Fighting Back
(Hi,sorry its sooo late, my phone wouldn't let me switch to desktop mode. Anyway, enjoy, and please review!)
Equivalent of Professor Umbridge
"Neville." said Harry, "What's wrong?"
"N– nothing, okay? I just... Please, it's private."
Harry sighed. Remus had been trying to talk to him about the Dursleys all summer, because he didn't trust Sirius not to go and hex them at once. Now he knew what it felt like.
"Ok then. Night."
"G'night."
The next morning, they had the worst day ever. Potions was as bad as always, with Snape looming over them and spewing out insults every other breath. He vanished Harry's Draught of Peace without so much as a by – your – leave. Divination was also typical, with Trelawney predicting Harry's death throughout the lesson. History of magic provided some time for Harry to think about the Life Gliders, but he ended up almost asleep, because of Binns' monotonous voice.
Then came Defense Against the Dark Arts. When Hermione pointed out that there were no practical lessons, Harry frowned to himself. Why would the Ministry not want them trained in defense? A. Fudge was secretly supporting Voldemort so that when they were out of school, they wouldn't be able to fight, B. They were planning to take over the school and didn't want the students to be able to fight them, or C. Voldemort was going to take over the school, etc. All of those pointed to the ministry either being evil, or most of the important leaders imperioised. Hmmm. It wouldn't do to speak, then.
Harry was starting to embrace his Slytherin side. A summer with the old auror Moody, who had been a Slytherin, had changed his views on Slytherin. It was the house of ambition and cunning, not "evilness". He would keep his head down in front of Umbridge, act like a model student, and she would have no reason to be suspicious of him. Of course, the ministry thought that he had been spreading lies about Voldemort's return anyway, so that was somewhat obsolete. Whilst he pretended to read his copy of Defensive magical theory, Harry's mind was already whirring inside. Maybe he could get Hermione to help the Gliders self – learn, like before the Third Task last year. But, he missed, it wasn't just the Gliders. It was the whole school, basically. And what with Hermione and Ron being perfects, and him on the Quidditch team, to add to Hermione's already busy schedule, they would have hardly any time to raid. Maybe on weekends.
When they had been raiding empty houses at the end of the summer, Harry had found that the students – even Fred and George – looked to him for leadership. And as much as he disliked being center of attention, Harry couldn't deny that he felt somewhat proud that they would trust him to fill such an important role.
The bell rang, signalling the end of class.