Obliviate My Rebellion {Book 3}

18. The new educational degree

I woke up the Monday after Hogsmeade, feeling much happier than I had done in ages. Everything seemed to be somewhat falling into place in this screwed up start of war stage.

I wasn't having nightmares about Jenna, Kayley or Cedric not nearly as frequently now. Slowly, I was starting to come to term with their deaths--and that I could remember them without crying. Cole and Sam seemed to be miraculously re-building their friendship; and Cole had stopped drinking.

The dizzy feeling of genuine happiness filled me up so much, I didn't even complain when I choked down my anti-depressants.

Hermione, Gennie and I were just about to leave the dorm, when a loud klaxon-like sound wailed outside. We exchanged looks. That noise only happened if a boy was trying to climb the stairs up to the dormitry--as Cole had learned all too well just after him and Gennie got together.

The stairs would turn into a slide, sending the boy right down to the end of the stairs. "Five galleons says that's Cole." I said to Gennie.

"That reminds me! You still haven't given me the five galleons from our Christmas bet!"

"What bet?" Hermione asked curiously.

Last year, Gennie had bet me five galleons that I would admit my love to Draco before Christmas. "I don't need to give you anything!" I scowled. "I admitted it on Christmas, not before!"

"Technicality!" Gennie sang. "I meant until boxing day!"

"Well you need to be more specific next time." I grumbled, pulling the money out of my pocket. "Write a contract or something, geez."

We exited the dormitory, to see in fact Ron comically sliding down instead of Cole. Gennie shot me a triumphant smile, and I passed her another five galleons begrudgingly.

“The girls are allowed in our dormitory, how come we’re not allowed -?” Ron was whining.

The three of us took the slide down to the common room, which was actually much safer and fun than the death trap stairs that were usually there.

"Well we don't go into the boys dormitories out of choice." Cole said, helping Gennie up from the floor as she slid onto the rug. "We could sleep other places you know." he paused. "Just sleep."

"You know, if you keep saying you're both just sleeping, nobody is actually going to believe you." I said, awkwardly getting up from the floor.

“Well, it’s an old-fashioned rule,” said Hermione, getting us back on track with the conversation. “but it says in Hogwarts A History, that the founders thought boys were less trustworthy than girls. Anyway, why were you trying to get in there?” 

 “To see you - look at this!” said Ron, dragging her over to the noticeboard.

We followed, and I looked at the new clearly school regulated notice on the board. It completely covered Fred and George's testing advertisements, and Neville's lost poster for Trevor.

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.