TW: Blood quill scene

florence pov

A mix of Patronus's glided around the room.

In today's DA lesson, we were practising conjuring our Patronus's as full animals. I got my Runespoor last week, so I get to help others.

"This is really advanced stuff guys. Well done." Harry encouraged us.

I chose to go with Luna. I helped her think of her happiest memory, until a beautiful blue rabbit burst from her wand.

We laughed as it hopped around the room happily. It

danced through a group of students until a sudden boom sounded throughout the room and it faded away.

All the Patronus's disappeared and everyone fell silent. Another boom sounded and the lights began to flicker.

The mirrored wall behind me began to crack as the next boom grew even louder. Then with the next bang after, it shattered.

We all raised our wands.

Colin peaked through a small hole from the wall where the noise was coming from. Once again, another bang echoed. I inched in closer to the hole and peaked through it to see none other than Umbridge.

"I'll make short work of this." She squeaked, before raising her wand to the door. "Bombarda Maxima!"

Harry immediately pulled me to the side and into his chest to shield me from the exploding wall and flying shards of glass.

As the dust settled, I saw Umbridge and her little Slytherin army surrounding her. She called them her Inquisitorial Squad.

Draco had a tight grip of Cho, who was looking down at the ground, shamefully.

"Get them." Umbridge ordered.

The Slytherin's marched into the room, grabbing us and our wands. Goyle ripped me from Harry's arms and we were all dragged to Dumbledore's office.

I tried to shake him off, but every time I did, he only gripped on harder.

Once Fudge had arrived at Dumbledore's office, Umbridge began to speak.

"I've been watching them for weeks. And you see Dumbledore's Army." She said, pointing to the title of the parchment we had previously written our names on. "Proof of what I've been telling you right from the beginning, Cornelius. All your fear- mongering about you-know-who never fooled us for a minute. We saw your lies for what they were! A smoke screen for your bid and seize control of the Ministry!"

Dumbledore simply looked bored at all of her pointless rambling. "Naturally." He responded.

"No, professor. He had nothing to do with it. It was me." Harry spoke up.

"Most noble of you, Harry, to shield me, but as has been pointed out, the parchment clearly says Dumbledore's Army, not Potter's Army." Dumbledore said calmly. "I instructed Harry to form this organisation. I and I alone, am responsible for it's activities."

A satisfied smile was brought upon Fudge's face.

"Dispatch an owl to the Daily Prophet. If we hurry, we should still make the morning edition." Fudge instructed. "We will escort Dumbledore to Azkaban to await trial for conspiracy and sedition." He finished, as him and Umbridge raised their wands.

Azkaban?! A trial? They're insane.

"Ah, I thought we might hit this little snag. You seem to be labouring under the delusion that I'm going to come quietly." Dumbledore smiled. "Well, I can tell you this, I have no intention of going to Azkaban."

"Enough of this!" Umbridge yelled, with a hint of worry across her face. "Take him!"

Her and Fudge began slowly inching their way towards Dumbledore.

Fawkes came soaring through the office towards Dumbledore. He stopped above him and a massive puff of smoke exploded, filling the room and blinding us all.

Fudge and Umbridge were knocked back and landed on the floor.

I slowly opened my eyes to see that Fawkes and Dumbledore has completely vanished. Umbridge let out a frustrated screech and she marched out the room.

A smile formed on my face and I noticed Harry's doing the same.

Kingsley turned to Fudge. "Woah. Well, you may not like him, minister, but you can't deny, Dumbledore has got style."

----

Hermione, Harry, Ron and I all watched as Filch hung Umbridge's new plaque.

Dolores Jane Umbridge has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Our worst fear has become a reality, in the form of an evil, pink, toad faced little woman.

The loudspeaker squeaked. "Now that the change in staffing is official, we have put in place some new rules."

Harry and I shared worried glances. How many more rules could there possibly be?

"Boys and girls are not permitted to be within eight inches of each other-"

I stepped away from Harry. I've already had hundreds of detentions, I'm tired of it. I don't fancy any more.

"Oh come on." He whined as he reached for me.

I pushed his hand away. "We can't."

He sighed.

Speaking of detentions, I still haven't told anyone about them. Usually I tell Harry everything, but he'd freak out if he knew how many I've been to. Besides, I'm fine. I may have to hide the hundreds scars on my arms every single day, but I'm fine.

Umbridge carried on announcing a rather large list of rules. I tuned them out and continued the walk to our dumbledore's army detention class.

As I walked through the halls, I noticed that all the paintings had been taken down, and everyone around us was walking silently, with their heads down.

Any happiness that remained in Hogwarts had now been erased.

I entered the large classroom where we were all having detention. A blood quill was set at each desk, waiting to carve through someone's skin. I slumped down in my chair and began to write the words that she had previously written on the board.

I will not continue to serve Albus Dumbledore or play a part in his army.

I will respect and obey Professor Umbridge.

I watched as the words found a new place on my arm and began to cut their way through my skin.

Many students in DA hadn't gotten a detention before. The twins and I were nearly the only ones  who weren't shaking with shock or pain.

We've done this before, plenty of times, and it looked like we'd be doing it plenty times more.

----

harry pov

I looked around at my friends and an overwhelming sense of guilt spread through me. I should never have agreed to do this. It's because of me that they're all in pain, carving letters into their skin.

When we finally got dismissed, everyone got out as quickly as their legs could carry them.

"Harry." Cho called after me.

I ignored her.

I know it's not entirely her fault, but every time I look at her, all I can see is the tear streaked faces of the DA members.

"Harry!" A different voice called. I continued walking.

"Oi, Harry!" Ron called again, grabbing my arm.

I sighed. "What?"

"Did you find out?"

"Find out what?"

"If Flo's a.......you know, a deathe-"

"No, Ron. Florence is not a deatheater." I whispered angrily, cutting him off.

He nodded. "I'm sorry, mate. It was stupid of me to ask. I just wanted piece of mind, I guess."

I sighed. I understand partly what he's saying, but this is Florence we're talking about. If he payed attention more he'd realise that she'd rather die than become a deatheater.

----

florence pov

"You did everything you could. No one could win against that old hag." Ron assured Harry.

"Even Dumbledore didn't see this coming." Hermione reasoned.

"Harry, if it's anyone's fault it's ours." I said. "We talked you into it."

"Yeah, but I agreed." He said, while looking out over the bridge. "I tried so hard to help, and all it's done is make things worse."

"Harry, all you've done is help and prepare us for what's out there. The sooner you realise that, the better." I touched his hand.

"Anyway, that doesn't matter anymore. Because I don't want to play anymore. All it does is make you care too much. And the more you care, the more you have to lose. So maybe it's just better to....."

"To what?" I asked.

"To go it alone." He said, with hurt lacing his every word.

What did he mean? Do what alone?

Ever since Dumbledore disappeared and the DA was exposed, Harry's been on edge. He feels guilty for everything that's happened, and it's hard to change his mind once he's made it up.

"Psst!"

We all turned our heads to the end of the bridge. Hagrid was beckoning us over to him.

We exchanged confused glances before walking over to him.

----

He had been silently leading us into the forest for about twenty minutes now. His face was covered in fresh cuts and bruises.

"Any idea where he's taking us?" Ron asked me.

I shrugged. "No idea."

"Hagrid, why can't you just tell us where we're going?" Harry asked.

There was a rumbling in the distance and we all froze. Hagrid beckoned for us to duck behind a branch. The rumbling came closer. We peeked out to see a herd of centaurs stampeding by.

"I've never seen the centaurs so riled. And they're dangerous at the best of time." Hagrid said, sounding scared. "If the Ministry restricts their territory much more, they're gonna have a full uprising on their hands."

"Hagrid, what's going on?" Hermione asked.

"I'm sorry to be so mysterious, you four. I wouldn't be bothering ye at all with it, but with Dumbledore gone.....I'll likely be gettin the sack any day now."
He stuttered. "I-I just couldn't leave without tellin someone about him." Hagrid looked towards a group of trees behind us.

A large crunching noise echoed as a giant stepped out from behind a tree. Harry put a protective arm in front of me and we all backed up.

"Grawpy?" Hagrid cooed. "Down here you great buffoon."

We all stared in awe as the giant began playing with a butterfly.

"Brought ye some company."

The giant finally turned towards us and smiled.

"I couldn't just leave him, bec-because he's my brother." Hagrid said.

"Blimey." Ron muttered.

The giant bent down towards us and we quickly backed away. 

"Well, half brother really. He's completely harmless, just like I said. Little high spirited, is all."

Grawpy reached out his arm and grabbed Hermione. She let out a loud scream as he raised her to his eye level.

"Grawpy that is not polite!" Hagrid called up to him.

"Hagrid do something!" Ron yelled frantically.

"We talked about this. You do not grab, do you?" Hagrid waved his finger. "That's yer new friend, Hermione."

Ron grabbed grabbed a big stick and hit Grawpy in the leg. He looked down at Ron and kicked him back, causing him to fall back onto the floor. Ron slowly got up and walked back beside us looking defeated.

"Grawp. Put me down. Now!" Hermione scolded.

Grawp lowered Hermione to the ground and she slowly backed away towards Ron. The giant examined all of us before turning around and looking through a nearby pile of junk.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked Hermione.

"Fine. Just need as firm hand, is all."

Grawpy picked up a set of bike handles and rang the bell. He lowered it to Hermione and she took it, looking confused. She hesitantly rung the bell and a huge grin formed on Grawpy's face.

"Mione I think you've got an admirer." I joked.

I noticed that Ron still managed to look jealous, even of a giant.

"You just stay away from her, all right?" Ron said to the giant.

Hermione passed the bike handles to me and I rang the bell. Grawpy looked down and smiled at me.

"He gets his own food and all. It's company he'll be needin when I'm gone. You will look after him, won't you? I'm the only family he's got."

"Of course." I answered, and the boys nodded.

"Yes, we will." Hermione answered too.

I liked having Grawpy as our new little friend. Or should I say big friend.

"Now go on, you all best be getting back. Don't want another detention with that Umbridge."

Bit late for that. I already have one when we get back.