The following evening, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were crammed into the couch, all furiously struggling through mounds of homework. Hermione had even agreed to help Harry and Ron because they had so much cramming for their O.W.L.s to do. Ron had received a letter from Percy (it was highly unusual that any of them ever received anything from Percy) and Ron read it out loud to all of them:
Dear Ronald
Congratulations on your position as prefect! It seems as if you are taking after me after all…
At this point Ginny nearly choked on a Bertie Bott's she'd been eating to keep her sugar levels up. She commented fiercely, "That arrogant, self-centered prick!" This caused Harry and Ron to smirk at each other before Ron continued:
However, I do encourage you not to be such great friends with Mr. Potter. I'm not entirely sure how you can believe those stories he tells about You-Know-Who being back, but I can thoroughly assure you that being so closely associated with him will not be in your favor if you ever want a job here at the ministry. Please advise Ginny in this matter, too. There will be an important article about him in The Daily Prophet tomorrow and so I strongly urge the two of you to keep your distance.
Kind Regards
Percy
The four of them shared a look of complete disbelief, before Ron ripped up the parchment and threw it into the fire. He nearly spat, "I can't believe him! What a jerk! After you even saved Ginny's life, Harry, he still encourages us both not to associate with you!" Ginny shook her head in awe of her pompous brother, "And here I thought the first half of a letter was bad," she whispered in a minute voice. Harry turned to her and gently placed an arm around her shoulders, "It's alright Gin. Don't let him get to you." Ginny swallowed and sighed, "It's fine. I'm glad to see my old Harry is back though." Harry shrugged and replied, "I can't guarantee how long it will last though, especially because of this article tomorrow." Ginny nodded in understanding and turned back to her essay.
At one point, Ginny moved herself off the couch and to a desk further away so she didn't have to be distracted. About an hour later, Hermione let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head wildly, causing Ginny to look up, "This woman is mad! How on earth am I supposed to write a three thousand word essay on How to curse a Acromantula and how to extract its poison! There's not even enough information in the book for three thousand words!" Ginny had never heard Hermione complain so much about an assignment before. It sounded like music to her ears.
Ron retorted, "Oh yeah? You at least seem to be about two thousand in! I've only got about five." Hermione grumbled, "Learning this stuff isn't going to help us defend ourselves. We need someone who's actually had experience!" Ginny stood up, stretched and whispered, "What about Harry?" The three turned to face her and they all looked equally shocked as she explained, "Harry could help us. He's done it all before."
Hermione raised an eyebrow in surprise and replied, "That's not a half-bad idea, actually." Harry raised his eyebrow to the roof and replied quickly, "Are you guys mad? I've never taught a day in my life!" Hermione shook her head, "But it's not about that Harry! It's the fact that you have experience in this field. Proper experience! We could get a group together and you could teach us!"
Harry held up his hand firmly, "Woah! Okay firstly, who would want to be taught by me? I'm a nutter, remember? Secondly where would we do this? Umbridge isn't about to allow us to go and use her classroom!" Hermione shrugged her shoulders carelessly, "We'll find a place." The four of them looked at each other in wonder. Could they actually pull this off?
Seconds later, the fire began crackling, loud noises erupting from the flames. Harry glanced around the room quickly to check that there was no-one else in the room. It turned out they were the only four there! Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny hurried to the fire and landed on the floor beside it as Sirius' face appeared in the flames. He greeted them all with a quick "Hello," and said roughly, "Harry, I wanted to reply to you face to face in case a letter reply got intercepted by the ministry." Harry nodded and whispered, "It probably would have. Percy, Ron's brother, just sent Ron a rather scathing one about me." Sirius sighed and whispered, "I'm not surprised. Now Harry, you said your scar was hurting?" At this, Hermione interrupted and asked quickly and in a surprised tone, "Your scar?! Harry, you never mentioned…" Harry interrupted her and continued talking to Sirius.
Ginny and Hermione shared a concerned glance and Ron had gone a little pale. Harry nodded and an continued, "Yeah, but I mean that's because Voldemort's back. He mentioned something about disappearance in the dream." Sirius nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Fudge is in complete denial. He refuses to believe Voldemort is back because he thinks Dumbledore is trying to take over the ministry, even though he's been offered the job numerous times and still chooses to turn it down."
Harry glanced at the three of them and then turned back to Sirius, "We were never told that before!" Sirius nodded and sighed, "It's because Molly didn't want you to know. I suppose I see her point. It's safer for you to know less. Anyway, I can come and visit you in Hogsmeade, Harry, if you wish? I could come in my animagus form?" Ginny watched Harry's face light up for a second before it dulled again and he whispered, "No, probably not a good idea in case someone recognizes you." Sirius nodded and sighed, "Maybe speak to Professor Dumbledore about these dreams, Harry? He might be of more help than me." Harry was shaking his head before Sirius even finished, "Nope. Professor Dumbledore has been distant and Umbridge might find out. She's watching my every step and she'd know if I went to go and speak to Dumbledore. Besides, Dumbledore isn't always here and he's been avoiding me for some reason." Sirius frowned, "Hmph. Not to do with Hagrid visiting the giants is it?" Ginny frowned-she hadn't know that's where he'd been. He'd been absent from the beginning of term. Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I couldn't tell." Sirius sighed, "Then I can't say why he's behaving this way. If Umbridge is there at Hogwarts then keep your head down Harry and stay out if trouble."
At that moment there was a scuffling on the stairs and as Sirius disappeared he whispered, "Stay safe, Harry." Harry glanced at the three of them and sighed, "Well, that wasn't particularly helpful was it?" Ron shrugged and whispered, "Well…it was worth a try." Harry nodded as Seamus walked down the stairs with Dean.
The silence that followed was deafening and Ginny watched the other two boys hasten back up the staircase. Hermione sighed and shook her head, "Seamus needs to get over himself." Ron murmured with his arms folded, "Yeah! At least Dean and Neville believe Harry though." Ginny nodded in agreement, "Yeah, well they're not letting their parents make decisions for them," she said snidely.
Hermione paced back and forth and said, "I don't care what Sirius says, I think we need to find a way to learn how to defend ourselves, especially if the Umbridge situation is going to get worse." Ron asked curiously, "And what makes you think it will get worse?" Hermione shrugged and replied, "It can't get better. Knowing Umbridge, it probably won't. We need you, Harry."
Harry groaned and whispered, "Fine. But only if you find people who actually want to do this and a place that is can be done in secret." Hermione nodded enthusiastically and Ginny smiled nervously at Harry.
When Ginny arrived at breakfast that morning, she found Harry, Ron and Hermione gathered around The Daily Prophet. She sat down and saw that many others were pawing over it as well. She frowned and asked, "So how bad is the article?"
Ron looked up and replied, "They're making Umbridge a High Inquisitor!" Ginny frowned and asked, "Sorry a what?" Harry turned to face her and grimaced, "High Inquisitor. Fudge has given her powers that succeed Dumbledore's. If she has a problem, she can take it up with Fudge." Hermione was done reading the paper by this time and she grumbled furiously, "She's becoming a dictator!" Ginny shook her at just as Umbridge walked in. She was proudly trotting down the hallway in a pale pink outfit and she was smiling in a sickly-sweet way at every person who was reading the newspaper and who had a disgusted look on their faces.
Umbridge paused beside Harry and asked pointedly, "Got a problem Mr. Potter?" Harry smiled falsely back ather and replied, "No, professor. Not at all." Umbridge nodded swiftly and continued along her merry way. Ginny took the paper in her hands and read the article to herself:
Professor Dolores Umbridge has been instated as High Inquisitor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ever since the mysterious death of one of its top students last year, the Headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore has tried to convince the wizarding world that a certain dark wizard known as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is once again at large. Dumbledore has also claimed that this wizard caused the death of Cedric Diggory at the end of the Triwizard Tournament last year. The boy in question suddenly disappeared from the stadium along with Mr Harry Potter as they both reached the Cup at the same time. Before this happened, Potter and Diggory had been conversing and it seemed as if Potter was trying to convince Diggory to take the Cup instead of himself. How noble. Potter, then sometime later returned with Mr Diggory's dead body in his arms.
The ministry believes that Professor Dumbledore is conspiring against Cornelius Fudge as he had always had a secret desire to take over the ministry by force, and thereby gaining control of the wizarding world at large. These lies which are being spread are merely a cover up for what really happened in concern with Cedric Diggory's death.
Therefore, it is within reason for the Ministry to delegate the position of High Inquisitor to Professor Dolores Umbridge, who started teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at the school at the beginning of the year. This position gives Professor Umbridge the right to rectify problems she may find in the school and to report them to the minister if these issues need to be followed up on. Hogwarts has always been a reputable school, but the standard is seriously falling and therefore will be undergoing inspection by the professor. Further updates will be given in the near future…
-Rita Skeeter, editor of the Daily Prophet. Continued on page 14.
Below depicted a picture of Professor Dumbledore with the words, "plotter," written in big bold letters above it, and to the left was a picture of Harry lying over Cedric's dead body before Ginny had managed to run and comfort Harry.
Ginny's mouth fell to the floor and she shook her head in disgust, "Well, I don't' know how they do it but they not only make Harry look like a liar, but also a part of Dumbledore's plan as if this was all planned and on top of that they make Cedric's murder look as if it were planned by Harry! I've never read such rubbish in my life!"
Ginny forcefully slammed the paper down the paper onto the table and Hermione murmured warningly, "You may not want to do that. Umbridge is watching us like a hawk." Ginny shrugged her shoulders and folded her arms, "I seriously don't care! This toad is making Harry look like a murderer and a liar, as well as making Dumbledore look like some crazy dictator! Hermione, I'm more than in on trying to get students to be taught by Harry! In fact, I'll help you!" Hermione grinned and nodded in appreciation, "Thanks Ginny! Maybe you could convince Michael and Luna?" Ginny raised her eyebrows, "Why Luna?"
Hermione shrugged and replied, "You were really kind to her at the Three Broomsticks. I'm sure she'd return the favor." Ginny bit her lip in contemplation, "Alright. And I will ask Neville and Dean. I doubt Seamus would join." Ron grinned, "We could totally make this work!" Harry seemed unconvinced. However, at that moment Cho walked passed him and quickly saying, "Hi Harry," as Harry fumbled over his words and her friend giggled beside her. Instead, Harry lifted a hand in embarrassment and Ginny giggled, "Oh Harry, you really need to learn how to speak to her." Ron nodded as he shoveled some toast into his mouth and swallowed a bite, "Yeah mate! Waving ain't gonna get you anywhere!" Ginny scoffed, "Oh please! Like you would know!" Harry chuckled, "Yeah, I believe Ginny, Ron!" Hermione nodded in agreement, "You have had less experience than your younger sister. You shouldn't be giving Harry any advice." This caused Ron to start arguing with Hermione which was futile.
Harry smirked and Ginny laughed, "I will help you practice at some point, Harry. I've got to get going. Got potions! Hope Umbridge doesn't ruin your day, guys." She threw a scowl at the pink toad sitting at the head table and headed to the dungeons.
Author's Note: Hey guys! So I managed another chapter tonight! Hope you enjoy it.