When Eleanor got back to the common room that night she found both Cynthia and Susan, as well as most of the other Hufflepuffs from the DA. But even in the safety of their own common room they thought it best to get to bed as a precaution.

The next morning notices had been placed all over the school declaring Umbridge as Headmistress and word had got out that Professor Dumbledore had overcome the ministry officials who came for him and made off in the night.

"It doesn't matter that we weren't caught," Cynthia sighs the next morning as they sit down to lunch in the Great Hall, "One of those bloody members of this Inquisitorial Squad managed to nab the parchment with everyone's names on it."

"Do we know what's going to happen yet?" Eleanor asks.

"Probably just detentions. Would've been worse probably if she hadn't managed to get rid of Dumbledore, I bet that sated some of her thirst for punishments."

"Have you heard?" Susan says, out of breath and slumping down in the seat beside Eleanor.

"Heard what?"

"The Hufflepost. It's disbanded."

"What? How? As far as she's aware we've only written what she's approved." Cynthia asks.

"Yes but every person on the Hufflepost also had their name on the DA parchment and 'in order to ensure we fully understand the repercussions of our actions steps must be taken.'" Susan says, the last bit in her best attempt at Umbridge's voice.

"Could still be worse. We could've been expelled," Eleanor reasons.

"Oh good, you're all here," greets Fred and George, appearing suddenly by the table. "You need to stay here, make sure the teachers can see you so you don't get in trouble for anything."

Without saying another word they amble off out of the Great Hall. Susan and Eleanor turn to Cynthia for an explanation.

"Oh I don't know. But George has been talking recently, reckons he and Fred don't have much interest in staying to do their exams. Apparently they've bought premises somewhere to open a business."

"So, they're going to leave? Just like that?" Eleanor asks.

"Can they take me with them," Susan asks.

The three of them spend more time in the Hall than they normally would have for lunch but they thought it best to take the twins advice and be sure that the teachers could see them all sitting, talking and not taking part in whatever was about to happen.

Finally they hear a commotion, a booming noise from somewhere upstairs. Doing their best not to act like they knew anything, even though they really hadn't the three of them simply head off to their next class. On their way they pass Umbridge in one of the corridors chasing down dragons of multicoloured sparks.

"Are they?"

"Fireworks," Eleanor laughs, hurrying off to the next corridor to avoid Umbridge. "They're brilliant."

For the rest of the afternoon the fireworks continued to roam the school and many of the teachers refused to deal with them themselves, instead sending students off to fetch Umbridge to fix the problem causing great amusement for everyone.

They even provided enough of a distraction that Eleanor managed to get through the day without her wand, though she knew she'd have to find it soon since there was no way she could tell her father she needed a new one because she lost this one running away from a secret meeting.

"Don't you have lessons tonight with Malfoy?" Cynthia asks Eleanor when the last class for the day ends.

"Well, yeah I guess. I don't really know." Eleanor says, thinking back to last night.

"I mean I know he's in that Inquisitorial Squad now but, it doesn't change that much does it? He'll still be an ass that you just have to sit down and do work with for an hour or so."

Eleanor stops walking and grabs Cynthia to stop her as well. "Look, I didn't have time to say anything last night but, well I didn't exactly make it back to the common room unfound."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Malfoy found me! But he didn't do anything. He just kind of stared for a bit and then walked away as if he hadn't seen me."

"Maybe he didn't-"

"Trust me, he saw me and on top of that, I've no idea where my wand is. It must've fallen from my robes in the rush."

"I can go look for it if you want. While you go do this lesson thing, or at least go see if he turns up."

Eleanor thanks Cynthia profusely before bounding off to the library, anxious to see if she would get the chance to talk to him. She's so caught up in how she could ask him that she doesn't notice at first when Reggie falls into step beside her.

"What are you doing here?" She asks when she does finally see him.

"Studying actually. And I hadn't seen you all day, I wanted to make sure you got away okay last night." While he talks he takes hold of her hand, "I take it you still have those lessons with Malfoy?"

"Yeah." Eleanor nods.

"Look, if you want I could stay, keep you company so you don't have to be alone with him or-"

"That's really nice Reg but I'll be fine, I can handle some smart ass comments myself."

The look on Reggie's face tells her he's about to insist but she doesn't give him a chance as she spots Malfoy sitting at their usual table.

"Thanks again, but I'll be fine." She turns to walk away but Reggie pulls her back.

"Come find me if you need me okay?"

"Reggie, really, I'll be fine."

She lets him kiss her lightly on the cheek before he lets go of her hand and she turns back to the table where Malfoy is waiting, a lazy smirk on his face as she approaches.

"Aww, he doesn't like me," he says, watching Reggie walk away.

"Not many people do," Eleanor replies, unsure if Malfoy was going to pretend that he hadn't seen her last night. "Can I ask something?"

"After you just insulted me? Sure." He says as he pulls his books out of his bag as though he had all the time in the world.

"Why didn't you turn me over to Umbridge? I heard you had no trouble with the other students you caught."

"Does it matter? The list had your name on it anyway," Malfoy says.

"It does matter. Because you had no way of knowing there was a list then and still you let me go."

For several minutes Malfoy is silent, flipping through the pages of his book and Eleanor thinks he might not reply.

"If I had taken you to Umbridge you might've been expelled. Who would I have to torture twice a week then and who would I have to compete with next year in alchemy?"

"So, you didn't turn me in because you want someone in your alchemy class next year? That's crap. You don't care about anyone but yourself, wouldn't being in a class alone mean more attention for you?"

"Hey I care for some people okay?" He snaps, "Now, can we move on from this? Anyone would think you wanted to be given to Umbridge to punish."

Knowing she wouldn't get any other answers out of him she nods her head, pulling her own books out of her bag, "Thank you."

"Mhm. Oh, by the way. You dropped this, well I'm pretty sure it's yours." From his bag he pulls out Eleanor's wand and hands it to her.

"Don't lose it again, I don't enjoy having to pick up after people."

"Thank you," she says again, realising she had no clue who the boy sitting across from her really was.