For those of you in our facebook group - Bubbleybear & Pienuniek's Story Nook - this news will come as no surprise. But I recently lost a very dear friend to cancer who was also an unofficial Pre-Reader for the Under Her Spell Series. Leonie Price, I miss you, so very much but I hope that you are free from pain, wherever you are.

In her honour, I am dedicating this entire book to her. Her enthusiasm helped me continue to write on many days where I felt ... lost. In fact, one of the last emails she sent me was that she wished that these books had been on the big screen; that they were better than the originals. I know it will never happen, but the thought was enough to encourage me. Please keep her in your thoughts as we continue with this story. Cheers.

I'm so glad that I can finally give you the next in the series. Just know I've already read Book Six and have taken my notes. Now ... I can say that I've started to write!

Thanks must go out to my team. My pre-reader Pienuniek and my Beta Alice's White Rabbit. I would be lost without the pair of you, truly.

I don't own Twilight, or Harry Potter, I'd be a richer person if I did. But I do so love to create my own places for them out in the world. No copyright infringement is intended.

See you at the bottom ...

Chapter Twenty-Three ~ Disconcerting Umbridge

"Hey, Edward?"

"Yeah, Harry?" I replied looking up from my seventh year Arithmancy book. Thanks to Bella needing only a small amount of sleep—even though I had worn her out quite thoroughly the night before—we'd been up and ready for classes for some time. Everyone else in Gryffindor Tower were only just starting to wake and begin to get ready for a new day of classes.

"Um …" Harry's hesitation, both in thought and vocalization, caused me to look up at him. He took a deep breath before spilling out his question all in one go. "… didyounoticeanythingstrangeinmydreamslastnight?"

I shook my head, trying to work through what he just said. "Want to say that a little slower?"

"Sorry." I waved away Harry's apology but waited until he was ready to ask again. "Um … did you notice anything strange in my dreams last night?"

I started to nod my head slowly. "I did, but can you tell me what you remember?"

"I don't remember what I was dreaming. Like at all. But I remember an emotion hit me so hard that it changed whatever it was I was dreaming about to something happy. Something that made me ecstatic. I haven't felt anything like that in a while …" Harry's gaze, which had fallen to his hands because he was remembering what he had dreamt that made him that happy, snapped back to me. "It was Voldemort, wasn't it? Something he did overnight seeped into my dreams."

I stood from my seat as Bella had just stepped off the stairway leading to the dorms and bathrooms. "I'd say that's entirely possible, Harry. It seems the only time Voldemort can influence you is while you're asleep." I could see Harry was upset that it was still happening. "You've done really well to get to this point. I'm not sure you'll ever be able to block him completely. The part that's in you is also a part of you. Does that make sense?"

Harry nodded as he kept in step with Bella and me. "You think that while it's a part of Voldemort's soul it's still a part of my brain, and while I can block it for the most part until I'm rid of it, I won't be able to block it completely."

"Exactly," I said as I stepped over the knee knocker, only to turn and help Bella over. "At least, until we can figure out how to remove it from you."

"I don't think that's going to be easy," Harry murmured before looking up at me pointedly. "It's crossed my mind that I may have to die for that to become a reality."

Bella reached out and placed a comforting hand on Harry's arm. "Not if we can help it. We're going to do everything we can to avoid that outcome."

Harry nodded, taking the last step off the staircase. "I know. But just promise me that you'll help Hermione move on should it happen."

Bella and I sucked in twin, sharp breaths. The fact that he asked that question meant he had considered this outcome more than once and more in-depth than I had previously noted. But what could we say? The reality of war was it was quite possible that not all our friends would make it out alive. No matter who it was, they were all quite fragile. Bella and I looked at each other before nodding to Harry.

It seemed this had weighed on him because his shoulders slumped just a little, and he breathed out a "thank you".

Bella and I followed Harry silently into the Great Hall. He sat down next to Hermione, giving her a loving kiss on the top of her head as he did so. Bella, who had watched just as quietly, looked up at me. We have to save him, Edward. He doesn't deserve this.

"Nobody does."

Very true. She curled into my side when I wrapped my arm around her. Voldemort may have influenced Harry's dreams last night, but why? What do you think happened?

I shrugged because I had no idea.

I wonder …

"What?"

Alice's vision from when we got home last summer. Do you think?

I froze as I reached for the bacon. It hadn't occurred to me that vision might be coming true sooner rather than later. I hoped with everything in me that Bella was wrong because that meant life was about to get more dangerous.

"We're gonna have to wait for the paper, but I really hope not."

"Me too, Edward."

Bella reached for some toast. It seemed she had lost her appetite. I couldn't say I blamed her. For most of breakfast, Bella and I ate quietly, just holding each other but answering if someone spoke to us. We were dreading when Athan would fly through the windows but anticipating it all the same.

"What's going on with you two?" Hermione asked over Harry's head. "You guys are quieter than normal."

"Just tired," Bella answered. "Edward and I were up late last night studying."

"Uh huh. I'm sure." Hermione eyed us speculatively. She wasn't sure she believed us. Not that I could blame her. Bella's lie while true—because we were studying each other—wasn't making us this quiet. And Hermione seemed to know us better than we knew ourselves some days. She was about to ask us again, but Bella's and my eyes shot to the ceiling when the first hoot of owls was heard. Bella and I looked at each other before reaching out for the papers that Athan and Saffy were delivering.

As was our usual routine, Bella looked to the fifth page of The Daily Prophet to find the word clue to unlock The Truth, as she pulled the flyer—which was thicker than normal today—from between the pages farther back.

"Frakenfish," she whispered, placing The Truth down over the front of the Prophet as I laid it out flat. "Shit," we both said together.

Because there, glaring out from both pages, was Alice's vision from summer the year before. The Daily Prophet with its headline:

Breakout from Azkaban Prison

Rabastan Lestrange to Blame.

With a picture of one or two death eaters screaming from their cells while The Truth's headline read:

Mass Breakout from Azkaban Prison.

Nine Convicted Death Eaters Loose in the Community.

Underneath the headline of The Truth were nine different pictures of the convicted death eaters. And not just any nine but some of the worst death eaters Voldemort ever had by his side. Some of those were Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband Rodolphus, who were involved in the torture and incapacitation of Neville's parents. Augustus Rookwood, who was convicted of sharing Ministry secrets to Voldemort and his followers. And Antonin Dolohov, who was convicted of seriously twisted and brutal murders of Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Each of them was filthy. Covered in grime and dirt, and their hair was stringy and greasy. But the worst part … was the coldness, the darkness, I could see in their eyes. These people were dangerous.

At our declarations of profanity, our friends pulled their copies of the paper closer, only to reveal The Truth instead. There were exclamations all over the hall from people seeing the paper, but our group of Gryffindors became extremely quiet.

This is why Voldemort's feelings invaded my dreams last night, Harry thought when he read the headline. He broke them out, and he was happy about it. Harry looked at me, and I could only nod because I had a feeling he was right.

Others in our group were realizing that this was Alice's vision come true. They had all been told about it and knew it was coming. It was with that thought that I turned to look at the teacher's table. I wanted to see not only Dumbledore's but Snape's reaction to the news. I could see that Dumbledore was distressed. He'd been hoping, vainly, that this wasn't going to come to fruition. But Snape. I could only imagine his thoughts as being a little smug. His countenance seemed to be happier as he looked at the paper in front of him. You couldn't see it in his face as he still had that scowl, but you could see the way he was sitting was different.

And I wasn't the only one to notice.

Jasper had come in early this morning to get his classroom ready—why Umbridge hadn't picked on him yet, I wasn't sure—and came for breakfast. He had the paper in front of him but was also sampling the emotions at the teachers' table. He looked at me. I'm positive, now, that Dumbledore is placing his faith in the wrong man. His emotions are almost giddy at this news, Edward.

"That's what I'm afraid of," I said at vampire pitch with a sigh. "We need to talk to Opi about keeping Dumbledore unaware of some of our plans, lest it gets back to Snape and, ultimately, Voldemort."

"Oh …" Bella groaned from beside me. "This is not good. Not good at all."

I spun back around. "What's not good? Beside all of this?" I motioned to the papers.

"Listen to this. 'It seems that the nine death eaters breaking out of Azkaban isn't the only news we have to worry about.'" Bella read aloud. "'According to a source inside the prison itself, it wasn't just a spell that tore out half the top floor of one side, letting out the prisoners. But the dementors, too. Inside the prison, they were opening locks, swinging open doors, and letting out the worst of the worst. The insider also said that once they were done letting out the prisoners, the dementors flew from the prison, escaping just as fast. Did they escape the conditions they were known to love or the oppression from the Ministry? Or have they left for places unknown to aide Voldemort on his quest once more? All I know is that this reporter will be practicing his Patronus charm. The last thing I want is to be defenseless against these monsters.' It seems these creatures have flown the coop, too."

"And no doubt right back to Voldemort." I groaned. "The minister is a fool. There's not one word of this in The Prophet's article."

Harry snorted. "Nor will there be. 'We are doing our best to recapture the escaped death eaters. We want the community to remain vigilant but not approach these prisoners should they see them.'" Harry shook his head. "It's like summer all over again. Fudge is going to want to keep this as quiet as possible."

"Thank Merlin for The Truth," the twins said from opposite us. Fred continued with, "At least, the students of Hogwarts will be well informed. Look around."

We all looked around at the students sitting at the other tables of Hogwarts. They were all whispering and sharing copies of The Truth while The Prophet sat on tables, discarded. But it wasn't only the students who were looking at The Truth. It seemed Umbridge had confiscated a copy from one of the Slytherins. I could see from her thoughts that she was furious at what The Truth was saying.

"Edward," Bella said as she tugged on my sleeve. "Look at this." She slid The Truth over to me and tapped on a story that was on the reverse side. "The breakout wasn't the only thing to happen last night."

I read the article Bella was pointing to. This wasn't news we needed right now.

Trouble is popping up all over the magical community. Not only did nine high-value death eaters break out of Azkaban prison overnight (see page one for more details), but someone also broke into the Ministry.

There are just too many coincidences for this to be anything but nefarious.

Sources tell me that not only did they break into the Ministry, but they managed to make it all the way to the Department of Mysteries where they encountered an Unspeakable. But it seems that for one as well-learned as an Unspeakable, poor Broderick Bode didn't see them coming, and he was found dead at his post early this morning.

I'm not sure what the Ministry is going to do about this. The only comment we have received from the office of Cornelius Fudge is to remain vigilant and not to approach one of the death eaters should the public happen upon them.

My question is … if an Unspeakable has no chance against the dark wizards who are out there now … what chance do ordinary witches and wizards have?

I shook my head and looked down at Bella. "This news is not going to be taken favorably. Fudge is going to have something to say about it."

"There's nothing we can do about it now." Bella stood and reached a hand out for mine. "Let's just go to class and hope for the best."

I took one last look at the teachers' table to see that Umbridge had already left. She wasn't wasting time. I could only wonder what restrictions she was going to place on us next.

~*~UHS~*~

The whole day, the castle was alive with nervous chatter. Every chance the children could get, they were talking about the articles in both The Prophet and The Truth. Bella, Harry, and I had been asked our opinions about Voldemort more times than I could count.

The thoughts I heard in many heads were how upset they were with Fudge and his cabinet. The students of Hogwarts wanted the truth. They were glad someone was willing to stand up and give it to us straight.

"What else could possibly go wrong this year?" Ginny murmured to something someone had said as we were walking down to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures.

I couldn't help the ugly snort that escaped me, drawing everyone's attention to me. Bella, though, was the one to voice the "what?" they were all looking at me with.

I shook my head. "Just wait. Hagrid will fill us in when we get there. But just know, Ginny …" I pointed at her. "This year can, and will, get a lot worse. Mark my words."

"Well, thanks for that cheery prediction, Edward," Harry sang sarcastically.

Even I had to crack a smile at that. "You're welcome."

I couldn't help but feel for our exceptionally large friend. He had the same defeated posture from last year when Buckbeak was on trial. All the girls let out a gasp before they rushed forward to him. "Hagrid, what's wrong?" they all asked together.

"You know, don't you?" Draco asked as he came to a stop beside me. I nodded to his question. "And it's to do with that horrible woman, right?" I nodded again. Draco shook his head. "That woman is the worst thing to happen to this school. Damn Fudge and his irrational fear."

"Tell me about it."

We watched as Hermione, Bella, and Ginny cajoled Hagrid into sitting before convincing him to tell them what was wrong. Instead of answering them, Hagrid handed Bella an official letter.

"What does it say?" Hermione asked.

Bella looked up at me, so I nodded to let her know she should read it. "Before everyone else gets here, sweet girl."

I watched as anger filled her expression before she looked back down at the paper in her hands and read out loud. "Professor Hagrid,

"This is a letter from the office of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Delores Umbridge.

"Over the course of the last several weeks, I have been reviewing all the classes and assessing them for content, correctness, and their attention to what the Ministry believes is best to be teaching the children.

"Your course, while informative, does not adhere to some of these standards, and as such, you have been placed on probation. Your probation period will last for the next three months or until you have changed your class structure to meet Ministry standards. Due to this probation period, your class will be assessed regularly to make sure you are adhering to the new rules.

"Respectfully, Delores Umbridge." This time, it was Bella who snorted while all the others gaped at her before she said, "What is this shit?"

"Bella," I reprimanded quietly.

"What?" She huffed as she crossed her arms. "Placing teachers on probation. What gives her the right?"

"Unfortunately, our illustrious Minister has given her that right," Hermione said, anger in her tone. "When I become Minister, this won't happen." There were snickers from all around us. "What? I will become minister!"

"We know," Harry soothed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "And you'll make a damn fine minister. You'll make the Ministry accountable for everything. It will be a much better place when you're in control."

"Damn straight!"

"Thank yeh," Hagrid murmured as the other Slytherins traipsed down the hill. We smiled at Hagrid, only to step back so he could stand in front of the class. "I want to thank yeh all for all the hard work yeh've been puttin' in this year." Hagrid looked around at all of the students watching him, listening to his every word. He held up the letter that Umbridge had sent to him. "I 'ave 'ere a warning from Professor Umbridge. She, and the ministry, want me to change what, and how, I'm teachin' this class."

There were mutters throughout the Gryffindor and Slytherin students. I was glad to see that more of them were in disapproval.

"I don't like that the ministry is tryin' to dictate what I should be teachin' yeh. Instead of blindly complyin' with what they're sayin' I would like to know your opinion on what to do. Do you want the normal animals, the easy? Or do you want me to continue teachin' the animals I had planned?"

Conversations broke out around the group. Bella and I listened in as the others talked over what they wanted Hagrid to teach. It took a few minutes, but eventually, Pansy and her little crew of mean girls stepped forward, but Pansy was their leader. "The ministry is right that you should be teaching the approved animals. And that's what we'd prefer." The whole time she was talking, she spoke with her nose in the air and an attitude that screamed better than you.

Bella snorted before she stood up straight. "I think we should stick to the animals Hagrid's been teaching us. The ones the ministry approve of are safe, they're boring, and they're something we would encounter every day. The ones Hagrid's been teaching us are new. They might be dangerous, but he's teaching us how to look for clues about them and how to care for them. Besides that, it's these ones we need to know about. The ones we'll encounter out in the world, and sometimes, the ones we'll need to protect ourselves from." Bella walked to the front where Hagrid was standing. She looked out over the gathered students, and they hung on every word she was saying. I could see the professor she would one day become. Slowly, she paced in front of us. "The creatures out in the wild are the ones we need to learn about. The dangerous ones. The rare ones. Those are the ones I want to learn about. What about you?"

Instead of backing down like I thought she would, Pansy made the mistake of stepping up to my mate. My growl was quiet as she took those final steps up to Bella's face. Bella held up a hand to stop me from stepping forward. She wanted to hear what Pansy had to say.

"Now why on earth would l listen to a beast like you? Of course, you would defend one such as yourself!"

Pansy might have thought she was a tough, mean girl, but she couldn't help but let out a squeak and took several steps backward when I stepped up behind Bella, my growl growing in volume. Bella reached behind herself and grabbed my hand to stop me from reaching around her to strangle the immature little git in front of us.

"It's okay, Edward." Bella kissed my jaw before she turned back to Pansy. "Why would you listen to me? Hmm, that's a very good question." I couldn't help but smirk when I read the answer to Bella's rhetorical question in her beautiful mind. "I might defend others such as myself. I might defend people like you too if you deserved it. But let me ask you a question, Pansy."

"What?" Pansy asked through clenched teeth.

"Would you know as much about vampires and Veela, if not for me, my Edward here, and professors like Hagrid or Lupin?"

That seemed to bring Pansy up short. The girl seemed to have an answer for everything, but not this time. "Uh … well, no."

"Right." Bella nodded. "So, why would you want to learn about animals you already know?" There were nods of agreement from just about everyone else. Bella turned back to Hagrid. "The worst she can do is fire you, Hagrid. I say continue teaching your plan for this year."

"Thank yeh, Bella. Is everyone else in agreement?" Hagrid received nods all around, with a few cheers thrown in for good measure. "Right, then let's get on with it, shall we? Last lesson was about the Demiguise. What do yeh remember?"

I kissed Bella on the head once we were back at the back of the class.

What was that for?

"You're going to make a beautiful professor one day. I may just have to hide in your classroom to make sure that no teenage boys are thinking inappropriate thoughts about you."

Bella snorted into a quiet chuckle. Like you won't hear that from several floors away. I know that when I become a professor, so will you.

I growled quietly. "Can't have those boys lusting after what is mine."

No. Never. Because I am yours, Edward. Just like you are mine!

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and leaned down to purr in her ear. Nothing made me happier than when she claimed me. Although, my body was longing for the day she could really claim me as hers.

"Yours, Bella. Forever."

Bella looked up at me only to give me a swift kiss. Forever.

~*~UHS~*~

"Well, that didn't take long," Bella murmured once we'd come back to the common room that evening.

"What didn't?" I asked as I was reading a book for seventh year Arithmancy.

"Look." I looked up to see that Bella was pointing over toward the Fat Lady portrait. I followed her line of sight to see that she was pointing at the dreaded notice board. "See it now?"

I couldn't help the groan when I saw what Bella was pointing at. "Ugh, I did wonder how long it would take her to try and curb the 'gossip' from The Truth."

There on the notice board hung a new notice from none other than Professor Umbridge, High Inquisitor herself.

EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER TWENTY-SIX

By order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

Teachers are hereby banned from giving students any information

that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach.

Any teacher found to be sharing information with students

shall be swiftly placed on probation for a period of up to

and including three months.

Signed: Delores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor.

"How do you think she's going to police that one?"

I chuckled. "I honestly don't think she can. Besides, it's not the teachers sharing information with the students. It's the students who are sharing the information themselves. So, she really has no leg to stand on."

"Is that another muggle saying?"

"Yes." I cracked up. Sometimes, I still forgot that Bella, and most of our friends, weren't from the muggle world, and they didn't know some of the more obscure sayings. Once I finished laughing, I said, "It just means that it's something she really won't be able to enforce because it's not the teachers sharing. She can't put them on probation if they aren't …"

"… doing the wrong thing. Got it." Bella shook her head. "Why you muggles can't say what you mean is beyond me. Do you have a euphemism for everything?"

"Hey! I'm no longer a muggle. I'm a wizard, thank you very much. And, yeah, they probably do."

Bella giggled and came to wrap her arms around me. "You are a wizard. A hot, sexy one at that."

"That's better."

Bella giggled again at me. "Now, shall we go and visit the restricted section of the library. We have something to research, yes?"

"We do." I stood, reaching for her hand. We waved to our friends before we walked out through the portrait of the Fat Lady.

Bella and I were quiet while walking toward the library, but we watched with rapt attention, as well as through our acute hearing, the teachers who were talking in quiet little huddles or meeting in their classrooms to discuss all that was happening within the walls of Hogwarts. I wondered just how much more Umbridge would get away with if she pushed her agenda any further.

Please don't let them be looking for defense books. I heard Madam Pince think when she spied us walking into the library. She eyed us both shrewdly as we made our way to the table where she was standing. "What can I help you with today?"

"We're sorry to bother you, Madam Pince, but Professor McGonagall asked us to do some research in the restricted section." Bella looked up at the librarian with her most innocent face. "We have a pass if you would like to see it."

"I would like that very much," Madam Pince replied with a sigh of relief. It seemed that for the last few weeks, many of the students had been checking out the different Defense Against the Dark Arts books. So much so that there were no defense books left in the library, according to Madam Pince.

I was proud of them. They weren't going to take what Umbridge and the ministry were doing lying down. If they couldn't learn from our defense teacher, they were going to teach themselves.

I watched as Madam Pince's eyebrows shot up at what Professor McGonagall had written on our pass. According to her thoughts, the last student to have complete, unfettered access to the whole of the restricted section was one Thomas Riddle.

"Okay, Miss Swan, your pass is all in order. Can you and Mr. Masen please come around the desk and enter the restricted section behind me? You can access any part of the section that you would like. To gain access to the sections farther back, walk to the back wall and say Alohomora to unlock the next section." Madam Pince indicated the iron gate behind her with the arch over the top that read RESTRICTED. "But I must warn you that the farther in you go, the darker the books get. Please, please be careful."

"We will, Madam Pince, and thank you." I nodded in her direction as Bella reached out for the gate handle. Without another word, Bella pushed it open, and we walked inside.

"I do love coming in here. It's so much quieter than the actual library."

I snickered. "Which is saying something considering Madam Pince is constantly telling people to be quiet."

"I think that may be half the problem." Bella smiled at me.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her because she may have been right.

It took Bella and I a good hour and half to find where the information on maledictuses and other rare mythical creatures were stored. Mostly because it was in the third extension of the restricted section, and we had wanted to thoroughly search each part as we opened them. We found more information than we ever wanted to know about giants, gnomes, and other creatures. But also, an absolute boatload of books on dark spells, or what would be considered dark spells. Including the three unforgivable curses.

It wasn't just that Bella and I searched these three extensions; we also took copious notes on everything we found of interest—spells, creatures, potions, and the like. Bella wanted to be able to compare notes with Opi just to see if any of the spells listed as dark truly were, or if they would change because she was connected to Earth magic. Not only that but would they be different because her intent was different.

I did the same with the potions. There were some obscure ones that were just fascinating. I had hope that if I conferred with Opi about them we could find a way to adjust them for the magical world. Make them something that wasn't dark or scary anymore.

Bella had just opened the third section as I was still looking around at the things in the second when she burst out laughing. "Oh, this is too funny."

"What, Bella?"

She snickered again. "It seems that the restricted section of the library believes that Lockhart's books should be kept under lock and key."

I frowned but walked in the direction of her voice. "What do you mean?"

"Look," she said as she pointed to a glass case across the room. She was right about one thing. Lockhart's books were under lock and key but sitting on top of the cabinet was a set of material gloves. The kind you would find in an artefacts department where there were rare documents. "I wonder if these ones still have the words in them."

"Considering the gloves, I doubt it. You wouldn't need those if the words were still there."

"Except so that you wouldn't believe what was written."

"Hmm," I hummed. "True."

Bella and I began to explore. I was checking out the titles of the books on the left-hand side while Bella ran her fingers along the spines on the right.

We had learned from the first section that we had to be careful of the books that we opened. Some of them were loud. If you opened them wrong, they would scream at you. Others would release wind so strong it was like standing in a tornado.

Hmm … Moste Potent Potions, one for Edward. Magik Moste Evile, one I'd like to look at, take notes from. Secrets of the Darkest Arts, I bet that would change with our Earth magic. Opi would know. Ooooo a book of spells. I listened as Bella ran through the books she was reading on the other side. She was right; there were some that we both needed to look through.

The books on my side were more along the lines of Famous Fire Eaters and Fifteenth-Century Fiends, although that one might be interesting.

"This one might be what we're looking for." Bella pulled one from the shelf. "'Blood Curses and The Rarest of Mythical Creatures.'" She walked over to a table that every section had and placed the book down. As I walked over to join her, Bella pulled out her notebook and pen. "Let's see what we have here."

Bella and I read the opening pages rather quickly. Mostly because there wasn't much known about blood curses. It seemed that the magic was as old as time itself. A blood curse was old, extremely rare, and very dark magic according to the book we were reading. These blood curses were placed on families, but the curse was passed through mother to daughter at childbirth. The worst part about the whole thing was that it could skip several generations only to come back later in the family tree and just about debilitate the whole thing.

"A maledictus is a female individual who carried the blood curse that eventually turned her into a beast permanently," Bella read aloud from the book. "The beast ultimately transformed into can vary based on the curse itself. Before their permanent transformation, a maledictus can transform at will, but that will gradually become uncontrollable."

Bella and I looked over several different pictures of known maledictuses. Everything from dogs, to fish, to "snakes," Bella and I said together as Bella tapped on the page.

"It seems we know what a maledictus is. Now, do we suppose that's her real name?" I asked as I continued to read the little bit of information available. "It says here that they're not, in any way, destined to be evil."

"So, how did Nagini end up doing Voldemort's bidding then?"

I shrugged. "Maybe it's not his bidding, as such, but that he shows care for her."

"You think he cares for her?" Bella asked.

"As much as a psychopath can. But I wonder whether it's more than that."

Bella frowned but thought over all that we had discovered. Not just about the maledictus, but Voldemort and Nagini too. I could see the moment Bella's thoughts circled around to what I had been thinking. She looked up at me, a speculative look on her face. "You think Nagini's a horcrux too. That's why you think she's abnormally attached to him and him to her, right?"

I nodded slowly, also thinking about everything. "I wonder whether that horcrux helps him control her. Like at the ministry."

"I think we need to take this information to Opi. See if he can shed some light on this."

I leaned down to kiss Bella's head. "You might be right, baby girl." I chuckled as she let out a yawn. "Time for bed?"

Bella gave me a slow, sleepy smile before packing up her belongings. We walked back through the restricted section. Listening as each compartment closed behind us only to stop dead when we reached the first one.

"What are you two doing in here?" our not-so-friendly Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher asked us with a glower.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the permission slip. "Professor McGonagall gave us permission to be here."

"Let me see that."

I walked slowly to Umbridge. I knew what she was going to do, but there wasn't anything I could do about it. I handed the slip to her and watched her as she read over the permission that Professor McGonagall had given us. Carte blanche to explore every inch of the restricted section.

Umbridge looked up at us. The look on her face was a mixture of anger, distaste, and unrestrained jealousy. From her thoughts, she had wanted this kind of access to the restricted section when she had been at school, but it had always been denied. She had only had access to this very first room. This first room held dark but not the darkest material.

I stepped back next to Bella as Umbridge lifted the permission slip up in front of her face. The only thing we could see were her eyes. Umbridge shifted her hands around until both were at the top of the permission slip, holding it between her thumbs and pointer fingers.

As she pulled her hands apart in opposite directions, tearing the permission slip in half, Umbridge stated, "I hope you got everything you wanted from in here because you won't be coming back."

"You can't do that!" Bella almost shouted, pointing at Umbridge. "Only the person who gave the permission, and the library itself, can take permission away."

"Watch me." Umbridge finished tearing the permission slip in half.

I smirked. I couldn't help it. I raised my hand to show Umbridge that she hadn't won because the very second that the permission slip had been rendered in half, a copy—a perfectly matched copy—had appeared in my hand. "It seems that you're wrong, Professor, and the library has indeed made sure that we continue to have permission to access the restricted section."

Bella snickered when Umbridge's mouth fell open. "Why you insolent little …" Umbridge didn't finish the insult because as she stepped forward to come at us, the library forcefully shoved her backward with a strong gust of wind. Bella's and my mouth fell open as Umbridge screamed in frustration and charged at us once more. The wind built up again, keeping her out of the restricted section, but when she kept fighting, the wind blew harder. Almost turned into a gale force wind and all but shoved her from the library all together. Slamming the library doors for emphasis.

I huffed. "Guess we aren't the only ones who don't like her."

"Guess not," Bella murmured. "You know, it really feels like this castle is alive sometimes."

"I don't see why it can't be. Who knows what spells and charms the original put on this place?"

"Hmm, good point. Anything else you want before we leave?"

I wandered over to where the restricted section had a book I spied earlier on the unforgivable curses. "I'd really like to borrow this book. Really get to study the unforgivable curses. We don't have time tonight."

"Not the Moste Potent Potions one?" Bella asked as she pulled the book from the shelf.

I shook my head. "I think we have that one at home. I'll have a look over Easter break."

Bella put that one back and came over to look through the pages of the book on the curses. "Why don't you ask the restricted section if it can share it with the Room of Requirement? I mean, what's the harm?"

I smiled and kissed Bella on the head. "Where is the harm? If this castle is as connected and alive as we think it is, then maybe it will let us." I placed the book back on the shelf, reached out for Bella's hand, and led her out of the restricted section. As we stood at the door, I looked back. Please, library, may I borrow the book on unforgivable curses? Even if only to share it with the Room of Requirement. Thank you.

The restricted section closed and locked the door as we stepped through. We were all set to keep going out of the library all together, but we were stopped by none other than Madam Pince herself. She was standing at the library desk, but she was facing us, waiting for us.

"Madam Pince?" Bella asked quietly. We were in the library after all.

"I want to thank you." Both Bella and I frowned in confusion. "For getting rid of Professor Umbridge."

"How so?"

"When Delores Umbridge was here at school, she was granted access to the first room of the restricted section. She didn't like what she found in those books, and even back then, she tried to get some of them banned. Thanks to that little stunt, the restricted section removed her. It also banned her for life, only she didn't realize that then. She has tried on numerous occasions to get in there since she returned to the school, only to fail each time." Madam Pince spread her arms out wide. "This library has a standard. You can speak within its walls but not too loud. Thanks to her little display just now, the library has removed her for good. She will never be able to enter through those doors."

"Uh … you're welcome?" Bella said, although it came out like a question.

Madam Pince couldn't help but smile. It seemed she was amused by our confusion. It wasn't a look we saw on her very often. "I think the library, and myself, would like to repay you. Send your friends to me when you come to the library; I think you can find a safe, quiet place to do your studies." This time, Madam Pince smirked as she pointed to the restricted section. "And maybe you'll find more information than you need."

Bella and I smiled. With a whispered "thank you", we left the library. We were quiet as we made our way to the seventh floor. When we reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, I sent Bella into the common room while I made my way to the Room of Requirement. I wanted to see if Bella was right. If the library, if this castle, was as alive as we thought it might be.

I couldn't help but smile as I stepped into the Room of Requirement because it seemed that Bella may have been right. There on the table was the book I had been looking at earlier. But I couldn't help the laugh that barked out of me when I took in the note on the top.

For the eyes of Edward Masen and Isabella Swan only.

On loan from the Hogwarts Library Restricted Section.

This book will return to the Hogwarts Library Restricted Section three weeks from today.

This book is given out to Edward Masen and Isabella Swan. Their access to the Hogwarts Library Restricted Section will be revoked should they share this book with a person or creature without access to the Hogwarts Library Restricted Section.

I placed the book into my book bag to place in my trunk where Bella and I spent most of our time. I wouldn't share this book with anyone but her. The last thing I wanted was to anger this castle but especially the library. We would need all the help we could get.

~*~UHS~*~

The next few days were quiet. We continued with our lessons, both with Opi and with our other teachers. And Harry continued to dream of the door. Thanks to the lessons that he was having with Opi, Jasper, and me, we determined that it wasn't Harry dreaming of the door, but Harry tapping into Voldemort's dreams of the door. We were hoping that with more practice and more experimentation we could stop Harry tapping into these dreams, but it was harder to control when he was asleep as that was when he was the most vulnerable.

We couldn't believe how determined Voldemort was to get into the Department of Mysteries. We had a fair idea that he was after the prophecy, but we could never be one-hundred percent positive. What he wanted with it and how he could use it were things not even Opi was sure of.

Oh, but today. Today was a day that would go down in the history books of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And I, for one, couldn't wait. I was surprised that Bella had been able to sleep, considering how excited and bouncing off the walls she had been the night before.

I smirked to myself. Guess my distraction technique was pretty good. While being completely pleasurable for the both of us, it had the added benefit of wearing Bella out and helping her get some sleep.

I wished I'd had the respite of sleep. Something to help me get through the hours. Granted, I read books. I'd been nose-deep in the unforgivable curses book since the restricted section had loaned it to me. I also had been writing down many different questions for Opi on the use of any of the spells outside what they were now known for, but I just couldn't settle into it last night as I'd been able to before.

And that's all led to where I am now. Staring at yet another Hogwarts sunrise, waiting for Bella to wake up and join me.

"Mmm," Bella hummed as she wrapped her arms around me after climbing out of our trunk. "While I missed you in bed, can't say I don't like seeing you all done up in your tight uniform. Makes your ass look fantastic."

"Really?" I snickered, gently pulling her around to my front and kissing her softly.

"Yeah. It'll be a shame the robe will cover it up." She sighed with false disappointment. "However, it will stop other girls from staring at it too."

I ran my hands down over Bella's curves. The quidditch uniform did nothing but emphasize what she had. "I don't know that I should be letting you out of this tower dressed like this. There will be a lot of drooling boys today."

"Maybe," Bella conceded. "But they know I'm yours, like you're mine. It's not them we need worry about though."

"Umbridge's face will be something to see at breakfast this morning. Are we waiting on the team, or are we going by ourselves?"

Bella turned and faced the sunrise. "We'll wait for the team. They're all going to want to see her face."

"The whole school is going to want to see her reaction when we walk in there dressed in our quidditch robes."

"Then let's give them what they want." Bella reached out for the robe/jacket combo that we were to wear over our uniform and handed one to me. We threaded our arms through the sleeves just as our housemates began to wake up, dress, and make their way downstairs.

It was funny. When I first started at Hogwarts, many of the students would pause at the bottom of the stairs that led to the dorms to see what I was doing before walking into the common room. Now, four years later, most of them don't bother. And it was true for that morning. Most didn't even look in our direction and just ambled through toward the portrait opening, so they didn't notice that Bella and I were dressed in quidditch robes. It seemed that it was going to be as big of a shock for our housemates as it was for Umbridge.

By the time our teammates and friends had come down to join us, most of Gryffindor House had gone down for breakfast.

"Ready for the big reveal?" Alicia asked us.

"Oh, yeah," I replied while Bella and the others nodded.

"Good. When we get to the Great Hall, I want Edward and Bella in the middle of our huddle." Alicia reached out and grabbed Lee Jordan as he went to walk past. "Lee, can you do me a solid?"

"Sure, Alicia, what's u … whoa." Lee paused, mouth agape, when he saw us standing with them. "This is what Madam Hooch meant. Oh, this is … Umbridge will go nuts! How did you keep this secret?"

Alicia smirked. "Umbridge didn't require the names of the replacements after she benched Harry, Fred, and George for the remainder of the season, so I never told her. And when she was out at training, we just had the reserves step in for those positions. It made it look like Edward and Bella were training us for speed and stamina. When really …"

"Really, they were training with the team all along. Clever. What do you need from me?"

"Reckon you could call attention to the front of the Great Hall when we all walk in together. Not actually announce our names but maybe just the team?"

Lee smirked, and I couldn't help the silent snicker when I read his thoughts. "Oh, I can do better than that. Give me ten minutes to get everything ready, then make your approach. Standing at the top of the stairs, waiting, should be good enough."

This is going to be good, isn't it? Bella asked silently as she looked up at me. I nodded as I guided her to the portrait opening behind everyone else. Okay then. Don't tell me. I want to see for myself.

We made our way down to the foyer of Hogwarts to await Lee's instructions. Fred, George, and Harry were with us. They were making bets on what Umbridge's reaction was going to be. Harry thought she was going to try to ban us from playing. The twins were betting on Umbridge trying to ban Gryffindor from playing at all.

She had already banned us from her class for being creatures; I wondered whether that would carry over to this. I'm sure Hermione could cite all sorts of school rules counteracting her. Bella just hoped that Dumbledore would finally step in and do something.

Bella's mouth, as well as several of our team members mouths, dropped open when we reached the landing at the top of the first staircase. Because there at the doors to the Great Hall was Lee. He was waving his wand around at two, what looked like, seamstress dummies. With a few fantastically tricky spells, Lee dressed them up as heralds from the old kingdoms.

Lee dressed these heralds in Gryffindor quidditch robes, padding included, and they even had trumpets. With a few last-minute instructions, Lee signaled that we should join him at the bottom of the staircase as he closed the doors.

With a jaunty smirk, Lee turned to face us. "So, what do you think?"

"I think this is going to be an entrance to remember." Angelina laughed. "I look forward to it." She turned to look at us. "Harry, Fred, and George, I want you three to go in first. I'm gonna follow at the head, then I want Ginny and Neville on my left, with Alicia and Katie on my right. Edward and Bella, I want you two coming in last behind me. As we make it to the rows of tables, we'll merge in a line, showing Edward and Bella in their uniforms. You two"—she pointed at us—"will be the last to merge, standing proud at the end of the tables. Got it?"

We all nodded with a few snickers spread around the group as we all took our places. Angelina turned back around to face Lee. "When you're ready, my friend."

Lee turned back to the doors. He pointed his wand at them, and with a silent spell, the doors flung open. Another flick and the heralds began moving. As the doors finished opening, the heralds stepped through, raising their trumpets, and started to play the royal fanfare, causing every single person inside the Great Hall to turn and look in our direction.

Lee raised his wand to his throat like when he was commentating at the quidditch games and began to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, professors and students, boys and girls. Please welcome your new Gryffindor quidditch team!" Lee stepped to the side and waved his hands like a game show host from the muggle world.

Applause broke out, mostly from the Gryffindor table, as Angelina took her first steps into the Great Hall. More and more of the students and teachers began clapping as we all walked into the hall. But as our team members began walking in a single line, Bella and I were revealed. We stood together at the end of the tables, hands clasped, proudly dressed in our quidditch robes.

I couldn't help the smirk that curled up on my lips when there was a lull in clapping, cheering, and applause as they took in our state of dress. You could just about hear a pin drop as every single bit of noise tapered off.

Oh, this was so worth it. Look at Umbridge's face. I could hear the smugness in Bella's thoughts. She was enjoying the attention for once. I did, however, follow her instructions and looked at Umbridge. Her face was almost the same color as her dark pink jacket. If I looked hard enough, I might have been able to see the steam coming out of her ears.

Bella and I took all of this in within the second or so since the students stopped clapping and cheering. But as soon as the students of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor realized what they were seeing was true and correct, pandemonium broke out. The noise level tripled, and they were all happy for us. Congratulations came at us from every point of the room as Bella and I made our way up the aisle between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw to our seats with the rest of the team.

Fleur and Gabrielle ran full tilt from their seats at Hufflepuff to be able to hug us and offer their congratulations. Even Draco braved the masses and came over to shake our hands. Not that his teammates, nor housemates, were happy about that.

It was the first time—ever—that I was able to revel in being good at something. That something I enjoyed would be able to receive the attention from my friends and the students around us. I felt a familiar pang of anger that I hadn't had this before, thanks to Carlisle, but I brushed it off. I'd gotten over it, and I had forgiven Carlisle. We were here now. And I was here with my mate … and that was even better.

But my eyes strayed back to Umbridge as Bella and I took our seats at the table, hands still intertwined. "Umbridge looks like she's gonna blow," I murmured at vampire pitch. It was so noisy in the Great Hall that only Bella heard me. Jasper and Emmett had absolutely no hope.

I give her ten more seconds, Bella shot back in her thoughts. 10 … 9 … 8 … 7 … 6 …

"What are they doing dressed like that?" Umbridge thundered from the teachers' table as she stood up and pointed in our direction. The noise level dropped almost instantly. Every single eye turned to face Umbridge. "The rules state that creatures aren't allowed to play on the school quidditch teams!"

"And that would be the case if Edward and Bella were creatures. They are not," Hermione argued, standing to make her point. "They are not here as house elves—not that they are creatures either—they are not here as something we can study in Defense Against the Dark Arts or Care of Magical Creatures. They're here as students. They were chosen by the book in the headmasters' office and invited to join the students at Hogwarts. And it states in the rule book for Hogwarts quidditch that any student may try out for a position on the quidditch team—for their house—and can play if their head of house approves it. Isn't that right, headmaster?"

"Indeed, Miss Cullen. That is in the rulebook for Hogwarts quidditch," Dumbledore agreed from the head of the table.

Hermione nodded. "Professor McGonagall, do you approve of Edward and Bella playing for Gryffindor?"

Every single eye turned to look in Professor McGonagall's direction. Bella and I snickered quietly because McGonagall had her lips pursed as if trying to fight back a massive smile. Instead, she cleared her throat and looked at Bella and me. "I wholeheartedly approve of Miss Swan and Mister Masen joining the Gryffindor quidditch team. Just like I did at the beginning of the year when the team was proposed to me. Good luck, Gryffindor."

With that declaration from Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore, Umbridge didn't have a leg to stand on. And she knew it. Her mouth dropped open, only to snap shut just as fast before she picked up her hideous pink handbag and stormed out of the Great Hall.

"No doubt she's about to complain to Fudge," Harry muttered, looking down at his food. He lifted his head to look at all the players sitting around him. "I'm truly sorry for losing my temper and getting kicked off the team. I shouldn't have let the Slytherins get the best of me."

Hermione patted his arm before she reached out to hold his hand. "I have no doubt Umbridge would have found a way to get you off the team anyway, Harry. Don't take on the entire blame yourself."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Angelina said from beside Bella. "She's been pushing you all year. She would have found a way." Angelina then smirked. "So, shall we go out and put Hufflepuff out of their misery? Are we aiming for the Quidditch Cup?"

"Hell, yes!" the entire Gryffindor team chanted. After which, we broke out into laughter.

I had no doubt we were going to put on a great game!

~*~UHS~*~

GO GRYFFINDOR! Let's win the house cup! Poor, poor Umbridge. NOT!

See you in a fortnight!