Thanks for your comments everyone! Here is the beginning of Chapter 17. Enjoy!!

We got back to Hogwarts, the nerves and tensions running high for the upcoming O.W.L.s. During break all of us were able to push them out of our minds, but here we were constantly being reminded of how fast they were approaching and just how much we needed to know.

"I give up!" yelled Ron, slamming his down on the table. Several of the other students who had joined us in the library gave him a glaring look.

"Honestly Ronald," Hermione hissed. "Slamming your quill down is not going to make you understand it any better."

"I beg to differ," mumbled Ron as he flipped through his potions text book.

Hermione eyed for a couple of moments before going back to her own book on Ancient Runes. I personally found that class to be the hardest, although why I had so much difficulty with it, I was never quite sure.

Harry was going through his Arithmacy book while I was going through the Herbology text book. Rumor had it that the Herbology O.W.L. was rather difficult if you didn't know what you were doing. So, since I had a least a somewhat sturdy grasp on the other subjects, I figured I would tackle that first.

"I find it absolutely ridiculous that we are expected to actually use magic for our O.W.L.s but can't practice them in class," said Hermione, shaking her head at a girl who was practically falling asleep while trying to read the Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook.

"I know what you mean," I said, feeling bad for the girl.

"And did you see what she had Filch post around the walls while we were on break?"

"No," I said, looking up from my book. Ron and Harry did as well, Harry out of curiosity and Ron thankful for the break.

"Well, the Minster of Magic had appointed her as some type of Educational Ambassador for the Ministry, and I suppose with that position she's allowed to pass these things called Educational Decrees."

"What the bloody hell is that?" asked Ron.

Hermione eyed him for the language before moving on. "They're basically just rules, and believe me, some of them are absolutely ridiculous!"

"Such as?" asked Harry.

"People aren't allowed to travel in groups bigger than four people."

We all stared at one another before simultaneously rolling our eyes. "Well hopefully some extenuating circumstance will cause her to have to leave Hogwarts and never return," I said, flipping the page of my book.

"Me too," said Ron with a grumble.

"I just don't understand how Dumbledore is letting this happen," said Harry.

"I think it's out of his control," I said with a shrug of the shoulder. "Umbridge is pretty much a physical representation of Fudge at Hogwarts. To defy against her would be like defying against Fudge, which definitely won't help our causes of them believing the truth."

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "I'm beginning to wonder if they'll ever come around."

"Well in my opinion we don't need them anyway," said Hermione, giving Harry a tap on his hand.

"Yeah, we do just fine on our own, don't we?" I said with a smile.

"Yep, besides with Dumbledore, how could we ever lose?"

We continued working, well some of us anyway, until we were so hungry that we all decided food was in order. We rounded up our books and headed to the Great Hall to find it was rather crowded.

"Oooh, pudding!" said Ron, reaching for the spoon before he had sat down.

Hermione shook her head in amusement. I saw Seamus a little further down and gave him a little wave. He smiled warmly back and as I shifted my position I saw that Ginny was sitting next to him. She smiled at me while he wasn't paying attention and I gave her a little wink. Looked like things were going well in that department.

I looked up at the staff table to find that most of them were sitting there. Dumbledore was engaged in a conversation with Professor McGonagall while Snape was busy examining something on his plate rather curiously. Hadn't he ever seen chicken before?

"Ugh, I have an occulumency lesson tonight," said Harry once he had observed Snape as well.

"Harry, I know you hate Snape, but you musn't let it get in the way of what you need to learn. It's important that you learn to close your mind!"

"I know Hermione, I know. That doesn't mean I am going to look forward to it."

"I don't blame you. Have grease ball Snape trying to get inside your head. Who would find that pleasant?" said Ron, closing his eyes in bliss at the taste of the pudding.

"Well, if Harry learns to do it correctly, he won't have to worry about things like that," Hermione said, eyeing Harry seriously.

Harry looked up from his plate. "I promise I will try my hardest Hermione."

Hermione let out a little sigh of relief. "Thank you Harry."