D.A lessons continued and our challenges increased. This time around Harry wants us to try Patronous, something the whole class has been looking forward too.

"Oh, don't be such a killjoy. They're so pretty!" Cho marvels.

"They're not supposed to be pretty, they're supposed to protect you. What we really need is a boggart or something; that's how I learned, I had to conjure a Patronus while the boggart was pretending to be a dementor-"

"But that would be really scary! And I still, can't, do it!" Lavender exclaims in exasperation. Neville was having a hard time as well, Harry offering him some words to help.

"You've got to think of something happy." He offers, I focus on this, using it to go off of. I feel the twins watching me, only making me more anxious as I try again. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

   I inhaled deeply as I failed again. Trying not to let my demeaned falter to much as I couldn't understand why it wasn't working.

"Hey, don't give up. Just, try thinking of your mom.. The time you spent with her, the time you had with her.."

"Right, yeah.." I say dubiously as I focus myself again with Fred's words, steadying myself. I try to focus on the memories, focusing on the spent spent with her. Like.. like when we studied.. And.. read books, to help me study.. Or trips.. Why can't I remember..?

"Ah!" My wand was forced from my hand as I tried to force the spell, causing it to clatter on the ground. Some were surprised I was failing so miserably with this. The only other one who really couldn't was Neville..

"I'm, I'm sorry, Viper. Maybe your mother was a bad choice. I just though-" I shook my head faintly as I stared at my wand.

"No, it's fine, Fred. It's just hard to focus is all.. You and George did great though!" I force a smile, going for my wand as he gives a faint one back.

    I was saved further embarrassment as the door opens, only to slam shut again. I watch curiously as a little House-elf totters his way over to Harry.

"Hi, Dobby! What are you- What's wrong?" Harry greets before turning worried at the sight of the dubious looking creature.

"Harry Potter, sir.. Harry Potter, sir. Dobby has come to warn you.. but the house-elves have been warned not to tell.." The creature named Dobby trembled as he was reluctant with his words.

"What's happened, Dobby?"

"Harry Potter.. she.. she.." The little House-elf then punched himself after pulling an arm free from Harry. He really does self punish. How odd.

"Who's 'she,' Dobby..? Umbridge?" Harry tries to question the reluction House-elf, the little creature fighting hard with himself.

"What about her? Dobby- She hasn't found out about this, about us, about the D.A.?" Harry begins to fear, our anxiety growing with impending doom. The little elf nods.

"Is she coming?"

"Yes, Harry Potter, yes!" The House-elf howled in fright. Harry turning to us all hastily.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? RUN!"

"Harry, Viper, come on!" I snapped too as we began to rush for the exit.

"Dobby, this is an order, get back down to the kitchen with the other elves, and if she asks you whether you warned me, lie and say no! And I forbid you to hurt yourself!" I watch as Harry scoops up the little elf, giving him orders.

"Thank you, Harry Potter!" I pull Harry along as he lets the elf go, hoping we would be able to get far enough ahead. Probably would have if it wasn't for Malfoy.

   I fell as Harry was brought down.

"Trip Jinx, Potter! And really Viper.. to disgrace the house this much.. Hey, Professor, PROFESSOR! I've got two!" Harry and I share a dreadful look as we hear her heels clicking, almost grimacing as she rounds the corner as her eyes fall down onto us.

"You! I should have known you were a part of this..! Excellent, Draco, excellent, oh, very good. Fifty points to Slytherin! I'll take him from here.. Stand up, Potter! Ripley!" We stumble to our feet, the two of them looking smug as ever even if her eyes held some deep rooted resentment and fear. She reaches out, grabbing onto us with a sharp hold.

"You hop along and see if you can round up anymore of them, Draco. Tell the others to look in the library, anybody out of breath- Check the bathrooms, Miss Parkinson can do the girls' ones. Off you go- and you two- You can come with me to the headmaster's office."

"Fizzing Whizbee." We were tense as we were dragged by Umbridge herself, fearing the worse. Soon we made it to the office, people there ready to great us. Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, Dumbledore and McGonagall. As well as two others, a Weasley no doubt in the corner of the room. I eyed Harry silently in question, him getting the gesture and nodding in confirmation. Yep, Weasley.

"The Malfoy boy cornered them."

"Did he, did he? I must remember to tell Lucius. Well, Potter and.. Ripley..? I expect you know why you are here?" He eyes me, his eyes turning and focusing on Harry.

"Yea-No." I almost smile at his determination.

"I beg your pardon?" Fudge questions.

"No." Harry replies firmly.

"You don't know why you are here?" He clarifies.

"No, I don't." He stands by.

"So you have no idea, why Professor Umbridge has brought you and your little friend to this office? You are not aware that you have broken any school rules?"

"Or Ministry decrees?" He pushes irksomely.

"Not that I'm aware of." Harry confirms blandly.

"And you? You're not aware? Even in the slightest bit?" I look at him with obliviousness.

"Notta clue, Sir." I chirp unwavering.

"So it's news to you, is it? That an illegal student organization has been discovered within this school?" I feel Harry's concern, nodding to answer the interrogation and assure him.

"Yes, it is." He answers.

"I think, Minister, we might make better progress if I fetch our informant." Umbridge steps forward this time, seeing we weren't budging.

"Yes, yes, do. There's nothing like a good witness, is there, Dumbledore?"

"Nothing at all, Cornelius."

   We waited several long moments, Harry sneaking a small glance as I did to him. After a few minutes she returns, grinning the shoulder of a student who I bore my eyes into as she entered. Marietta, the girl who was oh so worried, I was going to say something. Yet here she was, the rat.

"Don't be scared, dear, don't be frightened, it's quite all right, now. You have done the right thing. The Minister is very pleased with you. He'll be telling your mother what a good girl you've been. Marietta's mother, Minister, is Madam Edgecombe from the Department of Magical Transportation. Floo Network office- She's been helping us police the Hogwarts fires, you know."

"Jolly good, jolly good!" Fudge cheers heartily.

"Like mother, like daughter, eh? Well, come on, now, dear, look up, don't be shy, let's hear what you've got to- Galloping gargoyles!" My brows raise at the girl's face. Purple pustules on her disfigured face, sneak written as well to show her bad deeds.

"Never mind the spots now, dear, just take your robes away from your mouth and tell the Minister-" Umbridge grows impatient with the girl's freak out to the Minitrys outburst reaction to her sight.

"Oh, very well, you silly girl, I'll tell him.. Well, Minister, Miss Edgecombe here came to my office shortly after dinner this evening and told me she had something she wanted to tell me. She said that if I proceeded to a secret room on the seventh floor, sometimes known as the Room of Requirement, I would find out something to my advantage. I questioned her a little further and she admitted that there was to be some kind of meeting there. Unfortunately at that point this hex, came into operation and upon catching sight of her face in my mirror the girl became too distressed to tell me any more." She sighs in her explanation, more annoyed at the girl and her impudent behavior of some mere blemishes. Honestly.

"Well, now. It is very brave of you, my dear, coming to tell Professor Umbridge, you did exactly the right thing. Now, will you tell me what happened at this meeting? What was its purpose? Who was there?" He pushes for further questions, something Marietta wasn't going to be giving just yet. Shaking her head instead.

"Haven't we got a counterjinx for this? So she can speak freely?" He too grows annoyed with her behavior. Insensitive towards the young girl.

"I have not yet managed to find one. But it doesn't matter if she won't speak, I can take up the story from here. You will remember, Minister, that I sent you a report back in October that Potter had met a number of fellow students in the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade-" She begins to further report.

"And what is your evidence for that?" Professor McGonagall interjects.

"I have testimony from Willy Widdershins, Minerva, who happened to be in the bar at the time. He was heavily bandaged, it is true, but his hearing was quite unimpaired. He heard every word Potter said and hastened straight to the school to report to me-"

"Oh, so that's why he wasn't prosecuted for setting up all those regurgitating toilets! What an interesting insight into our justice system!"

"Blatant corruption! The Ministry did not cut deals with petty criminals in my day, no sir, they did not!" Roared a portrait of a wizard on the wall behind Dumbledore's desk.

"Thank you, Fortescue, that will do." Dumbledore assures softly.

"The purpose of Potter's meeting with these students, was to persuade them to join an illegal society, whose aim was to learn spells and curses the Ministry has decided are inappropriate. Viper here was helping them, aiding in this illegal activity to hopes to spread discordance and dark influence." I looked at her incredulously, not being able to help holding back my reaction as Fudge nods in understanding.

"I think you'll find you're wrong there, Dolores." Dumbledore prepares.

"Yes, do let's hear the latest cock-and-bull story designed to pull Potter out of trouble! Go on, then, Dumbledore, go on- Willy Widdershins was lying, was he? Or was it Potter's identical twin in the Hog's Head that day? Or is there the usual simple explanation involving a reversal of time, a dead man coming back to life, and a couple of invisible dementors? And her? You're to tell me she's not a threat to us all?!" I feel Harry's gaze turn to me, unsure why there was fear.

"Cornelius, I do not deny, and nor, I am sure, does Harry- that he was in the Hogsmeade that day, nor that he was trying to recruit students to a Defense Against the Dark Arts group, including young Ripley too. I am merely pointing out that Dolores is quite wrong to suggest that such a group was, at that time, illegal. If you remember, the Ministry decree banning all student societies was not put into effect until two days after Harry's Hogsmeade meeting, so he was not breaking any rules in the Hogsmeade at all. As for Viper, we've discussed this. She's a promising student, who's done well in her studies since arriving."

"That's all very fine, Headmaster. But we are now nearly six months on from the introduction of Educational Decree Number Twenty-four, and Viper wasn't at the first meeting, was she? If the first meeting was not illegal, all those that have happened since most certainly are, which Viper were present for."

"Well, they certainly would be, if they had continued after the decree came into effect. Do you have any evidence that these meetings continued?" Dumbledore dodges for us.

"Evidence? Have you not been listening, Dumbledore? Why do you think Miss Edgecombe is here?" Umbridge wonders incredulously, wondering when we'd just give up already. Not anytime soon, that was for sure.

"Oh, can she tell us about six months' worth of meetings? I was under the impression that she was merely reporting a meeting tonight." Dumbledore adds.

"Miss Edgecombe, tell us how long these meetings have been going on, dear. And if Viper really was present there. You can simply nod or shake your head, I'm sure that won't make the spots worse. Have they been happening regularly over the last six months..? Was she there?" I stare at the girl hard as everyone turns to her, her eyes flickering about nervously before her hidden face.

"Just nod or shake your head, dear. Come on, now, that won't activate the jinx further.." Umbridge pushes nastily, my eyes unmoving as the girl gaze meets mine. She shooks her head soon after. No to both.

"I don't think you understood the question, did you, dear? I'm asking whether you've been going to these meetings for the past six months? You have, haven't you? You seen her there? She was there, wasn't she?" She now guilds in her questioning, practically forcing her to say yes. But she doesn't. Again she shook her head, doing her best to avoid my eye as we stare at her with mixed reactions.

"What do you mean by shaking your head, dear?" Umbridge begins to grow irate.

"I would have thought her meaning was quite clear." Professor McGonagall retorts harshly.

"There have been no secret meetings for the past six months. Is that correct, Miss Edgecombe? And Viper has been focusing on her studies, hasn't she?" She nods this time.

"But there was a meeting tonight! There was a meeting, Miss Edgecombe, you told me about it, in the Room of Requirement! And Potter was the leader, was he not, Potter organized it, Potter- Why are you shaking your head, girl?" Umbridge begins to look unsteady.

"Well, usually when a person shakes their head, they mean 'no.' So unless Miss Edgecombe is using a form of sign language as yet unknown to humans-" Umbridge really does loose it, grabbing the girl by her shoulders, roughly shaking her.

"I cannot allow you to manhandle my students, Dolores!" The Gryffindor Professor exclaims at the harassment of her stupid, Dumbledore to his feet in an instant. Wand drawn as the teacher suddenly pulls herself back from the girl.

"You want to calm yourself, Madam Umbridge. You don't want to get yourself into trouble now."

"I mean, yes, you're right, Shacklebolt, I, I forgot myself." She certainty didn't like losing, that much was clear. And she was not one for patience. It was quiet for a long pause.

"Dolores, the meeting tonight, the one we know definitely happened-" Fudge starts.

"Yes, yes . . . well, Miss Edgecombe tipped me off and I proceeded at once to the seventh floor, accompanied by certain trustworthy students, so as to catch those in the meeting red-handed. It appears that they were forewarned of my arrival, however, because when we reached the seventh floor they were running in every direction. It does not matter, however. I have all their names here, Miss Parkinson ran into the Room of Requirement for me to see if they had left anything behind.. We needed evidence and the room provided.." She smirks at her upper hand, her pulling out a parchment with all our names.

"The moment I saw their names on the list, I knew what we were dealing with." She nods as if she knew.

"Excellent, Dolores. And.. by thunder.." Fudge looks down at the parchment, appalled to say the least.

"See what they've named themselves? Dumbledore's Army." He gaps aghast. Harry and I share another look, this one more serious then the previous ones.

"Well, the game is up. Would you like a written confession from me, Cornelius, or will a statement before these witnesses suffice?" The adults faces grow serious at this.

"Statement? What- I don't-?"

"Dumbledore's Army, Cornelius. Not their Army. Dumbledore's Army."

"But, but-.."

"You..?"

"That's right."

"You recruited these students for — for your army?"

"Tonight was supposed to be the first meeting. Merely to see whether they would be interested in joining me. I see now that it was a mistake to invite Miss Edgecombe, of course."

"Then you have been plotting against me! Then what about the girl?!" He roars in anger, Dumbledore simply smiling.

"She hasn't a clue.. but.. The rest is true."

"No! No, Professor Dumbledore!" Harry exclaims with worry for the headmaster.

"Be quiet, Harry, or I am afraid you will have to leave my office." Fudge parroted Dumbledore after, much more aggressively then he had been.

"Yes, shut up, Potter! Well, well, well- I came here tonight expecting to expel Potter and the girl and instead—"

"Instead you get to arrest me. It's like losing a Knut and finding a Galleon, isn't it?" My hand twitches for my wand, wanting so badly to help the growing situation.

"Weasley! Weasley, have you written it all down, everything he's said, his confession, have you got it?" Fudge inquires, accusingly pointing a finger at Dumbledore.

"Yes, sir, I think so, sir!" Percy Weasley replies orderly back.

"Very well, then, duplicate your notes, Weasley, and send a copy to the Daily Prophet at once. If we send a fast owl we should make the morning edition!" Percy rushes from the room quickly to do as told. The Minister more than glad at how this was turning out. But still I was left confused, wondering why they were so desperate to find me at fault.

"You will now be escorted back to the Ministry, where you will be formally charged and then sent to Azkaban to await trial!" Fudge nods with satisfactory.

"Ah, yes. Yes, I thought we might hit that little snag." Dumbledore nods knowingly.

"Snag? I see no snag, Dumbledore!"

"Well.. I'm afraid I do."

"Oh really?"

"Well.. it's just that you seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to- what is the phrase? 'Come quietly.' I am afraid I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course, but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing."

"Don't be silly, Dawlish. I'm sure you are an excellent Auror, I seem to remember that you achieved 'Outstanding' in all your N.E.W.T.s, but if you attempt to, er, 'bring me in' by force, I will have to hurt you." I stood on my toes at the situation, eyes flickering to all the adults for any sign of movement or sign. The man looked to Fudge for his next move, everyone in the room on edge.

"So, you intend to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores, and myself single-handed, do you, Dumbledore?" I go to step forward, minding myself of my actions and keep in place.

"Merlin's beard, no! Not unless you are foolish enough to force me to." Dumbledore goads innocently.

"He will not be single-handed!" Professor McGonagall declares loudly.

"Oh yes he will, Minerva!" Dumbledore shuts her down stoutly.

"Hogwarts needs you!" He reminds.

"Enough of this rubbish! Dawlish! Shacklebolt! Take him!" Fudge orders. Time resumed to speed up rapidly, my hand snatching my wand to shield Harry and I as a loud flash of silver shot out around the room. Professor McGonagall stopped me, dragging the three of us kids down to the ground as another flash went off. The room began to settle, dust still floating about.

   I looked up to the Professor McGonagall, who's eyes gesture to my wand. I nod wobbly, standing whilst putting it away as she helps Harry and Marietta to their feet. My eyes land on the stiff bodies of those standing just moments away as the debris settles.

"Are you all right?" Dumbledore steps closer.

"Yes!" McGonagall answers.

"Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too, or it would have looked very suspicious. He was remarkably quick on the uptake, modifying Miss Edgecombe's memory like that while everyone