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

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

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

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

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

See you at the bottom ...

Chapter Fifteen ~ Quidditch Cancelled?

Sunday night while I was reading away the hours with Bella on my lap, a house elf came into the common room with a piece of parchment to hang on the notice board. If something was being placed on that thing, it could only mean bad news.

Once the house elf was gone, I stood and placed Bella on my seat. She remained asleep as I walked over to the notice board and looked down at the parchment the elf had placed.

EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER TWENTY-FOUR

By order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

All student organizations, societies, teams, groups, and clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An organization, society, team group, or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor.

(Professor Umbridge)

No student organization, society, team, group, or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or belong to, an organization, society, team, group, or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled from Hogwarts.

Signed: Delores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor

"Pretty high on herself, isn't she?" Bella spoke from beside me, scaring the crap out of me. "I mean, how many times can one say 'High Inquisitor' without being obnoxious?"

I snorted. "I have a feeling there will be many more of these, and they're all going to sound as obnoxious as this one. But to answer your question, I think Umbridge is pretty high on herself and the power she's been given."

"Think this is retaliation for yesterday?"

"I'm pretty sure that Willy Widdershins reported to her yesterday, and this is the result. She's trying to make sure that we can't undermine her control in this school."

Bella frowned, tilting her head at me. "By stopping children from studying? I mean, how many of us study in large groups?"

"And that's why she wants permission. To monitor. Looks like Angelina is going to have to get approval for the Gryffindor quidditch team to play."

"Then I can guarantee that our participation will not be allowed. It'll be a stipulation."

I shrugged. "More than likely. For now, let's just head back to my chair." I gave Bella my crooked smile and held out my hand. "I think we have some kissing to practice."

"Oh, Edward, I love how you think."

I pulled Bella down onto my lap when we reached my chair and kissed her like her life depended on it. "Oh yeah, Bella?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." Bella pulled back from me, causing me to whine. "Come back!"

Bella chuckled. "I love you, too, Edward." She looked me over. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I whined again, pulling her into me, kissing her again. "I just need you. Need your mouth on mine."

I kissed Bella hard, long, and deep. In between kisses, I murmured my love to her, and she to me. For several minutes, if not hours, that was all we did. I needed it on a level I couldn't understand.

Eventually, I was able to let Bella pull back for more than a few seconds. "What was that?" she whispered.

I shrugged, still holding onto her. "I'm not sure. Since your birthday, I've needed to kiss you like that more often. It's like something is calling me to you."

"My scent didn't change, did it?"

"No. It didn't. But something has changed with us." My hands skimmed down to rest on Bella's ass because I had pulled her onto my lap.

Bella looked over her shoulder at my hands before turning back and smirking at me. "I can feel that. Not that you haven't gripped my ass before, but I can feel the change." She kissed me softly. "What do you think it is?"

"You're so beautiful," I said as I stared up at her, causing her to blush. "But to answer your question, I think even though your scent didn't change, some of your—and my—hormones must have started to filter into our systems."

"Hmm, that may prove very interesting."

I smirked at her. Her thoughts showing me that she thought it was sexy. "It may prove to be very interesting. Now … give me those lips … at least, until everyone wakes up."

Yes, please.

~*~UHS~*~

Bella and I kissed and made out for a few hours until the other students began to rise. We knew when they saw the notice board this morning that all hell would break loose. When we pulled back from each other, Bella's hair was completely mussed up from my hands; her lips were beautifully swollen and a deep dark red. To me, she was even more beautiful when I got my hands on her.

"Ready for the day?" I asked her.

"Not in the least. The others aren't going to be happy about this." Bella thrust her thumb over her shoulder.

"Yeah, that's not going to go down well. Professor Umbridge is really making a name for herself."

"Huh?" Bella looked at me, all adorably confused.

I looked up, wondering why she was confused, then it clicked. "It's a muggle saying. It means that what she's doing is making her name known, and not in a good way."

Got it. Bella kissed me softly once more. I'm going to get ready for the day. As should you.

I nodded, standing as Bella stepped away, and made my way to my trunk to get ready for the day. I was able to change into my school uniform before the first of the Gryffindors came down the stairs. Ironically enough, it was the twins who came down first, and I knew they would be the ones to make a big enough stink about what Umbridge had done overnight.

I watched as they made their way over to the notice board to see if they needed to add more flyers and came to a complete stop.

"What the hell is this?" Fred asked. He looked around the common room, only finding me. "Edward? Do you know what this is?"

"There was a chance of Umbridge catching wind of our gathering yesterday. She's attempting to control what's being done in the school."

"By cancelling quidditch?" George … well … he kinda shrieked.

"She's cancelling any group that could be considered an army until she has complete control of their activities."

Fred was about to argue that quidditch was a pastime, not an army, when he saw Angelina exit the staircase. "Angelina, have you seen this?"

The look she gave him could have stopped Voldemort dead in his tracks. "Considering I've just come down from my dorm, do you think I've seen it?"

"No, sorry." George placed a hand on Fred's arm. "Just … Umbridge has cancelled quidditch, and we have to reapply as a team."

"Excuse me? What are you talking about?" Angelina stopped a few feet from where the twins were standing. "She's done what now?"

"Come. See," Fred invited. He guided her over and placed her in front of the notice board.

Angelina looked at the board, looked over all the notices, and then read the new notice. Educational Decree number twenty-four. She read it twice before she turned to me. "Why do you think this is?"

"Like I was telling Fred and George, Umbridge wants to control everything. She wants to know what's happening at all times."

Others had made their way downstairs as we were talking. Murmurs of conversations, questions started, wondering what was happening. The rest of the quidditch team had walked over to the notice board.

Angelina hummed. "But that's not all, is it? Something prompted this." She pointed at the decree. "Did she find out about yesterday?"

There were several questions about what happened yesterday, but I wasn't going to answer that question. I did look at Angelina, however, and replied with, "It's entirely possible. I warned Harry last night after we returned from Hogsmeade. We need to be careful, but Harry especially, because Umbridge has people spying on him. And I have a feeling that she will 'employ' the students of Hogwarts to do the same thing. Do not stop your groups but be careful about who is around you."

Angelina realized I wasn't just talking to her, but she nodded to me in acknowledgment of what I was saying. Bella came down to stand beside me. She looked up at me before she looked around. "Come on, everyone, let's go to breakfast. Don't let Umbridge control us anymore than she's already trying."

"I'll go and reapply for our team to play quidditch this season. We won't be cancelling our sessions regardless," Angelina said as she walked out the door first.

"Expect her to try to put some restrictions on the team including letting Bella and I practice," I warned her as we followed behind her.

Angelina snorted. "I don't doubt it. She has no scruples."

"Neither does the ministry," Bella muttered.

As we traipsed down the stairs, meeting up with kids from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, we realized that we weren't the only ones upset by this new decree. Umbridge was really starting to turn the children of Hogwarts against her. I smirked to myself. Umbridge would have to be really careful or she was going to incite a riot, or a coup, against her. If the children of Hogwarts went up against her, imagine the damage they could do.

Angelina made her way directly to the teachers' table as we all sat down for breakfast. She was going to make sure that the other teachers knew what was going on. "Professor Umbridge?"

"Yes, um … Miss Johnson?"

"This is my formal application for the Gryffindor team to continue training to be ready for the upcoming season. If we can't train, we can't play. And that application includes our seeker, Harry Potter, and our training partners, Edward Masen and Isabella Swan." Angelina nodded to Umbridge and the rest of the teachers—whose mouths were wide open in shock—before turning back and making her way to the Gryffindor table.

Bella was watching the teachers' table shrewdly. "Hmm, it seems the other teachers were unaware of Umbridge's latest attempt at gaining control." Instead of taking her seat, Bella also walked up to the teachers' table. "Professor Umbridge?" she asked sweetly.

Umbridge looked up surprised. "Miss Swan?" she asked with just a small sneer. She still wasn't sure what to make of Bella's heritage.

"I'm also placing my formal application for our study group." Bella smiled innocently.

"Study group?"

Bella nodded. "Yes. Myself, Edward Masen, Gabrielle Delacour, Ginny Weasley, Hermione Cullen, Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Fleur Delacour, and Draco Malfoy. We all study together, and sometimes, Fred and George Weasley join us as well. We find that studying together helps us to retain the information better. We want to make sure that we can continuing studying together." With that, Bella placed a piece of parchment on the table in front of Umbridge, and then made her way back to the table with a smirk on her face. Because if Umbridge approves this "study group", then that was half of Dumbledore's Army.

How could she say no to a study group?

We spent most of breakfast snickering into our food; thanks to Bella and Angelina, the children of Hogwarts decided that it was best to continue their applications for the groups, clubs, or whatever to continue meeting. Professor Umbridge was inundated with all manners of applications. She had so many sitting in front of her by the end of the breakfast period that she almost couldn't see over the top of the stack.

Once we were done eating, we made our way to our first lessons. It was going to be an interesting day, that was for sure.

~*~UHS~*~

By the time we made it to potions later in the day, the news of the latest decree had settled down. There were still grumbles about what Umbridge had done, but the students had started to focus on their lessons instead.

"Got a reply on your quidditch team yet?" Goyle asked in his deep gravelly voice from across the corridor. "'Cause we have."

"Uh huh," Harry answered without any type of emotion. He wasn't going to let them goad him.

What I wasn't expecting was Neville's reaction. He was furious. "What do you mean you already got an answer?"

Crabbe sneered at Neville. "Professor Umbridge didn't hesitate to give us permission. As soon as we handed over the paperwork, she signed off on the Slytherin quidditch team."

"How is that fair? We're just as entitled to play as you are! What's the point of having a quidditch league if some of the teams aren't able to play? It would be a boring season!" Neville exploded. He was yelling at Crabbe and Goyle, as well as any of the others who were listening in.

"Probably because our team isn't made up of queers and freaks, and we don't have someone who should have been expelled on our team either," Goyle replied.

Goyle was expecting some sort of comeback, but what he wasn't expecting—none of us were—was Neville launching himself at the two, rather large, Slytherin boys. I didn't catch the thought so I almost missed catching him. As it was, Harry and I only just managed to grab Neville's arms in time to stop him colliding with them.

"What is it that's so different about you guys? Is it because you break the rules all the time? You skirt them? Was Umbridge a Slytherin, so she's biased like Professor Snape?" Neville exploded. He was shouting so loud that Snape and Umbridge, who was in the classroom, could hear him.

"Neville, you've gotta calm, man," Harry hissed. "This isn't going to help us."

Neville glared back at Harry. "Why not? Isn't the only way for evil to win is for good men, or women, to do nothing?"

I leaned down to Neville's ear and whispered, "Yes, but this isn't the way to go about it. You're bringing attention to us. In this case, it's about subtlety and stealth. We won't be able to do what we want if Umbridge is watching us any closer than she already is. Besides, she's right inside the classroom with Snape, and they're coming this way."

Fine. Neville huffed in his thoughts, relaxing enough that we could let go of him. But I'm not happy about it. It's not fair that that woman is playing sides.

"War is never fair, Neville." I sighed.

Bella bristled when Snape stepped out through the door. He was already scowling. "What is happening out here?"

"Longbottom was attacking us, sir. There was absolutely no reason for it!" Crabbe stated, smirking at us.

Bella snorted. "Yeah, and if you believe that, then you're not half the teacher I thought you were." She didn't say it loud, but it caught the attention of several students around us. One even whispering, "when has that ever stopped him from taking Slytherin's side. He's biased."

Snape glared around at us all. He was going to give Neville detention, but he had been called out on his behavior, so he decided not to … this time. "Get in the classroom," he growled.

Instead of arguing we all just followed in silently. Bella and I stood quietly at our cauldrons, both of us wondering how this was going to play out.

Snape looked around at everyone in the classroom, letting out an almost imperceptible sigh when he looked at Umbridge. "Your potions need to be tested from last lesson before we get started on the new chapter of our book. Read through that, quietly, while all your potions are graded."

Pokey isn't here, Bella thought as she pulled out her potions book and a vial for the potion in her cauldron. Looks like Snape is keeping to the rules Dumbledore gave him.

"Think he'll do that if Dumbledore isn't here anymore?" I whispered at vampire pitch.

Nope. Umbridge will let him go back to his old ways. It'll spoil it for everyone.

"Hmm," I hummed as a brave student stepped forward to have their potion tested. They loaded it into the FIPRA and waited for it to spit out their result.

"What are you doing?" Umbridge asked the student, who happened to be a Slytherin by the name of Eric Undragon.

He looked up at Umbridge with a confused look, and he answered with a simple, "Having my potion graded."

Umbridge turned around to glare at Snape. "Why are you not grading the potions?"

"Because"—Snape looked down his nose at her, almost daring her to argue—"my bias became too much, and the headmaster made sure that I was unable to be unfair. All the student's potions are graded through this machine."

Umbridge sniffed. "Is it because you originally applied for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position and failed to get it?"

Quiet chuckles broke out through the room when the question was raised. Snape froze, his thoughts going haywire, as he glared down his nose at Umbridge, who was a good foot or so shorter that he was. He was not impressed that she would take that type of attitude with him.

"My bias has nothing to do with not getting the position of defense teacher. Regardless, this is how potions are now marked." Snape shrugged, a very un-Snape like gesture, stating what can you do?

"Hmm," Umbridge hummed. That's not how things are meant to be done. Teachers are supposed to mark their students work. This will not be acceptable when I'm headmistress. She shook her head slightly, not many would notice it, but Bella and I did.

I'm right, aren't I? Bella asked, looking at me through her eyelashes. I nodded to her question. Hmph. This is not good.

No, I thought. No, it wasn't. Umbridge has designs on being a lot more than a lowly teacher. Her words, not mine.

~*~UHS~*~

The rest of potions was quiet. Nobody knew quite what to say. We had all seen what Umbridge had insinuated when she questioned Snape. But we had all heard the accusations when she was asking seemingly random questions of the students. She was looking for information, but her mind was so busy with her randomness that it made it hard to get a read on what she was actually looking for. It was almost like she knew I could read her mind, and she would think of everything to keep me out.

Bella and I had filled in our small group of Gryffindor misfits on what I had heard during potions. They weren't surprised by it. In fact, I think we were all just waiting on the time that Umbridge would take control.

"Welcome, students!" Jasper said as he opened the door to his classroom. "Huh, it seems that today hasn't been a good day." What's going on?

"Umbridge," I whispered to Jasper's question. "She's playing the long game. She wants control of Hogwarts."

Hmm, we'll have to see what we can do about that. "Let's get on with today's lesson. We're starting something new today. Something that hasn't been studied here at Hogwarts until today, until this year. And that's something I'm intimately acquainted with. The Southern Vampire Wars of America."

I rolled my eyes and laid my head down on the table. I could still see Jasper, but I knew these wars almost as well as he did, considering I'd read his thoughts about them for years. I was only half paying attention when I heard Athan's thoughts come into range. He was exhausted but also concerned because his flying partner was injured. He wasn't thinking about how she gotten injured, just that she was.

I couldn't help my reaction, the minute Athan registered where we were, he started in our direction. When I registered that, I stood from my chair and made my way to the closest window.

"Mr. Masen, what are you doing?" Jasper asked when I had stood up.

I looked over at him. "Sorry, Professor, but there's some urgent mail coming our way."

He frowned. "But didn't the mail come this morning?"

Bella had come to my side. "It did. What's going on, Edward?"

Before I had a chance to answer her, Hedwig flew in the window with Athan not far behind her. You could see that Hedwig was injured; her landing not nearly as graceful as she usually was.

"Hedwig!" Harry gasped, jumping up from his seat and rushing to my side. He ran his hands over her, trying to feel for the injury.

"It's her wing, Harry. Her right one." I reached over and stretched the wing in question out gently. I slid my fingers along the bones and tendons, feeling until I found a spot where she flinched. "Bella, is Athan okay?"

I hadn't noticed that the class had gone quiet, even Jasper had stopped teaching. They were all watching what was happening.

"He seems to be," Bella replied. She too was running her hands all over him, checking for sore spots. "He's not flinching at any particular spot."

"Good." I was still testing the sore spots on Hedwig's wing. "What the hell happened, Athan?"

"Edward," Harry whispered as he took a quick look over his shoulder. "Owls can't talk, remember?"

I caught thoughts from those around us who wondered how I thought the owls could talk. I nodded. "Sorry, stress is making me a little loopy." I turned back to Athan and Hedwig. They were both looking at me. "What happened?" I whispered, my back to the audience.

Athan showed me that he had caught up with Hedwig on their way back from collecting the mail. They had flown together without an issue, right up until they'd hit the edge of the school grounds. That was when the first attack had come flying at them. Both birds were able to miss the original attack, but that wasn't the only one that came at them.

For several minutes, Athan and Hedwig attempted to avoid the attacks that were thrown at them until whoever it was managed a lucky shot, clipping Hedwig's wing.

It seemed that the owls were able to talk to each other because Hedwig was able to tell Athan to hide but to keep an eye on what was happening. Athan flew off, higher than he'd been before, in an attempt to keep out of the range of the spells that were still being flung in their direction while Hedwig slowed down her fall enough that she wouldn't be injured further when she landed.

Hedwig took over, showing her descent down to earth, only to land in front of Umbridge and her sidekick, Filch. They caged Hedwig in before pulling the letter from her beak. I could tell from her thoughts that she had not been happy about it. But what this showed me was that Umbridge had even less of a moral code than I had previously thought.

Jasper came up behind us. "Edward? Harry? Take the owls to Professor Grubby-Plank and have them treated. Bella, can you go with them?"

"Yes, Professor," we all answered together. Bella went back to our tables and gathered our books, notepads, and quills.

Before she could step away with them, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny reached out for them. "We'll take them," Hermione said. "Go. Get them treated."

Harry and I scooped up Hedwig and Athan and took off through the door with Bella on our heels. She knew she could help heal Hedwig, but we had to get away from everyone who didn't know she had that kind of power. We would get them checked out by Professor Grubby-Plank because then we would have another professor on our side. At least, that was the thought behind going there now. Bella would heal them when Grubby-Plank had assessed them.

"Out of the way!" Harry shouted as we made our way through the castle. I was going to tell him not to yell, but it seemed to be working for our benefit.

You will tell us what happened, Edward, Bella thought to me as she followed. I don't like seeing Athan and Hedwig injured.

"I will, Bella. As soon as I can."

We raced out of the castle and down the side of the hill toward Hagrid's hut where Professor Grubby-Plank held most of her lessons. She was in the middle of teaching Gabrielle's class.

"Professor, we need your help!" Harry shouted once more as we came upon the class. "Please!"

Professor Grubby-Plank looked up from where she was standing. "Come, quickly. Place the owls here." Harry and Edward placed Athan and Hedwig where the professor had indicated. "What happened?"

Now was the time. "Professor Umbridge has started monitoring our mail." There were gasps from around us. "She attacked our owls this morning."

"No!" Professor Grubby-Plank tried to growl. She, too, ran her hands over the owls, finding the tender spots on Hedwig and making sure Athan was okay. "This is not right. Your mail should not be monitored, nor should your owls be in any danger. Why?"

"Because she's working for the ministry. Because they think we're a danger."

Bella snorted. She was trying to hold herself back from just reaching out and healing Hedwig. "Because they think we're raising an army to go up against them, and that's why we're not allowed to perform defensive magic."

Professor Grubby-Plank froze at our words. "They think what? And you're not allowed to practice defensive magic?" Every single student in front of the professor shook their heads in the negative. Every single one. "How are you supposed to pass your …"

"We don't know," I answered. "Can you help them, Professor?"

"I could, but I believe Miss Swan could do a better and faster job. Don't you?" Professor Grubby-Plank answered. Bella looked up, surprised. She didn't think the professor knew about her powers. Professor Grubby-Plank smiled. "I've heard about your exploits with the dragon that lost her eggs during the tournament. Can you show us what a Veela who doesn't want to be a siren of legend can do?"

Bella blushed. She wasn't sure how she felt about the teacher knowing about her. Nor about showing the students.

"I think it's a good idea, Bella," I whispered. She looked up at me sharply. "Think about it. Gabrielle alone could learn a lot about herself."

Bella looked back at Gabrielle and all the others watching with barely concealed intrigue before looking down at Athan and Hedwig. "You're right. There's nothing wrong with showing others what I can do. I'm not just a witch."

I kissed Bella's head softly. "Good, baby."

Bella smiled at me before stepping around to where the professor had set down Hedwig. Bella reached out and placed one hand on Hedwig's wing and one hand on her head. The last time I saw Bella do this, it was with the dragon from the first task of the Triwizard tournament. The Chinese Fireball had been hit in the eye by a wayward spell cast by Viktor Krum, causing her to stomp all over her eggs and killing her babies. Bella and I had gone to Charlie Weasley—who had helped bring the dragons to Hogwarts—and asked if she could help it. Bella had placed her hand over the dragon's head and heart because that was where the pain had radiated. This time it was Hedwig's head and wing. I loved to watch my girl in her element, helping those who needed it the most.

The students behind us moved closer to try and get a better look at what Bella was doing. I hadn't actually watched Bella when she did this the last time, so I stood back, crossed my arms, and kept my eyes on my girl. She closed her eyes and tilted her head down toward Hedwig.

Slowly, quietly, she began to speak. "You're going to be okay, Hedwig. I know this hurts right now but know that I'll make everything better." Subtly, Bella's hands began to glow, not so much that humans could see it but I could. I could also hear through Hedwig's thoughts that she was feeling a warmth flowing from Bella into her. "This isn't going to hurt, Hedwig. I promise."

I watched with complete awe as my girl used her powers to heal Hedwig. I could feel the warmth emanating from her, it was … breathtaking. A few minutes later, Hedwig stood, once Bella had pulled back her hands, and shook out her feathers. Harry stepped forward and scooped her up in his arms. Bella turned and ran her hands over Athan. The silly bird puffed up and showed off, causing Bella to laugh.

"Hedwig seems to be feeling much better, and Athan too," snickered Professor Grubby-Plank as he continued to preen as Bella rubbed him down.

The class laughed, and I laughed along with them. But I was the one who spoke. "Athan, you can stop showing off now. You know Bella loves you."

There were several snickers as Athan deflated before our very eyes. He gave me a glare over his shoulder.

"Thank you, Bella, for showing us what a Veela is capable of if she chooses this path," Professor Grubby-Plank said as she stepped back next to my girl. "In regards to Professor Umbridge's need to check the mail, I shall be having some rather heated words about not only her methods but the fact that she's checking it at all. You children have a right to your privacy."

There were murmured "thank yous" from the children in the class, as well as from Bella, Harry, and me.

"Class is dismissed." Professor Grubby-Plank sighed. "It seems I have to go have a conversation with Professor Umbridge."

"Good luck. I think you're going to need it," Bella said as the professor walked past. The professor didn't respond verbally but gave Bella a nod of agreement. Her thoughts though were screaming at me. She had a feeling that this wasn't going to go well, and it would put her on Umbridge's radar. But she would fight for it because the owls deserved to go unhurt, and children deserved to have their mail uncensored.

"Come on, Bella. We need to get some lunch." I tickled Athan under his beak. "Thank you for the mail, but you need to go back to the owlery. We'll see you later."

You'll want to read that soon. It's from Mama Cullen, Athan thought as he nipped on my finger and took off with Hedwig.

I reached out to Bella even as I frowned down at the letter. I could see that Esme had written it, but why hadn't she just asked for Bella and I to come to her office and see her rather than sending us a letter.

Bella and Harry chatted about what Umbridge might do next as we made our way in for lunch. I listened to their conversation but didn't have anything that I thought I could add. All of the rest of our Gryffindor misfits were sitting at the table already by the time we made it into the Great Hall.

"Hey, what happened? Why did Hedwig and Athan get there so late?" Hermione asked.

Bella and Harry launched into the tale while putting food on their plates as I pulled the flap of the envelope free of the wax Cullen seal on the back. I opened the letter once I had pulled it free.

Edward and Bella,

I'm writing this from my desk, in my office, at home. I didn't want to bother you with what was happening while you all had so much going on.

I had a feeling when Delores Umbridge audited my class that I wouldn't be long for this teaching position. She made it abundantly clear that she thought Muggle Studies was a waste of time and resources. I knew she would be putting me on probation.

Besides the fact that she thought I was beneath her because of my status as a vampire.

So instead of waiting for the inevitable, I went and spoke to Professor Dumbledore. We devised a plan that included me taking a leave of absence. He tried to pay me, but I thought it would be better if I took an unpaid leave.

For now, Muggle Studies has been placed on hold. There will be no Muggle Studies class. The children will be asked to join another elective class, if they don't have enough, or will be given a spare class with which to do some extra studying.

Don't worry about me. When this is all over, Albus has assured me that I will have my position back, and the Muggle Studies classes will resume.

In the meantime, my classroom has been magically locked, so that no one may enter. But could you please keep an eye on it for me anyway? I'm almost positive Delores will try to get into it. Not that I think there's anything there that will help her, but I do think she will try regardless.

Don't worry about me. Concentrate on your schoolwork and staying under her radar.

Be good. Both of you.

Love,

Mom.

My hands clenched into fists, the letter scrunching up with it. I didn't realize I was growling under my breath until Bella's hands landed on my fist and arm. "Edward? Why are you growling?"

I couldn't answer so instead I looked down at my hand and focused on unclenching it. I managed to straighten the parchment out some before I was able to push it toward Bella.

My eyes slipped from hers toward the teachers' table where Umbridge was currently sitting. She had her back ramrod straight, and her nose in the air, attempting to look down her nose at everyone she looked over. But when her gaze slid to me, she froze. The glare on my face must have been fierce because she froze and the haughtiness slid from her face.

"That bitch!" Bella seethed from next to me. "I knew. I just knew she was going to do something to Mum!" Bella turned to me, seeing that I had Umbridge caught in my glare, and she stood and walked around in front of me. Bella placed her hands on my face and leaned her forehead to mine. Calm, Edward. We need to lie low, like Mum said. We can't do that if you're glaring at her all the time.

"But she ran our mother out of her dream …" I tried to glare around my Bella, but she pulled my face back to hers, making me look in her eyes.

I know, Edward. Umbridge … Bella growled in her thoughts … will get what's coming to her. I'm gonna make sure of it. She will rue the day she came up against the Masens and the Cullens. Okay?

My eyes closed as I took a deep breath and opened them as I let it out. I nodded slightly. "Okay. But we'll make sure of it."

Bella smirked just a little. "Good. Now, Harry, what did your letter say?"

"Sirius wants to talk to us tonight. Usual time. Usual place."

Bella looked over at him, then around at the others. "Then we'll be there. For now, let's get to class."

~*~UHS~*~

"What they are doing to the younger Gryffindors isn't nice, Edward," Bella murmured from her spot, sitting on top of my desk. She was watching the twins across the other side.

I had been listening to the boys. It seemed they had perfected their vomiting pastilles for the skyving snackboxes, but it seemed that not many people wanted them. They didn't want to miss any of their lessons.

"Hmm," I agreed with Bella as I looked up at her. "Neville and Ginny are going to have to talk to them because what they're doing could now be considered bullying."

Instead of respecting the other's choices of not wanting to vomit all over the place—even if they had developed an antidote to it—they were pushing the children to try them, to chew on the snacks. All while keeping track of who they were forcing them on so that they might be able to extract payment from them at a later date.

Bella frowned. She wasn't impressed. "People should be able to choose what they want, not have someone else's choices foisted on them." I snickered because she didn't know how right she was. "What?" Bella asked smiling at me.

"It was a common theme in the muggle world, especially when it came to religion. There were a lot of people who thought they were right, and they would try to force their choices on others." I pointed at the twins. "What they're doing is exactly like that. And that's not right."

"No, it isn't. Think Neville and Ginny will talk to them?"

I snorted. "I think Ginny will take them to task. She'll let them know in no uncertain terms that what they're doing is not on. And the good part … Hermione, Neville, and Ginny are on their way up."

Bella smirked, flexed her arm, causing her wand to extend, then pointed it at my trunk. "Accio popcorn." I couldn't help but laugh when some nice warm popcorn flew out and landed in her lap just as Ginny and Neville climbed in through the portrait to find Fred and George practically forcing one of their vomiting snackbox candies into the mouth of one of the first years.

"Fred! George! What do you think you're doing?" Ginny demanded, with her hands on her hips, looking almost too much like Esme when she was demanding that very answer from Emmett and Jasper. And probably a lot like Molly when she was scolding the twins at home.

Neville was standing behind her with his arms crossed over his chest. I remember when we first met Neville. He couldn't hurt a fly, let alone take part in a confrontation. But now, with the help of a loving family, Neville has become all that he's supposed to be. And the best part was that others could see it too. Including Hogwarts, as evidenced by him becoming a Prefect for Gryffindor.

"What?" the twins asked with faces that were as innocent as the driven snow. "What are we doing?"

"You're being bullies," Neville answered. My eyebrows shot up at that. I didn't expect him to be the one to state the obvious. The one to say something in the face of confrontation. "Forcing someone into taking your concoctions is not what I would call being friendly. Especially when most of them are first years. To me, that's no better than what Slytherins would do. What Voldemort has done."

Fred and George froze. As did half of the common room. Some couldn't believe Voldemort's name had been mentioned. The other half were surprised that Neville compared Fred and George's actions to that of Voldemort. Or had done.

"We would never!" Fred and George exclaimed together.

Ginny frowned down at them. "That's exactly what you're doing. You're pressuring these children into doing what you want. That's not what someone with good business sense would do. If you want repeat customers, then you need to make them want to take your concoctions. Besides … we're here to learn … why would we want to get out of it?"

Fred and George both opened their mouths as if to argue with Ginny, but what argument could they really make. They had been caught red-handed doing what they were accused of.

"Besides"—Ginny smirked—"if your products do as you say they do … then your sales should speak for themselves."

Snickers broke out around the common room at the stunned look on the twins' faces. It seemed that the boys had never thought about that further than pushing their products as hard as they could.

Neville held up a finger to silence everyone. "But, should you do what you are doing again, all of your products will be banished from Hogwarts, or at least the Gryffindor Common Room. I don't want to see you be assholes again."

Bella snorted before she burst into laughter. She couldn't believe Neville would say an actual swear word. It was not something she thought he would ever say. I couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. It was just so Bella. "Sorry," she breathed out between chuckles before laughing again. Eventually, she waved her hands in front of her face, trying to calm down. "Phew, sorry. Please, go on."

There were varying looks around the room. From amusement, to confusion, to understanding. That one was mostly from Hermione and Ginny. Ginny turned back to Fred and George. "Do you agree to our terms?"

The boys both nodded. What could they say? Ginny and Neville had clearly outsmarted both of them with their arguments.

George stayed quiet while Fred looked up at them with a thoughtful expression. "Can we set up a stall here in the common room? Somewhere where fellow Gryffindors can come to purchase things?"

"You may," Ginny said while Neville nodded. "And you can sell to the other houses, but keep it out of sight of Umbridge. She's not going to be as forgiving as us."

Ginny spun around and rolled her eyes in our direction. She had hope the boys would discontinue what they were doing, but she wasn't going to hold her breath. "Think they'll manage it?" she asked as she sat down at the end of my area. We had placed a couch there for our friends to sit on.

"I think they will. The pair of you have certainly given them something to think about," I murmured, looking over at them. They had their heads together, talking about what she and Neville had said.

Bella shrugged. "We'll have to give them time to prove themselves, or not. We'll see." She picked up the book she had been looking at earlier and started reading again. Bella decided she wasn't going to waste much time wondering about the twins. They'd either prove themselves or they wouldn't. There wasn't going to be anything she could do about it.

For the rest of the night, the misfits sat around and did some homework or spoke to others in Gryffindor. Slowly, others made their way up to the dormitories to get ready for bed. Eventually, the eight of us were the only ones left in the common room. We slowly migrated from our different places around the room to the couches and chairs around the fireplace.

"Did Sirius say what time he was going to contact us?" Hermione asked as she sat down next to Harry. She carefully placed her hand on Harry's knee. In a surprise move to Bella, me, and especially Hermione herself, Harry flipped his hand over and linked hands with Hermione. She absolutely beamed at him.

Wonder how long before they make it official? Bella mused, a small smile lighting her face.

Harry, however, had looked up at the clock on the wall. "Um … he said it would be the same as last time, so I assume any time"—the fireplace flared with a cough—"now. Sirius?"

"Harry, my boy! And everyone else too! How are things at Hogwarts?"

"Ugh." We all groaned, making Sirius laugh, but Harry answered him anyway. "It's … hard. Umbridge is making it hard. She has more control here than I think we're willing to admit, especially since she's become high inquisitor. Esme has already quit, and the Muggle Studies class has been dropped from the curriculum. And she's watching the mail, so I have no doubt she knows you're going to be contacting us."

Sirius frowned. "She's watching the mail? How?"

I snorted. "She attacked Hedwig and brought her down. In full daylight. She read our mail, and then let the owls go."

"Owls?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "Athan was with her. He stayed with her, and then helped her limp to our History of Magic class. Bella had to heal her."

Sirius hissed in anger. "That bitch! What is she playing at?" He paused, then looked around at all of us. "Then I better make this quick. Recruitment is better. Fudge is still trying to block us, but all of those ideas we had last time are working better at getting the message out there. So, good work." Sirius paused for a moment, seemingly taking stock of what was around him. "We've heard through the grapevine about your study group and that Umbridge is trying to stop it. Molly thinks it's a terrible idea. She's more worried about you all getting in trouble than learning your spells. I, however, think it's brilliant. Use your skills to keep out of trouble. All those little talents that you all have … use them to your advantage."

Sirius paused again, looking off to the left. He shot to the right-hand side as a hand suddenly appeared, groping, reaching, and stretching through the flames toward him. He gave us a panicked look. It seemed that Umbridge had figured out which fireplace he was talking to us through. "I'd better go. Good luck!" His face disappeared from view with a parting wink.

There were shakes of heads from everyone watching.

"That woman is a pain in the ass," Neville murmured. "We're gonna have to find another way to communicate with the others. Otherwise, our communications are all going to be monitored."

Hermione looked up at Neville as he stood, patting Harry's hand. "I have an idea on that. Just give me a bit of time. Although, Bella, did you have any luck with the mobile phones from the muggle world?"

Bella sighed with a shake of her head. "Not yet. I think they might be too computerized because the magic keeps interfering with them. I may need to source some older ones that aren't quite so up to date."

"We'll send a message to Esme in the morning, Bella," I said pulling her into my arms. "For now, we should get some sleep. We need to be at full strength just in case Umbridge decides to target us tomorrow."

~*~UHS~*~

The following day was quiet on the Umbridge front. I kept part of my talent focused on her for the entire day, but she never even left her office, nor did she focus on anything but her lessons for the day. I even cycled through the different frequencies to see if Umbridge had somehow managed to hide her thoughts from me, but they were as clear as glass. That woman couldn't hide a damn thing if she tried.

We were currently sitting in Charms class, practicing the silencing spell, Silencio, as a group while also discussing what had happened yesterday. Between Hedwig and the fireplace conversation, we had a lot to think over.

"Can you believe she had the nerve to monitor our conversation?" Harry whispered from beside me. "What was she planning to do if she'd grabbed ahold of him?"

I snorted as I jabbed my wand forward in the motion of the spell, not actually saying it, just practicing the movement. "Probably having him arrested for some trumped-up charge and trying to put him in Azkaban."

"Or maybe she'd try to force him to tell her how The Truth continuously hides their information and how they get it in the Prophet every day," Bella said from next to me.

"Well, I suppose it's a good thing she didn't catch him, isn't it? I mean, if the ministry really thought about it, surely, they would have an idea of where The Truth is being printed." I laughed quietly lest I catch Professor Flitwick's attention. Although, he was pretty good about us having conversations, as long as we were quiet.

Quiet laughter broke out around us because over the summer, we had set a plan in motion for the printing presses of The Daily Prophet to be sabotaged enough that they would have to look elsewhere to do so, specifically at Masen's Printing Consortium. The aim, at the time, was to be able to give the person slipping the pages of The Truth inside it easier access to do so. But it also gave us the added advantage of being able to keep—at least some—of their propaganda out of it. We couldn't stop the Ministry controlling the content of the articles written by their journalists, but we could control some of the advertisements going into it.

"No doubt." Hermione laughed from in front of me. While Ginny asked, "When have the people in charge of the ministry ever been smart?"

Neville looked over Hermione's head with a sarcastic smile on his face. "Isn't that the reason the politicians are in charge? Because they're the smartest of us all? They know what's best?"

"Sure," Ginny agreed, shocking us all because we thought she was being serious until she chuckled and said, "That'll certainly be the case when we have Hermione Cullen as Minister for Magic. Until then, we have to make do with mediocre."

Laughter broke out, once more, loud enough to bring Professor Flitwick over to our group. "Is there any learning going on over here?" he asked, looking around at all of us.

"Of course, Professor," Bella responded innocently. "Would you like to see?"

"Very much so, Miss Swan. If you wouldn't mind?"

"Not at all. Ginny, could you please channel Alice for a moment?"

Ginny laughed before launching into a monologue of Alice's last lecture, um … conversation … about what she was designing for her shop. She was giving us an exact rendition of what Alice had been saying.

Bella smirked. With a jab of her wand and the incantation Silencio Bella silenced the words coming out of Ginny's mouth.

"Wonderful, Miss Swan!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed as Bella removed the spell from Ginny, allowing her to speak once more. "Can all of you perform this spell as well as Miss Swan?"

I nodded, as did Hermione, but Ginny, Neville, and Harry all shook their heads. They were close to being able to perform it consistently, but occasionally, their frogs and ravens were still able to make their croaks or caws.

"That's fine, that's fine. This is going to be homework until next class, so continue practicing with maybe a little less chatter? Hmm?" Professor Flitwick smiled at us before moving onto the next group of children.

~*~UHS~*~

We had just made it to the Great Hall for dinner when we were ambushed by none other than our quidditch captain, Angelina Johnson. She was panting slightly when she managed to stop all of us in the doorway. Instead of stopping to catch her breath, Angelina blurted, "Gryffindor's quidditch team has been allowed to reform."

"What?" we all asked at once, with only Bella asking, "including Edward and me at practices?"

Angelina was nodding before Bella had even finished. "Yes! I couldn't believe it either when Professor McGonagall told me, so I went and asked Professor Umbridge. She has given us permission to rejoin the quidditch league. And she said that it's okay for Bella and Edward to train with us. I got the impression that she didn't think it would make a bit of difference."

Harry snorted. "Of course, she wouldn't. She doesn't think much of us at all. Let's make her eat her words. When are we training again?"

Angelina smiled. "I'm so glad to hear you say that. The first game is in three weeks against Ravenclaw, and I want to prove we're as good as we've ever been." She looked at all of our impatient faces and laughed. "I've secured the pitch for tonight. Eat a light dinner. I'll see you in a couple hours." With a wave, Angelina left to find the rest of the Gryffindor players.

"Guess we got our marching orders for tonight," Harry said as he spun to Hermione. "The weather is supposed to be bad tonight, so I don't want you out there watching."

"But …" Hermione began to argue, only to be interrupted by Harry.

Instead of standing there watching as those two finally began their journey together, Bella and I reached out for Neville and Ginny's hands and towed them to the Gryffindor table. This was something they had to figure out on their own.

~*~UHS~*~

So ... what do we think of Umbridge now? Having Esme placed on administrative leave ... not cool.

See you in a fortnight!