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 Twelve ~ Educational Reform

Saturday morning found us all in the Room of Requirement, yet again, doing homework. We hadn't planned on doing it all morning but wanted to get some done before heading down for lunch and to watch quidditch practice.

Draco had even managed to sneak away to spend some time with us. He was hating having to spend time with Pansy Parkinson and the rest of the hateful crew when we weren't around. Although, it was now common knowledge that he was dating Ginny, which made it easier for him to be himself because he was around us more often.

"Do you think Umbridge will let us go down into Hogsmeade this year?" Ginny asked as she closed one book and reached for another.

"I'm not sure she could stop the entire school. I mean, it's a reward for growing older," Hermione answered. "But then again, she might be able to do just that. Especially for Bella and Edward."

"Speaking of," I muttered, "Fleur and Gabrielle, has she thrown you out of your Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, yet?" Fleur nodded while Gabrielle shook her head. "Really? She lets you stay in class?" I asked Gabrielle.

Gabrielle snorted. "I don't think she has made the connection yet. I mean, I'm brunette to Fleur's blonde. I'm more human to Fleur's obvious Veela side, and I've never been in the paper revealing my heritage. So, I don't think that woman has realized that I am a Veela."

"Hmm, maybe we should keep it that way," Bella thought out loud.

I looked at her, sitting back and giving her my attention. "How so?"

"Gabrielle will be able to keep an eye on what's happening with the younger classes if she's not being forced to leave. If we can keep her heritage from Umbridge, it may give us an advantage," Bella explained.

Hermione was nodding in agreement. "With her extra senses, she would be able to pick up more in the class than the rest of us mere humans."

"How do we keep from stopping zat awful woman from finding out zat Gabrielle is my sister?" Fleur asked, putting her book down on the table and looking at us.

"There's no way for her to know," Draco said. "I honestly don't think she'll know that Gabrielle is Fleur's sister unless we make it obvious. How did people know that you were related in the muggle world?"

I pointed to Draco. "That's a very good question. At the beginning of each lesson, a teacher would use what is called a roll, a list of names of all the students, to check attendance. It's not something I've seen any of the teachers use here."

"That's because it's magical," Fred commented. "Each of the classroom doors has a spell that recognizes the people who come through the door and marks it off on a magical list. Unless the teacher knows everyone, or has checked each of the lists, I don't think they'd know all the names."

Harry spoke next, making a very good point. "But their names were said at the sorting ceremony. First Fleur Delacour, and then Gabrielle Delacour. How would Umbridge have missed that?"

"Because first and foremost, she is all about herself. I'm not sure she heard anything that was said before Dumbledore introduced her." I pulled Bella into my side. "She may have missed it altogether."

Bella snuggled in as close as she could. Homework all but forgotten for now. "Then if we don't draw attention to it, she may not ever pick up on it. She may just think that Gabrielle is a friend of the family."

"Ve can only hope. Ugh, I am so done for today. Let's go and eat before ve go to quidditch practice." Fleur began packing up her books, and the rest of us followed suit. Our plan for the weekend was to do all of our homework on Sunday anyway.

I stood at the door, listening to those on the seventh floor. I couldn't hear anyone near us, nor could I see the corridor we would enter into through any thoughts. For now, we were alone. I nodded to everyone, stating that we were good to go.

Once we were all out in the hallway, I took ahold of Bella's hand. "We're going to drop our stuff off in the Gryffindor Common Room. We'll meet you down there."

"I think I'll come with you," Hermione said. "I don't want to be carrying my bag around all day."

Everyone else agreed, and we made our ways to our separate common rooms. Bella and I dropped our gear in my area while the others made their ways to their dormitories.

"Bella, Edward, I'm glad I caught you," Angelina said as she stepped off the bottom stair. "I was wondering if I could ask you two a question."

"Sure," I answered, taking a seat on my recliner as Bella jumped up onto my desk.

Angelina stood just outside my area. She wasn't going to ask to come in as she knew it was my personal space. "I plan to run practice a bit differently this year. Everyone knows what Oliver Wood taught us, the drills he used to have us run, and what things he taught us to do. I have new ideas. New moves. But I think I want some help. I want someone to train against."

I smirked at her. "That's not the only reason you want our help."

"No, it's not. I have a feeling Umbridge will be watching us closely. I want her to realize that we see you as part of us, that you both are members of our Hogwarts family."

"It could backfire on you and the team," Bella murmured loud enough for Angelina to hear.

Angelina shrugged. "We'll cross that bridge when, or if, we get to it. Will you help?"

I couldn't help but smile. This may be as close as we could get to actually playing for the quidditch team. Bella smirked at me. She knew what it meant. "Yeah, Angelina, we'll be there. Want us to bring our brooms?"

"Yeah." Angelina nodded. "Your speed is gonna be a big part of our training."

"Done," Bella and I both agreed before Bella continued. "I think utilizing our speed is going to be very helpful for the team. I can't wait to join in."

Angelina beamed. "Great! See you out there at two. Don't tell anyone on the team. I want it to be a surprise."

I chuckled. Angelina was going to be an awesome captain. I looked over at Bella, who was looking at me. I could tell she thought so too.

~*~UHS~*~

Bella and I had left lunch a little bit earlier, claiming to want a small bit of time to ourselves before we joined everyone at the pitch. What we were actually doing was going to collect our brooms, then hiding inside the stadium before the other members of the quidditch team arrived.

Angelina had wanted to talk to the team before she called us out to help. Bella and I would have to temper our speed and strength, but Angelina knew we would push the team to try their absolute best.

"I know this isn't what you wanted, Edward. But I'm glad we're helping the team," Bella said from next to me. We had gathered our brooms, leaning them on our shoulders, before holding hands and making our way to the pitch.

I shrugged a little. "Maybe we'll be made honorary members. That would be very cool."

"It would." Bella chuckled before she sighed. "Although, it would be really nice if we could play."

"One day, Bella. Like you said, if anyone can change the rules, it'll be Hermione. And she's aiming for a life in politics."

Bella laughed. She'd had many conversations with Hermione about the rules and regulations of the Ministry. Hermione wasn't just aiming for a life in politics, she wanted to work her way through several departments before eventually taking the top job. Hermione wanted to become a Minister for Magic one day, and she wanted to make things better for not only wizards but all magical kind.

I have no doubt she will be successful, Bella thought as we snuck into the stadium around the pitch. We both could hear as the rest of the team was making their way out of the castle, as well as the rest of our friends. Hermione has a lot of drive and the passion to make it possible.

I pulled Bella close, kissing her when we found our hiding spot, before I whispered, "She does. But then, so do we. We can be everything that we want to be, and we have the time to."

Bella nodded and snuggled into my embrace as we waited. Angelina was in the process of welcoming everyone to training and explaining a few things to all the team members. She was wanting to establish the fact that she was the captain this year and that things would be run differently.

That was our cue. The both of us picked up our brooms from where they'd been resting and walked out onto the pitch. I snickered because it wasn't just the team members on the pitch who were surprised at our entrance but all of the spectators up in the stands as well. Bella couldn't help but smirk. She wondered what they were thinking.

"How we made it on the team, for one," I whispered. "If we aren't, then what the hell are we doing here, and with our brooms." I listened for a bit as we continued our walk across the pitch. "Everyone on the team is also wondering what we're doing here, considering we aren't allowed to play on the team."

Bella's giggle lilted throughout the stadium. This will be truly amusing.

I kissed her head, pulling her close. "That it will."

Angelina didn't say anything until we reached her side. "Welcome. Thank you for coming out." She turned to face the others. "I've explained that this year's training sessions would be unique. And to help with those training sessions will be Bella and Edward. We'll be using their speed, their strength, and their infallible memories to create strategies to win this year's quidditch tournament."

Fred and George high-fived with cheers while Harry smirked. Ginny ran up to hug Bella, then me. But Katie and Alicia were a little confused by what Angelina meant. They knew we were fast, strong, and more than capable.

"What do you mean?" Alicia asked.

Angelina turned to us and indicated to our brooms. "Do you mind?"

I laughed while Bella shook her head. We both mounted our brooms and kicked off from the ground. In about five seconds flat, we'd both circled the quidditch pitch. We were having a ball and laughing our asses off.

We stopped floating above our friends. "Wooo! That was a rush!" Bella laughed out loud before she looked down to some open-mouthed stares, causing us to break into laughter all over again.

"It was, Bella. It's so nice to be able to spread our wings and fly!"

Angelina laughed at us before she called our attention. "Do you think you could show us some moves with the quaffle? The bludgers? Or the snitch?"

"Sure, Angelina, do your worst!" Bella and I both shouted down to her.

With another laugh, Angelina kicked the trunk that held the balls. The snitch flew out with absolutely no hesitation while the bludgers took off at a speed I'd never seen before, and I wondered if they could sense that they were going up against something different. Angelina threw me a bat, and I sped off after them. Bella raced off after the snitch.

For the next few minutes, I protected Bella from the bludgers as she raced around after the snitch. Those damn balls were aiming for her, I was sure of it. It didn't matter how hard, or how far I pelted those things, they would continuously come back for her—harder than the last time. In the end, I caught the damn things with my hands as Bella closed in on the snitch. The bludgers were struggling in my hold, but I watched Bella catch up on the snitch. As Bella got closer, the damn thing started weaving all over the place, but my girl kept steady. She didn't weave; she maintained her flight path and gained ground before she eventually just reached out and snatched it right out of the air.

"WOOOO, BELLLLAAAAA!" the crowd of our friends roared as she held it above her head. Although, I could hear some rather nasty thoughts and comments being made by Pansy Parkinson, not that I paid any attention to them. I could see that Bella wasn't either. I had a feeling if her smile wasn't so wide, Bella would be rolling her eyes. As far as she was concerned, Pansy was an immature child who would never grow out of her immature ways.

She wasn't wrong. I'd seen it happen time and again in the muggle world.

I flew down to hand Angelina the bludgers before flying up to give my smiling girl a smacking kiss aboard her broom. "You'd make a damn brilliant seeker, my love."

"Thank you, Edward." Bella graced me with one of her rare blushes before kissing me again and flying off to put the snitch away in the trunk. She flew back up to where I was waiting after Angelina had given her the quaffle. "Are you ready?"

"Oh, baby, I was born ready."

"Oh, no, he didn't!" Emmett stated before laughing his ass off.

Jasper was laughing too, but he managed to gasp out, "Yes, he did!"

Ignore them. I do, Bella thought to me with a smirk. "Let's show them what we've got. Go long!"

"Baby girl with the football reference!" Emmett cheered, causing me to laugh as I flew away from my girl.

I was halfway down the pitch when Bella tossed the ball to me. She had a hell of an arm. I could hear the cheering from down below as I flew toward the quaffle. For a few moments, Bella and I flew around the pitch, chucking the ball at each other. That was until Angelina sent up Fred, George, and the reserve beaters—Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper—as well as the bludgers.

"Oh, come on, Angelina, that's unfair!" Bella laughed, catching the quaffle from me and spinning upside down on her broom to dodge a bludger pelted at her. "At least, give us a couple more chasers!"

"Nuh uh! Let's see what you've got. I'll give you fifteen minutes to score as many goals as you can!" Angelina called back to us.

I snickered. "Let's give 'em hell, baby! Full speed."

"You got it, Edward!" Bella laughed.

Bella and I poured on the speed, using our natural abilities to outdo any of the bludgers being pelted at us. But it wasn't just the bludgers the beaters were using against us; they were also trying to knock us off our brooms physically. While they were good, Bella and I were just that much better. We ducked and weaved, faster than anyone could keep up with, including the bludgers.

In fact, Bella and I flew circles around the beaters. By the end of the fifteen minutes, Bella and I had scored nearly a goal a minute. Instead of stopping the beating Bella and I were giving them, Angelina snickered and sent up both Ginny and Neville, the Gryffindor keepers. As we were only playing on half of the pitch, both Ginny and Neville defended the same goals, making it six against the two of us.

"Really, Angelina? Do you want us to fail?" I laughed, dodging a bludger being pelted at my head before passing the quaffle to Bella as she streaked past me, only for her to dodge Neville, loop-the-loop around Ginny, all before scoring our next goal.

I could hear laughter from down below before Angelina answered. "No, Edward, but I want you to train the players."

"Then how about you get up here and train with us. How about Harry comes up, and you play the other snitch, and we have ourselves a real match?" Bella called back as she zoomed past Alicia and Katie. "Have Emmett and Professor Whitlock keep score!"

"Sounds like a fair deal. Harry? Emmett? Professor?" Angelina asked. Emmett and Jasper stepped out to the pitch, nodding. Emmett was gonna keep score for Bella and me while Jasper would count for the others.

"Which team are you gonna be on?" Harry asked Angelina as he mounted his broom.

"I'll be with Edward and Bella," she answered, mounting her own broom. She smirked before she finished with, "Gotta give the rest of you the best chance at winning."

"What about beaters? You taking any?" Harry asked as he kicked off the ground.

"Nah," Angelina laughed. "We aren't going to need them."

"Draco!" Bella yelled. He had been sitting down with Fleur, Gabrielle, and some of the others. Since he had begun "dating" Ginny openly, he started hanging around us more regularly. It was a relief for him because it got him away from the friends his dad deemed suitable. "Grab your broom and be our ref!"

We could hear him laugh from here before he stood, released his wand, and pointed toward the castle. With an "Accio Broom", Draco waited. A few short minutes later, he mounted his broom as it flew past and joined the rest of us in the sky. He looked down onto the pitch. "Emmett, can you give the trunk a kick, gently, please?"

"You got it!" Emmett used his speed to race onto the pitch, kick the box, releasing the snitch, and then back to the edge where Jasper was standing.

Gameplay had come almost to a halt while we waited for the others to join in. Sure, the bludgers had continued to be hit around, but we weren't really moving all that much. I looked around as Draco flew himself into position. I could see that Angelina and Harry were itching to head off and find the snitch but were holding their positions above the pitch.

Draco smiled, holding his hand in a fist above his head. The whistle in his other hand poised and ready to blow. "Are we ready?" There were cheers all around, from not only us but our spectators on the ground. It seemed that word had gotten around about this unorthodox training, and they were coming down from the castle to watch. With no more preamble, Draco blew the whistle, and our match began.

It was Bella, Angelina, and me against everyone else. We had no beaters nor did we have a keeper. This match was going to come down to our skill and speed, scoring as many goals as possible before Harry caught the snitch. And the match—it was an all-out assault on us. The bludgers were being pelted in all directions from the four beaters, and their chasers had no shame in trying—emphasize on the trying because they had to catch us first—to knock us off our brooms to get the quaffle. A rather dirty, underhanded tactic as Bella pointed out. Much like the ones employed by the Slytherins year in and year out, Bella said, much to Draco's amusement. And Ginny and Neville tried every secret they had to try and block our goals.

But in the end, even with Harry eventually catching the snitch, Angelina, Bella, and I won one-eighty to one-sixty. Somehow, Bella and I had defended the quaffle so well that the others only got one goal in.

We were all panting when we landed on the ground, Bella and I included. So much so that we all had to sit to rest for a few minutes to regain our breath, even though I didn't need it.

When Angelina had regained her breath, she sat up, crossing her legs. "Well done, guys. That was a great practice session even though we only played a scratch match. It has given me an idea on where we are as a team and what things we need to work on."

The others all nodded, but my attention was drawn to the edge of the pitch where Madam Hooch had joined Jasper and Emmett on the sidelines. I wondered how long she had been there.

"Next training session," Angelina continued bringing my attention back to her, "will be more about drills and stamina. Bella and Edward will be here to help in any way they can. We may even end the training sessions with a more even game for practice. For now, let's head in and clean up. Good work, everyone."

Chatter picked up as we all collected our brooms, Bella grabbing mine so I could carry the trunk for Angelina.

They would have made lovely additions to the Gryffindor team. I don't believe it's fair that they should miss out because of what they are. If the Gryffindor players can keep up with them, I don't see why the others couldn't. Madam Hooch's thoughts called out to me as we made our way into the locker rooms.

Maybe there was hope for us yet.

~*~UHS~*~

"She thought what?" Bella asked the next day. We were outside on the lawn, enjoying the weather and doing our homework.

The others laughed at Bella's disbelief. Well, that and her mouth was hanging open. I snickered. "Madam Hooch doesn't understand why …"

Bella laughed, shaking her head and hands in tandem. "No, no. I heard you. I was just in shock. Do you think we might be able to play one day?"

"Maybe not in our time here, Bella. But maybe when our kids are accepted into Hogwarts."

Harry pointed at me. "Oh ho! You haven't even left Hogwarts, yet you're planning on your kids becoming quidditch team members."

"Of course." I frowned in mock severity. "We've got time to have enough kids to take over the world."

Bella sputtered. "And how many of these kids am I supposedly giving birth to?"

Laughter broke out once again. I just pulled Bella close, giving her a smacking kiss on the lips. "As many as you'll give me. There is no time limit."

"No time limit or no limit on the number of children?" Bella whispered in my ear.

I kissed her again. "Either or. However many you want, Bella. I'm just glad I can have them."

"Me too." She leaned forward, kissing me again.

We made out for a few minutes until the hoots and hollers started causing us to break apart with a laugh. It took a few minutes of good-natured teasing for us to get back to the topic at hand, namely homework, and to concentrate because being outside was so distracting as it was so beautiful out. I mean, who wants to do homework when we could be enjoying the sunshine? But alas, considering the plans Bella and I had, we needed to get this homework done.

For a while, there was nothing but homework being done. That was until I heard a fluttering of feathers before a large owl landed in our midst.

"Hermes!" Fred and George said together. "What are you doing here?"

Hermes seemed to look over at the twins with almost a look of disgust. His head swiveled back in my direction as the twins scoffed. Hermes tilted his head at me, seeming to want to say something. I cycled through until I reached the frequency in my brain that the owls talk to me on. Percy sorry. He wished he could get this to you sooner. He says Fudge keeping secrets.

"Thank you, Hermes. What have you got for me?"

Hermes held out his leg, giving me a letter. He looked to Bella for a pat, then once he received that, he flew off again without waiting for a response. Bella and the others went back to doing their homework while I ripped open the envelope holding Percy's letter.

Edward,

I wish I could have sent this earlier, but I think Fudge is having the mail randomly checked so I have to be careful. I sent this from my apartment this morning.

Some of the Ministry believe that Harry got off on a technicality when it came to being expelled from Hogwarts. They think he should have been sent away, possibly away from London all together. Tell Harry not to make too many waves.

Fudge and Umbridge have been meeting recently. They've been discussing big changes to begin happening at Hogwarts. It's not going to be good, and it's starting tomorrow. Check The Prophet.

Keep your head down and your eyes peeled. Things are going to get worse before they get better.

I'll send something soon.

Percy.

"Well damn." I sighed putting the letter down. "That's not good."

Every single one of the misfits—including Fleur, Gabrielle, and Draco—looked up at me to see what was happening. Instead of explaining, I handed the letter to Bella. She read the letter and handed it on. I waited quietly until everyone in our group had read it.

"What do you think that means?" Neville asked.

"Who the hell knows? Whatever it is, it's going to change things around here." I sighed again. "Bella, I have a feeling Fleur will be joining our little study group soon."

"Mmhm." Bella nodded. "I also think we'll be unable to go to any classes soon enough."

"We need to talk to Sirius," Harry said. "I'm gonna send him a letter. See if he can get in contact with us. Meet you all for dinner?"

We all nodded as Harry packed up and went off to the owlery. Not much homework was going to get done now, so we packed up as well and headed to Gryffindor Tower to drop off our stuff. I had a feeling it might be a long night.

~*~UHS~*~

Harry had received a letter back from Sirius just after dinner. He told Harry that we should meet him in the Gryffindor Common Room at one AM. I had hope that Sirius would be the more forthcoming member of the Order because I had a feeling they were trying to keep stuff from us now that we were here at Hogwarts and trying to deal with Umbridge.

Bella and I had been relaxing in my chair as we waited for the others to come down. It had been a quiet night in the common room. Most people were heads down into their homework. The only ones not suffering as much were the first years because they were eased into it rather than being thrown in the deep end like us.

"How much do you think we'll accomplish this year?" Bella asked as she was reading a sixth year book for Care of Magical Creatures.

I pulled in a deep breath, answering as I let it out slowly. "I supposed that depends."

"On what?"

"On how many classes Umbridge can kick us out of. How much reading and learning we can get done. And whether we actually have a teacher. Because we'd learn more with a teacher."

Bella nodded. "Maybe if things go the way we're thinking, we can write to someone to come and teach us exclusively?"

"That may be a good idea."

We continued to talk about what we could do if Umbridge was determined to interrupt our schooling but stopped when we could hear the movement of the others preparing to sneak down. Just before one o'clock, Fred, George, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione joined Bella and I on the lounge chairs in front of the fireplace. We were all chatting aimlessly, wondering how Sirius was gonna come talk to us, not one of us paying attention to the fireplace in front of us.

That was until it sneezed. I had never seen six other heads turn as fast as ours did. We weren't even sure what we'd suspected until there was another sneeze, and a group of embers burst forth from the coals and simmering flames.

Harry climbed down off the lounge and kneeled in front of the fireplace. "Sirius?"

"Harry?" the fireplace asked before a loud grunt emitted, and Sirius's face popped up out of the coals and into the flames. "Harry, my boy! How good it is to see you."

"You too, Sirius. I must say you have us a little worried."

"Us?" Sirius wondered. That was until Harry moved to the side a little. "Oh good. So glad you could all make it. But first, why did you contact me and not, say, your father?"

Harry sighed as he stood up and sat back down next to Hermione. "Because as much as I love my dad, he won't be as honest as you. He'd still like to shelter me from the harsh realities of what's happening. And not just me; he'd want to protect all of us."

Sirius looked around at us all. He nodded slowly, contemplating what to say. "You might be right. What did you need to know?"

"What do you know about Delores Umbridge?" I asked, unwrapping my arm from Bella's shoulders and leaning forward, placing my elbows on my knees.

"Oooh, nasty piece of work. You're asking because she's there teaching, right?" Sirius asked. His only answer was several nods from around the room. "She's no death eater, as foul as she is. Remus doesn't like her."

"Does he know her?" Hermione asked.

Sirius shook his head. "No. But she drafted some legislation after Remus was outed that was so anti-werewolf if it wasn't for the fact that you, Edward, hired him, he would be unable to get work."

"She really has no morals," Ginny grumbled. "Is that why she drafted it?"

"I think she's truly just scared of them. Loathes anyone who isn't human. Apparently, she campaigned to have mer-people rounded up and tagged last year. Why would you want to waste your time and energy persecuting mer-people, I don't know. Surely, there are others worthy of her attention," Sirius answered. "What are her classes like? Is she training you to kill half-breeds?" There were snorts from all around the common room in response to Sirius's question. "What? What have we missed?"

"Bella and Edward have been removed from her class, as has Fleur," Fred answered, and before Sirius could say anything, George continued with, "And we are not—absolutely not—allowed to use magic in any of our Defense Against the Dark Arts classes."

"Ahh, I guess we shouldn't be surprised. We did know about Bella and Edward—Esme told us. She'd overheard what had happened with Umbridge and their lesson. We had also assumed that with their removal, Fleur would be removed too. What about Gabrielle?"

"At this point, Umbridge hasn't seemed to connect Fleur with Gabrielle, so Gabrielle's still in classes," Bella stated. She was pissed at what was happening, but there wasn't much we could do. "Although, I have no idea how she's missed that. Anyway …" Bella waved her hand. "Why are you not surprised by Umbridge not letting them do magic?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. We could see it plain as day even through the fireplace. "Information coming from our source inside the ministry says that Fudge doesn't want you trained in combat."

"Trained in combat!" several members of our group very nearly shouted, causing Bella to "shush" them. We all paused and looked up at the ceiling to see if anyone had woken up. When they looked at me, I shook my head, so we all turned back to the fireplace.

I asked the obvious follow-up question. "Fudge thinks we're forming some sort of wizarding army? Here? At school?"

"It's what he thinks you're doing, or what he's afraid Dumbledore is doing. He's afraid Dumbledore is training an army to take on the ministry," Sirius said sarcastically. "Because Dumbledore has the time on his hands to train all of you little monsters, all at once."

Chuckles broke out around the common room, relieving the tension that this conversation had created. But it was Neville who made the tension dissipate with laugher when he said, "So, because Fudge is a moron, scared of his own shadow, we're being prevented from learning how to defend ourselves? And I thought Cormac McLaggen said some stupid things."

After we had settled down a little, Sirius looked, well … serious. "Yeah. Fudge is getting more and more paranoid about Dumbledore by the day. I have no doubt he'll find some trumped-up charge to remove him from Hogwarts in the near future."

It was those words that helped me to remember the original reason for contacting Sirius in the first place. The letter from Percy. "Sirius, there was another reason we contacted you. We received a letter from Percy today."

"Oh?" Sirius asked surprised. "What did he have to say?"

I told him of the changes that Percy hinted at coming. "Have you heard anything?"

Sirius shook his head. "We've not heard anything about it." Sirius growled. "This is the kind of information we should know. I'm gonna get on this as soon as we've finished here. My suggestion to you—all of you—is to keep your heads down and try to stay invisible. Do not make yourselves a target because Umbridge, and Fudge, will be gunning for all of you."

We nodded at Sirius's words. I'd never seen him as adamant as he was right then. We said our goodbyes, but we took a few minutes to think about what had been said. It was Hermione who interrupted the silence. "That means, Harry, that you need to keep your mouth shut in class and stop antagonizing the blasted woman. We don't need any more attention on us."

"Y-yes, Hermione," Harry stuttered. He wasn't quite sure what to do with this forceful attitude from her. He'd seen it directed at other people but never at himself. Bella and I watched as a shiver wracked his frame, and a large piece of the armor he had surrounded himself with withered and fell away. It opened Harry's heart up enough that the feelings for Hermione spilled forth. He raced after her as she took steps away from him. Nobody else was paying attention but Bella and me, so we were the only ones to hear when Harry spoke. "Hermione, would you come with me to Madam Puddifoot's next time we go to Hogsmeade?"

Bella smiled, leaning into my chest as I wrapped my arm around her while Hermione answered with a whispered, "Harry, I'd love to." Both of them left to go to the dormitories with smiles on their faces.

If Umbridge cancels our trips to Hogsmeade, I'm going to set up a date in the Room of Requirement for them. They deserve it. Bella looked up at me.

I leaned down and gave her a gentle but loving kiss on the mouth. "That they do, beautiful girl. And it's about time I gave you another one. Next weekend?"

"Yes. A thousand times, yes."

~*~UHS~*~

The following morning while everyone was sound asleep, an odd owl landed outside my window and tapped to get in. He was looking intently at me while holding a letter in his beak. I'd never seen this particular owl before, but I did recognize the handwriting on the envelope. As I reached over to let the owl in, I wondered what Sirius could want that we hadn't spoken about the night before.

Once I'd retrieved the letter and given the owl a treat, I sat back to open it.

Edward,

I wanted to give you a heads up, but I didn't want to alarm anyone else. Hagrid should have been back by now, but as you know, he hasn't returned. However, Madam Maxime has.

I know Dumbledore isn't worried. I'm not sure that man ever worries. It really is rather frustrating.

Could you do me a favor? Keep your ear to the ground and pass along any information you might gather. Hagrid has always been a dear friend to humans and creatures alike—Remus and me included.

Just … keep us in the loop.

Sirius.

I looked up to see that the owl was still waiting for a reply. I quickly scrawled my answer on a parchment, including what Draco had told me, before sending the bird on his way. I would definitely be listening a little bit closer from now on.

I did some more reading and worked on a few assignments until Bella came down from her dorm. She had gone to bed not long after we spoke to Sirius. When she reached me, she climbed up onto my lap for a snuggle.

"Morning, Bella," I murmured in her ear. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah," she breathed, leaning in to give me a passionate kiss. It was almost like she couldn't hold back.

"Mmm, what a way to start the morning," I said in between kisses. "What brought that on?"

You just looked all delicious, sitting here doing your homework. I couldn't help myself. Did you mind?

"Hell no. In fact, come here and give me another." I pulled her mouth to mine, giving in to the need that was simmering under the surface. I kissed her long and deep. Our mouths moving together, tongues moving against one another, only breaking apart to take a breath, before coming back together again. It was one of the best make-out sessions we'd had to date.

When I pulled back, Bella was deliciously kiss rumpled. Her lips were beautifully bee stung and a deep cherry red. I knew that, had I been able to, I would have been as hard as a rock. What surprised me was that I was looking forward to that day more and more. I couldn't wait until I could show Bella all my love, physically as well as emotionally.

"What?" Bella asked, quite dreamily I might add. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I just … love you, Bella. That's all. I can't wait to be able to show it to you."

She leaned forward, placing another kiss on my lips. "You show me every day, Edward. Every day. But I know what you mean. I look forward to that day also."

"Good." I breathed and pulled her mouth back to mine. I was going to make sure she'd feel it all day long.

Bella and I didn't stop; it was like we couldn't, and I was more than fine with that. There were days where I still felt off, showing her this kind of affection, days where it took me a little while to realize that she was no longer the ten-year-old mate I once had. She was now almost fifteen years old, and sometimes, that took me by surprise. Then other days were like this. Where we couldn't get enough of showing each other the affection we held for one another. Where I couldn't wait to be able to show her that much more. I knew that those days were fast approaching.

We didn't stop making out until there was a throat clearing from the gap between the wall and the cupboard that created my door. We both looked up, surprised to see Hermione standing there with an amused smirk on her face, the rest of our friends laughing quietly behind her.

"Do you plan on coming to classes today?" Hermione asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Um, maybe?" I answered in a question. I wasn't quite sure where I was, let alone what time it was. Bella had muddled my brain, and that had never happened to me before.

There was more snickering from the peanut gallery as Bella buried her head in my chest. I could feel that she was blushing. "Are you asking me about whether you should go to class, Edward?" Hermione laughed. "Because I could guarantee that Mum would have a lot to say on the subject."

I shook my head to clear it and looked down at Bella, who was looking at me with mirth dancing in her beautiful eyes. "You think this is funny?"

"Yeah, kinda." Bella snickered. "Don't worry, I lost track of all things too."

"Think we should get ready?"

Bella huffed out a sigh, playfully glaring at our friends and family. "I suppose so," she said, climbing off my lap and heading for the stairs. Just know … I'd rather have stayed right where I was … all day long.

Jesus. When the time came that we could be more intimate, she was gonna kill me.

~*~UHS~*~

Bella and I were in, somewhat, better control of ourselves by the time we all made it down for breakfast. Although, I had the lingering thought that Bella and I were gonna have to sequester ourselves when the time came for the mating instinct to hit. There wasn't going to be anything that could stop us. Not even Voldemort himself. In fact, I would almost feel sorry for the guy if he tried anything while we were in the throes of that kind of passion.

We were halfway through breakfast when the owls that delivered the post started flowing through the windows, Athan in the lead.

"He doesn't look very happy," Bella murmured from next to me.

I looked up to see that she was right. Athan had the owl version of a very pissed-off scowl on his face. His eyebrows were furrowed over his big yellow eyes, and he landed with a thump on the table.

"What's going on, buddy?"

I was frisked this morning. Frisked! Can you believe it? All of the mail has to be checked before it reaches you. I tried to sneak past, but that pink lady had cast some magical spell on the owlery. We all have to hand over our letters, or packages, for someone to check first.

My eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

Yes! How dare they! They have no right! Mail is personal!

I soothed my little buddy by running my hand down his ruffled feathers. "I know it's wrong, Athan. But I have a feeling more things like that will be happening. Keep your cool, don't let it bug you, and know that I would never send—or request—anything that will become an issue. Okay?"

Good, good. Okay. He sighed. I'll just go back to the owlery. Do you have a treat? Saffy would like one.

I smirked and handed over two treats: one for Saffy, and one for Athan. "Make sure that one gets back to Saffy. Or I have a feeling Bella will be getting a visit." Athan had the grace to look ashamed. On a few occasions when I had sent him off with a treat for Saffy, they'd miraculously not made it. Saffy, while having learned to stick up for herself, still liked to come to her "mum" for some things.

Bella, having heard our conversation, leaned over to look at Athan. "I'll find out if you don't give it to her, and I will not be happy with you."

Athan smooched the side of Bella's face. His version of an apology kiss. He didn't like it when she was upset with him. I promise.

I snickered. "He promises to give it to Saffy. We'll come see you both soon, okay?"

Okay. See you later. Athan flew off without another look back, Saffy's treat held firmly in his claw.

"Edward," Harry said, looking at me with horror all over his face. "You had better look at the paper."

I frowned but looked down and rolled out the paper in front of me, only to see the confident, self-assured, brown-nosing face of Delores Umbridge staring back at me. She stood looking down her nose at the camera but keeping her eyes on it as it moved from side to side. My eyes rose to the headline, which was equally as startling.

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM AT HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY.

"What the hell is this crap?" Bella asked, quite loudly, from next to me. I looked up to see she was looking in the direction of the teacher's table.

"Bella," I reprimanded quietly. "We aren't to draw attention to ourselves."

"Hmph. Give me the insert for The Truth, please, Edward. You read that dribble first."

I kissed the side of her head and handed it over, whispering the reveal word into her ear once I'd found it.

I looked back at the front page to see what dribble had been written.

In a first ever move, the Ministry for Magic has appointed Delores Umbridge as High Inquisitor—a first in its own right—at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Delores will be looking over all the day-to-day running of the school to make sure that the school is performing up to the high level it always has done.

On the 30th of August, an education decree—Educational Decree #22—was passed, giving the ministry the leave to find a teacher, should the headmaster be unable to find one, by the beginning of the school year. Which is how Delores Umbridge was appointed Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts and given leave to completely rework how the students are taught magic in the defense class, much to the delight of many parents who have felt that Dumbledore has been slacking in his duties as of late.

Overnight, another educational decree—Educational Decree #23—was passed. This one giving Delores the right to inspect her fellow educators, their classrooms, and how and what they teach their students. This decree was passed to ensure that any teachers not performing up to Ministry standards would know that their days were numbered at Hogwarts.

A concerned parent, Lucius Malfoy, had this to say on the stance the ministry was taking. "My mind is more at ease now that I know Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation. Many of us, with our children's best interests at heart, have been concerned about Dumbledore's decisions over the last few years. I, for one, am glad that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation."

These decisions have included controversial staff appointments such as Remus Lupin, known werewolf, Alistair "Mad-eye" Moody, disgraced and paranoid ex-auror, and the half-giant Rubeus Hagrid.

There have been rumors, as of late, that Albus Dumbledore, once Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, is no longer up to the task of managing our prestigious school.

A Ministry insider had this to say last night. "I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is the first step to ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster who will do the best for our children."

We will keep you updated as the changes are made for the better at Hogwarts.

"This cannot be happening," Hermione grumbled. "How dare he! This is taking things a step too far."

Harry placed his hand on Hermione's arm. "This is what Sirius was talking about last night. This gives them the leeway to look for anything to remove Dumbledore from his position as headmaster."

Bella handed over The Truth quietly as I slid The Prophet to her. She was silently fuming. I would have to get her somewhere where she could explode … soon.

"And I have no doubt they'll find it," I said before looking down. The headline was the first thing to catch my eye.

MINISTRY SEEKS CONTROL OF HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY.

An unprecedented and, somewhat, underhanded move has been made at the ministry overnight. Cornelius Fudge has imposed on the good teachers and students of Hogwarts a High Inquisitor. This is a first of its kind in the history of Hogwarts School.

Back before the school year began, on August 30th to be exact, the Ministry passed Education Decree #22, giving them a way to install one of their own spies at Hogwarts under the guise of a professor should Albus Dumbledore be unable to fill a position. Because Dumbledore had been unable to fill the, seemingly cursed, role of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Fudge placed his own—Senior Undersecretary to the Minister—Delores Umbridge in the position.

While The Prophet reports that her regime for the defense classes has been a rousing success, sources from inside Hogwarts report that is not the case. In fact, I have confirmed rumors that students have been banned from her classroom because they aren't full-blooded humans, that the older students have been given the same book to learn from as the younger ones—"Dark Arts Defense: Basics for Beginners" by disgraced author, Owyn Gudel, who works for the Ministry itself. My source also confirms that the students are only reading the textbook; there is no use of magic in any of the defense classes. It's a theory-based class only.

Is that what you want for your children?

Thanks to Educational Decree #23—which gives the High Inquisitor more power than necessary, she will be able to inspect her fellow teachers and possibly remove them from their position. Two of the elder members of the Wizengamot have resigned from their positions.

Grishelda Marchbans and Tiberius Ogden disagree with what the ministry is doing. Grishelda even going on record to say that, "Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost for Cornelius Fudge's office. This is a disgusting, further attempt to discredit Albus Dumbledore, and I will not have it."

"Whooee, this is going to get ugly," Neville said aloud. "It really is going to be a battle of words, isn't it?"

Bella shook her head. "Not just words, I'm afraid. Fudge is going to do anything and everything to discredit Dumbledore. To make sure that nobody believes a damn word he's saying." She pointed around at the other students, the teachers, and our family members. "Thank goodness the younger generation is smarter than that. That we have people like Professors McGonagall, Sprout, and Whitlock. As well as Mum. Because if we didn't have people willing to do whatever it takes to battle the stupid going on around us … we'd lose before we even begin."

"What do we do?" Fred and George asked together.

I looked around at my family and friends in Gryffindor. "We stick together. We learn what we can, and we share it with all of those around us. Especially Luna, Gabrielle, and Fleur. It's the only way we're going to beat Umbridge and Fudge at their own game."

~*~UHS~*~

The game is afoot. Things are happening. And did you love Athan's reaction to being frisked? I love writing that bird - he's hilarious.

See you all in a fortnight!