Say You Won't Let Go || Bill Weasley

Thirty Two: Secrets Shared

September soon went by, and it was nearly October before Isabelle had heard much else from Hermione, Ginny, Ron, the twins, and especially Harry, outside of when she would see them during Charms or Transfiguration. She knew they were all busy, mostly with Fred and George in their seventh year and Harry being at either Quidditch practice or detention nearly every single night.

There were only a few days left in the month when Harry and Hermione showed up just as Isabelle was about to leave the empty Charms classroom before dinner to make her way home. While she desperately just wanted to go home to have some time to herself, as she had been staying late at Hogwarts pretty much every night recently, she always made time for them.

"Oh, were you about to go home?" Hermione asked, noticing Isabelle's bag on her shoulder.

"I was, but I'm not in any hurry." Isabelle said, setting her bag down and letting them in. The three sat in empty classroom chairs before Hermione started talking again.

"How come you didn't want to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts this year?" Hermione asked.

"Probably because it's cursed." Harry murmured next to her.

Isabelle shook her head. "It's not that I didn't want to, I actually offered to take up the position. Dumbledore turned me down."

"But why? Half of the other Defense professors didn't have any qualifications to teach at all and you were already here." Hermione said.

"Because he's trying to keep away any suspicion from the Ministry right now. You heard what Umbridge has been saying about keeping quiet about You-know-who. With my connection to Harry and the Weasleys, especially now that I'm engaged to Bill, it would seem like Dumbledore is trying to push the ideas even more, which he thinks could end badly for both of us. Plus, by letting the Ministry appoint a teacher, it makes him seem, I don't know, less defiant?" Isabelle explained.

"Yeah but we aren't learning anything useful!" Harry said.

"It's all theory." Hermione added. "We're just reading out of books instead of actually learning the magic because she thinks there's no reason to ever need it."

"I'm aware that her teaching methods are a bit undesirable, but I'm not sure what you guys think I can do about it. I'm not even a real teacher and if it were up to Umbridge, I wouldn't even have a job right now." Isabelle said.

"We were thinking- well, I was thinking- that maybe there could be a second Defense class after classes. I tried to tell Harry that he should teach it, but he isn't taking it seriously." Hermione said.

"I am taking it seriously, 'Mione! I said I would last time you asked, but I just don't think I'm the best person to teach it. I just need to think more about it." Harry said defensively.

"The first time was three weeks ago, after you talked to Sirius and we got Percy's letter-"

"You got a letter from Percy?" Isabelle interrupted.

Both Harry and Hermione stopped their bickering and looked at her, realizing what Hermione had said. After a moment, Hermione nodded slowly.

"He was just congratulating Ron and I for being prefects." Hermione said.

"I've written to him so many times, and I haven't heard anything back from him. As if I wasn't his best friend for years." Isabelle said, her face dropping into a frown.

"Isabelle, we-"

"It doesn't matter." Isabelle shook her head. "What does your Defense club have to do with me?"

"I was thinking that maybe you would be a better teacher than me." Harry said genuinely.

Isabelle took a moment to process his words, and Hermione took the opportunity to voice her opinion on the matter.