Hogwarts

I don't own Harry Potter!

The thestral drawn carriages pulled up to the massive castle that was Hogwarts and Lydia, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan stepped out. They hurried through the falling droplets of rain into the Great Hall.

The four sat down at the long Gryffindor table together. Fred, George, and Lee were cracking jokes and laughing. Lydia was more reserved but would make a comment every now and then that would make the others stare at her for a moment before exploding into giggles.

Sitting just a few seats away were Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"What's so funny?" Ron grumbled "She doesn't have any reason to laugh."

"Oh, do shut up, Ronald." Hermione rolled her eyes.

Fred, George, and Lee laughed loudly again and Harry looked over to see Lydia sitting in the middle with a serene smile on her face. He felt his lips twitch upward until Ron elbowed him hard in the ribs.

"You agree with me, right mate?"

"About what?" Harry asked having missed the conversation between Ron and Hermione.

"Smart!" Ron said, exasperated, "She shouldn't be laughing!"

"Why not?"

"Because! She's not normal."

"That's not a good reason, Ron." Hermione insisted.

"Well, I say it is." Ron scowled "You-Know-Who is back. Nobody should be laughing."

"Why don't you go tell them that? You are a prefect now, aren't you?" Hermione was clearly getting sick of Ron's attitude.

"You know what?" Ron stood up "I think I will." He made his way over to the chuckling group "Smart!" He shouted.

Instantly Lydia's smile vanished and she grew quiet.

"What's so funny?" Ron asked rudely.

"None of your business, Ronald." Fred leapt to Lydia's defense.

"Yeah! Keep your nose out of it!" George joined his brother.

"I'm a prefect. And I want to know what's so funny?" Ron snarled.

"Aw, Ickle-Ronnikins wants to be strong and commanding, so adorable." Fred laughed.

"Just leave us alone, Ron. Go back to your biscuits." George shooed his younger brother away.

"What? Got nothing to say for yourself, Smart?" Ron addressed the trembling girl who did not answer "I thought not."

A single tear traced its way down Lydia's cheek and she turned away from her tormentor.

"Don't turn your back on me!" Ron grabbed the back of her robes and spun her round.

Instantly Fred and George had their wands out and pointed at Ron.

"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall appeared "Wands away, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley." She noticed Ron's hand still gripping Lydia's robes "Release Miss Smart, Mr. Weasley." Ron gave a final yank on her robes pulling her off the bench.

Lydia yelped as her head smashed against the stone floor.

"Miss Smart! Are you alright?" McGonagall asked as she helped the girl back up. Lydia nodded. "Mr. Weasley. Detention. And I will be writing to your mother. Now go back to your seat."

"But Professor-!" Ron complained.

"No buts. Back to your seat. Professor Dumbledore has a few words before the feast."

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After the feast and Professor Dumbledore's speech, not to mention the Ministry Toad, Umbridge's, speech, the Gryffindor students made their way back to their common room.

"What did she mean? Progress for progress's sake must be prohibited, what a load of rubbish!" George made his voice high pitched to match Umbridge's before breaking character and laughing.

"It's not a good thing, George." Lydia smacked him gently, smiling nonetheless "It means the Ministry is trying to interfere at Hogwarts. They want to control us."

"Us?" Fred put his hand on his chest in mock horror "I'd like to see them try."

"Just be careful." Lydia warned "I have a terrible feeling about this year." She said goodnight and made her way up to her dormitory.

Already inside were Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender. Lavender had her arms crossed and was glaring at Hermione. Parvati was sitting on her bed and rolling her eyes.

"So you think he's telling the truth?" Lavender spat at their bushy haired roommate.

"I don't think it. I know he is. I believe Harry and so should you." Hermione stayed calmly.

Lydia slunk around them and started unpacking her trunk.

"And what do you think, Smart?" Lavender snarled "Do you believe Potter, or the Prophet?"

"I believe the truth." Lydia muttered "Harry's truth."

"Listen, Lavender," Hermione stepped forward before Lavender could reply "You keep your big, fat mouth shut about Harry. Or you'll have detention faster than you can say your own name."

"Whatever." Lavender climbed into her four-poster bed and snapped the curtains shut.

Parvati cautiously moved over to the still angry Hermione and put a hand on her shoulder "For what it's worth," she whispered "I believe Harry too."

Hermione seemed to deflate and plopped sown on the bed next to Lydia, she turned to the girl "Thanks Lydia." She said in a hushed tone "I really appreciate your support, and I know Harry does too. Don't let Ronald get to you. He can be such an arse."

"Don't I know it." Lydia rubbed the back of her still sore head.

"Are you alright? I saw what Ron did to you before the feast."

"I'm fine. It's nothing I can't handle." Hermione didn't look convinced "Really, it's just a little bump." Lydia assured her.

"Okay, but if it still hurts tomorrow, promise me you'll go see Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione begged quietly.

"I promise." Lydia whispered back.

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The next morning Lydia's head felt much better. As she got dressed for the day she felt a vision coming on and sat down heavily on her bed. Thank goodness Lavender and Parvati had already gone down for breakfast.

But Hermione was still there and she hurried over asking "Lydia, are you alright?"

"Fine..." Lydia mumbled "I'm fine."

"No, you're not! I'm going to get Professor McGonagall, you look really pale."

"No!" Lydia grabbed Hermione's hand to stop her from running off "It'll pass in a moment."

She closed her eyes and saw...

Umbridge pouring a potion into a cup of tea...

Harry, Ron, and Hermione meeting in the Hog's Head pub with a number of other people...

Luna Lovegood casting a patronus...

Harry sprinting down a corridor pursued by Draco Malfoy...

She opened her eyes to find herself flat on her back on her bed. Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey leaning over her.

"Ah, Miss Smart, are you alright?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

Hermione stood behind the teacher and the Matron. Lydia couldn't say anything in front of her.

"I'm fine. Just got dizzy." She tried to indicate what had happened to Professor McGonagall, that she'd had a vision.

"Well then, Professor Dumbledore asked to see you this morning so I'll escort you to his office, shall we?" McGonagall straightened up and offered Lydia a hand.

Lydia accepted and pulled herself up with the help of Hermione, Madam Pomfrey, and Professor McGonagall. She followed her head of house out of the dormitory, through the common room, and towards Dumbledore's office.

Word count: 1166 words

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Love,

The Author