I couldn't sleep last night.
Despite closing my mind,I could still feel the imense glee Hewas feeling....
Doesn't he EVER try to sleep?
Give me a break...

However,in the morning,while eating breakfast with Pansy,and looking like a complete zombie,I hear a commotion at the Gryffindor table,caused by Hermione,who had the Prophet on the table.
Eyeing them curiously,I slowly get up and go next to them,trying not to be noticed.

She pointed at ten black-and-white photographs that filled the whole of the front page, nine showing wizards' faces and the tenth, a witch's. Some of the people in the photographs were silently jeering; others were tapping their fingers on the frame of their pictures, looking insolent. Each picture was captioned with a name and the crime for which the person had been sent to Azkaban.

Antonin Dolohov, convicted of the brutal murders of Gideon and Fabian Prewett.

Algernon Rookwood,convicted of leaking Ministry of Magic secrets to He Who Must Not Be Named.

Bellatrix Lestrange... convicted of the torture and permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom.


MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN
MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS 'RALLYING POINT'
FOR OLD DEATH EATERS

That is preposterous!
Nowonder hewas so overjoyed!
Ah...I'll have a hell of a job to do...


Ron:There you are, Harry.That's why he was happy last night.
Harry:I don't believe this.Fudge is blaming the breakout on Sirius?
me:He needs a scapegoat.
Herms:What other options does he have? "Sorry, everyone, Dumbledore warned me this might happen, the Azkaban guards have joined Lord Voldemort"--stop whimpering,Ron--"and now Voldemort's worst supporters have broken out, too." I mean, he's spent a good six months telling everyone you and Dumbledore are liars, hasn't he?

Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall,like us, were deep in conversation, both looking extremely grave. Professor Sprout had the Prophet propped against a bottle of ketchup and was reading the front page with such concentration that she was not noticing the gentle drip of egg yolk falling into her lap from her stationary spoon. Meanwhile, at the far end of the table,Umbridge was tucking into a bowl of porridge. For once her pouchy toad's eyes were not sweeping the Great Hall looking for misbehaving students. She scowled as she gulped down her food and every now and then she shot a malevolent glance up the table to where Dumbledore and McGonagall were talking so intently.

Further in the newspaper ,Bode's death ,the guy next to Lockhart at St.Mungo's,has been reported.Ron said he worked in the Department of Mysteries,which makes a hella lot of sense.

At least the DA meetings proved to be more...improving,to say the least.And her detentions don't phaze me much anymore.They just...hurt.

---
Not much has been happening lately,with the exception that winter passed ever so quickly,Harry gave an interview for the Quibbler,and now Umbridge banned it in the school,and forbid Harry the Hogsmead trips.
But hey!
The interview was quite good~!And he even managed to convince some people of the truth behind Voldy...especially from THIS school.

Many more Occlumency lessons passed,I sometimes assisted Harry too,because hewas failing miserably,but this time...he protected himself and got a glimpse of Severus' memories.
In turn,he used such a powerful spell,that Harry got knocked down,and saw visions he has never seen before...
Until a familiar feminine scream was heard and I immediately bolted to seewhatwas going on.

The screams were coming from the Entrance Hall.
Students had come flooding out of the Great Hall, where dinner was still in progress, to see what was going on; others had crammed themselves on to the marble staircase.
Professor McGonagall looked as though what she was watching made her feel faintly sick.

Professor Trelawney was standing in the middle of the Entrance Hall with her wand in one hand and an empty sherry bottle in the other, looking utterly mad. Her hair was sticking up on end, her glasses were lopsided so that one eye was magnified more than the other;
her innumerable shawls and scarves were trailing haphazardly from her shoulders, giving the impression that she was falling apart at the seams.
Two large trunks lay on the floor beside her, one of them upside-down; it looked very much as though it had been thrown down the stairs after her.

Sybill:No!NO! This cannot be happening ... it cannot ... I retuse to accept it!
Toad:You didn't realise this was coming?Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrows weather, you must surely have realised that your pitiful performance during my inspections, and lack of any improvement, would make it inevitable that you would be sacked?
Sybill:You c--can't!You c--can't sack me! I've b--been here sixteen years! H-- Hogwarts is m--my h--home!
Toad:It was your home,until an hour ago, when the Minister for Magic counter signed your Order of Dismissal. Now kindly remove yourself from this Hall. You are embarrassing us.

I ran in front of her,in a protective stance.

me:Actually,you cannot send her home.THIS is her home!I have read all your ridiculous and useless decrees,and it says nowhere that that you have that power!
Toad:Detention,Black!It seems you do love getting in trouble,much like your criminal father.
me:I don't care about your stupid detention!But before you make others obey your rules,make sure you respect them yourself!

But she stood and watched, with an expression of gloating enjoyment, as Professor Trelawney shuddered and moaned, rocking backwards and forwards on her trunk in paroxysms of grief. Professor McGonagall had broken away from the spectators, marched straight up to Trelawney and was patting her firmly on the back while withdrawing a large handkerchief from within her robes.

Minerva:There, there, Sybill ... calm down ... blow your nose on this ... it's not as bad as you think, now ... you are not going to have to leave Hogwarts ...
Toad:Oh really, Professor McGonagall?And your authority for that statement is ... ?

'That would be mine,' said a deep voice.

The oaken front doors had swung open. Students beside them scuttled out of the way as Dumbledore appeared in the entrance. Leaving the doors wide open behind him he strode forwards through the circle of onlookers towards Trelawney, tear-stained and trembling, on her trunk, McGonagall alongside her.

Toad:Yours, Professor Dumbledore?I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here--an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister for Magic. Under the terms of Educational Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the power to inspect, place upon probation and sack any teacher she--that is to say, I--feel is not performing to the standards required by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her.
Toad:You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge. As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, as Miss Black said,have the authority to send them away from the castle. I am afraid,that the power to do that still resides with the Headmaster, and it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts.
Sybill:No--no, I'll g --go, Dumbledore! I sh--shall--leave Hogwarts and s--seek my fortune elsewhere--
Toad:No.It is my wish that you remain, Sybill.Might I ask you to escort Sybill back upstairs, Professor McGonagall?Miss Black,please aid her.
me:As you wish,Headmaster.
Minerva:Of course.Up you get, Sybill ...

Professor Sprout came hurrying forwards out of the crowd and grabbed Professor Trelawney's other arm. Together, they guided her past Umbridge and up the marble stairs. Professor Flitwick went scurrying after us, his wand held out before him; he squeaked 'Locomotor trunks!' and Trelawney's luggage rose into the air and proceeded up the staircase after her, Professor Flitwick bringing up the rear.

That night,after everyone left to sleep,I decided to stay and meditate in front of the fireplace.
Eyes closed,relaxing breathes.
I had some scented candles lit up around as well...

Everything was calm,until...

Draco:Fancy seeing you.Preparing for a sacrificial ritual?
me:I have sacrificed my soul to Satan.Now I am but a mortal shell.
Draco:*chuckles*Funny how we're in the same House,but we never get to see each other.
me:The exams are coming up.I'm not particularly fond of staying out more than needed.
Draco:I am aware of that.But you're prepared enough to get the best grades.I know you're planning something.
me:Draco,dear,I am overthrilled to see my aunt in person.I kind of fancy her hair.It's nice,don't you think?
Draco:You mean...?
me:Bellatrix Lestrange,of course.Your mother's sister.Lovely,isn't she?I hope she won't kill me on the spot.
Draco:It's the rise of the Dark Lord and not even Dumbledore can avoid or stop that.
me:You are correct,Draco.
Draco:Correct?And are you going to stay there and accept it?I thought you were against it.
me:I believe you have working eyes.I do stay here and accept it.I'm quite at peace,as you can see.
Draco: . . .There's more to it than meet the eyes,isn't it?
me:Did you know that He can read minds,so to speak?He is a very gifted Legillimence.
Draco:It's to be expected of someone of that power.
me:*chuckles*I may not be yet skilled enough to block him,at a closer range,but then again...I'm particularly good at fooling people.
Draco:Yourself,aswell?
me:I'm rather proud of my ability to tell lies. I can trick not only others, but even my own heart.
Draco:why must you do that?Can't we live happily,even during his reign?
me:Ask your mother,Draco.She will not be able to tell you much,but I am certain you will understand.Ask you mother,not your father,for the real answers will come from her.
Draco:why her and not you?You are here right now,aren't you?
me:Something bad is going to happed tomorrow.Something so bad...
Draco:Is it Umbridge again?Giving you a hard time?
me:After defending Trelawney?Don't be surprised.
Draco:You asked for it.
me:Don't I always?
Draco:why must you be so complicated all the time?
me:If I were easy to understand,would I have been as interesting?It is in my nature,after all.Mystery.
Draco:If you will not listen to my advice,then at least let me thank you for the Christmas gift.Also... necklace suits you,just as I thought.
me:Thank you.But in moments like this,I'd rather not see more pink than I have to.

He chuckled and came to me,kissing my cheek,then left,with a soft 'Good night'.
Oh,Draco...If only you knew...

###

At the DA lessons,we finally started working on Patronuses, which everybody has been very keen to practise, though, as Harry kept reminding them, producing a Patronus in the middle of a brightly lit classroom when they were not under threat was very different from producing it when confronted by something like a Dementor.
I just sat there,in the middle of the room,on the floor,playing with my wolf Patronus.

Cho:Oh, don't be such a killjoy!They're so pretty!
Harry:They're not supposed to be pretty, they're supposed to protect you.What we really need is a boggart or something; that's how I learned, I had to conjure a Patronus while the boggart was pretending to be a Dementor--
Lavender:But that would be really scary!And I still--can't--do it!
Harry:You've got to think of something happy.
Neville:I'm trying...
Seamus:Harry, I think I'm doing it!Look--ah--it's gone ... but it was definitely something hairy, Harry!
Hermione:They are sort of nice, aren't they?
me:They are adorable.

The door of the Room of Requirement opened, and closed.
Dobby the house-elf was peering up at Harry from beneath his usual eight woolly hats.

Harry:Hi, Dobby!What are you--What's wrong?

The elf's eyes were wide with terror and he was shaking. The members of the DA closest to Harry had fallen silent; everybody in the room was watching Dobby. The few Patronuses people had managed to conjure faded away into silver mist, leaving the room looking much darker than before.

me:Prepare yourselves.The Horror is coming.
Dobby:Harry Potter, sir ...Harry Potter, sir ... Dobby has come to warn you ... but the house-elves have been warned not to tell ...
Harry:What's happened, Dobby?
Dobby:Harry Potter ... she ... she ...
Harry:Who's "she", Dobby?
me:Umbridge.
Harry:What about her? Dobby--she hasn't found out about this--about us--about the DA?Is she coming?
Dobby:Yes, Harry Potter, yes!
me:I suggest you start running away.

Harry straightened up and looked around at the motionless, terrified people gazing at the thrashing elf.

'WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?' Harry bellowed. 'RUN!'

They all pelted towards the exit at once, forming a scrum at the door, then people burst through. Hope they had the sense not to try and make it all the way to their dormitories. It was only ten to nine; if they just took refuge in the library or the Owlery, which were both nearer--

Herms:Harry,Raven,come on!

He scooped up Dobby, who was still attempting to do himself serious injury, and ran with the elf in his arms to join the back of the queue.

Harry:Dobby--this is an order--get back down to the kitchen with the other elves and, if she asks you whether you warned me, lie and say no!And I forbid you to hurt yourself!
Dobby:Thank you, Harry Potter!

I nonchalantly exited the room,with my Patronus still around me,until I reached Draco,who caught Harry.

Draco:Trip Jinx, Potter!Hey, Professor--PROFESSOR! I've got one!
Toad:It's him!Excellent, Draco, excellent, oh, very good--fifty points to Slytherin! I'll take him from here ... stand up, Potter!Oh,and who do we have here?Miss Black has decided to show up aswell!
me:You know how they say.The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
Draco:*shocked*Raven...?

Harry got to his feet, glaring at the pair of them. Umbridge never looked so happy. She seized our arms in a vice-like grip and turned, beaming broadly, to Draco.

Toad:You hop along and see if you can round up any more of them, Draco.Tell the others to look in the library--anybody out of breath--check the bathrooms, Miss Parkinson can do the girls' ones--off you go--and you,you can come with me to the Headmaster's office.
me:You have quite thewrestler grip.


The office was full of people. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, his expression serene, the tips of his long fingers together. Professor McGonagall stood rigidly beside him, her face extremely tense. Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, was rocking backwards and forwards on his toes beside the fire, apparently immensely pleased with the situation; Kingsley Shacklebolt and a tough-looking wizard with very short wiry hair and the freckled, bespectacled form of Percy Weasley hovered excitedly beside the wall, a quill and a heavy scroll of parchment in his hands, apparently poised to take notes.

The portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses were not shamming sleep tonight. All of them were alert and serious, watching what was happening below them.

Fudge:Well.Well, well, well ...
me:Have you discovered the Fountain of Youth,Minister?You seem to like wells a lot.

Shacklebot and Dumbledore had looks of amusement on their faces.The Minister,not so much.

Toad:He was heading back to Gryffindor Tower and she was next to him.The Malfoy boy cornered him.
Fudge:Did he, did he?I must remember to tell Lucius. Well, Potter ... I expect you know why you are here?
me:No,sir,not quite.

Fudge looked incredulously from me to Umbridge. Dumbledore gave the carpet the tiniest of nods and the shadow of a wink.

Fudge:So you have no idea why Professor Umbridge has brought you to this office? You are not aware that you have broken any school rules?
me:More like barbarically dragging us here.But breaking school rules?As a Prefect,I am supposed to abbide all rules,that I have thoroughly read times and times again.So no,I am not aware.
Fudge:Or Ministry Decrees?
me:Not that I'm aware of.
Fudge:So, it's news to you, is it,that an illegal student organisation has been discovered within this school?
me:And since when does walking through corridors mean I am part of an organisation of the sort?
Toad:I think, Minister,we might make better progress if I fetch our informant.
Fudge:Yes, yes, do.There's nothing like a good witness, is there, Dumbledore?
Dumbledore:Nothing at all, Cornelius.

Umbridge moved past us into the room, gripping by the shoulder Cho's curly-haired friend, Marietta, who was hiding her face in her hands.

Toad:Don't be scared, dear, don't be frightened,it's quite all right, now. You have done the right thing. The Minister is very pleased with you. He'll be telling your mother what a good girl you've been. Marietta's mother, Minister,is Madam Edgecombe from the Department of Magical Transportation, Floo Network office-- she's been helping us police the Hogwarts' fires, you know.
Fudge:Jolly good, jolly good!Like mother, like daughter, eh? Well, come on, now, dear, look up, don't be shy, let's hear what you've got to--galloping gargoyles!

As Marietta raised her head, Fudge leapt backwards in shock, nearly landing himself in the fire. He cursed, and stamped on the hem of his cloak which had started to smoke. Marietta gave a wail and pulled the neck of her robes right up to her eyes, but not before everyone had seen that her face was horribly disfigured by a series of close-set purple pustules that had spread across her nose and cheeks to form the word 'SNEAK'.

me:Are you quite alright?You look quite disfigured...ugly,might I say.Such a pity,I believe you should be urgently sent to St.Mungo's...or to marry Big Foot.
Toad:Quiet!Never mind the spots now, dear,just take your robes away from your mouth and tell the Minister--

But Marietta gave another muffled wail and shook her head frantically.

Toad:Oh, very well, you silly girl, I'll tell him.Well, Minister, Miss Edgecombe here came to my office shortly after dinner this evening and told me she had something she wanted to tell me. She said that if I proceeded to a secret room on the seventh floor, sometimes known as the Room of Requirement, I would find out something to my advantage. I questioned her a little further and she admitted that there was to be some kind of meeting there. Unfortunately, at that point this hex,came into operation and upon catching sight of her face in my mirror the girl became too distressed to tell me any more.
Fudge:Well, now,it is very brave of you, my dear, coming to tell Professor Umbridge. You did exactly the right thing. Now, will you tell me what happened at this meeting? What was its purpose? Who was there?
Fudge:Haven't we got a counter-jinx for this?So she can speak freely?
Toad:I have not yet managed to find one.But it doesn't matter if she won't speak, I can take up the story from here.You will remember, Minister, that I sent you a report back in October that Potter and Black had met a number of fellow students in the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade--
Minerva:And what is your evidence for that?
Toad:I have testimony from Willy Widdershins, Minerva, who happened to be in the bar at the time. He was heavily bandaged, it is true, but his hearing was quite unimpaired.He heard every word Potter said and hastened straight to the school to report to me--
me:Oh, so that's why he wasn't prosecuted for setting up all those regurgitating toilets!I thought it was money bribe.
Minerva:What an interesting insight into our justice system!
portrait:Blatant corruption!The Ministry did not cut deals with petty criminals in my day, no sir, they did not!
Dumbledore:Thank you, Fortescue, that will do.
Toad:The purpose of Potter's meeting with these students,was to persuade them to join an illegal society, whose aim was to learn spells and curses the Ministry has decided are inappropriate for school-age--
Dumbledore:I think you'll find you're wrong there, Dolores.
Fudge:Oho!Yes,let's hear the latest cock-and-bull story designed to pull Potter and Black out of trouble! Go on, then, Dumbledore, go on-Willy Widdershins was lying, was he? Or was it Potter's identical twin in the Hog's Head that day? Or is there the usual simple explanation involving a reversal of time, a dead man coming back to life and a couple of invisible dementors?
Percy:*laughs*Oh, very good, Minister, very good!
me:Have you no manners?It is impolite to disturb an official meeting.
Dumbledore:Cornelius, I do not deny--and nor, I am sure,--that they were in the Hog's Head that day, nor that they were trying to recruit students to a Defence Against the Dark Arts group. I am merely pointing out that Dolores is quite wrong to suggest that such a group was, at that time, illegal. If you remember, the Ministry Decree banning all student societies was not put into effect until two days after Harry's Hogsmeade meeting, so he was not breaking any rules at all in the Hog's Head.
Toad:That's all very fine, Headmaster,but we are now nearly six months on from the introduction of Educational Decree Number Twenty-four. If the first meeting was not illegal, all those that have happened since most certainly are.
Dumbledore:Well,they certainly would be, if they had continued after the Decree came into effect. Do you have any evidence that any such meetings continued?
Toad:Evidence?Have you not been listening, Dumbledore? Why do you think Miss Edgecombe is here?'
Dumbledore:Oh, can she tell us about six months' worth of meetings?I was under the impression that she was merely reporting a meeting tonight.
Toad:Miss Edgecombe,tell us how long these meetings have been going on, dear. You can simply nod or shake your head, I'm sure that won't make the spots worse. Have they been happening regularly over the last six months?Just nod or shake your head, dear,come on, now, that won't re-activate the jinx.

Everyone in the room was gazing at the top of Marietta's face. Only her eyes were visible between the pulled-up robes and her curly fringe. Perhaps it was a trick of the firelight, but her eyes looked oddly blank. And then-Marietta shook her head.
Umbridge looked quickly at Fudge, then back at Marietta.

Toad:I don't think you understood the question, did you, dear? I'm asking whether you've been going to these meetings for the past six months? You have, haven't you?

Again, Marietta shook her head.

Toad:What do you mean by shaking your head, dear?
Minerva:I would have thought her meaning was quite clear,there have been no secret meetings for the past six months. Is that correct, Miss Edgecombe?

Marietta nodded.

Toad:But there was a meeting tonight!There was a meeting, Miss Edgecombe, you told me about it, in the Room of Requirement! And Potter was the leader, was he not, Potter organised it, Potter--why are you shaking your head, girl?
Minerva:Well, usually when a person shakes their head,they mean "no". So unless Miss Edgecombe is using a form of sign-language as yet unknown to humans--

Professor Umbridge seized Marietta, pulled her round to face her and began shaking her very hard. A split second later Dumbledore was on his feet, his wand raised; Kingsley started forwards and Umbridge leapt back from Marietta, waving her hands in the air as though they had been burned.

me:I belive THAT is against the rules.
Dumbledore:I cannot allow you to manhandle my students, Dolores.
Shacklebot:You want to calm yourself, Madam Umbridge.You don't want to get yourself into trouble, now.
Toad:No.I mean, yes--you're right, Shacklebolt--I--I forgot myself.
me:Pity.

Marietta was standing exactly where Umbridge had released her. She seemed neither perturbed by Umbridge's sudden attack, nor relieved by her release; she was still clutching her robe up to her oddly blank eyes and staring straight ahead of her.

Fudge:Dolores,the meeting tonight--the one we know definitely happened--
Toad:Yes,yes ... well, Miss Edgecombe tipped me off and I proceeded at once to the seventh floor, accompanied by certain trustworthy students, so as to catch those in the meeting red-handed. It appears that they were forewarned of my arrival, however, because when we reached the seventh floor they were running in every direction. It does not matter, however. I have all their names here, Miss Parkinson ran into the Room of Requirement for me to see if they had left anything behind. We needed evidence and the room provided.The moment I saw Potter's and Black's names on the list, I knew what we were dealing with.
Fudge:Excellent,excellent, Dolores. And ... by thunder...See what they've named themselves?Dumbledore's Army.

Dumbledore reached out and took the piece of parchment from Fudge. He gazed at the heading scribbled by Hermione months before and for a moment seemed unable to speak. Then he looked up, smiling.

Dumbledore:Well, the game is up.Would you like a written confession from me, Cornelius --or will a statement before these witnesses suffice?

McGonagall and Kingsley look at each other. There was fear in both faces. They did not understand what was going on, and nor, apparently, did Fudge.

Fudge:Statement?What--I don't--?
Dumbleore:Dumbledore's Army, Cornelius.Not Black's Army.Not Potter's Army. Dumbledore's Army.
Fudge:But--but--You?
Dumbledore:That's right.
Fudge:You organised this?
Dumbledore:I did.
Fudge:You recruited these students for--for your army?
Dumbledore:Tonight was supposed to be the first meeting.Merely to see whether they would be interested in joining me. I see now that it was a mistake to invite Miss Edgecombe, of course.

Marietta nodded. Fudge looked from her to Dumbledore, his chest swelling.

Fudge:Then you have been plotting against me!
Dumbledore:That's right.
Harry:NO!

I nudged him in the ribs hard,Kingsley flashed a look of warning at him, McGonagall widened her eyes threateningly.

Harry:No--Professor Dumbledore--!
me:Shut up,Potter.This is the truth unveiled and we have nothing to do against it.It's over.
Dumbledore:Listen to Raven, Harry, or I am afraid you will have to leave my office.
Fudge:Yes, shut up, Potter!Well, well, well--I came here tonight expecting to expel Potter and instead--
Dumbledore:Instead you get to arrest me.It's like losing a Knut and finding a Galleon, isn't it?
Fudge:Weasley!Weasley, have you written it all down, everything he's said, his confession, have you got it?
Percy:Yes, sir, I think so, sir!
me:Oh,so now he remembers your name?
Fudge:The bit about how he's been trying to build up an army against the Ministry, how he's been working to destabilise me?
Percy:Yes, sir, I've got it, yes!
Fudge:Very well, then,duplicate your notes, Weasley, and send a copy to the Daily Prophet at once. If we send a fast owl we should make the morning edition!You will now be escorted back to the Ministry, where you will be formally charged, then sent to Azkaban to await trial!
Dumbledore:Ah,yes. Yes, I thought we might hit that little snag.
Fudge:Snag?I see no snag, Dumbledore!
Dumbledore:Well,I'm afraid I do.
Fudge:Oh, really?
Dumbledore:Well--it's just that you seem to be labouring under the delusion that I am going to--what is the phrase?--come quietly.I am afraid I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course--but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing.

Umbridge's face was growing steadily redder; she looked as though she was being filled with boiling water. Fudge stared at Dumbledore with a very silly expression on his face, as though he had just been stunned by a sudden blow and could not quite believe it had happened. He made a small choking noise, then looked round at Kingsley and the man with short grey hair, who alone of everyone in the room had remained entirely silent so far. The latter gave Fudge a reassuring nod and moved forwards a little, away from the wall.

Dumbledore:Don't be silly, Dawlish.I'm sure you are an excellent Auror--I seem to remember that you achieved "Outstanding" in all your NEWTs--but if you attempt to--er--bring me in by force, I will have to hurt you.

The man called Dawlish blinked rather foolishly. He looked towards Fudge again, but this time seemed to be hoping for a clue as to what to do next.

Fudge:So,you intend to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores and myself single-handed, do you, Dumbledore?
Dumbleddore:Merlin's beard, no,not unless you are foolish enough to force me to.
Minerva:He will not be single-handed!
Dumbledore:Oh yes he will, Minerva.Hogwarts needs you!
Fudge:Enough of this rubbish!Dawlish! Shacklebolt! Take him!

A streak of silver light flashed around the room; there was a bang like a gunshot and the floor trembled; a hand grabbed the scruff of I and Harry's necks and forced us down on the floor as a second silver flash went off; several of the portraits yelled, Fawkes screeched and a cloud of dust filled the air. Coughing in the dust, a dark figure fall to the ground with a crash in front of him; there was a shriek and a thud and somebody cried, 'No!'; then there was the sound of breaking glass, frantically scuffling footsteps, a groan ... and silence.

Professor McGonagall crouched beside us; she had forced both of us and Marietta out of harm's way. Dust was still floating gently down through the air.

Dumbledore:Are you all right?
me:Never better.Nice show.

Dumbledore:Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too, or it would have looked very suspicious,He was remarkably quick on the uptake, modifying Miss Edgecombe's memory like that while everyone was looking the other way-- thank him, for me, won't you, Minerva?
me:It was rather remarkable.
Dumbledore:Now, they will all awake very soon and it will be best if they do not know that we had time to communicate--you must act as though no time has passed, as though they were merely knocked to the ground, they will not remember--
Minerva:Where will you go, Dumbledore?Grimmauld Place?
Dumbledore:Oh no,I am not leaving to go into hiding. Fudge will soon wish he'd never dislodged me from Hogwarts, I promise you.
me:Best of luck in your mission,then.It went better than expected.
Dumbledore:Indeed.I must thank you for your cooperation.
me:Everything for the good of this school.
Harry:Professor Dumbledore ...
Dumbledore:Listen to me, Harry.You must study Occlumency as hard as you can, do you understand me? Do everything Professor Snape tells you and practise it particularly every night before sleeping so that you can close your mind to bad dreams--you will understand why soon enough, but you must promise me--

The man called Dawlish was stirring. Dumbledore seized Harry's wrist.

Dumbledore:Remember--close your mind--you will understand.

Fawkes circled the office and swooped low over him. Dumbledore raised his hand and grasped the phoenix's long golden tail. There was a flash of fire and the pair of them were gone.

Fudge:Where is he?Where is he?
Kingsley:I don't know!
Toad:Well, he can't have Disapparated!You can't do it from inside this school--
Dawlish:The stairs!
Fudge:Well, Minerva,I'm afraid this is the end of your friend Dumbledore.
me:You would be surprised.
Minerva:You think so, do you?
Fudge:You'd better get those three off to bed.
Phineas:You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts ... but you cannot deny he's got style ...
me:*winks at him*You know it.

---

In the Common Room,I saw Draco and Pansy,waiting.
Pansy was looking worried,while Draco just looked pensive.

Pansy:Raven!Merlin,Raven,I'm so sorry!I didn't look on the paper when I gave it to Umbridge,and I didn't know you were involved!If only I knew,I would have gotten rid of it or something!Draco told me you were taken aswell and-
me:*hugs her*Don't worry,Pansy.You did what was right.I don't blame you.I'm glad you thought of me,though.
Pansy:Y-you're not mad at me?You don't hate me?
me:Hate you?No,not at all.I have foreseen this quite awhile ago.If I wanted that paper not to be found,I would have hid it myself.
Draco:She came to me by herself,when I caught Potter.It was all part of the plan,I presume?
me:You could say that.
Draco:And what happened?
me:Umbridge is the new Headmaster now.Rejoice while you can.At least we can win this year's House Cup.
Pansy:Forget about the House Cup!I'm more worried about you!I heard from rumours how she treats Potter at detentions...she's doing the same to you,isn't she?Professor Snape must be informed immediately!
me:Pansy,please calm down.Everything is going to be okay,I promise.
Pansy:But,why are you reassuring me,when I should be doing that to you?
Draco:That's just what she does.Turning everything in her favour,no matter how dire or dark the situation may be.
me:Dear Draco,we are Slytherins,aren't we?That's what we're best at.Now,off to sleep,you two.Long days await us.
Pansy:Just be careful,okay?You are our model.
Draco:Listen to her,Black.She knows what she's saying,as a common Slytherin student.
me:I've become a...role model...for our fellow Slytherin students?
Pansy:*smiles*Even if you don't realize it,you manage to empower us through your existence.Maybe the world doesn't have to be so bad to us,after all.
me:That's what I like to hear.I suppose I can say that I am happy.At least I know I did something good during these years.
Pansy:Also...Could you teach me the Patronus charm aswell?There are many of us who want that...
me:*smiles*I'd be delighted to.If anyone wishes,I can help them right here,in the Common Room.
Pansy:Yay!Iwill gather more people to join!Thanks!It's getting late now,so we all better head to sleep.G'night!

As she left,I didn't realize I had a serene smile on my face,until I feel Draco behind me,hugging me and putting his chin on my head.

Draco:You're being reckless.
me:I am.
Draco:I could have gotten you out of trouble.
me:It had to be done.
Draco:why is it always you who has to sacrifice herself during all of Dumbledore's schemes?
me:I am the most capable.They can't gain peace without me.I just do what I have to do.
Draco:Aren't you getting tired of this?Can't you be a little selfish sometimes?
me:I am being selfish right now.You don't realize it,but I wasn't supposed to be alive.
Draco:But you are,and that's all that matters.what about your happiness?
me:My happiness is knowing you all are alive and well.And with Him alive,that cannot happen.
Draco:My parents lived well enough!
me:They did not.Since Abraxas got involved with Him in school..it hasn't been okay.Your parents were automatically forced to join.They lived in fear.
Draco:But they lived well and were seen as superior.
me:Just wait until next year...
Draco:what exactly have you Seen?
me:Nothing in particular.Let's just go to sleep.Big days ahead~.

As I tried to leave,he pulled me closer to him,in a tight embrace,whispering "Just a bit longer".
I complied,turning around and embracing him myself,enjoying the comfortable silence and warmth.