April was not much better than March. Umbridge was still watching Hagrid's every lesson, and the teachers were constantly reminding them of the imminent OWL exams, which lead to a great increase in stress levels. If it had not been for the DA meetings, Megan would have had nothing to look forward to at all, thinking of the hard but enjoyable work and the pride to watch the others keep going further and further. Megan even smiled at the thought of Umbridge's face when they all had "O" in their Defence Against the Dark Arts exams.

"Okay. I think you guys are ready to tackle the Patronus Charm," she said one day.

There were some excited whispers.

"Most of you are older than I was when I learned it, so I'm sure it'll be okay. Now, it's a really complex spell, it's really advanced, but if Dementors are rallying the Dark side, we'll certainly need it. And another important thing is that it is very different conjuring it here, safe and in a bright room, than when you're facing a real Dementor. Now, you need a really happy memory. The strongest you can think of. And let the memory fill you up. Concentrate only on that, and then, pronounce the spell. Now, it only stays powerful enough to protect you as long you stay focused, so concentrate. And don't be disappointed if you can't produce a corporeal one yet, it's the most difficult part of the spell and the shield works just as well without it."

And practise began. Megan walked around, spreading advice and encouragements. Neville was already capable of creating a shield form. Luna conjured a silver rabbit, hopping around while Hermione's otter swam around her. Cedric's was a beautiful eagle which soared gracefully around.

"Nice, Cedric," she smiled. "And no, I'm not saying that because you're my boyfriend," she added with a grin and turned to Neville. "You're doing great, Neville. Just focus of your happy memory. It's not easy magic you're doing, guys, so don't get discouraged, you're all doing so well. You can do it."

Just then, the walls shook and everyone stopped.

"What the..." Fred frowned.

A loud banging was coming from the wall to the left. The large mirror shattered.

"What's going on?!" Ginny asked anxiously.

"It's Umbridge..." Megan gasped. "It's got to be..."

The door blasted open and indeed, the Inquisitorial Squad and Umbridge stood there. Malfoy came into view with Marrieta, Cho's friend. As her face came into the light, they saw large letters forming the word SNEAK on her face. That had been Hermione's trap on the parchment.

"Get them!" Umbridge ordered.

They tore forwards. Megan and Cedric exhanged a glance, then whipped out their wands as one and yelled.

"Fumos!"

Thick smoke covered Umbridge's and the Squad's eyes and hid them from view.

"RUN!" Cedric yelled. "It won't last long!"

They tore towards the entrance, which widened to let them all out without clogging the way while the Squad ambled about blindfolded. But Megan suddenly saw Nigel, a second year, trip over. She hurried over and helped him up.

"Run, Nigel, hurry!"

She pushed him forwards and ran behind him when suddenly:

"Impedimenta!"

She fell to the floor.

"MEGAN!" Cedric shouted.

He made to double back, but she shook her head:

"No! Go, get out of here! Watch over the others!"

Footsteps were coming closer. With a final, agonized look, he vanished.

Megan let out a sigh of relief as the smoke cleared, revealing Malfoy and the rest of the Squad.

"Got Potter, Professor!"

"Excellent, Draco," she sang. "I'll take it from here. You hurry along to try and round up the others."

Umbridge seized Megan, yanked her to her feet and towed her away. As they marched along the corridor, Megan carefully glanced around for any hiding DA members. Either they were all gone, or they were well hidden. She prayed they would get to their houses before they were caught. She thought of Ron, whose mother would be furious, seeing as she had been against his entering the DA, and Hermione would never get over being expelled without passing her OWLs...

"You're in big trouble, now, Potter," Umbridge said gleefully as they walked.

"Why in particular?" she asked icily.

"We're going to discuss your fate with the Minister himself."

Megan managed not to gulp, but it was close. She'd thought she was in trouble before, there was no doubt left that she was, now.

Umbridge eventually led her to the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"Fizzing Whizzbee," she said and the gargoyle moved.

Umbridge, still clutching Megan's arm so hard it hurt, dragged her up the stairs where Dumbledore, Fudge, Shacklebolt and another man Megan had never seen, as well as McGonagall were there. Percy was there, too. Megan pulled her arm free, and noticed with relief that for the moment no one else had been caught.

"Ah, very good," Fudge said, smiling with vicious satisfaction.

Megan glared at him.

"The others managed to escape before we could get them, but my squad is already searching the castle." Umbridge said in an indecently excited voice.

"I expect you know why you are here?" Fudge demanded of Megan.

Megan, who had been about to say yes as defiantly as she could, suddenly noticed Dumbledore shake his head at her. Though confused, she said:

"No. I don't have the slightest idea."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I don't know why I'm here," she replied.

"You are not aware of breaking school rules or even Ministry Decrees?"

"No, I'm not." she answered.

She left out the "sir" deliberately. Her heart was hammering and she itched to know what had happened to the others but carefully kept it off her face.

"So you didn't know that an illegal organisation was found inside the school?"

"No, I didn't."

"We will, I think, make more progress with our informant," Umbridge said and slipped out.

Fudge gave Dumbledore a nasty smile.

"Nothing like a good witness, eh, Dumbledore?"

"Oh, I quite agree, Minister." he said pleasantly.

Soon, Marrieta came in with Umbridge, the SNEAK still covering her face.

"Now, now, don't be scared, dear, you did the right thing. Minister Fudge will be telling your mother how pleased he is with you. Madam Edgecombe from Magical Transportation, was helping us police the fires." she added to Fudge.

"Very good," Fudge said, still smiling leeringly. "Now then, tell us what you know."

Marietta shook her head.

"Come now, it's all right..."

But she shook her head again.

"Fine," Umbridge snapped. "I'll tell him. Well, Miss Edgecombe here came to me shortly after dinner to tell me that if I went to the seventh floor and found the Room of Requirement, I would find something important. I questioned her and she informed me of a meeting there. Unfortunately, this hex," she indicated Marietta's face, "came up at that moment and she refused to say any more."

"I see. Well, you did the right thing, young lady, now tell us, what was the meeting about?" Fudge asked.

Marietta shook her head again, sobbing.

"No matter, I can take over," Umbridge said impatiently. "You may recall I sent you a report of Potter meeting several students in the Hog's Head pub?"

"And what evidence d'you have of that?" McGonagall asked sharply.

"The testimony of Willy Widdershins, at the bar at the time. He heard every word and hastened straight to my office to tell me."

"Oh, that's why he wasn't prosecuted for those wretched regurgitating toilets?" McGonagall asked, radiating with anger. "That gives an interesting insight into our justice!"

"Blatant corruption!" shouted a man in a portrait. "Ah, we did not cut deals with petty criminals in my day, no sir, we most certainly did not!"

"That will do, Fortescue," Dumbledore said calmly.

Fortescue fell silent, but his face spoke for him.

"The purpose of that meeting was to convince the other students to join an illegal society which aimed to learn spells and curses the Ministry deemed inappropriate."

"I think you'll find you're mistaken, Madam Umbridge," Dumbledore said calmly.

Megan stared at him. She couldn't see how he was going to talk his way out of this one. If they really had been overheard...

"Oh, really?" Fudge snapped. "Yes, Dumbledore, do tell us your latest invention to pull Potter out of trouble again!"

"Oh, I do not deny, Cornelius, and, I'm sure, nor does Megan, that she was indeed in the Hog's Head, and recruiting students for a Defence Against the Dark Arts group. I simply wished to point out that said meeting was not illegal, for the ban of student groups was put into effect only two days later."

Fudge stayed motionless.

"True as that may be, we are now six months later, Dumbledore," Umbridge said sweetly. "And that first meeting may not have been illegal but the ones that took place after that, on the other hand, were."

"Well, yes, I suppose they would. But do you have any evidence that said meetings were continued?"

"Evidence? Why d'you think Miss Edgecombe is here?"

"Oh, I must be mistaken, then. You seem to be expecting her to bring evidence for meetings over the past six months, I thought we were talking of tonight only."

Umbridge rounded on Marietta who was shaking.

"Tell us how long these meetings have been going on. Have they been occurring regularly over the last six months?"

Megan bit her lip. If Marietta said yes, they were finished. Even Dumbledore couldn't waltz out of trouble. But to Megan's astonishment, Marietta shook her head.

"Perhaps you didn't understand the question. Have you been going to these meetings over the past six months? You have, have you not?"

Again, Marietta shook her head.

"But there was a meeting this very evening!" Umbridge spluttered angrily. "You told me about it, Miss Edgecombe! Potter was the leader, was she not? Why are you shaking your head, you silly girl?"

"I would have thought the meaning was obvious. She means no." Said McGonagall icily. "That is, unless she's using a sign language we are not yet familiar with..."

Umbridge seized Marietta and began to shake her hard. Megan ran forwards and pulled Marietta away.

"Leave her alone!" she shouted. "You're the reason she's like this in the first place!"

Next second she was on the floor, her head pounding where Umbridge had struck her. She then caught Marietta's shirt and tugged it upwards.

"Speak, you little –"

But she leaped backwards yelping, her hands glowing red as though burned. Dumbledore was eyeing her furiously.

"I will not permit my students to be manhandled in such a manner." he said sharply as McGonagall helped Megan to her feet.

"You want to calm down, Madam Umbridge," Kingsley said. "We don't want more people in trouble."

"No... No, we don't... you're quite right, Shacklebolt... I forgot myself somewhat. So, I quickly headed to the seventh floor, accompanied by trustworthy students from my squad. They must have been warned, however, for when we arrived, Potter was the only one left."

She eyed Megan darkly. Megan, still standing in front of Marietta, glared hotly back.

"However, I have a list, Minister, proof of what you have been suspecting all along," Umbridge said, handing Fudge the list of members Hermione had created the first day.

"Excellent, Dolores... And... My word..."

He lifted his head, his eyes narrowing at Dumbledore.

"They called themselves Dumbledore's Army."

"As soon as I saw Potter's name, it was clear what we were dealing with." Umbridge added, her gaze resting on Dumbledore as well.

Megan stared, horrified, at Hermione's parchment. How had they not thought of that?! Now it would look like he'd asked them to create their group!

"Ha..." Dumbledore sighed. "I suppose the game is up."

Megan looked up at him astonished. Even McGonagall and Kingsley were glancing at each other worriedly.

"You... confess, then?" Fudge asked, trying and failing to conceal his surprise.

"I do. I instructed Megan to create this group. And I alone am responsible for its activities."