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.