XXVIII. you turned me into an idea of sorts

Devore thought the reign of Umbridge couldn't get any worse, but she was wrong. The read the large sign that had been pinned to the notice board in the Slytherin dungeon.

—————- BY ORDER OF —————
THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS

All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is an accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four.

Signed:

HIGH INQUISITOR

"She knows. She has to." Morgan panicked, her large eyes full of panic as she read the mantle.

Devore wanted to tell her to stop worrying and that it was most likely just a coincidence, but deep down, she knew Morgan was right. There was tons of people in that pup during their meeting, one of them was bound to have snitched. Devore wouldn't put it past Zacharias Smith to be an ass and tell on them.

"Why so on edge, Lin? Scared your secret club will be exposed?" Pansy taunted them, standing behind them with her arms crossed and a smug smirk grin on her pug like face.

Devore turned around and smiled sarcastically. "Yeah, she is, actually. We just formed one together. It's called  the How to Burn Parkinson Alive at the Stake Club. Already got a lot of sign ups."

Pansy gasped and Morgan hid her smile. Devore grabbed her arm and dragged her away. "You know you're a prefect, right? You can give her all the detentions you want?"

"Oh, I'm aware. I'm just waiting for the perfect time."

When the pair arrived at the Great Hall, they immediately rushed over to where everybody was gathered. "There they are!" Said Olivia, under George's arm.

"Did you guys see it, too?" Questioned Ron.

Morgan nodded. "We did. She's bound to have figured it out, right?"

"Oh, she absolutely does." Fred answered hastily.

They sat down with everybody, and all eyes fell on Harry. He glanced around to make sure there were no teachers near them. "We're going to do it anyway, of course." He said quietly.

"Knew you'd say that," said George, beaming and thumping Harry on the arm with his free hand.

Devore proudly smiled. "That's why we're best friends."

"The prefects as well?" Said Fred, looking quizzically at Ron and Hermione, the two of them nodding. He then looked at his girlfriend. "I mean, are you even going to be able to?"

"Trust me, lover. I have my ways of getting out of things." Said Devore mysteriously. "Oh, and before I forget, Morgan can attest to this, in honor of us not giving a fuck and continuing with our Organization, I propose we start a new one called the How to Burn Pansy Parkinson at the Stake Club. Any volunteers?"

"Devore, no!" Hermione instantly said while the others actually took the time to think on it.

George held up his hand. "I'm in."

Ginny and Dean raised theirs as well as Neville. One by one, the rest of them did as well, and Devore smiled largely, causing Hermione to close her eyes and slap her forehead.

Olivia walked with Devore and the others to potions. "I heard Umbridge is supposed to be observing the class today." She told her and the group of Gryffindors.

At the news, Devore bursted out in laughter. "Are you serious? This is going to be the greatest day of my life."

"Really?" Said Harry with his eyebrows raised. "Cause the other day, you were two seconds away from blowing her head off in Divination."

"Well that's because I adore Professor Trelawney. I couldn't care less about Snape. I hope she rips him to shreds."

"Well behave. I really don't need you getting another detention." Olivia warned her.

Ron stifled a laugh. "Please, Devore and behave don't belong in the same sentence."

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Draco stood just outside of Snape's classroom door, waving around an official-looking piece of parchment and talking much louder than was necessary so they could hear every word. "Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue playing straightaway, I went to ask her first thing this morning. Well, it was pretty much automatic, I mean, she knows my father really well, he's always popping in and out of the Ministry—"

"Why on Earth did you date him again?" Asked Hermione, almost begging for the answer.

Devore just shook her head. "Dark times, Granger."

Seeing Ron and Harry's death glared they were giving Malfoy, and their clenched fists, Olivia pointed at them. "No fighting. You'll just be giving him what he wants."

"I mean," Draco raised his voice higher, his grey eyes glittering malevolently in the boy's direction. Then he saw Devore, and he didn't let smirked, "If it's a question of influence with the Ministry, I don't think Gryffindor stands much of a chance. . . From what my father says, they've been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years. . . And as for Potter, my father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St. Mungo's. . . apparently they've got a special ward for people whose brains have been addled by magic. . ."

Draco made a grotesque face, and Devore felt absolutely disgusted by his behavior. Crabbe and Goyle gave their usual grunts of laughter while Pansy shrieked with glee.

All of a sudden, Nevill zipped past Harry, knocking their shoulders together roughly, and he charged at Draco.

"Neville, no!"

It all happened so fast. Harry grabbed  hold of Neville, trying to hold him back, screaming at Ron to help him, while Devore was trying to keep Ron from ripping the Slytherin's heads off as well for speaking about his father.

Olivia shrieked at the sudden uproar and Hermione pulled her back. Devore's adrenaline heightened and she watched Ron and Harry wrap themselves around Neville, dragging him back. Neville's face was scarlet; the pressure Harry was exerting on his throat rendered him quite incomprehensible, but odd words spluttered from his mouth.

"Not. . .funny. . .don't. . .Mungo's. . .show. . .him."

"Harry, let him go. He can't speak!" Olivia demanded in slight fear.

Suddenly, the dungeon door opened and Snape appeared. His black eyes swept up to the Gryffindors to the point where Harry no Ron were wrestling with Neville. "Fighting, Potter, Weasley, Longbottom?" He said in his cold, sneering voice. "Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will be a detention. Inside, all of you."

With glaring eyes, Devore walked up to a still laughing Draco. Seeing her, his laughter stopped, and she stood in front of him. "Remember when I said I was willing to let the past be the past? That I was willing to be civil so that maybe, just maybe, we could be friends someday?" She brought up, slowly shaking her head. "Well I take it all back, because you and I will never be friends. I don't even recognize you, Malfoy."

Draco's jaw tightened, almost like he was embarrassed. He looked away from her. "Whatever, Taylor." He dismissed.

Olivia grabbed her arm and gently pulled her away. "Come on, Dev."

Devore knew why the subject of St. Mungo's and the distasteful comments from Draco sent him into a fury. It was his parents, Frank and Alice, who were both tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange, leaving them so magically damaged that they had no choice but to remain living at St. Mungo's hospital.

She never spoke of what she knew to anyone and from what she knew, neither did Neville.

Her and Olivia sat at a table together and Devore took out her copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. "You will notice that we have a guest today." Said Snape in a low voice.

Professor Umbridge was sitting in the dim corner of the dungeon, her clipboard in hand, and Devore had to hold back her laughter at her bright pink suit standing out amongst the dark black room.

"We are continuing with our Strengthening Solutions today, you will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson, if correctly made they should have matured over the weekend — "instructions" — he waved his wand again — "on the board. Carry on."

Devore's favorite thing about having Olivia as a partner was that she was just as dedicated to getting good grades as she was, so there was no distractions. The only distraction was Umbridge walking around the classroom, questioning Snape and writing on her clipboard.

Olivia carefully poured the salamander blood into the cauldron and Devore stirred it, watching Umbridge latch into Snape like a shadow from the corner of her eye. "Okay, where's the griffin's claw — ah, there!"

"Now. . . How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" Umbridge asked, her quill poised over her clipboard.

"Fourteen years." Snape replied. His expression was unfathomable.

"You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?" She asked another question.

"Yes," he answered quietly.

"But you were unsuccessful?"

"Obviously."

Devore couldn't contain her laughter any longer. Seemingly at the same time, her and Ron snorted a laugh, and she covered her mouth with her hand to suppress her laughter.

"Devore." Hissed Olivia under her breath.

"I'm sorry, Livy. I can't control myself."

Despite her continuous laughter, the two of them had successfully made their potion, the color a light turquoise. Devore looked Olivia and they high fived, smiling proudly at each other.

Umbridge circled them, Devore holding her breath, and she observed their potion. "I assume by your smiles that you succeeded expectations?"

"Yes," Snape's monotonous voice almost made Olivia jump at his sudden appearance. He observed the potion as well. "Miss Taylor and Miss Kennedy have always had top marks in the art of potion making."

Devore could just tell by his face that it was painful for him to say.

Umbridge studied her face, seemingly searching for a reaction. But Devore held her lips together, tightening her jaw, and kept quiet. "Lovely." She quipped softly.

Devore was patrolling the corridor with Draco by her side, both of them being swallowed in complete silence. She didn't look him in the eye, feeling disgusted to even be near him, after what happened earlier with Neville. Time after time again, Devore wanted to believe that they were okay, that Draco could change if she forgave him, but once again, she was a fool. Draco Malfoy was evil, a mirror of his dreadful father.

"Devore—"

"Don't speak to me." Said Devore sharply, turning a corner of the corridor.

Draco sighed. "Come on, don't do this."

"Do what?"

"Ignore me?"

"It's worked for me so far."

An agitated sigh escaped him. "You're insufferable."

"And what are you?" She spoke loudly and stopped, turning to face him. "You think you're a saint? A perfect like daddy's boy who gets whatever he wants? You're not a good guy, Malfoy. You're evil. You're disgusting. I hate you."

His cold blue eyes turned a shade of grey. "Don't say that. You don't mean it—"

"How dare you try to tell me how I'm feeling." She seethed once again; flaring deeply. "I have known you for as long as I can remember. I used to love you."

"What changed?"

"You."

Draco shook his head. "No. You just finally see me, that's all."

Devore's sight became clear. "I think after a while, you turned me into the idea you had of me in your head, of who you wanted me to be, and you stopped seeing me as a person," her voice was a whisper, a dreaded stumble of words. "But I'm real, Draco. And you are the mask you pretend to be. You're a nightmare."

Devore was in her dorm when an owl flew by her window, tapping its beak on the glass. Furrowing her brows, she got up from bed and pushed the window open, allowing the black bird to fly inside, a letter attached to its beak. "For me?" She pointed to herself, and the animal made a sound. Devore carefully took the letter and jumped when the bird immediately flew back out of the window.

She sat on the bed and opened the letter, seeing that it was from her mother.

My dearest girl,

      Sirius let me use one of his owls, so don't be alarmed. I know you must be extremely busy with classes and preparing for your O.W.L's, but I have yet to hear from you and I was growing worried. I do hope you're making the best out of your fifth year, especially with everything that's been going on.

      I hear that you have a new Defensive Against the Dark Arts professor. You have to let me know how Snape's doing. How is Bennet? How is everyone else? Is Harry safe and well? I have so many questions for all of you but that would be too many letters, so I shall rely on you for answers.

      Are you enjoying being a prefect? It was one of my greatest memories, especially having Remus by my side. I always threatened to give your father detentions but he never took me seriously. It's funny now when I think about it. Also. I do hope you're enjoying the bathroom.

      I hope to hear from you soon, sweetheart. I love you dearly.

Love, mum

Devore felt incredibly guilty for not allowing herself the time to write to her mother. But she also didn't want to go into detail about Umbridge and what happened in her detentions. She couldn't tell any adult, with increased the guilty feeling. She tucked the note away and decided she'd write to her later.

She met Harry and the others in the library, rain now pouring from the sky and falling against the windows. "I'm here. Hold your applause." She made herself known and sat in the empty chair beside Ron. "What are you needing to tell me."

"We talked to Sirius last night, in the fireplace," Harry started, leaning forward. "He knows about the organization."

Devore's eyes grew wide. "WHAT?" There was a shush from the librarian. "How the hell does he know?"

"Apparently Mundungus was spying on us." Ron grumbled.

"And he went and blabbed?" She asked with disbelief. Devote scoffed. "Remind me to tell the twins to not speak to him anymore."

"That's not the only thing." Hermione mentioned and eyed Harry.

He scratched his nose and pushed up his glasses. Harry looked at her again. "Umbridge's been reading my letters."

There was another loud 'WHAT?', along with another loud shush, and Devore went scarlet. "That foul, miserable excuse for a woman. What gives her the right?"

"We're almost certain she knew that Sirius was speaking to us last night. And Hedwig arrived the other day with an injured wing. There's no other explanation." Insisted Hermione, who got the idea first.

Devore leaned forward, looking Harry in his eyes. "Harry, I've been jotting down notes for my How to Burn Pansy Parkinson at the Stake Club, and I can very well change it to How to End Dolores Umbridge and Get Away With It if needed. Just give the word."

"I love that idea!" Said Ron pointedly.

"Why must all of your suggestions resort in violence?" Hermione jeered, giving her a look.

"It's called my life, Hermione Jean. You try living it." Devore said back, matter of fact, making her go silent. "And anyway, the woman's tortured us enough. If anyone can get away with murder, it very well can be me, no?"

The three of them exchanged looks. "I supposed." Harry nodded, along with Ron.

Devore smiled widely.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

After deciding where their next meeting would be held, Devore seeked out Morgan and told her, then they told Olivia and Atlas to spread the word. She found Fred in the hall with a group of first and second years surrounding him. "And this is a new product Georgie and I are promoting. Nosebleed Nougat, my personal favorite. It'll give you the quickest nosebleed of ya life. Perfect for getting out of classes. What do you say?"

"What's the purple one?" A shirt, cubby first year asked.

Fred held up the purple candy. "Orange is to cause the nosebleed, purple's to stop it."

Devore would admit he was a great salesmen, which was probably the only reason she wasn't giving him a detention for selling to first years when she specifically told him not to. But then again, it's what made him and George happy, what they wanted to do with their lives, so who was she to try and stop them?

When he sold his products and the group of young kids scurried off, Fred turned his head and saw Devore standing there, her arms crossed over her chest. He grinned. "Hi, lovely."

"Hi." She said back, the corners of her lips turning up, and she went and sat with him. "You really know your stuff, huh?"

He shrugged his shoulders, smirking a little. "They're kids. They'll buy anything if it sounds cool enough." He explained.

"Ahh."

"You're not going to give me a detention, are you? Cause imagine how uncool it sounds that the Hogwarts prankster and future businessman is over ruled by his own girlfriend."

Devore laughed. "I'm not giving you a detention, Fred. I think what you're doing is great." She admitted.

Fred's eyebrows raised. "Really, you do?"

She nodded. "Of course. I'm excited to see where you and George take this. Me and Olivia both. We're proud of our men."

A childlike laugh came from him and Fred leaned over, cupping her cheek. "See, now I love the sound of that."

Devore giggled and he kissed her. "Okay, okay, I came here for a reason." She began to say as his lips slid from hers to her cheek.

Fred hummed. "What's that?" He asked and pressed loving kisses to her skin, his other hand still on her cheek.

"Me and the others, we've found a place to have our meeting," she explained, taking small breaths when he switched sides and kissed her other cheek. Devore's hand pressed to his shoulder. "I-I need you to tell anyone who showed up to Hog's Head, okay?"

Fred's lips shifted down to her jaw. "Sure thing, love."

Her eyes fluttered close, her stomach turning in knots. "You realize we're in the middle of the corridor, right?"

"Yes, my darling."

"We could be caught."

"How much fun would that be?"

Devore had the urge to punch him, hit him, or tell him how foul he was being. But his touch warmed her, his words exuded happiness throughout her, and she couldn't help but melt. She grabbed his face, met his eyes, and kissed him on the lips again.