~ Chapter 15 ~

I can't live without

knowing how you feel

know if this is real

tell me

am I mistaken

cause I don't have another heart for breaking

Heartbeats – by Amy Diamond

(Last Time...)

"I am sorry dear. But to question my practices is to question the Ministry, and by extension the Minister himself." The Pink Bridge spoke as if scandalized. "I am a tolerant women, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty." Minerva took a step down much like a step back in shock.

"Disloyalty?" The Thing took a step higher and addressed the growing crowd. "Things at Hogwarts are much worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action."

The Pink Thing made a prissy noise before continuing on to her office. Minerva stood still for a few seconds before storming off. She met my eyes before rounding the corner. I could tell what she was trying to communicate when our eyes met. 'Meet me when you can.'

(The Great Hall)

[Hermione]

I walked into the Great Hall from Breakfast. I was starving. Scanning the table I spotted my usual seat next to my boys. I started to make my over when I noticed something different from the norm. There was a Ravenclaw girl sitting next to Ginny today. She had gorgeous blonde hair that went well with her house colors. She was reading a magazine... upside-down? I sat across from the strange yet beautiful girl and next to my boys.

"And who have we here Ginny?" I asked, motioning toward the girl on her left.

"Oh, this is Luna Lovegood. Luna lives pretty close to The Burrow. We used to play together a lot. A lot of people think she's weird so I invited her to sit with us from now on." Ah, I see. Poor thing.

"Hello Luna. My name is Hermione Granger." I said, holding out my hand. The girl finally looks up from her reading and turns her eyes to look at me.

"Hello! It's nice to meet you! I've heard a lot about you. It seems like the wrackspurts and the nargles are respectful of you. You must be quite powerful" She said as she scanned the open air around my body. I looked at her shocked. She knew of such things? Even I couldn't see them. A special spell needs to be cast to even sense their presence. No one outside the elite even know of the spell. What a remarkable girl. Does this girl have a gift?

"Oh, Luna stop that! I know your dad writes about this stuff all the time but this is why people think you're weird!" Ginny told her friend. I could tell that Ginny thought her weird but had accepted it a long time ago.

"Don't worry Ginny. I don't think her weird at all." I told her as I smiled at Luna. I winked at her. Luna's eyes lit up. She knew that I believed her.

"Oh! I think me and Ms. Granger will get along just fine." Luna said to her longtime friend.

"Is that so?" Ginny said cautiously. It seemed like Ginny got over her worry for Luna and now saw her as a threat. I laughed to myself. Ginny, Ginny, Ginny. You're cute but I have all that I need in my relationships.

Breakfast came and went way too quickly. Pink Bridge was my next class. Urg. Little, but not so little, bitch. Sigh.

"Time for class boys."

"I really hate that class. I could learn more from a book written by a 10 yr old." Harry complained.

"I know. Umbridge isn't teaching us anything. And it doesn't look like anything's going to change any time soon."

"Hey, Herm? I think you would teach the class a whole lot better." Ron said.

"Yeah! That's right. You were in the Triwizard Tournament. You could teach us!" Harry exclaimed.

"Me? I mean I do know a lot but Umbridge would have a fit."

"She doesn't have to know. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are fed up with that class. Come on Hermione! You can help us prepare for anything."

I do know a lot. Not just cause I was in the tournament but because I am a Meniscus. I don't really want to do anything of the sort but I could help a lot of people this way. I don't want anybody to get hurt.

"Fine but we need to find a place to meet in secret and a way to tell people about this while keeping it a secret."

"Don't worry Mione we got this. We'll tell people about whats going on. No one will dare say anything. Everyone hates Umbridge."

Oh boy. What have I gotten myself into.

(The Thing's class)

".... And that's why wands are so important and we must never lose them." Class was finally over. And I learned absolutely nothing. I learned this before I could even talk. The class cleaned up and walked gratefully to the door.

"Not you Ms. Granger. Detention." What?

"Again? I just had detention!"

"I didn't say how long you will have it for. I decided two days of detention will be more than adequate." Sit down. The Pink Thing flicked her wand and warded the doors so no one could enter. She placed the Blood Quill and piece of parchment on my desk.

"Begin" Pink Cow.

I began to write lines on the piece of parchment. My hand stinging the more I wrote. This went on for about ten lines before she stood and walked toward the door.

"I have a other things to attend to. I'll bring someone in to watch you for the remainder of your time." She sent a spell out the door and not long after, a woman walked in.

"You called, High Inquisitor?" The woman asked politely if not reluctantly. The Cow had aurors patrolling the school. An abuse of power if I ever saw one.

"Yes. You will watch this student until the end of the hour for their detention. I have other things to attend to." She sniffed before leaving. I continued my lines. My hand was starting to numb. Stupid Cow.

The auror made her way over to me to look what I was doing. Her bright pink hair changed from orange to red in a matter of seconds.

"Stop, stop! Is that a bloody Blood Quill!?" I smiled. This seemed like a good person, unlike some people.

"It is. Umbridge thought this would get her point across." I said.

"Bloody harpy! Put that down! You don't have to do that while I'm here."

"Thank you. I'm Hermione." I said, holding my hand out for the second time that day.

"Wotcher! Names Tonks. Never call me by my first name." She said while shaking my uninjured hand.

"Let's get out of here ya? That hand needs to be looked at." Tonks helped me to stand and we made our way down the empty hall way.

(Infirmary)

"Again!?" Madam Pomfrey rushed over to me and looked over my injury. My cut had reopened and was deeper than before.

"Minerva would want to know about this." She said. But before she could do anything the infirmary doors flew open again.

"That Cow!" I laughed despite my pain. That's what I said.

"I'm fine professor. Auror Tonks here helped me before it got too bad." I grabbed onto the auror's shoulder as she stood next to my cot. Minerva walked over to the auror and swept the surprised girl into a quick hug.

"Thank you! I can't stand what that Pink Cow does to my students."

"Of course. I couldn't let anything like that happen to anybody. I can't believe she would even dare use a Blood Quill."

"I know. Thank you Nymphradora. Andy will be proud." Tonks hair wavered in color.

"Minerva, please. Just Tonks."

"Of course, dear."

Madam Pomfrey finished fretting over me and told me to rest for a little while the blood replenishing potion did its work. She went to her office to do some work.

"I have something that I could use you're help with." I said to the two women in front of me.

Both looked toward me and lifted an eyebrow. I explain what the boys and I planned to do and both thought it over thoughtfully.

"It seems like a great idea. The students need to be able to defend themselves. We are in dark times. I'll see what I can do." Minerva said.

"I'm in! I hate that Cow. I'll do whatever you need me for." I thanked them both.

"We'll need a place to practice in secret and maybe if Tonks can supervise. Just in case. We are going to be learning new spells."

"Of course, sounds like a plan!" Tonks smiled and clapped a hand on my shoulder.

"I think I know the perfect place. I'm sure you know of the Room of Requirement?"

"I do" I said.

"Very well. That will be a great place. Now we just need a way to communicate and get people there."

"Leave that to me." I said with a grin. Everything's turning out great. More allies for the cause.

We're just getting started.

(The Room of Requirement)

I was standing in the middle of the repurposed room and watched student trickle in. Seems harry and Ron did a good job of rounding people up. I waited about ten minutes after the appointed time before speaking.

"Hello. My name is Hermione and I will be the one teaching this 'class'. I am tired of Umbridge holding us back. I want to learn something that will help me in the future. I will not let some Ministry lapdog restrict me from learning." I heard murmurs of agreement among the crowd.

"I'm not here to say I am better then everyone. I am here to teach you how to protect yourselves. I've learned from the Tournament and now I am here to help you. If you want to be a part of this group effort to better ourselves then please sign this magical agreement. This just binds us together. This will help to make sure our secret is kept and that no one is here out of ill intent."

One by one people came up to the desk to sign their names. I say mostly Gryffindors but there were a mix of other houses as well. I was surprised to see some Slytherins here as well.

(I have nothing against Slytherins. I'm a Slytherin myself 😊)

I saw familiar faces. Luna, Ginny, Colin Creevey, Pansy, and Draco. Pansy and Draco were what really surprised me. But I don't mind. I know that they aren't bad people. I looked around the room and smiled.

"Well then, let me officially welcome you to Hogwarts's Army! Harry here will be distributing these coins." I held one up so everyone could see.

"This is how we will communicate. All you have to do is pour a little magic into the coin and a short message will appear. You can choice who you want to communicate with. Just me, or with the entire group. This is how you will know when our meetings are. I will put a time and the date. The coin will grow warm when a message is displayed." There were whispers or wow and blimy circling the room.

"Now that we got all this out of the way, I'm sure you have been uneasy by the presence behind me but don't worry. This is Auror Tonks. She has agreed to help us and will oversee every practice. She is here for safety reasons." Tonks waved and started to switch her hair color rapidly. This got many to laugh and relax.

"Shall we start? Today we will be practicing a basic shield charm. I know many of you know the principles of this spell but practicing and getting this spell down could save your life in the long run." I took out my wand and cast a shield charm.

"Protego!" A shimmering blue shield appeared.

"This spell is a basic one. It will hold for one spell. Now I want to see you try."

Yells of protego filled the air and blue reflected off the walls. Some were having trouble and I walked around to help. Once everyone got it I spoke again.

"This is normal strength of the spell but I will teach you a way to make the shield even stronger. You must think of yourself protecting someone you care about. Don't just think about protecting yourself. You need to feel it. You need to want to protect, to shield." I cast my spell thinking of my mates. The original Protego was not larger and more visibly solid.

"Thinking this way will make your spell much more powerful. Magic isn't just about knowing the spell and being able to cast it. Its about feeling. You need to want it you need to feel the magic with all your being and your magic will respond in kind." Everyone went about doing what I said. I even saw Tonks trying it in a corner of the room. I watched Tonks for a little. But she suddenly stopped casting and walked over to a girl on the other side of the room. I followed her path and noticed Luna. No one else noticed but it seemed like Luna was crying. I started to walk over as well.

"Are you alright, hon?" Tonks asked gently.

"Yeah, I just.... Was thinking of my mom. I was thinking about how I would want to protect her if she were still here."

"Luna..." I reached the duo and wrapped Luna into my arms.

"Its ok Luna. I know thinking about her is hard but I'm sure this will give you strength. I'm sure your mother is very proud of you. You came to learn on your own initiative. Feeling is what's behind good magic." I held on to her as she cried. Tonks placed a hand on Luna's shoulder. Her crying subsided quickly and she pulled away.

"Thank you, Hermione, Ms. Tonks" She said with a watery smile.

"Your welcome. Luna."

"Of course, dear. Tonks is just fine."

"Ok. Thanks Tonks." I looked at the two and smiled. Hm. Something seems to be here. I look forward to seeing how this develops. I bid both women good bye for now and went around the room to review every ones progress with strengthening the Protego spell.

The practice went on till it was time to leave. Everyone was doing well and I was already excited for the next practice.

"We are done for today. Check your coins and be ready for the next practice."

Everyone started to file out of the room. Harry and Ron approached me.

"Wow, Hermione. This is going great! Thank you for doing this. I feel more prepared already."

"Of course, Harry. I want to help our fellow students."

My boys and I were the last to leave. We headed back to the dorm for a well-deserved sleep.

A/N: Here is it guys! Chapter 15! A little shorter than normal but I felt this was a good place to end it. Further into the story we go my friends!

All errors are mine!