Disclaimer: Not mine.

"Tell me again why we're taking that dreadful class again?"

Daniel smiled. "Cedric over there wants to be an Auror, I'm taking almost everything for N.E.W.T.s 'cause I'm not sure what I want to do, and you, my dear friend, want to work in the Ministry."

I rolled my eyes, frustrated. Cedric wrapped his arm around my shoulders. He, Daniel, and I had just gotten out of our first with Umbridge (aka the big pink toad). To say it was a disappointment was an understatement.

"Come on Evie," Cedric said. "It wasn't that bad?"

"Wasn't that bad?" I said, laughing slight. "How do they expect us to make it in the Wizarding world learning this garbage for N.E.W.T.s.? We've learned this stuff already for O.W.L.s. I mean, just who does that toad think she is?"

"Hmm, hmm."

Cedric, Daniel, and I froze. I grimaced as we turned around to face Umbridge, who was smiling at me with this horribly smile. Had she been following us down the hallway?

"Miss Josephs," she said. "May I see you in my office?"

Sighing softly, I followed Umbridge back down the hall¸ looking over my shoulder at Cedric and Daniel who were watching the two of us with curiosity. Obviously I was in trouble for calling her a toad. But surely I wasn't the first.

Back in her office, I sat in the chair in front of her desk, trying not to gag at all the pink and the kittens that hung from the wall. It reminded me of my Great Aunt Muriel's home.

"Tea, dear?" Umbridge asked, waving her wand. A cup of tea floated towards my face but I pushed it away, giving her a slight smile.

"No, thank you."

I could have sworn I saw her smile twitch but I ignored it as she waved her wand again, the cup moving away from me.

"So," she said, "am I to understand that you disagree with my lesson plans?"

"I just – don't think we're receiving the necessary education that will enable us to succeed after school," I told her. There. I answered her question in the most polite way I could. It was still slightly insulting but it was fine.

"I see," she answered, tapping her nails on the desk. The sound was practically annoying. "Well, Miss Josephs, surely a young woman of your intelligence can appreciate the need to get back to the basics every once and a while."

"True, Professor," I said. "But these are – we are N.E.W.T level students, seventh years. We've been over the basics many times in our first five years. Going over the basics now in this year will not help us in a position that requires much more."

"I see." Umbridge was still tapping her nails. It took my entire being not to reach forward and grab her hand to make her stop. Not that I would actually want to touch her. She was seriously creeping me out. Her large eyes continued to peer at me. "It has also come to my understanding that you and Mr. Potter are very close friends."

I became alert immediately, my eyes narrowing. "What does that have to do with anything?" I asked.

"Oh it has a lot to do with everything," she said, smiling eerily. "As you must know, Mr. Potter has been spreading many awful rumors –"

"I thought it was against teacher policy to discuss their students with other students," I interrupted, feeling angry now.

"Usually it is. But you are a surprisingly intelligent girl and I am hoping to express the importance of your friendship with Mr. Potter on your future hopes of a career."

"I don't see how my friendship with Harry could possibly have an effect on my career. Just what exactly are you trying to imply, Professor?

"Intelligent as you are, certain – feelings may have inhibited you from seeing clearly. The Ministry is a very upstanding establishment and does not tolerate hearsay or lies. If you were to say, fall prey, to such blasphemous rumors against the Ministry, it could look very bad for your employment."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Just . . . offering a warning, Miss Josephs."

"This is ridiculous!" I said, getting to my feet. "How can you possibly say that? I should have you reported for this! You cannot threaten me because of who I hold in acquaintance! My friendship with Harry is none of your business. Harry is a good kid! If he says Voldemort's returned than who's to say he's lying? Certainly not you. And you not taking him seriously makes you and the Minister the stupid ones."

"Detention, Miss Josephs," she said, smiling still. From the way she was looking at me, I knew I had played right into her hands. "Detention for disrespecting a Professor and the Minister. For a week, you will report to me every evening at five, starting tomorrow. You are dismissed. Oh and Miss Josephs? I'll expect it'll be difficult retrieving a job knowing your feelings for the Ministry and its esteemed employees."

My face hot, I swiped my bag from the ground and stormed out of her office, not caring that the door slammed.

"I haven't had a detention in my whole entire Hogwarts career," I moaned, putting my head in my hands.

Cedric chuckled slightly, reaching across the table to twist his fingers in my hair. We were sitting in our little alcove of the library, the one that Madam Pinch didn't even seem to know about. It was nice, just the two of us again. These last three days of school had been spent with both of us being either harassed by my friends, his friends, or a combination of both or Cedric just too busy with his Head Boy duties. "Well, you did call her and the Minister stupid, after all. For good reason, of course," he added when I looked up at him, miserable.

"And can you believe she's going to insure I don't get a job?" I asked.

"She can't do that," he told me, pressing his hand against my cheek. "Evie, you're practically the smartest girl in our class. If the Ministry doesn't take you, then they really are as stupid as they are acting."

"Do you know the whole school's talking about it already? Everywhere I go, either I hear your name, my name, or Harry's. I don't know how you've done it all these years. All these people staring at you, watching your every move."

Cedric grinned. "If I recall, you were one of the ones staring."

I blushed. "Yes but I was different, I would hope."

"You were, thank Merlin for that. Don't worry so much, Evie. It's just a detention. And people are just surprised that you, out of all people, got one. As for all the attention you're getting from Umbridge and others, what did you expect being Harry's friend? Anyone around him is under watch. What if you, I don't know, stayed away from Harry for a while?"

"I couldn't do that," I told him. "I promised Harry last year that I'd be there for him if he needed me. He carries the weight on his shoulders and I feel somewhat responsible of him, like a little brother. Plus, I feel like I owe him something."

"Because of me?"

I hesitated. "No," I lied.

Cedric sighed. "Well if you insist on putting yourself there, you'll have to learn to deal with the limelight. Last year, during the tournament, you remember how terrified I was. And everyone was watching me, waiting to see what I'd do next. They'll be doing that to you because you're friends with Harry and because you made yourself pretty popular after the third task. But just like you there for me last year, I'm here for you this year."

I smiled, taking his hand in mine. "I know."

"Come on. We'd better get out of here before curfew. I guess I should be trying to set some sort of good standards as Head Boy."

I laughed. "As if that'll ever happen. How you ever made Head Boy, I'll never guess."

He grinned. "I'm just too devious for such a position aren't I?"

"Too true."

Cedric wrapped his arm around my waist and I leaned into him, something I realized I was going to need to do a lot this year.

A/N: So I'm sorry it took me forever to update. Hope you enjoyed this one. Thanks a lot.