I watched everyone pack their trunks in various rooms while I was sitting talking to Remus and Sirius. I had a conversation with Dumbledore about having Sirius at school undercover with his animagus form. Dumbledore argued that he was safer there and eventually the matter was shelved, Dumbledore wouldn't let him come.
Sirius was glad that I wanted him there, but agreed that it would most likely be for the best. Thanks to Kyuubi, I had done all my essays for the year. I had decided that I would use the room of requirement to train myself in more advanced magic since I wouldn't be using time to write the actual essays.
Once everyone was packed, the guard formed again one person short. Moody didn't like it, but we had little choice. Sirius came along in his dog form and entertained us on the way to the station. Once we got on the platform and restored our trunks, I took out my wand and preformed a quick switching spell so I could have my robes on and reshrunk mine back.
I shook Remus's hand and said, "I'll be in touch." I knelt down and petted Sirius before walking into find a place to sit. Before I could get far, Hermione reminded us that we needed to go to the prefect compartment to get instructions. Ron said he would find a compartment and we could find him later.
We arrived in the front compartment with the other prefects, Malfoy included. Upon seeing me, Malfoy said, "Well if it isn't Potter, Dumbledore's pet."
I looked at him with obvious boredom before turning and starting a conversation with Hermione. Malfoy reacted in shock from the clear insult. Before he could do more than gape, the meeting started.
I listened only half paying attention unless they discussed the rules we needed to know. I held an enchanted quill and parchment to take notes while I discussed things in more detail with Hermione. Once I understood the details, we decided to join up with Ron and enjoy the ride to Hogwarts.
"Harry, could you wait a moment?" I tried not to flinch as Cho called me back. I told Hermione that I would find her and Ron in a little while. Hermione's eyes darkened for a moment before she left.
I turned towards her, preparing myself in case this turned slightly nasty. I felt sorry for her, I remembered how I used to feel for her, but now there was nothing but pity. "How can I help you Cho?" I kept my face a mask of concern, but nothing else.
She smiled weakly before coming really close, far to close for my comfort, but I wouldn't take a step back. For some strange reason I couldn't take a step back, a feral part of me refused to be cowed by her, it wouldn't let me move away. "I'm really glad you're a prefect Harry. Perhaps we could get together sometime?"
I felt sick at the thought that she was hitting on me. Deciding to head her off I said, "sure, you could tell me more about my duties as a prefect."
She shook her head, "I meant in a more personal way."
I was really glad I had a light breakfast. "As friends," I gave as a last out. Again she shook her head. She started to lean in closer, but I put my hands on her shoulders to stop her. "Cho, why do you all of the sudden want this?"
Her face showed surprise before she took a step back. She shrugged, "I don't know, it just felt right."
I sighed. "Cho, you're getting over a traumatic event and you are reaching out for comfort. It does neither of us any good to pursue a relationship that can't be as emotional equals." She seemed to think it over while I wondered where that had come from.
'Where do you think,' came Kyuubi's voice. Relieved that I knew where it came from, I returned my attention to Cho.
She looked at me for a while before nodding. Once she left I let out the breath I was holding. Walking down I found the compartment where Ron and Hermione had gone. I sat beside Hermione and Neville, who told me about his new plant. Hermione gave me odd looks from time to time, but I didn't respond.
We made a few rounds on the train and Hermione asked what happened between me and Cho. I said nothing of importance and Hermione let it go at that. Once we arrived at the school, I walked over towards the carriages after nodding at Professor McGonagall. I stood petting a Thestral until the rest caught up with me.
Everyone was giving me an odd look as I stood there petting what they couldn't see. Hermione decided to call me on it. "What were you doing Harry?"
"I was petting the Thestral that is pulling our carriage Hermione." Everyone glanced at me in confusion. I explained that I had read in the Monster Book of Monsters about Thestrals and that they matched the description.
"But you can only see them if you saw someone…" Neville's voice drifted off as realization dawned on him. No one said much the rest of the way to the castle. Once we were inside, I glanced at the Professor's table to confirm that Umbridge was actually there. We sat towards the front and waited to begin the feast.
After the sorting, Dumbledore stood and welcomed us back as usual and introduced Umbridge as the new Defense Professor. I almost laughed when she decided to interrupt Dumbledore. I watched her fluff herself up in her supposed importance. I watched each teacher glare at her with varying levels of disgust.
Once she had finished her speech, we began the feast. A few people talked about the arrogance this new Defense teacher had, most just talked about their summer. Once we were dismissed, Hermione and I gathered up the first years and escorted them to the common room. A few of them seemed fearful of me, but my constant banter with Hermione while giving them directions calmed them considerably.
After showing them their dorm, I went back to the common room and preformed the disillusionment charm not a moment too soon. Angelina came down and sat with her back to the exit. Walking quietly I left and headed for the Room of Requirements.
Once I arrived there I reversed the spell and called Dobby. I was seated in a chair when he appeared. After asking him to have a seat, which brought tears to his face, I asked him how things were going.
"Dobby is doing good. Dobby make several pairs of socks." I had to smile at that. We talked about what we had done during the summer, and we had smiles until I brought up Winky. "Winky still depressed Harry Potter sir," he said. "Winky not comfortable working in large group, Winky like having one master."
I thought about it for a minute before asking if Winky would be willing to work for me. Dobby's ears flopped as he nodded fast. I asked him to get her for me, and he quickly popped off to get her. I asked the room for another seat for Winky and waited for them to come back. Winky appeared with Dobby, she looked like she had been crying recently but had a look of hope on her face. When I asked her to be seated, she said, "Winky good house elf, Winky not sit in master's presence."
I smiled sadly, "Winky, I ask you to sit down because it makes me uncomfortable having someone stand while I am seated. I want you to sit down because it makes me feel better knowing my friends are comfortable." She looked shocked at this but agreed.
We spent an hour talking about her working for me. It came down to her taking sole responsibility for anything related to me. She popped off to talk to Dumbledore and Dobby asked the question I had expected. "Harry Potter sir, why is you not want Dobby to serve?"
I looked at him and said, "I'd love to have you both work for me, but I wouldn't have enough for both of you to do. You have to admit, you are taking your freedom well, and Winky feels that she failed and therefore hates freedom. If you're still available after I graduate, I would be glad to have the two of you work for me."
Dobby smiled, "Harry Potter is good wizard. Dobby glad to know Harry Potter." Once Winky came back and happily said that she was free to work for me I began to set my plans in motion. While I had originally planned to have Dobby working for me, it was no big deal to have Winky working for me. At first Winky didn't like that I wanted her to have money, but agreed when I said that it was a 'fund to pay for her enjoyment'. She suggested a piece of fabric that could serve as a way for her to differentiate herself from the other house elves that were here.
Once it was decided how much (one Galleon a month) and how often off (two hours a day that was not to be used for sleep), I told her what I would need. After quickly writing a letter to Remus and Sirius, I asked her to go to them and wait for a reply. Once that was done, I asked Dobby to scout for me so that I could get back to the common room.
Once I arrived and got dressed for bed, Winky showed up. After securing my privacy, I opened the letter.
Harry,
We're glad to hear from you. While we weren't surprised at your request, I must admit that we weren't expecting it so soon. It will take a couple of days to get the potions you requested in that quantity.
By the way, how on earth did you get such a loyal house elf? I know about Dobby, but where did you find this one? She waited for twenty minutes for us to write this letter.
If you'll send the same messenger, we should have al that you want ready soon.
Remus and SnufflesSmiling at Winky I thanked her and turned in.
I was woken the next morning by Winky who told me it was time to get up. After showering and getting dressed, I went down to wait on Ron and Hermione while reading one of the books Remus got me. To anyone else it would seem that I was reading an owl level book, but in truth it was about various spells in the Auror repertoire.
Hermione came down and looked surprised to see me seated and reading. She decided to call me on it. Once I showed her what I was reading, she asked if she could borrow it sometime. I agreed and we sat talking about our plans for the year until Ron came down.
I walked down to breakfast with Hermione on my right and Ron on my left. The reason I noticed this was because of how close Hermione was walking with me. I felt her tense whenever we passed any girl that I might remotely find attractive.
'Told you there is something there,' Kyuubi said. I ignored him and sat down for breakfast. Hedwig showed up and I fed her some toast. Hermione was going on about what Umbridge had said last night until the Prophet arrived.
I noticed McGonagall stop behind me as she was passing out course schedules. "Mr. Potter, come to my office after your classes today ,I wish speak to you about Quidditch." I nodded and she moved on. Today we had History of Magic followed by double potions.
Ron decided to voice his objection, "well this is a bloody great way to start off the year, Binns and Snape in a single morning."
I decided not to say anything about the fact that I had convinced McGonagall to place me in Ancient Runes instead of Divination. I now had a class with Hermione, who had just leaned over to look at my schedule. She looked at me curiously and said, "why do you have Ancient Runes Harry? And how did you get placed in the class with those who have been doing it for two years?"
I shrugged, ignoring Ron's look of shock. "I decided that I didn't want to have a class that I didn't really do anything in. I asked McGonagall if there was a class that I could get into and she suggested Runes."
Hermione wasn't going to let it go, "but how are you in the same class as me?"
I smiled, "it's one of those things I studied with Remus and Sirius. McGonagall sent me the test for the first year of study, and I passed." With flying colors I thought to my self. "When she sent me the second year, I passed that as well."
Hermione beamed at me, and I found myself wanting to do some rather odd things because of it. As Kyuubi was laughing, I figured that it was something from him. We went to History in silence and soon enough I found myself outside of the potions classroom.
'You fell asleep, so I let you sleep and woke you to come here,' Kyuubi said with a sounding smug.
Having no time in which to formulate a reply, I walked in and sat next Hermione. Snape came in with his usual bluster and set them to working a potion.
The class went as my classes with Snape usually went, except that I didn't respond in the least to Snape's taunts. Hermione gave me a smile at my ignoring of the various taunts hurled my way and class was soon over with Hermione and me both making near identical potions.
I bottled up some of my potion, two vials so as to prevent me from being graded poorly. As soon as I had placed one and turned my back, I heard the tell-tale crash of my potion hitting the floor. Turning back to see my potion on the floor, I simply placed my extra potion in its place with an unbreakable charm on it. Walking back to my caldron I found Hermione had already cleaned it up for me.
As we left, I heard the sound of something bouncing off the ground, I turned and saw a shocked Malfoy looking at my vial before Snape picked it up.
Lunch was an interesting affair, in so much as it ever was. I noticed the innocence that so many had. I walked with Hermione to Ancient Runes and decided to broach a new topic. "Hermione, what do you think about helping me start a defense against the dark arts group?"
She looked surprised, "you don't even know if Umbridge is going to be any good or not."
I attempted a smile, now was the time to start weaving truth and lies. "She was at my trial. I know that she is well in the minister's pocket. Therefore I assume since Fudge believes that Dumbledore is recruiting an army, that she will do what ever it takes to prevent us from being trained to oppose the ministry."
Hermione looked thoughtful the rest of the way to Ancient Runes. The class was interesting, as runes were another way of using magic, and it actually was entertaining to recreate various runes. The class was definitely something I should have pursued from the beginning.
I talked about how interesting it was in ancient runes all the way to Defense. As we walked in, I sat down and pulled the book for the class out and purposefully put my wand in my wrist holder that Remus had gotten me.
Neither Ron nor Hermione had time to ask how I was sure that I wouldn't need it before Umbridge showed up. She walked in and said, "good afternoon class." She paused as if she expected anyone to respond.
"That just won't do," she said in a sickly sweet voice. "Now I expect a response when I greet you. Now, good afternoon class."
"Good afternoon Professor," everyone but me responded.
She detailed the course aims after telling everyone to put away their wands. She assigned the first chapter as reading, and everyone got started. She looked around the class room and noticed that I didn't have my book even open. "Is there some reason you are not reading Mr. Potter?"
I smiled, a rather evil look judging from the expressions of people who I saw looking, "yes, I've already read it."
"then start the next chapter," she said in that nauseating voice.
"I've already read the book," was my reply. "I have a question if you don't mind."
She nodded which I took as my go ahead, "when are we going to practice the spells we are supposed to learn?"
She ruffled her self up, looking quite ridiculous. "Do you believe that there will be a reason for you to practice in this class?"
I nodded, "they say practice makes perfect."
She glared at me before continuing, "just because some of your former professors thought it wise to expose you to dangerous things while in this class, none followed a ministry approved curriculum."
"And what are we to do in the event the next dark wizard decides that he is fed up with the wizard world and decides to try and take over, hide behind a severely depleted auror force?"
"That is the aurors job, to protect the wizard world." She said with a hint of steel.
Hermione tried to convince me to stop, but now was definitely to little to late. "Actually it's an individual's responsibility to defends themselves and their family. It's only a matter of time until the aurors are faced with a situation in which they are not capable of handling."
I saw a gleam of victory in her eyes, "are you saying that you believe there is a threat to the wizard world that the ministry is not aware of?"
I shook my head, "I am saying nothing, but to quote Alastor Moody, 'constant vigilance'. What I think he forgot to mention is that constant vigilance is the cost of freedom." I noticed that quite a few of the people in the class were looking at me with respect in their eyes.
Umbridge quickly assigned me detention, which I only nodded to. The class was over for me as she sent me to McGonagall's office. Arriving there, I noticed that she looked slightly put out with me. "Mr. Potter, when I recommended you to be a prefect, I did so in hoping that you would keep a level head and not argue with your professors, no matter how much you disagree with them."
I looked surprised, "while I will admit that I got rather caught up in the discussion, I was not aware that having a difference of opinion was considered arguing."
She smiled at me, "yes I suppose it's not. However I believe that I wanted to talk with you about this decision to quit quidditch. May I ask why?"
I nodded, "I felt that I should apply myself more. While I love quidditch, I feel that I could be of more use in helping other students in practicing the skills that 'Professor' Umbridge has decided that we do not need."
McGonagall nodded and dismissed me to supper. I met a few of the other students that had heard my speech and several congratulated me on my ability to argue with a professor and not get any points taken away. Hermione was mad because I should have stopped, but I knew I had to get people thinking about the consequences of just going along.
Soon enough, it was time for my detention with Umbridge.
A/n: 3387 words. Retyped to fix errors. To everyone who reviewed (and reminded me this story still existed) thank you.
Captuniv: You got me to change my mind about having a confrontation with Umbridge this early, hope you like it.