean, what about Crabbe and that Bludger he hit after the whistle had been blown? Has she banned him?" Anger flared up inside me and I shot a glare at the door, thinking I'd like to hex those two Neanderthals. I would find them and make sure that they wouldn't be able to fly for a very, very long time.

"No," Ginny answered miserably; she was sitting beside Harry. "He just got lines. I heard Montague laughing about it at dinner."

"And banning Fred when he didn't even do anything!" said Angelina furiously, pummeling her knee with her fist. I sighed and just held Hermione a little tighter. She moved around so she was sitting on my lap, her small arms wrapped around me in a incredibly comforting way.

"It's not my fault I didn't," Fred replied to Alicia with a very ugly look on his face. "I would've pounded the little scumbag to a pulp if you three hadn't been holding me back."

"I'm going to bed," Angelina finally said, getting slowly to her feet. "Maybe this will all turn out to have been a bad dream . . . maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and find we haven't played yet . . ." Fred watched her go with a glum expression before turning back to us. Harry still looked just as shell shocked as before, as if he couldn't really believe what had happened. The three of us were probably the three on the team who actually enjoyed the flying aspect of it the most, and now it had been taken away from us all.

"She's posted another decree." I said after a moment, realizing this was actually a really big deal. I'd been so angry earlier I hadn't even thought about it. Harry's head shot up and his eyes widened in horror as he remembered.

"What?" Hermione asked, noting the terror on Harry's face.

"Another one?" Lee questioned, looking away from the fire.

"Educational Decree Number Twenty-five the High Inquisitor will henceforth have supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions and removals of privileges as may have been ordered by other staff members. "

"Oh my god." Hermione gasped, a look much like Harry's filling her face.

"Bloody Hell." Ginny muttered, Fred and Lee looked too upset to even say anything.

Bloody Hell pretty much described how this year was going. Thank Godric it was already November, we only had a little longer before holidays.

-o-O-o-

Ok," Harry called out. "I thought this evening we should just go over the things we've done so far, because it's the last meeting before the holidays and there's no point in starting anything new right before a three-week break-" He was cut short by the least liked member of the DA, Zacharias Smith. Fred and I had prepared a special Christmas present for him. We'd had Dobby sneak it into his trunk. When he went to pack up to return home, he'd be in for a hell of a surprise.

"We're not doing anything new?" he said in a disgruntled whisper. "If I'd known that, I wouldn't have come." I glared at the back of his head, thinking of several hexes I'd like to try on him.

"We're all really sorry Harry didn't tell you then," Fred said really loudly. I snorted, grinning even wider when Hermione almost laughed. Zacharias blushed and lowered his eyes, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"We can practice in pairs," Harry said, continuing like nothing had happened. "We'll start with the impediment jinx for ten minutes, then we can get out the cushions and try stunning again." We all stood up and divided up in to our usual pairs.

"Hermione?" I froze at the sound of the voice, turning slowly to see Terry coming up behind me to talk to Hermione.

"What?" I hissed, instantly on guard. That git was after my girl.

"I was wondering if you were doing anything after the meeting." He said, ignoring me. Hermione's eyes grew wide.

"Yes, I am." She said after a moment, taking a step backwards and moving closer to me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and held her tight. "George and I have plans." That wasn't true, I had no plans, but she was being kind enough to make it look that way. She was actually making it clear she was with me.

"Oh," He said, his eyes widening in surprise. "I didn't realize. Well, maybe I can catch you later." He finished, stepping back. He gave her one last smile and then turned around. What did he mean, 'catch you later'?

Why couldn't guys just leave her alone? They hadn't taken any notice of her for four years, and then I ask her out and suddenly every guy in Hogwarts seems to want to go out with her.

"Expelliarmus!" Hermione exclaimed, smiling unsurely at me when my wand flew out of my hand. "You're distracted." She whispered, handing my wand back to me.

"Nah, just thinking. You won't get me so easily again."

She didn't.

A/N: Hey guys, hope this chapter doesn't disapoint! Leave a review and let me know your thoughts or if there is anything you want to see.