Chapter Twelve - Under The Train Platform

It was the beginning of October, and the weather was a bit chilly, even for this time of year. There had been cloudy skies for the past few days, and Professor Sinistra was growing increasingly irritated at being forced to cancel the nighttime Astronomy lessons. Though it inevitably happened every year, she always seemed to take it as a personal affront.

Harry was just as glad to have extra time to do his other assignments. He was keeping up, but only barely. Transfiguration continued to be a breeze for him, but things had gotten much more difficult in Charms, where Profesor Flitwick was reviewing the Banishing Charm. Harry had never quite got the hang of this one, and he was assigned homework along with everyone else.

Despite the courseload, he was still able to be at every Quidditch practice. Bletchley was running the reserves ragged by drilling them exactly as he did the first team. Draco had fallen behind in Herbology and Arithmancy just so he could get some sleep. Millie had skipped lunch and dinner for the same reason.

Harry spent most of the practice chasing after Laine as she tried valiantly to catch the snitch. He made it very difficult for her, but she was slowly learning how to play rough, how to be tricky, and how to do loops. Harry would also snatch the snitch away from her every time at the last minute. He refused to take it easy on her, even if she was a girl. She would only get better by competing against someone better than herself. The match against Gryffindor was a month away, and Harry had to keep in top form, even though he knew it would take a miracle for them to beat Slytherin.

After every practice, Harry would walk Laine back up to the castle, and they'd shared several more kisses since that first one in the sky. It wasn't proper snogging like Harry had done with Padma, but it was still very nice. He was looking forward to when the Hogsmeade visit was announced so that he could spend more time with Laine.

An owl dropped a bit of parchment in Harry's lap on Sunday evening as he was chewing delightedly on a mouthful of shepherd's pie. He swallowed and washed it down with a sip of pumpkin juice.

The note was from Dumbledore, requesting that he report to the staff room after dinner. It did not address Harry by name.

"I've got one too," Pansy said.

"Not me," Draco said.

"That's 'Neither have I', Draco," Tracy said.

"Prefect meeting?" Harry said to Pansy.

"Probably. There is that thing coming up."

"Yes. The thing."

"What thing?" Draco asked.

"The Hogsmeade weekend, obviously," Tracy replied.

"Oh good. You can tell us when it is," Draco said.

"We'll see," Harry said. "It all depends on what it is."

Up and down the Slytherin table, all the prefects had gotten notice. A quick glance over at the other tables revealed the same.

The staff room was on the same floor as the Defence classroom. Harry had been inside once before, when Professor Lupin had taken them to see a boggart. It had been unguarded then, but now the door was blocked by a suit of armour.

Harry glanced around at the other prefects. "What's the password?"

"I don't know."

"Who knows it?"

"I do," said Cedric Diggory. The Head Boy moved through the crowd to stand in front of the armour. "Earl grey."

The suit bowed politely and stepped out of the way. The door creaked open, revealing a long, panelled room, full of old, mismatched chairs and overflowing bookshelves. There was a long table in the middle, but no chairs.

The prefects filed in but remained standing. Within moments, Professor McGonagall strode through the door. With a wave of her wand, the table broke up into twenty-four hard wooden chairs all facing to one end of the room.

"Take a seat, please. Thank you for coming on such short notice. The Headmaster will be here shortly. You will not be kept long from your studies, but the news is quite urgent."

The door opened again, and Professor Dumbledore led in Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick. All the Heads of House, Harry noted. They stood up at the front with McGonagall.

"They are ready, Headmaster."

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall."

Dumbledore turned to the prefects. His hat was on straight, which it usually was not. He stroked his long, luxurious beard with one hand. He appeared every bit the great wizard he was, not the somewhat odd fellow he sometimes acted. His blue eyes gazed at them over his half-moon spectacles. The twinkle was still there, though muted a bit. He looked very serious indeed.

"It is not with capricious whim that I call you from your academic pursuits this marvellous evening. As you are no doubt well aware, the pursuit of knowledge can impose certain stresses on body and mind. It is known that periodic relaxation and entertainment are conducive to the health of both. For this reason, the visits to Hogsmeade village were established centuries ago. The present danger in the world posed by Lord Voldemort does not change that precedent. I might quite cheerfully argue that the added stress brought on by the war makes these visits even more essential. There will be a visit soon. I have asked you here tonight to tell you about your role in the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend. I want you to go about your day as usual. The teachers will be on roving patrol on the perimeter of the village. In the event of trouble, which we're not expecting because of the unannounced nature of the visit, you will help other students to evacuate and get to the safety of the castle while the teachers deal with the situation. The Aurors are on high alert for a signal as well. I must emphasize again that I do not expect trouble."

"Hem, hem."

All eyes turned to the entrance where Professor Umbridge stood holding a clipboard. She had now interrupted Dumbledore twice while he was giving a speech, yet she had the calmest, most serene expression you could imagine. Granted, she still looked like a toad, but she was definitely a serene toad.

"I'm afraid, Headmaster, that the Ministry believes otherwise."

Umbridge swept up to where Dumbledore stood and got between him and the prefects.

"Some of the best strategists in the Ministry believe that You-Know-Who will most definitely strike at the students of Hogwarts. After all, they are weak; helpless. They can be easily subdued and held hostage for their parents' good behaviour."

A cold chill ran up Harry's spine. That sick bastard would do it too!

"For that reason it was decided to keep the date a secret, Professor Umbridge." Dumbledore didn't look so keen on being interrupted again.

"A most wise strategem, Headmaster. Everything you've said was quite correct, but it is not enough, I am afraid."

"What else can there be?"

Professor Umbridge did not respond. She instead turned to the prefects, who were watching the teachers cautiously. They could hear the frosty and polite tones that Umbridge and Dumbledore were using with each other.

"You will be the last line of defence for the students. All prefects will remain sober during the Hogsmeade visit and will spend the day wandering, in other words 'patrolling', the village. You are to carry your wands and be ready to repel an attack. The teachers will be present as well, but with your authority goes responsibility. You must keep the students safe until the Aurors can arrive.

Bletchely raised his hand and waited to be recognized. "Why are the Aurors not stationed in the village?"

"A most reasonable question, Mister Bletchley. Because there are so many targets for him to choose from, the Aurors respond to trouble. There aren't enough Aurors yet to cover every important location all at the same time."

Bletchley accepted that point. He hadn't during the prefect meeting. Harry wondered what had made him back down.

"This is quite outrageous, Professor Umbridge," Dumbledore said. "The prefects patrol corridors looking for students out of bounds. They're not some kind of militia that you can conscript."

"Why do you think all prefects had to join the Ministry Youth?" she asked sweetly. "To get their basic skills up to scratch. They don't have to win against a Death Eater, just last long enough for help to come. I'm confident that they can. If I wasn't," she tittered, "why, if I wasn't, I shouldn't imagine I would even be allowing the visit in the first place."

"Allowing?" Dumbledore asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh my, yes," Umbridge said breathily. "It's just come in from Minister Fudge's office. Educational Decree number twenty-three."

"What is the Ministry taking now?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"'Insomuchas the protection of the children of our society is a paramount responsibility of all public servants, there shall be created a post of Hogwarts Security Officer, and such post shall be invested with authority over all such matters regarding the safety and integrity of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This position of Security Officer shall be immediately filled by Dolores Jane Umbridge, deemed qualified for the post by virtue of currently being Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School. Signed, Cornelius O. Fudge, Minister for Magic.'"

"Naturally I still expect to hear all of your ideas," Umbridge said, "but I will be making the final decision on all security matters from now on."

Dumbledore looked thunderstruck. "Fudge goes too far," he declared.

"Some would say he has not gone far enough, Headmaster." Harry wasn't certain he didn't hear a slight pause before she said Dumbledore's title. "But is this really the place to go over all the sordid events of the past four years? No, security is clearly a problem here, and I don't like problems."

Harry couldn't believe anyone was talking down to Dumbledore like this. Even Rita Skeeter put on a fake cheery smile when she was saying horrible things to him. She'd even called him an obsolete dingbat! But Umbridge was sweetness laid over stern stuff.

"Prefects, I have here a pouch of Galleons for each of you, courtesy of the Ministry. Go out and spend in the shops. Keep the economy going. They'll be having a grand opening sale on wand holsters at a new establishment in town for duelling supplies. Above all, I ask that you simply be ready for anything."

Harry took a pouch along with all the others as they filed out of the staff room. He exchanged glances with Pansy as they left. She looked very concerned.

"Watch it, Pansy, or you'll get wrinkles," he teased.

She stopped in her tracks. "Don't you dare suggest such a thing, Harry. I ought to hex you good." She touched her fingers to her face, feeling near her eyes and forehead.

"If you want to be immobilized and tickled, you're welcome to try."

Pansy shuddered. "That's awful. You know how ticklish I am."

"I do."

"Then why would you threaten me with it?"

Harry laughed. "Pansy, you just said you ought to hex me."

"I was going to be nice about it!"

Harry snorted. The absolute sincerity in her voice was matched by the shining of her dark green eyes. He didn't believe a bit of it.

They were far enough away from the rest of the prefects by now that they could turn down a side corridor without being noticed. Harry reached out and took Pansy's elbow. He pulled gently, veering her to the side and past a painting of three wizards wearing white, grey, and black robes respectively who were always arguing. A little further on there was a suit of armour, and beyond that a plain wooden door.

Harry guided Pansy inside and locked the door behind them. He never used a simple Locking Charm any more. He used his Locking Hex every night before bed, so it was by sheer habit that he booby-trapped the door with a Full-Bond Bind. When he turned and saw Pansy looking at him with something approaching awe, he flushed self-consciously.

"What?"

"That's not any Locking Charm I've ever heard."

"It's something a little more esoteric."

"You've been talking to Tracy again, I see."

"Well yes, but that's hardly the point."

"What is the point?"

"Constant vigilance. So what do you think about this idea of patrolling the village?"

Pansy harrumphed. "I sure hope no Death Eaters come at me. I'm dangerous when I try to cast Charms."

Harry laughed. "That's the spirit!"

"I can't believe they're expecting us to go into combat. We're not even half-qualified wizards! At least the upper students have taken the OWLs. They're sending us fifth-years to our deaths!"

"I'm sure it won't be that bad," Harry said reassuringly. "The Aurors will be only an Apparition away."

"Unless the Death Eaters put up Anti-Apparition fields. They can do that, you know."

"Yes, but it takes a fair bit of work, and the teachers will be here too. We'll be able to hold down the fort while we wait for help to come."

"So stupid," she complained. "Why don't they have more Aurors?"

"I don't know, Pansy. I wish I knew."

"You know, this isn't a conversation we couldn't have had in the common room," she said pointedly. "Why'd you drag me all the way in here?" She ran her fingers through her hair, tucking back a stray lock as she did so. "Change your mind about asking me out, have you?"

Harry started to flush and instantly deflected the heat.

"The way you keep on about it, I'm starting to think you want me to," he shot back.

"Don't think I haven't prepared a response for when you do."

"Of course you have."

"So what is it?"

"I think I'm going to ask out Laine."

"Excellent choice, Harry. Now, Laine loves butterbeer. Her favourite Qudditch team is Holyhead. She loves Lyranna Erato and Christinia Drade. Her best subject is Charms, her worst is Ancient Runes. She went to the Yule Ball with Thomas Lapointe, a sixth year now. She did not kiss him and made him out to be a wild animal during the course of the night. She hasn't gone out with anyone else since."

"She's also got a crush on me."

"Yes, well, there is that, but she told me some time ago that she wasn't going to let it interfere with being your friend. She wanted you any way she could get you. Frightfully mature attitude for a fourth year, don't you think?"

"Just a bit."

Pansy continued to tell Harry everything he could ever possibly want to know about Laine, not realizing that he probably wouldn't retain most of it. When they reached the common room, Harry took a deep breath to steady his nerves.

"Go get her, champ," Pansy said with a giggle.

Harry strode across the room to the round table where Laine sat with Ginny, Arcen, and Lucas. He had to do this quickly before he got distracted or lost his nerve. His heart was thudding in his throat, and he felt cold in his guts like he'd swallowed a blizzard. He liked Laine and knew that she liked him. So why wasn't asking her out any easier?

"Hi, Laine. Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me? When they announce the first visit, I mean? Maybe we could have lunch in the Three Broomsticks and walk around the village together."

Merlin, he was babbling. He closed his mouth and stared at her, hoping that the agony of this moment would soon be over.

Laine smiled at him, and a warmness flooded from his head down to thaw the block of ice in his stomach.

"That sounds delightful, Harry. Yes, I'd very much like to."

"Great."

"Any idea when that weekend will be?"

"Soon."

One word sentences were about all Harry felt he could manage at the moment.

"Then it shall be a surprise. I love surprises."

"Okay."

It was done. Harry could barely believe it. He inclined his head and moved as fast as he could to the dormitory.

Pansy followed him as far as the entrance to the dormitories. Harry sort of waved at her, his brain still not working enough to control his mouth. She gave him a withering glare and pointed down the boys' hall. He moved, and she was right behind him.

In the dormitory, Draco was sitting at his writing desk, head bent, quill scratching away. He glanced up at Harry's entrance, did a double-take upon seeing Pansy, and wiped his quill clean of ink with a sigh.

"I can see I'm not going to get my Arithmancy done. You'd better let me copy, Harry. All right, go ahead with whatever it is."

"Harry just asked out Laine Slater."

"Did she turn him down? Is that why he hasn't said a word yet?"

"She said yes, Draco Malfoy."

"Good for her. Well done, Harry. Now may I go back to my Arithmancy?"

"No. Guess what the prefects have to do."

"Attend a lesson on being smarmy gits?"

"Patrol Hogsmeade!" Pansy exploded. "Instead of hanging out and having fun, we have to walk the length of the village all miserable day. We're to be on guard for an attack, even though the date is still a secret."

"Voldemort is sure to have a plan ready to go when he does learn of the date."

"The teachers will be on the perimeter, but we've got to take charge of the students and get them back to the castle."

"Which is what bum-snogging prefects do, yes? Responsible for the behaviour of students when teachers are not present?"

"She warned us to be prepared to duel with Death Eaters!"

"She?" Draco's brow furrowed. "McGonagall?"

"Umbridge! The Minister made another Decree. He made this new position of Security Officer and put her in it. She has final say on all such matters."

Draco smirked. "What did Dumbledore say?"

"He was livid. Said that Fudge had gone too far."

"I say it's about time someone starting taking security seriously around here."

"Tell me about it," Harry agreed. "A Death Eater infiltrates the school and nearly steals the Philosopher's Stone. That same Death Eater also successfully broke into Gringotts, by the bye. A giant bloody basilisk gets set loose on the castle by a possessed first year, coupled with a completely incompetent Defence instructor. The best lesson we got that year was-"

Theo's dad.

Harry felt a sharp pang in his chest. Mr. Nott had treated Harry as though Theo had been inviting him by for years. He'd been a really smart man. His instruction on curses and counter-curses had been very easy to grasp. He'd known so much, and Harry found himself missing the man, despite his bad choices.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Draco said.

"Just thinking about Mister Nott."

Draco's face clouded. "He's a dead Death Eater. Thinking done."

Pansy looked sad. "He was our tutor before Hogwarts, you know. Taught us our letters, our numbers, magical history (mostly of the family sort), magical theory, and so very much more. He could even help me to understand things, and I'm a mediocre student at best. I miss him."

"He betrayed Harry. He went back to a life of slavery."

"He was an old man who was afraid of dying. You know a single Cruciatus would have killed him."

"I don't blame him for being afraid," Harry said. "Voldemort is pretty scary. As much as I might wish that Mister Nott had chosen differently, I don't really blame him. I'm just a kid. Who would think a kid like me could defeat the most evil Dark Lord ever?"

"He's not worthy of such forgiveness," Draco said harshly. "My father was brave enough to take a chance. Nott could have done the same."

"Are you rejecting him, then?" asked Pansy. "Completely and utterly?"

"I am."

"I wonder if you could make a better decision."

"I am afraid of what Voldemort will do to me if he catches me. My father raised me to respect his tremendous power and immeasurable capacity for cruelty. I knew that if he ever came back, we would have to bow down, but we were given a chance for redemption with Harry. He can defeat Voldemort. My father thought the odds were good enough. I have faith in him."

"Nott is hardly the only one who chose wrong. Look at Crabbe's father."

"He was scared too," Harry said. "So was Goyle's dad, for that matter. One chose right, one chose wrong. They're all scared. We're all scared, but it doesn't change the fact that we have to stand up anyway."

Professor Umbridge had dismissed Harry and a few of his friends early from the first meeting of the Ministry Youth duelling club because they were already good at the first spell she was teaching, the Disarming Charm. She hadn't wanted them to lounge around and set a bad example for the other students. By the next meeting, she'd found a way for Harry and the more advanced spellcasters to participate. Sometimes people weren't making the wand motions precisely enough. Others had a sloppy grip. While everyone else worked to get a handle on the very basic spell, Harry and the others wandered through the group offering advice and encouragement. Most of the group could now cast the spell flawlessly and without effort. Once they'd gotten consistency, they'd worked on speed and repetition.

"Hem, hem. We have practiced the Disarming Charm now for two weeks. You have all done well to master it. Now we begin a new phase of our learning. How many of you fancy yourselves pretty handy with your hexes?"

A few students raised their hands.

Umbridge looked skeptical. "Hem, hem. Surely you are all too modest. Come now. Who knows a few good spells that can cause a little havoc? I'm not asking as your teacher. Tonight, in this room, I don't care about the rules. Death Eaters will not follow the rules. They'll use deceit and treachery to kill you. If you're going to stay alive, you'll need every weapon. Now, who can cast a few good hexes?"

Most of the students raised their hands.

"That's better. I've got a list here, and we're going to see see how well you each can do. Form a line."

They did so. Umbridge waved her wand, conjuring a wooden target for each student. She glanced down at her clipboard.

"The Jelly-Legs Jinx. You will cast until I tell you to stop. Yes, Mister Goyle?"

"What's the incantation?"

"I will not be telling you any of the words, nor showing you the wand motions. If you don't know, watch the others and try your best. The Jelly-Legs Jinx, if you please."

"Os comme gelee!"

Harry, Draco, Daphne, and Millie were all good at this one. They cast it several times as Professor Umbridge wandered down the line, observing and taking notes on her clipboard.

"The Jelly-Fingers Jinx."

"Doigts comme gelee!"

"The Jelly-Brain Jinx."

"Psyche comme gelee!"

"The Babbling Hex."

"Blatherschite!"

"The Tripping Jinx."

"Lapso Accidere!"

"The Impedient Jinx."

"Impedimentia!"

"The Full-Body Bind."

"Petrificus totalis!"

"The Binding Hex."

"Obstringere!"

"The Silencing Charm."

"Silencio!"

"The Stunning Spell."

"Stupefy!"

"The Reductor Curse."

This one was a bit nastier. It was the first properly destructive spell on Umbridge's list.

"Reducto!"

"The Blasting Curse."

"Bombarda!"

"The Severing Curse."

"Diffindo!"

"The Slicing Curse."

"Ginsuto!"

Professor Umbridge went through two dozen spells. Her quill never stopped scratching. They had finished the Inversion Jinx when she glanced at her watch.

"That appears to be our time for tonight. I'll see you back next Tuesday. In the meantime, I want you to practice the spells we've covered tonight. I expect to see improvement from each of you. Dismissed."

Harry walked next to Laine as the Slytherins headed down to the common room. With his busy schedule, most of their together time was spent walking from here to there.

"I'm knackered," she said, fighting off a yawn. "I don't think I've ever cast so much magic in one day."

"She worked us over pretty good. You didn't seem to do so badly."

"I didn't know half of those spells. You looked pretty comfortable though."

It was true. Harry had known all of the spells that Umbridge called off tonight. He'd learned even the more offensive spells for the tournament.

"You'll get there. All you need is a little practice.

"I joined the Ministry Youth because you said it was a good idea. I'm atrocious at duelling, but I keep trying because I know you don't want to see me quit."

"I'm flattered."

"You should be. Lucas told our parents what we've been doing, and they're very upset at me. Unladylike, they called it, just like I said."

Harry resisted the urge to snort with derision. "I call it being responsible for one's own safety."

"So did I. I don't want to be helpless if the Death Eaters come for me."

"And I want to be prepared for when I go looking for them."

"That's so brave, it might have been said by a Gryffindor."

"It's Slytherin ambition to see my parents avenged."

"One of the many things I admire about you, Harry."

"What are some of the other things?" he asked teasingly.

"Wouldn't you like to know," she laughed right back at him.

Harry was not looking forward to the Hogsmeade weekend. Last year, it had been a chance to visit the village with his mates, sneak some time with Remus and/or Sirius, and have a good snog with Padma. While he would be seeing the Marauders for some moonlight marauding, Saturday would be occupied with patrolling with the prefects. As part of the authority structure, they were to assist the staff in maintaining vigilance over the safety of the student body. He was part of the security precautions. Aside from his date with Laine, he would have a full day of patrolling. He got to walk around and spend the Ministry's gold. He resolved to buy Laine something nice for putting up with his mandatory roving.

Professor Dumbledore stood up at breakfast on Saturday, one week into October and raised his hands. The room fell silent.

"Those of you with signed permission forms may visit Hogsmeade today."

The cheering was tumultuous. The weekend was earlier than was customary, but Harry instantly surmised that it was for security purposes. Doing the unexpected, the bold, could give one an advantage - sometimes. Boldness for boldness' sake was a Gryffindor trait, but the strategic bit of boldness could advance Slytherin plans.

After breakfast, everyone rushed to their common rooms for cloaks and hats. Harry met Laine by the fireplace. She'd put on a light grey cloak with white fur trim. She had on a big hat of the same and wore a muff in front.

"Hi, Laine. You look very nice."

"Thank you, Harry. That's a very nice broach."

"This old thing?" It was one of the many interesting tidbits Harry had found while cleaning Grimmauld Place. Most of the jewelry they'd found was done in the Black family crest; quite a few other pieces had been inspired by snakes. Harry had kept an emerald set in silver, surrounded by snakes.

"Where did you get it?"

"Sirius' mother gave it to me." A slight distortion of the truth.

"How thoughtful of her."

"She wasn't using it anymore. Shall we go?"

They meandered on their way up to the front door and out on to the path. The Slytherins made certain to apply the Self-Warming Charm before venturing out into the elements. The wind seemed to blow right through them anyway as they hurried down to the village.

Until they reached the front gates of the castle, there was silence between them. The cold had stolen all of his words.

"Hey, Harry, I've got an idea."

"What's that?"

"You know the train platform?"

"I'm reasonably familiar with it, yes."

"Let's go crawl under it."

"Under it? What for?"

"For cover. Nobody will be able to see us there."

"That's good why?"

"So we can have a private snog."

"Oh." Harry felt himself starting to blush.

Laine giggled. "Oh, it's just too easy. You're so cute when you're embarrassed."

"Er-"

"Come under the platform," she said persuasively. "I'll give you something to turn red about."

While this hadn't exactly been his plan, Harry couldn't think of any good reason not to go with her, so he did. Normally students crossed the train tracks and passed the platform on the way to town. There were no other buildings here, just a few scattered trees.

It was easy to slide a few boards out of the way and crawl under the platform. It was much less windy in here. Harry drew his wand and cast a Cushioning Charm on the grassy ground. He sprawled out and looked over at her.

"I believe you mentioned something about wanting a snog?" he said cheekily.

"Why yes, I believe you're correct," she replied with a grin. "Are you ready for me?"

"I am."

"Not likely, but here I come anyway."

Laine sprang at him and bounced slightly on the Cushioning Charm. He reached out to catch her as she tried to grab ahold of him. This of course resulted in catastrophic injury.

"Ow!" they said together as they bumped heads.

"Sorry," she said.

"No, my fault."

"Okay."

Harry laughed, the pain fading away. He hugged Laine, stroking her hair.

"You've got a hard head," she complained.

"Hard enough to deflect a Killing Curse."

"That's not funny."

"I think it's called a defence mechanism."

"Your head?"

"Making jokes about it. It's supposed to be a way of dealing with things. Sirius talked about it. There's humour in everything, no matter how dark the joke may be. It may be a bit impolitic to share the laugh at times, but laughter is good for the human spirit. It reminds us that life is worth living, even when it really doesn't seem like it sometimes."

"Sounds like you listened pretty good when Sirius spoke."

"What he said made sense. He knows what he's talking about. Do you know he makes jokes about his time in prison? About the old, awful prison. He laughs at it. Not good jokes, nothing jolly, but he laughs."

"He's quite a man," Laine said, "but you'll do until I get old enough for him without it being creepy."

"That would be about never."

"Hey, we're magical. What's a couple decades when you live for at least a century?"

"I thought you wanted to snog," Harry said, changing the subject.

"Oh yes, that."

Laine ran her fingers through his hair, sending tingles down his spine. She pulled his head up as she leaned down. Their lips met in a sweet, gentle kiss. Harry ran his hand up her arm to her head. He traced a finger down her cheek, and she exhaled sharply through her nose. She kissed him more passionately.

Time passed quite enjoyably. Harry's lips grew swollen from the long bouts of mashing. A certain other part of his body also became swollen, and Harry did his best to keep Laine from learning about that. He made a note to inquire amongst the upper boys if there were a concealment spell suitable for such an occasion.

They were relaxing for a moment, simply holding each other, when suddenly Harry heard the sound of footsteps. He glanced back lazily through the slats of the platform and drew his wand with a whispered swear.

"What is it?"

"Trouble. Those look like Death Eaters. I'll draw them off. You run and get help."

Of course those idiots would pick now to start trouble. Right when things were going so well, too. Oh well. He'd just have to ask Laine out on a make-up date if he lived through this.

Harry reached into his pocket and drew out the invisibility cloak that had once been his father's. He fastened it around his shoulders, noting that it was much closer to fitting him than it ever had been before. He pulled up the hood and concealed his wand in the oversize sleeve.

Slowly, Harry climbed the steps to the platform. Death Eaters, all right. Five of them. They were darting from tree to tree, clearly hoping to sneak up on the village. Harry was determined that they would advance no further.

Without warning, Harry began raining down hexes and curses on the black-robed men. Three of them were incapacitated when one finally managed to strike back. He sent a spell back at the platform. It moved slowly, but Harry recognized it and began to run.

The bolt of yellow energy slammed into the train platform, and the air began to hum as it started glowing. Harry leapt off, but the explosion caught him in mid-air, propelling him several metres. Thankfully he missed impacting with any trees and landed roughly in the tall grass.

He stood up and cast a Full-Body Bind at the nearest Death Eater, who was trying to revive the one Harry had Stunned. He dodged a well-aimed spell from the other, who was getting amazingly close, even though Harry was invisible.

He had to dodge mid-way through his next Stunner, and soon that third Death Eater had freed the remaining two while Harry tried to get out of the line of fire.

Fortunately Harry had survived long enough for help to arrive. Professor Flitwick came charging into view, a more welcome sight never seen.

"Only five!" he challenged boldly. "I won't even break a sweat."

Flitwick didn't waste time with hexes or curses. At his command, the trees reached down and seized the Death Eaters. Unable to point their wands, they were harmless.

"Well done, sir!"

"Potter! What the blazes are you doing out here?"

"Holding off trouble. They started to get the better of me."

"Collect their wands. We'll hold them until the Aurors get here."

"Death Eaters! Vanish!"

"Stop them!" Harry yelled.

But it was too late. The five prisoners Disapparated, leaving the trees holding empty air.

"Damn!"

"Get back to the village, Potter. They may still be out there."

Harry ran.

Professor McGonagall was pointing her wand at a building that looked to be in the process of collapsing. A line of third years ran past her. Harry whipped out his wand and pointed it at the broken support. With a wave, the support was repaired and duplicated. Harry sent one to either side, and once they were in place, Professor McGonagall lowered her wand.

"Well done, Mister Potter. Fifteen points to Slytherin. Get the rest of them out and back to the castle now."

"Professor Flitwick caught five Death Eaters, but they got away. He thinks they're still out there."

"Thank you, Potter. Take care of the students."

Harry urged the dozen students remaining to run for the castle. Everyone else had already evacuated. He hurried and caught up just as the last were crossing over on to the protected grounds.

"Harry!" Pansy looked panicked. "Oh, thank Merlin you're safe."

"What a day. Has anyone seen Laine?"

"I thought she was with you."

"We got separated."

"I'm here."

Laine threw her arms around Harry and squeezed him mightily.

"You stupid, brave wizard! Five Death Eaters! What were you thinking? You could have been killed!"

"What?" Pansy, Draco, Daphne, Tracy, and several other people all said at once. A babble of questions broke out.

"Yes, five Death Eaters," Harry admitted, "but I got the drop on them. I almost had them, but it's a good thing Professor Flitwick showed up when he did."

"Five of them?"

Everyone was pouring into the Great Hall. Prefects were counting students. Up at the high table, Cedric was consulting with the other seventh year prefects.

Harry saw Professor Umbridge enter and move to speak with Dumbledore. The old wizard's face grew sad, and then resolve returned.

"Attention please, there must be silence. Mister Diggory, what is the count?"

"All students present and accounted for, Headmaster."

"Excellent. Well done, prefects. Ten points to you all."

Harry certainly wouldn't turn down ten points, even if all houses got the same boost.

"Our best understanding of the situation is that two groups of Death Eaters approached the village on foot from either direction. One group was spotted by Professor Sinistra and captured by Professor Sprout with her always enjoyable Tangling Trance Blossoms. Ladies, I wish I could give you house points, but I'm afraid you'll have to do with special awards."

"Only if Mike gets one too," Sprout called over the applause.

"Beg pardon?"

"Mike. The Trance Blossom, like so many other of the interesting species we study in Herbology, displays sentient behaviour. It is therefore only right that it have a name."

"You chose Mike?"

"It's a perfectly fine name. It could have been Alvin."

"That's a dorky name," Daphne whispered. "What about Ronald?"

Harry suppressed a snicker of laughter.

"We shall see what the school rules say about awarding non-wizards. As I said, there were two bands of Death Eaters. The other group encountered Mister Potter of Slytherin House-"

Louder cheering than for the professors erupted.

"In a great display of skill and ability, Mister Potter managed to prevent them from doing any harm. It is a deed quite worthy of fifty points."

There was more deafening cheering.

"What I am about to tell you should not in any way detract from the pride we all feel in our staff and prefects, but it appears as though the attack on Hogsmeade was a feint, a diversion. There's been trouble in Diagon Alley."

Whispers broke out all across the hall.

"It was a brazen strike. People were killed, shops razed, and shopkeepers kidnapped. I don't have any more details than that. The Ministry has told us all that it can."

From the firm set of Dumbledore's face, Harry was willing to bet that the Ministry had a lot of explaining to do. All the good feeling he'd had in light of the action in Hogsmeade vanished.

That night after everyone had gone to bed, Harry lay awake. His mind racing, his emotions seething, Harry was still too pumped up to sleep. Over and over, the events of the afternoon played in his head.

Harry suddenly found himself with the urge to talk to Sirius. He hadn't told him about the attack. It was actually a bit surprising that Sirius hadn't tried to call Harry. He rummaged in his trunk for the magic mirror.

"Sirius Black!"

"Harry Potter!"

"Hi, Sirius. Hope I didn't wake you."

"I've been waiting for your call. What took you so long? Been celebrating saving the school?"

"Hah. Not likely. Ancient Runes homework. Earned a cool fifty points for that, though."

"Well done. Tell me what happened."

"Well, I was under the train platform when I heard the Death Eaters."

"What exactly were you doing under the train platform?"

That tale took many minutes in and of itself.

"I see. I'm glad you're moving on after Padma. This is healthy and normal."

"It's been pretty fun so far."

"So there you were, snogging away."

"I heard the Death Eaters approaching. I put on my invisibility cloak, went to high ground, and started hexing them."

"Just tell me one thing. Where in all of this did you consider that taking on five Death Eaters might not be the smartest thing in the world?"

"I knew you were going to ask that. I did think of that, but who else was going to do it? I'm a prefect, and that's what we were supposed to do. I nearly had them."

"A remarkable feat in and of itself. No injuries?"

"Nope. Just a bit panicked now that it's all over. Would you and Moony like some company tomorrow night?"

"Most certainly. You remember how to get past the Whomping Willow, right?"

"I can run right under the branches."

"Meet us in the Shrieking Shack after curfew."

"See you then!"

Harry slept poorly, troubled as he was by dreams of Death Eaters killing and rampaging. He skipped breakfast and actually stayed in bed all day Sunday. He alternately dozed and worked on his Transfiguration essay through the afternoon and evening and only left the dormitory for dinner. From there, Harry snuck out of the school with the greatest of ease. While a boy might raise alarm if seen, nobody would care about a small mammal. He crossed the grounds in his mongoose form, taking it at a dead run. He was downright quick when he wanted to be. He slipped under the sweeping branches of the Whomping Willow and into the tunnel concealed beneath its roots.

In the Shrieking Shack, Harry saw no need to resume his human form. He hopped up on the windowsill and peered out between the boards through the dirty window.

Sirius and Remus Apparated in a few minutes later. Harry hopped down, and now he did change back.

"Harry, good to see you!"

"Thanks, Sirius. How are you, Remus?"

"Oh, I've been better. I think we're actually just in time."

Moony had no sooner finished speaking when he doubled over in pain. Harry and Sirius flashed into their animal forms. With an unearthly howl, Remus turned into Moony, and the night began.

SECURITY OFFICER CHANGES PLAN; SAVES LIVES

by Rita Skeeter

The Ministry of Magic passed Educational Decree Number Twenty-three one week ago, granting authority over all matters related to security to Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge. Already she has made key changes about the traditional Hogsmeade visits, and those changes have saved lives.

Thanks to the gallant heroics of the Hogwarts prefects and teachers, tragedy was averted during the diversionary attack on Hogsmeade village. (For details on the on-going reconstruction of Diagon Alley, turn to page 3.) Ten Death Eaters were prevented from penetrating the perimeter, duelled to a standstill, and forced to retreat by Professors Sprout, Sinistra, and Flitwick. Lending a hand was Slytherin prefect Harry Potter.

"Professor Umbridge gave us some additional responsibility," Mr. Potter told this reporter. "Before we were just supposed to help evacuate in the event of an attack, but Professor Umbridge put us on patrol looking for trouble. Trouble found me, just like it always does. I signalled for help and did my best to hold them off until Professor Flitwick arrived. He did most of the work, really."

It is not the first time in recent weeks that the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, has used new laws to effect improvements at the wizarding school. As recently as 30 August, Educational Decree Number Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current Headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person.

"That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts," said Rose Brown, junior Assistant to the Minister, last night. "Headmaster Dumbledore had no worthy candidates, and the governors were divided, so the Minister appointed Umbridge. Of course, she's been an immediate success, totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts and providing the students with real lessons that they'll need to learn in order to survive these Dark times."

Rumors of that updated curriculum have spoken alarmingly of all but establishing an Auror training facility at the school. When questioned about the rigorous, physical demands of the course this year, Brown had this to say. "Security is a very broad area. The Security Officer will be responsible for all aspects, and that includes making sure that students can adequately defend themselves. The recent attack on Hogsmeade village only illustrates the point. In addition to making sure the castle's protections are up to scratch, the Security Officer will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are giving our students the strong education they need in these Dark times."

The headline of the Daily Prophet was all anyone could talk about at breakfast. While the prefects had spread the word about Umbridge being Security Officer, the knowledge that she could potentially affect their other teachers was new.

"Maybe she'll sack Hagrid for still not being here," Millie said.

"Is Grubbly-Plank not good?" Pansy said.

"Oh, she's perfectly competent. I want him sacked so she'll be our teacher forever."

"Why don't we suggest that to her? We've got to get to class."

"Hey, lay off Hagrid," Harry interjected. "I'm sure there's a very good reason he's not here to share his critters."

"Great, dangerous beasties," Millie muttered.

Professor Umbridge arrived just before the bell, so they did not have a chance to speak with her. They had to hurry down to the dungeons, and they decided to give up on the whole thing.

Weasley glanced up at Draco and Harry as they sat down at their work stations. He said nothing, looking back down at his parchment, which he was scribbling furiously on.

"Behind on the homework, Weasley?" Harry asked casually.

"Shut up, Potter."

Draco chuckled lightly. Any further banter was cut off as Snape closed the dungeon door with an echoing bang. Everybody immediately fell silent.

"You will notice," said Professor Snape, in his low, sneering voice, "that we have a guest with us today."

He gestured towards the back of the dungeon, and Harry saw Professor Umbridge trying to enter the classroom unobtrusively, clipboard in her hand.

"You will pay her no mind and will give me your undivided attention as always. We are continuing with our Strengthening Solution today. You will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson; if correctly made, they should have matured well over the weekend. The instructions are on the board. Carry on."

Professor Umbridge spent the first half hour of the lesson making notes in her corner. Harry ignored her and focused on his potion. This was a tricky one because he had to make a peripheral potion perfectly and then add a precise amount of it to the matured Strengthening Solution. He picked up the powdered dandelion sap and began to measure.

Umbridge got off her stool and approached Snape from behind. "The class seems fairly advanced for their level," she said briskly.

Snape straightened up slowly and turned to look at her. Harry couldn't resist glancing up out of the corner of his eye. Snape looked like he thought Umbridge was a toad too.

"I have high standards for my students."

"A laudable thing, to be sure, and I think the Strengthening Solution is just the sort of thing they should know given the threat we all face."

"Of a certainty."

"Now, how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" she asked, her quill poised over her clipboard.

"Fourteen years," Snape replied. His expression was unfathomable.

"You applied first for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?" Professor Umbridge asked Snape.

"Yes," said Snape quietly.

"But you were unsuccessful?"

Professor Snape's lip curled.

"Obviously."

Professor Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard.

"You have applied regularly for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?"

"Yes," said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips. He looked very angry.

"Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?" asked Umbridge.

"I suggest you ask him," said Snape jerkily.

"Oh, I shall," said Professor Umbridge, with a sweet smile.

"I suppose this is relevant?" Snape asked, his black eyes narrowed.

"Oh yes," said Professor Umbridge, "yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers - er – backgrounds."

She turned away, walked over to Pansy and began questioning her about the lessons.

"Do you feel that the lessons are very difficult?"

"That's not a fair way of saying it," Pansy replied. "Professor Snape expects a lot from us. So yes, the lessons are challenging, but it's not without purpose. We're trying to expand our knowledge of the art of potion-making. You can't do that by brewing a Scintillating Solution every week."

"Well said," Draco chimed in.

"Do you agree, Mister Malfoy?"

"Absolutely. Professor Snape is the best teacher here. He doesn't coddle you one bit. I'm proud of every single mark I earn in his class, because I know I've earned it. I can prove these marks. Ask me to do anything I've tested on, give me a few minutes with my notes, and let me at it."

Professor Snape seemed to have made out well in his inspection, but Professor Umbridge wasn't through shaking things up in her first day on the job. At lunch she stood up and walked out to the front of the high table.

"Hem, hem."

The chatter died down.

"Thank you. I wish to inform you that all student organizations are hereby disbanded."

The uproar was deafening. Umbridge waited patiently. Eventually people wanted answers and allowed her to give them.

"There is not enough seriousness being given to the fact that the world is at war. The chaos caused by only ten Dark wizards during the Hogsmeade weekend is completely unacceptable. You-Know-Who is out there, and you've got to be ready for the Death Eaters when they come again. The Gobstones Club, for example, detracts valuable time that could be better spent learning a counter-curse. The Ministry Youth club will be meeting tonight after dinner here in the Great Hall."

"Does that include Quidditch?" came a yell from the Gryffindor table.

"Quidditch is necessary for maintaining morale. Sport is something the whole school can be invested in and is therefore valuable. If you feel that your group ought to be allowed to reconvene, set up a meeting with me to present your case."

"Well that's a relief," Laine said. "I rather enjoy Quidditch practice."

"Me too," Harry agreed, giving her a wink.

Laine blushed, but she winked back at him.

Umbridge certainly wasn't sitting on her newfound authority. Harry didn't quite know what to think. On the one hand, people did need to take the war seriously, but on the other hand, they needed their diversions too. Right, that was why she'd left Quidditch alone. Her decree was all anyone could talk about as they walked to Transfirguration. Naturally they did not talk in old McGonagall's class, but on the way to Herbology and throughout the work Professor Sprout set them to, everyone wondered what other areas Umbridge would poke her nose into.

Despite her new duties as Security Officer, Umbridge still found the time to plan interesting meetings of the Ministry Youth.

"Hem, hem. Before we begin, I wish to single out Mister Potter for some words of praise."

Harry lifted his chin slightly as many eyes turned his way.

"During the attack on Hogsmeade, Mister Potter reacted just as I hope any of you would react when trouble strikes. He was prepared for the Death Eaters, and, when he discovered their intrusion, he leapt into action. He concealed himself and used strong magic at the first. He incapacitated several of the Death Eaters and nearly overcame the whole group."

Umbridge paused for a moment.

"The whole group," she repeated. "There were five of them; unthinkable odds. Yet had there only been four, I believe Mister Potter could have defeated them all. He came very close. Fifty points seems so inadequate for such a triumph. That's only ten for each Death Eater he faced."

Umbridge looked at Harry now. "Mister Potter, you have my thanks and the thanks of the Minister. We are very proud of you. You are an example to others."

"Thank you, Professor." Harry hated being singled-out for things he'd had no part in. He despised being the Boy-Who-Lived, but in a situation like this, or a Quidditch match, where he'd done something himself, Harry had no problem at all with the attention.

"Thank you, Mister Potter. Now, when we last met, I had you run through a series of hexes and jinxes. There are a few of you how seem to know how to cast a hex. Would the following students please step forward? Potter, Malfoy, Greengrass, Bulstrode, Palce, Bletchley, Chandler, Bole, Boot, Corner, Rookwood, Weasley, Weasley, Diggory, and Summerby."

Harry moved up with the others.

"I require your help, gentlemen and ladies. After the Disarming Charm, the next best spell to know is a strong Shield Charm. We will practice the Protego Charm. Does anyone not know it? Yes, Mister Malfoy?"

"Professor Moody made sure we knew how to cast it."

"Very well. Let's see how closely you all paid attention to his lessons. Everyone spread out. Would my wonderful assistants please do your best to hex the lot of them?"

"Professor?" Connie Rookwood asked, raising her hand.

"Yes, dear?"

"Will we be able to practice the Shielding Charm too?"

"Of course, dear, but right now, I need you to help the others get it. Once they can cast it well, we'll turn the tables and have you practice shielding while they work on the hexes."

Harry dearly wished that Ron Weasley was in the Ministry Youth. He'd love to have the chance to hex the prat with the full blessing of a teacher (other than Professor Snape).