53 Reflections and Ambushes

"I think Umbridge knows," Hermione told Harry the first weekend back from Christmas.

"Knows what?"

"Knows we are assisting the DMLE. It is the only excuse I can think of that makes sense about why she stopped trying to give us detentions last term."

Harry paused in thought, his hand stalling in its caress of Hermione back until she hissed at him to continue. She had a point, he had to concede. After the first few weeks of unsuccessful attempts to give both of them detentions she had stopped and opted for ridiculous Snape-level point deductions. Pretty much everyone else got detentions, well, every Gryffindor and non-pureblood anyway. Draco and his cronies actually got awarded points for the same things others would get detentions for.

"Ever wonder what happens in her detentions? I mean, I've never heard one person mention what they did in them."

"I see your point, but-"

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

The pair looked at the door, where someone had just knocked. Most of the tower knew that they didn't mind people looking for them, but usually it wasn't after curfew. The unspoken agreement was once they retired to their quarters they would be left alone. This was the first time someone had violated that.

"Yes?" Harry called, moving towards the door.

"Harry, we need your help," Neville's voice came through. "Can we come in for a minute?"

Sharing a concerned look with his wife, Harry moved to the door and opened it. Beyond he found Neville and Faye, along with a mouse haired little girl, probably a second year, who was holding her hand like it was injured.

"Come in," he moved aside to let them in. "What is going on?"

"We," Neville paused and looked at Faye. "We aren't able to say. We've tried, but there's something stopping us. We can't go to Pomfrey, and we can't get any staff help. You two are the next best option."

"What's wrong dear?" Hermione sat down on her heels, putting herself face to face with the young girl. The girl seemed to cower for a second, before Faye eased her forward, not forcing her, but in a supportive manner.

"Hurts," The girl mumbled, almost folding around her hand.

"May I see it?" Hermione held out her hand, letting the girl take the next step. She hissed when she saw the angry red marks on the back of her hand, a small trail of blood drying in the night air. The girl tried to pull her hand back, and Hermione's heart broke at the fear in her eyes.

"Sorry dear, but anything that could do this to a child makes me angry. I'm mad at whatever happened, not at you," Hermione tried to reassure her, and was partially successful as the tension eased from her shoulders. "Come over here, I think I have something that will help."

"Who?" Harry asked as he watched his wife pour out a mixture of Murtlap they used for scratches after midnight runs for the girl to soak her hand in. Neville and Faye both seemed to be choking on words, and he turned back to them. Each looked like they were trying to speak, yet they couldn't. It was obvious they were trying to find new ways of saying what they wanted but were being stopped somehow. "You can't talk about this at all, can you?"

Two depressed head shakes answered him.

"Well, I'm going to guess that u… That bitch!" He snarled, realizing he was affected as well. "How did she… doesn't matter. Anyone who has similar… issues, bring them to us, we'll treat them as best as we can. We'll try to get supplies to the other houses as well. In the meantime, it's time for war."


"Okay, I know we've been planning a big campaign, something epic over a week or two, but she needs retribution brought upon her now," Harry faced the gathering of mischief makers he had assembled, dictating action. Their first recruits in the anti-Umbridge brigade were the Weasley twins. The red haired devils had a penchant for creating chaos not seen since Harry's father and his friends were in attendance. While Hermione tended to be the one helping make everything work, there was no end to the ideas the two troublemakers could come up with. They in turn had brought in Peeves. Harry had misgivings, but no one could doubt the poltergeist's ability to create messes and disorder. The last person had been a bit of a surprise, but Luna Lovegood had been pranking the entire school for years and very very few had realized it. While the adorable fourth year really did have a wealth of knowledge of real rare magical creatures, she had an even bigger store of made-up fantastical creatures she droned on and on about to anyone who would listen, and some who wouldn't.

"What happened?" Fred asked. Well, it was the one he thought was Fred anyway.

"You've had a detention with her?" Hermione asked, and noted everyone else shaking their heads. She looked accusingly at the twins. "How have you not gotten a detention from her?"

"Oh we have, but she always makes us do them with Filch," George explained.

"Yeah, I think I've personally scrubbed and mopped just about every inch of this castle this year," his brother added.

"Ah, I see. Well, there seems to be two versions of detentions the Pink-"

"Harry!" Hermione cut him off before he began another diatribe about the woman.

"Sorry, love," he shrugged, obviously not apologetic about what he was going to say, just that it was not the best time. "Anyway, she has a lovely cup of tea with the purebloods whom she takes detentions from other teachers for. They walk out singing praises for her fair mindedness and proper understanding. Basically, they get a cup of tea and get to complain about how they aren't worshiped. The others, usually muggleborns, can't say one word about them. Not won't, but can't, due to some magical enchantment or spell. And every one of them comes out with cut hands, like they had to carve lines on the back of their own hand or something."

"How do you know this if they can't say anything?"

"We've started treating them, since they also can't go to Pomfrey or any of the other teachers with it," Hermione explained. "We do what we can, but there's only so much we are able to do. We can talk to you about it, but we tried to tell Pomfrey our suspicions and were stopped by whatever is protecting her."

"Whatever she did, it's very effective. We have not been able to speak or write about what has happened," Harry continued. "The only method we have found is related to our bonding, so it's just between us and we both know already. We just can't tell anyone."

"So we are stepping up the start date?"

"No, we just need to start earlier, smaller stuff to get her off balance, we'll still wait to get the big stuff till we are really ready. What about the voice charm?" Hermione asked.

"Which one?" Fred replied. "Both still need work but I think we might be able to get the croaking one to work by next week."

"Next week huh? I was hoping for sooner but I guess that will work."

"I can't wait to see how long she takes to go completely bonkers croaking her way around the school," Harry smiled, hugging Hermione as the twins got back to work.


Harry watched as the fifth year students practiced accuracy with floating targets in the Room. It was three days after they had attached the grain of sand sized trigger for the Croaker, which overrode Umbridge's voice to be a croak any time she was angry or otherwise emotional. It had been extremely amusing to watch her try to yell at some second years and just croak every time she opened her mouth.

It had even stopped her from giving detentions since they had activated the prank. The rest of their object lessons were nearing completion, another week and they could begin their campaign. Minerva had just about broken her usual stoic veneer when they had outlined it. The twins had outdone themselves, and even just the warmup week where they would do something to her every night in her 'secure' quarters would be amusing as hell.

"Alright everyone, l think that's —" Hermione broke off as a loud banging sounded from the entry to the room. Everyone turned, watching as the door began to bend and creak, finally giving way and bursting open.

Standing in the newly busted open doorway was Umbridge, smirking in triumph surrounded by Filch and the Inquisitorial Squad. The smirks and grins on everyone's faces was as if they had just opened a particularly desired Christmas present.

"Ah, Madam Umbridge. You know it is polite to knock, don't you?" Harry asked, moving between the invaders and their students.

"An unsanctioned, illegal meeting I see. That will be detentions for the rest of the year for everyone here I do believe." The sadistic glint in Umbridge's eye made Harry want to vomit, but he throttled the urge and responded simply.

"You are mistaken, this meeting is not illegal."

"Any gathering of three or more students must be approved. I have not approved this so it is illegal, and you shall be punished." The gleefully imperious tone reminded Harry of Voldemort, but more slimy.

"You are correct that this is a gathering of more than three students. However, the Hogwarts charter allows private tuition with tutors regardless of other restrictions. As everyone here has a contract with approved and registered tutors, your decree does not apply," Hermione informed the witch, watching as the manic gleam increased.

"I have not approved any such tutoring."

"Your approval is not required. The required contracts go through the Deputy Headmistress. They were approved and due to the number of students, group sessions were arranged. Now if you don't mind, we would like to get back to work," Harry clarified, knowing it would not matter but putting it on the record.

"I see no tutors, so your excuse is invalid. I'll have to add additional detentions for you since you seem to be the troublemakers in charge." Umbridge looked ready to skin them now.

"We are in charge because we are the tutors," Hermione moved to stand next to Harry. "We are fully registered as such and have the Deputy Headmistress's permission to lead group sessions due to the large number of students requesting Defense tutoring."

"Defense is my responsibility, you have no right to deviate from my teaching!" The scream was almost painful. "I teach a Ministry approved curriculum and there is no cause for additional work, it is perfectly adequate!"

"Given the issues we have been finding, I'd say the opposite is true," Harry added fuel to the fire. "Almost all of them could not cast at least one of the required Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL spells. Your teaching method seems to require some improvement."

"You insolent little shit, there is nothing wrong with the Ministry approved—"

"What is going on here?"

Everyone turned to see Minerva McGonagall standing in the ruined doorway, stern look across her face.

"These students are all in detention with me for the rest of the year for an unauthorized and illegal gathering of students. These two will serve them even longer and have all privileges revoked!" Umbridge waved at the group, then at Harry and Hermione.

"Mister Potter?"

"Professor, as we tried to explain to Professor Umbridge, this is the regularly scheduled tutoring session for the fifth-year students. We informed her that we had all the paperwork and contracts filed with you, as required by the school's charter, but she said it didn't matter since she didn't approve it," Harry said calmly, watching the triumphant glint in Umbridge's eyes shine.

"Under Educational Decree number twenty-seven, as High Inquisitor I must approve any gathering of more than three students. I have not approved this and therefore it is illegal."

"I wasn't aware you had to approve everyone's classes, I certainly have not had to get your approval to teach my Transfiguration classes," Minerva looked over her glasses at the squat woman.

"Maybe I should…"

"What was that?"

"Nothing Minerva," Umbridge covered her snarl. "Either way, regular classes are not required to get that approval under the decree."

"Correct, they aren't," the Deputy Headmistress agreed. "Because their occurrence is guaranteed as part of the charter, as is the right to be tutored by an approved tutor in any subject a student desires. Every student here has filed the correct paperwork to enter into private tutelage, under an approved tutor. Due to the number of requests, the tutors approached me as Deputy Headmistress and a group session was approved."

"I never approved this, and it is my class they are corrupting with these teachings!"

"Corrupting?" Hermione scoffed. "We are applying the lessons you teach. You may be able to cast any spell just by studying it, but they can't. We provide a safe place to practice and perfect those teachings. Yes, we add helpful bits about the application, but they merely build on your foundation."

Harry had to restrain himself. How his wife could say that with a straight face he'd have to find out, because he was barely holding in the snort of derision that threatened to escape.

"You will cease and desist at once!" Umbridge was yelling at a level to try and shake the castle now.

"No, they will not. If they stop, they would be in breach of contract, both the one between themselves and those they tutor as well as between themselves and the school," Minerva cut off the tirade. "Everything is in order Dolores, you have no authority over the private endeavors of the students. If they wish to hire private tutors, they may. Any tutor they desire, for any subject, so long as the tutor is duly registered with the school."

"We'll just see about that," sniffed Umbridge, turning on her heel and strutting out of the room, her minions following with glares for the occupants.

"Think she'll do something rash?" Harry asked.

"Probably, but she has the Minister behind her, so be careful," Minerva answered.

"Can't be any worse than half the things we've done just this year," Harry smirked, and Hermione shook her head in resignation at him.