Chapter Eight: A Bitter Loss and Bitter End

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

The underground group of students seemed to be going well. They were learning how to defend themselves, but also learning how to interact well with the other houses, especially when it came to the Slytherins. Sure, there was still some hostility but they were slowly breaking down those prejudices one step at a time seeing how Harry and Draco interacted. Hermione and Ron were still trying to figure out Harry's secret but he held them off at bay, telling them the lie. He could tell that they didn't buy it which made Harry more nervous at the fact that they would figure it out soon. He promised himself that once the Quidditch match against Slytherin was over he would go have a chat with Draco, Susan, and Padma, tell them that he was going to tell his two best friends the truth, not all of it but just a tiny bit. He would figure out the right way to say it as the week ramped up for the match, thinking everything would be normal.

That was until a few days after the match when Draco finally got a letter back from Susan's aunt. In it, she spoke about his information to the whereabouts of Peter Pettigrew being true. News would be held hush when they located Sirius Black to ask questions. This gave the group some good news that they've been needing for a while. It wasn't easy since Umbridge has been slowly pushing down on the normality of Hogwarts.

The only escape the students has besides the sessions were Hogsmeade visits. Another month went by and before they knew it, it was December. Harry, Padma, Draco, and Susan were trying to keep this under wraps, going out at night to visit Helena Ravenclaw's ghost for information. But now they're focus turned towards Umbridge.

As Harry continued with his lessons with Snape and the secret ones with Susan, he was getting the hang of blocking people out. He wasn't a master per se but he did manage a couple of times to fully push Susan out of his mind. Not only that but it seemed that everything was going all right, if only it had stayed that way. He knew it was only a matter of time before their luck ran out even if it sounded very pessimistic.

So, Harry waited for the day of reckoning to come. He didn't know it would be so soon.

There was a loud boom coming from outside the room of requirement, making everyone inside freeze. Susan started mumbling under her breath for the Room to give them a secret passage away and just as she did, another explosion echoed. All of them knew instantly that they've been found.

Harry called for everyone's attention to get to the door, leading them god knows where but hopefully away. Susan was thankful that their plans were stored away on paper in their books bags safely tucked away in their perspective common rooms. Still, Susan knew that someone would be taking the blame, so she did what any loyal person would do for their loved ones and friends.

She jumped in front of them and took the metaphorical bullet.

As Padma, Harry and Draco were the final ones to enter, Susan quickly shoved the book in the blonde Slytherins arms. It was all the notes that she took on her visions and outlining different plans for the Operation against Umbridge. Draco was confused until she told the Room to close the door. Harry locked eyes with Susan and understood. But he also knew that if Susan was going down, she wouldn't have to do it alone. Before she knew it, Harry jumped out of the hole in the wall, leaving Padma, Draco, Hermione, Ron, and all the other students panicked as the wall sealed itself shut. It looked as if nothing ever penetrated the grey, bland looking wall leaving Harry and Susan alone.

"Why did you do that?" Susan asked, flinching as the next explosion rocked the room of requirement.

"Thought you could use an ally." He grinned at her because there was no way he was going to let Susan Bones face Umbridge by herself without back up.

Both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff waited for the reckoning as the blast finally did the damage and from the smoke and debris stood a smiling Umbridge holding onto Marietta Edgecombe, on her forehead was the word Sneak spelled out in icky boils on her face.

So that's what Hermione jinx did? Was his only thought as they were rounded up by Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad. They were led by them to Dumbledore's office, Susan and Harry not showing an ounce of fear. Susan's head was held high as she marched up the steps.

Professor Umbridge seemed rather smug as she noticed Dumbledore looking on with a serene facial expression. Their head of houses was called up, looking confused yet silently angry at the teenagers, especially McGonagall.

Umbridge gave them a sickly sweet smile when she spoke. "I believe they are to be suspended Dumbledore? It does state that if students are doing something that could cause harm to their fellow student and/or faculty it would lead to expulsion from Hogwarts, am I not correct?"

Dumbledore looked at them with an unreadable expression on their faces, which sent fear down into Harry's gut. Dumbledore wouldn't do that to him... would he?

"It does state so Dolores. I would need to talk with their guardians about this if you would so kindly have the rest of the students leave the room?"

Umbridge looked like the gates of heaven opened up for her, as an icky expression that Harry could on describe as a toad trying to express joy passed over her face at the fact that Harry Potter would be getting suspended.

They were getting expelled, kicked out of Hogwarts. It felt like a punch in the gut for both Harry and Susan. Dumbledore informed them that their guardians will be contacted which made Harry somewhat tense at the fact that the Dursley's would be contacted. Lo and behold he was right when Aunt Petunia of all people stepped out with Susan's aunt next to her.

Aunt Petunia looked somewhat miffed at being here but not outright frightened or mortified at the fact that she was in Hogwarts with a bunch of Freaks, like she usually was. It made Harry a bit suspicious. Nonetheless, he held his tongue as Aunt Petunia and Amelia Bones looked between Dumbledore and Umbridge.

Dumbledore thanked them for being here and explained what happened.

Both Susan and Harry held each other's hand tightly as Dumbledore laid the consequences. He let out a heavy sigh and Harry did not want to hear what came next as the old headmaster looked at him with sorrow in his eyes. No, he refused to believe it, he refused-

"Both of you will be expelled from Hogwarts until further notice. I will send your head of house to fetch your things."

Harry wanted to throw up and Susan looked like she wanted to cry. Her grip on his hand tightened to the point where the blood flow was stopped and her knuckles turned white. He was trying to stop himself from outright lashing out, to scream at Umbridge and at Dumbledore. Hell, he'd even scream at the old Sorting Hat.

Instead, he sat there numbly letting the cold facts sink in.

He was leaving Hogwarts, he was never coming back.

It was over, they lost.

"Susan, take Harry's hand and into the fireplace." Amelia Bones directed her niece. She nodded rather glumly as she took Harry's hand and left. Their stuff was shrunk down to fit in their pockets.

Never uttering a single word, saying soft goodbyes to their heads of houses. Susan swore McGonagall looked like she was about to cry but she hid it quickly. Umbridge, on the other hand, was practically salivating at the fact that Harry Potter was leaving Hogwarts. no doubt it would make the front page of the Daily Prophet soon tomorrow. Not only that but that she was leaving Hogwarts as well, so it would be Christmas for Umbridge at the fact that she got Amelia Bones' niece, a well known and respected person in the Ministry, to be expelled. It truly was a nightmare for them and a dream come true for her.

Susan and Harry said the words for her home and left in a woosh. A few minutes later, they were stumbling out of the fireplace and into her cottage home in Sheffield. It was cozy, welcoming, something Suan needed. SHe helped Harry and together they walked inside the spacious living room only for the fireplace to come to life as Amelia and Petunia Dursley came out.

"Made it safe and sound then?" A voice said making Harry and Susan jump a mile out of their skin.

Mad-Eye Moody along with Remus, a woman, and another man looked at the adults who came out of the fireplace. Just as Susan was about to open her mouth, she heard Harry cry out, "I knew it!" Pointing at what once was Petunia Dursley, standing where the blonde horse-faced woman was a twenty-something year old with bubblegum pink hair.

"Nymphadora, you should have let us tell them instead of revealing yourself like that!" The older woman said sternly. Tonks rolled her eyes.

"Mum, it's fine."

"Wait a minute. Mum?" Susan said. It clicked looking at the older man and woman. SHe had a striking resemblance to an infamous prisoner in Azkaban. "You're Draco's aunt! You're Andromeda Black!"

"What are you guys doing here?" Harry asked looking at Mad-Eye and Remus.

"Protection Potter." The old Auror said gruffly ending the conversation at that.

Andromeda smiled at the teens nodding her head. She introduced herself and her husband Ted, who waved at them. The only people who weren't smiling were Mad-Eye, Remus and Amelia. Harry swallowed thickly and Susan braced herself for the lecture.

"What were you thinking Susan? Making an underground club against Umbridge? What made you think that this would have a happy outcome or that somehow the world would get back to their senses, is that what it was for? Do you have any idea what the damages are to be held against us? Against me and you because, you decided that a hidden club teach students how to defend themselves was a good idea, that it didn't occur to you that it looked in the Ministry's eyes a rally to go against them from within Hogwarts?" Amelia Bones said hotly.

"Auntie, she's a menace. Yes, we shouldn't have done it but she was hurting us all. Hurting students left and right under the disguise of detention." Susan explained as tears welled up.

Amelia looked at her, anger visibly leaving her eyes as concern and fright took over. The other adults not far behind Amelia's expression, Andromeda narrowed her eyes just like Draco would do.

"What do you mean Susan?" Amelia asked.

She exchanged a look at Harry who seemed tense. Should they say this? If they said this, then maybe it could mean that Umbridge could be ousted from Hogwarts... It sent a bit of hope spreading in her body.

Slowly, she showed her aunt her hand. The scars on her hand that said, I will not talk back, it was faint but it could still be read. Harry showed his as well, the words I will not tell lies also just as faint as Susan's.

Amelia looked angry, the angriest that Susan has ever seen her aunt.

"We can't do anything yet. For now, let us wait until this has been blown over. I'll have to carefully get more students to agree to be witnesses." Amelia mused. "I'll have two Aurors handle this case, I already have a couple working on another case."

Mad-Eye spoke up. "Aye but that one is coming to close, Amelia. All that is left is for you to start pressing charges."

Harry and Susan both knew that she was talking about the Sirius Black case but kept that to themselves as they observed the adults talk.

"Well, until then Harry," Mad-Eye said. "There has been a change of plans that I will explain. First being said, since your godfather is now awaiting his trial, you will be staying with the Tonkses since your muggle relatives and I quote "Don't want nothing to do with that ungrateful brat". They have agreed to be your guardians as per your godfather's wishes."

It felt like a dream come true for Harry. An overwhelming one at best, considering the news that he probably wouldn't be going to the Dursleys anymore. He nodded, smiling at Tonk who gave him the biggest grin he had ever seen plastered on someone's face.

If it wasn't for the other fact that he was expelled from school, Harry would have welcomed the idea of living with a magical family. Now, it just felt bittersweet.

"Remus has agreed to tutor you and Susan for the time being while we sort out this mess. If that's alright with you Remus?" Amelia asked.

The older man smiled. "It's fine by me Amelia."

Susan wasn't paying attention to the details, her mind wandering at what everyone at school was being told this very moment or tomorrow morning. That two students were expelled for going against the rules Umbridge set, for "endangering a faculty member" in her words. There would be rumors at what went down. Susan was worried about her housemates, Hannah, Padma, and Draco.

They said their goodbyes, Susan hugging Harry tightly.

"Don't be a stranger you hear me, Harry?" She told him.

Harry gave him a sad smile, as if trying to put on a brave face but was slowly failing to do so. "Yeah, you too Susan."

As she watched from the frame of her doorway, Harry holding onto Tonks and his snow owl disapparated. Four more pops as Andromeda, Ted, Remus, and Mad-Eye also left.

Susan, for what seemed like the first time, felt despair at the fact that she was expelled. It was hopeless, a crushing defeat for the strawberry-blonde haired girl as she left her face to crumble.

They lost, kept chanting in her head. They lost, they lost, they lost.

NOTES: I'm baaaaack! Man, I'm sorry for not updating this sooner but I got hit badly with a virus, scratch that I'm still not over the stupid virus.I'm like 50% feeling better, but I'm still not 100% back. Anyway, enough about me being miserably sick here is chapter 8! Thanks to everyone who has loved this story!

Leave a comment guys, just to say hi or something, surprise me! ;3