{TW: Mentions of killing}

Maddy Lupin had never been one to read the Educational Decrees that Dolores Umbridge put out. If she didn't know the rules, then she obviously couldn't break them. That was her philosophy at least. Professor McGonagall noted to her one day the flaw in her thinking, and how it had differed from that of her father's own thinking; he had memorised all of Hogwarts rules by his second year, and could bend the rules backwards to not get in trouble.

She wasn't particularly bothered about her flaw, and continued on as she did, narrowly avoiding detentions.

So it was to no one's surprise when she was confused over Simon and Professor Umbridge's interaction in Defence.

Maddy sat with her legs propped on her desk, her WDS pin secured safely on her robes. None of the others wore theirs, not having the same immunity Maddy did.

Umbridge, of course, noticed, and walked in front of her desk, and pointed at the pin, She let out a soft hem hem, to get Maddy's attention, the young girl engrossed in a book, "What's that?"

Before Maddy could answer, Simon piped up bravely from beside her, "You can't ask her that."

The room turned towards him in shock, but he thrived in the attention, sitting up straight, and adjusting his robes.

"Your new Education Decree states that a teacher can't speak of anything not relating to the lesson," Simon stated, as if he had prepared a speech for this situation exactly. "Maddy's pin has nothing to do with the lesson, and therefore you can't ask her what it is."

Maddy frowned slightly at the new decree, but a second later her face lit up, nodding as if she had anticipated this exact moment. She had expected just to be belittled, but Umbridge breaking her own decree was ten times better than she could have hoped for.

"You —"

"Belittling me isn't on the syllabus either."

Maddy could tell Simon knew he was pushing his luck. But, Simon had always been good at deception. The hardened look of sheer determination etched into his face made it clear that he wasn't backing down.

"Detention, Mr. Lomen, stay after to discuss details."

Simon shrugged slightly as she turned and made her way to the front of the classroom.

Maddy tugged slightly at the sleeve of his robe, and signed, Talk later.

Simon nodded stone faced, and turned to the front of the classroom.

■□~□■

Maddy didn't care about being late to Flying, for once in her life. She had taken out her gloves and hat, but they rested on her lap as she sat cross-legged on the floor outside the door to the Defence classroom.

Simon came out quietly, zippering his bag as he walked out the door, before noticing Maddy. "Come along," he said. If he were surprised she had waited for him, he didn't show it.

Why did you do that? Maddy asked after they had begun their descent down the stairs, having to clap to get her attention.

"Consider it repay," he told her.

Maddy frowned, but didn't sign anything else, just continued walking outside the castle, tugging on her gloves and hat.

"There's another reason too, but I'll tell you after classes."

That caught Maddy's attention. She stopped in her tracks, and thought for a second, before she jogged to Simon's side again.

"Madam Hooch isn't gonna be happy we're late," Simon said, looking at his watch. Maddy marvelled at how quickly he could change the topic, not pondering on something for more time than necessary, while she already knew she'd be thinking about it all day. "Maybe more so at me, since I'm not very good."

You'll get your turn to show off in Potions.

He gave a small smile, "I guess."

■□~□■

After Transfiguration, Simon pulled Maddy out of the classroom as soon as they were dismissed. She didn't have to see Ms. Daisley that day, and didn't have Quidditch because Angelina wanted to practice alone with Ron and the other chasers. (Kirke really needed some help, but Maddy wasn't going to talk to Angelina about her coaching abilities.)

He opted not to tell her where they were going, instead just holding her wrist and guiding her through the hordes of students running at the end of the day.

It was after a moment that Maddy realised she was being led to the Room of Requirement, but Simon was so intent on getting to their destination, and never let go of her wrist, that she couldn't sign any form of inquiries she had.

The Room of Requirement was unlike any other time she had been there. There were no large walls of books, no manikins waiting to be shot, and no large sitting area. Instead, it looked like a kitchen.

It was a small kitchen, with a raised island and high stools that Simon let go of her wrist to sit down at.

Where are we?

Simon glanced around the kitchen, "My childhood kitchen," he said, before chuckling, "I say that like I'm eighty. What I mean is the kitchen from my mum and dad's house. It's exactly how I remember it."

Why did you choose here? Maddy asked, taking one of the seats and spinning slightly.

"Whenever my parents wanted to tell Dari and I something, they did it in the kitchen, so I guess when I thought of somewhere to tell you something, the room thought of that."

Are those pictures of you?

Simon looked where she had pointed after she finished signing. "This room never ceases to amaze me. All the pictures of my family, except for two, one for myself, and one for Dari, were taken and put away somewhere."

You're Gringotts vault?

He frowned, "I didn't look when we were there this year, but it's possible I guess."

He got off his stool and grabbed the picture frame, before getting back onto it, and looking at it. "I remember this," he said, "It was when we went to Brazil when I was six."

You've been to Brazil?

"To visit my mum's family." He put the photograph down. "This wasn't the point of us talking."

Maddy gestured for him to explain.

"I think Umbridge is attempting to usurp the school, and kill you in the process."

Maddy stared stone faced at a small ornate bird above the fake window, She did physically harm me before, and many others.

"But with Dumbledore, she can't do anything, which is where usurping the school comes in."

Where did you hear this?

Simon sighed, "Umbridge herself."

Umbridge told you?

"No, not me. Draco Malfoy."

Maddy frowned, Elaborate.

"So, I was on my way back to the Common Room from the Hospital Wing yesterday —"

Yesterday?

"— and I heard voices from Umbridge's office, so obviously I was curious, and I may have eavesdropped because I had one of Fred and George's Extendable Ears with me."

And people think I'm the rule-breaker.

"You are, but I was with Fred and George as well. It would be a miracle if I learned nothing."

He's small smile fell, "She was talking to him about how when she became Headmaster, she'd create a group called the Inquisitorial Squad."

We can't make clubs.

"Apparently her rules don't apply to her. Anyway, that means she can get members of this Squad to give you detention."

How does that have to do with killing me? And Dumbledore and Minnie will protect me.

"She wants you gone, Maddy, you need to be careful."

Maddy nodded, but didn't quite look Simon in the eye.

"Can we talk about something happy? I want to forget about Umbridge until my detention later."

Maddy picked up the picture that Simon had said was taken in Brazil, and examined it. Simon was on a man's back, and Darienne was on a woman's back, which Maddy assumed was their parents. Maddy had never seen a picture of them before, all she knew is that they're names were Levi and Amelia.

Levi looked scarily like Simon, except both his eyes were blue. His hair was almost white in colour, and his skin was pale. Amelia had tanned skin, which came as a shock to Maddy because neither Simon nor Darienne were particularly tan, and had dirty blonde hair, only a shade or two lighter than Maddy's, and hazel eyes.

"That trip was interesting because we stayed with my grandparents, and neither Dari nor myself knew a word of Porteguese."

Maddy put the picture down. You know any now?

He shook his head, "Mum never really spoke it to us. I heard her use it on the telephone, and I heard her use it in public, but never to me. I might recognise a few phrases, but beyond that? No. I want to learn it, though."

Maddy stood up, and walked to a small cupboard that was filled with cookbooks in both English, and a second language she assumed was Porteguese. We'll learn it.

Maddy pulled the book off the shelf and passed it to Simon, who cracked it open. "I'm not sure how we'll do that, Maddy, especially since what we should be worrying about is you not getting killed by our teacher."

Do not be so pessimistic. Maddy signed. We never do anything for you, it's always: How not to get Maddy killed. All you do is volunteer in the Hospital Wing and Potions, but we can not do that together, I'm horrid at Potions. Besides, we never spend time together.

"We're literally always together. I reckon half the school still thinks we're dating, which is dumb."

Well, now we can have something fun to do. And if you're down, I can teach you to read Welsh, I can not speak it, obviously, but spells can pronounce it outloud. I'm really good at my speech spells now.

"Welsh seems really complicated."

It's not hard.

"That's because you grew up with it.

Actually, I was six when I learned it. My dad was not originally going to teach me.

"I'm not six, though, Maddy," Simon replied, "Also, I have detention now."

No you have murtlap essence and whatever Potions you made for my detention and didn't use.

"In my room," Simon stood up and put the picture back where he had originally taken it from, and left for his detention, leaving Maddy in the false version of his old kitchen.

■□~□■

Simon returned to the Common Room, his hand bleeding profusely, Lee Jordan, who had gotten a similar detention, right behind him.

Maddy cleaned the wound, as Simon told her what to do, and Allie and Polly, who were with Maddy, handed her the salves and potions.

"Professor Umbridge is terrible," Polly mumbled, "I don't know how the next few months are going to be. I hope she's gone like the other Defence teachers."

"Maybe Maddy's dad can come back." Allie suggested.

Simon looked up from his hand, where his eyes had been fixated on, "I think that whatever happens, we need to stop Umbridge."

Maddy couldn't respond, but deep down she knew that Simon's warning from earlier wasn't one she needed to take lightly.

{Important A/N: I will be gone most of the summer (I'm working at a sleepaway camp). I might be able to update on weekends, but I won't be updating much during July. Which is sad because I like updating for special dates, like Maddy Lupin's birthday (July 28th), but I'll be gone then. I also realised I never gave Darienne a birthday, besides the fact that she had just turned 10 by July. So, guess what? I'm giving her my birthday (which is this Saturday the 26th of June).

So happy early birthday to her and to myself, since this'll be the closest update to then. 

I hope you enjoyed, and see you soon!

-Maddy 🖤}