The Punch Line ~George Weasley~

S I X T E E N

Evening is now upon us, Harry is infront of the D.A. once again.

"We've been doing so well, I thought we'd work on some defensive blocking spell tonight" He says, wand in hand.

Everyone pairs up again. After what happened I was avoided. By some, not all. Lavender, Cho, the Patil twins, the ones who saw me and chased me out of the common room.

Hermione paired with me this time. Ron went with one of his brothers.

Soon everyone starts, I hear a distictive crack looking over to Harry who is talking to Dobby frantically.

"Get out of here! Now!" Harry says panicked, there is a mad rush to the door. Grabbing Harrys hands before he opens the door.

"Harry wait!" I say frantically "I'll lead her off pretend that I was following you while everyone goes out of the back" I say, he nods in response.

"Okay! Everyone make your way to the back door quickly!" He says, the whole group shifts to a door that has appeard inbetween the bookcases.

"Go!" I say, Harry starts to usher people out of the room.

Pulling open the door and closing it behind me, the door quickly fading back into brick. Hearing her heels clicking along the floor, jogging lightly in her direction.

"Professor Umbridge!" I pant trying to put on a convincing show "I saw them they were all heading towards the Library and I saw them vanish" I say, pointing back towards the way she came.

"Right!" She says, in a huff turning quickly on her heel and marched determindly towards the Library corridor.

I walk back in the direction I came, only to be stopped by two huge figures in my way.

"You may fool Umridge" Crabbe started.

"But you can't fool us" Goyle finished, they grabbed my arms. Pulling myself roughly out of their grip.

"I can escort myself to the Headmasters Office thank you very much," I grit, walking ahead of them "Touch me again and I'll jinx both of you in a heartbeat" I warn, both of them on either side of me. Keeping their distantace, slightly fearful about what I said.

////////\\\\\\\\

Entering Dumbledore's Office my eyes land on Harry and Umbridge along with a collection of people. Proffesor McGonagall, Cornelius Fudge, Kingsley Shacklebolt, another Auror and Percy Weasley.

My, and everyone else's, least favourite Weasley child.

He was just so-stuck-up.

"You may be High Inquisitor of this school, Professor Umbridge, but kindly do not manhandle my students" Dumbledore says, I'm placed by Harry. A look of horror spreads across Umbridge's face.

Fudge looks pleased. He claps his hands and rubs them excitedly.

"Well, well, well, Mr.Potter! Ms.Walker! I expect you both know why you're here ?" Fudge asks, looking at the both of us.

"I'm not that sure" I answer, looking at Harry.

"Not really, no" Harry answers, looking back at me. The same smirk, at the edges of our lips.

"You don't ? You haven't broken any school rules ?" Fudge asks, looking at the both of us.

"I don't think so do you Harry ?" I ask, looking over to him.

"School rules ? No" Harry answers, the smirk fading but a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Or Ministerial Decrees ?" He asks, trying to get us to say what he wants to hear.

"No, sir" I reply, looking at him.

"Not that I know of" Harry says cluelessly.

Umbridge opens the door again, leading Marrietta, Cho's friend, into the room. Her eyes are red, from crying and her face is covered in pimples forming the word 'SNEAK'.

"I'm afraid the poor girl is unable to speak. But I shall tell you what has transpired," Umbridge pauses, a sly grin on her face "Shortly after dinner she came to me and said that if I went to the Room of Requirement I would find an illegally-formed student group," She pauses "It was at the time that this hex took affect," She says, gesturing to Marietta's face. "Since I had received information some time ago that Potter and a number of other students had met in the Hog's Head to start an illegal group-"

"I'm not sure that's true, Professor" Dumbledore says plainly interupting her.

"I'm sorry ?" She questions, looking at Dumbledore.

"In point of fact, when young Potter met those students it was not illegal" Dumbledore speaks.

"But two days later, Educational Decree Twenty-Four was introduced" Umbridge says. trying to find a plausiable reason to punish us.

"Again, quite correct. However, I wonder if you have any evidence that proves this group has been meeting since then ?" Dumbledore asks, Harry and I stand in stunned silence.

"I have a witness right here!" Umbridge exclaims, pointing towards Marietta.

"Correct, again. I must confess that I was, however, under the impression that this young girl only told you a meeting was going on tonight" Dumbledore says directly adressing her.

"Let's ask her, shall we ?" Umbridge asks, looking towards Marietta "You can shake your head for an answer, dear. Now, have there been more meetings ?" She urges.

Marietta, slowly, still staring at the wall shakes her head. Harry and I both share a look of triumph on our faces.

"What do you mean by shaking your head, girl ?" Umbridge asks, shocked and angered at the same time.

"I would think that she was saying that there have been no other meetings. Would that be correct ?" Dumbledore asks her, she looks at him pleadingly nodding her head.

"But what about Potter ? He was the leader, and has been-" Umbridge starts but to her astonishment, Marietta is shaking her head "Then Walker must be-" She shakes her head again.

"Why are you shaking your head, girl ?" Umbridge asks, foaming from the mouth.

"It usually means 'no', Dolores" McGonagall says simply.

Umbridge grabs Marietta by the cloak and shakes her roughly.

Dumbledore stands, he draws his wand and points it towards Umbridge.

"Again, I cannot have you manhandling my students, Proffesor Umbridge" Dumbledore speaks, anger in his voice. The whole room is shaken.

Umbridge laughs softly.

"My apologies, Headmaster. I forget myself" Umbridge says, letting Marietta go.

"Well, what about the metting tonight ?" Fudge asks concerned, looking at Dumbledore for an answer.