Chapter 41

Dudley stood with Sirius and the Malfoys in the office of the store belonging to the Weasley twins. They'd allowed it to be transformed into a mail hub for the students who were resisting some witch named Delores Umbrage. The group was anxiously awaiting a quick visit with Harry, Draco and Mr. Snape but Dudley was too nervous to stand still. His nerves stemmed from a different reason than the others and he was visibly biting his lip and tapping his feet. He knew he shouldn't be anxious about this. He knew his cousin was a good person and wouldn't disapprove of his using his own money to help his parents ... right?

Just as he decided to sit on the nearest chair, the door opened to admit Mr. Snape. Harry and Draco followed quickly and Dudley greeted his cousin with a firm handshake while Draco rushed to embrace his mother.

"Harry... I need to talk to you." Dudley said with a frown. "Do you have a minute?"

"Sure, but that's about all we have." Harry grinned and led the way to a separate area for privacy. "What is it?"

"Now, I know you're done with my parents and all..." Dudley started with a grimace. "And I can't blame you for that - but Dad's in hospital for his heart and Mum thinks he's not got long left."

"So, you want to visit?" Harry asked gently.

"Yeah, but I also want to help them." Dudley looked earnestly at his cousin. "I want to send money and maybe take Mum in if she wants after Dad's passed."

"Well," Harry sighed. "I suppose it's not entirely unreasonable to want those things."

"Really?" Dudley asked softly. "You don't mind?"

"Dudley, they're your parents and they didn't treat you badly... Of course you love them and want to help. I can certainly understand that." Harry reasoned. "However, their behavior towards me during the time that I've known them, was reprehensible and you've seen the results."

"Yeah." Dudley said sadly. "You've left their house with no interest in returning."

"But that doesn't mean you have to ignore them as well!" Harry frowned. "I'll write to my solicitors asking what can be done and they'll contact you for further actions as I've already informed them of my intentions regarding your parents."

"But I'm only in the magical world because of you and won't I get in trouble for having contact with them?" Dudley fussed. "Won't you?"

Harry considered this. "Contact with the muggle world is discouraged if you're intending to live in the magical one, Dudley. The process to legally detach you from them was begun six months ago, and one of the requirements was minimal contact with them so you're right to be concerned ... but you're only keeping in touch with your mother who's a squib like you."

"She's not really like me... She's untrained." Dudley muttered. "And not likely to want training."

"Doesn't matter." Harry assured him. "I'll ask Sirius to double check with the ministry to be safe, but in the meantime you might want to make a clean break with Marge. She thinks you're kidnapped after all."

"Marge? Oh, I had Mum write to her ages ago." Dudley chuckled. "If I'd thought it would help anyone I would've let her keep thinking that, but it put you in trouble so I put a stop to it."

"Really? Ages ago?" Harry asked incredulously. "That's great! How did she explain?"

"I told her to say that I'd been in touch and explain how I got mugged and you chased the mugger off." Dudley replied. "In return, I helped you get to London and decided to go to a trade school instead of back to Smeltings."

Harry chuckled. "I wonder if she bought it."

"Seems to have." Dudley smirked. "Mum barely even mentions Marge in her messages to me anymore."

"Harry?" Sirius called from across the room.

"Erm - so, uh, Big D...?" Harry said hesitantly, holding up one finger to hold his godfather off. "I wonder... Have you uhm... I mean, you were never going to live with me forever and I won't say I wouldn't miss you if it's what you want to do, but have you looked into any property you inherited from our great-great grandmother."

"Huh?" Dudley frowned.

"I just mean..." Harry sighed. "Well, she's your mum and you'd want to live with her - right? But I'd prefer Petunia not be in my space... D'y'know what I mean?"

"Oh..." His meaning wasn't entirely clear to Dudley. "So, are you saying that if I take Mum in... you want me to move out?"

"No!" Harry rushed to assure him. "I mean, I thought we'd have years before we even had to think about that! There's loads of other options! She could live at your property and you could visit her there! No, that's absurd. You'd live with her there and visit me at the Grove when we're both on holiday from school!"

"What's going on?" Sirius interrupted worriedly.

"We're trying to figure out what would happen if I took my mum in cuz my dad is in hospital for his heart and not likely to get much better." Dudley explained.

"Well, I heard the options and I don't think either of you like those so I suggest we take a step back and think of a few more." Sirius patted them both on the shoulder. "We could get her a flat near the Potter townhouse! Or maybe she'd rather stay where she is and you can visit her. Have you even talked to her yet?"

Dudley frowned. "Not yet."

"You should talk to her since she's a grown woman and any decisions are hers to make..." Sirius smirked, shaking his head. "Except for the ones that are Harry's to make, like whether she gets any access to him and his properties."

Dudley sighed, knowing Sirius was right, and nodded. "Okay."

"Good. Now Harry, Narcissa would like a word with both you and Draco before you leave." Sirius pointed. "They're in the next room."

"You'll go with him to visit his parents if he asks?" Harry asked his godfather who nodded. "And you'll double check the rules about Dudley's situation for us?"

"Of course. Now, go." Sirius used his head to encourage Harry to move along. "There isn't much time."

"Bye, Dudley. It was good to see you!" Harry waved as he hurried to find Draco and his mother.

As Harry closed the door behind him, Draco received a final embrace from his mother.

"Harry, I want to thank you for relaying your concern over Draco's homesickness. It's gratifying to know that you're willing to support him that way." Narcissa smiled at her future son in law before turning a compassionate gaze toward her son. "I'm disappointed that he didn't convey it himself and I've told him so."

"You have..." Draco sent her a playful glare. "And I've promised to be honest with myself and others about such things in the future so can we please talk about something else?"

"Yes, darling." She smirked as she handed him a bound folio. "Here."

"What is it?" Draco asked, knowing if he didn't he'd have to wait until they got back to the school to find out.

"Several things are contained in that bundle, Dragon." She explained. "Since he couldn't be here, your uncle has sent you a short note. Regulus has arrived and wants to get to know you both so he sent a letter as well, and I also included a summary of the plans for the SSSHEEP gala for Harry."

Lucius and Severus quietly joined them and Harry knew what that meant.

"Time to go, Draco." He murmured.

"This has been so tough, Mum." Draco sighed. "I hope it's over and back to normal soon."

"Draco, my darling, life itself is tough..." She spoke softly, forcing him to look at her. "But so are you. We will endure."

"Unless she escalates first, I expect the next wave to provoke her beyond reason." Harry reminded his betrothed. "We have plans in place and a way for our families to reinforce us. We'll be on the train in March, Draco. I know it!"

Draco appeared to steel himself, nodding decisively and moving to open the hatch leading into the tunnel.

As they walked, Harry lit his wand. "Our plan is working but if we want her to lose it, I'll have to provoke her personally instead of using other people to do it."

"What do you mean, Harry?" Draco asked worriedly.

"What do you have in mind?" Severus frowned at the young lord.

"I need to get one of her detentions." Harry smirked.

"What?" Draco's eyes widened. "You're joking ...right?"

"No. It wouldn't work if it were anyone else, Draco. Think of it! If one student reports her harsh punishments, that's one thing and it can be written off as the student trying to get revenge. But if a group of students that includes the Earl of Inverness - a member of the wizengamut - reports her behavior...?" Harry trailed off suggestively. "I can call for a trial. I can ask the teachers to stand witness. There was even something written in Gryffindor's journal that suggests I have options outside of the Ministry."

Severus stopped and looked at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"I'm not sure of the specifics but as heir to the founders' magics, I have powers that affect the castle." Harry pointed out. "Look at my suite! It changes if I have the slightest need and even created this tunnel!"

"I don't know, Harry." Draco frowned. "It would have serious consequences if you were forced to write with one of those blood quills... I don't like this idea."

"Alright." Harry sighed. "I suppose we'll keep thinking and I'll look into the kind of powers I have with the castle."

The group started walking again and soon enough they came to the end of the tunnel, where Harry opened the door to his office and Draco began to say goodbye to his godfather.

Suddenly, Ron burst in from the sitting room with bad news written across his face. "Harry, thank Merlin you're all back!"

"Why? What's happened?" Harry asked worriedly.

"Umbrage has evaluated a few more teachers!" Ron replied ominously.

"Who?" Severus demanded.

"And what happened?" Draco asked urgently.

"Professors Sinistra, Vector, and Trelawney! I heard the first two got a hard time but I don't know anything specific about them because everyone is talking about Trelawney!" Ron looked between all of them. "She got sacked!"

Harry and Draco looked at each other.

"What will happen?" Draco asked Severus.

"She'll likely be put off the school grounds and replaced." Snape replied.

"Something's happening!" Fred and George shouted from the sitting room. "The hallway is crowded and people are crying."

Just as Harry rushed to the suite's door to see the situation, Hermione came out of nowhere and pushed him inside with a piece of parchment before pulling the door closed.

Draco grabbed the parchment after making sure Harry was steady on his feet. "Professor Trelawney is being publicly evicted from the castle!"

"When?" Snape asked.

"Tomorrow morning." Draco answered, handing over the letter.

"This can't be allowed to happen." Harry stated categorically. "Umbrage's people will take her someplace and obliviate her and she'll be useless when it comes time to testify against her!"

"I must speak with Minerva." Severus snapped and hurried to use the tunnel.

"I wonder if Tonks could help?" Harry pondered.

"What about your uncle?" Draco asked with a smirk. "I have an idea."

"Tell me." Harry replied in fascination.

Draco did and Harry loved it.

"I have a few concerns but it's the best option at the moment." Harry replied. "You tell Ginny and I'll send a patronus to Sirius."

Draco abruptly found himself tugged into Harry's arms and kissed hard on the mouth leaving him reeling as his betrothed turned to begin the spell.

When the stag had its message and was on its way, Harry and Draco settled in to wait and see what - if anything - came of it.

The halls were packed as Harry and his family attempted to make the trip to the Great Hall the following morning. Draco had gone ahead to meet his friends and Harry could see them down the hall near the doors leading outside to the main courtyard. The Great Hall was open and many students were seated at their tables but many more were milling around as if waiting for something.

Zack split off from the group and joined the Hufflepuff table while Luna and Ginny remained with Harry and Ron. The twins went to stand with their friend Lee.

Harry was debating with himself whether he should go eat with Ron or join Draco's group when there was a loud clanging noise.

The students fell silent as Filch's voice yelled for people to get out of the way and Harry moved slightly to see what was going on.

The Headmistress led Filch - who was carrying a trunk with two suitcases piled on top - and the former Professor Trelawney through the throngs of students and into the courtyard. Several more trunks floated behind them while the former professor held a small bag and cried into a bunched up handkerchief.

"How can you do this?" She fretted. "What will I do? Where will I go?"

"Elsewhere." Umbrage shrugged callously.

"Hogwarts is my home, you heartless woman!" Sybil Trelawney cried.

"It isn't your home anymore and it probably never should've been. The subject you teach is ridiculously unreliable, unproven, and controversial at best. You also have a severe drinking problem and shouldn't be around children." Umbrage replied happily. "Mr. Hagrid should be here any moment with a wagon to transport you and your belongings to Hogsmeade. Goodbye."

"She's kind of got a point." Hermione muttered from her position on the other side of the column Harry was leaning on.

"I can't believe this bitch." Harry gritted his teeth contemptuously. "She hasn't even sacked him yet and she's already verbally removed his Professorship!"

Umbrage turned away from the distraught woman and scanned the crowd. "Well? I believe it's breakfast time, children! Find your seats and begin the day!" Her smile was beatific as she walked happily back inside.

Ron patted his cousin's shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. "Let's go eat."

"Alright." Harry replied as Ginny leaned toward him.

"Harry, no! I want to say goodbye, Harry - please?" Ginny protested. "Please?"

"Alright," Harry nodded sympathetically. "I'll stay with her for a bit and meet you in there."

Ron sighed but nodded and left with most of the other students.

Some of Trelawney's biggest fans remained and crowded around her to try and comfort her or say goodbye but, within moments, Harry and Ginny were watching Hagrid lead a wagon up the path and into the courtyard.

The half giant looked uncomfortable with the sad group but noticed Harry in the background so he waved before starting to load Trelawney's things onto the wagon.

"Oh, Professor!" Ginny rushed in to get Sybil Trelawney's attention. "I enjoyed your class so much! I'm going to miss you!!"

"Goodbye, Professor!" Luna called, waving.

Harry approached as it seemed like the former professor was ready to climb up. He met Hagrid's eyes for a brief moment as he offered his former teacher a hand and knew that Hagrid had been warned.

"Can I write?!" Ginny spontaneously hugged her, whispered for her to not be afraid and slipped something into her pocket. "Wait until you can't see the castle anymore, then say the name of the charm and you'll be safe."

Harry slowly backed away as Ginny committed to her performance.

"Goodbye!" She shouted, crying. "I'll miss you, Professor! Goodbye!" Then, she collapsed into Harry's arms sobbing.

Sighing, Harry comforted her and glanced around at the other students who were mourning Trelawney's loss. One of the other Gryffindors approached and tried to distract her which only made her act more upset so Harry thanked the girl but explained that he was just going to take her back to the suite for a while but Luna stepped in and offered to take her so Harry placidly agreed and went into the great hall for breakfast lightheartedly because although nobody had seen it, the item that Ginny had slipped to their former teacher was a portkey shaped like a famous clock tower located in London and it would soon be back in his possession.

Luna and Ginny received the morning meal in the suite while Harry, Ron, and Draco went to their Transfiguration class. Before beginning the lesson, Mcgonagall announced that divination would be canceled for the rest of the year.

He watched carefully for the rest of the day and it seemed to him that the faculty had been shaken to their cores. After lunch, Harry found out why.

In another letter sent by Hermione, were the details of Umbrage's evaluations of Professors Vector and Sinistra. They had a few things in common. It had come out in the evaluations that Professor Vector was in a polyamorous relationship with two German men while Professor Sinistra was married to an Italian woman and the kicker was that they'd both voted against Minister Fudge.

The resistance had to do something about this racist bigot and, during dinner, an idea came to him so he scribbled a note and 'tripped' in the hall in order to drop it into Cedric's pocket.

On Wednesday, not a single Hufflepuff sat down for meals in the Great Hall because Harry sent his elves to give them a buffet in the Room of Requirement. On Thursday, the Gryffindor first, second and third years joined them. On Friday, the first three years of Slytherin students joined in along with the sixth and seventh year Gryffindors. On Saturday, the Ravenclaw first, second and third years joined in on the prank.

Classes had continued as scheduled and Umbrage hadn't noticed but, on Sunday afternoon, when someone mentioned the 'strange emptiness of the Great Hall during mealtimes on a weekend' in the headmistress' hearing, she called a mandatory assembly at dinnertime in order to announce a new educational decree.

All students stood in rows with their house and year mates in the spaces where the house tables were supposed to be.

"Good afternoon children. It has come to my attention..." She paused to giggle. "It's the silliest thing, really, but apparently a large group of you youngsters have been skipping mealtimes!"

Harry suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Now, I'm sure you've heard this because it's a common saying." She giggled. "But while all meals are important, Breakfast is especially important for growing children - such as yourselves."

A murmur went through the crowd.

"From today on, anyone wishing to attend classes must report for breakfast during the week." She informed them with a giggle and a huge smile. "If you don't, you will be magically locked out of the classrooms. Now, if you please, make room for the tables!"

The students backed away to the edges of the hall and the tables appeared, laden with food.

Harry frowned. He knew that most students couldn't risk that so they'd likely be returning to the hall for meals but Harry planned to test the execution of this rule and he told his cousins as much when they'd been dismissed.

"I don't think you should worry about it, mate." George smirked as the group approached the suite.

Fred chuckled. "I think everyone is a bit sick of her decrees."

"Including us." George winked at Harry as he closed the door behind his family.

Harry looked at them curiously.

"We've developed a few things to help the rebellion branch out." Fred grinned.

"Like?" Harry prompted them.

"Nothing you need to worry about little cuz!" George had a sparkle to his eye.

Fred's grin grew. "You'll find out tomorrow."

That was all they would say before going off to bed so Harry resigned himself to awaiting the surprise.

Harry arose the next morning excited to see what would happen next but he could never have prepared himself for the hectic day that ensued.

On his way to breakfast, Harry came upon a group of students that were stranded on one side of a large swamp. Ginny stopped him when he lifted his wand to assist in some way and pointed out that Mr. Filch was in the process of punting a raft back and forth across the swamp. He and Ginny boarded the raft with the others and soon arrived at the Great Hall where there was another catastrophe.

Madam Umbrage was stuck outside. The doors of the Great Hall refused to let her pass. That was odd enough, but then Peeves swept through the room making the torches flare and sparking a lightning storm in the enchanted ceiling which set off several hidden fireworks. Those fireworks began to explode in a domino effect of sparks and bangs which made several students jump but many more students laughed out loud in delight. When she wasn't admitted to the Great Hall, Umbrage stormed off to her office and was promptly locked in because of the same prank Professor Snape had saved her from the week prior.

The swamp was copied in numerous hallways over the next few hours until Filch gave up trying and retreated to his office while weeping uncontrollably. What hallways there were that remained clear, led to unoccupied classrooms or the hospital wing because whoever had perpetrated the swamp prank knew that people might have need of it. By lunch, classes were canceled and by dinnertime, the harried headmistress was upset but she still announced the next recipients of an evaluation.

Harry's cousins discussed it on their way back to the suite.

"Hagrid, Flitwick, and Slughorn..." Zack muttered.

Draco frowned. "If it's any consolation, I don't think he'll get evicted, Harry."

"No." Harry replied contemptuously. "She needs him around to take care of the grounds and creatures. She just doesn't want him teaching kids."

"And she needs someone to transport other teachers who get evicted." Ron interjected.

"If she evicts many more teachers she'll have to close the school." Ginny told them seriously.

"Draco, Severus will be in the next wave of evaluations." Luna said quietly. "He'll get a notice at breakfast."

"Then, I'll tell him now." Draco's voice rang with determination as he stood up.

"Can he be trusted to act appropriately surprised?" Zack asked, stopping him before he reached the office door.

Harry glowered at the Hufflepuff and motioned for Draco to continue. "He's the occlumens who's teaching us so he'd better be able to."

Zack nodded. "True."

"Who else is in the next round, Luna?" Harry asked softly.

"Professor Sprout and Madam Hooch." Luna answered. "I'm not sure why but she seems to be saving Mcgonagall for the last round."

"Does anyone even know what happened with Trelawney's evaluation?" Harry asked.

Just then, Draco returned. "Severus already suspected. Seems that she hinted several times today about it."

"Trelawney's evaluation was apparently an unmitigated disaster." George started.

"When Umbrage arrived, Trelawney was still handing out the crystal balls and she was startled into dropping one." Fred reported.

George interjected. "It broke."

Harry cringed.

"She had already started off on the wrong foot because of what happened at Slughorn's Christmas party." Fred continued.

George took up the story. "So when she sipped her tea in the middle of class, Umbrage insisted on sniffing it to be sure there wasn't any alcohol included."

Fred broke in. "There was."

Draco grimaced.

"Umbrage continued to follow her usual list of questions and got acceptable answers but most of the damage had been done." Fred went on.

"The final nail in the coffin was what happened next." George told them. "She asked for a demonstration of divination."

"Specifically, she asked for a prophecy." Fred chuckled.

"Trelawney protested that 'the sight' doesn't work that way and she could use the tarot cards or a crystal ball if Umbrage insisted but that was the best she could do." George continued the story.

"Let me guess - she insisted." Harry smirked.

"She did!" Fred grinned. "Cards, tea leaves, and the crystal ball."

"Now," George sighed. "You know how subjective the cards and tea leaves can be!"

"And how unpredictable those crystal balls can be!" Fred broke in.

Draco frowned at Fred. "Not all crystal balls are unpredictable."

Everyone looked at him for a moment but George kept the story going. "And Umbrage seems to have an expert level of poker face so Trelawney had no chance of getting any clues from her."

"So she failed and, due mostly to the alcohol, she got what she deserved." Harry concluded with a sigh.

The twins nodded. "Right."

"Alright." Harry replied. "Let's see what happens tomorrow."

Luna stood up slowly. "For now, I think we should go to sleep."

Draco agreed and most of the others nodded and moved off to bed.

"Have you answered the letter from Regulus yet?" Draco asked his betrothed quietly as they climbed the stairs to their room.

"No. I'm not really sure what to say." Harry replied lightly. "He's asking lots of questions that are... I don't know... weird."

"Like what?" Draco asked.

"Things about the horcruxes and if any of them affected me." Harry told him with a frown. "He also asked if contact with Tom affected me. I didn't know what to say and I don't know him at all so I'm not really comfortable talking about feelings and stuff."

"I get it." Draco sighed. "He asked me a couple of odd questions too. Nothing like that but questions about dragons and about Merlin's book or anything I might have access to in the Dragonlord's vault."

"Not sure I like this Regulus character." Harry mumbled.

"Maybe he's different in person." Draco nodded. "Good night."

"Good night..." Harry said softly, kissing his cheek lightly.

Draco smiled a little. "Do you want to come in here tonight?"

Harry nodded. "Just for sleep?"

"I could be persuaded to do more than sleep." Draco's smile turned into a smirk.

Harry chuckled and followed the blond into his room.

Down in the dungeons, Severus Snape was pacing. Some of the things Lucius had told him last week were disturbing. Lorelle Brooks had come to visit him to try and return to Hogwarts because she couldn't get past the lockdown wards. Nott was working with an outside contact to retrieve Tom's horcrux instead of working loyally for Tom's aims. Other things Lucius had relayed to him were simply interesting, such as the way that Regulus seemed to be interested in the more esoteric magical arts than Narcissa remembered, and that Sirius Black and his brother had reconciled so the transfer of the Black Family townhouse had been completed along with the ownership of Kreature the house elf.

He couldn't wait to talk to someone else who had interest in similar subjects. Lorelle was knowledgeable in some of the topics he enjoyed but the way Lucius had made it sound was that Regulus had been studying while in exile. Severus enjoyed studious people.

Hearing a knock at the door, he sighed. He was probably being called to rescue the foolish headmistress from another prank. No rest for the weary. He supposed as he called out for the person to enter.

The door that opened wasn't the one he was expecting. It was the door to the secret tunnels.

"Hello, Severus." Tom smiled at him.

"My lord!" Severus answered, bowing his head.

"I shan't stay, but I wanted to introduce Regulus and assist Ms. Brooks in finding you." Tom replied. "I also bring a letter for Harry from his godfather and another from Narcissa."

"Regulus Black is here?" Severus asked.

"Yes, I am." Regulus nodded formally. "If you don't have room for me, I'm told Narcissa's boy might have an idea."

"I'll just take my old room if nobody has moved my things yet." Lorelle smirked. "Hi!"

Tom left his minions to settle in and smirked to himself when he considered the expression on his old friend Severus' face upon hearing that Regulus had arrived.