Author's Note: Hello, readers. I am surprised by how many people are following this story. I mean, it is a nice surprise. :] If you missed the author's note in previous chapters, then I will give a quick review. Some people on have flagged some of my previous works as inappropriate for this site, such as M-rated fanfics. I will not give out names as to whom has flagged me, but it has happened. You may have noticed that some of the chapter, especially the chapters with lemons or hard limes, have been cut short. This story and the parts of the chopped chapters can be found on my AO3 account, under the same name (MoHowl). Feedback is always appreciated, whether on here or the other site. Thank you for a moment of your time. :]
I stared at the professors standing around the large office. Albus, Minerva, Severus, Filius, and Pomona. Albus had called us into his office for some sort of meeting. I was in the middle of perfecting an old spell when Minerva had knocked on my door. Thankfully, any and all evidence of Harry being in the quarters had vanished. For the past week he had been sneaking into my quarters. We didn't go as far as kissing; most of the time we would sit around and talk about school and the D.A. meetings.
"This . . . woman is an outrage," Minerva was saying as my thoughts forged back to the present. "She has taken almost absolute control of the school!"
If this had not been a serious meeting, I may have laughed at her having a hissy fit.
"Poor Sybil is so shaken," Pomona added, glancing at the ceiling. "I'm afraid she has taken to the drink." She brushed a hand through her fly-away hair.
"There is not much I can do," Albus admitted in such an exhausted tone. It seemed as if Umbridge had already grated on his last nerve and he didn't know how to handle the problem. "We all know Fudge has been wanting to seize control of this school. Umbridge is a pawn in his game of power."
I shifted my feet a bit. "Can we now knock this pawn off the board?"
Albus's blue eyes turned to me. "You know just as well as I do that we can not do that."
"What do the students say, Talis?" Filius piped up from his position atop a stack of books. "We know you have become aquainted with several of them, thanks to you helping in the classrooms."
"Yes, Talis," Severus drawled from a shady corner. "You have the best ears in this school. Your . . . heritage" - I growled at that - "should give you an advantage."
"The only ones who seem to like her are some of the Slytherins." I stared at the Potions Master. "Apparently some of them don't take after you. I've seen the way you look at Umbridge," I added as he opened his mouth to retort. "You want to hex her to the Underworld just as much as I do." I turned back to Filius. "Some of the students seem to want to rebel agaisnt her. I've talked them out of it. Education is an imprtant part of their lives."
"Well said," said Pomona. "Education is somethign these students need, which brings up another point." She looked at the Headmaster. "I've heard students complain in my class that Umbridge has not been teaching them spells and charms."
"Unfortunately, I do not have a say in how Umbridge teaches her classes." Albus blinked slowly, as if thinking. "But you are right, Pomona. I have heard the rumblings of the students. Perhaps someone could start teachign them how to defend themselves."
I kept my mouth shut. I could not tell them I was secretly teaching the students in the D.A. Defence Against the Dark Arts, picking up where Moody and Remus left off. However it did send a twinge of regret to my heart that I could not teach all the students.
"Umbridge would contact Fudge immediately if that were to happen." Minerva turned her eyes to me. For a moment I thought she could read my mind. "Talis, I do want to address your behavior toward Umbridge though."
I look off to the left, ready for the wordy assault from the professor's tongue.
"You need to be careful when you speak to her." Minerva's eyes flashed. "She has mentioned that you are acting like a disrespect student whom has severe bad habits."
"I believe you already knew that," I grumbled.
"Talis, you can not jeopardize your job. Arthur Weasley would not want his good words for you wasted because you decided to be smart toward a Ministry official."
A knock on the door interrupted my pointed retorted. All of us turned to the door.
"Hem. Hem. Excuse me, Albus? I need a word with you."
My upper lip curled in a snarl I could not surpress. The sound echoed around the now deathly quiet room. A sharp rap to the back of the head with a rolled up piece of parchment shut me up. I shot a glare at Pomona, who glared right back. "Enough, Talis."
I swallowed my rage and forced my blood to cool.
The door opened, adn there she was, pink cardigan and all. The look of anger was instantly replaced with one of surprise when she saw us standing in the room. "Well, I must have missed the memo about there being a meeting today." She stepped into the room, greeting everyone. The venom was clearly detecable in her voice when she said my name. "Was this an important matter you were discussing?"
"We are congratulating Mr. Creary on how good of a job he has been doing with the assistant teaching job." Albus's voice was calm as he spoke to the Ministry woman. "He has become a fast favorite amongst the students. When he gains a bit more experience, I may hire him as an actual teacher."
Umbridge made a simpering sound. "That's is all good, Albus, but do you think it wise to have a person with a past such as his having the cabability of teaching young witches and wizards?" She looked at us with wide eyes. "He could become reckless."
"That is because he is young. All young adults make mistakes. It is how they learn."
I thrust my hands into my pockets to hide the burning sensation in my fingers. If Umbridge get a sight of what was happening, I would definitely lose my job.
"Talis, why don't you start your patrols?" Albus suggested, not taking his eyes off Umbridge.
"Very well. Thank you for your time, Albus." I nodded to the Headmaster then slipped around Umbrdige to the large door. I could hear her growling under her breath as I left.
Umbridge was goign to get what's coming to her, I swear it.
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The corridors were practically empty due to it being after hours. I could still feel the burning in my fingertips. It was starting to become a problem, though I had taken my potion earlier. That could mean the potion is starting to weaken. Severus will have to brew something stronger as long as I'm around the students.
I did not know Umbridge would make my heritage flare so strongly. It was unsettling.
"Talis!"
Stifling a sigh, I halted in my prowling and turned to the student calling my name. There was no one there. I shrugged my shoulders, shorting with irritation, thinking it was one of the pictures playing around. I continued on.
"Please wait." The voice seemed closer, but when I looked over my shoulder I could not see anyone. Then I saw the air shift a bit. A few moments later, Harry's head materialized out of thin air. I blinked at the floating head. This had to be a trick, or Harry splinched himself something fierce. Bright green eyes blinked at me. "Are you okay?"
I blinked back. "This has to be a dream. Where's the rest of you?"
"Oh. Sorry." The air swirled again, then a silvery cloak covered in some knind of ruins appeared, as did the rest of my boyfriend. He draped the cloak over his arm. "Invisibility cloak," he said with a nervous chuckle.
"What are you doing out so late?" I asked, trying to disguise my astonishment with gruffness.
Harry just looked at me. "Probably the same reason you are," he said.
"Oh. You're comtemplating on how to kill the toad, too? Nice."
"Har. Har."
"Seriously, though, what are you doing up so late?"
Harry looked up and down the hallway. There wer very few porttrait hanging in this particular corridor, and they were fast asleep. I could not scent any teachers or students. He glanced at a small alcove not far from us, covered in shadows. With a come hither motion, he scurried into the darkness. I willingly followed.
"You were in a meeting with Professor Dumbledore, weren't you?" Harry asked.
I sat down on the low padded bench. "Yes," I answered as he sat down next to me. He pressed against my side, leaning his forehead against my neck. I breathed in his scent. "It was about Umbridge."
"Will Professor Dumbeldore sack her?"
"There's no way." I turned my head to kiss the top of his. "She was placed here by the Ministry; the only ones who can remove her are the ones who placed her here." I reached out and took his hand in mine. "She's using her Ministry power to gain control of this place."
"That explains all the decrees."
"Yes." I remembered what Pomona said. "Professort Trelawney seems to be drinking her sorrows away; Umbridge has her so on edge."
"She seemed to be a bit off in class."
"She's scared Umbridge is going to do something."
"Like what?"
I kissed the top of his head again. "Trelawney thinks she's going to be kicked out of Hogwarts."
Harry untucked himself to look me in the eye. "Can Umbrdige do that?"
"With the way she is taking control, I'm afraid that woman can do anything."
The younger teen sighed softly. "Trelawney may be a crazy bat, but I don't want to see her gone."
"Nor do I. The cschool would not be the same without her." I gently nuzzled my nose against his. "The other professors do not like her. McGonagall was about to pop a furball." I chuckled quietly at that mental image, though it seemed a bit gross.
Harry hummed in amusement.
I smiled at him before claimed his mouth with mine. Harry sighed into the kiss, opening his mouth for my invading tongue, which did not waste a moment. Within a few minutes I had him breathless, panting and almost mewling for more.
"You need to get back to your dormitory, before we get caught."
"But, Talis . . ."
I shut him up with another peck on the mouth. "Come by my room tomorrow night." I flashed a mischievous grin.
