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He glanced up from where he had been toying with her hand. It practically made him ache, how thoroughly she believed in him. Even now in the glow of the fireplace, she held nothing but admiration and trust in her eyes. Harry carefully placed a kiss to her palm. [b "I can't lose, can I? Not if I have you with me."]

It was a peaceful few moments they had there, alone with only the crackling fire. Still, as relaxing as it was they had an early start the next day. [b "I think I've kept Cinderella to myself long enough. Come on, we'd best be off to bed."]

Given that he couldn't quite walk her to her door without going for an unwanted slide down the stone stairs, Harry made do with bidding her goodnight at the base of the girls' dormitory. [b "See you in a few hours,"] he grinned, forcing himself to walk away after only a brief kiss, lest he stand there and keep her awake all night.

In his own dorm, he wasn't surprised to find a scrap of parchment stuck to his bed that simply read [i Loverboy Sleeps Here], in Ron's scrawl. [b "Hilarious,"] Harry crumpled the page and chucked it at the boy's head, not missing the shaking of the blankets as Ron laughed to himself.

Both boys must have been exhausted because Neville was the one to force them up only five hours later. Even though he'd properly agreed to the plans, an early morning Harry Potter was groggy and unhappy to be getting up before the sun. [i "Why did we agree to do this so early?"] Ron grumbled as he pulled on a fresh uniform.

[i "Because if we did it during the day, it'd be hard to keep the room a secret if everyone is around to see us go inside,"] Neville answered.

Harry barely opened his eyes as he shuffled into his own clothes, listening to the two boys banter quietly to ensure Seamus and Dean weren't woken up. [b "Shh,"] he held a finger to his lips and then pointed at the door. [b "Too early for snark."]

The two managed to follow Neville down to the common room but promptly made the mistake of sitting on the plush sofa while they waited for Hermione. They fought for a moment over spreading out the invisibility cloak to cover them both but Harry and Ron were softly snoring seconds later. Neville rolled his eyes and kept watch on the map Harry had brought to use, ensuring that no one was making patrols down the corridors they'd need to take.

She couldn't say that Harry was wrong. Honestly, in her mind they needed more people that they could trust. If there was one person other than Harry and Ron, it was a tie between Ginny and Neville. But even she could admit that Neville seemed more a likely ally in what they had planned.

[b "You know he is a lot braver than we give him credit for. If he wasn't brave and loyal, he would have never been placed here in Gryffindor. You know what they are always saying about our house."] The prefect girl said with a smile. It was her way to say that she was trusting Harry's judgement in trusting Neville in helping them. Besides, it wasn't like they happened to have very many places to turn to and needed all the help they could get.

Her cheeks became a rosier pink at Ron's words as he teased them about being rule breakers and the reason he wasn't in bed. Hermione had to bite her tongue as to not remind their dear friend that he was JUST as bad as they were if not worse. And she also had to refrain from throwing anything at him as she did have the pillows in reach if she was really wanting to throw one and hit him.

Her eyes stayed on Ron's retreating figure for a moment longer before her gaze came back to Harry. She had to admit that he was cute and she liked having him as relaxed as he was using her lap as the pillow as he was. [b "You're a great leader Harry and if anyone can do this, I know you can. I would have never told you anything about this if I didn't believe in you.."] She said with a smile, brushing some of his hair away from his face.

Harry exhaled quietly. [b "If there's anyone in Gryffindor that I would trust more than anyone, not including the two of you, it would be Neville. He was sorted into this house for a reason. His loyalties are strong, and he's brave in his own way. I think we can trust him with anything."]

Besides, the boy was coming more and more out of his shell every year that they'd known him. If he was openly willing to defy not only school rules but also Ministry legislation, he was proving himself to be a strong ally. [b "He's right though, we should get some sleep. Won't be long before we have to meet up with him to find this place."]

[i "Would have been in bed hours ago if I wasn't friends with such rule-breaking hooligans,"] Ron teased, stretching as he stood up. [i "I'll let you two lovebirds say goodnight. I'd rather not witness it."]

Harry blushed, wishing he was closer to the couch pillows so he could chuck one at their friend's retreating back. Though as his eyes strayed back to Hermione, he had to admit that the glow of the fire light dancing across her features was enough to turn him into a lovesick puppy all over again. [b "Thank you for tonight,"] he reached for her hand, placing a kiss on her knuckles. [b "It was a nice distraction from everything that's been going on."]

The stubborn part of him didn't want to move. He was quite content where he was, head cushioned on her lap. [b "I hope I don't screw this whole thing up. It's a great idea you've had. I don't want to disappoint you, or ruin what you're trying to create. It's important that we're all prepared."]

Honestly, Hermione wasn't as shocked as both Ron and Harry seemed to have Neville on their side and to offer the help. The shy boy they had grown up with while at school actually was a lot braver than they gave him credit for. Their first year had proved that when he had said he would fight them when they were leaving to go and find Voldemort before he could get to the stone. Though she was not going to mention that and kept her own silence after she had said all that she had in explanation and in the figurative sense let Neville take the floor.

To both Harry and Ron, his words seemed a mystery, which she had expected. [b "You forget...the school is a magical school. There are things we could only dream about and that because many don't know about won't ask questions about or go looking for. So what Neville is saying is perfectly logical. I mean if you think about The Chamber of Secrets..."] But the bushy haired girl left her words at that and went back to listened to Neville who offered to show them the room and had also pointed out that both she and Ron could pretty much roam as they pleased... All they had to explain was that they heard extra patrols were needed and they couldn't sleep as it was. Not exactly a lie, but it was a far cry from the truth as well.

A smile slipped to the girl's lips as Neville told them to get some sleep and left them. [b "Thanks Neville. We owe you..."] But her words had just slipped out before he left. And soon, Harry's head was in her lap and she brushed some of his hair away from his face and gave a thoughtful look. [b "Because it is us and we always have some interesting luck."]

Ron let out a snort. [i "That's putting it mildly. How about we always have rotten luck and so this sort of thing happens. But guess we better do as he said... Unless you think we shouldn't trust him?"]

Neville sat quietly and looked more serious than Harry had ever seen him. Not once during Hermione's explanation did he seem to have second thoughts about helping them, nor did he raise an opposition to their plans. Instead, he stared into the fireplace as it all sunk in.

[b "Neville?"] Harry murmured.

[i "Classrooms are out of the question, as you've said,"] he went on speaking as though Harry hadn't. [i "If what you've said is true then we need to be as careful about this as we can, down to who we mention it to. This is your idea so I won't say a word to anyone until you do. We all know well enough how quickly people even in our own house can turn their backs,"] he reminded them of the previous year when Harry had all but been ostracised from Gryffindor House.

[b "You said you had an idea that could help,"] Harry prodded carefully. [b "What did you mean by that?"]

[i "I mean I know a place a few floors down that could be used for exactly what you need it to be. Actually, that's fairly explanatory for what it does,"] Neville continued to be vague.

[b "Here in the castle?"] Harry frowned, looking to Ron and Hermione. [b "What makes it so secure?"]

A grin flashed across Neville's face. [i "Because it only shows itself to those that need it. And seeing as most people don't know it exists, no one is going to go looking for it."]

He wasn't sure if it was the wine from earlier or if Neville just wasn't making sense. How could a room hide itself? Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. [b "And you can show us this room?"]

Neville sat up straighter, as though daring Harry to challenge him. [i "Yes, I can. Be here before dawn and I can take you there. We can use your cloak."]

[i "I don't think all four of us can fit under that thing. Two of us barely do,"] Ron chimed in.

Neville looked between the three of them. [i "You understand that two of you are prefects, right? You and Hermione don't need a cloak to wander the corridors."]

Harry looked to her, frowning. [b "Why does he have all of these good points? Who thinks this thoroughly at this hour of the night?"]

[i "I'll take your response as a 'yes' you will meet me here in a few hours. Get some sleep,"] Neville rose to return to bed. [i "Its only six hours to sunrise."]

Groaning, Harry slumped down and dropped his head onto Hermione's lap, looking up at her. [b "How did we go from date night to rebellion planning?"]

Hermione herself had not been thrilled about the idea of going to Snape either. But things were getting out of hand and they needed all the help they could get at this rate. And it was clear that Sirius was worried to even suggest the idea himself, which had her more on edge than she was letting on. Brown eyes were on Harry as she heard his words. [b "I agree that we need Professor McGongall's help as soon as we can get it...but we really should think of a way to broach Snape aooner rather than later. This is a time where we need all the help we can get and can't exactly be choosey about who..."]

The girl had something else on the tip of her tongue to be saying, but then Neville spoke up. It caused her to squeak and jump as well as seemed to have taken the boys off their guard as well. And for the moment, the usually timid boy of their house did not seem nearly as "mousy" and seemed more the "lion" of their house. A faibt smiled graced her lips as she listened to what he had to say.

For a few moments she was thoughtful before she gave both Harry and Ron a look which said she was going to tell him. [b "Umbridge is an utter nightmare. We're not kearning anything and she is trying to cover the last year uo...and all of Voldemort's return while punishing those of us who do not comply with her rules... So...Harry, Eon and I were thinking to put together a club of sorts.. One that we as srudents can learn from one another and help each other with defensive spells...We need to know how to fight and to defend ourselves against what is coming.."] Her voice was just over a whisper as she explained it.

Ron nodded and motioned to Harry and Hermione. [i "They know first hand Umbridge's punishmet. And from what I overheard from Fred and George there are more decress and rules coming...she's even putting togerher a student organization of her own to spy on the rest of us... So we really need the help"]

The idea of going to Severus Snape for [i anything] made Harry's stomach turn but if Sirius was the one suggesting it, he guessed they really were running out of options. [b "We'll talk to McGonagall first. Never hurts to have the head of our house on our side if things go sideways. As for Snap,"] Harry grit his teeth. [b "We can figure out how to broach the subject with him another day."]

First, they would need a place to meet up. Classrooms were entirely out of the question, given that they'd have to get a professor's permission to even use one. Getting a group of students through the Whomping Willow to the Shrieking Shack was also not an easy or subtle task. [b "We have to find a practice space, and then we can get started."]

[i "I can help with that."]

Harry nearly knocked his head on the mantle as he shot up and around at the sound of Neville's voice. [b "What are you doing out of bed? It's late,"] he stammered.

[i "Seamus didn't shut the door all the way, and you lot aren't particularly quiet,"] the normally shy boy raised an eyebrow as if daring them to deny what he'd heard. [i "If you tell me more about what it is you need a practice space for, I might have just the place you need."]

As much as they'd come to trust Neville throughout the years, Harry wasn't sure the timid boy would be as eager to join in if he knew they'd be breaking at least a dozen Ministry and school rules. [b "How much exactly did you hear?"]

[i "Enough to know you were talking to someone in the fireplace about informing Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape about something important,"] Neville sunk onto the couch. [i "Whatever it is that makes the three of you worried, you have friends that would be willing to help. I know I'm not the strongest or bravest, but I'd like to think you can trust me with whatever it is you need help with."]

The sooner that they got some advice, the better. And she wasn't even surprised or shocked when Harry made his move towards the hearth of the fire. Unlike Ron, Hermione did not at all expect for Padfoot to be asleep past midnight. Especially since he had been the one to catch her and Harry at Grimmauld Place and not in bed lile they had been meant to be. It was that thought that had brown eyes quickly go to Harry and cheeks turn a rosy pink before he looked away.

Ron's chime in to Harry's chiding of the man and reminding him that they were teens was what caught her attention and had the girl looking back towards the fire again. Even she couldn't help a small smile gracing her lips and giving a shake of her head at that exchange. But all too quickly the lightness was gone and the sombre was back upon them as Harry explained the prison that Hogwarts had become to Sirius. And all she could do was listen just as Ron and Sirius could do.

[i "It doesn't sound like a bad idea. There is a war coming like it or not and you all need go know how to protect yourselves. The best advice I can give you is to be careful and to not get caught..though going to McGongall and dare I say it, Severus might have to be in the cards sooner rather than later."] The man said as he was trying to think about it. [i "You three really are becoming the new Marauders and should be honourary members."] But those were his last words as steps could be heard somewhere behind him and a loud knocking. Just like that, Sirius was gone.

[b "At least we know he's not against it...but he did have a point...Having Snape and McGongall know sooner or later may be something we'll have to think about... And we will have to start getting this going quite soon if what Ron overheard was right.."] Hermione said, looking over at both the boys to ask them their thoughts.

[b "Never a better time to try,"] Harry's own gaze trailed to the fire.

Sliding off the couch and onto his knees, he crawled until he could feel the heat on his face. [i "What are you doing?"] Ron barely got the sentence out before Harry was reaching out to contact his godfather. [i "Harry, I don't think he's going to -"]

Past midnight or not, Sirius was clearly not asleep. The outline of his face appeared in the flames, brows furrowed in concern. [i "What's got you three up so late? Has something happened?"]

Harry rubbed at his face, trying to force his thoughts to clear up. [b "We're teenagers, Sirius, we don't exactly have bedtimes."]

[i "Harry and Hermione were out late and I was waiting up for them,"] Ron chimed in.

There was a momentary pause before the man in the fire barked a laugh. [i "Well I'll certainly need details later, but I have a feeling that's not why you called."]

[b "Umbridge is getting out of control,"] Harry blurted out. [b "She's essentially forming her own little militia within the castle, recruiting students as spies and whatnot. The Ministry has given her essentially unlimited power over Hogwarts, professors included. Sirius, she's starting to run this school like Azkaban. I wouldn't put it past her to bring the Dementors back."]

His godfather's face fell, growing sombre and quiet. [i "Have you brought this to Dumbledore?"]

What good what it do? As far as they could tell, even Dumbledore held no power against her. [i "We can't go to any of the teachers,"] Ron answered. [i "Word around here is that her next step is to start dismissing any professors who go against her decrees. They can't help us."]

[b "But Hermione thinks we may have a way to get around that problem,"] Harry's voice grew confident.

He began to spill the details of her plan to form an underground allegiance of students, where they could learn among each other how to proper defend themselves. The entire time Sirius sat quietly and took everything in, and Harry was relieved to see that he didn't seem against the idea.

Their groans were enough to have her sober up. She had not meant to put a damper on any of their moods, but the logical part of her mind would not let her forget that fact. So she had spoken quite without thinking. [b "I'm sorry..."] Hermione said in a sigh as she looked between the two boys.

Hermione was one her feet and pacing as Ron was mentioning that they had to be more careful. To be honest, she and Harry had not been all that careful so far. She could handle herself for the most part, but she was silently cursing herself for not thinking about what would happen to Harry if he were caught. It had been stupid of her to keep him out like this. And when Ron began to speak, the bushy haired girl stopped and looked to him, listening carefully to the spoken words.

Her hand went over her own scarring hand and she looked over to Harry. And after a moment she looked to Ron, the fire in her eyes as she took it all in. [b "Then we have to move quicker and get things into motion. We can't let the crone take over. At least not without fighting back. Dumbledore needs to know he's not alone in this fight...And neither are you Harry."] She said quietly. Though she knew it was madness, the NEEDED to do something. This woman was a walking nightmare and she was ruining everything. [b "I think maybe talking to Sirius and some of the others would be a good idea...See if they can offer any advice. Though I know they may have their plates full as it is.."] And like that, Hermione was back to her pacing in front of the fireplace. There was no way she would be getting to sleep that night.

The boys groaned in unison. [b "Don't remind us,"] Harry slouched in his seat.

Ron's energy immediately drained and he dropped into his own chair, scrubbing a hand over his eyes. [i "I never thought I'd have to be the one to say this, but as happy as I am that you got to unwind tonight, you need to be careful next time. Umbridge was given authority to put out new mandates."]

Harry scowled, letting his head fall to the side to look at the other boy. [b "What do you mean 'new mandates'? What could she have changed in such short notice?"]

The redhaired boy threw his hands up in surrender. [i "I only caught the tail-end of whatever the twins were telling Katie and Angelina but apparently the Minister has given her power to exercise punishments as she sees fit - even things that wouldn't normally get us detentions."]

Harry glanced at Hermione. [b "She's already got students writing lines in their own skin with a cursed quill, how much worse could it get?"] he rubbed at the faded scarring on the back of his left hand.

Ron looked apologetically between them. [i "No one deserves a break more than the three of us, but it doesn't look like we're going to get one this year. According to the twins, punishments are being left to her discretion. As it stands, she has it out for Gryffindors and anyone who has backed you with support after You Know Who returned last year. We'll all be under a magnifying glass and as much as I'm happy that you both got to unwind tonight, I'm afraid to see what other punishments Umbridge will come up with if she finds you together past curfew."]

The woman had been nothing but difficult since she'd arrived. The Ministry was skipping over Dumbledore's authority to grant Umbridge every power she could use, short of being named Minister herself. With the wall of decrees already hanging outside of the Great Hall, Harry was sure she'd go to whatever lengths she declared necessary to catch Hermione, Ron, and himself in direct disobedience. [b "As if the power hasn't already gone to the crazy old bat's head,"] Harry closed his eyes in frustration.

Hermione had to stifle a giggle as Harry mentioned McGonagall and how she would surely know in forty seconds what they had done. [b "I think forty is being mean. She's rather sharp and would probably know the moment we walked into class."] She said, not being able to help the giggle after she had spoken.

The clock spun around twice and the little elf had to get them both to leave the kitchens. It was more than obvious that he did not want to do it, but also quite clear he would feel terrible if they got into trouble. The truth was that it would have been his fault, yes...But she and Harry could have made up some excuse to leave earlier. She had honestly not wanted to because this was the most relaxed she and Harry had been since classes and the school year had resumed and she had wanted to keep that peace for as long as they were able to. [b "They're always trying to watch us and but in."] She whispered as the pair of them made their way through the now completely empty corridors and up the moving staircase.

They nearly made it into the common room without being caught. NEARLY but unfortunately due to their horrid luck were met with Ron who had his arms crossed. It looked like he was TRYING to be authoritive and failing. But she didn't say anything about it and was having to fight her giggles. Who would have thought that the Weasely would have to be the responsible one of the three? Usually that was her.

Hermione took a seat next to Harry and rested her head on his shoulder. It was only Ron with them after all and he knew how the two felt about the other. Knew how close they were. [b "It really was needed. Because...well look how the year has been so far and we've not even made it to Christmas."] She said and gave one of her best pouts, though she wasn't being scolded.

[b "I'm sure it'll take McGonagall exactly forty seconds to figure it out when we get to Transfiguration,"] he snorted a laugh.

The clock spun twice before Dobby had to - quite unwillingly - send them off to bed. [i Dobby wouldn't forgive himself if Harry Potter and Miss Granger were in trouble on his account.] So, Harry tried to be as gallant as he could while not falling his own two feet to escort her back to the common room. [b "Shhhh, they'll hear us. All of them. Nosy buggers,"] he narrowed his eyes at the portraits lining the corridors.

Unfortunately, they weren't given the chance to make a clean break once they made it to the Gryffindor common room. [i "Well, I can't say I ever imagined this happening."]

Ron stood with his arms crossed in an attempt to be authoritative, yet the smirk on his face gave away the game. [i "What would Sirius say, Harry?"]

The Potter boy held a finger up. [b "He'd say 'good job, you two!' We might even be made into honorary Marauders for this."]

Ron laughed, helping them both along to the couch. [i "Is this going to become a habit? Because I might actually have to use prefect powers if I have to get you two wild kids under control. Please don't make me have to use prefect powers."]

Harry slumped onto the couch, stretching his feet towards the fire. [b "Those are fighting words,"] he scolded the three Rons in front of him.

[i "When you can walk in a straight line, I'll be afraid of that. You're lucky its just me still awake, otherwise the rest of them would have a field day about this. Lets not give anyone a reason to write an opinion column for Rita Skeeter, shall we?"]

The redhead turned to Hermione, admiration in his eyes. [i "Though I can honestly say it's nice to see you unwind for once. I was afraid you'd go through all of school without relaxing."]

Dooby was a sweet little creature, definitely was loyal to a fault. And the moment that he had observed what was going on between them, was both sweet and embarrassing. For a moment, Hermione did want to try and play it off. Not at all because she was embarrassed but because it was so new and like Harry, the brunette girl wanted the chance to have this ONE thing for them. She wanted a chance for them to explore where things could go. But that clearly wasn't going to be the accepted by the little elf who Harry was trying to pacify. Because not even a second after Harry's telling Dobby that it was all quite new and they wanted things quite, the little elf let out one of his squeals and was quickly going about the kitchen and getting his hands on anything that he could.

[b "Looks like we're in trouble here, doesn't it?"] She whispered to Harry just as Dobby came back with a platter with a mountain of goodies that was taller than he was. And Harry was helping him so that both food and elf did not end up on the floor.

[b "Dobby...really. This isn't..."] She had not been quick enough to say her words because Harry had spoken first. And before she knew it, Dobby was on the table in front of them, bright emotion filled eyes locking with their own. And he was saying that there WAS a need for celebrating. [i Love...because there was so much pain...and fear around them. Darkness.] And a smile did come to her lips and she nodded. [b "He's made a very good argument. And we did say we wanted a night for us. So why not?"] Hermione said with a smile, taking the glass that was floating by her hand and gently clinking it to Harry's.

Soon, he had pulled out her chair and she was sitting with him. This one of many happy memories for her. But maybe her favourite because it was with him. And he knew her better than anyone, even better than her parents did. [b "Oh I think he will. But I don't think I would mind it. I like being with you like this..."] She admitted, her cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling as the drinks never seemed to empty fully and she was as giddy as she had been back in Hogsmeade.

[b "I think he did."] She said with a giggle and smiled to him. The clocks were striking early but she didn't want to go back. Not yet at least. [b "We are going to be paying for this in the morning."] Hermione said, taking another pastry and held it to his lips with a small smile.