(Y/N)'s POV

I had to get up super early thanks to my new morning ritual, I returned to see Seamus dress at top speed and leave the dormitory. I could tell Harry was upset too, he always gets quiet and grumpy when he's upset.

I went down to join him for breakfast, finding Hermione and Ron already up. "G,mornin" I said. They smiled at me, then looked over at a grumpy Harry. "What's up, Harry?" Hermione asked as we walked down a flight of stairs "You look really angry about something."

"Seamus reckons Harry's lying about You-Know-Who," said Ron, she sighed. "Yes, Lavender thinks so too," she said gloomily. "Been having a nice little chat with her about whether or not I'm a lying, attention-seeking prat, have you?" Harry said loudly.

"No," said Hermione calmly, "I told her to keep her big fat mouth shut about you, actually. And it would be quite nice if you stopped jumping down our throats, Harry, because if you haven't noticed, we're on your side."

I nodded, glad she had brought it up, "Yeah, Besides, I'm the only attention seeking prat around here thanks." There was a short pause. "Sorry," said Harry in a low voice. We assured him it was fine.

Hermione shook her head. "Don't you remember what Dumbledore said at the end-of-term feast last year?" "About You-Know-Who." He asked, 'His gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust —' "

"How do you remember stuff like that?" asked Ron. "I listen, Ron," said Hermione with a touch of asperity. "So do I, but I still couldn't tell you exactly what —" "The point," Hermione pressed on loudly, "is that this sort of thing is exactly what Dumbledore was talking about."

"You-Know-Who's only been back two months, and we've started fighting among ourselves. And the Sorting Hat's warning was the same — stand together, be united —" "and sing Kumbaya" I added "if that means we're supposed to get matey with the Slytherins, fat chance." retorted Ron. I nodded in agreement.

As Professor McGonagall was handing out schedules, she paused beside me. "(L/N) a word? In my office before classes please, your teachers have been informed" I was confused by this but assured her I'd be there.

"What did you do?" said Ron, "Nothing...yet" Hermione frowned at me "we are prefects you know, you aren't meant to tell us when you're going to-" I stopped her "You two won't tell me off, you love me too much" I winked, making my way from the hall and to McGonagall's office.

I was in her office for less than ten seconds before she was shouting at me and pacing. "Two! Two detentions before you left the train...You might set the record" she said. "I know, that's what I said!" I smiled; it was the wrong time.

She sternly glared at me "Explain!" I explained to her that Draco Malfoy was simply being a git, not in those words but she got the gist. She sighed and said that she could forget them this once because I wasn't on school grounds. I thanked her, but I had something to ask her.

"Professor, while I have you, I was going to ask a few favours" she raised an eyebrow. "Professor, Hypothetically, if one were to somehow manage to stumble upon some mandrake leaves in a hospital where they sat quietly for a month and-"

She held up a finger, "I'm stopping you there (L/N), because if you are inquiring about what I think you are, let it be known it is not something to be taken lightly" "Of course not professor but-"

"The decision to become an Animagi is not something that should be done on a whim" "It's not a whim, I need to do this, I need to be as ready as I can be" she turned suddenly, "For what?" she said, her eyes staring into my soul. "Anything"

"It would interfere with your studies and the consequences could be disastrous, you would fall behind" she said sternly, wagging a finger, but I stood my ground. "There are wizards in Africa who can do it at fourteen, as far as I'm concerned professor, I'm already behind"

She sighed so I pressed on, "Listen, to be honest professor, I'm going to do this with or without your help, I've already started, I just want to be as safe as possible, so I came to you" Then I tried to sweeten it a bit

"Just think Professor, if it does go wrong, I'd have to try again, and it would shut me up for at least a month" she half smirked, "Somehow, I doubt even that would keep you quiet" "Professor, flattery will get you nowhere"

"How far in the process are you?" she sighed, "I've got all the stuff in a jar, made it soundproof and unbreakable, in a quiet and dark trunk, absolutely untouched" I got that idea from what Hermione did to Skeeter last year, pretty clever, if I do say so myself she nodded and sighed.

"It... will do" "are you sure everything was done correctly" I nodded, explaining the entire process I went through, how I had Mum collect the stuff for me, by pretending it was for homework. She gave the all clear, I had done each step correctly so far.

"I don't imagine you intend to become registered Mr (L/N)?" I shook my head, "at least not yet, not much of a trump card if everyone knows about it" she frowned, mouthing the words 'trump card' with distaste.

"You do know the consequences of this decision is a stretch in Azkaban?" I nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine with that" she nodded. I asked a question that had been pricking at me for a while, "Why does it have to be untouched and unstepped on? And why a silver spoon?" "Oddly specific" she face palmed and shook her head.

"One more thing" I said weakly, she looked at me as if to hurry me "Well, you see, my hand, it's a little...clunky, I was wondering if you could..." I held it up to her. She seemed to understand.

Her eyes seemed a little sympathetic and nodded, she took a moment to examine it, they said some strange words and tapped her wand on my hand. The second she did, my prosthetic started to change, at first it looked like it was starting to melt, a pang of fear hit me, but it began to reform

The metal began to shift, the copper being seemingly absorbed by the steel, which was bubbling to the surface, and I was watching in awe. The copper plates that had lined the knuckles of the hand originally began to fray, like a thread, eventually wrapping into a complex pattern that resembled veins, under the steel which had now bubbled to the surface and overtook the copper, becoming a fake skin.

In the space of ten seconds I had an entirely new hand, it looked identical to the limb it was meant to replace, the only difference being the colour, which was now a pale silver and a darker steel with copper features, "That was just about the most magical thing I have ever seen, I said happily, she smiled widely.

I couldn't contain myself, I pulled her into a firm hug, tears pricking my eyes, weakly saying "Thank you" she patted me on the back and beamed at me, "Transfiguration, while rather difficult, can perform miracles in the right hands" I nodded then paused "Was that a joke?" she seemed to realise her wording and sighed. "To class, I will...consider your offer."

I made my way to History of Magic, Binns didn't even notice I was gone, nothing much happened until we were walking to Potions. We were talking amongst ourselves when, "Hello, Harry!" It was Cho Chang.

"Hi," said Harry, blushing, me and Hermione stepped away a bit. "aww, they grow up so fast" I muttered to Hermione, she laughed, "Do you reckon we should set Ron up with Eloise Midgen next? Who else would be good?"

She smiled and blushed a bit, but something caught my attention before she answered "Maybe they would be good together...speaking of which, do you think we should go on a d-" I shushed her, grabbing her attention and pointing it towards Ron, who was doing something so utterly thick I couldn't believe it.

"Is that a Tornados badge?" Ron demanded suddenly, pointing at the front of Cho's robes, to which a sky-blue badge emblazoned with a double gold T was pinned. "You don't support them, do you?" "Yeah, I do," said Cho.

"Have you always supported them, or just since they started winning the league?" said Ron, in an unnecessarily accusatory tone of voice. "I've supported them since I was six," said Cho coolly. "Anyway . . . see you, Harry."

She walked away. Hermione waited until Cho was halfway across the courtyard before rounding on Ron, as did I. "Prat" I smacked the back of his head, I'd always wanted to do that, it was oddly satisfying, he seemed really confused.

"Some wingman you are!" I scolded, he said "Huh?" "You are so tactless!" said Hermione "What? I only asked her if —" "Couldn't you tell she wanted to talk to Harry on her own?"

I took a deep breath "Ron, if you ever see me talking to someone I like, do me a favour, Leave!" I added, he scoffed "oh yeah, got girls lining up you have" I swore at him and he left to chat with Dean before we went in.

I clapped a sympathetic hand on Harry's back, he must have been so humiliated, he shrugged "That's the bell," he said listlessly and walked ahead of us. Me and Hermione continued walk in silence, I interlocked our fingers and teased.

"Hey Hermione, what were you going to say earlier?" she stuttered a little. "Nothing!" she insisted. But I made a mental note to sort something the next time we go to Hogsmeade.

Snape gave us a warning about exams first "After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me," Snape went on. "I take only the very best into my N.E.W.T. Potions class, which means that some of us will certainly be saying good-bye." He eyed some of us, Ron, Harry of course, Neville, then me.

I winked at him, he scowled. "But we have another year to go before that happy moment of farewell," said Snape softly, "so whether you are intending to attempt N.E.W.T. or not, I advise all of you to concentrate your efforts upon maintaining the high-pass level I have come to expect from my O.W.L. students."

"Today we will be mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: The Draught of Peace, a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be warned: If you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing."

"The ingredients and method" Snape flicked his wand "are on the blackboard" then they appeared there "you will find everything you need" he flicked his wand again — "in the store cupboard you have an hour and a half. . . . Start."

I quickly rushed to collect my ingredients, being tall had its upsides, I could reach high shelves before everyone else. By the end of class Snape was grading our attempts. Harry made a mistake with his, so of course Snape let him have it, but he soon got to mine.

"Adequate" he said, looking over it. "Looks like you're not getting rid of me anytime soon Professor" I smiled, he scowled "One can dream..." he said and continued.

As we were about to enter Defence Against the Dark Arts, McGonagall pulled me aside again, "Just so you are aware, Dumbledore has been informed" I froze "what! Professor I-" "You are not being punished (L/N)."

"He was simply informed of your...ambition" she put up a finger to stop me speaking. "He has allowed this to continue, but only under my strict supervision. See me after classes" I nodded and made my way inside.

The class was quiet as it entered the room; but when I got there, they all shouted, "Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge!" as she asked them to. "Ahh, my ears" I groaned as I took a seat next to Hermione and shuffled my stuff around.

Umbridge didn't like this apparently "And why are you late to my class?" I paused, "Professor McGonagall had to talk to me, she told me she let you know" "What about?" she asked.

"Detentions" I answered quickly, shrugging, she did the noise again "Hem, hem" and moved on. "She sounds like a bird" I whispered in Hermione's ear, she frowned at me, but I could tell she was trying not to smile.

"Wands away and quills out, please." Instructed Umbridge. "Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" stated Professor Umbridge, turning to face the class with her hands clasped neatly in front of her.

"The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year."

"You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory cantered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please."

She rapped the blackboard again; the first message vanished and was replaced by Course aims. I copied it down in silence. It was a bit dull, but its only the first lesson, we're probably easing into it.

When everyone had copied down Professor Umbridge's three course aims she instructed us to read the first chapter of a book, Hermione gave me a glace, I shrugged and got to reading. I was about two sentences in when I realised how boring it was.

Hermione had not even opened her copy. She was staring fixedly at Professor Umbridge with her hand in the air. "What's up?" I whispered; she shook her head. After several more minutes had passed, more than half the class were staring at Hermione rather than at their books.

Professor Umbridge seemed to decide that she could ignore the situation no longer. "Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?" she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her.

"Not about the chapter, no," said Hermione. "Well, we're reading just now," said Professor Umbridge, showing her small, pointed teeth. "If you have other queries we can deal with them at the end of class."

"I've got a query about your course aims," said Hermione. Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows. "And your name is — ?" "Hermione Granger," said Hermione. "Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully," said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness.

"Well, I don't," said Hermione bluntly. "There's nothing written up there about using defensive spells." "Using defensive spells?" Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger."

"You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?" "We're not going to use magic?" Ron ejaculated loudly. "Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class, Mr. — ?" "Weasley," said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air.

"So, no wands then?" Ron asked. "Why would you need them?" she asked. I interrupted "well, it's pretty hard to defend against magic without them" I added, "Don't worry guys, we can fight the dark arts with sunshine and pink cardigans" there were a few laughs.

Umbridge ignored them and asked my name, when I told her she simply nodded. "Of course not, but there is a time and a place Mr. (L/N)" I nodded back "Like a defence against the dark arts classroom?" everyone murmured, she cleared her throat and looked to Hermione.

"Yes, Miss Granger? You wanted to ask something else?" "Yes," said Hermione. "Surely the whole point of Defence Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells?" "Are you a Ministry-trained educational expert, Miss Granger?" asked Professor Umbridge in her falsely sweet voice.

"No, but —" "Well then, I'm afraid you are not qualified to decide what the 'whole point' of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devised our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way-"

"Secure and risk free, because we all know dark arts only tickle anyway, so what's the point of some risk" I chuckled "Hand Mr. (L/N)" Now Harry started to argue. "What use is that?" said Harry loudly.

"If we're going to be attacked it won't be in a —" "Hand, Mr. Potter!" sang Professor Umbridge. Then Dean piped up. "Well, it's like Harry said, isn't it?" said Dean. "If we're going to be attacked, it won't be risk-free —"

"I repeat," said Professor Umbridge, smiling in a very irritating fashion at Dean, "do you expect to be attacked during my classes?" "No, but —" Professor Umbridge talked over him. "I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run in this school,"

"Now, it is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be more than sufficient to get you through your examination, which, after all, is what school is all about. And your name is?" she added, staring at Parvati, whose hand had just shot up

"Parvati Patil, and isn't there a practical bit in our Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.? Aren't we supposed to show that we can actually do the counter curses and things?" "As long as you have studied the theory hard enough."

"There is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells under carefully controlled examination conditions," said Professor Umbridge dismissively. "Theoretically, that will be all you need"

I raised my hand, "Yes" she said sweetly, "Theoretically, what's the point of that, waiting till exam day to try for the first time?" "I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard enough —" Harry joined me.

"And what good's theory going to be in the real world?" Professor Umbridge looked up. "This is school, Mr. Potter, not the real world," she said softly. "So we're not supposed to be prepared for what's waiting out there?"

She paused and smiled "There is nothing waiting out there, Mr. Potter." "Oh yeah?" said Harry. "Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves?" inquired Professor Umbridge in a horribly honeyed voice. "Hmm, let's think . . ." said Harry in a mock thoughtful voice, "maybe Lord Voldemort?"

There were a few gasped from around the room, Umbridge coughed, "Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter." The classroom was silent and still. Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Harry.

"Now, let me make a few things quite plain." Professor Umbridge stood up and leaned toward them, her stubby fingered hands splayed on her desk. "You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead —"

"He wasn't dead," said Harry angrily, "but yeah, he's returned!" "As I was saying, you have been informed that a certain Dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie." "It is NOT a lie!" said Harry. "I saw him, I fought him!" "We" I corrected.

"Detention, Mr. Potter!" said Professor Umbridge triumphantly. "Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard."

"If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, 'Basics for Beginners.' "

"So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord, did he?" Harry asked, his voice shaking. Professor Umbridge raised her eyes and was staring at him without a trace of a fake smile on her face. "Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident," she said coldly. "It was murder," said Harry "Voldemort killed him, and you know it."

Professor Umbridge's face was quite blank. Then she said, in her softest, most sweetly girlish voice, "Come here, Mr. Potter, dear." He kicked his chair out and did so, she wrote him a quick note. "Take this to Professor McGonagall, dear," said Professor Umbridge, holding out the note to him. He stormed out of the room.

I was stewing in my thoughts "How dare she! How dare she rule off Cedric's death as an accident." I was livid. I wasn't having it, detention or not, I spoke to the class in a pretend whisper. "Hey guys, remember that time I cut off my own hand for a laugh? That was fun" I said sarcastically, Umbridge wheeled on me.

"I suppose you think you know more about dark magic then the ministry of magic professionals, do you?" "Yes, A lot more then you apparently" I said plainly, the class gasped, damn, that sort of slipped out. she didn't like that, but I just kept flapping my mouth.

"Seeing as I was raised by one and fought Voldemort...twice" "I have a few ideas, from experience, y'know, you fight one dark lord, you've fought them all" "Nonsense!" "A delusion, a joke!" she spluttered.

"We all know how far I'd go for a joke, apparating to save my life, pretending to nearly die. Good times." She was utterly stunned by this "An underage apparition. an Illegal act!" she said defiantly.

I turned "Yes, but the charges were dismissed because I acted in desperation, it was self-preservation, or as some would say. Self. Defence" "But who would need that? It's not like we've ever been attacked by trolls, or giant snakes, or a few different iterations of dark lords."

I motioned to Harry's seat "Because after all, who would ever dream of attacking a bunch of kids?" she giggled "My dear boy, who has been attacked? Can you name one person?"

"ME!" I shouted, motioning to my arm, "A unfortunate effect of using magic you could not handle" she dismissed, so I continued "Cedric Diggory," she stopped me "Twenty Points from Gryffindor"

"Or maybe you mean on school grounds?" I put my hand to my chin "Myrtle Warren," "Thirty" "Colin Creevey" "Detention" "Penelope Clearwater, Justin Finch-Fletchly" "For a week" "Herm-" I started, Hermione herself stopped me, shaking her head, but I could tell by her eyes, she was as mad as I was. "Sit!" spat Umbridge.

"Fine." I sat down, I had a burning question after a while, I turned to Umbridge "Who appointed you anyway?" "Cornelius Fudge himself has entrusted-" I nodded "That explains it. I don't think Fudge has ever raised his wand in self-defence, so what would he know about it, so he sent you."

Her eye twitched, her mask of calm breaking "Hand please Mr. (L/N)" "Yeah, I seemed to have misplaced it, so if you have any spare..." A minute later I raised my hand "Yes" she said sweetly. "What dark arts have you defended against? Puffskeins? Cornish Pixies maybe?"

She did her little coughing thing, "I have been appointed by the minister of magic himself into this position, I am more than qualified-" "To have us read textbooks? I could do that, someone should tell Fudge, maybe I'll apply for next year" The class devolved into giggles.

"Hand. Mr (L/N)" She said, turning to the blackboard, I raised my hand but kept a few of my fingers up as I did, one to be exact, unfortunately, It was poorly timed, she turned back. "MR. (L/N)! COME HERE!" the class was in absolute fits at this.

"Damn, hoped she would curse me" I muttered to Hermione, who was glaring at Umbridge, I squeezed her hand and winked while I was getting up, trying to tell her not to worry. I smirked as I got to the desk "To Professor McGonagall then? Cool, I was going there anyway"

She giggled "My dear boy no..." I froze a bit, waiting for her to explain "You will take this to the Headmaster" The class gasped, some of them jeered at me. "Bit of a walk but ok." I shrugged; she didn't like that. But handed me the paper anyway, then another piece with the password.