Chapter 23: Thinking about the future

Hermione blew out a breath of air through her nose, her eyes narrowing as she slammed the book in her hand shut. Beside her, Harry was poking her arm with a pencil.

"Why are you like this, Harry?"

"How?"

"You just helped Ethan, a first year boy. You're great when someone asks for your help with something, but then you're annoying. I never thought to say it, but you're annoying me."

Harry just smiled before he stopped teasing his best friend.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm just a little upset."

"So you decided to make your friend feel upset too?"

"Yes."

"Honestly!" Hermione slammed her book down, not having imagined Harry would admit it like that. She sighed and controlled her annoyance before looking at Harry more calmly.

"Okay. What do you need? Why are you upset?"

 "What do you think is better, Hermione? A clothing store or a dessert shop?"

"What?"

Harry looked at her, noticing the clear surprise on Hermione's face.

"I'm thinking about my future. I don't want a position in the Ministry. I don't want to be an Auror. I don't want to make a 'normal' shop like the ones around and inside Diagon Alley either."

"I can cook pretty well, and with magic even better. I could make amazing desserts, especially if I mix mundane and magical ideas. But I could also make amazing clothes. Can you imagine a muggle wearing a muggle suit? With magic I could make much better suits than those that cost thousands and thousands of pounds."

"In fact, I could have a branch on the muggle side and another on the magical side."

"You... want to make clothes? Desserts?" Hermione didn't quite understand what was going on. Although she was a muggle and understood a lot about both sides of the world, she never thought about working on the muggle side, not now that she was learning magic. It was weird now that she thought about it. She never thought of a job that involved the muggle side, at least not in a sense like Harry. She aspired to the Ministry which, while it was involved with the muggle side, was different than a shop.

"Is that a bad thing?... Just think about it, Hermione. Setting up a shop is the easiest thing a magical person can do for work. You'd just need the right land. From there on out, you can decorate it with magic, fix it with magic, even expand it with magic. And if I want to set something up on the muggle side, I'd need land and permits too, but the raw material I could get all on the magical side."

"And even working with normal materials, I could create amazing things with magic. It's not like I would put enchantments or magic on clothes or food, it would just make the job faster and more efficient, plus I'd get amazing quality."

"Why clothes? Why desserts?" Hermione asked, baffled by her best friend's choices.

 "Sweet food is my favorite," Harry shrugged as he answered.

"As for clothes... Well, I've found that while many people don't care too much about what they wear, they always look for something of quality. Sometimes they can even be surprised when they find something that looks amazing on them.

"Besides..."

"Besides?" Hermione leaned slightly to the side, wanting to listen more carefully to Harry.

"... I want to see what Diagon Alley looks like with wizards and witches wearing fashionable clothes. Ha, ha, ha, ha. That would be fun!"

Hermione rolled her eyes before sighing.

"If you can't decide, just do both. You have the money to do it anyway, right?"

"... Right," Harry nodded after a moment.

"There would still be the names."

"We're only in fifth year. There are still years until we graduate, you have plenty of time to think about that."

"Ah, but I'd like to get a few things ready first."

"Just call a Sweet Potter."

Harry snorted at the thought.

"That would make it sound like I was dessert, Hermione. Do you want me to be dessert?"

"A lot of people would want you as dessert," Hermione looked at him with emotionless eyes. Almost as if she was mocking him. Harry simply smiled at her as he rubbed his chin.

"Well, I am that irresistible."

"Bah, my left elbow is irresistible."

"Well... your skin is soft, so maybe..."

"Ugh, you are incorrigible, Harry Potter," Hermione stood up and left, annoyed by the answers Harry seemed to have for everything.

Harry Potter simply smiled before writing a few things in his notebook. He then stood up and left the common room. He didn't have much to do after finishing his classes for the day. Right now he just had to go find the diadem and destroy the horcrux, then he had to meet Fleur at Hogsmeade.

. . .

 "You took a while."

"Sorry, Fleur," Harry yawned a little as he sat down at one of the tables inside the Hog's Head.

"I had to go get the diadem before I came. And I'm a little sleepy too. Skinning that Basilisk has been tiring."

"It's okay, I was just curious," Fleur shook her head a little.

"Do you have a set price yet?" she asked as she saw Harry pull a shrunken trunk out of his pocket before placing it on the table and dragging it closer.

"The price was actually goblin silver, but what I've collected is more than they were asking for. Just ask for what you find convenient. I have plenty of galleons, and while having more isn't bad, right now I prefer silver."

Fleur nodded and took the shrunken trunk with her.

 "What are you going to do with all that goblin silver? Create some small weapons, like daggers. And also some things that will help against werewolves. It might never happen, but I don't want to be defenseless if I run into Greyback or anyone who follows him. Or Tom for that matter."

"That's a good idea. And since you're getting the goblin silver and not weapons, then they'll belong to you."

Harry nodded with a small smile.

"By the way... do you have time?" Fleur asked quietly as she looked to the side while playing with a lock of her hair. Harry blinked before slowly raising his eyebrows and then smiling.

"I'd like to say that I always have time for you, but there are still some things to do. Today isn't a problem though."

Fleur had snorted a little at first, but upon hearing everything Harry said, she smiled before standing up. Harry immediately took her hand and used Apparition to travel to his house. Anyway, he could come back in the morning. No one would care too much.

. . .

The next morning, when Ron saw Harry enter the fifth years' room, he blinked in confusion.

"You woke up early?"

"Something like that...", Harry replied with a bright smile. Seamus noticed the smile and followed Harry's figure as he pulled a tie out of his trunk and then left the room.

"He had sex. Definitely."

"What?", Ron's eyes widened, losing all the sleep he felt. Neville choked and Dean blinked when he looked at Seamus.

"How the hell would you know that?"

Seamus just gave him a look, as if that was enough of an answer. Dean blinked again.

"Oh... Oh!", it seemed that that look from his friend had been enough for him to understand.

 "What? What do they mean? Why are they looking at each other like that?" Ron asked, surprised and a little confused.

"Who do you think her partner was?" Neville asked, a little embarrassed, but quite curious.

"Mate, I couldn't tell you. We all know Harry isn't the kind of guy who would just casually have sex. He's too serious for that. At least serious about friendships and relationships."

"Although we can rule out Gryffindor girls," Dean commented. "He hasn't shown any interest in the girls here."

Ron just snorted as he frowned. It seemed like Harry was keeping some secrets, and inside his mind was the thought of telling Hermione about this, but something told him she would attack him if he spoke to her about the subject at hand.

. . .

Dolores Umbridge was sitting with the rest of the teachers as she was serving herself breakfast. Her hands moved slowly as she cut some bacon, but her eyes couldn't stay calm. One moment she was looking at her plate. Then, she looked around, observing the rest of the teachers. Finally, her gaze was fixed on Harry Potter, who was quietly eating breakfast with his friends and classmates.

 But suddenly, her vigilance was halted when an owl swooped down in front of her before setting down the newspaper. Dolores snorted a little before reaching out her hand to see the day's news. She stopped. Her eyes blinked and she saw another owl land just inches in front of her hand, leaving a letter on the newspaper.

Dolores Umbridge's eyes widened in surprise as she saw the stamp on the letter. It was the Ministry of Magic. She didn't realize it at the time, but Dumbledore had received a similar letter.

The letters opened almost at the same time, and when Dolores finished reading after a few moments, she immediately turned her head, looking at Albus Dumbledore, who also looked at her. The difference was that Dolores showed surprise and anger, while Albus' face was serious before he let out a small sigh of relief.

"Excuse me!" Albus stood up and raised his voice.

The students immediately looked at him, some still chewing food. Others immediately stopped.

"I just received a letter from the Ministry of Magic. According to what I have been informed, Professor Dolores Umbridge will no longer be teaching the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. She has been called and notified to return to her previous job at the Ministry."

"Therefore, the class named above will be suspended until we find someone else to teach it."

"I would like you to give her a round of applause for her hard work and send her off properly."

When Albus finished speaking, he sat quietly and listened as everything got a little out of hand. The students applauded, but it was very loud. And coupled with their joyful shouts and excited smiles, it didn't seem like a respectable farewell. It was as if they were relieved.

Dolores crumpled the letter in her hands as she looked at the happy expressions and joyful shouts. To her, this wasn't a farewell. Rather, it felt like a mockery.

 Her face turned completely red before it turned a little purple. She felt like she was about to explode. She slowly stood up before walking behind the staff table and down the few steps. Her teeth were clenched to the point that she felt like they might break, but she didn't care too much. Her eyes were on a single person as she walked between the long tables.

"This is your fault! It has to be, because I don't understand how the Ministry would do something like this!"

"Potter! Tell me the truth, Potter!"

Harry Potter blinked and looked at the woman who was slowly approaching while screaming. Some covered their ears at the screams of the woman in pink. Everyone fell silent as their eyes were fixed on Harry Potter, but he didn't respond, he just stared.

"Answer me!!" Dolores stopped in front of Harry and screamed at the top of her lungs, causing him to spit some saliva onto Harry's robes. He looked down, noticing the saliva and frowned.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Madam Umbridge," Harry said calmly, not raising his voice or insulting her for staining his robes in such a disgusting way.

"If the Ministry decided that you're not needed in the castle... well, they'll have their reasons, right? I don't work there. I think you should ask the right person when you get to the Ministry."

"Mm... she's about to take out her wand," Harry noticed how Umbridge's hand was shaking as she carefully approached his waist.

"What will she do? The chances of her killing me are zero. I can defend myself immediately. But people like her wouldn't do that, even if they were facing a defenseless enemy. She's the kind of person who likes to make her target suffer. I expected this... but not that she would think of using that curse..."

"It will hurt a lot, but the end result will be worth it."

Harry analyzed Umbridge's movements carefully before using Legilimency as he looked into her eyes. At that moment he immediately knew what the woman was about to do.

"Fine! Give me your best shot, toad!"

"By the way, Madam Umbridge. I think this might have to do with your poor job as a teacher. It's normal for students to be dissatisfied."

"Impertinent brat!" Dolroes shouted angrily before pulling out her wand and pointing it at Harry.

"No!" several teachers immediately shouted.

"Crucio!" Dolores spat angrily. The cruciatus curse reached Harry, who was already prepared. He shut his mind immediately, so the pain wouldn't affect his mind too much, but it still hurt. Although he didn't have to keep going for too long as several spells flew out from the teachers' table, hitting Umbridge's left side and sending her flying for a few meters. The plump body of the woman in pink fell hard to the floor before she rolled until she reached the doors of the great hall.

"Harry!", Hermione immediately moved, trying to help Harry, who had held on to the table so as not to fall.

"Ngh," Harry groaned as his eyes opened and his forehead was covered in sweat. His left hand tightened on Hermione's right forearm. He moved his head slightly, making his gaze meet Hermione's.

"I'm... fine..."

"No, you're not! You can't be fine after being cursed like that!"

"Mr. Potter!", McGonagall immediately approached, with Poppy picking up her pace immediately.

"Try to relax your body, Harry," Poppy immediately began to work. Her wand moved all over Harry's body, trying to find something that wasn't right.

 "Easy to say when your body isn't... shaking in pain...", Harry huffed before inhaling slowly, trying to relax his body. The exposure wasn't too much, and it hurt less than he expected.

"Although perhaps it was to be expected. She is not Voldemort."

"Students, return to your common rooms!", Albus ordered seriously. "This matter will be reported to the authorities, I hope some of you can witness... this atrocity."

"Miss Granger, you must release Harry," Albus immediately approached when he saw the students slowly leaving.

"No... I don't want to," Hermione squeezed Harry's arm tightly.

"He will be fine, I assure you. Poppy is looking after him now, but it is best that he rests under professional care."

Hermione looked at Harry with teary eyes before slowly releasing him. Harry just gave her a smile.

 "Relax, it's not too much."

"Headmaster..."

"Yes? What do you need, Harry?"

"Don't tell him anything. He'll probably... end up killing me... before he finds a way to revive me and... beat me up again."

Albus frowned for a moment, but soon realized and snorted.

"I don't think I can do that."

"You... traitor," Harry shot an annoyed look at Albus.

"Don't say any more!" Poppy yelled angrily before looking at Albus. "I need you to move him carefully. Don't let him touch anything until we get to the medical wing."

"I understand."

Harry felt his body float and stared at the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall. Hermione followed close behind, as did Ron, who happened to kick Umbridge.

"Mr. Weasley!" McGonagall shouted angrily.

"I'm sorry... I'm angry," Ron frowned before running a little to catch up with Harry, who was floating next to the headmaster.

"Headmaster..." Harry muttered.

"Yes?"

"You can..."

"She'll know, Harry. If you really have that kind of relationship, she should know. I don't understand why you don't want her to know..." the headmaster stopped and frowned.

"Harry..."

"Yes?"

"You knew?"

"...""Foolish boy!" Albus shouted angrily, causing Ron, Hermione, and Poppy to jump. Minerva, who was a little further behind, also jumped a little upon hearing the headmaster's angry shout.

 "Now I'll tell you even more. If you knew and are afraid, then she was part of this too, but it turned out in a way you didn't expect. I'll let her get what she deserves, Mr. Potter."

"No... you can," Harry growled angrily.

"I can. And you'll see me do it."

"Traitor"

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