The rest of the Easter holidays passed quickly, and the teenagers soon found themselves back on the northbound Hogwarts Express. Harry, Draco, and Hermione managed to snag an empty compartment roughly halfway down the train – none of their friends joined them, but they didn't mind, choosing instead to take advantage of the quiet for some uninterrupted studying. O.W.L.s seemed almost frighteningly close now that the holidays were over, and they spent several hours quizzing each other on various subjects as they made their way through large stacks of notes. They paused to buy large quantities of sweets when the kind witch stopped by with the trolley, munching appreciatively as the increasingly wild scenery flashed by, and Hermione was about to pick up her Charms text again when Harry said, "Maya, we're taking a break."
"But…" Hermione bit her lip. "But the exams…"
"Are still over a month away – sure, that's not that long, but you still studied more than anything else over the break, and we just added a few solid hours to that. A short break won't kill you."
"But-"
"No, Hermione," Harry insisted. "Let that massive brain of yours breathe for a bit – you'll be fine, I promise." He looked so earnest that Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, you win," she conceded. "We'll take a break – but I'm making up for it later!"
"We never doubted that," Draco said cheekily, earning himself a punch to the arm. Hermione then leaned back against the window and helped herself to a cauldron cake.
"Busy week coming up," she commented after she'd swallowed. "The Quidditch final is next weekend, isn't it?"
"Don't remind me," Harry groaned. Draco looked puzzled.
"I thought you liked Quidditch," he said, his tone questioning.
"Oh, I do," Harry said quickly. "But the last week before a match – especially a final – is always brutal. I'll be getting a lot less sleep than I'd like…" His grimace turned into a wicked grin and he added, "But of course I'm looking forward to the game itself – I'm long overdue for my turn to kick your arse in the finals." Gryffindor and Slytherin had met in the finals during their Hogwarts tenure before, of course, but as Harry had been hospitalized at the time, Hermione had played Seeker that day.
"Oh really?" Draco drawled, looking amused. "We'll see about that – Slytherin's done really well this year, you know."
"May the best man win, then," Harry replied, his tone equally haughty. Hermione snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Boys," she said exasperatedly. "If you're quite finished trying to one-up each other…" Harry and Draco both had the decency to look sheepish, and Hermione laughed.
"I'm sure it will be a good game no matter what," she said. "Anyway, we've got something else going on this week that's kind of important."
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"Defense class – with whoever our new teacher is," Hermione reminded them.
"If we even have one," Draco pointed out.
"Hmm…true. Nobody's seen Dumbledore since he left the night before Umbridge became headmistress, so we don't know if he's managed to replace her – come to think of it, we don't know much of anything, really…but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough." The trio fell silent for several long minutes.
"Hermione," Draco finally said. "I've been meaning to ask you something."
"Yes?" She looked up at the blond boy, who turned on the seat to face her. Draco's expression suggested that he didn't quite know how to phrase his question. Finally, he just decided to go for it.
"What were you and your parents arguing about the other night?" Hermione stiffened.
"We weren't arguing about anything," she said quickly – too quickly. Her tone gave away the lie immediately.
"Lotte, I heard you just before I came upstairs," Draco said softly. "You sounded upset – upset and worried. What was wrong?" He stared at her intently, his focus telling her that he wasn't going to back down. Across from them, Harry looked just as curious – he, of course, hadn't heard the original conversation, and Draco hadn't told him, having decided it was better to ask Hermione what was going on first in case it was something she truly didn't want to talk about. Hermione frowned and fidgeted with her empty sweets wrapper before sighing and tipping her head back against the window.
"I was – am – worried about my parents," she began. "Like Harry told the D.A., there were four more attacks before Easter, three of them involving missing people, most of them Muggle-borns or their families. The attempted break-in at the Ministry strongly suggests a spy there somewhere, and there are probably others we don't know about – remember, we still don't know how that Azkaban breakout happened. Voldemort has ears everywhere, so I think it's only a matter of time before he finds out my connection to Harry, if he hasn't already."
"You mean that you're best friends with the one bloke he's got a bigger vendetta against than anyone else in the Wizarding world," Harry said.
"Exactly. I'm already at risk because of my blood status – no, Draco, don't look at me like that, you know Voldemort's going to go after the Muggle-borns first," Hermione added sternly. "Add my friendship with Harry on top of that, and I might as well paint the target on my back myself. Not, of course, that I regret that, because I certainly don't, but that's the reality of it."
"Do your parents know?" Draco asked. "Is that why they were so upset?"
"No, that's not what had them upset – I mean, they are upset about that, but they've known for years. Remember when Lily and Padfoot sat us down right after we'd gotten back from Diagon Alley the first time, and they told us all about Voldemort and what we had to prepare ourselves for before we went to school? No, my parents definitely knew the risks. We were arguing the other night because…well, because I told them I wanted them to go into hiding."
"What did you tell them?" Harry questioned.
"Everything," Hermione admitted. "Obviously they knew about Christmas, but I'd never told them the full extent of most other things before – I was too afraid that they'd pull me out of Hogwarts if they knew just how much trouble I was getting into." She took a deep breath and shuddered slightly. "I told them everything they didn't already know – the Chamber of Secrets, including me being Petrified; Wormtail and everything else that happened in third year; and why and how Cedric died last year. Needless to say, it was a bit…eye-opening for them to realize that their only daughter really is right in the thick of things."
"I can only imagine," Harry said, letting out a breath of air. "Your parents have been really great about everything, considering that they didn't even know the Wizarding world existed until you met us, but I'd still bet that that was a shock."
"Oh, it was," Hermione sighed. "But I couldn't not tell them – you know my parents are just as stubborn as I am, so if I'd sugarcoated anything, they would've thought the threat wasn't as bad."
"You still haven't said what they did when you suggested they go into hiding," Draco reminded her.
"To be honest, I think they were expecting me to tell them that somebody – Dumbledore or another Order member – could just protect our house with the Fidelius Charm, and that would be that. Except I don't think that would be enough – it would be too inconvenient to do the same with their practice, and that leaves far too many ways for them to be found. No, I told them that if they went into hiding, it would have to be the real deal – go someplace far away, preferably leave the country, in secret so no one can trail them to their new location. The Order could give them new identities, even new memories – I talked to Professor McGonagall about it after the last attack, and she told me about a series of spells that can almost completely mask a person's real identity, even to himself. Unless the spell is removed, the person fully believes himself to be someone else, and not even the most skilled Legilimens – wizards talented at mind reading – can see through it. It's horribly difficult, but if anyone can do it, Dumbledore can."
"And your parents objected to that plan," Harry guessed. Hermione nodded.
"Yes – they didn't like the thought of leaving the country, and they really don't fancy the idea of not even knowing themselves who they really are, never mind that it's probably the best protection they could have."
"Lotte, you need to give them some time to process that," Draco said soothingly. "The details of our escapades at school alone are a lot to take in, and you're asking them to consider going into hiding on top of that? I'm sure they'll agree to it soon – like you said, your parents might be stubborn, but they're also practical. They just need time to digest, that's all."
"I hope so," Hermione replied, turning around and scooting backwards on the bench so she could lean against his chest. "I'm just worried."
"As you have every right to be." Draco ran his fingers through her curls, gently massaging her scalp as he did so, and Hermione relaxed into the calming touch. "Let them do what they need to do, and I'm sure they'll write you soon. Now, why don't you tell me the twelve uses of dragon's blood to get your mind off things?"
There was no sign of any additional staff at dinner that night, and while Professor Dumbledore finally reappeared the next morning at breakfast, the chair that had been Umbridge's remained empty. Dumbledore announced that all students were expected to attend Defense Against the Dark Arts as usual, stating that their instructors would meet them there – many students asked questions, but the headmaster refused to elaborate any further, the twinkle in his eyes suggesting to Harry that the secret he kept was a rather amusing one.
"So he found someone to replace Umbridge," Harry commented to Hermione as little pockets of similar conversation broke out all over the Great Hall.
"More than one someone," Hermione pointed out. "He said instructors, plural. I wonder who they are."
"I guess we'll just have to wait until this afternoon to find out." The bell rang then, and the two Gryffindors gathered their things and made for the History of Magic classroom. As usual, Binns droned on about the material – this week it was the giant wars – in such a manner that most of the class was in a stupor within the first ten minutes, and the remaining fifty ticked by excruciatingly slowly. The end of the lesson was only a temporary relief, however, as it meant Potions with Snape right afterwards, and the Gryffindors struggled to regain the level of energy needed to succeed in his dungeon classroom. After a harrowing double period, by the end of which Harry was convinced his Invigoration Draught was far too lumpy, they trudged back upstairs for a quick lunch, and then it was off to North Tower for yet another painful Divination lesson. It didn't matter what they were studying that particular term – whether it was palmistry, tea leaves, or crystal balls, Professor Trelawney saw death omens in everything, and after nearly three years of hearing those overly dramatic gasps followed by looks of pity or words of warning, Harry was more than ready to be done with the tedious subject. Finally, the lesson ended, and Harry quickly stowed away his materials before hurrying back downstairs to the Defense classroom, eager to see who had replaced Umbridge. When he pushed open the door and saw who was waiting for him on the other side, he nearly laughed aloud.
"Professor Lupin!" he cried. "And Tonks!"
"Wotcher, Harry." Tonks grinned and stepped forward to give him a hug.
"Wonderful to see you, Harry," Lupin added with a smile. His robes seemed shabbier than usual, and he looked worn out.
"So are you sticking around this time?" Harry asked, setting his bag on one of the desks.
"Just through the end of the year," Lupin said. "The Order needs all hands on deck as often as possible – we're only here now because the Board of Governors deemed it unacceptable for you to go so long without an instructor, and Dumbledore knew I was more than capable since I've already held the post."
"And you?" Harry asked Tonks. Her spiky hair went from purple to pink and she shrugged.
"Either of us could be called away at a moment's notice," she said. "This way, even if one of us has to leave, you still have a teacher. Besides, who better to teach Defense than a bona fide Auror?" She grinned cheekily, showing all of her teeth, and Harry groaned.
"You're incorrigible sometimes, you know that?" he muttered. Tonks laughed.
"And you hang around Hermione too much, if you use words like 'incorrigible' in everyday conversation," she joked, ruffling Harry's hair. He batted her hands away and took his seat, and the door opened to admit a few of his classmates. The Gryffindors were all thrilled to see Lupin, the man having been one of their favorite teachers, and they were intrigued by Tonks' bright hair. Hermione nearly squealed with joy when she saw them, and Ron grinned as he took a seat next to Dean. When everyone had arrived and settled into their seats, Lupin cleared his throat.
"Hello," he said. "It's good to see you all again, good to be back. Tonks" – he gestured to the witch at his side, who waved – "and I will be here until the end of term, and we have a lot to do to get you ready for your exams. I've heard quite a bit about a little group called Dumbledore's Army, and I'd like to start with a review of everything those of you who are in that group have done." He gestured for the class to stand and waved his wand, sending their desks into neat stacks against the far wall.
"Now, what sorts of things has Dumbledore's Army learned this year, Harry?" Lupin asked, his eyes twinkling merrily. Harry blushed at having been called out as the obvious leader of the renegade group.
"Erm…well, we've done Stunners, Impedimenta, Expelliarmus, the Reductor Curse, the Incarcerous Jinx, Shield Charms, the Patronus Charm…"
"The Patronus Charm, eh?" Lupin asked, looking impressed. "That's highly advanced magic – not going to be in your O.W.L.s, but dead useful if the Dementors keep acting up like they're doing. As for the rest, it sounds like you're focusing on spells that are both useful and practical, which is good. I'd like to see what you can do, and then we'll go from there."
The majority of the Gryffindors were part of the D.A., but there were a few who weren't, and the divide became evident as soon as they started casting – those who weren't in the D.A. hadn't even heard of half the jinxes the D.A. knew. Harry couldn't help feeling proud as he watched Neville execute a perfect Shield Charm against Ron's Disarming spell, and Dean gave Hermione a run for her money as they exchanged hexes. After a few minutes, Lupin called for them to stop.
"Excellent!" he said. "Well done, all of you. We'll use this week's classes to get everyone up to speed – make sure you all know the same spells and can cast them properly, things like that. I know that means mostly review for some of you, but practice can't hurt, especially in our current clime." They spent the remainder of the period working on Stunning spells, and Lupin praised their work once more as the bell rang and they prepared to leave.
"Homework – fifteen inches on the history of the spell of your choice, due next class," Tonks said. She then added in an undertone to Harry, "I love saying that – makes me feel so professor-ish." Harry snorted.
"You would like assigning homework, Tonks," he said. She beamed in response and gave an exaggerated bow.
"Mental," Harry muttered, though he grinned too.
"You know it," Tonks said with a wink. "Now get out of here – it's almost time for dinner and unless I'm very much mistaken, you share a table with the Weasleys." Harry laughed at that and bid Lupin and Tonks goodbye, hurrying off to Gryffindor Tower to leave his bag in his dormitory. After dinner, he had to make it through Quidditch practice and a mountain of homework before he could even think about going to bed, but he didn't care – after a long and difficult year, things were finally looking up.
A/N: Lupin & Tonks are back - YAY! What do you all think of that? I'm estimating 2-3 more chapters of this installment, & then we'll be on to part 6! Brace yourselves - there's a lot of exciting twists to come!
To Guest: Malfoy Manor will be making an appearance - several, in fact - in the last 2 installments of this series. Draco already sorted out his inheritance when the will was unveiled, but he does have to at least reset the wards, which he didn't do over Christmas due to Hermione's injury...I haven't forgotten, don't worry!
Thank you for the follows/faves/reviews, & for reading, as always!
JKR owns all things Potter, I just play. Please R&R, & enjoy! :)