Chapter 10:
The Minister's Mole
As they boarded the Hogwarts Express, Hermione noticed Cedric waving from his compartment door. Harry eagerly raced towards him, closely followed by Hermione and Ron.
"It's great to see you!" Harry exclaimed, setting his luggage down to embrace the older boy.
"I missed you too," he happily stated, wrapping his arms around him. When they drew apart he smiled at the others. "It's nice to see you both again. As promised, I saved a compartment for us."
"Thanks," Hermione replied, smiling; while Harry picked up his suitcase and followed Cedric into the compartment. She and Ron did the same, and set their luggage on the right rack above their seats. "Is your mother already at Hogwarts?" She asked, as they sat across from Cedric and Harry.
The older boy nodded. "She left two days ago."
"Luckily it's not my mum who'll be there," Ron blurted, causing Hermione to give him a questioning stare. "She'd never let stop pestering me."
"She just loves you," Hermione remarked. "People tend to be overbearing when they really care about that person."
Ron nodded. "I know. But still, Katherine is way less of a hassle," he laughed.
"Mum isn't always bubbly and cheerful," Cedric countered. "When it comes to studies and Quidditch, she's very firm. She expects me to give both 110%."
"That's rather harsh."
"Still think you love her more?"
"Good point. Mum wants us to do well. But, she doesn't badger us about every single assignment."
"If she only knew you forced Hermione to write most your papers..." Harry interjected, trying to hold back his laughter.
"Hey!" Ron scowled, glaring at him; while the others laughed.
"Without her, neither of us would have made it to our fifth year."
"That reminds me, you'll be doing your O-W-Ls this year," Cedric informed.
"OLWs?" Ron questioned.
"Ordinary Wizarding Level exams," Hermione iterated. "I must say I'm nervous. I hope I pass."
"I have no doubt you will," the older boy assured.
"What are they like?" Harry asked, glancing at Cedric.
"A test to show how much you've learned and mastered since you started Hogwarts. They break it down by subject."
"Bloody hell! No one told me this year was going to kill me!" Ron screeched.
"You'll be fine, Ronald," Hermione affirmed. "It's all in your head. We go over a quick review of our past years before we take the exam."
"Easy for you to say. You get high marks in every subject."
"I'll help you." She turned her gaze towards Harry. "We can study together."
"I bet you passed yours with flying colours," Harry declared, cupping Cedric's hand.
"It took all my strength to get through them." He sighed. Between studying for my exams and helping Oliver with his N-E-W-Ts, I was exhausted!"
"NEWTs?"
"Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests," Cedric delineated. "He was always too busy with Quidditch to study. So he literally begged me to help him last minute?"
"No fair!" Hermione whined. "You got a sneak peek at seventh year studies. I'd love to read those books."
"Trust me, it's overwhelming." Cedric laughed. "You'd understand it immediately. I was constantly reading the same texts over and over, just to make sure I had everything memorised."
"You must tell me what you read."
"I'll show you them in the library." The older boy smiled. "Now it's my turn to take those wretched tests." He groaned, noticing a letter sticking out of Hermione's satchel. "Is that from Viktor?"
Hermione's cheeks turned red; quickly clutching the satchel close to her chest. "Y...yes," she stuttered.
"How is he?"
"Good. He's going to be travelling till Christmas. He's hoping he'll be able to visit then."
"Lucky sod," Ron quipped. "Not only does he get all the glory, he gets to travel the globe."
"Oliver is going to be travelling too. Most likely by next spring," Cedric explicated. "I'm sure he'll be promoted to Captain in a few weeks."
"Sounds like he'll be very busy. You think he'll be able to reply to any letter we send him?" Harry asked.
"Definitely," Cedric reassured. "Oliver wants to help us in any way possible. He'll stay in touch. Meanwhile, I have a surprise to show you when we get to Hogwarts." He gave Harry a quick wink.
Harry's lips curled. "What is it?"
"I won't spoil it. You'll have to wait till we're there."
Harry pouted.
"It'll be worth the wait." He smiled, wrapping his arm around Harry.
When they arrived in Hogsmeade, Cedric grabbed his luggage and headed towards the group of seventh years, while Harry, Hermione and Ron headed towards the group of fifth years. Each year had to arrive in a certain fashion. For them, it was by a horseless, driverless carriage.
As they walked through the forest, they saw a pathway, framed by lampposts. Harry noticed Cho and a few other students sitting on one carriage. She smiled and gave him a quick wave, before the carriage started driving away.
"Hi, guys," Neville greeted, walking towards them.
"Hi, Neville," they all replied.
Hermione noticed he was holding a Mimbulus mimbletonia. "Where did you get that?"
"Oh." Neville glanced down at the plant. "My great uncle gave it to me for my birthday. He knows how much I love Herbology."
"It's very nice."
Harry soon felt a warm breath against the back of his neck. He turned and saw a skeletal horse-like creature, with wings, standing in front of a carriage. "What...is it?"
The others turned and saw him staring at a carriage that had just appeared.
"What?" Ron asked.
"In front of the carriage."
"Nothing's pulling the carriage, Harry," Hermione stated. "It's pulling itself, like always." She gave him a quick glance then saw Ron shrugging his shoulders.
Harry nervously approached the creature, walking past its right side towards the carriage.
"Don't worry," a high voice spoke, making Harry look up to the carriage. "You're not going mad," she assured, lowering the booklet in her hands; revealing her face. "I can see them too. You're just as sane as I am."
Harry gave her a puzzled look, then saw the others standing behind him. They quickly set the luggage on the rack under the carriage then entered it. Hermione, Harry and Neville sat across from the blonde, blue eyed girl, while Ron sat next to her.
"Everyone this is Luny..." Hermione stopped, knowing she almost insulted the girl in front of her. "Luna Lovegood." Hermione lowered her head, feeling utterly embarrassed. She then noticed Luna's necklace. "What an interesting necklace."
Luna looked down and held the pendant in her palm. "It's a charm, actually," she corrected, glancing at Neville. "It keeps away the nargles; who seemed a tad uncomfortable around her. "Hungry?" She averted her gaze back to Hermione. "I hope there's pudding."
Once they reached the castle, they headed to their dorms to change into their uniforms, before heading to the Great Hall. After they were seated, Dumbledore strolled towards the Owl Lecturn; causing the golden owl to caw and stretch its wings to span the front fame.
"I wish all of you a good evening," the professor greeted, seeing every student turn to face him. "Now, we have three changes in staffing this year. First, I want you all to welcome Mrs. Mayfield Diggory, who has graciously agreed to head all Quidditch activities, in Madame's Hooch's absence," he explicated, extending his hand towards Katherine; who sat on his right, next to Tralawney. Most students silently laughed when they saw the divination teacher was already scarfing down her food.
"Second..." he turned towards the left side of the table. "We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubby Plank." He averted his gaze back to the students. "Who will be taking care of Magical Creatures, while Professor Hagrid is on temporarily leave."
Harry didn't like the sound of that.
"We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Professor Dolores Umbridge." Dumbledore motioned his hand towards the woman sitting at the left end of the table; next to Snape and McGonagall. She was completely dressed in pink. Her crotchet hat. Her peacoat and dress. Even her purse and high-heeled shoes. Her hair dark brown and short. Her hairstyle literally framed her face. On the left side of her forehead was a thick curled, iron coloured strand.
Both Cedric and Harry's eyes widened, as they saw her. She was the woman at their hearing. The one who was so eager to convict them.
Dolores softly giggled, aggravating Severus; who immediately winced.
"Now I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck. As usual, our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you all..."
Dolores cleared her throat, before setting her purse on the table.
Dumbledore paused and turned to see the short, stout woman stand; before she started to approach the podium.
"She was at the hearing," Harry whispered to Hermione. "She works for Fudge."
Hermione gave him quick glance as Dolores started to speak.
"Thank you, Headmaster; for those kind words of welcome." She stood in front of the podium and turned to face the students. "How lovely to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends."
"That's likely," Fred and George quietly blurted.
Dolores glared at the Gryffindor table, as though she heard them. "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance." She began pacing towards her left. "Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school," she paused nodding at Dumbledore, who returned her nod, "progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved. Perfect what can be perfected; and prune practices that ought to be...prohibited." She ended her sentence in a whisper, before giggling and heading back to her seat.
Dumbledore started to clap his hands; silently beckoning the student to join him. They complied and he finished his speech.
After dinner, Harry raced after the Hufflepuff students, desperately trying to locate Cedric. When he saw him, he rushed towards him.
"Ced! She's here! In the school..."
"I know," the older boy murmured. "Looks like Fudge planted her here to spy on us and Dumbledore. We'll have to be extra careful around her. I didn't like that speech."
"I didn't either. It's weird. Something about her makes my skin crawl."
"Just be wary of her." Cedric touched the younger boy's shoulder. "I don't think she's dangerous. She wouldn't dare try anything around Dumbledore."
"I hope you're right." Harry sighed. "So, when will you show me the surprise?" He smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
Cedric matched his smile. "Tomorrow, after our classes. My, you are impatient." He laughed.
"If it means spending more time with you, I'll gladly keep insisting."
"Soon, love." Cedric kissed his forehead. "Good night."
"Sleep well." Harry's lips curled, watching the older boy walk away towards the Hufflepuff common room.
The next day, Harry's first class was with... Dolores. He cringed when saw that on his schedule. Ron assured him that it would be all right, and he'd sit next to him.
Again, they were sharing the class with Slytherin. How Harry loathed this overused combination. Hermione and Ron motioned him into the room and he took his seat on the right side of the third rowed desk in the left corner; sitting directly diagonal from Hermione; who sat in front of him on the other side of the classroom.
In front of them, Padma used her magic to bring her origami bird to life. It began gracefully flying across the ceiling of the room. Crabbe a slingshot to fling a ball of paper at it. He and Goyle laughed as the bird evaded getting hit. It just continued to fly; until it suddenly caught on fire; instantly turning to ask; before descending to Padma's desk.
All the students turned to see Dolores standing in the doorway; holding out her wand. This time, she was wearing a bright crochet, buttoned pink cardigan over the same pink dress; with a bright pink oval broach pinned on the right side.
"Good morning, children," she greeted, using her wand to write on the chalkboard, placed in the front left side of the room. "Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations," she spoke, walking towards the chalkboard. "O-W-Ls. More commonly as OWLs." She smiled, turning to face the students; cupping her hands. "Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so and the consequences may be...severe." She shrugged her shoulders, before flicking her wand at the stacks of books on the two front desks; making them levitate and float across the room; landing in front of every student. "Your previous instructions on this subject has been disturbingly...uneven."
As she finished her sentence, two books landed in front of Harry and Ron. Harry glanced down at it and read: Defense Against the Dark Arts: Basics For Beginners. He quickly flipped through the pages, finding each lesson was completely useless. This was rubbish!
Most the students did the same, as Dolores added, "But, you'll be pleased to know from now on, you'll be following a carefully structured, Ministry approved course of Defensive Magic." She then noticed Hermione raising her hand. "Yes?"
"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells."
"Using spells?" The woman chuckled. "I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom." She took a few steps towards Hermione.
"We're not going to use magic?" Ron asked, causing her to glance his way.
"You'll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way," she delineated.
"What use is that?" Harry blurted. "If we're going to be attacked, it's not going to be risk-free."
"Students will raise their hands in my class," Dolores huffed, turning before walking towards towards the front of the room. She then turned back to face them and smiled. "It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through you examinations, which after all is what school is all about."
"And how's theory supposed to prepare us for what's out there?" Harry asked.
"There is nothing out there dear," she reassured, cupping her hands. "Who do you imagine would want to attack children, like yourself?"
"Oh. I don't know..." Harry countered. "Maybe Lord Voldemort."
Every student instantly became quiet. Hermione gave Harry a worried glance, while a few people dropped their quills.
Dolores's face turned white, as she raised her hands. "Now let me make this quite plain." She started walking down the classroom. "You have been told that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie..." she affirmed, stopping in front of Harry.
"It's not a lie! Cedric and I saw him. I fought him!"
"Detention!" Dolores stammered, walking back to the front of the room. "Mr. Potter."
"So, according to you, Cedric and I just imagined everything that happened to us in that graveyard!"
Dolores quickly turned to meet his gaze. "You and Cedric Diggory experienced a horrific ordeal in the maze. It made you poor dears delusional."
"We're not lying! We were almost murdered!"
"ENOUGH!" Dolores screeched so loud, glass could have broke.
Harry quickly stopped, while most students started to murmur to each other.
"Enough," she quietly iterated. "See me later, Mr. Potter. My office." She giggled.
Harry realised talking to her was a lost cause. He kept silent throughout the remainder of class.
Later that evening, Dolores awaited Harry's arrival. Glancing at her large, oval shaped, pale pink gem, on her right middle finger; she scooped a few spoonfuls of pink sugar into her white tea cup; filled with pink tea. She then set the spoon on the saucer and picked up the cup; and drank a few sips.
On her right was an array of pencils. The last one on her left was askew. She then heard someone knocking on her officer door. Her eyes grew wide, as she set the cup on the white saucer; then used the edge of her right hand to readjust the pencil. "Come in."
Harry opened the door, and was shocked to see how pink everything was in the room. The stone walls. The doilies. Even the carpets. The only thing that was white we're the placemats on the desks. Hanging on each wall were three rows of ten saucers that each seemed to have live cats within them. He could hear all of them meowing, as he slowly entered the office. Dolores, herself, was now wearing a pink broach on her the right side of her dress and a unbuttoned, feathery bright pink sweater; covering her shoulders. He then noticed she had another pink broach pinned to it as well; this one being on her left.
"Good evening, Mr. Potter. You're going to be doing a few lines for me Sit." She glanced at the small desk on her left. "You're going to be doing some lines for me today, Mr. Potter."
Harry apprehensively sat by the desk and reached into his satchel for a quill.
"No. Not with your quill. You're going to be using a rather special one of mine." She stood and grabbed the quill on her desk then placed it by the small hourglass on Harry's right.
Harry picked up the quill placed it over the piece of paper.
"Now I want you to write: I must not tell lies," Dolores added, standing behind him.
Harry lowered his head. "How many times?"
"Well, let's say for as long as it takes the message to sink in," she replied, turning to face the window behind her.
"You haven't given me any ink."
"Oh, you won't need any ink," she explicated, glancing his way before again facing the window.
Harry started to write. He nearly finished the first line, when he began to feel pain on the back of his left hand. He grunted, staring down at it; and was flabbergasted to see the veins under his skin start to write "I must not tell lies" across the back of his hand.
Dolores slowly turned and walked in front of him; staring down at the now mortified boy. "Yes?"
Harry was too afraid to breathe, let alone speak. "Nothing."
"That's right," she reiterated, bending down next to him. "Because you know, deep down, you deserved to be punished. Don't you, Mr. Potter?"
Harry's face lost all its colour as she smiled.
"That will be all for now. You may return to your dormitory."
Harry hurriedly grabbed his things and raced out of the room. He couldn't even comprehend what had happened. All he could do was run back to Gryffindor Tower.
When he reached it, he saw everyone was partying; celebrating the new school year.
"Hermione, please," Ron pleaded; following her like a lost dog.
"Oh, very well." She sighed. "But, I'll only write the introduction."
"Thanks." He smiled. "You're a lifesaver."
Hermione then saw Harry and beckoned him to sit next to her on the sofa.
Harry wanted to race to his room, but knew he couldn't be rude. Bad enough he was blowing off Cedric. He hated himself for it, but he couldn't bring himself to see him. After what happened to him, he didn't want Umbridge to give him any trouble.
Hermione watched as he slumped next to her. "I'm so sorry you got detention; and on your first day too," she remarked," noticing a red line on the back of his hand. "Harry!" She quickly pulled it out of his pocket; revealing the words engraved on it. "Oh, my God! Did she do that to you!?"
"It's nothing! I'm fine." Harry pulled his hand way from her and buried it in his pocket.
"It's most certainly not nothing! That brazen woman attacked you. You've got to tell Dumbledore."
"No one believes what he says, Hermione. No one believes me or Cedric."
"McGonagall is in charge of our house. She must know about this. If you won't tell her, I will. But first, I made a promise." She stood. "Come on. Fetch your cloak. We're going to need it."
"My cloak? Hermione what are you..."
"I won't say another word till we're there. Now hurry!"
Harry complied and headed up to his room and grabbed his cloak. When he got back to the common room, he saw Hermione was standing by the portrait; motioning him to follow. She lead them out of the tower to the seventh floor.
"Hermione, where are we going?"
"Hush. We're almost there."
Harry rolled his eyes, as they ran down a corridor; towards the left side of the school. When they got closer, they could see Cedric standing next to a portrait.
"Ced!" Harry exclaimed, now running faster than Hermione.
"I was wondering when you'd show up." The older boy smiled, while Harry flew into his arms; burying his face in his robe. "Harry, what's wrong?"
"Look at his hand." Hermione suspired.
Cedric glanced down and saw the writing on the back of Harry's left hand. "Harry!" He cupping it immediately; then kissed it several times. "That bitch! She did this? We must tell Dumbledore!"
"Ced, it's not worth it. No one believes us. They think we dreamed the whole thing. Everyone thinks we're balmy; including Dumbledore. There's nothing we can do."
"To hell there isn't! She can't go around attacking students. This goes against every rule of the Ministry. We have to tell him. At least McGonagall."
"Can we just let it go for tonight." Harry sighed, pulling Cedric close. "What are you doing here?" He smiled.
"This is my surprise. When I heard you got detention, I asked Hermione to bring you here."
"But, why the cloak?"
"Because you'll both need it to go back to your dorms. It's getting late. This way no one will see you."
"What's the surprise?"
"This portrait." Cedric turned to face the sorcerer within the portrait. He was middle aged; with pale skin, black eyes, and long brown hair. He was robed in blue and wore matching pointed hat. This is Octavius. Merlin's mentor."
"Merlin...?" Harry stuttered. "He's still here? As a ghost?"
"Oliver and I were shocked too. But, yes. This is the man who taught one of the strongest wizards to date." Cedric took a few steps towards him. "Lemoncalliouses."
"Hmm?" The man mumbled, slowly opening his eyes. "Oh, it's you." He smiled, opening the doorway.
Cedric grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him towards the hidden stairwell. Hermione followed, as the door behind them shut.
"This is the old astronomy tower. They relocated the classroom decades ago. No one uses this tower now," Cedric delineated, racing up the stairs.
"I can see why," Harry scoffed. "There's too many stairs!"
"I agree. It's a bother."
When they made it to the top, Harry saw the lavish room. It was still elegant; even though the walls were a tad dusty. There was a black velvet sofa on the left side of the room; adjacent to the large window; through which the moonbeams shined brightly, nearly lighting the whole area. Across from the sofa was a large painting of Octavius; only this didn't move.
"I think they intended to turn it into a spare office. Oliver and I discovered it my first year. Since then it's been our secret hideout. I wanted to show you last year, but there wasn't enough time."
"Its beautiful," Hermione remarked.
"Fantastic." Harry smiled, wrapping his arms around Cedric's neck. "I'm sorry I almost missed this. I just didn't want you to get hurt. After everything that's happened..."
"Harry, what happens to you affects me. I don't care if people call me crazy or looney. We know the truth." Cedric again lifted Harry's left hand and kissed the back of it. "We're in this together."
Harry smiled, connecting their lips. "I'm sorry."
"One more thing. Stop apologising. You've done nothing wrong," he reaffirmed, running his fingers through Harry's hair.
"I love you..." Harry spoke, resting his head against Cedric's chest.
"I love you too." Cedric held him close, as his gaze met Hermione. "I'll tell her in the morning. I think it will heal in a few days. I wish it was sooner." He sighed, as Harry broke away.
"It doesn't hurt now," he assured.
"It should never have happened," Cedric snapped.
"I agree. That woman is out of control!" Hermione quipped. "Someone has to deal with her."
"We will."
Harry didn't care to hear about their plans. He just wanted to hold Cedric in his arms, and forget the whole incident. By the time, they left the tower, it was after ten. He threw the cloak over himself and Hermione, while Cedric walked back to his dorm.
"So, you feel better now?" Hermione asked, smirking.
"A million times better!" Harry smiled.