The Art of Dying

Chapter Nineteen: Animagi and Heads in Fires

Erica's raised spirits lasted for the entire weekend after the Hogsmeade trip, and she felt glad that it seemed they were finally fighting back against Umbridge, even if it was in such a small way as this. She spent much of Sunday working on the warding system of Hogwarts, and even made a trip down to the edge of the grounds to try and get a feel of them as the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, and she felt she was finally making grounds with trying to unravel them, so much so, in fact, that she sent a letter to Jeremy requesting to meet him during the next Hogsmeade weekend, though she mentioned nothing of the wards or her Animagus projects in fear that the letters were being watched.

It was as though everything was suddenly going right for her, so it was that evening that she used the Marauders Map to steal her way into the Room of Requirement and brew the potion that would allow her to see her Animagus form. She followed every step painstakingly before she remembered it had to be left to simmer for twenty-four hours, and returned to the common room with a happy, but tired, smile on her face.

"Meeting up with Fred again?" Draco raised his eyebrow as she flopped down next to him, shifting over slightly so that they were more comfortably squeezed onto the sofa together.

"No," she sighed, resting her head against his shoulder. "I had some work I had to do, and it went pretty well. I think I'm finally getting somewhere with all of this."

"You've been doing a lot of work lately," he frowned lightly down at her even as he shifted so his arm was resting around her shoulders instead of digging into her side, tucking her more easily against him. "And I mean outside of homework. What are you up to?"

"It's a surprise," she murmured, eyes already falling closed as the gentle murmur of the common room lulled her into a state of drowsiness.

"I take it I'm not allowed to know where you disappeared this afternoon then, either?" he murmured against her hair, pressing a short kiss to the top of her head.

"You'll find out soon enough," she attempted a shrug and failed, before adding on, "Probably."

Her successes the day before and the potential for another good day kept her in such high spirits that she hardly noticed the crowd of people gathered around the noticeboard when she headed down from the dormitory that morning. That is, she hardly noticed them until Draco snagged her arm and dragged her to the front of the crowd, motioning to the board with wide eyes.

A large sign had been affixed to the Slytherin noticeboard; so large it covered everything else on it- the lists of second-hand spellbooks for sale, the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training timetable, the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog Cards for others, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends and the lost and found notices. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature.

BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS

All student organisations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An organisation, team, group or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three of more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No student organisation, society, team or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the Hugh Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organisation, society, team, group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four.

Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor