I sat beside Hermione as we waited for Umbridge to show up. The others joked and played, getting reacquainted with old and talking to new friends. The two twin girls set loose a paper bird in class, causing joy for the others, only for it to catch fire and burn. We all turned to see Umbridge at the entrance of the classroom. What was up with that woman and pink?

"Good morning children." She greeted with a sweet tone and creepy smile. She walked in waving her wand, to write on the chalkboard. "Ordinary wizarding level examinations. O-W-Ls. More commonly knowns as OWLs." God her voice was causing my ears to ring. "Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, and the consequences may be severe." She levitated the textbooks towards us. "Your previous instruction in the subject has been disturbingly uneven." Dark arts defense basics for beginners. Was this old witch for real? These are for first-year students, and even then we never use them. "But you'll be please to know, from now on, you will be following a carefully strutted, ministry-approved course of defensive magic." Hermione raised her hand suddenly. "Yes?"

"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells."

I frowned, scamming through the book only to find none. "She's right."

"Using spells?" She giggled. "Well, I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."

"We're not going to use magic?" Ron asked.

"You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way." She replied, desperate in a way.

"What use it that? If we're attacked, it won't be risk-free." I argued.

"Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class." Her sweet sticky voice was replaced with a more aggressive one, before going back. "It is the new of the mistily, that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations, which after all, is what school is all about."

I was really getting sick of the old hag. "No, school is to prepare us for the real world. We live in a magical world, Hogwarts teaches us what we need to survive it. There is a lot of evil out there and we must learn how to defend ourselves from it."

"Besides how is theory suppose to prepare us for what's out there?" Harry added.

She smiled, with a shake of her head. "There is nothing out there, dear. Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourself?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe Lord Voldemort."

I groaned, I believe him and I always will, but there was a place and time to speak of such things. This was not it. Glancing at the professor, I had to admit it was rather humorous to see her fight to control herself.

"Now, let me make this quite plain." She slowly began walking towards Harry. "You have been told that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."

"It's not a lie. I saw him. I fought him."

"Detention Mr. Potter." She lost her cool for a moment as she yelled and stalked back to the front of the classroom.

"So according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord?!"

"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident."

"It was murder! Voldemort killed him! You must know that!"

"Harry!"

"Enough!"

Both I and the professor yelled.

"Enough." She whispered. "See me later, Mr. Potter. My office." I shivered at the small giggle she gave.

I couldn't wait to get out of class, I felt trapped in there. It suffocated me just being close to her. I didn't want to leave Harry, but I couldn't stay either. Something about that woman filled me up with fear and rage. She was pure evil disguised as nothing, but a bloody butterfly. Later that day after lunch and finishing my classes, I settled in the common room finishing the last of my homework. All I had was Snape's essay and that wasn't due until next week. Spotting Harry on the couch, I walked over to him. Hermione and Ron appeared just behind me. It Seemed Ron had convinced her to help with his essay again. I took a seat in front of Harry on the coffee table, as the other two on each side. Harry ignored us, pretending to read his textbook.

"What's wrong with your hand?" Hermione asked.

Harry pulled out his right hand. "Nothing."

"The other hand." She pulled out his left hand from under his book.

I quickly grabbed his hand, running my thumb gently over the fading redness. "That bloody old witch."

"You've got to tell Dumbledore." Hermione said.

"No." He snapped. "Dumbledore's got enough on his mind. Anyway, I don't want to give umbrage the satisfaction."

"Bloody hell Harry, the woman is torturing you." Ron said. "If the parents knew about this..."

"I haven't got any of those have I, Ron?"

"I grabbed his book, making him look at me. "You have Sirius and us." He held my stare for a few seconds, before grabbing his book back. I scoffed tossing my hands in the air.

"Harry, you have to report this. It's perfectly simple. You're being-"

"No, it's not. Hermione, whatever this is, it's not simple." To say we were shocked by his attitude was falling short. Harry was not like this, never like this. "You don't understand."

"Then help us to." She pleaded, but he wasn't having any of it. He gathered his things and left. Leaving us confused and a bit angry.

"Wait here." I mumbled. Making sure no one followed, I walked into the dorms. "What the hell is your problem?"

Harry jumped. "What are you doing in here?"

"Answer me."

He shook his head. "Nothing."

I scoffed. "Nothing? That down there was not anything? That down there was a friend we care for driving us away. That was something, Harry!" Closing the door behind me, I walked in closer. "Harry?!"

"Just leave me alone!" He shouted, but not once did he look at me.

I paused watching him closely. I have been around him too long and been through too much, for me to not know how to read him. He was scared. He was desperate. Walking into the bathroom, I grabbed a wet towel. Walking back out I took his hand and cleaned the scar. Whispering a small chant my mother thought me, I watched as it began to fade. "Harry just talk to me." He turned his head to the side. "I don't know what is wrong with you or acting this way and I won't pretend I do, but you are pushpin everyone away." Grabbing his chin, I slowly turned him to face me. "We are your family and friends Harry Potter. We have been through hell and back for and with you, and without a doubt, in mind, we will do it again. But until you let us in once more, this lonely feeling, the same one that makes each day harder will continue." Getting nothing, but silence I sighed in defeat. There wasn't more I could do, beating some sense into him, won't work. So I simply kissed him on the head and walked for the door. "Keep the towel for the night on. Tomorrow it will all be gone."

"Thank you." His voice was heavy, he sounded so tired.

"Don't ever thank me, Harry."

The next morning Ginny, Hermione, Ron and I sat together eating breakfast. I was currently trying to memorize what Snape had assigned. It was a potion that allowed us to shape into any animal we liked. I wouldn't mind trying it. Tossing a few pieces of bacon to Gryffindor, I looked up and laughed at the looks on both girl's faces, as they watched Ron eat non-stop.

"Do you ever stop eating?" Hermione asked.

Ron shrugged, answering with a full mouth. "What? I'm hungry."

"Come now Mione, he is a growing boy and he needs all that protein." Spotting Harry at the corner of my eye, I nudged Hermione. "Speaking of growing boys."

"Harry!" Ginny grinned.

He seemed a bit shy. "Can I join you?"

Before we could even answer loud voices, clearly arguing came from the hallways. We all gathered at the bottom of the steps, to see it was indeed Umbridge and McGonagall arguing. It seemed McGonagall found out Umbridge's technique in punishing us. All was good and calm until I heard the old hag accuse Professor McGonagall of being disloyal. My blood began to boil, as I pushed my way through the students a hand stopped me. I was a bit surprised to see Ian.

"You do what I think you're about to, and the punishment will be worse than a few lines." He whispered.

I growled trying to break loose. "She has no right to accuse-"

"I know Athena, but right now an outburst will only make this all worse."

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. All I would get out of this would be a punishment. As we all listened to the two continue to argue, I couldn't help, but notice Ian had yet to let go of my hand. It was then that we were all ordered away.

"It was nice seeing you again Ian."

He gave me a flirty smile, followed by a kiss on the hands, only he paused. "What's this?"

I opened my mouth, trying to find the courage to tell him, instead... "A gift, I must get going. See you around."

"Athena wait!"

I ran into the dining hall straight for Hermione. "I need to talk to you." I quickly dragged her into the bathroom. "What am I going to do?"

"About what?" She asked. "What's the matter?"

"Ian Gilbert that's what's the matter!"

"Oh right, you two were a thing." Hermione mumbled.

I glared at her. "We were not a thing, we are simply friends that like each other. And who might have kissed...twice."

Hermione sat on the bench and stared at me. "Start from the beginning."

"He saw the rings a while ago and when he asked what they were, I stood there gaping like a bloody fish, told them they were a gift, and ran off." I moaned the last part, sliding to the ground in pure defeat. "He was the one boy I liked Mione. He was the one I believed was going to be the man I fell in love with and got married to. Even though he much rather have Maggie." Tossing my head back, I fought not to cry. "Now I have to tell him I am engaged and to marry in a few months."

Hermione sat down beside me, hugging me close. "I am sorry Athena, I wish there was something I could do. Anything to help you out of this."

"Just be there when I tell him."

"Of course."

In the past month, Umbridge has been causing a huge change in Hogwarts and not the good kind. She walked throughout the school, making sure we were all perfect, ties up, shirts tucked in, clothes clean and following the 8 inches apart as we walked. Any misbehaving and we were punished by her stupid lines. The teachers were not saved either, she questioned each and everyone one of them. I got the downfall when she questioned Snape, it took hours to finally have him calm down and not kill her...a decision I regret to this day. Any magic on school grounds or products from George and Fred were immediately shut down. Rules upon rules kept making their way on the wall, some as ridiculous as no laughing in the corridors. This lady was out of her damn mind! What was strange was the fact that Dumbledore was not fighting this. He was allowing this sadist to run this school. That was until today.

As we were exiting the last class all the students rushed to the patio. It seemed Umbridge was sacking someone, both Ginny and I shocked it was professor Trelawney. It pained me to see her beg that snake of a woman to allow her to stay. Professor McGonagall appeared, rushing to hug the woman and give her some comfort. It was then that Dumbledore appeared, asking both women to get back inside. I couldn't hear clearly what they were saying, but by the look on his face, it wasn't anything good. As I was leaving, I spotted Harry rushing to catch up to him, but to my surprise, he was ignored. What the hell was wrong with everyone this year?