Chapter 28: The Very Bad Day
The HA was a huge hit. Once they had figured out how to enter the room of requirement without going all the way to Hogsmeade, (it was Neville who worked it out first, surprisingly) they scheduled their first meeting, keeping in mind quidditch practices.
The meetings all ran better than Harry and Hermione could've hoped for. Harry, despite still clearly being off his rocker, was an excellent teacher, and he and Cedric worked well together. Cedric tended to give the verbal instructions, and Harry would demonstrate and give the occasional story from his past Hogwarts years. Then they would split everyone into pairs or groups and patrol the room, correcting stances, grips, wand movements and pronunciation.
Harry stressed the importance of intent when casting.
"Like how small actions can create big issues down the line, the wrong intention of a small spell can cause extreme harm." Harry explained. "The only intentions you should ever have are the intention to protect, amuse, achieve or support."
"Or cause chaos." Dean added helpfully.
"I said that already, didn't I? Amuse." Harry responded. "Now, let's go again."
Soon enough, the last week of school was upon them, and it was the final meeting of the calendar year. They focused on revisiting areas of weakness, and Harry promised that after the holidays they would move on to the Patronus charm.
Outside of the HA, the atmosphere in Hogwarts remained fairly sombre. Umbridge was causing issues left and right, Filch was having a field day writing students up at every possible opportunity, Dumbledore hid away most of the time, and Hagrid was still missing.
Harry rather missed their Friday night visits.
One Charms lesson, the day before they broke up for Christmas, Hedwig flew through the classroom window and landed in Harry's lap.
"Oh my goodness, the poor thing!" Parvati cried, looking at the bleeding and ruffled snowy owl in dismay. "Did a cat get her?"
"No, but a frog did." Harry muttered to himself, gently untying the small scroll tied to her foot. "Good girl. Professor, please can I-"
"Yes, of course, go!" Harry grabbed his bag and sprinted to the staff room. He'd only been there once before, to confront Snape about a book. Speaking of Snape-
"Potter, what could you possibly want now?" The potions master sighed. Harry held out his owl, for once not bothering to remind Snape that this was the staff room, not his office, so the "You bother me at least ten times a week outside of class" point was moot.
"She's hurt." Snape, to his credit, gently took Hedwig from Harry and opened the door.
"In." He ordered. Harry stepped swiftly inside, letting the door fall shut behind him. Only Snape, McGonagall, Sprout and Professor Grubbly-plank were inside.
"Shouldn't you all be teaching?" Harry asked curiously.
"It's technically a bank holiday today." Sprout explained. "Anniversary of one of the Minister of Magic's deaths or something like that."
"Unfair! Flitwick is still teaching us!"
"That's because he loves teaching more than an extra day off to catch up on admin tasks." McGonagall looked up as she spoke. "What are you doing here, Harry?"
"Someone's been trying to read my mail." Harry gestured at his injured owl, who hooted miserably right on cue. Snape had placed her gently on the table and was examining her left wing and right leg carefully.
Professor Grubbly-Plank scowled and joined Snape, and they worked together quietly to identify the main injuries and act accordingly. Sprout gasped in disbelief and McGonagall sighed and shook her head.
"My money's on Umbridge." She said stoutly, and Harry nodded his agreement, hiding his surprise at the lack of professional boundaries in place, only due to the mutual hatred of Umbridge of everyone in the room.
"She's got a broken wing and a nasty cut on her leg." Professor Grubbly-Plank informed Harry as she picked up Hedwig carefully. "Professor Snape has fixed her up as much as can be risked on such a small creature, the rest she'll have to heal on her own. Are you happy for her to stay with me for a few days so I can monitor her progress? She'll receive the utmost care, I promise."
"Yes, thank you Professor, and thank you Professor Snape." Harry said earnestly, stroking Hedwig's head gently with one finger.
Snape nodded in acknowledgement, and Harry left feeling much better than he had before.
He unrolled the scroll carefully, feeling ever so slightly guilty about the message that got Hedwig caught in the first place.
Harry,
It's a deal.
Stay crazy,
T
Unfortunately, the bad day wasn't over for Harry just yet. After heading to bed early, he woke up screaming in the middle of the night.
"Not. Funny." Ron said, annoyed, then took one look at Harry's face and went pale. "I know that look. Something bad has happened, hasn't it?" Harry nodded, knowing full well that Dean and Seamus were staring at him in confusion.
"We need to find McGonagall, now!" Harry said, flying out of bed and sprinting from the room, Ron and Neville two paces behind. They tried to keep up, but Harry was fast from years of being chased by Dudley and was a good three metres ahead at all times, banging on the door to McGonagall's private quarters and explaining the situation before Ron and Neville had caught up with him.
She pursed her lips and led them to Dumbledore's office hurriedly, giving the gargoyle the password and knocking on the door at the top of the spiral staircase harshly.
"Headmaster? It's urgent."
"Come in." She pushed open the door and ushered the three boys into the room.
"What is it?" Dumbledore asked immediately. "Harry, what did you see?"
"How do you know I can- never mind. You need to send healers to the Department of Mysteries for your weird little rota of wizard guards now!" Harry demanded, trying to quell the tremor in his hands. "Nagini is in the ministry and is heading that way. I think Arthur is currently the person on watch. You need to get him to safety before Nagini gets there first. Professor Dumbledore, please!" Harry begged. Ron gulped and looked like he was trying not to be sick.
"Dad..." He trailed off. Neville put a hand on his shoulder, looking shaky himself.
Dumbledore conjured a patronus, a phoenix, and spoke calmly. "Arthur, you need to leave as soon as possible. Use the emergency portkey. I'll explain later tonight why." Dumbledore turned to the three fifth year Gryffindors and gestured for them to sit. McGonagall stood behind them protectively.
"First of all, Harry, I need you tell me exactly what you saw." He said calmly, not quite meeting Harry's eyes. Harry didn't mind, it meant he didn't have to constantly fight Dumbledore out of his head.
"I saw Nagini in the ministry of magic."
"Who is Nagini?"
"Voldy's snake."
"How do you know that?" Dumbledore laced his fingers together, looking up at the ceiling. Neville shifted uncomfortably. He hated being interrogated. Hopefully the focus stayed on Harry as it usually did.
"Because she was at the graveyard, and in the dreams I had during last summer before the world cup." Harry explained hoarsely, silently wishing his mouth wasn't so dry.
Arthur's patronus appeared in front of them.
"I'm safe. One of the unspeakables has been attacked by a snake. She's being transported to St Mungos imminently. It's bad." Ron practically collapsed with relief, shoulders slumping. He rubbed his face with both hands before sitting back up. He still looked ill, but he wasn't quite so pale.
"Okay. Now you know Mr Weasley is indeed safe and unharmed, I need you tell me how you know all of this highly classified information discussed only in Order meetings." Dumbledore gave the three boys a cursory glance, and tapped the desk with a single finger. Harry didn't answer.
"Now, please, Harry."
"You already know how. Your lack of confidentiality precautions for one thing." Harry retorted, feeling more himself again. McGonagall hid her snort of laughter with a cough. She loved what the staff routinely called "Harry vs Dumbledore verbal duels". If she discreetly waved her wand behind her back, no one noticed. "And we very easily stole and returned several documents after of our successful intrusions."
Dumbledore frowned. "Whilst I am glad that your dream tonight quite possibly saved many lives, I am extremely disappointed in your dishonesty."
"My dishonesty?" Harry asked incredulously, feeling the anger beginning to swirl up inside him. "You can't be serious! You've lied to me my whole life and I'm the dishonest one? You have got to be joking! Oh, hi Professor Snape!"
Neville groaned and hid his head in his hands.
"Potter." Snape replied, lacking the usual venom. "I assume you're the reason Minerva sent a patronus to me requesting my presence at such a ghastly hour."
"Probably." Harry agreed. "The Headmaster is accusing me of dishonesty."
"If anything, the issue is Potter being far too honest." Snape pointed out coldly. "And dramatizing the truth. Any lies the boy tells are usually extremely obvious and told in a way to be such."
"Wow, never thought I'd see the day you stood up for me." Harry blinked in slight disbelief.
"Harry has just admitted that he has been stealing highly classified documents from Order meetings without our knowledge." Dumbledore announced, giving Severus a look.
"Yeah, but in fairness, I did just tell you." Harry crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, ignoring McGonagall's warning about breaking his neck.
"But you didn't tell me at the time, Mr Potter, you waited unitl-"
"I do hate to side with Potter here," Severus cut in smoothly, effectively stopping the Headmaster in his tracks. Harry's eyes lit up. "But the boy would have told you he had seen the documents far earlier, if only you had asked." There was a beat of silence as everyone except Harry and Severus realized the same thing at the same time.
"You knew he'd seen them and said nothing?" Minerva asked, eyes wide with shock. "Surely you Severus, of all people, would have delighted in getting Harry into trouble!"
"Oh, believe me, I did." Severus smiled nastily. "He's been spending every Sunday afternoon cleaning cauldrons and preparing potions ingredients for the younger years since the start of term."
"I can attest to that, he always tells us he's on a secret mission on Sunday afternoons and we don't see him until gone midnight." Ron said bravely. Harry snorted and rocked on his chair again. This time, he fell backwards. He sheepishly avoided McGonagall's "told you so" look and got to his feet, righting his chair and sitting back down.
"Severus, you should have told me." Dumbledore looked disappointed.
Severus eyed him frostily. "You didn't ask me."
Harry resisted the urge to whoop and clap.
"Solid burn, Sir!" He said earnestly instead. Severus ignored him.
"Now if that was all, I really must be going." He turned to leave, but Dumbledore coughed. Severus stopped, looking at the Headmaster expectantly. "What now?"
"I'm afraid, Severus, that you are the most masterful Occlumens in this country and therefore I must request you begin teaching Harry immediately after Christmas."
Neville opened his mouth to inform them that actually, Harry, along with most of his friends, were already skilful Occlumens. Harry trod on his foot. He snapped his mouth shut and gave Harry a wounded look.
"Headmaster? Why won't you look directly at my eyes?" Harry asked randomly. "It's a bit weird."
Dumbledore didn't answer. Harry smiled in satisfaction.
"Thought so." He grinned. "Can't let your little lamb catch on and aid the big bad wolf by accident, can you?" Dumbledore froze. Minerva gave Harry an odd look, confusion clearly visible in her expression. Severus' mouth twitched at the corners.
"How do you-" Dumbledore didn't finish the sentence. Harry smiled wider. Manically.
"How do I what?" Harry asked, rocking slightly back on his chair. Clearly, he'd learned nothing.
Dumbledore shook his head, thinking fast. Harry would only know about his connection to Voldemort at most, it was a discussion they'd had before. The boy was just frustrated and lashing out. Yes, that was it.
"Minerva, please escort Mr Weasley, Mr Longbottom, and Mr Potter back to their dormitories." Harry frowned. He'd really wanted another verbal dance war and the headmaster was refusing to give him one. Oh well, he'd have plenty of opportunities to snark Snape after the holidays.
Minerva sighed and herded them out of the office, Severus following behind.
Ron never did tell his siblings just how close their father came to dying that day.
Chapter 29: Gilderoy Lockhart And The Boy Who Lied
Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys returned to Grimmauld place for Christmas. Draco chose to remain at Hogwarts with his Godfather, and the Greengrasses went home. Their family were neutral, so they were safe. Neville and Luna spent the holidays with their own families after spending the majority of the summer with the Order. Susan stayed with her aunt, but visited every now and again.
"Well, I'm honestly surprised you survived until Christmas." Sirius said joyfully once they'd all unpacked and made themselves at home. "Especially Fred and George."
"Someone has to keep the marauder's legacy going." George said sagely. "Harry's a bit too far gone for pranks now, his whole life is one."
"That hurt." Harry said sadly, clutching his heart. "Like a knife to the chest. I won't be forgetting that anytime soon."
Sirius laughed, ruffling his Godson's hair.
He had finally been discharged from his cousin's care, and moved back into a much cleaner and more pleasant Grimmauld Place. Moody, Bill, Charlie and Remus had spent weeks combing through room after room filled to the brim with dark artifacts, and checking for any magical residue on every item they could find. Everything deemed dangerous was chucked in the attic, and then hastily moved to the cellar and warded even more heavily when Harry and the twins would spend every waking moment trying to break in.
It was a wise move, especially as Harry temporarily went on strike in the attic.
When Sirius had moved back in, he went through the items with Bill and Remus and they chose what to keep, sell, and destroy, after ensuring they were safe once again.
About a month into Sirius returning, they had realised Kreacher had disappeared. Sirius wrote to Harry, and received a letter back claiming that Kreacher had been so distraught about Harry leaving he had taken up residence at Hogwarts and was now Harry's personal house elf. This was proved by Kreacher being the one to deliver the letter instead of Hedwig. If anyone noticed the suspicious looking locket around his neck, no one commented on it.
Once sure everywhere and everything was people-friendly, Molly cleaned every room thoroughly and Tonks, Andromeda and Sirius redecorated, slowly making each room brighter and much more cosy. It was beginning to feel more like a home and less like a prison, in Sirius' opinion.
Especially when the Weasley children, Hermione, and Harry returned.
"So, what's the plan for Christmas?" Sirius asked brightly. Harry froze.
"Hold that thought!" He said hurriedly, dashing into the hallway. "I haven't said hello to my favourite member of the Black family yet!"
"Uh oh." Hermione shook her head and sighed. "Actually, you know what? I signed myself up for this, I have no right to complain."
"OH WALBURG- NO!" Harry wailed, staring at the blank wall in horror. Sirius sniggered, leaning against the freshly painted light yellow bare wall casually. "Looking for my mother? Sorry dear, we took her down and burned the painting. She's toast!"
Harry, with a look of dismay, stared glumly at the empty wall.
"Such a shame." He said, shaking his head. "I was so looking forward to seeing her again."
The next morning, Sirius gave Harry a look of betrayal as soon as he sat down to eat.
"You vandalised my house."
"You took the fun out of it first!"
Remus entered the kitchen and sat down next to Harry, who took a bite of toast.
"Why does Sirius look like a kicked puppy?" Remus asked Harry evenly. Harry shrugged.
"He's just being cranky because I stuck a bunch of his childhood pictures where his mother used to hang. In the one of him at age seven, the resemblance between him and Wednesday Addams is uncanny." Sirius half-smiled, thinking he was being complimented.
Remus hummed thoughtfully. "Yes, he did look rather like her, didn't he?" Sirius' face fell and looked at Harry and Remus, scandalised. Harry took another bite of toast and Remus turned the page of his book.
"I hate you both." He said grouchily, before storming off. They waited until Sirius was out of earshot to burst into fits of laughter.
Their first day was boring. Hermione, suddenly remembering this was their OWL year for the thousandth time in three months, forced Harry and Ron do do all of their homework in one sitting. Then she remembered it was also NEWT year for the twins, and did the same to them. If any of them so much as glanced up from their textbooks she would spray them with a water pistol she'd stolen from the twins. It was pretty effective. In her manic state, no one dared enter the kitchen. In fact, even the order meeting scheduled for that afternoon was rescheduled for the next day, after Hermione threatened Dumbledore with cutting off his beard, knife in hand. It was spectacular.
Harry didn't understand how that worked. Dumbledore was, regrettably, the most powerful wizard in a century, so surely he could just grow his beard back, or block whatever curse Hermione used? He didn't dare ask Hermione, though, as he felt that if he so much as opened his mouth he would find himself unable to speak for at least a week.
Minerva and Molly were eventually allowed to enter the kitchen, Molly to cook, and Minerva to check over their homework. To Harry and Ron's relief, she seemed impressed by every single essay they had written, including potions and history of magic.
"Well done, you three. I trust we can all eat dinner without risk of losing hair, Miss Granger?" Hermione twirled her pocketknife (actually when did she get the pocketknife? Harry had noticed her use one before) thoughtfully and nodded.
Harry was almost certain the entire Order were present for dinner that evening. Snape had even showed up with Draco, who smirked as soon as he saw the pocketknife.
"It works?" He asked Hermione, who nodded.
"Wonderfully." She responded, and pocketed it.
Draco later, after being given permission from Snape to spend the night, explained they had been practising anti-reversal spells. Anything the knife cut through could not be regrown or stuck back together with magic. Of curse, this was limited to fabric, hair and paper, as Hermione didn't want to risk it falling into murderous hands (Ginny). The girl got cranky very easily.
The next morning, Harry decided it was the perfect chance to get some answers.
"Mr Weasley?" He asked innocently.
"Yes Harry?"
"The Unspeakable that got put in St Mungo's, what was her name?"
Arthur blinked. "Er, Emma something. Jarrod, maybe?"
Harry leapt to his feet. "Emily Jairn?"
Arthur nodded, "Yes, I think that was it." Harry dashed to the fireplace.
"I'll be back for lunch, I need to go and visit someone."
Remus put his head in his hands, then gave Harry a look. "Harry, please tell me you haven't been befriending Unspeakables on the regular?"
"Only a few!" Harry exclaimed defensively. "And it was sort of by accident. Anyway, got to go, toodles!" Before anyone could stop him, he was gone.
Vernon and Petunia Dursley had been having a very normal morning. Dudley had returned from school and was playing video games in the living room, and Vernon had taken the day off. Petunia was cooking breakfast, and the smell of eggs and bacon wafted through the house.
After Dudley's run-in with the dementors, there had been an air of worry in the house for weeks, but they were finally returning to normal. Well, until-
"Heyyy, fam-a-lam!" Harry called cheerfully from the living room. Dudley screeched and launched his game controller at the wall in his hurry to get away from the skinny brunette boy who had just stepped calmly from the fireplace.
Petunia and Vernon rushed into the room, stopping in their tracks at the sight of their nephew.
"Boy, you are not welcome here, leave at once!" Vernon demanded, going red, then purple. Harry smiled pleasantly at him, shaking his hand vigorously.
"Oh don't worry, it's just a flying visit. Oh, is that bacon I can smell? Don't mind if I do!" Harry strolled past his relatives and into the kitchen, making himself a plate of breakfast.
"For the road." He explained at their dumbfounded looks. "I need to visit someone, but if Voldy's emo pals find out my current address they might try and gate-crash our party."
Petunia mouthed 'emo pals', looking horror stricken.
"Get you and your freakishness out of here, now!" Roared Vernon. Harry nodded agreeably.
"Yes yes, of course. Just need to-" Harry pointed his wand at the fireplace and muttered a few spells. "Just erasing all floo history. Wouldn't want Voldypants catching on, would we? Oh, by the way, I'm pretty sure Molly cast a tracking spell on me right before I jumped in the fireplace, so expect some visitors in the next... three minutes? I delayed them a bit by flooding the kitchen so I'd have time for a quick catch up before never seeing you again! Toodaloo!"
"Bye, Potter!" Dudley said suddenly, waving. "Good luck with- whatever it is you're up to?"
Harry blinked in surprise. "Aww, you're emotionally maturing, how sweet! Bye Big D, loving the self-work!"
Harry skipped merrily out of the front door, leaving it wide open so they could watch him summon a huge purple bus and disappear to goodness knows where.
"Harry James- Dursley?" Molly halted in shock a the sighed of the two adult muggles still frozen in shock in the hallway, and Dudley happily playing on his game again.
"Don't ever associate us with that brat!" Vernon snapped, seemingly coming back to himself. "And get out of my house!"
"No can do, I'm afraid, not until we have Harry." Remus glared at Lily's sister and her husband. Petunia couldn't meet his eyes.
"Harry left." Dudley said helpfully from the sofa. "Some purple bus thing took him. He was wittering on about Emo's and Pants for quite a while."
"He- No, he isn't, surely?" Hermione asked desperately, looking between all the adults now gathered in the Dursley household. "He wouldn't be that reckless?"
Molly shook her head, flicking her wand. "No dear, he's just arrived at St Mungo's. He probably flooed here first in case the wrong people got wind of the address we're living at."
Remus shook his head. "He might be a bit demented, but he is smart."
Hermione scowled. "I know, it's infuriating."
"Well, then, we should probably get going. Oh wait, is that bacon I can smell?" Ron asked.
"Bacon?" Sirius' eyes lit up. Ron sniggered.
"If you were in dog form, your ears would have pricked up just then." Ron jibed, heading towards the kitchen. "Oh, a full English breakfast! Enough for all of us I reckon. Who wants some?"
The entire cohort consisting of Sirius, Remus, Hermione, Molly and Arthur followed Ron into the kitchen. Draco had stayed behind for his own safety and Ginny was busy trying to coax Crookshanks into catching a rathe larger spider in her bedroom. The twins were still asleep. Apparently.
Ron made sure to leave enough for a small breakfast each for the Dursleys, which wasn't difficult as Petunia always cooked a mountain for her son and husband, and they all traipsed out of the door, leaving two stunned and one rather indifferent Dudley behind.
By the time they'd all apparated to St Mungo's, Harry was nowhere in sight. Vanishing their plates, Andromeda made her way towards them, looking bemused.
"Harry hunting, are you?" She asked, smiling. "He's on the seventh floor, room 26. I must say, the patients were delighted to see him!"
"But that's not-"
"Oh, Miss Jairn was sleeping and he didn't want to wake her, so he went to find Neville instead." Andromeda hurried off - she was working after all.
They dashed upstairs and found Neville and his grandmother sat quietly with his parents, whilst Harry, the twins, and Lockhart appeared engrossed in conversation.
"Lockhart's here?" Ron hissed to Hermione, who shrugged.
"To be fair, his whole brain was wiped." She murmured back. "Where else would they put him? I'm more surprised by the twins."
"I'm not." Ron snorted. "They find trouble quicker than Harry does."
"...apparently, people like my autographs." Lockhart was saying to Harry, who was nodding along. "I was an author?"
"Eh, not really." Harry said. "You can't believe anything anyone tells you about your past except me. People lie, you know."
"Okay." Lockhart said agreeably. "You were the one who saved me from that dark cave in the castle after all!"
"That cave was the Chamber of Secrets. You'd gotten trapped down there with no memory and so me and my friend came to save you. Anyway, the truth is..." Harry said slowly. "You're actually a zookeeper."
"A zookeeper? My, that doesn't seem right at all!" Lockhart shook his head. "Are you quite sure?"
"Positive." Harry said firmly. "You have a lovely phoenix exhibit, but they're all getting a bit hungry, the last I heard they had escaped and were breaking into muggle burger shops."
"What's a muggle?" Lockhart asked.
"Er, a big green thing with one eye and purple tongues." Harry explained. Fred and George, looking elated, were watching the interaction silently, eyes glinting as they suppressed their laughter.
"Oh, I see. The people here told me it meant people with no magic."
"Well, to be fair, they don't have magic." Harry said quickly. "But anyway, your best zoo exhibit were peacocks."
"Peacocks? Actually, I have felt very drawn to peacocks since arriving here." Lockhart said cheerfully, twirling his peacock feather quill.
"Well, I have some bad news then." Harry looked suddenly solemn. "After the phoenixes broke out, the ministry took all of your animals away and rehomed them, because they were starving."
Lockhart gasped. "My poor babies!" He cried.
"Don't worry!" Harry said hurriedly. "They've all gone to good homes. Except the peacocks, they got stolen. They currently live at Malfoy manner with Barbie!"
"Barbie?"
"Yes, Barbie. But I promise you, as soon as you're allowed to leave here we will go and get your peacocks back." Harry promised.
"Draco's going to kill you." Fred whispered. Harry grinned.
"Thank you, Harry." Lockhart said earnestly. Harry shook his hand and stood up, looking at the flabbergasted group in front of him.
"We can go now if you like." Harry offered. Molly stepped forwards, eyes shining dangerously. Harry fled.
Chapter 30: Voldy's Worst Nightmare
"Hermione, wake up!"
Hermione forced her eyes open. The room was dark, and she couldn't see the figure that was making her mattress bounce vigorously. No light shone through the curtains.
"Harry, stop shaking me." She demanded, sitting up and glaring at the over-excited teen sat at the end of her bed, practically vibrating with excitement.
"But we're going to miss it!" Hermione shot out of bed, panic in her eyes.
"The train? But I set my alarm specifically so that wouldn't happen! Oh, McGonagall is going to- " Hermione did a double take, staring at her clock in disbelief. Harry grinned sheepishly.
"Harry James Potter, why did you wake me up at four in the morning?" Hermione growled.
Harry smiled innocently. "Because it's snowing and I want to make a snow fort before we have to leave for school?" Hermione pulled the curtains open. Despite the darkness and her growing annoyance she couldn't help but smile at the white wonderland that had seemingly appeared overnight.
Harry flicked the lights on. Hermione covered her eyes, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness.
"You've done it now." She said to Harry, gesturing with her hand to Ginny, who very much took after Ron when it came to waking up in the morning.
Ginny rolled over and scowled. "What time is it?" She asked, yawning. "And turn the light off before I kill you, Hermione!"
"It wasn't me!" Hermione said indignantly. "It was Harry!"
"What's Harry doing in here? What time is it?" She asked again, glaring at the pair of them. Hermione bristled, annoyed she was getting partial blame.
"Time to get up and play in the snow!" Harry exclaimed, stealing the covers off of both beds and leaving the room. "Meet you downstairs in five minutes!" Ginny spotted the clock and punched her pillow. Hard. Hermione left quickly, not wanting to face the girl's ire.
Despite her fury, Ginny met Harry, Hermione and Ron downstairs and Harry found himself at the mercy of three furious teenagers who just wanted to go back to bed. After they eventually got bored of hitting him with snowballs, they began working on the snow fort. Half way through, Harry vanished again, only to appear with a very grumpy Remus and a bright eyed Sirius.
"It's five thirty in the morning, I'm going back to bed." Remus grouched. Sirius waved his wand and the door shut and locked itself. Remus unlocked it with his own wand but the door didn't budge.
"Kreacher won't let you leave until you help us with our snow fort." Harry said cheerfully. Remus sighed and joined Harry, Hermione and Ginny. Ron was too busy throwing snowballs for Sirius to try and catch in his mouth whilst in dog form.
The twins joined them at seven, and Molly called them all in for breakfast at nine. By that time, the snow fort was pretty much a snow cottage, with a bedroom, living room and a broom cupboard for some reason.
"Nostalgia." Harry said, which apparently no one else found funny as they stared at him disbelief. "What? I know you think my cupboard was awful, and it was, but it was still my home for like ten years." He defended.
By eleven, it was time to go back to Hogwarts. Harry was sad to be leaving again.
"Is it too late to go to America after all?" Harry whispered to Sirius, who shrugged.
"Say the word and I'll come get you from Hogwarts, no matter what Dumbles says." Sirius whispered back, knowing Harry would never do that to his friends. However, maybe for one weekend...
Once back at the castle, Ginny and Harry tracked down Daphne and Luna and the four didn't leave the kitchen all weekend. In fact, none of them showed up in classes until double Potions on Monday afternoon.
"Professor, look! We did it!" Harry said excitedly as he and Daphne worked together to levitate their creation into the classroom.
Snape rolled his eyes. Harry ignored him. "It's a gingerbread Hogwarts, measured meticulously and decorated delicately." Harry explained, even though no one asked. "I even made a gingerbread Snape to go with it." Harry handed his professor a gingerbread man, decorated in such a way that matched Snape almost perfectly, robes, hair, and even displeased scowl.
Severus put it on his desk without a word, simply said. "Detention Potter, Greengrass." and continued teaching.
Colin found Harry the next day and returned his invisibility cloak, along with a picture of Snape eating his gingerbread counterpart whilst marking essays. Harry smirked triumphantly. Snape was mellowing.
Not even a week passed before the HA had their first meeting since Christmas.
Since only Harry had ever cast a corporeal patronus he led the meeting himself, Cedric joining in with the learning.
"The memory has to be happy. But not like, basic level happy. It needs to be the sort of memory that has you curled up on the floor laughing, that has your heart so full it could burst. The more personal and sentimental it is to you, the stronger it is." Harry explained, whilst his stag patrolled the room. "And then, once you all master the charm, I'll teach you how to put a glamour on it. The Minister loved my ostrich patronus when he tried to expel me during the summer!"
"The Minister tried to what?" Ernie asked.
"Expel me." Harry sighed sadly. "I don't like to talk about it, it reminds me of what I missed out on."
"Almost missed out on." Hannah corrected. "You are still here after all."
"Exactly." Harry wiped a tear from his eye.
"What do you mean, exactly? Actually, don't answer that, I don't want to know." Cho said. Harry shut his mouth, looking disappointed. Ron laughed. "So, what's the incantation?"
"Expecto Patronum. And the wand movement goes like this." Harry waved his wand and his stag patronus did a lap of the room before stopping in front of him with a tilted head.
"Oh, you can send messages too!" Harry realised. "Er, go and find Lucius Malfoy. Lucy, you're a thief and I will get my revenge! Mwahahaha!" Draco went very, very pale.
"Harry, why would you do that? You know who their current guests are!" He hissed. Harry shrugged.
"Oh yeah! Tell Voldy that there is a new nose shop being built in Diagon Alley should he change his mind and want one!"
"Harry, please stop making the target on your back bigger." Hermione groaned, just as Draco shot a stinging hex at him.
"Ow! Sorry, sorry!" He held his hands up in surrender. "Okay, now you all give it a try. Remember, happy memories!"
Harry meandered around the room, correcting and giving tips.
By the end of the meeting, no one had managed a corporeal patronus yet, but Harry promised they would keep practicing for as long as it took.
"Good work everyone! See you next week!"
Voldemort was having a rubbish resurrection.
First of all, he had returned looking far less handsome than before. Then he had been teased by a foolish teenage boy, who had escaped his grasp for the fourth time, and most of his loyal followers were still in Azkaban. Lucius was much less enthusiastic than his younger self, Narcissa was barely seen, the Malfoy child hadn't been home in months, and the other death eaters not in Azkaban where all such whingebags. Especially Pettigrew.
He wished Severus wasn't stuck at that stupid school. He was the only one that Voldemort could tolerate for longer than five minutes.
He also had one very big problem. Potter.
The boy seemed to have no sense of survival. Well, no sense at all. The child had been quite a pain in the backside all summer. Severus had mentioned the child had gone a bit wild, but he hadn't mentioned the Order knowing about the months of torment Voldemort had been receiving from the boy. He hadn't told Severus either. Yes, better keep that to himself for now, lest the Potter boy let it get to his head.
Howlers singing children's songs arriving late at night (thank goodness for silencing wards), gnomes seemingly appearing from nowhere, angry letters from some random wizard called Gilbert who seemed to think Voldemort was responsible for releasing his "babies". Voldemort had no idea what the fool was on about, but some of the letters mentioned Potter, so he knew it had something to do with the boy. Gilbert or whatever his name was had also been sending letters to Lucius, long rants about stealing peacocks.
But the worst thing Voldemort had to deal with was the Potter boy's patronus.
The stag, although sometimes an ostrich, and sometimes a frog, appeared at least three times a week.
"Hey Voldy! Just wanted to remind you that I killed you when I was a baby. In case you'd forgotten of course."
"Heyyyyy, Tommy boy! You'll never guess what happened. A dementor tried to steal my cousin's soul! I almost got arrested for it, but I wasn't even there! And they didn't even expel me! The nerve!"
"Riddle, riddle me this. What can you catch but never throw? A cold!" Then, the patronus had sneezed. Sneezed!
Those were only a few. By some stroke of luck, they never appeared when Voldemort was in the company of his followers. Until today, that was.
He had begun making plans to break his followers out of Azkaban. In fact, in the current deatheater meeting, it was the main topic of conversation. Until out of nowhere, the stag appeared in a flash of white light. He saw Severus' lip curl in fury and his eyebrows raise in surprise. Yes, he had forgotten how much Severus despised the boy.
To Voldemort's surprise, the patronus stopped by Lucius first.
"Lucy, you're a thief and I will get my revenge. Mwahahahaha!"
Lucius blinked. Voldemort pinched his forehead.
"...And tell Voldy that there is a new nose shop opening in Diagon Alley should he change his mind and want one!"
"POTTER!" Voldemort screeched. "That's it! I don't care anymore, no more planning. We go to Azkaban tonight! Severus, return to Hogwarts and find a reason to punish that brat!"
"Yes my Lord."
On the way to Azkaban, Voldemort felt something in his brain. It felt a bit like a door being unlocked.
"HEY VOLDY! Turns out we are connected telepathically! How cool is that! Now I can tell you about the Dursleys!"
Voldemort sent a message to Severus through the dark mark.
For some reason, Occlumency did not block the incessant chatter inside his head. When he tried to read the boy's thoughts through whatever link this was, he found only images of yellow ducks dressed like Death Eaters.
He needed to kill the boy, and soon.
"POTTER! With me, now!" Severus grabbed the child by the arm and dragged him to the headmaster's office.
"No no no please, anywhere but here!" Potter begged. Severus shoved him in and Potter stumbled slightly. Severus pushed him into a chair.
"Ah, Severus, Harry, what can I do for you?"
"Potter has been sending patronuses to the Dark Lord, Headmaster. I also just received a message from the Dark Lord claiming that the two can speak telepathically."
Potter gasped. "That was confidential! Expecto Patronum! Voldy, I can't believe you sold me out like that! Not cool."
Dumbledore looked very, very grave.
"Harry, what are you doing is dangerous." He warned. "If you let Voldemort into your head, he could possess you, or gain information he could use to help him win the oncoming war."
"No he can't." Potter said, swinging his legs.
"Severus, I trust you remember my instruction to teach Harry occlumency?" Severus scowled, and opened his mouth to protest, but Potter got there first.
"I don't need teaching. I already know how." He said. "Go on Headmaster, try and break into my head!"
Dumbledore shook his head, still not meeting Harry's eyes. Wow, Luna had been right, then. Dumbles really thought Voldemort could take control of Harry.
"Severus, if you would." Snape raised his wand and met Harry's confident gaze.
"Legilimens." He said monotonously. For a few seconds no one moved, and then Snape stumbled backwards slightly with a small frown.
"Well?" Dumbledore asked.
"I got an... image... and found myself tossed from Harry's thought-scape rather quickly." Snape sounded surprised. Harry grinned. Snape was the best Legilimens in the country, and the best at occlumency. Better than Dumbledore and Voldemort. Draco had told him, so it must be true, because Draco was a terrible liar. But Harry had been controlling his thoughts and suppressing emotions for years having lived with the Dursleys, and Draco had been teaching them all the intricacies during the summer. Also, Harry was insane. The insane mind is hard to break into, Moody told him. Well, Fake-Moody, but still! Fake-Moody was pretty insane, so he should know.
"An image of what?" Snape refused to answer. Harry helped him.
"Rubber ducks." He said innocently. "Dressed as Hogwarts professors! Can I go now?"
"If you swear to me that you will never use this connection with Voldemort again?" Dumbledore still looked very upset. Harry sighed heavily.
"I pinkie swear." He didn't hold his pinkie up or link it with Dumbledore's, so it wasn't legally binding, and he skipped out of the office. Oh, how he'd missed skipping! It was almost as good as quidditch!
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked, as soon as the door to his office swung closed behind Potter. "Keep trying to break into his mind, will you?"
Severus nodded.
He tried to during potions. He saw three pigs in muggle clothes and was tossed back out again. He tried to in the great hall and saw several dancing frogs holding hands and meowing. He tried again in the corridors and he saw several lions with ginger wigs on their heads.
Voldemort's fury at not being able to break into the child's mind, even when Harry was asleep, gave Severus the reassurance he needed. It also made him wonder- how had Potter been having the dreams about the corridor if not from Voldemort himself, or accidental connection?
The only conclusion was Potter had somehow managed to break into Voldemort's mind, not the other way around.
Severus shuddered. If Potter wasn't quite so good-hearted, his insanity would make him a formidable dark lord. Then he shuddered again, because he'd complimented the brat.
Chapter 31: Calm Before The Storm
"Uh oh!" Harry said, looking at the paper, for once genuinely frowning in concern. "That's not good. Not good at all."
"What?" Hermione snatched it from him and skimmed the article. "Mass breakout? This is really, really bad." She pursed her lips and went very pale. Ron choked on his cereal.
"Bellatrix Lestrange is the one who tortured my parents." Neville said quietly, and Harry nudged his shoulder comfortingly.
"Don't worry Nev, we won't let her get away with this." Neville gave him a small smile for his efforts and then sneezed. "So much for the ministry being awesome though, eh? Seems like all they've managed so far is to help Voldy. No offence Susan." Harry patted Susan on the head and she threw his arm off with a half-hearted scowl.
"None taken, Auntie is furious." Susan shook her head and sighed at the paper. "If only adults actually listened."
Ron shook his head just as Umbridge walked past. "The Ministry don't have a clue." He said, stabbing his bacon with his fork. "Macnair killed my mum's brothers."
"I bet they've blamed Sirius." Harry grumbled. Daphne appeared behind them, turning the page over Harry's shoulder and pointing.
"Yep, right there. Apparently he's trying to rally the death eaters or something." She said, sitting down as Harry shuffled up to make room.
"They would kill him on the spot." Neville added, frowning. "Sirius, that is. His cousin Bellatrix would consider him a traitor."
The group all looked at each other darkly, Draco joining them with a glum look on his face.
"It's a good job you got me out for the summer." He said quietly. "I expect they are all at Malfoy manor now, and will be for the foreseeable future."
"You won't be going back there." Harry promised.
"Did you hear?" Fred leaned across the table towards them. "Umbridge is starting to inspect the other professors this week."
"As if this day couldn't get any worse!" Ginny groaned, letting her head drop onto the table with a loud thud. "If she sacks McGonagall I swear-"
"She won't." Harry said confidently. "She has other people she wants out more, and McGonagall is too good at what she does. The most she can do is force her to abide by certain rules. Dumbledore, however? He's a target."
That week, Umbridge was present in Harry's Potions and Divination classes, as well as his careers meeting with McGonagall.
Divination had been highly entertaining. Umbridge seemed content to prowl around like a cat (sorry Minnie), scribbling on a clipboard and talking to Parvati and Lavender quietly. Both girls looked worried.
It all went wrong when Umbridge asked Trelawney for a prediction.
"You can't force the inner eye, Professor." Harry said, looking dead serious. "It isn't something that can be commanded." He heard Dean snicker and resolutely ignored him, fighting back a grin.
"Oh?" Umbridge said, sickly sweet. "How about you predict something for me then, Mr Potter, since you are so... knowledgeable... on the subject?"
"I predict that you'll fire McGonagall." Harry said, folding his arms and leaning backwards. There. Now Minnie would definitely never be fired, because Umbridge would never let Harry be right.
Umbridge didn't respond, and instead turned back to Trelawney.
"You are in grave danger!" Trelawney exclaimed. Umbridge hummed, wrote something down, and left.
The next class they had Umbridge in attendance for was Potions. Harry, not in the mood for baking, decided to just take part in the lesson. His main reason was so he could focus on the Umbridge and Snape showdown rather than ensuring he didn't overcook his pastry. Choux pastry is extremely delicate after all.
"So you applied first for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, is that correct?" Umbridge simpered, as the class worked on their potions in silence. No one dared speak, content to eavesdrop on the interaction between the Dungeon Bat and the Pink Toad.
"Yes."
"But you were unsuccessful?"
"Obviously."
Ron snickered, and the icy glare he received promised retribution.
Harry stiffened when Umbridge made her way over to his cauldron, peering at the contents with distaste.
"Mr Potter, what have we here?" Harry locked eyes with Snape, who raised a brow. Not today, Potter, or you will pay.
"Dreamless sleep potion, Ma'am." Harry said politely. "I'm on the final step." He added three drops of cobra venom and stirred once clockwise, and the potion changed from flamingo pink to a deep midnight blue.
"Hmph." Umbridge stalked out in a huff.
"Potter!" Snape snarled.
"Yes?" Harry looked up innocently. Snape didn't say anything, instead studying the perfect potion with disbelief.
"Why?" He croaked eventually, giving Harry a look that the teen really couldn't figure out.
"Turns out being really good at baking and cooking teaches some great potions skills!" Harry said brightly. "Speaking of, I'm getting a bit bored of baking now, I'm thinking of moving on to proper cooking soon, once I've mastered choux pastry. I've had practice cooking for the Dursley's, but I'd like to get better with spices and flavours. The Dursleys eat very bland food, you see." Harry wittered on, carefully pouring his potion into a vial and gently placing it on the desk. Snape looked as if he was barely restraining himself from throttling him. Ron snorted and earnt himself a whack on the head with a roll of parchment.
Harry had been looking forward to his careers meeting for weeks. He was expecting Umbridge to be in attendance due to her incessant obsession with his life, but he didn't really care either way.
"Evening Professor McGonagall!" Harry chirped, sitting down in the chair opposite her desk. McGonagall smiled at him, not even sparing Umbridge a glance.
"Good evening, Mr Potter. I trust you know why you are here?"
"Of course!"
"So, tell me, what careers are you thinking of for your future?" McGonagall leaned forwards slightly, interested. Harry frowned.
"Truth be told Professor, I don't really know. I thought I wanted to be an Auror-"
Umbridge coughed. She was ignored.
"- but I'm not sure all the paperwork and fighting is for me."
"That is perfectly adequate reasoning, Mr Potter. Have you looked into any other opportunities?"
"Well, I was going to go to Romania with Charlie during the summer, to get an idea of what working with dragons is like, but obviously with Voldy's return I couldn't really leave the house." Umbridge coughed louder. McGonagall's eyebrow twitched.
"I see. Well if you want work with dragons, or other reptiles, assuming you will be using your skills at parseltongue?" Harry nodded. "Yes, in that case then, It would be wise to study hard for your Care of Magical creatures OWL and NEWT. Potions and Charms are also important for such a career due to protective equipment, healing spells and potions, and development of new anti-venoms or potions that can be discovered through working and researching in this field."
"Okay" Harry didn't write it down, as he had an excellent memory. "So once Voldy is dead, dragons is an option."
Umbridge coughed.
"Cough drop, Dolores?" McGonagall asked with a voice of steel.
"No, thank you Minerva, I just wanted to say that I do not appreciate you continually allowing Mr Potter to speak about you-know-who as if he is alive. You are encouraging the child to lie."
"On the contrary, ignoring negative behaviour is often far more effective than punishment, as lies are often for attention. If anything, my lack of reaction and Mr Potter's continual persistency on the matter could suggest he is telling the truth." Umbridge turned a rather ugly shade of red, and McGonagall turned back to Harry.
"Any other career options you like the idea of, Mr Potter?"
"Yes." Harry said eagerly. "I don't think I would want to work with dragons all the time, you see, maybe just in the summer or something. Curse breaking sounds cool, but I'm not as good at wards as Daphne-"
"You would require an OWL and NEWT in Ancient Runes, which you would have to either sit late or start studying for now."
"Oh okay that's fine, I think I'll give that a miss. I can always study and sit them when I'm older if need be. The other thing I'm really interested in is teaching." Harry said conspiratorially, eyes shining. Umbridge went a very pleasant shade of red.
McGonagall raised a brow. "Teaching, Mr Potter?"
"Yes." Harry said, smiling brightly. "I feel like it could be fun."
"Do you have an idea what subject?"
"Well, either something culinary related, I'm quite a good cook/baker you know, or maybe Defence against the Dark Arts."
"With the abysmal grades you have for my subject, Mr Potter, you are most unlikely to get the required grades in your OWLS, NEWTS and Mastery." Umbridge simpered, more pink than red after processing what Harry had proposed.
"Potter, if you really want to teach and excel, I will be more than happy to assist you in whatever way possible." McGonagall retorted firmly. Harry grinned.
"Thanks Professor. I think I'd like to play quidditch professionally for a few years after I leave school, and maybe study a Mastery alongside."
"A good goal and first step towards building a solid career. I have no doubt, Mr Potter, that you will be most successful in whatever you set your mind towards."
"Thank you Professor, I really do appreciate it." Harry got to his feet. "Have a lovely afternoon, Professors." He nodded at both McGonagall and Umbridge, only letting his smile drop from his face once he was sure they couldn't see him.
He was ambushed as soon as he reached the common room.
"HARRY LOOK!" Ginny grabbed his hand and yanked him towards the window. Harry peered out.
"What am I looking at, it's pitch black! The only visible thing is the fire from Hagrid's - HAGRID'S BACK!" Ron sprinted down from the dorm, Neville in tow, and Hermione stood up from the couch.
"Let's go." Ron tossed Harry his invisibility cloak.
"We can't all fit under that." Hermione pointed out. "We aren't eleven anymore."
Harry grinned. "Hey, Kreacher!"
"Yes, Master?"
"Kreacher, please, Harry is just fine. Can you teleport us all to Hagrid's hut?"
"Yes, Master Harry. What about the snakes, the badger and the eagle?" Kreacher asked, rubbing his hands together.
" You can find them once we are down there and see if they want to come. Luna may be there already, she loves Hagrid."
Kreacher popped the five of them to Hagrid's doorstep and Harry knocked excitedly.
"Not even been back for five minutes, 'Arry, how'd you know I was 'ere?" Hagrid asked after opening the door with a wide smile and a plate of treacle tarts.
"Ginny saw you from the common room window! Hagrid, where have you been?"
The half-giant ushered them inside, barely even noticing when Kreacher came back with four more students. Luna, as Harry had predicted, was already there, curled up on the floor with Fang.
Hagrid told them everything. About Madame Maxime, the giants, the deatheaters. The teenagers all listened in silence, enthralled at the adventure Hagrid had been on.
Once he'd finished telling his story, the students all tried to recount the part of the school year Hagrid had missed, interrupting each other and bickering about the finer points.
"Umbridge sounds like a righ' nightmare." Hagrid said, shaking his head. "You should know, 'arry, my contract 'as changed. I'm only teachin' Care of Magical Creatures to first to fourth years. Professor Grubbly-plank will be handling OWL and NEWT students, since she's more qualified than I am, with me bein' expelled an' all." Hagrid said sagely, looking at Harry through his thick eyebrows.
Ron sighed in disappointment.
They stayed for another hour or so, catching up and joking around before Hagrid had to kick them out.
"You 'ave lessons tomorrow, yeh need yer rest." He said gruffly.
It was the day after that everything began to go wrong.
Chapter 32: The Storm Before The Stormy Storm
They had been on their way to the room of requirement when the coins went ice-cold, turning silver in their pockets.
"No!" Hermione gasped, quickly pulling out her wand and summoning the list of HA members from her bag.
"What do we do?" Ron asked urgently, staring at his now silver galleon in horror.
"Hermione, can you destroy the contract without breaking the agreements within it?" Harry asked quickly, pulling out the marauder's map and scanning it hurriedly. Umbridge's dot was heading in their direction. Fast.
"If it's destroyed everyone can speak freely without fear of punishment." Hermione responded, clutching the contract tightly.
"Okay." Harry took a deep breath, pinching his nose. "Okay. Kreacher? Dobby?" The two house elves appeared, looking at Harry expectantly. "Take this list, and find all the students on it. Tell them to go back to their dorms, and if they haven't left, tell them to stay there. Then take this list to Grimmauld Place. There's anti-summoning wards around the property so Umbridge won't be able to get hold of it. Tell them to dispose of the coins."
"No, that won't work. Tell them to put their wand on the coin and say this spell." Hermione used a muggle pen and scribbled something on a separate piece of parchment. "This is the counter-spell to the one I put on them when we started all of this. It will turn them back into normal galleons, and make them gold again." She wrote it twice and ripped it in half, giving one each to each house elf.
Kreacher took the list (He didn't know the students of the HA as well as Dobby did), and they both vanished with a crack.
"Give me your coins." Hermione said to Harry and Ron, who handed them over without complaint. She muttered the spell and the three of them turned around, but a cough they new far too well echoed through the corridor behind them. Harry shoved the map into his hoodie pocket. He'd gotten it back when Barty Crouch Junior had been discovered before the summer holidays.
"You aren't going anywhere." Umbridge said, voice sickly-sweet. The trio spun back around to find the inquisitorial squad blocking their only other escape. They were trapped.
They were dragged to Dumbledore's office, not bothering to struggle to get away. Once they'd reach the office Umbridge sent the inquisitorial squad back to their dorms and escorted the three teens into the room herself.
"Here they are, Minister. Unfortunately we could not catch the others." Umbridge simpered. Dumbledore was sat behind his desk, looking as calm as ever, but there was a certain steel in his eye when he looked at Fudge. McGonagall couldn't decide to glare at, so she alternated between glaring at them all before settling on Snape, who was there for some reason. Snape gave her an indignant what did I do? look and Harry resisted the urge to snort.
Fudge waved a dismissive hand. "It's no problem, Madam Umbridge, Miss Edgecombe has given us the names we required. These three were the leaders of this... rebellion... so it is them we needed to see."
Harry glared at Fudge.
"Look, expel me if you like, in fact, please do, but let Hermione and Ron go. They've done nothing wrong." Harry argued, not even looking at the crying girl sat in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"No can do, Potter. Sit down, all of you." Harry, Ron and Hermione reluctantly sat down, glaring between Umbridge and the Minister.
Harry felt Hermione's hand slip into his own. He squeezed it and she looked at him.
He had never been so happy that the trio had mastered communicating with each other with the slightest change of expression.
Say nothing. He willed her, and did the same to Ron. Both understood the message and pursed their lips.
"So, Miss Edgecombe tells us you have been running an illegal dark arts club in this very school." Harry had never seen Fudge look so gleeful.
"No!" Harry scoffed. "We were walking one. Only joking, we've actually not done anything of the sort, but the opportunity for an awesome dad joke was far too tempting to resist!"
"SILENCE!"
"Okay, okay, keep your wig on!"
"How did you know about my-" Fudge shook his head and Harry smirked. It had been a lucky guess. Snape raised a delicate brow. Even Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again briefly in amusement. McGonagall outright chuckled, which was why she was Harry's favourite. "You understand that the obvious breach of the rules, as well as studying dark magic without permission, is grounds for expulsion, if not imprisonme-"
"Minister, you can't put children in Azkaban for this!" McGonagall exclaimed. "I know my Lions, and they would never mess with dark magic." She looked at the trio confidently. Harry gave her the shadow of a wink, and she gave one back.
"They've been running an illegal club to teach themselves nonsense! Since this school teaches them all they need to know, the only explanation is they were learning something banned, something dark, something evi-"
"It was a Defence Club!" Harry snapped. "Because Professor Umbridge's lessons are so useless!" He didn't care if he was saying too much anymore - the game was up anyway. "Look, we weren't trying to hurt anyone, but we need to know how to protect ourselves!"
"No you don't, boy, there is nothing out there! Enough of the games!" The Minister practically spat. Harry clenched his fists, and felt the fury build. He hated being called boy. Dumbledore interrupted.
"If I may." He said, holding up a hand. Everyone turned to look at him. "I am quite sure these students meant no harm."
Fudge got a wild gleam in his eye.
"It was you, wasn't it?" He whispered manically, looking Dumbledore as if Christmas had come early. "You started this little club. You thought by by calling it "Harry's army" we would never discover it was you!"
"Actually it's called the-" Harry fell silent at the furious glare Hermione sent him.
"Alas, it appears you've discovered my secret." Dumbledore sighed. Harry froze. Uh oh.
"Albus, what are you-"
"I knew it!" Fudge shrieked. "Albus Dumbledore, you are under arrest for-"
"Oh no, I'm not being arrested." Dumbledore said calmly. "Alas, I simply do not have the time for this little game." He twinkled. Harry fought the urge to grin at the obvious jibe towards the Minister, but then remembered he wasn't really a fan of Dumbledore either, so settled for staring at the portrait of one of Sirius' many great-uncles, Phineas Nigellus Black. He had been Headmaster almost a century ago. The portrait winked at him, and Harry winked back. He loved his little collection of random odd allies no one knew about.
"Get him!" Fudge snapped at Kingsley and another Auror, who brandished their wands. Before Harry knew what was happening, he was on the floor and there was loud bang, followed by silence. He sat up, and scanned the room in confusion.
Umbridge, Fudge and the Auror were on the floor, unconscious. Kingsley offered Harry a hand and pulled him to his feet, before doing the same to Ron and Hermione. McGonagall was staring at Dumbledore whilst helping up a sobbing Marietta, who was still covering her face. Harry grimaced at the smug grin Hermione was wearing. The girl could be ruthless when she wanted to be.
"Keep them safe." Dumbledore said to McGonagall. "Harry, it is more important now than ever for you to block Voldemort from your mind, keep him away and out of your head. For your own safety." Snape made a noise between a scoff and a snarl, and Fawkes flew towards Dumbledore and landed on his shoulder.
"You're leaving." Ron said bluntly. Dumbledore nodded.
"Get Fawkes a burger whilst you can, yeah?" Ron ginned nervously. Hermione smacked him on the arm and Harry nodded vigorously, winking at Fawkes. To everyone's surprise, Fawkes winked back.
"What? We have a bond, he did save my life once you know." Harry reminded them. Dumbledore chuckled and Snape rolled his eyes.
"Stay safe, all of you." Were Dumbledore's parting words. With a flash of fire, he was gone.
"Back to your dorms, now, before they wake." McGonagall said hurriedly. Harry didn't move. "Mr Potter, go!"
"No, I'm staying. This is mostly my fault." Harry argued back, looking his favourite Professor in the eye. "I really am sorry, you know."
McGonagall softened. "I know, Harry. Fine, stay. The rest of you go, now." With one last longing look at Harry, Hermione and Ron turned and left, Marietta behind them. Harry caught a glimpse of her face as the moved.
The word SNEAK had been scrawled across her forehead in angry red boils. Harry winced. He would have to persuade Hermione to remove the curse at some point, even if Marietta did deserve it. He knew what it was like to have a scar define you, after all.
"Where is he?" Fudge demanded as soon as he came to, staring around the room.
"Ron? Back to bed." Harry said airily.
"No you daft child, The Head- Dumbledore!"
"Oh, He's gone." Harry said flatly. "Now if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if you could hurry up and expel me, Las Vegas won't wait forever." Harry folded his arms and looked at the Minister expectantly.
"Oh, no!" The manic gleam was back in Fudge's eyes. "You aren't getting off that easily. No, you are on strict lockdown in this castle. You will not leave, and you will spend every evening in detention. If anyone discovers you have left the grounds for any reason, you will be arrested. Am I understood?"
"Loud and clear." Harry met Fudge's gaze levelly, and Fudge seemed to hesitate at the cold expression.
"Right, well. Off you all go. Shacklebolt, find Miss Bones and inform her of Dumbledore's escape. No one rests until we find him. Dolores, you will take over Dumbledore's position as Headmistress until we can officially replace him once and for all. Go, Potter."
Harry looked between Umbridge and McGonagall. McGonagall had gone ghostly pale, and Umbridge looked like it was her birthday and Christmas all at once. Harry felt McGonagall place a hand on his shoulder and squeeze.
"Go, Harry." She murmured, and so Harry left.
"No! Surely they can't give it to her, she isn't even qualified!" Hermione exclaimed in outrage the next morning, when the group of friends all gathered so the trio could fill everyone in on the events of the previous evening.
"Wait, so you can't leave Hogwarts at all?" Daphne asked Harry incredulously.
"Nope. I think they're just waiting for an opportunity to arrest me or something." Harry said with a shrug. There wasn't any Hogsmeade trips approaching so he would be at the castle anyway. He did think about possibly using Kreacher or Dobby to sneak him out just to make a point, but decided he couldn't be bothered.
"Don't worry Harry, if they put you in jail me and Kreacher will break you right back out again." Susan promised. Harry grinned at her, then gave her thoughtful look.
"Does house elf magic work in Azkaban?" He asked her.
Susan shrugged. "Don't know. Please don't get arrested on purpose to find out."
"I won't, I'll flee to America. Want to come with?" Harry asked brightly.
"Sure, why not?" Susan and Harry smiled at each other broadly.
Ron shook his head. "You two are terrifying. Barmy, but terrifying."
"Oh also, I have detention every evening. Umbridge still isn't allowed to host my detentions so Flitwick is doing it. He said you guys can all come and study in there with me if you like." He added cheerfully. "He's going to teach me to duel!"
Draco groaned. "This is all such a mess!"
"On the bright side." Astoria said, sat cross legged between Ginny and Luna. "Quidditch is in a few hours!"
"Except Harry and the twins can't play." Hermione pointed out.
"Oh, yeah. Never mind, no bright side then I guess."
"Now the bumblebee is gone, others will follow." Harry said, looking solemn. "Hagrid will probably be the first to go next, or Trelawney now that the bumblebee isn't here to stop them."
"Umbridge can't stand anyone with creature blood." Susan added. "She may target Flitwick too."
Trelawney had been sacked shortly after the inspection. Dumbledore had allowed her to remain at the castle, but hadn't had the chance to find a replacement before he had to leave. Divination students were forced to sit in on Umbridge's DADA sessions, reading Ministry approved textbooks on the subject instead.
"If Hagrid goes, we'll need to feed his little brother." Luna said idly, watching the bowtruckle dancing on her finger.
Everyone turned to stare at her.
"His little what?"
Everyone watched Luna open-mouthed as she approached Hagrid's brother, Grawp, with no fear.
"He is NOT little." Draco said faintly.
"Aye." Hagrid said. "He's little fer a giant, though." Draco made a choked sound and Daphne laughed at him.
"Yeh'll help Luna take care of 'im if I 'ave ter leave, won't yeh?" Hagrid asked Harry earnestly.
"Sure." Harry said, sounding uncertain. "Of course we will."
Gryffindor lost the quidditch match by miles. No one was surprised, but it was still disappointing.
Then Fred and George decided it was time to go.
It was during the final round of OWL mocks that the fireworks went off. They were everywhere, and the more people tried to get rid of them, the louder they got. Some even multiplied. At the same time the fireworks went off, a swamp appeared outside the great hall. To get across without being covered in mud or slime, a password was required.
"Farewell, dear students!" The twins cried, sat firmly on their stolen broomsticks. Lee was perched on his own broom, smirking. "Don't worry, you haven't seen the last of us!"
And off they went.
Harry had promised not to tell anyone they would be back next year, when Umbridge would inevitably go, to retake their final NEWT year. No DADA professor lasted more than a year, after all.
Umbridge had raged and screamed and stamped her feet, but they were gone, so there was nothing she could do. All Weasley products were banned. The fireworks fizzled out after a week, but the swamp remained.
The password to get across was known by every single student in the school, bar the inquisitorial squad, Umbridge, and Filch. Even Snape knew it, but Snape and the twins had always seemed to get along quite well in Harry's opinion.
This was proved to him the day before his exams began, when he watched, along with hundreds of other students, as Snape waved his wand and the swamp vanished for good. Even Flitwick had been unsuccessful, so the only possible explanation was the twins had told Snape how to get rid of it and left it up to him to decide when.
"Professor Snape." Umbridge had simpered. "Why, pray tell, did you not get rid of that infernal thing a month ago?"
Snape had smirked cruelly back at her. "You didn't ask me to." And off he went, robes billowing as usual.
Harry scowled. "He keeps stealing my line." He said grumpily. Susan patted him on the shoulder comfortingly.
Chapter 33: The Beginning Of The Stormy Storm
Harry was very grateful for his geeky friends. Hermione and Draco had wrangled them all into studying throughout the year, so he felt marginally prepared for most, if not all, his exams.
The exams were spread across two weeks. Week one was all their physical papers. Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, and Divination did not have written exams.
Harry felt he did okay in most of the written exams. Defence Against the Dark arts had been a breeze, especially as many questions were about creatures, which had been the focus of their third year when they had a decent teacher. Charms and Transfiguration had been harder, but Harry managed to answer every question at least. Potions had been suspiciously easy. Either all of the detentions with Snape had paid off and actually helped him, or Harry was just so appallingly bad that he had accidentally made everything up.
In his detentions, Snape was slightly less nasty. Whether that was just exhaustion Harry couldn't be sure, but Harry was confident enough to actually ask questions and Snape was surprisingly good at explaining things when he actually bothered to. Harry had also found out from Remus that his mother had loved potions - so he made more of a conscious effort to study and worked harder on his potions essays. Snape still mostly gave him Ds and Ts, but Harry thought part of that might be because he man had to hate him in order to stay in favour with Voldy.
The written Herbology paper was difficult, and Harry only answered three quarters of the questions. He had been happy to see Neville leave that exam with an excited smile on his face, so he knew his Herbology expert friend had done well at least. History of Magic was their final written paper, and Harry hadn't even really bothered to try. He fell asleep at one point, where he had a very interesting dream. Sirius had been being tortured in the hall of prophecies.
He knew it was a possibility that Voldemort may have managed to slip into his mind and plant a false vision, so as soon as the exam was over he called for Kreacher, who went to Grimmauld and came back within ten seconds, saying that Sirius was fine. Harry gave Kreacher two hastily written letters, and asked him to give one to Snape and one to Sirius. Luckily, Harry knew beyond Voldy sending the odd false vision, he still had no access to Harry's thoughts or mind.
With that knowledge, he then sent a patronus to Voldy.
"Nice try, sucker!"
He grinned at the scream of rage in his head, before sending images of pink frogs ballroom dancing over the telepathic link in rapid succession. Then he broke the connection with a giggle.
Next came the practical exams. History of Magic was the only subject where there was no practical, so their practical week was much more full on.
Once or twice a day, they were called into the hall in alphabetical order, and were kept in a side room to wait so that they couldn't cheat.
Charms had been okay, Harry only messed up the final spell. His charms work hadn't been exquisite, but he did a decent enough job. Transfiguration was harder, and Harry definitely lost a few marks for having whiskers on his snuffbox, but he felt he did okay overall. Potions had been to create a dreamless sleep from memory. Harry had grinned, ecstatic, and got to work. It was a potion he had made perfectly before, and he had been secretly brewing it all year to help with the nightmares that still plagued him. He had a feeling Snape had caught on during the lesson with Umbridge, but the man had never said anything.
Care of Magical Creatures had been a breeze, and so had DADA. Harry was pleased to see those from the HA in the hall at the same time as him flourish as well, performing the required spells with ease and accuracy. He had even been allowed to cast the patronus charm for a few extra marks. Apparently, McGonagall had requested the invigilators ask all fifth year students to have a go, knowing many of them would succeed due to Harry's lessons. Harry also remembered to turn his stag into an ostrich briefly, just because he could.
Herbology hadn't gone well, but Harry had never been any good at Herbology. It was only by accident he managed to befriend the Venomous Tentactula after all. In Divination, he told the examiner he could see a large disco ball, with lots of emo pals dressed in pink dancing around it. The examiner had definitely failed him, but Harry couldn't resist having a little fun in at least one exam.
It was Astronomy where it all went sideways.
They had been studying the sky and mapping it onto parchment when the shouting began. Everyone turned their telescopes downwards and watched in horror as Hagrid yelled at the ministry officials that surrounded him, Umbridge included. McGonagall had run out of the school towards him just as the ministry officials fired a dozen stunners at the half-giant.
Harry cried out when they all hit McGonagall and she crumpled to the ground.
The exam didn't continue after that.
"This ends now." Harry said stoutly as his friends followed him to Umbridge's office.
"What do you mean? Harry, what are you planning?" Hermione bit her lip, and Harry grimaced.
"Look, you should all stay here, what I'm about to do is going to get me in heaps of trouble." He said honestly, turning to face them all.
"We're with you mate, whatever, you know that." Neville said. "Just tell us the plan."
Harry took a deep breath, and explained.
"Well, well, well." Umbridge said brightly, yanking Harry's head from the fireplace. "What do we have here?"
"A fireplace." Harry said obstinately.
"With Harry Potter's head in it!" She simpered, and shoved him into a chair. Harry looked around the office. Ginny, Neville, Ron and Hermione were all being held at wand-point by members of the Inquisitorial squad.
"Who were you contacting?" Umbridge demanded.
"Nunya."
"Nunya who?"
"Nunya business."
"Enough games, Mr Potter!" Umbridge snapped. "Tell me who you were contacting, now!"
"Why should I?" Harry retorted, fire in his eyes. Umbridge smiled.
"The cruciatus curse aught to loosen your tongue."
"Oh yeah? Go for it." Harry challenged. "Voldemort tried that already, it didn't work."
"Crucio!" Harry didn't make a sound as the spell hit him in the chest. He did his best not to wince. It wasn't as strong as Voldemort's but it still hurt.
"Stop it!" Hermione cried out, trying to fight off Parkinson. "Please! I'll tell you!"
Umbridge lifted the spell, but kept her wand trained on Harry.
"Go on then, Miss Granger."
Hermione spoke through sobs. "We were trying to contact Dumbledore. To tell him it's ready."
"To tell him what was ready?" Umbridge asked, eyes shining.
Hermione choked out another sob, shaking her head. Umbridge opened her mouth, once again focused on Harry. Hermione broke.
"The secret weapon!" She cried. "Please, don't hurt him!"
Within minutes, Hermione and Harry were leading Umbridge into the forbidden forest. They knew the route well, Luna's frequent visits leaving a clear path in the dirt.
The fight had been quick - Grawp's roar of outrage had alerted the Centaurs to their presence, who stormed into the clearing, bows and arrows at the ready. Umbridge had tried to bind them with rope the instant she saw them and got herself kidnapped. Harry and Hermione had fled after picking up their discarded wands, dropped by Umbridge in the panic.
They sprinted back to the main grounds, where Neville, Luna, Draco, Daphne, Astoria, Ron, Ginny and Susan were waiting for them.
"We can't all go." Daphne said instantly. "Especially not Draco. As soon as his father realises he's changed sides he'll be killed."
"He's going to know by summer anyway!" Draco retorted.
"Exactly, best we keep it quiet so we can figure out how to keep you hidden. Your dad will probably be there as well, I wouldn't want you to have to fight him." Harry said, and Draco scowled.
"What's the plan, then?" Ginny asked. Harry rubbed his forehead.
"I've told Voldy what we're going to do. He will have sent a few of his emo pals to the ministry already, to lie in wait. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes himself. I'm going to meet him there."
"I'm coming with you." Ron and Hermione said at the same time. Harry didn't bother to argue - Hermione and Ron had never been talked out of trouble before, trying to now would only waste time.
"Me too." Ginny, Daphne and Astoria said stubbornly.
"And me." Neville said, voice shaking. Harry frowned.
"No, just Hermione and Ron." Harry said. The others opened their mouths to protest, but Harry got there first. "No, listen, this is life or death, not some silly little jaunt."
"We know." Neville said boldly. "Harry, please!"
Harry pushed a hand through his hair. "Fine." He said eventually. "But I need some of you here for this to work."
"Okay, but only if it is actually necessary for the plan." Astoria said stubbornly.
"Daphne, Astoria, you need to stay with Draco." Harry spoke quickly, pacing backwards and forwards. They began to protest but Harry interrupted them. "Let me finish! To be a Slytherin seen with me is too dangerous right now, even if your family is a neutral party in this war. Besides, I don't know what will happen in the castle whilst we are gone. I need you to alert Flitwick, Sprout, and Sinistra about what's happening, especially about Minnie."
"Fine." Daphne glared at Harry. Astoria huffed but nodded, hugging Ginny and Luna tightly. The three girls had grown very close over the school year.
"Susan, as much as I would love to bring you, I need you here for Kreacher. You're the only one other than me he'll listen to. And your Aunt is terrifying and will actually kill me if I take you." Harry said with a half-smile.
Susan smirked.
"Wait, why is that again?" Ginny asked. "What exactly did you two do to get Kreacher to love you both so much?"
"Oh, nothing much." Susan said nonchalantly. "Okay, so I'm getting Kreacher to do what, exactly?"
"Bring Sirius to Hogwarts, in dog form." Harry said, giving her a look. "Take him to Snape, he'll ensure he can't leave. Then have Kreacher take you to Dumblebee. It's highly likely he's at Grimmauld with Sirius though, so it may only need to be one trip."
"How is Kreacher going to get around the wards for this to work?"
Harry grinned. "Black family magic. Phineas Nigellus Black was Headmaster here a long ago, so any house elf owned by the Blacks can evade the wards with whoever they please, as long as the intention is to protect. It's more complicated than that, but we are on a time crunch here."
Daphne nodded slowly. Being the ward-nerd she was, she knew exactly what Harry meant.
"The rest of you, I won't stop you coming with me." Harry paused, and looked each of them in the eye. "But I would prefer you to stay."
"Thestrals." Was Luna's response. Everyone turned to look at her, confused, but Harry grinned.
"Genius! Let's go, gang! Good luck Daph, Astoria, Draco, Sue."
"Don't die." Daphne said shortly. Harry mock saluted.
The Thestrals were surprisingly easily to persuade, and before long, they were on their way to the ministry.