In the Great Hall, a few days later, Ron is eating while studying for his OWLs, no big surprise there.
Harry looks around, just as Bloom gets in and sits down next to them.
They all look to see Professors McGonagall and Umbridge arguing - something about her disciplinary methods, seems another student reported her use of the Black Quill.
Umbridge asks if McGonagall is questioning her authority in the classroom, and she denies it - she only wants Umbridge to follow the rules about what she can and can't do to students during detention.
Umbridge then calls herself a tolerant woman, earning a snicker of derisive laughter from Bloom in secret, but says she won't stand for disloyalty - especially when it comes to the Ministry, which she says she basically is here in Hogwarts.
She gets herself appointed High Inquisitor, giving her the power to change almost anything she wants in the school.
She can dismiss teachers, make new rules, nearly anything she wants.
She starts interviewing teachers, and even Snape seems worried - he's stiff as a board and gives her one-word answers.
Fred and George are playing with a spark while a group of kids laugh, until Umbridge zaps the spark and ends it - earning all their glares as she walks away.
She asks Professor Trelawny to predict something for her, but prophecies are not something you can do on command.
As Trelawny stares into the crystal ball, Umbridge says "Pity." and leaves.
Later that afternoon, a huge crowd is forming at the North Ground.
As Harry and Bloom make their way through the crowd, they see Professor Trelawny sobbing while Filch brings her the last of her stuff.
"Sixteen years I've lived and worked at Hogwarts. This is my home, you can't do this!"
Umbridge smiles and says "Actually, I can."
She shows Trelawny a paper, but the Divination professor doesn't even see it.
Professor McGonagall comes over and comforts Trelawny, and Professor Dumbledore comes out and asks her to escort Sibyl back inside.
Trelawny gratefully thanks him, as McGonagall helps her back inside the class.
Umbridge says "Dumbledore, may I remind you that, under the terms of Educational Decree Number 23, as appointed by the Minister-"
Dumbledore sharply cuts her, saying "You have the power to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to banish them from Hogwarts. That power remains with the Headmaster."
Umbridge smiles and says "For now."
*Gryffindor Common Room*
Afterward, Hermione says "That evil, horrible old toad, she's not teaching us to defend ourselves. She's not teaching us how to pass our OWL's."
Bloom says "She's taking over the whole school! I miss…I miss Professor Lupin."
Harry sits down next to her and wraps an arm around her, and she leans her head against his chest.
Fyra flies over and lands on her legs, and they both stroke her feathers.
Hermione says "He's really out there. We've got to be able to defend ourselves. If Umbridge won't teach us, then we need someone who will."
She and Ron both look at Bloom and Harry.
They've both faced the Dark Lord before, Bloom's nearly falling asleep because of it - but getting everyone to believe them won't be easy.
The next day is Saturday, and they're all going to Hogsmeade.
Harry says "This is mad! Who'd want to be taught by us?"
Ron and Hermione lift their hands, and Hermione points out "Harry, you two are the best duelers in Gryffindor. And Bloom knows just about every defensive spell there is by now."
Ron adds "And besides, you have to be infinitely better than old Toad-face back there."
They all chuckle at Ron's mimicking of Bloom's name for Voldemort - Umbridge's fits equally well.
Bloom huffs, her breath steaming out of her mouth, and asks "Who's supposed to be meeting us here?"
Hermione says "Only a couple of people."
Harry asks "How many is a couple of people?"
Ron comments "Lovely spot."
Their meeting place is an old, run-down, boarded-up bar.
Hermione adds "Thought it'd be safer off the beaten track."
A man starts running after his goat, and Bloom raises an eyebrow before saying "Well, this is definitely off the beaten track guys, congrats."
Five minutes later, they're inside and surrounded by kids.
Hermione starts off, saying they need someone who can teach them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts.
When a kid asks why, Ron tells them Voldemort is back.
Nobody seems to believe him, and Bloom says "Hermione, they're just here because they think we're a bunch of freaks and this is an interesting break from studying."
She sounds tired, but Luna asks "Is it true you both can produce a Patronus?"
Hermione says "Yes, I've seen it myself."
Dean says "Blimey, you two, I didn't know you could do that!"
Harry shrugs, and Bloom says "We can do a lot more."
Neville adds how they killed the Basilisk, Harry using the sword in Dumbledore's office, Ron adds how they fought off a hundred Dementors in year three, and Hermione says Bloom really did fight Voldemort last year and nearly died.
Harry says "Hold up a minute. Yes, we did all that stuff, but it's not nearly as easy as they make it sound."
Bloom deadpans "We almost always had help. And we always nearly died in those fights."
"Most of it was luck, we didn't have any kind of plan or strategy beyond 'stay alive.'"
Hermione says "They're just being modest."
Bloom shakes her head and says "No, we're not. You think I had some plan when Cedric and I looked around and saw we were in a graveyard?"
Harry says "Facing this stuff is not like in school. In school, if you make a mistake you can try again tomorrow."
Bloom adds "But out there, if your one moment from getting murdered, or getting tortured and used to make an evil wizard come back to life…"
Harry politely says "You don't know what it's like. Trust me, you don't."
Hermione says "Your right, we don't. That's why we need your help, because your our only chance for beating…Voldemort."
A kid asks "He's really back?"
Bloom nods, about fed up with the question by now.
Her frustration fades slightly when kids start signing up for classes though.
As they head back, Harry says "We need a place where Umbridge or anyone following her won't find us."
Neville suggests the Dark Forest, and Ron says there's no bloody way he's going back in there unless he has no other choice.
Ginny suggests the Shrieking Shack, but it's far too small and frail.
Bloom says "Wherever it is, we need to make sure Umbridge can't find it. I can do a spell so that everyone in the classes can't be found or caught by someone with bad intentions - so nobody can be found going or leaving classes, or at any time for that matter."
Unknown to them, Umbridge is eying the small group of friends walking back - and soon there's a new Educational Decree: all student organizations are disbanded, and any student breaking this rule will be expelled.
Dumbledore finds a new Divination teacher, because another of her Educational Decrees says that she can appoint one if the school is unable to find a suitable one: Firenze.
Umbridge can't find any reasonable way to keep Firenze from becoming the new Divination teacher, much to her disgust.
*Hallway*
Later that day, Neville is walking through the corridors when Crabbe and Goyle intentionally push past him.
Goyle yells at him to watch where he's going, but he simply ignores them - those two don't scare him anymore.
As he's walking past, a door magically appears and he sees a large hall with training dummies and books in it.
Hermione can't believe her ears, and she's frantic with excitement - Neville's found the Room of Requirement!
It only appears when someone has real need of it, and it appears fully equipped to satisfy that need.
Ron asks "So, say someone desperately needed a toilet."
Hermione rolls her eyes and says "Charming, Ronald. But, yes, that's the general idea. The Room disappears and reappears all around the fifth floor, making it impossible to track."
Harry says "It's brilliant!"
Bloom adds "It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back."
In their first lesson, Harry and Bloom are teaching everyone how to duel.
Neville goes first as an example, then tries the Expelliarmus charm.
The sharp wand flies back and hits the wall behind everyone, but Harry says Neville's just flourishing his wand too much.
He shows them how to cast it right, and everyone starts practicing.
One kid asks "Are we going to end up dueling one another?"
Everyone gets nervous at that, more than a few casting glances at Bloom.
She laughs and says "No, at least not with me. I'll help with charms, pronunciation, things like that, but I won't be dueling anybody. I will heal people if they get hurt though."
Dean asks "How? And, by the way, what's the immense power the Sorting Hat said you have? If we're going to learn, I think it's time we learned everything about you."
Everyone is looking at Bloom expectantly, and she says "Fine, on about four conditions."
Seamus nearly explodes, but Neville asks "What conditions?"
"One: Nobody freak out. Two: Nobody pass out in a dead faint like I saw Draco Malfoy had after my first trial last year. Three: nobody get any ideas about anything afterward. And, four: nobody breathe a word of all this to anyone outside this room. Agreed?"
Everybody agrees, after maybe two seconds of debating, and Bloom yells "Charmix!"
The entire room goes completely still, with all the boys and more than a few of the girls staring at her in shock as she floats up a few inches off the ground.
Neville says "You're a…"
"Fairy, yes. Sure you all want to know more right this instant?"
Everybody shakes their heads, and Bloom lands and changes back.
Dean suddenly laughs, and says "And I'm guessing this is why you're the strongest out of anybody in the school?"
"Yeah, more or less. Also, I know a spell that will keep everyone from being followed or caught by anyone with bad intentions - meaning even if someone suspects something, they won't be able to get any hard proof."
Everybody grins, and Dean lets out a war whoop.
"Also, does anybody know how to make someone a Secret-Keeper?"
Hermione says "The Fidelius Charm…Bloom, no!"
Harry asks "What?"
"She wants to become the Secret-Keeper for this! And maybe her own secret!"
Bloom nods, and says "I have the strongest will out of anyone, and I won't be broken by someone like Dolores Umbridge. I'm not backing down on this. And besides, I might as well tell you all about my power before I do this if I'm going to keep that secret to. It's called the Dragon Flame, and I came from the Magical Dimension. Now, Hermione, please cast the Fidelius Charm on me."
AN: Right, so literally the only way anybody would be able to find out about the practice in the Room of Requirement would be if Bloom told them - and she wouldn't tell them. Really, I can't believe that nobody ever thought to do this in the books or movies. Harry must've known about the Charm, it's the one his parents used and made Wormtail their Secret-Keeper and betrayer. Wondering what's going to happen with this development? Read on to find out!