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May 17, 2024

Chapter 12

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (However they are very few so those under the age of 18 can still read a majority of this book. However please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

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𝕴 𝖑𝖊𝖋𝖙 𝖀𝖒𝖇𝖗𝖎𝖉𝖌𝖊'𝖘 detention with Harry, my hand burning with pain. I went up to the Gryffindor common room with him. Hermione had our bowls of murtlap solution waiting for us.

"I still reckon you should complain about this." Ron said in a low voice as Harry and I took our seats. Crookshanks leapt up on Harry's lap and he scratched his head with his left hand.

"No" Harry and I said flatly together.

"McGonagall would go nuts if she knew-"

"Yeah, she probably would. And how long d'you reckon it'd take Umbridge to pass another Decree saying anyone who complains about the High Inquisitor gets sacked immediately?" Harry asked in a dull voice.

"It's like a communist takeover!" I said in an angry voice. Harry and Ron looked at me confused but Hermione said, "That's not a bad comparison."

"You're going to have to explain that." Ron said. "Is that a Muggle term?"

I nodded. "There's only a couple communist countries: Russia, China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba. Basically, they have one person who runs the entire country and what they say goes- a dictatorship almost. Disobedience is punishable by death in some cases. Take China for instance. You can only have one child. If you have a second child, well you'd better kill it or the entire village is going to be punished for breaking the law. Historians have found wells that are filled with the skeletons of baby girls because the Chinese kill girls more than boys because boys are valued higher in their society."

Ron looked absolutely revolted and Harry was nodding his head slowly, "So the Ministry is like China and we're like a different country they're trying to take over?"

"Something like that." I said. "But more along the lines of being a state that is technically controlled by China, but had some freedoms, but now China is taking over again so they are pressing the ideals down on us harshly."

"She's an awful woman." Hermione said, coming back to the topic of Umbridge, "Awful. You know, I was just saying to Ron when you came in. . . we've got to do something about her."

"I suggested poison." Ron said in a grim voice and I laughed.

"No. . . I mean, something about what a dreadful teacher she is, and how we're not going to learn any defense from her at all." Hermione said.

"Well, what can we do about that? 'S too late, isn't it? She got the job, she's here to stay, Fudge'll make sure of that!" Ron said through a yawn.

"Well. . . you know, I was thinking today. . . I was thinking that- maybe the time's come when we should just- just do it ourselves." Hermione said in a nervous voice, shooting an even more nervous look at Harry.

"Do what ourselves?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"Well- learn Defense Against the Dark Arts ourselves." Hermione said.

"Come off it." Ron said, groaning. "You want us to do extra work? D'you realize Harry and I are behind on homework again and it's only the second week?"

"But this is much more important than homework!" Hermione exclaimed and the three of us goggled at her.

"I didn't think there was anything in the universe more important than homework." Ron said in a frightened voice, exchanging a look with Harry.

"Don't be silly, of course there is! It's about preparing ourselves, like Harry said in Umbridge's first lesson, for what's waiting out there. It's about making sure we really can defend ourselves. If we don't learn anything for a whole year-"

"We can't do much by ourselves. I mean, all right, we can go and look jinxes up in the library and try and practice them, I suppose-" Ron said in a defeated sort of voice.

"No, I agree, we've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books. We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use the spells and correct us if we're going wrong."

"If you're talking about Lupin. . ." Harry started slowly and I looked up quickly at Hermione.

"No, no, I'm not talking about Lupin. He's too busy with the Order and anyway, the most we could see him is during Hogsmeade weekends and that's not nearly often enough."

"Who, then?" Harry asked, frowning.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm talking about you, Harry."

There was a moment of silence. That made the most sense I supposed.

"About me what?" Harry asked.

"I'm talking about you teaching us Defense Against the Dark Arts." Hermione explained in apparently a simpler manner.

"That's an idea." Ron said.

"What's an idea?" Harry asked. I wondered if he could hear anything they were saying.

"You. Teaching us to do it." Ron explained.

"But. . ." Harry was grinning and I realized he thought that they were joking.

"They're not joking." I said softly, looking at him. "We want you to teach us."

"Why don't you teach?" Harry asked. "You've been with me every step of the way and you know more Elizabeth!"

I shrugged. I couldn't really debate this except by saying, "Technically, I was only there. But still, you got rid of Quirrell on your own, killed the Basilisk, got rid of the dementors, and dueled Voldemort all by yourself. Yes, Hermione, Ron, and I helped you part of the way with Quirrell but in the end, it was you. Yes, Ron and I were there for the basilisk but in the end, you're the one who killed it-"

"With you shouting instructions at me!" Harry cried, exasperated. "Listen to me!" Ron and Hermione were wearing smirks but I wasn't. "Just listen to me, all right? It sounds great when you put it like that Elizabeth, but it was all luck or you or Hermione or Ron guiding me. I didn't plan any of it, I just did whatever I could think of and I nearly always had help-"

I wished that Ron and Hermione would drop their smirks because I knew it was going to piss Harry off. "Don't sit there grinning like you know better than I do, I was there, wasn't I? I know what went on, all right? And I didn't get through any of that because I was brilliant at Defense Against the Dark Arts, I got through it all because- because help came at the right time, or because I guessed right- but I just blundered through it all, I didn't have a clue what I was doing- STOP LAUGHING!"

The bowl of murtlap essence fell to the floor. I sighed, closing my eyes.

"You don't know what it's like! You- none of you- you've never had to face him, have you? You think it's just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you're in class or something? The whole time you're sure you know there's nothing between you and dying except your own- your own brain or guts or whatever- like you can think straight when you know you're about a second from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die- they've never taught us that in their classes, what it's like to deal with things like that- and you two sit there acting like I'm a clever little boy to be standing here alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up- you just don't get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadn't needed me-"

Tears fell out of my eyes. Cedric wasn't stupid. He just wasn't prepared. If I'd just told him. . . Don't blame yourself Elizabeth. . .

"We weren't saying anything like that mate. . . We weren't having a go at Diggory, we didn't- you've got the wrong end of the-" Ron stuttered.

"Harry, don't you see? This. . . this is exactly why we need you. . .We need to know what it's r-really like. . . facing him. . . facing V-Voldemort." Hermione stuttered too. I opened my eyes in shock and stared at her. Had Hermione really used Voldemort's name?

Apparently she had because Harry seemed much calmer and he sat down. He was staring at his hand, wincing in pain. I took my hand out of my bowl and handed it to him, "Here." I said, wiping tears off my face. "Cedric. . . Cedric was brave. . ." I whispered.

"I know." Harry said.

"Well. . . think about it. . . Please?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded, looking ashamed of himself for making such a scene. I was surprised no one had come down here to see what was going on.

Hermione stood up. "Well, I'm off to bed. Erm. . . 'night." She said and headed off to the dorms.

"Coming?" Ron asked Harry awkwardly.

"Yeah. In. . . in a minute. I'll just clean this up." Ron nodded and left.

"Reparo." Harry said, pointing his wand at the bowl. He turned to me, "So. . . this teaching thing. . ."

I shrugged. "I see you eventually accepting but don't worry about it for another two weeks, okay?"

I left the room, realizing that I only had one more more night before I could take the Mandrake leaf out of my mouth.

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𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖉𝖆𝖞, I woke up, feeling startled and panicky. What was the next step for the Animagus spell? I quickly hurried to the closet I had locked and unlocked it. I collected the Dew drops and hurried then hurried back up to my dorm. I had my crystal phial that received pure moon rays and put the mandrake leaf inside of it and then added one of my own hairs.

My mouth felt so weird without the leaf in it. A sort of relief and also a sort of 'oh no, somethings missing' feeling. Then, I dropped the dew into the phial and then carefully added the Chrysalis of a Death's-head Hawk Moth to the phial as well. Then, I rushed back down the stairs to find a quiet dark place. I already had a place in mind.

I put the phial in a box and then put it in the closet that I had locked before. I put it on a bottom shelf in the very back corner. Then I locked the door again with two different spells. I was to leave it alone until the next electrical storm. I had no idea when that would be. Then, every sunrise and sunset I had to point my wand at my heart and say, "Amato Animo Animato Animagus."

The sun hadn't risen yet but the moment it did, I quickly placed my wand over my heart and said the words. Then, I hurried to breakfast and tried to forget about the box in the bottom of a locked closet.

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𝕴 𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖉 𝕼𝖚𝖎𝖉𝖉𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍 tryouts on Saturday. It looked like it was going to rain and I hoped there would be lightning. But first, I had to hope that the rain held off until Quidditch tryouts were over.

We were looking for a beater and a chaser. I still had Heidi and Malcolm, both in their seventh year. I had decided to take Cedric's place as seeker as we'd planned last year. Our Keeper was a sixth year and our beater was a sixth-year as well. It struck me weirdly that I was the youngest on the team at the moment and yet I was also the Quidditch Captain.

I thought I'd get some hate for it but Heidi seemed genuinely happy for me and said I deserved it. She helped me out with tryouts too. There were about fifteen or so Hufflepuffs that tried out for either Beater or Chaser.

In the end, I chose a boy who only went by his last name which was James to play in the Beater position. Zacharias Smith was chosen for Chaser.

"That went well." Heidi said happily at the end of the tryouts. "I thought you'd choose Daphne though, to be completely honest."

"I liked her." I admitted. "Much more than I like Smith. But he's a better player so we'll put up with him."

"What's that on the back of your hand?" Heidi asked suddenly. I stuck my hand in my pocket.

"Just don't get a detention with Professor Umbridge." I said coolly. "She'll make you right lines with a cursed quill."

Heidi shook her head. "What a witch. I can't believe you got detention already."

"Well." I said, smiling a bit sarcastically. "It was my fault."

We parted ways and I stayed outside, waiting for it to lightning. When it didn't, I gave up and went inside for dinner. Halfway through dinner, however, lightning flashed and I jumped up. Hermione gave me a peculiar look as I dashed out of the Great Hall. I fled down a flight of stairs and rushed to the closet, unlocking it.

I was trembling with excitement as I stepped into the closet. With trembling fingers, I pulled out the phial and held it up to the light. If you've done everything right then you will discover a mouthful of blood-red potion inside it. Then move somewhere where you aren't going to alarm anyone or place yourself in physical danger during your transformation.

The potion was. . . blood-red! I rushed out of the closet and tried to figure out where I wanted to do the transformation. After hesitating for a few seconds, I rushed down to the potions dungeon. No one was in there and I carefully thought of the next instructions:

Step 6: Place your wand-tip against your heart and speak. . . . . .the incantation 'Amato Animo Animato Animagus' and drink the potion. You will then feel fiery pain – lucky you – and an intense double heartbeat.

I quickly pulled out my wand and pointed it at my heart. It was pounding already. "Amato Amino Animato Animagus." I said clearly. Then I opened up the crystal phial and drank it down. It tasted like liquid brownie- much to my surprise. A burning feeling started up through my entire body and I felt the heavy, double heartbeat.

In my mind, there was the image of a cat and I latched onto it. A black cat with white paws. A black cat with white paws. A black cat with white paws. And then, I found myself much shorter than I had been before. I was also positioned weirdly, like my hands were on the floor too. I turned in a circle and caught a glimpse of a black tail with a white tip. My wand was on the floor too and with my white paws, I batted it under the desk. I pounced on my wand next and then rolled around on the floor.

I raised my paw to go in for a victorious kill when the door opened.

Professor Snape came into the room, closing the door behind him and then froze, seeing me there. I was equally still. He looked from the crystal phial and my bag on the desk to my wand under the desk and back to me. My tail was high in the air. My paw was still poised over my wand.

"Elizabeth?" He asked uncertainly.

I mewed, lowering my paw and sitting back on my haunches, tucking my tail around my paws.

He sat down in a chair. "You didn't tell me. . ."

I batted my wand towards me and mewed four times and I turned back into a human. "Well that was easier than I thought." I said out loud. Then to Severus I asked, "How cute did I look?"

He seemed to have lost his voice and finally he asked, "You became an Animagus?"

I nodded, "As long as Voldemort never finds out then I can hide-"

He was suddenly on his feet and I thought he might be upset about me using Voldemort's name- he hated when I did that. Instead, he picked me up and sat me down on the desk, making it easier to kiss me. "I always knew you were a genius." he muttered on my lips, "You taste like brownies." He added.

I was so taken aback by this reaction it took me a minute to explain what the potion tasted like. "Don't tell dad, or Sirius, or anybody." I said. "I want to surprise them, okay? "

"Sure." Severus said, not really listening. He was to busy running his fingers up and down my spine. I shivered and pressed myself tighter to him.

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𝕴 𝖕𝖆𝖈𝖊𝖉 𝕸𝖈𝕲𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖑𝖑'𝖘 classroom as a cat, waiting for her to come in. When she did come in, she didn't even notice me at first as I was sitting at a desk like a student, pretending something. When she put her bag down and looked out, her sharp eyes landed on me first.

I jumped from the table, down to where I had kept my wand. I had already practiced quite frequently so that I was getting used to the transformations and I turned back into my human form.

"Well, well. I'm impressed." Professor McGonagall said with a wry smile. "That'll be thirty points to Hufflepuff. Twenty for the transformation, ten for picking a cat. I happen to like cats."

I laughed, "Yes, I know you do."

"Now don't flaunt it Miss Kane." She added sternly. "There's a reason you're keeping this a secret."

"I know" I said, nodding solemnly. "Also, are we going to be doing private lessons this year? I understand from Professor Umbridge's speech that the Ministry doesn't seem to approve of the concept, but only Professor Snapes started lessons up again, and he only did so when I asked."

Professor McGonagall nodded, "We can't start up lessons until you ask because then we, as teachers, can say that you asked for the help and it's not favoritism. Keep that in mind if you want lessons with Flitwick too."

"Of course." I said. "I just got to figure out my schedule with Quidditch first."

"Well, you're keeping yourself out of detention, so that's something." Professor McGonagall said lightly.

"Just hope it stays that way." I mumbled. "Good night Professor."

"Good night, Miss Kane." Professor McGonagall said. I scooped my wand up off the ground. I couldn't wait until I could transform without a wand!

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𝕴'𝖉 𝖘𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊 number 127 to Sirius. I knew Hermione had the meeting set for twelve o'clock and I figured that the meeting would be over before then, which would give me plenty of time to carefully make my way up to the mountain to meet Sirius.

I had stayed behind for a few moments, debating whether or not I should pack a small lunch for Sirius and I before deciding against it. As a cat (though Severus said I was more of a kitten) I was too small to try and lug my bag up the mountain. I barely had the strength to carry my wand in my mouth as it was.

I ran to catch up with Hermione, Ron, and Harry who were talking about the letter Harry had sent to Sirius and how Filch had been tipped off that he was ordering dungbombs instead.

"He said he was tipped off you were ordering dungbombs? But who had tipped him off?" Hermione asked.

"I dunno." Harry said with a shrug. "Maybe Malfoy, he'd think it was a laugh."

"No." I said. "I think it was Umbridge, trying to figure out who you're writing to. I carry Sadie nearly all the way to the Hogwarts barrier and watch her till she's out of sight now so that Umbridge can't get into my letters."

"Where are we going anyway? The Three Broomsticks?" Harry asked as we made our way farther out of town. I saw him glance up at the mountain and then at me.

"Oh- no. No, it's always packed and really noisy." Hermione said, coming out of whatever she was thinking about, "I've told the others to meet us in the Hog's Head, the other pub, you know the one, it's not on the main road. I think it's a bit. . . you know. . . dodgy. . . but students don't normally go in there, so I don't think we'll be overheard."

"I think we're being followed." I said softly.

"By who?" Harry asked sharply.

"Dunno, I can feel it though. I think someone from the Order. . . it's a good feeling." I said, glancing over my shoulder. I don't know if I expected to see Kingsley or Tonks or who but I didn't see anyone but students.

I felt very excited about this meeting though I was also extremely apprehensive. There was someone in the Hog's Head we couldn't trust. . . now who was it?

We finally turned up a side street at the top of which stood a small inn. The sign hanging above it was battered and made of wood. The sign portrayed a severed boar's head leaking blood over a white cloth. I grimaced. The sign creaked in the wind, hanging from a rusty bracket.

"Well, come on." Hermione said in a nervous voice and pushed the door open. Harry was the first inside and I followed close behind.

The bar, in my opinion, was exactly how it should've looked. The lights were dim, the windows were grimy, there were tables stationed every which way. It smelled like some sort of barnyard animal. The people in the room were very strange as well. One was sitting at the bar, drinking a smoking drink. There were dirty gray bandages wrapping him up from head to toe. There was a witch wearing a thick, black veil sitting in the corner. I grinned. Mundungus.

"I don't know about this, Hermione. Has it occurred to you Umbridge might be under that?" Harry muttered under his breath.

"It's not." I muttered back. The bartender who I recognized from Uncle Moody's old photograph to be Aberforth, was looking at us over the bar.

"Anyway, even if Umbridge does come in here there's nothing she can do to stop us, Harry, because I've double- and triple- checked the school rules. We're not out-of-bounds; I specifically asked Professor Flitwick whether students were allowed to come in Hog's Head, and he said yes, but he advised me strongly to bring our own glasses. And I've looked up everything I can think about study groups and homework groups and they're definitely allowed. I just don't think it's a good idea if we parade what we're doing."

"No." Harry said in a dry voice, "especially as it's not exactly a homework group you're planning, is it?"

"We just have to stay away from him." I whispered, jerking my chin at the man in bandages, "I get a bad vibe from him. Probably a Ministry spy."

Aberforth came out from behind the bar and approached us, "What?" He grunted. He was nothing like his brother.

"Four butterbeers please." Hermione said. I wondered vaguely why no one else recognized him.

"Eight sickles." He said, reaching under the bar and pulling out four dirty glasses and filling them with butterbeer.

"I'll get them." Harry offered and handed over the coins. We took our butterbeers and with my encouragement, we sat in the corner near the veiled witch. I'd winked at Mundungus as we passed.

"You know what?" Ron murmured. "We could order anything we like here, I bet that bloke would sell us anything, he wouldn't care. I've always wanted to try firewhiskey-"

"You- are- a- prefect." Hermione snarled. I giggled.

"Oh, yeah. . ." Ron said and the smiled dropped off his face. I took a sip of butterbeer. It tasted about the same as the Three broomsticks so I drank the rest of it.

"So who did you say is supposed to be meeting us?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Twenty-five people if my visions are correct." I muttered. "Of course, I only saw Hermione talking to people and I talked to some extra people so it could be more than twenty-five."

"Twenty-five?" Harry asked but he didn't get a chance to add anything else because at that moment, the door to the bar opened.

Neville and Dean came in first and were followed by Lavender and the Patil twins. Then there was Cho and one of her girlfriends who's name I was pretty sure was Marietta. They were followed by Luna and then the three Gryffindor Chasers: Angelina, Alicia, and Katie. Then the Creevey brothers. Followed by them were Ernie, Justin, Hannah, and Susan to who I gave an enthusiastic wave. Then there were three Ravenclaws. I only knew Anthony Goldstein and Terry Boot. Ginny was followed closely by Zacharias Smith. Heidi and Malcolm came in too which I was pleased about. Then there were was Rose Zeller who I'd invited along with James, the newest member of our team. Rose had a brought a friend from Gryffindor whose name I had no idea. The last three were Fred, George, and Lee.

Aberforth had frozen behind the bag, looking as though he couldn't believe how many people had entered his bar.

"Hi. Could we have. . . thirty butterbeers, please?" Fred asked, "Cheers. Cough up, everyone, I haven't got enough gold for all of these."

I giggled.

"What have you been telling people?" Harry hissed at Hermione, "What are they expecting?"

"I've told you, they just want to hear what you've got to say." Hermione said in a soothing voice and then added, "You don't have to do anything yet, I'll speak to them first."

"Hi Harry!" Neville greeted him in an excited voice, sitting right in front of him. Susan and Ernie waved at me and I winked back, leaning comfortably against the wall. I was eyed the man in the bandages carefully, trying to see if he was going to be listening in. I wondered briefly if there was a charm to make people go temporarily deaf. I couldn't remember.

"Er. Well- er- hi." Hermione said, greeting the quiet crowd. "Well. . . erm. . . well, you know why you're here. Erm. . . well Harry here had an idea- I mean- I had the idea- that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defense Against the Dark Arts- and I mean really study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us"

Brilliant speech Hermione. Try not to stutter so much next time.

"Here here!" Anthony Goldstein shouted out and Hermione looked greatly relieved.

"Well, I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands. And by that-" Hermione looked over at Harry. "I mean learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just theory but the real spells-"

"You want to pass your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. too though, I bet?" The Ravenclaw that I didn't know asked.

"Of course I do." Hermione said. "But I want more than that, I want to be properly trained in Defense because. . . because. . . Because Lord Voldemort is back."

I was still even more surprised that one, she'd used his name without stuttering and two, she'd said in the public.

Marietta shrieked, slopping butterbeer down her front. Terry gave a sort of twitch. Padma gave a shiver and Neville let out a yelp. All of them, however, looked at Harry in a eager, hungry, sort of way.

"Well. . . that's the plan anyway. If you want to join us, we need to decide how we're going to-" Hermione started.

"Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?" Zacharias Smith asked rather aggressively and Heidi and I exchanged a glance. My cheeks reddened. Oh why had I let him on the Quidditch team?

"Well, Dumbledore believes it-" Hermione started.

"You mean, Dumbledore believes him." Zacharias said, nodding towards Harry.

"And me." I snapped at him and he lowered his gaze, a bit angrily. Oooh I loved being Quidditch Captain and prefect. "I foresaw it."

"Still!" Zacharias said, though he seemed to be picking his words carefully. "I think we've got a right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who's back."

"That's really not what this meeting was supposed to be about-" Hermione interjected swiftly but Harry interrupted.

"It's okay Hermione." He looked Zacharias straight in the face, "What makes me say You-Know-Who's back? I saw him. Elizabeth foresaw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you don't believe me, and I'm not wasting my afternoon trying to convince anyone."

"All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's boy back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we'd all like to know-"

I was finding it very hard to breathe. Zacharias hadn't known Cedric like I had. I had loved Cedric and here was Zacharias, throwing his name around casually with the word 'murdered'. I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry. Fred was looking at me, a worried expression on his face. I tried to reassure him, but my mouth didn't want to curve upwards.

"If you've come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can't help you. I don't want to talk about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that's what you're here for, you might as well clear out!" Harry said angrily.

"But I will." I said, my eyes flashing. "The Cup was a portkey. It transported Ced and Harry to a graveyard where Voldemort was waiting for just Harry. He didn't need Cedric, so he killed him the way that Barty Crouch Jr. disguised as Professor Moody killed the spider on the first day of class. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were ogling at me and they weren't the only ones. I was fuming mad. Zacharias was staring down at the dirty floor again.

"So. . . so like I was saying. . ." Hermione said timidly and all attention turned back to her. "If you want to learn some defense, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet, and where we're going to-"

"Is it true that you can produce a Patronus?" Susan Bones interrupted.

"Yeah." Harry said though he sounded a bit defensive about it.

"A corporeal Patronus?" Susan asked.

"Er- you don't know Madam Bones, do you?" He asked stupidly. He should've remembered the conversation between Madam Bones and I back at his trial.

"She's my auntie. I'm Susan Bones. She told me about your hearing. So- is it really true? You make a stag Patronus?"

"Yes." Harry said again.

"Blimey, Harry! I never knew that!" Lee said, impressed.

"Elizabeth can do it too!" Harry said, throwing a panicked look at me. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Of course she can." Fred said and I glared at him. Some people laughed. "But mum told Ron not to spread around about Harry. She said you got enough attention as it was."

"She's not wrong." Harry said and everyone laughed.

"And did you kill a basilisk with that sword in Dumbledore's office?" Terry asked. "That's what one of the portraits on the wall told me when I was in there last year. . ."

"Er-yeah, I did, yeah but E-" I stomped on his foot.

"And in our second year, he saved that Sorcerous Stone-" Neville said.

"Sorcerer's" Hermione hissed.

"Yes, that, from You-Know-Who." Neville said.

"And that's not to mention." Cho said and Harry, who had been trying not to look at her, was looking at her now. "all the tasks he had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last year- getting past dragons and merpeople and acromantulas and things. . ."

"Look." Harry said after a moment. "I. . . I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be modest or anything, but. . . I had a lot of help with that stuff. . ." Harry said motioning to me, Ron, and Hermione.

"Not with the dragon, you didn't." the Ravenclaw boy I didn't know said. "That was a seriously cool bit of flying."

Rose's eyes were as big as galleons considering she hadn't been here in the past years. She was also the youngest one here besides her Gryffindor friend.

"Yeah well-" Harry said.

"And nobody helped you get rid of those dementors this summer." Susan said.

"No. No, okay, I know I did bits of it without help, but the point I'm trying to make is-"

"Are you trying to weasel out of showing us any of this stuff?" Zacharias asked. I think he meant to be joking with Harry, but Ron took offense to it.

"Here's an idea. Why don't you shut your mouth?" Ron asked sharply.

"Sorry Ron, only I can bully him." I said lightly.

"Well, we've all turned up to learn from him, and now he's telling us he can't really do any of it." Zacharias said.

"Never mind, ya'll can bully him." I muttered.

"That's not what he said." Fred snarled.

"Would you like us to clean out your ears for you?" George asked pulling a shiny metal tool out of his Zonko's bag.

"Or any part of our body, really, we're not fussy where we stick this." Fred said.

I giggled and Hermione quickly regained the situation, "Yes, well. Moving on. . . the point is, are we agreed that we want to take lessons from Harry?"

There was a murmurs of 'yeses' and 'yeahs' and I felt a bit better about that.

"Right." Hermione said, looking relieved. "Well then, the next question is how often we do it. I really don't think there's any point in meeting less than once a week-"

"Hang on." Angelina interrupted and at this rate I wondered if Hermione was ever going to get to speak. "We need to make sure this doesn't clash with our Quidditch practice."

"No, nor with ours." Cho said.

"Nor ours." Zacharias added, though he wasn't Quidditch Captain, and then flinched as Fred brandished the weapon.

"I'm sure we can find a night that suits everyone, but you know, this is rather important, we're talking about learning to defend ourselves against V-Voldemort's Death Eaters-" Hermione started again.

"Well said!" Ernie barked. I had definitely thought he'd have spoken sooner. "Personally I think this is really important, possibly more important than anything else we'll do this year, even with our O.W.L.s coming up!"

"I second that." I said.

"I, personally, am at a loss to see why the Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher upon us at this critical period. Obviously they are in denial about the return of You-Know-Who, but to give us a teacher who is trying to actively prevent us from using defensive spells. . ." Ernie continued.

"Well." I said with a snort, "There's a very good reason that the Ministry gave us such a useless teacher. For one thing, the books, the lessons, her opinions, is to brainwash us to think the same. To make us all hate half-breeds like noble Centaurs and innocent Werewolves. Once we're brainwashed to think that way, we can start cracking down on Muggle-born witches and wizards. While Umbridge hasn't come out and said anything against them yet, I know that she absolutely hates Muggle-born wizards. But the main point in us not using magic, is because the Ministry believes that Dumbledore will use us as a private army to mobilize us against the Ministry so he can take over."

Almost everyone looked shocked at this news and some of the students, like Justin, Colin, and Dennis looked angry at the idea of learning to hate Muggle-born wizards.

Then Luna spoke and said, "Well, that makes sense. After all, Cornelius Fudge has got his own private army."

"What?" Harry asked.

"Yes, he's got an army of heliopaths." Luna said and I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.

"No, he hasn't." Hermione snapped.

"Yes, he has." Luna debated.

"What are heliopaths?" Neville asked.

"They're spirits of fire. Great tall flaming creatures that gallop across the ground burning everything in front of-"

"They don't exist, Neville." Hermione said in a tart voice.

"Oh yes they do!" Luna said angrily.

"I'm sorry, but where's the proof of that?" Hermione asked.

"Hem, hem!" Ginny coughed and everyone looked around in alarm and then laughed. "Weren't we trying to decide how often we're going to meet and get Defense lessons?"

"Yes." Hermione said quickly. "yes, we were, you're right. . ."

"Well, once a week sounds cool." Lee Jordan said.

"As long as-" Angelina began but Hermione interrupted her.

"Yes, yes, we know about the Quidditch." Hermione said. "Well, the other thing to decide is where we're going to meet. . ."

"We'll decide that later." I said tartly. "For now however, I know that there is something else Hermione wants everyone to do."

Everyone looked at Hermione in curiosity and she pulled out a roll of parchment. "I- I think everybody should write their name down, just so we know who was here. But I also think that we all ought to agree not to shout about what we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge- or anybody else- what we're up to."

Fred took out a quill and signed it immediately. George and Lee followed after that and I signed fourth, eager to put my name down. Some of the others, like Rose, Luna, the Creevy brothers, and Ginny followed just as eagerly.

Others however, seemed very hesitant.

"Er. . . Well. . . I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is." Zacharias said, avoiding my gaze. Ernie, however, was looking hesitant to.

"I- well, we are prefects." Ernie burst out. "And if this list was found. . . well, I mean to say. . . you said yourself if Umbridge finds out. . ."

"You just said this group was the most important thing you'd do this year." Harry reminded Ernie, who blushed.

"Ernie." I said warmly. "For one thing, Hermione isn't going to just leave the list laying around. We aren't stupid, you know that. And if I foresaw that the list was gong to be stolen, I'd intervene before it was."

"Ah, right, of course." Ernie said and promptly signed the paper. After the last person had signed- which of course was Zacharias- we stayed for a second later, feeling as though we'd signed some sort of contract which, in a way, we had.

"Well, time's ticking." Fred said, getting to his feet. "George, Lee, and I have got items of a sensitive nature to purchase, we'll be seeing you all later."

Everyone got up and left. I said good-bye to Hermione, Ron, and Harry and hurried out of Hog's Head. I set up the street. It was nearly time. I ducked behind a building and waited for a couple of seconds but no one appeared and so I took out my wand and turned into a cat. Then, I gingerly picked the wand up in my mouth and gripped it tightly and took off running.

Running as a cat and running as a person were very different. Cats were much faster and I could leap much higher. Soon, my paws were thumping on the stones and up the mountain. I turned multiple times but I didn't see anyone and I skidded into the cave.

Sirius was already there and looked up, and then frowned at the cat. Then I turned into a human and he looked at me with the utmost shocked face I'd ever seen.

"You- You're an Animagus?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"A couple of weeks now. You gave me inspiration." I said, sitting down in front of him. "How are you?"

"Good." He said though he didn't sound like it. "I've stopped giving Kreacher's orders. I've been trying to keep an eye on him too."

"I just hope it's enough." I said. I ran a hand through my hair and then Sirius frowned.

"What's that on your hand?" He asked.

I looked down and then flipped my hand over. "It's nothing really, just some writing."

"It looks like its been carved into your skin." Sirius said, reaching for my hand. I pulled it back.

"Really, Sirius, it doesn't matter." I whispered.

"So how's Hogwarts?" Sirius asked, sitting back, still frowning.

I sighed. "It could be better. I mean, it's not bad, you know? Quidditch practice and homework and class. But I miss Hagrid and I absolutely despise Umbridge. I just. . . I get so angry around her when I think about everything she's doing against Werewolves and Centaurs and Merpeople. I mean. . . It's just so frustrating and I can't do anything about it! And. . ." I hesitated and then said, "I'm scared Sirius. I'm scared you're going to get caught. I'm scared that the Death Eaters are going to come and get you. I'm scared that Dad's going to get in trouble. I'm scared for Kingsley and Tonks and Uncle Moody and Snape and everyone in the order, even Mundungus."

Sirius reached out his arms and I gratefully hugged him. "I mean, I think I'm being stupid but every time I see you, I always feel that it's the last time I'm going to see you."

"Don't worry Eilís, I'm going to be around for a very long time."

"I really hope so." I murmured. "And also, I need you to promise something."

"Oh, and what's that?"

"Don't tell dad about me being an Animagus. I want to surprise him next time I see him, okay?"

"I won't tell him if you show me what's on your hand." Sirius said lightly.

I pulled back from the hug, looking stricken.

"Is it really that bad?" Sirius asked, frowning again. I looked away and held out my hand. He took it and read it. And then he read it again and then asked in a dangerous voice, "What the hell is this? As a werewolf brat, I should learn to keep my mouth shut?"

"Well. . ." I started out hesitantly, drawing my hand back. "I got detention with Umbridge for two weeks, right? And she made me write lines and this is what she made me write. I use a cursed quill so that the line imprints on the back of my hand."

"Go to Dumbledore." Sirius said flatly.

"What is he going to do?" I asked quietly. "Professor Umbridge has every right to decide what my punishment is for detention. Harry's got the words 'I must not tell lies' carved into the back of his hand."

"Yes! But this in an insult you've got carved into your hand!" Sirius said, on his feet now. "That's like if she had Hermione writing Mud-blood over and over!"

"Sirius, you don't think I know that? But if Dumbledore tries and confronts her about it, what good is that? Especially if he gets arrested or something. And it's not like the Minister will do anything about it- he pretty much agrees with her. And Dad? If you tell dad Sirius, I will never speak to you again."

It was an empty threat.

"You really think you can keep that from him?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, I do!" I said hotly. "And I'm going to, I don't care what it takes. There's makeup, there's spells, there's gloves. He's going to blame himself for this and I don't want him to! It's my fault! I told her to shut up and that dad was 10 times the wizard she was. It's my fault, not dads and he doesn't need to know."

We were both on our feet now, glaring at each other, and Sirius finally sat down, shaking his head. "Bloody hell Elizabeth."

"I know." I said, sitting down too. "By the way, I love your hair." He'd grown out to his shoulders now and they framed his face perfectly. Maybe I just had a thing for guys with long hair. Of course, I didn't like Sirius like Severus. I wondered briefly what dad would look like if he grew his hair out that long.

"Trying to change the subject?" Sirius asked.

"Of course." I said. "And now, you're going to keep both secrets, right?"

Sirius sighed, "I don't think you're going to be able to keep it from him forever but fine. I won't tell."

"Thank you." I said. "So tell me more about the Order."

"Well... I don't know much." Sirius admitted. "We still haven't heard from Hagrid. We never found Sturgis, though I suppose you read the article?"

I nodded, "It's like they knew I'd had a vision warning you guys and then hid him."

Sirius nodded, "Dumbledore's worried about that."

"Funny, he hasn't called me into his office yet." I said. "I've usually been his office three hundred times by now." I said lightly.

Sirius laughed. "Well, he's been busy. It's hard getting news now that we're all separated too. The teachers can't come here, we can't go there. Communications extremely difficult too."

I nodded, "I think pretty soon they'll start monitoring the fires so you need to be careful if you decide to pop in again."

Sirius scowled, "I see Harry didn't come."

I hesitated and then said, "Er well, I didn't tell any of them that you were coming.... actually..."

Sirius stopped scowling and looked at me in surprise, "Why not?"

I hesitated and dragged a finger in the dirt. "Well... see... I had a feeling that I shouldn't tell Harry about me being an Animagus so I didn't want him to come... the whole point of being an Animagus was so Voldemort couldn't find me and I think somehow... I don't know how yet... but I think somehow Voldemort could find out through Harry... I just don't know how yet... I'm sorry I didn't bring him..."

"Do you think... do you think he would have come?" Sirius asked hoarsely.

But at that moment, I heard footsteps outside the cave and we both froze and jumped to our feet. I snatched up my wand and raised a finger and dashed to the entrance. It was Hermione, Ron, and Harry. I sighed in relief.

"Hey, Sirius." Harry said awkwardly. "I wasn't sure if you guys would still be here or not..." He scuffed the ground with his foot.

"Legilimens." I whispered quietly, pointing the wand at Ron's back. I could see all Ron's memories and so I was convinced that it wasn't anyone with Polyjuice potion.

We chatted for another half hour and then Sirius said, "I really should get back. If anyone from the Order finds out I was gone..."

I kissed him on the cheek and whispered, "Keep my secrets."

He nodded and kissed my cheek back and then clapped Harry on the shoulder. He disapparated with a crack and we exited the cave, making our way back to the castle.

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