Unity & Perseverance

A Mysterious Saturday Evening

A/N: Next Chapter: More friendships are made, and Umbridge starts her dictatorship of the school by introducing the first of her Educational Decree's.

Dorea was the first one awake in the girls dormitory on Monday morning, which she disliked quite a bit, as she normally slept in a bit longer. She stared for a while at the tiny particles of dust she could see floating about in the morning sunlight, before she quietly got dressed and sorted her work out.

Checking her timetable, she had double History, Double Potions, Ancient Runes, and double Defence, which she was dreading, especially since Umbridge had physically restrained her and basically said how much of a failure she was. The woman now haunted her dreams because of it. However, this week was already looking to be better than the last, as she would have no detentions, not if she could help it. Her hand was slightly beginning to heal up, and it cramped less now.

At breakfast, she came down and realised that Harry was already in the Great Hall, and was sitting not at Gryffindor table, but Ravenclaw. He was talking to Luna Lovegood, the girl they'd met on the train.

She sat down with them. "Gosh, are we even allowed to sit at other house's tables?" Dorea wondered as she nodded hello at the fourth year Ravenclaw.

"I don't even care if we're not - if people from all house's can join my club, then surely I can sit and talk to them." Harry said. Luna was reading a magazine upside down.

"How have your classes been, Luna?" Dorea asked politely.

"Not so bad, though Tuesdays are the worst. Today I've got Transfiguration, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, double Herbology, and Charms." Luna said, stowing her magazine away. The girl looked at Dorea. "Your father is a good teacher by the way. Though a lot of the girls seem to fancy him."

Harry smirked, whilst Dorea forced a smile. "Oh, yeah, he's brilliant."

More people started arriving gradually. Dorea noticed plenty of people were staring at her and Harry for not sitting at their own table, but she couldn't tell if they were impressed or not. Anthony Goldstein soon came down, and was amazed at them. "Breaking house boundaries, I like it."

They grinned. "House unity and all that." Harry replied, laughing.

"Feel free to sit with me and the others at any time," Anthony said, as he sat down further down the table. They both nodded at him.

They were talking to Luna about the Junior DA group, which was starting up tonight, when they heard a " Hem-hem," from behind them.

Dorea felt herself fill with dread as her and Harry turned around. It was Professor Umbridge. "I do not think this is your house table, Mr Potter, Miss Black."

"It's hardly illegal to mix and mingle with other people, Professor." Harry said, a bit bitterly.

"You will return to Gryffindor table this instant, or we will have another week of seeing each other for detention." Umbridge instructed in her stupid sickly-sweet voice. Harry and Dorea shared a look, and admitted defeat. They said a quick farewell to Luna before they grabbed their plates and bags and took their seats at Gryffindor table. Hermione, Ron and Amelia were there.

"Who does she think she is?" Ron said, as he glared at the woman's back.

"She's just actively discouraged inter-house cooperation!" Hermione was mouthing the woman off.

Over at Slytherin table, Malfoy and his gang were guffawing amongst themselves, and were very clearly on Umbridge's side. They elected to just ignore them.