BACK TO BLAKE'S POV
The next morning, the Great Hall was in a deafening frenzy. All the students were talking loudly, trying to make their voices heard over each other's as they discussed whatever the matter was.
"What happened?" he asked the girls, who were already sat down and in deep conversation amongst themselves.
"Read for yourself," Tracey said grimly, handing Zabini a paper. They both sat down to read.
HESTIA JONES ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING AND ESPIONAGE: ORDER OF THE PHOENIX OUTLAWED
Blake's eyes widened comically.
"There's no way," Zabini said in utter disbelief, reading on. "There's an arrest warrant for Dumbledore on terrorism charges? Are they mad?"
"Fudge might as well have signed his own resignation," Daphne sighed. "The Order of the Phoenix are heroes to most people, and Dumbledore's the only person that stands a chance against the Dark Lord."
"I knew he was stupid, but I didn't realise he was this stupid," Charlotte said, amazed. Blake looked up at the teacher's table, where McGonagall was arguing Dumbledore frantically, but to no avail as the old man stayed sat with a small smile on his face. Oddly, Fawkes was perched on his shoulder.
Again at the Department of Mysteries - the second time a known Order member's been arrested there. Blake drew his breath suddenly. Was his prophecy already at the Ministry? Was it automatic, like a prophecy detection mechanism?
Whatever, he thought. There's bigger problems now.
Right on cue, the doors of the Great Hall burst open, and Fudge, accompanied by Percy Weasley, Umbridge and 2 Aurors that Blake didn't recognise walked in.
"Dumbledore!" he said, triumphantly, "We've found you out! Come quietly, now, and there-"
"No."
Fudge's smile wavered.
"W- What?"
"I will not come quietly, Cornelius. I have no intention of going to Azkaban, you see."
"I have a warrant for your-"
"And how will you enforce it?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.
Fudge looked flabbergasted for a moment before turning around to the two Aurors behind him.
"Well, don't just stand there! Restrain him!"
The 2 Aurors watched Dumbledore wearily, slowly drawing their wands.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
But before the spells could make contact, Dumbledore touched Fawkes, and the phoenix spread its wings, bursting into a pillar of flame, blinding everyone for a moment. When they looked back, Dumbledore was gone.
"What- how?" Umbridge screeched.
The hall erupted into applause and cheers suddenly, and one of the Aurors turned to Fudge.
"You have to admit, Minister," he said. "Dumbledore's got style."
/
Luckily, Fudge's embarrassment left him unable to speak to Blake. He instead chose to run away back to the Ministry as Umbridge screeched at the students, trying to control the laughter and applause for Dumbledore's escape, to no avail.
But Blake wasn't celebrating.
This is going to escalate.
/
He was right. That same day, Connor came to him, raging.
"She's banned Harry and the others from Defence!"
"What? How?"
"Apparently, he's a known supporter of a 'terrorist organisation'! They're not letting him do it because he could 'use them against the Ministry'!"
Blake was almost in disbelief. So they wouldn't ban literal children of Death Eaters who have a history of attacking innocents, but they'll ban the Boy-Who-Lived?
"It'll backfire on them soon enough," Blake reassured him. "Don't worry - just keep your head down for now."
"Why should I?" Connor challenged. "And besides, can't you do something? Y'know, like before!"
Blake became stern.
"Connor, I only did that because she was physically hurting you all. And besides, I've already threatened her once - if I do it again, who knows how she'll react? What're you going to do if she tells Fudge? The man's already gone insane. D'you want the consequences to catch up to us?"
"But-"
"No buts," Blake said firmly. "I have less leverage now. Umbridge definitely knows that Fudge's getting more desperate. If she decides that she's got a decent chance of getting Fudge against me, she will take it, especially if she's disrespected like that again."
Connor scoffed. "Fine."
But of course, it was not fine.
3 days later, Connor had joined the list of students who had been banned from DADA by Umbridge.
"Are you an idiot?" Blake hissed at Connor.
"You don't get it," Connor said defensively. "She-"
"I don't f*cking care," he shouted. "I told you, explicitly, keep your head down, and you called her stupid and a liar to her face? D'you know what she's going to tell Fudge now? If he hears that my little brother is a Dumbledore supporter, what d'you think he'll do with the Aurors? Or just our lives in general?"
Connor was silent.
"We're muggleborn, Connor, we don't have the influence or money or power or prestige or anything right now to back us! The only thing we have is my reputation, and that man can make that useless too, if he decides that we're an enemy!"
"But he hates Harry and Dumbledore too, but they're-"
"Are you comparing the prestige and wealth of Harry f*cking Potter to us?" Blake said incredulously. "And not to mention that Harry's entirely protected by Dumbledore, who is the most powerful wizard alive? And Harry doesn't have anyone that solely relies on him! I - we do!"
Connor wisely chose to shut up.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Blake said immediately, feeling guilty for shouting. "Just stay out of her way and don't do anything stupid."
Connor seemed like he was contemplating something.
"What?" Blake asked.
"Harry's planning on making a secret club for Defence," Connor muttered.
Blake opened his mouth, but Connor quickly said, "Wait, just hear me out."
"Fine."
"We can't afford to not be able to learn Defence - our lives depend on it, don't they? And yeah, thanks to you, I'm set and I'll be fine, but what about everyone else? I can help them! Harry asked me to-"
"What did I literally just say, Connor?"
"He's going to ask you to do it too!"
"And I'll say no!" Blake said, angrily. "If Harry asks you to jump off a cliff, would you jump off a cliff?"
Connor snorted. "You sound like Mum."
"Listen to me, Connor. Do not get involved with this."
"But it's my choice! We need the DA!"
"The DA?"
Connor blushed.
"Dumbledore's Army."
Blake stared at him for a moment.
"So, let me get this right. Not only have you been kicked out of lessons for supporting a terrorist organisation, you now want to join - and lead - an already banned club that would teach combat spells to children, under the name of the leader of the said terrorist organisation?"
"Well, when you put it like that-"
"You're right, Connor," Blake interrupted him. "It is your choice. Just know that you're putting everything I've worked for - and all of our lives - at risk for this stupidity."
"It won't come to that!" Connor insisted. "Me and you will make sure of it!"
Blake just shook his head in disappointment, and Connor looked down at his shoes.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Blake. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew I could teach someone something that could save their life, and I didn't."
"I know, Connor," he said, sighing. "But everyone has to do things they don't want to, or not do things they want to. You can't have it all."
He turned to leave.
"Like I said, it's your choice. But you should know - I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that it doesn't work."
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