black and white ✰ g.w.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

As it turned out, Olivia and her friends didn't have to wait long to find a solution to the Umbridge problem. One evening in the common room, they were all approached by Hermione and Arabella.

"What do you want?" Fred asked his sister.

"Can't you see we're busy?" George asked.

"You're not even doing anything. You're just sitting there," Arabella said. "Besides, I think you'll be interested in what we have to say."

"Spit it out, then," said Fred.

"We don't have all night," said George.

Rolling her eyes and exchanging a look with Hermione, the two girls lowered their voices.

"How do you feel about Umbridge's teaching?" Hermione asked them.

All at once, the six seventh-years began to list off everything they disliked about Professor Umbridge.

"So we're safe in assuming that if presented with the opportunity to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts properly, you'd take it?"

"Of course," Angelina said.

"As long as it's not Umbridge teaching," Lee said.

"The whole point is that it's not Umbridge," Arabella said. "Harry will be teaching us."

"Harry?" they all questioned.

"Yes, Harry. You all know about the stuff he's done, right?"

"Of course we do," Alicia said. "We pay attention."

"Just not in class," Fred said.

"He doesn't speak for all of us," Angelina said.

"Cool, I don't care. Listen," Arabella said, getting impatient, "there's going to be a meeting at the Hog's Head Inn during our first Hogsmeade visit. If you're interested in learning how to defend yourself instead of just memorizing theories, be there."

After a moments silence, Hermione said, "Well, I think that covers it." She and Arabella stood up. "Hope to see you there."

Once the girls had left them, George complained, "Does it have to be during Hogsmeade?"

"Why? Did you have plans?" Olivia asked.

"Yes."

"Well, now you have more."

As was always the plan, the six of them went into Hogsmeade together on the first weekend of October. They stopped by Zonko's Joke Shop first to purchase a few things and then made their way to the Hog's Head.

"Dodgy little place, isn't it?" Lee said as they stood outside of the building before entering.

"I suppose that's why they chose to have the meeting here," Olivia said. "No one's going to come here if they don't have a reason, are they?"

Upon entering the small pub, they saw more of why it wasn't a common place to gather. It looked like no one had tried to clean it in a very long time. Olivia quickly got out her wand to clear the dust off of a chair before sitting down on it.