Of Silver and Gold

by Lady Nuit

"I COMFORTED THAT MURDERIN' TRAITOR"As Amorette died, she promised her child to never be known as a Black, but as a Malfoy. Angel Malfoy, falling for the traitor named Harry Potter. But who truly is the traitor? Her father, or her for loving a Gryffindor.

48. Differences & Treaties

Author's Note: Oh wow, thank you for all the follows and reviews! I really appreciate it and I'm fond of all responses that I get for my work. I'm really feeling the muse of this story and I'm glad you like the stories.

~Of Silver & Gold~

Chapter 48: Differences and Treaties

Harry felt a bit better from how he felt the previous week. For one thing, after having a heart-to-heart with Angel he felt like they were in a better place. They caught one another up on what was going on and things went back to normal. Though if he were honest, the thought of Angel being a Chaser had been the biggest shocker. In the previous years, she had stated that she wasn't the best flyer, yet there she was now first string Chaser. She had proudly stated that she was the first girl in a while and she was so excited he couldn't help but be glad for her. There were a few things that did worry him: for one thing when his hands had pressed lightly on her sides, she had hissed. He had pulled back immediately wondering if he had done something wrong, only for her to explain what had happened. Once he had heard her talk about how tryouts had gone, and when she had shown him her bruises he couldn't help but hate Graham Montague for putting his girlfriend through all that. She had teased him telling him not to go easy on her if he played against her and he simply kissed her as his response.

She had been a great asset last week: for one thing she had gone over and checked Draco's homework and helped Harry catch up with his. This made him sure that she was definitely smarter than he once thought. Apparently Malfoy had shown off the Vanishing Spell to Angel and she had simply asked him questions only to later help Harry figure out the spell himself. That was one thing that had helped him considerably. He smiled at the thought of how understanding she was.

Walking to the owlery, Harry had decided to send a letter to Sirius to tell him about what was going on. He figured that while he didn't quite trust Dumbledore this year, he did trust his godfather. Hedwig looked excited to be going off to deliver the letter and right as he gave her instructions and she flew off, the door opened behind him. Turning quickly he saw Cho Chang holding a letter and parcel in her hands.

"Hi" Harry said automatically.

"Oh…hi" she said breathlessly, "I didn't think anyone would be up here this early…I only remembered five minutes ago it's my mum's birthday" and held up her parcel.

"I-it happens" he said his brain seemed garbled for some reason and jammed.

He didn't know exactly what was going on that was different with Cho Chang. After Cedric's death, she had taken it really hard; as she should have. She was always sweet to Harry but this year he seemed to notice something different. For one thing the older girl happened to be around more often than usual. For example, in the compartment during the train ride, then onwards during his walk down the grounds she was there too. She always gave him that dazzling smile that did something odd in his stomach. For some odd reason he wanted to say something funny or interesting but he couldn't.

"Nice day" he said suddenly gesturing to the windows. His insides shriveled with embarrassment. The weather…of all the topics he was mentioning the weather.

"Yeah" she trailed off. "How's quidditch? Did you find a new keeper yet?"

"Yeah" he said distracted, "It's my friend Ron Weasley"

"Oh!" she smiled and tilted her head. "Is he a good flyer? "

"I think so" he replied, "I didn't see his tryout though, I was in detention"

Cho looked at him curiously. The idea of him standing up to Umbridge was something that people had heard in the halls and she had found it very admirable.

"That Umbridge woman is foul" she said in a low voice,"Putting you in detention just because you told the truth about how-how he died. Everyone heard about it, it was all over school. You are so brave Harry," she breathed out her cheeks flushing slightly.

Harry's cheeks reddened and he felt for a brief second like he was floating off the ground at the thought of Cho saying those things to him. Cho had thought he was brave. For a moment he considered accidentally on purpose showing her his cut hand as he helped her tie the parcel to the owl. Yeah, he could do that; he could be a friend.

"Here let me help you" he said and put his hands over hers to help her tie the parcel properly.

"Oh! What happened to your hand?!"

He feigned his surprise and immediately hid it.

"Just detention. You know"

"Umbridge is so horrible! Let me see it!"

Taking his hand in hers she examined it and he felt something twist again. Cho seemed so unattainable; she was beautiful, smart, gracious and perfect. She was perfect and that had been the time he had grown to have a huge crush on her. But as she looked up at him with her black eyes, for a brief second he remembered Angel. And he felt like his hand was stinging. Pulling it back he muttered something about how it was nothing and he should go.

"I-I got to do some homework you know. OWLs and everything"

He rushed off leaving her behind holding the parcel. Her eyes sparkled and smiled as Harry left.

"Bye"

Harry Potter was so cute.

…

Harry found himself to be in a good mood despite the guilt eating at him. It didn't mean anything he told himself multiple times. Nothing happened and that was important to note. Today he was able to practice with his team and that's what made him happy, at least that's what he told himself. As they all chatted and walked towards the Quidditch pitch something caught his attention: a small figure zipping through the sky in a green and silver uniform. That's when he saw her.

Her hair was up in a high ponytail letting her neck show. Her wavy hair looked amazing as she soared through the sky. She was being thrown Bludgers but she dodged them and swiftly turned on her broom if necessary to avoid getting hit. He had never really caught much of the Slytherin team practicing but if that's how they were toughening up (by throwing bludgers aiming specifically at them) it was definitely odd. Her laughed rang through the field as she managed to make a goal and she began to swoop down to reach her team. It would be hard playing against her. Not just because she was good, but also because she was his girlfriend. Something inside twisted again.

"What is Weasley riding?" Draco called out catching his attention, "why would anyone put a flying charm on a moldy old log like that?"

Harry felt bad for Ron, especially as the team began to laugh along with Pansy and other teammates girlfriends hanging out on the stands. Only Angel didn't laugh instead looked surprise to find the Gryffindor team there. Her only reaction was to grip her broom tighter and lean against it.

She hadn't expected their practice to rush by as quickly as it had gone. She had managed to not get too many bruises and she had noticed that Graham, while a jerk, did teach her great ways to avoid getting hit. She took it all in stride, even the bruises. As she was perfecting their throws she had to admit that she was coming into her own. Draco didn't baby her or worry about her so openly as he had when she was younger.

She was treated as a team member, as one of the boys. And while she did enjoy that it did come with a lot of hard swats from them. They were all slowly warming up to her and she was grateful for that. When she had written her parents about the news they had been excited and immediately sent her a few gifts: a brand new broom and dragon-hide gloves, boots and belt. She had been ecstatic and immediately worn them for practice to get used to it. In the entire flurry of everything she had failed to notice that it was the Gryffindor's team to take the field. Of course Draco had to say something, she almost wanted to tell him to shut up.

Thankfully the Gryffindors ignored them and went into their practicing forcing their team to take their break on the stands. Leaning against a few benches she sighed as she closed her eyes allowing the sun to warm up her body. While she did this, she noticed that the other team had set up their warm up and she took the team. Ron looked embarrassed at the jokes thrown his way, and something in her felt bad for him…a tiny small speckle felt bad. It wasn't his fault he was born poor, or with hideous red hair, or with an awful sister. She looked over as her friends began to pick on the team in front of her. From Angelina's hair, to Ron's blunders, a comment was made. She winced as he dropped it again and sunk into her seat as her teammates began to roar with laughter.

"Your team is really mean Angel" whispered Luna.

Turning over to her friend she frowned and didn't bother to respond. If she were a kinder person she would have told them to stop picking on the Weasley and the team in general. Except she wasn't. So she sat there not saying a word yet not defending any team member. Luna hummed in disappointment and she pretended not to hear her.

"I'm glad you're here supporting me Luna" she murmured hoping to change the conversation.

"I'm always there for you you know, especially to remind you to be on your best behavior" Luna chided still not being swayed in changing the topic.

Angel fluttered her lashes at her and smiled knowing that no matter how good Luna thought of her to be, she was far from it. Being swatted, it was only until she hissed about a bruise that Luna calmed down. Well a bit, only to then demand to heal the bruises before they got worse; it seemed that when she had confessed to Luna of the last round of bruises, the blonde had spent extra time in Herbology to gather ingredients for a salve.

"Lift!" she demanded.

Standing up Angel lifted her shirt to show Luna her abdomen and winced as the cold salves hit her side before the wrapping began. It was in the midst of these actions that the commotion started.

"Hey Potter how's your scar feeling?" Draco yelled, "Sure you need to lie down? It must be a whole week since you haven't been in the hospital wing? It's a record for you isn't it?"

That comment made her feel awful. The way that they just threw these things at Harry made her feel like a coward. But as Ron crashed into Katie Bell and made her bleed from her nose she covered her face in surprise and Luna cried out. Even her team grew quiet…for a second before they laughed even harder.

The other Weasley's had given her something that hadn't helped but rather made it worse. She looked at her first aid kit for the team and wondered if she could do something. She couldn't stand seeing Ron fail miserably; it was painful not because it was him , but the disaster of it all. She felt second hand embarrassment over the blunders.

Slowly the comments were becoming more and more snarky and it had affected the way that the Gryffindor team practiced.

"Draco…they're already terrible as it is, can we just leave it at that?"

Draco looked at her incredulously before shaking his head. Ignoring her comment she wasn't even getting an answer as they continued to holler.

"We should go" She murmured at Luna.

The blonde nodded and began to gather her things as well. It was only when they almost left that she found herself pausing.

"What's wrong?" Luna asked.

"Can you go drop this off to the Gryffindor team?" she asked handing her the first aid kit. "And your salve...it's clear they need this more than I do"

It was then that Luna gave her the brightest smile she could; it was apparent that her words had affected Angel and made her become a kinder person. She huffed as Luna hugged her before running back to hand them the first aid kit. She pretended not to notice the looks of surprise and walked off pretending not to notice what her friend was doing. Still, once the Ravenclaw returned, she intertwined their hands and grinned.

"I'm going to soften you up Malfoy, just you watch"

….

A week had gone by since the incident and something had definitely changed in Hogwarts. For one thing it seemed the Ministry was in the school more often especially with their policies. Before, the government and the school for some reason seemed to feel like two separate entities. And as Angel noticed, the intrusion of government workers was scorned by many of the teachers. Her biggest question in all of this was where was Dumbledore? It seemed more and more like Professor Umbridge was controlling the school and there was no use in hiding it. This morning it had been announced that there would be checking the professors and overseeing their work to see if they were the cause of Hogwarts falling behind. The Inquisitors it said would have the powers to inspect the educators in making sure they are up to par.

Angel didn't like this. The woman and she had an immediately dislike for one another. Every time they passed through the halls Angel swore the woman sneered at her as if she was a cat. Yet once again, she found herself in the classroom of her most hated professor. This time around she noticed there were assigned seats. She was forced to sit in the front of the classroom with no one she liked around her. Luna was in the back; Astoria was from the right and she was put around Ginny Weasley. This was the biggest insult: the redhead looked disgusted as well but said nothing.

"Good Morning Class!" she chirped.

"Good Morning Professor Umbridge" a chorus was heard in a response, no soul it seemed.

"Oh I do love it when you listen. Now if you did your homework and took notes on chapter two we can move on to chapter three. As usual put your wands away and open your books. Chapter three begins on page seventy-four. You know the drill!"

An audible sigh was heard and she looked so smug with that smile that Angel wanted to crush it. She did nothing to hide her disgust for the woman. Students began to read, Angel noticed that even Ginny Weasley opened the book and did as asked. Angel didn't: in fact this was the moment that she would test a theory.

Instead of raising her hand, she merely crossed her arms and stared at Umbridge. At first the woman ignored her as she scanned the room. Umbridge purposely avoided eye contact when she got around to her. But the problem was the woman did not realize that putting Angel in the middle meant that there would be eye contact and this was her downfall. Every time they made eye contact Angel refused to blink. She defiantly looked Umbridge in the eye daring her to do something but Umbridge ignored her. 'Fine' she thought, 'let's try something else'.

Silence went through the classroom for a good twenty minutes when suddenly a loud fall startled everyone even Professor Umbridge. Angel pretended to look surprised, as her book had fallen off her desk creating the loud noise. Umbridge slowly turned red at the way that Angel smiled widely at the woman.

"Oops, it fell" she said innocently, not bothering to hide her rebellion.

"Well pick it up" Umbridge ordered.

"I'm afraid I can't Professor," she answered.

"Why not Miss Malfoy?" Her voice was already warning her.

"Well…I find it to be more useful on the ground. Isn't that where dirt belongs?" Angel grinned as she heard sniggers throughout the classroom.

"Miss Malfoy, pick up your book"

"No"

"I am not asking you again"

Angel lifted her head and fixed her gaze immediately on the professor. She ignored Ginny's looked of shock at her openly defying the Professor.

"No one is asking you to repeat yourself" Angel sneered.

"Miss Malfoy stop this foolishness now before there are repercussions!"

"Make me"

That's when Umbridge got up and rushed over to Angel's desk. For a second Angel thought that the woman would strike her. The way her face turned to a bright red and the fury was obvious. Despite the fear she did have for the woman she refused to back down. As Umbridge picked up the book from the floor, she looked down at the woman, smirking. She saw her open the book and basically shove it on her.

"Read" she hissed.

"I already did" she replied calmly.

"Read the next chapter Miss Malfoy"

"Done"

"Then keep going until-"

"I finished that book, that's why I'm telling you it's dirt. I read it, took it into consideration for a second, then realized it's a waste of my time and theirs"

"You will listen to me Angeline Malfoy!" Umbridge screamed, her voice echoing through the room.

People flinched and no one said a word. Angel ignored the way her ears rang at the red-faced woman's voice. Never in her life would she be so defiant, but this was just ridiculous. This vile woman brought a deep hate in Angel that she couldn't pinpoint. She slowly got up and leaned forward showing that she wasn't scared of the woman: they were practically the same height.

"Professor Umbridge you have better luck having Harry Potter listening to you than you do me. Understood?"

Grabbing her things she walked away from her desk with her head held high. Her knees shook slightly as she walked but she didn't dare show her fear.

"Detention!" Umbridge yelled back, "Detention! And that goes for any one of you that dares do this!"

That was the last thing Angel heard before the doors slammed behind her.

…..

"Now why did you think it was a good idea to go against Dolores Umbridge?" Severus asked.

When she had run out of the classroom she had no choice but to figure out where to go. Her first thought had been her godfather and thankfully she knew that he had finished a class already, thus free in the morning. So she had gone to hide out in his office. Somehow it seemed like the best option, but now as he looked at her, she realized it probably wasn't. He wasn't proud of her for a second and in fact made her feel guilty.

"You're on her side Uncle Sev? Seriously?"

"Don't be stupid, I would never be on her side," he sneered disgusted by the thought.

Angel snorted and even Severus found himself amused at the thought. No one in the castle, it seemed liked Dolores Umbridge, and it pleased Angel to know this. If someone like her uncle liked her…well there was something definitely wrong with the world.

"The woman is vile and she needs to leave. But don't give me that look! You know better than to show your anger. Disobedience is never tolerated, imagine the points you could have lost for Slytherin"

"You could have just given them back you know" she replied immediately. "Plus I've got detention with that woman."

"That's the last thing she told you?"

"More like yelled" Angel laughed, "I know I shouldn't have but that woman makes a mockery out of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Uncle Sev, I want to learn" she pleaded, "This book won't teach me how to defend myself, how to help others if it ever comes to it. It wastes my time and makes me realize that this is not what I came to Hogwarts for. If I wanted to learn from a book I would have done that at home."

"Is it worth detention?" he asked.

Angel laughed softly somewhat bitterly and nodded. "It's worth never achieving prefect"

"Well then…you will finish detention with Umbridge tonight, that I cannot protect you from, as for DADA…we'll figure something out"

"Thank you!" she clapped her hands in glee.

….

"How could you do that? Do you know how bad that looks? We don't break rules! We don't make scenes. What's wrong with you?"

She huffed as Draco rambled on about how she was breaking rules and doing things that she shouldn't. She was insulted at how childish he was treating her. But when he had said 'If you're acting like a child I will treat you as such' that forced her to stop answering before she slapped him in anger.

"Dolores Umbridge is not as bad as you think. She's trying to make us better."

"Draco Malfoy if you are stupid enough to believe that then there's something wrong with you" she said angrily, "Dolores Umbridge is a heinous woman who is doing nothing to us but wasting our time. Just because you're going to get a Troll for DADA in your OWLs doesn't mean I will. Now excuse me I have detention with that horrible woman. Go do your prefect job of something"

Before he could even yell at her she was off opening the door to Professor Umbridge's office and shutting it behind her. Merlin this office was disgusting. The walls were a bright pink; behind her desk a bunch of cat plates decorated the room. She had sure made herself at home in this office. No matter how much the woman wanted to make it seem homey, the disingenuousness was obvious. There was no love in this office.

"How good of you to join me Miss Malfoy, do have a seat"

Angel immediately turned to find the woman looking pleased at having her here. She remembered what her uncle had told her and did as told. She figured that whatever the woman had in mind it would involve pain.

"Now here you go" she said putting a quill down on her right and a parchment in the middle of the desk.

"Tonight you will do lines. They will say 'I will be a good girl' Understood?"

Angel shifted the quill and supposed inkpot to her left, the hand she wrote with and looked up at the woman.

"Till when?"

"Until you learn your lesson. We might get company soon"

Picking up the quill. She wondered briefly if she too would be given the quill that Harry did. That made her hesitate for a second. Placing the quill on the paper she pressed against it and sighed in relief realizing it was a regular quill. She began to write over and over again:

I will be a good girl

I will be a good girl

I will be a good girl

"How are you doing Miss Malfoy?" she asked.

"Fine"

A knock on the door made them both startle, and then she saw Harry walking in. He hadn't even bothered to notice who was there. That is until he lifted his head. He looked genuinely surprise to find Angel there writing. For a brief moment he saw her writing and feared that she was too having something cut in her hand.

"Sit Potter" Umbridge ordered. "Sit here in front of Miss Malfoy and start your drill"

He didn't bother to say anything, instead he made eye contact with Angel who looked miserable and they both lowered their head. His quill hit the parchment as usual but something was off. For one thing as he pressed against the scroll there was no stinging sensation. Slowly he began to write unsure about it. It was when he was on the third line that he heard a cry of pain. Angel. He immediately dropped the quill and noticed she had dropped hers as she covered her hand in pain. There on her right hand it said 'I must not tell lies' before disappearing.

"Oh dear is something wrong?" Umbridge asked acting surprised. "Oh I seemed to have given you the wrong quill. Oh wait…no I haven't I don't see any scribbling"

"Professor I-"

"Mr. Potter you will be quiet. Write your lines!"

He didn't want to hurt her. He looked at Angel who looked scared at the prospect of having to feel that stinging sensation again. But as she made eye contact she gave him a half smile and signaled him to write. They could do this. He lightly wrote on the scroll scared of doing any unnecessary writing. Every time he wrote he saw her wince, her eyes watering in pain.

"That's enough" Umbridge said. "Harry Potter do you think you learned your lesson?"

He didn't even look at her, instead stared at his girlfriend's hand bled. He nodded softly not looking away for a second.

"You may leave. Miss Malfoy, take his quill please and continue with your lines"

"No" Harry said softly, "it's my fault, I can keep doing lines. S-she doesn't"

"Leave Mr. Potter, you'll only make it worse"

"B-but"

"Potter get out of here" Angel winced feeling the stinging. "This isn't your doing, it's mine"

Umbridge ushered him out. The last thing he saw was Angel picking up the quill and beginning to write.

….

I will be a good girl.

I must not tell lies.

Her hands were bleeding. On her left hand was her own phrase given to tell lines. The cut was not deep but it stung. On the other it was only the indentation of Harry's that remained. She was released at ten o'clock and she wasn't told to come back. She knew that there was only so much that the woman could do to her. She briefly considered running to her father and telling him about what the woman was asking her to do. But then immediately shut it down. She wasn't that kind of a person. She didn't want to go and seem weak: she was already seen as one. From OWLs to prefect responsibilities their free time overlapped into those two categories. Her only consolation was that Luna was there and willing to talk.

Muttering the password under her breath the door opened and she found herself looking at a few Slytherin hanging out in the common room. From the looks of their faces it was clear that they knew what she did. Glaring she didn't even think about saying a word, instead rushing up the stairs to her dorm and decided to stay in her room. Changing into her pajamas she rushed into the restroom and looked at her hands.

Thankfully Harry's lines had disappeared from her hand, but her own writing had yet to disappear. The blood had dried and at the moment it had the red indentations on her left hand. Washing her hands she sighed in relief as the child helped the stinging lessen. As much as she hated to admit it, she had learned her lesson. She would have to be more careful about what she did from now on when it came to Umbridge. Very careful.

…..

"So you're telling me that Malfoy was in the detention room with Umbridge?" Ron asked incredulously.

"That's what I said. Apparently she did something in DADA and she was put in detention"

"What did she do?" Hermione asked

"I don't know"

"Ginny!" Ron poked his sister, "What did Malfoy do in DADA that got her detention?"

Ginny's eyes brightened at the mention of sharing gossip. Turning from her boyfriend she immediately began to share the anecdote.

"Well, in DADA we were asked to read another chapter and she refused to do so. I know this because they sat up beside one another. Anyway, then she dropped her book and then actually stood up to Umbridge…it was amazing how fearless she was. Stupid…but admirable. She then walked away from Umbridge and the whole class. That's how she got detention. Why?"

"Nothing, turn back to your old conversation" Ron said dismissing her.

Ginny glared but said nothing and did as asked.

"That explains a lot, I cannot believe she was so disrespectful" Hermione said shaking her head.

"It's Umbridge!" Harry replied back. He was proud of his girlfriend for standing up to Umbridge but the idea of her getting hurt over it was not that appealing.

"So, you must have more tact. That way you become a target. And even a person like her should know better."

"Well she got the Black Quill too" Harry whispered his voice grew softer; "When I wrote it-it cut into her hand" he remembered it vividly.

Both his friends grew quiet and slowly turned to look at the girl who seemed to be fine. Her eyes looked tired but overall all right. Her hands weren't visible, but they wondered how had it had felt.

"How does it feel Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Like being stabbed by needles on your hand. It makes you bleed and then heals then goes back again to stinging. I-I felt terrible" he whispered, "she didn't deserve that."

Hermione nodded and Ron looked put out because he knew it was true. No one deserved that pain.

"Hem Hem"

Everyone slowly began to look towards the staff as they were asked. "Good morning students. I am glad that many of you are enjoying breakfast" Professor Umbridge began, "before you continue with your …festivities" she said with some disdain, " I simply want to inform you of some changes happening within the castle. For one thing all clubs and groups are disbanded"

A collection of groans was heard throughout the great hall. No clubs? No get-togethers without permission? What about-

"What about quidditch?!" Draco yelled towards the stage.

More began to yell similar questions about what was considered a club and what wasn't. The noise level began to rise as many showed their frustrations over the change. Now they needed permission to be even in a large group? This was getting ridiculous.

"Quiet" her voice rang throughout the room, when the noise died out she smiled politely and began to speak in a quieter voice, "You need to seek permission to reestablish a team. When you have your petition I-I mean we, will look it over and see if it fits the criteria."

"When is it starting?" Angel yelled aloud, "When will it be implemented?"

"Starting this morning of course. No get-togethers with approval. I need a twenty-four to forty-eight hour notice before it has to happen. Continue with your meals!"

This was the biggest bullshit of them all. Angel couldn't believe that their basic freedom of hanging out with people in a large group was seen as a danger in the eyes of Professor Umbridge.

"And you still defend her?" she asked Draco angrily.

"Look, we'll simply ask for permission and it'll be the end of that? She's only doing it to stop the others from doing something. The only thing you need to do is not get detention got it?" Draco warned her, "I don't want you getting into trouble and ruining our chances of getting approval for our team."

She didn't even dare answer him and instead grabbed her things. She could not believe that Draco was stupid enough to follow Umbridge's rules. He didn't question it; in fact he figured he could get away with most of the things. Honestly her brother infuriated her sometimes. Walking out of the Great hall she knew that she was being followed. She didn't dare look back and instead kept walking towards the towers.

"Wait!" Harry's voiced hissed.

Turning immediately she closed her eyes as he crashed into her. She hissed as she got toppled over and her things fell beside her. Maybe she shouldn't have turned so quickly. He muttered his apologies and helped her up along with her things. She was furious, but not at Harry and she forced herself not to say something rude.

"Sorry about that, I didn't know that you were stopping" he said sheepishly.

Angel smiled and waved off his apology. It was her fault; she was too in her head to even realize he was there.

"What's wrong?" she asked curious as to why he followed her.

"Well I wanted to catch up to you and…and apologize" he said frowning.

"Apologize?"

"Last night, detention with the whole quill and"

"Shh!" she shushed him surprised. "It doesn't matter, it's okay. I'm not getting detention again. I shouldn't have been stupid, but she just makes me so mad" her cheeks slowly began to turn red in anger. "She thinks she can control us and just, it's not fair! I hate that woman, and Draco, I cannot believe he still sides with her."

Her fury was rising and Harry wasn't quite sure what to say to that. He knew that Malfoy was a prat, but the thought of telling Angel that perhaps wasn't the best idea. Instead he simply wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. She leaned against him tiredly and sighed. This was all too much.

"Let me see your hands" he simply asked pulling back to pull them up to his face. She tugged softly but did as he asked. On her right was just a red splotch, that's where his should be and on her left. "I will be a good girl?" he said it aloud. She tucked her hand away her cheeks hot with embarrassment. The thought of someone seeing it made her regret ever speaking her mind and fighting with Umbridge.

"She made me write it. But it's okay, I don't have to go tonight" she said softly. "Do you have to go back?"

"No…I got plans tonight actually"

"Plans?" she repeated incredulously, "with the wease- with your friends?" she corrected herself.

"You can say that. I-I actually want to hear your opinions on Umbridge. Would you do something even if it meant getting in trouble?"

"What kind of trouble?" she asked immediately.

"I'm not quite sure on that. But, I mean it could be trouble with your brother. I am thinking of actually learning spells" he lowered his voice, "would you do it? To learn how to defend yourself?"

"What are you talking about Harry? What are you planning?" her voice also low.

"Nothing yet…but Ron and Hermione are involved. I know you don't get along with them but…"

"If they let me, I'll consider it" she said honestly.

"But it's against the rules, know that. And it'll be a secret, you can't tell your friends"

"You're already against the rules" she laughed softly. He smiled in returned and kissed her briefly.

"I got to ask first. But I'll tell you what happens"

"Okay" she smiled softly as he ran back to the Great Hall.

He was really risking it; she could tell by the secrecy in his planning. Still, she wouldn't push him. She decided that perhaps the best option was to go to her room.

…

"Are you crazy?!" Ron screeched.

"We made a list and we are sticking to the list" Hermione protested showing him the list clearly.

"What if she becomes a spy anyway!" Ron brought it up.

The three had been in this argument for over thirty minutes back and forth. The moment he had brought up having Angel in their DADA lessons he had immediately gotten a no. They didn't even bother to hear his reasoning. The name Malfoy was enough for them to veto his plan.

"But she doesn't like Umbridge! She fought her, got detention. She has markings from detention!"

"It could all be a plan for her brother to get information" Ron said hysterically, "you never know with them, they're sneaky"

"Ron is right" Hermione said, "it's already a risk to do this, what if she breaks her vow?"

"We ask her to sign like everyone else!" Harry replied back.

"It's a stupid idea Harry, too risky. But…she did do that whole thing…Ginny said it looked real" Hermione said after a while.

"No! Veto! No!" Ron said immediately a whining tone in his voice. "You've both gone bonkers! Since when is she nice?"

"She helped me save Sirius" Harry said softly, "she helped save Buckbeak and used the timer without telling anyone about you owning it."

He knew he had them there, as they both grew quiet. He smiled satisfied. That is until Hermione spoke once more.

"I want to talk to her"

"Me too. Malfoys are sneaky, we can decide and if she like her answers we will allow her in the DADA group." Ron sounded so sure, that is until his expression changed and looked a bit scared. "I…who is going to approach her?"

"I'll do it" Harry said. "I'll grab her attention through Luna"

His friends seemed satisfied with his response.

…

Her face was covered with dirt and her body hurt. Training in the rain was the absolute worse and she was not having a good day. Graham had purposely thrown her off the broom twice. Once by 'accident' the other was to haze her into the group. It didn't bother her anymore so long as she got to play. She didn't even bother to think how Draco got the approval of their practice in less than twenty-four hours, especially when she wasn't taking applications until next week. Shaking her head she walked through the halls and began to walk towards the dungeons. On her left she held her boom and on her right her practice bag. She had changed into looser clothing and at the moment wanted nothing but a warm shower.

"Oh good, I caught you" Luna said rushing to be by her side so they could walk together.

"I'm too tired right now Luna" she mumbled her eyes burning. She needed a nap and a massage.

"It's highly important"

Before Angel could protest, the blonde took her bag, hooked her arm with hers and steered her to another direction away from the dungeons. Before Angel could protest she was face to face with Harry. She was definitely surprised and nearly smiled, that is until she saw who he was with. Her guard automatically went up.

"What's going on here?" she asked, she gripped her broom tighter.

"W-what are you opinions on Umbridge?" Hermione asked.

Harry said nothing instead pleaded with his gaze to be nice. She looked at him for a brief moment before putting her attention to Granger.

"Who is asking? Or better yet, why are you asking?"

"Answer the question!" Ron said forcefully, a hint of fear in his tone.

Angel raised her brow and merely looked between the two. Luna pinched her side and Angel winced. She murmured something about a bruise before finally answering.

"The walls have ears you know" she began. That got all of them paranoid, "but there are none listening now. So I'll tell you" her eyes hardened and her voice lowered "I don't like her. She has made Hogwarts a disgrace through her teaching methods and through her rules enacted. Why?"

Hermione and Ron both looked at one another and looked as if they were having a silent conversation between the two. Apparently it was Ron's turn to ask a question.

"Would you be willing to go against your brother?"

"What kind of question is that?" she asked her own question.

"W-well I don't need to say much just-"

"Hush" Angel said freezing her movements. "Hide behind the podium now!"

All of them began to rush and do as told. Angel wondered if she too should hide, but it was too late. So she did what first came to mind. She lifted her shirt and began to inspect the bruises on her abdomen.

"Those look rough" Blaise said coming from the hallway.

Before she could even say anything he did what all her friends (and boyfriend) did: they grazed their hands on her bruises. At this Angel made a noise of agreement only to turn into a hiss as he poked.

"Are your parents furious of these bruises?" he caressed the one on her hip softly.

"What they don't know won't hurt them," she grinned "Not stop touching me"

He laughed as she swatted his hands away from her body. While they were friends there was a weird tension she couldn't solve.

"This will be you if you join next year" Angel replied grinning.

"Merlin no, too busy...What are you doing here? I thought you were going to the dorms after practice."

"Oh well you know I was…but I'm meeting up with Luna. She's giving me her notes for divination. You know how little attention I pay there"

Blaise laughed and nodded.

"Why are you coming from the Ravenclaw tower? Out with Lisa again?" she teased.

"Maybe? Need help with that?"

They began to chat for a bit before parting ways. She put her hand up telling them to wait. Looking both ways they saw her observing the area and taking it in. Once satisfied she nodded and they came out of their hiding spots.

"W-well?" Ron asked after a while.

"What would this cause that would go against my family?"

"It's hypothetical!" Ron hissed exasperated.

"Your brother supports Umbridge. What if we went against her and learned how to actually fight? And how to defend yourself against Voldemort" Harry said while Ron began to sputter and Hermione shushed him.

"Oh" she tried not to flinch at the mention of Voldemort. She briefly considered her options. If she did this, she would have a chance of actually learning spells that she wouldn't be able to learn this school year. And as for Draco they seemed to be having more and more disagreements on the daily. And with what Harry had said and shown with Cedric's death, no one was safe. "Yes"

Ron and Hermione looked surprised at her response. Despite their differences it was clear that they had the same goal: to defend themselves and actually learn how to fight back. The girl looked uncomfortable being interrogated but said nothing. Instead waited for them to talk.

"W-we're creating this group" Hermione began, "to learn spells to protect ourselves and get ready for the OWLs. Only a few members are in, and before I can tell you more I need you to sign this" She handed Angel the scroll, "If you sign it you agree to listen to us and follow our lead during these times. Is that clear?"

"I see" Angel said. Her eyes trailed through the names lazily.

"And you can't call Hermione a mud-well you know" Ron interrupted.

Angel wrinkled her nose.

"I rarely do" she replied sincerely, "If Granger even wishes I will call her Hermione." Taking the quill offered she signed her name clearly on the line. "I don't care how courteous I have to be, I just want to learn"

That got Hermione to know that the girl and her had something in common. Rolling the scroll she tucked it back and stared right at the girl. Both were very different in backgrounds and how they attempted to reach goals: their commonality came when it came to becoming better. Hermione stuck out her hand waiting for Angel to grab it and everyone went very quiet. Not bothering to lose eye contact with Hermione, Angel grabbed her hand in hers and they shook on it.

"When does this start?"