Someone gave the password to the Fat Lady, and everyone started going into the Tower. As the twins walked into the Common Room, they noticed that half of the Gryffindors were reading the Prophet, and the other half were staring and whispering about them. When Holly looked down at the paper, the front page had her and Harry's picture plastered on it with the headline, Potters or Plotters? Holly ignored it and continued to walk towards the stairs, but she could feel Seamus sitting with Dean, glaring at her and Harry.
Holly turned around, "Dean, Seamus. Good Holiday?"
"Alright, better than Seamus' anyway," Dean said.
Seamus suddenly stood up and threw the paper down, "My mum didn't want me coming back this year," Seamus said as he walked toward Holly and Harry.
Harry stepped in front of Holly, "Why not?"
"Let me see, because of you two," Seamus said, "The Daily Prophet has been saying a lot of things about you and Holly, Harry. And about Dumbledore as well."
"What, and your mum believes them?"
"Well, no one was there the night Cedric died, except for you and your sister," Seamus said as his eyes flashed to Holly.
"Well, I guess you should read the prophet then, like your stupid mother. It will tell you everything you need to know." Holly said as she stepped out behind Harry.
"Don't you dare talk about my mother like that."
"I'll have a go at anyone that calls Harry and me liars," Holly said.
At that moment, Neville and Ginny walked into the common room, "What's going on?"
"They're mad is what's going on." Seamus growled out, "Do you believe the rubbish that they've come out with about you know who?"
Neville stepped in front of the twins, "Yeah, I do. Has anyone else got a problem with Harry and Holly?"
Harry and Holly look at each other, and they both go to their dorms, with Neville following Harry and Hermione and Ginny following Holly. Holly went and flopped down on her bed where Archimedes was lying down. When her familiar saw how upset his mistress was, the little fox crawled into her lap and started to nuzzle against her. Holly picked him up and cuddled him.
Hermione and Ginny walked into the dorm room. They sat down on either side of her, "Are you alright, Hol?"
"I'm fine. I wasn't expecting Seamus to be so hostile towards Harry and me. I'm more worried about Harry. He's so angry, and I don't know what to do to help him."
"Give him some time; I'm sure he'll calm down," Ginny said as she hugged her friend.
"I hope so."
While the girls are talking, Harry is fuming in his room. He nearly bites Neville's head off when Neville asked him if he was alright. After a while, Harry apologized to him then got ready for bed. Harry laid down in his bed and drew the curtains around him. It took time for him to go to sleep, but when he finally did, Harry started having a nightmare about Voldemort and a room and an orb sitting on a shelf. Harry could hear Voldemort whispering his and Holly's name as if he was trying to call them to him. Harry gasped and bolted upright. He looked around, frightened that maybe Voldemort had somehow gotten into Hogwarts. Once Harry had his breathing under control, he opened his curtains and slipped on his slippers, and made his way downstairs.
Harry found Holly waiting for him downstairs, sitting on the sofa. She looked over her shoulder when she heard footsteps. Harry came around the couch and plopped down next to his twin. Holly put her head on his shoulder, "Voldemort," She asked.
"Yeah."
"What do you suppose it means?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. Should we be worried?" Holly asked her twin.
"Yes," Harry said as he wrapped his arm around Holly and held her tight.
The twins cuddled with each other, giving each other comfort as they always have. Then slowly, they began to fall asleep. A few minutes later, Hermione came downstairs to look for Holly and found them sleeping. She took the blanket off the nearby chair and covered them, then went back to bed.
Harry and Holly woke up before dawn and went back to their rooms to sleep a little more. Hermione woke Holly up two hours later to get ready for class. Once they were ready, the girls went downstairs and met up with Harry, Neville, and Ginny. Ron decided to walk with his girlfriend Lavender and her friend Parvati. He knew that after yesterday, his presence would only upset Holly. The Great Hall was already bustling with students all talking amongst themselves. But the minute they spotted Harry and Holly, all the noise died down. Holly straightened her back and held her head up higher. She wasn't going to cower in front of these people. She noticed that her brother did the same thing, and they made their way to the Gryffindor table, ignoring all the stares and whispers.
Holly and Harry sat down with Hermione, Ginny, and Neville. Fred and George came and sat down on the opposite side of the Potter twins, "Are you two alright," Fred asked.
"Fine," Harry snapped.
Holly gave Fred an apologetic look, "We're okay, guys."
"If you need anything, Holly, you know that you and Harry can depend on us," George said from the other side of Harry.
Holly gave them a sad smile, "We know, guys, thank you."
The Weasley twins nod, and they all continue with their breakfast.
Later that morning, the fifth year Gryffindors head to Defense Against the Dark Arts class. When they enter the class, Holly and Harry decide to sit together, so Neville and Hermione take the desk next to them. They're all talking and joking, waiting for Umbridge to come into the class.
"Good morning, children. Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations. O-W-Ls. More commonly known as OWLs. Study har,d, and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, and the consequences may be severe. Your previous instruction in this subject has been disturbingly uneven. But you'll be pleased to know, from now on... you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved... course of defensive magic."
Hermione raises her hand.
"Yes?"
"There's nothing in here about using spells."
"Using spells? Well, I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."
"We're not going to be learning about magic," Ron asked.
"You'll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way."
"What use is that? If we're attacked, it won't be risk-free." Harry said.
"Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class. It is the view of the Ministry... that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient... to get you through your examinations... which, after all, is what school is all about."
"And how's theory supposed to prepare us for what's out there?" Holly asked.
"There is nothing out there, dear. Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourself?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe Lord Voldemort," Harry said in an irritated tone.
"You have been told... that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."
"It's not a lie. We saw Voldemort, Harry, and I fought him," Holly said, standing up from her chair.
"Detention, Miss Potter."
"Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord? "
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident."
"It was murder. Voldemort killed him."
"ENOUGH! Enough. See me later, Mr. Potter. You and your sister."
Later that evening, Holly and Harry show up at Umbridge's offices. She has them sit down and instructs them to do lines with unique quills. She has them write 'I must not tell lies.'
"How many time," Holly asked.
"Well, let's say for as long as it takes for the message to sink in."
As Holly and Harry start writing, they begin to feel a burning in their skin and notice that the ink on the page is blood red. The twins look at each other and realize that the ink is their blood, and the letters are being carved into their hands. But not just that. When Holly writes, the notes are being cut into her brother's hand and vice versa. Holly is horrified that she is responsible for causing her brother pain, but there is nothing she can do about it. She pauses, "I can't do this, Harry."
"Neither can I, but we have to get this over with."
Holly's eyes glisten with tears, "I'm sorry, Harry."
Harry squeezes his twin's hand, "So am I."
They grit their teeth and continue to do their lines.
Once Umbridge believes they've had enough, she dismissed them and sent them back to Gryffindor Tower; where Hermione, Neville and Ginny are waiting for them.