A/N: I do not own anything Harry Potter. So, this story is back, and I really hope it was worth the long wait. I've been fine-tuning this chapter and more during my hiatus, just nothing was quite right for publication. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I would like to thank all of you who have added this story to their Favorites. Happy reading! XOXO

Chapter 66

"Harry, give me your hand," Annie whispered to her cousin as they sat listening to Professor McGonagall's lecture.

"Why?" he whispered back, raising an eyebrow.

"Because." Annie reached over and pulled his hand closer to her on the desk. She dipped her quill in her ink and started to draw a snitch across his knuckles.

"Annie, what are you doing?" Harry asked, trying to move his hand away.

"Eating a burrito," she answered, rolling her eyes. "Hold still, will you?"

Harry sighed and turned back to the lecture, keeping his hand as still as possible. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Annie as she drew with her tongue between her teeth. By the end of class she had a perfectly drawn snitch across his knuckles, a quaffle, two bludgers, "HP+RW", a heart, and "Annie was here" all over his hand and going up his arm. Annie corked her ink and threw her belongings back into her backpack. She followed Harry out into the hall where he held up his hand for inspection.

"Harry Potter + Ron Weasley. I like it. Now I can display my undying love for all to see," Harry said and Ron snorted with laughter.

Annie grinned and led the way out to the greenhouses. "So Firenze told you tell Hagrid to change his approach? Approach to what?" she asked. They only had a few minutes before class had begun for Harry to tell them about Firenze's warning.

"Dunno. It could mean anything," Ron shrugged. "Maybe it has something to do with the weapon."

"Hey, Hermione, what about my idea?" Annie said, turning to Hermione who rolled her eyes.

"Really, Annie? You're still going on about that?" Hermione asked, disbelievingly.

"What was your idea, Annie?" Harry asked, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

Annie looked around to make sure no one was within earshot. "Hagrid brought a giant back," she whispered.

"Huh," Harry said, scratching his chin. "That's an interesting idea."

"There's no way Hagrid would be that reckless," Hermione disputed.

"You really think so, Hermione?" Harry said with a laugh. "As I recall back in first year we helped Hagrid send away a Norwegian Ridgeback in the middle of the night, got caught, and received detention."

"Yeah, Hermione," Annie agreed, turning around to face her friend. "My idea doesn't sound so crazy now, does it?"

"Okay, maybe you do have a point. Hagrid can be a little careless at times," Hermione conceded. "When are you going to tell him, Harry? It's not like you can really tell him during class with Umbridge sniffing around."

"I figured I might double back after class tomorrow saying I forgot my book," Harry answered. "Hopefully she won't be there when I go back."

"Good idea. And if she is there, you can always tell her you were coming back to talk to Hagrid about relationship advice," Annie suggested, pulling the door to the greenhouse open. "Merlin knows you need it."

"And Merlin knows you're a piss ant," Harry insulted, shoving Annie jokingly into the greenhouse as Hermione and Ron followed in behind them laughing. When Annie spun around to push Harry back, however, she tripped over her own two feet and fell to the ground, causing her classmates to burst out in laughter.

"Ms. Black, please get off the floor and get to where you need to be," Professor Sprout reprimanded, carrying over a large pot.

Ron reached down and helped Annie to her feet. "You know you deserved that for that cheap blow," he said, leading her over to their station.

"Yeah, but it was worth it," Annie replied with a grin.

Annie growled in frustration as she waved her wand and nothing but a puff of smoke emitted from the end. This was the first time in a while that a spell had stumped her and it was driving her crazy.

"I can't get this, Potter," she complained when he came over to check her progress. "All I get is the sparky bit."

"I've never seen you struggle with a spell before," Harry commented. "Show me again what you've been doing."

Annie waved her wand again. "Expecto Patronum!" she cried, and a sliver of the Patronus spewed out of the end of her wand.

"Your wand technique is fine. What memory are you using?" Harry prompted.

"Remember the day we got our first brooms and Uncle James taught us how to fly? I was so happy that day. I remember feeling so free," Annie reminisced. "Why isn't it working?"

"You probably need a stronger memory," Harry suggested. "Think. What has made you so incredibly happy over the years?"

Annie tapped her wand against her hand as she thought. She needed a strong memory, one that would help her cast her Patronus. Annie closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Okay, I think I have one," she said confidently as she held out her wand again.

"Alright. Show me what you can do, Black."

Annie rounded her shoulders back and waved her wand. "Expecto Patronum!" This time a small, shaggy puppy erupted from the end and leapt around the room. Annie laughed as her Patronus joined Hermione's otter and Ginny's horse. She threw her arms around Harry's neck and he gave her a big bear hug.

"See, I told you!" he said, lifting her off her feet. "Now spill. What memory did you use?" He set Annie back on the ground and noticed she had gone slightly pink in the face.

"It's more of a thought really," she answered, rubbing the back of her neck and glancing toward George. Harry followed her gaze and laughed.

"He really makes you that happy?" Harry asked, watching Annie's face turn crimson as she nodded. Harry smiled and gave her another hug. "I'm glad you're happy, Annie. Now, just keep practicing so you can get better."

Annie noticed she wasn't the only one having trouble with the spell. Neville had his face scrunched up in frustration, and Luna's hair had frizzed out of her ponytail. She watched as her Patronus faded away and drew her want to cast the charm again.

"Expecto Patron- oh!" she exclaimed as she was almost run down by Dobby. "Hey, what's going on, mate?" she asked the frazzled house-elf.

"Harry Potter, sir," he squeaked, reaching Harry and tugging on his robes. "Dobby has come to warn you, sir."

"Warn me about what, Dobby?" Harry asked as everyone stopped their spell-casting and turned to catch the exchange.

"She knows, sir! She's coming!" Dobby said with a nervous glance toward the door.

"She knows?" Harry repeated, looking confused. "Umbridge? She knows?"

"Yes, sir!"

Harry glanced around at his classmates who were starting to panic. "You heard him. RUN!"

Everyone bolted for the door at once. Harry grabbed Dobby and told him to go back to the kitchens. Annie lost sight of Hermione and Ron and followed Harry around another corridor. As they sprinted down the hallway, Annie heard Harry let out a cry of anguish. She turned around to see what had happened and rebounded off a squat woman with a smug smirk on her lips.

"Well done, Draco," Professor Umbridge praised as he brought Harry over to her custody. "Let's bring this one too." She pulled Annie to her feet by the collar of her shirt, the material balled up in a tight grip. "Run along, Draco, and see if you can find anymore of them. Fifty points to Slytherin for your excellent work."

Draco grinned and ran off as the High Inquisitor marched Annie and Harry down the corridor.

"Where are you taking us?" Annie asked, trying to shimmy out of the tight grip around her bicep.

"I am taking you to the Headmaster's office, oh yes," she informed, her nails digging into the two students' arms.

"We didn't do anything wrong," Annie argued helplessly.

"Oh, then why were you running away?" Umbridge pressed.

"We weren't running away, we were just running," Annie explained, as Umbridge half-dragged them down the stairs.

"Just running?"

"Yeah, you know? To stay fit for quidditch," Annie lied. She heard Harry sigh on the other side of their professor.

"And why would Potter need to stay in shape for quidditch if he is no longer on the team?" asked Professor Umbridge as they reached the gargoyles that guarded the Headmaster's office.

"Well, he was helping me train," Annie suggested. "I like to run and it was raining so I figured we should run in the corridors as an alternative."

"Annie, for once in your life will you shut the hell up? She isn't buying any of what you're spewing," Harry warned when the gargoyles jumped aside after receiving the password.

"Ow, Professor!" Annie gasped after being tugged toward the staircase. "Do you mind easing up on your grip? This is my throwing arm you're yanking."

The door to Professor Dumbledore's office was open when they arrived. Harry and Annie managed to pull away from Professor Umbridge and they looked around the room. Professor Dumbledore was seated behind his desk with Professor McGonagall beside him; Cornelius Fudge stood across from him, flanked by Kingsley Shacklebolt, who gave no sign up recognizing the teenagers, and another wizard they could only assume was an Auror. Annie heard scratching on parchment and turned around to find Percy Weasley taking diligent notes.

"Hey, Perce," Annie greeted, giving him a nod. "I see you've graduated from writing reports on cauldron bottom thickness. Now it looks like you're writing reports on ol' Fudge's bottom, eh?" Harry stifled a laugh and turned back to the room that was eyeing the pair.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," Fudge started, ignoring Annie's comment. "I'm sure you know why Professor Umbridge brought you and your friend-"

"Cousin, actually," Annie interrupted. "Annie Black, sir. We've met before."

"Ah, yes, your cousin," Fudge corrected as Professor McGonagall sighed and shook her head. "Well, I'm sure you know why you were brought up here tonight, Mr. Potter."

"I expect it was because Annie and I were running in the corridors," Harry responded cheekily. "We're terribly sorry about that, by the way. Probably won't happen again."

Annie shrugged. "It probably will," she added, feigning innocence. "I do like running."

"But next time we'll try not to get caught," Harry quipped.

"Maybe we should try wearing different clothes too," Annie proposed.

"I did notice a bit of resistance with my cloak." Harry held out his arms and flapped them a bit to demonstrate the way the cloak flew back.

"Jeans were definitely not the best choice either. A bit stiff, am I right, Professor Dumbledore?" Annie asked with a wink to her Headmaster.

"Enough!" Fudge shouted, stopping Harry and Annie before they continue. "Are you telling me that you were not aware of breaking any other school rules or Ministry decrees tonight?" His face was painted beet-red in anger and Annie noticed a popping vein in his forehead.

"And what rule might that be, Minister?" Harry asked.

"The Educational Decree banning any illegal student organizations at Hogwarts," the Minister answered, raising his voice.

"I'd hardly call Annie and I an organization, sir. Annie has never been one to keep anything organized in her life." Harry returned, shrugging his shoulders. "We are just two kids running through the hallways."

"We have a witness, Minister," Professor Umbridge proclaimed, breaking up the nonsense of Annie and Harry's tale. "Shall I bring our informant up?"

"Splendid, Delores You don't mind do you, Professor Dumbledore?" Fudge asked with a sinister smile.

"Not at all," Dumbledore approved, resting his chin on his hands.

As Professor Umbridge hastened out of the office, the group fell silent. Annie looked to Harry who didn't seem so confident as he had before.

"So, Percy," Annie finally said, breaking the silence. "How do you like being Fudge's Ministry bitch?"

"Language, Black!" Professor McGonagall chastised.

"I see you're just as smart-mouthed as ever, Annie," Percy countered with a roll of his eyes.

"I keep people on their toes," she replied, rocking back and forth on her toes. "So, anyone catch the Wasps versus Puddlemere on the wireless last night? Boy, that was a match."

Harry smacked Annie lightly on the arm. "There's a time and place to talk about quidditch. Now isn't it."

"Relax, Harry. I'm just trying to diffuse the tension."

The room Fell silent again as they waited for Umbridge to return. A few minutes later, she marched through the door, leading Marietta Edgecomb who was hiding her face.

"This, Minister," Umbridge announced, tugging on the girl's arm, "is Marietta Edgecomb. Her mother works in the Department of Transportation, helping us patrol the Floo Network."

"Wonderful!" Fudge exclaimed. "Come now, dear, chin up. We'd like to hear what you know about this group."

Marietta raised her head and the Minister gasped. Annie let out a bark of laughter which caused Marietta to shriek and bury her head in her robes.

"What did that say?" the Minister asked, looking puzzled.

"S-N-E-A-K it seems," Umbridge informed, giving Annie, who doubled over in laughter, an incredulous glance. "Come on, dear, tell the Minister what you told me in my office."

Marietta shook her head and hitched her robes higher over her head.

"Alright, you silly girl," Umbridge snapped. "I'll tell him. What Miss Edgecomb reported tonight was that there was to be a meeting happening in a secret room on the seventh floor. It seems Potter and his friends were leading some sort of organization."

"Well, Miss Edgecomb, it was very brave of you to come forward with this information," Fudge praised. "Can we do something about this hex? And will someone do something about this howling baboon?" He gestured toward Annie who was wiping tears from her eyes.

"Black, pull yourself together," Professor McGonagall instructed sternly.

"I'm sorry, Professor," Annie apologized. "Her face—it's so brilliant."

"Minister, back in October I sent you a report about Potter's meeting with several other students at the Hog's Head," Umbridge continued. "They were planning on setting up an illegal organization that would teach Defense Against the Dark Arts content that has been banned from the curriculum at Hogwarts."

Annie, who had been stifling her laughter in Harry's shoulder, looked up at his fallen face. So she had known about their meeting, but how?

"Delores, I regret to inform you that you are quite wrong on that account," Dumbledore addressed. "I'm certain Mr. Potter and Miss Black can verify that they were both at the Hog's Head, is that right?" he asked the two teenagers who had no choice but the attest to the truth and nod. "However, that meeting was not illegal as you so previously stated. The Educational Decree was put into effect days after the meeting."

The Minister's nostrils flared. "But that still means every meeting they've had since has been illegal." Fudge argued, his fists balling. "Miss Edgecomb can verify, can't you, my dear?"

Annie and Harry both turned to Marietta, their faces stricken, as a gentle breeze ruffled Annie's robes.

"Come on, girl," Professor Umbridge goaded, shaking the student's shoulders. To Annie's and Harry's surprise Marietta shook her head.

"Oh, well that settles it," Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together.

"But we know there was a meeting tonight. When I went to the seventh floor, they were all running off as if they'd been warned," Umbridge informed, her eyes growing larger in crazed anger. "I had Miss Parkinson run in to see she could find any evidence. Here you are, Minister," she said with a proud smile as she handed him a piece of parchment, "a list of all the students involved. Potter's and Black's names are at the top of the list."

"Excellent, excellent!" the Minister raved. Annie felt her heart fall to the pit of her stomach. "And they have a name for their group as well. "Dumbledore's Army, it seems." He handed the Headmaster the parchment and Dumbledore studied it very closely.

"Well, it seems as thought you've finally caught me, Cornelius," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Dumbledore's Army. Not Potter's Army."

The Minister of Magic shook his head in bewilderment. "You? You recruited students to defy the Ministry?" he asked, his mouth aghast.

"That is correct," Professor Dumbledore clarified. "Would you like a written statement?"

"Erm, no," Fudge stumbled. "Weasley? Did you get all of that written down?"

"I did, sir. Every word," Percy affirmed eagerly.

"Good! Send your notes to the Ministry and the Prophet at once," Fudge ordered. Annie watched as the Weasley brother practically skipped out of the office.

"Now, Dumbledore, you will come with us. You will be taken to Azkaban where you will await your trial," the Minister charged as the two Aurors drew closer, wands at the ready.

Annie and Harry shared a wide-eyed look. Professor McGonagall tried to interject but was stopped by Professor Dumbledore's hand.

"Oh, surely you didn't think I would just leave quietly?" the wizened Headmaster asked, a twinkle in his eye. "I have no plans to go to Azkaban tonight."

Before the Minister of Magic could reach out to seize Dumbledore, he raised his wand and Umbridge, Kingsley, the other Auror, Fudge, and Marietta fell to the ground with a thud. Professor McGonagall raised her hands to her mouth as she gasped, and Annie and Harry turned to the Headmaster in disbelief.

"That was awesome, sir!" Annie praised, grinning at Professor Umbridge's lifeless form. "You've got to teach us that."

"Another time, Miss Black," Dumbledore responded, turning to the Deputy Headmistress. "Minerva, it is up to you to protect the students in my absence. I fear it is my time to go into hiding"

"Where will you go?" Harry asked as Fawkes flew over and landed on Dumbledore's shoulder.

"That I cannot say, but I will be in touch," he replied. "Harry, you must listen to me. It is very important for you to continue your Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape. Do you understand?" Harry nodded and looked over at Fudge who was starting to stir. "I must be going. Take care of yourselves."

Annie, Harry, and Professor McGonagall watched as Dumbledore turned on the spot and Disapparated with Fawkes in a cloud of smoke leaving everyone with the same question: Now what?