April 13th, 1996. Tuesday.

BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced

Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of

Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.

Signed: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic

The notice was taken off of the Gryffindor bulletin board and tossed into the fireplace the second the first person saw it. But it was to no avail, there were dozens upon dozens stuck up around the school.

Selena was hearing rumors about Dumbledore's flight all over Hogwarts - one of them including a biting bowl of lemon drops. Each one was more odd than the next but everyone seemed to know that Harry Potter and Marietta Edgecombe were the ones who were in the office when he apparated (apparating was the most popular theory of escape.)

"We need to get Umbridge with something like a niffler in her office," Alisson fumed, balling up her fists in the hallway as the young third year Gryffindors walked down the corridor full of students on their way to Transfiguration.

"I thought Dean Thomas already planned to put a niffler in her office," Elizabeth said, crinkling her nose as she thought.

Selena really didn't care who had put a niffler in whose office because Umbridge was Headmistress of Hogwarts now and that was the only thing on her mind. The few consolations to her included the fact that Dumbledore had escaped, but also that Professor McGonagall was still Head of Gryffindor.

Alisson stopped walking as her blue eyes flashed angrily with a fury only Umbridge drew out. "I'm going to go help Fred and George with their pranks. We need to fight back against her tyranny."

"You're going to go help the Weasley Twins get expelled just to pull off a prank on Umbridge?" Elizabeth asked incredulously. "And miss Transfiguration?

Alisson turned and stormed off in response as she shoved aside other students who stumbled to the side of the corridor in surprise.

Selena sighed as the thought of Defense Against the Dark Arts with their hostile teacher flew into her mind. How did McGonagall let Umbridge take over?

"The Ministry is involved in all this headmistress nonsense," Elizabeth seethed as if she were reading Selena's mind. "They're trying to control Hogwarts. It's so ridiculous, thinking Dumbledore is trying to bring down the Ministry of Magic."

"I think that we just need to pretend like we're happy about Umbridge's new position as head of Hogwarts," Tess piped up, playing with her bag strap as they started walking again. "That way we can continue our meetings without her even noticing. We just have to pick somewhere new to hold the D.A. meetings."

Selena thought about Tess's clever idea before dismissing it when she thought of Umbridge's face at having caught Dumbledore's Army twice. "Nope. There's nowhere more secret in this castle than the Room of Requirement anyways."

Tess pouted in an annoyed way as Elizabeth tapped her chin.

"Well, whatever Umbridge suggests for lessons, we can always just ignore her. Alisson is right - no matter what, we need to rebel against her and the stupid Ministry," she said happily. She looked ahead determinedly.

"That, Gryffindork, is the only thing that I will ever agree with you on," a familiar voice said half humorously, half coldly. Ray glanced back at Elizabeth as he brushed by with Neil and another Slytherin boy before they rushed down the corridor.

"Hm," Selena said with a small little bit of satisfaction and excitement bubbling up inside of her. "At least we know one thing - nearly no one is for Umbridge and the Ministry taking over Hogwarts."

2 Hours Later

"But why did he wear a jellyfish on his head?" Tess asked almost angrily. She was unable to understand the very idea of a man ever placing an animal on his head much less a jellyfish on a wizard.

"That's why they called him Wendolin the Weird. Well, one of the reasons he earned his odd name. Wait, or was that Ulrich the Oddball?" Renee answered as she suddenly started counting off on her fingers what sounded like the number of History of Magic lessons she's stayed awake for.

BOOM!

A loud light suddenly glowed red and orange up ahead, the hallway shaking with such force everyone was thrown to the ground or hugged the walls.

"Oof!" Selena huffed as she fell down, sitting on the stone corridor floor. What in the world were a bunch of lights doing in the hallway?

A sudden wail and whistle hissed as crackling firecrackers leapt out of a crate in the hall, whizzing around the corridor. They were dragons, green and gold sparks glittering and fizzing as they flew around the hall, causing many students to duck before smiles grew on their faces. Well, others ran screaming.

"Hey!" Tess yelled as someone bumped into her as they ran from the fireworks. Pink Catherine wheels zipped about the corridor in the air, making Tess duck and hide in a corner. She screamed as firecrackers erupted near her.

Rockets zoomed and raced as they left trails of beautiful silver stars. Sparklers wrote a rather colorful display of words that made Selena's jaw drop.

"Who set off enchanted fireworks?" Renee yelled above the squealing firecrackers to Selena as she covered her ears, taking refuge from a passing rocket behind a column with Elizabeth. The bleach-blonde girl was in awe, the colorful, glittering display reflecting in her glasses.

"Who else could it be?" Selena yelled back, a grin plastered on her face. This had the Weasley Twins' signature all over it.

Professor - Headmistress, Selena supposed - Umbridge suddenly appeared with Mr. Filch at the end of the corridor before the Catherine wheels went after them. Many of the fireworks escaped the corridor out a door with happy fizzles and crackles.

"Hurry, Filch, hurry!" Professor Umbridge shrieked. "They'll be all over the school unless we do something - Stupefy!"

Her red spell ended up exploding and making a hole in a painting as a witch ran into the next painting of card-playing wizards, narrowly avoiding being obliterated. Selena giggled as Umbridge and Filch struggled to control the fireworks.

"Don't Stun them, Filch!" Umbridge snarled, gazing up at the chaotic display.

"Right you are, Headmistress!" Filch wheezed before he got a broom from a cupboard nearby. In seconds of swatting the fireworks, the broom was on fire.

"Oh, this is the best fireworks show ever!" Elizabeth laughed happily as Selena grinned back, happiness rising in her. Maybe Umbridge wouldn't have that tight of a hold on Hogwarts, even with the Ministry on her side. The students were all too resistant to her role as headmistress. They were fighting back.

"Fred and George!" Renee said with admiration as her eyes shined with laughter. "I could kiss them!"

4 Hours Later

Anne had tried to pull Selena into a corner to talk about the spy-ear in Umbridge's office in the Common Room but it was so full of Gryffindors celebrating Fred and George's prank with happy yells and Zonko's party poppers that it was too loud. The Weasley Twins were heroes to the Gryffindors now.

Instead of staying, Selena took a quick walk in the hallway to get away from the rambunctious and crowded Common Room. Brilliant prank or not, she had a Potions essay due Thursday and wanted to go to the Library to get a book on Undetectable Potions. Of course Professor Snape would be the one to give them an essay due the day before Easter break.

"Selena!"

She turned around at the happy voice to see Damon rushing down past the door to the Entrance Hall with a smile on his face, his blond hair as messy as ever. The enthusiasm in his eyes made Selena grin herself before he caught up to her and laughed.

"You're very excited," Selena said as Damon nodded. She wasn't used to seeing the boy so ecstatic.

"Umbridge is so mad about those fireworks that the Weasley Twins set off!" He responded with a true laugh.

As if on cue, a bang issued from the floor above, the screeching squeal of firecrackers sounding. Selena giggled. Umbridge had spent the whole day running around to classrooms, teachers all refusing to get rid of the fireworks themselves and "having" to call the headmistress instead. The students weren't the only ones unhappy with Umbridge.

"The Weasley's certainly have the best pranks," Selena nodded. "Oh! I forgot to thank you, for when you let us go when we were out after curfew."

Damon bobbed his head with a quick grin. "No problem. What were you guys doing anyway?"

Selena thought for a moment while a little smile spread across her lips. "Oh, just stuff."

Damon cocked his head curiously. "Does this stuff have anything to do with some giant prank you guys are planning too?"

Selena giggled again. "Umbridge is going to be so happy at your excitement over pranks!"

With a shrug, Damon grinned again. "What can I say? I'm a Slytherin." His face slowly fell. "Speaking of Slytherins, have you heard about Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad?"

Selena stopped smiling too, knitting her brows. "In-Inquisitorial Squad?"

He nodded. "Umbridge picked out some students, some very pro-Ministry ones. They're her little rule-enforcers. But they're all Slytherin. And their leader is Malfoy."

Selena's eyebrows rose. "Well I can't say that's much of a surprise. Doesn't his father work for the Ministry?"

Damon nodded, dropping his eyes to the ground before he glanced back up, his lips quirking into a bit of a smile. "Just thought I should warn you. They can dock points from students, so... be careful next time you want to wander around after curfew, okay, Malast?"

Selena grinned, nodding. "Thanks again. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find a book on Undetectable Potions. I'll see you later."

Damon smiled quickly in goodbye before he walked down another corridor, vanishing around the corner as Selena watched him.

A large boom echoed from the opposite direction, sounding like it was coming from the Library. Selena's smile widened as she hurried, hoping to catch some of the fireworks.

Hope you guys liked this chapter!

I had writer's block so I was not typing but I hope you guys liked this!

I will try to post sooner because we are getting to the last part of their third year!

I hope you leave a review and give me some suggestions!

Thanks to our reviews for last chapter:

SakuraDragomir

CharmedMillie

I am Gwen daughter of Arcus

Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it! Leave a review if you want! Thanks! Bye!

~Meghan