The next few weeks at Hogwarts completely dampened everyone's moods. The only positive thing to happen was the day after Valentine's Day when Harry started receiving hundreds of letters about the interview he had done for the Quibbler. Apparently my father had even been in on Hermione's idea and helped edit the article before it was published in Mr. Lovegood's paper. I was excited too when Luna came up to me and said it was the number one issue they had ever published and was going into a second print.

But of course Umbridge made a rule banning the purchase or reading of the Quibbler which no one really listened to anyway. The worst though came after, when Umbridge made a public spectacle of Professor Trelawney being fired and her screams rebounded throughout the castle walls.

xx

"He's actually quite something. You guys are probably upset now that none of you got an OWL in Divination," Lee gloated for not the first time at being the only one in our friend group to have Firenze for a teacher.

All of us were seated around a table in the library and mostly ignored Lee by studying. Our NEWTs were quickly approaching now and I was in full preparation mode. Of course I was anxious but refused to be one of the ones who broke down. So far only a couple of the fifth years had needed a Calming Draught and were followed out of either the library or Great Hall by a concerned professor.

"Seriously you two, you're not even studying!" Angelina fumed, noticing that the papers in front of Fred and George were for their products and not for class.

This was nothing new, so I figured that maybe Angelina was just feeling more of the pressure with quidditch as well as her studies and was now taking it out on the cavalier nature of the twins.

"Ange, we already know everything of use to us," George replied, not even looking up from the task he was doing.

"We already have a spot lined up for the shop so we need to be ready to open as soon as we leave," Fred added, he too not looking up from their work.

I did however feel Fred's hand find my knee under the table as he gave it a reassuring squeeze. Hearing either twin talk about their lack of studies was nothing I worried about anymore since I had always vowed to support their idea of a joke shop. However I was keenly aware now of their lack of overall interest in school and their wanting to get out into the real world as soon as possible.

"We better get going for the DA meeting," George spoke again a minute later, being the only one (aside from maybe Fred) who had been keeping tabs on the time.

I stuffed all my books into my rucksack which I had needed to put an extension charm on, but Fred took it before I could sling it over my shoulder.

"Erm—thanks," I replied nervously, still always taken aback whenever Fred was being charming.

Our friendship had always been an equal one. I was never treated any different because I was a girl, so when Fred treated me as his girlfriend, I found it accentuated the new difference in our relationship even more now; not that I necessarily minded. A charming Fred definitely kept me on my toes.

"Today's the day," Fred sounded determined since we figured Harry would have us practicing our Patronus charms again.

I loved practicing, letting my hummingbird flit around the room, forcing myself to think of happy thoughts instead of the impending doom of exams and war.

I found conjuring my Patronus was a lot easier now, letting myself think mostly about Fred.

xx

"You're not thinking of something good enough," I prompted Fred gently when we were standing in the Room of Requirement practicing our spells.

His look of frustration told me he wasn't focusing solely on something happy anymore so it wasn't surprising that he wasn't able to conjure it.

I cast away my hummingbird and stepped forward while putting my wand into my back pocket.

"Close your eyes Fred," I prompted him gently, noticing his skeptical look but he closed his eyes nonetheless.

I put one of my hands on his wrist to bring his wand hand out into the correct form to cast the charm. Fred obviously knew what I wanted and left his gripped wand out in front of him. Then I brought both of my hands to his shoulders and felt them relax under my grip.

"Relax love. Think about something truly wonderful. Don't say it out loud, I'll see it once you cast the charm," I murmured only loud enough for him to hear.

His smile became elated and I wondered excitedly what he was thinking.

The next moment he opened his eyes in determination and cast the charm we had been practicing on and off for the past few DA meetings.

"Expecto Patronum!" Fred's words were purposeful and I knew it would work before I even saw the fox erupt from his wand.

"Fred, you did it!" I exclaimed proudly as we both watched the wispy animal run around the room.

I cast my hummingbird once more and both creatures flitted around playfully, earning both of us a few annoyed stares as they bumped into some students.

"So, what did you think about?" I tried for casual but Fred's sly smile told me I wasn't fooling him.

"You of course," he answered so coolly I felt my face heat up. "That summer you and Ange came over to the Burrow."

I remembered the day he was talking about, when Angelina and I had swam with most of the Weasley's in their pond. I remembered the racing and feeling for maybe the first time a little self-conscience.

"Why, then?" I felt my eyebrows knit together in surprise but kept my gaze on our Patronuses.

"I don't know exactly. Most of my memories with you are really great, but that day I can see clearly. How happy you obviously were, it makes you so beautiful in my memory," I felt Fred's intent gaze on me now but I knew was too cherry red to want to look at him.

Being caught in my own stuttering thoughts I missed the sudden arrival of Dobby the house elf before I clued into his squeaky voice.

"She's coming?" Harry cried fearfully and I didn't need pause to figure out what that meant. "What is everyone waiting for? RUN!"

Instantly Fred gripped my wrist and pulled me towards the exit. George was tugging along Angelina behind us and the three of us led her to the secret passageway that went out to the greenhouses. Angelina didn't seem overly surprised that we knew a secret passageway. Instead the four of us waited for each of us to catch our breath before speaking. George was first.

"How the bloody hell did she find us?" George's voice was livid but we all knew that this meant the end to the DA.

My hands were trembling in anger and realised that Fred was still gripping my wrist and squeezed it as a show of his own anger.

"Come on, we should see if the others are back in the common room," Angelina surprisingly pulled George's hand and neither of them let go until we were back in the Gryffindor Tower.

"Where's Harry?" was the first thing out of my mouth but no one knew where he was.

"He was running away from Malfoy. Ron and I made it back but we lost Harry," Hermione's voice was strained in frustration.

I dropped into a vacant seat and let my head fall into my hands. The voices around me were riled up but I ignored them. The only thing I noticed was Fred sitting beside me, running his fingers lightly up and down my back in a comforting gesture. I was thankful he didn't press me to talk but I figured we were feeling similar things.

I knew this might be the last straw for the twins who were no longer interested in school. Without even the DA to placate their active minds, I knew we would be having another conversation about him and George cutting out early. Suddenly, leaving Hogwarts to return to Grimmauld Place seemed like the most logical decision but I figured I could at least wait to see Harry return.

It wasn't until an hour later that Harry came marching into the common room having been escorted by Professor McGonagall. I met her scowl from across the room and knew it was worse than I imagined before Harry trudged over to our awaiting group.

"Dumbledore's gone," were the first words Harry spoke and were met by immediate incredulity.

Several people spoke over each other, asking how Dumbledore could be gone but Harry gained everyone's attention and explained Dumbledore had taken the fall when Umbridge produced the parchment we had all signed that said Dumbledore's Army.

"You know what this means Georgie," Fred said conspiratorially beside me with a fiery glint in his eyes after several of the Gryffindor's dispersed.

I hadn't said anything yet since I felt too angry to try and put what I was feeling into words.

"Right you are Freddie. With Dumbledore gone, there really isn't much point to following the rules anymore," George smirked back.

Both twins turned to me and gave me a meaningful look but I smiled back and finally found my voice.

"Give 'em hell you two. And that store of yours better be opened by the time I graduate," I could read their expressions and knew it was pure selfishness that wanted the twins to stay in Hogwarts with me.

But after being their best friend for seven years, I knew there was no one the twins fully listened to and that this was now important to them. They would fight against the Ministry in their own mischievous way whereas I needed to stay behind and get my diploma. I needed to prove it to all those who denied my status because of my father, to make a statement against all the prejudice I had endured, and to be able to follow my own career. Plus, there was the younger version of myself who dreamed nonstop about Hogwarts and to leave early denied her of that goal, even if it was sometimes too painful to walk the halls without Cedric; and now the twins by my side.

"You sure Hare?" Fred's eyes were sincere with George smiling proudly behind me.

I knew this divergence of ours wouldn't change our friendship and that by me accepting their decision would show them why I had claimed the position of best friend for all these years.

"Of course Fred, I love you. I love both of you," I winked at George over Fred's shoulder who playfully winked back, causing Fred to lean back and hit him.

The boys shortly went upstairs so us girls also decided to retreat to our dorm. But none of us slept very well. The girls kept going over what had happened and what we expected to find the next morning in lieu of our headmaster's sudden departure.

What we found turned my stomach enough that I didn't even attempt to eat breakfast.

Educational Decree Number Twenty-Eight; Dolores Jane Umbridge will now be Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as authorized by the Ministry of Magic

This set the mood for the rest of the day.

"Best to keep your distance today Hare, we don't want you to get blamed for anything," Fred warned me as I made my way to class.

The twins had already decided that they weren't interested in attending class so were instead just escorting me. We were walking past the Room of Requirement and I frowned that their new plan meant a certain degree of separation. But I wasn't as willing to be booted out of school whereas I could see the twins were counting on it.

"The bell is about to go you three. Playing truant are you?" the twins scowled when we all turned around to see Graham Montague looking rather smug.

"We're just walking our friend to class you git," George's typical gentle button pressing was cut short by his own snide remark.

I didn't really know much about this particular Slytherin except that he played quidditch and was wearing a badge that said Inquisitorial Squad.

"That'll be five points for cheek Weasley. Double it because you both look similar. And ten more for your pathetic girlfriend pretending to be a witch when we all know she's really a squib," Montague's tone was derisive but I was focused on the fact that he was trying to take points away when it was only professors who could do that.

"What the hell did you just say?" Fred seethed.

Before I could figure out what the twins were doing they pushed the Slytherin into the Room of Requirement and I followed them inside.

Unlike when we were practicing with the DA, it now looked like a junk room. The twins were pushing Montague who was looking rather unsure now of the situation until they were all in front of a cabinet.

George opened the door and Fred shoved Montague in. I gaped, thinking it was childish to lock him in a cupboard when he could just get out, but after several seconds of quiet, I realised that somehow Montague was no longer in the cupboard at all.

"What did you do?" I asked skeptically but couldn't bring myself to feel sorry for the bully Slytherin.

"It's a vanishing cabinet Marnie. Wherever the other one is, that's where we sent that git," George explained like he was telling me what the elves were serving for dinner.

"Now go to class love, and I'll come find you tonight. It's best you're not around our path of destruction today," Fred smiled and kissed my cheek.

I smiled knowingly before dashing off to Transfiguration since I didn't want McGonagall to have anymore reason to lash out at me. If I was late, I'm sure it would mean at least one more detention and I did rather like my head of house despite my recent rebellious streak.

I ended up making it just in time under the watchful eye of McGonagall as I took my seat beside Angelina.

Angelina's questioning look asked where Fred and George were but I shook my head to tell her they weren't coming. Her expression looked put off but not surprised and I wondered if her and George had talked at some point last night since there were several times I wasn't aware of what had been going on.

There was a knock at the door shortly after class started and I looked back to see an amused set of eyes already staring at me. My shoulders tensed and I could see he was wearing a similar badge like Montague had been.

"Direct order from our headmistress, I'm supposed to bring O'Hara to her office," Flint announced but I remained in my seat until I heard McGonagall clear her throat.

"Don't be long O'Hara, this is an important lesson," McGonagall barked and I knew she wanted to find a reason to keep me back but I obliged Flint and followed him out of the classroom.

"Ten points O'Hara for being too slow," Flint's voice sounded eager and pleased but I didn't even chance a look over at him.

I knew that if I saw him smirk I would be tempted to hex him again and I had to remind myself I wasn't going to cross the line like the twins were.

"Five more points for your arrogance," he continued and I only hoped we made it to her office before he took away all of Gryffindor's points.

"And ten points for being a dirty squib."

He paused at Umbridge's door but I pushed by him since I knew he was stalling to think of some other excuse to take points away.

"Miss. O'Hara, five points for forgetting to knock," Umbridge trilled and I could feel Flint's smirk on my back before he was dismissed.

"Would you like a beverage?" her initial annoyance was replaced by an uneasy pleasantness.

"No thank-you, professor," I remained standing just inside the door instead of sitting down like I knew she wanted me to.

"Join me for tea Miss. O'Hara, I just made a fresh pot," she beckoned but I didn't miss the forcefulness of it.

Everything about this situation was off, especially when I knew she hated me and had never shown me any proper decency before now.

I eyed the already poured tea and immediately clued into the situation. My better option was probably to play along since I might be able to placate her. The alternative was probably that she would turn to more forceful tactics like forcing down the veritaserum when I denied her request outright.

Without another word I stepped forward and took the cup while still standing and pretended to gulp it in one swig. I cast a vanishing spell by pressing my hand into my pocket and casting it nonverbally before the contaminated liquid touched my lips. Thankfully she was too focused on my face to notice my hand and greedily looked at me now that she thought I was under her control.

"Where is Dumbledore?" her question was direct, not that I had expected anything else.

"No idea," I steeled my words and watched her ravenous smile fall into a disappointed frown.

Since I had pretended to gulp the entire potion she seemed content to move on even though she was obviously frustrated by my answer.

"Where is Sirius Black?" I bit back my growl at this and thanked Merlin I had clued in before stupidly accepting her drink offering.

"I don't know," each word was pronounced syllabically.

Umbridge let a few moments of silence pass before she blew out her frustration in a huff.

"Fine, fine. Go back to class O'Hara," she waved dismissively and I didn't wait for her to change her mind.

I was livid that she had tried to use that tactic against me and wondered now if that was how she found out about the DA.

My answer came later when we saw Marietta Edgecombe with the word SNEAK displayed across her forehead.

"Serves her right for squealing," Katie said rather viciously at lunch.

All of us were disappointed that the DA had been effectively disbanded and it was entirely Cho Chang's friend's fault. I contemplated that she probably was put under veritaserum but I couldn't bring myself to feel sympathy for her. The only thing I was slightly relieved about was that Cho and Harry were no longer talking ever since Cho brought up Cedric on Valentine's Day. Apparently their date during the day hadn't been that much better and Harry had since been avoiding her, even when she tried to reconcile by telling him how brave he was to have interviewed for the Quibbler.

"What's that sound?" Alicia exclaimed and the sound of minor explosions stole my attention.

Our answer came a moment later when a dragon made out of fireworks came bursting into the Great Hall.

"That's bloody brilliant!" Lee shouted, all of knowing it must be Fred and George's doing.

I tried looking around but couldn't find the twins anywhere. Surprisingly they were keeping a low profile but the fireworks didn't die down when we left and headed to Charms. The flurry of bright reds and vibrant purples followed us all the way down the corridor.

Class was frequently interrupted by the dragon and although I knew Flitwick could easily rid of it, he instead opted to summon Umbridge to try and dispose of it.

"I didn't know if I was allowed to get rid of it," Flitwick mused before closing the classroom door in Umbridge's face once the fire beast was sent out.

"Well that just made my day," Angelina murmured amongst our group and the rest of us nodded in agreement.

I hadn't told them yet about my veritaserum theory, figuring we had all had enough doom and gloom lately without being reminded about how awful Umbridge was. Instead I kept up my excitement as we laughed to ourselves after class down to the Great Hall for dinner. Once we entered I finally saw the twins waiting for us.

"Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs. They'll be available at our shop this fall!" George announced excitedly as a horde of students crowded him and Fred.

"So, that was you stepping over the line?" I asked as I took the seat in between them, pressing my way through the crowd to get there.

"Yea, but we used the entire lot. We'll have to start over from scratch. It was completely worth it though, seeing that toad scurrying around all day chasing our dragon," I was excited to hear from Fred that the other teachers had reacted similarly as Flitwick and gave in to the twins' tricks for once.

I kissed Fred on the cheek happily, feeding into his excitement and those around me. The whiz-bangs had really helped to lighten my mood and I wanted to keep it that way since I figured the twins wouldn't last much longer with the rate they were going and how they were advertising that it was their fireworks that went off.

"You need a distraction?" I heard George asking eagerly and I cued back into the conversations around me.

Harry looked put off but both twins now wore mischievous smiles and I knew they would be only too happy to provide whatever assistance Harry needed.

"Yea, how about it Georgie? We haven't used that yet," Fred offered with a mischievous glint.

"Oh yes Freddie, that one will work perfectly. We'll have everything ready in an hour Harry, so be ready," George promised before both twins immediately stood up and each grabbed onto one of my hands.

I wasn't finished with my supper but I was being dragged unceremoniously out of the Great Hall before I could object. It was almost like both twins were having a telepathic conversation over my head before I was deposited onto Fred's bed up in their dormitory. George immediately started collecting his things and I knew that whatever they were planning would be their epic finale.

"So, whatever you're planning to distract Umbridge from Harry. This is it right?" I asked, hating the nervousness in my voice.

Fred sighed and plopped down beside me.

"Yea this is it. We've got a plan to head back to London and it involves getting caught," Fred admitted and I thought of being in Umbridge's office only hours earlier for my botched interrogation. "Are you going to be alright?"

I saw the worry in his gaze and even noticed George's feigned ignorance even though I knew he was waiting for my answer.

"I promise not to do anything you wouldn't do," I smiled and George burst into laughter.

"That doesn't rule out a whole heck of a lot," George continued to chuckle while Fred laughed more nervously.

"Just be safe Hare, please," Fred's genuine reply made my breath hitch and my laughing turned into a slight choking.

Fred ran his hand over my back soothingly and George returned his attention to rooting around his trunk.

"I'll be fine Fred. I love you," I said quietly and leaned forward once I caught my breath.

"I love you too Hare," Fred whispered and sealed our promise with a kiss.