AN: This was supposed to be a one-shot, but since all the reviewers agree that I should continue, here's chapter 2

Chapter Two: Inter-House relations?

"Harry, where are we going?" Ron asked his friend as he and Hermione followed Harry out of the common room.

"I'm going to the Owlry, to write a letter to my solicitor. Hermione, you should tell your spy network about this and spread it to the other Houses. Ron, you might want to write your parents to explain why you will be skipping classes until further notice." He turned around and looked at his two friends. "Hermione, you're brilliant. I could kiss you!"

"Spy network?" Hermione asked at the same time Ron murmured "Solicitor?"

"Yeah, you know, your inter-House study group that doubles as a rumor mill. I know that's how you know all the latest rumors despite spending all your time either in class, the common room, or the library. And yes, Ron, solicitor. After the Dementor debacle, I had Remus hook me up with a solicitor so I could have someone in my corner if I need it."

The trio dispersed, the boys to the Owlry, and Hermione to the library.

"Spy network? I guess that's an apt description." She kept mumbling to herself as she walked into the library and headed to her usual table.

She took a battered notebook out of her bookbag and wrote a message on it.

Emergency meeting in the library. NOW!!! - HG

Justin Finch-Fletchey from Hufflepuff immediately ambushed her. "Hermione, did you see the new decree? What's going to happen to the study group?"

"Breathe, Justin, breathe. We'll still make do, somehow, right, Gryff?" Tracy Davis, a fifth-year Slytherin joined the duo.

"We will figure it out. Tracy and I are good with most of the general stuff and everyone's competent in at least one area. If we compile a list of everyone and their strengths, we should be able to work out a one-on-one schedule for everybody. Besides, we have the notebooks that we can use to get in touch if someone needs something on short notice. Trace, how's popular opinion of Umbridge in your House?"

Tracy shook her head. "Nobody'll admit it, but they hate her. She's a suck-up and everybody knows it, but she's got power and influence, so they're keeping personal opinions out of it. Why?"

"We're trying to instigate a school-wide sit-in, but I'm gonna need your help with your Housemates."

She proceeded to outline her and Harry's plan of boycotting all meals, classes, and Quidditch games in order to follow Educational Decree 24 to the letter.

Tracy listened intently, and hardly noticed the other members of the study group joining them.

When Hermione was done, half of the students gathered around the table were laughing so hard they couldn't speak, and she got a nearly unanimous "We're in" from the others.

Tracy, on the other hand, took a moment to gather her thoughts before she began to speak. "Malfoy and his lot won't do it. If I even mention it, they'll go to Umbridge and get her to reinstate classes. I'll spread the word to people I think will follow it, but there's no way I'm putting Potter's seal on it. I'll also talk to Snape, but only if you tell your Heads about the plan. There is no way in Hell that I'm getting detention or losing points for this."

Hermione laughed. "Of course, we'll talk to the Heads. McGonagall will go along with it, at least until the Decree is amended. Now, I'm going with Harry and Ron to tell McGonagall. Justin, can you talk to Sprout? And Padma, Terry, you can handle talking to your Head of House, right? Trace, I'll write you when we get okayed with everyone else."

TBC

Next time: Talks with the Heads and maybe even talks among the Heads

AN: I've got a side-story about Hermione's little study group/spy network maybe in the works. Keep an eye out for that one. The next chapter won't come out this fast, I'm sorry to say. I could get these two chapters out this fast because it was a weekend without much homework.