When I woke up the next morning, it was with an awkward feeling of sadness, knowing that I'd broken up with Harry, yet I would still be forced to attend Quidditch practice and the new defence group with him. I decided then and there that I was not going to let this affect me, and that I would work sensibly with Harry in order to make the best outcomes possible for the Quidditch team and the defence group. Neither of us could afford to let this breakup ruin things for everyone else, and I was sure he knew that too.

When Demelza, Amy and I got down to the common room though, we found this notice hanging up.

BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS All student organisations, societies, teams, groups and dubs are henceforth disbanded. An organisation, society, team, group or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No student organisation, society, team, group or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organisa-tion, society, team, group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four. Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor.

"Has someone ratted to her then?" Amy asked

"It's possible" I said "though if they have, we'll know exactly who they are. Hermione jinxed that paper we all signed"

"How?" said Demelza

"Well, let's just say it'll make Avery's face look attractive"

Amy looked gleeful while Demelza shuddered

"Brutal, but it would certainly deter me" she said

We caught up with Magda on the spiral staircase heading down to the Great Hall. Magda turned to me.

"Are you-" she began

"Yes, I'm ok. Don't worry" I said

"Are you sure-"

"Don't worry Magda" I said firmly "I've got it under control, ok? It still feels raw, but I'm gonna get through it"

"Alright" Magda replied, but she still had a sympathetic look on her face. "Oh by the way, something really funny happened this morning, before you lot came downstairs"

"What?" said Amy

"Ron tried to walk up the girls staircase, and you know what happens then. Best part is, he had no idea!"

We all laughed, then Demelza said "How could he have had no idea though, he's been here 4 years already"

"It's Ron mate, he's more oblivious than anyone else in the universe. Don't forget he only realised Hermione was a girl last year" I said, which caused us all to laugh again at the memory.

It was immediately apparent on entering the Great Hall that Umbridge's sign had not only appeared in Gryffindor Tower. There was a peculiar intensity about the chatter and an extra measure of movement in the Hall as people scurried up and down their tables conferring on what they had read.

We sat down in our usual seats close to Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry and I acknowledged each other with polite nods, though we didn't speak. Neville, Dean, Fred and George arrived.

'Did you see it?'

'D'you reckon she knows?'

'What are we going to do?'

They were all looking at Harry. He glanced around to make sure there were no teachers near them.

'We're going to do it anyway of course,' he said quietly.

'Knew you'd say that,' said George, beaming and thumping Harry on the arm.

"The prefects as well?' said Fred, looking quizzically at Ron and Hermione.

'Of course,' said Hermione coolly.

'Here come Ernie and Hannah Abbott,' said Ron, looking over his shoulder. 'And those Ravenclaw blokes and Smith… and no one looks very spotty.'

Hermione looked alarmed. 'Never mind spots, the idiots can't come over here now, it'll look really suspicious - sit down!' she mouthed to Ernie and Hannah, gesturing frantically to them to rejoin the Hufflepuff table. 'Later! We'll - talk - to - you - later!'

"Honestly, they're such fools, why would they even think of coming over here, it would draw way too much attention to it" Demelza said

Throughout my first lesson though, my mind was on something else, and that was the type of revenge that the Dark Trio were surely planning. They definitely hadn't looked their usual selves that morning at the Slytherin table, they were laughed into their seats by everyone else, and were quiet and reserved throughout. I got the feeling they had tried and failed to convince everyone that they'd been tricked by imposters. Obviously that wasn't going to stop them carrying out their plan. They'd use any excuse to attack me even if people didn't believe them.

I tried to avoid spending any time alone whatsoever, but even that did not help me. As Amy and I were heading back to Gryffindor tower after dinner, we stopped by a bathroom. Demelza had gone to the hospital wing during our first class, as she had started feeling unwell. Amy and I took a cubicle each and did our business, and when we stepped out, we were greeted by a sight we'd been wondering when we'd see. The dark trio, all with their wands out, ready to fight. How did they know we were here? Had they been stalking us, waiting for the opportune moment to strike? Avery and Sarah had done that to me before, so I wasn't surprised.

I barely had time to think these words before a jet of silver light struck me in the head, and I was thrown to the side and against the bathroom wall. Despite the severe pain this caused, I staggered back up and aimed a reductor curse at Avery. She ducked and the spell smashed into a sink, blasting it apart and spraying water and ceramic everywhere.

"Amy, help me out here!" I shouted, but then I saw her lying unconscious on the other side of the room. I was helpless. Mulciber ran towards me and I threw her back with Impedimenta, and after she got up, she slipped on a puddle caused by the destoyed sink and smacked her head on the ground, which knocked her out. I then nailed Yaxley with a perfectly timed bat bogey hex, which took her out of the fight. Avery was too fast for me to disable her though, and she disarmed me, before yelling "Incarcerous!"

Thick, long robes sprang from Avery's wand and wrapped tightly around my torso, arms and legs. I was slammed back into the wall. Avery conjured a bandage around Mulciber's bleeding head, then walked towards me. I didn't think I had ever seen more anger and hatred in anyone's face before.

"You surely weren't expecting to get away with that little stunt you pulled, were you?" she said very quietly and dangerously, kneeling down in front of me.

"I don't know what you're-" I began, but Avery punched me in the face, knocking me over, so I was now lying down.

"DON'T ACT STUPID!" she yelled, and blood began to poor down from my broken nose. "Today, I have suffered more hate, humiliation and ridicule than I ever thought possible! So have Calo and Ares! I have lost my boyfriend, I am now the most hated person in all of Slytherin House! We're lower than even the bloody first years! And it's all thanks to you and your scumbag mates! Bagman over there has already been punished, and where's Robins? I've got a plan for her too!"

"No, Demelza wasn't part of it-"

Avery lifted me up and punched me in the face again.

"DON'T LIE!" she screamed. "I know it was you three!"

"No, please, listen-" I said. I had to make her realise Demelza played no part in it, but Avery was determined not to hear me out. She conjured a rope around my neck, and I started chocking.

"How about I just suffocate you right here and now!" she snarled

"Demelza wasn't- the third- it was Andrew" I said desperately, the rope getting tighter "And" I said these words with what I thought was my final breath "I l-lost Harry"

Suddenly the rope around my throat loosened

"What?" said Avery, and now she looked sort of curious, tilting her head slightly "You lost Potter? What do you mean?"

"We- we broke up. Like you. I lost my boyfriend too"

"Why?"

"Because he didn't like that I'd used his cloak and map just for a joke"

Avery bit her lip

"Doesn't all this make us even? I lost my boyfriend, and you've pretty viciously beaten me up tonight" I said

"You know what Weasley. Maybe it does. You're lucky, again. Don't ever think about repeating your little trick though!"

She spat in my face, then walked over and woke up Mulciber with Ennervate. Yaxley was staggering to her feet, the effects of my bat bogey hex having worn off. Avery supported the 2 of them out of the bathroom. I managed to scoot over to where my wand was, freed myself with Relashio, and stood up.

I wondered how no teachers had come to investigate the commotion, but at that point, it wasn't really important. I woke up Amy, repaired the sink, and the two of us left, on very unsteady legs.