Harry was trying desperately to keep his anger in check at the moment. He was far to upset to even attempt to eat dinner, even thought he was quite hungry, and the food on his plate smelled incredible.

All around him, Hogwarts students were whispering rather loudly about the scene that had taken place mere hours before in the new Defense teacher's classroom. Harry had lost his temper at the new little teacher, and a shouting match had taken place, ending when Professor Umbridge had made Harry leave the classroom.

The juiciest bit of gossip was the revelation that Harry had let slip that he had fought against the resurrected Lord Voldemort. Professor Umbridge had tried to assure her class that Harry's claims were nothing more than lies to frighten them all.

Harry had no idea what was said after he left, but it seemed to Harry that Professor Umbridge had won this particular battle. Harry could here people around him voicing their opinion about his claims, and it only served to irritate him further.

How can they all sit there all but calling me a liar when two months ago they believed it all?" Harry asked, keeping his eyes on his plate, not daring to look up for fear he might lash out when he saw someone talking about him.

"Harry," Neville said. The round faced boy had sat with Harry and Hermione, and they'd been joined by Ginny, who was hoping to hear about what had happened first hand. "I'm not sure they did. Dumbledore told us what had happened, but we only had his word on it. The we spent the summer being told through the paper and the wireless what a nutter you were and how Dumbledore's going senile. If we had had a little more time before we went home for the summer, or we could have seen what happened in the maze…"

Neville let his words hang, and Harry sighed heavily. Once again he peered down the table to where Ron was sitting. He no longer looked angry, but morose. He turned to look at Harry, but looked away quickly when he caught Harry's eye.

"I still can't believe Professor McGonagall wouldn't at least change your detention. I mean, you could have served it with her." Hermione said sadly.

"She says that as a teacher, Umbridge has the right to give me detentions." Harry shrugged. "Can we get out of here?"

Hermione, Neville and Ginny rose together, and headed back up to the Gryffindor tower.

"Why did you let her get to you like that?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know!" Harry growled. "I just hated her talking about how safe we were when Voldemort's out there now, waiting to kill us all. I couldn't take it."

"You're going to have to try and control your temper, Harry." Hermione said.

"That's what McGonagall said." Harry sighed. "I've got a little time before I have to go see the toad, Lets work on the essay for Snape."

Neville started to walk away when Harry stopped him. "Where are you going, Nev?"

"I didn't think you'd want me to study with you. I just..." Neville said, looking rather nervous.

"Nonsense, Neville, You're more than welcome to work with us." Hermione said, patting the couch cushion next to herself. Harry noticed Neville's face burn red, and saw Ginny watching the boy carefully as he sat next to Hermione. The youngest Weasley child seem to be puzzling over something, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"When did you start fancying Hermione?" Ginny asked out loud, and then as she realized what she had just said quickly covered her mouth with both her hands looking very mortified and repentant. Neville's eyes shot up, looking humiliated by Ginny's question, while Hermione looked between Neville and Ginny with a very puzzled look.

Harry had figured out Neville might fancy his best friend the day before on the train, but had wisely decided it best for them to work things out on their own. It looked as though fate, and Ginny had other ideas.

"Neville?" Hermione asked softly, her eyes questioning, but Neville got up and disappeared into the boys dormitory. Both Harry and Hermione looked to Ginny, who was redder than either could remember her ever looking before. Harry was able to hide his smile as he thought to himself, "That's a new shade of Weasley red."

"I didn't mean to say it out loud, I swear it." Ginny said though it was somewhat muffled, as she had yet to remove her hands from covering her mouth. "I just saw him looking at you so…so sweetly, and I …It just happened."

"Neville fancies me?" Hermione looked completely taken by surprise. "I don't know what to say."

"There's not really anything to say." Harry said. "You need to figure out how you feel about him and then let him know. He's a good guy, Hermione."

"I know that." Hermione said rather irately. "I just don't know if I feel anything for him. To be honest, I don't know that we've ever had any conversation that last longer then a minute or two."

"He's a very sweet guy, you know." Ginny said, trying to be helpful. "You could do a lot worse than him. I know he's not the best looking guy in the school, but…"

"I don't care about looks." Hermione said indignantly. "I just…this is rather overwhelming. I need to think about this."

With that, Hermione gathered her things and went to her dorm, leaving Harry and Ginny alone. Ginny looked to Harry, remorse on her face.

"I didn't mean to embarrass him. I just…"

"Pulled a Ron?" Harry smiled lightly.

"I guess. Speaking of which, what's going on between you two anyway? He's been giving you the evil eye all day."

"He's angry that I'm making friends with Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis." Harry shrugged. "He's sure that their evil and their going to kill me, or hand me over to Voldemort."

"You're talking to the Ice Queen?" Ginny's face was unreadable, though Harry thought he saw something like suspicion in her eyes.

"Yeah, I am. She's nice. I don't know why everyone is so concerned about this? It's not a big deal. She's a decent person, and I've enjoyed talking to her."

"Maybe it's because she's a Slytherin, and they usually end up being incredible gits. No one wants to see you get hurt Harry." Ginny sighed. Harry shook his head.

"Thanks, but I can take care of myself, and so long as she continues to be nice, I'll keep hanging out with her. It's no one's business anyway."

"I just think you can do better, Harry." Ginny remarked offhandedly. Her face suddenly began to color red again, and just like Hermione and Neville before her, Ginny ran off to the dormitories. Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to relieve a bit of tension.

"Why is this such an issue?" Harry wondered. " There's nothing wrong with making new friends. It shouldn't matter what house they're in."

Harry decided he should head down to Umbridge's office for his detention, as it looked like he wasn't going to get any homework done now.

"Hi." Astoria said with a rather precocious smile as she sat across from her sister. Daphne saw Tracey pushing her goblet away from her, undoubtedly so she wouldn't try and take a drink while her sister was present. There were far more people present at dinner than there was at breakfast, and Tracey likely did not wish to repeat her new Milk Nose trick.

"Hello, dearest sister. How was your day?" Daphne smiled a falsely sweet smile. She wanted to lay into her younger sister for sticking her cute button nose into other people's affairs, especially since that other person happened to be her. "Talk to anyone interesting today?"

Astoria clearly didn't notice her older sister's growing irritation, or was ignoring it all together.

"Yes, I talked to Harry Potter today." She smiled as she reached onto her elder sister's plate, taking her dinner roll, and tearing it to tiny little pieces. "I decided that I couldn't wait for you to introduce me, and figured if you could do it, so could I. Anyway, I just heard something very disheartening. I heard that he got in trouble in Defense today. He called Professor Umbridge a liar."

"What?" Daphne and Tracey said in unison.

"Abigail Flint heard some Hufflepuffs saying that Harry had shouted at Professor Umbridge and claimed that he fought You-Know-Who last year. She gave him detention, but he wouldn't stop yelling at her, and she made him leave class."

"He's going to get in serious trouble if he doesn't learn to keep his mouth shut and his head down." Tracey remarked. Daphne nodded her agreement.

"What if she provoked him? What if she's setting him up for something?" Daphne asked.

"Like what?" Astoria asked.

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Daphne asked exasperated. Astoria smiled and shook her head. "I don't have any homework or anything."

"GO AWAY!" Daphne shouted. Astoria' smile fell and she glared at her sister, tossing what was left of the mangled roll back onto Daphne's plate.

"I'm just trying to help you and your boyfriend."

"URRRGGGHHH!" Daphne shrieked, clutching fistfuls of her shiny dark hair. Astoria stuck her tongue out and skipped away to where a few of her friends were sitting, watching their interaction curiously.

"Do you think that she's trying to pin Cedric's murder on Harry? Like she's trying to get him to admit it or something?" Tracey asked. Seeing Harry and a few of his fellow Gryffindors getting up from their table and leaving the hall.

"It would make sense." Daphne said thoughtfully. "If they could pin that on Harry, then it would be clear that Harry and Dumbledore's stories were obviously made up."

"What do you think she'll make him do for detention?" Tracey asked, a hint of true concern in her voice.

"I don't know."

Daphne stared at the door to the Great Hall thoughtfully. It was clear to her that Minister Fudge had some sort of agenda now, though it was very unclear what it might be. She wondered if they were planning on charging Harry with Cedric's murder, why they wouldn't just take him into custody and put him on trail. But then she realized that if Harry asked to take Veritaserum, which he would likely be advised to do, the administration would not only have to make reparations to Harry for falsely accusing him, but also for slandering his name in the paper. On top of that, the world would know he'd been telling the truth, and Daphne doubted anyone was prepared to face the fact that the greatest dark wizard of all time had returned from the dead.

Daphne was afraid for Harry once again. This time she doubted he would be able to face this particular storm on his own.

"Come on, Let's get to work on that essay for Professor Snape. If we go now, we might be able to get hold of some books before Granger confiscates them all for her essay." Daphne said, rising from her seat.

As they began heading towards the library, neither of them noticed to cold stare from Draco Malfoy, who was still fuming over his embarrassment the night before. He sat with his fellow fifth years, the ones who trusted him, and knew what House loyalty meant.

"What are we going to do about them?" Pansy asked. "They're going to infect the entire house with their poison."

"We're going to help them remember who their true friends are." Draco smiled a devious smile as he turned his attention back to his associates. "But we have to do this very delicately, or Bumblebore might try and interfere."

"What do you have in mind?" Theodore Nott, a thin boy with a very aristocratic demeanor asked, his eyes alight with mischief. Draco sometimes wondered why the Notts and The Malfoys were not closer. If Theo was any indication, the two families share many common interests and goals. Draco thought some sort of alliance would have been beneficial, but the one time he'd brought it up to his father, luscious had scoffed.

"The Notts are little better than squibs." He had said before ordering Draco to remove himself from his father's study.

Draco couldn't understand his father's outlook, as Theodore seemed to be quite powerful. He was typically one of the first to master new spells, and he was well read in some of the more exquisite dark spells. Draco's only conclusion could be that Mr. Nott and his father had some sort of disagreement or something.

"We'll have to start slowly, I'd rather not cause permanent damage if I can help it. We have to show them that Potter and his friends aren't the saints that people think they are" Draco sneered.

"But Draco," Millicent said nervously. "No one thinks Potter's a saint. In fact, most everyone thinks he's a fame seeking brat, who's trying to keep his name in the papers."

"Yeah, for now. How long do you think it will be before Potter goes and does something all noble and brave and everyone forgets what a fame whore he is?" Draco spat. "We know what a phony he is, and it's our duty as proper wizards to show the rest of this lot the truth."

Everyone nodded their agreement, except Millicent who looked rather skeptical of Draco's intentions. The truth was, she didn't believe Draco's philosophy, and was becoming increasingly disenchanted with Slytherin House as a whole. She had spoken to one of the French girls from Beauxbatons last year, and had learned that there were no houses, or sorting, and that people were free to associate with whomever they wished. Millie often looked around at her fellow classmates, and students from other years, and envied them their friendships.

In first year, she had begun making friends with Mandy Brocklehurst, from Ravenclaw. However, Pansy, and a couple of older girls had come to her "rescue" and saved her from making a grave mistake. Since then, Millie had been Pansy's shadow, almost forced to go everywhere she did. All they ever talked about was Pansy, and whatever she was interested in. Anytime Millie tried to talk about something she liked, Pansy always twisted the conversation back so she was once again the focus.

Millie had rarely spoken to Daphne or Tracey, mostly due to Pansy. But their words from the night before were still echoing in her head. She deserved a real friend or two.

"Maybe," Millie thought to herself. "It's time I got one or two."

"Good Evening, Mr. Potter." Dolores Umbridge smiled sweetly, her wide toad like mouth smiling.

"Uh, Good Evening, Professor Umbridge." Harry said rather stiffly. He had thought on the way down to her office it might be a good idea to try and be civilized with her. So far, he felt he was off to a decent start.

"Please, sit down. You will be writing lines for me this evening. Oh, no, no." She said as Harry reached into his bag for a quill. "You will be using a very special quill of mine." she stood from her seat and crossed to where Harry had sat down, handing him a thin black quill. Harry notice the tip looked sharper than any quill he'd ever seen, but shrugged it off. He turned to Umbridge expectantly, but she simply smiled.

"Off you go then."

"But you haven't given me any ink. Should I use my own?" He asked, trying to sound as polite as possible.

"Oh, you will not require any ink. You will write, 'I Must Not Tell Lies'."

"How many times?"

"Until the message sinks in, I think. Now, if you please…"

Harry bent his head, and placed the tip of the black quill to parchment and began to scratch out the words he'd been ordered to write, when he began feeling a itch on the back of his pen hand. The quill seemed to be self inking, because there on the parchment, in dark red ink were the words he was supposed to write.

I Must Not Tell Lies.

Harry wrote two more lines, each time the itching on the back of his hand feeling more annoying until on the fourth line, he felt a sting. Harry stopped writing to look at his hand and was sickened to see, in his own handwriting, the very words he had been writing on the parchment. Harry peered closer to the ink, and a sudden realization hit him. The ink was blood. His blood. Harry stared at the quill and then to Umbridge who waited behind her desk, that hideous sweet smile on her face.

"What is this?" Harry asked angrily, looking horrorstruck at the new defense teacher.

"Is there a problem? Umbridge asked sweetly.

"Yes there's a problem! What is this thing? It can't be legal."

"I assure you that it is perfectly acceptable." Umbridge said firmly.

"Really? Well, then you won't mind if I ask Professor McGonagall then, will you?" Harry stood up from his seat and began heading for the door. He was just reaching out for the knob when his body suddenly stiffened as if frozen. His arms and legs snapped together, and her fell to the floor with a heavy thud. A moment later, he felt himself being rolled over, and Professor Umbridge was standing over him, a cold cruel smile on her pouchy face.

"Let's get one thing clear this instant, Mr. Potter. I will not tolerate misbehavior from anyone. I am not here because Professor Dumbledore has asked me to be here. I am here because the Minister of Magic wishes it. As such, I have the entire Ministry behind me. So, Should you wish to try and spread your vicious little lies about me to one of the other teacher in the vain hope to be rid of me, do try and remember that it will be my word the Ministry listens to. Now, if you would like, you can serve the rest of your detention here with me, or I can send a letter to Minister Fudge, and see to your removal from Hogwarts.

Harry wanted nothing more than to reach out and clutch the arrogant toad's throat and squeeze until her eyes bulged out of her fat head, but he knew in that moment he was going to have to fall in line for now. Umbridge let him out of the body bind, and Harry grudgingly went back to his seat and continued his punishment, gritting his teeth the entire time.

Occasionally he would look up to see Umbridge watching him as if he were a particularly juicy fly she couldn't wait to catch and devour. Harry simply kept working, concentrating hard on not making any noise of discomfort.

For three and a half hours, Harry scratched away at his parchment, and through that, his hand. With each and every letter, his hatred for the woman was etched deeper into him.

At last, Professor Umbridge rose from her desk and took his hand in hers to examine the damage.

"Ah, I see that you are starting to get the message. Tomorrow evening, same time. You are free to go." Umbridge smiled. "Good night, Mr. Potter."

Harry just glared at the squat teacher before leaving her office. Harry thought about going to see McGonagall, but Umbridge's threats still rang in his ear. Could she really have him removed from Hogwarts? And what would happen to him if she managed it? Would he go back to the Dursleys, or would he be able to stay with Sirius?

These questions rattle around in his head as he made his way upstairs to the dormitories. He entered through the portrait hole and found Hermione sitting in front of the fire. She looked up and gave a weak smile as he sat down next to him.

"How was your detention?" She asked softly.

"It was…" Harry wanted to tell her everything, but he could hear Umbridge's threats echoing in his head. "Fine. No big deal."

"What'd she have you do?" Hermione asked, turning back to her book.

"Lines." Harry said, his hand stinging from the scratches he'd spent the evening cutting into himself.

"That's not so bad." Hermione said, her tone warming.

"Nah." Harry agreed.

"Harry, I wanted to tell you earlier, but, well with everything that happened today, I never really got the chance."

"What?" Harry looked up. Hermione turned to look at him and smiled.

"That little girl at lunch, Daphne's sister. She was telling the truth. Daphne does fancy you. I asked her about it in Runes today, and she really likes you."

Harry sat up a bit, his face looking confused.

"The thing is, she wants to really get to know you. She wants to try and build a real relationship with you."

"Okay…" Harry said, not really understanding what Hermione was saying here.

"I think you should give her a chance." Hermione said. "There aren't many girls who are going to be interested in the real Harry, but I think Daphne is one of them. I know that you like Cho, and everything, but, well think about it ok?"

"Sure." Harry smiled, remembering how Sirius had said virtually the same thing just before school. "What about you?"

"I think she's nice, but I don't really fancy girls." Hermione quipped.

"You know what I mean." Harry smiled, poking Hermione in the side. She let out a small scream and hit him in the arm with her book. Harry wrestled the book away from her and managed to fend her off until she calmed down.

"So, how about it. Now you know of a boy who apparently likes you." Harry commented.

"I know, and Neville's a lovely enough person, but I really don't know."

"Maybe you should spend some time with him, and just see what happens. At the very least, you could have a very good friend in him."

"I suppose." Hermione sighed. "I just hate to string him along or something."

Harry nodded and smiled at his friend. "You'll do the right thing." Harry said as he got to his feet. "For the both of you."

The portrait door opened and they both turned to see Ron coming in, holding his broom.

"Oh, hi." he said, looking a little guilty. Harry started to turn to head up to bed when Ron called out to him. Harry turned back around and watched as Ron came over to them.

"I…I shouldn't have hit you. I'm sorry for that."

"I shouldn't have compared you to Malfoy." Harry said, shoving his hands in his pocket, wincing ever so slightly as the fabric brushed against his stinging cuts. He didn't notice the look of curiosity that passed on Hermione's face.

"Umbridge wasn't too hard on you, was she?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head, a small smile on his face.

"Ron, You've been my best friend since first year, and I can't imagine life without you in it. But if you don't stop being so damned stubborn and immature, one day your going to say something that you can't take back, and our friendship will be over. You've got to grow up, or you could end up being left behind, mate."

Ron lowered his eyes, and nodded lightly. "I'm going to bed." He said, stepping past Harry and trudging up the stairs. Harry watched him go, feeling bad about what he'd said, but knowing it had to be done.

"Well done, Harry." Hermione said, getting up from the sofa and coming to stand next to him.

"Then why do I feel like a complete git?"

"He needed to hear that, and it really did need to come from you, or he wouldn't have listened at all."

Hermione then surprised him, and clutched his wrist, pulling his hand out of his pocket to examine his hand. Harry pulled it away, but not before Hermione got a good look at it.

"I thought you said she was making you do lines?" Hermione asked, looking truly horrified at the sight of his hand.

"She is." Harry said, rubbing at his sore hand. "She's making me use this weird quill that cuts my hand and writes in my blood." Harry grimaced.

"Harry, you've got to tell Professor McGonagall."

"I tried." Harry nearly shouted. "I got up from my desk, and was going to take the quill to McGonagall, when she put me in a body bind curse. She told me that she's got the whole ministry behind her, and she said it would be my word against hers, and that she could have me expelled." Harry said, his hands ruffling his hair in frustration. "She's got me, Hermione. I have to play her game, or she'll kick me out of here."

Hermione sat down, as her legs weaken, her hand going to her mouth in disgust at what she had just heard.

"I can do this, Hermione." Harry said bravely. "I've been tortured by Voldemort. This…" Harry smiled, holding up his hand. "This is nothing."

"If you need any help…" Hermione said, wiping at the angry tears stinging her soft brown eyes.

"I could use some help on my homework tomorrow, if you have the time?"

"You got it." She smiled weakly. Harry gave her one of his patented lopsided grins, and then headed off for bed, leaving her alone in the common room. Hermione was more than angry at Umbridge. Not only was she not going to be teaching them magic, Not only was she spying on Dumbledore, and trying to sow dissent within the school, but she was torturing her best friend. Hermione was not going to let that stand if she could help it. She was going to make it her life's ambition to take that toady little woman down.

Hermione sighed as she stared into the fire. Harry deserved so much more happiness. He deserved a better life than what he had been given. Hermione wondered if she might be able to help him to find a little bit of happiness, and then she thought of Daphne Greengrass, the very pretty Slytherin who had admitted to fancying her best friend.

"I shouldn't interfere." Hermione told herself, and yet, her mind was already thinking of ways she might help the girl get closer to her best friend.