A/n: an update. after what felt like forever.

Kurt sat filling out his detention ledger with the particulars of his detention slip stumps as they waited for Professor Umbridge to arrive, it was only the first day of lessons but people had accumulated a great number of infraction over the weekend between their arrival and the present. Kurt had been stationed in the ground floor landing of the grand staircase along with Hermione, because the head prefects knew better than to separate them. He had punished juniors for horseplay in the corridors and seniors for dress code violations, he had given out so many detentions that he had volunteered to take Professor Snape's detentions. Fred and George had accused him of letting power go to his head when he'd written them up for uniform infractions, Kurt begged to differ as he felt he was simply doing his job to the best of his ability; he could not be blamed for having abilities greater than most.

His peers weren't as dedicated to their new duties or the new academic year as he was, Hermione and the rest of the prefects had barely reprimanded any students, and now the entirety of their Defence Against the Dark arts class was lounging about. Kurt refused to partake in the folding of parchment into all manner of enchanted flying contraptions; Hermione had managed to make a helicopter, shaming Draco who was quite proud of his sparrow. It was sudden- and all the fifth years were caught unawares- when both the sparrow and the helicopter burst into flames, eyes moved as quickly to Kurt as they did to Professor Umbridge when she cleared her throat.

The woman wore a bright purple heavily weaved wool dress that was awful to behold and entirely unflattering, she spoke in the same voice she had used last night; smooth, high pitched and authoritative but that still managed to make you feel like you were being harangued even at its softest, "Good morning fifth years, this is a very important year in your wizarding education as this is the year when you sit for your Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations, also known as you OWLs." She gave a false smile, "The ministry has appointed me due to the slipping standards as a result of your uneven curriculum, together we will achieve the best result by following a better structured and ministry approved curriculum."

A small brightly covered book landed before each of them, Kurt eyed the cover and rolled his eyes, Hermione raised her hand, "Professor Umbridge, this book is on conflict resolution, it doesn't have any content to the effect of using defensive spells."

"That is correct," she spoke as she walked around the class room, her teaching style felt like she had read too many self-help books on effective management. She leaned in too far forward and varied her eye-contact too much as if she were attempting to make everyone feel like they were in an intimate meeting with her, "The ministry feels that a sound and well-rounded theoretical understanding of conflict resolution is sufficient to prepare you for your OWLs."

"Sufficient?" Mandy's spoke, her voice terse as Lisa beside her clutched her chest.

"Yes," Professor Umbridge gave a soft smile that made her look like she'd spotted her dinner, "Sufficient to ensure that those who work hard will excel." Mandy let out a sigh of relief, "By providing the information necessary for dealing with conflict in a controlled and secure environment, I will be able to best equip you for your examinations."

"What good is that?" Harry snapped, Kurt couldn't help rolling his eyes, "If we're going to be attacked, it's not going to be in a secure and controlled environment."

"You will raise your hands before speaking in my classroom," Professor Umbridge snapped back before dressing herself back in the fallacy of her sweet demeanour, "It is the ministry's understanding that a theoretical understanding of the subject matter will be sufficient to prepare you for your examinations." She gave a small sharp giggle as she glared down at Harry from beside his seat, "besides, who would want to attack children?"

"Oh, let me think," Harry glared back at her, "Voldemort."

There was a round of gasps and Professor Umbridge shook her head, "you have all been told by Harry Potter and his friends that a certain dark wizard is once more at large, this is a lie."

"If it's a lie, then Cedric Diggory just dropped dead?" Harry shouted back at the woman who and moved across the classroom.

"What happened to Mr Diggory was a terrible accident that was a result of the poor judgement of Professor Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman," her voice was almost hypnotising with its lulling shrillness, "the ministry has taken precautions to prevent a tragedy of this kind from occurring again; Ludo Bagman has been removed from his post and the Triwizard Tournament is once more restricted in Britain."

"Cedric's death wasn't an accident, he was murdered by Voldemort," Harry looked directly at Kurt as he spoke, as if willing him to say something to corroborate his story. Kurt stared back at him blankly, "Denying it doesn't make it any less true."

"That's enough Mr Potter," Her voice was level, "Detention." She let out a huffed breath, "your fear mongering and lies are not welcome here at Hogwarts. You've disrupted my class and as a result I will dismiss you early but I expect the first chapter copied in triplicate and on my desk tomorrow morning, you will also be required to right a thousand-word essay on proper classroom etiquette for tomorrow morning."

There was a round of groans. Kurt packed his things as his peers began to leave, a shadow was cast over his desk and he looked up to see Harry Potter looking down at him, "I haven't the time to chat, I have three essays to write and a shit load of studying to get through before I have to be at my post for prefect duty."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Harry hissed at him.

"There was nothing for me to say," Kurt shook his head as he took long strides out into the corridor.

"You could have backed me up," Harry snapped, without raising his voice above a whisper.

"And said what?" Kurt stopped in his tracks and glared at the green eyed boy, "I have to appear sane so that when I tell people I believe you they don't believe we've both lost our minds, you're making enough of a spectacle of yourself for the both of us." Kurt shook his head, "maybe try keeping a low profile, screaming across classrooms makes you seem desperate and unhinged; you're writing The Daily Prophet's slander for them."

"But-" Harry began but Kurt raised a silencing finger.

"I don't know any more than what you've told me," Kurt reminded him, "Technically speaking, I don't have grounds on which to back you up."

Harry gaped at him, "Kurt-"

"I bet you wish I was silent now," Kurt chuckled, "Now, be gone before I write you up for your sloppy dress."

~0~

Kurt concentrated on the task at hand, he created each stitch with precision and determination- it had to be perfect. Kurt was a slow knitter but he made up for his short-comings with perfect results and by enchanting, with the help of Hermione, several sets of knitting needles to mimic what his hands were doing and produce winter goodies for the house elves as he was. Hermione was enchanting the labels and sowing them onto the inside in a similar fashion and Denis sat cross legged, folding the assortment of jumpers, hats and socks. It was just the three of them working because Spew had lost its popularity; Professor Burbage was no longer forcing her students to attend as she'd lost the authority to do so, in his death Cedric could no longer compel his friends to be present and Kurt had told Finn that he need not do the same, the remainder of their numbers had been chased away by the slander campaign against Harry. Over the click of knitting needles and occasional snap of thread, there was soft chatting.

"Did you learn spells in second year?" Denis peered at the pair curiously.

Hermione shook her head, "not in Defence Against the Dark Arts, we had Professor Lockhart, a world famous wizard."

"He was too wrapped up in his ego to teach us anything," Kurt giggled, "little did most know, that ego was a veil to hide his incompetence; he was a fraud, he'd stolen his feats from other wizards."

"I didn't want to fall behind," Denis looked back down to concentrate on his task, "Professor Umbridge isn't teaching us to use magic, Colin says that you were teaching Duelling Club when you were in second year."

"I was assisting," Kurt corrected.

"You might as well have been teaching," Hermione smiled softly, "Professor Lockhart didn't know his ear from his elbow."

"Collin says Harry Potter should have taught," Denis shook his head, "I think he's out of his mind."

"Oh Denis," Kurt smiled, "You're so kind. Next time Collin says that, you tell him that he doesn't know because he never came to any of my duelling club meetings." Kurt beckoned the boy closer, "don't tell anyone this but, I petrified him because he was a fan someone other than me."

Denis giggled, "I'll take it to my grave."

"Denis," Hermione nodded to herself as she spoke, "would you mind terribly, taking this batch of goods to Gryffindor tower? Hannah and Padma will be along soon to relieve and it would be best if we didn't start a new batch."

"Of course," Denis grinned broadly, "should I get you anything on my way up?"

"No, we're fine," she gave him the kind of smile one's mother gives them when she's setting their feelings at ease, "thank you."

Kurt watched the short boy bounce away from them, once he was around the corner he turned to Hermione, "What's up?"

"Have you noticed anything about Harry?" Hermione twiddled her thumbs nervously, looking as uncomfortable as Kurt's father at an Alaïa sale.

"Nothing I wasn't expecting," Kurt shook his head, "no. Why?"

"That's alright then," Hermione nodded, her shoulders slumped but a smile on her face.

"What is it I was supposed to notice?" Kurt narrowed his gaze, "he doesn't appear to be on drugs, should I check between his fingers and toes for tracks?"

"No," Hermione shook her head, "let it go."

"You know very well I won't let it go," Kurt rolled his eyes, "You brought it up because you want me to know, you want to consult me on the matter. Tell me."

"It's not my place," Hermione stared at the hat in her hands intently.

"When have we ever let that stop us?" Kurt smirked, "tell me because I don't want to be blindsided by this later."

"It's about his detention," Hermione whispered, "Umbridge has him writing lines and well… he's writing the lines in his own blood and the words are being carved into the back of his hand."

"I'm sorry," Kurt shook his head, "what?"

"He's writing lines with some special quill that does it in his blood," Hermione threw her head into her hands, "she's torturing him."

Kurt nodded slowly, "We have to tell Professor Snape or Professor McGonagall."

"Harry doesn't want to bother anyone with the matter," Hermione pleaded.

"Don't be ridiculous," Kurt's tone was dismissive, "we have to tell a teacher, Harry doesn't know what's best for him."

"I'm sure he'd disagree," Hermione scoffed.

"I'm sure he would but we're not consulting him," Kurt grinned, "we're doing what we believe is best."

Hermione shook her head, "I'm not sure how wise that is."

Kurt smiled broadly, "we're following due process."

Hermione nodded, "then it'll have to be Professor McGonagall."

Realisation struck Kurt, "Is that why he's been wearing the gloves I got him for his birthday even though it hasn't cooled down enough?" Hermione nodded solemnly, "I thought it was because he was trying to win my favour, trying to get me to come out publicly on his side."

Hermione shook her head, "why?"

"Why what?" Kurt quirked his brow as they got up to make way for Hannah and Padma.

"Why haven't you come out in support of him?" Hermione's voice seemed to nudge him as they walked side by side toward the great hall for dinner.

"I support him on a smaller scale," Kurt nodded to himself, "I'm waiting for an endorsement from the ministry before I come out more publicly."

"An endorsement?" Hermione furrowed her brow, "What makes you think you'll get that?"

Kurt smirked, "Cornelius Fudge and the Prophet will portray me in a positive light any day now, and on the wings of that I will come out in support of Harry. They'll look like fools if they try to withdraw their endorsement."

"You just have a feeling?" Hermione scoffed.

"I know for certain," Kurt smiled malevolently, "I've been well behaved, I've distanced myself from Professor Dumbledore and I'm sure word has gotten around that I haven't supported Harry Potter yet this academic year."

"Granger, Hummel," Tracey waved them over as soon as they entered the dining hall.

"Did Tracey Davis just say my name?" Hermione hissed in his ear.

Kurt's smile broadened, "Being invited over by Slytherins, you must feel so hip." Kurt lead Hermione over to where Tracey was sitting with her charms notes spread out before her, "Good evening Tracey, what's up?"

"I was reviewing the notes I compiled on compounded spell casting," she smiled up at them, "and I think I'm ready to discuss, you two said at a later date." She schooled her features so they were dead serious, "It's a later date."

"Indeed it is," Hermione nodded, dropping onto the bench of the Slytherin Long table, "and luckily for you, I made a few note as well." She smiled up at Kurt as she took the seat beside Tracey and gestured for Kurt to take the seat opposite them, "now, what do you have?"

"Well," Tracey gave a small smile, her voice ashy like a smoker's, "the simplest way of going about it would be simultaneous spell casting, multiple spell caster works on the enchantments at the same time. This would imbue the selected properties into the item in question."

"That, whilst serving the purpose, would only be as good as your weakest spell caster," Hermione nodded to herself.

"Say more," Tracey egged her on.

"Imagine if it were you, Kurt, Seamus Finnegan and I casting the enchantments together. Seamus has inconsistent spell casting results and that would skew the outcomes of the enchantments," Hermione smiled.

"Seamus gets consistent results," Kurt giggled, "Consistently disastrous. I think he might be a bigger pyromaniac than I am."

Tracey giggled, "Finnegan's ineptitude aside, what do you suggest Granger?"

"I suggest the layering of spells, in order of the properties each will imbue," Hermione nodded to herself, "this should be done by a single spell caster. This will insure a more consistent result."

Tracey shook her head, "that's just sequential spell casting, the properties would all exist at once but that's not what I'm talking about." Tracey stared at him, "what do you think Hummel?"

Kurt nodded slowly, "a single caster could cast all the spells at once."

"I considered that but," Tracey bit her lip, "I don't think it's possible."

"Not at fifth year level skill," Kurt shook his head, "but a more trained wizard could manage it."

Tracey tilted her head slightly, she quirked her brow curiously, "How?"

"This is theoretical," Kurt nodded to himself as his mind worked, "there are a number of skill that you could use to allow you to do it; if the spells are cast non verbally then you can 'say' all the incantations on top of each other."

"I see," Tracey pursed his lips, "using a wand and wandless magic to cast the spells at the same time."

"I'm not saying just anyone could do it," Kurt suddenly, "solving this was easy because we're brilliant and beautiful."

"What does our beauty have to do with spell casting?" Tracey furrowed her brows.

"Don't interrupt my train of thought," Kurt shook his head, "significant brain capacity and concentration will be necessary to carry the task out, a level of skill beyond that necessary for the mastery of wandless magic, duel spell casting and non-verbal spell casting."

"Talent?" Tracey scoffed, "you've got to be fucking kidding me!"

"For some magic comes more easily," Kurt shrugged.

Hermione shook her head, "Are you telling me that our brilliance isn't enough?"

"Not alone," Kurt shook his head.

"Please don't say Harry Potter," Tracey shook her head.

"I wouldn't dare," Kurt chuckled, "Brilliance might not be primary but it is integral." Kurt smiled villainously, "the skill set required to master this kind of magic calls for a very skilled wizard."

"But we've only given the idea some thought," Hermione self-satisfactorily pursed her lips.

"Did we-" Tracey giggled, her grin matching Kurt's, "did we just create a new branch of magic? Or at the very least a new way of enacting enchantments."

Kurt shook his head, "we didn't do shit, you did this." Kurt surveyed the room quickly, "I see Professor McGonagall, please may I be excused."

~0~

"I'm surprised you guys still have time to eat," Ron spoke around a mouth full of sausage.

"Considering we actually do our Prefect duties," Kurt scoffed.

"That," Ron nodded, "and you guys are always whispering and knitting and with Denis."

"You almost sound jealous," Hermione teased.

"Of knitting?" Ron's voice was sharp.

"Of Denis," Kurt chuckled, "And with good reason. He's charming, adorable and witty."

"Kind and so polite," Hermione nodded to herself.

"Are you questioning my authority to punish students for infractions in my own classroom?" Kurt's attention was drawn to Professor Umbridge who stood at the head table beside Professor McGonagall.

"Not at all," Professor McGonagall kept her voice low, conscious of the presence of students, "I merely mean to question your methods. As head of house and deputy headmaster, the well-being of students is always my concern."

"To question my authority, is to question the authority of the ministry," Professor Umbridge seemed to grow as she spoke, "and by doing so you question the Minister himself. I am a tolerant woman but one thing I will not tolerate is disloyalty."

"Disloyalty?" Professor McGonagall looked like she'd been caught breaking into homes and eating babies.

Professor Umbridge turned to address the masses, "things at Hogwarts are far worse than I ever imagined, I will urge Cornelius to take immediate action."

They all watched Professor Umbridge storm out, Kurt and Harry exchanged a look, "You told her."

"You weren't going to do it," Kurt shrugged.

"You had no right," Harry shouted, wagging his finger in Kurt's face.

Kurt shook his head, "I had every right."

"Oh yeah," Harry crossed his arms and Kurt chuckled, "on what grounds?"

"I'm your friend and your well-being means something to me," Kurt shook his head.

"Granted," Harry nodded, "but why'd you have to tell Professor McGonagall?"

Kurt rolled his eyes, "Because she's your head of house, while you are at school your well-being is her responsibility." Kurt shrugged, "it's also proper procedure when a teacher acts out of turn to take the matter up with your respective head of house, given your history with Professor Snape I thought it indecorous to take the matter up with him."

"Indecorous," Ron echoed, he chuckled to himself but was startled by the mail landing in front of him, "I'm okay."

"Is it another stack of letters from Kurt's desire of suitors?" Hermione giggled.

"Desire?" Harry furrowed his brow.

"Suitors?" Ron echoed with a similar facial expression.

"There was no collective noun for suitors," Hermione shrugged, "Tracey decided that a desire of suitors had the right impact."

"Tracey Davis? The Slytherin girl?" Ron furrowed her brow, "You all chummy with her now?"

"She's really smart and really pretty," Kurt shrugged, "why wouldn't we get along with her."

"Proximity helps," Hermione nodded to herself, "She's a prefect and so are we."

"Who is in your desire of suitors?" Harry quirked a brow.

"Nobody as interesting as Viktor Krum or Christopher Bembridge," Kurt giggled, "what I wouldn't give to have a world famous quidditch player and a dux scholar after me."

Hermione took a bite of her toast, "Don't forget the famous quidditch player in the making."

"How could I forget Anthony Rickett," Kurt giggled, "his biceps are amongst the best I've ever seen."

"Well, now we know who is in Hermione's desire of suitors," Harry rolled his eyes, eyeing the package that sat between him and Kurt, "but who is in yours?"

"The Auror in training Noah Puckerman," Hermione giggled, "Gregory Goyle, Terry Boot-"

"Nobody knows if Terry is a suitor," Kurt shook his head, "I think he's just a flirt by nature."

"Maybe," Hermione furrowed her brow, then shook her head, "but his obsession with your posterior definitely qualifies him."

"I'm sorry I asked," Harry shook his head, "who is the parcel from?"

Kurt eyed the card and smiled victoriously, "It's not from any of my suitors."

"I'll be the judge of that," Hermione snatched the card and her smile fell, "it's from Charles."

"Prince Charles?" Ron furrowed his brow.

"No," Kurt rolled his eyes, "Your brother Charles."

"Why is Hipster Weasley sending you parcels?" Hermione shook her head.

"Apparently because it made him think of Kurt," Harry giggled as he eyed the card, having snatched it from Hermione.

"Why is my brother thinking of you?" Ron pointed an accusatory finger, "is he suitoring you?"

"Most certainly not," Kurt shook his head and opened the box, inside was an ebony frame with curled reddish-purple cane inside.

"What is it?" Harry furrowed his brow.

"A dragon heart string," Hermione's eyes were wide.

"A petrified dragon heart string," Kurt corrected.

"Why would my brother send you a petrified dragon heart string?"

"Because I suggested petrification as a means of preserving dragon carcases for study," Kurt shrugged, "I wrote a paper on it over the summer, after Charles told me about the difficulty they had keeping cadaver specimens fresh without altering their chemistry." Kurt smiled, "I mailed him my paper and apparently it has been a success."

"Such a success," Hermione's jaw went slack as she scanned the letter that she'd pulled out from the bottom of the box, "that you've been offered a position at the dragon sanctuary upon your graduation."

"How did you know to suggest that?" Harry eyed him suspiciously, "How could you think of it when so many more qualified wizards hadn't considered the idea?"

"Firstly, because I have more experience with the petrification of living flesh. Secondly, it's a spell I've had in my arsenal for years," Kurt smirked, "and lastly, because I'm more willing to experiment with dark magic than most more qualified wizards."

"That doesn't explain why my brother was thinking of you," Ron growled.

"Because they recently started implementing Kurt's idea and your brother was working with petrified flesh for the first time," Hermione explained as she read the letter, "Also Kurt once mentioned wanting to build his own wand, a wand core seemed like an appropriate gift. Regards, Charles Hector Weasley."

"His middle name is Hector," Kurt pursed his lips, "that's smart."

"Explain," Harry frowned.

"In Arthurian legend, Hector was the foster father of King Arthur," Kurt giggled, "Ron's father, Arthur, has a son named Hector."

"I don't get it," Harry shook his head.

"It's like if you ended up with a girl named Sally, Ron with one name Kim, or even me with a guy named Leo," Hermione explained, "life mirroring art? Nothing?"

"I'll have to take your word for it," Harry shrugged. Kurt smiled to himself but then Harry's ears perked up, "I still think you shouldn't have told Professor McGonagall."

"Damn, I should have got up and left," Kurt whispered to himself, he squared up with Harry Potter, "Listen to me, I was right to alert an adult." Kurt reached out and took Harry's hand, "I'm going to get quite real with you, your history with adults makes you sceptical and untrusting of them to come out in your support."

"What-"

"I'm still speaking," Kurt shook his head, "adults have disappointed you endlessly; your parents died and didn't give you the childhood you deserve, your aunt and uncle are assholes, Professor Dumbledore sent you to live with those assholes, and everybody here keeps sending you back to live with said assholes."

"We need to establish some boundaries," Harry shook his head.

"We are beyond boundaries," Kurt chuckled, "my point is that people, myself included, care about you beyond your status as the boy who lived." Kurt schooled his features, "if somebody is making you carve letters into the back of your hand, it is my responsibility to ensure your wellbeing and that you are avenged."

"You suddenly care about me being avenged?" Harry scoffed, "you sat by quietly while I was being slandered and called a liar."

"Firstly, you used 'slander' correctly, congratulations." Kurt narrowed his gaze, "secondly, I have always cared about your well-being and image." Kurt pulled a copy of The Daily Prophet from his bag, "Turn to page six."

Harry scanned the paper and came to a stop on the prescribed article, after a moment he spoke, "I don't understand."

"The minister for magic is cited as mentioning me as one of the upstanding students of Hogwarts," Kurt rolled his eyes, "he cites my academic brilliance, high moral fibre and my ability to make good choices as the contributing factors to my status as an exemplary member of wizarding Britain's society."

"What does this mean?"

"It means Kurt has a pass to say and do whatever he wants," Hermione smiled, "by behaving for the first bit of this year he managed to convince Professor Umbridge and subsequently the Minister for Magic that he was sane."

"I can do whatever I want now," Kurt pursed his lips malevolently, "by keeping my wits and moving past the period of mourning, I have shown the world and the ministry that my mind isn't dominated by the death of Cedric Diggory. What I say now, will now be seen as the beliefs of a level headed individual."

~0~

An Open Letter to the Minister for Magic,

Dear Minister, you have no clothes on. This metaphor might be lost on you because it belongs to the muggle world and references a folktale with which you might not be familiar, I will explain it to you. The metaphor means that you are showing the world just how foolish you are, your denialist attitude surrounding the events of the night of the third task of the Triwizard Tournament and Cedric Diggory death.

I do not label a man of your stature a fool lightly, I have great respect for you and your position as Minister for Magic but I have come to a point where I cannot be silent any longer. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Lord Voldemort on Halloween of 1981 were far from clear cut and to an educated man like yourself it would be obvious that there was a possibility he might return. Yet and still you remain obstinate on the matter of The Dark Lord's Return- one would expect better of an Order of Merlin, First Class recipient.

The evidence to support The Dark Lord's return might not be immediately obvious but is it not a better use of your time to investigate these claims rather than slandering a young boy with an already difficult life. The disappearance of Bertha Jorkins during her holiday in Albania, the mysterious death of the muggle caretaker of the Riddle estate Frank Bryce, the reappearance of the Dark Mark almost thirteen years after it was last seen, and the actions of Barty Crouch Jr- who was a previously presumed dead supporter of the Dark Lord- are clear indicators. Each of these events in isolation could be ignored but all together they point a firm finger to the obvious truth.

However, I feel that your foolishness is not in your refusal to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned but rather in how you have chosen to deal with those who believe it. The smear campaign you have launched against Harry Potter is unfounded and unnecessary- as an adult, better is expected of you, as the Minister for Magic, Better is expected of you. Your foolishness and metaphorical nudity are most obvious in how you have carried yourself and how you will continue to carry yourself.

You, yourself, have commended my academic prowess and moral fibre; I believe Harry Potter. I believe his account for the death of Cedric Diggory, The Dark Lord's return and his encounter with the false Mad-Eye Moody. I don't believe him in spite of my intellect, I don't believe him because he's my friend, I believe Harry Potter because it makes sense- why would he lie?

Thank you for reading my thoughts, please do allow them their due consideration as those of an upstanding citizen of wizarding Britain.

Regards,

Kurt Elizabeth Hummel. Master of the Order of the White Lotus.

~0~

"Kurt Elizabeth Hummel," Hermione threw the paper down at his feet, Luna clutch her chest in surprise, "What were you thinking? This letter is scathing at best, and condescending deformation of character at worst. This is Rita Skeeter quality work."

"And everyone loved and believed Rita Skeeter," Kurt countered.

"Touché," Hermione nodded.

"Kurt's article is also an opinion piece and draws on facts where necessary," Luna leafed through the tome that sat before her, "he's fully justified to write what he did, the format was a smart move as well."

"But," Kurt prompted her.

"I didn't get the metaphor," Luna admitted guiltily.

Kurt rolled his eyes, "In Hans Christian Anderson's The Emperor's New Clothes, a vapid and selfish emperor is tricked into believing that he is having a suit made of fabric so fine that it cannot be seen by the untrained eye. He goes along, as he does not want the tailor to think less of him. They trick him into going into public nude to show how foolish he is."

"So Fudge's denial is the fabric," Luna asked with a furrowed brow, "and it shows how foolish he is because it isn't real?"

"Yes."

"That's really smart," Luna gaped.

"I'm not disputing how smart it is," Hermione shook her head, "I'm debating how wise it is."

"Minister Cornelius Fudge's denial will force him to resign when it comes to light that Voldemort has truly returned," Kurt shrugged, "what he thinks of us will only matter for a few more months, his denial will make him liable for all that Voldemort will achieve in this time that might have been prevented."

Hermione nodded, "why are you looking at empty tomes?"

"They're not all empty," Kurt shook his head, "there are just blanks for no apparent reason."

"But what is it?" Hermione peered over his shoulder as she spoke.

"It's a record off the Hogwarts curriculum and how it has changed to accommodate the times," Luna explained.

"Why?"

"To establish precedence," Kurt shook his head, "Hogwarts curriculum hasn't changed to accommodate the times since indoor plumbing."

"Apparently you don't need precedence," Hermione threw the afternoon edition of the prophet at them, "just a paranoid Minister."

"Fudge's made Professor Umbridge High Inquisitor?" Kurt's voice was sharp.

Luna furrowed her brow, "What does that even mean?"

"It doesn't mean computers or modernisation," Kurt growled, "that's for sure."

"According to the article, she's going to 'revolutionise' the teaching like she did for Defence Against Dark Arts," Hermione looked concerned.

Kurt shook his head, "that won't do, that won't do at all."

Hope you like it!