Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Original A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Eight

So the Game Begins

Sirius was fuming as he watched Umbridge leave his room. As she got to the door she turned to glare at him, a sign he knew meant that she was going to come after him hard. All he could think was, bring it on.

It took everything he had to gather himself together before the first year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws started coming into his classroom. He knew he had a tendency to be moody when annoyed but he didn't want to make his students suffer because of that annoying toad. At the end of that lesson, he knew that he hadn't been his usually amazing self, but it hadn't gone too badly either.

Sirius was about to head to The Great Hall for lunch when he got a summons to go to Dumbledore's office. Walking to the office, he couldn't help but remember all the times he was sent to the Headmaster's office when he was going to school and hoped that this summoning wasn't for similar reasons.

"Ah, Sirius come in," Dumbledore said when he got there, "sit."

Sirius sat down in the chair that Dumbledore just motioned towards and fidget uncomfortable, this was definitely too close to how he felt as a student.

"You can relax, you're not in trouble," Dumbledore smiled.

"Right," Sirius said, "then why did you want to see me?"

"I was just wondering what Miss Umbridge asked you and how she handled her inspection of your lesson," Dumbledore said. "I fear she is going to cause a lot of trouble for us this year, as if we don't have enough to deal with already."

Sirius nodded his head in agreement and told Dumbledore what had happened in the class. He watched as Dumbledore's expression became more and more thoughtful as he finished. "Do you think I'm in trouble now?" he asked the headmaster.

Dumbledore sighed, "Indeed, I fear you might be. Miss Umbridge has never liked being outdone, especially in her own game; as you suspect she will not let that go. I also think that having the student duel …"

"They weren't dueling each other, it was a game to help make the lesson fun," Sirius said getting annoyed again.

"Which I would encourage in a normal situation," Dumbledore said. "I've been very pleased with how you've been teaching this year, which is why I want to make sure you don't get forced out by the High Inquisitor. Sadly, I haven't been able to get good professors for Defense, with too few exceptions. I don't wish you to leave, not only because I fear who will be forced on us to replace you, but because you're an inspiring professor."

"Are you trying to butter me up?" Sirius asked shrewdly.

"It never hurts to be polite," Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling.

"Especially when you're asking me to tone down my lesson to appease that horrible excuse for a witch," Sirius added.

Dumbledore didn't say anything as he took in the defiant look in Sirius's eyes, and sighed again. "I suppose I cannot ask you to do that."

"Don't worry Dumbledore, I'll make her sorry if she actually decides to come after me," Sirius said darkly, "now if you'll excuse me, it's lunch time and I'm hungry."

"Very well," Dumbledore couldn't help but smile at the younger man.

O

Sirius's class wasn't the last time the High Inquisitor was in one of Harry's class. In fact there wasn't a subject he had that she wasn't there causing a distribution to the lesson as she ask stupid questions. Though none of the experience were as fun, and yet nerve wrecking, as what happened in Sirius lesson, he did enjoy how McGonagall handed the intruder. Much like with Sirius, McGonagall had obviously overpowered the annoying toad and pushed her to the side. Harry didn't think it was a coincidence that Umbridge had chosen to be in his classes, not with the look she kept giving him as if she was waiting to see him snap. Knowing this, Harry tried to ignore her the best he could, and didn't say anything in most classes.

On Monday, when he and his friends went to McGonagall's classroom to have their Animagus lesson, they were met at that door by an unpleasant sight. Umbridge was standing there, an extra sweet smile on her face as she looked at Harry.

"I'm sorry to inform you that the teaching of the Animagus transformation is viewed as highly inappropriate for underage witches and wizards to learn, so there will be no lesson today," Umbridge said.

"I believe I am their Professor, and therefore should be the one to inform my students about the unjustified discrimination you have made against the extracurricular lesson I have offered," McGonagall said stiffly to the toad and quickly added, "Your service is no longer needed."

"But …"

"I would like to discuss with my students their options for furthering their studies in this subject matter that does not involve Hogwarts," McGonagall said briskly. "Which in simple terms means this conversation now has nothing to do with you!" She then ushered the group inside before she slammed the door in Umbridge's face, as the toad hadn't seemed to be able to move due to shock.

"Er … so we aren't going to be able to be taught anymore?" Lee asked, slumming down into a chair, he was actually having fun learning this skill.

"She said something about Underage though … doesn't that mean Lee will still be able to learn?" Hermione asked.

"If you would like Mr. Jordan, we can petition that you, and the Mr. Weasleys, are able to continue being train by me, as it is your right to learn the skill any time you come of age," McGonagall answered. "However, at this time I am not allowed to teach you any further," she went on to say, her nostril flaring as she said this. "Never mind the fact you are legally allowed to pursue your studies in this field and as so putting yourself in a more dangerous situation than having a licensed Animagus trainer with you. That woman …"

"Yeah!" Fred encouraged McGonagall to go on, but she seemed to remember who she was speaking with and merely shook her head.

"Don't worry Professor McGonagall, we'll sign that petition and get this decision reversed," George said.

"Even if that means all George and I get to do is have more detentions from you," Fred added. "It would be worth it to shove it in that toad's face."

"Mr. Weasley, you will watch your language," McGonagall chided halfheartedly, her lips thin, not with anger, but in an effort to hide a smile.

With that they were dismissed from the classroom. The next morning Harry had to suffer through more hours of Umbridge following him to every class he went to. He was finding it harder to ignore her and her annoying smile. Still, he was glad when he was able to get out of the castle and as far away from Umbridge as he could get. He had Quidditch practice just about every day until it was finally the day of the game.

"Nervous?" Harry asked Ron at breakfast. He was feeling the now familiar before game jitters, a mixture of nerves and excitement.

"A little," Ron gulped, looking slightly pale. "I've played before, but this is different you know."

"Try not to think about that," Harry advised. "Just remember you've been playing brilliantly, you're getting better all the time," he went on and then smirked mischievously, "and if you really suck, we can always put Summer in the game."

"Jerk," Ron glared at his friend, but was surprised that his spirits were lifted a little.

"You're ready for this, I know you are," Hermione added before kissing him on the cheek.

"Don't do that, you're distracting him," Harry complained as Ron grinned. "We better get to the pitch and hopefully Ron's mind will be back on the game then."

"Yeah maybe," Ron said still smiling at Hermione.

"Come on," Harry said, getting up to drag him away.

The actual game went by like a flash; everyone seemed to be playing on top form. At the start of the game there had been some sort of singing coming from the Slytherin side, something to do with Ron, but after he saved the third shot, the noise died down. The Chaser girls were on fire, making Harry almost reluctant to catch the Snitch the first time he saw it thirty minutes into the game since they probably could have slaughtered the Slytherins. Still, it wasn't in his nature to slack off so he raced across the pitch, leaning all the way forward on his broom before reaching out to grab the Snitch.

He held up the Snitch as the crowd cheered for the Gryffindor victory (250-20) and noticed that Malfoy was on the other side of the pitch, apparently he hadn't even noticed Harry's dive.

"Bloody Brilliant!" Harry heard being screamed before he was tackled in the air by his best friend, closely followed by the rest of the team. He wasn't really sure how long they celebrated on the pitch, but he was still in his uniform, as were the rest of the team, when they started one of the best parties Harry could remember having in the Gryffindor Common room.

O

"Harry, did it seem like Ginny was sending a lot of time with Dean last night?" Ron asked the next morning as he scowled at the two mention people walking out of the common room.

"Um …" Harry grunted, he had noticed that the other night, in much more detail than Ron seemed to have. "I didn't think you noticed anything other than Hermione last night."

"Girls love a winner," Ron grinned, "I never would have thought Hermione would be one of those girls, but she couldn't seem to keep her hands off me …"

"Not listening, not listening," Harry said covering her ears.

"But honestly, I noticed they were together when I got some butterbeers …" Ron went back to the subject of his sister, frowning again, "and then again when I got some crisp … You don't think there's anything going on with them, do you?"

"Going on with whom?" Hermione asked coming to sit next to Ron.

"Ginny and Dean," Harry answered.

"Oh," Hermione said and then bit her lip as she looked at Harry.

Ron raised an eyebrow shrewdly, "and what's that look suppose to mean?"

"Don't ask me … she's the one doing the looking," Harry said when Ron turned his gaze on him.

"As if you don't know," Hermione mumbled.

"Don't know what?" Ron huffed.

Hermione really wished that Ginny hadn't given her permission to tell Ron about this if the topic ever came up. She honestly didn't think Ron would notice Ginny's growing attention to their year mate, but of course he had to prove her wrong.

"Come on Hermione, just tell me," Ron pleaded.

"Yes, they're together … or at least they're going to Hogsmeade next Saturday," Hermione sighed her reply.

"Argh!" Ron groaned. "How the hell did that happen?"

"Slowly, they've been getting closer all year," Hermione shrugged.

"Tosser," Ron grumbled.

Harry snorted at that, causing both Ron and Hermione to look at him curiously.

"You knew about this!" Ron demanded.

"Not really this," Harry hedged, and then he got up, "I think I'll go to lunch."

"What's the matter with him, it's not his sister that going out with a tosser?" Ron scowled.

"No," Hermione said looking at the retreating form of Harry and wondering what was the matter with him. Then she realized what Ron had said and turned on him, "Dean is not a … well that. He's your friend."

"Not much of one, he should know better than dating a bloke's sister," Ron said.

"You have a very Neanderthal view when it comes to your sister, Ron," Hermione grimaced.

"No I don't, I haven't beaten Dean to death yet, have I," Ron argued.

"No, but that grin seems to suggest you'd like to," Hermione informed him.

"Hey, a guy can dream," Ron shrugged. "Doesn't mean I'll actually do it."

"Just try to be civil when you're around him," Hermione sighed.

"I'm sure with you there distracting me, I can be civil," Ron said.

"I guess I can do that, since apparently I can't keep my hands off you," Hermione said drily.

Ron gulped, he had not meant for her to hear him say that. Realizing he was already in trouble, he had nothing to lose, "well, it is true."

Hermione's eyes widened and then her lips thinned the way he learned meant she was amused but tried to seem offended.

"Hm," Hermione sighed, leaning in closer to him and bringing her hands inches from his face, a smirk curled her lips, "we'll just have to see if that's true," she whispered, before getting up and walking away from him.

"Hey," he called after her, getting up too and chasing after her.

O

He stared at the letter in front of him. He had expected it; honestly he was surprised it had taken a week and a half before he got the letter. He couldn't help but glower at the word probation in the neat script of the bloody toad. She had taken the first step in trying to cast him out of Hogwarts. Now he was going to show her how dangerous it was to mess with Sirius Black.