Bloom's birthday finally comes around, with Sirius having invited about eighty people - the professors are there at Bloom's request, except for Dumbledore as he basically invited himself, some of the guests are friends of Bloom's, and some are people that were invited because of society and politics. The Weasleys, for example, are all attending except for Percy, as are the Malfoys and several other Slytherin families. And the Longbottoms, with Neville navigating the social setting with ease - much to some of the Slytherins' shocks.
The party itself is held in the Potter Hall garden, which has a spattering of Gazebos around for this exact reason as its almost blisteringly hot, with punch, lemonade, and other refreshments being served. And everyone but Bloom is absolutely roasting.
Bloom moves through the crowd, and manages to find Professor McGonagall easily enough, she's talking with Professor Flitwick. Two of the people she wanted to get in touch with before the summer is out. "Professors, lovely to see you again." Flitwick nearly jumps for joy at the sight of Bloom, and starts asking where she disappeared to - Bloom just holds her hand up politely, saying "Professor, I can't really answer that right now. Apologies, but not at a party." "Oh, of course! Especially not your own birthday party, to boot! Congratulations, by the way!"
Bloom smiles, and says "Thank you, Professor. Apologies if I worried you."
McGonagall snorts, and says "There's no 'if' about it, Ms. Potter. However, I can't blame you for leaving. I was there, that night, and I would've taken you myself if I could've. Unfortunately, once Albus Dumbledore has his mind set on something, absolutely nothing will change it. As soon as that Prophecy was heard, you were one of them I'm afraid. Now, Sirius said you wanted to speak with us? Something about…"
Bloom gets a gleam in her eye, and says "I'm calling it…the power he knows not. Just to tick some people off. I'd like to take my N.E.W.T.S. as well as my Owls at the end of this year - or some equivalent. I talked it over with Sirius, and he said that NEWT years are much more practical than theoretical. If I can safely and consistently perform what is taught…?"
Flitwick nods, and says "It's a sound plan, I admit. Never been done before, but…Hogwarts has never had a student like you before either, Ms. Potter. Very well. If you can adequately, safely, and consistently perform a list of Charms I'll provide you at the beginning of the school year by the end of it, I'm sure there won't be any problems. What of Potions, though? And, what is it you want to do after the war is over?"
Bloom grimaces, and says "I'd very much like to be a Professional Duellist, you see. The Dueling Circuits sound fascinating - and exciting. Thing is, I don't believe for even a minute that Dumbledore will leave me alone long enough to actually get…well, anything done. Time and again, it's somehow fallen to me, Ron, and Hermione - or, just me - to get out of danger I should never have been in, in the first place. And it's largely due to Dumbledore, I think. He hid the Sorcerer's Stone in the school, told us where it was in a roundabout way - honestly, forbidding something from kids will only make them more curious about it, and Ron, Hermione, and I found the right room entirely by accident as the staircase we were on moved - he did nothing to try and find the Basilisk in year two, and he didn't know for an entire year that the Defense Professor we had was an imposter of his 'long-time' friend, Alastor Moody. As a result of all that…while I would love to spend more time with my friends…I've decided that after this school year I'm transferring to another school. Alfea, to be precise. Sirius agrees with me, however reluctantly he says it, that I'll never get an actually quiet or safe year at Hogwarts with Dumbledore as Headmaster."
McGonagall nods, and says "I do to. Much as I love having you in my classes…there's not much more I can teach you, honestly, and I know and readily admit it. Filius?"
He nods at once, saying "I agree. You're the best student I've had in my class since Lily, Ms. Potter. I truly don't think there's much left in the Curriculum to teach you. I'm more than willing to give you the chance you're asking about. And, incidentally, if you're looking into the Dueling Circuits…I can help you with that to. I used to run in them, for one. Was a master Duelist before I retired and took up teaching. If you're truly interested, and this isn't a phase, I'd be more than happy to…shall we say, tutor you in Dueling. I'm assuming Sirius has already taught you the formalities?"
Bloom nods, and says "The bowing, the ten steps, all of it. In a real fight, a fight to the death, the only rule is 'don't die' - in a tournament, or a Dueling Circuit, there's a bunch more. Erm…weapons are allowed, but no Unforgivables. The nastier curses, up to a point. Or, depending on the Circuit, they aren't allowed at all. Personally, I like the International Rules better."
Flitwick claps his hands gleefully, and says "Yes, the International Dueling Conventions - far better than the watered-down flimsy nonsense called the Britain's Revised Regulations. We'll set up a practice time once you get your class schedule."
Minerva gets an amused grin on her face, and says "You'll have to talk to Severus, but I'm sure he'd consider a plan as Slytherin as yours, Bloom. You'd better leave, I see someone coming you might not wish to talk to."
Bloom gives her Head of House a grateful nod, then disappears into the crowd - good thing, to, as Dumbledore was heading in her direction. Professor Snape agrees to give her a few 'detentions' in order to see if she can brew the Potions the NEWT years do - if she can, and can do them well enough that they do what they're supposed to, then he has no problem with her getting the NEWT credit.
And that's when she starts noticing something…unusual. People have started vanishing their shirts, leaving their outer robes with their muscles showing. The ones that keep themselves covered, she can assume, aren't in very good shape. It's the guys that have the shirts themselves missing, leaving their chests bare, as the ladies just vanish their sleeves up to the elbows.
She's not that surprised to see all the Weasleys with short or no sleeves, and gets Ron to explain that it's an old custom that's recently coming back. Used to be, nobody worse shirts in weather this hot unless they had something to hide. Bloom studies the changes to Ginny and Molly's robes, then vanishes her own sleeves.
Neither Ron missing his shirt, nor Fred and George makes her bat an eye - most of the other people only make her take a few steps back to get some personal space as the teenage boys think that because she can suddenly see their chest hair it'll make them more interesting to her. She eventually hides out in a gazebo, only to be joined by Draco, Ron, and Neville. Upon seeing Draco without a shirt, she promptly blushes and decides the Passionflower vines trained to grow around the pillars of the Gazebo are incredibly interesting.
Ron chuckles, and says "Called it. Pay up." Draco grumbles, and hands over ten Sickles.
To Bloom's non-surprise, Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas walk inside the gazebo with Fred and George Weasley. To Bloom's utter surprise, Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bulstrode, Pansy Parkinson, and Blaise Zabini soon follow.
Fred and George grin, and get out a deck of Exploding Snap for everyone to play with drinks. They end up making a large castle out of the cards, while talking about nothing in particular as an Elf attendant brings them snacks and refreshments. When the topic turns to the next Defense Professor, it's generally agreed that they'll be worthless.
Bloom nods, and says "Well, we could do…let's call it tutoring sessions."
At everyone's weird looks, she shrugs, and says "Being a Seer isn't that great, guys. Mostly, sleep deprivation and not being able to look in anything reflective when dangerous or important events are happening or about to happen. And I can't control it in the slightest. Anyone here know of a 'Dolores Umbridge' in the Ministry?"
Neville nods, and says "My Gran doesn't like her much. Says she talks to much and thinks too little."
Daphne adds "She's under Fudge's thumb, and his spell. All that's left would be for him to wave his wand at her. She'll do anything he says in a heartbeat."
"Well, she's our next Defense teacher. I saw it in a dream two nights ago. Fudge is getting her into the school as the teacher, despite the fact that I can't find any record of her having even taken a Defense NEWT or gotten anything better than an 'A' in the course, and they'll be forcing a 'theory-based' course down our throats. Lovely."
She carefully stacks another card onto the castle, and Blaise says "You seem to have an awfully specific knowledge of this."
"Like I said. I'm a Seer. Awfully specific knowledge about things that'll influence the course of my life comes with the territory. After my dream, I tried to see it better in my Scrying Orb and saw a meeting that mentioned a post called a 'High Inquisitor' - apparently, she'll be able to scrutinize the teachers, get them fired and replaced…and she's a bloody bitch, to boot. I'm calling her the Tyrannical Toad-Bitch."
That gets a sputtering series of laughter from everyone, and Bloom puts another card up while saying "That Scrying session showed me a lot. She's going to be targeting me specifically, wants to make me recant my statements in the Quibbler - seeing as the Prophet is now powerless to deny them, she's got to make me say it. I won't, but she'll give it her best try - mainly by doing everything she can to make the year miserable for me."
Pansy says "You sound oddly calm when you say that."
Bloom just shrugs, and says "I'm used to people going out of their way to make my life a living hell. Hasn't happened since the end of last year, but I'm still used to it. She'll put in a bunch of new rules, called 'Educational Decrees' restricting everything from clubs to where we do homework."
Everyone else gets horrified looks on their faces, and Fred starts "Don't say she'll"
"even cancel Quidditch!"
Bloom just nods, saying "Like I said. Bloody. Bitch. Specifically, only clubs pre-approved by the High Inquisitor will be allowed. Along with one saying groups of more than two students will be banned. Or, groups of friends can't meet up in the halls once that one's out."
Everyone groans, and Draco says "We'll just have to stop that before it starts, then."
Bloom nods, and says "I'm working on something." She gives Fred and George a look, who then both get sudden looks of realization and give her a thumbs-up each. Which gets a smirk on Bloom's face that makes everyone shiver - its not a nice one, its one that spells certain insanity for this Dolores Umbridge.
AN: Hey, everyone! I know, I missed a week - I was studying for tests around doing homework. Two down, one to go! To make up for it, I'm posting a bit of a preview of sorts - or a series of one-shots mostly set in a time-skip in the story - for the new HTTYD x Winx Club idea I had a few weeks ago. Also, I need name ideas for it - right now, I'm on 'Dragon Tamer' for the main story.
Anyway, enjoy! Again, I'm so sorry about missing my update day, things have just been nuts with three tests to study for alongside my usual amount of homework to complete. Reviews are very much appreciated - haha, HTTYD joke if you catch it. But, still loved nonetheless.
