Chapter 8: Meetings
Harry sat with his feet up on the table and his chair on two legs, looking aimlessly up at the ceiling.
He was sat in the library with Draco and Neville while Blaise was in detention with McGonagall.
"You could be more respectful to the books, Hades," Draco murmured from where he was slaving over his charms essay.
Harry ignored his brother instead opting to look at Neville.
The boy hadn't taken the news that Voldemort wanted them to keep an eye on him half as badly as the twins thought he would.
Well that was if you didn't count the fact he completely flipped out in the dorm room enough to jump up, bang his head off his four poster and pass out.
The boy had a calm around him that seemed impenetrable.
Harry narrowed his eyes as he spotted the red head not far from where Neville was staring off into space and decided that the Weasley could very well be the thing keeping him calm.
Harry turned his attention to Ginny and Danielle.
Danielle's father was in the inner circle so no doubt she knew about the return of the dark lord and Ginny's parents were in the Order of the Phoenix so no doubt she knew as well.
Both girls had took a step back from the Deviants as a whole but Ginny was still going strong with her relationship with Neville.
The girl was like a black horse.
In fact the more Hadrian thought it over the more he realised that both of the girls would be lethal enemies.
They tended to sink into the background, observing rather than acting, immersing themselves in study of both magic and people.
He decided there and then that if he had to fight he would want them both on his side.
"You're drooling Hulk," Draco stated mildly.
Harry smirked looking at Neville.
Neville blushed and wiped his mouth.
"She looks pretty today," he defended himself.
"You really do have it bad," Harry snickered.
"I'd rather have it bad then not at all," Neville said easily.
Harry blinked and sniggered.
"Very profound of you, Hulk. Have you been reading your grandmother's novels again?"
Neville hit Harry in the arm.
"Prick,"
"Mr Malfoy get your feet down this instant!" the librarian screeched as if only just becoming aware of Harry's positioning.
Smirking, Harry slowly sat back on four legs and removed his feet from the table.
Madam Pince scowled at him before spinning on her heel and marching back to her station.
"Mr Malfoy, sir?"
Harry looked around to see a little Hufflepuff first year stood looking like he was about to wet himself.
"What?" Harry asked coolly.
"Professor Umbridge asked me to give you this," he squeaked before handing over a piece of pink parchment and shooting out of the library.
Draco put his quill down and looked at his twin.
"What does she want?"
Dear Mr H Malfoy,
I request the presence of you, and any you feel are loyal to you, in my office for tea, after supper this evening.
Failure to show up will result in a detention.
Have a lovely day.
Professor D Umbridge.
Harry blinked looking at the two of them before handing over the letter.
Draco looked completely befuddled.
"I wonder what she wants,"
Harry shrugged.
"I know one thing for sure, I'm not drinking anything she gives me. Knowing that bint she will have poisoned it or something,"
"You never know it might have something to do with the decrees," Neville mused.
Harry smirked.
"I wonder if she's noticed Granger and Vixen herding the other idiots in for a 'study' group,"
After a bit more hashing out ideas the trio went to meet Blaise from his detention.
Later that night the four of them, along with Daphne, Pansy and their friends walked up to the defence classroom.
The woman was sat at her desk at the front of the room.
"You wanted to see us professor?" Harry asked cocking his head.
Umbridge giggled slightly before nodding and motioning for them to have seats.
"It has come to my attention that the more… unruly students have formed an illegal group within these precious walls. I can not prove this, however, and when I sat wondering how to get proof I asked myself who I would be able to trust to be my eyes and ears within the students," she said with a sickly sweet smile on her face.
"And you decided we'd be fitting?" Blaise asked raising his eyebrow.
Umbridge giggled again and Harry wondered if she even knew she did it.
"Yes. Mr Malfoy here has been most helpful during these past months and I decided that I would give him and those loyal to him a power over the other students in trade for the management of those disrespectful children that dare to go against my decrees. Of course I was expecting more-"
"Worry not professor, now I know what it is you're after I'm sure I can find more people that I trust to help us in this plight," Harry smirked.
His manipulations had finally paid off.
The woman was so wound up in demanding her own superiority that she was one step away from declaring war against her and the population of the school.
"Professor, I believe the candidates we have in mind would be a lot more persuadable if our restrictions weren't as severe as the rest of the schools," Harry said smoothly.
Umbridge smiled a wide smile that looked painful.
"Indeed, you are Slytherins after all. Very well, your helpfulness thus far has been inspiring and knowing that your parents are loyal to the Ministry allows me to believe you and those loyal to you are more than mature enough to be able to use your better judgement in situations. If you agree to become my High Inquisitors then you will also be allowed to dock points and place students in detention. Even the prefects and the head boy and girl will not hold the power that you do,"
The eight Slytherins left the office with a new badge pinned to their chests.
"You planned for this," Draco said looking at his twin.
Harry smirked and shrugged. "I knew one way or another she'd try to get students to turn on students and through showing her my willingness to turn on the professors she decided I would be her best bet and thus entrusted me to find more people that could aid,"
"And who else do you plan on getting?" Blaise asked.
"The Quidditch team of course. I'll ask Ginny and Danielle but I doubt they will and I think such a thing like this will certainly raise interest in Theodore and the goons," Harry grinned.
"You're diabolical," Neville chortled.
"When do you plan on outing Dumbledore's little cronies?" Draco asked cocking his head.
"He's going to let the toad stir a bit first," Blaise snickered seeing the mischief behind Hadrian's green gaze.
Harry sniggered.
"What can I say it would be too easy to come out on top at the end of the year if I didn't allow them all a little bit of preparation,"
Draco shook his head.
Hadrian really was unbelievable.
Indigo stood with Hermione watching as their classmates practiced the spells needed to pass their end of year exams.
"We need more organisation than this," Indigo said shaking her head.
"None of us know how to lead a whole group, Indi, none of us can perform these spells, that's why we're here," Hermione said shaking her head.
"Then we need a teacher, someone who knows about defence," Indigo said stubbornly.
"Like who? We're here like this because we don't have a teacher," Hermione stressed.
Indigo wouldn't admit who her first thought was instead she voiced her next thought.
"What if we do it? We're pretty good at most of the spells. We can practice away from here and then teach them when we've mastered the spells that we find difficult," Indigo said slowly.
"Would they listen to us?" Hermione said nervously.
She wasn't as socially confident as Indigo was.
"If they wanted to pass then they'd have to,"
"We don't know the other years syllabus though," Hermione pointed out.
"Then we can get a couple from each year above us to do the same as us. We'll take it in turns. After all if Voldemort really is back like Dumbledore says then we're going to need to know how to defend ourselves anyway," Indigo stated.
Hermione pondered it knowing her friend was right.
She nodded slowly.
Indigo grinned before whistling and shutting everyone around them up.
"We're here because Umbridge is about as useful to us as a bucket with a hole in. This is our third meeting and I think you'll all agree with me when I say we haven't exactly gotten anywhere. I propose that two from each year group that have the grasp on the magic and are willing to put a little bit of extra work in so that they can teach everyone else. We're not just learning to pass exams, we're learning to defend ourselves against what's out there. I don't know about you but I don't fancy coming face to face with the end of a dark wizards wand and loosing my life because I didn't know the right spell to disarm him,"
"Here here," the Weasley twins charmed from the back of the room.
"I volunteer myself and Hermione for the fifth years. Once the sixth and seventh years have decided then the six of us can work together so we each produce the best spells to teach to everyone. We need this to work more than anything in the world,"
No one objected.
AN: Well there we go chapter 8 up and ready to be read :) Hope you guys liked it :D
This guy doesnt have a clue - Thanks :D Glad you're enjoying it :)
Dragons-Twilight1992 - More is on its way :D I'm glad you had a good holiday :) I did thanks nice and relaxing :)
cocobyrd87 - Haha that would be telling ;) But if he were Dumbles would need more than luck ;)