Ninja Wizard V 12
By David
Author's Notes: these marks ( ) indicate Japanese spoken. See my profile for further details.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. JK Rowling has that pleasure.
Ninja Wizard V 12
"The Inquisitor Squad"
Returning to Hogwarts was the one thing Harry Potter always enjoyed. To see the castle lit up brightly always made him feel good. But not this evening. He stood in the hall and looked up at the new notice on the board just outside of the great hall. Umbridge had finally done it. She had finally taken the last step in removing McGonagall from her place as master of the school. Harry worked to keep the rage he was feeling from overcoming him. To make matters worse, Draco Malfoy popped up next to him with a bright cheery smile on his face.
"Hello Potter!" he laughed. "Reading the good news? Madame Umbridge is the new headmistress here now! Oh, and that's not the only change. I am now in charge of the Inquisitor Squad! We are the ones who are to be her eyes and ears around here now. Even the prefects and the head boy and girl answer to us! Isn't that great?"
He walked away laughing and Harry really worked on controlling his temper. He knew now it was just a matter of time before things really went out of control. He followed Hermione in and found his crew sitting at the tail end of Gryffindor house table.
"We saw," Ron whispered to him. "We definitely have our work cut out for us now."
Harry nodded, knowing it was the truth. "Just be cool for a day or two and we will find out just which way the wind is blowing, and then we work up a plan of action. The club continues until we get burned by her as our luck is bound to run out sometime. I am going to teach right up to the very last second."
Ron grinned at him as Harry looked at the others. He glanced up at the head table and didn't see McGonagall there. Snape had a proud look on his face and Harry knew he had gone over to Umbridge. Filch looked just as pleased and Harry knew his little warning had been neutralized now that Umbridge was running the show. Umbridge took the platform and stood at the podium. The hall grew quiet.
"I have been named the new headmistress of Hogwarts," she announced.
There were gasps of surprise now that she had actually confirmed it.
"There will be a number of changes taking effect immediately," she continued. "Mr. Draco Malfoy is leading the Inquisitor Squad, a group of students who share my feelings as to what Hogwarts is to be. They report to me. The head boy, head girl, and all of the prefects will report to them. They are empowered to enact punishments and dock house points for any infraction of the rules, and there will be changes to the rules here. The rule book is available in each common room of all four houses. I will have order here!"
Harry knew that it wouldn't be long before hell came knocking on the front door of the castle.
It started the next morning when Malfoy encountered Harry, Hermione, and Ron on the stairs coming down to breakfast. He smiled brightly at them.
"Good morning Potty," he said cheerfully.
Ron snarled and began to push past Harry and Malfoy smiled. "Ten points off for attacking me, Weasel."
Harry restrained Ron and shook his head. "He's not worth it, Ron. Let him be."
Malfoy laughed as he pushed past them. Harry continued on down the stairs to the great hall only to meet Filch at the doors.
"There you are Potter," he growled. "The headmistress wishes a word with you."
Harry sighed and followed Filch back out of the great hall and to the stairs. Harry wondered where they were going as they went past where the hall to the headmaster's office was. Harry speculated and then realized that Hogwarts had sealed up the headmaster's office against her. Harry felt a warm feeling go through him as he realized that Hogwarts was now fighting back. They entered the DADA classroom and went to the DADA professor's office. So she was forced to keep using this office then. Very interesting. Harry turned to watch Filch knock on her door. It opened revealing Umbridge. Harry wondered what the hell she wanted and knew he would find out in just a few minutes.
"Come in Mr. Potter," she simpered.
Harry hesitated and then walked in. Okay, let's see what the butt ugly toad was up to. He was directed to a chair in front of her desk and then she moved over to a sideboard.
"A drink, Mr. Potter?" she asked.
A red flag immediately went up. She was trying to give him a spiked drink. Harry considered his next action carefully.
"A coffee please," he replied. "Straight up and neat."
She blinked at that and then smiled. She turned her back on him and then made the drink quickly. Harry reached out with his senses and knew she was spiking his coffee. Harry nodded to himself as she turned around and placed the cup in front of him. Harry inclined his head and then picked up the cup. The Potter ring on his finger heated up for just a second and Harry felt the Potter Magic move within him and he knew it had just neutralized the drug in the coffee. Harry sipped.
"Oh dear, just a shade too hot," he said.
Umbridge smiled at him. "Oh too bad. I am most curious, have you seen Dumbledore?"
That told Harry that Dumbledore must be missing in action and that he hadn't returned from holiday.
"No… no I haven't," Harry scrunched up his face as he scratched his chin.
He took a bit more of the coffee.
"Where is your room?" he voice dropped a bit as if she was trying to hypnotize him.
Harry knew for sure the drink had been loaded. "So sorry, can't seem to remember."
Harry heard her teeth grind as she worked to control her temper. Harry began to act as if he was getting wobbly as he attempted to take another drink.
"Feeling… kinda funny… here now," Harry sighed as he acted like he couldn't hold onto the cup, deliberately missing the edge of the desk as he attempted to return the cup to the desk.
He saw the feral look of pleasure on her face. Harry leaned a bit too far over and crashed onto the desk, having missed with the cup and drenching the top of the desk with the coffee. His left hand came up and planted a magically hardened bug under her desk. The recorders in his trunk would copy everything said in here. Harry sighed and closed his eyes as if he was going to sleep. Umbridge slammed her hand down on her desk, making him jump up.
"WHERE IS YOUR ROOM POTTER!" she shouted at him.
Harry gave her a dopey smile and tilted his head. He watched her scurry around the desk and reach out to grab him. She shook him violently and asked the question once more.
"Where is your room?" she asked him, drawing out each word as if she was talking to a demented person and Harry giggled.
Harry knew it was time to leave when he saw her face slowly turn red and then purple from rage. He stood up and gave her another dopey smile and the headed for the door. She opened it and shoved him out into the hall. Harry stumbled down the hall and went round the corner. Harry came out of the hall in the right place where there was only one painting. The wizard that was pretending to sleep motioned to Harry after he hissed at him. Harry immediately slipped into the secret passageway and the painting snapped shut. Harry moved down the hall and felt the magic of Hogwarts wash over him and he knew he had just been moved to another place. He peeked out of that painting and made sure the coast was clear before zipping across the way into the open door of his private flat. Now he was safe.
Harry immediately sat down at his desk and wrote letters to Sirius and his family informing them of what had just happened and warned Sirius of potential trouble. Harry leaned back in his chair once the letters had been sent off. He wondered just what was to happen next.
(Tadeo,) Miyamoto spoke up, (a friend has just informed me that Umbridge has set watchers after you. Hogwarts is not about to let her get to you. I have also discovered a traitor from Ravenclaw has been stalking you in the last few months.)
Harry nodded at that. (I am not surprised, Miyamoto.)
(I wonder if he is responsible for putting those disturbing visions in your head,) Miyamoto said.
Harry sat up at that. (It would take a great deal of magic to get into my head completely. The visions I get have been inserted in quiet places of my mind. Perhaps it is time that Ron and I have a word with him and find out why.)
(Be careful, Tadeo. It would not do for you to get into trouble,) Miyamoto said.
Harry smiled. (Oh I never get into trouble, Miyamoto. It usually finds me first.)
(When are you going to leave here?) Miyamoto asked.
Harry stood up and went over to his recliner and sat down, stretching out in it. (Oh, in about an hour or two as she thinks I've gone someplace to sleep it off.)
(She did kind of give you a free hour or two,) Miyamoto chuckled. (I can wake you up in time for your next class.)
(Please, thank you,) Harry said as he stretched out in his recliner.
This would give him the chance to come up with another plan for dealing with the toad. What Harry didn't know was the castle was one step ahead of him in wanting to fight the toad.
Harry took his usual place in Transfigurations a bit early and waited for Hermione to show up. What he got was an extremely pissed off McGonagall. She stood over him and glared down at him. Harry looked up at her.
"I'm just as pissed off at them as much as you are," Harry began. "If it wasn't for the fact that the DADA position couldn't be filled the Toad wouldn't be here and that is not your fault. You did the best you could and now the both of us have to deal with this intrusion. She wanted to know where my room was and she fed me a spiked coffee in order to get that information from me. I will do what I can to keep her running after me and her little lap dogs too so the rest of you can do what you need to. I suggest you and the other teachers document everything she does and says as we can somehow turn this thing around on her and Fudge. I wonder just how much control she has over him."
McGonagall seemed to deflate a bit. "I've heard rumors."
Harry nodded. "Rumors is a start, but we really need to know. How are we going to knock her down?"
"I'll put the word out, Harry. This isn't going to last forever," she said as she moved up to her desk.
The door opened and people started coming in. Hermione joined Harry as his seat.
"Are you okay?" she asked him.
Harry sighed. "The Toad spiked my coffee and tried to get information from me."
Hermione's eyes got big. "That's a violation of your personal rights!"
"It is, and not much we can do about it now. I've already documented it and I plan on documenting everything as I intend to sue at the end of the school year. For now we keep on," Harry said.
Hermione nodded as the class got started. "I heard that she got Lee Jordan into detention."
Harry nodded. "I'll find him and let him know what to expect."
Harry did find him later in the day and followed him into the boy's bathroom.
"Hey Lee," Harry nodded to him coming up next to him at the sinks. "Hear the Toad got you."
Lee growled. "Yeah. That… thing gave me a detention for daring to question her."
"She got me too. I had to do lines with a Blood Quill," Harry said.
Lee reacted to that. "So the rumors are true!"
Harry sighed as another boy joined them at the sinks. "Very true. I suggest you document it with pictures once you get back to the Gryffindor commons room. I'm documenting everything she says and does to me so I can sue her at the end of the school year."
Lee and the other boy grinned. "So will we."
"If you hear of others having detention with her or had detention with her, pass it on. The more of us that is able to attack her the better," Harry said.
"Does that mean pranks against her?" the other boy asked.
Harry leaned his head back and twisted his head side to side to crack his neck muscles. "I did not hear that suggestion to flat out prank her big fat ugly ass."
Lee and the other boy grinned as they left the bathroom, Harry right behind them. A door to one of the stalls opened and Fred Weasley emerged. He had a huge smile on his face.
"Oh Mr. Potter, how positively bad ass you are," Fred grinned. "This is going to be a lot of fun!"
He leaned his head back and laughed out loud. He left the bathroom to find his twin. They had plans to make, pranks to pull, and revenge to gain.
If Umbridge thought she could bring Hogwarts to their knees, she was wrong. Lee Jordan struck the first blow the next morning with a simple prank, making the suits of armor croak anytime Umbridge passed one. By the end of the day she was steaming mad. She couldn't prove who was doing it so she struck back by throwing people into detention for whatever reason she could find. The pranking slowly escalated to the point where Umbridge was running after people in an effort to get them back. The Educational Decrees began to pile up faster than Filch could hang them up. Filch had definitely gone over to her side, making an effort to stop all of the pranking as well and the school simply included him in the pranks as well. The DA continued to meet on a regular basis, Harry teaching everybody defensive spells, moving beyond the fifth year requirements by now. Filch must have known something was going on as he took up a position in that particular hallway in an effort to catch students going to Harry's class, but Hogwarts was one step ahead of everyone as usual, creating new ways to get into the Room of Requirement. But the real work was getting done down in Slytherin's chamber beneath the school. Harry slipped down there one Saturday evening and found Ron leaning over a large worktable with a map of the Hogwarts grounds stretched out over it.
"Ron," Harry nodded as he handed Ron some coffee. "How's the planning going?"
Ron stretched, making things pop in his back. "Not too bad, Harry. I've been working up a plan to defend the castle for when the Dark Dork comes calling. I've got quite a few of your ninja friends committed to the defense. Charlie just wrote to me and informed me that I could count on a number of handlers and their dragons to help with the defense. They can rig up saddles that can carry two riders, one to pilot and the other to provide cover from the air using spells and potions. Fred and George are coming up with all kinds of neat things the riders can throw at the DE's and their friends."
"Very cool," Harry said. "Dobby was my envoy to the Hogwarts house elves and we just got their support. Seems Umbridge has been making life very hard for them too."
"Uh, oops?" Ron grinned.
Harry had to smile at that. "Oops indeed. The house elves are ready to riot."
"As long as she is their target I'm fine with that," Ron said.
Harry took a moment to look around the chamber. "Somebody's been busy down here."
There were boxes stacked neatly against one wall. A bunch of bunk beds lined another wall. Harry inspected one box to find glass vials filled with colored liquid.
"Be careful with those," Ron called out to Harry, "those are under stasis spells and I don't want to see you get hurt. Those are Fred and George creations, and they tell me they are bad stuff."
"As long as the DE's get hit with them," Harry said.
Ron sat down in a chair with his coffee. "Those two have been cooking up some really nasty stuff. They really are evil minded terrors."
Harry had to laugh at that. "Could have told you that."
Harry continued to inspect the area and discovered separate bathrooms and showers.
"I'm thinking that if things do get bad in the school some of us can go to ground down here," Ron said. "Sal was the one who proposed the idea, suggesting that some of us may become targets if Snape and the DE's do take over, we would have a safe place to run to down here. As he does still have pull with Hogwarts, the chamber can and will be protected. Neville's been stockpiling food down here in a separate area under stasis and preservation spells. He's been very helpful, helping me fine tune the battle plan by playing the enemy and pushing me to cover up holes and weak spots. He's quite vicious when it comes to playing Wizard's Chess."
A bit of laughter came out of the dark as Slytherin shimmered into being. "Thank you Mr. Weasley, for that very descriptive bit of respect for my playing skills."
Harry grinned as Slytherin joined them. He steepled his fingers as he looked at Harry.
"Nice to see you again, young warrior. I hear you are feuding with a lady called the Toad?" he grinned at Harry. "I can teach you a few wonderful curses to use on her."
"Thank you for your generous offer sir. Ron, I am going to need your help. Hermione is convinced there is somebody following me around and using dark magic to put things in my head. The last few days I've been feeling very dark intentions directed at me and I know for sure it's not Malfoy. That little boy couldn't do things like that as he's too busy plotting to try and take me down. Time I take this kid down and out of action against me," Harry said.
"The sooner the better," Ron said. "So how do we work this?"
Harry grinned. "Simple. You shadow me for a few days, find out who he or she is, and we set up a trap in the far corner of the library and go from there."
Ron grinned at that. "Sounds good to me. Let's do this thing."
Harry told Slytherin all about his visions and what had been suggested. The man sat there for a bit and pulled on his beard as he listened.
"That does sound like very dark magic," he finally said. "The fact that this is happening after you have set up your Occlumency shields tells me that this person is very skilled. Be very careful when dealing with this person."
"We will," Harry said. "I just want to know why he or she is doing this."
Ron looked up. "I say he's working for Voldemort and he sent him after you because he wants something from you."
"Even more important we catch them and find out," Harry said.
Ron glanced at his watch. "Curfew is in thirty minutes. We need to get out of here."
Harry and Ron stood up and nodded to Slytherin.
"Have a good night sir," Harry said.
Slytherin nodded back to them. "And to you."
The moving stairs brought them up to ground level and they emerged from a painting underneath the great stairs. Harry reached out with his feelings and discovered the area was clear. Ron and Harry stepped out of the shadows and headed up the stairs. Harry led the way up the stairs as Ron followed. Harry felt his senses warn him of a Slytherin hiding in the shadows of a suit of armor so he made a point to talk a bit loudly of the secret room they had supposedly discovered.
"Never knew we could find interesting stuff in those secret rooms, Ron. Those wizard cards were awesome," Harry declared as they waited for the moving stairs to return.
Ron nodded as he caught on. "They're better than going to History of Magic, Harry. I've got quite a few of them now. Getting those chocolate frogs can be a bit expensive."
"I am going to pull my collection and see what holes I can fill in," Harry said. "I should trade my extras for ones I really need."
The moving stairs arrived and the both of them went up them to the third floor. Harry and Ron went around the corner and into a painting that opened for them. It took them right to Harry's secret flat.
"Think he bought it?" Ron asked a moment later.
Harry sighed. "I hope he did. Either he's my stalker or he's one of the Inquisitor Squad. I think he was one of the Toad's spies."
"I don't see any of this getting any better anytime soon," Ron said. "I just hope we can hold out until the summer holidays."
Harry nodded. "We can and we will. We just have to hang in there."
Harry knew that was easier said than done. Ron left the flat once the coast was clear. Harry sat down at his desk and sipped a bit of tea. He leaned back in his office chair and wondered just how much longer things would go before someone got pushed over the line and make a stab at Umbridge. She was definitely making life miserable for everybody in Hogwarts.
Harry looked over the note he was given at breakfast the next morning. It was a summons to McGonagall's office to meet in regards to what career he might be interested after graduation. Harry hadn't given any kind of thought about it at all and now McGonagall wanted to discuss it with him.
"Oh yes," Hermione said. "I've been doing quite a bit of reading to what kind of careers are available in the Wizarding world. Been checking out books from the library to look over the various things you can do here in the Magical World."
"Didn't know McGonagall was conducting career advice class," Harry said.
Hermione nodded. "I've already seen her and what we discussed was very interesting. So I've been reading up on various things."
Harry sighed. "I haven't given any of that a thought I've been so busy with trying to survive the year."
"Go and she what she has to say," Hermione said.
Harry turned back to his breakfast. "Okay, I will."
Harry knocked on McGonagall's office door, the one she had used for her Transfiguration classes. She had retreated back to it once Umbridge took over the headmistress position. She was still unable to get into the headmaster's office as it had sealed up tight the moment she announced she was taking over. The door opened and McGonagall stood there in front of Harry. She did not look happy. McGonagall gave him a slight move of the head and he instantly knew. The Toad was there.
"Come in, Mr. Potter," she said.
Harry walked in and took a seat and glanced over at Umbridge sitting in the corner. She smirked at him and Harry had the sudden feeling that this was not going to go well.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. I called you in here to discuss with you your career options," she began. "There are a number of careers one can choose to follow. My advice is to follow your strengths. What is it you had in mind to do after you leave here?"
Harry nodded. "I was thinking about becoming an Auror."
McGonagall beamed. "Splendid! The requirements are a bit strict, you need a minimum of five NEWTS or more…"
"Hem hem," Umbridge cleared her throat, and Harry watched McGonagall react, her face getting hard for a moment.
"You need to be top of the class in the core classes…"
"Hem hem," came once more.
McGonagall turned to the Toad in her corner. "What is it you want?"
"I do believe one of the requirements is a clean record," Umbridge stated, a slight smile on her face. "Mr. Potter has a criminal record."
Harry's face clouded over and he turned to face Umbridge. McGonagall reacted, laying a hand on Harry's arm.
"Potter has been cleared of all charges," McGonagall stated.
"That is still on his record and that is enough to disqualify him from ever working at the Ministry," Umbridge smiled sweetly.
Harry considered taking a swipe at her and then reconsidered after having the immediate thought that she was trying to goad him into doing something against her.
"I think that's something for them to consider, don't you think?" Harry returned a smile.
Umbridge glared at Potter. "I am in a position to ensure that you will never work anywhere in the Ministry, Potter!"
That was more than enough to convince Harry that she was planning on making his life as miserable as she possibly could. The Pink Toad was planning something that involved the Ministry. Harry decided a strategic retreat was in order before things escalated. Harry stood up and turned to McGonagall and bowed to her.
"I believe I've taken up more than enough of your time, Lady McGonagall. I will see you in class tomorrow morning," Harry smiled at her.
Harry picked up his pack and headed for the door. Just as he closed the door Harry heard McGonagall start in on the Pink Toad. That had gone rather well.
It finally happened the middle of March. Umbridge and Filch finally caught one of the pranksters that had made life very hard for Umbridge. Fred and George didn't show up for one of the DA classes one night making Harry wonder what happened to them. Harry had been the last to leave that Saturday afternoon, having held the class in the late afternoon prior to dinner as he had been calling the class at various times in the day to try and avoid detection. He discovered Filch in the hallway leaving Umbridge's office and he seemed to be overjoyed about something. Frowning he followed the old man down to the main foyer of the school and discovered a mob down there surrounding Fred, George, the inquisitor Squad, and Umbridge. She was glaring at Fred and George who looked unconcerned about what could possibly happen to them.
"I've got it!" Filch panted as he pushed through to where Umbridge was standing. "I've got the approval forms for the whipping they deserve! I've got the whip ready for them!"
Harry felt a chill of fear run through him as the crowd of kids looking on began to loudly protest.
"BE QUIET!" Umbridge shouted, letting off a few bangs from her wand.
Fred and George looked unconcerned about their fate and Harry wondered what they were up to.
"SO!" she turned on them. "You thought you could cause a disruption to the school! You thought you could prank me in MY SCHOOL AND GET AWAY WITH IT? I think not. You shall be punished for your criminal acts against me, against Hogwarts, and against the Ministry!"
Fred and George turned to each other and nodded.
"Yeah…"
"Sounds about right…"
Umbridge was so close to blowing a fuse and Harry hoped she would.
"STOP THAT!" she screamed at them.
"Stop what?"
"We talk…" Fred said.
"Like this…" George said.
"All the time…" Fred continued.
"And it's fun…" George grinned.
"And you can't touch that!" both of them rapped out, grinning.
People broke out laughing at their performance. In spite of himself Harry had to smile. Never a dull moment with those two around, that's for sure. Harry looked up to see Peeves joining in the laughter as well. Peeves had gone after Umbridge with a passion ever since she tried to have him expelled from the castle. Rumor had it that McGonagall had turned him loose on the Toad. Rumor also had it that the only people Peeves ever respected were the Weasley Twins. Harry believed it.
"SHUT UP!" Umbridge screamed, so close to really losing it.
She turned to the twins and glared at them. "As the headmistress of this school, I hereby sentence you to be punished for pranking, causing numerous disruptions to the school, assaulting the members of the Inquisitor Squad, and causing mayhem."
Fred and George beamed brightly. Harry shook his head and laughed.
"And so proud of it!" both of them said in unison.
That got another round of cheers.
Umbridge pointed to them. "Your punishment is twelve lashes!"
Fred turned to George and nodded. George nodded back and both of them turned to face Umbridge.
"We don't think so…" Fred began.
"Very illegal to whip a kid…" George growled.
"You'll be in big trouble…" Fred snarled.
"Brother of mine, I think we're done here…" George said.
"School is no fun…" Fred said.
"Here anymore…" George stated.
Harry was quick to agree with that and so were the others surrounding him. The twins nodded to each other and raised their wands.
"What… what are you doing?" Umbridge faltered.
"ACCIO BROOMS!" Fred and George called out at the same time.
Far in the distance there was a very loud crash, as if something had gone through a door somewhere. Harry instantly knew what it was and he turned just in time to see a pair of brooms come flying out of a hallway, out over the stairs, and come streaking downward with the chains that had secured them to the wall of Umbridge's office. Harry began to laugh as the brooms came to a halt in front of the twins, the pegs hitting the floor.
"Cheerio!" called out Fred.
"Do forget to write!" George laughed.
"Don't call us!" Fred grinned.
"Don't forget us though!" George laughed out loud.
They kicked off and rose up out of reach.
"HI YO SILVER AWAY!" both of them yelled as they tossed something in the air and then took off out the open doors, a single little firecracker going off behind them.
Suddenly fireworks began going off on every floor above them as the crowd watching the twins leave broke out in loud cheers. Even McGonagall was smiling brightly as Flitwick was jumping up and down in joy. Umbridge, Filch, and the Inquisitor Squad were screaming loudly trying to restore order. It didn't take long for a snowstorm of colored confetti to cover the floor and everybody. People were enjoying the spectacle of fireworks going off in all directions. Even the paintings were having a good time. It took about a half hour for all of the fireworks to fizzle out and people began heading into the great hall for dinner. The house elves must have been in a festive mood because they sent up the best they had and made dinner a bit festive. The enchanted ceiling got into the festive mood by showing fireworks above everybody. The Toad was beyond furious and Harry had the feeling that she would retaliate somehow. How she would do it was anyone's guess.
The next morning at breakfast Umbridge glared at everybody in the hall as she paced back and forth in front of the high table where the staff and teachers would sit for their meals.
"The events of yesterday will not happen again. I have every intention of bringing all of you to heel. Due to people's actions yesterday the Hogsmeade visits shall not continue for the rest of the year."
Everybody in the hall booed her soundly.
"All of you are expected to act maturely and none of you have with the exception of a few of you and I am proud of them for acting like the mature adult that they are. If you do not act like mature people, you will be punished. That is all," Umbridge said and returned to her seat.
Harry sighed as he thought about what she had just said. This could only make things even worse. Harry knew that people would be looking to him for advice, and it would simply be to hang on until the end of the year, as Umbridge would be out and McGonagall would find a way to take over once more. That however, was up to Harry. Luna's father ran a paper called the Quibbler. That would be the best way to fight back. Harry turned to Luna and she nodded to him.
"Daddy's ready to start running articles on what's going on around here," she said. "I just need to interview you for one of the articles."
"How are you gonna get the information out of here? The toad has the owlery locked down tight," Harry reminded her.
"Does she?" Luna smiled devilishly.
Harry grinned as he caught on. "So, what do you want to know?"
"We need a room to sit in for a bit so I can get your information," she said.
Hermione smiled at them. "Shouldn't be a problem, I know just the perfect spot."
They agreed on a meeting spot and when before heading out to classes for the day. Harry was sure that Umbridge would like the interview.
A week later the Quibbler with Harry's face on the cover came out. Umbridge came after him at breakfast the next morning, her face so red with anger Harry hoped she would either have a stroke or a heart attack before starting in on him. Naturally Malfoy and the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad surrounded them as she started in on Harry.
"Do you know what this is?" Umbridge snarled at Harry, slapping him on the face with something rolled up as he looked at her.
"Not sure," Harry replied as he sipped his coffee. "Your pedigree papers?"
Umbridge unrolled it and showed it to Harry. He inspected the item in her hands, the smile becoming apparent at the cover of the Quibbler with his smiling face on it.
"Would you look at that," Harry grinned. "They got my good side!"
Umbridge pulled it out of his grasp and smacked him with it on the top of his head. "This is a piece of trash! How dare you get them to print lies about us? The Ministry is not the enemy of the people! I am not trying to destroy this noble school! He… is not back! This is an insult to me! Draco Malfoy is not a suck up! He is a fine noble upstanding young man who has his priorities straight! He is helping me fight your slander and lies! The Minister and I shall do everything possible to stop this rag from spreading your lies!"
"While you're at it, shut down the Prophet for spreading lies about me," Harry said calmly. "The fact that you and Fudge is telling them exactly what to print about me and other good honest upstanding citizens of Magical England is not honorable."
She puffed up in indignation. "We are not the ones telling the lies!"
"Well, can you tell me who is and I'll start up lawsuits against them," Harry said. "Should get them arrested, too."
"We will not tell you anything, Potter!" she screeched at him. "They are good people!"
Harry smiled at her sadly. "I will never stop speaking the truth. There is something terribly wrong with a government that is afraid of the truth the common people tell each other about those who have the power to run other people's lives. When a government starts telling the people what to do, how to act, and what they are allowed to say, it's time to stand up and fight back. We, the little people, will win."
She snarled at Harry and then went up front. The hall went quiet.
"If anyone is caught with this subversive magazine will be escorted out of Hogwarts, no matter who you are, staff, students, and teachers, you will be walked to the front gate and your wand snapped. Am I very clear on this?" Umbridge shouted. "I hereby order the Inquisitorial Squad to start searching though everything to find this filthy rag for immediate destruction and that person will be brought to me for immediate dismissal!"
Harry knew now that Umbridge was completely out of control. It would have to take something drastic to get her shut down. Harry was starting to consider taking her out and then reconsidered as her turning up dead after this little confrontation would not be in his best interests. No, she needed to have an 'accident' someplace else instead. How that was to happen he had yet to figure out. She had to go. There just was no other way around it. Harry sighed and decided a round of letters had to go out tonight. Sirius and Lupin needed to know about this. Harry watched as Umbridge settled herself into the Headmaster's Chair and wished the thing would burn her ass off. Harry sighed and turned back to his breakfast and discovered he had lost his appetite.
The final Quidditch game of the year, Ravenclaw against the Gryffindors, was to be the big one. Harry debated on going to the game or not. In the end he decided not to. He wandered down to the boathouse and sat on the docks watching the birds fly past. His mind played the what if game, what if this, or what if that. He turned to see Hermione behind him.
"Couldn't let you go off on your own," Hermione said.
Harry sighed as he nodded. "Got too much on my mind right now, Hermione. The big thought is that I wish all of this was done and over."
"What I've been thinking, Harry. But it's not over until Voldemort goes down for the last time," Hermione said. "And the DE's with him."
"Then the next battle starts," Harry said.
Hermione turned to look at him. "Which one is that one?"
"The one to get the Wizarding World reorganized and things made better," Harry said. "A lot of work to do there."
"I agree, Harry. But we can't change things overnight. Going to take a few years to do it," Hermione said. "We might not be able to change everything, but we can change some things."
"And it will be worth it," Harry said. "There's some chairs inside the boathouse. Let me go get them and we can watch life grow for a bit."
Hermione knew what Harry meant. It was a Zen meditation concept, a good way to settle the stress in one's mind and there was certainly a lot of it in her mind, and Harry's.
"This will be the last bit of peace and quiet we will get before our OWLS (Ordinary Wizarding Levels). So much work we need to do before we take the exams," she said.
"We'll be fine, Hermione. Just need to be sure of our information before we go in there and knock them out. We can help each other study," Harry grinned as they sat down in the deck chairs and held hands. "We'll be fine."
Harry hoped that there wouldn't be any more problems to deal with for the rest on the year.
Saturday night as Harry headed up to the seventh floor for the DA, he began to feel funny, like something was wrong. He noted a few of the paintings looking at him funny and he wondered why. He reached the seventh floor and as soon as he walked into the hall leading to the room of requirement, he felt people step out of hiding behind him. He turned the corner and found Umbridge, Fudge, Snape, and Filch standing there. Suddenly he knew. The DA had been compromised.
"Good evening," Harry said politely.
Umbridge snarled at him as she walked up to him. "We know about the illegal club you started, Potter. It's been shut down for good."
Harry nodded. Somehow he had the feeling that this would happen sooner or later. At least he managed to teach people a few things, and in the process a few people had taught the others things. A number of people had gained by it and Harry knew he had accomplished he goals with the club.
"I see," Harry said, not trying to deny it.
Fudge frowned at Harry. "Now see here, Potter. You need to understand that the Ministry is in charge of everything, including this school. We are the experts who know just what it is we want you little children to learn, and not what you have been teaching."
"I say the brat has been behind everything that's been going on around here," Filch snarled.
Harry calmly nodded to Filch. "Can you prove that sir?"
Filch and Umbridge growled at that and Harry knew he had them with that.
"I demand to know where your quarters are," Umbridge snarled.
Harry turned to her. "So you can plant manufactured evidence against me?"
Umbridge turned a dark red from anger and Harry knew he had her right there with that.
"Fact is, you really can't prove much of anything without rock solid evidence and witness testimony so there's really nothing you can do," Harry continued, mentally thanking Hermione for the crash course in Wizarding Law she had been giving him over the year.
Hermione had touched on the major points that could possibly be used against Harry and that had been helpful to a point.
Fudge deflated a bit knowing Harry was right on that. "Very well. I hereby order the Inquisitor Squad to escort Mr. Potter round Hogwarts at all times. Mr. Potter is to be confined to secure quarters in the event that he is not needed anywhere. This official order has been committed to parchment and is now handed over to Headmistress Umbridge for action. That should keep you in line, Mr. Potter. Can't have you building an army to take over the Wizarding World."
It took a lot for Harry to keep from breaking out in laughter at that. "You really think I want to rule the Wizarding World? No thanks. I've seen what that desire has done to people and I don't want any part of that. I just want to do my time here at Hogwarts and go live a very quiet life in a tiny corner of England somewhere and have a family. I'm not even interested in working for the Ministry, so rest your mind on that one."
"Good," Fudge snorted as he handed the parchment over to Umbridge.
"Just one question," Harry said. "Do I get privacy in my new quarters? Really don't want Malfoy there watching me in the loo."
Harry felt a hard smack on the back of his head and he turned to face Malfoy. "You are sick, Potter!"
Goyle cracked his knuckles. "Maybe you guys ought to ship him off to the mental ward at St. Mungo's."
Harry had actually worked a scenario in his head in the event that happened.
"No, it would be better if he stayed here," Fudge said. "Now off with him."
Malfoy grinned at him as he motioned for Harry to walk out of the seventh floor hallway after him. He led the little pack of Inquisitorial Squad with Harry in the middle down to the dungeons area and into a small plain looking room. There were people watching as the squad led him down the stairs to the ground floor. Harry caught the eye of Neville and slightly nodded to him. Neville and Harry had come up with a few contingencies in the event that he was busted by the Toad. He looked around after the door was closed and locked behind him. The walls were grey, there was a small table with two chairs, a bed in the far corner that Harry went over to and inspected finding it to be fairly comfortable. There was a smaller door open and it was the bathroom. It had the commode, shower, and a small sink. Harry walked back into the room and flopped down on the bed. He was sure there were listening charms in the room, he didn't put it past them to have put them there. So now he would play their game for a time until he found the right key to get out of here, and he had the feeling that would happen very soon. Harry relaxed and slipped into meditation, heading to the Japanese style castle he had so very carefully constructed in his mind. He needed to work this new problem out in his head but he wasn't too worried. If he knew Neville he was initiating the contingency plan that the both of them had worked out one rainy Saturday afternoon when the Toad had first taken over the school.
Neville got busy immediately and contacted the core group about what had just happened. Naturally Hermione had freaked out and it took Ron, Luna, and Neville to get her to calm down.
"What are we to do now?" Hermione stated.
Ron sighed. "Someone has to contact his family, Sirius, and Lupin. No going to McGonagall, I know they are watching her."
Hermione had a Goblin mailbox that Harry had asked for and given to her to use in an emergency situation, and this certainly was an emergency situation. "I'll get some letters out right away."
"That's a start. For now we watch them from a distance to see what kind of escorting around they do with Harry. At some point someone's going to get lax and we can make a move. Especially with the situation Harry's dealing with," Neville said.
"The person who's messing with his mind," Ron said. "Sal said he would help with that because he's really good with the Mind Arts."
Hermione nodded. "Good. Harry says that Hogwarts will help and I believe him on that as he seems to have some kind of connection with Hogwarts."
"I believe," Luna said. "I have heard her whisper to me in the deep parts of my mind."
Neville nodded. "Thank you love. Your connection to Hogwarts will be most helpful. For right now we just need to hang back and watch things for a bit. Once we know what's going on with Harry, then we can act. We don't need anybody to go off on them. Not yet anyway."
The group grinned at that and the meeting broke up. On her way back to the Gryffindor Tower, Hermione spotted the squealer and glared at the girl. Hermione knew because the girl was wearing one of those beanie hats one wears out in the snow very low over her forehead. She discretely followed her into the bathroom.
"I didn't want to!" Marge squealed in fright at the glare Hermione gave her. "The Toad made threats against my Mum and Dad, said she would see to it they got blacklisted from working anywhere in the Magical World! They are purebloods, not knowing anything about the Muggle world like you do! Even threatened to hand me over to Malfoy and his friends before dragging me out of Hogwarts and snapping my wand!"
Hermione backed down once she realized Marge was telling the truth. "I suggest you talk to your parents and letting them know what's going on and how they made you sell out Harry Potter. For now do what you can to avoid the Ferret. Get out of my sight."
Marge fled from the bathroom as Hermione leaned against one of the sinks and sighed.
Next Episode: Harry's mental attacker is caught, battle with Umbridge, and battle at the Ministry!