"Last night was a close call," Harry said, still shaken.
"That toad must have read your letter!" Ron said in a low, certain voice.
"Maybe she caught Hedwig," Hermione added anxiously. "Umbridge must have hurt her too. No one else would be that cruel."
Outside, rain poured down in sheets, drumming against the Castle walls so loudly that it drowned out their whispers in the corridor.
"Harry, you need to be extra careful," Hermione said, lowering her voice further. "Watch out for Filch as well as Umbridge. She might have him confiscate your letters so she can read them!"
"Filch would never refuse Umbridge!"
By afternoon, the rain showed no sign of letting up.
During a short break between classes, Jerry and Hermione found a quiet corner at the end of a corridor. Hermione nestled against him and tucked herself into his warm coat to escape the cold.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Jerry looked down and found her staring absently at the downpour outside.
"I was thinking... Are we... really doing the right thing?" Hermione turned in his arms and hugged him tightly, uncertainty clouding her clear eyes.
"I'm worried, and I'm having second thoughts. Maybe... organizing a secret group right under Umbridge's nose is a terrible idea..."
"When you're doing something important, you can't keep second-guessing yourself." Jerry held the uneasy girl a little closer, his voice low and gentle. "Besides, even if you don't trust Harry or Sirius, you still have me, don't you?"
"Mm."
The bell rang sharply. Hermione had to let go of Jerry. She hurriedly smoothed her rumpled robes and headed reluctantly to class.
That evening, Jerry stretched, a little tired after a full day of lessons. He had just entered the brightly lit Great Hall for dinner when he heard Harry call out excitedly.