I tried to post this from my phone. It failed so, let's try this again.

This is the shortest chapter. But I wanted to get something out. The next couple may be on the small side. But this week is going to be really hard, well next three weeks. This week is the double funeral for my friend's sons. They both tragically drowned when the car they were in swept off a bridge in high water. They were 8 and 5. And we are all just devastated. These kids played with my youngest when we took them to work. I had to explain to my eight year old that little kids can die, too. Right before the year mark of her paternal grandmother's passing, who was her best friend in the world. And the year mark for about five other close family members. So, bear with me. Thanks for reading I hope you enjoy the Rise of Umbitch. And drive safe, watch out for deer and if there is water on the road- turn around and go the long way. The price is way too high.

Chapter 30

Hermione surveyed the crowd mingling in front of them. She knew the size would freak out Harry a little. It was more people than she ever expected. Even some third and fourth years attended, though most of them were either friends or Gryffindors. She'd all ready discussed with the sixth and seventh years about not knowing what would be on the Newt exams. Most indicated they didn't care, any practical review was better than no review at all. Thanks to Draco, Theo, Blaise, Tracey, and Adrian Pucey all four houses were represented. Several of the other houses eyed them suspiciously, while they attempted to ignore them.

Once it seemed like everyone who was coming had arrived, Hermione called the meeting to order. "Thank you for coming, everyone." she started, only to be interrupted by Zaccarhis Smith from Hufflepuff. "I thought Potter was teaching us."

"He is. As I was saying, thanks to the new decree we're going..."

"Then why are you yammering on?" Blaise restrained Draco and Theo from attacking Smith.

"Because I asked her to." Harry snapped. "Hermione has done a bulk of the behind the scenes work. She's my co-leader. Any problems? There's the door. Anyone not going to take this serious, or be willing to keep our secret? Leave now before you know too much."

"We're only as strong as our weakest link." Hermione held up a piece of parchment. "Anyone who agrees to join this group, promises to keep everything about it a secret. If you want in-sign here. But know, if you break faith, there will be consequences."

Fred Weasley leapt forward to sign, followed swiftly by George. Once they signed the rest of the group quickly queued up to sign. She and Harry signed last, She rolled up the parchment and put it away. She passed out the coins and explained how they worked to notify them of the next meeting.

Then it was Harry's turn. He walked to the front of the crowd. "Hermione and I discussed it, this is going to be a practical study group. Everyone can go over the theory on their own, or ask Hermione later." Everyone laughed when she rolled her eyes. "I would say ask Umbridge, but that never ends well." Laughter again. "The other idea behind this group is to ensure everyone can defend themselves."

Smith interrupted again. "You're not going to bleat on about You-Know-Who being back are you?"

Harry frowned. "Tom Riddle, or Lord Voldemort, is not the only dark wizard out there. He had a legion of followers. And even the Death Eaters don't have a monopoly on evil. Aurors can't be everywhere. I have no intention of sitting back and waiting to see if someone makes it in time to save me. Some of these spells will seem basic, but they are the foundation of protecting yourself." Harry proceeded to go over the disarming charm. He demonstrated pronunciation and wand movements. Then he instructed them to pair off for practice.

Most of the others eyes the Slytherins suspiciously. Before either Hermione or Harry could do anything, Neville stepped forward, asked Theo to join him. Not to be outdone, Seamus called out for Draco to "fight me like a man." The resulting laughter broke the tension, and the students began pairing up to get to work. Blaise and Adrian paired together, and Angelina snapped up Tracey, allowing Hermione to pair with Luna. Harry circulated, correcting postures and pronunciations. An hour later he called them to a stop. "Good work, guys. Now, to avoid suspicion we're going to have to slip out a few at a time."

"Should we leave by house?" asked an older Ravenclaw?

"Not necessarily. Go out in groups of friends, or something you could defend if pushed, like Hermione and Draco."

"Or her and Theo." offered Cedric Diggory.

"Or Hermione and Theo." Harry agreed. "When we know when we're meeting again, I'll notify you with the coins."

Harry, Hermione, and Cedric were the last to leave. "If anyone asks, we Hogwarts Champions were reminiscing, and as Head Boy, I have the authority to be out later with two prefects." Cedric told them.

Hermione nodded, "Maybe we should be the last people out every time because of that."

"Not a bad plan." Harry agreed. The three departed talking of Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour as they made their way across the castle. Suddenly, Mrs Norris darted around a corner, hissing at them as she sped by.

"What on earth?" questioned Hermione. They stopped walking and stared after the cat. Seconds later, Filch and Umbridge came into view.

"Students out of bed!" declared Filch. "They must have done it!"

Umbridge wheezed as she came to a stop in front of them. "One of you put a niffler in my office and then locked me out." She took a ragged breath. "Then rigged the door to hex Mrs Norris when Mr Filch unlocked the door.

The three looked at one another in confusion. "I'm very sorry you're having issues, professor, but it wasn't us." Hermione replied politely.

"Then why are you out of bed?" she demanded.

"Curfew isn't for another 15 minutes, professor. Hermione, Harry, and I were discussing their prefect rounds." Cedric explained.

"Mr Diggory, I'm sure you're an honest boy, you certainly come from a good family. You shouldn't let these two drag you into their shenanigans."

"Respectfully, professor, we've been together since after dinner. Whatever happened couldn't have involved them."

"You run along, Mr Diggory." Umbridge goes him a creepy, condescending smile. Frowning, Cedric headed for his common room.

The fake smile slid off of Umbridge's face. "I don't know how you did it, but I know you were involved. Upbringing always shows."

Hermione fought to keep from raising a skeptical eyebrow. "Upbringing, ma'am?"

"Yes, upbringing. Both of you were raised as mudbloods. Your parents might be purebloods belonging to the Sacred twenty-eight, but you're just a nasty common little guttersnipe, not even fit to look at their house, let alone live in it." Umbridge turned to Harry. "And your father disgraced his family line by marrying a mudblood. Disgusting is what it was."

Hermione felt Tangle move from her hair to her neck. Tangle does not like nasty witch. Tangle may bite? Hermione shook her head, unable to answer the snake verbally. "I'm sorry you feel that way, professor. Should we pass on your reservations?"

"You think you're so cute. No one will believe you, the word of a liar and a mudblood against the Minister's Undersecretary, his most trusted advisor.

"I'm sure you're correct." Hermione simpered. "May we go, it is perilously close to curfew? AS prefects we would hate to set a bad example."

"Go." Umbridge sniffed. "But mark my words, I know you're up to something. And I intend to discover what that is."

Hermione took Harry's hand and lead him away. He walked stiffly, his anger barely contained. "How can you stay so calm? She just called you that vile name like three times?"

"And? So have lots of people. Doesn't change anything. In this case it makes her an idiotic bigot with delusions of adequacy. When my father hears of this I'm sure it won't be pretty."

Harry stopped walking. He blinked three times and broke into hysterical laughter. "I have never looked forward to the idea of someone telling Lucius Malfoy about something so much before."

"I know."chuckled Hermione.

The next morning a new decree hung in the Entrance Hall. "Educational Decree #637: Students of different houses shall not gather in groups of more than 2 outside of class and sanctioned activities."

Blaise snickered as he passed Hermione. "So the weekly orgy is canceled."

Hermione shrugged, "We'll just have to round robin it then." She laughed as she went into the Great Hall. "Woman is loosing her grasp on reality."

For the next development in Umbridge's reign of terror, she began observing the other professors. Hermione compared notes with others confirming the suspicions that the Ministry had decided to meddle in Hogwarts. Umbridge constantly questioned why certain things were taught, and if it was in the Ministry's best interest. Things like strengthening potions, and different spells that could be used offensively or defensively.

She also noticed mounting hostility against Ginny and Essence. The more Umbridge pushed them down, the more the students took out their frustrations on the girls. The Twins dubbed it the Great Prank War. Business was booming, they could hardly keep up with demand. Umbridge and McLaggen also proved to be frequent targets. At least two hundred educational decrees were aimed at their products and their use. Students stopped reading them all together.

The Great Prank War continued through January and into February. Not even Valentine's Day proved safe. While others enjoyed sweet cards and candies, Ginny spent the morning flinching at every owl that swooped towards Gryffindor table, and constantly glancing over her shoulder at each person who passed behind her. She looked stressed and haggard. Then, again, so did Broadmoor.

"Knut for your thoughts? Nott send you the wrong candy? Or forget the flowers?" Katie asked, snagging one. "Yum, orange cream."

"I feel kind of bad for Weasley and Broadmoor."

"They're getting what they deserve." Katie popped a piece of toast in her mouth. "If not for the stunt they pulled, we wouldn't have Umbitch at the helm."

"I suppose." Hermione remained unconvinced.

"Look, feel bad all you want, so long as things remain bleak around here, they're going to suffer."

Hermione sighed and tried to ignore the social pariah down the table. A regal looking owl helped by delivering a thick official looking envelope to her. She quickly scanned the outside, finding it to be an notice from Amelia Bones.

Miss Malfoy,

WE have traced numerous threats and a hit order back to Amycus Carrow. Mr Carrow has been detained for questioning. We will be investigating for a correlation between this order and the attack on you before Christmas. I ask that you remain vigilant and keep your safety checks on your person at all times.

Sincerely,

Amelia Bones.

She showed the letter to Harry. "The attack at the bar over the summer, I think." She told him.

"You don't think Christmas was connected?"

"I don't know." She nibbled on her bottom lip. "My gut says no. But I don't really remember at lot about the incident. And at this point it seems unlikely I ever will remember anything more." She picked up her book bag. "All I can do is keep the badge in my pocket, and Tangle with me." The tiny snake stuck her head out of her hair and looked at Harry. Hermione giggled.

"What?"

"Ask Tangle yourself."

"Did you say something, Tangle."

'Tangle has pretty witch's back.' Harry joined Hermione in her laughter.