"Did someone break your heart inside?
You're in ruins
One, twenty-one guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight"

---

Songs: 21 Guns, Green Day

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XVI - White Bandages

Early Morning

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"SHE DID WHAT?" Percy roared as Piper told him what Umbridge had done.

Piper held out the hand she'd bandaged last night after the detention to him, and he tenderly took it, turning it slightly to get a better look. "I'll be right back," He muttered.

The two of them were sitting in his room, the rest of their house still asleep. Piper had woken up at five, and unable to fall asleep, tiptoed to her friend's room, knocking lightly. She was just about to turn away when the door opened, showing an obviously just woken up Percy.

"Oh shit sorry-" She said, remembering the time.

"Nah, it's fine," he said as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, "What brings you here?" They had sat on his bed then, and Piper had told him everything.

Now, he was shuffling through one of his trunks, before pulling up a canteen of nectar, a square of Ambrosia, a white cloth, and a roll of fresh bandages. He sat next to her, pressed the ambrosia into her hand as he unwrapped the bandages.

"How many more detentions do you have with her?" He muttered, biting his lip as the bandage fell away. Piper ate the ambrosia.

"Rest of the week," She said weakly, wincing at the sting of the nectar hitting the wound.

"Sorry," he muttered, "This is going to hurt," he told her, grabbing the white cloth.

He poured nectar onto the cloth, and Piper understood what was happening. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip as he rubbed it over the wound, needing to clean it before he bandaged it.

Finally, he set the cloth aside, and Piper breathed a sigh of relief. The bandaging hurt less, but she still winced whenever they hit her raw skin. Finally, once it was over, Piper glanced at Percy, who was staring at the bandages, anger in his eyes.

She leaned on him, and he accepted it, putting an arm around her as she leaned against him, craving the comfort of her friend. "Will's going to want to check it out as well," He told her.

She nodded.

---

XVII - Tears

Later that Week

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Harry had been having an absolutely rotten week.

From his detention with Professor Umbridge to Percy Weasley's letter, and not to mention Hermione's idea, which he still wasn't set on, the week seemed determined to make his life miserable.

It had been nice to talk to Sirius, though, and Harry felt comforted by his godfather's support of the idea. But his recklessness was seriously annoying Harry.

Sighing, Harry walked down to the Great Hall, sitting next to Hermione and Ron. Not far from them was two of the three Gryffindor Transfers, heads together as they poured over something.

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

Jason and Frank glanced up at her, seemingly reminded for the first time where they were. Jason smiled, glancing back at the paper, "Some friends from our old school asked us to do something for them."

Frank turned back to the paper, the harsh whispers continuing. Hermione huffed, just as an owl swooped down, dropping the Daily Prophet.

Hermione gave a sudden gasp as she smoothed out the paper. On the front, there was a picture of a smiling Umbridge, the magic in the photo causing her to blink periodically.

The headline made Harry's blood run cold.

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM

DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR

"What does that mean?" Harry asked, his brow furrowing.

Hermione read aloud, catching the transfer's attention, who listened with wide eyes, "In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"The Minister has been growing uneasy about the goings-on at Hogwarts for some time,' said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. 'He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve.' "This is not the first time in recent weeks Fudge has used new laws to effect improvements at the Wizarding school. As recently as August 30th Educational Decree Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person."

"That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts,' said Weasley last night. 'Dumbledore couldn't find anyone, so the Minister put in Umbridge and of course, she's been an immediate success —' "

"A what?" Frank asked, looking flabbergasted.

"There's more," Hermione muttered, her face darkening.

" '— an immediate success, totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.'"

"It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalized with the passing of Educational Decree Twenty-three, which creates the new position of 'Hogwarts High Inquisitor.'"

"'This is an exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the "falling standards" at Hogwarts,' said Weasley. 'The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post, and we are delighted to say that she has accepted.'

"The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts. " 'I feel much easier in my mind now that I know that Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,' said Mr Lucius Malfoy, 41, speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night. 'Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of..." Hermione continued to read.

A letter landed in front of Frank, carried by a dark owl. Harry watched him break the seal, pull out the letter, and read. Jason scratched the head of the owl, smiling. Frank pulled the letter out, and Harry noticed a peculiar collection of dark red spots in the corner. Frank, didn't.

Frank's face paled, and a hand flew up to his mouth. He looked around looking for someone, but swore, seeming not having found them. "Where's Reyna?" He frantically asked Jason.

"I think she went to find Thalia, why?" Frank just handed Jason the letter. Jason read the letter, eyes slowly becoming wide.

"No, no, no, no, no-" He cried, calling attention to him and Frank.

The other transfers were glancing at them, curious and wary. Jason handed back the letter and spoke quickly in another language. Frank nodded, and ran out of the room, and then-

Jason burst into tears.

Count yourself lucky Wattpad readers. My Ao3 ones had to wait a good few days to learn what happened. 

Note from 06/30/21 - I do not know what the fuck wattpad is doing with my formatting so apologies for any weirdness. No idea what it thinks it's doing.