"Anne, are you sure your hand is okay?" Hermione asked, leaning in with concern.
"I'm fine," Anne shook her head.
Before Hermione could speak again, Anne added quickly, "You don't have to thank me, Hermione. You, "
Anne thought she could say everything she'd planned in her head, but the moment she looked into Hermione's eyes, the words came out differently. "You, I know you wanted to test Umbridge's teaching methods in Defense Against the Dark Arts. But it's obvious now, this is how all her lessons will be. Teaching isn't her priority here at Hogwarts. I'm sure you can understand that."
"But this is our O.W.L. year! If she continues like this, our exams won't just be theory!" Hermione said, clearly frustrated.
"You're right," Anne agreed. "But don't forget, her main task here was never to be a proper teacher. That means helping us pass O.W.L.s isn't really on her agenda. There's no point pushing that anymore, "
Harry and Ron were both staring at Anne in surprise.
"But… she's a professor, isn't she?" Ron asked.
"Yes. But more importantly, she's the Ministry's appointed professor. She's the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, and she's backed by Fudge, who, right now, is the Ministry."
"But she shouldn't, " Harry tried to cut in.
Anne didn't look at Hermione anymore. She narrowed her eyes and turned to Harry. "Yes. Maybe it feels unfair to you. Maybe it seems unjust. But justice doesn't always mean direct confrontation, especially if it only leads to needless consequences… or gets the people around you hurt, too."
"I didn't do anything!" Harry said, his tone rising defensively.
Anne raised an eyebrow, almost mockingly. "Oh? Is that what you think?"
"I didn't! All I did was tell the truth to Professor Umbridge!" Harry said hotly.
"Ha! You told your version of the truth. The problem is, how many people believe you?" Anne replied, fanning the flames.
Now it was Hermione and Fanny who looked shocked, both staring at Anne.
A fire ignited in Harry's chest. His fists clenched tightly. "No one believes me, fine! But that's their fault! At the end of last term, Dumbledore said, "
"Dumbledore said it?" Anne cut him off coldly. "Clearly, you still don't get it. Dumbledore's credibility has taken a hit, too. He didn't even step in when you were punished. To most people, you look like a raving clown."
"You! " Harry snarled through gritted teeth, eyes locked on Anne.
Anne raised her brows again, continuing, "Tsk, tsk. So quick to anger? I'm starting to understand why Professor Snape has no respect for you. Those Gryffindor traits, bravery and courage, I don't see any of that in you. Only brainless impulsiveness and a mess of reactions whenever a problem shows up, "
"Hey!"
"Anne!"
Ron and Hermione both snapped at her.
"What? Am I wrong?" Anne ignored them and stared straight at Harry, her voice filled with sarcasm. "Honestly, maybe I should take Malfoy's advice and stop wasting my time helping a reckless, thoughtless Gryffindor who only brings trouble, "
"I never asked for your help!" Harry shouted, furious, eyes blazing.
Anne smirked coldly. "Good. Then we have nothing more to say."
Without looking at Hermione again, Anne turned and walked with Fanny toward the Slytherin common room. Fanny looked like she wanted to say something but held back.
"Anne?" Hermione called out with a frown. She wanted to follow, but Ron, also looking angry, held her back.
Once they turned a corner, Anne let out a long breath.
"Anne… you did that on purpose. Why?" Fanny asked, confused. "You said you'd explain afterward."
"I can't, Fanny," Anne muttered. "I've been doing a lot of stupid things lately."
"Does this count as one of them?" Fanny asked hesitantly.
"Not the same kind," Anne replied. "And besides, was it really that stupid? I mean, didn't it achieve the goal? They probably won't speak to me for the rest of the term."
"That was your goal? Why?" Fanny pressed.
"I have to keep my distance," Anne said quietly. "From them, "
Fanny gestured for her to continue.
Anne ran a frustrated hand through her hair. "I don't know how to explain it. But when I'm around Hermione, I feel like I'm starting to lose control, "
"Hmm?"
"I start doing things I've never done before. Like today… what I did in Umbridge's class…"
A flash of something, was it hope?, crossed Fanny's face. "That's a good thing. Anne, you obviously like Hermione, "
"I know," Anne said, a little sharply. "But I can't. I can fall for anyone at Hogwarts. Anyone, except the three of them. Especially not now."
"Why not? Anne, I don't understand. What's stopping you two?" Fanny finally voiced the question she'd been holding in.
Anne looked as though she'd been struck with a massive hammer. She was silent for a long time before she finally spoke, her voice filled with quiet pain.
"I'm afraid, Fanny. You see this world as safe and stable. I don't. You grew up in it, surrounded by magic and people who were real and vivid. I didn't. Every memory you have is concrete. Mine aren't."
Fanny looked completely lost.
"There was a time," Anne went on, "when I'd lie in bed every morning staring at the ceiling, unsure if what I saw was even real. Especially in my first weeks at Hogwarts. Yes, I was curious. I am curious about the magical world. But it also made me feel completely unsafe. Everything here is so foreign to me. I've been trying desperately to learn more, just to feel a little less… lost."
Fanny shook her head. "I still don't get it, Anne."
Anne gave a small, bitter laugh. "Of course not. I'm being too vague. It's okay. You don't have to understand. A long time ago, someone gave me the thing I cherished most. Then they shattered it. Right in front of me. No mercy. Completely destroyed it. And now… someone else is trying to give me the same thing. But I'm too scared to take it."
She paused, voice barely a whisper now.
"That's just who I am. That's why I'll never be sorted into Gryffindor."
"I'm not fighting some noble battle. I'm just locked in with a giant monster inside me, made of fear. It looks fragile, but it holds me down. I can't take that step forward. I have no courage at all."
Anne's voice was low and full of despair. "So I avoid it. I run. I pretend I never noticed."
Fanny pulled her into a tight, reassuring hug. "I still don't understand. But Anne, I can see how much you're hurting. And as your friend, all I want is for you to be happier. If running away is what you need right now, then run."
Anne was quiet for a moment, then murmured, "Thank you, "
The next morning at breakfast, neither of them brought up what had happened the day before. They read the paper, chatted idly, and headed to Transfiguration like always.
Anne did a bit better in class than the week before, she managed to vanish a snail entirely, though the others were already working on rats. Fanny, as usual, was ahead of the curve, her rat disappeared about three-quarters of the way through the lesson.
Later, in Ancient Runes, they continued their habit of arriving just as the bell rang, slipping into seats at the back of the room.
Friday came quickly. In the afternoon, they had Care of Magical Creatures, and sure enough, Professor Umbridge was standing beside Professor Grubbly-Plank with her clipboard at the ready.
"You don't usually teach this class, do you?" they heard Umbridge ask as they arrived.
"Quite right," Grubbly-Plank said cheerfully, hands behind her back, rocking on her toes. "I'm just filling in for Professor Hagrid."
"Hmm." Umbridge lowered her voice. "The headmaster has been strangely reluctant to share any details with me. Can you tell me why Hagrid hasn't returned for such a long time?"
"Afraid I can't," Grubbly-Plank said breezily. "I only got a letter by owl from Dumbledore asking if I'd cover for a few weeks. I said yes. That's all I know. May I begin now?"
"Very well. Please proceed," Umbridge said, scribbling on her clipboard.
Umbridge took a different approach this lesson, walking among the students and asking them about magical creatures.
"As a temporary instructor," she said at one point, "perhaps you could say you're a more objective outsider. How do you find Hogwarts overall? Do you feel sufficiently supported by the school administration?"
"Oh, Dumbledore's wonderful," Grubbly-Plank said sincerely. "I'm very satisfied with how things are run here. Very much so."
Umbridge looked skeptical, but polite. She made a note, then asked, "And what are your plans for this class, assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid doesn't return?"
"Well, I'm planning to cover all the creatures commonly seen on O.W.L. exams," Grubbly-Plank replied. "There aren't many left, this group's already done with unicorns and nifflers. We'll do bowtruckles and kneazles next, and make sure they can identify ghouls and doxies, you know?"
"At least it sounds like you know what you're doing," Umbridge muttered, making a visible checkmark.
Then she turned to Goyle. "I've heard there were injuries in this class before?"
Goyle grinned dimly. Malfoy jumped in, eager to answer. "That was me, I got scratched by a hippogriff."
"Hippogriff?" Umbridge asked, scribbling furiously.
"That was because, " Harry began to defend Hagrid, then stopped himself.
Umbridge slowly turned to him. "Oh? Mr. Potter, do you have something to add?" She hadn't given him detention in over a week, and clearly hoped for another excuse.
Harry turned his head, glaring at Anne's back. Through gritted teeth, he muttered, "Nothing."
He still remembered Anne's words, calling him a brainless, impulsive Gryffindor. I'm not, he told himself, pushing the fire in his chest back down.
Ron and Hermione exchanged a quick glance.
"Very well," Umbridge said airily, turning back to Grubbly-Plank. "Thank you, Professor. You'll receive your evaluation in ten days."
"Lovely," Grubbly-Plank said as Umbridge walked away across the grass toward the castle.
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