Chapter 25

-Seventh year pt 3-

The next meeting of the DA (Defensive Arts), as they had affectionately nicknamed the defense group, went smoothly, apart from Seamus Finnegan knocking Ron out with a hex.

The holidays arrived, and Cassie and Cedric boarded the train headed for home.

It was just Lily who met them at the station, James had been called out on an emergency.

Minnie was saying goodbye to Draco, when suddenly she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Harry stared at them while Cassie smiled widely and Cedric grinned.

Lily hugged Minnie when she came over, walking on clouds.

Cassie elbowed Minnie playfully. "About time!"

Minnie blushed furiously and just smiled.

Harry was still in shock and almost forgot to kiss Ginny goodbye, as she had to come over and kiss him.

Cassie was trying her hardest not to let James, Lily, Sirius, or Remus see the scars on the back of her hand. They would start asking questions, and Cassie did not need that right now.

James almost saw it when she reached for the toast one morning at breakfast, but she had managed to cover it up again, although James gave her a suspicious glance.

The holidays passed by much too quickly, it seemed, and before she knew it, Cassie was back at Hogwarts.

She also managed to get a detention the first day back.

Professor Umbridge had decided that when Cassie almost fell off her chair shuddering, it meant that she wasn't paying attention, and therefore was contradicting her professor.

Cassie had just sighed and resisted the urge to hex Umbridge.

The scars were cut open again that night and bled more then ever. Cassie was swallowing the pain and trying not to cry.

When she got back to the dorms, she crumpled into Cedrics arms and cried.

Cedric just held her and stroked her hair. That was all he needed to do in that moment.

Cassie eventually went to bed, and Cedric thought of a hundred different ways to get Umbridge fired before going to bed.

The weeks went by and the defense group met three times before February was over. Everyone had definitely improved since their first meeting, and they were all enjoying it.

They had no idea what was coming.

Cedric had just come down the stairs into the common room when he noticed a mob of Hufflepuffs staring at the notice board and muttering.

Cedric pressed through the crowd and finally managed to see what the fuss was about. A huge notice was plastered over everything else on the board.

Noticefromthe Ministry of Magic

Dolores Umbridge has been appointed as thefirst High Inquisitor of Hogwarts.

The High Inquisitor will inspect classes and teachers as desired, and will have theright to dismiss teachers as they see fit.

Signed by Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic.

Cedric stared at it, confused. What the hell is the High Inquisitor? He felt someone tugging on his sleeve. It was Cassie. She dragged him back over to the couch and angrily leaned against the table.

"I can't believe this! Now she has even more power then before!" Cassie groaned and rubbed her temples.

Cedric still felt confused. "So she can fire teachers if she wants? I mean, that's not great but it's not devastating."

Cassie kept rubbing her temples. "Ced, didn't you see the other notice?"

Cedric shook his head.

"She's ordered that students are forbidden to gather in groups of four or more. She must know about the DA!"

Cedric suddenly understood. Umbridge must have somehow found out, and she didn't like it. So she was forbidding it.

He felt defeated. "What do we do now then?"

Cassie's face was set with determination and anger. "We keep going. We fight back."

Cedric grinned. This was the Cassie he knew.

That day Professor Umbridge inspected five teachers. One of them was Hagrid.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco were in Care of Magical Creatures, (which Cassie and Cedric had dropped in fifth year) listening to Hagrid explain what a thestrel is, when they heard a "hem hem"

They all glanced at each other with knowing looks and turned around. There was Umbridge with her clipboard and pink feather pen.

"Hem hem! Mr. Hagrid? Do you always teach the children about dangerous creatures such as a thestrel?"

Hagrid looked lost for words. "I...uh...well, yeh see-"

He was interrupted by Umbridge scribbling on her clipboard. "Does...not...have...explanations...for..dangerous...activities."

Hagrid went white. "'at's not true, I would never-"

More scribbling. "Protests...against...truth."

Harry glared at Umbridge. He stepped forward. Hermione grabbed at his robes but he ripped them out of her grasp.

"Hagrid is the best teacher ever! He would never hurt anyone on purpose! You're just writing that to get him fired." Harry's eyes blazed with anger.

Umbridge looked offended and amused at the same time. "Well then Mr. Potter, I suppose you will just have another detention tonight."

Some students snickered and Draco and Ron glared at them.

Harry narrowed his eyes and suddenly became dizzy. His head ached and he couldn't see straight.

He heard someone shout his name but he drifted into darkness before he heard the rest.

He found himself in a room. Bellatrix Lestrange was laughing and his body was racked with pain. He heard someone scream and realized it was him screaming.

Then he turned and saw Ginny on the ground, with a knife through her chest.

He screamed again and tried to reach her, but the pain was too much.

The scene faded away and a searing pain cut through his mind and he sat straight up.

Hermione, Ron, and Draco were all staring at him, concern and fear written on their faces.

Harry was breathing hard. The dream rushed back to him. "Ginny." He breathed, barely audible.

Harry stood up and started running. Hermione yelled after him. "Harry come back!"

Ron started running after him but Umbridge grabbed his shoulder. "You will not leave this class, Mr. Weasley."

Ron wrenched his arm out of her grip and ran.

Umbridge screeched threats after him, but he didn't notice.

Harry had only one thought in his mind and that was find Ginny.

Ron had caught up with him and was calling to him. "Harry! What's wrong?"

Harry continued running. A sudden picture of the hospital wing fluttered into his mind. He bolted for the hospital wing.

He burst through the door and saw Ginny laying in a bed, her arm laying limp beside her, and blood streaking her robes.

"Ginny. Oh my god." He was panting and trying to catch his breath.

Madam Pomfrey looked up, surprised. "How did you know she was in here? I just sent the captain for Ginnys brothers."

Ron came in, gasping for breath. "How...are..you..so..fast?" He leaned against the wall. His question was lost on Harry, who was already by Ginnys bed.

"What happened?" Harry asked quietly.

Madam Pomfrey shook her head. "Fell off her broom. Just a broken arm and nose, but she'll be alright. How did you know she was in here?" She demanded.

Harry didn't reply. Ron was now staring at his sister, registering that she was injured.

"Why were they practicing? They don't have quidditch practice in the afternoon."

Madam Pomfrey shrugged. "Ask the captain."

As if summoned, Angelina Johnson came rushing in along with Fred and George. When she saw Ron she looked relieved but also annoyed. "We've been all over the castle looking for you!"

Ron gave a halfhearted grin.

Fred and George moved over to the bed. "Is she okay?" George asked.

Madam Pomfrey smiled. "Yes. A broken arm and a broken nose, but she'll recover."

Harry turned to Angelina. "Why are you practicing in the afternoon?"

Angelina scowled. "It took forever for Umbridge to approve our team, we've been trying to practice as much as we can."

Harry nodded. He thought back to his dream. Ginny hadn't been stabbed, but she was injured.

She did have blood from her nose down the front of her robes, which gave the effect of a stabbing.

Harry pushed the thought away and sat down on a chair next to the bed.

Ron leaned down and whispered in Harry's ear. "You alright mate? You lay on the ground just staring at the sky and then ran off."

Before Harry could answer Madam Pomfrey cried out. Apparently, Ron was not a very good whisperer.

"You what? And then ran all the way here? Do you have any idea how that could affect your condition?" Madam Pomfrey nearly screeched.

Harry hadn't been listening until Madam Pomfrey had mentioned his 'condition'. "I don't have a condition!" He protested indignantly.

Madam Pomfrey scoffed.

Harry's face darkened. "I'm fine, okay? I was just angry with Umbridge."

Suddenly Cassie was by his side. Apparently Fred had left to get her and Harry hadn't noticed.

Cassie looked at Ginny with sympathy and then at Harry with concern. "Are you okay?"

Harry nodded. "I'm fine, really."

Cassie didn't deter. "Did you see something when you passed out?"

Harry glanced at the unconscious form of Ginny. "Well, yeah. I saw Ginny. She was bleeding. And I felt the Cruciatus Curse again."

Ron spoke up. "He didn't pass out Cassie, he just fell and lay there. His eyes were open the whole time."

Madam Pomfrey gasped and Cassie went pale.

Harry stared at them. "What's wrong?"

Cassie swallowed and looked at Madam Pomfrey, who looked frightened and shocked.

Cassie shook herself out of her reverie. "It's nothing Harry. Just..weird."

Harry nodded slowly. He had a feeling Cassie wasn't telling him everything.

Cassie returned to the dorms and went to Cedrics.

He was sitting on the bed doing homework, and looked grateful for the interruption.

"How's Harry?" Cedric asked.

Cassie sat next to him and took a deep breath. "It's not good Cedric. He..he's starting to develop a mental condition caused by prolonged use of the Cruciatus Curse."

Cedric felt stunned.

Cassie continued. "It's just been newly discovered, I've only just started researching it. It's been named the 'Cruciatus Complex' and it's dangerous. You'll start having hallucinations, paranoia, memory loss. People have lost their minds and lulled themselves. And now," her eyes filled with tears, "Harry's starting to develop it."

Cedric was shocked. "How do you know? Are you sure?"

Cassie nodded. "Madam Pomfrey and I are both very sure. He was hallucinating. He said he was dreaming, but Ron told me that his eyes were completely open the whole time. He even blinked."

Cedric was silent. He didn't know what to say. "Is there anything we can do to help him?"

Cassie looked close to tears. "No."

Cedric pulled her close and kissed her. They stayed like this for a long while.