Thoroughly exhausted Harry trudged through the castle Monday evening, doing his best not to physically drag his feet across the stone floors. He had not long ago finished his Occlumency lesson with Snape. That lesson had followed a thoroughly terrible Monday of double periods for History of Magic, Potions, Divination and Defence Against the Dark Arts, leaving Harry thoroughly spent and ready to collapse into the comforting fortress of his four poster bed.

He had barely made it up the Entrance Hall stairs when he knew he needed to stop, to collect his thoughts and let himself recover before making the trek back to Gryffindor Tower. Donning the invisibility cloak he found an alcove where he could sit peacefully and tipped his head back. It was quite uncomfortable, but for a few minutes he was able to close his eyes and rest, feeling his heart rate slowing as the shaking of his hands settled.

That night he was almost certain someone had been tailing him through the dungeons, but he didn't even care to get out the Marauder's Map and try to see who was nearby right now. If anyone asked his remedial potion lessons with Snape were well documented among the staff, and Harry even carried extra potion ingredients in his schoolbag while Snape made a point of leaving out a hot cauldron lest anyone barge into his office.

Tonight's lesson, much like those prior, had not gone well.

His mum had been on his mind for a few days, her birthday having come and gone more than a month ago. Over the weekend Ron and the twins had been arguing in the Common Room, while Harry watched on from the corner of his eyes. Ron might envy Harry's fame and gold, but in return Harry envied his family, resenting how little he appreciated having two parents and siblings to share his life with.

Though it served only to torment himself he wondered what life would have been like had Voldemort never tried to kill his family, or if by some miracle they had all escaped. Surely he would have younger brothers and sisters…apparently his dad hadn't liked being an only child. For that matter, neither did Harry…

Harry shouldn't have spent so much time thinking about his parents, not when he knew perfectly well how it would backfire on him. It had of course come up in Occlumency, his parents being the subject that had most recently and heavily weighed on his mind, and Snape had shown his typical level of compassion and empathy.

'How touching,' Snape sneered at him, having just glimpsed an imagined scenario of the gift Harry might have given his mother on her thirty sixth birthday. 'You'll willingly share even your wildest fantasies with the Dark Lord.'

'You're sick in the head,' Harry spat, despising Snape with every fibre of his being. He felt utterly humiliated that Snape had seen that. 'It's not normal to enjoy tormenting people like this.'

'And the Dark Lord will enjoy it thoroughly,' Snape lectured, unabashed. 'And such easy fodder you give to him. What pleasure he will take from using fantasies such as that to torment you into madness.'

The sound of footsteps broke Harry out of his revere, and he lifted his head ever so slightly to listen. A group of students were coming down the corridor, talking amongst themselves so quietly Harry couldn't make out what they were saying. One of them was carrying the Evening Prophet, appearing to read it out loud, and so Harry immediately lost interest. Whatever had them whispering in hushed tones was gossip of no interest to him.

Trying not to think about the lesson Harry touched the material of the invisibility cloak, rubbing the silky fabric between his fingertips. Though he was only generating more thoughts for Snape to use against him he couldn't help but imagine his dad using the cloak at his age, cramming his friends underneath it to sneak out every full moon. He wondered how on earth they had managed it with four of them - it was hard enough getting himself, Ron and Hermione underneath.

Continuing to let his mind wander he thought back to his mum again, wondering what she thought about the invisibility cloak. Had she known about it at Hogwarts? Or, had his dad shied away from showing it to her lest it fuel her belief that he had a big head? He wondered if they might have used it together once they were dating in Seventh year, if perhaps they…

Nope. That's enough…

Getting up from the alcove Harry physically shook the train of thought out of his head, laughing at himself. Despite that fact that Snape had used his parents against him only a short time ago, thinking of them still brought him hope and a sense of comfort. He felt better now than he had just a few minutes ago, though he kept the invisibility cloak on so that if there was someone tailing him, more than likely on Umbridge's behalf, he would lose them.

Removing the cloak before entering Harry made his way through the portrait hole into the warmth of Gryffindor Tower, enjoying the long awaited feeling of arriving home after a long and exhausting day. The atmosphere tonight was odd, more people looking at him than normal, but he paid them no attention just as he had trained himself to do. Things had been better since the Quibbler article, and his house mates had never explicitly given him a hard time, but he still needn't bother letting interest and talk get to him.

He bypassed Ron, Hermione and Ginny who were huddled together near a fireplace, and he was so tired he didn't even question why Ron and Ginny weren't at Quidditch practice. Instead he went straight to the dormitory. By now his friends knew to leave him alone after Occlumency, to not expect him in a good mood or motivated to do much homework, and as he kicked off his shoes and removed his tie he was confident he could settle in for an easy evening. Still thinking about his parents he opened his trunk and rummaged through, looking for his photo album that was usually at the bottom wrapped in one of Dudley's shirts.

The door to the dormitory burst open, bringing Harry's hopes for a peaceful evening to a standstill.

'Oi!' Ron shouted, following Hermione and his sister inside. 'What if he wasn't dressed?'

Harry was about to voice his agreement, but he stopped short when he saw Hermione. She was grim faced, hands trembling as she gripped a copy of the Evening Prophet. For a moment Harry stared at the newspaper, feeling a darkness coming over him…this could not be good.

He turned away, looking into his open trunk. 'What does it say?'

Hermione cleared her throat and then spoke, her voice heavy. 'Dumbledore's vigilante group caught spying on Minister for Magic,' she began. 'Junior Auror suspended amid scandal.'

'What?' Harry said, aghast. He rose to his feet and faced his friends, listening as Hermione repeated the headline. When she handed him the newspaper the bottom dropped out of his stomach, looking at the headline and the accompanying photo of Dumbledore striding through the Ministry. Dreading it, Harry forced himself to read the article.

Dumbledore's vigilante group caught spying on Minister for Magic.

Junior Auror suspended amid scandal.

A political espionage plot has come to light after three members of a vigilante group were caught breaking into the offices of high ranking Ministry officials. Disgraced former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Albus Dumbledore has come under fire for alleged political spying when his close associates were caught by Ministry of Magic security as they searched the offices of Minister Fudge's staff in the early hours of this morning.

Madam Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement quickly condemned the act, while Head of the Auror Department Rufus Scrimgeour sought to distance his department by confirming the break in was not associated with his office or any active investigations. Both today confirmed the regrettable involvement of a Junior Auror who has been stood down on suspension without pay over their involvement.

Criminal charges have been laid against all three intruders, each of who are yet to be named. They are expected to face hearings next month. The intruders have been released from Department of Magical Law Enforcement custody under strict bail conditions, which include bans from all Ministry premises and contact with officials from the Minster for Magic's office.

'I am utterly appalled by this outrageous act of political spying, and offer my Office's full support to the investigation,' said Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge. 'There is no doubt in my mind that this intrusion came at the explicit directive of Albus Dumbledore, who has gone to great lengths to sabotage my office for his own political gain.'

Rufus Scrimgeour was contacted for additional statement, and confirmed that there are no active investigations involving the Minister for Magic or his associates, and no active investigations into recent claims made by Albus Dumbledore. The Headmaster of Hogwarts's reputation has fallen into ill-repute following his repeated claims that You Know Who has returned to power, claims supported without substantiation by fifteen year old Tri-Wizard Tournament winner Harry Potter.

The article continued over the page, but Harry stopped reading any further. He felt faint, as though someone had pushed him off his broomstick and he was suspended in mid-air. A whirlwind of questions swirled through his head unanswered, confusion as to exactly what had happened at the Ministry and how…but there was only one thing he knew for sure, which was that it was going to be a lot more difficult to continue convincing people that Voldemort's return was real.

'There's more,' Hermione began apologetically. She took a deep breath before continuing. 'On the third page is an article about Malfoy. He's been reappointed to the Board of Governors…no doubt Fudge did that today for a reason.'

There was silence as Harry took this in, and though any other day that would have outraged him it felt like just a drop in the water. Finally he lowered the newspaper and looked at his friends, beginning to understand what people had been talking about in the corridors.

'It was the Order, right?' Harry asked, looking between all three of them. 'Scrimgeour called them vigilantes the other day. And the Junior Auror, what if that was Tonks?'

'We should talk to Sirius,' Ron said anxiously.

Agreeing, Harry tossed the newspaper aside and returned to his trunk, retrieving the mirror and ushering everyone to get onto his bed. Ginny followed suit, bewildered by the small mirror he was holding up, but she quickly caught on and joined them as he pulled the curtains around and cast some privacy charms.

'Sirius.'

As if he had been waiting for this call Sirius answered immediately, his grim face materialising in the mirror. 'Hey, mate,' he said cheerlessly, his tone doing nothing to brighten their spirits. 'I've been trying reach you all day.'

'I left the mirror in my dorm, I only just got in,' Harry muttered. 'What the hell is going on?'

Sirius rubbed his hands over his face and took a deep breath, looking away for a moment. 'Pretty much what the Prophet says. The Aurors were doing a search of Fudge's office Monday morning, an-'

'The Prophet said it wasn't the Aurors.'

'Let me get the whole story out, alright?' Sirius said. 'It was the Aurors. They were searching Fudge's office and they got caught.'

'How do Aurors get caught?' Harry said in outrage.

Sirius grimaced, again glancing away. 'We have our suspicions, but there's no point getting into the how or why. What matters is they were caught red handed, so they stuck to their plan. They threw the Order into the centre of it and blamed us as working on Dumbledore's orders for political gain.'

All four of them erupted into protest, outraged that the Order and Dumbledore would be forced to take the blame for the Auror's ineptitude. Sirius had to talk over all four of them, exasperatedly calming them down enough to explain.

'It was an agreed plan,' Sirius clarified. 'We always knew the Order would take the blame if something went wrong. Bad enough Malfoy thinks the Order is looking at him, let alone letting him think Aurors are. Scrimgeour could never let Malfoy think there's a real investigation or he will do what he did fourteen years ago and get out of it.'

Hermione spoke up. 'The prophet said a Junior Auror was suspended.'

Sirius nodded. 'It was Tonks.'

They gasped in horror, muttering under their breaths in outrage while Sirius again hastened to explain.

'Tonks was on that team for this very reason. Scrimgeour knows she's part of the Order, so-'

'So she's cannon fodder?'

'Yes,' Sirius said simply. 'That's why she was there. Her deflecting blame onto Dumbledore and the Order means that the Auror office don't have to admit they're investigating Fudge or Malfoy. Don't worry about Tonks,' he assured them, seeing they were not convinced. 'She's not been named, she can take the hit. Scrimgeour will look after her.'

They were not convinced, especially not Harry. Only a few days Scrimgeour had harped on about the investigation needing time and a careful strategy, Harry just didn't realise throwing Tonks at the mercy of her own department was part of that strategy. Besides, deflecting blame onto the Order and denying the Auror Department's involvement only further damaged his and Dumbledore's credibility…it wasn't only her taking this hit.

'How bad is all this?'

'Difficult to say,' Sirius said, letting out a long breath. 'The Auror Office denied involvement so they've protected the investigation. Malfoy knows Dumbledore and the Order are looking into him, but hopefully he's none the wiser about the Aurors.'

'I saw he's back on the Board of Governors.'

'That's neither here nor there.'

'Easy for you to say,' Harry said angrily. 'What if he shows up here?'

Rubbing his hands over his face again, Sirius didn't respond to that question, and his silence served as the only answer Harry needed. Lucius Malfoy showing up at Hogwarts was only a matter of time.

'I need to speak to Harry alone.'

Ron, Hermione and Ginny each exchanged glances, but at Sirius's request they got up from the bed and stepped out of the curtains, and though they stayed in the dormitory the privacy charms gave Harry and Sirius the requested privacy.

'Harry, we think the Aurors got caught because someone in Fudge's office was warned. I don't like asking this, but-'

'I know what you're thinking,' he said firmly, cutting Sirius off before he could say any more. 'It wasn't Ron.'

'Are you sure? The Order would understand.'

'The Order should have warned Percy themselves like I suggested,' Harry said vehemently, not because he believed it but because he would defend Ron no matter what.

'Okay,' Sirius placated him, getting the hint. Wisely he didn't say any more on the subject.

'People are going to take this as more proof that Dumbledore and I are lying,' Harry continued, clarifying his thoughts. 'Scrimgeour should just admit he's investigating Malfoy - who cares if he tries to weasel out of it! We all know what he did.'

'I'm not arguing your position,' Sirius replied, looking wearier with every passing moment. 'But that's not going to happen. Once Malfoy knows we're on to him we'll never catch the Death Eaters who escaped Azkaban. We can't let all of them go just so we can catch Malfoy.'

Why not? Harry thought bitterly. In his weaker moments he knew he would give anything to have Malfoy pay for what he had done to him, even if it meant missing their chance to catch the others. It was selfish, especially with those like Bellatrix Lestrange at large, but that didn't change how he felt most of the time. Malfoy was the one who had tortured him, who had made him plead on his hands and knees while he stood over him, laughing. Was it really asking too much that Malfoy pay for that?

'Alright, Harry?'

Realising he had been silent Harry nodded. But then he shrugged, feeling completely helpless.

'I know it's hard to do nothing,' Sirius sympathised. 'Merlin, do I know it's hard. But the Order are making good headway with a long of things, I promise. And so is Scrimgeour.'

Harry's expression soured. 'I'm never speaking to that arsehole again,' he said bitterly, looking at the stack of books on his nightstand. He ought to toss them out the window. It was only recently that Harry had been coming around to Scrimgeour, finally getting the feeling that he actually cared about Voldemort's return. But now Harry felt utterly betrayed by what Scrimgeour had done, that he refused to work with the Order but would readily throw them under the bus.

'How 'bout I jail break you out of there?' Sirius suggested, his voice lifting up with a twinge of hope. 'Come on, it'll be fun.'

Harry managed a smile. 'What are you going to do? Show up at the West Tower riding Buckbeak?'

This time they both managed a smile, both remembering the night Harry and Hermione had saved him from the Dementor's kiss by doing exactly that.

'That night feels like a decade ago.'

'Yeah, it does.'

He remembered that night clearly, the brief joy that came with the idea that he had a godfather his parents entrusted him to, someone who actually wanted him to live with them. But it had all gone so wrong. That was the night Pettigrew had escaped and set out to find Voldemort and aid his return, just as Trelawney had prophecised. The knowledge that her prophecy had come true was of no comfort to him given there was supposedly a prophecy involving himself.

'I mean it, Harry. Do you want to come home? Just until things die down a little. I can try talking to Dumbledore.'

Harry liked the suggestion of home, knowing that Sirius meant bringing him back to Grimmauld Place...it wasn't much, but it was their home. But Harry remained silent, lingering on his response. On the inside he was screaming yes. He wanted to run away, to hide from it all instead of subjecting himself to the mental torture he knew was coming. Who wouldn't want to hide away from humiliation like this? He was about to say yes, to implore Sirius to plead with Dumbledore, and his heart was already lifting at the thought of getting away from Hogwarts even if just for a little while.

But he knew he couldn't leave Ron and Hermione. He wasn't the only one who had been having a hard time over the last few months, their friendship with him meaning they too were subjected to the same ridicule and gossip. After a brief period of relief it was going to start all over again, and for them too. Yet they had never abandoned him, and even now they were sticking by his side, determined they would weather this storm together just like they always did.

Would he be doing them a favour by leaving?

'I don't think I can,' he said in disappointment. 'Ron and Hermione. I don't know if they're better off without me or not.'

Sirius nodded, understanding. 'You shouldn't leave your friends' he agreed, though clearly disappointed. 'Not unless you really have to.'

Harry didn't say anything more, wishing that Sirius had disagreed with him, that he insisted he leave Hogwarts. Silence lingered over the conversation, though he could hear someone in the background of Grimmauld Place's kitchen, but he didn't ask who it was.

'You can't leave the DA either,' Sirius reminded him, trying to lift the conversation. 'Those kids want to learn how to defend themselves. You're doing a good job teaching them.'

At this Harry scoffed. 'Like anyone will show up ever again.'

Sirius shook his head. 'Maybe you'll lose a few of them...people who were sitting on the fence this whole time. But you won't lose the core of the group. They'll show up.'

'How do you know?'

'Because they showed up before. And when they do, you need to be ready.'

Harry blinked, looking back into the mirror again. 'Ready for what?'

'To tell them that you're not giving up,' Sirius emphasised.

Harry scoffed again, but softer this time. 'Why do I get the feeling that would be more for my benefit than theirs?'

'Can't it be both?'

Harry gave no response. He sat quietly for a few moments, listening as Sirius talked a little longer offering empty reassurances that everything would be alright. Harry knew it was all meaningless, that there was nothing Sirius or he could do to minimise what was going to happen...but regardless, it was nice just listening to someone who was on his side.

A few minutes later he and Sirius said goodbye, promising they would speak with one another this time tomorrow night. Taking a few moments longer Harry remained cross legged on his bed in order to collect his thoughts, and then he stepped out into the dormitory where Ron, Hermione and Ginny were anxiously waiting.

'What's it like out there?'

'People are asking a lot of questions,' Ginny said. 'About you, about the Ministry.'

'Do they still believe me?'

'It's a mixed bag,' Ron muttered. 'But it's…'

'It's a setback,' Hermione interjected, her voice brightened. 'But people still believe you, and they still mistrust Fudge.'

Not really reassured Harry looked back at the newspaper, reading the headline again before flicking through a few pages. On page three was a photograph of Lucius Malfoy and Fudge from the day the new wing at St Mungos opened, and on page four was another photograph of Fudge with someone else.

'That won't last,' Harry said gloomily. 'He's already back on the media trail. Look at this. An article about a charity breakfast he attended, next to an article about a Puffskein he found stuck in a patch of mud.'

'Damn,' Ginny muttered. 'He's literally saving Puffskeins. That's hard to compete with.'

Harry's heart was heavy. The Quibbler article had done a lot to convince people he wasn't a nut case and he'd received a great deal of support following it, but there was no doubt in his mind that support was about to start waning. Ginny was right - he couldn't compete with Fudge, at least not when it came to the media.

The whole school would have read this article, and by tomorrow morning it would be all people were talking about. As this realisation sank in he felt like he was falling again, like the blood was draining from his body as he stood there motionless...he had known this kind of thing might happen, but that didn't make him feel any more prepared for it.

Without warning Ron snatched the newspaper out of his hand, and then he crossed to the centre of the dormitory where the pot-bellied fireplace stood. Making quite a show of it he tossed the newspaper in and slammed the door shut, scattering ash and sparks all over the hearth.

'Alright then,' he said encouragingly, brushing his hands on the front of his trousers 'Chins up. Anyone who gives you shit, we'll tell them to fuck off.'

'I don't say this often, but Ron's right,' Ginny agreed. 'There's nothing to do except stand our ground.'

While Hermione vehemently agreed, Harry was less certain. He appreciated their optimism, it was just hard to share it. Searching for his own he cast his mind back to the summer and the conversation he'd had with Mr Weasley late at night. Mr Weasley had warned him that telling the truth might make him miserable in the short term, but that he wouldn't regret it. Well, it seemed he had the miserable part down...

'We know the truth,' Hermione said vehemently. 'We just have to stick to it no matter what. Come on, let's go back down to the Common Room.'

Though he appreciated their support Harry wasn't in much of a mood to face the rest of Gryffindor. Ron and Ginny collected their broomsticks and raced down to face the ire of Angelina, having skipped out on practice to be there when Hermione broke the news, while Hermione collected her books and joined Harry in the dormitory to do homework together.

As expected he wasn't much company, but he appreciated Hermione's efforts to hang out even if she was doing homework. While she sat cross legged on Ron's bed practicing Arithmancy equations Harry sat nearby on his own, pretending to look through the album of his parents Hagrid had given him so long ago. He had lost all interest in them, his thoughts taken over by the contents of the newspaper currently smouldering in the fireplace.

In the silence of the dormitory Harry took out his DA coin. Lately Filch had taken to searching him whenever the opportunity presented itself, and though he had confiscated a bottle of invisible ink he had yet to detect anything nefarious about his charmed galleon. He looked at the date and time inscribed around the edges of the corner, hiding in plain sight within the serial number. Tomorrow night would be their next DA meeting, and for the first time ever he was dreading it.

The DA was the one thing he had left now, the one thing that gave him the motivation to keep going, to keep holding his head high. There were people who believed him, and not because they were chasing the latest fad or trend. They believed him enough to come to those meetings, to go out of their own way to learn how to defend themselves, and Harry had been helping them.

Though he didn't change the time or date, Harry did take out his wand and tap it against the coin. It warmed in his hand, and he imagined all around the castle the DA members would feel it in their pockets, the reminder that there was a meeting on tomorrow. That sole reminder would surely be enough to deter them from skipping it, to indicate that no matter what they might read in the Prophet he was standing by his word.

Despite his cautious optimism that at least the DA would believe him, the next morning brought reality upon them.

Word about the supposed political spying had spread like Fiendfire around the castle, bolstered by those like Draco Malfoy who had taken to loudly reciting Scrimgeour's quote that there were no investigations to anyone and everyone who would listen. It was only a small consolation that the majority of early whispers were of confusion. Students and teachers alike seemed to spend the day debating back and forth between Harry's published recount of what happened and the renewed confirmation that there were no investigations into his claims.

Sympathy and support had grown for him in the days after the Quibbler article, but it vanished just as quickly. The weight that had so recently been lifted off his shoulders returned, feeling heavier than ever. Though it wasn't the previous open hostility, exasperated and judgemental stares still followed him through the corridors, while even his fellow Gryffindors were steering clear of him. At the encouragement of certain students the Potter Stinks badges made a small resurgence, and after having those flashed at him from across the classroom all morning Harry started to regret his stoic refusal to have Sirius take him home.

Were he not constantly in the company of Ron and Hermione he would have taken to donning the invisibility cloak just to get through the day, but it proved too difficult to manoeuvre through a crowded hallway with all three of them underneath it. But just as they promised his friends proudly stuck by his side, weathering much the same abuses he was. Harry dreaded to think that their patience might eventually grow thin. How long would they put up with all this just to be his friend?

For lunch they were heading down to see Hagrid before their afternoon class, and Harry was waiting in their usual spot in the courtyard. Ron and Hermione had stopped by the Great Hall to collect some food they could take down, and Harry had point blank refused to go in there. He needed a break, to just sit quietly for a time and collect his thoughts.

If he didn't have Ron and Hermione and the DA, Harry felt he might have begged Sirius to break him out of here after all. But he couldn't abandon his friends or the DA, at least not until he had no other choice...and right now his choice was to endure. There was a light at the end of the tunnel. As grim as it was to think about, Voldemort would come out of hiding eventually...it felt strange that he was looking forward to that.

Waiting in the courtyard Harry had donned his invisibility cloak, which proved to be both a blessing and a curse. When he was without it people stared and gawked at him, but when he was invisible they left him alone...but it was then they talked without restraint. One such occasion came about while he was waiting for his friends, a group of students walking past in the open corridor behind him. They made no effort to keep their voices down, unaware the subject of conversation was within ear shot.

'I wouldn't put it past her to be behind it,' the sixth year boy said to his friends. 'It's barely been two weeks since the Quibbler article, and now this? Umbridge hates him.'

The boy's friend cringed. 'Don't talk to me about that article. I'm embarrassed that I ever believed it. I can believe that Fudge would lie, but not that the Auror Department would.'

'It's for attention,' another commented, stopping to tie their shoelace. 'After what happened all the attention was on Diggory and not Potter.'

'But, something did happen.'

'Yeah, it was Crouch! Potter just blew it all out of proportion to keep getting attention.'

Harry looked around, feeling a small flicker of hope. He recognised the boy who seemed to be sticking up for him. It was Kenneth Towler, a friend of Fred and George's and member of the DA. Though he could stick up for him a little more passionately it seemed he was at least trying.

'Wait...which Crouch did it?' one of the other boys asked.

'The one that went mad. He worked for Fudge - come on, you remember Mr Crouch?'

'I thought it was his son, the one who went to Azkaban.'

There was momentary silence, the boys looking at one another perplexed.

'Bagman had a bet on Potter to win. They were probably in on it together.'

'You're all wrong,' Kenneth said boldly, shaking his head as the group set off again. 'At least Potter can keep his story straight.'

It was a few more minutes before Ron and Hermione joined him, Ron's bag bulging with the lunch food he had collected for all three of them. They gave him an all too familiar look he was used to receiving these days, one that suggested they had been talking about him while he was gone and were now trying to lift and brighten his day.

Harry wanted to ask how bad it was in the Great Hall, but instead asked, 'Anything good for lunch?'

'Oh yeah,' Ron grinned, opening his bag and showing him. 'Good sandwiches today, and the stuffed potatoes you like.'

'Afternoon post came. A couple of nice ones,' Hermione said cheerily, passing him three envelopes that had been opened. 'But mainly, well...you know.'

'There was a Howler too,' Ron added, his voice unusually bright. 'I got it with a Silencing charm though, so it didn't get to say much.'

'McGonagall suggested she ought to start filtering the mail on your behalf. Again.'

Thanking them, Harry took the three envelopes that Hermione deemed okay for him to read and tucked them into his schoolbag. He would read them later, perhaps before their DA meeting that night, and they would join the small collection of mail he had opted to keep after the publication of his article in the Quibbler.

'Ahhh, tits…fuc-…' Ron blustered. He screwed up his eyes while his cheeks reddened, fumbling over the words he couldn't get out while he wildly gestured behind Hermione. 'It's - her!'

'What?' Harry questioned, for it took a moment to interpret what Ron was trying to say - and then from the corner of his eye he saw the cause for alarm. Wearing her usual set of deep pink robes Umbridge was crossing the courtyard towards them, her heels clicking on the stone as she made her way over. Behind her was Filch and Mrs Norris close in tow.

Hurriedly making a move Harry stepped towards Hermione, covertly passing her the invisibility cloak that had until then been draped over the crook of his arm. Since Filch had taken to searching him at random for Dungbombs Hermione had mostly taken to carrying it on his behalf, for it seemed Filch didn't suspect her of harbouring banned items. And Harry certainly didn't want Umbridge laying her beady little eyes on his invisibility cloak either. It was one thing for her to confiscate his Firebolt, it was another for her to take his father's invisibility cloak.

'You,' Filch started, pointing at Harry. 'Come on then - you know wha' to do.'

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes Harry slipped his school bag from his shoulder and held it out to Filch. 'Still looking for those Dungbombs?'

'Yerse…' he leered, opening Harry's bag and beginning to search it. 'Turn out your pockets too.'

Doing as he was told Harry turned out the pockets of his trousers and robes, but he ignored Filch who today was the least of his problems. He looked at Umbridge, who despite her facade of politeness was clearly taking great pleasure in having Harry searched. A few moments later Filch thrust Harry's bag back towards him and turned to Ron, who had also preemptively turned out his pockets.

'And Miss Granger too, if you don't mind,' Umbridge said sweetly.

Filch nodded, noticing that Mrs Norris had made a point of sitting right beside Hermione's feet. 'Come on then, Missy.'

Hermione's eyes narrowed, and Harry knew it wasn't only the search that she would have liked to protest, but the way Filch had addressed her. Nevertheless she held her tongue, knowing Umbridge would only retaliate against Harry. Cooperatively Hermione handed over her schoolbag and allowed Filch to search it, and by some miracle she had managed to stow his invisibility cloak somewhere he couldn't find it. After she too had turned out her pockets Umbridge seemed satisfied, and she smiled sweetly at Filch.

'Thank you, Argus.'

'Not at all, Ma'am, not at all,' said Filch, bowing as low into a bow before shuffling away. Mrs Norris followed him after a few moments, meowing loudly as if to suggest he hadn't looked thoroughly enough.

'Mr Potter,' Umbridge began, looking him up and down as he turned his pockets in the right way again. He said nothing and simply stared back at her until she continued. 'I'd like to see you in my office, please.'

This wasn't unexpected. He knew she would want to gloat over the apparent vindication of Lucius Malfoy, to gloat she had been right about the self-serving attention seeking Harry Potter all along. But knowing what would happen and being prepared for it were two entirely separate concepts. It was only the thought of their DA meeting that night that kept Harry's temper in check…he needed those meetings, they were a life line to him…he could not end up in more detentions with Umbridge.

'Yes, Professor.'

'Off you go you two,' she said dismissively to Ron and Hermione. 'Off to class.'

'Actually, we thought we'd go to lunch,' Ron said bluntly, unable to hold himself back. 'You know, seeing as it's lunch and all.'

'Off you go then. Mr Potter, my office please.'

She turned on the heel of her pink shoes and set off, leaving Harry no choice but to follow. Were it most other teachers he would have fallen into step alongside them, perhaps asked what this was all about, but with Umbridge there was no need to ask, and no need to get too close. Instead he let her get a few paces ahead before following, and as he suspected they would Ron and Hermione followed him. It was after all still a free country - if they wanted to have lunch outside Umbridge's office she couldn't stop them.

The walk to Umbridge's third floor office was no pleasant journey. Simply being seen in the company of Umbridge on his way to her office garnered attention, and likely the assumption that he was in trouble with her. Just as they had all day other students looked at him, whispering in confusion…and just as it always did the attention directed his way got up Umbridge's nose.

Filled with nervous energy Harry kept his head down as he walked, keen to just get this over with. Umbridge either wanted to gloat or commence his next round of punishments. Either one wasn't good. What fresh horror would she had in store for him today?

He entered her office, a room he was more familiar with than he'd like. It seemed she had acquired yet more kitten plates, their big eyes and the bows around their necks looking stupider than ever, and it really just served to reaffirm his decision that he was more of a dog person. Hanging on the wall nearby her desk were his Firebolt and Fred and George's Cleensweeps, chained and padlocked where she could freely admire them. He looked away from them, having already accepted that there was nothing he could do except wait.

'Have a seat, Mr Potter.'

A/N Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and the storyline with the Aurors/Order having bit of a set back. I wrote these chapters as part of a big rewriting purge and hope you enjoy the storyline.

Next chapter was part of the big rewrite, and was really enjoyable to read - it's the scene where Umbridge tries to slip Harry Veritaserum, but the context is entirely different from canon in that the DA has not been discovered and Dumbledore isn't on the run, so she has a different agenda.

If you enjoyed please leave a review - thank you!