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, not only this chapter, but 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 Nine ~ Hogwarts Bound

I relaxed back into my seat, pulling Bella closer to me, as I turned the page of the book I was reading. We were back on the Hogwarts Express, heading back to school. It had been an interesting last few days before making our way to Kings Cross Station.

Carlisle had come home from St. Mungo's not long after we'd gotten back from the Burrow. We made Alice and Jasper sweat for a few more moments before sending him over there. Alice wasn't impressed when she walked through the door a short time later, although Jasper was fighting the amusement that he could feel rolling off the five of us in waves.

"I don't see how this is remotely funny." Alice pouted, taking a seat on the loveseat. Jasper joined her. Alice smacked his arm as he sat. "How are you finding this funny at all?"

Jasper smirked. "Because Edward never really joined in on pranks before, and as far as they go, this one was pretty good. He had us going—or at least me—for a bit there."

We broke out into laughter as Alice pouted a bit harder. She held out for as long as she could, but eventually, she chuckled with us.

"What are you reading, Edward?" Luna leaned over from her spot on the other side of our carriage. "That doesn't look like a wizarding world book."

I smiled. "That's because it's not." I closed the book, showing Luna and a few others in the carriage, who had stopped to look. "If it's one thing the muggle world has, it's an eclectic but wonderful group of authors. Reading was a favorite pastime of mine, and that hasn't changed."

"So that's a book from the muggle world?" Ginny asked as she held out her hand. I marked my place and gave it to her.

"It is!" Bella answered for me. "Edward took us to a muggle bookstore in London. You should have seen it. It was HUGE!" I smiled as Bella talked with her hands. "It was four stories tall, and the books ... So many books. It reminded me a lot of the bookstore in Diagon Alley … big on the outside but packed to the gills on the inside." She snickered. "You know, except for the magically balanced piles of books."

Laughter broke out around the cabin. Flourish and Blotts was like that. There were piles of books everywhere, all able to stand up in tall piles because a spell kept them there.

Hermione nodded. "I'd never been to Waterstones, but I had heard of it. I was in awe as we walked around through all the aisles. It was beautiful."

"Sounds like a place I'd like to visit." Ginny sighed before she looked back down at the book in her hand. "What's this one about?" she asked, handing the book back to me.

I chuckled, looking down at the cover of the book. It was a profile of a gentleman smoking a pipe, leather gloves on his hands, and a deerstalker hat on his head. "Sherlock Holmes was a fictional detective written about when I was growing up. A detective who consulted for Scotland Yard. He had this hilarious sidekick called Watson. He gained popularity, and as such, he's had many books and movies written about him."

"So, this is a … what? Murder mystery?" George asked as Ginny placed the book in his outstretched hand. Fred leaned over to read the blurb on the back when George turned it over.

"Essentially, yes. That's what Sherlock Holmes is known for. This guy"—I tapped the picture of the author—"has actually nailed the feel of those old stories in this novel. I'm enjoying it immensely."

As my book made the rounds, we spoke about some of the books we'd all read before. For most of our group, it was only books that had been found in the wizarding world. Harry, Hermione, and I expanded on the authors we had read from the muggle world. Before we had gotten too far into the conversation, Ginny and Neville had to leave.

It was time for their first meeting as prefects. I wasn't sure we would see them again on this trip.

I opened my book back up as I leaned back into the seat, but Bella's thoughts caught my attention. She was thinking about our trip to Platform 9¾. Dumbledore had decided that thanks to not only Voldemort returning but because of what had happened over the summer that Harry needed an escort to Kings Cross. To give him the most protection, however, we went as a group. That group included four vampires and three Veela, fully immortal or not, and a large number of the guard.

I think it was a bit of overkill, Bella thought, looking up at me. And where was Sturgis?

I shrugged, knowing Bella could feel it.

I watched through Bella as we arrived at Kings Cross and how the whole lot of us managed to get onto the platform without arousing suspicion. It hadn't been easy.

It would have been so much easier if they'd just stayed out in the main concourse and only sent in a few to check the platform. We must have looked ridiculous. Bella snorted softly in her mind. I mean, did you hear the whispers about you and Harry?

I leaned my mouth close to her ear. I knew Fleur and Gabrielle would hear me, but that didn't matter. "I did hear them. They were in support of us, Bella. They believe us. The Truth is winning over those who may have been skeptical."

At least, when it comes to the younger generations, I suppose.

"Some of the families, too. I heard many thoughts in support of us. But you're right, Bella. Many of the older, well rooted families only believe the Prophet," I murmured.

To their downfall, Bella thought before remembering what happened next. She smirked when she recalled Fred and George trying to sneak off to talk with Lee Jordan. I couldn't help but chuckle as I remembered some of their more elaborate plans to test their Skiving Snackboxes. I have a feeling they've been in contact about these for some time.

"Oh, most definitely. But we're going to have to keep an eye on them because some of their ideas could be just this shy of bullying," I said while holding my finger and thumb just a few centimeters apart.

But it was Bella's next thought that had me cracking up laughing. Or we could just let Ginny do it. That will be her job as prefect after all.

"With those brothers of hers, she's gonna need all the help she can get."

"That's true," Bella finally said out loud. "You know, I never realized that we had students patrolling the carriages in previous years."

I snorted. "Nor did I. But I suppose it makes sense really. I'm surprised they weren't gone longer than that first hour."

This time it was Bella who shrugged. "Wonder how long they'll be gone this time."

"Wonder how many prefects there actually are," I wondered.

The others had been talking quietly while Bella and I had shared our conversation. Instead of slipping into one of theirs, I picked my book back up while Bella reached into her bag and grabbed the first in a series of books she had picked up. I couldn't help but smirk. Over the summer—when we had time—Emmett was introducing Bella to all sorts of movies, but the ones she took a liking to were Indiana Jones. For as old as they were, they were still enjoyable. When we went to the bookstore, Bella asked the attendant if there were any authors who wrote stories with a similar theme. The attendant pointed her in the direction of an Australian author named Matthew Reilly.

From what I picked up in the attendant's mind, he was actually a big fan of this author. But I continued listening and followed along as he thought about one of the story lines. The hero was called Jack West Jr., and he was a former Australian SAS officer who adopted a child who would one day understand the extinct word of Thoth—an Egyptian deity who was the god of wisdom, writing, hieroglyphs, science, magic, art, judgement, and the dead—and would help to save the world from near extinction through lots of action, puzzles, and a race to the finish line. That first novel sparked a series that hasn't yet been completed. And once Bella read the blurb on the first cover, she was sold; she had to buy all six to read.

I had a feeling I would be hearing about these books for a while.

Bella and I kept reading while the others fell into activities all around us, except for Gabrielle and Fleur. They hadn't been able to see much as they flew over the countryside in their giant carriage last year, so this ride on the Hogwarts Express was something they wanted to experience fully. We had only been occupied for just over an hour when Neville and Ginny returned with a surprise in tow. One that we hadn't expected … or at least I hadn't expected … yet.

"How did you manage to pull this off?" I asked, pointing between Ginny and Draco and the fact that they were holding hands. "I mean, you being seen with us. Out in the open."

Fred and George were quiet, their mouths hanging open slightly. Shock was the abundant thought, but I wondered how long that would last. Ginny blushed as she took an open seat next to Draco while Neville flopped down in the only available seat next to Luna.

Divine providence, Bella's thought popped into my head just as quickly as it popped out. I quirked my eyebrow in her direction, not that she was looking at me. What? It's how it should be.

"Only you would think so. He has no thoughts either way," I whispered at vampire pitch.

He will, Bella thought smugly. "Come on, tell us how this came about!"

"Simple." Draco shrugged. "I asked her to be with me, and she said yes." Draco smiled at her. "When we met at the prefects' meeting, it seemed like it was meant to be."

Fred and George rolled their eyes while the girls all cooed softly at Draco's answer. Bella knew it was coming, but she was swooning right along with them.

Unfortunately, I was the one to bring down the mood. "What about when your father hears about this relationship? About getting close to us?"

The smile that crept over Draco's face was twisted and kind of nasty. Something I imagine his father's face had worn on several occasions. "I've already spoken to him about this. I went to him with an idea. A way to get close to those who might work against us. This way I could 'spy' on them without them knowing. I could pass information back to Voldemort's camp with no one the wiser."

"And you knew this crap, Ginny?" George exploded while Fred stood and shouted, "How do we know he won't go blabbing to the other side? How could you let this happen, Neville?"

Mouths dropped open before Ginny stood and pointed at her brothers. "Listen to yourselves. Do you really think Draco would do something like that? After four years of friendship, of risking his own life to come to us, and you think he's gonna be handing pertinent information over to the enemy?" Ginny scoffed before she smirked. "You two are assholes. And of course, I knew. Draco and I have been talking about this plan since we had the party for the prefects. He asked me then to be his girl … we just had to figure out how to work around his father."

Neville just smiled. He wasn't going to dignify the twins with a response. He neither had to justify himself nor did he want to. He knew Ginny was her own person and that she could make choices for herself. She could stand up for herself. By this time, Fred and George were shamefaced and looking down at the floor.

Ginny took a deep breath. "I think it would be best if you left for now. I'm not sure I want to look at the both of you."

"Ginny, we're sorry," the twins both said together.

"It's not me you should be apologizing to, and I don't think now is the time. You need to think about how your rash words can affect others." She pointed to the door. "Out you go."

The twins opened their mouths to argue but thought better of it. They nodded before gathering their things and walking out the door. They turned once more to look at everyone inside before waving and walking away.

"I do not zink that Ginny will need help in controlling her bruzzers," Fleur stated, causing several of us to snicker. "She will keep zem in line, of zat I have no doubt."

Ginny looked over at us, wondering what we were talking about as she took her seat next to Draco. But she decided not to ask about it.

"What happened at the meeting?" Hermione asked once we had settled down.

Draco shrugged. "We met the other prefects from our year as well as the ones from previous years, and we were told what our responsibilities for this year are going to be."

For the next few moments, Ginny, Draco, and Neville told us about what their responsibilities were going to be and who the other prefects were. There were two fifth-year students picked every year, and they joined the ones from previous years, replacing those who left after finishing school. It wasn't just the three of our mish-mash family who were chosen as prefects. Pansy Parkinson was also chosen from Slytherin, Ernie MacMillan and Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff, as well as, Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil from Ravenclaw.

It seemed that it was a tradition for it to be one boy and one girl to be chosen as prefects. I wondered whether they had ever broken from tradition or whether they ever will. I smiled down at Bella because one of her dreams was headmaster of Hogwarts. I had a feeling she'd break all traditions if she became headmaster.

Conversation continued as we travelled through the countryside. Even though Gabrielle and Fleur had been at Hogwarts last year, it was hardly a normal year. They had questions, lots and lots of questions. Over the remainder of the ride, we answered as many as we could. Giving them all the information they seemed to need.

Just before we reached Hogsmeade station, Ginny, Neville, and Draco stood and made their way to start patrolling the carriages before they supervised the unloading of all of the luggage.

As we were standing in line to get off the carriage, Bella turned around to face Fleur and Gabrielle, leaning under my arm to do so. "You both should go with the other first years. Even though you've been to Hogwarts, and you could probably come on the carriages to the castle, it's part of the experience. I loved the trip that we made."

"Me too." I smiled. "It really is great. Listen for Hagrid calling for the first years."

Fleur and Gabrielle smiled and nodded their heads, agreeing that they wanted to do everything we did as first years. We continued to chat as we slowly made our way off the train and onto the station platform.

I listened and looked for Hagrid as we made our way down the platform, only to hear the voice of Professor Grubby-Plank. "First years!" she called. "First years, this way please?"

Bella stopped still. "Where's Hagrid?" she asked loud enough for Professor Grubby-Plank to hear.

"He's not here right now, Miss Swan. I am, and I'm helping the first years," Grubby-Plank replied somewhat gruffly. She hadn't gotten over Bella's response to the animals from last year it seemed. "First years, this way!"

"Vat did you do, Bella?" Fleur laughed as she stepped passed us.

I laughed as Bella shrugged. "The unicorns she introduced to the class last year took a shine to my girl here. And when the professor told Bella not to touch, that they didn't like to be touched, Bella just smiled and said we'd already met a unicorn, and that they just took a liking to her."

"Oh." Gabrielle groaned. "You showed her up in her own class. With the one animal she brought in to make an impact."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Bella sniffed, lifting her nose into the air and making her way down the platform before she burst into giggles. "Can I help it that my instinct draws animals in?"

"No, baby," I said as I wrapped my arm around Bella's shoulder. "And that was just the lesson Professor Grubby-Plank learned that day." I snickered, remembering the look on the professor's face when she learned what we both were. I turned back to our group of friends and family. "For now though, you two better follow her."

Fleur and Gabrielle smiled. "We'll see you after the sorting ceremony."

My hand ran across Bella's shoulders and down her arm as I reached for her hand. "Come on, everyone. We need to get a carriage and head to the castle."

It didn't take us long to get onto a carriage and make our way up to the castle. It was mostly due to the fact that there was a lot of pausing, staring, and whispering as Harry and I walked by. Most people were in awe that we were able to fight off one of the nastiest wizards of all time. But there were still some who were unsure what to believe. It was those ones we would have to watch out for.

The whispers and stares continued once we reached the castle and made our way inside to our tables. We held our heads high, but it was still a little unnerving. I didn't think we'd have to deal with this after our first year, but here it was happening all over again.

This is ridiculous, Harry thought, looking around. He was tempted to glare at all those who were staring.

I snorted. "Tell me about it," I murmured for our group to hear. "But people will always stare when they're trying to figure things out."

Still ridiculous, however you put it. Harry sat down next to Hermione at the table near Seamus and Dean. I couldn't help but agree with him.

We made idle chatter as we waited for the Great Hall to fill with the students from previous years. But Bella, Harry, and I all stopped mid-sentence when the teachers filed in to sit at the front of the room. Because there, sitting at the teacher's table, was someone we had seen before. She was short, squat, with curly mousy brown hair. Dressed all in pink with a toad-like face and prominent pouchy eyes, staring out across the Great Hall, was none other than Fudge's right-hand woman—Deloris Umbridge.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Bella asked in a hiss.

"She shouldn't be here!" Harry fumed.

I listened to her thoughts, which were as crystal clear as any I'd read. She wasn't trying to hide them like some of the teachers sitting at the table. "She's the new teacher this year."

Bella and Harry groaned. Hermione was the only one sitting with us who knew what had happened that day at the ministry. But she hadn't put it together with who was sitting at the table.

"The new teacher, the one in pink"—I pointed in the direction of the table. Hermione looked up and nodded when she saw who I was talking about—"was in the courtroom. She was sitting right next to Fudge." I could see the lightbulb moment. "And now she's sitting here and going to be our new teacher."

"For what subject?" Hermione asked in abject horror.

I was about to answer when the doors at the end of the Great Hall were flung open, and Professor McGonagall proceeded to lead the new batch of first years, as well as Fleur, into the hall for their sorting ceremony. Resting in her hand, sitting regally as only a hat can, was the sorting hat. Ready to place all the new Hogwarts students.

Professor McGonagall summoned a stool to the very center of the room in front of the stage; she placed the sorting hat upon it, but before she could call the first name, the sorting hat began its song. I thought it was going to be the same as the other years, or with a slightly different tune, but this year was something completely different.

"In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

They had the selfsame yearning,

To make the world's best magic school

And pass along their learning.

"'Together we will build and teach!'

The four good friends decided

And never did they dream that they

Might someday be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

"So how could it have gone so wrong?

How could such friendships fail?

Why, I was there and so can tell

The whole sad, sorry tale.

"Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach just those

Whose ancestry is the purest.'

Said Ravenclaw, 'We'll teach those whose

Intelligence is the surest.'

Said Gryffindor, 'We'll teach all those

With brave deeds to their name,'

Said Hufflepuff, 'I'll teach the lot,

And treat them just the same.'

"Those differences caused little strife

When first they came to light,

For each of the four founders had

A house in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,

"For instance, Slytherin

Took only pure-blood wizards

Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of the sharpest mind

Were taught by Ravenclaw.

While the bravest and the boldest

Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,

And taught them all she knew.

"Thus, the houses and their founders

Retained friendships firm and true.

So, Hogwarts worked in harmony

For several happy years,

But then discord crept among us

Feeding on our faults and fears.

"The houses that, like the pillars four,

Had once held up our school,

Now turned upon each other and,

Divided, sought to rule.

"And for a while it seemed the school

Must meet an early end,

What with dueling and with fighting

And the clash of friend on friend.

And at last, there came a morning

When old Slytherin departed

And though the fighting then died out

He left us quite downhearted.

"And never since the founders four

Were whittled down to three

Have the houses been united

As they once were meant to be.

"And now the Sorting Hat is here

And you all know the score:

I sort you into houses

Because that is what I'm for,

But this year I'll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

Though condemned I am to split you

Still, I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfill my duty

And must quarter every year

Still, I wonder whether Sorting

May not bring the end, I fear.

"Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within

I have told you; I have warned you …

Let the Sorting now begin."

Well, that was ominous. What do you think that means? Bella looked up at me. She wasn't the only one wondering what the song was all about.

"I think the Sorting Hat knows, and sees, more than we can imagine. He's seen the signs before, and now he's seeing them again." I took a deep breath. "I think he's warning us the best way he knows how."

Hermione leaned over the table. "Has the Sorting Hat ever done that before?"

"Indeed, it has," Sir Nick spoke as he popped up through the table in between us. "It feels honor bound to warn us when …" Nick trailed off because Professor McGonagall was peering over her glasses, glaring at all the children still whispering, as only she could.

Professor McGonagall took a long look around the Great Hall before she called the very first name on the list. "Arnolt, Charly."

A scared, but very beautiful, eleven-year-old girl did her best to appear brave. She held her head high, but Bella and I could see the tremor in her hands as she reached out for the stool. Charly took her seat. Her thoughts were slightly panicked. The rumors had started as soon as the new first years had taken their seats on the train. Some of the older children liked to put the fear of God in them, telling them all sorts of things about how they were sorted into their houses—exactly like Fred and George had done to Ron.

Professor McGonagall lowered the Sorting Hat onto Charly's head. It didn't take but a few seconds before it called out, "Ravenclaw!"

Everyone clapped, but none more so than the Ravenclaw table. And that was how it started every year.

Do you think Fleur and Gabrielle will be in Gryffindor with us? Bella asked quietly as a Carter, Bryan was called to the stool.

I shrugged. "I don't know, Bella. That hat works in mysterious ways. Ways I couldn't even understand. But do you think Dumbledore would allow more of us to be placed in one house?"

No … Bella sighed. Probably not.

"Delacour, Fleur," Professor McGonagall called out, pulling our attention back to the sorting ceremony.

Fleur looked at us over the top of all the students, looking for assurance that it would be all right. Every single one of us sitting at the Gryffindor table nodded our heads, letting her know it would be but causing a smile to twitch on her lips. Fleur shook her head slightly before standing tall and making her way to the stool that we had sat on so long ago.

Fleur sat down and looked out over the Great Hall. Her stoic expression didn't give away the tumultuous feelings coursing through her. Fleur was nervous. She wanted to be with us in Gryffindor, but she knew with absolute certainty that it wasn't going to happen. She had read through the descriptions for each of the houses: Gryffindor—where dwell the brave of heart. Their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindor's apart; Hufflepuff—where they are just and loyal. Patient Hufflepuff's are true and unafraid of toil; Ravenclaw—those who have a ready mind. Where those of wit and learning will always find their kind; and Slytherin—you'll make real friends. Those cunning folks use any means to achieve their ends.

Fleur had read them all, she'd absorbed their descriptions, and while she would like to be in Gryffindor with us, she had a feeling it would be either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. I believed she was brave. She had uprooted their, hers and her sister's, lives to leave all she had known to get a real magical education—her words, not mine—and that took guts.

Hmm … yet another Veela, I heard the sorting hat echo through Fleur's mind. She had left it wide open. You are older than the rest of the first years; in fact you aren't even starting in first year … unlike the vampire of a few years ago. You know him … and his mate … Fleur closed her eyes to concentrate on what the hat was saying. While it's brave to do what you have done, your build lends more to working hard and being who you are. I believe you are … "Hufflepuff!" the sorting hat shouted out.

I hadn't realized that the entire Great Hall had gone silent until the Hufflepuff table broke out into applause and cheering.

I smirked down at Bella. "Seems the Hufflepuffs are happy about it."

Bella laughed. "Guess so. I love that they are. She's going to have a good year there."

I nodded as Fleur smiled and sat at the Hufflepuff table. They all welcomed her with open arms but fell silent as Professor McGonagall spoke up, once more. "Delacour, Gabrielle."

Thanks to the rousing applause from the Hufflepuff's, Gabrielle had a huge boost of confidence. She knew that no matter which house she ended up in, she would have a group of new friends, as well as her family. So, when her name was called, Gabrielle stood straight with a smile on her face and made her way to the stool. She smiled even bigger when she sat on the stool, and Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

Gabrielle sat and waited patiently. She knew what was going to happen, but the anticipation was getting the best of her. Ahhh … yet another Veela. It seems the school is opening up to many possibilities. In the age that is coming, that could only be a good thing. Hogwarts is going to need all the help it can get. Your sister will make a great addition to Hufflepuff, and I believe, so will you. "Hufflepuff!"

Once more, the Hufflepuff table exploded into cheers. They were happy that they were getting more people in their house, as their house was sometimes one, they felt, that was overlooked.

The best part about them being sorted into Hufflepuff house was that now we had a member of our misfits in each of the houses of Hogwarts. Draco was in Slytherin, Luna was in Ravenclaw. Fleur and Gabrielle were now in Hufflepuff, with the rest of us in Gryffindor. We were going to have eyes and ears all over this castle.

The students were quiet as the rest of the first years were sorted into their houses. The only sounds made were when the houses cheered their new additions. Even those sounds dropped off once Dumbledore took the stage.

He gazed around at the students before him. We all waited with bated breath as he opened his mouth to speak. "To our newcomers, welcome. To our old hands, welcome back." He spread his hands wide. "There is a time for making speeches, but this is not it. Tuck in." With that, he clapped his hands together, and the food appeared on the plates in front of us.

"Hmph," Harry huffed, reaching for the food in front of him.

Hermione tilted her head in his direction. "What, Harry?"

Harry shrugged. "Just thought he'd say more, that's all. He's been preaching all summer. To the paper, to us—when he's around—and to anyone who would listen. I just thought he would be saying more about what's happening."

Bella took a mouthful of mashed potatoes, listening as those around us discussing the fact that Dumbledore didn't say anything. I started eating as they argued about it but stopped when Bella spoke. "Maybe he's waiting."

"For what?" I asked.

"'Til we're full, warm, and content not to move."

"The after-dinner speech?"

Bella nodded. "But that all depends."

"On what?" I frowned.

"On how much he's allowed to say with that ministry official sitting right there."

We all spun to look at Umbridge, sitting at the table. She was sitting all prim and proper. Straight-backed and delicately cutting her dinner into tiny little pieces before placing them into her mouth. I shuddered watching her, and I wasn't the only one.

"Guess I never thought of that," Harry mumbled. "But I wouldn't think he would be one to hold back. Even with a ministry official sitting there."

"Never has before," Fred stated with a snort. "Why would he stop now?"

I looked back at the table between Dumbledore and Umbridge. "Because fighting out in the open is different than fighting under your own roof. Here, it may look like he has the advantage, but I'm sure Professor Umbridge has an ace or two up her sleeve, making any advantage Dumbledore has very slim."

We were quiet throughout the rest of dinner. What more could we say. The literal sword was hanging over our heads with the arrival of Professor Umbridge. I wondered what this year would hold for all of us.

~*~UHS~*~

Once dinner was finished, Dumbledore stood and made his way to the podium at the front of the teacher's table. The Great Hall fell completely silent. The students were nervous about what he was going to say because they, too, knew how vocal he had been all summer about what had happened, and they noticed he said nothing at the start of the feast.

"The Forbidden Forest surrounding this castle is out of bounds for first years." Dumbledore stopped and looked around at the students watching him before pausing on Fred and George with a small smirk. "It is out of bounds for the older students, too." Dumbledore paused for the chuckles that ensued. All the older children knew he was talking about our resident troublemakers. The first years looked around; they were a little confused as to why the rest of us were chuckling. They'd learn soon enough. "For the four-hundred and sixty-second time, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that there is to be no magic conducted in the corridors between classes."

Again, there were snickers released around the Great Hall. Every year, the students were warned not to do magic in the corridors, and every year, magic was done in the corridors. Most of it tricks and pranks, concocted by the two smirking boys sitting across from me. I couldn't help but chuckle at them because they had given Filch hell over the years. I had no idea what the poor guy was going to do when the Weasley twins left at the end of this year.

Dumbledore spread his hands on either side of him. An indication of the two professors sitting on either side of him. "We have two new professors this year. Returning Professor Grubby-Plank is taking back her position as Care of Magical Creatures teacher while Professor Hagrid is taking a leave of absence."

I frowned. We hadn't heard anything from Dumbledore, or Hagrid for that matter, as to why he would need a leave of absence.

I looked down at Bella as she looked up at me. She shrugged her shoulders. I haven't heard anything. You?

I shook my head. What was Hagrid doing?

"We also have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher; Professor Umbridge has come to us from the Ministry of Magic and is highly recommended by the Minister for Magic himself, Cornelius Fudge."

Bella and I snorted softly. And we weren't the only ones. While Dumbledore was faced away from the teachers, his face was saying it all. He was reluctant to introduce her, and he didn't want her there, and he sure as hell didn't trust her. Which meant we didn't trust her.

"This year, the quidditch tryouts will be held …"

A dainty cough interrupted Professor Dumbledore, coming from none other than Professor Umbridge. All eyes shot in her direction just as she had wanted. We watched as Deloris Umbridge stood from her seat at the end of the table, picked up her pink purse—which had been placed in front of her seat—and walked around the end of the table. Slowly, dragging it out, she walked over to where Dumbledore had been standing. She looked up at him pointedly.

With a small sigh, that only those with superhuman hearing could hear, Dumbledore stepped aside and indicated that she could take his position at the podium.

"That's something she wants," I whispered to Bella, also catching the attention of Fleur, Jasper, Esme, and Emmett.

Bella tilted her head. "What? The power?"

"That and the prestige. The recognition. It's what she thinks she deserves."

"Well, let's hope this isn't the way she gets it," Bella murmured as Umbridge got ready to speak.

"Thank you, headmaster," Umbridge spoke. The shudder that flooded Bella's system was involuntary, and it flowed through her into me. Umbridge's voice was different here. More high-pitched, nails on a chalkboard-type voice. Something that you would sooner hear in a child than an adult.

Ugh, this is gonna hurt. Bella moaned in her mind. I'll have a headache later.

I kissed her forehead while I waited for Umbridge to continue speaking.

"It's so lovely to be back at Hogwarts, and so wonderful to see all your smiling, happy faces staring up at me." I gazed around the hall. I couldn't see one student smiling up at Umbridge. This woman was clearly delusional. What I didn't notice until I looked back at Umbridge was that she was looking at us. And that look was a sneer.

Bella sighed. I have a feeling …

"That our Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons are going to be non-existent again."

Mmhmm.

Umbridge's sneer slid from Bella and me over to Fleur. The funny part was that she didn't direct it to Gabrielle, even though they were sisters. They looked similar, but when I read Umbridge's mind, she hadn't made the connection. I wondered whether we could use that.

Fleur looked over at me and nodded. She'd seen the looks she was giving the three of us.

Umbridge caught our attention when she spoke once more. "I am looking forward to getting to know all of you, and I just know we're all going to be great friends."

"Not likely," Fred and George scoffed quietly, which caused us all to snicker. We stopped when Umbridge looked in our direction.

Umbridge shifted slightly, adjusting her jacket before speaking again. "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of our young witches and wizards to be vitally important. Magic is a gift that you are naturally born with, but it would be nothing without the careful instruction of all your professors here at Hogwarts.

"The teachers here have a unique set of skills that should be passed down, should they be lost forever. Hogwarts is a treasure trove of magical knowledge, and it should be guarded, replenished, and polished by teaching."

I was looking at the teachers sitting behind Umbridge, and I saw the loaded look that was shared between Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout. They didn't believe a word that was coming out of Umbridge's mouth. It was people like her who had disillusioned Professor McGonagall from working at the Ministry of Magic as she had before she began teaching at Hogwarts. I wondered if that was a story Professor McGonagall would share if we asked.

"Every headmaster and headmistress has brought something new and unique to Hogwarts." Here Umbridge looked at Dumbledore. He nodded to her in recognition of—what I thought—was a back-handed compliment. "Without progress, there would only be stagnation and decay, but progress for progress's sake should be discouraged. Because tried and tested traditions require absolutely no tinkering."

It was at this point that a lot in the Great Hall zoned out of Umbridge's monologue, including me. I kept one ear on what she was saying. Not that it was interesting. Instead, I looked around at everyone in the Great Hall. Most of the students were staring at Umbridge with blank expressions on their faces. She thought they were paying her rapt attention. Most of them were imagining what their first class was going to be in the morning. I scanned over Jasper, Esme, Emmett, as well as Professors McGonagall, Sprout, and Dumbledore. They were actually paying much more attention to what Umbridge was saying. And from the looks on their faces, I could see they didn't like what they were hearing.

Bella rested her head against my shoulder as Jasper's mind called my name. I looked up in his direction. This woman is oozing deceitfulness. There's more going on than just teaching defense.

I nodded to show him that I'd heard him before I looked down at Bella. I thought she had fallen asleep, but she was as bored as the rest of us. I continued to look around until I heard, "… because some changes will be for the better." My attention snapped to the front of the room where Umbridge was still talking. "We are going to be moving forward to a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability. We should preserve what ought to be preserved, perfect what needs to be perfected, and we should prune what needs to be prohibited." She looked back down at Bella, me, and Fleur. "And keep Hogwarts free from those who shouldn't be here. Keep it pure. Keep it for those who belong in the magical world." Like muggleborns and other vermin. Hogwarts should be for the pure bloods and those with magical parents.

Umbridge took a step back from the podium and nodded in Dumbledore's direction. Dumbledore inclined his head before stepping back up and thanking her for speaking. "It truly was enlightening."

"How was that enlightening?" Neville murmured quietly as Dumbledore continued with announcing the quidditch tryouts.

"Well, for example, she contradicted herself," Hermione answered, looking at Neville. "She says that magic is something that someone is naturally born with, yet the looks she gave Bella, Edward, and Fleur indicate that she doesn't think they should be here. She thinks that humans—not creatures—should be the only ones who should be taught magic at Hogwarts. Umbridge is a purest of the worst form."

Bella looked up at Umbridge, and I looked through her. The woman was sitting back at the teachers' table, her handbag placed in front of her, and looking down her nose at everyone who was in front of her.

"But what does this mean for Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.

Hermione sighed. As did Bella when she put it together. But it was Hermione who answered. "It means that the ministry is interfering at Hogwarts."

~*~UHS~*~

After Dumbledore finished talking, Neville and Ginny went off to meet the Gryffindor first years so they could guide them to the common room.

We stood from the table and made our way up to our common room, catching up with friends we hadn't seen since last year and talking about what we had been doing over the summer.

It didn't take us long to reach the portrait of the fat lady. I smiled up at her. "Evening, Lady. Have you had a good summer?"

"Bella! Edward!" the fat lady crowed. "It's been a quiet summer without you two running around the halls of Hogwarts."

Bella let out a giggle. "I don't see how we would have made a difference. We're angels!"

"Oh ho! Angels you are not!" Laughter broke out all around us as we sparred with the fat lady. "Angels or no, I have missed you. However … do you have this year's password so you can get settled in?"

Neville should have no problem with this password, Bella thought with a smirk in my direction. "Mimbulus Mimbletonia."

"Right you are! Have a good year, Gryffindors!" With that enthusiastic welcome, the fat lady swung open to reveal the Gryffindor common room, exactly as we had left it last year.

We all filed into the common room, climbing over the knee knocker, and piled onto chairs and lounges. Conversations broke out as Bella and I settled into my corner. I made sure that everything in my trunk was okay as I listened. It seemed that many of the parents were concerned about their children coming to Hogwarts with Dumbledore still at the helm. Most of them were convinced that The Prophet was right in what they were printing.

"Hey, Dean, Seamus, have a good summer?" Harry asked as he took his seat. Ron was sitting nearby, but he was still ignoring us for the most part.

"Not bad," Dean replied. "Better than Seamus anyway."

"What happened?" Hermione asked, taking a seat next to Harry. She was sticking close. Trying to show what she was feeling without actually coming out and saying it.

Seamus shook his head. "Mum …" He sighed, raking his hands over his face. "She wouldn't listen. Kept reading the Prophet, thinking they had all the answers. We had big fights over the summer. She didn't want me to come back, and I was adamant that I had to return, that I hadn't learned everything I needed to know." Seamus got up and started pacing, his fingers were laced together on the top of his head. "That I needed to be here. I had to keep learning so that when Voldemort made his move, I would be ready. She flat out refuses to believe that he's back."

"So what? What happened?" Neville asked.

"She tried to keep me home. Can you believe my mother didn't want me to come back to school?" Seamus asked loudly, his hands slapping his thighs in exasperation. "Obviously, it didn't work because I'm here. I argued with articles from The Truth because their stories were more believable, more factual, and less fantastical. In the end, my dad took my side, and I'm here. But it was absolutely the worst fight we'd ever had."

Many of the students commiserated with Seamus. Stories started being shared about other parents who had tried, and failed, to either keep their kids at home or tried to talk them out of coming all together. It seemed it had been a rough summer all around.

Bella flopped down in my lap with a huff. She was annoyed that many parents would believe the writings The Prophet put out. Ridiculous.

I snorted. "Bella, The Prophet has been around a lot longer than The Truth. It takes time to build up a reputable reputation. It hasn't been around that long. We've had this talk; the older generation aren't going to just accept what The Truth has to say." I had been talking to just Bella, but when I looked up, I realized several people around us had been listening. "These things take time. But as The Prophet gets more and more ridiculous, more people will turn to The Truth."

"But what will it take?" was the question that was asked by many around our common room.

"I have no idea." I shrugged. "There's just nothing more than that."

Those in the common room thought about my words for a while before starting their own conversations or heading up to the dormitories to start unpacking. Bella pulled out the book she'd been reading on the train, shuffling off my lap when I tapped her leg. I stood and started to rearrange my corner. I began unpacking some of the things I brought with me, including Bella's terrarium with all four of the dragons from the first task of last year's Triwizard Tournament. At home, it would usually sit in the window near our window seat, but here, my window was the only one who received sun for most of the day, so it was going to be placed downstairs with me.

Hey, Edward? Bella thought, catching our attention. Think that's a good idea?

I spun around to see that Bella was pointing in the opposite direction. I looked over to see that she was pointing at the notice board. The twins were putting up a flyer. One that was advertising for testers for their products. I sighed. Sure, their products should be tested before being released to the market, and this was probably the safest place for that to happen, considering we had our own hospital wing. But … "No." I sighed again. "I really don't, Bella. But is it our place to say anything? Isn't that what the prefects are for?"

What are they promising?

I read the article from where I was standing.

Gallons of Galleons!

Pocket money failing to keep pace with your outgoings?

Like to earn a little extra gold?

Contact Fred and George Weasley, Gryffindor common room,

For simple, part-time, virtually painless jobs.

(We regret that all work is undertaken at applicant's own risk.)

"Money. They're using what's left over from the winnings we gave them to pay for their testers."

"Should we stop it?"

I shrugged, nodded, but then shook my head. "Maybe. We'll monitor it and step in if Ginny or Neville don't."

"Okay," Bella said before her face almost split in two with the huge yawn she let out.

I chuckled softly, leaning down to kiss my Bella on her forehead, then her lips. "Why don't you go up to your dorm and get some sleep, my girl; tomorrow will be here before you know it."

"Okay, Teddy." My old nickname slipped from my girl. "I love you."

"Love you, too. Sleep well."

Bella stood, planting another soft kiss on my lips. With a wave, she made her way toward the stairs. Several others following behind her.

The morning would certainly be interesting.

~*~UHS~*~

*The song from the sorting hat, parts of Umbridge's speech, and the Twins advertisement are all borrowed from JK Rowling's fifth Harry Potter Book – The Order of the Phoenix, pgs. 184 through to 200.

Ahh ... Fred and George ... How we love you. So, what did you think?

See you in a fortnight!