Edith
I thought the first meeting was brilliant. It sounded like this defensive magic group was going to be extremely practical, the complete opposite of Umbridge's lessons. I was really looking forward to the first official meeting and getting started.
However, he next day the large notices with the Ministry of Magic logo returned to all of the notice boards. This time, they read bore a different message.
Educational Decree No. 24
All student organizations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded. An organization, society, team, group or club is defined as having a regular meeting of three or more people. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor.
Cho and I exchanged a worried look in the common room after we had both read the notice.
'She must know,' I whispered as we discussed it in a quiet corner of the common room while other students gathered around the notice. 'Why else would she make a decree like that?'
'I told you this was a bad idea,' Marietta whined. She hadn't been keen at all on sighing her name to the parchment the day before and had wasted no time in complaining about it on the walk back up to the castle.
'We don't know she knows,' Cho said. 'It's not like Harry's going to waltz up to her office and ask permission to have a group that learns proper Defense Against the Dark Arts.'
'He's going to have to be careful, that's for sure.' I said.
'Are you still interested?' Cho asked nervously.
'Of course I am!' I assured her. 'I signed the parchment, didn't I?'
Marietta, on the other hand, didn't look nearly as confident in her decision.
'What are you lot whispering about?' Mia approached us having just come down the steps from the dormitory.
'The new educational decree,' I nodded towards the notice. 'It's a bit odd, isn't it?'
Mia squinted over the head of the other students to read the notice.
'That's really strange,' she agreed. 'Why is she suddenly banning all groups?'
'Probably because she can't stand not knowing absolutely everything that goes on in this castle.' Cho said with a frown.
'Doesn't that mean you'll have to get permission for the Quidditch team?' Mia asked.
'Oh no!' Cho exclaimed. 'I have to find Roger!'
At that, she hurried out of the common room.
'Strange,' Mia repeated. 'Well, you ready for breakfast?'
'Aye,' I answered, my stomach clenching at the thought of eating like it usually did. The three of us followed Cho out of the common room and down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Marietta and I exchanged nervous looks as we entered the Great Hall, already there were students from the Hog's Head gathering around Potter. Not enough to draw much attention, but enough that it was making me nervous.
'Edith, could I have a word?' George Weasley stopped me right before we entered the Great Hall. I hadn't seen him in the corridor, he must have been just inside the Great Hall. He was alone again today, but I could see Fred and Lee sitting at the Gryffindor table with their heads together.
'Aye, alright,' I nodded. I gestured for Mia and Marietta to continue on their way. George led me to the other end of the Great Hall, there was nobody here but the din of the hall was loud enough that we weren't likely to be overheard.
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The Healer | Part 1: The Hogwarts Years
Fanfic'You're not weak,' he turned so he was facing me again. 'You're not. Fifth-year is hard enough without a near-death experience. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for.' Edith Falconer is entering her fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witch...