Chapter Thirteen

Harry woke to the softly snoring Crabbe and Goyle. Blaise had already left the dorm, his bed neatly made up as always.

Draco was also awake, laying in bed and reading. He spotted Harry stir and put his book down, turning to face him, "We had a message from Hermione earlier, care of a very excited Dobby but I told him to tell her that you were still asleep."

Harry shoved his glasses on and mumbled his thanks, he still felt half asleep now.

"She said that she'll study in the Great Hall so she will be able to see when we're down." Draco explained getting out of bed and digging his clothes out.

Harry nodded and did the same, "What's with all the secrecy?" he asked, "It's not like she's not sat at our table before."

Draco shrugged, "I think she's worried about… one of the new teachers." Draco said, looking at Crabbe and Goyle, "Always difficult to judge how staff changes will effect things."

Harry was pretty sure they were asleep but he agreed with Draco.

They both dressed quickly and went to the Great Hall. Pansy and Daphne were already there so Harry flopped down next to them.

"Bacon?" Daphne offered, pushing the dish closer to them.

Harry nodded gratefully and made himself a bacon butty, wrapping it in a napkin, "I fancy eating outside this morning, seems like a nice day."

"Sounds good to me." Draco nodded, wrapping up a couple of croissants, "It wont be long before it's too cold to be outside."

Daphne and Pansy also agreed, standing up,

"Exactly. We should take advantage of the good weather we're having." Pansy smiled.

Hermione and Neville followed the out a few minutes, and a few people, later so they wouldn't be spotted by Umbridge, who was, as Hermione had expected, smiling down from the teachers table, watching the students.

Harry, Draco, Pansy and Daphne headed straight for the spot where the rocks jutted out into the lake that they liked to sit on and made themselves comfortable on the grass. Hermione and Neville joined them.

"I think we're too far from the castle to be over heard." Hermione said, looking around, "And there's no where for them to spy on us here."

Harry nodded, "Plus it's really pretty here." He grinned, "So what you need to talk to us about?"

"Umbridge, mostly. And the broader implications of her little speech yesterday." Hermione said, shielding her eyes from the sun.

"Harry said she was at his trial." Daphne said.

Harry nodded, "Yeah. She was sitting fairly close to Fudge so I think she's pretty high up in the Ministry. She got all defensive when I said I was attacked by Dementors."

"Defensive how?" Neville asked.

"Dumbledore was trying to say that it was Voldemort who'd sent them after me and she got all huffy, saying he was implying that the Ministry had sent them." Harry explained. It was all a bit blurry in his head now, he'd just been so relieved he'd gotten through it.

"That's a little worrying in itself." Daphne said, "Bit of a guilty conscience perhaps?"

Harry hadn't thought of that. The Ministry certainly weren't the biggest Harry Potter fans at the moment but having his soul sucked out seemed a little extreme… he hoped.

"Dumbledore seemed pretty sure it was Voldemort who sent them." Harry said, shaking his head, "I think the Ministry would rather I just shut up, sending dark creatures after me really isn't going to help there."

"Right now, whoever sent the Dementors after Harry isn't the issue, no offence." Neville said, "It's that the Ministry have basically put a spy into Hogwarts."

"Yes." Pansy nodded, "I didn't like all that talk of 'pruning what ought to be prohibited'. Who chooses what is prohibited? And do they mean little things or teachers or whole classes or students?"

"My guess is all of the above." Harry sighed, flopping back onto the cool grass, the warm sun shining down on his face, "Fudge wasn't happy that Dumbledore was talking about Voldemort being back, and he's had a whole summer to plan his next move."

"We've all seen what's been in the paper." Neville added "Even my Gran has cancelled her subscription. Says the Ministry has gone right down hill."

Harry was pleased he had some support, clearly not everyone thought he was a nut case.

"Don't look now, but she's looking for us." Daphne said, not looking up from the daisy chain she was making, "I just spotted her, she's looking our way but I don't think she's going to come over."

Harry wanted to look behind him to see Umbridge standing there, he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end now he knew she was watching him.

"I think it's me and Dumbledore she's after you know." he said quietly, "Bet you anything. You'd be better off keeping your distance."

Hermione shook her head, "Not just you. The Ministry will go after anyone who believes that Voldemort is back. Unless we all want to bury our heads in the sand they'll still hate us all."

Harry feared that that was the case, it couldn't be a coincidence that Daphne's parents had had their side along apparition permits refused. He could deal with him being targeted but it was far more difficult when they were after his friends as well.

Harry was not overly enthusiastic to be sitting at the Slytherin table come Monday morning, watching porridge drip off his spoon. Severus was wondering up and down the table, handing out the new timetables.

"Hello Mr Potter." He said. Harry saw his eyes quickly dart towards Umbridge and understood, "Here is your timetable, Mr Malfoy, Miss Parkinson, Miss Greengrass." he handed them the bits of parchment before wondering off down the table.

Harry saw it and groaned, "Have you seen this? Herbology, double Potions, Divination and then double Defence Against the Dark Arts! I can't think of a worse Monday."

"I'm sure your Father is delighted to hear that." Draco smirked.

"Ha ha." Harry said, "Trelawney and that Umbridge woman."

"It could be worse," Daphne said with a wave of her hand, "we could have Binns as well."

Harry conceded the point but strangely it didn't make him feel all that much better.

He was just wondering up from the greenhouses when he ran into an annoyed looking Hermione.

"If Ronald asks to borrow my notes one more time…" she fumed, "He could at least try and pay attention in class."

"Hermione, just say no." Harry laughed, "Or even better, write out a set of fake notes where all the information is wrong."

"Harry that's mean." Hermione frowned, trying to look disapproving.

Harry shrugged, "Then he should pay attention in class."

They were walking towards the Potion room when they ran into Cho Chang. Harry felt himself blush.

"Hi Harry." she said, smiling.

Harry waved, "Hi. How are you?"

She shrugged, "Ok. It was tough over the summer after… you know. I'm glad to be back though."

Harry nodded. He knew what she meant and he wasn't been anywhere near as close to Cedric as Cho had been.

"I wanted to let you know that I-" Cho began.

"Is that a Tornados badge?" Ron asked, coming over to them and pointing to the badge she had pinned to her robes.

Cho took a step back, "Umm yes. Harry I-"

"You don't really support them do you?" Ron said, pulling a rather disbelieving face.

Cho crossed her arms, "Yes, I do actually."

"Ron we were kinda talking here." Harry hinted.

Ron ignored him, copying Cho's movement, crossing his own arms, "Well, have you always supported them, or just since they started winning the league?"

Cho looked rather offended at the question, "Since I was six, is that good enough for you? I'll see you around Harry." she said before walking quickly away.

"What was all that about?" Harry demanded.

Ron looked at him confused, "What do you mean? I was only asking."

"No, no you weren't!" Harry snapped, "You were being accusing and demanding and rude."

Ron rolled his eyes, "Well, come on. You know half the people wearing those badges only got them last season."

"So?" Harry asked.

"Well, it means they're not real fans." Ron said, as though that answered everything.

Harry shook his head, "That's not up to you. No one is born supporting a team or anything else. You're not some how better than everyone!" he snapped, "Stop pretending we're friends just because we were stuck in a house for a lot of the summer together."

Ron looked a little taken aback. Harry knew that it was a slightly unnecessary snap, he was just so annoyed, he'd wanted to talk to Cho and Ron had chased her away.

Harry moved slightly into the line for Potions, Ron standing, moodily behind him. The classroom door opened and they walked quickly inside taking their seats.

"Settle down." said Severus coolly.

Harry sat at the four person desk with Hermione, Pansy and Daphne, leaving Draco and Neville with Ron and another Gryffindor. Harry mouthed a sorry and grinned at them.

"Before we begin today's lesson," said Snape, "I think it only appropriate to remind you that next 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 in this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an 'Acceptable' in your O.W.L or suffer my… displeasure. After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me. I take only the very best into my N.E.W.T Potions class, which means some of us will certainly be saying goodbye. But we have another year to go before that happy moment of farewell. So whether or not you are intending to attempt N.E.W.T, I advise all of you to concentrate your efforts upon maintaining the high pass level I have come to expect."

Professor Snape looked around the room, waiting for this information to sink in, before turning and writing that days work on the board.

The Draught of Peace was a very tricky potion. Harry reread all of the instructions but his potion was giving off a dark grey smoke where as Pansy, Daphne and Hermione's were all giving a light grey smoke.

"Shit." Harry said, spotting the hellebore out on Hermione's desk, "I forgot to put the hellebore in." he whispered, "Think I could do it now?"

Pansy shook her head, "No, don't be stupid!" she hissed.

Daphne and Hermione nodded.

"You have no idea what that could do Harry." Hermione said strictly, "You should of read the instructions better."

Harry huffed loudly, causing Professor Snape to raise his head to see what the noise was about, thankfully he turned back to his book rather than coming over to inspect Harry's potion.

"I did read them I swear." Harry said, "I'm just distracted I guess."

Daphne gave him a comforting smile, "Don't worry. Ron's is giving out green sparks, so I don't know what that boy has managed to do." She said pointing to the other Gryffindor at Ron's table, who's cauldron was giving out nothing at all, but his fire seemed determined to go out.

"Time is up." Professor Snape called out, snapping his book closed, "Can everyone please bring up a flagon of their potions for me to mark. Please label them correctly, anyone not putting their name clearly on their sample will not receive any marks."

Harry filled his flagon and corked it tightly, his at least was a lot better than some around the room. Ron's had filled the room with the smell of rotten eggs and Goyle's which had exploded his flagon and set his robes on fire.

Harry snorted a laugh and gave Goyle a big smile, "Nice work there."

Goyle glared at him and shoved passed him to put his broken flagon in the bin. It was Divination next, quite possibly Harry's least favourite subject. He said goodbye to Draco, who luckily didn't take Divination and trudged hopelessly towards the Divination tower.