Umbridge docked a hundred and fifty points from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor the next day because the twins and Hunn were late to class. Everyone was outraged, but she silenced them, threatening to dock points from everyone. The student body was fuming, all except Slytherin. They were her pride and joy.
They hated her.
Everyone with a brain hated her.
The following week was even more challenging. All the teams had managed to get reinstated, and they trained hard. Only Angelina drilled her team into the ground, claiming she couldn't stand to lose to Slytherin this weekend and that they needed to practice.
With a bit of persuasion and the team threatening to disband, Angelina gave the team off for the afternoon, and the twins took advantage, cuddling on the couch with Hunn in the common room as everyone studied.
Harry and Ron were sleeping on the loveseat, and even though their snoring was soft, Ron spoke in his sleep, mumbling about sausage and eggs.
Hermione and Ginny were on the floor writing their essay for Transfiguration, and Hunn gave them help when they asked, but often, she dozed between Fred and George, enjoying their time before tomorrow morning's match.
It was peaceful, and that's how they spent their afternoon, enjoying the monotony. They only left to eat dinner in the hall, quickly returning to make sure Hunn wasn't caught going into a common room that wasn't hers.
The twins slept like rocks that night, snoring into her ears on both sides and suffocating her under their heavy arms. It took her longer to fall asleep, but she knew they needed a good rest to be on their game tomorrow, so she held them close and let them snore away the night.
The sun rose, and the twins did, too, rousing Hunn from her sleep after they got ready. Lee was already at the field, and the twins were dressed in their best uniforms, ready to fight.
"Good morning, love," George greeted her, kissing her lips softly.
She smiled groggily and rubbed her eyes, "Mornin," she said through a yawn.
"We laid out some clothes for you," Fred told her, planting a huge kiss on her cheek, "Hurry and get dressed so we can head to the field," He said, excited as ever to play, bouncing on the bed beside her.
Grumbling under her breath, she dressed and brushed her teeth while still half asleep and as tired as ever. They dragged her out and down to the common room, only to stop at the portrait hole. Fred and George walked before her to ensure the cost was clear.
The castle was empty except for a few studying students and professors trying to stay warm.
They pushed through the main entrance and made their way outside into the howling wind, where the snow was falling hard and fast. They huddled together as they walked down to the snowy field, and Hunn dropped them off at the boys' locker room and gave them a lingering kiss.
Angelina scowled at them and walked into her own locker room to get ready.
Hunn waited for them to return.
It was their ritual.
They would get ready to play, and before they flew onto the field, they would hug and kiss her for luck.
She tried to tell them multiple times that they didn't need her for luck, but they insisted that they always played better when they had their hug and kiss.
When they emerged again carrying their brooms and dressed in their uniforms, the twins shivered, and before she left, Hunn pulled her wand out, muttering a warming spell that would provide them with a bit of relief against the cold. It wouldn't do much against the wind, but it was better than nothing.
She kissed each of them before pulling them into a tight hug.
"You ready?" She asked, pulling away and huddling into her sweater for warmth as the snow fell around them and piled onto the grass.
They grinned, "Of course we are."
Hunn laughed, "Better head out then. I'll meet you here after you win," she waved them away with a smile, and they shot her a wink, promising her a wonderful time if they won.
She knew she'd have a wonderful time either way. A win just meant she would get more wiggle room to make demands.
Jogging up into the stands, she sat between Hermione and Ginny, where she cast a warming charm as they waited and huddled for warmth. They gossiped about Ginny's latest boy toy while they waited.
Ginny blushed, but she never denied anything. Everyone knew that she loved Harry.
Everyone but Harry.
Sometimes, a girl couldn't wait for a boy to see how wonderful they were. Ginny was tired of waiting for Harry to see her.
Hunn didn't blame her. If she were Ginny, she wouldn't be waiting around, either.
Madam Hooch blows her whistle, breaking through the howling wind, echoing off the stands, and sending the crowd into a rage of excitement. The players rushed onto the field on their brooms, hovering far from the ground.
Hunn scanned the players and spotted her redheads flying next to Harry and Angelina, their bats ready to swing.
The Slytherins started their chant, and the Gryffindors scowled.
"Weasley is our King, Weasley is our King, Weasley is our King. He always lets the Quaffle in; Weasley is our King!"
"I hope he's alright," Hermione muttered, looking nervous and glancing at Ron, who looked green and downright sick near the hoops.
The game began, and suddenly, everyone was a blur on their brooms except Harry, who was looking for the Snitch patently from high in the sky.
Hunn watched Fred and George rush around the field, feeling nervous as the wind blew harder.
Lee's voice broke through her concentration, "Slytherin is up forty to ten. Alica with the quaffle!" he announced, sounding rather glum.
Alica tried to make a shot at the goal when the Slytherin beaters rushed her, and she nearly fell off her broom. She raced past them and took her shot, only to be blocked by their keeper. The Slytherins started to chant again, and Ron looked shaky.
The Slytherins stole the Quaffle and rushed to fly together like a wall in the sky. They scored again, "Another ten points to Slytherin! The score is now fifty to ten. In favor of Slytherin." He announced, pouting ever so slightly.
They watched as Draco rushed over to Ron. They were talking, and Ron just looked pissed. Suddenly, before Ron could do something stupid, Harry took off in pursuit of what they could only guess was the Snitch. Harry was in the lead, with Draco close behind him.
The crowd was on their feet as everyone waited for something to happen. Ginny held Hunn's hand, and Hermione took her other as they watched and waited.
Suddenly, Harry raised his hand for the crowd, and the Gryffindors cheered! They'd won in the worst snowstorm all year. Harry flew to the center of the field when, through the heavy snow, Crabbe rushed Harry and cracked him upside the head with his bat, knocking him down. Without a word, they ran to the pitch and surrounded the team.
Hermione broke out in front of Hunn and ran to Harry, "Are you alright?" she asked. Geroge and Fred pulled him up to his feet.
"Bet you loved that, Potter! Saved Weasley's neck, didn't you?" Draco mocked from the safety of his team, "Never seen a worse keeper! Maybe we should add some more verses to our little song. About his filthy mother!" he continued to rant as they tried to ignore him.
Hunn ran over to George and Fred as Hermione went over to hold Harry up and keep them back if they tried to fight.
"And his pathetic loser of a father, too!" Draco added as his team laughed in agreement.
Fred broke loose from Hunn's arms and charged at him fully. The team grabbed him, and Draco flinched back a few steps.
"But then, you like the Weasly's, don't you? How can you stand the stink? I guess it reminds you of your dear mother!" Drace yelled, smirking, trying to cover his fear.
Harry ran at him, followed by Fred and George.
Harry swung and hit him in the jaw. A crunch sounded through the screaming and yelling when McGonagall ran to the fight, trying to break it up.
"What on earth do you two think you're doing?" she asked sternly.
The boys were all staring at each other now as the Professors tried to get the story out of them. Harry had other ideas. He went for Malfoy again, and Madam Hooch rushed between them both, wand at the ready.
"My office! Now!" she demanded while pulling Harry away by the ear.
The twins had to go with Harry to Hooch's office, and Hunn scattered from the field with Ginny and Hermione. Hermione stuck with Hunn, but Ginny went to the common room to wait with her boy toy.
The boys were rushed inside, and Hermione and Hunn listened with their ears pressed against the door. McGonagall was tearing them a new one, "In all my thirty-nine years at this school, I have never seen such a disgusting display," She ranted, rage in her voice.
"He provoked me!"
"Of course, he wanted to provoke you! I cannot express the disappointment I feel right now in you three." She scolded.
There was a soft cough from behind them, and they turned to see the pink monster herself. They backed away as she smiled slightly, pushing her way into McGonagall's office.
"What is it, Dolores?" McGonagall asked, annoyed.
"I thought you might need additional authority to deal with these three."
McGonagall scoffed, "You thought wrong. Now, kindly remove yourself from my office," She demanded, "Now, I don't care what Malfoy said. Your performance out there was shameful. Fifty points from Gryffindor, and I'm giving you all a week's detentions."
Umbridge jumped in, "I hardly think that's an adequate punishment for this., She clears her throat, and Hermione and Hunn listen closer, "Educational decree twenty-five. As a high inquisitor, it gives me the power to give punishments and privileges. It also allows me to alter those given out to students by other staff members," She giggled.
"Professor," Fred tried to beg before it could get worse.
Umbridge interrupted, "So, I think a lifelong band from playing quidditch should do the trick for these three."
"Ban us for life?"
"Yes, indeed, Mr. Potter," She giggled, and they could hear the boy's hearts break through the door, "Ah, and I'll take your brooms as well. Have a wonderful day!" Hunn leaped back as she walked through the door, holding their brooms out with her broken wand.
The door was open now, so Hermione and Hunn stood in the doorway and waited for them with grim faces.
"You've..." Harry started to say before McGonagall cut him off, looking sad and frankly pissed off.
"My hands are tied, Potter," She told him, waving them out of the office with a revenge-plotting look.
Hunn opened her arms for Fred and George, and they walked into them with their heads hung low. She squeezed them and rubbed their backs, whispering reassuring words in their ears.
Hunn knew nothing would help what they were feeling, but she would be there for them.
Harry walked away with Hermione, and they followed. Bypassing the celebration, they went to bed and spent time together, anything to get their minds off their day.
"At least we're going to be graduating," Fred said, his head in her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair and stroked his cheek.
George wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head against her hip, "Yeah, we can't stay here anymore."
Hunn nodded, knowing they were right. There was nothing here for them anymore. They weren't built for formal education, and she wouldn't hold it against them.
After class the following week with Umbridge, the twins dragged her away as fast as they could manage. They were peeved about being banned for life but took it well, waiting for the DA meeting to take out their aggression. The twins took her to the Great Hall to meet with Harry and the others.
"I can't wait for the first meeting. I'll imagine her head every time I cast a spell!" George spoke in a low voice.
"Yeah, we've got to get back at her for banning us!"
George was getting hyped, "Yeah! No one bans the Weasley twins!" he said, pumping his fists in the air.
"Maybe we can get Harry in on it as well!" Fred suggested.
"Yes! The more the merrier!" George agreed, the wheels visibly turning in his mind.
"Oh, shush, you two. We'll get her good. Just be patient," Hunn told them, rubbing their arms and trying to calm them down before they entered the hall.
They burst through the door, and when all heads turned to them, they hushed up and walked to the table to find a mess of students from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and a few from Ravenclaw.
They were all seated at the Gryffindor table, listening to Harry kneeling on the bench so everyone could see him. The twins and Hunn snuck to the edge of the group and listened in.
"We're meeting tomorrow for the first time. Neville has found us a place to practice."
Everyone hollered a thank you.
"Yeah! Great work, Neville. Amazing job, really," Harry praised him, grinning.
He blushed and ducked his head, "Thanks."
"We will be meeting after dinner. Hermione has created something for all of us to carry around."
Hermione stood and passed out Galleons to everyone, "Dang, Hermione didn't know you had this kind of money," Fred joked, shoving the coin into this robe pocket.
"They're not real. It's just a transfigured and spelled a rock."
"Oh, so what is this rock supposed to do?" Cho asked, turning it over in her hand.
"We don't want to be seen meeting outside of class, or she'll know what's happening. So, this rock looks like the average coin. It will heat up and notify you when you're holding a meeting. To anyone else, it will look like a coin," She explained, holding the coin and demonstrating the scrolling letters across the edge of the coin, showing the time to meet.
Hermione sat down, and Harry stood again, "We'll meet at eight o'clock tonight for the first time. Bring your wands and be ready. Make sure no one follows you. Come in small groups, not large herds, and be very careful," Harry dismissed everyone, and it was just the five of us sitting at the table.
"You ready to teach us, Harry?" Hunn asked, leaning into Fred as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
Harry's slumped, "No, I have no idea what I'm doing. God, how do you teach anyone anything?" he asked groaning.
"Well, it's not about how you teach. It's about how others learn."
He looked at her, confused, "What do you mean?"
"It's how others learn. Do you learn well the way Umbridge teaches us?" she asked earnestly.
He sat up straighter, "No."
Hunn could see the gears turning inside his mind, "Did you learn well the way Lupin taught us?"
His mouth forms an O, "Oh, that's what you mean. I have to teach the way that they need to learn. I have to show them, help them practice, and help them perfect it," the ideas were running through his head now. His eyes were narrowed, and he was thinking very hard.
She stood, and the twins followed suit, "We'll see you for the first lesson, Professor Potter," she joked, patting him on the shoulder as they walked away.
He didn't look up as they walked away, but she knew he could do it. They walked back to the tower together, hand in hand. Together, they walked into the common room and sat in their little corner. First-years came and went, asking for joke sweets and displaying their feathers proudly.
"We've figured it out," George said, smiling slightly as he took her hand.
Hunn narrowed her eyes, "What have you figured out? Did you plan another prank?"
"How we're going to graduate," Fred told her, stealing away her other hand.
She smiled, "You did?"
They nodded together, "Yes. McGonagall told us if we wanted to graduate early, we needed to pass our NEWTs with at least Acceptable marks in all areas," George explained, smiling as he squeezed her hand.
Hunn's face hurt from smiling big now, "You're going to graduate?"
"Yes, love. We start our NEWTs on the twenty-third of March," Fred added, trailing off.
"The twenty-third? That's only three and a half months."
"We know," They looked a little nervous.
She frowned and looked at them, determined as ever, "We'll have to study all of the winter holidays!" She exclaimed, grinning, and they frowned at her.
"All of the winter holiday?" they asked, "Can't we just study when term starts back up again? We already have our midyear exams in a few weeks," Fred complained.
Hunn shook her head and laughed, "Fine. We'll work extra hard starting in January when we return."
They smiled brightly, "Thank you, love. We want to pass, but we also want to have some fun." George told her, pinching her bum as Fred nipped at her neck.
Blushing, she swatted them away, "You're both so naughty," she said, giggling as they tried to snog her on the couch.
First years were giggling, and she pushed George's face off her chest, "Aww, love. We wanna have a little fun."
"Show you a little love," Fred told her with a wink as he pushed his hand up her skirt.
Laughing, she untangled herself from them and straightened her skirt, "We don't have time. We have a meeting to attend," she told them, holding up the fake galleon. They groaned and stood, adjusting their erections in their trousers before following her out of the common room.
It was late, and the only students in the corridors were going to their common rooms. Fred and George ambled and peeked around corners before they headed on. When they got to the room, they saw Cho and her friend duck inside. Waiting momentarily after they disappeared, Hunn pulled them over in a hurry and yanked open the door before it disappeared.
The room inside was huge.
It was like a training room, with dummies along the walls and mirrors from top to bottom to see your stance from all angles. It was brilliant. Fred held Hunn's hand, pulling her forward toward Harry and the others. George trailed behind them, and when they got to Harry, he clapped him on the back and smiled big.
"Are you ready?" George asked, bouncing on his feet.
Harry nodded and looked a little green, "As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."
They looked around the room; it seemed everyone was there already. Hunn nudged Harry with her foot and made eye contact, "You should get their attention," she whispered.
He swallowed and nodded, "Right," He walked to the center of the room, "Everyone gather around!" he called out. Everyone circled up and paid him close attention.
"Glad to see you could all find this place alright."
"What is all this stuff, Harry?" Neville asked, staring nervously at a dummy in the corner of the room.
Harry smiled a little, "Loads of Defense Against the Dark Arts equipment. Hopefully, we'll be able to get to all of it before the end of the term."
He walked around the circle of students and began his speech, "You need to understand something before we start, though. Defending yourself from Dark Arts has less to do with magical ability and more with thinking fast and a lot of luck."
Whispers broke out, but he continued, "We'll be doing Expelliarmus tonight. Hopefully, we can move on to other things if we have time."
A student named Zacharias, A sixth-year Ravenclaw, scoffed, Oh, please. Lockhart taught us that in our second year."
Rod butted in before Harry could say anything, "Lockhart didn't teach as much as he pruned himself." A few girls laughed, and Ron blushed, looking away.
"Besides, It works. I used it against You-Know-Who last June. It saved my life." Harry interrupted before more gossiping could start, "Right. We'll let's split into pairs and give it a go."
The group worked together for about two hours practicing on each other. Many succeeded, and a few, like Neville and Zacharias, struggled to get the hang of it. Harry showed everyone a better way to stand and flick their wrists quickly enough to disarm their opponent.
Neville was working very hard. Hunn had paired up with him and let him practice with her as the twins rehearsed.
"Expelliarmus!" he shouts again, and this time, Hunn's wand flies into the air.
Neville and Hunn were stunned and silent.
Harry came up behind Neville and clapped him on the back with a huge grin, "Well done, Neville!" he congratulated, "Look here, you lot! Neville's got the hang of this one," he said. He stepped back and smiled encouragingly. "Go ahead."
Neville took a deep breath as Hunn grabbed her wand again.
Hunn nodded to Neville, "Expelliarmus!" he yelled out, and again, her wand flew through the air. Everyone clapped and congratulated him with high fives and huge smiles.
"I did it! I did it!" he yelled.
"Never forget this spell, Neville. It could save your life one day," he said. He moved to the center of the room and called for attention. "Okay, everyone. We've done a lot today, and I've seen some great improvement. That's it for now. We'll meet back here next week!"
Everyone drifted out slowly. The twins and Hunn left first, wanting to get back before Umbridge began to wander the halls and give out detentions like they were Chocolate Frogs.
They snuck back to the common room and went inside without being seen. Others from the meeting followed, and soon, they were all safe and sound in the common room where she couldn't give them detention. The fire was still going, and they used it to light their way up the stairs to their dorm.
Hunn dressed in the dark and climbed into bed with her boys. Slowly, they fell asleep, exhausted from their night of learning. She fell asleep to the twins snoring and Lee from across the room muttering in his sleep. Fred buried his face in her chest, and George wrapped his arms around her.
Hunn's eyes gazed at the mood through the window. The waning crescent hung high in the sky; somehow, she knew everything was changing. She could feel it in her bones. She just hoped it was for the better.
She fell asleep with the moon in her mind and her men in her arms.
A loud pounding rocked the room before Ron stormed in, waking them all up in a panic. In his pajamas, he shook them, pinched them, and screamed until they were sitting up, rubbing their eyes as their hearts beat out of their chests.
Hunn's hands shook nervously as Ron tried to explain what was happening. He was sweating and near tears as he led them out, telling them something awful had happened with Harry.
"We have to go," he said, rushing right back.
Hunn pulled on a sweater and threw clothes at the twins so they could cover up. When dressed, they rushed out and followed Ron to Dumbledore's office along with Hermione and Ginny.
Inside, Harry was shaking and crying with Dumbledore and McGonagall.
Harry looked like shit, and Dumbledore was panicking in his calm and collected way.
Harry started to rant, "It wasn't a nightmare! Well, I was asleep, but it wasn't normal. It was well real. I saw a giant snake attack, Mr. Weasley."
Hunn grabbed Fred's arm and held him close as they stiffened with worry. Ginny grabbed Hermione, and Ron held onto them as well.
Dumbledore stroked his beard and paced, "How did you see this? How were you positioned when you saw it?" he asked.
"I was the snake. I saw it happen from its perspective."
"Is Arthur seriously injured?"
"Yes!" Harry screamed at him.
Their headmaster walked over to the portrait on his right, "You were listening?" he asked the painting.
"Naturally," it replied.
"Raise the alarm. We must ensure that the right people find Arthur," The man in the painting walked away.
"Fawkes, we will need a warning," He muttered.
The Phoenix disappeared in a blinding flash of light, and then they stood in silence, panicking.
The painted man returned and cleared his throat for attention.
"What news?"
"I shouted until someone came. They carried him up seconds ago. He doesn't look good. Covered in blood."
Another painted man returned, "Dumbledore, I've just seen them arrive at St. Mungos. Apparated there moments ago. He looks horrible."
Ignoring all of them, he walked to another painting, "Phineas, I need you to visit your other portrait. Tell Sirius what happened and that we are coming to stay for a while."
"It's late, Dumbledore," Dumbledore stared at him in silence until the old painted man huffed, "I'm going, I'm going..." he said as he walked off.
Dumbledore pulled out a black pot and tapped it with his wand, "Portus," He said, instantly turning it into a portkey.
Having had enough of the silence, Ginny burst out, "Harry, what's happening?"
Dumbledore interrupted instead, "Your father has been injured during his work for The Order. He is alive and arrived at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries moments ago."
Hermione gasped out, and panic flooded the rest of them quickly at the confirmation he gave.
Dumbledore hushed them with a soft look, "We, however, are going to Sirius's house until the morning. We're merely waiting for Phineas to return."
Fawkes returned with a bright light and left behind a single feather on her perch, "Fawkes warning. Umbridge knows you're out of bed. Minerva head her off. Tell her anything you can think of," Dumbledore ordered with a wave of his hand, and she left silently.
Phineas returned and smiled, "He says he'd be delighted."
Dumbledore walked around them and hurried to his desk where the portkey waited, "We're going by portkey."
With heavy hearts, they grabbed the pot and together vanished.
Molly was waiting for them but didn't make anyone go to bed. They huddled around the fire and waited. No one said a word. Hunn held onto Fred and George as the night raged on, and they waited to see if one of the most wonderful fathers in the world would live or die...