Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series or anything Harry Potter related!
Thanks for reading :)
Adrien was fitting in really well. Everyone seemed to be buying his story of getting sick at the beginning of the year and coming back now. He was easily making friends with the rest of the first year Gryffindors. The students weren't the only people that liked him. The professors seemed quite pleased with his work in the week following his arrival at Hogwarts. It was clear that he was naturally talented. Adrien was starting to remind me of Hermione a little bit. He constantly had his nose buried in a book. It was probably because he was nervous about being half a term behind, but he was catching up quickly.
I had been working with him as much as possible when I had any free time. Every evening I took him to the Room of Requirement, along with Harry, Ron, Hermione or Ben (whoever was available) and practiced some basic spells with him. Within a couple of days he had managed to master Alohomora, Petrificus Totalus and Wingardium Leviosa. Needless to say, he was impressing the heck out of all of us.
Apart from learning magic, he was also getting used to the castle. Hermione had showed him around the entire castle. I think he was a little bit overwhelmed. He unfortunately had to learn about the ghosts the hard way, after a regrettable incidence involving Peeves and a large bucket of icy water. He was fascinated by the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall and the giant squid in the lake. Adrien, I could tell, already seemed at home here.
Since he had arrived at Hogwarts, we had had two meetings with Dumbledore. They had gone reasonably well, though it did show us how much Adrien really did have to learn. In our first lesson he had managed to make a couple of raindrops fall from the sky, but that was it. Dumbledore was optimistic that he would soon get used to his powers soon enough though.
The only person that didn't seem to be too please by Adrien's appearance was Umbridge. She seemed suspicious about the child, and had called him into her office to question him. I had warned him to only pretend to drink anything she gave him because it would most likely be laced with truth serum. He reported back that she had offered him pumpkin juice and then questioned him about his relationship with Dumbledors. He ensured us that he had just played dumb and that she didn't know a thing.
She also called me, Harry and Ben into her office for questioning, but we all just acted like we knew nothing, which just made her angry. I couldn't worry about her now, though. The O.W.L.s were almost here and the fifth years were panicking. In order to keep up with everything, I was having to sacrifice my sleep. I was surviving solely on naps. Not only were the teachers piling on the work, but the match against Ravenclaw for the quidditch cup would be taking place in a couple of days. Angelina had taken a page out of Wood's book and was holding quidditch practice four times a week, which was adding a lot of stress to my life.
I had just finished my lessons for the day, and I had ten minutes to run back to the common room to drop off my stuff and grab my broom before practice. I ran onto the field just in time for practice. The rest of the team was already on the pitch and were stretching.
"Oh, Avery. Thank's for turning up," said Angelina sarcastically, rolling her eyes. I bit back a retort because I knew that she was under pressure right now. I quickly strapped on my gloves and got into position. I saw Ron standing not too far from me. He was clearly tense about the match and was looking even more pale than usual.
"Alright everyone! Up in the sky!" Angelina called, interrupting my thoughts. I pushed off the ground and soared into the air. I could feel the tension leaving my body. I did a quick lap of the pitch before Angelina released the Bludgers. She then tossed me the Quaffle, and practice began.
Overall, it was a decent practice, and we all left the pitch feeling moderately pleased with ourselves. I quickly changed into normal clothes back in the change room and then hurried back to the common room to finish an assignment before I had to go to another lesson with Dumbledore.
The Potions assignment was difficult and detailed. I had barely finished half when Ben and Adrien came downstairs.
"Ava, are you almost done? We need to get going," said Ben. I sighed loudly and slammed my Potions textbook on the table.
"Let's go," I said crossly, walking out of the portrait hole. Ben and Adrien were close behind me. We walked quickly towards Dumbledore's office.
"Hem hem," we heard from behind us. I whipped around, and saw the last person that I wanted to see.
"And where are we off to?" asked Umbridge sweetly. I had to think of a lie right away. I glanced at Ben, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"I was just heading to the library, Professor. I'm taking Adrien because he doesn't know the way yet," I said quickly. Probably too quickly, because she narrowed her gaze at me.
"I see. And Mr. Lewis, where are you claiming to go?" she demanded.
"I'm going to send a letter to someone. I'm just headed to the Owlery," he lied.
"See, I do not think you are going to the Owlery, or the library. What I think is that you are going to see Professor Dumbledore. For what reason are you all going to his office?" She asked, with a sickly sweet smile.
"Even if we were going to Dumbledore's office, it wouldn't be any of your business, would it?" I challenged, instantly knowing it was the wrong move.
"Now is that how you talk to the High Inquisitor? I think that a detention would help you learn some respect for your superiors. Tomorrow at seven o'clock should be good," she said, still smiling a cold smile at me. I just glared back at her.
"Now, I believe you were on your way to Professor Dumbledore's office. I think I shall join you," she said, and she started towards Dumbledore's office. We reluctantly followed her, knowing that it would only look worse if we left now. We approached the stone gargoyle and Umbridge whispered the password. We continued up the staircase and she knocked at his office door.
"Enter," said Dumbledore's voice, so Umbridge pushed open the heavy door. Unfortunately Athena had already arrived, so now Umbridge knew that she was involved as well.
"Good evening, Professor Umbridge! To what do I owe this meeting?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Well, Dumbledore, I happened to see these three who claimed to be going to the library or the owlery, but I believe they were lying. I believe that they were actually coming here," she explained.
"Coming here? What would give you that idea?" said Dumbledore pleasantly.
"Well, according to members of the Inquisitorial Squad, Mr. Lewis, Miss Alexander and now Mr. Morgan have been seen coming together to meetings at your office quite regularly, along with Ms. Caras. Can you explain this to me?" she said, losing some of her patience and the sugary tone in her voice.
"Ah, yes. I did see Draco Malfoy lurking around the entrance to my office. Is that really your strategy? To have students tail me?" said Dumbledore, still managing to maintain an even tone.
"Look here Dumbledore, as the High Inquisitor, I have a right to know what happens here. Cornelius... I mean, the Minister, is concerned with the way you are running this school," she said indignantly
"Ah, but you have no right to question me about my own business with my students. However, I did not have any business with any of these students tonight, so I suggest you let them carry on to their destinations before curfew. And if you do not mind, I am finishing up a meeting with Ms. Caras, so if you'll excuse us," he said dismissively. Umbridge huffed loudly, turned on her heel and left the office. Ben, Adrien and I stayed for a second longer to find out what we were supposed to do, but Dumbledore just nodded to tell us that we should leave. Umbridge would have just asked more questions if we weren't right behind her.
Umbridge insisted on walking us to our destinations, so I had no choice but to take Adrien to the library. We stayed there for a few minutes, and I checked out a book to make it seem like we had really needed to go there, and then went back to the Gryffindor common room. Ten minutes later, Ben came through the portrait hole.
"Wow, that was close," he sighed. I nodded in agreement. A few minutes later, an owl swooped in through an opened window of the common room. I pulled the letter off and opened it up to see that it was from Dumbledore.
I will inform you when our next lesson shall be. Do not come by my office, as it is most likely being watched.
Albus Dumbledore
I read it out loud to the other two, who nodded in understanding. Since the lesson had been cancelled, I now found myself with a bit of free time. Rather than being responsible and pulling out my half-finished potions assignment, I decided that it was high time for a break. I hadn't had time to see or talk to Harry much because we were so busy, so I decided to go find him. I said a quick goodbye to my fellow Elements, and went up the boys' stairs, figuring that would be the best place to start. I knocked loudly at the dorm door and then pushed it open. Big mistake.
As soon as I opened the door, Ron and Hermione jumped up and looked at me sheepishly. It seemed as though I had interrupted something, given their guilt, blushing faces and the fact that Ron's shirt was on the floor.
"Oops! Sorry! I was looking for Harry. Sorry," I called, as I hurried out of the room. Just as I was leaving, I collided with someone. It turned out it was Harry.
"Um, you do not want to go in there. It's 'occupied'," I said with a smirk.
"Ugh, I wish those two would put up a sign on the door or something. I've walked in on them three times now!" Harry sighed.
"Maybe they've learned their lesson now?" I suggested.
"Maybe.. so how was your meeting with Dumbledore?" he asked, taking my hand and leading me down the stairs.
"Well, we didn't have one. Umbridge decided to accompany us to his office, because apparently Malfoy has been spying outside Dumbledore's office, and he told her that Dumbledore was having meetings with Ben, Athena, Adrien and I," I replied glumly.
"Oh no! What happened?" He asked. I explained the whole encounter to him.
"You have a detention? She's going to make you write with her blood quill!" he cried angrily. It was sweet that he was being so protective.
"Don't worry. I'll just ask Hermione to have a bowl of Murlap Essence ready for me! It'll be alright," I assured him. Once he had calmed down, he spoke again.
"So, what were you doing in my dorm?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Well, I was looking for you! I feel like I haven't spent any time with you in ages!" I told him.
"Do you fancy a walk?" he asked. I had some free time and a couple of hours until curfew so I said sure. I quickly ran upstairs to the girls' dorms to get my cloak and met Harry in the common room in a few minutes. He took my hand and lead me out of the common room, down several hallways and staircases until we reached the Entrance Hall.
We left the castle and went to the grounds. The air was cold, so I pulled my cloak tighter around my shoulders. Harry lead me towards the abandoned quidditch pitch, and to a lone bench. We sat down together, still hand in hand. The moon was bright in the sky, so I was able to see Harry perfectly.
"Ava, I've been meaning to say something to you," he said. I just nodded him in encouragement.
"You look beautiful tonight..." he said quickly. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Is that what you wanted to tell me?" I asked, with a small smile.
"Well, no. I guess not. This is a difficult thing to say. I've been think about it, and I think that we shouldn't be together anyone," he said quietly, staring down at our linked fingers. That was certainly unexpected. I pulled my hand away from his.
"What do you mean?" I demanded, feeling the tears start to sting my eyes.
"Listen, we're in a war right now. Voldemort is bound to go after the people I love most to get to me," he sighed. I just started at him for a few seconds.
"I'm one of the people you love the most?" I replied in a whisper. He tore his eyes away from his lap.
"Of course you are! I love you so much," he said.
"I love you too. And I refuse to let you break up with me," I said firmly. He looked at me, surprised.
"What?"
"I refuse. Simple as that. I don't care if you think Voldemort will use me. We're not breaking up," I said, forcefully. With that, I leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss, which he returned enthusiastically. It was evident to both of us that I had won this argument. Harry and I spend the next couple of hours outside, strolling around the grounds and talking happily.