A few days after the game, things had gone rather well. Malfoy and his goons kept out of the way for now and Malfoy's father could make no complaint about Jack, thanks to Harry's and Star's picture. He had become fairly popular amongst the Gryffindor house, the Ravenclaw house and Hufflepuff house. But the Slytherins weren't too fond of him but more fond of Umbridge since she took some points away from the Gryffindor house from the game. The Guardians were relieved of Jack's recovery, who had now stopped wearing the sling since he could heal quick quickly but it owuldnt have been as quick if it wasn't for the treatment he had had. He saw no more shadows after that but he didn't tell anyone about the dream he had. Not yet anyway. Star had been right about the Ministry taking action alright.

Soon, Filch had put up a wooden frame with a poster inside outside the Great Hall, declaring that Umbridge has been appointed to the post of Hogwarts high inquisitor. Jack didn't know what that meant but after Hermione explained it to everyone, it became clear that Umbridge had more power than she should have and nobody like the sound of that. Editors from the Daily Prophet had come to interview Umbridge and take pictures, asking all sorts of questions and the Minister was agreeing with her and stating what she was going to do.

She was seen walking through the halls with a clipboard and wand in hand, inspecting everything and everyone, even separating those who were have a good old kiss. Jack found that rather rude. She started to interview class like Divination and Professor Trelawney, who was oblivious to what Umbridge was doing, was been picked at the most. She even had her wand at Jack who had his shirt out a little bit and was shocked when it slide up his jumping and tucked itself properly. Ron and Star had laughed at that but were quickly caught off as their ties which were loose had tightened around their necks, then giving Jack the last laugh.

What had to be the best day of that week so far was the inspection she gave Snape. With all the questions, Jack was surprised that Snape didn't blow his top off. He bit down on his tongue as did Star, who had been clawing her nails at the desk to stop herself from laughing. Ron was unlucky as he let out a low chuckle and as soon as Umbridge left the room, he received a hit on the head by the Potions teacher.

Always having the worst day of the week, Jack had helped the Weasley twins design a new firework that could be thrown and caught without getting burnt. Jack was nervous at first since his natural weakness was fire but was thrilled at the result. Until Umbridge came out and made it disappear with a smug smile on her face that pissed him and the twins off and the people who had been watching. More rules were going up on the wall, more ridiculous by the number. Now Jack had to obey some rules back home but this was truly stupid. No playing music? No Weasley products? Dress decorum? Come on!

No sooner, Umbridge had nearly banished Professor Trelawney from the grounds if not for Dumbledore and Jack sensed a tinge of fear coming from Dumbledore but probably more anger than fear. Horrible cow, Jack had told his friends and Star practically crushed the mug of juice she was holding which had resulted in her hand being bandaged up.

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One week of rules had passed and now it was the being of a new week with more rules to come. Hermione was holding a meeting that night with Harry, Ron, Jack and Star. Ron and Harry were on the couch, Star was sprawled on the floor by the fire and Jack was in the armchair.

"That foul woman!" Hermione said angrily, pacing back and forth. "We are not learning how to defend ourselves or how to pass our O.W.L's," she added. "She's taking over the entire school."

"It's dumb and silly! I would use worse words but knowing her, she probably has some device hooked up somewhere," Star said as looked around cautiously.

"I can't believe she banned the products of the Weasley twins! I had such a good prank to play," Jack moaned. He wanted to pay her back so badly, it was unbelievable. He couldn't send mail anymore since Umbridge had them checked before sent so he couldn't take the risk of exposing himself.

"I'll say," Ron grumbled. Harry had said nothing for the moment but a hiss and cough came from the fire, making everyone jump. Star recoiled away from the fire as something started to move in there and she was going to pull out her wand but Harry stopped her.

"Wait! It's Sirius!" he said, getting up and running to the front of the fire where he kneeled down so he was closer. Hermione and Ron did the same as did Star and Jack but they were cautious.

"I thought he was a killer," Star said.

"No he isn't but it's a long story," Hermione said.

"Another time," Jack commented with a smirk.

"Sirius, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, not that he sounded disappointed or anything.

"Answering your letter of course since you said you were worried about Umbridge," Sirius replied. As the flames flickered, Jack could see the face of man in the flames which he found rather cool despite the heat.

"She isn't letting us use magic at all," Harry told him.

"I'm not surprised," Sirius said with a sigh. "Fudge doesn't want you to be trained in combat."

"Combat? What, like an army or something?" Star asked, wide-eyed. "I'm Star by the way and this is Jack, we're friends of these guys," she added and Jack gave an awkward wave.

"Nice to meet you and that is precisely the reason for no magic. He thinks you're forming an army," Sirius said. "He thinks Dumbledore is assembling you to take on the Ministry."

"Well, someone has gone a bit cuckoo," Star said, twirling a finger beside her head, causing everyone to chuckle.

"Harry… I don't want to have to tell you this but things aren't going at all well here. The disappearances are all linked to how it started before. Voldemort is on the move," he said, causing everyone to tense up.

"So what do we do?" Jack asked quickly. The sound of the portrait door was heard and Sirius gasped.

"Someone is coming. I am sorry I can't be of much help. It looks like you're on your own," Sirius said and with that, his face faded from the flames and the fire went out. Nobody did anything for a moment but then Hermione stood up and walked to window. Everyone else got up too and looked at her as she watched the rain drip down the window. A clap of thunder was heard but nobody flinched.

"He's out there isn't he?" Hermione asked. All remained quiet for a moment until she spoke again. "We have to defend ourselves," she said.

"How? Umbridge has us under her nose all the time and she won't teach us!" Star pointed out.

"Maybe not her," Hermione said as she then turned around to look at Harry. He said nothing either for long time but then a spark went off in Jack's mind.

"Hey, I have an idea. We don't have any lessons tomorrow. Why don't we hold a meeting with some of our friends and talk to them about it? If we are supposedly creating an army, we can't have just us five can we?" Jack said.

Ron had a huge grin on his face. "Mate you are a genius!" he said, patting Jack on the back.

"Oh, this will be awesome!" Star said, pumping a fist in the air.

"Alright, you lot go and spread the word for them to meet at Hog's Head tomorrow at midday!" Hermione said excitedly. Jack could barely contain his excitement.

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The next morning was bright but a winter chill was in the air and a blanket of snow covered Hogsmeade. Since Jack was so excited, he couldn't sleep and had let it out by covering the village in sparkling snow. However, when they set out, he had to wear woolly clothes, boots and a hat which he didn't like but he would make himself so obvious otherwise.

Soon, they reached the Hog's Head where everyone was supposed to meet. "Honestly, who would want to be taught by me? I'm a nutter, remember?" Harry asked. Jack rolled his eyes as Harry had been asking this all morning.

"Come on, look on the bright side!" Ron said.

"Yeah, you can't be any worse than old toad face," Star said helpfully.

"Thanks Star," Harry said sarcastically.

Finally, they arrived at the front of the door and Hermione pushed it open and it let out a long creak as it did so. "Who exactly are we meeting again?" Jack asked, who's memory wasn't that great this morning, even though he had asked loads of people last night.

"Just a couple of people," Hermione said, as they all stepped inside and looked at the place. It was all wooden and Star scrunched up her nose in disgust as the stench of goat filled the air.

"Okay, next time, I am picking where we meet," Star said, holding up a finger.

"I second that," Jack said.

"Me three," Ron agreed.

"Well, Umbridge wouldn't come here," Hermione pointed out as she sat herself down at the head of the room as did the others, who then waited for their friends to arrive.

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Pretty soon, lots of people had turned up, all dressed in warm clothes who looked less pleased to be here than Jack did, who was nearly sick due to the smell. Hermione, who had been nominated, or forced to speak when everyone was here, then stood up and cleared her throat and the room went quiet.

"Ummm… hi," she began. "You all know why we're here. We need a teacher who has had proper experience against the Dark Arts," she said.

Simple but good, Jack had thought as he looked at the blank faces. Apparently not all were so keen. "Why?" one boy asked.

Ron was about to say something as was Hermione but Star beat them. "Why? The Dark Lord is back you tosspot," she snapped with a glare. The boy shifted in his seat uncomfortably and Jack sniggered at that. "So he says!" he retorted, pointing at Harry.

"Says Dumbledore!" Hermione said.

"Dumbledore says that because he does!" the boy replied cockily.

Star nearly got out of her seat but Jack pulled her back down. "Where's the proof?" someone else asked, "If Potter could tell us more about how Cedric Diggory got killed."

Cho Chang's eyes fell upon Harry as did everyone else's at that question. Harry then got up from his seat with a sigh. "Look, if that's why you're here, then I don't want to talk about so you can clear off," Harry said, then pulling Hermione so he was now whispering. "Come on, they think I'm just a freak."

"Is it true you can produce a Patronus Charm?" Luna Lovegood asked suddenly; everyone's head turning towards her and then back to Harry with curiosity.

Hermione hesitated before nodding. "Yes, I have seen it," she said.

"Blimey, I didn't know you could do that," Dean Thomas said in surprise.

"Oh and he killed the Basilisk with the sword in Dumbledore's office!" Neville Longbottom said eagerly.

"It's true!" Ginny said in agreement.

"Also, he fought about one hundred Dementors at once!" Ron said proudly.

"And I missed all of it," Star grumbled.

"You and me both," Jack agreed.

"Look, it really sounds great when you say it like that," Harry said as he butted in. "But most of it was luck as I always had someone there to help me."

"He's just being modest," Hermione told them.

"No I'm not" Harry argued. "Facing this stuff in real life isn't like school. You can't come back and try again. It's like being a second away from being murdered or watching a friend die right before your eyes. You don't know what that's like," Harry said, sitting back down.

"I do," Jack said, standing up. Everyone looked at him in surprise. "My friend was murdered by someone who hated him. He hated me and my family. When he got killed, a part of me died. It's pain that you never want to feel," Jack said, sitting back down as he didn't like talking about how Sandy had 'died' but left out the part that he was now brought back and safe and sound.

Star placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as he grinned gratefully. "You're right guy,s" Hermione said. "That's why we need your help. If we have any chance of beating… Voldemort," she said bravely.

"He's really back?" someone asked. Harry could only reply with a small nod.

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Soon, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Star and Jack were sitting at a desk with a line of people in front of them, signing a piece of parchment for Dumbledore's army. Everyone was signing up. Jack high fived Ron and Star as he was so eager to get started.

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After a couple of minutes, the five of them were walking through the courtyard determinedly. "Right, so we need a place to practice where Umbridge won't find out," Harry stated.

"The Shrieking Shack?" Ron suggested.

"Too small!" Harry said.

"The Forbidden forest?" Hermione asked.

"Are you mental?" Ron and Star asked at the same time.

"But what if we do get caught?" Jack asked, not that he really minded.

"Who cares?!" Hermione said, shocking everyone. "I mean, we're breaking the rules? Isn't that awesome?!" she asked.

"Okay, you have been spending way too much time with Star," Jack said, who then earned a shove from the brown haired girl playfully. Everyone laughed as they entered the castle, still talking about the practice place but little did they know, Umbridge was above them, listening to their conversation. A group, she thought. That would have to change.