Disclaimer: I still do not own Harry Potter.
Author's Note: First of all, I would like to thank each and every one of you that kept me on your follow list for this story. I know I haven't updated in an extremely long time. This story was on hiatus forever, because I lost inspiration for it, and didn't know where to take my plot next.
But I really, really, really want to get this finished, and I definitely have more incentive now. You see, my brother, Aaron, was the biggest HP fan, and got me into fanfiction in the first place. Unfortunately, on March 2 of this year, he passed away from major health problems which involved his kidneys. It's been a tough year, but I am slowly healing from it. One of the ways in which I am accomplishing this is doing things in his memory which would make him proud. So this, along with other projects I'm working on, is in his memory. Love you Aaron!
By the way, since it's been so long since I updated, if any of you forgot anything that happened in this story, feel free to email me and I'll fill you in. You don't have to read the fic all over again!
Okay, onto the chapter!
Chapter 54: Rebellion Under Way
The next morning, when the group of friends went downstairs, they made a very unpleasant discovery. On the wall was a big poster which proclaimed:
BY ORDER OF THE High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
HIGH INQUISITOR
"Oh, no," groaned Harry. "How did Umbridge find out?"
"Bet it was Malfoy," Ron said viciously. "Bet he saw some of the Slytherins leaving and told her, or perhaps he's angry about S.A.N.E and decided to get back at us that way."
"Oh, I forgot about that," said Ginny unhappily. "That means we'll have to ask permission to reform S.A.N.E!"
"I'll talk to Slughorn," said Harry earnestly. "I don't think Umbridge has a problem with him. Perhaps if he wheedles her enough, she'll agree. I'm not so sure, though."
Neville looked miserable as well. "What about Dumbledore's Army, then?" he asked.
"Are you kidding?" said Hermione. "We're doing it anyway!"
"Wow, 'Mione, you really are breaking the rules this time," said Ron, grinning at her in admiration.
"That's because this time this is no laughing matter," said Hermione crossly. "This is the difference between us being prepared for what's out there and being totally defenseless."
xxx
At breakfast, an even nastier announcement was made clear to them as Angelina came running over, almost in tears. "I have to ask permission to reform the Quidditch team!" she said hysterically.
"You've got to be joking," said Harry.
"I'm not," said Angelina grimly. "After all, Quidditch is a team, isn't it?"
"True," said Ron, his face going red with anger. "Why is Umbridge so obsessed with messing our lives up?"
xxx
That day at Potions, they arrived at the classroom to find that Slughorn was nowhere in sight. So they lined up outside, mulling in their pessimistic thoughts. They weren't helped at all by the malicious, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy as he strolled along, Crabbe and Goyle at his side.
"... My father's been looking for a way to get Arthur Weasley sacked for years, you know. I can't wait until that happens. Oh, and guess what? Umbridge already gave us permission to reform the Slytherin Quidditch team ... fancy that! I wonder if Gryffindor will be able to play ... that will be a sight to see! ..."
"Don't rise," whispered Hermione to Ron, who looked like he was about ready to leap on Malfoy.
xxx
During class that day, Umbridge inspected. Slughorn didn't seem to realize what a toad this woman was, because he answered all of her questions with a smile, and watched in fascination as she went around to each student, asking them questions about the class and what they liked about it. Harry looked over at Malfoy, but he couldn't discern what the blond boy was saying. Ron still looked livid, ready to pound him one.
After class, Harry went over to Slughorn and discussed the matter of S.A.N.E with him. "Ah, yes," Slughorn boomed, frowning. "Do not worry, though, my boy. I shall talk to Dolores Umbridge, for you are really helping my Slytherins."
"Thanks," said Harry, his spirits slightly lifted.
xxx
The day got even worse as Divination approached. When they got to North Tower and entered the classroom, Trelawney was in an extremely foul mood. She jerkily handed out The Dream Oracle, saying in a tearful voice, "Continue interpreting your dreams right this instant."
"Excuse me, Professor," Lavender Brown said timidly. "But what's the matter? Is something wrong?"
"Wrong? WRONG?" Trelawney shouted. "No, no, dear, nothing is wrong, except that I've been insulted, stepped upon! Probation ... how I have been shamed! What shall I do?" She buried her face in her hands, sobs shaking her body.
Probation. Trelawney was on probation. Lavender and Parvati went running over to her, to try to comfort her. But she pushed them away, still mumbling about inspections and probation. Harry actually felt sorry for her; even if she was an old fraud, it didn't give Umbridge the right to get her so worked up!
xxx
The next few days of the week passed with heavy gloom in the air. The news was spread around that the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Quidditch teams had been given permission to reform, but Gryffindor's permission was still nowhere in sight.
However, this changed Thursday evening when Angelina, beaming, came over to them at dinnertime. "Guess what?" she squealed. "I talked to Professor McGonagall, and I think she talked to Umbridge because we've been given permission to play Quidditch!"
Harry's smiled at this. Quidditch was one of his favorite things, and to have that taken away from him was torture. It was also one of the distractions he used to help him get away from his endless thoughts of Cedric and Voldemort. "That's wonderful, Angelina," he said, still smiling.
"Practice tomorrow, then," said Angelina brightly. "After dinner, all right?"
"All right," said Ron, who looked nervous but also very happy.
xxx
Sunday came before anyone knew it, and it was time for the first official Dumbledore's Army meeting. When everyone had arrived in the Room of Requirement, Hermione stood up importantly and began to talk.
"Hello, everyone," she said. "I have a slight change of plans to announce to you all. Do you remember that we chose to meet on Sundays at three o'clock?"
There were some nods of assent from the students and some "yes's."
"Good," said Hermione. "Well, I've been thinking about it, and this may not be the best course of action. It may look suspicious if the same groups of people keep disappearing every Sunday. So I've invented a method of telling everyone when the next DA meeting is, because we'll be switching up the days of the week in which they occur. Here are some Galleons," she said, holding up a bag of them. "These are fake Galleons which will grow hot when I set the time and date for our next meeting. When you look at them, the numbers will show you just that."
"Wow, you should've been in Ravenclaw, Granger," said Terry Boot.
Hermione beamed with pride. "Oh, thank you," she said, blushing. "But the Sorting Hat knew best."
"Right then," said Cho, looking at the group with determination. "The first spell we are going to start with today is the Expelliarmus spell."
"What?" said Zacharias Smith disbelievingly. "You mean we're going to learn that stupid spell? What'll that do against Death Eaters?"
"It may save your life," said Harry, feeling his temper start to rise. "You may just rid a dangerous opponent of their wand that way. Sometimes Death Eaters are so busy verbally taunting you and thinking they got to you that they underestimate their adversary's strengths."
"Oh," said Smith, deflating. "Let's learn it, then."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Cho then spent time teaching the rest of the students the spell. Out of all of them, Ian, the sixth-year Gryffindor prefect who Harry had spoken to before, got it the fastest. There was some laughter among the crowd when he refused to disarm his girlfriend, Sarah, because he was too much of a gentleman. But Sarah just laughed and begged him to do it, causing Ian to say, "Well, if you really want me to, then-EXPELLIARMUS!" and her wand went sailing out of her hand.
Harry was a little annoyed at first that some of these students were finding the whole thing amusing, but realized in the end that sometimes, in a grim situation, you must get some fun out of it. But sadness clouded over his eyes again as he thought of how he and Cedric had worked on spells the year before, and Cedric had teased him about Harry not wanting to stun him because of the fear of hurting him. His gray eyes had been filled with laughter, but there was a kindness there which emanated from him in great bursts. Here's to you, mate, Harry thought as shouts of "Expelliarmus!" were echoed all around the room.
After the meeting was over, Colin Creevy stayed behind and walked up to the group. Usually, the boy looked excitable and ready for anything, but now he looked nervous. "Excuse me," he said timidly, "but I'd like to tell you something."
"What is it, Colin?" asked Neville kindly.
"I had a really bad dream last night," said Colin, sitting down on one of the chairs. "I dreamed that Death Eaters attacked our home. I-I really need to learn how to fight. I know that's what we're doing right now, but I'm afraid I won't be good enough when the time comes." His eyes filled with tears and he said shakily, "In my dream, Dennis was fighting too. I told him not to, I told him to stay away and let me handle it, but he wouldn't listen. A rough-voiced Death Eater shot a killing curse at him. I-I-I tried to jump in front of it, but I didn't g-get there in time. I wanted to s-sacrifice myself for him and I couldn't even be a good brother. It was all my fault that he died!"
"No, it wasn't," said Ginny soothingly. "Listen, Colin, what happened wasn't real. It was only a dream."
"You must really love your brother," said Hermione, her own eyes moistening at the pure love emanating from Colin. "Self-sacrifice is an extremely noble act. But listen, even if that had happened in real life, nobody would have blamed you for not getting there in time. Nobody expects you to give up your life, I'm sure Dennis wouldn't blame you at all. Have you told him about it?"
"No," mumbled Colin. "I'm too ashamed to. I tried to be a good brother, and I failed."
"Colin, you're a wonderful brother," said Harry honestly. He didn't know much about the younger boy, because in the past he'd tried to distance himself from him. But he knew one thing for sure: he and Dennis were extremely close, and Colin was the best big brother to him. "You can't beat yourself up about what happened. No one can expect children to fight Death Eaters, it's horrible that you even had to dream that. We will teach you how to defend yourself, but please, please, do what you can to stay safe. Think very hard about the decisions you make, and know that life is a precious thing. To choose to sacrifice it for another is a huge decision."
Colin, still trembling, got up and shook the group's hands. Hermione, Ginny, and Cho pulled him into a hug. More thoughts of Cedric came swirling back to Harry; when Colin had talked about sacrificing himself for his brother, Harry couldn't help but think himself a hypocrite for telling him not to beat himself up about it, because he still blamed himself for not being able to save Cedric. He found that he did that a lot; believed something about someone else but not the same thing about himself.
xxx
"Rise, my loyal brethren!" Lord Voldemort hissed as he and his servants gathered in the master bedroom of Riddle Manor. "Severus, what news does the old fool bring from Hogwarts?"
"Umbridge is refusing to teach any of the students proper Defense Against the Dark Arts," Severus Snape said silkily. "They are reading the textbook, and that is all."
Voldemort's lipless mouth curved into a terrible smile. "All the better," he said softly. "They will not be prepared when we strike, will they, my loyal servants?"
"No, they won't!" shrieked Bellatrix Lestrange.
"And what of the Potter boy?" asked Voldemort, scowling angrily as he thought of his nemesis.
"Ah," said Lucius Malfoy, bowing to Voldemort and kissing the hem of his robes. "My son Draco wrote to me and informed me that Harry Potter is still conducting his little S.A.N.E campaign to bring Slytherins over to his side."
Voldemort snarled with rage. "That will just not do!" he bellowed. "Is dear Draco trying to win them back?"
"He is, my Lord," said Lucius, bowing again.
"You will make sure he succeeds, otherwise your punishment will be most ... painful. Is that clear?" sneered Voldemort.
"Very clear, my Lord," Lucius answered.
"Are there any signs of rebellion coming from our noble Harry?" Voldemort asked with a smirk. "From our meeting last year with his idiot friend Diggory, whom I had to kill because of him ..." There was laughter from the Death Eaters, Bellatrix's high-pitched screech of a giggle being the loudest, "I could discern that he will do anything he can to get his entourage ready for battle. But they are children, children who have far less experience than I. They are foolish, thinking they can fight me."
"Draco told me something might be happening," declared Lucius. "He swore he saw many Slytherins leave the common room when there was no S.A.N.E meeting about to take place. He expressed his concerns to me about that in the same letter."
"Do you happen to have the letter with you, Lucius?"
"I'm afraid not, my Lord. It is back at the manor. I will bring it next time, my Lord."
"Very well. Crucio!"
Lucius writhed on the ground, screaming and twitching in horrendous pain. "Ah, such a lack of control," Voldemort sneered. "You are so different from my obedient pet Severus, who refuses to scream for me." He finally lifted the curse. "Dismissed!" he roared. "Get out of my sight!"
The Death Eaters didn't need to be told twice. They all bowed to their master and left in a hurry, not wanting to incur Voldemort's wrath.
Once they were all gone, Voldemort continued to sit on his throne, stroking Nagini with his spiderlike fingers. "Ah, Nagini," he purred.
"Master," Nagini answered reverently.
"I have a wondrous plan for you which will be taking place in a couple of months," Voldemort smiled. "Would you like to hear it?"
"Yes, Master, I would be enraptured."
"Good, good. We will make it look for now as though the prophecy in the bowels of the Department of Mysteries is safe, but in December, you will strike, my slippery serpent."
If snakes could smile, Nagini would be doing just that. "And who am I to attack, Master?"
"Ah, if anything should break Potter, it will be the death of the blood traitor Arthur Weasley," Voldemort declared. "He will think it is his fault that another one he was close to died, just like it was his fault Diggory's gone. He will feel uncomfortable talking to the Weasleys and it will make him more vulnerable. You heard and saw his reaction to Diggory's death, did you not?"
"Yes, and he was so weak," Nagini hissed.
"Yes, indeed," smirked Voldemort. "Love and friendship are weaknesses, but I shall exploit them all in due course. Young Mr. Potter will get a very unpleasant taste of my treatment before he is subjected to a slow, painful death. Perhaps as he is dying, I shall show him the memories of the Weasley bitch in the arms of my younger counterpart." He licked his lips hungrily. "What do you think, Nagini?"
"I think that is an excellent idea, Master," Nagini hissed malevolently.
"Thank you, my faithful serpent," said Voldemort, stroking her again.
"Master, I must inform you that I do not trust Severus Snape," Nagini said after a few moments of silence. "He is too cunning to be trusted."
"Thank you, my serpent, but you can be assured that I am watching his every move," said Voldemort. "He will not get away with treachery. Which reminds me, we must keep looking for Igor Karkaroff. "
"Yes, Master. He was the servant who fled when you returned, am I correct?"
"Indeed you are, Nagini. I must retire to my bed now, and think over my plans."
"Yes, Master."
As Voldemort lay in bed that night, he thought about his upcoming plans. He knew that the death of the blood traitor Weasley was the next big step in his goal to defeating Harry Potter. He would have Nagini go to the Ministry, attack Arthur when he was on guard duty, and kill him. He would need to have a Death Eater, perhaps Lucius, Imperius one of the Order members into telling him when he was on guard duty; Dedalus might be the one to play with. After all, the man was denser than a toothbrush. Oh, He could hardly wait until December; it couldn't arrive fast enough. With flashes of Harry's sadness over Cedric breaking through their connection, he fell asleep.