The Girl who lived

Chapter 17

The next few months went by fast. Let me fill you in. We've spent almost every day practising with the DA. Filch started to get suspicious but the twins scared him off with some of their pranks. Fred and I were still taking a break from each other but still hanging out together for George's sake. Harry pretends he's doing fine but I can see that something's bothering him and I'm getting a little worried about it. And Umbridge has gotten even worse. She had made up more stupid rules and it's pretty obvious she knows we're up to something. Earlier this day she had put up a sign that said 'All students will submit to questioning about suspected illicit activities.' So here we are, waiting for our professor to question us. I just hope no one says anything about the DA. 

"Miss Potter? You can come in." I hear Umbridge say, so I stand up and go to her office. "Would you like a coup of tea?" She asks kindly, too kindly. I don't bother to say anything instead, I shake my head. "You've been a little bit of a troublemaker in the past, I understand. Something you have in common with your brother." She starts but I keep my mouth shut. "Only your misbehaviour is just harmless little jokes while your brother his behaviour is rather disturbing. Am I correct?" She asks in her high-pitched voice but still I refuse to answer. "Miss Potter if you're not willing to participate I'm afraid I'll have to try again tomorrow." She warns me. "All right," I speak up. "You want me to answer. Fine, I'll give you an answer." I say as I turn to look at her. "I don't find my brother's behaviour to be disturbing. I also find this whole questioning a waste of your and our time. If some illicit activities are going on, which I don't believe is happening, I doubt anyone participating in it will tell you anything about it. It's also quite upsetting me that you start by asking about my brother, if you're that sure that Harry's up to something you should ask him because most of the time we don't know what he's up to either." I said before standing up. "As for my behaviour, you'll find out sooner or later what I am capable of, professor," I say with a mischievous grin playing on my lips and before she can say or ask anything else I leave her office."How'd go with Umbridge?" George asks as soon as he sees me walking out of her office. "It was fun, I think we should do this more often," I say with the same grin I had a few seconds ago. "Come on, let's go eat. I'm starving." I suggest as I was already starting to make my way to the Great Hall.

"What did you say to Umbridge?" My brother asks as he joins us for lunch. "George and I tried to sell her some candy," Fred answers. "She wasn't interested but we left some in her office." George continues. "Yhea, bet she'll be surprised when she eats them," Fred says to his brother and they both start laughing at the thought. "Not you," Harry says before looking at me. "You!" He points at me. "Me?" I ask in shock. "Yhea you, I just got back from her and she told me my sister said some very interesting things about my behaviour." He says looking quite angry. "Well yhea she asked me about your 'disturbing behaviour' and I said I didn't think it was disturbing," I answer, not understanding what's bad about what I said. "What else did you say?" Harry asks. "Nothing much. I said I didn't like the fact that she was accusing you of anything and that if she wants answers on what you've been up to she should ask you." I answer. "What else did you say, Bella?" Harry says starting to get angry as I didn't say what he wants to hear. "Nothing, I stormed off after that," I answer but Harry slams his fist against the table before I can finish the sentence. "Why are you angry at me?" I ask him, trying not to yell. "Because Umbridge is watching us." He answers, his voice barely above a whisper. I looked over at the teacher's table, seeing how Umbridge was indeed looking at us with a little smile on her lips. "Meet me in your room in about an hour and stay mad as long as she's looking." He said before getting up and leaving the Great Hall. "What is he up to?" I ask my red-headed friends and they both respond with a small 'I don't know.' 

An hour later, I went to my brother's room as he had instructed me to. I open the door to see that Hermione and Harry are waiting for me. "Good, you're here. Hermione," Harry says as I enter and before I let Hermione say what she has to say I speak up. "I'm sorry, Hermione. But can I please have a chat with my brother in privet?" I ask the girl. "Bella now is not the time." My brother starts but I interrupt him. "No, I want to know what that was in the Great Hall, Harry," I say. "I can explain that, but first you need to listen to Hermione," Harry argues. "I want an explanation first," I demand, crossing my arms. "Blimey Bella, just listen to her," Harry says and before either of us could say anything Hermione got in between us. "That's enough, both of you." She says looking at my brother and me and we both keep quiet. "Bella, what happened in the Great Hall was my idea. After Harry's questioning, it was obvious that she was trying to set him up against you. We knew you wouldn't say anything bad about Harry and it was clear that Umbridge tried to convince him you did." Hermione explains. "Why would she want to set him up against me?" I ask. "We think she knows that whatever she thinks is going on, has something to do with the two of you." She starts. "So by setting us up against each other," My brother continued. "She thinks one of us will tell what the other's been doing behind her back," I complete in realisation. "Exactly." My brother says. "So what we just have to pretend that we're fighting?" I ask. "Yhea and because we both don't go to her with information," Harry starts to explain. "She'll back off and leave us alone." I realise. "That's brilliant." I compliment Hermione, assuming she's the one who came up with the plan.