Ch 26 Up the Ohms

"Move your sorry arses! I've seen flea bitten Flobber-worms move a sight better than you lot! I swear to God, Finnegan, if you slip off that balance beam one more time I'm going to tear your guts out and strangle you with 'em!"

The bellowing voice of Ron Weasley could be heard across the grounds as a number of Gryffindors scrabbled, climbed, ducked and dodged their way across the newly transfigured Potter reproduction Auror training course. There were ropes to swing on, ladders to climb, short broom races and pits of mud to hurdle. The slight drizzle did nothing to deter the young Weasley's enthusiasm or the strength of his epithets.

"Ron's been practicing," Ginny panted as they swung themselves nimbly across a set of overhead bars landing gracefully on the other side. Harry did the same a second later and managing to pirouette gracefully out of the way of an incoming arrow.

"Oi, you missed that one," Ron complained.

"He's harder to hit than he looks," Brock responded, nocking another arrow and letting it fly. That one struck true as it slammed into the unprotected side of Neville. "That one on the other hand, is so preoccupied with not falling he hardly realizes we're aiming for him."

"Alright you worthless pieces of Thestral bait, get your miserable hides over here, on the double!" Ron bellowed.

In a flash, the eight Gryffindors leapt to the ground and ran as fast as they could to stand before their impromptu drill sergeant.

"I'm pleased to say, you lot are getting better. Instead of completely hopeless, you've graduated to goddamned worthless! Longbottom, keep your eyes up and look around you. Finnegan, move faster, you're the slowest one out there. Fred, George… start taking this seriously. You're not going to try and taunt a Death Eater in a duel. If you don't want to do this then get the bloody hell out and let some others in. Potter, good job but you need to stop pausing before the water obstacles. Now, one more run through before we head in."

"Ron, mate, it's almost breakfast and we've been out here for more than an hour," Fred complained.

"Brock still has two more arrows!" Ron barked. "Now one more time, move it."

The team begrudgingly ran back to the starting positions and listened for the whistle to start.

"What on earth is going on here?" The new voice drew everyone's attention.

"Shite," Ginny whispered as she spotted the squat form of their Defence teacher waddling towards her brother.

"We're in it now," George mumbled.

Harry grinned. "Why? What are we doing? Certainly not practicing spells. We're exercising, and there's nothing funny about that." With that, Harry hopped off his starting platform and strolled casually over towards his friend, the rest of the trainees following in behind him.

"Mr Weasley, do you care to explain what you are doing?"

Ron shrugged and looked her in the eye. "No, not really."

"Let me rephrase that, Mr Weasley, you will explain what you are doing at once," Umbridge commanded. The danger in her voice poorly concealed by her sickly sweet tone. "And you will explain what these… half-breeds are doing on school grounds."

Ron's eyes locked with the teacher's. "They're helping and being that they're right behind me, perhaps you ought to reconsider how you speak about another person."

Umbridge snorted derisively. "That will be another week's detention Weasley, for consorting with dangerous creatures."

Harry was close enough now to see Ron's face pale but he only nodded once.

"Who's she calling a 'dangerous creature'?" Brock demanded, his dark countenance colouring dangerously.

"Or a half-breed!" Another centaur demanded indignantly. "I'll have you know, both my parents are full blood Centaur, thank you very much."

The situation had all the feeling of a tinder box ready to explode. Harry knew the Centaur pride wouldn't subside just because they agreed to help him and he also had a feeling that killing their teacher might be frowned upon by the authorities, but before he could act…

"Well you are," Neville exclaimed. "I mean the way you can shoot is totally wicked. You pegged me about a hundred times and if those were real, bloody hell, I don't mind saying I think I'd be a pincushion by now. I bet you could nock an arrow and fire before a witch could even draw her wand. You're that fast. Certainly you'd be faster than me, I bet you'd be faster than even a Ministry trained official. Don't you think that qualifies you as dangerous?" Neville grinned. Firenze nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with the logic and the younger Centaurs seemed to positively revel in the notion.

"Now see here. I am a fully qualified and Ministry trained…"

"Longbottom, what on earth are you doing?" The entire gathering was silenced by the newly arrived Professor Sprout, who looked far more dour than her usual self.

"We were just finishing up, Professor," Neville replied weakly.

"Yes, I'm sure you were, but you had promised that you and Mr Potter would help me replant several of the new crop of Moondrake this morning and now I'm terribly behind schedule. Three points from Gryffindor for the both of you. Now, if you would be so kind as to help if you do have a moment."

"Hem… hem…" Dolores began, clearing her throat.

"For Merlin's sake, Dolores, if you do have something to say, please do. Moondrake are extremely sensitive to light and I must get them replanted at once or else you may explain to the Headmaster why the third-years will have no practice doing so before exams. That goes the same for the rest of you. I won't have you Centaurs trampling through the pony-brush again, and the lot of you better head to breakfast before I begin docking more points. Now off with you."

In a very uncharacteristic move, Professor Sprout grabbed Harry and Neville by the collars and dragged them roughly toward greenhouse three. She dropped them unceremoniously on to a pair of stools and then poured herself a glass of water from a nearby watering can.

"Erm, Professor, not to be contradictory this early in the morning, but I don't specifically remember offering to help you replant anything and I don't even know what Moondrake is," Neville stammered, his shyness poking out through his formerly tough façade. Harry nodded as well. He knew for certain he didn't offer to help replant anything at this time of the morning.

Sprout whirled and faced her students, causing them both to cringe a little in anticipation of the onslaught from the unusually cross professor. Instead her eyes were brimming with worry and Harry though perhaps an unshed tear. "Boys, what on earth possessed you to do such a thing?"

"What are you talking about, Professor?" Neville asked, confused.

"You're carrying on like you're training for war."

Harry shrugged. "We might as well be, Professor. Voldemort is back and that toad isn't going to give us any help."

"Besides, what we were doing wasn't strictly against the rules. I checked," Neville confirmed. Professor Sprout sighed and rubbed her face with dirty hands.

"Boys, are you stupid or just naive?" Both shot each other startled looks.

"Are we still in trouble?" Harry posited.

"No, you're not, but that was the only way I think I could have broken that whole mess up without her looking to suspend someone."

"What's going on, Professor?" Neville asked.

"Umbridge is here to keep an eye on things and act as the Minister's enforcer in case things start to get out of hand."

"We knew that," Harry scoffed. "But what is she going to do about a few students practicing a bit of Defence."

"That wasn't just Defence, Mr Potter, that was right out of the Auror training manual, at least the one when I was a girl, and Umbridge is smart enough to know that. What's a teacher to think if a group of her students start running amok using Auror training methods?"

"We take our education seriously?"

Sprout shook her head and smiled despite herself. "That's what a reasonable teacher might think, but when that teacher happens to be the Minister's personal hatchet man and the students involved are some of the most notorious of this school -don't deny you're part of that group Mr Longbottom- I seriously doubt the teacher in question is going to blow the whole thing off as a boys-will-be-boys sort of endeavour. Now, what I have to tell you was never said and never leaves this room, understood?"

Both boys nodded, eager to hear the profound wisdom from a professor they trusted. "Take it outside."

"We were outside, Professor," Neville retorted.

Sprout only smiled further. "This whole Castle is her domain, or so she thinks. Take it outside."

"So don't do it where she can see and don't be eedjits about it?" Harry asked.

Their professor winked, "I never said that, but it sounds like a fine idea."

"Out of curiosity, why didn't McGonagall tell us that?" Harry questioned as they all stood up to leave.

"Minerva is up to her eyeballs in other things, boys, but never you mind. My badgers have taken a liking to you and I think that makes you a little part of my house as well." With that, Pomona Sprout gave both boys a chocolate frog and swept them swiftly out of her greenhouse.

oOo

The common room was positively festive, with little in the way of revision or assignments due, many of the students were taking this time to catch up with friends and fulfil the merrymaking quota of the term. Not everyone was so merry, though.

"I can't believe you lost us points again," Hermione moaned as they made their way towards breakfast. Harry and Neville rolled their eyes in unison.

"Hermione, we didn't mean to. Technically we weren't even doing anything wrong," Neville defended.

"Yes, but it's the principle of the thing. It doesn't matter if what we do is 'technically' wrong or not. I'm sure Umbridge isn't at all interested in if what she does is legal," Hermione spat, with special emphasis on the word 'legal'.

Neville raised one eyebrow, "Know something we don't?"

Hermione stopped and stared at both boys with wide eyes that spoke volumes, even as she denied it.

"What happened?" Harry demanded.

Hermione shuffled side to side as the inquisition closed around her. "Hermione…" Harry growled.

"Ron's being tortured!" she finally blurted.

"What?" both boys exclaimed loudly enough that a pair of seventh-years looked up in annoyance from their game of Gobstones, but luckily no one else seemed to notice.

"She's using some bloody awful quill on him. Every time he goes to write lines it cuts into the back of his hand. I'm sure there are permanent scars at this point. I don't know how much more he can take before he cracks." Hermione's voice was shaking at this point and tears were beginning to leak from her face. Harry and Neville locked eyes in bold determination.

"I'll get Ginny, you get the cloak," Harry commanded. Two shakes of a Kneazle's whiskers both boys were back with their respective assignments and Ginny looking somewhat confused.

"What's all this about, Paws?" she inquired.

"Not until we're outside," Harry replied as he led the way out of the common room. "We'll meet you in the kitchens in ten minutes. Neville take the cloak and Hermione, Ginny and I will go paws down." They all nodded their assent and sped quickly toward the goal.

Eight minutes and twenty four seconds later all four of them were gathered in a secluded alcove in the kitchens. The house-elves were carrying on without any attention to the interlopers as Harry began to speak. "Hermione, are you sure he's being tortured like that?" Harry demanded, a dark tone colouring his voice.

Hermione nodded vigorously. "One hundred percent. I saw the lines and tried to talk to him about them. It says 'I will obey my betters'. It's positively awful. How can she get away with that sort of thing?" she demanded.

"It's like what Professor Sprout told us. She's working for the Ministry and answers directly to the Minister of Magic. Who is going to stop her?"

"Dumbledore ought to," Ginny began, but Neville cut her off again.

"Dumbledore doesn't have as much sway as he used to, my Gran said. He's barely hanging on here. They shuffled him out of the Wizengamot after Harry's trial. Quietly of course, didn't want to make a big splash. I think if he tried to do anything without Ron coming directly forward and accusing her they'd use it as an excuse to sack him."

"And my lump of a brother won't let anyone know he's suffering," Ginny growled. "Stupid bint can take her Ministry approved, orderly arse and… Paws, that's it!"

"You lost me, Sparkplug."

Ginny was positively bouncing at this point. "She's here to supervise and force us to toe the Ministry line. What if we didn't?"

"I had no plans to," Neville replied evenly.

"No, Gumby, I mean we could have a rebellion!" Ginny exclaimed as she planted a large kiss on her boyfriend's lips.

Harry looked a little dazed as he responded, "What was that for?"

"Rebellion and romance go together like bangers and mash, Paws. I'd have thought you'd know that," Ginny replied flippantly.

"No, not until we talk to Dumbledore or McGonagall." Hermione's voice was full of steel and determination at her declaration. "I know what that Umbridge woman is doing is plain wrong, but we can't go fomenting open disobedience until there are no other options."

"You're ok with us training in the forest out of her sight," Ginny pointed out.

"That's different. We aren't strictly breaking any rules doing that, but I'm quite sure that anything you and Harry will cook up won't have that same claim."

"Fine," Harry conceded. "We'll talk to Dumbledore first."

"And if that doesn't work?" Ginny asked.

"We get some of the others involved and have a bit of fun with her."

Unfortunately for Hermione, Dumbledore was out, or so Mrs Norris said. They had been unable to track down the wizened headmaster and had to resort to asking the castle denizens who might be at the forefront of knowing such things. So once again a familiar group of Gryffindors found themselves in front of a stern Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Grainger, I am fully aware of your concerns, however I am unable to take any action unless Mr Weasley himself speaks to me about this matter. This is a grave accusation that would have to be taken directly to the Board of Governors, and I seriously doubt that any of them would be willing to hear this without absolute proof."

"It's carved into his skin, Professor, as plain as day," Hermione nearly shouted.

"Carrying on in such a manner will hardly convince anyone," McGonagall reprimanded. "I have noticed odd contusions on Mr Weasley's hand and his coursework is not what I have come to expect from him. However, given the current climate I do not have the liberties I might have had only a year or two ago."

"What's the climate got to do with it? It's only October. Not even properly autumn yet," Neville quipped.

"She means the political climate," Hermione responded frostily. "It seems that Hogwarts is no longer a safe place for students. I suppose we'll have to create our own safe haven."

"I would caution you to not do anything foolish, but I value my breath more than that. I will, however, remind you that should any of you be caught in an act that could be seen as directly challenging the authority of the Ministry the consequences would be remarkably unpleasant," McGonagall responded.

"We'll not challenge anyone, Professor," Ginny offered. "We're only going to make sure that the sort of Hogwarts that we were promised when we started still exists next year."

"I see. Then I ought to warn you, since you seem to have no nefarious plans on your minds, that Mr Weasley has detention again tonight and is usually held in the Defence classroom. I would stay clear of that if I were you."

"Of course, Professor," they all chorused.

That night found the fledgling resistance in the corridor outside the very defence classroom they had no intention of going near.

"Why do I have to be the one to go in?" Hermione whinged. "I'm not good at these types of things."

"You're a fine actress when you want to be and despite everything you're still the best at spellwork among any of us," Harry replied. "Now, everyone remember the plan?" They all nodded and with a small shove in the back Hermione began walking forward.

The overly sweet voice of Professor Umbridge could be heard wafting down the corridor poisoning the air and making them all just a little hungrier for revenge.

"Excuse me, Professor, I had a question about the reading assignment," Hermione stammered as she disappeared inside.

"Now, everyone, move quietly," Harry whispered. Ginny and Harry had no issue, paws seldom make loud noises on the flagstone floor, and Neville, to his credit, had managed a Silencing Charm on his shoes to prevent any tell-tale squeaks.

"What on earth could you have a question on, girl? The assignment was very straightforward," Umbrdge sighed.

"Well, you see professor… Ehrmm!" Hermione coughed as though something was stuck in her throat, the signal that they were to proceed.

Neville reached into his bag and pulled out a brown paper package the size of a soup tin, pressed his wand to one end and waited a moment. The moment smoke began to lazily drift from the end, he rolled it into the classroom. A short second later it exploded, filling the whole room with a dense black smoke.

"What is the meaning of this?" Umbridge yowled, but despite several loudly cast charms, nothing seemed to shift the smoke.

oOo

Ron was having an odd day it seemed. First he had to serve this bloody detention, and nothing good ever came from that. Then after only a moment or two of actually being in the hell hole, Hermione of all people showed up to ask about an assignment so simple he was sure a troll could have figured it out. Finally, the whole room exploded into a black, obfuscating smoke cloud that smelled vaguely of elderberry wine. So he supposed he shouldn't have been surprised when two pairs of hands lifted him by the shoulders and another clamped over his mouth to prevent his screaming at the shear shock of it all.

"Don't say a word, Gumby," Ginny hissed. "Just get as quickly to the door as possible. We only have a few more seconds." Guided by feet and hands that weren't his, Ron obeyed as quickly as possible. As they exited a piece of fabric so smooth it could only be an Invisibility Cloak was thrown over his head.

"Sit in the corner by the broom cupboard and don't make a sound. Our lives may depend on it," Neville instructed him. Then the other boy sprinted, silently, toward the nearest stair case and out of sight, followed by a red lion Ron wouldn't mistake for anyone else in the world.

"Bloody hell, what are they up to?" Ron muttered. The only answer he received was a strong swat to the arm from an all too familiar black and white Kneazle. A reminder that he'd best shut up.

'As if this day couldn't get any bloody stranger', Ron thought to himself. Then it did. As the black smoke vanished as easily as it appeared he heard Hermione let out a shriek. "Professor, he's had a reaction. We have to get him to see Madam Pomfrey." To Ron's sensitive ears, the whole thing sounded a little forced, but apparently Umbridge didn't catch it because after a minute a concentrating Hermione emerged with what looked like a petrified version of himself being levitated on a stretcher, followed by a very put out looking pink toad woman. It was definitely strange to see himself levitated down the corridor by a nearly hysterical Hermione, but soon enough they were out of sight and another swat instructed Ron to follow his best Kneazle/mate on the familiar route to the Gryffindor tower.

As he pushed the door open to his dormitory, a transformed Harry and a beaming Neville finally greeted him as Ron whipped the cloak off.

"We did it!" Neville announced triumphantly.

"Did what, exactly?" Ron asked confused. "As soon as that tart realises she's been had, she'll be after my hide."

"That's the beauty of it," Harry exclaimed. "She'll never realise unless you say something. Hermione transfigured a desk to look a bit like you when the whole room was smoky. I have confirmation that the toad is out of the Hospital wing and headed back to her swamp. Madam Pomfrey is smart, but she's also smart enough to know when a prank has been pulled and not to say anything."

"You're sure she wouldn't?" Ron asked nervously.

"She might if it were a respectable teacher, but I don't get the impression that anyone except Filch likes the toad and I certainly don't think she'll actually know precisely what's going on. We have her distracted you see, so we can dispose of the desk."

"How'd you manage that?" Neville asked. "I thought we were just going to let it transform and people think we had one over on her."

"No, that's too simple. Mog's kittens went to distract the lovely Poppy Pomfrey and Hermione is going to dispose of the evidence. In the end it may simply look like Ron bunked out from hospital after feeling better. Nothing nefarious about it."

"Look, mates, not that I don't appreciate all the effort but she's just going to assign me to a different day," Ron pointed out.

"If she remembers. Ginny doubled back after getting the distracting kittens to put some of Snafu's Serious Sneezing Powder all over her books. If the woman can still read and think to give you an extra detention, then bravo for her."

"Why all the trouble?" Ron asked in bewilderment.

"Firstly, because Umbridge is a cow and we thought it would be loads of fun. Secondly, because we know damn well what she's asking you to do during detentions, but mostly because it was the first test for the resistance," Neville explained.

"The resistance?"

"The resistance," Harry agreed. "We're going to form a student group to throw Umbridge out. This was just the test run. Next we need a name and a few more recruits."

"You're playing with fire, Harry."

"We're going to burn it down, Ron," Harry replied.

oOo

The entire group waited on tenterhooks for the next several days until they were positive that no further repercussions were coming. It was announced that for their own safety, students involved in near fatal accidents ought to stay in the care of Madam Pomfrey until released and not make their own decision in the matter. The next defence class was also punctuated with prolific sneezing from their squat professor.

Harry had finally let his guard down and so was not prepared for being cornered in the loo by a duo of determined Hufflepuffs. "We want in, Harry." Justin Finch-Fletchley announced.

"Want in?" Harry asked.

"We want in. We want to fight," Ernie MacmIllan confirmed.

"I'm not sure what you're…"

"Spare us, mate. We know it was you. Who else has the balls to pull that sort of stunt?"

"Well, I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm also sure I can talk to a few people and convey your interest. Is it just you two?" Harry asked the duo of Hufflepuffs.

"There's a whole lot of us that want to learn from you," Macmillan grinned. "If what we've heard about some early morning training is anything to go by I'd say we may have a new Defence teacher."

"Now wait a minute," Harry stammered.

"No, I'd say that he's right," Justin agreed. "You've a lot to teach us, Potter and that Umbridge woman worthless. Plus for some reason the younger years think you're the best thing since man put jam on toast."

"You believe them?"

"After you and Weasley nearly sacked the castle last year I'm willing to give it a shot," Justin shrugged. "So where can we meet you?"

"How many?" Harry finally sighed.

"Twelve or more, I'd say. Depends on how many of the older students want in."

"Bloody hell, I've no idea. We'll have to work something out."

"Let us know in a week. There's not a minute to lose," Ernie grinned. "Can't wait to see Umbridge when we blow her shite to the moon!"

"One thing at a time, lads. First we have to work this whole thing out," Harry cautioned.

That evening Harry had to grin. His guess to everyone's reactions was spot on. Neville and Ginny were all for creating a full blown Hogwarts insurrection while Hermione worried about the consequences of their actions. Ron, on the other hand said nothing, merely looking pensive like a man fixing a particularly dry martini while staring at a picture of Lorenzo Schwartz, the creator of vermouth.

"We'd need somewhere large enough to hold the lot who are going to come and we can't have everyone traipsing out into the forest. We might not be noticed, but I guarantee if half the castle was to head out someone would say something," Ron mused, finally breaking his silence.

"Ron, you aren't actually thinking that this is a good idea," Hermione protested. "It's one thing for a few of us, but this could cause political problems that ripple far beyond Hogwarts. What if the Board of Governors or even the Wizengamot thought that someone in the school was preparing for war?"

"We are preparing for war!" Ginny exclaimed. "That's the whole point of this. We have to be ready. We can't just sit by and let that tart and her crimes against fashion ruin our education."

"Since when did you care about fashion?" Harry asked, amazed.

"Something I heard Lavender say," Ginny confessed. "Sounded good though, didn't it?"

"Since when did Lavender care about her education?" Neville wondered.

"We're getting off point. If someone in real authority thought that a teacher were trying to raise students against their parents or even against the Ministry they could have Dumbledore removed. Then Fudge would install his own people. We'd be at their mercy," Hermione argued.

"Too late for that. Did you see what was in the paper today?" Neville asked as he produced that morning's edition of the Daily Prophet. "Gran sent this to me, thought I might find it interesting."

"What's it say?" Ginny asked.

"Don't want to read it for yourself?" Neville teased.

"Too tired, it's nearly midnight," Ginny complained as she snuggled into her boyfriend's chest, the both of them smiling contentedly and studiously ignoring Ron's irritation.

"Basically that Umbridge was appointed the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts."

"Dumbledore wouldn't approve of that," Hermione objected as she grabbed the paper out of Neville's hands and began reading furiously. "Bloody hell…" she whispered. "The Ministry passed laws that said they can. This is an absolute disaster." Hermione continued to peruse the paper for another minute while making disgusted noises periodically. "That's how we ended up with Umbridge," Hermione announced, finally. "Educational Decree Twenty-Two said that if the Headmaster couldn't find a qualified candidate, the Ministry could appoint one. Now with Decree number Twenty-Three she's been given the power to inspect other teachers and they even said she was a success!" Hermione nearly shrieked, immediately shushed by the others in the group.

"Merlin, Hermione, you want to wake the whole bloody castle?" Ron demanded. Hermione was undeterred.

"If we don't do something, Hogwarts won't be an education worth having in a few years."

"What happened to grave consequences?" Ginny asked.

"Fuck all that. We've got to protect this school!" Hermione decreed.

"I'm not sure what's more surprising. Hermione openly encouraging disobeying teachers or her swearing like that," Ginny whispered.

"She's been hanging out with your brother too much," Harry whispered back. "She's right though. We have a lot to protect."

"You're ok with this, then?" Ginny finally asked, Hermione.

"Viva la Resistance," Hermione shot back. "Tomorrow we begin the fight."

Authors Notes: Well here it is. A huge thank you to all still reading after such an extended break. I'm sorry it's taken so long and I hope this satisfies. This chapter in particular was very difficult to write. Another big thank you to my beta, Arnel and all the wonderful cats that have continued to inspire me to write this. Thank you one more time.