Disclaimer: I only own the plot and my OCs. Anything you recognize as not mine belongs to their otherwise respective owners.

Author's Notes: Hello, everyone! I don't have too much to say about this chapter, except that I really liked writing it and the other usual stuff.

So, as always, I hope you enjoy. Until the next chapter,

~TGWSI/Selene Borealis

~daughter of briganti~

~meet me in the woods~

~chapter 15~

4 September 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland, Great Britain

Hyleth had a feeling when they reached the Entrance Hall that morning, and a line of fourth-year Ravenclaws caught sight of her with her mates and hurried to form a tighter group, as though frightened she might attack stragglers, that things weren't going to well the rest of the day.

After Theo had come back from his talk with his friends on Saturday, the weekend had been fine. He'd given them the run-down on their conversation, how he had told them that he was pregnant and the magic which had allowed Hyleth to survive the Killing Curse was making his health better because of it, and that Hyleth would be taking on a lot more spouses in the future because of the magic, but not too much else.

"Potter is going to be the envy and pity of alphas and male betas everywhere," Zabini had, apparently, remarked. "Fudge and The Daily Prophet aren't going to know what hit them when they find out."

Theo's friends had agreed that they would be courteous to Hyleth when they interacted with her, although it wasn't like they hadn't been before. There'd been a gleam in her husband's gold eyes as he'd said this; she hadn't asked him what it was about. Whatever it was, she decided, she would know eventually.

Sunday morning, the three of them went to go see Madam Pomfrey, as planned. The school matron's lips had been thin the moment they'd walked in. "Professor Dumbledore has already told me much," she'd said, directing Theo over to his usual bed (he was one of the only students to have one, as was Hyleth). Ginny had sat down on the bed next to his. "But I would rather you tell me everything you can in your own words, so I can get a better understanding of what I'm dealing with."

Once they had, specifically mentioning how Hyleth would be getting bonded with Luna on the coming up Saturday, and potentially Tonks, Cedric, and other Hogwarts students before the end of term, Pomfrey had been...less than pleased. "This school is about to have more student pregnancies than it has in centuries, if ever!" she'd exclaimed. She'd darted off to her office, then brought out several books. "I don't know, I will have to see...but with your condition, Mr. Black, even if it is in remission..."

"My pregnancy will be high-risk," he'd said. "I know."

Pomfrey had sighed. "Life has not been easy for you. Any of you." She'd looked at Hyleth and Ginny. "Rest assured, I will do my best. I will have to tell the staff what is going on tonight, however. This is not something that I can keep from them, even this early on. If you would like, I can enforce confidentiality on them, per Hogwarts' medical wards, until the time that you are ready for the general population of the school to know."

They hadn't needed to discuss it. "Yes, please."

She'd done an examination of both Theo and Ginny, then given them enough potions that worked as nutritional supplements for the month and a book on magical pregnancies; the book was to be returned back to her at the end of the month, during their next appointment. There wasn't much more she'd been able to do; it was still too early for them to hear the heartbeats, and gender would not be able to be detected until the end of the first trimester.

Still, Hyleth's mates had been more than satisfied with the care, and so was she.

But, back to the present. They followed the Ravenclaws into the Great Hall, and instinctively looked at the staff table as they entered, Hyleth sucking in a short breath. Thankfully, despite the ruckus that the news her mates were pregnant surely must've caused last night, none of the professors present seemed to be looking for her. Professor Grubbly-Plank was chatting with Professor Sinistra, and Hagrid was once again conspicuous only by his absence. Yet the enchanted ceiling above them did echo Hyleth's nervous feeling; it was a miserable, rain-cloud grey.

"Are you sitting with us this morning, or your friends?" Ginny asked Theo.

"'Think my friends, again," he said. To Hyleth: "If that's alright with you."

She knew why: last night at dinner, when he'd sat with them, Ron had basically ignored his entire existence, continuing his angry streak. "'Course it is," she answered. She knew her male best friend would get over his feelings. At some point.

Theo kissed her on the cheek, drawing some ogles from passersby, then went over to the Slytherin table once again.

The day's classes for the Gryffindors (and Slytherins, since two of their classes were with each other) wasn't that great: History of Magic, double Potions, Ancient Runes, and double Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ron was complaining about it when they walked over, but he clammed up once he saw them.

"You can't keep pretending like you don't want to talk to us forever, Ronald," Ginny told him, sitting down.

Ron didn't deign her with a response.

There was a brief argument between Hermione and the elder Weasley twins about them putting up flyers for volunteers to test their products. Hermione was also already worrying about their OWLs, which made Hyleth and Ginny both smile. She wasn't very pleased with them for it.

"This is the rest of our lives we're talking about," she said. "Don't you have any idea about what you want to do?"

"I have enough money, we don't need to worry about something like that if we don't want to."

"Hyleth!"

When they finally went to their classes, the first half of them weren't too notable: History of Magic was as boring as ever, and Professor Babbling did not treat Hyleth, Ginny, or Theo any different than she usually did. The class was spent reviewing the homework they'd had over the summer, and examining what they would be doing over the course of this year, with some emphasis given to their OWLs.

Potions was a bit of a deviation from the norm, occurring between the two aforementioned classes. In the past, there had always been a clear division between the Slytherins and the Gryffindors, with them being separated by the aisle between the desks. Yet this time, as they all walked in, Theo went to the right rather than the left, with Greengrass trailing behind him. She was the same height as him, five-foot-seven, which made her rather tall for a female omega; her auburn hair fell down to her shoulders in loose curls, and her light green eyes were catlike. She held her chin high, as if daring anyone to comment on their decision of where to sit. Nobody did.

She and Theo sat at the table next to Hyleth's; Hermione paired up with Neville, and Ron with Dean, as Seamus seemingly decided to take pity on him and sit with Emma Vane today. Zabini, Davis, and Runcorn formed a trio, as they always did, and Crabbe and Goyle sat together.

What was unusual, was how Bulstrode and Parkinson became partners. While they were good friends and had occasionally worked with each other in Potions in the past, for the most part, Parkinson sat with Malfoy. The rumor mill at Hogwarts had it (which had been substantiated by Theo) that the two had meant to be contracted for marriage by their parents. They'd simply been waiting for Malfoy to present as an alpha.

Obviously, since he hadn't, that was off the table now.

Malfoy was the last student to walk in. He did with his head bowed down, not looking at anyone. His hair didn't have its typical shine, and his clothes seemed to hang on his frame, indicating he'd lost a substantial amount of weight recently. But that was all Hyleth was able to note about him, as Professor Snape was right behind the recently-presented male omega.

"Settle down," Snape said coldly, shutting the door behind him. He swept over to his desk as Malfoy took one of the only tables left all for himself. "Before we begin today's lesson, I think it important to remind you that this June you will be sitting an important examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an 'Acceptable' in your OWL...or suffer my displeasure."

His gaze lingered on Neville, who gulped.

"After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me," Snape went on. "I take only the very best into my NEWTS Potions class, which means that some of us will certainly be saying goodbye."

His eyes rested on Hyleth, and his lips curled. She stared defiantly back. While she wasn't the best at Potions by any means, her father had given her some additional basic instruction before her fourth year on the class, and it'd allowed her to come a far way from where she'd been in her first two years. She was sure that she could get an "Exceeds Expectations" on her OWL for the class – not that she necessarily wanted to advance to the NEWT levels. She just wanted to prove Snape wrong.

Sure enough, she was able to make a more than satisfactory Draught of Peace that lesson, the potion which Snape had assigned them. He sneered as he looked down at it, but he didn't say anything about it or to her in general until the end of class. "Those of you who have managed to read the instructions, fill one flagon with a sample of your potion, label it clearly with your name, and bring it up to my desk for testing. Potters, Black, please stay behind."

Ginny snorted at how he referred to them. The other Gryffindors all looked interested as to what Snape could want with them, but they weren't eager to remain behind and earn his wrath. When the last of their peers had left the room, Snape flicked his wand. The door closed and locked behind them.

"As I'm sure you know, Madam Pomfrey informed the staff about your...conditions last night, Mr. Black, Mrs. Potter," he said, his fingers interlocked on top of his desk. "Professors Sprout and Grubbly-Plank may be able to better accommodate you; as it is, I cannot. It is your responsibility to know when to protect yourselves or leave the class due to the day's potion. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Yes, Professor."

He scrutinized Theo. "Has your father contacted you yet, Mr. Black?"

Theo shook his head. "No, not yet."

"Very well. When, or if, he does, remember that my office or personal quarters could be made available for you to have a conversation with him, you need only ask." He glowered at Hyleth. "You may even bring Ms. Potter, if you feel that you must, as long as neither of you tell anyone about it. You're dismissed."

"That was rather...nice of him," commented Ginny on their way to lunch.

"I've told you before that he's not that bad," Theo replied. "I mean, to Hyleth and Longbottom, yes, he is. But Snape's known in Slytherin and even outside of our House for helping out students who need it, particularly ones who come from...home lives that aren't so great."

Hyleth would take his word for it.

After Ancient Runes, they arrived in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Professor Umbridge was already seated at her desk, wearing the fluffy pink cardigan from Friday night and the black velvet bow on top of her head. It was not lost on Hyleth how her smile – for she was smiling, and in a rather unnatural way at that – became strained as the female alpha and her mates walked into the room.

Well, more like only Hyleth. She did look at Ginny and Theo too, but her gaze was fixed almost solely on her.

This time, Theo sat down next to Hyleth. Her head tilted, confused. He shook his head again.

All at once, she remembered how he had reacted on Friday night, when he'd first seen Umbridge. She remembered what she'd said when he'd told her who the beta woman was: "I suppose that means she won't be a fan of me, then?"

That wasn't to say she'd forgotten that interaction, not at all. It just came back to her with a greater clarity.

Theo, most likely, was thinking that he was going to protect her from doing anything stupid.

But what was the worst that Umbridge could do?

. . .

. . .

"Well, good afternoon!" she said, when finally the whole class had sat down.

A few people mumbled "good afternoon" in reply.

"Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge. "That won't do now, will it? I should like you, please, to reply, 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!"

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they chanted back at her.

"There now," said Professor Umbridge sweetly. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please."

The Gryffindors and Slytherins both exchanged gloomy looks, save for a few notable exceptions, like Malfoy; the order "wands away" had never yet been followed by a lesson they found interesting. Hyleth shoved her wand back inside her bag and pulled out a quill, ink, and parchment. Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, pulled out her own wand, unusually short, and tapped the blackboard sharply with it; words appeared on the board at once:

Defense Against the Dark Arts: A Return to Basic Principles

"Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" stated Professor Umbridge, turning to face the class with her hands clasped neatly in front of her. "The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in you being far below the standard we would expect to see in your OWL year.

"You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please."

She rapped the blackboard again; the first message vanished and was replaced by: Course Aims:

1. Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.

2. Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic can legally be used.

3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use.

For a couple of minutes, the room was full of the sound of scratching quills on parchment. When everybody had finished copying down Professor Umbridge's three aims, she asked, "Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

There was a dull murmur of assent throughout the class.

"I think we'll try that again," she said. "When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply, 'Yes, Professor Umbridge,' or, 'No, Professor Umbridge.' So: has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

"Yes, Professor Umbridge," rang through the room.

"Good," she said. "I should like you to turn to page five and read Chapter One: Basics for Beginners. There will be no need to talk."

Professor Umbridge left the blackboard and settled herself in the chair behind the teacher's desk, observing them all closely. Hyleth turned to page five of her copy of the book and started to read.

It was desperately dull, quite as bad as listening to Professor Binns. Hyleth tried to persevere, but the more she read, the more she could feel her concentration slipping away from her. She caught herself accidentally reading the same line six times without taking in more than the first few words. Next to her, Theo was staring at the first page of the chapter; she realized he hadn't made an attempt to read at all, merely giving the illusion of it.

Hermione wasn't even doing that. Suddenly, Hyleth realized that her friend was staring fixedly at Professor Umbridge with her hand in the air. It was strange; Hyleth could not ever remember a time when Hermione neglected to read a required book, or to open any book that came under her nose. Hyleth looked at her inquiringly, but Hermione shook her head, and continued to stare at Professor Umbridge, who was looking just as resolutely in another direction.

Over the course of the next several minutes, Hyleth was not alone, as next to her Theo looked up from his book and at Hermione, and then Ron did, and then Neville, and so on and so forth. Ginny had been looking at Hermione before Hyleth had, since she was sitting right next to her.

When more than half the class was staring at Hermione instead of their books, Professor Umbridge seemed to decide that she couldn't ignore the situation any longer.

"Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?" she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her.

"Not about the chapter, no," said Hermione.

"Well, we're reading just now," replied Professor Umbridge with a smile full of teeth. "If you have any other queries, we can deal with them at the end of class."

"I've got a query about your course aims," Hermione said.

Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows. "And your name is?"

"Hermione Granger."

"Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully," Professor Umbridge said in a voice of determined sweetness.

"Well, I don't," Hermione told her bluntly. "There's nothing written up there about using defensive spells."

There was a short silence in which many members of the class turned their heads to frown at the three course aims still written on the blackboard.

"'Using defensive spells?'" Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in the classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be attacked in class?"

"Wait, we're not going to use magic?" Ron exclaimed loudly.

"Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class, Mr. – ?"

"Weasley," said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air.

Professor Umbridge, smiling still more widely, turned her back on him. Hermione immediately raised her hand, too. Hyleth started to do the same with her right, but at the last second, Theo grabbed her left. His grip was unusually tight for him, like iron. She turned her head to look at him, and for a third time that day, he was shaking his head. "Don't," he mouthed. "It's what she wants."

Hyleth didn't quite get it.

"Yes, Ms. Granger? You wanted to ask something else?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells?"

"Are you a Ministry-trained educational expert, Ms. Granger?" Professor Umbridge returned, in her falsely sweet voice.

"No, but – "

"Well then, I'm afraid you are not qualified to decide what the 'whole point' of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devised our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way – "

Hyleth couldn't keep it in. Loudly, she said, "What use is that? If we're going to be attacked, it won't be in a – "

Next to her, Theo inhaled sharply. He squeezed her hand even tighter.

It was painful, but she'd been through worse.

"Hand, Ms. Potter!" Professor Umbridge sang.

Hyleth put her right hand into the air. Again, Professor Umbridge promptly turned away from her, but now several other people had their hands up, too.

"And your name is?" Professor Umbridge said.

"Dean Thomas."

"Well, Mr. Thomas?"

"Well, it's like Hyleth said, isn't it?" Dean said. "If we're going to be attacked, it won't be risk-free."

"I repeat," said Professor Umbridge, smiling in a very irritating fashion at Dean, "do you expect to be attacked during my classes?"

"No, but – "

Professor Umbridge talked over him. "I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run in this school," she said, an unconvincing smile stretched over her wide mouth, "but you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class, very irresponsible indeed – not to mention," she gave a nasty little laugh, "extremely dangerous half-breeds."

"If you mean Professor Lupin," Dean piped up angrily, "he was the best professor we ever – "

"Hand, Mr. Thomas! As I was saying, you have been introduced to spells that have been complex, inappropriate to your age group and potentially lethal. You have been frightened into believing that you are likely to meet Dark attacks every other day – "

"No, we haven't," said Ginny. "It's just – "

"Your hand is not up, Mrs. Potter!"

Ginny put up her hand. Professor Umbridge turned away from her.

"It is my understanding that my predecessor not only performed illegal curses in front of you, he actually performed them on you."

"Well, he turned out to be a maniac, didn't he?" Dean said hotly. "Mind you, we still learned loads."

"Your hand is not up, Mr. Thomas!" Professor Umbridge trilled. "Now, it is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be more than sufficient to get you through your examination, which, after all, is what school is all about. And your name is?" she added, staring at the next student whose hand had just shot up.

"Parvati Patil, and isn't there a practical bit in our Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL? Aren't we supposed to show that we can actually do the counter-curses and things?"

"As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells under carefully controlled examination conditions," Professor Umbridge said dismissively.

"Without ever practicing them beforehand?" Parvati questioned incredulously. "Are you telling us that the first time we'll get to do the spells will be during our exam?"

"I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard enough – "

"And what good's theory going to be in the real world?" Hyleth said loudly, her right hand in the air again.

This time, Theo let go of her left hand, his right snaking away.

She knew she was going to hear about this later from him.

Oh, well.

Professor Umbridge looked up.

"This is school, Ms. Potter, not the real world," she said softly.

"So we're not supposed to be prepared for what's waiting for us out there?"

"There is nothing out there, Ms. Potter."

"Really?" she said. Her temper was rising and rising, about ready to reach its boiling point.

"Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves, or – ?" Professor Umbridge inquired in a honeyed sweet voice. She stopped before she could say whatever was after her last spoken word, and seemed rather surprised herself that she hadn't finished her sentence.

Remembering what Madam Pomfrey had said about the confidentiality, Hyleth had a feeling of what the professor had meant to say: "Or children like your own?" She'd meant to reveal that Ginny and Theo were pregnant in front of their classmates, a fair few of whom on the Slytherin side – whom had been silent for all this time, with Greengrass and Zabini being the only ones to have raised their hands – were children of Death Eaters. If she'd been able to tell them, it was likely that Voldemort would've found out within the next few days. And then her mates would've had greater targets on their back more than they did already, and sooner than they had planned.

And if Umbridge was emboldened enough to do this in a classroom, who was to say that she hadn't tried to tell Fudge himself?

Hyleth began to see red.

"Hmm, let's think," she said in a mock thoughtful voice. "Maybe...Lord Voldemort?"

Ron gasped, Lavender let out a little scream, and Neville slipped sideways off his stool. Professor Umbridge, however, did not flinch. She was staring at Hyleth with a grimly satisfied expression on her face.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Ms. Potter."

The classroom was silent and still. Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Hyleth.

"Now, let me make a few things quite plain."

Professor Umbridge stood up and leaned towards them, her stubby-fingered hands splayed on her desk.

"You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead – "

"He wasn't dead," Hyleth said angrily, "but yeah, he's returned!"

"Ms.-Potter-you-have-lost-your-house-ten-points-already-do-not-make-things-worse-for-yourself," Professor Umbridge spoke in one breath without looking at her. "As I was saying, you have been informed that a certain Dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."

"It is not a lie!" Hyleth cried. "I saw him! I fought him!"

"Detention, Ms. Potter!" Professor Umbridge exclaimed triumphantly. "Tomorrow evening. Seven o'clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, Basics for Beginners."

Professor Umbridge sat down behind her desk. Hyleth, on the other hand, stood up. Everyone was staring at her.

"Hyleth, don't! I told you!" Theo whispered, reaching out for her hand once more, but Hyleth jerked her arm away.

"So, according to you, both Cedric Diggory and I are lying about what we saw the night of the Third Task, are we?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Cedric is lying about having been put under the Cruciatus Curse for such a long time that he spent the majority of his summer at St. Mungo's?"

There was a collective intake of breath from the class, for they all seemed to sense that it was a heavy accusation to make. They stared avidly from Hyleth to Professor Umbridge, who had raised her eyes and was gazing at her. There wasn't a smile, fake or otherwise, on her face anymore.

"I believe that you both believe you are telling the truth," she said. "But it is a lie. When Ministry officials went to the cemetery in Little Hangleton, they confirmed that – "

"What? That Peter Pettigrew spelled us to believe that Voldemort came back from the dead when he didn't?" scoffed Hyleth. "The same Peter Pettigrew that the Ministry let go free for years, because they arrested my godfather and then threw him into Azkaban without so much as a trial?"

Professor Umbridge's face was quite blank. For a moment, Hyleth thought she was going to scream at her. Then she said, in her softest, most sweetly girlish voice, "Come here, Ms. Potter, dear."

She kicked her chair aside, strode past Theo, Ginny, and their friends and classmates and up to the teacher's desk. She could feel the rest of the class holding their breath. She was so angry, she did not care what happened next.

Professor Umbridge pulled a small roll of pink parchment out of her handbag, stretched it out on the desk, and dipped her quill into a bottle of ink and started scribbling, hunched over so that Hyleth could not see what she was writing. Nobody spoke. After a minute or so, she rolled up the parchment and tapped it with her wand; it sealed itself seamlessly so that Hyleth wouldn't be able to open it.

"Take this to Professor McGonagall, dear," said Professor Umbridge, holding out the note to her.

Hyleth took it from her without saying a word, turned on her heel and left the room, without looking at her mates or her friends, worried what she would do if she did. She slammed the classroom door shut behind her.

Word Count: 4,656