-Chapter 5-

There was something about standing on Platform 9 and 3/4 that made Brooke's stomach do flip flops with excitement. Standing at the platform meant she was going home, it meant a whole year of no Dursley's, and it meant a whole year with her friends. Only this year it was different, because now she was leaving behind Remus and Sirius, it meant she was leaving behind her new home.

The last 2 weeks of summer Remus and Sirius made sure that Brooke had the time of her life, they went to the beach, they played Qudditch, they cooked, they even went to an amusement park for her 15th Birthday. Of course Occlumency was a constant activity at night, which meant Snape was a constant visitor at Headquarters. It would continue every Wednesay night during dinner Snape had informed her the night before, and it was the one thing about returning to school she was not looking forward too.

Snape had the same teaching methods in Occlumency that he did in the Potions classrroom, he expected perfection without helping you achieve it. There were lots of yelling, lots of tears, and lots of fights between Sirius and Snape, but Brooke knew she had to keep practicing regardless of how much of an arse he was.

"You better get going Brooke." Remus voice drawled from beside her.

Brooke smiled slightly, the Order had accumpinied the trio to the platform along with the other Weasley children. Mad Eye had insisted that with what's happening they needed to be prepared, whatever that meant. Sirius had decided to accompany them as Padfoot of course, which caused Brooke to bitterly remember that even though they were able to make those small trips to Muggle London, her Godfather was still not a free man.

"Come on Brooke I want to start in on my new book Remus let me borrow!" Hermione said, shifting anxiously beside her.

Brooke and Ron laughed, shaking their heads.

"Don't worry Hermione, go find one and we will join you in just a minute." Brooke said, laughing again as she ran off.

"I better say bye to my Mum before she comes over here and embarrasses me like last year." Ron muttered, giving Brooke a smile as he walked towards his mother who was lecturing the twins.

Sighing as she turned to Remus, she threw her arms around the man she had grown to love so much this past summer. She had always liked Remus, and he was always such a good listener, but this was the first time she felt she really got to know him.

"Have a good year sweetheart, we'll see you at Christmas." he said as he hugged her back tightly, sweeping a hand down her hair.

Brooke pulled back smiling brightly, "Can't wait."

Remus smiling warmly at her.

Bending down so she was squatting on the ground, she smiled at the dog before her. Really Padfoot was perfect as Sirius, he still resembled him so much even as the dog.

"I'll miss you." she said, grinning as he whinned slightly, "Don't worry I'll write to you, let you know if Snape is giving me a hard time."

Padfoot barked loudly, standing up and wagging his tail, causing Brooke to fall over laughing.

"Padfoot you mutt, stop drawing attention towards us!" Mad Eye growled loudly.

Padfoot sat, a smile seeming to grow across his face.

Brooke laughed, before leaning forward and hugging the dog as tight as she could.

To be honest she was slightly upset about leaving her two men behind, she hoped Mrs. Weasley would check in on them frequently, because to be honest, those two were complete idiots when it came to cooking and taking care of themselves.

The whistle blew on the train signaling 5 minutes left.

Brooke leaned back from hugging him and smiled, before hugging him once more and placing a kiss on top of his head, "I love you." she muttered, before standing up.

"Well I better get going." she said, casting a sad smile at the two.

"We will see you at Christmas." Remus said, holding onto Padfoot as he tried going forward.

Brooke laughed giving each of them one last hug, "Be good while I'm gone."

"Ready Brooke?" Ron asked as he came forward.

Brooke nodded, walking towards the train with Ron beside her.

"Be careful!" Molly yelled behind them.

Brooke looked over her shoulder, casting one last wave towards them, before walking up the steps to the train, Ron right behind her.

The two entered the compartment Hermione was in and made themselves comfortable, sighing.

"This year is going to be different isn't it?" Hermione asked as the train lurched forward.

Brooke nodded, smiling sadly as Kings Cross disappeared from view.

"Why would you say that?" Ron asked, frowning at their friend.

Looking slightly guilty, Hermione rummaged through her bag before pulling out a newspaper, "After we heard all that stuff at the Order Meeting I started looking into some of the old Daily Prophets." she explained, pushing her hair out of her face as she threw a few papers towards the two, "They are trying to sell you and Professor Dumbledore out Brooke."

Ron was currently frowning at the newspaper he was reading, while Brooke bit her lip slightly.

"I don't understand why haven't we seen any of these?" Brooke asked quietly.

"My guess is the Order didn't want you to find out since they were printing so many lies."

"Yeah Mum cancelled ours early this summer, but I didn't think this was why, I just thought she was already getting the information so she was saving money." Ron muttered.

Brooke sighed, "I don't understand though, who would believe any of these lies, they don't even make sense."

"But think of it Brooke, Fudge has never made sense-"

"She's right." Ron interrupted, "Fudge isn't in the right frame of mind, this is the rubbish he is always spreading."

"Only now he is bringing you and Dumbledore into this." Hermione said, leaning back into her seat.

"Exactly Dumbledore is in it, nobody is going to believe that!" Brooke insisted.

Hermione shook her head, "There has been a lot of talk about Dumbledore lately, especially after the tournament last year, a lot of people are wondering if he isn't fit to run Hogwarts."

Brooke sat back, glancing out the window, "Fudge doesn't want people believing Voldemort is back does he?"

Ron sighed, "Yeah, and he is making that quite obvious."

"It's okay Brooke, we will get through this." Hermione said, smiling in reassurance.

"It really doesn't bother me," Brooke said honestly, "I'm use to the stares and the whispers."

"That is besides the point you shouldn't have to-"

"Oh the trolly!" Ron gasped in excitement.

Brooke and Hermione laughed, and the worry in the room seemed to disappear.

-The Great Hall-

Brooke relaxed as she slid into her seat at the Gryffindor Table along side her friends. They had finally arrived and after a few awkward talks with some of her oldest friends, everyone seemed to have relaxed. Brooke knew some people didn't believe what had happened last year, but she told herself not to let it get to her.

"Welcome Welcome to yet another year at Hogwarts, first I would like to-" Dumbledore started as the hall fell silent.

Brooke was looking around up at the Head Table, Hagrid was missing, meaning he was probably on some sort of Order Mission, Snape looked his usual snarky self, and...

"Who is that?" Ron asked, staring in disgust towards the table.

Hermione and Brooke turned to see who he was staring at.

"The new Defense Teacher this year Dolores Umbridge-"

The brightly dressed pink woman came forward, shocking most of the hall as she interrupted Dumbledore and started to make a speech.

"She's from the ministry!" Brooke growled out, turning to Hermione with wide eyes.

"What does that mean?" Ron asked sharply.

Hermione turned to the two, "It means the Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts."

Brooke inhaled sharply, turning back towards the Head Table as the food appeared on the table and things started to settle down.

She watched all the teachers carefully, something was going on, Dumbledore was keeping something from her and she would be dammed if she didn't find out.

Morning came too early for Brooke and with that came classes. She had barley slept all night with nightmares, only now it was something with a dark room and what looked like globes everywhere seemingly reaching sky high. She wasn't sure what it meant, but she didn't have much time to dwell on it.

Double Potions thankfully passed fast and with only a few snarky comments from Snape, before they entered the Defense Classroom.

"I can't believe Hermione is taking advanced Ruins, why would she not want to have class with us?" Ron said, pulling the chair out for Brooke to sit in.

Brooke smiled in thanks, "It doesn't surprise me, our little 'Mione is taking double the classes we are yet again this year."

Ron grinned, "Thank Merlin you are normal."

Brooke laughed, pulling her books out onto the table as Professor Umbridge entered the room.

"Good morning class, I am passing out your books for this semester, this is a Ministry approved book that will soon be helping you prepare for your OWLS."

Brooke and Ron cast a look at each other when noticing the books layout for beginners.

"This is rubbish I learned before even coming to Hogwarts." Ron whispered.

"Excuse me," a 5th year Ravenclaw said, "I don't see anything in here about defensive spells-"

"Oh darling whatever would you need those for?" Umbridge asked, a sugary sweet smile on her face.

"Well what if we are attacked?" Dean Thomas asked bluntly.

"You will raise your hand when you would like to speak." Umbridge said sternly, before smiling once again, "You all have been told lies about a dark wizard emerging-"

"It is not a lie!" Brooke hissed under her breath, her hands clenching into fists.

"There is no one out there that would want to hurt children, who could possibly want to do that?" she continued.

"Oh I don't know someone like Lord Voldemort." Brooke yelled out, causing a silence to settle in the classroom.

"There is no Dark Wizard at large at this time-"

"Oh so Cedric Diggary dropped dead from nothing?" Brooke asked, glaring daggers at the teacher.

"That was a terrible accident that can only be explained-"

"Because Voldemort killed him, I saw it, I fought him-"

"Detention Miss Potter in my office tonight." was all she said, silencing Brooke.

Ron squeezed her hand from under the desk, "Don't worry." he whispered.

Brooke's face was flushed as Umbridge started in on the lesson of the day, but she but her lip and continued on with the day.

"Detention, honestly Brooke on the first day of lessons?" Hermione rebuked her at lunch.

"What did you want me to do Hermione let her spread her rubbish around the school and make even more people believe that I am a liar!" Brooke growled as she sat in the Great Hall for dinner that night.

"No but Brooke she is a teacher and-"

"Give the girl a rest Hermione she only got one detention!" Ron muttered.

Hermione huffed, folding her arms across her body as she glared at the two.

"Plus the last thing I want to hear after getting back from detention is yet another lecture, I've already done 50 lines."

Hermione seemed to smile in satisfaction.

"Has Sirius written to you yet?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, he and Remus say it is quiet at Headquarters now without me."

Hermione seemed to cut her strict act and lean forward with a smile, "Well you know they really care about you Brooke."

Brooke smiled, "Yeah they do."

Grinning the trio continued on ratting, laughing and joking along with the rest of the housemates.

Brooke knew things were going to be different this year. Some old friends were't her friends anymore and she seemed to be finding out who her true friends were that would stand beside her.

The Ministry's placement at Hogwarts had put the trio on high alert. Brooke really just hoped to be able to make it through this school year without getting into anything too dangerous.

"Come on Brooke, the party is about to start!" Ron said, pulling her out of her seat and following after Hermione.

"What party?"

"We're back at Hogwarts Brooke!" Ron laughed, slinging an arm around her shoulder, "Relax now."

Brooke laughed as she followed the remainder of her friends with Ron beside her, she sure was in for one crazy year. But Brooke found as long as she had her two best friends by her side she could get through anything.