It's a week before the end of October; the days are getting colder. Everyone can tell winter is definitely on its way. Hermione now sits with Ron at the Gryffindor table for breakfast attempting to concentrate on the bowl of cereal placed in front of her but finding it a little difficult. So much is running through her head and the sound of Ron's incessant chewing isn't making anything easier. She thinks back to Martin's words to her in the library early this morning. All the talk about who she is and trying to figure her out. But now she is trying to figure him out. She thinks, 'what does it all mean? He talks as if he… but how can he seem to know so much about all of this?' She doesn't even need to look over to the round table to know Martin is there, sitting next to Arthur. She had seen him enter the room only a mere half-hour ago. For now he seemed to be quiet, not really all that chatty. If anything he seemed too lost in thought to notice anything going on around him as he took his seat. The sound of chewing once again draws her attention.
She looks back up at Ron with an incredulous look, "Do you ever stop eating?"
"I'm hungry," he says with a duh look on his face and then goes back to devouring the sausage on his fork and reading the book in hand.
She sighs and can't help the shiver running down her spine as to how disgusting that looks. All of a sudden, movement to the right catches in the corner of her eye and she turns to see none other than Harry approaching. She hasn't seen him in a while. Granted she spends much of her time in the library but that's not entirely the reason. He's become distant with everyone. Even Ron seems to hardly see him anymore. He's been closing everyone off. "Harry."
"Can I join you?"
She was about to respond but something else interrupted. The annoying voice of Umbridge could be heard just outside the hall. "What exactly are you insinuating?" Everyone gets up and gathers to see the commotion so the conversation becomes mush more coherent. The two stand midway up the nearby steps.
"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices."
"So silly of me but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom… Minerva," Umbridge finishes taking a step upwards.
"Not at all… Dolores," McGonagall finishes mimicking Umbridge's movement and also takes a step up. "Merely your medieval methods."
"I… I'm sorry dear, but to question my practices is to question the Ministry and by extension, the Minister himself. I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty."
McGonagall take a step down. "Disloyalty," she says with disbelief.
Umbridge takes another step up and looks out to address all of the gathered students watching the scene. "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action."
That was how she left it when McGonagall stormed off and Umbridge continued on her way to wherever it was she was heading. Harry, Ron and Hermione stood gathered at the front of the students where everything had been in full view. She looked around to see every else's reactions to what just happened until her eyes landed on Martin. To everyone else he might have appeared cool and collected but she swore she could see it. There is a hint of rage masked within his eyes. Merlin knows how she can tell it's there but she can. She was about to walk over to him when Harry pulled her and Ron away from the scene to talk with them about what just happened and also to apologize for how distant he has been lately.