This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter universe, which are trademarked by J.K. Rowling. I do not claim ownership of these characters nor the locations such as Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, etc. that are Rowling's creations. This work also includes Pokémon, which belong to the Pokémon Company, and I again claim no ownership of these characters.

I thank both Rowling and the Pokémon Company for the universes they have created that allows me to do something like this for my own entertainment and, hopefully, the entertainment of the readers.

Cho Chang did not come to the next DA meeting.

Harry wasn't surprised, even as Terry Boot told him how Cho's friend, Marietta Edgecombe, had sent them on without the two girls. Terry's belief was that she was feeling sick, apparently she hadn't been to class the last few days, and Harry did nothing to dissuade him of the notion.

"I'm sure she's fine," Hermione told him, the concern obviously visible on his face. "People get ill all the time, it's only natural." Harry hadn't told Ron and Hermione either. "Anyway, we should get started, we're running behind already."

In practiced fashion the group started to break up into pairs by Hermione's direction, letting out their Pokémon and engaging in battle. Hermione herself had decided to match herself up with Luna and her Loudred.

"Loudred has the ability Soundproof," Hermione explained when he asked. Usually Hermione paired herself up with him or Ron. "I'm hoping that it'll give him some protection from Espurr's attacks and I can train him up."

"And hopefully avoid deafening everyone," Ron added. His Wartortle was battling Parvati's Dratini.

Harry left them to it, wandering around the clearing and watching the battles that were taking place. He was feeling kind of antsy, an uncomfortable energy bubbling within him, and he wondered if he perhaps should go and get himself a battle.

He changed his mind quickly as his eyes fell on one person he could potentially challenge. He had other things on his mind.

"Hey, Dean, do you mind if I borrow Seamus?" Harry asked, walking up to them. Dean waved them away, untroubled and unsuspicious, turning his attention to Bouffalant who was sporting a few bumps and bruises from his battle with Seamus's Infernape.

Harry pulled Seamus away.

"What's up?" Seamus asked, looking slightly nervous. Harry supposed the secrecy he was operating with was somewhat concerning.

"Nothing," Harry said quickly, shaking his head. "I just wanted to let you know I saw Daphne after the last meeting." Now Seamus looked really nervous.

"Sorry," he muttered. "I should've told you she was there but she made me promise. You know what it's like." Harry did. Gryffindors had a weird thing about honour.

"Never mind, I'm not mad," he said quickly. "If anything it's a good thing Daphne wanted to see what was going on. No, it's just something she said that got me thinking, well, about you."

"About me?" Seamus repeated. "She was talking about me?" Harry felt himself grin.

"You like her," he said and Seamus first looked afraid, then angry.

"You tell anyone and I'll knock your block off," he snapped. "Harry Potter or not I'll still beat the living crap out of you." Harry rolled his eyes.

"I'm not going to tell anyone," he told him. It was ridiculous how similarly both Seamus and Daphne had reacted. "I just wanted to make sure I had all my facts right."

"Oh," Seamus said, deflating. "Well, in that case…" He looked up hopefully. "Any advice?"

"You must really be bad if you're asking me for advice," Harry noted. "In fact you're crazy. Honestly, Seamus, if you like her then just go talk to her."

"And say what?"

"Tell her that you like her," Harry said. Surely it was obvious. "How's it ever going to happen if she never finds out." Seamus looked unsure.

"I don't know, I don't think you should ever tell a girl you like her," Seamus said warily. "Just makes you look like an idiot, doesn't it?" Harry shrugged.

"You're a Gryffindor," he said simply. "She probably already thinks you're an idiot." Seamus shook his head.

"I love our little talks," he told Harry, turning and walking away. "They always remind me how normal I am."

"In comparison," Harry noted. Seamus grinned.

Now alone again Harry looked around. Ron had finished his battle with Parvati and had now challenged Hermione, his Wartortle taking on Hermione's Noctowl. Parvati, meanwhile, had turned to her usual partner of Lavender and, seeing the fifth year Gryffindors, Harry was reminded of another problem that was as yet unresolved.

Parvati and Dean were still not on good terms, it was starting to look like they might break up for good, especially since Harry spied Dean talking with Ginny. The very girl Parvati was jealous of. Feeling on some sort of roll he approached the two of them. As he got nearer he found Ginny laughing at something Dean just said.

"Hi, Harry," she said, still smiling from whatever Dean had been talking about.

"Hey," Harry said to her but he never got any further than that.

"Alright, I see what's going on here," Dean said dramatically, causing Harry and Ginny to look at him in confusion. "You're stealing her away, too. You just can't handle my popularity."

"Careful," Harry said, smiling slightly. "You're beginning to sound like Lockhart."

"Haters gonna hate," Dean said and he walked away, presumably to find Seamus again. Harry turned to Ginny.

"What was so funny?" He asked. Ginny was still smiling.

"Nothing," she told him. "Just Dean being Dean."

"You'd know about that," Harry said. "I've noticed you two have been talking a lot." Ginny crossed her arms, looking annoyed.

"Don't do this, Harry, I've already gotten it from Lavender," Ginny snapped. The turnaround in attitude was abrupt and worrying.

"I'm not saying anything, I'm not," he assured her and he must have sounded honest enough for Ginny seemed to relax.

"Sorry," she muttered. "I'm just so tired of it. It's not just Lavender either. Why can't I be friends with someone without everyone automatically assuming that I'm trying to steal him away."

Harry was saved from answering when a large commotion occurred across the clearing and everyone stopped to look.

"Wartortle?" Ron was saying, looking down at the Pokémon in front of him who looked quite strained, as though fighting against invisible ropes tying him down. And then he started to glow.

"Wow," Ginny breathed as she watched Wartortle evolve, the Pokémon growing to many times its previous size before the glow of evolution finally faded. Harry agreed. No matter how many times he saw a Pokémon evolve it never failed to fill him with amazement.

Eventually things calmed down, everyone taking a moment to congratulate a beaming Ron on Wartortle's evolution, and Harry found himself still standing with Ginny.

"So, you don't like Dean?" Harry said as way of restarting their conversation. Ginny sighed.

"I do like him, he's a great guy. I just don't like him like that." Harry frowned.

"In what way is that?" He asked, confused. "What's wrong with Dean?"

"There's nothing wrong with Dean," Ginny said. "He's just not the guy, you know. The right guy."

"How do you know?" Harry asked. Was there something that told you they were the one? Was there something that should have been there when he kissed Daphne if they were really meant to be?

Ginny was looking at him with a peculiar expression, almost as if she wasn't sure if he was being honest or not. Harry found himself feeling very stupid.

"You just know," Ginny said eventually. "When you find the one you know they're the one. There's no sign or signal. It's just the way things are, the way they make you feel just by being there. It's only something you can truly understand if you've experienced it yourself."

"So you have?" Harry said. "Experienced it yourself, that is." Ginny hesitated.

She opened her mouth, about to answer, but she never got the chance. Shouts and screams filled the clearing, people jumping up and clearing a path right through the middle through which a ghostly shape shot towards Harry.

Myrtle came to a stop before him, her eyes wide behind her spectacles, and Harry immediately knew something was wrong.

"Everybody, shut up!" He shouted. They all went silent. The clearing fell still.

Harry turned to Myrtle. "What's happened?" He asked. Myrtle shuddered.

"She's on her way," she gasped, looking horrified. "She knows you're here, you've been betrayed."

"Who's on her way? Umbridge?" Myrtle nodded rapidly.

"She's got a whole army with her," Myrtle told him. "The Inquisitorial Squad, they're all coming too." This was bad. This was very, very bad.

"Seamus," Harry said, turning away from Myrtle to where he'd seen the Irish boy last. Seamus stepped forward. "Take Gardevoir and start getting as many people as you can back to their dormitories. Start with the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws first."

"Aye, mate," Seamus said and immediately Gardevoir appeared at his side and people started to swarm towards him. Harry turned back to Myrtle.

"I need you to go back and watch Umbridge," Harry told her quickly. "I need to know exactly when she'll arrive." Myrtle nodded before she disappeared from sight, zooming back the way she'd come.

Meanwhile Hermione and Ron were approaching.

"What's going on?" Ron asked, his face ashen. "What's happening?"

"We've got to get everyone out of here," Harry said, not bothering to answer the questions, knowing Ron already knew. "Umbridge clearly has information on us so it'll look suspicious if there's no one here. I'll stay behind and pretend to be training or something."

"Harry, no," Hermione said but Harry shook his head.

"We've been betrayed, you heard Myrtle," Harry told her. "Umbridge will be expecting someone here and if she doesn't find anyone you know she'll go straight back to the source. Maybe if she finds me she won't bother looking for the others."

"That's madness, Harry," Hermione scolded him. Harry didn't have time to argue.

"Seamus!" He said as Seamus appeared with Gardevoir once more. "Take Hermione back to Gryffindor Tower."

"Harry! No!"

"Do it!"

And Hermione disappeared.

Just as she did Myrtle returned.

"They're almost here, Harry," she told him. Harry nodded and then looked around the clearing. There were still people there.

"Everyone, run," he instructed and he received some astonished looks. "Go that way and keep going until you get out of the forest, then go round to the left until you find Hagrid's cabin. Hide out there until Seamus finds you." The students looked reluctant. "Go!" He shouted and they finally started to move, Ginny being the last of them, looking back over her shoulder with a worried expression as she disappeared through the trees. The only ones left were Harry and Ron.

"Why are you still here?" Harry asked. He'd thought Ron had agreed with him, otherwise he'd have sent him back too.

"They'll know something's up if you're here on your own," Ron told him, his voice steady. "But if you're here battling a friend that's not suspicious. They only said clubs with three or more students were disbanded. I'm not breaking any rules."

It was smart and even though Harry didn't want to drag anyone down with him he wasn't going to send him away. There was no time for that.

"She's almost here," the whispered voice of Myrtle, not even showing her physical form, prompted them to action.

"Quick, get Charizard out," Ron instructed, hurrying over to stand behind Blastoise. "Make it look like we're battling." Harry acquiesced, letting out his starter Pokémon who roared, preparing for a battle and not yet realising it was only for show.

"Well, well, well," the hated voice of Delores Umbridge came just a moment later and Harry and Ron turned to see her standing over the edge of the cliff face, the Inquisitorial Squad by her side.

Capturing them wasn't as easy as Umbridge had anticipated. Clearly she'd only been given a general idea of where they were meeting and so she'd approached the clearing from the worst possible direction, leaving no easy way down to where Harry and Ron stood. It only took Umbridge a short while to realise this and so she was forced to order Harry and Ron to come up to her, Harry turning to Charizard for assistance, the fire type flying them up the cliff to where the Inquisitorial Squad waited, unwilling to move forward until Charizard was safely returned to his Pokéball.

It was a long journey back to the castle, not least since the lateness of the hour made visibility poor. Harry and Ron were being marched up to the castle by two Slytherins each, making it hard for them to keep their balance on the uneven forest floor. They passed by Hagrid's hut, Harry hoping the rest of the DA had got back safely, and entered the school. Not a word was said until they came to a stop at the door to the Headmaster's office.

"Alright, that's enough. I'll take it from here," Umbridge instructed, turning to the group. "Go back to the forest and search for the rest of them. You, Nott, grab Weasley." Theodore Nott looked viciously pleased at the prospect, pulling Ron's arms roughly behind his back as Umbridge pushed Harry through the office door.

The Headmaster's office was busier than Harry had ever seen it. By the door Harry was quick to spot Kingsley Shacklebolt, his face a blank professional mask that mimicked that of the man standing on the opposite side of the door, with matching uniforms to go with it. Further into the office and off to the side stood Percy, looking alarmed by Ron's presence, standing in the shadows of none other than Cornelius Fudge. Next to him stood Marietta Edgecombe, standing out of the way and looking uncomfortable. Harry felt his stomach drop.

"Delores, what is the meaning of this?" Professor McGonagall was there, much to Harry's relief, standing next to the Headmaster's desk, behind which sat Dumbledore.

"Just what do you think you are doing bothering my students at this time of night?" McGonagall blustered. "All students should remain in their house common rooms after curfew."

"Ah, but you see, Minerva, I did not find Potter and Weasley in their common rooms," Umbridge said sweetly.

"What?" McGonagall replied sharply.

"I said I did not find them in their common room, Minerva," Umbridge repeated, as though McGonagall had actually misheard her. "I caught them elsewhere, after hours." McGonagall pursed her lips. Fudge, meanwhile, was ecstatic.

"Excellent. Excellent work, Delores," he beamed. "And just where did you find them?"

"In the forest, behind the gamekeeper's hut," Umbridge told him with a satisfied smile. "Exactly as Ms Edgecombe had informed me." Any hope Harry had that Marietta was here purely by accident disappeared. Next to him Ron glared at the girl.

Suddenly the door to Dumbledore's office opened once more and Professor Flitwick hurried inside, followed at a slower pace by Professor Snape.

"Headmaster, just what is happening?" Professor Flitwick said squeakily, hurrying over to Marietta. "Ms Edgecombe, are you alright?" Snape, meanwhile, moved silently to stand behind Harry, Ron and Nott.

"Please, calm yourself, Filius," Dumbledore said soothingly. "Everybody is fine." He turned to the others. "I apologise for the surprise visitors but I felt it pertinent to invite them as they are, after all, the heads of house for Mr Nott and Ms Edgecombe." Professor Umbridge looked annoyed, Dumbledore once again interfering with her plans, but Fudge just nodded.

"Quite right," he said. "This is a very serious matter, after all."

"And what matter is this, exactly?" Snape drawled, his voice cool and full of derision. "I'm sure Potter's and Weasley's transgressions do not require the Minister for Pokémon, or indeed myself, to be present."

Every eye in the room turned to the Minister. He coughed quietly.

"Um, Delores, you are more aware of the details," Fudge said uncomfortably. "Perhaps you would like to explain?"

"Of course, Minister," Umbridge said sweetly. "I'd be delighted to." She turned to the office at large.

"Well," she began. "This all starts last year during the first Hogsmeade visit when I became aware of some sort of group that was planning on meeting at Hogwarts, a group in complete violation of Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four."

"Which only came into effect after the Hogsmeade visit," McGonagall interrupted sharply.

"Rules are rules, Minerva," Umbridge told her with a giggle, causing the physiology professor to fume. "At any rate I was certain the idea had not died, even despite warnings that to proceed would lead to severe punishment. I kept searching, keeping a watchful eye on certain key players, and at last I made a breakthrough with the help of Ms Edgecombe here." All eyes turned to Marietta. "She alerted me to the meeting taking place tonight and pointed me right to the clearing where I found Mr Potter and Mr Weasley."

"Is this true, Ms Edgecombe?" Dumbledore asked calmly. Marietta looked a bit overwhelmed to be addressed by Dumbledore directly but, after a glance at Umbridge, she nodded.

"Tell him, Ms Edgecombe," Umbridge prompted. "Tell him everything you told me."

"Well, sir, these meetings happen often," Marietta explained. "There's about thirty of us, only Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, though." At least Daphne was safe. It would have been disastrous if someone like Nott found out her role in this.

"I see," Dumbledore said, again with perfect calm. He looked thoughtful. "And may I ask what was the nature of these meetings? Were they, for example, homework clubs? Or were they more practical in nature?"

"Practical, sir," Marietta told him. "Hermione Granger would split us into pairs and have us battle each other." Beside Harry Ron's fists clenched.

"I see," Dumbledore said again. "Excuse me, Ms Edgecombe, I have just one more question. Do you perhaps know what the goal of these meetings was? What objectives did they set out to accomplish?" Marietta hesitated.

"They wanted to train us," Marietta told him. "They thought You-know-who was back and wanted us to be ready to fight him. They called us Dumbledore's Army."

The whole room went silent.

"You see!" Umbridge cried out, her voice delighted. "Dumbledore's Army! Potter and his friends were building forces with which to undermine the Ministry and continue spreading lies about the return of You-know-who!"

"Are you getting all this, Weasley?" Fudge asked, turning to Percy who had been scribbling away while everyone spoke. He nodded, looking strained.

"Then that's it then, isn't it," Fudge said excitedly. "We'll give the boys a night to pack and then send them home tomorrow." Ron gasped and Percy actually lost hold of his pen, sending it clattering to the floor. McGonagall looked outraged.

"Now there, let's not be too hasty," Professor Flitwick said nervously. "I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for all this."

"Quite," agreed Dumbledore, the only one in the room who still looked completely at ease. "After all, we've only heard one side of the story. Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, perhaps you have something you'd like to say to defend yourselves?"

"Nonsense, Dumbledore, there's no time for that," Fudge interjected before Harry or Ron could speak.

"Is that so?" Dumbledore asked. "Surely you have all the time in the world to make sure justice is done." Fudge had no response to that. Dumbledore turned back to Harry and Ron. "Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, what do you have to say about these allegations?"

"She's lying," Harry said immediately. It was the only way. Marietta could name names all she wanted but she had no proof. It was her word against theirs.

"Come now, Potter, don't be absurd," Umbridge snapped. "You were caught at the scene of the crime."

"We weren't doing anything wrong," Harry said stubbornly. "The Educational Decree only banned groups of three or more students. We were the only ones there."

"He's lying," Marietta said scornfully.

"How would you know?" Ron shot back. "You weren't there."

"I was there for the other meetings," Marietta hissed.

"What other meetings?" Harry deadpanned back. Marietta looked furious.

"Professor Umbridge," Dumbledore interjected, cutting through their argument. "Is it correct that you found only Mr Potter and Mr Weasley?"

"With their Pokémon out!" Umbridge screeched.

"But only their Pokémon," Dumbledore said calmly. "You did not see any students or any evidence that any other students had been there?" She hadn't and everyone in the room knew it.

"It doesn't matter," Umbridge snapped. "We know they were planning on it. Ms Edgecombe told of a meeting in the three broomsticks during the first Hogsmeade weekend where this group was formed. It will be easy to corroborate once we demand Madam Rosmerta's records."

"Yet, as our valued colleague has already pointed out, this was before the Educational decree banning such groups from forming," Dumbledore reminded her with a benign smile. "Only if they insisted on going ahead with these meetings would they have been in violation of Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four. Did you have any such meetings, Mr Potter?"

"No sir," Harry replied, his face blank. "It's just been me and Ron."

"But what about Ms Granger?" Fudge said, looking quite uncomfortable with the turn of events. "Weren't the three of you close friends?" Harry blinked. He was surprised Fudge remembered.

"Hermione doesn't like breaking rules," Harry explained. "We didn't tell her anything in case she felt guilty."

"A likely story," Umbridge said angrily. "Ms Granger is a troublemaker. I had her in detention multiple times at the start of the year."

"She was just mad because you weren't teaching us anything," Ron argued. "Hermione always reads her textbooks before coming to Hogwarts. Your class is a waste of time for her."

Umbridge looked positively furious by this point and only seemed to hold back due to an inability to decide who to unleash her anger on. From the side of the room Percy let out a small cough.

"If I may, Minister," he said smoothly. "I believe I have something to contribute to this discussion." Fudge looked surprised, turning to Percy as though he'd forgotten he was there.

"Yes, yes, Weasley. If you have something to say please do."

"Thank you, Minister," Percy said with a polite nod, clearing his throat. "I just thought I should mention that I've been at Hogwarts with Ms Granger for a total of three years and what I've heard here is very in character. Ms Granger is very intelligent, a very rule abiding student, and I believe there is little doubt she is the frontrunner for Head Girl in two years time."

"You think she had nothing to do with this?" Fudge asked.

"I think if she did she would have been caught tonight," Percy said. "She is a Gryffindor, after all." It seemed that was all it took to make up Fudge's mind. He rounded on Marietta.

"So, is that it, girl?" He said, staring down at her, though he wasn't much taller himself. "Thought you'd have a little fun with your stories, not giving a hoot for the time and government resources that were lost to this wild goose chase? You must be so proud of yourself, fooling everyone like that, but there will be consequences." Marietta quailed under Fudge's words, looking completely lost and scared as she turned to Umbridge for help. But Umbridge was angry and humiliated. She would not by coming to the poor girl's aid.

"I wonder just what your parents will think when they hear about this," Fudge's rant continued. "The shame they must feel for your actions. I believe there's a Madam Edgecombe in the Ministry…"

"Department for Transportation, sir," Percy supplied promptly.

"… she's your mother, is that right?" Fudge asked without breaking stride. Marietta was crying by this point, tears streaming down her cheeks, and the only response she could muster was a nod. "Well I'm sure she'll have a lot to say after hearing what happened tonight. I will be personally explaining to her exactly what you've done."

"Cornelius, that's enough," Dumbledore spoke, his voice low but firm. "There is little to be gained by blaming a sixteen year old girl for her irresponsible actions and I will not stand by while you reduce one of my students to tears." Fudge paled.

"Besides, I believe it is time for me to explain my role in the events of tonight," Dumbledore announced. Everyone's head snapped towards him. "You see, Ms Edgecombe was not entirely mistaken."

Harry's eyes widened. Just what was Dumbledore playing at? They'd gotten away with it, made the very idea seem laughable to the Minister himself. Was this some sort of punishment?

Everyone else was looking at Dumbledore in astonishment too and even Professor McGonagall seemed unsure of what he was going to say next. Dumbledore leaned forward.

"You see, I have been making overtures to certain students at this school, outwith Mr Weasley and Mr Potter, and I have been doing it with the goal to train students so they can defend themselves from Lord Voldemort." The whole room shivered at the name. "I had some grand plans," Dumbledore continued. "It was still a work in progress, certainly, but I've been pleased with the results. Though this is the first I've heard of the term 'Dumbledore's Army'. I can't say I care for it much."

The whole room was stunned by his confession.

"Are you sure, Albus?" McGonagall asked. "Are you quite, quite sure?"

"Most definitely, Minerva," Dumbledore said, looking quite relaxed with the situation. "They were, of course, my actions so I would know. I must admit I made a mistake in including Ms Edgecombe, though even I could not predict how much she would discover. Quite the Ravenclaw, the Sorting Xatu does not make mistakes."

"You, you…" Fudge was stammering now, looking as though his head was going to explode from too much new information. "You were starting an army?"

"Well, as I said the word 'Army' isn't really appropriate," Dumbledore said serenely but he never got any further.

"Treason!" Fudge cried, his face pale and pointing a shaking finger at the aged Headmaster. "Treachery! Plotting against the Ministry!"

"Oh, I have no quarrel with the Ministry," Dumbledore said easily, still looking perfectly calm. "My only enemy is Lord Voldemort, and those who pledge allegiance to him."

"Mad," said Fudge. "Completely mad. Aurors, arrest him." Kingsley and the other man at the door were slow to respond, shocked by the Minister's command just like everyone else.

"Now Minister, see here," McGonagall said, stepping forward as her nostrils flared. But Fudge was having none of it.

"Out of the way, Minerva, you have no authority to stop this," he told her, waving her aside. "I may not be able to get you sacked without the approval of the Board of Governors, Dumbledore, but I can have you arrested on suspicion of treason. Shacklebolt, Dawlish, arrest him." Kingsley and Auror Dawlish stepped forward.

Dumbledore stood up and immediately everyone drew back, Kingsley and Dawlish automatically going for their Pokéballs.

"I believe there has been a misunderstanding," Dumbledore said softly, though his very presence radiated power. "You seem to believe that I would allow you to take me away. This is, forgive me, very foolish. Alakazam." Alakazam appeared before him, not from a Pokéball but from thin air. Kingsley and Dawlish clutched their Pokémon tightly.

"Cornelius, think about what you are doing and see the truth before it is too late. When that time comes we will meet again. Until then, Adieu." And he was gone.

The office fell into pandemonium.

"Where is he?!" Fudge cried, looking around wildly. "Where is he?!"

"He must be making his escape," Kingsley said, his voice calm and measured.

"Sir, you can't Teleport off Hogwarts grounds," Percy chimed in.

"So he's still here," Fudge deduced. "Shacklebolt, Dawlish, call in reinforcements and have them form a circle around the boundary wall. We must not let Dumbledore escape."

Kingsley and Dawlish were first out the office, hurrying to follow Fudge's orders, and Fudge himself was next out, followed closely by Percy. Umbridge, the last to leave the room, shot a smug look at Professor McGonagall before the door snapped shut behind her, leaving only the students and heads of house standing in silence.

"Well, thank heavens they're gone." Albus Dumbledore walked out of his personal quarters, looking as calm and unruffled as though he'd just gotten out of bed in the morning. "I must say this room was getting much too crowded." The students were speechless. The staff almost seemed like they'd expected this all along.

"Albus, what the blazes were you thinking?" McGonagall asked immediately. Dumbledore held up a hand.

"All in good time, Minerva," he told her. "Until then could I ask Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape to escort their students back to their house common rooms. It is after hours, after all."

"Of course, Headmaster," Flitwick squeaked immediately. "Right this way, Ms Edgecombe." Snape didn't say any words, he merely grasped Nott by the shoulder and directed him out the door after Flitwick and Marietta. Soon only the Gryffindors remained.

"Sir, what was that?" Harry asked immediately. "Why did you confess? You didn't even do anything." Dumbledore let out a small smile.

"No, I didn't," Dumbledore agreed. "Though that does not mean I could sit back and let Ms Edgecombe take the blame."

"But it was her fault," said Ron, looking flummoxed. "She was the one who ratted us out to Umbridge."

"Yet I assure you she did not understand the consequences of her actions," Dumbledore said calmly. "Neither do you, Ronald, or even you, Harry. And though her actions were beyond foolish and poorly thought through Ms Edgecombe undoubtedly had her reasons. Either way I could not stand by and watch one of the students I am tasked with looking after suffer." He turned to McGonagall.

"I leave Hogwarts in your most capable hands, Minerva," Dumbledore told her. "Undoubtedly Madam Umbridge will attempt to assume the position of headmaster for herself but I'm sure the Board of Governors will be far more keen to see you hold the post in my absence. Look after the students, Minerva."

"Of course, Albus," McGonagall said immediately. Dumbledore nodded.

"I must go," he said, addressing the room at large. "Surely it won't be long before someone thinks to search my quarters. I just have one last thing to say before I go."

"Harry," he said and his twinkling blue eyes met Harry's emerald green. "This will be the last time I see you in a long while. It is unlikely that I'll be able to return to Hogwarts before Voldemort makes his return known. So, until then, I just want to remind you to stay safe. You are much more important than even you know. And until we meet again…" he lowered his head in a small, respectful nod, and then he disappeared from view.

A/N: And there we have it for this chapter. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.

To answer the reviewer on the next time we'll see Eevee, he will certainly be appearing in this story again. This means it won't be too long until we see him as we're nearing the end of the year and everything is just about ready to come to a head.

Also, thanks to those who answered the question of the day for the last chapter. There were an interesting array of types mentioned in answer to what I think is a very tough question.

For this chapter's question of the day we have the following review:

DelugeLeader 666 : - ... What's your favourite starter? And why?

My favourite Pokémon is Torterra, so naturally that is also my favourite starter. Ignoring that I found myself torn between three others; Sceptile, Infernape and Greninja.

They are all really cool Pokémon, and it's no surprise that they inevitably are among the strongest Pokémon Ash has in the anime. And despite the fact they're all different types they are very similar in the sense that they are fast, athletic Pokémon who can hit really hard and really fast. I just love the designs of all of them and they are among some of my favourite Pokémon of all time.

So, what's your favourite starter? Is this a Pokémon you've played with a lot or simply like the design of? Please leave your answers in the reviews.