Chapter 8

He was so proud of himself. He improvised the light strings. He just thought that it goes with a moment. He thought of the paper by himself and found a spell that does that. And she loved all of it.
Next day, he was going to the common room after his classes and saw one familiar person on the staircase.
„Remus!" he called and hugged him. „What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, of course." He said. "Where do you think that we could go?"
"Let's go outside."
They went on the lake. He saw that willow. He smiled.
"Why are you smiling?" Remus asked.
"Nothing, I just remembered something." He said.
"You are doing really well. I thought that you will be far more sad or angry. But you look really happy." He noticed.
"I was. I was really angry and sad. I was mean to everyone around me. I believed that there was nobody left who wants to listen to me. This, one, person proofed me wrong." He explained.
"And that person is…" he said looking at him like he has some sort of a disease.
"I am going to keep that to myself." He said. Remus was his friend. But, he did not want to talk about that to an adult.
"I am just going to guess that is a girl." He said. He did not push him into telling it. Harry appreciated that.
"How is the Order doing?" he asked. He actually wanted to talk about that.
"Everything is kind of falling apart without Dumbledore. We do get the messages from him, but is not the same. Snape is distant, Molly is nervous for all the kids, Arthur is at the ministry the whole time, Kingsley also has too much job, Tonks is investigating all the disappears… It is a mess."
"I agree." As much as Ginny is putting some order to his life, everything is still not right.
"We are trying the best we can. More people are feeling that something bad is coming. That he is back. But it is still not enough."
"It is going to be okay." He said.
"What do we have here?" they heard the voice Harry hated more than anything. Umbridge was looking at them with a pergament and a quill in her hands. "So that is how the famous Order is working? You are brainwashing the kids into believing you! Get out of here, you halfbreed!" she called him a halfbreed. That is the worst thing you could say to someone like him.
"You have no right to call him like that." Harry said.
"Oh, really. Well I am the one who decides about that! There is no child that will be tell me what to do, especially not you!" Everyone knew that Umbridge hates children. But, nobody can talk like this.
"You have something against non-purebloods?" Harry asked.
"Of course I do! They are the shame of the Wizarding World!" she said.
"So weird for someone that is also a halfblood." Harry noticed. He also noticed McGonagal from the behind. And some kids. Including Ginny. Umbridge was frozen.
"What did you say?" she asked, still stunned.
"That you are a halfblood. I heard that your mother was a muggle, your brother is a squib and your father was nothing more than a janitor! You disowned them. Which is disgusting, in my and probably everyone's, opinion." He said. He heard that from Arthur few months ago. And it was the most precious information ever.
"How do you know about that?" she asked while tearing pergament into pieces.
"I have my own sources." He said.
"You should have some more respect!" she said, furious. It was hilarious to see someone dressed in pink and so short so angry.
"Sorry, but I don't have any respect for people who did not earned it in any way. And I definitely don't have the respect for someone who physically abused me." He said and showed her his left hand. He will probably forever have that carved there.
"So that is how you want to play?" she said. "You will see what I will do to someone like you."
"I can't wait." He said. She went back to the castle. McGonagal approached him.
"Potter, you were always dear to me, but from now on, you have my respect." She said.
"I am honored." He said. She left and everybody who were there started to cheer. Ginny ran toward him.
"Harry, this was amazing! I am so proud of you for standing up to her!" she kissed him on a cheek. And his face was becoming red again. "This was the most badass thing I've ever saw." She added. "See you later."
"See you later." He said back. She left back to Luna. He touched his cheek on the place where she kissed him.
"Okay, this was brilliant." Remus said. Harry almost forgot that he was here. "But, you should be careful. Umbridge is a snake."
"I know. But this was so much stronger than me." He said.
"James would be so proud of you." Remus said. "Is Ginny her?"
"Is she who?" he asked.
"The girl that comforted you?" he explained.
"Yes." He was honest. There was no point in lying. Hermione said that it was obvious how much he likes her.
"Are trying anything or are you just admiring from a far?"
"I am trying. We watched sunset together yesterday. I gave her my jacket. She really liked it." He said.
"It is good that you have someone who understands you. I should go now. But I will come again." Remus said. They hugged and Remus left. Harry went back to the common room.
Hour later, Hermione and Ron approached him.
"How big of an idiot are you?" Hermione asked. That was too direct even for Hermione.
"What?" he asked.
"All of those things you said to Umbridge! I get it you, hate her, I hate her, we all hate her, but you can't say those things! She will watch you like a hawk now!" she said.
"Like that was different before." Harry said.
"Harry, this is serious!" she said.
"But, it was awesome!" Ron commented.
"It was." Hermione admitted. "But also risky."
"Like we never done anything risky. We were brewing the polyjuice potion in a girl's bathroom. We were looking for the sorcerer's stone. We had a secret organization for learning Defense against the dark arts! Those things are pretty risky. And we broke into the Ministry." He said.
"He has a good point." Ron said.
"Just be…"
"Careful, I know." He interrupted her. He was so tired of hearing those words.