The library was strangely quiet. In fact, Olivia had noticed a number of students acting out of the ordinary, but not the tense sort of strange that she had observed at the beginning of the year. No, this was different. Some were more withdrawn, anxious, and easily startled. It seemed to be especially common in the younger students. She had even witnessed a handful of first-year students crying in the past couple of weeks.

She discreetly glanced at those around her. There was a young Ravenclaw student who was reading at her table. Olivia watched him. He seemed distracted. He seemed to be taking notes, but it was rather slow and sporadic and he rarely turned a page. She noted that he seemed to be more interested in adjusting his sleeve over his left hand.

Unable to stay focused on her own work, she packed up her things, put a book back on the shelf, and started slowly making her way back out of the library. She took her time, taking in the students around her. One had a bandage wrapped around her hand; another was rubbing.

Then, she noticed a young Slytherin as she neared the catalog. He was holding his parchment in place, not seeming to care if his hand was on display or not. The irritated red scratches looked painful. They seemed to create words, but she couldn't make them out. Rounding his chair, she took the seat next to him and took out her Potions text. He seemed put off by her sudden closeness, but noticed her own robes and went back to his work.

"Your hand," she whispered as quietly as she could. "What happened?"

He hesitated. "Umbridge," he whispered back, sliding his parchment over so they could pretend to be working on something. She could clearly make out the words, 'I will follow orders.'

Olivia noticed a couple of students starting past them. "This is correct, but remember to include your references," she said a bit louder. "Also, you might want to rephrase this paragraph here. Try not to copy directly. He hates that." As the students passed and were far enough away, she continued. "What is she doing?"

"Detentions. A quill of some kind."

"Does Professor Snape know?"

He shook his head, jaw tense. Olivia understood. A Slytherin wouldn't complain about something like this. It would be like admitting a weakness. No, they would push through it no matter what it took. "What's your name?"

"Malcolm Baddock, second year."

"I'm going to see what I can do," she said as she starting putting her book away. He tensed. "Don't worry. I was never here and I have no idea who you are." Olivia gave him a tight smile.

"Wait. Are you...the Professor's daughter?" he asked, seeming to put the pieces together, her questions, her appearance. She simply smiled in answer before leaving the library, heading straight for her father's office.

She knocked and waited for the soft, but deep voice. "Enter." Olivia opened the door, looked around to make sure he didn't have any students, and shut the door behind her before walking up to his desk.

"What is Umbridge doing to the students hands?" she asked plainly.

He sighed, knowing she'd ask sooner or later. "I believe it is a Black Quill, a dark artifact used in adolescent torture," he seethed.

"Well, a Slytherin has their hand all irritated and it looks rather painful," she said, obviously angry with the entire situation.

"Who?" he asked, giving her his full attention after hearing that. She just shook her head. "She hasn't been reporting detentions to the Heads as she should be. We have no idea when one of our own gets a detention unless we're told by someone else," he noted. "If you do find out who it was," he said, giving her a knowing look, "tell them that soaking their hand in Murtlap Essence will help ease the pain, but, unfortunately, the scar will remain."

"It's absolutely horrible! He's just a kid..."

"I agree." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "We have to remember that we aren't just dealing with her...we're dealing with the Ministry."

Olivia sat at the table, eating her toast. She couldn't help but to glance over to the Gryffindor table, Weasley's red hair grabbing her attention, stuffing his face with massive breakfast sausages.

"That's bloody disgusting," she muttered aloud.

"What?" Hayden asked, hearing her remark. He followed her gaze over to the other table. "Oh...gross. You'd think he hadn't eaten in days by the looks of that."

They watched him open his mouth to speak, bits of the meat showing. "Ugh," she looked away, putting her toast down. "That just ruined my breakfast."

"Have you finished the Runes essay, yet?" Hayden changed the subject.

Olivia noticed Potter walking up to the bottomless pit that was Weasley. He seemed hesitant, pausing a couple feet away rather than sitting down immediately. "Not quite. I'm just finishing up my last point on numeric sets," she answered. Potters left hand didn't fail to catch her eye. Honestly, she wasn't surprised. The majority of students she'd seen with those marks were Gryffindors, always causing trouble.

"I can't wait until we get to-"

"Professor, what exactly are you insinuating?" A shrill, high voice that everyone recognized as Umbridge came from the corridor just outside the Great Hall.

"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices." Professor McGonagall answered. Olivia could tell a high amount of frustration and rage was held back. She was angry to say the least. Many students got up to go watch the confrontation, but Olivia shook her head at Hayden's questioning stare. They could listen just as well without being spectators.

"So silly of me, but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom...Minerva," Umbridge said.

"Not at all...Delores." She was willing to bet that, had Umbridge not worked for the Ministry, she'd already have transfigured the woman into a real live pig with the amount of animosity her tone was giving away. "Merely your medieval methods."

"Why, I am sorry, dear, but to question my practices is to question the Ministry and by extension, the Minister himself. I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty." Olivia's eyes widened slightly. She really was trying to turn everything into some conspiracy against the Ministry.

"Disloyalty," she heard the Professor's dissolution.

"Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action." As Umbridge made that little announcement, many students quieted. Olivia set her jaw tight, silently resolving to do something...anything she could to spite this woman.

"Hey, sorry, I got caught up talking to Blaize," he whispered, sitting down next to her.

Draco had caught her in the common room that morning asking if she'd be in the library that afternoon. Olivia hadn't planned to, but she said she was. He'd only nodded, which meant he wanted to talk to her. "How are your classes?" she asked quietly, looking up from her essay. She had to stop herself from smiling at his bangs that always seemed to fall directly in front of his eyes.

"Good, mostly, save for..." he gave her an obvious look.

"Yeah, tell me about it."

He pulled out his Potions text and a half completed roll of parchment. "You know what's going on with..." he motioned to his hand.

She nodded. "Black Quill."

Draco had a quick look of shock, but didn't seem very surprised. "She's been interrogating the teachers, too."

"Daddy was beyond pissed," she said, remembering how she'd heard that he'd taken over two-hundred and fifty points collectively from other houses that day and assigned a half a dozen detentions.

"I was in Trelawny's class when she was questioning her. It didn't seem like it went well."

"I can't imagine this will get any better any time soon. Dumbledore has to give her the false sense that he's allowing her to run the school, but I don't believe he'll let her go so far as to completely ruin it. Besides, it probably won't last beyond the school year," she said, referencing the cursed post. Draco seemed to relax at that.

"I hope you're right."

"I usually am, aren't I?" she asked with a smirk. He huffed a laugh.

Olivia looked up to see familiar brown, frizzy curls. Granger just sat down at her usual table. Draco noticed her tense, then, seeing what had caught her attention, went back to his essay. "Something on your mind?"

"Deja vu," she said, simply. Taking a small piece of scrap parchment from her bag, she wrote two words, trying to disguise her handwriting. Murtlap Essence. Olivia folded it and put it in her book, waiting for the right moment. She shifted her focus back on their work, making a comment to Draco about getting an earlier study by Golpalott as reference for salamander blood.

Just as they were about to leave for dinner, she saw Granger get up and walk past them. Olivia got up and grabbed the parchment. After making sure Granger was still out of sight, she slid the paper beneath the corner of the girl's open text as she passed, going three stacks behind. She pulled a text on Northumbrian runes before walking out, heading towards the catalog.

From there, she could see Granger walk back to her table, a couple books in her arms. She went back to Draco and sat down. "Dinner?" she asked him. He just shook his head, smiling.

"Sure."

Olivia had gotten better at remaining in balanced stance. She deflected another spell and attempted to dodge the next, but didn't quite get far enough before it grazed her shoulder. It wasn't too much to throw her off balance so she continued, casting her own disarm his way.

He deflected her spell and noticed her frustration. "You're thinking too much," he commented as their duel went on. Severus did notice how she took each tip and enacted it almost immediately. "Better." He wasn't so much interested in her offensive attacks as he was her defense. If she could defend herself against him long enough, that meant she could survive against most others.

"Ok," she said suddenly, raising her other hand while deflecting the last spell. Olivia caught her breath. "How do I get ahead of you?" she asked, exasperated.

A curl of his lip indicated he was pleased with her progress. He knew she wasn't, though. "You must learn your opponent's movements, learn to anticipate their next move. Every wizard has a set of spells or movements that they are comfortable with. You can't think too much during battle or you will slow yourself down."

"So everyone is going to fall back to what they know instinctively rather than coming up with something new."

"Precisely." Severus moved across the room towards her. "There are exceptions, however. If your opponent is under a curse or simply out of their mind completely, you won't be able to anticipate their movements as easily, but it is still possible."

"Like Bellatrix?"

"Exactly like her...and others. You must study my movements, learn the pattern." Severus took her wand arm. "Also, don't be afraid of twisting your wrist. A twist in the wrist will not be enough to disrupt or interfere with the vast majority of offensive and defensive spells. Concentrate less on your wand movements and more on the spell itself. If your intent remains, it will still work just as easily." He demonstrated a movement he'd caught her doing most, but altered it with her wrist, which she noticed would make her quicker and it was more comfortable. She was always taught not to do that. "It isn't the traditional or proper way, but it works. Some might call it a cheat or dueling underhandedly. You've also been playing piano for seven years... Use it."

Olivia's eyes lit up. Severus watched as her mind began to turn, putting that into use. He went back to his place, taking stance. He saw the difference. It wasn't just in the way she held her wand, but in her stance as well. There was less tension in her arms and more of a delicate, but still firm, hold.

She cast first, her wrist barely flicking as she sent the disarm his way. Olivia watched the movements of his arm, his wrist, his wand. Left, right, down, curve upward. As she continued to deflect, it wasn't long before she saw the opening she needed. All she had to do was wait and dodge right before casting.

In her mind, she saw the movements, the deflections, the castings, as notes. She just needed to step up to double time in order to get a hit in during the opening she saw. Twisting her wrist, giving her hand an upward motion, she deflected the quickest before pulling her shoulder back, extending her balance arm out and overhead as she spun clockwise. Olivia cast the disarm just as she extended her wand out again.

Everything seemed to stop as she processed his arm stop mid-cast, the wand being pulled from his grasp. It clattered onto the floor to her left. She let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. That breath turned into a laugh and she couldn't help, but smile.

"Very good." Severus held out his hand, his wand flying back into his hold. A silent Accio. Olivia made a note to learn that non-verbal just in case she was disarmed. "Keep practicing with those movements. You will be faster and far more balanced. From now on, I won't be using that little stinging jinx," he said, almost somberly. Olivia nodded in understanding. She hadn't expected him to for long. "You need to try to do more than just disarm me."

"Do you think I'll be on equal ground by year's end?"

"I do."

It was nearing the holidays. Olivia was sitting out in the cool air in the courtyard. She pulled her knit green scarf up a little higher. It was almost time for double potions, but she needed to breathe. She hadn't been sleeping well. With the holidays drawing near, so did the worry that came with it. Draco would probably be going home, if one could call it that now. Olivia was restless to say the least.

Trelawny had been fired and nearly evicted before Dumbledore stepped in. Umbridge was still running everything, it seemed. She'd even went so far as to completely clear out the school; there wasn't a portrait in sight. There were so many rules even she couldn't keep up with them all.

Draco had joined her so called Inquisitorial Squad. They were basically reporting to her any instance of rule-breaking they saw. However, there was one major thing they had been set to do. It had become rumor that Potter had started a secret club somewhere in the castle. No one really knew what they were doing.

Olivia could tell that the nearing holiday was having an effect on Draco, too. She could tell that he wasn't sleep well either. He'd been distracted and easily agitated. He was trying to keep up with his classes, the Squad, and keeping face with everyone, but with the inevitable home-coming, he was even more restless than she was, much more.

"Hey," a voice came from across the courtyard. "You aren't breaking any rules, are you?" he joked, making his way over to her.

"Not that I'm aware of," she said, feigning alarm, checking over her uniform and looking around her. He laughed a little. She was glad to hear it. "What are you doing out here?" she asked curiously.

"I was heading to Herbology and saw you out here," he said as he sat down, making a show of pulling out his wand, using it to measure the space between them. She laughed. "Gotta be sure. Eight inches."

"Ridiculous," she muttered.

"Tell me about it. You got potions next, right?"

"Yeah, double."
"Think you can meet me behind the Astronomy Tower after?" he asked quietly.

"Sure, why?" Olivia looked at him, curious. He just gave her a slight desperate look. She looked at the clock, which was nearing two. She stood and he followed.

"Meet me. Okay?" She nodded as he went one direction and she another.

She walked into Potions just as the clock struck two. Setting her things down at her and Hayden's table, she watched her dad sweep in as usual, the door slamming behind him. "You all know what today's assignment is. Get to work."

Olivia went to the stores to collect their ingredients as Hayden got their station ready. Ginger root, armadillo bile, and scarab beetles was all that was needed, but the process was a bit more difficult. It was an easy potion, but also easy to mess up.

The class went by fairly quickly since both she and Hayden had to pay the most attention to their potion in order to make sure it turned out correctly. Her father simply nodded as he passed by, letting them know it was correct. They both cleaned up their space before leaving the classroom, as usual, ahead of the rest of the class.

"I honestly don't know what I'm going to do next year," Hayden laughed as they closed the classroom door behind them. "We'll all be on our own. I won't have you to help me." He pouted.

Olivia smiled. "You'll be just fine, Hayden. You really do know what you're doing."

"I hope so. You headed to the library today?" he asked as they walked back down the corridor.

"No, I think I'm just going to go for a walk before dinner."

"Alright. I still have this essay to finish for Herbology," he cringed. "See you at dinner?"

"Yeah. Remember, she's not as interested in format as much as information. Don't be too hard on yourself." Olivia waved to him as she headed towards the Astronomy Tower. It was still a bit early so there were that many students in the halls. She didn't have much trouble getting outside and around unseen.

Draco wasn't there yet so she just tucked into the alcove and waited. It shouldn't be too much longer, she told herself. Setting her bag against the wall, she just pulled her robes close, feeling the cold breeze bringing that frosty scent with it. She smiled, knowing the snow would be coming soon.

She heard footsteps nearing. That signature blonde hair came into view and he shot a look behind him to make sure he wasn't followed before turning into the alcove. Olivia hardly had time to say anything before he pulled her into a kiss, pressing his lips into her own.

It was rushed, frenzied. She shivered, but not from the cold. His hands were warm against her cheeks and neck. Draco's tongue swept across the seam of her mouth. She gasped at the feeling, the burning heat spreading through her body.

Pulling back slightly, she huffed a laugh. "Wh-what brought that on?" she asked, smiling wide.

"I," he sighed, kissing her again. "I just needed to see you." Olivia could tell the meaning behind his words and in his expression.

She kissed him. "How are you? Truly."

Draco pressed his forehead against hers, breathing deep. "Everything is pissing me off. Umbridge, Potter and his stupid secret group, not seeing you whenever I want. All of it."

"I...hate to even bring this up, but...are you going home for Christmas?" she asked hesitantly.

"I don't even want to think about it," he responded in a near growl. "I haven't even owled to ask."

"Do you think it would look bad if you asked to stay here?"

"Probably. I just have to wait for Mother to owl me and let me know. She knows we have until the tenth to let McGonagall know for sure."

Olivia just wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face into his shoulder. "You haven't been sleeping well," she commented softly.

"Neither have you," he replied.