AN: Thank you to all who comment it keeps me at it. Still not JK Rowling.

The rest of the day I was out of it. My mind was completely full of worries. My potion was horrible didn't take my usual notes in History of magic and I didn't answer a question in Arithmancy and got a lot of weird looks. But I started coming to myself in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Umbridge told us that our experience in this field was very shotty at best and that she would do her best to fill in the gaps. She wrote the course aims on the board.

Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.

Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic can be legally used.

Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use.

She told us we would be reading from the book but I had already read it. "Please turn to page five and read chapter one Basics for Beginners." Everyone else did but I put my hand in the air something was off about her course aims. She looked at me once and shook her head. I kept my hand in the air and she turned to face the other direction. It took until half the class was staring at me that she finally came over.

"Did you want to ask about the chapter, dear?" she simpered girlishly.

"Not about the chapter no," I said trying to keep my voice even. Something about her was but I couldn't pin point exactly what it was.

"Well we're reading just now," her perfume was strong and stung my nose.

"I've got a query about your course aims," I said re-reading them.

Professor Umbridge didn't look pleased. "And your name is?"

"Hermione Granger."

"Well, Miss Granger I think it is quite clear if you read the board carefully." She simpered to me as if I was a child.

"Well I don't," I said firmly eying her what was she playing at? "There's nothing written up there about defensive spells." Others who had been paying attention eyed the board closely and knew I was right.

"Using defensive spells?" She asked me as if I was a child and gave a breathy laugh. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?"

"We're not going to use magic?" Ron asked shocked. That's pretty much when all hell broke out. Kids were yelling left and right that if you were attacked you wouldn't be in a safe environment and even if you would have never practiced. The chances of you being beaten were very high. My stomach was churning she ignored all our protests and I blinked in surprise when she told us to go to her if anyone was spreading rumors about Voldemort being back. I glared at her this was what the ministry wanted to keep a close eye on Harry and Dumbledore.

Harry finally snapped, his anger was always so close to the surface these days, and yelled that Voldemort had returned and wouldn't give a second thought to killing off a few kids. She gave him a detention and told the class that Voldemort hadn't returned it was just a lie.

"So according to you Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord, did he?" Harry asked absolutely seething.

"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident." She said coldly.

"It was murder. Voldemort killed him and you know it." His body was actually shaking now he was so mad.

"Come here Mr Potter." She quickly filled out a note and he left the room without a backward glance.

The rest of the day kids were whispering about what Harry had said and he wasn't pleased. He told us what Professor McGonagall had said and I wasn't the least bit surprised.

"What I don't get is why they all believed the story two months ago when Dumbledore told them..." He said after the fourth person walked by muttering the word murder.

"That's just it Harry I don't think they did." I started slowly. A sixth year Hufflepuff was trying to listen to what I was saying. "Oh lets get out of here." I pulled both of them out of the great and didn't say anything till we were well away from everyone else.

"What do you mean?" He asked as we started up the steps.

"Look you weren't there after everything happened it was all hectic and confusing." Ron was nodding on my other side. "Imagine it from someone in the stands point of view. We were all sitting there and couldn't see what was going on in the maze. Suddenly there was a loud crack and you were there clutching Cedric's dead body and the cup yelling 'Voldemort's back' Dumbledore told us that you fought and got away and that Voldemort killed Cedric. Before any of it could sink in the Daily Prophet was going after you and Dumbledore saying that you were nuts and that Dumbledore was senile."

"Mimbulus mimbletonia," Ron said to get past the fat lady. We sat in the chairs next to the fire.

After a long moment Harry finally looked up. "Just because I understand it doesn't mean I have to like it."

"We never said you did mate." Ron said watching Harry.

"I still can't believe Dumbledore hired Umbridge and in our OWL year too!" I cried angrily.

"Come on Hermione let's just work on our homework." I nodded and we started in on it and got it halfway done when I stood up.

"Sorry guys, I have to go see Dumbledore about something." Ron looked surprised and Harry looked furious. I quickly said my goodbyes and dashed out of the portrait hole before Harry could start yelling again. My stomach churned again as I thought about what Dumbledore would talk to me about. It had to be something with Sirius. I got to the gargoyle statues faster than I would have liked. Darn I didn't get the password.

"Lemon drops?" The gargoyles stayed where they were.

"Sugar Quills, Licorice wands, Peppermint Humbugs, Fizzing Whizbees, Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beens, Chocolate Frogs." The gargoyle jumped aside and I sighed in relief. I slowly made my way up the steps and timidly knocked on the door.

"Come in." Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk his eyes twinkling a small smile on his face. If he was smiling that would be a good thing right?

"Please have a seat Miss Granger." I sat down slowly trying to stop my hammering heart. "Before we start would you like a lemon drop?" I shook my head in the negative.

"All right, I would like to talk to you about your relationship with Mr Black." I shook nervously and nodded.

"I know you two have been closer in the past couple months and that is completely fine. But the fact that you are still underage is a problem." I nodded I had a feeling it would be. "I personally think you and Mr Black could be very good for each other." My throat was dry where was he going with this? "All I ask is that you wait until Christmas when you come of age." I blinked in surprise.

"Professor, how do you know -"

"I followed the use of your time-turner over your third year." His eyes were still twinkling and I relaxed back into my chair. "I already spoke to Sirius and he agreed to it. So please no more stolen kisses in hallways at Grimmauld Place."

I groaned. "Not you too."

He chuckled and smiled at me. "Yes me too. Just be careful Miss Granger things will become... difficult for you and even him for your status of being muggle-born." The twinkle slightly dimmed from his eyes as he looked at me.

"I understand sir, we'll be careful." I said getting out of the chair to leave.

"One more thing," I paused with the door open. "I have the ability to officiate a wedding when the time comes all you need to do is ask." The twinkle was back in his eyes and I could feel myself flushing brightly. I nodded not knowing what to say and escaped out of his office as fast as I could.