Rise of the Death Eaters [3]

Chapter 40: Who has the Power?

The following morning Sam and I chose to send the news to Hermione through the Gryffindor grape vine otherwise known as Ginny Weasley.

"You did what?" She reacted once I had finished explaining the situation at hand. It was after breakfast and we were outside the great hall while students were milling in and out of the entrances.

"I know," I muttered sheepishly, finding it difficult to meet Ginny's gaze. "I'll tell Hermione now. Hopefully she'll have time to help. This isn't the best day to have this problem."

"Why?" Sam asked automatically from her reserve. She had been nibbling on a muffin throughout the conversation with little effort to help me out on explaining any details.

"It was your mess so you can tell Ginny about it after breakfast"

"Harry's Quibbler article came out this morning. Hermione managed to snag Rita Skitter of all people to write the article."

"Rita skitter?" I repeated with growing alarm.

"What was the article about, exactly?" Sam asked in a different direction. Ginny chose to answer Sam.

"About clearing his name from all the rubbish going on in the daily prophet. He went into detail about what happened to Cedric Diggory last year and how Umbridge is ruining the school."

"She's not going to be happy about that," Sam chuckled, glancing into the great hall where Umbridge was still unaware to the incoming trouble. She was currently nibbling away on an English muffin dripping in marmalade.

"I suspect we have about an hour before the Quibbler is banned from the school. And when that happens, everyone is going to want a copy," Ginny explained, eyeing Umbridge from the doorway. She turned back to us expectantly. "And Hermione, no doubt, will be watched by some the Inquisitor Squad from here on out."

"So it would be a bad idea getting her involved," I concluded logically. Sam eyed me cautiously but Ginny nodded.

"Would you be able to help then?" I asked sounding desperate. "You know almost everyone." Ginny eyed me warily but didn't exactly say no on the offer.

"Let me talk to Hermione first. We may still get some ideas from her and work our way through this. Granted, Astoria isn't exactly a fool. She'll want proof that this potion's group has been going on for a while. I suspect the rest of the squad put her up to this."

"Agreed," Sam admitted to my surprise. Seeing my expression, she gave me a condescending glance. "Come on Ava, use your head. Why would Astoria get any ideas about joining this group now? What's changed?"

I didn't have to admit to it aloud. Sam and I already had a talk following what happened between Draco and myself on Valentines Day.

I exhaled slowly and lowered my gaze in defeat.

"Fine. Let's just get this fixed before the next D.A. session."

Ginny straightened automatically at the mention of the D.A. and glanced around suspiciously. Sam raised her brow at me in warning but said nothing else.