Umbridge was continuing to ruin the lives of everyone at Hogwarts she could get in her reach, and that included the teachers. As 'High Inquisitor' she had been sitting in on lessons to examine the teachers, was controlling all school clubs including quidditch, and was implementing pointless rules
Her sitting in on the potions lesson had been particularly interesting
"Well, the class seems fairly advanced for their level," she had told Snape "Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus." Snape subtly rolled his eyes "Now...how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" she asked, her quill poised over her clipboard.
"Fourteen years," Snape replied.
"You applied first for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?" Professor Umbridge asked Snape.
"Yes," said Snape quietly.
"But you were unsuccessful?"
Snape's lip curled. "Obviously."
Professor Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard. "And you have applied regularly for the Defence Against the DarkArts post since you first joined the school, I believe?"
"Yes," said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips.
"Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?" asked Umbridge.
"I suggest you ask him," said Snape
"Oh I shall," said Professor Umbridge with a sweet smile.
"I suppose this is relevant?" Snape asked, his black eyes narrowed.
"Oh yes," said Professor Umbridge. "Yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers's - er - backgrounds...Now, did you think it wise to allow a fourth year into this advanced class?"
"Yes," he replied curtly
"The Ministry may believe this could cause her additional stress, which may be a contributing factor to her, um...rebellious attitude" Umbridge said the last part quietly, but Briar could still hear it and she scoffed
"As her professor I am sure of Ms Lupin's capabilities," Snape said with a tone that told Umbridge he wasn't going to say anything else
And Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Briar shared confused looks. Why had Snape defended Briar?
But that evening when Briar had heard that Umbridge still hadn't decided if Gryffindor should be allowed to have a quidditch team, she knew it was because of Umbridge's hatred of her and Harry and she hated it
What did cheer her up was watching Fred and George try their new joke products on other students. By the time they finished watching them count up their earnings, it was well past midnight so Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Briar were the only ones left in the common room
Ron, who was dozing lightly in an armchair, gave a muffled grunt, awoke, looked blearily into the fire and said, "Sirius!"
The other three whipped around and saw said man's face in the fire "Hi," he said, grinning.
"Hi," they chorused
"How're things?" said Sirius.
"Not that good," said Harry "The Ministry's forced through another decree, which means we're not allowed to have Quidditch teams -"
"- or secret Defence Against the Dark Arts groups?" said Sirius. There was a short pause.
"How did you know about that?" Briar asked
"You want to choose your meeting places more carefully," said Sirius, grinning still more broadly. "The Hog's Head, I ask you..."
"Well, it was better than the Three Broomsticks!" said Hermione "That's always packed with people -"
"- which means you'd have been harder to overhear," said Sirius. "You've got a lot to learn, Hermione."
"Who overheard us?" Harry demanded.
"Mundungus, of course," said Sirius, and when they all looked puzzled he laughed. "He was the witch under the veil."
"That was Mundungus?" Harry said "What was he doing in the Hog's Head?"
"What do you think he was doing?" said Sirius impatiently. "Keeping an eye on you, of course."
"I'm still being followed?" asked Harry angrily.
"Yeah, you and Briar are," said Sirius, "and just as well, isn't it, if the first thing you're going to do on your weekend off is organise an illegal defence group."
"Why was Dung hiding from us?" asked Ron "We'd've liked to've seen him."
"He was banned from the Hog's Head twenty years ago," said Sirius, "and that barman's got a long memory. We lost Moody's spare Invisibility Cloak when Sturgis was arrested, so Dung's been dressing as a witch a lot lately...Anyway...First of all, Ron - I've sworn to pass on a message from your mother."
"Oh yeah?" said Ron
"She says on no account whatsoever are you to take part in an illegal secret Defence Against the Dark Arts group. She says you'll be expelled for sure and your future will be ruined. She says there will be plenty of time to learn how to defend yourself later and that you are too young to be worrying about that right now. She also" - Sirius's eyes turned to the other three - "advises Harry, Hermione, and Briar not to proceed with the group, though she accepts that she has no authority over either of them and simply begs them to remember that she has their best interests at heart. She would have written all this to you, but if the owl had been intercepted you'd all have been in real trouble, and she can't say it for herself because she's on duty tonight."
"On duty doing what?" said Ron quickly.
"Never you mind, just stuff for the Order," said Sirius. "So it's fallen to me to be the messenger and make sure you tell her I passed it all on, because I don't think she trusts me to."
"So you want me to say I'm not going to take part in the defence group?" Ron muttered
"Me? Certainly not!" said Sirius, looking surprised. "I think it's an excellent idea!"
"You do?" said Harry
"Of course I do!" said Sirius. "D'you two think your fathers and I would've lain down and taken orders from an old hag like Umbridge?"
"So my dad's okay with this?" Briar asked
"Me and him have spoken and we've agreed this is what's best for you, especially given the letter we received saying that you left her classroom and haven't gone back" Sirius said, giving her a fake scolding look "I don't blame you, but it's a big risk. We both want you and Harry to do this"
"But - last term all you did was tell me to be careful and not take risks -" Harry started
"Last year all the evidence was that someone inside Hogwarts was trying to kill you, Harry!" said Sirius impatiently. "This year we know that there's someone outside Hogwarts who'd like to kill us all, so I think learning to defend yourselves properly is a very good idea!"
"And if we do get expelled?" Hermione asked
"Hermione, this whole thing was your idea!" said Harry, staring at her.
"I know it was...I just wondered what Sirius thought," she said, shrugging.
"Well, better expelled and able to defend yourselves than sitting safely in school without a clue," said Sirius.
"Hear, hear," said Harry, Briar, and Ron enthusiastically.
"So," said Sirius, "how are you organising this group? Where are you meeting?"
"Well, that's a bit of a problem now," said Harry. "Dunno where we're going to be able to go..."
"How about the Shrieking Shack?" suggested Sirius.
"Hey, that's an idea!" said Ron excitedly
"No, it would never fit us all," Briar frowned
"Fair point," said Sirius, looking slightly crestfallen. "Well, I'm sure you'll come up with somewhere...There used to be a pretty roomy secret passageway behind that big mirror on the fourth floor, you might have enough space to practice jinxes in there -"
"Fred and George told me it's blocked," said Harry, shaking his head. "Caved in or something."
"Oh," Sirius said "I'll have a think and get back to you. And Briar, Dumbledore wants me to tell you to be careful of-" He broke off and his face was suddenly alarmed. Before he vanished.
"Sirius?"
"Why did he - ?"
A hand suddenly appeared in the flames, groping as though to catch hold of something; a stubby, short-fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned rings...
"What did he mean?" Hermione said to Briar, who was still staring at the fire with a worried expression
"No idea," Briar lied
The next day Briar was on edge and every time Umbridge was in the hall with her, she could feel that the hag was glaring at her, so Briar refused to give in and look at her. But what significantly improved her mood was hearing that Gryffindor's quidditch team had been allowed to practice again
So at 7 o'clock that evening the team found themselves practicing down in the heavy rain and despite the weather, Briar had never felt more at home than she did on her broom. When she flew she felt untouchable, and it gave her a new sense of confidence.
Nowadays whenever she was in the school she was constantly looking over her shoulder since she knew Umbridge was watching the owls, fires, and the students. But flying through the air she felt free for once.
When she returned to her dorm that night, dripping wet from the mud and rain she was beyond excited to have a hot shower and sleep, but before she could get into bed there was a note waiting under her blanket
The Astronomy Tower. 10pm. Do not be seen
Briar had no time to question who sent the note, since it was already 9:45, so she quietly ducked out of her dorm and just before leaving the common room she transformed into her fox form and ran through the halls of Hogwarts
There was no one about, but Briar could guess Umbridge had some of the paintings watching for her so she had to be sneaky and no one in the school knew she was an animagus. When she reached the top of the Astronomy Tower stairs she quickly turned back before pushing open the door
"Ah, Ms Lupin," Professor Dumbledore smiled as she arrived "I hope no one saw you come here tonight. I trust your animagus form proved to be useful" Briar's jaw dropped in surprise "I know everything Ms Lupin. A student of mine who is 14, half werewolf, a quarter veela, and an animagus is of particular interest"
"Sorry," she chuckled
"No apology needed," he said with a playful look in his eyes, which quickly disappeared "Ms Lupin I asked you to meet me here because I am aware of Professor Umbridge's...dislike...of you, and I do not want to draw any more suspicion to you. But I need to ask you how your year has gone so far"
Briar knew he wasn't asking about her day-to-day life "My lessons with Professor Snape have been going really well. And um...so has my job"
"Good," he nodded "I fear it will continue to get harder as your year progresses, but I am afraid that it is necessary for you to keep up with this all. You are an incredibly talented witch and I am sure you will be able to"
"Thank you, Professor," She smiled
"Ms Lupin I also must ask you to continue to be extremely cautious. Professor Umbridge is becoming more suspicious and powerful by the minute, so you need to ensure you and all your friends's safety. I cannot tell you what I am going to do but I will need you to trust me." He added
"I will, Professor," Briar nodded
"Very well," he smiled "Now I suggest you return to your dormitory before anyone sees you. Remember, Ms Lupin...something out there is happening and I urge you to keep yourself safe."
"Yes," she said before transforming back into a fox and sprinting back to her waiting bed