Jade was tense as she sat in her seat for Transfiguration - Umbridge sat at the back of the room, her beatle-like eyes scanning the students. She watched Emma, Hermione, Ron, and Harry enter and make their way to their desks up front, shooting dark glances at the Professor. She made eye contact with Harry, who noticed and smiled warmly at her. She was glad he looked away before her cheeks reddened.
Professor McGonagall marched into her classroom without so much as a peek at Umbridge. She began giving out orders, the room falling silent in her wake. "Hem hem," Umbridge sounded from the back.
McGonagall seemed not to hear, and she gave a few instructions before beginning, "Now today we will be -"
"Hem hem," Umbridge's annoying trill came again.
"Yes?" McGonagall snapped.
"I was just wondering, Professor, if you received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspec -"
"Obviously I received it, or I would have asked why you were in my classroom." And with that, McGonagall addressed her students once more. "As I was saying, today we will be practicing the altogether more difficult vanishment of mice. The Vanishing Spell -"
"Hem hem."
"I wonder," Professor McGonagall said coolly, "how you expect to gain an understanding of my usual teaching methods when you continue to interrupt me? You see, I usually don't allow people to talk while I'm talking."
Umbridge looked like she had been slapped in the face. She stayed quiet, though her quill scratched furiously across her parchment. They continued the rest of the lesson, the Gryffindors along with Jade hiding their smiles of delight. Jessica and Jade concentrated on their mice - Jade believing she had succeeded in making her mouse fully disappear before she noticed the whiskers on the desk. She shrugged - Jessica's had left behind its entire tail.
As they went to leave, a hand brushed across Jade's shoulder. She looked up at Harry, willing her face to stay its usual fair color. "Hey," he greeted quietly. "We're going to talk to more people about this idea we have." Jessica's brows pulled together in confusion as Harry gestured to her. "Is she coming?"
"I haven't asked yet."
"Okay. Well, you can bring anyone you think will agree with our plan."
"The Slytherins?" Jade asked cautiously.
Harry shrugged. "If you trust them, I trust them." Jade beamed to herself. "Hermione came up with an idea to meet up at the Hog's Head. I'm not sure when exactly, but I'll tell you when we plan everything."
"Okay."
Seeing he had nothing else to inform her of, she waved for Jessica to walk with her. As they continued to the Slytherin Chambers, Jade caught her friend up on the plan Emma, Ron, and Harry had for learning about defense. She was worried the tightly wound girl would tell her not to get involved. Instead, she just smiled. "Count me in."
"Really?" Jade couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
"You want to go, so I'm coming with you."
Late that night, Jade sat in one of the black leather chairs in the common room, curled up and reading The Count of Monte Cristo, one of her favorites. She heard someone enter the chambers and craned her neck to see Draco strolling in late. She watched with a brow raised as he seemingly searched the room, but missed her in her corner. "What are you doing?" she murmured.
His eyes widening were the only indication that she shocked him. "Oh! You're here." He brightened visibly. He twisted something between his fingers as he made his way to her.
"What were you doing out so late?"
"I was with Umbridge," he answered simply.
Jade's stomach twisted. "Really? What for?"
"That's why I was looking for you." He pulled his robes straight, drawing attention to the silver badge that gleamed there. "Umbridge has made me, Goyle, Crabbe, Pansy, and Zabini into an exclusive Inquisitorial Squad."
Jade stopped herself barely from scoffing. "Inquisitorial Squad? For what?"
"Patrol. Make sure everyone is complying with her rules."
"Isn't that what Prefects are for?"
"We will be above the Prefects," Draco said earnestly. "We'll have power over everyone - even Weaselby and the Mudblood now."
She bit down hard on her lip to block her angered yells. "We? As in you and your friends?" She couldn't help but curl her hands into fists at the thought of Pansy ordering everyone around.
"No." Draco held out what he had been playing with in his hand. A bright, silver badge inscripted with I.S. "I mean them too, but - I told Umbridge you would be a great addition."
Her hand reached out hesitantly, her fingers grasping the cold metal. She pulled it close, staring at the badge and her thoughts swirling around her head, trying desperately to find a solution. "I..."
"Don't refuse," Draco drawled, though she heard the slight plea underneath the casual tone. "This will be good for you. Perfect for you - you'll be one of Umbridge's trusted few! You know as well as I do she runs the school now."
Jade knew that very well, and her plan clicked into place within that moment. "I guess..." she whispered, feighning confliction. "I guess I could do it."
Draco smirked. "Good." He gave a nonchalant wave as he wandered off to the boys' dorm.
Jade frowned as her heart swelled in guilt. Its not personal, she told herself. This is about Umbridge.
Emmasat next to Hermione at the Gryffindor table, eating breakfast on the day of the Hogsmeade visit. From across the table, Ron offered Emma half of the grapefruit he was working on. She took it with a smile.
"All students going to Hogsmeade line up outside of the Great Hall," Filch's wheezy voice called, Emma and the others quickly finished their breakfasts before joining the other students in a queue that was forming near the large entrance to Hogwarts.
Filch was carefully matching names to the list of students permitted to the village. "No Weasley products are to be brought back into the castle," Filch snapped, directed towards Ron, who shrugged.
The September wind whipped Emma's hair around her face and scattered a few fallen leaves across the stone path to Hogsmeade. The four Gryffindors walked together, quietly discussing the location of their meeting. "The Hogs Head is a bit... dodgy, but it isn't packed with students," Hermione insisted to Harry, who still seemed reluctant.
"Maybe they'll serve us Fire Whiskey," Ron hoped aloud. Hermione shot him a harsh look. "What? It's worth a try. And besides, I've always wanted to try it."
Emma turned at the sound of quickly approaching footsteps. Jade and Jessica were loping towards the Gryffindors, their pretty faces excited. "Hello, Harry," Jade said with a smile.
"I'm glad you could make it!" Harry said with genuine enthusiasm. Emma subtly raised an eyebrow at the blushing Jade, who only grinned in return.
Emma, Hermione, and Jessica began walking ahead of Jade and Harry. Ron, however, did not get the hint, so Emma grabbed his hand and tugged him along.
"How's Quidditch?" Emma asked her red-haired friend.
Ron groaned and scuffed his feet on the path. "Bloody horrible. I just can't play in a match."
"Just have confidence in what you can do," Emma insisted, reaching to pat him on the shoulder. "I do."
Ron's face flushed red before he said, "The Slytherins are going to tear me apart."
"Who cares what they say," Emma scoffed. "And Jade won't let them be too horrible."
Ron seemed to cheer up a bit. The gates of Hogsmeade neared, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Emma, Jade, and Jessica were joined by a boy Emma recognized as Zacharias Smith, a blonde Hufflepuff in her year. The two had been friends on the train to Hogwarts their first year, both confused Muggleborns. However, after being sorted into different Houses, they rarely spoke.
"Emma- hi," Zacharias greeted. Ron's head turned so fast it appeared he cricked his neck, he rubbed it while giving Zacharias a quizzical look.
"Hi! You're coming to the meeting?" Emma questioned.
Zacharias nodded and fell in with the others as they made their way up to The Hogs Head. Once inside, all the students had the same reaction. Each put a hand to their nose and looked around, a bit appalled. Every surface was dusty, and it smelled strongly of a barnyard. Only a few people were inside, which seemed to be for the best.
The students took some seats in the corner of the bar. Ron craned his neck, taking in the old bartender. "I think he might serve me fire whiskey, really, I don't think he follows very many rules."
Hermione hissed, "You- are- a- prefect."
Ron's smile faded. "Oh, right."
Emma stood from the table and went to the bar. "7 butter beers please." She put a handful of silver on the dusty bar. "And a fire whiskey," she added, her voice lower. Without a second glass, the bartender served Emma the drinks.
She carried them back to the table in two trips, and when Hermione was distracted by a piece of parchment she was pulling from her bag, Emma slipped Ron the whiskey. He downed it quickly with an appreciative smile, his face and neck flushing with the heat of the drink.
Slowly, more students began filing in. Emma was in charge of getting drinks, and with a mischievous grin, she would slip Ron a few more fire whiskeys. Soon, about 25 more students had arrived, packing the bar more full than it appeared to have ever been. Fred and George were loaded with bags from Zonkos, much to Hermione's distaste.
"A couple of people?" Harry asked Hermione hoarsely.
Emma watched Jade smiled at Harry reassuringly. "Don't worry, they want to hear what you have to say."
When it appeared that no one else would be arriving, Hermione stood and gave a shaky greeting. "Well . . . erm . . . well, you know why you're here."
After a few painful moments, Hermione was encouraged by a "Hear, hear," from the crowd. Hermione continued, this time a bit stroger. "It's more than just school, we need to be able to defend ourselves."
"Don't you want to be able to pass OWLS?" a voice called.
"Of course I do," said Hermione at once. "But I want more than that, I want to be properly trained in Defense because . . . because . . ." She took a great breath and finished, "Because Lord Voldemort's back."
There was an immediate reaction in the bar. Drinks were slopped, shrieks were heard. Ron even jumped next to Emma, splashing half a glass of fire whiskey on her leg. She fumbled for a napkin, looking to Hermione. "That's the plan," she continued.
"Where's the proof that You-Know-Who's back?" Zacharias aggressively interrupted.
"Dumbledore believes it."
"Dumbledore believes him," Zacharias corrected.
"And who are you?" Ron snapped, shooting Zacharias a fiery look.
"Your friend knows me," Zacharias shot back.
Ron's eyes shone with anger and fire whiskey, beginning to stand before Hermione placed a hand on his arm. Finally Harry stood, earning an awkward burst of applause from Jade. "What makes me say You-Know-Who's back?" he asked. "I saw him."
Emma, Harry, Hermione, and Ron trudged back up the path to Hogwarts after their first official meeting with the new 'Dumbledore's Army,' as it was dubbed by Ginny. Hermione was high on the thought of breaking a rule, Harry excited to finally take Umbridge down, and Ron drunk on fire whiskey. He had his arm thrown over Emma's shoulder as he stumbled over each and every crack.
"I say we have every meeting at the Hogs Head," Ron slurred. "I love it there."
"You are a disgrace to the Prefect name," Hermione spat. "But we do need to think of meeting places."
"Jade suggested somewhere hidden in the castle," Harry said absentmindedly. "She usually comes up with good ideas."
"Right, it will be difficult but necessary," Hermione continued.
The foursome walked up the steps to the castle, Ron nearly taking Emma down with him as he tripped. When they were nearly to the Gryffindor common room, a sharp voice called from the top of the steps. "What is the matter with Mr. Weasley?"
Professor McGonagall looked harshly from behind her square rimmed glasses. Emma supported Ron a bit more firmly. "He's exhausted," she said quickly, rushing to the portrait hole.
"I would hope so," McGonagall said sharply, "As a prefect Mr. Weasley should have the highest behavioral standards.
"Don't worry," Ron mumbled, puffing out his chest to show his shining silver badge. "Prefect and proud of it."
Emma quickly tugged Ron into the portrait hole, followed by Harry and Hermione, who was fuming. "Ronald you should be ashamed!"
"Don't worry, Hermione, Emma saved me," Ron slurred. "She's the best friend anyone could ask for." And with that, Ron grabbed Emma's chin and kissed her straight on the lips before collapsing onto an armchair with a snore.