Ron, Ginny, Neville, Lee, Lavender, Pavarti, Katie, Alicia, Dean and Seamus were all waiting in the common room when we arrived. They had tense looks on their faces, smiling nervously when they saw us enter. It was Neville, surprisingly, who answered my unspoken pleas for knowledge.
"All the Gryffindors are already here. We sent the younger ones to bed already, but the rest of us decided to wait up. We know Padma, Michael, Anthony, and Terry also got away, as well as Hannah, Justin, and Ernie. No word yet on the others." He cast a worried look at the door as George, Fred, Angelina and I sat down on the floor. "We've had no sign of Harry though." He looked at me anxiously, his eyes wide and his body tense. "Have you seen him?"
I froze next to George, squeezing his hand tightly in my own.
"No," I whispered, tears filling my worried eyes.
George gently stroked my back, pulling me closer to his warm arms. "It's alright 'Mione, I'm sure he's fine." The words had no sooner left his mouth than the door burst open, and Harry walked through, looking pale, tense, and worried, but completely unscathed.
We'd kept poor Harry up for over an hour and a half, drilling him with endless questions. It was well past midnight, and dangerously close to one before we actually made it up to bed. I doubt anyone got much sleep, though-well, anyone who wasn't sleeping on emerald sheets. I still couldn't believe Dumbledore had left. It didn't seem real. We couldn't have Hogwarts with out him, it wouldn't be right. We'd lost our protection, lost our one ally in this school. Well, that wasn't entirely true, we had the rest of the teachers, but we lost our only ally with actual power to do anything. The others couldn't act up much lest they get kicked out.
I got up at six. I hadn't slept much and just stopped trying. I went downstairs in the common room to wait for the others. George came down firstand came up to me with an unnervingly worried expression on his face.
He sat down on the couch beside me, gently running a hand along the contours of my jaw. The touch sent a chill down my back; it felt more intimate than any kiss we had ever shared.
"I'm sorry about snogging you like that last night without asking first, and about the whole shirt thing. I wouldn't do something like that usually, but we needed to look like we'd been going at each other for a while…" He trailed off looking mad suddenly. "I'm really sorry it was Malfoy who stopped us." He glared at the fire, his eyes fierce and angry. "I could have hexed him for the way he looked at you," he hissed, gripping his wand tightly. I was so flattered that he'd get so mad about protecting my honorthat I couldn't possible be upset about the kiss.
Besides, I had rather enjoyed it.
I sat up in my chair and gave him a fierce hug, kissing him on the cheek before sitting back on the couch. He looked mildly surprised, but pleased.
"What was that for?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.
"For helping me escape, for protecting my honor, and for snogging me senseless."
He gave me his signature cocky grin, the one that made my heart flutter, before he spoke.
"I'm always happy to snog you senseless. It's a talent I've perfected."
"Just so long as you only use it on me," I said, smiling.
He laughed softly at that, before he grew serious again.
"Do you remember what I told you a few nights ago?" he asked softly, staring at me with his liquid blue eyes. I nodded my head slowly, feeling tense and nervous. "I think I'm about to start using your permission. Fred and I are about to unleash the full power of our inventions, and I need to know you won't be mad." His voice was soft as he spoke, worried. I scooted closer to him on the couch, running my hand along the collar of his robe absentmindedly as I looked up into his eyes.
"I think it's about time Mr. Weasley." I leaned up to him and gave him a brief kiss on the lips, reveling in his nearness before I lowered myself back down to the couch. "I could never be mad at you rebelling against Umbridge. Just try not to hurt any students, 'kay?"
He nodded his head, looking distinctly happier. "Merlin 'Mione," he whispered as I leaned into him again. "When did you start breaking rules?"
"When my boyfriend was told not to make trouble. I figured someone had to do it."
I sat with George at breakfast. We'd seen the signs upon leaving the Common Room: they were everywhere, no way we could have missed them. He was quiet and thoughtful all during breakfast, and it was rather unnerving.
BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced
Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.
Signed: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic
A sick rage filled me at the sight of them, fueling my desire to break every rule I could. The desire to do so shocked me, though. When had everything changed? Umbridge had changed me into a rule breaker. Although, George hadn't hurt the transformation. We finished breakfast swiftly, needing to get out of the great hall and away from Umbridge's voice and glare. George had a free period after breakfast, so he walked me to Transfiguration.
I had my arm around his waist, snuggling into him despite the fact that I was openly breaking a rule. It was one that I thoroughly enjoyed breaking. I loved being closer than eight inches to George.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder and I froze, expecting for all the world that it was Draco.
Terry Boot was standing there.
"What the bloody hell do you want?" George demanded, turning around and glaring at him. Terry ignored him and smiled in what he clearly thought was a winning way. He'd no idea that George and I were already far too near the snapping point to be messed with. Besides, I was getting sick of him following me, of him watching me.
"Hey, Love, what's say we go find an empty class room?"
George actually snarled and made to leap forward, but I beat him to it. I slapped Terry hard across the face before stepping back.
"How dare you!" I gasped, squeezing George to me. He sensed my worry and grabbed me protectively. Terry just grinned wider as he wiped his lip. It made chills run up my back, not like George's pleasure filled ones-these were of fright.
"You don't have to lower your standards Hermione. You should be dating someone who is smarter, destined for better things than simple mischief," he said.
"That's it!" I snapped, finally losing my patience, not that I'd had much to begin with. Who did he think he was? My George was smart, and he would do great with his joke shop. Rage filled me, causing my blood to boil as I stepped towards the insolent brat, hate clear on my face. "What will it take to convince you I'm not interested? George is my boyfriend! I am dating George!" Terry's eyes grew wide as I talked, looking alarmed. "Please stop talking to me. I'm not interested in anything. George is more than enough for me. He's brilliant, and he'll be wonderful at whatever he tries. At least he has the courage to stand up to Umbridge."
Terry took a small step back, looking shocked at my rejection. Really, how naïve could the dumb boy get? Hadn't I made my disinterest obvious? He shook his head, looking at me like he thought I was crazy. I made to turn, intending on continuing to Transfiguration for my class, but George stopped me. He pulled me into a crushing hug, claiming my lips in a passionate kiss. I completely forgot Terry was there as I leaned up and into the kiss. I always got carried away with George's kisses, though.
He broke it a minute later, smiling down at me with his liquid blue eyes. "Sorry about that," he whispered, I became aware of students walking around us to get into class and felt my cheeks flush. "Got a bit jealous," he finished. I lowered myself to my feet, but not before giving him a quick hug.
"No need to be," I said before letting go of him and running into class.
Classes passed by quickly, until I found myself walking back from Herbology with Ron, Harry, and Ernie MacMillian. Harry had just told the story of what happened with Dumbledore for the umpteenth time and I had drowned them out until I heard Ernie say, "Dumbledore will be back before long." That piqued my interest and I listened in with unhidden interest as he whispered the next part. "The Fat Friar told me that Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after they'd searched the castle grounds for him. Couldn't get past the gargoyle. The Head's office has sealed itself against her. Apparently she had a right little tantrum." I almost laughed at that, but I was too mad about Umbridge to find much of anything funny.
"Oh, I expect she really fancied herself sitting up there in the Heads office," I said viciously, thinking of hexes I'd like to try on her. "Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy old-" I would have gone on for hours in my description of her but I was cut off by another.
"Do you really want to finish that sentence, Granger?" Draco Malfoy asked as he rounded the corner, Crabbe and Goylebehind him. I felt myself flush at the memory of last night and felt sparks actually shoot out of the end of my wand. His eyes widened at the sight of them and he grinned maliciously.
"Afraid I'm going to have to dock a few points from Grffyindor and Hufflepuff," he drawled, his voice making me sick. The thing was, I'd no doubt he could do it.
"It's only teachers who can dock points from houses, Malfoy," Ernie piped up at once.
"Yeah, we're prefects, too, remember?" Ron snarled, leaning forward.
Draco rolled his eyes, sneering at us. "I know prefects can't dock points, Weasel King, but members of the inquisitorial squad-"
"The what?" I asked quickly, and sharply. What had Umbridge done now?
"The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger," said Malfoy, pointing towards a tiny pin on his robe. It made my stomach turn at the sight of it. "A select group of students were hand picked by Professor Umbridge. Anyway we have the power to dock points…" He grinned evilly, eying me up and down, his gaze lingering on my chest a moment longer than necessary just to antagonize me. "So Granger, I'll have five from you for being rude, Five because I don't like you Potter, Weasley, your shirt's untucked, so I'll have another five for that. Oh yeah, I forgot, you're a Mudblood, Granger, so ten off for that." Ron raised his wand threateningly but I knew that was what Malfoy wanted. I pushed it down quickly, whispering 'Don't' to him. Malfoy gave an evil grin.
"Smart Granger."
I glared at him and spoke before I could stop myself. "I think you got beaten up enough last night, unless you'd like another round?"
He flushed scarlet at that and raised his wand. "How dare you, little mudblood! Ten more points!" he bellowed before walking down the hall, Crabbe and Goyle snickering behind him.
Ernie looked after him appalled. "He was bluffing. He can't be allowed to dock points. . . that would be ridiculous . . . it would completely undermine the prefect system." Harry, Ron and I shook our heads, turning to look at the giant hour glasses that held our points. Every single one but Slytherin was losing points even as we watched.
"Noticed, have you?" Fred said, coming down the stairs behind us. I turned, feeling my spirits lift instantly at the sight of George. I walked up beside him and clasped his hand as Harry explained.
"Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points!"
"Yeah," George said, squeezing my hand as he looked down at me. "Montague tried to do us during break," he finished. Warning bells went off in my head at that statement. Ron's too apparently because he spoke first.
"What do you mean, 'tried'?"
Fred smiled wickedly, leaning against the stairs banister with a casual air. "He never managed to get all the words our due to the fact that we forced him head-first into that vanishing cabinet on the first floor."
I was shocked momentarily before I felt George tighten his grip on my hand. He had asked for permission to prank, and I had given it.
"Won't you get caught though?" I questioned, gazing at him worriedly. Fred answered for his twin.
"Not until Montague reappears, but that could take weeks. I dunno where we sent him." His voice was cool and casual, making me feel even more alarmed. "Anyway," he continued, "we've decided we don't care about getting into trouble anymore."
"Have you ever?" I questioned, a small smile playing on my lips.
"Course we have," George said like that was a silly question. "Never been expelled have we?"
"We've always known where to draw the line," Fred said.
"We might have put a toe across it occasionally," George continued.
"But we've always stopped short of causing real mayhem," Fred finished.
"Now?" I questioned, feeling both thrilled and horrified.
"Well, now –" George started.
" - what with Dumbledore gone –" Fred continued.
" - we reckon a bit of mayhem – "
" - is exactly what our dear new Head deserves," they finished together. George looked down at me, a slightly worried look on his handsome face.
"You know," I said, a subtle smirk lifting my lips, "you really mustn't cause trouble." George and Fred both exploded in a grin at that, while Harry, Ron, and Ernie looked highly disconcerted.
"Now, you all had better go to the great hall for lunch. You want the teachers to know you didn't have anything to do with it."
"Do I want to know what?" I asked casually as they led the way to the great hall.
George smiled widely, "Sorry, I must not speak out." I gave him a playful smack on the arm before running ahead to the great hall.
Umbridge, watch out.
A/N: Thanks to Ninja Goldfish who took the time to beta this. She's incredible!