Chapter 18

Harry was humming a happy tune as he waited for his friends to come down the girls' stairs. A few days in the school year, the obnoxious stares from the other students had started to drop away so he now only had to deal with the very obvious flirting from a number of female students. And Colin Creevey. The latter was getting a bit on Harry's nerves, he had found the younger Gryffindor watching him in the showers that morning and not in a normal way.

Ginny came down, chatting with one of the girls from her year whose name Harry couldn't recall. She smiled as she saw Harry and walked over.

"Morning, troublemaker. Detention every night eh?" she said to him.

Harry grinned. "I know, I'm a bad boy. Whatever shall I do," he gave a deadpan delivery.

Ginny stuck out her tongue as they waited for Hermione. And waited. The common room had cleared out as everyone had left for breakfast – even notorious late sleepers like Ron, and Hermione was still not down.

"Gin, can you check what's keeping her?" Harry asked, a little worried.

"Sure," Ginny agreed. She went up the stairs and knocked on the fifth year girls' door. "Hermione? Are you still asleep?" she called.

Getting no answer, Ginny stepped inside, and froze at the sight. Hermione was lying face down on her bed wearing a Quidditch robe – Harry's – and nothing else. She was biting into a towel, and her right hand was busy between her legs while her left hand was under her chest. Ginny let out a small squeak. Hermione reacted instantly, rushing to get the covers over her, and falling out of the bed as she fumbled.

Meekly a voice came up from beside the bed, "Ginny? What... what are you doing here?"

"That could be my question, but I think it's bloody obvious what you were up to!" Ginny glared at the older girl and continued, "Harry and I were waiting for you. Go... finish up, and join us for breakfast in the Great Hall, we're going."

"Please... don't tell him about this?" Hermione asked. Ginny gave her an annoyed hand wave and went back down.

"She'll be a little longer," she told Harry.

–-

Hermione finally joined them for breakfast just in time for her to grab some food before they headed off to their individual classes, and there was little time to talk. He had Divination and she Arithmancy next, so they only met again during Transfiguration, and everyone knew not to interrupt Professor McGonagall's lecture, so it wasn't until lunch until Harry could ask her how her detention had gone.

"I... she made me do lines," Hermione said, looking down at her food and glancing at her right hand. The faint wound had faded, but the skin was still very sensitive.

"Oh, well that isn't too bad then," Harry replied. He took another bread, not seeing the brief annoyance shoot over Hermione's face.

"And what about yours? What does Professor Tonks make you do?" she asked, trying to change the subject to something else.

"Physical labour. She made me clear a good part of the class floor to make room for some spell practice," Harry answered, somewhat truthfully.

"Oh," Hermione didn't know what else to say. After Herbology they would have Care again, and she was not looking forward to that in the least.

Her fears proved to be valid. No sooner had the combined class made its way outside, or Professor Umbridge took out a roll and asked Hermione to step forward, and Dean Thomas was also asked to join her.

"Make a circle around, children, make sure you all can see," Professor Umbridge instructed the others. Harry's hackles were raised, this did not bode well.
"We discussed some of the ways in which animals can be passed off as the pure magical breeds last class, and it's time for a more in-depth inspection," the odious woman continued.
"You, girl, take off your outer robes," she instructed Hermione.

Hermione froze. On the one hand, she was a teacher, and her Head of House – the deputy Headmistress no less – had made it clear she was within her rights to order her about. On the other hand, was she really going to let this... racist... treat her as something less than human?

"Hermione, Dean, get out of there," Harry's voice roused her from her thoughts. Harry stepped forward until he was directly facing Professor Umbridge.
"This is supposed to be a class, not a Death Eater meeting," Harry said glaring at her.

Several students of both houses inhaled sharply at that. It was just not done to call someone a Death Eater, even if everyone knew they had carried the Dark Mark.

"I'm quitting Care, and so is Hermione. In fact, I expect everyone who does not agree with your petty racism will," Harry said loudly, then turned his back on the toad-like woman.

Professor Umbridge stood there and opened and closed her mouth a few times, not voicing a single word, and making her look even more like an overgrown amphibian.
When Hermione rushed up to Harry, she found her voice again: "Detention, both of you! I don't care if you drop this class or not, I will not suffer such disrespect!"

Harry's response was to give her the two-finger salute as he walked towards the school building, just as Hermione reached him.

Dean was still standing where she had ordered him to, but he and many other Gryffindors were looking after Harry and Hermione as they walked off.

"Class dismissed!" Professor Umbridge shrieked, and the group broke.

–-

"Harry, I can't believe you said that," Hermione complained, struggling to keep up with Harry's quick pace as he walked back to the school.

Suddenly he stopped, and she nearly bumped into him. "You can't believe me? I can't believe you!"
Harry looked at her incredulously. "What happened to you, Hermione? The girl who went through a hunger strike over House Elf rights of all things is now letting a bloody overgrown toad racist treat her like she's a dressed chimpanzee? Have you suffered brain damage this summer while I was locked away at the Dursleys?"

"Don't you change the subject, Harry Potter!" Hermione placed her hands on her hips and glared back at him. Her face was getting heavily flushed, both from shame of his words hitting true, and from simply being so close to the object of her one-sided crush.
"You know that everyone told you to keep your head down, the Ministry is still slandering you, and what do you do? You directly confront the... person they send here! Merlin, I knew you were stupid, but –"
Too late, she clamped her hands in front of her mouth.

"Screw you too, Granger," Harry said in a low voice, and he walked off once more. Hermione stood frozen in place.

"Nice one, Mudblood! Detention, and you got Scarhead mad with you!" Draco's voice sneered at her. Hermione turned her head and saw just about all Slytherins who took Care there.

"Piss off, Malfoy," Ron said. He and Draco glared at each other until Draco took his clique away.

"Thanks Ron," Hermione said.

"Stuff it," Ron looked annoyed at her. "I may have 'the emotional range of a table-spoon', was it? But even I can see you were way out of line. You were shouting hard enough for everyone to hear you call Harry stupid for standing up to you. You'd better hope he forgive you yet again, because I wouldn't want to be friends with a fickle bitch like you," the last bit was said so softly only Hermione heard it.

Ron walked away to re-join Dean and Seamus, leaving Hermione by herself. She fought the tears that threatened to erupt and then rushed back to the castle.

–-

Harry was in the Common Room, sitting on a couch and looking through some books. Hermione entered and carefully went to him. "Harry... I... I shouldn't have said that," she said, her head low.

Annoyed, Harry looked up and said, "No, you shouldn't. Would that be all, Granger?"

"Harry, please!" Hermione grabbed his right arm and dropped on her knees before him. "I... it was that horrible woman, she got me so angry, and I wasn't thinking, and –"

Harry shook his arm free. "I already gave you a second chance this summer, Granger. Why should I give you a third one?"

"Because I am your friend, even if I am a dumb bint sometimes, and because I love you! Please!" Hermione moved up and hugged him tightly. Harry froze for a moment longer, then she felt his right arm go around her.

"One more chance, then. Please... don't make me regret this," Harry said in a soft voice.

Hermione raised her head, and before Harry could say another thing, she kissed him on the lips for a brief second before breaking off.
"Thank you, oh thank you, and I promise I will make it worth it," Hermione blabbered at him.

Harry was about to say something about her again kissing him, but they were interrupted by the door to the Common Room opening and an angry looking Professor McGonagall stepping through.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, with me, now," she ordered them. The two rushed to their feet.

–-

"Never in all my years at Hogwarts have I heard of such disrespect," Professor McGonagall ranted at the two. They were sitting in front of her desk on hard chairs while their Head of House paced to and fro on the other side.

"Dolores told me you interrupted her class and insulted her, Mr. Potter. And that you once again joined him, Miss Granger. I believe I told you both that you ought to respect your teachers? Well? What do you have to say for yourselves?" Professor McGonagall finally sat down after she finished.

Harry took the word first, "Professor, I would like to change my elective to Ancient Runes. I am willing to take a test to prove I am up to fifth year level in it. Could you make the change?"

Professor McGonagall blinked. Hermione was not about to give her time to rant again, and cut in: "I would also like to drop that class, Professor. I already have enough electives that this should not matter, I hope?"

Professor McGonagall changed from staring at Harry, to looking at Hermione. "Now listen here! You cannot just expect me to just accept such horrible behaviour in class! I will change your schedules – and yes, Mr. Potter, you will have to speak with Professor Babbling about taking that test to see if you can keep up – but what about your dreadful behaviour in Professor Umbridge's class?"

"I am not going to apologize to that racist toad," Harry said. "And neither will Hermione."

Hermione stiffened in her seat, but kept silent.

"Then you leave me no alternative. A hundred points from Gryffindor – each – and you both have detention with Dolores tonight."

"I can't, I have detention with Professor Tonks," Harry countered. "And take all the house points you want. They're meaningless anyway. Come, Hermione," he stood up.

"Mr. Potter, sit back down! I have not dismissed you yet!" Professor McGonagall fumed.

"I don't care," Harry looked directly at her. "When we first arrived at Hogwarts, you gave us a spiel that the House would be like our family. Well, as Head of my House, I have to say you are an absolutely horrible 'mother', on par with the Dursleys. We told you what that Umbridge woman was saying yesterday, and what she was trying to do today, and you blame us? No, we're leaving. Hermione, come," he held out his hand for his friend.

"Miss Granger, don't you dare think of leaving, or I will revoke your Prefect status right now!" Professor McGonagall tried.

Hermione's hand trembled as she raised it to take Harry's. "I... I'm sorry, Professor, but he's right," she said, not daring to look her teacher in the eye. "I really am sorry." She took the badge of her robe with her other hand, and placed it on her teacher's desk.

Harry took Hermione by the arm, and guided them out. Professor McGonagall sat silently looking after them.

Hermione waited until they had rounded the corner before she started shivering. "Oh Harry! What will we do? She's furious!"

"Relax, what can she do really? We came to her with a valid concern, and she dismissed it. When people are not willing to listen, you have to force them to. That's something I learned this summer." Harry hugged her to him. "I'll make sure they blame me, that's why I spoke for you in there. You are just a victim in this case. And there's no way in hell Dumbledore will let them expel me, so I am safe."

"But what about the house points? And – oh Merlin – I resigned as Prefect!" Hermione paled.

"Relax, it's not the end of the world," Harry padded her back, then released her from the hug. "Come on, let's go to dinner. And afterwards you can start tutoring me in Runes."

"You... you really think you can make up for two years of Runes like that?" Hermione looked at him disbelievingly.

"I can try, can't I? I know some people call me stupid –" Hermione flushed at that "– But I know I can at least try. And besides, it's just a different alphabet. How hard can it be?"

"Merlin, you're doomed," Hermione said under her breath as she followed after him.

–-

"Guys, I mean it, I'd drop Care if I were you," Harry repeated to the Gryffindors that had ambushed the two of them once they came into the Great Hall. "They might as well call it Death Eater studies, with that Umbridge woman 'teaching'. I won't think less of you if you don't, but there's no way in hell I'm going to suffer five more minutes with that racist toad."

"I'm with you, Harry-kins," Fred called out loudly. "I'm dropping Care right now. Say, Forge, what do you think? Runes or Arithmancy?" he turned to his twin.

"Runes, Gred. Lots more fun. Can be useful for pranks on people taking the Death Eater elective," George said with a grin, and wink to Harry.

At that the other Gryffindors let Harry get to the table, to sit down next to Hermione. If the twins were behind him, they knew they risked getting pranked badly if they kept up that class, so only a fool would openly voice his disagreement now.

Harry was telling a joke to Hermione, as he saw she was still troubled, when a slender hand rested on his shoulder. He turned to see it was a Hufflepuff girl, Susan Bones.

"Harry? This is for you," she said, blushing slightly as she handed him an envelope. Then she leant in closer, "It was in my mail from auntie, sorry I didn't give it to you earlier," she whispered.

"Thanks Suse," Harry shot her a smile as he hid the envelope in his robes. Susan blushed, and rushed off.

"Oi, love letter, mate?" Ron called, having seen the exchange.

"Nah, I'm only interested in your sister," Harry called back.

"What?! Don't you dare start with ickle Gin!" Ron turned red, and started to rise from his seat.

"Oh do sit down Ron, Harry is joking," Ginny pushed him down heavily. She had been sitting next to him.
"Nice try Harry, but you're not my type," she grinned at him.

"Oh dear Ginny, you broke my heart," Harry dramatically reached for his chest, and pretended to faint.

"Git," Ginny shot him a friendly wink and went back to her own food.

"Why would Susan's aunt send you a letter?" Hermione demanded to know a little later.

"I'll read it later in private, then I'll tell you if I can," Harry promised her. "Can we get started on Runes tonight?"

"You have detention with Professor Tonks again, remember?" Hermione poked him. "Troublemaker."

"Yeah yeah," Harry smiled as he went back to his food.

–-

Despite her protests Hermione ended up showing her Runes books from her third year to Harry – she had all her school books dating back to first year, except the Lockhart ones, in her trunk still –, and he was reading through it until he had to leave for detention.

Hermione started working on her homework, when the door to the Common Room opened and Professor McGonagall stepped through.
"With me, Miss Granger," the stern woman said.

Hermione put away her essay, then got up to step outside. "What is it, Professor?" she asked, meekly.

"You are late for your detention with Professor Umbridge. Mr. Potter has an excuse, but you don't. I expect you to apologize to her, and do whatever she demands, without protest, understood?" Professor McGonagall took Hermione by the arm, and nearly physically dragged her to class.

"But... but Harry said that –" Hermione protested feebly.

"Stop hiding behind Mr. Potter, it's your own actions that got you here! I expect you to think about your actions, Miss Granger, and try to become the model student you were," Professor McGonagall interrupted her, pulling her along.

They reached the door of Umbridge's office, and McGonagall knocked. Professor Umbridge opened the door and gave her colleague one of her sickening smiles.

"I found your errant student, Dolores," Professor McGonagall said.

"Thank you, Minerva. I'm sure Miss Granger and I will have a lot to discuss before I return her to her dorm," Professor Umbridge answered. Professor McGonagall nodded and walked away.

Looming over the younger girl, Professor Umbridge indicated a desk where a familiar quill rested. "Start writing, dear. Perhaps this time, the lesson will sink in?"

Hermione sobbed as she sat down, and got to work.

–-

Elsewhere in the castle, Harry cuddled with Tonks on her bed when he remembered the letter. "Love, do you mind if I read this here? Your boss sent me a letter through Susan," he told her.

"Go ahead hero, I could use a little rest," Tonks said with a smile. "My breasts are very sensitive," she complained. For the past few days they had seemed to be getting heavier and a bit sore, and she was finding she got tired a bit quicker than normal, too. She blamed it on the stress of the new job.

Harry read through it while Tonks half dozed off. Finally he put it away with a loud, "Huh."

Tonks peeked up, "'Huh', what?"

"Someone is intercepting my mail," Harry told her, frowning. "She sent me a letter Monday and Tuesday, but those never arrived. She had a tracking charm on it, and they did make it to Hogwarts, but no further."

"Dumbledore?"

"Probably," Harry shrugged. "Bones is smart though, she didn't put any sensitive info in the first two, she made it seem as if it was a general inquiry about the Dementor thing that got me away from Surrey. Speaking of, something happened to the Dursleys."

"Oh?" Tonks sat up a bit, then snuggled up against Harry.

"Yeah, Bones found that Dudley is hospitalized for some reason, and Petunia is spending all her time with him. She hasn't found out what is wrong with him yet but one of her Muggleborn Aurors is going to try to get the info for her, who knows, it may be something magical. I know it probably makes me a horrible person, but I couldn't care less, honestly," Harry said with a shrug.

Tonks hugged him closer. "You're a wonderful young man, Harry. You'd have to be, to have an amazing, hot, and intelligent woman like me fall for you."

"Good old Potter charm, snaring older women," Harry grinned at her.

"Oi, brat, I'm not that much older than you," Tonks pouted. "If I knew you were into grannies, I'd have kicked you out of my bed ages ago!" She let out a laugh, then morphed her face only until it looked like she was at least eighty.

"Gah! I'm sorry, change back, please!" Harry pleaded. Tonks did so, and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Nothing... well... maybe something," Tonks' frown deepened. "Something felt odd about changing, as if my magic didn't want me to."

"You're not in danger of getting sick, are you?" Harry looked at her, concern in his voice.

"Nah, it's nothing, hero. Probably just because I haven't been playing with other forms that much lately, being a respectable teacher and all."

"Still need a rest? 'cause I'm 'Hot for Teacher'," Harry said, giving her a wide grin.

"I knew I'd regret introducing you to Van Halen over the summer," Tonks mock-complained as she let him push her back on her back.

–-

Whistling, Harry went back to his Common Room much later. Somehow they'd found the time to read the rest of Bones's letter. The Minister was still blocking all her attempts to look into the Death Eaters that had been at the graveyard at Voldemort's resurrection, but she still had her trusted Aurors follow them in hopes to catch them in the act. That they didn't find anything was the only downside of Voldemort still lying low: with the exception of a little Muggle baiting that always happened, there had been no signs of any attack yet.
Tonks pointed out that the Order of the Phoenix had been told by Snape that Voldemort was suffering from some unknown malady, explaining that. Harry made a note to tell Bones about that in his reply.

A very interesting thing that Bones brought up was that Dirk Cresswell, head of the Goblin Liaison Office and nominally one of her employees, had been carefully asked by the goblins if they knew of Lord Potter's whereabouts. Bones had tried to find out why they wanted to find Harry – and why they referred to him that way – but had been rebuffed. Harry wondered if this had anything to do with Molly Weasley holding his key prior to Tonks rescuing him, and made a mental note to make it to the bank somehow next Hogsmeade weekend.

Bones had suggested replying through Susan, as Susan's mail was not intercepted and certain parties would hesitate twice before messing with the niece of the DMLE's leader.

Harry promised Tonks he'd write a reply tonight or tomorrow and send it back. Now, he was hoping to do a little more Runes practice with Hermione.

"Hey guys," Harry greeted Ginny, Ron, and a couple others as he stepped through the portrait. "Where's Hermione?"

Ron and Ginny shared a look. "Dunno mate... we thought she was with you, maybe."

"Gin, is she upstairs?" Harry looked at the clock, it was close to ten, so all students should be in their dorms now.

"No, I thought maybe she was doing her Prefect rounds? Someone has to," Ginny glared at Ron, who didn't even register that she meant him.

"I'll check the map," Harry said in a softer voice.

"I'll come with," Ginny decided.

Harry opened his trunk and rummaged through until he found the parchment. He laid it on his bed and activated it, then they began searching for Hermione.

"There, she's in Umbitch's office," Harry pointed out.

"Umbitch?" Ginny giggled briefly, then asked, "Why is she there?"

"Dunno, I mean, she tried to give us detention, but I told McGonagall we wouldn't go... oh Merlin. You don't think Hermione still went?" Harry looked worried.

"Authority worshipping Hermione? Looks like it," Ginny shrugged. "Whatever. Umbridge... Umbitch, hee hee, may be a horrible woman, she's still better than Snape."

"I'm not so sure," Harry worried. "I'll wait up for her. She can't be kept there for too long, we have Astronomy tonight," he decided.

"I'll wait with you. Maybe I can tutor you a bit in Runes," Ginny said.

–-

Another hour later many had retired to bed except for Ginny and a number of Harry's class mates who decided to stay up for their star gazing class. The portrait door opened, and Hermione stepped through.

"She finally let you go then?" Harry said, looking up. He had been practising writing the Elder Futhark with Ginny's guidance.

"Oh... Harry," Hermione said. "Yes. She made me do lines again," she said miserably.

"You shouldn't have gone," Harry said. He looked her over and saw something weird. "Hey, why are you holding your right hand like that?"

"It's nothing," Hermione protested, turning her body and attempting to walk to the girls' stairs.

"I don't believe you" Harry got up and blocked her path. "Show me your hand."

"No," Hermione protested. "Come on Harry. I want to take a nap before Astronomy," she said.

"Not before you show me your hand," Harry made to grab for her.

"Get off me," Hermione ducked out of the way. "I am tired, and you're annoying me now."

"Sorry Hermione," Ginny sneaked up behind her, and grabbed her upper arms from behind.

Harry grabbed her left hand, and pulled it off her right. Clearly visible was that her right hand was bleeding.
"Did she do this to you?" Harry's voice seemed to have lowered a full octave as he stared at the wound.

"Please, it's nothing, I'm fine," Hermione protested.

"The hell you are," Harry said. He reached in Hermione's robe and pulled out her wand, before the brunette could even protest. Harry looked over her shoulder to Ginny. "Gin, keep her downstairs until I get back, okay? Hex her if you must."

"Harry, you can't go after Umbridge!" Ginny protested. Hermione wasn't fighting, she was standing still, whimpering.

"I'm not," Harry told Ginny. "I'm getting the Aurors and a Mind Healer. Something is seriously wrong with Hermione and I want to know what."

A/N: Not checked by my normal beta, I finished it too late to send to him before he left on holiday. Do check out his latest story, it's a Hermione/Snape story but despite that that's definitely not a pairing I like, I still liked the story! Title 'The Angel Investor', story ID 10589844

Thanks to firefly81 for going over it this time.

I've worked out a 5th year schedule for classes based on what little info we have from canon here, in case you're interested: i dot imgur dot com slash OpkTINW dot jpg
Trying to work out one for all seven years and all four houses – even with many combined classes – proved to be impossible. The only way Hogwarts can teach that many classes with the limited number of teachers from canon, is if they are all using time turners and running double days.