A/N: So, I was getting a lot of requests via either review or PM to include Hannah in this story. Like any character, Hannah has her fanbase. But I was also getting requests from Susan fans to include Hannah. Hannah appears in this chapter with a plausible explanation for her absence from the early chapters so I don't have to redo the story from the start. Somewhere along the line, something will happen to make her fit the theme, whether it's her mom dying like in canon or an alternative event. If I'm not doing large friendship group, I prefer quartets over trios anyway.
The next morning at breakfast, the students were very surprised to see that Professor Umbridge was missing from the staff table and that Madam Bones was in her usual seat.
After they'd all enjoyed a delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausage patties, and Sunny Delight, Madam Bones got to her feet and stood in front of the staff table, clearly preparing to make a speech.
"So," said Madam Bones in a very serious voice, "Let's cut to the chase. Dolores Umbridge is gone from Hogwarts, and you will NEVER see her here again."
At this, a huge uproar of applause ensued as students of both genders, all seven years, and all four houses clapped their hands and stomped their feet as loudly as they possibly could.
Only a small handful of students, such as Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, Milicent Bulstrode, Zacharias Smith, Cho Chang, and Marietta Edgecombe looked disappointed.
The overwhelming majority of the students were ecstatic and/or relived to know that Dolores Umbridge would not be staying at Hogwarts.
Harry, Susan, and Luna were clapping and stomping the loudest.
After a few minutes and a few nanoseconds, the noise died down and Madam Bones continued, "Dolores Umbridge has been found to be in violation of both Hogwarts policy and Wizarding Law. Last night, I received a letter from my niece Susan after she'd had a talk with Harry Potter about a detention Harry had served with Professor Umbridge. Harry showed me a memory of the detention in question. Professor Umbridge is guilty of using a Blood Quill on Harry during the detention in question."
There were gasps of shock and involuntary cries of "Ouch!" from the student body.
"That's the same thing she did to me in my detention with her on Monday night," gasped Daphne Greengrass from the Slytherin table.
"Why did you not tell anybody, assuming you didn't?" inquired Madam Bones.
"Because I didn't want to give Umbitch any satisfaction," answered Daphne clearly, "I didn't want her to see exactly how upsetting or know exactly how upsetting that detention was to me because I didn't want her to think she'd gotten to me. It was a private battle of wills between me and her to me."
"Miss Greengrass," said Madam Bones firmly, "Sometimes, some things are bigger than a private battle of wills. That is why I must commend Mr. Potter for reaching out to Susan and getting ahold of me. Because Mr. Potter spoke up, he spared all other Hogwarts students the possibility of such detentions in the future."
"She's really gone then?" piped up Luna hopefully, "Even as a teacher, Umbitch was hot garbage. She didn't let us use practical magic, didn't teach us any proper defense, and defended her non-teaching by insisting that as long we studied the theory hard enough, we'd pass our exams and that that was what school was all about."
"That's exactly what happened in our class with her as well," interjected Lily Moon from the Slytherin Table, "And for what's it's worth, Daphne got her detention by standing up to Umbitch about Lord Voldemort's return and telling Umbitch to her face that Cedric's death was a murder."
"That's how I got my detention too," added Harry matter of factly, "Susan told a similar story of how Umbitch ran her class with the Hufflepuffs."
"So," snarled Madam Bones, "That's four for four on her being a bad teacher anyway. The use of a Blood Quill for ANY reason other than the signing of legal documents that require it is illegal. ANY use of a Blood Quill on a minor is illegal and if teacher uses a Blood Quill on a student, it is grounds for immediate dismissal. Furthermore, as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I have the authority to remove any Hogwarts teacher who violates Wizarding Law. Defense Against the Dark Arts classes are cancelled for the rest of the week at a minimum. Later today, I will be confronting both Dumbledore and Fudge about why Hogwarts can never seem to get this particular hire right."
"Is there a possibility that Defense Against the Dark Arts classes may be off for an extended period of time?" wondered Hannah in a concerned voice.
"Yes," replied Madam Bones ruefully, "Though, that's not much different than what you got these first few days of the semester."
At this, Hannah looked both very disappointed and very concerned.
"Mr. Potter," grilled Madam Bones, "Would you be willing to testify at an upcoming trial for Umbridge."
"Yes," answered Harry instantly, "Any way that I can help Umbitch get what she has coming to her, I will."
"And what about you, Miss Greengrass?" grilled Madam Bones.
"Yes, I will," promised Daphne, "And, Harry, I'm sorry that I never spoke up about my detention with Umbitch. If I had been less self-centered and more thoughtful, like you were, maybe your experience with Umbitch's Blood Quill could have been avoided."
"It's okay, Daphne," responded Harry in a reassuring type of voice, "I accept your apology, and I forgive you. I understand where you were coming from because I had thoughts of my own about keeping what happened in that detention between me and Umbitch before I ultimately decided to speak out."
"Thank you, Harry," said Daphne gratefully.
"Now, " said Madam Bones calmly, "I have a lot on my plate today, so I'm going to be leaving you all now, but rest assured that Dolores Umbridge is in all of your rear view mirrors."
As Madam Bones left, there was still a bit of time before their first lesson.
Hannah, who had been absent the night of the Welcoming Feast and over the weekend because she had been sick but was aware of the bond that had now formed between Harry, Susan, and Luna, called out, "Harry, Susan, Luna, may I meet with you three Classroom Eleven?"
"Yes," replied Harry, Susan, and Luna simply.
The rest of the student body didn't think much of this as they assumed it was just going to be a meeting of four Hogwarts students socializing, but they were wrong.
Harry, Susan, Hannah, and Luna walked out of the Great Hall together and walked to Classroom Eleven.
When they reached the door, Luna politely pulled it open and held it for Harry, Susan, and Hannah before entering last herself.
Luna closed the door and locked it.
Hannah retrieved her wand from her right hand pocket with her right hand and performed Privacy Charms on the room and door.
"So," called out Hannah, "I get the impression that we are going to be without Defense Against the Dark Arts Classes for longer than a year on Neptune."
"I am concerned about that myself, Hannah," admitted Susan, "To not have Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons RIGHT when Lord Voldemort has risen again is very dangerous and very concerning."
"Well," said Luna frostily, "It's what Fudge wants. He doesn't believe in Lord Voldemort's return, and he's convinced himself that a rebellion from within Hogwarts is coming. He cares more about his political career than the public good."
"It would be the ultimate dose of karma if that very fact ended up costing Fudge his political career," said Harry bitterly, "Fudge is going to allow more death and destruction to occur by refusing to accept that Lord Voldemort has returned. He is not merely an idiot; he is a villain."
"My idea," said Hannah in such a crystal clear voice that to not understand her would be impossible, "Is that we self-train in Defense Against the Dark Arts for a while. Research and practice Defense Against the Dark Arts on our own. We could recruit other students to join us, and it could be a club."
Harry, Susan, and Luna all nodded, all seeing the sense in this idea.
A shout out to the following members who have added Bonded Over Losses to their favorites and/or follows lists since the last update:
Abw90
ALE74
AQUA FIRE PHOENIX
Avlynn Rose
BaboyAko
Beckiboo11
Cassandra30
djfl21
dolph25
eddie-jazz-carlies lover
freddyfryjr
fluffga
hubler58
idrumsl
Jolinar-3
jtcooper515
JustFanboying
Le Diablo Blanc2
LovingShadow
Morganstern66666
Nostalgic memories
omersafakahraman
paulcryder
Plikplok
saerapeveriun
shkw
Shona Katt
TheDesertFox12
Wilfred Yiow
Zaphkill
Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all-Michael. :) ❤️