A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but I needed to add in a bit of story development. There isn't much Dramione romance in this chapter but keep reading because this chapter is important to the story.

4. Dumbledore's Army

Harry, Ron and Hermione were up to their necks with homework. Ever since Ron made the Quidditch team as Keeper, he and Harry were practising almost every day out on the Quidditch pitch.

Umbridge had become High Inquisitor, making all the teachers very on edge. In particular, Snape who let out his frustration by setting the class ten inches of parchment on the effects of bloodroot potion.

Hermione was so busy with her study; she didn't have time to talk about her incident with Malfoy. She hadn't even decided if she was going to say anything about it. Harry, as it is was getting enough heat from Umbridge. His reoccurring nightmares he talked about weren't helping either. Ron was also busy with Quidditch, prefect duties and school work. So in her free time (little that she had), Hermione just sat by the fire in the common room, knitting her little hats. She was avoiding the library after what happened in there last time.

One night, the three of them sat around a desk, doing their transfiguration homework when Hermione spotted Harry's hand.

"What happened to your hand?" she said.

Harry tried to hide it under the desk, but Hermione quickly grabbed it and held it out. There was writing on his hand that looked like it had been carved there, I must not tell lies.

"Harry! What has Umbridge done to you? She's torturing you. You have to say something to Dumbledore."

"No Hermione," Harry withdrew his hand, "Dumbledore is busy enough as it is. I don't want to worry him for nothing."

"She has gone too far mate," said Ron, who now too was observing Harry's hand.

Hermione got up from her chair now, pacing around the room angrily. "She's turning the school into a prison! We're not learning any defensive spells. We need someone to teach us. If...V...Voldemort (she cringed a little) is really back, we have to prepare ourselves."

Harry and Ron considered her for a moment.

"Harry can teach us!" Ron said.

"What?!" scoffed Harry, almost knocking his ink bottle over.

"Yes! Good thinking Ron. Harry you would be perfect," said Hermione, clapping her hands together in excitement.

"No way! Nobody even wants to talk to me, let alone let me teach them."

"Come on Harry," said Ron encouragingly, "you're the only person who knows about the dark arts."

The DA (Dumbledore's Army) was established, they had enthusiastic members and they had found a place to practice (Room of Requirement). Everyone had managed to keep the group under wraps; they each received a fake galleon (which Hermione conjured) which helped them communicate to each other about meeting times or for emergencies. Hermione was happy that the group was up and running, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and learning lots.

One afternoon, they had just finished a DA lesson. Everyone had gone back to their common rooms. It was just Harry, Hermione and Ron who were packing up.

"That was a good lesson today, Harry," Hermione said happily. "It's kind of fun, breaking the rules and going behind Umbridge's back."

Ron laughed, "Who are you and what have you done with Hermione?" He looked down at his watch, "Harry! We forgot about Quidditch practice, it starts in five minutes!"

They both looked at Hermione with puppy dog eyes. "Its fine, I'll pack up the rest of the things," she said with a smile.

"Thanks, you're the best!" yelled out Harry, as him and Ron bolted for the door. They peeked around the door to make sure no one was around before running back to the common room.

Hermione just laughed and shook her head as she stacked up cushions and put away props. Ron was right; she did feel like a different person. All this rule breaking, the old Hermione would have never condoned this. Before and after each DA lesson, she always felt butterflies as she sneaked between the corridors. She felt a rush that went all the way from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. A rush that she looked forward to, it was exhilarating.

She finished packing the last of the things and exited the Room of Requirement and tip toed her way down the corridor, careful not to be seen. When she thought she was at a safe distance from the room, she walked at a normal pace back to the common room. She had just turned the corner when she heard someone.

"Hey, Granger."

She turned around quickly to see who it was, slightly scared. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted the person who was calling her.

Malfoy.

A/N; Uh oh, where is this headed? Stay tuned! Review, review, review!