5 Interruptions.

The rest of the summer holidays passed without further incident, well apart from the impromptu wild party that Fred, George, and Ginny threw when they heard what he had done to Lucius Malfoy. The Daily Prophet though was thunderously silent about the whole thing and Harry's hearing. The bad mouthing of Dumbledore and himself though continued with even greater vengeance.

Through the Order Harry learnt with that Lucius was now residing in Azkaban. A quick and quiet trial had been held within hours it appeared and the whole thing quickly swept under the carpet. Wizarding justice seemed to have reached an all time low, and in Harry's opinion the adults were again failing. His trust in all of them had gone. It didn't matter to him which side they were on, or what strategy they were following.

He realised that he had a choice. Sit back, like he was doing at the moment on the Hogwarts express and watch things fall apart, or do something about it. It wasn't a very difficult decision. Ever since he had time travelled followed by the Dementor attack he had felt an inner restlessness. For good or bad he was going to follow his road and no-one else's, and he was going to start the trek with a friend he hadn't met yet.

"Oh hey Harry," Neville said nervously, "everywhere seems to be full." The nervous boy was once more hovering outside the compartment occupied by Luna Lovegood.

"Plenty of room in here Neville," Harry answered with a broad smile.

"Yea well …"

"Don't worry about Luna she's ok," Harry said.

"I didn't realise you knew her Harry," Ginny said from behind him making him jump. He had only recently noticed her apparent knack for appearing suddenly out of no where.

"Well I don't really, but I've seen her around. Being odd isn't necessarily a bad thing. Look at me."

Ginny laughed. "You're not odd Harry you're unique just like the rest of us, however unlike the rest of us I think Luna sees the world differently, or maybe she sees a different world. It's a little hard to tell sometimes."

Harry slid the compartment door open and entered taking the seat opposite the blonde girl who was of course reading the Quibbler upside down.

"Hello you're Luna Lovegood," Harry said remembering her previous greeting to him. Luna peered over the top of the paper a look of surprise that she had been spoken to never mind recognised.

"Yes I know, and you're Harry Potter," she replied lowering the paper and twisting her head to one side as though inspecting him from a different angle would reveal some deep hidden secret.

"I am indeed. Now I believe your father runs that fine magazine you're reading." Luna's face lit up at Harry's praise for the completely barmy magazine.

"Daddy will be pleased to hear that you like it."

"Well I think he might be even happier with what I want to give him." Harry said pulling out of his bag the small black recorder he had used at the hearing along with a pair of headphones. "I have copies so this is his to keep. I would like him to publish it word for word."

"Oh well I don't know. Daddy only publishes really important stories. The ones the Ministry doesn't want you to know about."

"That's good to hear because the Ministry is pretending that this didn't happen and," Harry reached inside his bag once more at this point and came up a roll of parchment, "here is a statement about what happened a few minutes later."

Luna's protruding eyes nearly popped out of her head as she began reading Harry's slightly altered version of the truth.

"Lucius Malfoy tried to kill you?" she blurted out in what would be a normal shout of shock for anyone else, but it didn't quite fit with Harry's understanding of the girl.

"What!" said Neville and forgetting his reticence about Luna crossed the compartment and sat next to her so he could read over her shoulder.

"That's why he's in Azkaban," Harry said.

"He is?"

"Serves the bastard right," Ginny said with venom. Forgiveness didn't come easy to the youngest of seven.

"It's been covered up. The esteemed Mr Malfoy was a little too close to Fudge, but even he couldn't get the man off as half the Wizengamot witnessed the attack."

"Wow I don't know what to say Harry. It always happens to you," Neville said collapsing backwards with an expression that boarded between shock and admiration.

"Doesn't it just," Harry answered. A cold shiver ran down his spine as an image of Neville falling stone dead flashed through his mind. These images had become a regular part of Harry's life over the past few weeks, a part he could well do without.

"By the way my Gran and I don't believe a word the Prophet has been printing about you and Dumbledore. In fact she's stopped taking it."

"Thanks Neville I appreciate that."

Luna had placed the earphones on her head and was turning the recording device around prodding it here and there with her wand. Harry leaned across and pointed at a slight indentation on the top. Luna placed her wand tip there and settled back listening to the recording.

Harry looked out at the passing scenery and wondered once more whether he was doing the right thing going back to Hogwarts. He had a rough idea of the route he was going to take. It could only be rough as he couldn't be sure what the reactions of everybody else would be. What he was going to do would be largely out of character for him and that was his other worry could he actually make himself do it.

His mental musings were interrupted by a peal of wild laughter from Luna who it seemed had heard something hysterical funny. Unfortunately for Ron he took that exact moment to enter the compartment. The expression on his face as he starred at Luna was enough to make Harry forget his doubts and he burst out laughing as well.

"Sit down Ron the wind might change and you'll be stuck with that face for ever," Harry said. Ron mentally shook himself and sat down between Ginny and Harry forcing his sister to move up much to her irritation. Hermione sat on the other side beside Neville.

"Hey Harry guess who they've made a prefect?"

"Malfoy," Harry answered.

"Who told you?" Ron said looking upset that his news was already known.

"The tea leaves," Harry said making a poor effort of imitating Trelawney's fake ethereal voice.

"Yea right," Ron said.

"It was always going to be him Ron. I'm sure it was bought and paid for months ago."

"Yea but with his dad in prison Dumbledore could have picked somebody else."

"Prefects are recommended by the Head of House Ron," Hermione said. "The Headmaster has the final say of course, but I don't suppose he likes to interfere too much." Harry's snort was missed by both his friends.

"But Malfoy is the son of a known Death Eater what's he thinking of," Ron insisted.

"Leave it Ron I'm sure it makes sense to Dumbledore even if it doesn't to the rest of us mortals. I've given up wondering how his mind works a long time ago," Harry said.

"Well if that little twerp gives you any trouble I'll make his tame gorillas do lines. He's bound to abuse his position."

"Oh and you abusing yours is alright then?" Hermione said with an edge to her voice. Harry closed his eyes and gave an internal sigh. The fact that he had a chance to do things differently didn't make hearing his friends have the same argument again any easier to bear.

"Speaking of little twerps look who's come to pay us a visit," Ginny said as the compartment door slide open once more.

"You watch your mouth you filthy blood traitor," Malfoy snapped glaring at Ginny who refused to be intimated and glared right back.

"How's daddy?" she sneered.

"Why you little …"

"Say one more word Malfoy and I'll keep the promise I made to your father," Harry said standing up wand at the ready. "He passed the message on I hope, about how you only get one chance." The red flush in Malfoy's cheeks drained away leaving him pale and pasty. It was clear that he must have spoken to his father. Harry hadn't spoken loudly, in fact he spoke barely above a whisper, but there was an unusual harshness in his voice that everybody felt.

"You'll get yours Potter. Nobody does that to my father and gets away with it."

"Oh please Draco is that the best you can do. An empty threat, you're half the man your father is, and he squealed like a little girl when I hit him."

"You're dead Potter."

"Just so we're clear about this Draco you are now out of chances. Upset any of my friends, and that includes everybody in here, and your life won't be worth living. Now get out before I'm forced to make you leave the train early."

Harry suddenly extended his arm and took a step closer so the wand was now inches away from Malfoy's face. There was no mistaking the fear in boy's eyes or the rage at his impotence. Harry knew this wasn't going to be the end, it never was with Malfoy, but he didn't care. In fact on some level he looked forward to it.

Harry slide the door shut and watched Malfoy disappear down the corridor followed by Crabbe and Goyle who had merely looked on stupidly throughout the short exchange.

"Blimey Harry you can be right scary when you want to be," Ron said. Harry just shrugged his shoulders. He had wanted to put the fear of God into Malfoy, but he knew that the arrogant twerp would talk himself out of his funk eventually, and then plot some sort of pathetic revenge.

"Harry you shouldn't go around baiting him," Hermione chided.

"I wasn't baiting him Hermione. I meant every word I said. From the moment that Cedric was murdered in front of me the rules have changed. We're at war and I intend to prosecute it to the best of my ability, and you know why."

"But you don't know for sure that you're meant to kill him Harry."

"We've been over this Hermione. What else could it say, and even if it doesn't he has it in for me, so he's going to come after me whatever I do." This had been a running argument over the last few weeks. All of them agreed that the prophecy was about Harry and Voldemort. The actual wording though was always open for debate.

"You still don't have to get involved, and you know my opinion on … on," Hermione looked over at Neville and Luna, "Divination."

"It's alright I don't mind them knowing about the prophecy Hermione. Neville and Luna are trustworthy." Both of them looked stunned at Harry's total trust in them. "Whatever it does or doesn't say is not important. He killed my parents and if I get a chance to kill him I will."

"You don't have to," Hermione pleaded. Harry could feel his anger, or was it passion, rising.

"I know, but it's my choice and if I get the chance I'll take it. I know Neville would strike Bellatrix Lestrange down without hesitation if he got the chance." Hell Harry thought he'd seen him do it once before. Why wouldn't he do it again? It took a moment for him to realise that the compartment had gone deathly quiet and everybody was looking at Neville. It was Luna who broke the silence.

"Who is Bellatrix Lestrange?" It was only then that Harry realised the blunder he had made.

"Oh god Neville I'm sorry. I didn't mean to … look I found out by accident and … and …," Harry trailed off not knowing what to say next.

"It's alright Harry," Neville said with a calm that Harry definitely wasn't feeling. "I'm proud of my parents, but it's … it's not easy to talk about. People are quick to judge, and I don't want their… looks."

Harry was feeling sick to the stomach and to make matters worse he saw that Cho Chang was hovering in the corridor taking quick glances at him. He had no intention of trying another failed romance with her, and she deserved to know that as soon as possible. The pain of Cedric's death would still be red raw for her.

"Look I'm sorry Neville I won't say another word about it I promise."

"It's alright Harry it's not like it's a state secret. The trial is on public record after all." Hermione, Ron and Ginny's eyes nearly popped out at the inference. Luna's expression remained much the same.

"His parents weren't the one's who were on trial," Harry said quickly.

"Heavens no," Neville said. "Look I better tell you what happened."

"You don't have to," Hermione said just a little too quickly.

"I want to, besides you'd look it up sooner or later anyway." Hermione looked as though she wanted to argue the point but didn't. Harry glanced out at the corridor and saw that the door was about to be opened once more.

"Let me head off Cho first Neville," Harry said standing up and stepping into the corridor.

Even as he closed the compartment door behind him Neville began to explain the horror his parents had endured. At first he was talking to his lap, but then the inner courage that filled the shy boy took over. He lifted his head looking the other occupants in the eye. The anguish on Hermione's face made Harry temporarily forget why he had left the compartment so he was taken by surprise by the soft hesitant voice.

"Hi Harry."

"Hey Cho," Harry answered. There was a pause neither of them sure how to proceed.

"Um how was your summer?" Cho asked.

"I've had better," Harry said. The ever present tears were struggling not to pour down Cho's face, but unlike the first time around Harry found he wasn't bothered by the prospect. Cedric deserved to be missed. "He was one of the best and the world's a poorer place for his absence."

"He was, wasn't he?" Cho sniffed loudly and the tears began to roll unchecked.

"He was as brave as any Gryffindor, in fact braver than most. The fact that he was placed in Hufflepuff shows what a selfless and loyal friend he was. Any idiot can be brave," Harry said glancing at Hermione who was engrossed with Neville's story.

"You're not an idiot Harry, and not every one can be brave," Cho said with a hesitant smile. Um … Harry look I know that this isn't really the right time or place or anything, but I was wondering whether you would be interested …"

"Before you go any further Cho I need to tell you that this year is going to be a nightmare for me, thanks to Voldemort and others. I'm not going to have the time or energy for any relationship much as I'd like to." Cho's face fell and the half smile vanished.

"Oh."

"Look a few months ago I would have jumped at the chance, but there's a war starting now and I'm up to my neck in it whether I like it or not." He wanted to add that her own feelings were going to be confused, but he remained silent no likes to be called an emotional wreck especially when they were.

The tears began to flow faster and an angry and embarrassed Cho turned on her heels and stomped away barging into a fourth year girl as she went. Harry had hoped that it would have gone a little better than that, but it was not to be, and in the grand scheme of things it was a minor matter.

The Great Hall quietened and Harry glanced up at the staff table to see that Professor Dumbledore had stood up. Despite all that had been written about him over the last few months the Headmaster's natural authority was enough to have complete silence from the students without him having to utter a word. This fact was accentuated only minutes later once Umbridge had started her speech part way through Dumbledore's own. It was just as soporific as the first time Harry had failed to listen to it.

"Right I'm fed up not listening to this," Harry suddenly stated once the hubbub had spread throughout the hall as the students began their own conversations. He checked his wand was still in his robe pocket, slapped his palms down on the table loudly and pushed himself up.

"Harry what are you doing?" Hermione hissed. She was the only one nearby to have noticed his actions.

"I'm going to pick a fight," Harry said with a grin and a wink.

He chose to ignore the horrified look on Hermione's face and strolled leisurely up towards Umbridge who didn't seem to notice him. The noise the students were making died away the closer Harry got proving that everybody else in the hall did until a heavy silence weighed down on it. Harry knew that he had been portrayed in the Daily Prophet as an unstable attention seeking lunatic, and that his current actions could be seen as confirming that impression, but he was pass caring what other people thought. There were few people whose opinion mattered to him anymore.

"And so it is important that the future of education at Hogwarts is left in the hands of those that …"

"What are your teaching qualifications?" Harry demanded as his eyes locked onto Umbridge's. He didn't want to risk catching the eye of any of the other teachers up there.

"Mr Potter please do not interrupt me," Umbridge said in her worst sickeningly sweet voice.

"You interrupted the Headmaster I figured you'd be fine with me interrupting you, besides you lost the crowd five minutes ago." Harry gave her his most insincere smile.

"Sit down Mr Potter."

"It's a simple question Miss Umbridge. What are your teaching qualifications?" Harry said standing his ground.

"I have been approved by the Minister himself Mr Potter, now go back to your seat." Trying to remain polite in front of the whole school was clearly becoming a strain as her face began to pink.

"I'll try again. The question was clearly harder to understand than I thought." Then in a tone of voice that she had used on Hagrid he spoke slowly and loudly. "WHAT … ARE … YOUR … TEACHING … QUALIFICATIONS?"

"How dare you speak to me in that manner Mr Potter," she screeched.

"So that's a no then. You have no qualifications. Well I'm not surprised you won't be the only professor at Hogwarts who can't teach," Harry said turning his head and glaring at Snape, who returned it a hundred fold. "But at least he knows his potions and isn't dead. So what do you know about Defence Against the Dark Arts Miss Umbridge?"

"I do not have to answer to you Mr Potter."

"Considering how much I have to pay in fees to come here you bloody well should. But you're right you answer to the Minister don't you. You're here to keep an eye on the Headmaster and me aren't you? Wouldn't want the truth to get out now would you? That would spoil the cloud cuckoo land that the Ministry are currently living in. Voldemort is back whether you believe it or not, and I reckon you know that, but you see this as an opportunity to wield some extra power."

"That is a foul lie Mr Potter, and I think detention Friday night will make you realise what the real truth is."

"You can try and deny it all you want. I suppose that Cedric Diggory wasn't murdered in your fantasy world."

"The boy's death was a tragic accident in a dangerous competition, nothing more."

"That boy was called Cedric Diggory and a braver man I have yet to meet. So explain to everyone here how being killed by the Avada Kedavra curse can possibly be an accident."

"He was not Mr Potter."

"Now that really is a lie Miss Umbridge," Harry put all his scorn and disgust in saying her name.

"That's a week's detention and fifty points from Gryffindor Mr Potter. Now go back to your seat." There was a sharp intake of breath from the Gryffindor table.

"You disgust me Umbridge. Your utter lack of concern for the murder of a pupil at this school speaks volumes about you and the Ministry you work for. I think everybody here can now see what sort of revolting person you really are."

Harry then turned on his heel and walked back to his seat trying to keep his expression neutral. It was just the opening shots, but the undermining of the Hogwarts High Inquisitor was under way, and with luck anarchy should erupt that much sooner. That had been way more fun than he imagined. His heart was pounding in his chest, but it felt empowering and exhilarating.

The faces of the students looked mostly stunned and confused. There were more mouths open than shut. Ron and Hermione prominently amongst them, but Harry knew that after a couple of DADA lessons they would see what he was talking about. Maybe, just maybe the rest of the school would think that he was telling the truth about Voldemort as well. This though would be just the first of many skirmishes in a long war.

Once he had sat down there was an eruption of urgent whispering throughout all the house tables. It seemed that everybody kept glancing at him, but none of them could hold the stare that Harry returned.

"What the bloody hell was that all about?" Ron demanded.

"Just clearing the air."

"That was clearing the air."

"People need to see what kind of bitch that woman is."

"Harry you lost us fifty points," Hermione said clearly angry, "never mind that you've got a weeks detention."

"Not important Hermione, it's just not important, besides it wouldn't be the first time I've lost or won fifty points now would it?" The noise in the Great Hall was now so great that whispering was no longer practical.

"This isn't the way to do it Harry all you're doing is making this harder for yourself."

"Harder for myself," Harry said his raising his voice, "that bitch tried to kill me this summer." His accusation, as the fates would have it, was heard by all as the hall had gone suddenly quiet. The reason for this was that Umbridge, her face now pinker than her cardigan, was standing behind him actually shaking in rage her wand in hand.

"Withdraw that statement Mr Potter immediately. No one believes your lies anymore."

"Then it doesn't matter if I withdraw it then. I know, and you know that you tried to kill me. It's not surprising really all the other defence teachers have tried." Harry hoped Remus would forgive him for placing him in such a ghastly rogue gallery.

"Unlike them you just decided to have a go before taking up the position. I must applaud your zeal." Umbridge raised her wand a fraction higher her fingers white from the excessive grip she was using to hold it.

"I won't ask again Mr Potter you will withdraw your outrageous lie."

"Or what, you're going to curse me. Come on do it. You know you want to," Harry taunted standing up to face her. "My wands still in my pocket show everybody how much you hate me, because I sure as hell hate you, you bitch."

"ENOUGH," roared Dumbledore as Umbridge raised her wand back as though to finally strike. At last, Harry thought, the Headmaster decides to get involved. God knows what he was waiting for.

"Delores we need to talk. Mr Potter return to your dormitory immediately." Harry turned and looked at him but yet again he had turned his head away avoiding his gaze.

"You've failed the school Headmaster letting this creature enter it."

Harry then walked slowly away giving Ginny and her friends a wink as he passed her. She merely shook her head bemused. He had expected her to be as shocked as everybody else but it seemed growing up with Fred and George must have made her immune to such grandstanding. Fred and George though were looking as stunned as everybody else and that pleased him although he wasn't sure why. The only other person he noticed not looking dumbstruck was Luna who looked serene as ever.

"You cannot let him go Dumbledore. I demand an apology for his slander."

"I will not have my students attacked Delores whatever the provocation. Now I suggest we continue this discussion in my office. Mr Potter will be dealt with later."

There was a loud screech of anger but Harry heard no more as he had left the Great Hall but instead of going to the common room as instructed he headed for the Room of Requirement.

He was on a different type of mission now. Since the incident in Little Whingeing Harry had been worrying about his magic. His physical strength had increased dramatically. He was fairly sure his brain power had increased as well although he had no real way to judge that. Yes he had beaten Ron at chess a couple of times a first for him as he had never come close to winning before. He'd also lost many more. That said Hermione had never beaten Ron at chess either, and she was smarter than the pair of them combined. It was also why she rarely played him.

Entering the Room of Requirement brought back a flood of bad memories. Not from the lessons he had taught here, those were good memories, but from the disaster at the Ministry. What he had tried to do here hadn't been enough for any of them. He had his time again thanks to the workings of fate, but he wasn't sure that he would bother to start the D.A. up again.

Learning a short list of school approved spells hadn't been enough to compete against Death Eaters with years of experience and access to unlimited dark curses that weren't even in the restricted section of the Hogwarts library. If it was a case of one on one then a D.A. member might have had enough skill to get away, but one on one was unlikely. Death Eaters hunted in packs, and ran at the first sign of serious resistance. He would have to think further on this but now he wanted to find out about his magic.

Harry hesitated unsure what spell to use first. It should really be something gentle but the effort of remaining calm and in control while dealing with Umbridge had taken its toll. The room had provided him an eight foot stone statue loosely disguised as a Death Eater.

"Expulso," Harry yelled putting all the power he could behind it. The spell slammed into the statue's chest. Normally Harry would have expected the target to shatter into a dozen pieces. To his surprise all that remained was a pair of feet stuck to the platform and a bouncing head rolling along the floor. The rest had turned to a fine powdery dust.

The room seemed to flicker and then the dust swirled around forming a mini tornado and right before his eyes the statue reformed. Harry stared at it trying to process what he had seen. His increase in raw power was beyond his wildest dreams. At most he had expected a doubling, but this was a boost of multiples. He realised that he was now a danger to friend and foe alike if he wasn't careful. Even the simplest spell could cause mayhem. He couldn't be sure, but he doubted many basic shields could stand up to him now. A shiver of excitement ran through him.

There was one other quick test he could do. Wordless casting wasn't on the curriculum until next year and Harry wasn't sure he was even capable of it. Pointing his wand he fired off the same spell shouting it in his mind. Again the curse hit at chest height, and again the statue shattered. This time it collapsed into snitch size lumps.

It took several more goes before Harry convinced himself that he could, with some more practice, and a little care control the magically boost he had inherited from the Dementor attack.

He spent the next hour running through his knowledge of basic spells and trying to get to a level he could work at safely. His walk back to the common room was achieved on auto pilot as he ran through the consequences of what might have been.

A shudder ran through him as he realised that if he had attacked Lucius Malfoy with magic at the Ministry he might have killed him, if not obliterated him. Surprisingly that thought of killing the man didn't bother him as much as it probably should have done. It would certainly have made walking out of the Ministry free and clear much more difficult if not impossible. He decided to keep his new power under wraps for as long as possible. It would only lead to awkward questions he wasn't ready to answer.

"Password?" the Fat Lady asked bringing Harry back to the real world. He looked around but there was nobody in sight. He hadn't been told the password before he had left the Great Hall and then he smiled at the memory of Neville's plant which thankfully had been ignored on the train. At least this time around he hadn't been covered in its pus.

"Where have you been?" Hermione greeted him with an expression of concern and anger. "Professor McGonagall was here looking for you, and she was not happy."

"I wandered around for a bit."

"What do you mean you wandered around, do you have any idea the storm you've created?"

"Honestly Harry the place was bedlam after you left. I thought that Umbridge woman was going to attack Dumbledore," Ron said.

"I'd have liked to see that," Harry said with a smirk. He had meant to stir things up and it looked like he had succeeded.

"She's a Professor Ron not some woman," Hermione snapped angrily. "She's neither Hermione. I'll call her a Professor the moment I learn something about Defence against the Dark Arts from her, but she's not here to teach. You heard her speech."

"I know what I heard Harry but actions speak louder than words."

"Indeed they do, now I better go and placate Seamus as I don't think he likes sharing a room with a nutter like me."

"Well you didn't exactly help yourself tonight, did you? Oh and by the way Professor McGonagall wants you in her office eight o'clock tomorrow morning, sharp," Hermione said from the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the girls' dormitories.

"Look forward to it," Harry said moving towards the boys' stairs.

It was clear that Seamus's opinion of him had hardened in the last few hours, and Hermione was right he hadn't helped his cause there. His Irish brogue was thicker than normal and could be heard throughout the whole boys' tower. What surprised Harry though was the voice shouting back. He knew that Neville and his grandmother supported his view that Voldemort was back, but to hear the normally quiet reserved boy lay into Seamus was a major surprise. In fact he had never heard Neville ever raise his voice before.

"The Prophet's nothing but a Ministry mouth piece and it's time you started thinking for yourself Seamus," Neville yelled as Harry and Ron entered their dormitory.

"Good advice Neville. What this school needs is more independent thought."

"Alright there Dean?"

"Yea fine thanks Harry," he mumbled his head deep in his trunk. It was clear that he didn't want to get involved.

"Good. Now then Seamus let me explain to you what happened at the end of last term, and then I'll tell you about my summer."