Author's Note: Y'all this whole thing is a mess, I can't keep up with what grade 9 me wanted with this in the beginning. Also my siblings read this wtf. Also, last thing: working on a re-write that WILL replace this if I finish it before I finish this. A bunch of this was taken from the book with P+A kinda added in.

Harry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he had done all term. He and Ron spent much of Sunday catching up with all their homework again, and although this could hardly be called fun, the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather than sitting hunched over tables in the common room, they took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech tree on the edge of the lake. Hermione, who of course was up to date with all her work, brought wool outside with her and bewitched her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked in midair beside her, producing more hats and scarves. Beside her, Annabeth's hands blurred as she attempted to race the bewitched needles in a weaving contest - like mother, like daughter, Harry thought with a smirk. Percy, being with Annabeth constantly, was also finished his work and was trying to convince Annabeth to let him go swimming in the lake.

"Come on, Wise Girl!" he pleaded. "Pleeaaassseeeee?"

"Fine, but if you expose us, I'll kill you."

Percy whooped and kissed her on the cheek before turning and sprinting right into the dark water of the Black Lake.

Annabeth shook her head with a smile. "What's in that lake, anyway," she asked. "He keeps complaining that something won't leave him alone."

"Rumour has it there's a giant squid," Hermione said, watching the lake. "But no one knows."

Annabeth finished her scarf before the needles and picked up a book. Hermione looked at her. "Have you always been able to do that? Weave like that," she asked.

"Maybe," Annabeth shrugged. "I only discovered it last summer when I was running for my life and had to build bridge. It just never seemed like a useful skill until then."

Hermione considered it for a moment. "Will you ever tell us what happened to you?"

"The less you know, the better."

"Fair enough."

Annabeth turned back to her book.

Ron looked out at the water. "He's been down there for a while, is he okay?"

"He probably befriended the giant squid," Annabeth said without looking up. "If he shoots out of the water brandishing Riptide, then I'll be worried."

Ron stared at her. "But… What?"

"He can breathe underwater."

A chorus of "Ohhhhhhhh," came from the three wizards.

Upon entering the common room on Monday morning, Harry noticed a large group beside the notice board. A large sign had been affixed to it, so large that it covered everything else on there — the lists of secondhand spell-books for sale, the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training schedule, the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog cards for others, the Weasleys' new advertisement for testers, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends, and the lost-and-found notices. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature.

By order of The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four. Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, high inquisitor

Harry and Ron read the notice over the heads of some anxious-looking second years.

Harry was reading the notice through. The happiness that had filled him since Saturday was gone. His insides were pulsing with rage.

"This isn't a coincidence," he said, his hands forming fists. "She knows."

"She can't," said Ron at once.

"There were people listening in that pub. And let's face it, we don't know how many of the people who turned up we can trust. . . . Any of them could have run off and told Umbridge. . . ."

"What's going on," came Percy's voice from behind them. "By order of the…" Realization struck. "Oh, Hades."

"I wonder if Hermione's seen this yet?" Harry said, looking around at the door to the girls' dormitories.

"Or Annabeth," Percy added.

"Let's go and tell them," said Ron. He bounded forward, pulled open the door, and set off up the spiral staircase. He was on the sixth stair when it happened. There was a loud, wailing, klaxon-like sound and the steps melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide. There was a brief moment when Ron tried to keep running, arms working madly like windmills, then he toppled over backward and shot down the newly created slide, coming to rest on his back at Harry's feet.

"Er — I don't think we're allowed in the girls' dormitories," said Harry, pulling Ron to his feet and trying not to laugh.

"Here, let me try," Percy said as a couple girls and Hermione slid down and the stairs reverted into their natural state.

"Wait, Percy-" Hermione stopped her warning as Percy took a couple steps back and leaped up to the seventh stair. He stood for a second, waiting to see if he would meet the same fate as Ron. He didn't. Hermione gaped. Percy shrugged and continued up the stairs, returning moments later with Annabeth by his side, looking a little worried.

"What's this about no clubs," she asked as she came down the steps. As her foot touched the floor, the stairs once again became a slide and Percy, still a few steps up, crashed into Annabeth. She fell into his lap laughing at him.

"Guess once Annabeth wasn't in the dorms anymore, there was no reason for you to be allowed up there anymore," Hermione said.

Harry waved his arms, "Guys, bigger problems!" He motioned to the notice board.

Annabeth and Hermione moved closer, eyes skimming the words, becoming angrier and angrier.

"This is worse than the American public school system," Annabeth muttered.

"More like the British one," Hermione muttered in response.

"They're both pretty bad," Percy agreed. "But that's not quite the problem."

"Right, right," Annabeth said.

"Someone must have blabbed to her!" Ron said angrily.

"They can't have done," said Hermione in a low voice.

"You're so naive," said Ron, "you think just because you're all honorable and trustworthy —"

"No, they can't have done because I put a jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed," said Hermione grimly. "Believe me, if anyone's run off and told Umbridge, we'll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it."

"What'll happen to them?" said Ron eagerly.

"Well, put it this way," said Hermione, "it'll make Eloise Midgen's acne look like a couple of cute freckles."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Annabeth said, high-fiving Hermione.

"Come on," Ron said. "Let's get down to breakfast and see what the others think. . . . I wonder whether this has been put up in all the Houses?"

It was immediately apparent on entering the Great Hall that Umbridge's sign had not only appeared in Gryffindor Tower. There was a peculiar intensity about the chatter and an extra measure of movement in the Hall as people scurried up and down their tables conferring on what they had read. Harry, Ron, Percy, Annabeth, and Hermione had barely taken their seats when Neville, Dean, Fred, George, and Ginny descended upon them.

"Did you see it?"

"D'you reckon she knows?"

"What are we going to do?"

They were all looking at Harry. He glanced around to make sure there were no teachers near them.

"We're going to do it anyway, of course," he said quietly.

"Knew you'd say that," said George, beaming and thumping Harry on the arm.

"You, sir," Percy said to Harry. "Are my new favourite wizard."

"Harry! Ron!" It was Angelina and she was hurrying toward them looking per-

fectly desperate.

"It's okay," said Harry quietly, when she was near enough to hear him. "We're still going to —"

"You realize she's including Quidditch in this?" Angelina said over him. "We have to go and ask permission to re-form the Gryffindor team!"

"What?" said Harry.

"No way," said Ron, appalled.

"What's Quidditch again?" Percy asked.

"Not now, Percy," Annabeth hissed.

"You read the sign, it mentions teams too! So listen, Harry . . . I am saying this for the last time. . . . Please, please don't lose your temper with Umbridge again or she might not let us play anymore!"

"Okay, okay," said Harry, for Angelina looked as though she was on the verge of tears. "Don't worry, I'll behave myself. . . ."

"Bet Umbridge is in History of Magic," said Ron grimly, as they set off for Binns's lesson. "She hasn't inspected Binns yet. . . . Bet you anything she's there. . . ."

She wasn't. It was just the ghost of a History teacher as usual.

In the middle of class, Hedwig landed outside the window. Harry glanced around at Professor Binns who continued to read his notes, serenely unaware that the class's attention was even less focused upon him than usual. Harry slipped quietly off his chair, crouched down, and hurried along the row to the window, where he slid the catch and opened it very slowly. He had expected Hedwig to hold out her leg so that he could remove the letter and then fly off to the Owlery, but the moment the window was open wide enough she hopped inside, hooting dolefully. He closed the window with an anxious glance at Professor Binns, crouched low again, and sped back to his seat with Hedwig on his shoulder. He regained his seat, transferred Hedwig to his lap, and made to remove the letter tied to her leg. It was only then that he realized that Hedwig's feathers were oddly ruffled; some were bent the wrong way, and she was holding one of her wings at an odd angle.

"She's hurt!" Harry whispered, bending his head low over her.

Hermione and Ron leaned in closer; Hermione even put down her quill. "Look — there's something wrong with her wing —"

Hedwig was quivering; when Harry made to touch the wing she gave a little jump, all her feathers on end as though she was inflating herself, and gazed at him reproachfully.

Annabeth looked over. Her face went white. "Harry, you need to get her out of here. I'll follow you in just a second."

Hermione looked at her. "What can you…? Oh, Athena, right!"

"Professor Binns," said Harry loudly, and everyone in the class turned to look at him. "I'm not feeling well."

Professor Binns raised his eyes from his notes, looking amazed, as always, to find the room in front of him full of people. "Not feeling well?" he repeated hazily.

"Not at all well," said Harry firmly, getting to his feet while concealing Hedwig behind his back. "So I think I'll need to go to the hospital wing."

"Yes," said Professor Binns, clearly very much wrong-footed. "Yes. . . yes, hospital wing . . . well, off you go, then, Perkins . . ."

Once outside the room Harry returned Hedwig to his shoulder and hurried off up the corridor, pausing to think only when he was out of sight of Binns's door.

Annabeth joined him after a moment.

"What can you do? What did Hermione mean?" Harry asked, slightly distraught.

"Athena, she's the goddess of wisdom, battle and owls," Annabeth said as she motioned for Harry to hand her Hedwig. "I've never done this before, but I-I think…" she paused, looking Hedwig over. "Broken wing…" Annabeth muttered. She went to touch it and Hedwig flinched away. "Shhhh, it's okay. I'm here to help," Annabeth cooed and Hedwig seemed to understand. She let Annabeth touch the injured wing gently.

"Can you fix her?" Harry asked.

"Yes, but I need to get to the hospital wing." She started walking down the hall.

Harry followed closely.

When they arrived, Annabeth handed Harry Hedwig, "I really wish I hadn't lost that stupid hat…" Annabeth muttered. "Okay, stay here, I'm going to go find some supplies."

She disappeared into the room. Harry held Hedwig close, stroking her head. Annabeth returned after about a minute.

"We need an empty classroom or something."

They found one within the next few seconds.

Annabeth had Harry place Hedwig on a desk.

She took a deep breath. "I'm going to set her wing, okay?"

"Have you ever done it before?"

"On an owl? No. On myself? Yes," Harry realized she was rambling as she was preparing the materials, but it seemed to be her way of psyching herself up for this particular task, so he let her. "-gods, that wasn't fun. It hurt a lot, too." She cut some tensor bandage and patted Hedwig on the head. "Okay, Hedwig, this is going to hurt a lot, and you won't be flying for a little bit, but you'll feel better when your wing is set."

Hedwig seemed to understand. Somewhere in her dark eyes, Harry saw comprehension and he realized that Hedwig was understanding. Somehow, Annabeth was able to speak to her.

"Okay girl," Annabeth said. Harry wondered if she was speaking to Hedwig or herself. "Let's do this. Harry, you might not want to watch."

Harry turned away as Annabeth took the broken wing in her hands. Hedwig let out a horrible cry. Harry turned around right away and went to her, patting her head as Annabeth carefully wrapped the wing.

The door to the classroom opened.

"Mr Potter, Ms Chase," McGonagall said. "What are you doing out of class in an empty classroom?"