Unfortunately, McGonagall couldn't get me out of detention. Despite the fact that Dumbledore gave that old hag a scolding, she really put her foot down on that point, but it was reduced from a week down to just the one. Still, I came away with my right hand bleeding, and on the surface of my skin in my own cursive handwritten were written the words: I must be obedient.
It made me hate the woman all the more, but I didn't make a fuss about it. Instead I chose to think of them as battle scars, and after asking around, I found out that it was Neville who had ran to McGonagall after Umbridge took me away. "I owe you one Neville, McGonagall was completely legendary." I said to him as he blushed, shuffling awkwardly as I'd cornered him in the common room. "I'd be much worse off if you hadn't told her what had happened, so thank you." He muttered that it was fine and that he was only trying to help, but then he looked up at me with an odd expression.
"Is…is it true? Your research, I mean. The thing you said about the Cruciatus Curse and how you might be able to treat it?" I was slightly taken aback by the question but quickly recovered.
"Well, I have a theory, and I know the spell works. I used it on Harry when Voldemort was torturing him last year. It wasn't completely effective but it was enough, there's still a way for me to go until it's completely fine tuned and I still have to do a lot of research into the damage and after effects of excessive torture…but I also hope that'll it'll treat memory charm victims. I got that idea from Lockhart, remember him?" Neville managed a shaky smile and wished me luck with everything, though I had to put my research on hold for now.
After that things went quiet with Umbridge, which only made me suspect she was plotting something, so I vowed to stay well out of her way. If I saw her anywhere outside the classroom, I would quickly go the other way. I had been enjoying my favourite chair by the fire with a good book in my lap when Harry had come to join me. It was late, meaning that there were only a few stragglers left and when I looked up, I realised that Ron and Hermione must have already gone to bed when Harry joined me, looking like something was weighing heavily on his mind. "What's up?"
"Hermione. She's had an idea and I'm not sure what to think about it." He revealed as he sat down on the same double sofa with me and stretched out, loosening any aching or tired muscles and joints before he let his head rest back, staring at the ceiling. "They want to start a Defence Against the Dark Arts club."
"Well, that's not a bad idea. We're not getting any practical experience in class so people would really benefit from it. What's got you down about that?"
"They want me to teach." I stopped reading at that point, closing my book with a curious look at Harry, a smile beginning to tug on my lips. "They keep on saying that I should be the one to teach because I've had the experience of actually using defensive spells in real situations, but they won't listen to me when I try to tell them I can't. I mean, most of the time it was just luck, almost every time I had help, and there are other people who'd do a much better job at it than me. Hermione for one, you for another, actually." It all came tumbling out of him before I could even ask, so I listened as Harry started to offload his worries onto me.
"And those are your reasons as to why you shouldn't do it?" I questioned, making him look at me with a slight frown.
"Well, it's true isn't it? I've always had help, and I'm not the only one who's actually faced Voldemort. You were the one who duelled Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets."
"But you fought the basilisk, and you were the one to finish him off in the end." I pointed out, making Harry frown further.
"You were the one who fought Lupin to keep him from attacking us."
"And I seem to recall you producing a full patronus charm to hold off over a hundred dementors all at once when you were only thirteen years old. That's nothing to scoff at, Harry."
"What about last year?" He proceeded, unable to think of a response to my reasoning. "You, Hermione and Ron basically got me through that tournament. I wouldn't have had a clue how to battle a dragon on my own or breathe underwater…"
"But that was you, Harry. All of it. We can help you find the right spells and help you practice, but in the heat of the moment, it was always you and your ability that got you through it. I wasn't the one casting the spells for you in the maze, you did all that on your own. Sure we teamed up, but you were on the right track anyway, and then in the graveyard, your spell was the one that held off Voldemort long enough for us to get away. Harry, I don't think you give yourself enough credit." I told him softly. He looked away for a moment then touched his scar like it was aching, his expression flinching slightly. "Does it hurt?"
"A little. He's angry. All the time. I can feel it."
"Maybe that's why you're so crotchety all the time as well." I mused bluntly which earned a sharp look from Harry so I grinned. "Don't deny it, you've been a real grouch since summer, which is why I think you should go along with Hermione's plan to start a club and take the lead." He stared at me like I was crazy. "I'm serious, Harry, I think this could be exactly what you need. You need focus, directive, something to give you a sense that you're doing your part for Dumbledore, the Order, for everyone in general. If students leave Hogwarts unable to defend themselves, how are they going to protect themselves in the future?"
"I don't…"
"You know I'm right, Harry. When have I ever been wrong?" Pushing him a little, Harry paused in order to think about it a little more. "Just think of it as a non-confrontational way of getting back at Umbridge. Besides, Hermione and I can be as clever as we are, but the only person who can actually prepare others for what's out there is you. You looked Voldemort dead in the eye and defied him. You survived him four times in your entire life. Nothing can teach better than that. If you need help, we'll be there at the drop of a hat, but I think you should go for this Harry. I mean, what's the harm in trying?" I reasoned with him and now, Harry was content to at least sit and think about it. He ended up resting his head against my shoulder as I returned to my book, the two of us sitting there by the fire in comfortable silence until it was late enough to warrant going to bed.
I was fully on board with the Defence Club, though Hermione decided to hold the first meeting away from school during the Hogsmeade visit, which sadly I wouldn't be able to attend because I had other plans, but I told her to put my name down anyway. I'd been looking forward to this Hogsmeade trip pretty much from the moment I returned for the start of term, so on the morning where students were permitted to go, I enlisted Fred and George's help to cover for me as we went to the village and then I walked out of town in order to get past the boundary before disapparating.
I appeared in London, a few streets away from my dad's house where I promptly placed a disillusionment spell on myself so that I seemed completely invisible before then heading over to the house. Since I knew the secret, I was able to get in easily, using magic to unlock the locks then stepped inside and closed the door behind me before taking off the charm that made me invisible just as dad came out from the kitchen. "Surprise!" I cheered brightly and ran to him as he blinked in shock, staring at me all the while I ran to him before I jumped and flung my arms around his neck. "It's so good to be back, you have no idea what a nightmare it's been, my letters don't even begin to cover it." I babbled cheerful as dad then recovered and laughed, lifting me up and swinging me around.
"Mia! What are you doing here? Did you really bunk off school to come home? Is it a Hogsmeade day? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to see your face, and it didn't disappoint. Come on, let's get something to eat. I'm starving." So we went down into the kitchen where a member of the Order was sleeping, mouth hanging open and snoring away. I didn't recognise them but I remained quiet as I began to ask dad a load of questions. "So what's been going on? Is Uncle Rem here? Have you heard about the High Inquisitor? Vile woman. Who's been around lately? Anyone I know?" Still smiling at me broadly, dad sat himself down as I busied myself with making lunch for us and extra for the sleeping Order member.
"Remus is off doing something for Dumbledore, contacting the werewolves I suppose and keeping an eye on them. He writes when he can to give updates, but otherwise I don't hear much from him. Less people stop by except for the fortnightly meeting, which gets a little busier. Umbridge was it? She does sound rather unpleasant. I know a few good hexes that'll sort her out if you're interested." With a laugh I agreed so we cooked up ways in which we would deal with Umbridge if we were given free rein and some of them were rather tempting. I especially liked the idea of tying her up and throwing her to the giant squid. "But other than that, how is everything at Hogwarts? How's Harry?"
"He's struggling a little." I admitted to him with a shrug. "There's something different about him this year, he's a lot angrier than he's ever been before, but then again I shouldn't be surprised. After everything he went through last year, no one can expect him to stay the same. Ron and Hermione have been brilliant, even when he snaps at them they're calm and let him get his frustration out before calling him an arse. I'm glad he's always got those two with him, he needs that kind of friendship right now." Putting down a large plate of sandwiches, the two of us began to eat a few though I merely held one in my hand for a moment as I was deep in thought. "But we're starting our own Defence Club to practice defending ourselves against the Dark Arts, and Harry's going to lead it. It'll be good for him, he'll enjoy it once it gets underway."
"A Defence Club? Brilliant." Dad grinned at me as he listened. "Fudge will go nuts over it if he finds out, so make sure to keep it secret. I suppose you know he's already suspicious that Dumbledore's training you all up to be his private army?" I snorted derisively at that, the entire notion being utterly ridiculous.
"What a prat. The sooner he's out of office, the better." We talked about other things then, catching up the way we couldn't through letters and I told dad a little more about what was happening at school. I had tried to keep my hand hidden from him, tugging my sleeve down over the bandage but he'd been paying attention, asking me what happened so I played it off as just a potions injury. I could tell he didn't believe me, but let it drop for now. Instead, I suggested that we go outside. This idea took instantly, so I set about changing both of our appearances so that no one would know it was us.
I took my time, making sure that the changes were flawless as I focused predominantly on dad, making his hair change colour from black to blond, his eyes blue to brown, then also changed his features by shrinking or enlarging certain aspects, such as his nose, mouth, cheeks and even his ears. I wanted no part of him to be recognisable, then he changed into his most muggle-like clothes which consisted of jeans, a button up shirt and a velvet jacket. He looked great, so I quickly changed my hair colour, also blonde, my eyes to green, and also made myself shorter. I then placed disillusionment charms on us both, then we went out into the muggle streets of London to enjoy an entire day together.
Once we were far enough away from the house, I took away the charms so that we could walk together. I'd never really paid much attention to muggle cities, having always gone to Diagon Alley for things that I needed, and it was rather fascinating to go about and see things from a non-magical point of view. Dad was rather adept at using muggle transportation, having needed to blend in whilst he was on the run so we took a tour bus around London, sitting in the top open layer and saw the sights. I didn't really understand what these muggles found so fascinating about bridges, clocks and a big metal apparatus shaped like a wheel which was apparently the 'London Eye', though when I asked, they seemed to think my question as to whether it could actually see rather odd. It amused dad, at least.
We had a proper lunch in a fancy restaurant and dad paid with muggle money that he had, though I had wanted to look at the weird paper notes first out of curiosity. "What if they get wet? Or damaged? What do muggles do then?" I asked in confusion, thinking that paper currency was quite pointless. After lunch we walked around a few parks, experienced the London Underground, and even went around a few shops where dad bought me a belated birthday present of a new coat. It was black with buttons on the left hand side with a large hood, looking very pretty with a feminine cut and it was exceptionally warm.
All in all, we had a wonderful day and as time came closer to the point where I would have to leave, I wished I knew a spell that could stop time altogether. I'd never had a day like this before with my dad, but I comforted myself that hopefully, there would be hundreds more in the future. Dad was overjoyed to be out of the house and not walking around on all fours, the two of us never lacking for conversation as I walked with my arm in his until it was time to go back, so we disappeared down an alley where I performed the disillusionment charm once more so that we could go back without being followed.
We returned to the house and once inside, I took off the charms. "Do you think we got away with it?" I wondered aloud, thinking of the sleeping wizard who'd been in the kitchen.
"Well, we'll soon find out no doubt. Go on, you should get going before they figure out you're gone. I'll see you again soon, love." With that dad hugged me close and gave me a kiss which I returned, hesitating to leave him alone so he laughed. "Don't worry about me, I'll be just fine. I've got Buckbeak and people are always stopping by. You just worry about yourself and that Umbridge woman." Nodding my head, I said goodbye before disappearing all at once, apparating all the way back to a private spot in the village where Fred and George were waiting for me, just as planned.
"All good?" Fred asked me as I dusted myself off and stepped out onto the street with a grin.
"Flawless."