Don't Act Like You Know Me

Year 5 - Helpless

Hermione awoke in the morning. It seemed as if all her other bunkmates had already gone to breakfast. She got dressed and stumbled down the stairs, uncoordinated. She picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet that always appeared in the mornings. Her eyes widened and she immediately stormed down to the Great Hall. Ron and Harry were already down there. Ron was stuffing his face with food. "I cannot believe it!" she said as she sat down next to the boys. She slapped the paper down on the table.

Ron read, "'Ministry Passes Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three: Dolores Umbridge Appointed Hogwarts High Inquisitor'?" Ron looked up fretfully. "What does that mean?" 

"It says here that the High Inquisitor has the power to inspect all of the teachers."

"You're kidding!" Harry groaned.

"That's not all. The High Inquisitor also has the power to sack teachers as well." 

Fred and George approached the group. "So, seen the news, have you?" Fred asked.

"Personally, I envy you three," George said.

"Why's that?" Ron asked.

"Umbridge is inspecting McGonagall in your period. That old toad won't know what hit her," George laughed. "Oh, to be a youth again, to experience the innocent glee of watching Umbridge be destroyed by the greatest Head of Gryffindor this century."

"Well, we'll expect a full report later," Fred said.

"Complete with facial expressions." The twins wandered off.

"Well, our first class of the day is Divination," Ron said. 

"Mine is History of Magic," Hermione said. She winked at Ron. Ron nodded back.

"What are you two on about?" Harry asked.

"Nothing," Hermione said. Ron and Hermione had come up with a plan to teach themselves Defense Against the Dark Arts. They didn't tell Harry about it since they figured he wouldn't agree to it. But if they gathered up people, how could he say no to all of them? Hermione spent almost the entire class not paying attention whilst recruiting people for the plan and telling them to meet at the Hog's Head. 

After class, she met up with Harry and Ron. "Want to go to Hogsmeade, you two?"

"Yes," Ron said.

"Alright, I'll do my homework later," Harry said. They traipsed out the gates of the school and into Hogsmeade. When they passed the Three Broomsticks, Harry spoke up. "Where are we going, Hermione?" She didn't say anything and led them to the end of the alley. In front of them was a little rundown looking pub with a sign above it that said 'The Hog's Head'. 

"There we are," Hermione said.

"'The Hog's Head', Hermione?"

"Come on, I'll explain in a minute." They stepped into the pub and almost all of it was empty aside from one corner that was highly crowded with students. Hermione had recruited Dean, Ginny, Fred, George, Neville, Lavender Brown, Pavarti, Padm, Cho, Luna, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevey, Ernie MacMillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Terry Boot, Lee Jordan, Zacharius Smith, and Susan Bones.

"Hermione, what's going on?" Harry asked.

"These are some people I mentioned my Defense Against the Dark Arts idea with." Hermione sat down in front of the crowd and Ron did as well. Harry was reluctant.

"You mean about us teaching ourselves?" he sat down slowly.

"Hey Harry," Neville said.

"Hi Neville."