Unexpected | Bill Weasley

~24~ Dumbledore's Army

Soon it was time to go back to Hogwarts. We went on the Knight Bus, which I've always hated. I was glad when we got off the bus. We bade Remus, Tonks and Bill goodbye and went up to the castle.

Term was stressful with the O.W.L's and N.E.W.T.'s coming up, but it was boring otherwise. Well, Umbridge sacked Trelawney and humiliated her in front of the whole school. Minnie and I comforted Trelawney while Dumbledore confronted Umbridge and showed her the new Divination teacher, a centaur named Firenze, who was banished from the Forbidden Forest.

After that was a bit calmer, until one day, as I was marking some homework, Minerva barged into my office.

"Minnie what's-?"

"The Minister is here Fawn!"

I stood up. "What? Why?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but something about a secret meeting."

We rushed up to Dumbledore's office. When we reached the gargoyle, I said "Fizzing Whizzbee" and the gargoyle sprang aside. We ran up the stairs and and hurried through the door. I saw Dumbledore sitting behind his desk. The minister, Cornelius Fudge, was standing against the wall looking pleased. I saw another man with short wiry hair that I recognized as John Dawlish, an Auror. Kingsley was also there, but we ignored each other even though we had become close friends. We knew that it would look highly suspicious to Fudge. Percy was also there looking excited while holding a large roll of parchment and a quill.

"Hello Minister," I greeted.

"Starling," he said, nodding slightly.

"Hi Percy," I said.

Looking up, Percy frowned. "Oh, hi." he said before looking back down.

I felt my heart clench, not daring to believe that Percy, who I was once able to call a younger brother, would ignore me so. But I was shaken out of my thoughts when the door opened and Umbridge walked in, gripping Harry tightly.

Fudge smirked. "Well, well, well..."

"He was heading back to Gryffindor tower," Umbridge said. "The Malfoy boy cornered him."

No, not Draco. I thought

"Did he?" said Fudge. "I must remember to tell Lucius. Well Potter, I expect you know why you're here?"

"Ye-no." Harry said.

"I beg your pardon?" said Fudge.

"No," said Harry, firmly this time.

"You don't know why you're here?"

"No, I don't." said Harry.

Fudge looked from Harry to Umbridge. I noticed Dumbledore giving Harry a slight nod and a wink.

"So you have no idea," said Fudge sarcastically. "Why Professor Umbridge has brought you here? You are not aware that you have broken any school rules?"

"School rules?" asked Harry. "No,"

"Or Ministry Decrees?' Fudge said angrily.

"Not that I'm aware of." said Harry.

"So it's news to you that an illegal student organization as been found within this school?"

"Yes it is," said Harry, his face innocent.

"I think Minister," said Umbridge. "we might make better progress if I fetch our informant."

Fudge nodded. "Yes, yes please do."

Umbridge left, and after a few minutes of painful silence, Umbridge returned with a Ravenclaw student Marietta Edgecombe, who was hiding her face with her hands.