Chapter 22:

The next morning the four of us made our way down to the Great Hall for some breakfast. Everyone was anxious and excited for our first day. The others were already seated at the high table when the four of us arrived. I'd already renewed our glamour before we left the muggle studies classroom, so I trailed my arm across the others as I passed them, refreshing their glamours as well. To the humans it would just look like I was greeting them good morning.

We all waved to our friends as they entered the hall. I noticed Umbridge's eyes trail to Harry every few minutes with a glare firmly fixed on her toad-like face. The extreme hate she emanated toward him was staggering, and made me very nervous.

I looked to Jasper to see that he'd noticed as well. We only held each other's glance for the slightest of moments. It would seem quite insignificant to any humans paying attention, but to us the glance spoke volumes. When Jasper returned his attention to his plate he murmured, "I'll stay outside the classroom while he's in there. I won't let anything happen to him." No one else would even see Jasper's lips move. Not even Romilda Vane, who seemed to be eying him quite intently.

There were murmurs of "Thanks" from all the Cullens. It seems Jasper and I weren't the only to notice the hostility.

"Hey Jazz," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "I think you have an admirer."

Glancing at Romilda, Jasper groaned, causing the rest of us to snicker. "She tried to flirt with me last night when Em and I swung by Gryffindor Tower to collect The Trio," he complained. "The girl's got no shame."

"You better watch out," I warned humorously. "She might try to dose you with a love potion."

The horror on Jasper's face was quite comical and had us all bursting into peals of laughter. We were no longer succeeding in our attempts at discretion, quickly becoming the focus of many curious stares. Harley leaned over questioningly. "What's so funny?" she asked.

I cast a Muffliato around our group before answering. "Oh, Jasper just has an admirer…Romilda Vane," I snorted.

All three of my girls began chortling. "I'd watch out for love potions if I were you," wheezed Nicole.

"Bella said the same thing. Is there a story there?" asked Emmett, relishing his brother's discomfort.

"Oh yeah," we chorused, giggling.

"Well?" asked Alice, beginning to get annoyed. She didn't like the idea of someone dosing her husband with a love potion.

"Oh, it's just that we caught her trying to dose Harry last year," began Sammie.

"She was desperate for Harry to ask her to the Yule Ball," continued Harley.

"We, well, we performed a switching spell on the goblet she'd tainted," explained Nicole.

"Yeah, we switched the contents with those of her own goblet," I finished, the four of us bursting into giggles.

"Care to expound?" asked Rose, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"The potion was keyed to Romilda, so when she imbibed it she became obsessed with herself. Well, more than she was already," Sammie said.

"Yeah," Nicole continued. "She couldn't pass by a shiny surface without stopping to admire herself. You'd pass by a window and she'd be leaning against it, stroking her reflection with longing."

"Ginny was livid with us," I choked out, trying to contain my mirth. "She has to share a dorm with the girl and apparently she took…erm…self-love to a whole new level!"

"Yeah, rubbish at silencing charms, that one," Harley said, clutching her side. The four of us were leaning against each other, laughing freely. We'd start to regain control, only to remember her sitting in the common room gazing at a picture of herself or reciting sonnets to herself in the Great Hall. We'd then lose it all over again.

Our laughter ceased immediately when Umbridge approached, glaring at us from across the table. Harley canceled the Muffliato and we cleared our throats.

"Can we help you, Professor," I asked innocently.

"This is no way for a Professor to behave in front of the children," she admonished harshly.

The four of us cocked our heads to the side in tandem and I could hear my family snickering lowly. "The vast majority of students in this school know us from last year, Professor," said Nicole. "I don't think they'll be too terribly shocked to see us enjoying a laugh."

"We placed a silencing charm around us beforehand," Harley defended. "They don't know what we were talking about. They just saw us laughing."

"It's a sight they'll see again, ma'am. I'm sure all four of us will attempt to infuse our classes with humor. It keeps the children's attention focused if they think you might say something amusing," Sammie added.

"The children are here to learn, Professors, not socialize. I'm not sure how they do things in America, but we have standards here," Umbridge said in an overly sweet voice.

We all narrowed our eyes at her. My girls and I had always been a united front without even trying. "Oh?" I asked. "And by what standard did Mr. Malfoy call me a Mudblood last year?"

The annoying smile vanished from her toad like features. "You will not disrespect me, Professor Black. I am the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic and I demand to be treated with respect. Perhaps if you'd been raised in a proper Pureblood family you'd understand that without having to be told."

"I meant no disrespect, Madam," I said, arranging my features into a look of absolute innocence. "I was simply asking for clarification. You said you demand a certain standard in the UK. I understand that the Malfoy family is quite close with the Minsiter. I just want to understand the standards expected of me." I used the breathy, simpering voice she'd employed the night before, smiling as sweetly as I could manage.

Yeah, she was not impressed. "You will do well not to cross me, Black," she warned threateningly, dropping her facade.

"Or what? You'll sic some dementors on me?" I asked cheekily. I was really just messing with her. I didn't expect the wave of abject panic that rushed through her at the words. I quickly opened my Legilimency shield to the woman. She couldn't possibly know I sent them. No one does, I heard before she swallowed her panic and reinforced her shields.

It took every ounce of willpower of which I'm capable to remain still. I wanted to yell. I wanted to rage. I wanted to rip her fucking head off.

It had been her. The whole time we truly believed the perpetrator to be Voldemort. It wasn't. It was the Ministry toad all along. She'd sent the demons of hell after a 15 year old boy. To destroy his soul. It made me sick.

The others picked up on the mounting tension and I could feel Edward's body vibrating next to me. He'd heard the rogue thought as well. "We should be getting to our classrooms. The students will be arriving soon. Edward, Bella," Esme said, placing a comforting hand on each of our shoulders.

I was too afraid to speak. There was no telling what I'd say, but I had no doubt it'd be enough to get myself sacked before I even had my first class. I couldn't allow that to happen now. Our presence here was now more important than ever. We needed to protect Harry from more than just Voldemort.

So, without so much as a second glance toward the vile woman before me, I rose and followed the others out of the Hall. Well, everyone but Jasper and Em. They'd stayed behind to watch over the students. My mood was slightly lifted by the tone of the room as I left it. They were disappointed. They'd wanted a show and we hadn't delivered.

I didn't walk toward the Arithmancy room, however. I went straight to the Headmasters office. "Lemon Heads," I said. I'd introduced Dumbledore to the muggle sweet over the summer. He loved Lemon Drops and Sherbet Lemon, so I figured he'd be down for some Lemon Heads. I was right, of course.

The gargoyle leapt to the side to allow me passage. The others followed me up the stairs, including Harry, Ron and Hermione.

There was a soft Enter heard from the office after my rather loud knocking. More like banging, really. Our group entered the office hastily. When Dumbledore saw the size of the group his eyes widened comically. "What can I do for you all this morning?"

"It was Umbridge," I blurted angrily.

"Sorry? What was Professor Umbridge?"

"The person who sent the dementors after Harry! It wasn't Voldemort. It was Umbridge. That no good Ministry toad!"

There were multiple gasps heard behind me, and Dumbledore's eyes narrowed dangerously, his signature twinkle glaringly absent. "How do you know this?"

I started pacing furiously. "She was reprimanding me for joking with my friends this morning. I responded with a bit of cheek. She told me not to cross her, or else. I asked, 'Or else what? You'll sic some dementors on me?' I really just meant to sass her about the Ministry's embarrassing charade of a trial, but I felt her panic. Intensely. I opened my shields in the next second, hoping she'd let something slip through her walls. She did. She couldn't possibly know I sent them, No one does, she thought. It was her, not Voldemort!"

"I heard it too, sir," said Edward.

The room was deathly silent for a few long moments. I approached Harry and pulled him to me. "She's dangerous, Headmaster. She sent dementors after an innocent boy for no reason. She can't be allowed near the students, especially Harry!" I was practically beside myself with anger and worry.

"I'm afraid it won't be possible to remove her, Professor Black. She's been appointed by the Minister himself. He seems to think I'm trying to develop an army to overthrow him, using the false resurrection of Voldemort as a distraction. He's quite convinced, I'm afraid. He's sent his Undersecretary to keep an eye on me and the curriculum of Hogwarts. I fear the interference, and in turn Professor Umbridge's power, will only be increased as the year progresses."

"But…You're the Chief Warlock, for Merlin's sake! You can't bring charges upon her? Make her testify under Veritaserum?" I fairly shouted.

"Miss Black. What shall I provide as proof that Delores sent the Dementors? Shall I tell Fudge that I have two telepathic vampires in my employ and they overheard the confession slip through Umbridge's mental shields? I don't have to tell you how poorly our Minister and the greater wizarding community would respond to that news," Dumbledore reasoned.

"I don't care if he finds out I'm a vampire! I just want Harry to be safe!"

"Miss Black, no one will accept the word of a vampire. You will no longer be viewed as a Pureblood in society; you'll be viewed as a half-breed. Telling Fudge about your vampiric abilities would be counter-productive to the extreme, and trying to convince Fudge of anything after he finds out that piece of information would be impossible," Dumbledore countered.

"So what do we do then?" I asked, defeated.

Dumbledore smiled kindly. "Well, Miss Black, there are eight vampires in this school. I think it would be wise to perhaps have either Emmett or Jasper in the classroom under Harry's invisibility cloak during his DADA lessons. Also, I believe, Mr. Potter, you should refrain from wandering about the castle this year. Safety in numbers, you know?"

"That's your solution?" I asked, angry. "Keep to groups? You honestly think a woman who is capable of sending dementors to destroy the soul of a fifteen year old boy will be deterred by Hermione and Ron? No offense to the pair of them, but honestly, Headmaster!"

"We will all be keeping an eye on her, Miss Black, I assure you. The main reason for having Emmett and Jasper in their security roles is to watch over Mr. Potter. Perhaps if you were to keep that map of theirs on your person you'd feel better about things. You'll always be able to find him."

Well, that seems like an acceptable compromise. Mrs. Weasley explained the magic in that clock of hers. Perhaps I could duplicate it to show Harry's status. That plus the map would help keep him properly monitored. I looked to Harry. He was already pulling the map from his bag. "I wonder if those old Marauders can make another map. That way we can both have one," I said, smiling. "I hate that you have to give it up, Harry."

"It's alright, Bella. If the situation were reversed, I'd want to be able to keep track of you, too."

"If you never get caught out of bounds just say I gave you permission. I'll back you up," I smiled cheekily, watching the Headmaster in my peripheral. He'd taken to examining his nails with a smirk.

"Wonderful. Now, you lot have classes. Off you go," Dumbledore said jovially.

Classes were fun. The students were all very enthusiastic about the year's syllabus, especially the older students who were looking forward to spell creation. Edward and I decided to keep our Legilimency shields open to the students while in the classroom. It really helped us to understand what they were thinking, and where they needed help. We got some rather disconcerting images as well, teenage hormones being what they are. We tried to ignore those and concentrate on the subject material.

Jasper and Harry were waiting outside the classroom when our last class was finished. They entered after the last student left and immediately explained the disaster that was his first DADA class. Apparently the vile, evil, Ministry approved attempted murderer believes there's no reason to teach practical defense. Harry had thrown their new book down in anger as he started his rant. I flipped through it as I listened to his complaints, and felt my own ire begin to peak. What the hell was the point of sitting in her classroom for four hours a week? The book was for amateurs, and Harry was in his OWL year!

I dropped the book and gave Harry my full attention when he got to the part where the would-be murderer asked, 'Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves?' Harry had sarcastically replied, 'Hmmm…let's think. Maybe….Lord Voldemort?' I smiled at his cheek, in spite of myself.

"Yeah, the woman was obviously goading him into a response," explained Jasper. "When she received the outburst she was hoping for her lips curved into a truly malicious smile before she told the class Voldemort was dead and Harry and Dumbledore were liars. She gave him detention, which is what she wanted from the beginning, I think. She felt awfully satisfied."

"Yeah, and when I asked where we went when we left the maze, who Cruciated you, and how we returned with Peter Pettigrew, she claimed that it was all Peter and that we were making up the rest for attention. What a load of tosh!" Harry exclaimed heatedly.

The Headmaster had told the press that I was writhing in pain because of the after effects of the Cruciatus. It seemed to be believable enough, as no one questioned it. I just hope Voldemort will believe that Dumbledore had been able to cleanse my blood before it was too late. I've already proven I could do magic, which should lead him to believe that the change didn't follow through to completion. One can only hope.

"Harry," I stated cautiously. "You need to control your temper around that vile woman. She tried to kill you. Now you have to be alone with her in your detention. Well, you would be if it weren't for your security detail. Point is, you need to stay under her radar."

"So I'm just supposed to be okay with the fact that I won't learn anything in Defense this year? When Voldemort is back?" he asked incredulously.

"Honestly, Harry, did you not learn a thing last year? You just leave it to your friendly neighborhood Skirts. We'll teach you, Ron and Hermione. We can do it in the Room of Requirement. We're all proficient enough to do the job properly."

Harry smiled widely before giving me a hug. "Thanks, Bella. You're the best sister a guy could ever ask for."

"Aw, shucks. You're not so bad yourself there, brother dear," I responded cheekily.

We were all chuckling when Emmett burst through the door. "Hey Bella, what's a blood quill?"

My eyes widened. "Where on earth did you hear that term, Em?"

"Jasper asked me to keep watch on Umbridge. After the class was dismissed she started muttering about blood quills. Said they'd teach Harry a lesson."

"No!" I gasped. "She can't be considering using those on a student! It's barbaric!" As soon as the words crossed my lips I realized how utterly absurd I was. Of course she would. She sent Dementors after him, why would she shy away from blood quills. "Nevermind, that was stupid…" I muttered.

"What is a blood quill?" asked Harry nervously.

"They're…well, they don't use ink. Instead they use the author's own blood. The words etch themselves into your hand and the blood drawn is used for ink."

Harry paled and I felt outrage from the three other vampires in the room. "Hell no, Bella! I'll rip that bitch to shreds first!" bellowed Emmett. Jasper and Edward growled their agreement, but I started thinking. I could probably turn this around. If not, well, I'd just steal the damn things.

"I've got an idea. I'm going to copy myself and send it to dinner with Edward. I'll be able to control the copy much easier with my vampire mind. I'll take care of the quills," I said.

The others agreed, eying me curiously. I then cast the spell over myself before disillusioning my person and slinking off to the DADA office. The office was empty, so I quickly disabled her wards and let myself in. It was pink. Very pink. There were also kitten portraits everywhere. This woman clearly has issues.

I placed my wand in my hand and said, "Point me." I don't typically need my wand, but for this spell it's a must. It pointed me in the direction of the quills and I quickly found them in the top drawer of her desk. After examining the shaft I easily deciphered the Runes and base Arithmancy powering the quills. After some quick calculations I figured out how to redirect the magic. Instead of using the blood of the author, it would seek the blood of its owner. Perfect.

After reconfiguring the Runes and spells on the quills, I re-warded the office and left on my merry way. I had my copy tell Edward she was ready to go back to the office, letting him know I was finished with my task.

Emmett was monitoring Harry during his detention, so after Edward returned to our quarters and I vanished my copy, we had nothing to do but wait for Harry and Emmett to return. I hadn't told anyone what I'd done, instead letting the suspense build. I simply assured Harry that he wouldn't be spilling any blood.

By the time the pair returned, we had been joined by the rest of the Cullens as well as Ron, Hermione and the other Skirts. Both Emmett and Harry were smiling widely when they entered our living room. "Bells, if I wasn't madly in love with my Rosie, I'd totally steal you away from Edward. That was awesome! You should have seen the look on her face!"

Harry was laughing as well. "It was bloody brilliant is what it was! She had this smug look on her face when I asked for an inkpot. When I started to write I must not tell lies, she gasped and stared at her hand. Then she started sputtering and accusing me of tampering with her belongings. I lied and said that I'd never even heard of a quill that draws your blood for ink, before telling her in complete honesty that I wouldn't have the first clue how to go about altering them, even if I did. She seemed to agree that I wasn't competent enough to reconfigure her precious quills."

I smiled grimly. I couldn't quite find it in me to be too chipper about the whole situation. Yes, this instance of abuse was avoided, but what about the future. "Please promise me you'll just ignore her going forward, Harry. Let her say whatever she wants. She'll be the one looking like a fool in the end. In the meantime just know that we all believe you, love you, and have your back."

The others nodded their agreement and Harry sighed. "I'll try, Bella. I promise. She just makes me so mad sometimes."

"Harry, Harry, Harry," I tsked. "You're a second generation Marauder. We don't get mad brother-of-mine. We get even."

Harry smirked back. "Of course, so silly of me. I don't know what I was thinking," he said in an eerily spot on impression of his would-be murderer.

Our group chattered for a little while longer about our first day of classes. Harley and Nic had some really funny stories about the purebloods in their class. Poor dears had a rather difficult time with the physical exertion.

Time started passing more normally after that first day. Harry was keeping his temper in check in DADA, and both Ron and Harry were spending a lot of time practicing for the upcoming Quidditch season. Ron had made the keeper position. Em had spent a lot of time with him over the summer throwing practice shots for him to defend. Holding his own against a vampire (even one that was lowering his performace to human level) did a world of good for Ron's self-confidence.

We executed our first successful prank on Umbridge during the fourth week of school. Harry had his little elf friend, Dobby, slip some dreamless sleep potion into the woman's nightly tea service. We found her passed out on the floor of her office, snoring like a bloody chainsaw.

We had watched a ton of muggle movies over the summer in Grimmauld's new electronics room. Everyone brought out their old favorites, one of Harley's being The Parent Trap (The Saved by the Bell Miss Bliss version, not the LiLo version). It was from this movie that Harry drew his inspiration. Since no one wanted to see Delores Umbridge with a piece of her skirts removed, we decided to go with the bed on the lake prank those mischievous tykes pulled on that gold digger, Vicky Robinson.

So, with the old hag knocked out for the night, I levitated her disillusioned body out to the Black Lake. Harry and Em were keeping a close eye on the Marauder's Map under the cloak while a disillusioned Edward walked next to me, holding my hand like the dutiful fiancé he is.

When we reached the lake, I transfigured a rock into a giant lily pad. I had kept this little aspect to myself, wanting to surprise Harry with my genius. The three boys appreciated it, indeed. After gently setting the toad lady's body on her new lily pad Harry pushed her out into the lake, adding a little bit of a wind charm to give her an extra push. She would wake up in the middle of the lake, no doubt. Maybe the giant squid would snack on her.

To say she was enraged the next day would be a massive understatement. It probably didn't help that we took pictures and posted them all over the halls. She accused the Weasley twins of the offense, but Harry had told them to be a visual presence in the common room that night, along with the copy I made of Harry. The toad didn't have a webbed foot to stand on.

A few days after the incident Ron received a letter from his brother, Percy the Prat. He congratulated Ron on making prefect before warning him away from Harry. He went on to elude that Dumbledore might not be the Headmaster at Hogwarts much longer, stating that Ron should be on the lookout for the Daily Prophet the following morning. That was a very scary thought. Dumbledore's presence at the school was undoubtedly what kept Voldemort from trying to take it outright. After libeling both Harry and Dumbledore's character, the little prick went on to give the abhorrently beastly, disgustingly loathesome, offensively repugnant excuse for a human being (also known as Delores Umbridge) his most sincere endorsement. What. A. Dick.

Turns out the Minister passed some shoddy legislation creating a position of Hogwart's High Inquisitor. This allowed him to place someone at the school that would have the authority to inspect the professors and their curriculum. It also allowed her to pass decrees within the school. The Minister, in his infinite ineptitude, appointed the wannabe murderess, Umbridge.

"Wonderful. I wonder how long we'll have as teachers," I remarked, setting the paper down.

"Well, she has to give reasons as to why we are incompetent. She can't just throw us out for no reason," Harley said. Oh sweet, naïve Harley.

Nicole patted her on her head. "Keep telling yourself that, sweet pea."

Dumbledore called each of the professors into his office during their free period that day, trying to reiterate Harley's stance. She had to provide reasons to the dismissal, and he would have ultimate say. She'd tried to immediately rid the castle of Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper, stating that a magical school had no place for a muggle, nor did the school need security wizards. Dumbledore had already been able to shoot her down. Her authority didn't extend to staff, apparently. Besides, as the spouses of professors, they'd be allowed to live in the castle, anyway.

Umbridge inspected each of our classes throughout the next few weeks. Too bad she didn't realize she was dealing with vampires who could control emotions. I sent her feelings of calm, satisfaction and agreeableness throughout her session with us. Didn't hear one, 'Hem, hem,' the entire period. Jasper did the same with the others' classes, hiding under the invisibility cloak. What do you know, top marks for all!

There was one casualty. Umbridge sacked Trelawney, and attempted to throw her out of the castle in a rather public and humiliating fashion. Dumbledore swooped to the rescue, informing Umbridge in front of the entire school that while the High Inquisitor may be able to fire his professors, she had no authority to decide who is allowed to live in the castle. Umbridge had to eat some crow, but it wasn't enough. Another prank was in order.

From the day Umbridge was named High Inquisitor, she started passing Educational Decrees. Filch would merrily nail them into the stone wall just outside the Great Hall. Basically, the rules stated that you couldn't be a teenager. No fun. No flirting. Certainly no kissing. My girls and I put our heads together to analyze the permanent sticking charm used to place Walburga's portrait at Number 12. We reversed the process, trying to figure out how to ensure that nothing could stick to a surface. We succeeded, of course.

So, Edward and I made our way to the Great Hall one night while on patrol. I first cast a silencing charm then the Bizarro Sticking Charm, as we'd coined it. Seinfeld fans, the lot of us. All the decrees promptly crashed silently into the stone floor. It was quite a sight the next morning. Filch would nail another into the wall and it would immediately crash to the floor. The frustration on the faces of both Filch and Umbridge was total win.

After that little project was complete, The Skirts and I were approached by The Golden Trio. They wanted to invite their classmates to our lessons. We told them we'd think about it. They gathered students on the next Hogsmeade weekend to see if people would be interested. Turns out, they were. Funny thing though, the very next day a new decree was passed stating all student organizations were disbanded and had to get permission from the High Inquisitor before reforming.

The three came to see us the next day, worried about their new Defense Association. "I'm sorry, you guys. We're not going to be able to be a part of it. We will continue to tutor you three, but we can't risk word getting out by bringing in others. We're professors; we can't have others see us openly oppose Umbridge. It would be a sorry way to thank Dumbledore for giving us jobs in the castle," I said regretfully.

"You could do it though, Harry. You could be the instructor. Secretly, of course," suggested Sammie.

"What? No way!" Harry exclaimed.

"Yes, Harry. We'll continue tutoring you lot, and you can in turn train the other students. You're a natural born leader, Harry," encouraged Nicole.

"Not to mention a very talented wizard," Hermione said. "Harry, you've defeated You-Know-Who – "

"Voldemort!" chorused The Skirts and Harry.

Both Hermione and Ron cringed. "Alright, alright. You've defeated V-Vol-Voldemort more than any living person, Harry. You can cast a fully corporeal Patronus. You are better than anyone in our year in defense, and our lessons with The Skirts have vastly improved your dueling skills," Hermione reasoned.

"When you say it like that, yeah, it sounds great. But I nearly always had help. And I mostly just fumbled my way through all those situations, getting lucky."

"No Harry, you were thinking quickly. You were assessing situations and responding according to your survival instinct. That is what these kids need to learn. Dueling with Death Eaters isn't going to be a friendly little duel where you walk ten paces and bow. You've got to be able to move your body quickly, think of alternatives, and use the best spells to survive. Expelliarmus, Stupefy, Flipendo, Immobulus, Locomotor Mortis, Protego, Finite Incantatum, and Incarcerous. The students need to know these basic spells backward and forward, be able to cast them without thinking. It's about aim, repetition and practice. We've been teaching you some more advanced tactics, but with the others, you just need to teach them to make it out alive," I explained.

"Exactly," Harley said. "You don't have to teach them defensive transfiguration or fancy offensive spells. Less adept people will just get themselves killed trying to think of what spell to use, wand movements, and incantations. If you just give them that basic arsenal, it won't really matter whether they use Stupefy or Locomotor Mortis. It's getting the upper hand. Oh, and summoning. Once you've got the opponent down, summon their wand and snap it. Don't hesitate. Don't leave them with a weapon. It's things like that, Harry."

"Yes, and perhaps the Patronus charm. That will get people in the door, get them interested, and protect them in case Umbridge gets Dementor happy in the future. Then you mix in the more mundane. That's where their lives will be saved," Nicole mused.

Harry was nodding his head, seemingly interested in the prospect. "You really think I can do it?" he asked, still a bit unsure.

"Of course." Me.

"Absolutely." Sammie.

"Indubitably." Harley.

"Don't ask stupid questions." Nicole. Love her.

Harry smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, alright. I guess I'll do it."

"I have some ideas about how to maintain the secrecy of the group. I'll also research a way to communicate meeting times covertly," Hermione said excitedly.

"Smashing, my dear. You are simply brilliance personified," I said, causing Hermione to blush furiously. Love that girl.

The group got the Defense group started up quickly. They met in the RoR, thoroughly impressing the new attendees who were previously unaware of the room. Hermione produced a charmed parchment on which to form their charter. Everyone who signed it bound themselves to secrecy. If they squealed on the group they'd get a nasty surprise. The first order of business had been to name the club. Ginny came up with Dumbledore's Army, which was heartily agreed upon and added to the top of the charter.

Harry started out with the Disarming Spell, Expelliarmus. It had saved his life many times, and each student should be able to proficiently cast it. Apparently the monumental git known as Zacharias Smith thought this was a silly spell to learn, but Harry had quickly put him in his place. After his pwning of Smith, the DA became a huge success.

The first Quidditch match, however, was nearly a disaster. Well, the after show nearly was. It was Slytherin versus Gryffindor. Harry caught the snitch and won the game, but it didn't really matter. Gryffindor was pummeling Slytherin. The chasers were on fire, Fred and George were master beaters, and Ron was confidently blocking nearly every shot Slytherin threw at him. Em was like a proud papa. All the work he'd put in with the boy over the summer had paid dividends in his performance.

Afterward Malfoy did his best to taunt the Weasley boys and Harry into a fight, throwing insults about their mothers. Honestly, don't purebloods pride themselves on their class? How is it classy to insult a dead woman?

We saw Umbridge standing off to the side, filled with anticipation. She wanted a reaction. Lord only knows what her punishment would be. Certainly not blood quills, since they never worked for her anymore. She was disappointed. I sent waves of amusement and mirth into the four boys, and they ended up laughing in Malfoy's face while Esme deducted 100 points and gave him detention for a month. Heh. Take that ferret face.

Time moved steadily as we approached the Christmas holidays. Umbridge was still performing her ridiculous teacher evaluations and had been extremely vicious during Hagrid's. Hermione was most upset, cursing the woman's name at every opportunity. I was worried for the gentle giant as well. Umbridge was extremely prejudiced towards beings who were not 100% human. Filthy half-breeds, she called us. Well, we filthy half-breeds have to look out for each other, so he'd have eight vampires watching his back.

It was just before the hols that tragedy struck. Harry woke from a dream, terrified, claiming that a snake attacked Arthur Weasley and he was dying. Harry had been told of the prophecy, as Daddy allowed him to sit in on the Order meetings. He'd immediately come to me, asking if Arthur was on duty that night. He was.

I told Harry to inform Dumbledore. I then flooed directly from Edward's and my office to the Ministry of Magic, Edward arriving on my heels. We quickly made our way passed the security kiosk. I had no time for the guard, so I obliviated our presence from his memory as we ran passed. There are no stairs in the Ministry, so we were forced to take the lift. Luckily it's quick.

We followed the scent of blood to Arthur, making it to him within minutes of Harry's notification. I put a stock of bezoars in the Black vault after learning about them in my first year. I have constant access to the contents because of the pouch, so there'd always be one available to me if need be. You never know when you'll be poisoned (purposefully or accidentally) in the wizarding world, unfortunately. I quickly retrieved one, shoving it down Arthur's throat while using some healing charms on some of the worst wounds.

Once he was stable, Edward and I placed him securely on a conjured stretcher before portkeying to St. Mungo's. The healers reacted immediately upon our arrival. I told the nurses everything I'd done for him while watching the higher ranking healers whisk him away. I sent a Patronus to Dumbledore, Molly and Harry, letting him know we'd arrived at the hospital. They all arrived quickly afterward, Molly chasing down a healer for information on her husband.

The twins, Ron, Ginny and Hermione also arrived with the others. They crowded around me and Edward as we recounted what happened after we left Harry. I was pretty sure Arthur would be fine. Because we arrived so soon after the attack, the bezoar should have been able to neutralize most of the snake's venom and the remaining wounds were relatively superficial.

My prognosis was quickly confirmed by the healer. The bezoar had taken care of most of the poison, potions easily handling the remnants and the remaining wounds were relatively easy for the healers to deal with. Just some broken ribs and a few bruises. The man would need to rest for a few days, but he would be completely fine, if a bit sore. The healers were very impressed with my work and told me to give them a call if I decided I wanted a career in healing.

The Weasleys tried to thank me for saving Arthur's life, but I couldn't take credit. It was really Harry. He's the one who alerted us to the situation. If Arthur hadn't been tended to before the next shift change, the man would have died.

Harry seemed reluctant to accept any praise. He almost looked like he felt guilty. "Harry, what's wrong?" I asked.

He sighed, looking ashamed. "Bella," he whispered. "It's like I was the snake. I wasn't watching from the sidelines. I could feel the smooth body of the snake like it was my own. Felt it scent the air with its tongue. I could taste Arthur's presence in the air, and wanted to strike him, but I was on a mission. But then he woke up and I attacked. This is all my fault."

My first thought was, 'Oh, how utterly absurd.' But then I got to thinking about what Harry was saying. No, not that it was his fault, but that he was the snake. He's a Parselmouth. He has a connection to Voldemort, visions of what Voldemort sees and experiences. His scar responds to Voldemort's presence and emotions. We suspect he was going to use Harry's death for the creation of his final Horcrux. He'd have already performed the necessary rituals before and during the casting of that fateful curse, preparing to rip his soul apart one more time.

It didn't take my vampire mind long to follow this equation to its final conclusion.

Sweet Nimue, no.

Harry's a Horcrux.

A/N:

Hello friends! Let me start out by thanking my reviewers. You guys are total win and I love you all!

Rose of Dark Life, Kaya, TwilightMelodiac, Cat, iwantacullentoo, BellaPevensie96, mimic121, Darlene10104, DreamerHorse, lunarwing, , vivx-chan, Angel JJK, AFlawInCourage, jafr86, VeronicaD13

You guys make me smile so much, I can't thank you enough!

As for this chapter, I had quite a bit of fun writing it. I got to be a bit mischievous with our dear Umbridge, and I seriously entertained myself with that bit about Romilda Vane. Heh.

I hope you all enjoyed it. Coming up next we'll be introducing the world to Mrs. Edward Cullen. I will take suggestions from you all as to whether you want actual lemons in this story. I've never actually written any smut, but I could give it a go. I'd have to up the rating, though, so I shall leave it up to my lovely readers. What do you think?

I could also put the lemons in as outtakes in a "new story" so I wouldn't have to up the rating of this one if people want some Edward/Bella smut action. Just let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading. I welcome all reviews, but if they're mean I'll cry real tears. :)