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This story is a collaboration work between Avoranger and Cal the Wandcrafter!
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Susan Bones traversed the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps resounding against the cold stone walls. Anticipating a few moments of tranquillity during her break, she froze as a chilling sound interrupted the silence.
A familiar, malicious laughter.
Curiosity piqued, Susan slowed her pace. The laughter emanated from around the corner, where a group of first-year students huddled, terror etched upon their faces.
There, standing before them, was Pansy Parkinson, wand in hand.
Anger surged within Susan at the sight. Pansy had always been a bully, yet tormenting first-year students was a despicable low. Her fists clenched, and she advanced.
"Hey, Parkinson," Susan's voice was low and menacing. "What do you think you're doing?"
Pansy turned, a smirk gracing her face. "Just some harmless fun, Bones," she sneered.
Susan glared. "This isn't fun. These are first-year students, and they don't need your twisted version of entertainment."
Pansy's laughter echoed, a mocking chorus in the corridor. "And what will you do, little Hufflepuff? Stand against me? Stop me? You're nothing."
Susan's eyes blazed with an unexpected intensity. She knew she couldn't match Pansy's venom, yet her spirit refused to yield. "You're damn right I'm a Hufflepuff, and we won't stand for bullies like you." The first-years watched, wide-eyed, as Susan stepped forward, her voice steady. "Leave them alone, Pansy. Pick on someone else."
Pansy's face twisted with rage, eyes burning with madness. "Who are you to tell me what to do?" she spat, voice seething with malice. "Think you can stop me? I'll crush you, Bones." Susan's patience wore thin, her anger swelling like a storm within. In a burst of righteous fury, she lunged forward, catching Pansy off guard. Her fists became a tempest, striking Pansy with unrestrained force. Each impact reverberated through the corridor, a testament to the clash.
Pansy's sneer morphed into shock and pain as Susan's blows landed true, the tormentor finding herself tormented, her malevolence repaid in kind. Gasps escaped the first-year students, their shock mingled with awe at Susan's unexpected display of strength. Driven by desperation and pride, Pansy fought back with wild strikes, remnants of her once unchallenged dominance fueling her attacks. Yet Susan, propelled by anger, skillfully evaded every blow with calculated movements. Each strike from Susan found its mark, fueled by the witnessed suffering, transforming Pansy's sneer into a grimace of agony while her eyes widened with a mix of shock and fear.
As the tumultuous encounter peaked, Susan delivered a final resounding blow. Pansy crumpled, defeated. Silence engulfed the corridor, heavy with the weight of the confrontation.
Victorious, Susan stood, breath ragged and knuckles bloodied. But as the silence settled, a chilling voice sliced through.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
Susan turned, heart sinking at the sight of Professor Dolores Umbridge rounding the corner. The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had always been a thorn in the students' sides, but her expression now bore a twisted satisfaction.
"Professor Umbridge," Susan's voice tightened with apprehension. "I can explain. Pansy was bullying the first-years, Professor," she stated firmly. "I couldn't stand by and watch her hurt them. I acted to protect them."
Umbridge's gaze intensified, her toad-like features contorting with displeasure and amusement. "Protecting, you say? Your method is rather unconventional, Miss Bones."
Susan's mind raced, knowing there was no escape from Umbridge's judgement. But she refused to let Pansy's manipulation go unchallenged.
"Ask the first-year students, Professor. They saw what happened."
"Oh, I believe you, Miss Bones. The portraits informed me, and I was already on my way. However, taking matters into your own hands is unacceptable. You must have faith in your betters to do what is best." Umbridge's eyes flickered with annoyance, her smile replaced by a thin line of disapproval. Umbridge's words crushed any triumph Susan had felt moments ago. She watched as Umbridge tended to Pansy, concern on her face. "Miss Parkinson, are you alright?" she asked with an uncharacteristic softness.
Pansy groaned weakly, clutching her bruised ribs. "I... I'm fine, Professor Umbridge," she managed, her voice strained.
"Very well," Umbridge said dismissively. "I will handle this situation. Detention, Miss Parkinson," she announced with a knowing smirk that Pansy returned. "You will serve it tonight and we shall discuss your actions. Now as for you Mrs. Bones. I will not abide violence in my castle. No matter the excuse." Umbridge's smile returned, more twisted than ever. "Therefore, I regret to inform you that your leave for Christmas has been revoked, as well as your Hogsmeade privileges for the rest of the year. You will spend the holidays here, reflecting on your actions."
Susan's world crumbled. Spending Christmas isolated, away from her aunt, weighed heavily on her. A pit formed in her stomach as she realised she might not speak with her aunt until the end of the term, if her suspicions about the post being monitored were true.
"As you wish, Professor," Susan's voice carried a hint of defiance and anger.
"Miss Parkinson, come with me to the hospital wing. Miss Bones, you have a class to attend. Off you go." With a dismissive wave, Susan grabbed her bag and stormed off, her heart heavy with the weight of the consequences.
Ron's gaze fixated on Hermione from a distance, a furrow etching his brow. This wasn't their first clash - memories flooded his mind: Hermione reporting the anonymous broom to McGonagall, both of them doubting Harry during the Triwizard Tournament, neglecting to write to Harry over summer per Dumbledore's orders. Each rift had been healed, forgiven by Harry's generosity, but this time felt different.
Their recent quarrel wasn't like the ones before. Hermione had agreed to Harry's terms for a study group, yet had turned her back on her word. He got the impression that it wasn't about the terms of the contract; it was about trust, about breaching an agreement they'd established together. Ron imagined how severe it might have been if it involved magic.
If only she had asked Harry to invite others, maybe things would have been different. They could have studied harmoniously, without conflict.
He let out a heavy sigh.
Ron comprehended Hermione's intentions; her invitation to other students to combat Umbridge's regime was well-intentioned. Who wouldn't want to evade Umbridge's restrictions on actually practising magic? It was the entire reason they were at the school, after all. Yet, the way she acted, going behind Harry's back, struck a chord with him personally. He thought back to his own actions against Harry the year before and how the castle had almost completely turned on him, in both the second and fourth year.
In truth, Ron didn't harbour any animosity towards Hermione. He was simply siding with Harry, yet he still cared for Hermione deeply. He was certain Harry still cared for her too. But he was tired of the ongoing feud, and yearned for a reconciliation between his friends. He hoped they'd mend things soon, so they could enjoy each other's company once more.
Now, observing Hermione's sorrowful demeanour, Ron's concern peaked. Something had clearly troubled her, and even though Ginny seemed to be offering solace, he decided to intervene anyway. Acting on impulse, Ron awkwardly approached the pair, his gangly form towering above them as he stood in front.
Ron rubbed the back of his head, his concern evident. "Hey, Hermione... are you okay?" His tone carried genuine worry.
"What do you care, Ron?! Go back to Potter's side, why don't you!" Ginny's hostility caught him off guard.
"What are you on about, Ginny? Hermione's still my friend, and I still care if she's upset!" Ron retorted, glaring at his younger sister in annoyance.
"I'm fine, Ron... I was just talking to Harry earlier," Hermione replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice. Yet, Ron persisted, staring at her expectantly. She sighed. "Ginny... can you leave us alone?" Hermione requested, offering a faint smile.
Ginny furrowed her brow worriedly and shot a fierce glance at her brother, who returned it just as fiercely. "Are you sure you want to be alone with this idiot?" Ginny retorted.
Ron continued to glare at his sister.
Hermione reassured her, "Yeah, I'm fine, Gin. I'll call you if anything happens."
Ginny still seemed uncertain about leaving Hermione alone but eventually relented, "Fine! I'll sit over there, okay?" She gestured to a table in the corner occupied by students from her year.
Hermione nodded, offering a reassuring smile.
Once Ginny had left, Ron pulled a chair from a nearby table and sat in front of Hermione, both of them aware of Ginny's watchful gaze from afar.
"You talked to Harry?" Ron dove straight into the heart of the matter. Hermione weakly nodded in response.
"What did you talk to him about?" Ron's curiosity remained unabated.
"A lot... I think Harry hates me, Ron," she said, tears still swelling in her eyes.
Frowning, Ron countered, "Harry doesn't hate you, Hermione. I'm sure of it. He's waiting for you to approach him first." He admitted knowing that much.
Her voice quivered as she spoke, "But I did! And yet, he remained furious with me!" Her words trembled, revealing her unease. "I was consumed by worry, convinced he was purposely avoiding me!"
Ron grimaced, "So, did you two sort things out?"
Hermione met his gaze, tears glistening.
"I suppose not," It wasn't a question, and Ron held in a sigh of frustration ."Do you want to come with me to see Harry again? Maybe we can work this out together?" he offered.
"No need! He's likely with Greengrass," Hermione snapped irritably.
Ron arched an eyebrow at her hostility.
"What's your issue with Daphne?" he inquired.
"You're already on a first-name basis?" Hermione retorted in disbelief.
"We get along," Ron shrugged.
"And we don't?" her voice betrayed a hint of hurt.
Ron's frown etched deeper lines on his forehead. "What do you mean? You're our best friend! So what if Harry has a girlfriend now? Can't you find it in yourself to at least be happy that they're content together?" Frustration tinged his voice. "I may not understand why you're not fond of her, but I have a hunch. Harry's not pushing you away, and Daphne isn't trying to overshadow you. I'm the second youngest in a big family, I know how that kind of thinking goes. Hermione, last year I nearly ruined my friendship with Harry because of it. He misses you, but your behaviour reminds me of how I acted last year. If it's just because Harry's become friends with a girl, well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Would you react the same way he was with someone like Luna or Susan or Katie?"
Hermione's surprise at Ron's perception was evident in the flicker of shock on her face before she quickly shook her head. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she steered the conversation. "But if he doesn't hate me, why did he withdraw from leading the study group just because I invited others? And why did you side with him instead of me?" Frustration punctuated her words as she lightly tapped Ron's shoulder in exasperation. Ron winced but held back, understanding and empathising with her emotions.
"Well, perhaps because you didn't ask him?" Ron intercepted her hand to prevent another tap. "I mean... you could've discussed it with him beforehand. I'm certain Harry would've agreed instead of feeling blindsided and having more people involved," he explained, releasing her hands.
"I only asked a few people!" Hermione weakly defended herself. "And why a contract? I had an idea for one that could've worked! If anyone had breached it, we'd have known instantly! A proper contract, one that would physically prevent them from divulging anything, it's a deterrent! Everyone deserves a chance to pass their OWLs, so why is Harry so afraid of Professor Umbridge?" Her voice quivered. "And why would Harry lie about his detention?"
"Regarding his detention, what does that have to do with this? But back to the point, I was present when you and Harry made the agreement, remember?" Ron gently reminded her. "You both decided that Harry would have the final say in how the group operated." He sighed. "Harry took that seriously, Hermione. You didn't listen to him. And considering what happened in the graveyard and over the summer, I think he's rightfully cautious about security, especially because of Umbridge."
"Ron, just because she's a bad teacher doesn't mean she's out to kill us or anything. Do you really think the Minister would be so dense as to assign us a teacher that would actively try to hurt us?"
Ron spoke earnestly, "I know you mean well, Hermione, but there are things about Fudge you might not know. He's the sort who'd kick an orphaned puppy just to boost his approval ratings with cat lovers. And do you honestly think Dumbledore would hire a teacher who'd want to harm us intentionally? No, but how could he have known about Quirrell or Moody? Harry just wants to keep us safe, Hermione. Umbridge isn't someone to underestimate. I know you value authority, but please consider this one thing?"
"Umbridge's reputation for brutality is widespread in the Ministry, and her prejudice is abhorrent. You know Dad; he hardly discusses work at home and rarely gets angry. But even hearing half of what he's said about Umbridge to Mum," Ron shrugged, unapologetic about eavesdropping on his parents' conversations. "Consider what she and Fudge tried during Harry's trial. Do you realise the punishment for breaching the Statute of Secrecy? Ten years in Azkaban is the minimum. Some even get Obliviated and sent into the Muggle world if it's bad enough. If Fudge was willing to do that to Harry, why wouldn't his undersecretary?"
He paused to collect his thoughts, furrowing his brows. "Look, I might not be as clever as you or Harry, but even I'm scared of what she could do."
Ron took a breath, his expression solemn. "I won't push you to talk to Harry anytime soon, but I would suggest you reconsider and apologise. I'm sure Harry will forgive you, just like he forgave me last year when I didn't trust him during the tournament," he confessed, his face turning red as he smiled at Hermione.
"You've changed, Ron," said Hermione suddenly.
Ron blinked in surprise at Hermione's comment. "What do you mean? I'm still the same Ron, Hermione!" He grinned, a hint of confusion in his expression.
"That's not what I meant!" she huffed, her cheeks flushing. "More like... you've grown up, both you and Harry," she admitted, her tone softening.
Rubbing his neck, Ron attempted to explain. "I'm just trying to be more open-minded. I mean, not all Gryffindors are good, just look at Pettigrew. So I guess not all Slytherins are bad either. I still can't stand Malfoy, but Harry seems happy with Daphne, and she hasn't joined in on any of the bullying. Besides, we both know Harry's had a tough life, even though he won't tell us much about his relatives. So if he's found someone who makes him happy, I'll be happy for him too, right?" He grinned, a touch awkwardly.
"Yeah... I guess you're right." she said, giving him a smile.
Ron then stood up, "Listen, if you want to go talk to Harry, I'll go with you! No one is trying to replace you, and nobody is trying to outdo you! You are our best friend!" With a wide smile encouraging her. He then looked at his watch, and realised that the club meeting with Harry was about to start, "I'm still hungry from lunch, so I'm going to the kitchen to get some snacks. See you later!" Ron patted and squeezed Hermione's shoulder before leaving Gryffindor Tower with his bag in his grip.
Hermione mulled over Ron's words, questioning their truth. Harry's argument echoed in her mind, but she realised she'd only sought solace in selective hearing, finding comfort solely in what pleased her. 'What ought I to do?' she pondered, wrestling with herself.
"Hermione!" Ginny's voice cut through her thoughts, making her jump.
"Ginny," Hermione responded, managing a weak smile.
"Are you okay? Did Ron upset you? I'll hex him—"
"No, no, Ginny! I'm fine. Ron didn't do anything," Hermione reassured her. "But what's the time now?"
Ginny casually flicked her wand to cast the time-revealing spell.
Hermione's eyes widened in alarm; they were almost late! "It's time! Let's go, Ginny, everyone's waiting for us at the meeting!"
In the echoing chamber of the Room of Requirements, a resounding explosion filled the space upon the door's opening. Harry, his mood still sour, hardly flinched at the sight of someone unleashing a volatile spell on a hapless dummy.
"Nice shot," Harry remarked casually, seated cross-legged on the bench conjured by the room.
Interrupted mid-spell, the spellcaster spun around at the sound, a gasp escaping her lips, her gaze fraught with danger.
"Oh don't stop, no need to let me interrupt your stress relief, Bones! Just save some practice dummies for me," he uttered nonchalantly.
Susan raked her fingers through her hair, sweeping away the locks obscuring her face. "Don't you want to know why I'm fuming?"
Harry shrugged. "I wouldn't want to press for a tale you're reluctant to share, especially if it's rather personal."
Susan's laughter held a tinge of mockery before she settled beside Harry.
"Is it normal to feel like you want to hurt someone? I was picturing the Toad's face as I cast that," Harry tossed a bottle of water from a nearby table, supplied by Winky, which was deftly caught by Susan, who drank half of it.
Harry arched an eyebrow. "Detention, perhaps?" he lazily inquired while nibbling an energy bar, handing one over to Susan as she joined him.
"Potter! This is worse than detention!" Susan retorted angrily.
Harry frowned in concern, fear creeping into his voice. "Lines, then?"
"Lines?" she retorted coldly. "SHE BANNED ME FROM GOING HOME FOR WINTER BREAK, POTTER!" she snapped.
Harry blinked. "WHAT?! Punishment as staying in the castle all winter break? That's horrid!" he exclaimed, utterly shocked.
She groaned. "I can't believe it! What am I supposed to say to my aunt? How am I supposed to tell her what's going on here? I bet that was her plan all along!" She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.
Harry empathised with Susan's plight. "What did you do to get that sort of detention?" he asked curiously.
Susan tore open the energy bar roughly. "Just for stopping Pansy Parkinson from bullying a few first-years! Stupid bitch! No sense of decency! And Umbridge just so happened to walk around the corner as I started punching her." Susan ignited the empty wrapper, waving her wand to disperse the ashes.
"Ah, such a heroic deed is To be expected of the niece of the Director of DMLE!" Harry applauded.
"Stop it! Are you making fun of me?" she questioned, slightly offended.
"Hey, I'm praising you! I wish everyone would act like that instead of just bending the knee to every bully that throws their weight around!" Harry patted Susan's shoulder.
Susan just huffed. "What about you? You don't seem any better than me, up for demolishing some dummies this lesson?"
Harry looked out at the wreckage, as a large group of dummies had reassembled, this time painted a peculiarly familiar shade of pink. They had not been reassembled for more than three seconds before they were back into pieces, as Harry and Susan outstretched their wands with matching Bombardas.
He cleared his throat in humoured embarrassment. "Ah, yeah, I had a fight with Hermione. She's mad I'm not agreeing with everything she tells me to do regarding the study groups. I love her to death, she's my best friend, but she just doesn't understand how dangerous Umbridge is."
"Fair enough," Susan shrugged. "So... what's the issue with Granger besides the study group? Hannah mentioned they named it Dumbledore's Army or DA for short." Susan reopened the energy bar. "A rather dangerous name, wouldn't you say?"
"Yeah, although I do like the irony of it, I will say it's a bit too conspicuous. She's mainly mad because I was giving her silent treatment. I wasn't really meaning to, I was just waiting to see if she would apologise first. Especially after Daphne told me she was approached by her and accused of either potioning or Imperiousing me."
Susan grimaced, "Come on, that's ridiculous! After spending so much time together at practice and seeing you two up close, I really don't think Greengrass had anything to do with it. It's all your own choice, even starting this study group. Maybe she's just worried?"
"Worried?" Harry frowned.
"Yeah, worried! Hermione was practically glued to you and Ron since day one, and suddenly this year, you've become all independent, got yourself a girlfriend who's not a Gryffindor, and become less dependent on her. Maybe she felt left out because you've grown up and she's not needed anymore?" Susan speculated.
Harry mulled over Susan's words. Perhaps there was some truth to what she was saying, especially about Hermione.
"Sue, could it be that Hermione—" Harry's sentence was interrupted by the door to the Room of Requirement swinging open. The rest of the study group members were arriving.
"Oh good, you're already here!" Katie spoke with a grin, as she held the door open for the rest of the group.
"Let's chat later, looks like it's showtime!" Harry said with a grin.
Susan just shook her head, unamused, wincing when she heard Padma's sharp voice ring out.
"Oh, Merlin! What have you two been up to?" Padma exclaimed, stunned at the mess in the room.
"Well, I'm just frustrated," Susan admitted innocently. "I'm trying to talk Harry into letting us blow stuff up for a lesson."
"Going to be a bit hard for that if everything's destroyed, isn't it?" Neville spoke with a small laugh, just the room returned to its normal state.
"Thanks, Nev!" Harry smiled his way as he stood to join the others.
"No worries, Harry." he said while flashing a thumbs up before turning his head to Susan, "Oh! We heard about you and Umbridge, Susan. I'm sorry about that!"
"She's a right foul toad for doing that. Someone needs to let a bludger loose in her office." Katie added in her opinion with a frown.
"I think her head is infested with Wrackspurts. They fly in your ears and make your brain go fuzzy. It takes away your rational decision making. Maybe we should flood her office with apricot jam," Luna said in her usual tone.
Harry looked over with an amused smile and asked the question on everyone's mind. "What does jam have to do with Wrackspurts, Luna?
"Oh nothing." She answered matter-of-factly. "I just think it would be funny to give her office an infestation of ants."
They all chuckled and exchanged equally ridiculous ideas on how to annoy Umbridge while waiting for the last few members to arrive. When Ernie, Tracey, and the Greengrass sisters joined, Susan began recounting what truly happened between her and Pansy.
"That's absurd!" Daphne exclaimed. "Pansy didn't have any detention! She was bragging in the common room about getting a Puff in trouble! I didn't realise it was you!"
Susan's anger flared again, "FUCK! Are you serious?"
"Why would I lie?" Daphne responded defensively.
Susan continued to curse, using language that seemed out of place coming from someone who appeared innocent and caring like her. The room's occupants pretended to be occupied with other things while quietly listening to her rant, empathising with her frustration.
"Damn! Sorry, Greengrass!" Susan abruptly apologised.
"It's okay, I understand. Call me Daphne," Daphne replied. Susan furrowed her brow, lost in thought, then blinked, too agitated to dwell on it.
"Oh, it's Susan then," she forced a grin.
"And I'm Harry!" Harry interjected, earning glares from both. "What?" he said innocently, bewildered by their reaction. They giggled at his confusion, leaving Harry pondering, 'What's wrong with these girls?'
Susan sighed, "Very funny, Harry. But I still have no idea why she gave me that kind of detention. I heard from Harry that she just has students write lines."
Harry and Daphne grimaced, drawing the attention of others in the room. Harry clarified, "That's true, but I wouldn't recommend going through lines either."
"Is it really that bad just writing lines? What does she make you write and how much?" Ernie wondered, frowning at the absurdity.
"I'd really not like to talk about it," Harry said, involuntarily flinching his hand at the thought.
Unfortunately, Susan spotted it and gasped in horror. "No way! She brought ONE OF THOSE into this castle?"
"What? What do you mean, Sue?" Neville asked nervously, sensing trouble.
Susan gritted her teeth in anger and in fear. "A Blood Quill!" she spoke in a dark tone.
"You can't be serious?!" Padma exclaimed. "Those things are highly illegal! Even goblins don't use them anymore! My father is a solicitor, and last year he had to work on a case where a shop owner was making employees signed contracts with them! He was sentenced to 5 years and Azkaban for it!"
"Unfortunately, I'm not kidding," Harry affirmed.
"Who else knows about this?" Katie asked, horrified. "Does Dumbledore know?"
"Umbridge told me not to let anyone know, threatening to make first years use it the same way I had —with some sort of blood thinner. Now that the secret's out, I can say it probably would've killed me if I hadn't received medical treatment," Harry explained. Daphne nodded in confirmation as he continued, "I'm not sure if Dumbledore knows, but he should be aware something's up by now. McGonagall was suspicious and asked me a few days ago. I only gave her hints; I didn't want to risk anything before finding a proper way to deal with her. You know the kind of support she has in the Ministry," Harry said with sarcastic disgust.
Tracey scoffed, "You made the right choice not telling her the full truth. That's as good as suicide! Imagine what Fudge would do if Dumbledore tried to have her kicked out! I bet he's probably got a cell in Azkaban already prepared with your and the headmaster's names on it."
The room fell into a sombre silence. Harry shook his head in disgust. "Well, now that you all know, does anyone else have anything to bring up? We're all targets if she learns you know what she's been doing."
"Yeah, actually, has anyone noticed anything odd about the post?" Neville suddenly asked, changing the subject.
As the group contemplated, Harry's mind raced through memories from fifth year—Hedwig, letters, Sirius, Dobby, the owls in the owlery. Hedwig had been hurt when she tried to send a letter to Sirius. But it wasn't just her; Someone had been intercepting letters, likely Umbridge. And speaking of Hedwig, he hadn't seen her since returning to Hogwarts. Where was she?
Daphne's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Actually, yeah. When I get a letter from my parents, the responses I've been getting seem almost identical, like a template. Basic well wishes and generic questions about my grades. Do your letters look the same?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Luna's frown turned into realisation. "Daddy hasn't sent me the newest edition of the Quibbler since September! Does that count?"
"I think so. For me, it's from my Gran. She didn't answer any of my requests to send me seeds from one of my plants at home, so I could plant it in the Greenhouses. Gran responded with a different topic instead, and when I reminded her, she didn't even get angry. It was really unusual for her."
Susan crossed her arms in thought as she contemplated it. "I thought it was only happening to me… You see, I send letters to my aunt almost every week, but I know she's extremely busy. So, I'm used to getting only one letter from her every month or two, despite sending her four each month. But since October… She's been replying to every letter I send. And the replies don't always sync with what I'm sending. I have a habit of duplicating the letters before sending them, just in case, and every time I have checked the letters I've been getting, it's like she is ignoring half of what I say. I'm positive that it's not her writing them."
Ernie quipped, "Seems pretty obvious someone is intercepting the mail. Wonder who it could be?" Sarcasm dripped from his words.
"Three guesses as to who, and the second and third ones don't count," Astoria remarked lightly.
"Astoria's right. Who else could it be? Umbridge seems to be targeting the post of people who could cause problems for her," Harry said bitterly. "I wouldn't be surprised if Pansy was sent by her to get you into trouble, just so you couldn't go home and tell her about any of it."
"Harry's got a point. You're the niece of the Director of the DMLE and head of Internal Affairs. I would bet money that Umbridge is worried about you telling her what is going on in the castle. I would also bet that is the reason you are trapped in the castle for Christmas, so you can't tell her in person. I wouldn't be surprised if Umbridge would even find a way to keep you from coming home for Easter break either," explained Daphne.
Susan grimaced, realising she never came home on that particular holiday anyway, so she didn't have a problem. But she fell silent, trying to figure out what Umbridge wouldn't want her aunt to know.
"For Neville, maybe Umbridge doesn't want the students to receive anything but the letters she approves of? Or maybe she's worried there's some sort of code to Madame Longbottom. She is the head of the Board of Directors for Hogwarts, after all. And the Quibbler has a lot of conspiracy and unusual news in it. I think she's worried about something spreading in the castle that she couldn't control, unlike the Daily Prophet," Harry said.
"That makes sense. We are kids, after all - the easiest targets for the Ministry to influence. If they can manage to get the parents out of the picture, or even worse, fake the opinions of our parents, they can trick most people into believing just about anything. Controlling the flow of information would be quite useful," deduced Padma.
"But I only sent—" She was cut off, remembering the kind of letters she sent to her aunt. Frustrated, she rubbed her face before looking at Harry. "Umbridge doesn't want whatever is going on in the castle to get out, right?"
Harry recognized the same look in her eyes from back in his days as her partner in the Aurors. It was the same inquisitive stare that meant she was about to start piecing stuff together.
"She must view me as the biggest threat to her plans besides you, Harry. She can get away with hurting you because Fudge would never allow that to become common knowledge in the paper... But she doesn't want to hurt me because of who my aunt is. So the next question is, how is she duplicating my aunt's handwriting so well? And it would be suspicious to go back home over the summer only for our guardians to ask why we never wrote back, or for us to ask about odd responses. But when do you ever casually ask about letters exchanged months ago? I bet she is probably sending out fake letters using our handwriting as well, specifically answering as if everything is normal."
"But if it's true, how's she doing it? I mean, is she rewriting it one by one after reading it one by one? I'm not sure she has time for that; when she's not teaching, all she ever does is walk around the halls to catch students who break her stupid rules." Ron wondered aloud.
"Force a house elf to snatch the mail?" Susan guessed, feeling weary. "It seems like the easiest way."
Daphne nodded. "And probably she has a self-writing quill too. Kind of like the one that Skeeter uses, but more accurate. If you have enough writing samples, it can clone your handwriting. They are not illegal, but you can't buy them in britain. I know that Father has a few for notating his business dealings."
"That fucking bitch!" They all turned in surprise to see the look of rage on Tracey's face during her outburst. "My owl broke her wing last week after I tried to send a letter out to my parents and Daphne's mum? At first I thought it was just an accident, but I swear to Merlin if that vile toad hurt her, I will kill her myself!"
Katie put her arm around Tracey to give her strength, whispering her some encouraging words at her. Meanwhile, Daphne grabbed Tracey's free hand and squeezed it while giving Katie a small smile of thanks.
"Sorry, Tracey." Harry gave her an apologetic look.
"It's not your fault Harry… it's Umbridge's fault," she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
"How about we start our lesson now? I think we really need to let out some steam. Were you practising Bombarda earlier?" suggested Astoria with a small smile, breaking the tense atmosphere.
Under the soft glow of the candles, their training had just concluded, an evening full of explosives and pink training dummies that had everyone laughing as they exploded confetti when being hit in the head. But the hour grew light, and one by one the group departed from the room of requirement until there were just three left: Harry, Daphne and Susan.
"Do you reckon Umbridge is truly after me because I'm Amelia Bones' niece?" Susan inquired, her voice laden with anger, confusion, and disbelief.
"I suspect so. Your aunt vehemently opposes Fudge and Umbridge, right?" Daphne responded, arms crossed.
Susan nodded slowly as Daphne continued. "Umbridge persuaded Fudge to slash the DMLE budget during the middle of an investigation into her office a few years back. Madame Bones had Internal Affairs kicking the door down screaming conflict of interest before an hour had passed. It puts your aunt on a rather nasty shit list."
"How do you know about that?" Susan was astonished by Daphne's knowledge, unaware herself. Her aunt was always guarded about Ministry matters.
"My father. He enjoys recounting the more intriguing non classified stories from work." Daphne replied, reminiscing briefly about her father's tales.
"But isn't he a businessman? How would he know about the IA?" Susan questioned.
"Yes, but he was handpicked directly by your aunt to assist Internal Affairs with financial investigations on a non-permanent basis," Daphne explained, smirking. "Not very many people know this, so keep it quiet, all right?"
Susan rolled her eyes good-naturedly as she nodded in agreement.
"Well that would explain part of it. I can't believe I have to spend Christmas break stuck in the castle! Aunty and I always spend Christmas together!" Susan huffed in frustration.
Understanding her sentiment, Harry suggested, "I have an idea about that actually. I have a map that my dad and his friends made. It has enchantments that show everyone in the castle, along with all the hidden passages. I'm going to stay with the Weasleys over the holiday, so I won't need it for a while. You could sneak out for a bit and return it when I'm back at the Castle. Maybe use the time to send a message off?"
Susan was on the very short list of people that Harry would have ever entrusted the map to. Even though it had not yet happened, their partnership in the DMLE had formed a bond between them that was at times stronger than the friendship he shared with Ron and Hermione. Years of being the best detective team in the entire Ministry tended to do that to a person.
Susan however, was taken aback at the thought of it. "Are you sure Harry! This is practically a family heirloom! I understand if you don't want to risk it!"
Harry just smiled and reached into his pocket pulling out the parchment. "I just have a feeling it's better suited in your hands for the next few weeks. To activate it, give it a tap and say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' Once you are finished, tap it again and say 'mischief managed'. If you don't close it, anyone is able to read it. Otherwise people that try to break into it just get insulted. If that happens, just say it's a Zonko's product. I'll steal it back from Filch's office or wherever it ends up."
She took the parchment and gave him a quick hug before preparing to head back to her dorm.
Susan descended the stairs, feeling relaxed and carefree after the rigorous training. She had finished her homework and with an hour before curfew, she strolled leisurely around the castle, humming to herself.
Despite the intense training, she found it strangely invigorating, courtesy of Umbridge's unwanted motivation. Yet, the lesson had been surprisingly enjoyable.
As she planned her time alone in the castle, she noted Hogsmeade as a must-visit using Harry's map. Shopping for snacks and Christmas gifts topped her list. She also considered drafting an apology to her aunt but pondered the risk of interception by house elves if sent from Hogsmeade. Susan decided to mull over it later, taking a calming breath as she wandered through the corridors.
As she awaited the staircase's movement to the next level, a cluster of students emerged from a corridor on the fourth floor—an open secret meeting place for Dumbledore's Army. Silently tallying their number, Susan winced; twenty-three students emerged from that classroom. It was far too many! Grateful that she'd persuaded Harry to organise an additional study session, Susan knew she couldn't concentrate amidst such a throng—her usual class barely exceeding fifteen! How would she manage practical lessons with such a large group in such limited time?
Lost in thought, Susan failed to notice Hannah and Hermione standing nearby, deliberately approaching her as she descended the stairs.
"Sue!" called out Hannah, startling Susan nearly causing her to slip.
"Goodness, Hannah! You nearly caused me to fall!" she huffed, before glancing the two of them over.
"What brings you here? I didn't see you in the dorm earlier… Are you alright?" she asked with concern, sensing something had occurred earlier in the day.
Forcing a smile, Susan replied, "I'm fine. Just taking a stroll, tired of being cooped up in the common room! Climbing the stairs is good exercise, after all," she shrugged.
"Why not join us some time? We have a lesson tomorrow, the last one before the winter break," Hermione suggested eagerly, seizing the opportunity.
Not surprised by the sudden invitation, Susan adjusted her bag before responding, "Well, sorry, but you know I can't... you're aware of who my aunt is, right? I don't want you all to get in trouble because of me, especially after the Parkinson incident... you should understand." Shrugging, she added, "It's not that I don't want to, really! Your study group seems enjoyable, and I'm certain you'll all excel in the OWLs!" Susan expressed sincerely.
Hermione slouched in disappointment, privy to Susan's detention and its details. Coincidentally, the victim of the incident happened to be the younger sibling of one of the study group members. She recounted the ordeal to the class, narrating the detention and its implications. Of the trio, only Susan was barred from returning home for the winter break. Umbridge had assigned Filch to oversee the other two detentions.
Susan, a bright student with an aunt serving as the Director of DMLE, undoubtedly possessed valuable Defence Against the Dark Arts insights and spells to learn. Yet, regrettably, she declined once again. This refusal wasn't the first time for the crimson-haired girl, always for the same reason.
"It's alright, Susan… I understand," Hermione reassured her with a smile.
Susan offered a sorry smile before turning to Hannah, who apologised.
"I'm sorry, Sue! I should've been there for you," Hannah expressed in a sorrowful tone. Susan had actually invited her to accompany to the Owlery, but she declined, eager to complete her Herbology assignment before the submission deadline the next day, ensuring their study time with DA remained uninterrupted despite pending assignments.
Shaking her head, Susan replied, "It's fine, Hannah, I understand! I wouldn't mind enjoying a holiday alone in the castle; the Hufflepuff house is all mine for the entire winter break... It'll be fun!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Should I stay back to keep you company?"
Susan immediately objected, "No, Hannah! You've been looking forward to this winter break, haven't you? Your brother, working in Italy, is returning home for the first time in two years!"
Hannah appeared conflicted but nodded slowly. Susan embraced her tightly.
"Forget about me; how's your study group? I've heard you referred to it as DA. What's that?" she asked, feigning curiosity. Though Padma had heard from Parvati, and as such had already briefed Harry and the rest of them, she figured it would be a good idea to try and figure out a bit about the other group.
Quickly seizing the opportunity, Hermione embarked on a long winded explanation about the origins of Dumbledore's army, and how an average lesson would go down.
Internally grimacing Susan nodded along, pretending interest throughout the somewhat... tedious... explanation. To sum it up easily, Susan thought Hermione's method resembled McGonagall's teaching style, consuming around 3/4 of the time with explanations and lecture, with the rest of the time spent practising spells Hermione assured would appear in the OWLs and NEWTs after her library research... and knowing the habits of the Gryffindor girl, Susan didn't doubt it.
She couldn't help but wonder to herself though, would Hermione agree with Harry's way of teaching? It was basically a run through of Auror Trading Lite, from what she could remember of having to accompany her aunt to work when no one was able to act as a babysitter when she was younger.
At the beginning of each lesson, Harry would act as the devil incarnated into the form of an instructor, demanding each student push themselves to their physical limits while combining physical exercise with spell casting and dodging, only to drop the harsh persona as they reach the point of failure to offer support and confidence right as each person was at their lowest. It was a brilliant strategy, she would openly admit, subtly teaching each member to give it their all and to break down their own limits. All in all, she much preferred it to what Hermione was describing.
"Wow! Just hearing about it makes your study group sound thrilling. Unfortunately, I can't join in," Susan said, feigning regret, "maybe one of you could share the spells the group learned? I know it's a bit like cheating since I'll be studying on my own... but I need to pass the OWLs too, right? Perhaps I'll use my free time here to study," Susan expressed optimistically. "But if you can't, no worries. I'll do my own research during the break!" she added, winking at them playfully.
Susan was taken aback when Hermione unexpectedly handed her a paper containing all the spells they were planning to learn. She was momentarily speechless. "Here, this is what we have covered so far."
"Are you sure? I—"
"It's okay, Susan! Consider it a thank you for standing up for those first years," Hermione said, beaming. Once again, Susan found herself at a loss for words. On one hand, it was an extremely kind gesture, and she felt guilty using manipulation like she had, but also she was flabbergasted at the lack of security that Dumbledore's Army was displaying.
She sighed, "Alright, if you insist, thank you! I was just joking, you know!"
"Hermione, let's go, curfew is in 10 minutes!" A voice she recognized as Ginny Weasley approached them from a lower staircase, as the redhead joined them, interrupting whatever Hermione might have added.
Weasley smiled at Susan and whispered something to Hermione. Although it lasted only a moment, Susan noticed the change in Hermione's expression.
"Let's go!" was the only response she showed to whatever Weasley had said. "See you, Susan, Hannah! Happy Christmas!" Hermione bid them farewell, Weasley echoing the sentiment.
"Happy Christmas!" Susan replied, watching the two Gryffindors hurry up the stairs to the seventh floor.
Susan quickly pocketed the paper Hermione had given her, intending to check and share it with Harry later.
"Come on, Hannah! Let's head back too!"
"You know, I understand it would cause a load of trouble if we stormed Umbridge's office, broke the door down, set her on fire, then dragged her to the ministry and dumped her in Madame Bones' office, but Merlin, it would be refreshing!" Harry exclaimed excitedly.
Daphne listened in amusement, opening two bottles of water, and handing one to Harry.
He took a large swig, before he continued, "For one, it would be a dead giveaway that something's off with us, and two, we'd definitely end up in Azkaban for assaulting a ministry official. But Merlin, I'd love to tie her to a broomstick and drop her in the Black Lake. Let the squid chew on her for a while."
"Personally, I'd opt for tying her to a limb of the Whomping Willow."
Harry looked at her wide-eyed, smirking, "Can we just do that instead of all of this scheming and planning?"
She giggled, shaking her head. "No, Harry. As you said, there would be too many red flags pointing our way. Murder cases are just about the fastest way to get the Aurors involved."
He pouted in disappointment. "But it would be fun!"
"I know! I can already picture squishing her like a bug! But it's not worth it, at least for now. Anyways, let's refocus - what are our plans for the winter break, Harry?" she asked in a curious voice.
"Well, around Christmas, we're going to rob the bank, remember?" Harry teased, watching Daphne's eyes light up in excitement. "Also... tomorrow, we need to prepare for the adventure to help Mr. Weasley and break into the Record Department at the Ministry the night before we head home for the winter break!"
"Oh! Tomorrow? It's tomorrow?" Daphne suddenly panicked, but excitedly.
He chuckled. "Yes, Daphne dear... tomorrow! Tomorrow night, to be exact!" he nodded.
"That reminds me!" Daphne summoned her bag and produced two mysterious boxes. "Pick one, Harry!" she exclaimed, her eyes filled with excitement.
Harry chose one of the boxes. "What's this?"
"Open it!" she urged, grinning widely.
He slowly opened it and found a dagger inside. A beautiful dagger crafted from a familiar fang... one he recognized immediately as a Basilisk's fang. The handle, dense dark brown wood with a stunning satin finish, was crafted beautifully, offering a comfortable grip. He looked up at Daphne, who observed him with a wide grin, clearly pleased with his reaction.
"How?" Harry uttered in amazement.
She chuckled, "When you first took me down to the chamber, I thought about making us a matching set of daggers, so I asked Winky to retrieve two fangs, and take them to a craftsman in Wales that my father has business dealings with. But somehow, my house elf managed to intercept her and took over the delivery."
"You've got a proud and loyal elf there!" Harry teased.
She chuckled, playfully rolling her eyes. "Jo looked grumpy because I asked another elf! Claimed he could sense it! Doubt it! I think he just spies on me occasionally because I've felt someone watching me from a distance, and I recognize his mannerisms."
"But how did he bypass Umbridge's security in the castle?"
"Well, remember I told you he lived at the castle with me first year working in the kitchens? I think all the elves just recognized him, and the Hogwarts wards viewed him as one of their own."
"That actually makes sense!" Harry said in amazement. "You know, you could've asked me to pick it up; no need to involve Winky. She was scared last time she went down to the chamber, remember?" he pouted.
She giggled, "I just wanted to surprise you, and Winky was up for it, even if Jo shanghaied that little project," she facepalmed.
"That elf of yours is nearly as territorial as Dobby, I swear," teased Harry, earning an eye roll from Daphne. "And thanks for the surprise. I love it!" He kissed her cheek.
Her face flushed uncontrollably. "I'm glad you like it."
"Let's plan for tomorrow! I'm looking forward to stabbing that snake!" Harry suggested with a wide smile, and Daphne nodded in agreement.
...
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Thanks for read!
