A/N For the record, I'll go down with the Hinny ship and really wish the writing bug had bitten me for book 6 so I could write them together.

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,' she invited, her voice saccharine sweet. 'What would you like to drink?'

'What?' said Harry, quire sure he had misheard her.

'To drink, Mr Potter,' she said, smiling still more widely. 'Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice?'

As she named each drink, she gave her short wand a wave, and a cup or glass of it appeared on her desk.

'Nothing, thank you,' said Harry.

'I wish you to have a drink with me,' she said, her voice becoming dangerously sweet. 'Choose one.'

He stopped, taken aback by her insistence. It occurred to him what Mad-Eye would say if he ever heard that Harry had drunk anything offered by a known enemy. He would have to have rocks in his head if he were to take her up on her insistence that he have a drink with her.

He looked at her, unsure of where this is all going, what she wanted from him. He glanced back at the glass of pumpkin juice she conjured, becoming more and more suspicious…her sickeningly sweet smile was doing nothing to reassure him. He knew the sinister nature that lurked behind that smile. The scars on his right hand could attest to that.

He repeated his first refusal. 'Nothing, thank you.'

'Is something the matter, Mr Potter?'

This time he didn't answer. To anyone who didn't know better her pleasantries masked her true self, the games she liked to play…especially with him. In his lap he clenched his hand and glanced down at it, the white markings of I must not tell lies standing out. She'd been playing games with him all year, a power struggle erupting between the two of them the moment he set foot into her class room...no, since the statement he gave to Madam Bones last August, since his Hearing at the Ministry.

And all along he had played the game, letting her set the terms, letting her dictate his moves and responses. And now she was doing it to him again…or at least, she was trying to. The article in the Prophet, the implied vindication of everything she and Fudge had been saying. Of course she wanted to rub that in his face, to use it against him…but that didn't mean he had to let her.

After all, he was holding his head high. He had spoken through the Quibbler and told the world his story…he was finally fighting back. And so he settled for a calculated silence. Meeting her beady little eyes he held her gaze. He would not be the first to look away.

Umbridge didn't play along. Instead she waved her wand again and vanished the pumpkin juice, rescinding the offer. He was relieved, but he kept his face impassive. Were it not for his loyalty to the Order he wouldn't have put it past Snape to give Umbridge Veritaserum had she asked for it. Was that what this had been about?

'Well, now, Mr Potter. I thought we ought have a little chat about the revelations that have come to light. As I've no doubt you're aware, the Ministry of Magic has once again confirmed that your alarmist complaints are entirely unfounded,' she said sweetly, taking particular pleasure in that last word. 'The Department of Magical Law Enforcement will be formalising these conclusions with the Minister for Magic's office this week.' She paused now, looking at him expectantly before puffing herself up a little.

'You will in time, come to thank me. You see, the Minister for Magic has had half a mind to lay charges against you. Criminal charges, for lying to Madam Bones,' she explained. 'You do recall the conditions she explained to you?'

Harry remained silent. He recalled those conditions perfectly well, Madam Bones having explained that if he was caught lying he could be penalised fifty Galleons. At the time he hadn't put much thought to it, knowing he was being truthful, but now…well, if they dared fine him he'd simply send the fine to Scrimgeour. Or else…how many Knuts would make up fifty Galleons?

He wanted to ask why he ought to be thanking Umbridge, but he forced himself to remain silent. That was to be his weapon today - silence. She stared right back at him, both of them unblinking, unflinching. It was clear already that his refusal to speak was getting on her nerves. His refusal to play her game meant she couldn't get a rise out of him.

'I say that you will come to thank me, as I have made an argument against such criminal charges. It would after all, affect your future prospects. Criminal charges,' she repeated again, trying to frighten him, 'might prevent you from gaining employment in your chosen field. It would absolutely prevent you from gaining employment within the Ministry of Magic.'

The retort was right on the tip of his tongue. He'd rather insult a Hippogriff than work for Fudge's Ministry. But again he remained silent. His face was perfectly blank, giving away no hint of what he was thinking, no expression whatsoever. Snape ought to be proud of him.

'I should hope now, that my intervention to your benefit will serve as valuable food for thought. That perhaps in light of last night's article in the Daily Prophet you will give renewed consideration to the side you have chosen. After all…the standing of Professor Dumbledore is thoroughly diminished. It won't be long at all until he is gone entirely, and with it his bad influence on you. That is why I have invited you here today, Mr Potter. To offer you a new way forward.'

She paused, lingering on this sentiment. Her polite smile was filled with expectation, and then annoyance. As if recalibrating she cleared her throat, taking a sip of the tea she had poured for herself. 'The damage to your own reputation can of course be repaired,' she said lightly. 'Were you to seek the forgiveness of Minister Fudge, and admit that Professor Dumbledore took advantage of you for political gain. I'm certain we can all make amends.'

When she set down her teacup she and took a scroll of parchment from her drawer. Making quite a show of it she unfurled the scroll and set it down on the desk, then levitated parchment weights onto each corner to hold it down.

Waiting until her gaze was diverted Harry quickly glanced down at the parchment, noting a long passage of writing addressed to the Ministry. He returned his gaze to Umbridge again, and while she remained distracted he stole a second glance. That was his handwriting, as if he himself had written it. But there was no signature.

'An apology has been drafted on your behalf,' she said nicely, setting out a bottle of ink and her finest quill. 'Of course, I can assist should you like to revise any of the passages. Put it in your own words so to speak.'

Returning to his former efforts Harry remained silent and simply looked at her, not allowing his gaze to move away even for a moment. He could tell that he was making her uncomfortable. Clearly she was expecting him to either blow up and lose his temper, or to admit she was right and plead forgiveness. Just as he did she continued to persist.

'There is no hope, Harry. Not in the footsteps of Albus Dumbledore. Continuing as you are will force the Minister for Magic to take measures against you. We can't have you unnecessarily alarming the good witches and wizards of this country. There must be consequences. That is, unless you are willing to make amends.'

She nudged the quill a little closer to him.

'I know you regret what happened to poor Mr Diggory. It is most unfortunate that his death might come at the hands of a mad man, but it is simply that. Unfortunate.'

Umbridge must really want him to react - she knew how bringing up Cedric would infuriate him just as it had done the first time she brought him up. It seemed she was giving up on allowing him to make amends, that now she truly wanted him to explode; not only so that she would have reason to punish him, but so that she could reinforce her own judgement that he was unhinged and unable to control himself. But she was coming to see just how much self-control he had.

She could deny the truth of Cedric's death and ridicule it as an unfortunate incident. She could force him off the Quidditch team, confiscate his Firebolt, put Hagrid on probation, punish him with pain and leave him scarred…she could do all of those things to him. But she couldn't force him to speak to her.

His silence, unplanned though it was, brought him a sense of power. He could control what he said, no longer being dictated by his temper, and he found he was quite satisfied with it. Just as she enjoyed upsetting him, he enjoyed upsetting her. Sitting in front of her he had to actively work to keep his expression neutral. He kept wanting to smile.

The silence stretched on, lasting perhaps another minute entirely, and then finally Umbridge capitulated. Clearing her throat she tapped her wand on the parchment, holding back her own temper. In a flurry the quill and ink soared back into her drawers, while the scroll of parchment with his false confession and apology rolled itself up.

'Well, Mr Potter,' she said tersely, giving him a false smile. 'I'm sorry that you have chosen this path. But it seems you are leaving me no choice.' She didn't elaborate, and after clearing her throat again she said to him 'You are dismissed'.

For a few moments longer Harry held her gaze, and upon seeing just how frustrated she was he too allowed himself to crack. Standing up from his chair he looked down at her, and finally he allowed the corners of his mouth to twitch upward, a barely restrained smile.

Thoroughly pleased with how that had gone Harry departed, confident he had won that round. But waiting for him out in the corridor was another problem, Malfoy and his cronies. The Inquisitorial Squad had been established less than a week ago and already the members had wreaked havoc on the school, docking points from Gryffindor and overruling Prefects. It seemed his suspicions that he was being followed about the castle were true, his stalkers most likely the first members of the Inquisitorial Squad.

At first it had annoyed him that Dumbledore seemed to have done nothing about the band of power-hungry loyalist students Umbridge had brought together, but he had let it go. After all, he had stopped expecting Dumbledore to do anything of benefit these days.

'What's up, Potter?' Malfoy sneered. 'You about ready to kiss my father's feet? He's back on the Board of Governors…but I'm sure you already knew that.'

Harry ignored him, taking the high road. He walked straight past him, joining Ron and Hermione who had been waiting. The three of them set off down the corridor, and to their annoyance Malfoy and his friends followed.

'The time has come, Potter. Time to chose the right side and save your skin.'

Ron's self control was not quite as strong as Harry's. 'Is your arse jealous of the amount of shit that comes out your mouth?' he asked, turning around and walking backwards.

Crabbe laughed. 'Big talk for someone who can't defend even a single goal post.'

As they walked Harry took Ron's sleeve, steering him around the corner while he continued walking backwards. Ron didn't react to the taunt, even though Crabbe had just struck what might be his sorest subject.

'You know Crabbe, you're not the dumbest person on the planet. But you better hope Goyle doesn't die, because then you're it.'

Harry grinned, knowing Ron had been waiting months for the right opportunity to use that insult. 'Nailed it,' he whispered.

'Ten points from Gryffindor,' Malfoy retorted, still following them. 'And ten points for the Mudblood, too.'

Before Ron could retort Hermione had seized him by the arm, and she wrenched him around to walk properly. 'Ron, just leave it,' she pleaded in exasperation. 'It's clear he's got nothing better to say, so just let him say it.'

While Ron muttered under his breath, hating that he had to let the slur slide, Malfoy broke into a run and caught up to them. Pushing in front of them Malfoy forced them to a stop, but he ignored Ron and Hermione all together. He looked at Harry smugly, making a point of straightening the silver Inquisitorial Squad badge pinned to his robes.

'Potter, this really is the end of the road. We're coming for you.'

Admiring his own restraint Harry simply took a short breath, and he looked Malfoy in the eye when he spoke. 'I suppose what your father did was just a warm up act before I had to face you? But you never did ask him about what I did in that cellar, did you?' he challenged. 'Took his wand, knocked him unconscious…not his finest moment.'

Malfoy didn't rise to the bait. 'We're coming for you, Potter,' he repeated, finally taking a step back and allowing Harry to pass. 'You'd better hope you're ready.'

'I'm positively terrified.'

Confident he had won both rounds against Umbridge and then Malfoy, Harry set off down the corridor with Ron and Hermione at his side, satisfied that as of now, there was little more they could do to hurt him than had already been done.

That evening Harry made his way to the Room of Requirement early, wanting to find some down time ahead of their meeting. When he stepped into the room and found their usual set up waiting for him he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He felt better almost instantly. Aside from Ron and Hermione's unwavering support the DA was what had kept him going throughout a difficult day, giving him something to hope for and look forward to.

He had survived the first day following the break in at Fudge's office and the subsequent media coverage, the effects of which would no doubt be long lasting. But since the afternoon most of his attention had been focused on the conversation with Umbridge, which continued to leave him dumfounded. It wasn't beyond belief that she had even tried turn him against Dumbledore and instead join Fudge's side, nor that she had threatened and coerced him in her efforts. But still, it had blown his mind.

When he told Ron and Hermione about it they too had been flabbergasted, and when he got to the part about the written apology Umbridge had already drafted in his handwriting Ron had employed some choice language in his exclamation. On the other hand Hermione was considerably more restrained, and immediately sought to reassure him.

'Umbridge can forge your handwriting, but she can't forge your signature. A witch or wizard's signature isn't just ink on parchment, it's a signal of intention. A simple charm would prove unequivocally that you did not sign it yourself. True forgery in the wizarding world is very difficult.'

'Although, I'm sure Mundungus would know a thing or two about it,' Ron quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

'Oh come on, Dung?' Harry wondered. 'I know he's bit of a crook, but he's not, you know…a criminal.'

'And Umbridge is?'

'Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.'

Hermione sighed, nodding. 'As much as I detest to say this about a teacher, it wouldn't surprise me either. We need to keep an eye out for this coming back to bite you. Tell Sirius and the Order what she tried to make you sign.'

Agreeing with her advice Harry assured her that he would, and in the privacy of the Room of Requirement Harry took out the mirror and called for Sirius. They had already agreed to talk that night and so Sirius responded instantly, ready.

'How'd your day go?'

'About as well as it could,' Harry answered before launching in to explaining the conversation with Umbridge.

Sirius reacted just as Harry hoped, his words wildly supportive and sharing Harry's outrage. They talked for a short while, Sirius thanking him for the update, and then just as it had the previous night they touched on the subject of the DA, Sirius having noted where Harry was. With the mirror levitated before him Harry was fussing around the room, clearing away the pillows and crash mats from their last meeting when they had been practicing offensive spells like the Stunning charm. They wouldn't need anything protective tonight, unless one of them was stupid enough to mouth off about the Daily Prophet.

'No one's said they're not coming,' Harry thought out loud, trying to dispel his nervous tension. 'But it's not like they'd say it to my face if they weren't.'

'They will show up,' Sirius insisted, repeating his reassurances from last night. 'They believed you enough the first time.'

The words didn't quite hit home the way Sirius probably hoped they would. Tonight was the deciding factor - the litmus test on exactly how badly the Ministry break in would affect him. He felt he could withstand anything so long as he had the DA, an entire group of people who believed him and wanted to learn how to defend themselves. If no one turned up…

He was asking Sirius why it had been so long since he'd seen or heard Lupin in the background of Grimmauld Place, and then the door to the Room of Requirement opened. He stopped mid sentence and whirled around.

Harry's heart just about skipped a beat when he saw it was Cho entering - this was the first hurdle of tonight, the question of whether or not she would show up. Things had been vastly better between them since the Quibbler article, it had repaired everything that went wrong on their disastrous first date to Hogsmeade, but now? It had crossed his mind more than once that this article might just be enough to drive another wedge between them.

'Harry, hi!' Cho said brightly. She looked genuinely happy to see him, and his spirits lifted immediately.

'Hi!' he said, a little louder than necessary.

In the mirror Sirius was peering closer, trying to see who had arrived, and then his eyes widened. 'Is that the girl you went to Hogsmeade with?'

In a swift movement Harry snatched the mirror out of the air. Even though it was only Cho she didn't need to see him talking to a supposed mass murderer through a charmed mirror - that might just be a little too much to handle.

'Is that Ch-'

'Mischief managed,' he whispered, his shoulders slumping in relief when Sirius's face disappeared and the mirror showed only his own reflection. He hastily slipped the mirror into his pocket and looked back to Cho.

She was smiling at him, and she closed the door before walking over to him. She looked amused. 'Were you talking to yourself?'

Harry hesitated, unsure of what to say. 'Would you judge me if I said yes?'

Laughing in good nature Cho only shrugged her shoulders. 'Only a little. I talk to myself too,' she smiled, coming to his side. 'It's how I get the best answers.'

'I wasn't sure you'd come tonight.'

'You know I don't believe the rubbish in the Prophet,' she reminded him. 'You wouldn't lie about Cedric.'

'No, I wouldn't. Thanks. Your, errr…friend isn't coming? Marietta?'

Cho shook her head, looking saddened. 'She and I had a row today. About the article.'

'That's too bad.'

'Her mum works for the Ministry. It's really difficult for her right now. She's under a lot of pressure.'

Who isn't? Harry thought to himself. 'Well, I'm glad you came. Now it's just a matter of who else shows up.'

Cho was standing very close to him, but he didn't know for sure that she was going for what he hoped she was. Things had been better since the Quibbler article, and he'd been certain that today would be a blow to her confidence in him…but that seemed not to be the case.

'Don't worry, people will come. I just came early tonight, that's all. It's good to see you.'

'It's good to see you too.'

It came as a great relief when she made the first move. He felt too hesitant to do it, too unsure of where things were at with them. So when she leant in and began to close her eyes he mentally breathed a sigh of relief. Doing the same he kissed her, and his heart soared when she kissed him back.

It was like any other time - or, the good times at least. Feeling more and more comfortable, and confident that her faith in him hadn't waned Harry relaxed into the kiss, tentatively putting his hand on her arm. They broke apart for a moment, but only a moment. His eyes flickered open, and he felt Cho's breath on his lips before they were kissing again, deeper this time, and his heart was racing.

Her hand was touching his, entwining their fingers, and whether she knew what she was doing or not he felt her touching the scars on his left hand, the ones Snape had inflicted. Months later that had faded by now, he tended not to notice them much, but now that he felt her touching them…

Unbidden, his other hand rose upwards to touch her silky black hair. She didn't seem to mind, and she moved a little closer until they were touching even more, until he could feel the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, and then -

The door to the Room of Requirement opened, and Harry and Cho hastily pulled away, both struggling to hide their flushed and exhilarated smiles. But then Cho's face fell when she looked around and saw that it was Hermione who had interrupted them.

'Oh, sorry,' Hermione exclaimed, flustered upon realising what she had interrupted. In her arms she carried three substantial library books, her alibi for being out of Gryffindor Tower. 'I-I just came early to set up.'

'So did we,' Cho said, her voice sounding a little tight.

'Right,' Hermione said hastily, already stepping backwards through the door. 'Never mind, I'll come back.' Sorry, she mouthed at Harry, wincing apologetically.

'No, it's okay,' Cho said brightly, and then she was hurrying forward to catch one of the books that was about to fall. 'Let me help you.'

Harry was a little perplexed, trying to figure out why they were being so overly friendly - it didn't seem natural from the two of them. And then he remembered Cho's tearful words as she abandoned their date at Hogsmeade.

'P – perhaps it would be best if we just … just p – paid and you went and met up with Hermione G – Granger, like you obviously want to!'

By the time it really clicked why Cho and Hermione were being so friendly to one another it was too late - not that Harry would have known how to soothe the situation anyway. Fortunately it seemed Hermione wasn't the only other one to arrive early, for a few minutes later Luna and Ginny arrived together, and then eight o'clock saw the arrival of more than a dozen others.

Turning his attention away from Cho he simply got on with that night's meeting. They waited a few more minutes for the remaining stragglers who included the Weasley twins and a few members from Hufflepuff. It was immediately clear they now had even fewer members than they had started with five months ago, the surge of members that joined only two weeks ago having tapered off already. He was glad to see Kenneth Towler was still attending, and had he not wanted to risk sounding like a creepy eavesdropper he would have thanked Kenneth for standing up for him.

Everyone seemed on edge that night, worried and uncertain, and there was no doubt that despite their attendance at the meeting many would be harbouring doubts. Harry recalled Sirius's advice from last night, that he needed to reassure the DA that he was not giving up, and nor should they.

'Alright,' he began nervously, glancing at Ron and Hermione as if they would tell him how to say all this. 'I know you all saw the Daily Prophet last night, but I don't care what it says. I told the truth to the Aurors. I told the truth to the Quibbler, and I'm telling the truth to you now. I am not a liar,' he said emphatically. 'Voldemort is back. He did murder Cedric.'

He trailed off now, finding himself unable to say anymore. He couldn't say the words, He did imprison me. He did torture me. There was no need.

'Fudge and Umbridge are trying to threaten me for telling the truth. They're threatening to give me a criminal record…but I don't care. I won't stop telling the truth.'

Letting that sink in he paused. A few of the members were glancing at one another, one pair were whispering…but no one said a thing. Better yet, no one got up to leave in protest. In fact they were simply waiting with bated breath…they were all here, ready to learn how to defend themselves.

'Twats, the lot of them!' Ernie declared, eliciting laughter and giggles.

Harry grinned, nodding in agreement. Ernie's comment was the jolt he needed. He could hold his head high, he could continue weathering this storm and dealing with whatever problems came his way - because he knew he would be vindicated one day, and he knew the DA trusted him. As long as he had his friends and the DA he could withstand anything, of that he was certain.

'We're learning the Patronus charm,' he told them, beginning to feel even better when their faces lit up in excitement. Attendance might have halved, but the people there tonight were going to learn how to defend themselves against Dementors. That was something to be happy about. 'Hope you've all got a strong, happy memory.'

As the meeting went on and the DA started making progress Harry's mood lifted more and more. Whenever he had to muster up a happy memory in order to properly demonstrate a Patronus, he imagined how Umbridge was going to react when members of the DA received 'Outstanding' in their Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.s.

'Harry, I think I'm doing it!' yelled Dean, who had so recently brought Seamus to his first ever meeting. But Seamus hadn't joined them that night. 'Look – ah – it's gone … but it was definitely something hairy, Harry!'

Hermione's Patronus, a shining silver otter, was gambolling around her. 'They are sort of nice, aren't they?' she said, looking at it fondly.

The door of the Room of Requirement opened, and closed. Harry looked round to see who had entered, but there did not seem to be anybody there. It was a few moments before he realised that the people close to the door had fallen silent. Next thing he knew, something was tugging at his robes somewhere near the knee. He looked down and saw, to his very great astonishment, Dobby the house-elf peering up at him from beneath his usual eight woolly hats.

'Hi, Dobby!' he said. 'What are you – What's wrong?'

The elf's eyes were wide with terror and he was shaking. The members of the DA closest to Harry had fallen silent; everybody in the room was watching Dobby. The few Patronuses people had managed to conjure faded away into silver mist, leaving the room looking much darker than before.

'Harry Potter, sir …' squeaked the elf, trembling from head to foot, 'Harry Potter, sir … Dobby has come to warn you … but the house-elves have been warned not to tell …'

'What's happened, Dobby?' Harry asked, grabbing the elf's tiny arm and holding him away from anything with which he might seek to hurt himself.

'Harry Potter … she … she …'

There was only one 'she' who could induce such fear. 'Umbridge?' asked Harry, horrified. 'Is she coming?' Harry asked quietly.

Dobby let out a howl. 'Yes, Harry Potter, yes!'

Harry straightened up and looked around at the motionless, terrified people gazing at the elf. 'WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?' Harry bellowed. 'RUN!'

A/N I feel like I need to apologise for what happens next - we all know what happens next. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and the tea with Umbridge. When I wrote this I didn't know Harry was going to use silence as a weapon, but as I wrote Umbridge just kept talking and Harry just let her - felt like the scene wrote itself, so I really hope you enjoyed my twist and the small timeline shake up.

Thanks for reading - please do leave a review and let me know what you think.