The morning after the Hogsmeade trip, Umbridge posted two new Educational Decrees. One banned Quidditch and the other decree cancelled all school clubs. If they wanted to keep a club or start a new one, the students would have to get the High Inquisitor's permission.

"Someone snitched." Ginny grumbled.

"I doubt it." Hermione shook her head. "I would know. Someone must have overheard our discussion."

"Have you finished the coins?" Harry asked.

The animagus nodded. "Last night. And I am planning on slipping the coins into their bags over the week."

"How do you plan on doing that?" Ron asked around a mouthful of food.

Hermione shrugged. I plan on using my Serval form to sneak around the castle.

Neville slipped onto the bench next to Hermione and whispered. "Guys, I found the perfect place for our meetings. Meet me on the sixth floor near the unicorn tapestry after classes today."

"Neville, you are a genius." Hermione praised.

The bumbling Gryffindor blushed at the praise.

Hermione set the date for the first D.A. meeting for two weeks after the Hogsmeade meeting. She was faintly surprised when everyone showed up at the Room of Requirement.

"Alright, every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now: students. If they can do it, why not us?" Harry asked after everyone had filed in. "Today, we are going to be learning the basic disarming spell, 'Expelliarmus' and 'Stupefy'. Any questions?"

Hermione smiled as she went around the room, correcting mistakes and giving praise where it was due. "Neville, you have to hold your wand like this. Hold your wand lightly until the last second and then tighten your grip."

Neville did as the witch instructed and disarmed Parvati Patil.

"Good job, Neville." Hermione placed an encouraging hand on his shoulder.

The young witch continued to walk the room and saw Luna use a perfect 'Stupefy' on Seamus Finnigan. Hermione's eyebrows rose into her hairline. "Very good Luna."

The Ravenclaw threw a smile in the Gryffindor's direction.

At the next D.A. lesson, they practiced dueling and the Reductor Curse (on a training dummy, of course).

"Alright." Harry clapped his hands together. "Let's, um, let's form two lines and practice using Stupefy on each other. It'll be like a mock duel."

Neville, surprisingly, stunned his opponent.

Harry beamed at his friend. "Excellent job, Neville! Um, Hermione and Ron, you two are next."

Hermione sighed, why did Harry pair the two of us up? Couldn't he have put me with Luna or one of the Twins? Then it would have been at least a challenge.

George leaned over to his twin and whispered. "I bet one sickle that Hermione will Stupefy Ickle Ronnie before he even gets his wand out."

"I bet Ron gets his wand out." Fred took the bet.

"I'll go easy on you." Ron smirked at the young animagus.

Hermione simply smiled. "Don't hold yourself back on my account."

Harry quickly brought his hand down. "Begin!"

"Stupefy!" Hermione firmly stated, sending Ron flying into the wall before he could even draw his wand. A smirk appeared on the young witch's face as she watched Fred hand a sickle over to George.

"I let her do that." Ron informed his brothers.

"Sure you did." The Twins taunted.

After everyone had practiced the spell, Harry clapped his hands to get their attention. "Now, we are going to be practicing Reducto. Everyone form up in groups of... five and gather around the dueling manikins. Hermione, if you would please demonstrate the spell."

"Oh, come on." Cormac McLaggen wined. "Why does she always demonstrate the spells?"

"Because Hermione has the best form." Harry glared at his fellow Gryffindor. "And, well, she performed an outstanding Bombarda Maxima in our Third Year."

"But… isn't that, like a Newt level spell?" Cormac stuttered.

Hermione shrugged. "Yeah and so is the spell that I used for the coins. Now," she young witch turned the giant manikin and quickly moved her wand in a sideways 'V'. "Reducto!"

A bright blue light shot out form her wand and struck the manikin. The manikin exploded into tiny pieces.

Harry and Hermione walked around the room. This was a very dangerous spell; they didn't want anyone getting hurt.

"Reducto!" Ginny shouted. Both Hermione and Harry turned in time to see the blue light turn the manikin turn into dust.

"Very good, Ginny." Harry smiled. "Seems like you can do this spell better than Hermione."

Hermione stuck her tongue out of the boy she considered her brother.

The trio was walking to breakfast one Saturday, when they heard a commotion coming from the courtyard.

"What's going on?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, Ronald." Hermione growled. "Why don't we go find out?"

Hermione grabbed the ginger boy by the ear and dragged him toward the commotion. Once there, she saw a sight that made her heart break. Umbridge stood in front of Sybil and the Divination professor's bags.

"Fourteen years." Sybil sobbed. "Fourteen years. Hogwarts is my home!"

"Yes, well know you have to find a new one." Umbridge callously stated.

Minerva quickly pushed her way out of the crowd and embraced the sobbing Divination's professor, all the while glaring at the pink toad.

"Is there something you would like to say?" Dolores inquired.

"There are several things I would like to say." Minerva snapped. And then turned to her colleague. "There, there, shh, hush."

"Professor McGonagall, please escort Sybil back to her rooms." Albus glared at the High Inquisitor.

"Headmaster, what do you think you're doing?" Umbridge demanded. "You know that as High Inquisitor I have the power to strip professors of their posts."

"Yes, but not evict them from the castle. That power rests with the Headmaster." Albus calmly stated.

The pink toad sneered. "For now."

Hermione met her mother's eyes. Minerva gently shook her head, her face was greatly troubled.

"Okay, guys, this is our last meeting before Christmas." Harry smiled. "And today we will be learning how to cast a Patronus."

The entire D.A. cheered, this was the spell they most wanted to learn.

"The spell is actually rather simple. All just have to say 'Expecto Patronum'." Harry couldn't help but grin. "But in order to cast it, you have to think of a very happy memory. Not just any happy memory will work though."

Hermione allowed herself a small smile, she wanted to see everyone's Patronus. "Harry, why don't you show us yours."

Harry blushed, but cast the spell. A brilliant white stag erupted from the tip of his wand and galloped around the room, before returning to Harry and disappearing.

"Now, why don't you all try it?" Harry asked, wanting to get the attention off of himself.

Soon the Room of Requirement was full of bright ethereal animals.

Luna couldn't help but giggle; the energy was unlike anything she had ever felt.

"What is it Luna." Hermione smiled at the blonde Ravenclaw, while admiring her rabbit.

"Can you feel the energy, Hermione?" Luna beamed. "I haven't felt this happy since before my mum died."

"It's all the Patronuses." Hermione explained. "They are created out of happy memories and are pure happiness."

"What's you're Patronus?" Lune dreamily asked.

"It's an otter." The young animagus flicked her wand and a silver otter burst forth.

"Whoa!" Ginny breathed. "Hermione, did you just perform a wordless Patronus?"

Hermione blushed and ducked her head.

Harry beamed. "Very good, Hermione. Wordless spells are very difficult to perform even with the simplest of spells. I can't even do a wordless spell yet."

"Hermione can do some wandless spell too." Ginny muttered too low for most of the students to hear; but for those that did (Neville, Luna, and the Twins), it only raised their respect for the Gryffindor witch.

Hermione was awoken by a distraught Ginny very early in the morning, the night before they were supposed to leave for Grimmauld Place.

"Ginny, what's wrong." Hermione blearily asked as she rubbed sleep out of her eyes.

"It's my dad." The younger witch sobbed. "He's been attacked!"

Hermione extended her arm and Ginny collapsed in her arms, sobbing.

"I'm sure he will be fine." The young animagus assured her as she rubbing soothing circles on Ginny's back.

"He's been taken to St. Mungo's." Ginny hiccupped.

The elder witch ran her fingers through the ginger's hair. "They will take good care of your father, I'm sure of it."

"If you say so." The youngest Weasley sniffed.

"I do." Hermione smiled. "You father might even have Healer Matthews."

"Who?"

"She's a nice healer." Hermione shrugged.

Ginny merely nodded her head, too upset about her father to say anything else.

The next morning, Harry and Hermione followed the Weasley children to Grimmauld Place. The Weasley's had left early in the morning, to see their father.

Harry immediately went to find his godfather, while Hermione headed to the library.

The young animagus had just gotten settled with a good book, when she was viciously attacked by a certain Metamorphmagus.

Tonks leapt over the back of the sofa and tackled Hermione in a hug.

"Nymph, you're squishing me." Hermione gasped.

"Sorry, squirt." Tonks grinned. "But my mum is here!" leaning down to whisper conspiratorially "She and dad have decided to join the Order."

Hermione grinned, "Really, your mum's here. I haven't seen her since… since..."

"Hey, Hermione, it's good to see you again." Andromeda smiled at her daughter and Hermione.

"Nice to see you too Mrs. Tonks." The young animagus smiled.

"Oh, please." Andy shook he head. "Please call me 'Andy'."

Hermione inclined her head. "Okay, then Andy, it's nice to see you."

"So, squirt, tell me, how is your year going so far." Tonks asked.

Hermione bared her teeth and growled.

"That bad huh?" Nymphadora chuckled.

"That pink toad…" Hermione began, only to be interrupted by Tonks breaking out into peals of laughter.

"So I heard that Mr. Weasley was attacked?" Andy asked, concerned.

"He was attacked by Voldemort's pet snake and is currently now in St. Mungo's." Hermione smiled sheepishly.

Andy frowned. "I hope he will be alright."