Everyone had gotten off the train at Hogwarts, they were all walking as a group when Draco walked up to the Herd.

"Suprised the Ministry is still letting you walk about free Potter. Better enjoy it while you can, I heard there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it." Draco spat.

Harry lunged forward but Ron and Erica held him back.

"He's not worth it, mate. Don't listen to him." Ron shook his head.

"As much as I want to say he's changed? He hasn't. Draco's always going to be Draco." Parker sighed and watched as he walked off.

"Lets just get on the carriage, everything's going to be fine." Erica tried assuring the group.

"Hi Luna." Parker waved as they watched to the carriage.

"Who's that?" Ron asked quietly.

"Everyone this is Loon- Luna Lovegood." Hermione stopped.

"Ron, she's our neighbor- She's been at the house." Erica sighed,"Luna and Ginny are friends."

"I'm sorry... I'm forgetful." Ron shrugged.

"What's that pulling the carriage?" Harry blinked.

"What are you on about? There's nothing there." Ron gave him a look.

"Thestrals." Parker shrugged.

Ron squinted at the carriage but again, there was nothing pulling it.

"Dont worry, you're not going mad. I can see them too." Luna assured Harry, looking up from her magazine,"You're just as sane as I am."

"Why can't we see them?" Hermione raised a brow.

"Only people who have witnessed death are able to see them." Erica shrugged as she got on the carriage.

"Who have you seen die?" Ron blinked.

"Me- Nobody. I just know about magical creatures." Erica shook her head.

"I've saw plenty people die... Because of my dad."

"And I saw... Cedric." Harry sighed.

"Right- Sorry." Ron shook his head.

Erica patted her hands against her legs as the carriage started moving. Welp, this is awkward.

*********************************

Dumbledore began to say his beginning of the year speech only to be interrupted by a new teacher, clearing her throat.

"Who does she think she is?" Hermione muttered.

"Thank you Headmaster, for those... Kind words." She walked forward, dressed top to bottom in pink.

"Hey- I recognize her, she works at the Ministry." Harry shook his head,"This must be what Kingsley meant."

"What did he say?" Ron turned to him.

"He overheard that the Ministry was going to try and interfere with Hogwarts." Harry sighed.

"Right- I was too busy eating." Ron muttered.

"And how lovely it is to see all of your happy, smiling faces. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends." Umbridge smiled.

"What am I, five?" Erica rolled her eyes.

"The Minstry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each Headmaster has brought something new to this historical school... Progress for the sake of progress, must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected and prune practices that ought to be... Prohibited." Umbridge giggled and walked back to her seat.

"Thank you, Professor Umbridge." Dumbledore nodded to her, but the hall didn't applaud.

"Okay, when do we get rid of her?" Erica asked.

"I hate her giggle." Parker groaned.

"Well, based on the track record of all Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, she should he gone by the end of the year." Hermione smiled.

"Can she die? I'd rather she die." Parker nodded.

"I can hook you up with the goods, whatever you need." Erica told her.

"Just get Fred and George to piss her off."

"But I want her to go away forever, looking at her hurts."

"I might end up getting a migraine." Hermione held her head.

"Well, at least we've all agreed that nothing good will come from this." Ron shook his head.

"Oui." Parker nodded.

*********************************

The Herd were sat in Defense Against the Dark Arts and already, they could sense like something was wrong.

Umbridge hadn't arrived yet so the class decided to have a little fun. The Pavarti twins made a paper bird and flew it around the classroom, people laughing as it made its way around.

However, a spell shot it out of the air. Umbridge. The paper bird, now ash, floated to the desk below it.

"Good morning children."

Umbridge giggled and she walked in, her chalk lifting up and beginning to write on the chalkboard.

"Ordinary Wizard Level Examination. More commonly known as... O.W.L.S"

With a flick of her wand, a pile of textbooks was given out to the class... They looked like they were made for children, young children.

"What are we- Primary kids?" Parker whispered to Erica.

"These are 'Ministry Approved"." Erica rolled her eyes.

"When are we going to be doing the actual magic stuff?" Parker raised her hand.

"Oh, there will be no practical learning this year." Umbridge shook her head.

"So, you're leaving us unprotected?" Erica asked,"Isn't that a bit... Counterproductive?"

"There's nothing out there that can harm you, who would want to harm young children like yourselves?" Umbridge shook her head.

"I don't know, Lord Voldemort?" Parker scoffed.

"Lies. All lies."

"We're not lying." Harry shook his head,"What about what happened to Cedric?"

"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident-"

"He was murdered!" Erica snapped at her.

"Detention, Miss Weasley!" Umbridge pointed.

"Fine, see if I care." Erica shrugged.

"Would anyone else care to join her?"

Parker raised her hand. Ron, Hermione and Harry all exchanged looks before raising their hands as well.

"You five, my office later." Umbridge giggled.

"Whatever you say, Professor." Erica sighed.

"I hate her guts." Parker rolled her eyes.

"The feeling's mutual."

"I wasn't going to let you go down yourself."

"And I appreciate that."

Parker hugged her arm,"Love you, Er."

*********************************

"Well guys, what do you think she'll make us do?" Erica asked.

"Honestly? I cannot tell you." Hermione sighed.

"Ooh, what sort of 'Ministry Approved' punishment do we have to look forward to?" Ron joked as they arrived at her office.

"Write lines, most likely." Parker shrugged and she knocked on the door.

"Enter."

The Herd walked in, Harry closing the door behind him.

"Now... Today you will be writing lines." Umbridge began,"Sit down."

"Hey, you were right." Erica whispered.

The Herd sat down, in individual seats as the papers were laid out. Quills and parchment were laid on the table but there was no ink.

"Miss Weasley, you shall be writing 'I must not tell lies' and the others, you shall be writing, 'I shall not assist in telling lies."

"But there's no ink." Harry pointed out.

"You won't need ink." Umbridge smiled.

Erica shook her head and picked up the quill, starting to write.

"How many times do we write it?" Hermione asked.

"Just however long it takes for the message to sink in." Umbridge instructed.

The Herd picked up their quills and began to write... However their hands began to burn after a few minutes.

"Guys- Stop writing." Erica dropped the quill.

The Herd quickly stopped and looked at their hands. There on their hands- Scarred into their hands were the words they'd been writing on the parchment.

"Have you all learned your lesson?"

"This is illegal, harming students." Parker put her quill down.

"What the Minister doesn't know, can't hurt him." Umbridge hummed.

"Let's just go." Erica shook her head, standing up.

"I can tell my father." Parker threatened.

"But you won't, because you know he won't care."

The Herd shook their heads and walked out the room, slamming the door behind them.

"Who does she think she is?" Hermione scoffed.

"It hurts." Erica held her hand.

"I know, maybe I can find something to sooth it." Parker sighed.

"Its fine, I just- I want to go to bed and forget about this."

"I think that's a good plan." Ron nodded.

"See you all tomorrow then?" Hermione looked around.

"Mhm." Erica nodded.

"Night guys." Parker sighed and walked off.

"Night Parker." Harry waved to her.

Erica walked off as well, shaking her head.

*********************************

Once Erica got back to the common room, she headed to her bedroom since she actually wanted to sleep... However Hannah had different plans.

"Oh Erica! Thank goodness you're here. I was starting to miss you." Hannah smirked.

"Hannah, you don't miss me. What do you want?" Erica sighed.

"A little birdy told me something." Hannah walked over.

"Told you what? And why should I care?" Erica asked.

"About Percy." Hannah pushed her shoulder, turning Erica to look her,"Did your big brother leave you?"

Erica tensed up, how did she know- No- She shouldn't know. Just lie. Just lie, maybe she'll buy it..

"He's an adult with a job, he just moved out." Erica shook her head.

"So you didn't chase after him? Begging him to stay?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because it's Perfect Percy, your favourite brother... Now he's left. And Cedric's gone too... So who's going to protect you now?" Hannah hummed.

"I don't need protecting." Erica shook her head,"What are you going to do? Tease me? Have fun with that."

"I can do worse than teasing now, I'm not eleven." Hannah scoffed.

"Really? Doesn't look like that to me." Erica looked her up and down.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Hannah, face it. You're pathetic. You only act tough in front of your friends and hey, you usually get Max to do your 'dirty work' for you." Erica pointed.

"Because it's smarter to let others do my work." Hannah shrugged.

"But you can't do much on your own, can you?"

"Want a bet?" Hannah pushed her back into her drawers,"I don't waste my time on you."

"Clearly you do, how long have you been talking?" Erica raised a brow.

"Watch your back, Weasley." Hannah pointed before leaving their dorm.

"Standing up to Hannah? New favourite hobby." Erica flopped onto her bed,"My back's gonna hurt tomorrow."

*********************************

Parker had finally gotten back to the common room, making her way to her room.

"Oh- Parker, you're back. I was getting worried." Blaise stopped her before she could enter her room.

"Why would you be worried about lil' ol' me?" Parker hummed.

"I don't trust that woman, and besides, you're not the type to get Detention." Blaise shook his head,"You're a good friend."

"Umbridge is horrible." Parker sighed,"She made us- She has these quills and whatever you write... Goes onto your hand."

"Blood quills- But those are illegal, especially for school punishment." Blaise's eyes widened.

"What the Minister doesn't know, won't hurt him." Parker quoted Umbridge.

Blaise shook his head,"Can't we tell someone else? Like a teacher. I mean, McGonagall likes you lot."

"She'd find out." Parker shook her head.

"But she can't get away with this. She's torturing students as detention!"

"I just hope she doesn't do it to anyone else." Parker sighed.

"She thinks she's in control, of course she will."

"Dumbledore will stop her."

"I hope so." Blaise sighed.

"You were really worried about me?" Parker asked, looking at him.

"Of course I was, I care about you.' Blaise told her.

"Thanks Blaise." Parker smiled softly.

"Not a problem.'

"Your summer was okay, yeah? Sorry I haven't spoken much to you." Parker hummed.

"Oh, no, it's alright. My summer was fine." Blaise assured her,"What about yourself?"

"It was eventful." Parker nodded.

"What happened?"

"Just me and Draco hanging out." Parker shrugged.

"That sounds... Pleasant." Blaise chuckled.

"It was something." Parker hummed.

"Was it fun, at least?"

"At times, yeah." Parker nodded.

"That makes it all worth it."

"I'm gonna head to bed, ill see you tomorrow Blaise." Parker waved.

"Night Parker." Blaise hummed.

*********************************

"How are you guys feeling?" Hermione sat down with the Herd.

"Alright, I suppose." Erica sighed.

"What about your hands?" Ron asked.

"It doesn't sting anymore." Harry shook her head.

"Yeah, mine either." Hermione nodded.

"Guys! Guys!" Dean ran up to them,"There's a fight, Umbridge and McGonagall!"

"Like fist fight?" Ron shot up.

"No, an argument Ron." Dean nudged him and ran off.

"I wanna watch." Parker got up.

"Me too." Erica got up too.

The Herd and some others walked out to the hallway and saw the two arguing.

"Professor, what exactly are you insinuating?" Umbridge raised a brow.

"I'm merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices." McGonagall crossed her arms.

"So silly of me but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom." Delores went up a step,"Minerva."

"I'm not questioning anything." Minerva went up a step as well,"Delores... Merely your medieval methods."

"I'm sorry but to question my practices is to question the Ministry and by extention..The Minister himself. I'm a tolerant woman but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty." Umbridge shook her head.

"Disloyalty." Minerva shook her head, stepping down

"Things at Hogwarts... Are far worse than I feared." Umbridge tutted,"Cornelius will want to take immediate action." She announced to the group of students who had gathered.

"That doesn't sound good.." Erica sighed.