The following evening Harry found himself back in Room of Requirement alone. This new study group that Hermione was forming was already making him nervous forcing him to find some sort of outlet to clear his head. Not really wanting to think about anything, Harry covered his eyes with a blindfold and was attacking filled sandbags that fell from the ceiling with sais. This forced Harry to keep his head clear of everything except for the swinging sound the bags made when they came down.

“Harry James Potter! What if one of those bags falls on your head?” Lily scolded worried.

“The point is to avoid that Lily,” Sirius explained. “That’s the exercise.”

Lily glared at him and crossed her arms, “And if he gets knocked off by one of those bags who will know he is there unconscious?”

Sirius opened his mouth then shut it. He frowned and then scolded, “Harry James Potter, you should not be there alone!”

The room seemed to understand what he wanted; throwing sandbags at him when he would least expect it. Harry moved instinctively, using the sais to attack the sandbags as if they were an enemy. Soon the floor around him was covered with sand, making it more difficult to move quickly without losing his footing. Falling to one knee, Harry ducked to avoid being hit by another sandbag that came down. He repositioned the sai in his right hand as he rolled onto his back and flipped to his feet, slashing the sandbag open as he did so. Hearing another sandbag coming to his left, Harry jumped, twisting in the air as his foot came in contact with the sandbag, sending it flying backwards. This gave Harry enough time to land firmly on his feet before quickly turning his body so he could slash the bag open the moment it was back into range.

The sound of sand falling to the ground filled his ears along with the creaks of the swinging sandbags that were nearly empty now. All of a sudden he heard a swoosh and knew another bag was coming right at him. Repositioning the sai in his left hand, Harry threw it at the sandbag, sending it in the opposite direction. He muttered a ‘Finite’ then reached up to remove his blindfold only to stop in mid action when he suddenly had the feeling that he was being watched.

His body instantly tensed as he gripped his remaining sai tightly. No one but Ron and Hermione knew of this place except for maybe the teaching staff. But that doesn’t mean no one other than them can find it. Instinct taking over, Harry quickly turned and threw his remaining sai at the threat as he pulled off his blindfold while turning to where he left his wand. A loud clang could be heard, alerting Harry that the sai had hit something hard. Extending his hand, Harry silently called for the piece of wood with a phoenix feather core and completed the turn facing the threat…

…and immediately let out a groan when he saw a large group of blurry students by the door, the sai he threw was embedded in the wall just over Ron’s head (Ron’s hair was unmistakable). I really should have locked the door. It’ll be around the entire school by morning. Without saying a word, Harry walked over to the small table, picked up his glasses and put them on. He then grabbed his wand holster and put it on as he turned to face the crowd and looked directly at Hermione, who was looking nervous once again. “If you wanted to use the room, Hermione, you should have told me,” he said evenly.

“Oh, I think Hermione got exactly what she wanted,” Sirius snorted.

Hermione pulled out her wand and nervously cast a ‘Finite Incantatem’. “Well—um—you remember the group I told you about, right Harry?” she asked uncertainly. “Well, I thought that since you would be already here we could just sort out a few things…if that’s okay with you.”

“I don’t like it. She just put Harry in a position where he can’t deny teaching them because all those kids will be in awe and if he does he’ll come out as the villain. It’s not nice of her at all!” Remus shook his head.

Harry looked at Hermione skeptically. The fact that she needed to cancel out a spell was all the proof he needed to know Hermione had something else up her sleeve. “Really?” he asked as he holstered his wand. “That was the reason why you cast a silencing charm so I wouldn’t hear you? I don’t think so. How about the truth this time?”

“At least Harry isn’t fooled easily,” James nodded approvingly. “I think Hermione just scored some very negative points with him and it will take some major work to get back on his good side.”

“It is the truth, Harry,” Ron insisted. “We didn’t want to distract you. You told us you were coming here to clear your head. We never thought you would be doing—er—well—what you were. What were you doing? Do you know that you nearly hit me with that—that thing?”

“Serves you right for sneaking in on him like that!” Sirius growled.

“Yes, and like Hermione had no clue he would be training? Puhlease!” Lily snorted.

“Too bad he missed,” Fred muttered to George, causing several people to snicker.

Harry just shook his head and closed his eyes, concentrating on a place with enough room for everyone to sit. The sound of several gasps caused Harry to open his eyes and see that he was now in the middle of a cozy common room that strongly resembled the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry was saved from saying anything when Hermione cleared her throat.

“If everyone could take a seat we can get started,” Hermione said sounding slightly nervous. Everyone moved to the armchairs and sofas, murmuring quietly to each other. Hermione moved to the center of the room while Harry moved to the back, away from everyone’s gazes.

Looking around the room, Harry noticed Neville, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Ginny, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Lee Jordan, in addition to the Quidditch team from Gryffindor, Padma Patil (Parvati’s twin sister), Cho with a few of her usual friends, a girl with dirty blonde, nearly waist length hair that he had seen with Ginny a few times, Terry Boot, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner were present from Ravenclaw, and Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott and a few others Harry didn’t recognize from Hufflepuff. It seemed that Hermione had been quite busy.

Hermione stole a glance at Harry before clearing her throat. “Well, all of us are here because we want to learn how to defend ourselves properly,” she began. “Regardless of whom we may believe, what happened on the train ride is proof that there is more than just one threat out there. The rubbish that Professor Umbridge is teaching us isn’t what we need. We need to take matters into our own hands.”

Several people nodded in agreement. “So Harry’s going to teach us how to fight, right?” asked Michael Corner.

“See? What did I tell you? Pressure!” Remus cried scowling.

Harry instantly looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow as he enfolded his arms across his chest. What in the world had she been telling everyone? He had made himself clear that he would help out if he was needed but he couldn’t be the leader of this group Hermione was creating. He couldn’t afford to be anything more right now.

“The problem is that those students wouldn’t be there if Hermione had said she was the leader. They went because of Harry and Hermione knows it,” Lily sighed shaking her head.

“Hermione is a good girl but sometimes she fails to see what’s right in front of her. She is so focused on what she believes is right that she doesn’t stop to think of the nuances of things,” James shook his head. “I know she isn’t doing this to hurt Harry but she is and she won’t like his reaction but he’ll be right.”

“Harry is going to help us in learning spells to defend ourselves,” Hermione corrected. “I wouldn’t call that ‘fighting’—”

“So we’re not going anything like he was just doing?” asked a blond Hufflepuff boy in an annoyed voice. “What’s the point of him teaching us then if we can’t learn the fun stuff?”

“And you are?” Ron asked bluntly.

“Zacharias Smith,” said the Hufflepuff student as he sat up straighter, “and I think we have a right to know what really happened—”

Harry inhaled sharply as several students jumped to their feet, Ron, the Gryffindor Quidditch team and Cho being among them. “No, you don’t have any right,” Ron said defensively. “Harry’s not here to settle your curiosity, Smith. If you have a problem with that then you can leave.”

“I agree that Harry is not there to settle their curiosity,” Remus said calmly. “But I do think that Cedric’s friends have the right to know what happened to him. But it should be Dumbledore who explained. I mean, Harry already did his duty telling Dumbledore. Now he should explain to the others what happened. And until he does it’s normal that they will try to find out any way they can, even if they have to badger Harry to do so.”

“So you’re defending this Smith bloke?” James asked annoyed.

“Yes and no. I am defending his right to know what happened to his friend but I am not defending him badgering Harry,” Remus tried to explain himself.

“I don’t think he has to know at all!” Sirius cried.

“If it was James, wouldn’t you think you have the right to know what happened to him?” Lily asked.

“It’s different,” Sirius said firmly.

“No, it’s not. We didn’t know Cedric. Maybe this Smith bloke was his best friend just like you are James’. You are looking at it from Harry’s point of view. You don’t want them to make Harry relive it so you are saying he doesn’t have any right,” Lily said. “Start looking at it from Cedric’s friends’ point of view. They need some closure.”

Sirius huffed but nodded.

“But Cedric—”

“—was my friend,” Harry interrupted Smith in a soft voice but everyone could hear the emotion he was trying to keep inside. “Those of you who knew Cedric know that he is very protective of those he cares for. Cedric and I looked out for each other during the Tournament. We didn’t care who won just as long as it was someone from Hogwarts. Cedric was like an older brother I never had. Those of you who have siblings think of what it would be like to watch their murder and have no way to stop it.”

Harry inhaled deeply as his eyes narrowed and Zacharias Smith. This was exactly why he didn’t want to do this in the first place. “You have no right to demand anything from me,” he said evenly. “I’m not here to teach you anything. I had been asked to help you since I have had the most training in this area. I can see now that this was a mistake. I’m not here to entertain you with stories of all of the horrors I’ve had to face in my short life. Do you honestly think I don’t know what you all will do the moment you leave this room? You will tell your friends of what you’ve heard. You will tell them that I had to watch as Cedric was forced on his knees in front of me before he was hit with the killing curse. You will tell them that I witnessed Voldemort’s—” several people flinched and gasped in surprise, “—rebirth then had to fight for my life which I nearly lost.”

Both Ron and Hermione had moved to Harry’s side. Ron had a protective hand on Harry’s shoulder while Hermione was resting a hand on Harry’s arm. “The moment Umbridge hears this she will inform the Ministry who will blame Professor Dumbledore or my guardians for spreading rumors to discredit the Ministry and create a panic. I have too much to lose to take that risk.”

“Harry is taking a risk by helping us,” Hermione added. “That is why everything that is said here stays here. Can any of you create a corporeal Patronus because you have read about it? We need to practice; we need to learn before something may happen…or we are tested…in the classroom or out in the real world. How many are you are confident enough in your skills to face a Death Eater?”

“That’s harsh,” Sirius rolled his eyes.

“Realistic though,” James said. “There’s a big chance they will have to face a Death Eater, especially the Muggle-borns, even if they are not an active part of the war. How many times haven’t you heard dad’s lectures: ‘Keep your wand with you at all times,’ ‘don’t go anywhere alone?’ Or the times he’s drilled us in charms and hexes even though we’re not supposed to do them during the summer?”

“I know. But they are school kids, they are not thinking about Death Eaters. She has a better chance getting them by the OWLs and NEWTs angle,” Sirius explained.

No one said a word. Harry could see that everyone was slowly starting to look at him with admiration, something he really didn’t want. “Look, I know those of you from a magical background may think the physical part of my training is appealing but it was really only a last possible option,” he said truthfully. “The only reason I had to rely on Martial Arts was because I had dropped my wand. Hand to hand combat puts you too close to the enemy. There is very little time to react. By keeping the distance that using wands gives you, there is a greater chance of escape.”

Silence filled the room as everyone continued to stare at Harry which was starting to make the fifteen-year-old extremely uncomfortable. “Well,” Fred said breaking the silence. “That answers that question. So, we’re all agreed to let Harry help us with Defense. We need to decide on a meeting time that doesn’t clash with any of our Quidditch practices.”

“Well, for now I think once a week is suitable,” Hermione said. “We’ll let you know on the day and time. This place will be where we’ll meet. I think you all can see that it is more than adequate.” She reached in her bag, pulling out a quill and parchment. “We need everyone to write their name down so we know who to contact. Remember, we don’t want to be spreading this around, especially to Umbridge. She is completely against any sort of practical learning.”

The Gryffindors signed immediately followed by the majority of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. The only ones who were hesitant were Zacharias Smith, Michael Corner and Ernie Macmillian. Ernie signed after glancing at his friend Justin who nodded encouragingly while Smith and Corner signed their names almost reluctantly. Although nothing was said it was obvious that Zacharias Smith still wasn’t happy with Harry’s reluctance to teach everyone how to fight.

With the meeting over, everyone slowly filtered out so not to attract attention. Harry waited patiently until it was just him with Ron and Hermione then instantly turned to her with a narrowed stare. She had known that he didn’t want attention and yet she had gathered a large group of people and arranged a meeting behind his back. It didn’t matter what Hermione thought he would be doing. The fact was she had taken advantage of the situation.

“She should have talked to him first, now she’s in for it,” Sirius bit his lips.

Hermione flinched at Harry’s gaze. “Listen Harry,” she said nervously. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“—yes you did,” Harry interrupted. “I am not a teacher! I told you that! Now everyone wants to learn what has taken me over two years to even grasp! You manipulated everyone in this room because you want to learn what is required to pass your OWLs! Did you really think that people wouldn’t want to know what happened to Cedric if they saw me train?”

“Harry—”

Harry silenced Ron with a glare before returning his attention to Hermione. “May I remind you, Hermione, that you need me to help you?” he asked rhetorically. “I thought you understood my need for privacy. After four years of friendship I thought you understood me but I guess I was wrong. Who cares about what I need when it doesn’t coincide with what Hermione Granger wants?”

“Hate to say it but: I told you so!” James said raising his eyebrows.

Tears were falling down Hermione’s face as she fought to keep a sob from escaping her lips. It was hard to figure out if it was because she was hurt Harry would say such a thing or whether she finally realized what she had been doing. Harry knew he was probably out of line but he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t help feeling like he had been betrayed. His training was supposed to be a secret to avoid confrontation and to avoid Voldemort finding out about it.

“This is one messed up situation,” Remus sighed. “Harry is right on both accounts, this needs to be kept a secret and Hermione should have realized that and not used it to her advantage but at the same time, it’s like Sirius said, Harry can’t expect Hermione and Ron to act like hardened war veterans at fifteen. He’s different because of what he lived and I don’t think he realizes that. He’s expecting too much from them.”

“The problem is, that although he is different in the sense that he knows what’s at stake he also is, as my mother would put it,” Lily said and here she faked a higher voice and shook her finger, “A moody and angsty teenager that thinks the whole world revolves around him and woe betide who does not know everything he’s thinking. She says that to my sister and me a lot.”

“I’m a teenager and I don’t think the world revolves around me,” James pouted.

“Please James, you’re the biggest egocentric prat I know,” Sirius rolled his eyes. “And considering I’m one too that’s saying a lot.”

Ron clearly didn’t know what to think as he rested a nervous hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Listen Harry, I know we messed up,” he said. “We should have come in first and told you so they didn’t see. I know the meeting didn’t go exactly as planned but I don’t think anyone’s going to bring it up again.”

Harry shrugged off Ron’s hand and stepped back so he could look at both of them. “If either of you ever try to do anything like you pulled tonight again I will never forgive you,” he said through his teeth. “You have broken my trust. Good luck trying to repair it.”

The four winced.

“Harsh!” Sirius whispered.

Without another word Harry left the Room of Requirement for the Gryffindor Tower. It had taken every ounce of self restraint for Harry to keep his anger under control but now, walking in the silent hallway, Harry felt like he was going to burst. He had never felt so betrayed before. Hermione had always seemed to be so sympathetic about what he was going through. He understood that she wanted to learn Defense with as much trouble as she had been causing in class. Hermione was trying to help people, that much was clear but the way she was going about it made Harry feel like he was being used.

Harry had nearly reached the Gryffindor Tower when a familiar sweet voice from behind interrupted his thoughts. “Mr. Potter, it’s a little late for wandering the corridors, isn’t it?” asked Professor Umbridge.

Breathing deeply, Harry quickly tried to calm himself and turn around. This was certainly the last thing he needed right now. “I was just returning from the library,” Harry said evenly then glanced at his watch. “I still have a few minutes until curfew—”

“Which means she has no business asking where he was as long as he is under curfew,” Sirius stated.

“And I trust Sirius to know al the rules so he can break them,” Lily nodded raising her eyebrows.

“—if you were in the library then where are you books?” Professor Umbridge asked curiously.

“None of your business,” James said in a singsong voice.

“I didn’t find the book I was looking for,” Harry said innocently, hoping against hope that Umbridge would buy the lie. “Someone else had checked it out. If you’ll excuse me, Professor, I have homework to finish before classes tomorrow.”

Professor Umbridge smiled widely. “Oh, I don’t think so, Mr. Potter,” she said. “You of all people should know that there are penalties for lying. I think a detention tomorrow at five with me is in order. I suggest you arrive on time. Now, on your way.”

“Excuse me, she can’t do that! She has no proof he is lying and even if he was, he is not after curfew. He has the right to be strolling the corridors without a reason if he wants to!” Sirius raged. “She’s going against the rules. Right? Moony she is right?”

Remus had produced two thick tomes from the shelf in James’ room and was consulting them thoroughly. Lily whispered to James, “What’s that?”

“’A complete guide to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s rules,’ and ‘The teacher’s guide for detentions,’” James said. “What? It’s like you said, we have to know all the rules!”

Remus closed the books and nodded, “She has no grounds for this detention. This is against the rules. A teacher cannot hand out a detention without a valid reason and proof,” he said raising ‘The teacher’s guide,’ “and a student may be outside his House before curfew without presenting a reason as long as he isn’t actively breaking any rule,” he pointed at ’A complete guide to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s rules,’  “which Harry wasn’t.”

Biting his tongue, Harry nodded and hurried to the Gryffindor Tower. Just when he thought his day couldn’t get any worse he had to run into Umbridge only to be given a detention which would force him to miss Quidditch practice tomorrow. Angelina wasn’t going to be happy, that was a guarantee. It was clear that Professor Umbridge was simply looking for an excuse to assign a detention, she had been ever since the first class. That was the only reason Harry didn’t protest to the unjust ruling. She would have only given him more.

Entering the Gryffindor Tower, Harry noticed that the Common Room was rather full. He looked around the room and noticed that Angelina was in the far corner of the room, talking with Alicia and Katie. Figuring it was best to get it over with, Harry inhaled deeply and approached his teammates. Katie Bell was the first to notice him and smiled but Harry didn’t return the gesture. He really couldn’t bring himself to.

“Harry, what’s wrong?” Katie asked as Alicia and Angelina turned to face him. “You’re not still upset because we saw you train, are you?”

Harry looked directly at Angelina, ignoring Katie’s questions. “I’m letting you know that I won’t be able to attend practice tomorrow. I have detention with Professor Umbridge at five,” he said automatically.

Angelina glanced at Katie and Alicia before pulling Harry to a nearby chair and encouraging him to sit down. She then knelt down in front of Harry and took hold of his hands. “What happened?” she asked gently. “How in the world did you get detention?”

“I say he should take this to McGonagall,” Sirius scowled. “As his Head of House she has the power to overturn unfair detentions.”

“He should,” Remus said grimly. “But I have a feeling he won’t.”

Harry shrugged, suddenly feeling the weight of the long day catching up to him. “She found me in the halls and asked where I had been,” he said in the same tone. “I lied, saying I was coming back from the library, and she gave me detention for it.”

Angelina pulled Harry into an embrace as she looked up at Katie and Alicia helplessly. “I guess you weren’t kidding when you said Umbridge has it in for you,” she said gently. “Don’t worry, Harry. I know it’s not your fault.” Pulling back, Angelina looked into Harry’s eyes and smiled reassuringly. “You look exhausted. Perhaps you should call it a night.”

Harry nodded and left for his dorm room. His brain felt like it had completely shut down leaving him to operate out of habit. He changed his clothes, cast a few silencing charms around his bed and crawled in. He was so out of it that he didn’t even notice when Ron and Hermione had come up to check on him only ten minutes after he had dozed off, news of Harry’s unfair detention having already spread through the entire Common Room.

---

Classes the following day seemed to drag by. History of Magic was unimaginably boring like always and to make matters worse, Professor Umbridge was observing Potions class, a class that was unbearable in its own right. They were continuing work on their Strengthening Solution, another potion that Harry was determined to brew correctly. He certainly didn’t need to be given detention by Professor Snape in front of Professor Umbridge.

As class began, Harry fell into his routine and ignored Professor Umbridge scribbling on her clipboard as much as he could. He was so busy following the steps he had on the parchment in front of him that he didn’t notice Umbridge start asking questions a half hour later. She started with Professor Snape then moved on to Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode, making a point to avoid all of the Gryffindors.

“Do you think Umbridge will give Snape trouble?” Lily asked.

“The way he is chummy with Malfoy and for his part Malfoy is chummy with Fudge,” Sirius snorted. “Snape may as well be the only teacher there that has his job guaranteed.”

The entire morning Harry had avoided Ron and Hermione like the plague. They had tried to corner him in the Great Hall but Harry left without saying a word. He sat with Neville in History of Magic and in Potions which seemed to bother Hermione more than Ron. She certainly didn’t like it when Harry vanished after Potions in order to finish his Potions homework so he didn’t have to worry about it tonight after detention, something he heard about from Neville before Divination.

It was during Divination that Harry learned of Professor Trelawney’s probation due to Umbridge. Trelawney had been so distraught that she just left the class to interpret their own dreams. Parvati and Lavender were completely outraged that Professor Umbridge would do such a thing to their favorite teacher while everyone else had to silently agree with the Defense teacher but had to feel sympathetic with how hard Professor Trelawney was taking the news.

Defense class was as boring as always, reading out of the book only and no talking. Eager to have the class period pass as quickly as possible, Harry simply did as he was told. The moment class was over Harry grabbed a quick dinner before he had to hurry back to the Defense classroom for detention. He arrived at the door with five minutes to spare and knocked, not wanting Umbridge to give him another detention for being late.

“Come in,” Professor Umbridge’s voice called sweetly forcing Harry to open the door and face his fate.

Entering the office, Harry instantly remembered all of the times he had been in here during his third year when Remus had taught. It had been a sanctuary then but not anymore. The once conservative room and been completely transformed into what could only be described as girly. There were lacy covers and cloths covering everything, vases of flowers and once of the walls had a collection of ornamental plates, each containing a large kitten wearing a bow around its neck. The mere sight of the room made Harry want to gag.

“Okay, there is girly and there is ghastly and that is ghastly!” Lily shuddered.

“Good evening, Mr. Potter,” Professor Umbridge said sweetly.

“Would be if he didn’t have to see your ugly muzzle,” James snorted.

“Evening, Professor Umbridge,” Harry replied politely.

Professor Umbridge smiled widely. “Sit down, Mr. Potter,” she said pointing at the small table beside her where a piece of blank parchment was lying. Harry obliged, sitting down on the chair in front of the table and setting his schoolbag down on the floor. “Now, I think we both know how damaging lying is, Mr. Potter. You are going to be writing some lines for me with a very special quill of mine.” She handed over a long and thin black quill that had an extremely sharp point. “You will write, ‘I must not tell lies’ until it sinks in. I suggest you get started.”

“That’s not too bad,” Lily said relieve.

Sirius on the other hand was looking suspicious, “I don’t like the sound of that ‘very special quill.’”

“What could her quill possibly do?” Lily asked.

“In my mother’s hand,” Sirius stated, “A lot!”

Harry watched as Umbridge sat down behind her desk and started attacking the large stack of parchment before glancing down at the quill. He noticed that there was no ink but figured that it was some sort of self inking quill so he didn’t question it. Letting out a sigh, Harry placed the quill on the parchment and wrote: I must not tell lies.

Suddenly, searing pain erupted from the back of his right hand causing Harry to gasp. The words appeared on the parchment in red ink as the same words appeared on the back of Harry’s right hand, engraved into his skin for a moment before the skin healed. His hand now looked irritated but there was no other sign of what he just saw.

“Told you,” Sirius growled seething, “A blood quill,” he spat.

“She can’t do that!” Lily cried. “She can’t force him to mutilate himself.”

James had abandoned the book and was consulting the rule guides with Remus furiously.

“No, she can’t,” Remus growled pointing at a passage in “The teacher’s guide,” “No teacher may harm a student in any way. Inflicting harm to a student is punishable by suspension or termination of working contract depending on the extension of said harm and will be reported to the appropriate authorities for legal actions,” he quoted. “She can be sacked and arrested for that!”

Closing his eyes for a moment, Harry let out a calming breath before he returned to his task. The sooner he finished this the better.

“NO HARRY!” James cried. “Refuse to do it! Get up and run to McGonagall with that quill before Umbridge can pretend she had nothing to do with it!”

Returning his gaze to the parchment, Harry once again wrote I must not tell lies and once again felt the screaming pain from the back of his hand when the words cut into his skin before the skin healed moments later. The torture continued; Harry watching as his own blood appeared on the parchment as the words kept appearing on the back on his hand. He had slowly learned to shut out the pain. It was constant now, much like it had been that summer before Sirius rescued him from the Dursleys. He had learned long ago to remain silent in order to avoid harsher punishments. That was what he had learned from his years with his relatives.

“I’m going to kill Petunia!” Lily shrieked. “Any other kid would not subject themselves to this!”

Darkness had fallen but Harry continued writing. He didn’t notice that Professor Umbridge had given up grading essays and was watching him closely. Finally, she rose from her seat and approached the fifteen-year-old. He was so focused on his task that he didn’t notice her standing in front of him until she pulled the quill out of his hand then took his right hand and looked at it closely.

“Don’t touch my son!” James roared.

“I don’t think we’ve learned our lesson yet, have we?” Professor Umbridge asked with a smile. “It looks like we will just have to try again tomorrow evening, same time. You may leave, Mr. Potter.”

“WHAT?” were the four incredulous splutters.

Harry grabbed his school bag and left quickly for the Gryffindor Tower. His hand was throbbing in pain and he still had homework to complete. He didn’t know how long he had been writing lines but it was surly after midnight which meant he would probably be up for the rest of the night. Glancing at his inflamed right hand, Harry had to wonder what had he done to deserve this treatment.

“Nothing Harry!” Remus cried. “Go tell McGonagall! Tell us! Tell someone!”

He wanted to tell someone but he knew it would only get someone in trouble. Umbridge wouldn’t do anything without Fudge’s approval. Sirius and Remus would probably attack Umbridge, Fudge and Dumbledore for something like this

“Too right we will!” Sirius growled. “I’ll strangle her myself!”

happening which was the last thing Harry wanted to happen. He had vowed not to cause trouble this year and was going to stick to it. These detentions were nothing when compared to what happened at then end of last term. For now he would stay silent. He had to in order to protect those he loved.

The four teenagers slumped on either the floor, chair or bed defeated.

“Why? Why is he like this?” Sirius moaned.

“That’s not the way to protect them Harry,” James begged.

Remus had dejectedly taken out his list and added something.