Chapter: Seventeen

Umbridge

"I still don't get why we need protection," Harry whispered to Hailey as the twins walked into King's Cross station with Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody in front of them. Remus and Mr Weasley were behind them with Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys.

"We're VIP brother." She said with a laugh flipping her hair. That's when a big black dog walked by them wiggling its tail.

"Sirius?" Both of them said sharing a look. Is he mad? He was still a wanted criminal. He couldn't risk getting caught. the dog entered the waiting room, followed by the Potters.

"What are you doing here?" Harry whispered shouted sitting down beside him on a chair.

"I had to come here to see you off," Sirius said who was now in his human form. He took a deep breath keeping a hand on both of their shoulders before taking out a picture from his pocket. "The original order of the phoenix." He said as he started saying everyone's names on the picture.

Hailey found herself staring at her parents. They looked so happy. Everyone looked so happy.

"It's been fourteen years, but not a single day goes by I don't miss your father." He said as she smiled at him sadly. "And not a single time goes by when I look at you and... Both of you look so much like them."

"Was any of them sarcastic though?" Harry asked as Hailey rolled her eyes. "Then why did this one turn out to be so sarcastic and ugly."

"I'm funny Harry. Besides you're the dumb ugly duckling." She said poking his tongue out at him.

"I mean, your dad was a trouble maker. He had a sense of humour." Sirius said with a laugh.

"I wish she didn't look like mum, or else I could have told her we found her in the dustbin. Mum and dad felt bad for her and took her in" Harry muttered as Hailey gasped before hitting his arm.

"You're so rude."

"Am not."

"You are."

"Am not.

"You are."

"Am not."

"Anyways," Sirius said interrupting their bickering. "I want you to have this. Keep it with you." He handed the picture to her. "Take care. Stay safe. But have fun. And write to me"

The twins said their goodbyes to their godfather before heading out of the waiting room. Hailey got on the train but noticed that Harry wasn't behind her. Rather he was standing on the platform. "Harold?"

"Coming." He replied quickly catching up. Hailey was about to look for Ron and Hermione, but remembered that they were the Prefects and would be in the prefect's compartment. So the twins got in a compartment with Neville, Ginny and one of her Ravenclaw classmates Luna Lovegood.

The ride was filled with them just updating each other on their summer. As they got closer to Hogwarts, Hailey was about to go to the bathroom to change into her robes when she was pulled into an empty compartment.

"Hi."

"For Merlin's sake do you always have to give me a heart attack?!" She explained hitting his arms and making him just laugh in return. "And... How did you find an empty compartment? They are usually packed with students."

"Well... I'm a prefect-"

"Oh my god. You're misusing your power!"

"You sound like Hermione."

"Am I wrong?"

"No?"

"Speaking of Hermione, where is she?" Hailey asked.

"I saw her with the twins." He said with a shrug. Wait- Hermione Granger with The Weasley Twins? Lately, she did see her spending loads of time with them, mainly Fred. There's definitely something going on between them. She made a mental note to ask her about it later.

"How was your ride so far Mr Prefect?" She asked finally sitting down.

"Please don't ask. Hermione told me at least a hundred times that we have O.W.L this year. And that annoying Malfoy too is a prefect." He muttered angrily making her smile at him. 

"I would love to listen to all the stories, but I have to change into my robes first-"

"You're friends with both of the Gryffindor prefects. You basically own this school now."

"Do I now?" She laughed shaking her head. "Anyways how many rounds do you have left?"

"One more round of patrolling and done."

"I'll see you outside then." She smiled getting up. "And Ronald? Don't go around bullying kids."

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"Great! The ministry is now in Hogwarts too! Just great." Hailey said rolling her eyes as they got introduced to their new DADA teacher. The pink-dressed toad face, as the students called her.

"They're trying to keep Harry and Professor Dumbledore quiet. They're still not ready to accept the fact that You-know-who is back." Hermione said as they sat in the common room together.

"Cowards."

"They're not cowards Ron. They're just... Scared. Even our classmates..."

"Isn't that the same thing?" He asked as she sighed.

All along Harry just watched his friends go back and forth about the ministry and their new teacher. He remained quiet. What should he say? He didn't even tell them that she was there during his hearing.

Maybe he should just stay quiet. At least for a while.

The next morning everyone was in the great hall. Ready start off the new semester.

"Morning Neville," Hailey said with a smile as she sat down beside him.

"Morning Hailey. How are you?" The boy asked reciprocating the smile. He was one of the few people who believed Harry. Many of their close friends turned their back on them. Like Seamus did.

"I'm good. How a-" She couldn't finish properly when a new voice joined their conversation.

"Hailey hi," Colin said in a cheerful voice as he sat down beside her. He had a big smile plastered on his face. How could someone be so happy this early in the morning? His looks changed a lot. The first time she saw him, he was a small first year. But he had grown a lot.

"Hello." She said with a smile.

"I must say, you look really pretty today." He said. "I mean, you look pretty every day. But today you're glowing. I mean you glow every day, but-"

"That's enough flirting for one day," Ron said rolling his eyes as he pushed Colin afar to sit between them.

"Hey. Why'd you do that for?"

"Because you're flirting." He replied as he took a toast from Hailey's plate making raised a brow before going back to her eating. Ginny who was in front of them giggled and shared a look with Hermione.

"Where's Harry by the way?" Hailey asked.

"He slept in, said he'll meet us in class," Ron said with a small shrug taking another toast from her plate. That's something Harry does only when he is sad or he isn't feeling well. And whenever that happened, he always told Hailey.

He grew a bit distant since the tri-wizard competition. At times, it was like she was his best friend. They were bickering, pranking others. And other times it was like he didn't even know her. 

"Let's get going. We have a first-class with Professor Umbridge today."

Hailey, Ron and Hermione walked into the class to find Harry sitting alone.

Ron went on and sat down beside him and the girls sat down right beside them. "Why didn't you come for breakfast Harry?"

"Wasn't hungry." He replied plainly.

"Good morning children." An awfully high-pitched voice said. Everyone turned around to see their professor, who was standing there in all her glory. "Ordinary Wizarding Levels, O-W-L-S. commonly known as owls. Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, the consequences may be severe." She said standing in front of the class. She swung her wand towards the pile of the book beside her. One by one they started floating toward the student's desks.

Hailey frowned as she looked at the cover of the books. It said Basic for Beginners. Why basic for beginners when Voldemort was back and they needed to learn to protect themselves?

"Yes?" Umbridge said as she saw Hermione raise her hand.

"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells."

"Using spells?" She said with a high-pitched laugh. "I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."

"We're not gonna use magic?" Ron asked.

"You'll be learning to use defensive spells in a risk-free way."

"What use is that? If we are going to be attacked it won't be risk-free." Harry said as a matter of factly.

"Students will raise their hands while asking questions." She said shortly after walking in front of the class again. And then she went on and on about what the view of ministry was on theory, which no one cared about.

"And how is theory supposed to prepare us for what is out there?" Harry asked raising his voice.

"There's nothing out there. Who do you think wants to attack children like you?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe Lord Voldemort." He said as the class filled with whispers. Hailey looked over at Ron who just had wide eyes at his best friend's boldness. He still wasn't used to it.

"Now let me make this plain," Umbridge said who too was surprised seeing his bluntness. "You've been told that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. That is. A. Lie."

"That's not a lie, I saw him. I fought him-"

"Detention Mr Potter!" She yelled.

"So you're saying Cedric died just like that?" Hailey finally said as all eyes turned towards him.

"Ah Ms Potter." She said with a sigh. "Cedric Diggory's death was tragic."

"Well, that sounds like your birth in my opinion." She said. "Someone died, and you're saying that's tragic when it was a murder. More people will die if you keep denying the truth!"

"Detention Ms Potter."

The rest of the class went by with them taking notes now and then. Hailey was trying her best not to go all Avada kedavra on her. As soon as the class finished Harry stormed out of the class.

"Detention on the first class. You shouldn't have said anything." Hermione said.

"Yeah? And let that toad face talk shit? No thanks."

"It was brilliant," Ron said with a laugh. "It's just one detention. What else will she do? Make you do? Clean her office. Write lines?"

"Exactly."

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