Fanny folded up the newspaper, her expression turning grim.
"Anne, I really don't think this is the end of it."
"Mmm, you might be right," Anne replied, spreading cream cheese over a slice of blueberry toast. "This could just be the opening shot, for both sides."
"Who do you think she'll observe first?" Fanny asked as they made their way toward Potions class.
"No idea. But I doubt it'll be Professor Snape. Our Head of House doesn't exactly seem like someone easily messed with," Anne said with a teasing tone.
Sure enough, when the two arrived at the dungeon classroom, there was no sign of Umbridge. When the bell rang, Snape began class by handing back their previous essays on moonstone. Scrawled in red ink at the top corner of Anne's parchment was an "E."
"If you turn in something like this for your O.W.L. exam, that's the grade you'll get," Snape said with a sneer as he swept through the classroom handing back papers. "This should give you a realistic idea of what to expect."
He reached the front of the class and turned sharply to address them.
"The overall quality of this homework was abysmal. If this had been a real exam, most of you would have failed. I expect significantly more effort in your essays this week on the various types of antidotes. If not, I'll have no choice but to assign detention to every dunderhead who gets a 'D.'"
His face curled into a sarcastic grin. Malfoy let out a low chuckle and, in a voice quiet but easily heard, muttered, "Someone actually got a D? Ha!"
When the bell rang to end class, Anne turned in her potion, a perfectly brewed, clear, bright green solution, then packed her bag. She and Fanny walked out together, but Hermione quickly caught up with them.
"Anne, can I have a look at your homework?" Hermione asked, her tone a little more serious than usual.
"Sure." Though slightly confused, Anne quickly pulled the assignment from her bag and handed it over.
Hermione read it as they walked, and Anne had to nudge her several times to stop her from bumping into things. Eventually, Anne gave up and subtly guided Hermione by the elbow whenever she looked close to tripping.
After finishing, Hermione began muttering to herself and then launched into a flurry of questions about parts of Anne's essay that puzzled her. Anne answered each one patiently, and before long, the two were engaged in a minor debate over which book a specific reference came from.
By the time they reached the entrance to the Great Hall, Hermione was smiling and thanked Anne warmly before heading off. Harry, Ron, and Fanny hadn't joined the discussion, Harry and Ron because the material was over their heads, and Fanny because she had no intention of getting involved.
After lunch came Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Umbridge.
When they entered the classroom, Umbridge was at the front, humming cheerfully to herself with a wide smile.
As soon as the bell rang, she beamed at them and said, "Wands away."
Everyone put their wands back in their bags.
"Last lesson, we completed Chapter One. Today, I would like you to turn to page nineteen and begin reading Chapter Two: Common Defensive Theories and Their Origins. No talking while you read."
Still grinning with self-satisfaction, she sat down behind her desk. A collective sigh rose from the class as everyone opened their books to page nineteen.
Anne had just turned the page when she caught, out of the corner of her eye, Hermione raising her hand.
Professor Umbridge noticed too, and it seemed she had been prepared for exactly this situation. This time, she didn't pretend not to see Hermione. Instead, she stood up, walked past the front row of desks, and leaned in close to Hermione so no one else could hear.
"What is it this time, Miss Granger?" she said in a syrupy, condescending whisper.
"I've already read Chapter Two," Hermione said.
"Very well, then read Chapter Three," Umbridge replied.
"I've read that one too. I've actually finished the whole book."
Professor Umbridge blinked, though she quickly regained her composure.
"In that case, you should be able to tell me what Slinkhard says about counter-curses in Chapter Fifteen."
"He says the term 'counter-curse' is a misnomer," Hermione answered immediately. "He argues that people use the word to make their own dark spells sound more acceptable."
Umbridge raised an eyebrow. Though clearly displeased, she couldn't help but acknowledge Hermione's accuracy.
"But I disagree," Hermione continued.
Umbridge's eyebrows rose even higher, and her gaze turned noticeably colder.
"You disagree?"
"Yes," Hermione said firmly, her voice clear and carrying across the classroom. She wasn't whispering like Umbridge had. Her confident tone drew the attention of everyone. "Mr. Slinkhard doesn't like curses, right? But I believe that when used defensively, curses can be highly effective."
"Oh, do you now?" Professor Umbridge said, her voice no longer soft. She stood up straight and stared Hermione down. "I'm afraid the opinion that matters in this classroom is Mr. Slinkhard's, not yours, Miss Granger."
"But, " Hermione began.
"That's enough," Umbridge snapped. She returned to the front of the classroom, her earlier cheery demeanor gone. "Miss Granger, that's five points from Gryffindor."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the Gryffindor students. Malfoy let out a smug snicker.
"Why?" Harry suddenly demanded, anger flaring in his voice.
Anne saw Hermione quickly tug at Harry's sleeve, trying to stop him.
"For disruptive, irrelevant interruptions," Umbridge answered smoothly. "I'm here teaching with methods approved by the Ministry of Magic. That doesn't include encouraging students to express opinions on subjects they don't fully understand. Perhaps your previous professors gave you more freedom, but none of them passed the Ministry's evaluation, except for Professor Quirrell, perhaps. At least he kept to content suitable for your level."
"Oh yes," Harry said loudly and with unmistakable sarcasm, "Quirrell was a brilliant teacher."
Anne noticed Hermione's expression grow anxious as she tugged at Harry's sleeve again, but this time, he shook her off.
Harry continued loudly, "Well, except for the minor detail that he let Vol, "
Hermione looked alarmed. She seemed ready to raise her hand again.
If Hermione raised her hand, Anne was certain Umbridge would give her detention. That thought flashed through Anne's mind, and her body acted faster than her brain.
She shot up from her seat, arm raised.
"Professor Umbridge!" she called out.
The entire class turned to look at Anne, surprised. It was something no one had ever seen her do before in class.
Professor Umbridge turned to her, her tone softer now but eyes narrowed. "Yes, Miss Reeve?"
Anne furrowed her brows, putting on a pained expression. "Um… Professor! Sorry to interrupt, but my arm's really hurting all of a sudden. You know, from that powerful curse injury I got a few days ago… I think I should go to the Hospital Wing."
Umbridge's eyes dropped to Anne's cradled arm, and her voice turned almost sweet. "Oh, of course, Miss Reeve. Do go to the Hospital Wing."
Anne gave her a grateful, apologetic smile. "Thank you, Professor."
She grabbed her bag and walked out. Since Slytherin students occupied the front rows of the classroom and Gryffindors sat toward the back, including Hermione, Harry, and Ron, Anne passed them on the way out.
It gave her the perfect chance to mouth a silent message to the anxious-looking Hermione:
"It's okay, Quidditch."
She'll get what I mean, Anne thought as she stepped out of the classroom. But then another problem came to mind, should she actually go to the Hospital Wing? What would she tell Madam Pomfrey?
Glancing back at the closed classroom door, Anne sighed and headed for the infirmary.
The Hospital Wing was empty. Madam Pomfrey was folding linens and towels, and looked startled to see Anne walk in during class hours.
Seeing the worried look on Madam Pomfrey's face, Anne quickly explained, "Um… Madam Pomfrey, don't grab any potions, I'm fine…"
Madam Pomfrey gave her a puzzled look.
Anne felt her face flush. She hadn't expected to be doing this either. "I just… I needed to get out of a class. It's Professor Umbridge's lesson…"
Madam Pomfrey's concern turned into an amused surprise. Students making excuses to skip class weren't new, but few were as honest about it as Anne.
"Well then, I must say I didn't expect this from you, Anne," Madam Pomfrey said with a chuckle.
Anne's ears turned red as she mumbled an embarrassed reply. Then she stayed to help fold towels for a while. When she finally left, a bandage was wrapped around her left arm, for effect.
The bell had long since rung. Anne trudged into the Great Hall looking slightly annoyed and dropped into a seat beside Fanny.
"I thought you said you were fine. Why the bandage?" Fanny asked in a hushed voice.
"Gotta make it look convincing…" Anne muttered back just as quietly. "Nothing happened after I left, right?"
Fanny shook her head. "But you gave me a heart attack when you suddenly stood up like that! Next time at least give me a heads-up, "
"I didn't exactly plan it," Anne said, sliding a plate of meat toward Fanny. "Can you cut that for me? If I hadn't stood up when I did, Hermione and Harry probably would've ended up in detention. And if Hermione got both points taken and detention…"
Fanny shot her a knowing smile.
That brought Anne to a full stop. She realized she'd said quite a lot about Hermione just now. Her brows knit slightly, this was starting to happen far too often.
Anne picked at her food slowly. Honestly, she didn't want to face Hermione. But Hermione was persistent too. Even after the Great Hall had mostly emptied, and Anne had finished the last spoonful of her pudding, she noticed Hermione still hadn't left.
Fanny also waited patiently, though the knowing smile never quite left her face.
As Anne took her final bite, she glanced over at Hermione, who was still sitting with Ron and Harry at the mostly empty Gryffindor table.
Anne turned to Fanny with a quiet resolve in her voice. "Alright. Fanny, just don't interrupt, and if I ask you to leave, you leave, okay?"
"…What?" Fanny looked confused.
"Just trust me. I'll explain later," Anne said.
Fanny nodded.
"Okay. Let's go."
Anne stood up. Hermione stood up too, followed closely by Ron and Harry.
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