Chapter 14 – Burdens Shared

At breakfast on the last Friday of September Umbridge got up to make an announcement.

"Hem, hem," she said. "The High Inquisition has reached a decision on which of the extracurricular activities may proceed as normal. We are pleased to announce our full approval of the Gobstones Society, Charms Club, Choir, all four—eight—House Quidditch teams..."

Harry only half paid attention. Umbridge seemed to be going right through the entire list of activities available at the school, and it seemed a waste of energy to listen to her list them all. Instead, Harry ate his cereal.

"...and of course the Inquisition is sorry to announce that the following clubs and activities may not resume without further review: Potions Society, the student newspaper, Duelling Club, Flight Club, and Art Club. Students may rest assured that the Inquisition takes safety very seriously and will be diligent in its duty of care to you all. However, you may be pleased to learn that this does not mean these clubs are cancelled. This does however mean that all sessions of the aforementioned clubs, societies, and activities will require the presence of at least one Inquisitor for the foreseeable future. Again, students are reminded that this is due to on-going safety concerns and that the safety of all students is of paramount importance. That is all."

"Well, that's a load of shit," said Harry once Umbridge had sat down. "What's wrong with Art Club?" He could just about see – grudgingly – why Duelling Club, Potions Society, or Flight Club could be deemed 'unsafe'. But the student newspaper was a barely-read newsletter put out twice a month to little fanfare and involved next to no actual activity, and Art Club was meant to be painting and floramancy and all that bollocks.

"I don't think Umbridge likes Mrs Macmillan," Daphne said quietly from across the table. "I go to Art Club—well, I've started to anyway—and at our last session Umbridge kept trying to provoke Mrs Macmillan into being rude. She wasn't, but Umbridge wasn't happy at all. That's probably why." Daphne sighed. "Oh, that's just so unfair, though—she was going to teach us how to make flowers sing!"

Was that my fault? Harry wondered. He'd mentioned Mairi to Umbridge before, after all. Flight Club and Duelling Club made sense to keep under review if Umbridge wanted Harry watched, since those were his only activities outside of lessons. But Potions Society, the newspaper, and Art Club?

"Yeah, alright. I can see that," Harry said. "But why the newspaper? And Potions Society?"

"The newspaper printed a rude cartoon about Umbridge," Blaise said. "That Thomas in Gryffindor drew it. Can't imagine that would have gone down well with Umbridge—great excuse to clamp down." He shrugged. "And people like her hate an uncontrolled press. Don't be surprised when she starts 'editing' the output."

"I—" said Harry, but then stopped. Blaise had a point. "Okay. Yeah. That makes sense. God, this year is turning out to be awful."

"She didn't cancel Creature Club, though," Millicent said. "So, that's something, isn't it?"

"Erm, I suppose," Harry said, although Millicent was the only person Harry knew who went to Creature Club, so it wasn't much. Great news for Millicent, less so for Harry.

"Really?" said Tracey. "I thought she would have shut it down fast—it actually is dangerous!"

Millicent shrugged.

"Yeah. Well, it's not dangerous, it's just a bit—you know," she said, waving her hand. "But I think Umbridge actually likes Grubbly-Plank. She hates Mr Hagrid, but..." She shrugged again. "So if she does shut down your clubs you can always join Creatures."

"I'll think about it," Harry said.

"God, no," said Blaise at the same time.

"You don't have to be rude about it," said Millicent.

"He's only teasing," said Daphne.

"If she does cancel Duelling Club," continued Blaise, ignoring Daphne, "we should start our own secret duelling club. Put on bets, duelling tournaments with prize money..."

"Let's not let it get that far," Tracey said. "All that sounds like it would get us into a lot of trouble."

"I'm going to talk to Dumbledore," Harry said quietly. "I said before, remember? I just never... but I'm going to go. After lessons today. I'll see what he's going to say—I'm sure he'll talk to me after... er, well. You know."

Given that Harry had already had an interview with Umbridge, and with everything that had happened since the trial, Harry didn't think Dumbledore would turn him away.

"Good luck with that," said Blaise.

With breakfast over – and Umbridge having ruined the atmosphere with her announcements – everyone packed up and headed to History of Magic with Professor Flamel. Harry was disappointed – but unsurprised – to see an Inquisitor sat at the back of the classroom, but that was more or less normal for lessons with the Flamels. So Harry tried to pay attention to the lecture, but spent more time thinking on what he could say to Dumbledore later that afternoon.

After a long day of lessons – each one attended by a meddling Inquisitor, although fortunately not Umbridge – Harry dumped his things in his dormitory and headed straight for Dumbledore's office. He didn't know the password, but he felt quite sure that if he announced himself and asked to see Dumbledore, the gargoyle would step aside. It had done so under a rather more emergency situation during first year, but Harry thought it should do that normally, too. Hadn't Diggory said something about that, anyway? Harry couldn't quite remember.

"Harry Potter," Harry said when he reached the gargoyle. "Er, third year Slytherin prefect—here to see Professor Dumbledore. If he's in and has time, I mean."

Nothing happened. At least at first – eventually, the gargoyle spun around to reveal the rotating spiral staircase, and Harry stepped on. It terminated at the door to Dumbledore's office, which swung open just as Harry reached it.

Dumbledore sat inside at his desk, that strange collection of silver instruments scattered around his office, although this time there was a magnificent red, orange, and golden phoenix perched to one side of the room. The phoenix let out a little trill as Harry entered the room.

"I had been wondering if I would see you," Dumbledore said. "Well, come in and sit down."

"Er, thank you, sir," Harry said. He took a seat.

"Lemon drop?" asked Dumbledore. He gestured to a bowl full of sweets on his desk.

"Er, no thanks, sir," Harry said.

"More for me, then," said Dumbledore cheerfully. He took one from the bowl and popped it into his mouth. "You had something to say?"

"Yeah. Er, yes, sir," Harry said. "I was just—well, you know, the High Inquisition is here this year, and after Lucius Malfoy getting elected and then the trial…" Harry shrugged. "I was just a bit worried."

"Ah, yes," Dumbledore said. "You are right to be concerned. The Ministry has been wanting to... well, that's neither here nor there—and certainly not relevant to what you are, I expect, wondering," Dumbledore said, stopping himself.

"I shall try to put you at ease—it seems unlikely that High Inquisitor Umbridge is working for or with Voldemort. Indeed, I think she is merely carrying out a long-held and deep-seated ambition of hers to interfere with and curtail the independence of Hogwarts."

"Isn't that worse in a way?" Harry asked. "If Umbridge is just doing what she already wanted to do, I mean, and it's still helpful for Voldemort? Since Lucius Malfoy sponsored the Inquisition bill thingy that means that whatever the Inquisition is doing here is something that Voldemort wants, doesn't it?"

"That seems a reasonable assumption," Dumbledore said, nodding.

"Then that means there are people right at the top at the Ministry who want similar things to what he wants..."

"An astute observation, Harry. Yes, it would seem so. For my part I have been doing everything I can to counteract the Ministry's more ... reactionary tendencies, but there is only so much I can do. I am, after all, merely one wizard among many. I trust the High Inquisitor has not been too disruptive to your studies?"

Harry shrugged.

"Yeah. I mean, no, not really—just annoying more than anything. She keeps interrupting in Alchemy—only with Mr Flamel, though, not with Professor Dee—but lessons are alright, mostly." He paused. "But it feels like she's watching me specifically sometimes. She's interested in... well, I'm not sure, to be honest, sir," Harry said. "But I think it's to do with you. In those interviews she was doing, she called me in for the first one. I'm not sure if you knew. At first she was just, you know, really friendly and stuff like that. Implied she could help me get a Ministry career. That sort of thing. But she asked me about you, about how the school was run, she even asked me about Quirrell and Pettigrew in first year—"

"Did she, now?" Dumbledore said, interrupting. "Curious. What did she ask about, specifically?"

"Er—well, just if I was sure it wasn't Sirius, you know, stuff like that," Harry said. "One of the other Inquisitors interrupted the interview though so it didn't finish, but Umbridge said she'd call me in another day. I'm not really worried about that, sir, since I think she was just trying to get me to say I thought you could have made the school safer or something like that. That seems like what she wanted." Harry shrugged.

"But I was thinking about my clubs—you know, Duelling Club and Flight Club? I think she's only keeping them under watch because I'm in them. Well, and my friends—she was asking Tracey and Blaise stuff in the interviews as well. Ernie, too. If Umbridge is just watching me... well, should I let her? Do you think I should quit my clubs, make it harder?" Harry paused. "I don't want to do anything to make things worse."

"Whether you continue with your clubs or not is for you to decide, Harry," Dumbledore said. He leaned back in his chair. "I would, however, suggest that if the High Inquisitor wishes to watch you, give her something to watch. If you withdraw from your activities she will see that as a sign of wrongdoing and I am quite certain that she will be displeased. If you stay, however... well, you can enjoy yourself while keeping her eye on you in a controlled manner. Quiet resistance is often much more effective than loud protest. In any case, I expect the High Inquisitor's true aims here revolve around me, and certain other complaints about operational matters that the Ministry has. I should think that you have little to worry about."

Give her something to watch, Harry thought. That was an interesting suggestion. Dumbledore wouldn't have meant to do anything outrageous or reckless – not after the fiasco of the previous schoolyear – but there were still things Harry could do. If Harry could figure out how to subtly undermine Umbridge and the Inquisition without dragging his friends and their families into it, that would be perfect.

Until then he could muddle through his lessons and clubs while looking like an ordinarily boring student.

"That makes sense, sir," Harry said. "I won't do anything stupid, I promise, but I'll make sure Umbridge has something boring to focus on. Thank you."

"Wonderful. Was there anything else?"

"Er—actually, yes, sir," Harry said. "I was wondering about—well, you know how Draco has those scars and Mr Malfoy is on the Wizengamot... And my mate Theodore—well, we're not actually friends since last year because his dad is—well..."

"You are curious about the horcrux?" Dumbledore asked. "What has become of the horcrux in the months since its discovery I cannot say—whether it resides now inside Lucius Malfoy, or still within the Diadem of Ravenclaw, is something we cannot know. There is little research in this area—we tread new ground, unfortunately. This brings me to something I had wished to discuss with you but hadn't found the time..." Dumbledore paused.

"What do you know of occlumency?"

Harry dredged something up from the deepest, darkest recesses of his mind and dusted off the cobwebs.

"It's some kind of obscure mind magic, isn't it?" he said. "I think I read about it somewhere..." But that description hardly seemed useful, and in any case Harry couldn't understand its relevance.

"Ah! Wonderful," Dumbledore said. "Yes, that is an apt description. Occlumency is the magical art of protecting one's mind from intrusion. Draco Malfoy has acquired some proficiency in it, and I should like you to do the same. To that end we shall begin lessons, once every week on—oh, let's say, Thursday evenings? I shall teach you the rudiments of the art."

Harry hadn't been expecting that, not at all. He blinked a few times.

"Er—thank you, sir. But—why?"

"There are things I should like to discuss with you, things which need better protection than you are able to give them at present. And of course, there are things I have already told you which ought to be better protected than they are. Your classmate's success with the art has made me reconsider whether it is an appropriate thing to ask of you," Dumbledore said. "Now, it is not long until dinner, and I should not want to keep you any longer. I shall send a note next week with a time to come to my office. Do not be late."

"Er, right," Harry said. "Thanks, sir. I'll be sure not to."

Dumbledore nodded.

"Goodbye, Harry," he said.

Harry got up and left the office.

He'd accomplished what he'd come to do, Harry supposed. Perhaps not in the way he'd wanted, but he had a better idea of how to deal with Umbridge. Dumbledore's suggestion of 'quiet resistance' felt like it had legs, and Harry wanted to figure out how to implement that as soon as possible. It seemed like it wouldn't take much to annoy Umbridge but still be within the rules, still be boring enough to seem normal... he just had to figure out a good way to do it.

Harry returned to the dungeons to get ready for dinner. He couldn't quite settle all evening since he had thoughts of occlumency alternating with ideas for how to annoy Umbridge rattling through his head.

But at least it was Friday, and the weekend was about to begin.

After dinner ended on Friday, Harry took Tracey and Blaise aside in the Slytherin Common Room to tell them what Dumbledore had said. He chose an out of the way alcove, which was a little difficult given the expansion of the student body and the room itself, but there were still several good options available, especially if you got there first.

"Well, at least he's doing something!" Tracey said.

"Well, he said he was, anyway," Blaise said. "Whatever it is, it isn't doing much, is it?"

"Oh, we don't know that," said Tracey. "But he agrees with us—Harry can't just give in to Umbridge!"

"Yeah," Harry said. "I didn't really want to give in—it's not my style—but I just thought... Well, anyway—Dumbledore said I should give her something to watch, if she's going to be watching me anyway. Make it easy for her so she doesn't go digging deeper."

"That makes sense," Tracey said. "If you quit everything she'll just think you're hiding something! I know I would."

Harry nodded.

"Yeah. So I will keep at it," Harry said. "But I was thinking as well…"

"Always dangerous," interjected Blaise.

"Ha, ha," said Harry. "No, but I was thinking that while I'm pretending to be all normal and boring I could try and… I don't know… interfere with the Inquisition. Make it harder for them to do… you know." He waved a hand. "To look normal but actually be doing something anti-Inquisition. But I was stuck on what do actually do. Any ideas?"

"None yet," Blaise said. "I'll have a think on it."

"Me neither," said Tracey.

"I wonder about something else as well," Harry said, glancing around to check no one was listening in, "that I should bring Susan and Justin in on things as well. And get Millie and Daph up to speed. Not about the—er—the prophecy," he whispered, "but about everything else. Do you think that's a good idea? They could be helpful in pissing off Umbridge, and with Theodore not really talking to us—me—this year, I think we need the extra support..."

Harry knew neither of them would ever support Voldemort. Justin had every reason not to, and although Susan could probably get away with neutrality, her family had never supported Voldemort. Her aunt and uncle and all her cousins had been killed by Voldemort and his Death Eaters, even. Harry doubted Susan would ever even think about joining Voldemort.

"Bones would probably go running to that aunt of hers," Blaise said. "Finch-Fletchley would be alright, though."

"I think you can tell them both," Tracey said. "I know what Susan can be like but I really do think if you tell her how important it is not to say anything, she won't. She's good like that."

"You two know her better than I do," Blaise said. "Good shout on not saying about the, er, you-know-what, though. Seems like you'd want to keep that close to the chest."

Harry nodded.

"I don't mind you three knowing, but I'm not ready for anyone else..." He shrugged. "Oh! While I remember—and you can't say anything to anyone, I don't think he'd want me saying anything to you, honestly—but Dumbledore's going to teach me occlumency. He said," Harry said, and he glanced around again to check no one was listening, although nothing had changed, "that Draco is an occlumens now. So he spent this summer learning occlumency."

Blaise let out a little whistle.

"That's meant to be hard," he said. "Like, really hard—basically no one knows it anymore. What's Draco learned it for?"

"We know why he's learned it," Tracey said. "Remember what he had in his head last year? And who's living in his house?"

"Fair point," Blaise said. "So why's Dumbledore got you learning it, then?"

"Says he's got stuff he wants to tell me that needs to be better protected," Harry said.

"That's a bit ominous considering what he's already told you," Blaise said.

"I get the feeling he would have preferred not to have had to tell me, honestly," Harry said. "But shit happens." Harry shrugged. "So, we're all agreed it's fine to bring Susan and Justin in? And let Millie and Daphne know about, er, what happened at the end of last year?"

Tracey nodded.

"I think it's the right time," she said. "For Millie and Daph, definitely—maybe you should check with Ernie about Susan and Justin?"

"I'll think about it," Harry said. "D'you reckon we can get it done this weekend? Should I do it all together, or separately?"

"Separately," said Blaise.

"Together," said Tracey.

"Brilliant," said Harry.

"Definitely together," Tracey said, "because nobody likes to look silly or cowardly or anything like that in front of anyone else. I think the reaction will be better if you do it all together. With all of us there."

"...that's a good point, actually," Blaise said a few moments later. "I thought about doing it separately because it's easier to, you know, tailor the message. But I think all together will work better, especially with Hufflepuffs."

"Right. Good," Harry said. That was the start of a plan. Something concrete to work towards. "Tracey, do you think you could make it so that Daphne and Millie come to the library tomorrow afternoon? After Flight Club? I'll make sure Ernie knows what's up and he can get Susan and Justin there. I reckon the library's a good enough place to go—won't look weird a bunch of us finding a corner and settling in for a bit, will it?"

"I can do that," Tracey said. "After lunch?"

"Yeah," Harry confirmed. "That's perfect."

Planning done, they settled in for the usual Friday night chill-out in the Common Room, although Harry couldn't fully relax given all he had to think about.

At Flight Club the next morning Harry managed to draw Ernie aside while Justin was being bombarded with questions by Cordelia while her friend Octavia watched silently.

"Can't say too much here," Harry said quietly, "but I'm going to tell Susan and Justin about, you know, the—the situation. Not about the you-know-what, but about the—well, you know."

"Bit cryptic," Ernie said, "but I think I've got the gist. You're sure?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "Unless you think it's a bad idea?"

"No, no," said Ernie. "I think it's about time. Just, you know, it's quite big and I know how you Slytherins are with secrets."

"Feels like the right time. I feel like there's always a reason to wait, but the Inquisition is here now and with everything going on…" Harry shrugged.

"So, I was going to do it today after lunch in the library—reckon you can get them both to come?" Harry glanced over at Cordelia and Octavia. "Without those two—they seem nice but I'm not, er, well, I don't think I want to bring them in..."

Ernie nodded.

"Can do. I'll make sure we're all present and accounted for," he said.

"Nice one," Harry said, and that was that. The decision had been made, and after lunch the group of people who knew about Voldemort would have expanded by four – or two, since Daphne and Millicent knew already, although not about Lucius Malfoy or the horcruxes.

After Flight Club it was a rush back for showers before lunch, a quick lunch, and then off to the library to find a good spot for their little meeting. Blaise and Tracey were meant to bring Daphne and Millicent, and Ernie was bringing Susan and Justin, so Harry went alone.

The library wasn't busy, anyway. Busier than it usually would be at the start of term, Harry supposed, but then there were twice the number of students in residence, so perhaps that was to be expected. Harry found a good spot in one of the more boring bits of the library where few students ever bothered to go and settled down to wait.

Harry ran over various different scenarios in his head, from declarations that his friends were for Voldemort to ones where they decided to no longer be friends – like Theodore had evidently chosen to do. It would hurt, but Harry needed to know who was behind him and who wasn't. He didn't think Justin would be at all interested in joining Voldemort, at the very least, so there was that. He could count on not having any new enemies.

Ernie arrived first, Susan and Justin following after him. Harry heard them before he saw them – he'd hidden himself quite well and they had to look – but they found their way eventually.

"Alright?" Harry said once they sat down at his table. "We're just waiting on Tracey and Millicent—and, er, Blaise and Daphne," he explained. But none of his Hufflepuff friends seemed overly concerned, and whatever Ernie had told them seemed to be sufficient for them to wait patiently, so Harry didn't push. They kept up a basic conversation about school until Tracey and Blaise arrived with Daphne and Millicent.

"Sorry we're a bit late," Tracey said. "We had to go back to the dungeons because Millie forgot her wand."

"I was polishing it and I left it on the table," Millicent said. "I didn't mean to..."

Harry shrugged.

"It's fine."

"So... what are we here for, exactly?" Justin said after a few moments of silence. "Ernie said it was important, but he didn't say what it was. So, er—help a chap out?"

"I, um," said Harry. He'd thought of exactly what to say, how to say it, even what he could say to any questions or objections. But that was different to actually saying it. "So, it's like this," Harry said. "First thing—Sirius Black is actually innocent. That's the least shocking thing I'm going to say, so let's get it out of the way. He's a good man—we've been in contact since first year, but I'll get to that."

"No!" said Susan. "But he killed all those muggles!"

"Wasn't him," Harry said. "That was Peter Pettigrew—the man who he was supposed to have killed. I know it sounds bonkers but... Remember back in first year, when Quirrell kidnapped me? Well, he was working with Pettigrew, and he did it on Voldemort's orders. Because Voldemort is still alive. Sort of." Harry paused to let that sink in. "Millie and Daphne already knew about that part—and Tracey and Blaise and Ernie—but I thought it was time to tell you two as well," he said to Justin and Susan. "Sorry it took so long, but it's just—well, Dumbledore wanted it kept secret, that's all."

"But he can't be still alive," Susan said. "Everyone knows he—everyone says that he—my aunt Amelia even—"

"He is," Harry said. "I've seen him. Twice, technically, although the last time... Well. It's easier to just explain. He has these things, right? They're evil, really Dark magic, Dumbledore even said that—well, that doesn't matter. They've got bits of his soul inside them. They're called horcruxes and they let him, I don't know, sort of just not die. Even when he should. So when I killed him all those years ago, he died, but he didn't pass on. So he's just kind of stuck here."

"Well, that's not the worst thing, is it?" Justin said. "If he's mostly dead..."

Harry shook his head.

"It's worse than that. He can possess people. Like a—well, I don't know. Something that can possess people. But he was inside Quirrell all year—that's why he wore that turban."

Harry didn't wait for them to process that – he still had to discuss Draco and his parents' involvement, as well as Wormtail, and Sirius... There was simply too much to get through to allow them to process it all at their own pace.

"And then last year... so, one of Voldemort's horcruxes was hidden here at school. Mental, I know. But that's not the worst bit. Voldemort is living with the Malfoys. He sent Draco to get the horcrux that was here at school last year, but Draco... well, Draco was using it to get better at duelling. He didn't realise it was possessing him. I don't even think he knew what it was, not really. But that's why he never turned up to the duel in the Triwizard Tournament—Voldemort was taking over his body."

"Wait, so Draco is You-Know-Who?" Daphne said. "That can't be right."

"No, no," Harry said. "It didn't—that never happened. I managed to—well, there was a fight, and... The horcrux possessed Mr Malfoy instead. We don't know what happened after that, but we don't think it's good. But, er. That's where we are." He paused. "Thoughts?"

"I've never heard of a horcrux before," Susan said. "Is this all just some sort of stupid joke? Because if it is it's not funny at all."

"No," Harry said. "No, it's really not—I wouldn't joke about something like this. Horcruxes are evil, Dark magic—Dumbledore says most people who know about them don't even like to talk about them. People just pretend they don't exist. Voldemort really made one and hid it here at school. Draco found it for him last year, and Mr Malfoy took it back."

"Well... I believe you," said Justin, "but... you said Dumbledore knows about all of this? And he hasn't said anything? He's just letting it all happen?"

"Er, I suppose that's one way of putting it," Harry said. "It's complicated. With the trial over the summer we tried to get Lucius Malfoy put in Azkaban, or at least questioned under Veritaserum. But because he was on the Wizengamot they couldn't use it… they only use Veritaserum on Wizengamot members if it's a trial for treason. And nobody wants to believe Voldemort could be back—Dumbledore's been trying and he's got nowhere with it."

"Malfoy's got too many friends on the Wizengamot," Ernie said. "Dad was complaining about it over the summer, and he doesn't know the half of what's going on. There's too many wizards who believe all his nonsense about the Imperius Curse… or just don't care because he's got deep pockets and is generous with them."

"We should grab Draco and curse him until he tells us what he knows," Millicent said. "If cursing doesn't work, we can hit him."

"Tempting," Harry said. "Really tempting. But I don't think it would work—and I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't want us to do that anyway." Harry didn't know whether to tell everyone about the occlumency or not, so erred on the side of caution.

"I have to tell my aunt Amelia!" Susan said. "I'm sure she'll—"

"Told you," Harry heard Blaise mutter.

Harry didn't think Susan would tell Amelia Bones if he asked her, sincerely and very seriously, not to. He just had to phrase it just right...

"You can't," Harry said. "Please don't. I'm trusting you with this because you're my friends—all of you are my closest friends. You're the only ones I can trust, especially with Umbridge and the Inquisition here this year." That wasn't entirely true, as Harry still wanted to count Theodore in that number, but the other boy had chosen to sit out the war if at all possible... so it was practically true. "You know it was Mr Malfoy who sponsored the bill that led to the Inquisition? So he won't have done that without Voldemort's order, will he? So that means whatever the Inquisition is here to do is something Voldemort wants done. So we've got to be really careful what we say and who we say it to, otherwise… well…"

"None of us will say anything," Millicent said firmly. "Will we?"

Susan paused to consider it.

"No," said Susan in the end, "of course not. I don't like it but I wouldn't—I just couldn't betray your trust like that. I'm sure if I could tell my aunt Amelia—which I won't do obviously—she'd be able to help..."

"I'll bear it in mind," Harry said. Amelia Bones had seemed reasonably helpful during the trial, but Harry wasn't entirely sure she could be trusted to act properly given knowledge of Voldemort. That Dumbledore hadn't approached her with what he knew spoke volumes, Susan's faith in her aunt notwithstanding.

"So... Malfoy, then—er, Draco—he was possessed by You-Know-Who last year?" Justin asked. "Is that where—well, it's just, he's got those scars now, hasn't he? So is it like yours, Harry? Or..."

Harry traced the outline of his scar reflexively. He didn't know the answer to that. He thought they were different, having a different origin – Harry's from where Voldemort's spell failed, and Draco's from where the Dark magic of the horcrux burned his skin. But then, was that so different?

"I don't know," Harry said. "Dumbledore thinks it's because horcruxes are so Dark that when Draco was taken over by one, it left a scar. So it's a similar concept, I suppose..."

"But Mr Malfoy doesn't have any scars," Tracey said. "It would have been in the papers otherwise—everyone would be talking about it. I wonder if that means anything? Because we know he was possessed as well, don't we?"

"I hadn't thought about that," Harry said. "Maybe it does. I'll have to mention it to Dumbledore, see what he says."

"So... alright," Susan said. "I believe you. I won't tell my aunt. But what can we do about anything? We're just at school."

"The High Inquisition," Harry said, "is here because Voldemort wants it to be. The Ministry wants it for some reason as well—Dumbledore thinks they want to get dirt on him—but that's not why Mr Malfoy sponsored the bill, is it? We don't know what it's for, and not even Dumbledore has any real ideas." Harry shrugged.

"But they're watching me. And I think they're watching you lot, as well—with the interviews and stuff like that. So I reckon we need to make it hard for the Inquisition to work. But we've got to do it all without getting in trouble."

"I'm up for that," Ernie said. "Did you know Umbridge has gone after Mum?"

"I had heard," Harry said. "I think that might have been my fault—I mentioned your mum to Umbridge. It wasn't anything bad—I just said she thought it was important to do the esoteric subjects. It was really stupid, I should have just... well, I shouldn't have said anything. Sorry."

Ernie shrugged.

"I think she would have gone after Mum anyway, Harry—you know how she is, always says what she wants. I'll bet she's said something to Umbridge and that's what's set her off."

"I'm all for a bit of subtle resistance," Blaise said, "but have you got any better ideas for actually doing it? Remember, we're not supposed to get in trouble, and we're going to want to do it without anyone noticing we're up to anything at all."

"Er, not yet," Harry said. "I was hoping we could come up with some together, honestly." Eight heads were better than one, after all. "Any ideas?"

"I wouldn't usually suggest anything like this," Daphne said, "because it is against the rules and honestly I think it's just really uncouth to do, but... what if we started writing graffiti about Umbridge and the Inquisition? Nothing nasty, but she had me looking for some when I went on patrol last night. She seemed to really not like it."

"We could do some of that," Harry said. It was quite a low-risk activity given that graffiti appeared all over the school all of the time anyway and could be accomplished without anyone really going out of their way. If nothing else it was a good start.

"Subversive messages, anti-Ministry stuff," Blaise suggested. "'Question authority!' and 'Who Watches the Inquisition?'" He shrugged. "Stuff like that."

"Ooh, that's good," said Tracey. "I like that! And maybe we should add in some anti-You-Know-Who stuff? You know, just so then no one can say that being anti-Inquisition is Dark or anything! Because you just know that's what Umbridge would say about it."

"That's great," Harry said. "But we'll need paint and stuff, won't we?"

"I'll ask Mum how to do that spell, you know, the one that you can use to paint from your wand," Ernie suggested. "Then I can show you all."

"I think we might be going over that spell in Art Club too, so I'll help," Daphne said. "So, I'll do that—well, and Ernie. I can call you Ernie now, can't I? Only, 'Macmillan' seems a bit impersonal considering the circumstances."

"Yes, of course," Ernie said.

Harry fought the urge to sigh. The wizard-raised were often oddly formal when it came to forenames and surnames. He went along with it because it was just the done thing, but sometimes...

"Right, so then the rest of us will have to figure out things to write," Harry said. "And other stuff to do, since I don't think graffiti is enough. But this is all a good start, I think..."

"What about asking awkward questions when the Inquisitors are about?" Justin said. "I don't know if you've noticed but they keep interrupting the teachers whenever they say anything they don't like. What if we asked questions about stuff like that?" He paused. "You know, like in History when they talk about goblin rebellions we could ask about how the context then is different from the context today. Then when the teachers try to answer, the Inquisition will stop them—and I know some people are getting really annoyed by that already. Especially when Professor Flamel wants to tell a good story. And I bet there's loads of ways we can ask questions and say things to make the Inquisition do stuff that makes them look bad but doesn't get us in trouble."

"Ooh, Justin, I love it!" said Tracey. "And then if we can make everyone else annoyed by the Inquisition—more than they already are I mean—that should do some of the work for us, shouldn't it?"

"That's a good one," Harry said. "We'll do this, then. If anyone comes up with more, we have to let everyone else know. Otherwise... let's just get on with it. 'Quiet resistance', Dumbledore said." Harry paused. "And thanks for supporting me. Not everyone I've told... well. We all know which one of us isn't here today. So thanks. I really mean it. I don't know if I could do this on my own."

"We're all here for you, mate," Blaise said.

"I couldn't not support you, Harry," Tracey said. "It's just not who I am. We're friends."

The others joined in with statements of support, and then they dispersed from the library. They'd been sat there long enough going over things everyone would much rather not have to talk about, and with decisions made, everyone was keen to get away.