A/N: Here's another chapter. Enjoy:))

Chapter 88: Back to school

She was so not better than Lockhart.

When Dumbledore finally came to the house again, two days before the beginning of the year, he told us who the DADA teacher sent by the Ministry was going to be: Dolores Umbridge, the pink toad of the Ministry. Although she was a half-blood herself, she hated all kinds of half breeds, and whoever wasn't a pure-blood wizard. She was well known among the order for sucking up to Fudge and being a fierce militant against what Dumbledore said during this summer.

Shortly, we were going to have a hard time in this class. Maybe the "curse" on the position worked this year as well and we could get rid of her fast.

"Come on, we're going to be late if we don't leave."

"But how are we getting there?"

"Tonks is going to take us with the Night Bus."

The seven trunks were stacked in front of the door, ready to be taken. At ten, we were out of the house. An old lady came from around the corner. She was short with curly grey hair and he knees wobbled when she walked. Very convincing, yes. But the proud grin on her face gave her away.

"Good work, right?" she asked, making a twirl.

"It's incredible. How do you do the wrinkly skin though? It never works for me."

"Well, it's pretty simple actually. I think of that wrinkled dog, Shar-pei, and just do it."

"Oh, that's a good idea."

"Hey, why so sad? You're going back to Hogwarts. Lighten up a little."

"That's exactly the problem."

"Oh, dear, not the article again."

"We told her that it's a stupid thing to worry about a lot of times. But she won't listen."

We got on the Bus and left for London. Luckily, we all managed to get seats on the same level.

"Look, when I was at Hogwarts I was the weirdest around. I was the only Metamorphmagus in the school, and a Black in the Hufflepuff house, my mom having been burnt off the family tree. I don't think you can beat that only with what was revealed in the Prophet article. And I had loads of friends. Besides, even if they do act weird at first, it'll pass in a few weeks. And the pink toad, don't worry about her. What's the worst thing she could do? Force you to look at all her cat plates?"

For the rest of the ride, Tonks made me laugh so hard I once fell off my chair (and twice because of sudden stops, but that doesn't count).

In the train, we managed to quickly find a compartment and we sat in it. Fred and George left a few minutes into the ride, as well as Ginny.

"You're sure you don't want me to stay?"

"It's ok Gin, go sit with your friends."

I took a book out of my bag and settled in the corner, next to the window. The coolness of the glass was a nice feeling, considering that the whole train was really hot. Mione was sitting on the other bench, next to the window and reading as well. The boys were just talking about the summer and were asking themselves what happened to the locket from Grimmauld Place.

It was a nice arrangement, but good things don't last. Merely half an hour after we left King's Cross, the door opened and four figures were standing in the doorway. In front, just as always, Draco, framed by Crabbe and Goyle, and in the back, looking annoyed, Blaise. Oh, dear, what was it? I haven't talked to them since before the third task. I was so caught up with the article and the house that I forgot about everything that was actually going on at the school.

"Hello Potter, decided to show your face again after losing the tournament?"

"Shut it Malfoy, he didn't lose, they were tied."

"Why isn't it a surprise that Weasel is still defending you?"

I and Hermione didn't even bother to raise our eyes from the books, though I was very tense. Why couldn't they just leave? I didn't want to talk to them.

I felt two pairs of eyes on me, but I ignored them.

"Look Malfoy, the other Potter is here too." Crabbe said. There was a tense silence and then they all left.

"What was up with Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"What do you mean? He was just as usual."

"Not that. He looked tired, and a little sick if you ask me."

That caught my attention.

"I'm gonna go change now. So I can read after that." I got up, took my robes and left as fast as I could. Luckily, Draco and Blaise remained on the corridor to talk alone.

"What happened?" Both of them turned to me, startled.

"What do you mean?"

"You look sick. And it's obvious you haven't been sleeping."

"You're telling me about it? You're the one who almost fainted because of the lack of sleep this summer. As I've been told, you looked worse than Granger on exam week."

"And you weren't even eating much."

"Well, I- wait, who told you that? I haven't been writing to you two."

"If there's one thing that we and the Weasley twins agree over is that you have to be kept safe. Because you obviously can't look after yourself in cases like this. And then there's also Snape. He's been visiting a lot this summer."

"Is it because-"

"Of course it is. He didn't come to us yet, but there isn't much left till then, that's for sure."

"You should get some sleep though."

"That's the plan. We're back to Hogwarts, I'm far from there, so I'm finally going to sleep."

"Any news about Theo's brother?"

"Well, he got a nasty scar that night for failing, but proved himself afterwards so he's good now."

Blaise caught my shoulder.

"You should take care of yourself. We really care about you, and you can't keep on not sleeping and stressing every time something like this happens. "

"Ok then. I should go, or it'll become suspicious. You make sure Draco sleeps."

"Ok."

The castle was full of lights and colors, just like every year. Red and gold, blue and bronze, green and silver and yellow and black flags were hung above the tables. The hat sang, the kids were sorted, but it didn't feel right after Umbridge's speech. She was going to make the school a terrible place.