~The Assistant~
Chapter 2: A Catastrophe for Umbridge
AN: See first chapter for all legalities as I don't want to do them again, besides if I were Jo- would I be on here doing all of this? Also from here you'll notice I start making some changes from the book. Don't flame for this; there is a reason this site is for fanfiction. Major stuff will still be in play but…well you'll see ;)
The next day found the golden trio in double potions with (of course) the Slytherins, Harry was sort of paying attention at the moment as Professor Snape was lecturing about the potion they would be making in the second half of the class when they would finally break for all of 8 minutes. Which was just enough time to use the loo and get back to their seats before Snape could take away points from Gryffindor. So when Umbridge burst through the door it quite the order of things to say the least.
"25 points away from Slytherin and detention for Harry Potter!", everyone was not only confessed but Snape looked now like he was going to hex the extremely pink woman as he was gripping his wand a bit to tightly as it was beginning to make a creaking noise in protest.
"Madam, may I enquire as to why points have been removed from MY house and not Gryffindors as well? Also, what is the meaning of all this?!", he first stated calmly but by the end was a thundering roar.
It was then she produced some shattered plates with what looked, and sounded, to have yowling cats on them and placed them onto Snape's desk, everyone could see her visibly shaking quite badly; "Sometime during your break today that VILE boy came into my chambers & shattered my entire family collection of plates I hold dear, there were over 50 of them on the walls, and now they're in worse condition then here before you!"
She proclaimed wailing while she waved her hands about.
"As much as I'd like to help you find justice Madam, I have to inform not only have we not had our break but that break is merely eight minutes so there is no possible way for him to get to your side of your castle and back without notice. Shall we go to the Headmaster so we may investigate further?"
All the Gryffindors knew it was best to stay silent during this entire exchange, for once Snape was standing up for -them-! Maybe hell had frozen over? The Slytherins meanwhile were openly gapping at their House-Head in shock, most openly Draco.
"But Professor, he could have slipped out without any of us knowing it! After all he is seated in the back of the room", with that Umbridge began to grin wickedly.
"Try that theory while I resume my lecture Mr. Malfoy for a moment, the rest of you I expect to take notes on not only my lecture but on what happens", the slick-haired man turned back at the board, began to write something and that's when Draco made his dash for the door. But as he reached it not only did it let out this wretched alarm noise but he bounced BACK into the classroom! It was almost as funny as seeing him as that ferret last year.
"Now Professors, is everything alright in here? I noticed all your students for your class for this time period Dolores have left since you never came back from break, why is that?", and there stood Albus Dumbledore not looking amused in the doorway.
She pointed at the pile of shattered glass and began to wail again, "Someone has snuck into my chambers Albus and until I got here I believed it was Harry Potter"
"Why? Has he had detention with you in your private rooms when it is supposed to be held in the classroom like all the other teachers do? Or does he know your password? If the answer is no to either of these then he is automatically ruled out. Also I may add if has been in your private chambers, it -is- a criminal offense as he is a minor wizard"
Dolores Umbrdige looked like she was torn between throwing a full blown temper tantrum and hexing the pants off the three men she was incredibly mad at: Albus, Severus and Potter, "But what about my damaged valuables Albus?! Those were family heirlooms that are irreplaceable!"
He put a hand on her shaking form as he slowly began to escort her out of the classroom, "I believe I may have something to fix them"
She summoned all the plates off Snape's desk as they exited. Not too long after their leave Snape got their attention, "Today will just be a single class as I do not believe any of you will have the focus needed for this particular potion. Class dismissed". With that he too left before they even had a chance to collect their things, but he went in a different direction from Dumbledore and Umbridge, which Harry noticed.
The three gathered their things quickly so they could tail him to see where exactly he was going. They soon found him at the library to their surprise, why would he go here for answers about the break-in with Umbridge chambers?
"…hard on you being here but cannot act like this Merida! If the Ministry of Magic came here and discovered you were here they wold take you away, then you'd never see your father again", They could hear him whispering in a nearby row in a comforting tone to her. The place was empty as everyone had decided to take to the outdoors before the snow was going to hit soon.
"Never see my father again?! I never see him now! I only get pensieve glimpses of the man, for all I know he's forgotten all about my existence and only cares about him and that stupid order", she spat out with such anger and they heard a resounding thud echo through the room.
"First off, don't kick the books, you never know which ones around here will kick you back. Secondly did you do this today because you met them finally? Just because they've spent time with more time with him then you?"
"If you are insinuating that I'm jealous of that brat and his two friends then yes. Why does he get to see my Dad but not me? I love Sinistra don't get me wrong but it's so lonely here and you know where I'm going once I'm of age Severus", her tone had gone from sad to serious.
"Which I agree with you but this was Albus' decision for now that we must all abide by for now. Until then young lady please act less like your father and no more pranks on Umbridge"
"What, no detention or can I prank Miss. 'You will die'?", she giggled.
"I just know with your family giving you detention is just goading you on- and I mean it on no pranking! Remember, the Ministry could arrive any day unexpected to see how Umbridge is doing", with that one of them began to get up to leave so Harry, Ron and Hermione decked under a table. Soon after the other left the three ran to the Common Room.
However when they reached the portrait, there stood Dumbledore with a very serious look on his face holding something, "Hello Headmaser, is everything alright?"
"As the three of you are aware, Professor Umbridge's rooms were broken into and several personal items of hers were destroyed beyond repair. The only trace of the intruder however was your invisibility cloak Harry", eyes bugged out and jaws dropped.
"But Professor, I, we, class, sir" Harry managed to get out while still in shock.
"I am well aware and thankful that the Ministry nor Umbridge is unaware you posses such an item otherwise this conversation would be taking place in a much different location with many more ears and un-happy Ministry Workers. I merely claimed I had dropped a quill when she saw me bent over. However there is something quite serious about this. When I searched the cloak I found hairs on here that were not yours, or your friends. Do you know who they could belong to?", the white-haired man informed and asked with a neutral look.
The three exchanged a look before Ron said, "Well last night we rain into this girl we never had met before, Merida, while wearing it. She took it but now that I think about it I don't recall her giving it back"
His eyes went wide at her name, "Did she introduce herself to you all?"
They shook their heads, "No sir, I thought she'd been a new student and told her she needed to adjust her wardrobe so her house wouldn't lose points. Later we heard one of the teachers address her"
"Thank you Ms. Granger, but I must ask for Ms. Grovestone's sake you all give her some space as she is a troubled student", he stated gravely.
"But what house is she in sir? We know she's Madam Pince's assistant and apparently wanted by the Ministry from what Snape said", Harry inquired.
He simply sighed, "All I can ask is that you tell nobody else here that what you now know of her for her protection. That is all, you must see inside your dorms to place the cloak back where it belongs"
With that they realized they'd not only been dismissed but for once had upset Dumbledore somehow, they scrambled inside the Fat Lady's frame.
Once in a cosy corner where nobody could hear their conversation, "So letter to Padfoot?"
"Are you bonkers Ronald? Did you even hear a word what Dumbledore JUST said?!", Hermione she whispered madly at him.
"He heard him 'Mione, he said 'here'. I'll go grab some parchment, quill & ink to get started", Harry grinned.
"Well he also didn't deny the fact of her being wanted by the Ministry either, did he!", Ron pointed out then paled at the implication.
Both statements hung in the air for a few short moments until Fred and George walked over and saw the three's odd faced.
"Alright who's attempting to kill Harry this year? Isn't that what you lot are AWAYS up to? Can we join in as this is as Dark Arts as we'll likely get this year", Fred stated and asked.
"Wait a moment, you two want to help do research and hang out with US?", Hermione pointed out.
"Yeah, plus somehow you lot always manage to see the wicked stuff going down since you've started coming here as it's usually chasing poor Harry here", George added with a grin thrown in a grimacing Harry's direction.
"They are actually quite good with their studies Hermione- remember what their scores were for THEIR OWLS?", Harry pointed out as he recalled suddenly Mrs. Weasley going on about them that summer.
Hermione made a face, "Yes, they both only got three. But before they were of age didn't you two try to cast an unbreakable vow with Ron?"
Fred grinned at the memory, "Would have worked to if dear Dad hadn't caught us and licked us good"
Harry chuckled at their antics, "Ok, ok your in! Just remember we MUST be discrete about this, like when you two are are hatching your WWW stuff before testing- eh?"
"Are you three planning on hexing this girl after all?", Fred gasped dramatically while George faux fainted into his arms. Hermione merely lifted a eyebrow.
"Only if she IS out to kill Harry after all this and or is a death eater"
Later, after Harry had just completed his letter to 'Snuffles', he had fallen asleep he already could tell something was off about his dream. And not the kind of he ate something he should not have had at some point that day.
He was out in middle of the Forbidden Forest as far as he could tell facing a group of Thestral's when Merida turned to face him after petting one of them. When she saw him, several of the magical creatures bowed to him and her as she tossed some beef at them. He began to wonder how she could see them.
"These crayons have been mislabeled and it now must be corrected Harry", she stated quite seriously.
"Beg your pardon- what?", what the blazes was she talking about?
Suddenly Mad-Eye Moody, Professor Quirrel appeared out of nowhere. His brain was screaming at him not only can one not apparate onto the grounds of Hogwarts but the later Proffesor has been dead for four years now. Merida went over to stand by the two.
"We are just crayons of different colors and haven't been labeled correctly- fix it before it is to late!", she sounded desperate now and was crying. Her outfit was flashing from it's all creme to greens and black. While Moody's was going from greens to red and Quirrel to red and green. Them flashing to and fro was messing with his eyes. Then, before he knew it, he was in another forest that was unbearably hot. He couldn't recall being this hot ever actually. Harry looked around this area and soon heard yelling of somebody being tortured, it was a young girl from the sound of it. He quickly ran in the direction to help. In a huddled group was death eaters, far too many for Harry to take on as one, but one had no mask and he recognized him easily: Lucius Malfoy.
"So you enjoying things the muggle was hm girl? Then we shall do this some more in that filthy way until you tell us what you've done to you're father and WHERE Black is?!", spit came flying at him from the figure and hit him hard in the face.
Harry, who had moved from around the group to see who they were torturing over Sirius' location, could now see it was a younger, bloodied and burnt Merida.
"So more of this device then, shame really", and with that Lucius picked up and placed an Elizabethian-eque fireplace tool still burning blood-red orange from the fire straight onto her arm. Her tortured screams woke him up.
He immediately went back to his letter and added what he'd just dreamt then sent it off with Hedwig. The other's would wait till morning to find out about the dream and what the elder Malfoy had done.