Warning: Mentions of scarring and implied domestic abuse. Very brief and not very descriptive, but still, just in case...
"Alright, now drive with your shoulder. Don't hold back, I can take it."
Draco huffed, his pale face flushed but determined as he threw himself forward in his newest attempt to take Danny to the ground. Danny deflected the much better executed attack and deftly swept Draco off his feet and onto the mats they were training on.
It turns out Draco had been more skeptical of 'muggle fighting' than they'd thought and had neglected to learn many of the basics that Daphne and Tracy had tried to teach him over the break.
That all changed during their first DA meeting of term when Danny had engaged in a mock duel with Neville, and had immediately dodged all of the ranged magical attacks Neville threw at him, getting in close to knock his wand out of his hand. They'd then sparred for a good two minutes before Neville forfeited from his place in Dany's sleeper hold on the ground, to the applause of the gathered DA and an utterly gob smacked look on Draco's face that made Danny laugh.
Draco had then taken to the martial art forms with a determination to catch up to the rest of the DA by the end of the session, and thus Danny had been training with him for a good two hours now, helping him catch up. There was something to be said about a Slytherin's tenacity.
Letting Draco rest on the mat for a moment, Danny looked around at the rest of the eagerly reunited DA.
Ron was by the targets and pillows, monitoring pairs who were practicing their spellwork or aim. Hermione was by the bookshelves with another group who were practicing newly invented techniques that they'd all been implementing into their practice duels whenever they had the chance. The favorite technique was still Ghosting, but many others had now joined it's ranks, such as a weak knock back jinx spelled onto the caster's own hand to deliver an incredibly effective punch on an opponent in close quarters; which is to say nothing of the simpler spells like the trip jink, leg locker curse, full body bind and other binding curses that when used on an opponent in close quarters made them far easier to take down with the techniques Danny had shown them.
It looked like Hermione was now giving an impromptu lesson on non-verbal spells which allowed them to use the spells faster and more effectively while up close and personal to their dueling partners; oh. As Chloe just demonstrated by nabbing Lee Jordan with a silent tickling jinx. Danny chuckled at Lee rolling around on the ground laughing, but his smile faded as he remembered who wasn't with them at the moment.
Harry was... with Snape. Professor Snape he supposed, but the guy reminded him too much of Vlad for him to be too bothered with a proper address. He may have taken the chance to knock Umbridge down a few pegs while in Potions all those months ago, which helped Snape, but it was a 'greater of the two evils' kind of thing.
Danny could admit that Harry having to spend most of the first DA meeting with Snape for his first Occlumency lesson left a bad taste in his mouth.
"-anny?"
"Huh?" He asked intelligently, turning back to Draco who had risen to his feet once more, now holding a water bottle.
Draco gave him a look between curiosity and exasperation before he sighed.
"You know, for all that these fighting techniques are to help us both with our mentality towards magic and ability to protect ourselves, I'm not sure I want someone as clueless as you to be training me." He groused, but Danny could tell it wasn't serious.
"But I also have to say... that what you and Harry have done here? It is... truly, very impressive." Draco mumbled out with his arms crossed.
Danny smiled, and relaxed as he threw an arm over Draco's shoulders.
"Aw, thanks! I'll be sure to tell Harry you said that once he gets here!"
Draco looked horrified at the mere thought and ducked under his arm to get away, making Danny laugh.
"Where is Potter, anyway? I know you lot said he had an appointment with a Professor, but to miss this-"
Right at that moment, the Room's doors creaked open, and Harry walked in. The members of the DA greeted him happily as he passed, but then continued their own practice sessions, since they knew there wasn't much time to be taught anything new today. Harry made his way over to Danny and Draco, who were separated from the rest, and Ron and Hermione followed after him.
Up close, Harry looked far too pale and jittery. His eyes darted around the Room at the slightest movements and his hands shook slightly. Danny could relate. Having your mind invaded was not a good time, and to have Snape of all people do it? He couldn't blame Harry in the slightest.
"Harry, you all right mate?" Ron asked with evident concern.
"Well... no, not really, but I'll be fine in a few hours, I'm sure." Harry tried to give a small smile, but it turned into more of a grimace.
"What on earth have you been doing to end up in this state?" Draco asked. Harry jumped, as if only just realizing Draco was standing there, and then gave a shaky, almost world-weary sigh.
"I was with Snape... He was teaching me Occlumency, and while I did alright for a while, what with all this," Harry gestured to the still practicing DA members around them, "I've had practice compartmentalizing and clearing my head but... Snape always knows just what buttons to push." Harry scowled darkly. Hermione patted his shoulder consolingly while Ron scowled right along with him, angry on his friend's behalf.
"Occlumency? The metal shielding technique? That's an incredibly advanced technique you know. Why are you learning it?" Draco asked shrewdly.
They all quickly avoided his gaze, unsure of what to say; but not for nothing, Draco was second only to Hermione in academics, so he caught on quickly.
"It has something to do with why you three disappeared before the end of last term, isn't it?" Draco asked with narrowed eyes. "I asked Granger- sorry, Hermione where you'd gone but not even she knew."
Harry tried valiantly for only a moment longer to try to feign innocence before sighing resignedly.
"Yeah, alright, it does have to do with that, but I don't really want to share anything else at the moment." Harry said looking around the Room.
"Then I won't ask about that then." Draco said. "Although...It's not as if I can't take a guess; you were, and still are, all over the Prophet for what happened on Christmas."
Danny couldn't help but flinch. The magical media storm had been brutal; even worse than when Walker had made it look like he'd attacked the Mayor.
But that was only in Amity Park. This was the entire European Magical Community. And they knew his secret. He couldn't hide.
They'd needed to take something called the Night Bus (and Danny had thought bright red double-decker busses were cool, but a neon purple triple-decker bus?) back to Hogsmeade and then walk up to the castle instead of going on the train like the rest of the students. They'd been tipped off that all the major media outlets for the British magical community, and even some beyond them, had made it onto the platform for the Hogwarts Express and were waiting for their chance to take their pound of flesh from the Famous Harry Potter and the Infamous Muggle half-breed who seemed to be friends with him.
It seems that after they'd caught a glimpse of Danny and, more importantly, his powers at St. Mungo's on Christmas, they were doing everything they could to find out more about him. He'd hoped that making it back to the castle would protect them from the onslaught.
Apparently... a teacher they all knew and loved, had invited the Press to come onto Hogwarts grounds, and so they were greeted with camera flashes and shouted questions as soon as they stepped through the front doors. Danny had panicked, and made all of them invisible on instinct, and he had only released the invisibility once McGonagall and Sprout had shouted themselves hoarse at the reporters and photographers and banned them from the castle. They'd then turned enraged glares onto a certain pink clad toad who was smirking cruelly and utterly unrepentant.
It had all gone further downhill from there.
While Dumbledore had assured them that the Press was restricted from the grounds, Umbridge made a point to mention that they were all still in Hogsmeade, waiting for the next Hogsmeade trip to find out more about their 'esteemed' guest and his relationship to the Boy Who Lived. It was the only story the Prophet wanted to print, and Umbridge seemed incredibly smug about that for some reason.
Then, on top of all that, Danny had been worrying about what he'd learned from both Wulf and the Manson's. The Infinite Realms were likely near impossible to return to, and the GIW were coming to Europe. The fact that his powers had been all but uncontrollable mere minutes after learning about that had... terrified him.
He'd hidden it well, but... what if they'd upgraded their sensors somehow and found him while they were in London checking in with the Manson's? What if his powers were still malfunctioning when- no- if they found him? Would the magic that surrounded London protect him from being found? Would they be able to find him at Hogwarts?
Questions that kept him up the nights following Christmas day, and had only subsided a little once he'd gotten his powers back under control again, but having the Press breathing down his neck at every turn had not helped. At all.
It hadn't taken long for him, Harry, Ron and Hermione to get tired of it all; and so they turned back to their secret rebellious act as soon as they could. The first meeting of which happened to be on the very same Thursday that Harry needed to learn Occlumency from Snape, since it was the one day all the Quidditch players could attend that week.
"-really happened at the hospital? The Prophet only mentioned it in passing, and... my Father wouldn't say much." Draco's whispered question whipped Danny back into the present, and he stayed quiet as Hermione quickly explained their hospital visit and how they'd stopped Broderick Bode from getting murdered by an anonymously gifted plant.
"Bode? My Father spoke of him once, said he worked in the Department of Mysteries."
"Did he ever specify what he was working on, or why someone may want him dead?" Ron asked quietly.
"Well... Bode was said to work in the Hall of Prophesy."
"Prophesy?" Harry asked confused.
"But that branch of magic has never been truly verified! The Hall of Prophesy is a myth at best!" Hermione whispered, her face now a scowl at the mention of her least favorite subject.
"It's just what my Father told me, no one really knows what the Ministry gets up to in the Department of Mysteries." Draco huffed with a hint of his old sneer.
"Alright, alright-" Danny deescalated quietly, making sure that none of the other DA members had been listening. "We're getting a bit off topic, so how about we continue this conversation later."
His four magical friends glanced at each other before nodding their ascent.
"Actually Danny, I wanted to ask for your help before I get into the last bit of this DA meeting." Harry spoke up at a normal volume once again.
"Yeah?"
"Since you already know how to use Occlumency, would you happen to have any advice for me on how to improve? I really want to stick it to Snape that I can actually learn something from a competent teacher." Harry grinned a bit wistfully at the thought, right as Draco spluttered.
"You know Occlumency? You?" He pointed incredulously at Danny.
"Why is that such a surprise to people? Yes, I know Occlumency." Danny turned back to Harry and hummed with a thoughtful look. "For me, what really helped me to protect my mind from invasion was an actual image or scenario of protecting my mind, if that make's sense? I imagined a... container. The first one I could think of was a Fenton Thermos." Danny mimed holding the cylindrical container in his hand. "So I took my imaginary thermos in my head and visualized putting my mind inside it and capping it shut so tight that nothing would get in or out without my say so. It helped a lot to have a tangible image."
Danny looked back up to see dawning comprehension on Harry and Hermione's faces.
"So, like keeping my mind in my school trunk, and sitting on the lid." Harry said softly to himself.
"Or like keeping Crookshanks in his carrier when it's not safe for him to be out." Hermione added in wonder, no doubt wanting to jump in on learning a new magical technique.
"I still don't get it." Ron asked confused, and while Draco didn't say anything Danny could tell he was in the same boat but didn't want to admit it.
"Alright, well how about this. Instead of protecting your mind from the outside, you could also protect it from within, and keep invading forces out, like... ummm..."
"Keeping owls from flying into your room?" Draco asked.
"Or keeping the gnomes out of the front garden!" Ron said excitedly, making Harry snort with amusement.
"I'll ask you what you mean by gnomes later, but I think you have the general idea." Danny grinned.
They couldn't talk for much longer after that as both Dennis and Ella roped Harry into walking them through the Impediment jinx once again, which prompted Hermione and Ron to return to their groups, and Danny to turn back to Draco with another smile.
"So, another round?"
Draco rolled his shoulders, and then settled into his newly learned basic defensive stance, with a small grin of his own.
"Bring it, ghost boy!"
The evening ended brightly.
Which is, of course, when the Universe decided to remind them that they were not be allowed to catch a freaking break. Harry had another... 'attack' in their dorm as they were getting ready for bed, rolling on the ground clutching his head and uncontrollably laughing like a maniac. He only stopped once Danny filled the entire room with enough of his energy to make their breaths curl in front of their faces, forcing the soul shard to release it's hold on Harry's mind, and retreat at last.
It wasn't until the next morning that they understood what Duke Moldy-Shorts had been so happy about.
"I guess we know why the toad was trying to keep the Press' attention on you two." Hermione growled as she nearly ripped the Prophet apart at breakfast in the Great Hall the next morning.
She was incandescent with rage at that joke of a Ministry witch's audacity, and tried in vain to steady her shaking hands.
How dare she! How dare she try to use her friends as a way to divert attention away from the Ministry's latest blunder. A blunder that could very well have just tipped the scales in the enemy's favor, before the the magical population even knew the war had begun.
She looked to her friends. Her friends who were too brave and too strong because they'd already had to face far too much. Danny had gone quiet at the news, and Harry had gone very still, staring blankly at the bold headline, while Ron was rereading the front page article with a pale face and a frantic air, like he'd hoped he'd only misread the article, and by rereading it, would find that it was all a joke.
Unfortunately, it was the truth. A first for the Daily Prophet in what felt like years.
'Massive Azkaban Breach!' The title stood out boldly on the front page.
The article told of a massive breakout from Azkaban, and now every single inmate that had been housed in the bleak prison was lost to the Ministry. Not only that, but the dementors that had been tasked with guarding the prison were nowhere to be found either. The Ministry was left with frantically trying to find the terrifying number missing inmates and guards, as well as calm the mass panic this news had brought up in the magical community.
But to Hermione and her friends, that wasn't even the last of the damning news. It was further found that the Ministry had been desperately trying to cover up an earlier breakout of just a few inmates from earlier in the year, just before the students had returned to Hogwarts. Instead of owning up to the masses of panicking citizens, the Ministry had spun a story of deceit and woe to the Press that had them believing that this breakout was NOT the work of You-Know-Who, but of Sirius Black, who had orchestrated the smaller breakout of inmates, which included his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, and had colluded with the escaped prisoners to bring about the massive breakout they now faced.
The Ministry had just handed Voldemort an army.
And they were trying to pass the blame, to try to keep from losing the public's trust.
Hence her rage. She took a moment to look around the Great Hall, and found that many students had the Prophet sat in front of them, all of them in state of panic and fear. The Professors at the Head table were all speaking quietly with one another, heads bowed and expressions schooled to look stern and focused.
Umbridge looked like she'd swallowed the animal of her likeness, and was now trying to keep it from escaping her wide mouth. Her lips were pursed and her eyes were locked on her plate as she carefully avoided eye contact with anyone in the room.
"This is a nightmare." Ron muttered, finally throwing the Prophet down on the table and pushing his plate away.
"And Si- Snuffles is being pinned with the blame." Harry added, a quiet rage heating his tone.
"What are the chances that all those inmates that He-Who's-Name-Must-Be-Hyphenated helped free, just... thanked him and walked away?" Danny asked, picking up the discarded Prophet.
"None." She said decisively. "Absolutely no chance at all."
Danny sighed, resigned.
"At least the Press is reporting... most of the truth now. Now people can prepare themselves right?"
"It won't be enough. They're still clinging to the hope that Voldemort isn't back, and that is only helping him move through the shadows until he's ready to show himself." Harry bit out angrily.
"If only people knew the truth." Ron sighed.
Hermione just looked at him for a moment, processing the words and then a grin split her face as a plan formed.
"But what if they did? What if Harry told them? Told them everything?" She asked quietly, leaning forward and lowering her voice to a whisper.
"I have told them though-"
"You told them the basics of what happened, Harry, but never the full story. Dumbledore never told anyone the full story either, which led everyone to just flounder with too few facts, before the Ministry swooped in and told everyone a much more comfortable story that was much easier to believe than the return of the most feared Dark wizard of the age."
Hermione spoke quickly and quietly, and her boys were all leaning in to catch her quiet words, interested in learning of her plan.
"But now it's the Ministry with no facts, and no comfortable story that neatly explains this mess. Your claim is beginning to look very believable Harry, and if we're able to get the full story out to the public as it is now, they will finally have all the information they need to decide for themselves what makes the most sense and how to protect themselves for what's to come." She finished eagerly.
"But how will I get the truth out to everyone? The Prophet has been telling everyone I'm a nutter for the past six months, they won't print my story as fact, but just another crackpot theory of mine. Also, we just got the Press off our backs for a moment, do you really want to bring their attention back onto us so soon?"
"Don't worry, Harry. The Prophet won't be printing this story, I have another idea that will work even better for us. I'll need a few days to set this up, but the sooner we get your side of the story out there the better, so lets plan on doing this at the next Hogsmeade trip in a few weeks, in February."
"But..." Harry sighed and ran a hand through his unruly black hair. Finally, he looked back up at her, and she realized all at once why he might be unwilling.
"I know it will be difficult speaking of that night, Harry. But it's to let the magical community know of the threat V-Voldemort poses. And this way... you'll get to tell them that Cedric was killed in cold blood, instead of through an accident of his own." It may have been underhanded of her to bring up Cedric's death. It was a sensitive subject, and Ron had shot her a glance before watching for Harry's reaction.
Harry tensed slightly, hands clenching into fists, but only a second later he relaxed.
"You really think that this will work?" He asked, locking eyes with her.
"Yes. I do." She said confidently.
Harry sighed.
"What do you need me to do?"
.
.
.
Her plan had taken time to set up, but it was now ready. And, with classes, DA lessons scheduled around Quidditch practices and matches, and upcoming exams; time seemed to slip away from them so quickly that she almost wished she had her Time Turner just to take an hour to breath.
But this plan would work, she was sure of it, which would make all of this worth it. They were trying to protect themselves and everyone else who was able to read the signs once they were given all the facts.
She sighed lightly in the still chilly, February air and turned to Harry who was standing beside her just outside the entrance to the Three Broomsticks.
Ron and Danny had decided to stay behind for a cup of tea with Hagrid, who was still covered in bruises and cuts, and had recently told them he'd been placed on probation. She had a feeling they were going to make sure that Hagrid was alright, but also trying to get to the bottom of what, exactly, Hagrid was doing to get so injured.
They were was also trying to get a few moments out of the castle, away from the toad who'd been insufferable towards all of them lately.
"Ready?" She asked Harry, who was looking furtively over his shoulder, likely hoping that the rest of the Press who'd been lurking around the village had left once the Azkaban story had printed.
Harry turned to look back at the door and then sighed deeply.
"Alright. Let's do this." He said determinedly, as he pushed the door open to allow them inside.
After asking Madame Rosmerta for a pair of butterbeers, they headed to the table where two of the people that she had the hardest time understanding were sat together, waiting for them.
Luna was absently twirling a spoon in her drink while Rita Skeeter sat staring at her with narrowed eyes full of disdain. She and Harry sat down across from the unlikely pair, drawing their attention.
"Harry! So good to see you again! Tell me, where is your little ghost friend now? Have you taught him about the wizarding world enough that he understands what is even going on within our community currently? In fact, how do you feel about the recent outbreak from Azkaban and the how the Ministry is dealing with the fallout? Any thoughts you'd like to-" Skeeter was already eagerly clawing at her snake skin handbag, clearly trying to retrieve her loathsome Quick-Quotes-Quill.
"None of that!" She cut the woman off sharply.
"Hello Harry. Hello Hermione." Luna said in her own dreamy way, completely ignoring the woman beside her.
Harry relaxed incrementally and gave the Ravenclaw a genuine smile.
"Hi Luna. Enjoying the weekend so far?"
'Oh yes! I managed to find a path near the edge of the village that looked to be made by a Frie-"
"Merlin's pants, not this again!" Skeeter rudely cut Luna off, earning glares from both her and Harry for the slight, while Luna just fell silent. "Why did you blackmail me into coming, girl? I have much better things to do with my time you know!"
"Well, this is far more important I assure you." Hermione forced her voice to remain level. This plan would do so much good for so many if she could get it to work. She just had to deal with an annoying insect.
"Really?" Skeeter sneered, her bejeweled glasses flashing. "The only meaningful thing that I could possibly do here is interview Harry here, but that's not what you want, is it?"
"Actually, that's exactly what I want." That shut the woman up. She glanced at Harry one last time, and at his small nod she elaborated.
"I do want you to interview Harry, and then publish his story; the story of what exactly happened at the end of the Triwizard Tournament last year. But! It will be the facts, and only the facts that Harry gives you. I'll be reviewing the final story before delivering it to the publisher myself."
Skeeter was silent and stunned for only a moment before she collected herself enough to scoff.
"No one will publish that. The Prophet has been transparent in their views for Potter, and no other paper or magazine would be crazy enough to go against those views." At that she sent a sharp look at Harry, who'd hunched his shoulders a tad and was determinedly looking into his butterbeer glass. "And how does that make you feel, Harry? Sad? Angry?-"
"Stop that! I actually have a publisher already sorted out and willing to print the story." She gave an appreciative glance to Luna. "The Quibbler is very gracious to agree to this Luna, thank you very much fro getting me in contact with your father."
"Oh yes! Daddy would be happy to print the story. Though, it may not make it into the next addition since it may not fit next to the article on Crumple-Horned Snorksacks, but I'll be sure to get you a copy once it's published."
As Harry snorted with laughter, shoulders easing of tension once again, Skeeter sat and mouthed the word 'snorksack?'. Hermione turned to pin the woman with a very hard glare.
"So Rita... shall we get started?"
And so, her plan came together.
True to Luna's prediction, it took just under a fortnight for the story to drop.
The immediate panic and denial from a few within the magical community was expected of course, but the fact that so many read Harry's story and came to the conclusion that his truth made the most sense for what was happening within their world... Harry's awe as he read letters that proved that people believed him; that they heard him and believed him and would be taking steps to protect themselves and their loved one's? After being shunned and belittled and discredited, she couldn't imagine how wonderful it felt to finally be believed after all that.
Also... The look on the toad's face as she first read the article will hold a special place in her memories for some time to come; which made her exhausting interaction with Skeeter well worth it as well.
Umbridge tried to retaliate against Harry for speaking out, banning him from future Hogsmeade visits and another weeks worth of detention that had Danny scowling darkly, and Ron grumbling descriptive expletives that she was sure would have gotten Mrs. Weasley on his case for vulgar language. Not that she wasn't just as angry at the literal torture methods that woman used as a form of academic punishment.
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall was nearby as Umbridge was raging and piling on the punishments. Their Transfiguration Professor was able to put a stop to the toads raging, turning her own actions against her. It made her smile when McGonagall reminded Umbridge that the only reason the Press was in the village in the first place was because she invited them herself, and encouraged them to stay near if either Harry or Danny showed up. Well, she couldn't punish Harry now for doing exactly what she had wanted, right?
Umbridge left in an angry huff, stalking away from them with narrowed eyes and clenched teeth. But all the same, Hermione breathed a little easier knowing that the silvery scars on the back of Harry's hand wouldn't be getting any deeper for this.
As their Professors rallied behind Harry and showed their support of him in any way they could, some students who had adamantly proclaimed Harry a liar just like the Prophet suddenly began reevaluating their position. She, Ron, and Danny stuck with him through all of it, and they all stuck together in the following weeks as Umbridge turned nasty in her crusade to make their lives miserable, particularly Harry and Danny's lives. Harry for his audacity to tell the truth and expose the Ministry's lies, and Danny, she supposed, was just on the principle that the toad was a horrible bigot and couldn't see past blood or human status.
Regardless, Harry and Danny managed to stay out of Umbridge's direct line of terribleness thanks to students realizing the unfair treatment and protecting them as best they could, the DA members chief among that number.
But, even she could admit that it was tiring; having to tiptoe around Umbridge and her rules made up on the spot to avoid trouble. And with the boy's quidditch practices and games, Harry's Occlumency lessons, Danny's Ghost classes, her and Ron's prefect duties, studying for the OWL exams that were slowly creeping up on them, and organizing and practicing in DA sessions between everything else? She sometimes felt like she couldn't breath between everything she needed to do.
She wouldn't give anything up though.
Seeing Harry and Ron returning from quidditch practice with grins on their faces and mud smeared on their robes with their beloved broomsticks slung over their shoulders.
Danny joking and flying with the school ghosts, reigning Peeves in when he forgets the limits of what harms the living and actually managing to make the Bloody Baron smile.
First and second year students asking for advice or laughing at Ron's wittiness; and interacting more with their peers from other houses because they were able to see their classmates as friends more than house rivals more and more thanks to Danny's influence, (especially after the Battle of the Ducks.)
Studying together in the library, poring over their books and old work and taking turns to explain to Danny what he didn't understand, and finding that they understood the concepts much better after helping him understand it as well. (Also, furtively researching more about Horcruxes, and quietly brainstorming how best to go about removing the soul piece within Harry. Harry must be doing well in Occlumency as well, since he hasn't had any more glimpses into Voldemort's mind since just before the Azkaban breakout.)
And perhaps best of all, their time in the Room of Requirement, learning how to hone their magic, minds, and bodies together as a group united in their desire to improve their skills. Harry and Danny were incredible teachers and she couldn't have imagined the things she would learn with their combined efforts.
If having to deal with a horribly biased and power-tripping ministry witch was all they had to deal with at Hogwarts for the time being, she would be happy to do it if it meant that nothing else got any worse.
Keep the trunk lid closed... protect what's inside... nothing gets in or out without his say so...
Harry could tell that Snape was trying to slip past his defenses to get a look at what he'd hidden away. His memories and thoughts and emotions that were nothing more than vague notions at the moment as he resolutely kept them locked away from prying Potions Professors.
He split his attention from the attack on his mind and the flesh and blood Professor stood before him, forcing his jaw to open and focusing part of his energy into performing the Knock-back jinx.
"Flipendo!"
Snape stumbled back and the force bearing down on his mind vanished. Snape scowled at him as he panted with a small grin. Splitting his attention between keeping his mind impenetrable and performing magic at the same time was what he was struggling the most with, and that was the fourth time he'd been successful in breaking Snape's concentration before he'd either exhausted himself and let Snape get into his head or Snape had stopped the assault himself.
"Don't look so pleased with yourself." Snape scoffed as he straightened up behind his desk. "You may have been able to stop the invasion on your mind this time, but you were still projecting the ridiculous image of your school trunk of all things."
"It's working isn't it?" Harry bit out before he could stop himself. He'd been doing so well today too, not rising to Snape's constant baiting to get him angry enough to mess up his concentration. Still though, he may not be completely emptying his mind like Snape wanted, but Danny's advice was helping more than anything Snape had ever told him to do.
Snape narrowed his eyes angrily and his wand shot out and cracked like a whip and Harry felt an immense pressure on his mind that left him dizzy and unable to slam his mind shut in time.
Hazy pictures flashed in his mind's eye; a dragon rearing up in front of him ready to strike, spiders the size of horses scuttling after them as he and Ron sprinted through the Forbidden Forest in a mad panic, Uncle Vernon, face red with rage, raising his fist after they'd gotten back from the parent teacher conference after he'd accidentally made it onto the school's roof to escape from Dudley and his gang. Strangely the pressure on his mind faltered at that, wavering as if hesitating but it still remained present.
Just before he slammed the lid shut on his mental school trunk, another flash of memories surfaced. Running through the underground tunnel with Mr. Weasley towards his disciplinary hearing, seeing an enameled black door at the end of the passage, the same door that had been taunting him within dreams for months... followed by the chill, the terrifying green shine on the door that came from what he knew to be glowing green eyes staring at his back.
He finally got the trunk closed and forced his attention partially back into the physical word enough to cast, "Expelliarmus!"
Snape's wand went flying, and Harry dropped to his knees, gasping as his mind was released from what felt like a stranglehold. He should have been angry, but that brief foray into his memories had reminded him of those dreams, the black door, the green eyes; and suddenly, he understood what they could possibly mean, now knowing what he did about his apparent connection to Voldemort.
He needed to talk to his friends.
But first...
He quickly got back to his feet, eyes hard and wand raised if Snape decided he wanted to try anything else. But the Potions Professor just stared at him a moment with an unreadable expression before silently moving around his desk to retrieve his wand.
"Well, that was certainly an incremental improvement to your sloppy performances before this, Potter." Snape said, almost making Harry believe it may have been some sort of compliment. "Apart from the fact that I was still able to invade your mind for far too long. You won't have the luxury of a warning before your mind is-" Ah yes, the lecture. Harry tuned it out, he'd heard it in some form every time he'd stepped into Snape's office for a lesson in Occlumency.
Suddenly, Snape was cut off by a ripping scream echoing above them that made Harry jump in surprise, wand still at the ready. There was more commotion coming from somewhere above them, and then the woman's scream sounded again, high pitched and wailing.
"Did you see anything unusual on your way down here, Potter?" Snape snapped at him.
"No." Harry replied tersely, and as one they left the office and headed straight for the source of the chaos.
They found themselves following the cries and commotion to the Entrance Hall, where students had spilled out of the Great Hall during dinner to witness the wailing and crying woman descending into uncontrollable sobs.
Professor Trelawney seemed to have unraveled, her hair a flyaway mess, her robes and gossamer shawls askew and drooping, tears streaming down her horrified and frightened face.
Harry found himself pushing forwards through the sea of onlooking students, determined to know who had done this to Trelawney and help stop them if he could. He found himself beside numerous Ravenclaw sixth years, including Cho Chang who saw him and nodded her head to the grand staircase. Taking a look for himself, he felt his stomach drop at the sight of Umbridge standing primly and smug amongst a group of burly adult wizards he'd never seen before. They were very tall and imposing, wands held at the ready as they stared unabashedly down at Trelawney now weeping on the stone flagon floor, surrounded by luggage that seemed to have been thrown down after her.
"You can't do this! I've worked here- lived here for sixteen years! Hogwarts is my home!" Trelawney managed to gasp out between sobs. He quickly glanced around the throng of students, and found Parvati and Lavender crying quietly, clutching each other as they watched their favorite Professor fall apart.
"I think you'll find that I can do this, Sybill." Umbridge said with smug satisfaction, and revulsion roiled in Harry's gut at the sheer glee that rode under Umbridge's sickly sweet tone. She was enjoying this.
"What is- What is going on here!" Professor McGonagall strode through the students just across from Harry, and at the sight of Professor Trelawney and Umbridge standing above her flanked by what he now assumed to be Ministry appointed thugs in some sick show of power, she marched into the open clearing and immediately began consoling the distraught Divination Professor, her face white and hands shaking with suppressed rage.
Professors Sprout, Flitwick and (to his slight surprise) Snape followed not long after, standing between Trelawney and the stairs that held the toad looking down on them.
"Ah, Professors! If you could help remove this embarrassment from school grounds, the Ministry would be appreciative-"
"You are not the Ministry! And you can't banish someone from the school grounds, as you well know!" McGonagall exclaimed with barely repressed fury, the implication that Umbridge had already tried to remove someone from the school hung in the air. It was at that exact moment that he spotted Danny, standing beside Ron and Hermione, face set in an unreadable expression.
"Well, Minerva, as the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, I do have the authority to-"
"You have the authority to remove a teacher from their post, but nothing more, Dolores." The hall fell silent save for Trelawney's continued weeping as Dumbledore's voice swept through the now open front doors. The late evening darkness silhouetted the Headmaster's imposing image as he stood tall and ignored Umbridge's hired thugs as they tightened their grips on their wands, flanking the no longer grinning Ministry witch.
"Not even the Headmaster has the authority to remove someone from the grounds without a viable reason to do so." Dumbledore's tone was steel as he strode into the Entrance Hall and stopped before the Heads of House. "Sybill, please do not fret, you are more than welcome to stay. Professors, would you be so kind as to accompany Sybill back to her room?"
"Oh course Headmaster. Come on now Sybill, up you get." Professor McGonagall supported the weeping woman with the help of Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick charmed the luggage to follow after them and Professor Snape drew his wand but held it loosely at his side as he glared at the Ministry wizards, daring them to interfere.
Umbridge just stood stock still and slightly deflated, but when her entourage began shooting her questioning looks, she drew herself up in all of her incompetent glory and stomped down the stairs towards Dumbledore, who was now standing alone with a serene smile.
"And what will you do, Dumbledore, when I have appointed a new Divination Professor and they require her lodgings?" The diminutive witch spat with disdain, her thugs with wands falling into place behind her.
To Harry's great surprise, Dumbledore just continued to smile down at Umbridge, completely unbothered.
"Ah, you'll find that I have already found us another Divination teacher, and he'll prefer lodgings on the ground floor."
"You- You've found! But under the Decree-"
"If the Headmaster of Hogwarts is unable to find a suitable candidate to fill a teaching post, then the Ministry shall appoint someone of their choosing. I am well aware, Delores; but as I have already filled the position, there is no need for the Ministry to waste it's time on appointing Divination Professors with everything else they must deal with, hmm?"
Umbridge choked at the blatant affront to the Ministry, and there was a sharp increase in mutterings and chatter amongst the students. There was even two quick whistles of approval that may or may not have come from a pair of Weasley twins.
The Ministry bodyguards Umbridge had brought with her all tensed and stepped towards Dumbledore menacingly, all while Umbridge stood sputtering with indignation at the Headmaster's nerve, before finally finding it within herself to speak once more.
"Is- Is this new Professor you've appointed even qualified? I will not have-"
"Considering your own qualifications, Mrs. Umbridge," the students snickered at that and Umbridge's face turned an ugly red, "He may not have the typical human qualifications, but I think you'll find that he is very adept at divining the future. I have the utmost confidence that we will all learn a great deal from him."
"Human-" Umbridge was cut off yet again by the sound of approaching hooves coming from the still open front doors. Then, framed by the night shrouded grounds, a centaur walked into the Entrance Hall, inciting surprised and amazed gasps from all the students present.
Harry was startled to find that he recognized this particular centaur; the white blonde hair, palomino body and striking blue eyes were impossible to forget. This was unmistakably Firenze, his savior in the Forbidden forrest during his very first year here.
He looked back to Umbridge and her lackeys, and had to choke back a laugh. Right then and there, he burned the image of their expressions into his memory, and he then reverently tucked the image away into his mental school trunk with a smile.
.
.
.
"All I'm saying is, while it was nice of Firenze to totally knock the wind out of Umbridge's sails with his bomb entrance last week, him coming at me today with a 'be careful of your future, youngling, great troubles await you' in a super creepy voice in front of the whole class, and then turning to say 'oh hello Harry, nice to see you again' in the very next breath was not something I appreciated." Danny grumbled as they all trekked the now familiar route to the Room of Requirement.
He and Ron snickered at Danny's sarcastic tone, and Hermione smiled while rolling her eyes.
"Not that I put much stock in Divination, neither human or centaurian versions, but you seem remarkably calm about being told you have trouble coming in your future Danny." Hermione remarked after a moment. Harry looked over to Danny, who did indeed seem unaffected by his predicted future.
Danny only shrugged.
"Yeah well, considering me and my luck, it's really no surprise that there's trouble in my future. I'd be more surprised if Firenze had said that I'd live 'happily ever after forevermore' or something like that." Danny snorted. "Besides, prophesy and destiny and all that? I don't really like to think that my future is... inevitable. I like to think I have a choice in just how bad the trouble I'm getting into is."
There was a thoughtful pause as they continued up a flight of stairs. Harry could definitely see where Danny was coming from, and that isn't even considering the fact that Trelawney has been predicting his death for the past two years. But prophesy...
"Ah! That reminds me!" he broke their contemplative silence. "During my last Occlumency session I think I figured out something to do with Voldy and me." Instead of wincing like usual Ron snickered at the nickname. Danny had definitely been rubbing off on them.
"What'd you figure out? Hermione asked.
"You know that dream I told you about early this year? The one with the black door?"
"Yeah?"
"Well I've been dreaming about that door for ages, but then after we met Danny, it changed a bit. Before the door could begin to open, there was a figure obscured by mist standing behind me, but they had glowing green eyes," he turned to the incredulous Danny walking beside him, "just like yours in your ghost form."
"Why'd it change like that? You know what Danny looks like, if it was really supposed to be him, you're see more than his eyes wouldn't you?" Ron asked confused.
"Yeah. But now, after everything we've figured out, I'm pretty sure it's not me dreaming of that door." Looks of comprehension lit his friends faces.
"You think Morty wants something beyond that door? You've been dreaming of it for a very long time, what could he want that badly?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice.
"And why would he be thinking of glowing green eyes like mine?" Danny added on.
"First off, I recognized the door, it leads to the Department of Mysteries. I saw it myself when I went in for my hearing over the summer."
"Department of-" Hermione suddenly cut herself off with a gasp. "Bode! He was nearly assassinated! Could he have been injured because someone forced him to do something? He works in the Department of Mysteries, in the Hall of-"
"Prophesy. Yeah. And I'm sure we'll pick that all apart later, but there's more."
"More?"
"Yeah... If I've been dreaming about that door because No-Nose wants something in the Department of Mysteries... Now that I'm seeing eyes that could be Danny's..."
"You think he wants Danny now?" Ron questioned as they rounded another corner.
Harry's silence spoke volumes. Surprising all of them, Danny broke the silence with an amused snort.
"Well, why wouldn't he? I'm a catch!" That surprised them all enough that they burst out laughing, having to stop a moment or risk tripping and falling down a flight of stairs.
"In all seriousness," Danny said after catching his breath, "You said you're only seeing glowing green eyes, like mine? Then he doesn't even know what I look like besides my eyes. And what would he even want me for? I'm everything he hates right? A muggle half-breed or whatever? Maybe he's just worried I'll come in and ruin his whole operation by teaching the students of Hogwarts how to punch him in the- wait did you call him 'No-Nose?' He doesn't have a nose?" Danny asked with glee.
"Harry says so, he's the only one who's seen him. I'm not sure I believe him though." Ron says as they finally make it to the seventh floor.
"Oi!"
"Speaking of teaching students how to fight evil wizards, what have you got planned for us tonight?" Hermione asked, cutting off another bout of chuckling.
"Since it's Seamus' first session, I thought I'd have him and Draco work with Danny for bit before working on aim and spell basics for a little while, and then we'll have them join everyone else."
"What will everyone else be doing?"
"Well... I figure since there's a much higher chance of running into Dementors now, we'll be learning how to cast Patronuses tonight."
The moment Ron and Hermione heard the word 'Patronus,' both their eyes widened, and smiles lit their faces.
"Then what are we waiting for! Come on, come on, let's get started!" Ron exclaimed as he and Hermione ran forward to the wall concealing the Room.
Danny just looked at him bewildered.
"What are they so excited about?"
Harry just chuckled and sped up a bit to catch the now open door to the DA's training room.