Hello my lovelies!

Has it been eight months...yes. I'm horrible I know, and I can't promise I'll be better since RL is quite hectic and busy as of late. I will say that a tumble post about Slytherin!Golden Trio reminded me how dreadful I've been about updating this story on Sunday, and I may have written this, and planned until chapter 31. This is going to be fun, well, it will be once I find time to write! I am going to try to at least update this once a month, seriously, I am going to try.

Thank you for being so patient x

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any Oc's belong to me.

Thursday, December 14th, 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Slytherin Common Room

"I'm going to set that toad-faced cu—" Hermione started, but was quickly cut off by her boyfriend. The girl's lips twisted to the side as if she's just been sucking on a lemon, and her nose was crinkled in obvious disdain.

"Language, love," Theodore interjected, toying with the small curls against her nape.

"Fuck that," Hermione scowled, "I'm going to set that bitch on fire."

Hermione was comfortably sat across Theodore Nott's lap in a wide, black leather armchair beside the Black Lake.

Hermione had angrily changed out of her uniform—not even twenty minutes ago—into a black nightgown and matching slippers, and she'd dragged a massive, white fluffy blanket out to her favourite armchair in the Common Room and had bundled up in it. A few minutes ago Theo strolled into the Slytherin Dorms to catch sight of Hermione; Theo merely smiled fondly, dropped his book bag beside the armchair, picked her up and sat down with her in his lap.

Pale green light shimmered across their features, and danced delicately across the couple. Hermione tilted her head to face her boyfriend, her brow puckered, and with copper fire burning in her brown eyes.

"You heard what Harry said, we need to lay low for now. I'm just as pissed off about it as you are, but you can't set her on fire, even if you desperately wish to." Theo drawled, his free hand moving to gently brush against her jaw.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the wizard, "I will concede that setting her on fire is short-sighted, and does not solve our long-term problem, but we have to do something."

The witch burrowed into her blanket further, her eyes narrowed as she sulked; she truly did want to set the witch on fire, even if it was just a little, or even just for a moment. One beautiful, precious moment.

"I elect that the first thing we do is dismantle that stupid squad of arse-kissing prats," Theo grumbled. He and Hermione had gotten an infraction from one of them for snogging out in the Viaduct Courtyard earlier in the week, and he was still cross about it.

They'd both had to serve out detention with the pink swaddled witch for three days. Three days of hell. Three days where Harry had to talk Hermione off the ledge because she was dangerously close to challenging the woman to a duel.

Ron had been of no help, neither had Blaise as both of them wanted to see it happen.

"I would bet good money that Hermione wins," Ron said with a toothy grin, to which Blaise snorted, "agreed, Weasley. Although, I would probably have to lend you the money since you don't have any."

Ron merely shoved Blaise with a playful scowl on his face. It was good-natured banter nothing more, and everyone involved in the conversation knew that.

(Blaise once hexed someone for calling Ron a filthy blood-traitor pauper in their first year, and Blaise coldly reminded the Sixth Year Slytherin that money clearly didn't buy you class. Blaise also informed the offender that Slytherins stuck together, and he needed to get his shit together.)

Hermione was not the only Slytherin female who had to be stopped from attacking Umbridge: Ginny had raised her wand when Umbridge turned her back on the redhead, her lips forming a nasty spell before Draco had lifted the girl off the ground, and thrown the fiery witch over his shoulder—hastily removing her from the situation.

Presently, a look of wonder had come over Hermione's features, and excitedly she worked her arms out of her blanket. Once free, Hermione grabbed a hold of Theo's face and firmly pressed her lips against his. When she pulled back, she pressed her forehead to his and grinned madly.

"What was that for?" Theo murmured with a tender smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"For inspiring me. I have a plan."

Tuesday, December 19th, 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"I have never been gladder for Christmas Holidays to come around," Ron groaned loudly, tiredly rubbing his hand across his cropped hair.

Harry clapped a hand on Ron's shoulder and listlessly nodded his head in agreement, "she's fucking despicable, mate."

In the first few months of their fifth year, Umbridge had traipsed about like she owned the Castle, ahem-ing all over the place, and primly laughing. Granted, it was annoying, but nothing like the eternal torment she'd forced them to endure since the end of November.

It started during the first Quidditch game of the season. For some brilliant reason Fudge had deigned to allow Dolores Umbridge practically free reign the week before (despite the fact that the Ministry was not supposed to have jurisdiction over Hogwarts nor tamper in the day-to-day running of the establishment). She chose to use her new powers to dictate how they played Quidditch.

She attempted to ban Luna Lovegood from commentating as she deemed it a stream of nonsensical fluff, to which Ginny flipped off Umbridge. The witch sputtered and demanded that Professor Snape do something about the member of his house, but Minerva McGonagall swiftly stepped in and said that Ginny was clearly waving at someone in the stands.

"Should I lend you my glass, Dolores? As you seem to be having some vision problems. Or perhaps you should stop by the Infirmary after the match, I'm sure Poppy would be happy to inspect your eyes if necessary," Minerva said with a tight smile and cold eyes. The Transfiguration professor's blatant dislike of the unpleasant woman was showcased almost daily, and it only affirmed to Harry and his friends why she was one of their favourite teachers.

Then Terry Boot crashed into Draco when the latter was in possession of the Quaffle, and things only spiralled downwards from there. Both wizards somehow made it safely to the ground with only a few scrapes and bruises.

It quickly dissolved into a heated argument between the Ravenclaw and the Slytherin, who were usually on good terms as they shared some of the same classes (not to mention that the Slytherins and Ravenclaws visited each others houses quite often), and then the toad-faced witch decided to interfere.

Ron, Harry and Michael Corner had also landed on the Pitch, and what was a heated but civil discussion amongst schoolmates, was seen as a vicious disagreement by Umbridge. Who then tried to give all five of them lifelong Quidditch bans; a declaration that echoed throughout the stands, and caused quite a stir amongst the spectators.

Upon hearing it, Theo—who was hovering over by the Slytherin stands—called out to Hermione, and requested that she not publicly attack a teacher. The witch was irate and ready to hurl a hex at the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but Daphne swiftly got that situation under control.

Daphne Greengrass wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulders in what appeared to be a soothing manner, but under her breath she was logically working her way through all the ways things could go south for them if Hermione acted on her strong feelings towards the horrid witch.

Daphne as always was the epitome of grace and poise: the witch had dirty blonde hair, dark blue eyes like raging seas, high cheekbones, impeccable posture, not to mention she was almost five foot ten with a lithe, sleek figure. The expensive furs wrapped around her body only added to the air of sophistication that she had about her.

Needless to say, Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape stepped in and overruled Umbridge—in spite of her shrill protestations.

Having been steamrolled so easily only gave her the impression that she didn't have enough control over what happened at Hogwarts, and so, it had only gotten worse since then.

Fudge raised Umbridge's standing after the little debacle during the Quidditch game. Cornelius Fudge gave her more power—something she clearly coveted. (Blaise crassly remarked that she probably got off on making their lives miserable.)

The last straw for Harry was when she went after Caelum.

She'd singled out Caelum during his Defense class, provoking him by saying that Harry Potter was a liar, but who would be surprised considering that he was raised by a filthy half-breed, a murderer and a former Death Eater.

Caelum snapped and told her to fuck off back to the filthy hole she crawled out of.

She gave him an evening's detention. "Just one evening shall suffice." When Caelum left her office, there were angry letters etched into his skin that read, 'I must be respectful.'

Ginny wanted to flay her, and Hermione had snarled angrily upon finding out. Their entire group was up in arms, and Harry—in a strangely calm tone—said, "no. We can't do anything, not yet. We need to make her suffer."

Which is when, a day later, Hermione had an idea. They needed to infiltrate her ranks.

Draco had unfortunately drawn the short straw, and not even a few hours later he had charmed his way into the Inquisitorial Squad, and had a shiny badge to prove it.

Currently, Ronald Weasley had just dropped into a seat on one of the benches in the Viaduct courtyard, next to Draco Malfoy—who was currently pretending to read the rubbish Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook they'd been issued this year, when really he was keeping a watchful eye on a group of first year Hufflepuffs across the way. The tiny wix were huddled around their friend, who was clutching at his hand and bawling his eyes out.

"The kid just got out of detention with the hag, he hasn't stopped crying since," Draco said noncommittally, but his jaw was tightly clenched and his knuckles burned white.

Harry plopped down on Draco's other side, a pack of sugar quills grasped in one hand, and absently he held them in Draco's direction (they were his favourite after all).

"She's vile," Harry scowled darkly, perpetually going against every instinct in his body that screamed at him to intact revenge upon the despicable witch for attacking one of his own, for bringing harm to his brother.

None of them were unaware or ignorant as to why Fudge sent the toad swaddled in bright pink robes to Hogwarts. The Minister of Magic was becoming more and more paranoid by the day (feeling threatened by Harry and Dumbledore) and he was firmly barricading himself behind thick walls of denial.

She had no idea who she was dealing with.

"She put up three more fucking decrees this morning, mate," Ron grumbled. "Filch almost fell off that flimsy ladder of his putting the last one up."

Harry nudged Ron with the pack of sugar quills. The ginger took the packet with muttered thanks, and happily grabbed a couple before he handed the rest back to Harry.

"Funnily enough, out of all the girls, Pansy has been the voice of reason as of late," Harry mentioned errantly, peeking at Ron in his peripherals. Taking note of the fact that Ron busied himself by shoving another sugar quill in his mouth.

"It's worse spending time with her outside of class," Draco grunted, shutting the useless textbook, and tossing it onto his book bag on the ground.

"She prattles on about all of her perverse opinions, all the darn time from what Boyle was telling me," Ron jumped in. "All her thoughts on beasts and beings, and how they're trying to put through harsher regulations when it pertains to werewolves."

That grabbed Harry's attention, and a low growl unwittingly ripped from his lips.

Draco flicked Harry on his ear, "just because you live with two mutts does not mean you have to act like one." Harry merely glared at Draco—who did not even notice as his face was contorted in heavy ponderation.

"Father owled me and told me about it yesterday. The first part of the bill went through in spite of him opposing it during the Wizengamot proceedings."

"Fuck," Harry swore, but then turned to Draco, "I thought he was laying low after he didn't show up when Voldemort summoned him during the third task."

Draco raised his eyebrows at Harry bringing up the final task in the Triwizard Tournament; Harry hated talking about it, and the only person he discussed the events of that night with was Caelum. (Who refused to share any of the information that Harry imparted upon him.)

Another taboo topic was Cassius Warrington's death that night.

They all knew better than to pry now.

Lucius Malfoy, and Theodus Nott had been the most prominent absences that night. Lucius and Narcissa abandoned the Malfoy family home after warding it heavily against intruders, and sought refuge at Nott Manor. Narcissa turned up her nose at the state of the gardens, and had made it her personal mission since then to bring them back to their former glory.

Theodus had simply let them wither after his wife's passing. She loved taking care of them, and when she got sick they suffered, and he couldn't bear to maintain them after she died. The House Elves originally tried to maintain their upkeep, but upon noticing how it brought great pain to their Master, they stopped.

Nott Manor's location was a highly protected secret, and the blood wards were volatile towards anyone who tried to force their way in.

Neither Draco's parents nor Theodus Nott had made any public appearances since that night; both being overly cautious as to avoid running into any of Voldemort's followers. Cautious not to unnecessarily expose themselves to the danger that surely lurked around every corner.

"Father said it was important...he said that Remus was part of the family now after these past few years..." Draco said quietly.

Harry nodded slowly. In the beginning Lucius had been adamantly against Draco's choice in friends, (namely Harry, Ron and Hermione), but Draco stood up to his Father, and Narcissa agreed with her son. Regulus and Sirius were family after all—the good sort, and she'd always liked the two of them.

Thus started holidays spent together as an unconventional family. An added bonus in Sirius's eyes was the great fun he had poking and prodding at Lucius and making the man highly uncomfortable.

If Lucius's alliances hadn't already shifted to the Black brothers and Remus before Voldemort's return, the outright murder of Cassius Warrington—a Pureblood Slytherin, whose only crime was that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time—would certainly have swayed him over to their side.

Slytherins looked after each other, and Harry and Cassius worked alongside one another as soon as they found each other in the maze. Only to end up agreeing to share the glory for their school and house, thus, they grabbed the Triwizard Cup simultaneously.

"Kill the spare," Voldemort had said with his blood red eyes, and snake-like features. That moment haunted Harry's nightmares: the moment that an Upperclassman that he admired immensely had placed himself between Harry and Voldemort, only to die in a flash of green light by Dolohov's hands.

"I'm sure Lucius will complain about having Christmas dinner at my house again, but will end whispering to your Mum about how good the cooking is, again," Ron piped up, lightheartedly changing the topic. Harry shot him a grateful smile.

The three boys sat side-by-side, munching on sugar quills in silence, considering how odd this school year had been. The prank war was now officially called off, and even though there was still mirth in and amongst them all, there was also a lingering dark shroud cast across the entire school.

It was the name of their fellow fallen student which passed from mouth to mouth. It was the older students wanting to fight back, to prepare themselves for the war that was brewing on the horizon. It was Ron suggesting that if they weren't going to be taught, then they needed to teach themselves.

There were already plans in motion to have students from all the houses work together, to train, and to learn from each other. All that was left now was a secure place to carry out said activities. A place that Neville Longbottom found whilst Harry, Ron and Draco sat on a bench in the Viaduct courtyard.