March Part 1:
"No," Angelica crossed her arms with her wand tightly in hand. "I don't care what authority you think you have. I —"
"She didn't exactly give me a choice," Umbridge said, her voice still even and falsely sweet. "I doubt you understand just how difficult she is —"
"She is my own child, I should think I do," Angelica replied testily. "And that does not justify making her write lines in her own blood! How medieval are you?"
"Medieval?" Umbridge repeated, an eyebrow raised. "You really are arrogant, Director."
"Well, sometimes it's warranted," She said with an increasingly bitter edge to her voice. "There are some people that I have to put in their place."
Umbridge bristled. "Maybe if you want to make it in America."
"I have," She reminded her. "England too. I'm more qualified that you'll ever be; I'm a world class auror, a —"
"American arrogance…" Umbridge muttered. "You seriously underestimate me, Director."
Angelica considered that. "To be honest, probably, although if it came down to a duel, you would be screwed."
Umbridge's eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"
"I'm not going to debate this," Angelica replied smoothly. "But you will keep your hands off of my daughter. If I hear about anything like this again...then, mark my words, you will rue the day that you crossed me."
Umbridge tensed a bit despite herself. "Will I?"
Angelica scowled. "With absolute certainty."
March Part 2:
"I hadn't realised you were serious about coming into London," Eliza said as she and Cait stepped out of their mother's office with their grandfather. "Is Meemaw still in New York?"
Graves nodded, albeit frowning a bit as they stepped into the elevator. "I don't understand why the British like it so...dark. MACUSA is so much brighter."
"America's ministry?" A balding, red-headed wizard said as he stepped into the elevator as well. "I've always been curious about their functionality. Their relations with muggles has always struck me as odd."
Graves bristled at the notion. "Your kind may have found witch burnings fun, but they nearly destroyed us."
"I didn't mean that in a bad way, I just meant that it's different. I'm very fascinated by muggles, you see," The man smiled awkwardly. "I'm Arthur Weasley, sir."
He nodded shortly. "Percival Graves."
Arthur stared at him in surprise. "Are you really?"
"Our grandfather," Eliza told him.
"Of course," He said. "That explains why the two of you are with him."
Cait glanced into his thoughts and giggled a bit. "Mister Weasley, the purpose of the rubber duck is to entertain little children in the bath."
Graves sent her a pointed look. "Cait, you know reading people's minds is an invasion of privacy but, more importantly, could expose us if you pulled that on a no-maj."
She adjusted her glasses a bit awkwardly. "Mommy does it all the time."
"She's more discreet," Graves reminded her. "Which has served her well."
Cait blew on her shaggy bangs as they all stepped out of the elevator and into the main hall of the ministry. "I know, but I'm also not…"
She trailed off and they all paused as several reporters shoved past them to reach the others.
"...As far as our intelligence office knows, the recent breach of Azkaban prison was a planed attack," Fudge informed them. "...And we have reason to believe that they were orchestrated by the cousin of high-security detainee Bellatrix Lestrange...Sirius Black."
Cait met the gaze of Lucius Malfoy, whom had been silently moving in their direction, for a moment though she quickly regretted this and fell over as sharp pain flooded her head and overtook everything about her. The last thing she could recall before she came to with her parents looking at her worriedly in St. Mungo's was what Malfoy had been preoccupied with: a prophecy...Harry Potter...the Dark Lord...murder...battle...Azkaban prison.
"...She should be alright," A healer quietly remarked. "...Minister, do you have any idea what might have caused this? She's been unconscious for just over an hour, now."
"...I don't," Corneilus told her. "...She's fainted before, but almost always because she hadn't eaten anything or because she had blood drawn."
"...Oh!" Angelica quickly put in. "That explains it. Poor thing, I'll take care of her as soon as we get home."
There was a long pause.
"...After she…" The healer paused as she glanced to Cait, who looked groggy.
"Caity!" Angelica exclaimed in both relief but also residual concern. "Are you okay?"
"I feel like shit…" She muttered. "I wanna sleep."
The healer sent Angelica a pointed look. "If you think she'll fare better at home —"
"She will," Angelica said with finality, although feeling a bit sick for having read her daughter's thoughts. "Undoubtedly."
"This is a disaster!" Angelica exclaimed as she paced. "An absolute disaster! Lucius Malfoy...how the hell did I miss that?"
"Angelica," Corneilus said, looking at her worriedly. "It's late, and she was disoriented —"
"That was clear!" Angelica countered. "Clearly before she lost consciousness!"
"I'm not disputing that, nor am I disputing the fact that Malfoy abuses his influence," Corneilus sighed as he set down his lime-green bowler hat. "But, if that's why she lost consciousness —"
"It is —" Angelica began testily.
"Then we have to be careful," He said, and she bit her lip. "If we're not...then we will be playing into their hands."
April Part 1:
"Astoria," Cait said to the younger girl, sighing heavily as they continued to throw rocks into the black lake. "There's no point in romanticism with respect to Draco. I'd be willing to bet that he'll marry my sister."
She sent her a quizzical glance. "Do you have feelings for him?"
Cait scoffed. "No. My girlfriend in NYC? Yes. Draco? Not on your life."
Astoria raised an eyebrow. "Harry?"
Cait flinched. "What? No!"
Astoria giggled. "Liar."
"Think ya wanna be saying that to me?" She replied. "I mean come on. He's handsome, sure, but boy does he know it. He's also a bit of a flirt that's flying by the seat of his pants —"
"You have feelings for him," Astoria repeated. "Don't deny it."
"I'm not denying anything," Cait told her. "I'm in a happy relationship that's actually based in love, not lust. Besides the point, a few months ago I realised three fundamental truths at, roughly, the same time."
Astoria gestured for her to go on. "And they were?"
"First, I'm a girl in a world in which I have it all and don't even have to work," She ran a hand through her short hair. "Second, if Harry's ever been interested in me, it's because I'd elevate his status. And, third, I don't want to see my sister hurt because I know her in the same way in that I know my own mind. She's trusting, kind...she's better than I am, and I cannot watch her drown."
Astoria was silent for a long time but then nodded in understanding.
"You're better than you think," Astoria said, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be so hard on yourself."
April Part 2:
"My father wasn't around," Corneilus murmured as he tried to calm down his hyperventilating eldest. "But I swear I'll be around for you and your sister. I'll do whatever it takes — I'll make a million mistakes — and I will be around. I promise."
The small girl's crying slowed a bit, but she was nowhere near as calm as her sleeping sister.
"Here," Angelica said, gently taking the girl into her arms. "She's reeling from a nightmare, that's all."
He sighed. "I don't know what we'd do if you weren't a legilimans."
She laughed softly. "Perhaps more normal?"
"In our community," He said, wrapping an arm tightly around her. "To the muggles, we're always going to be off."
Angelica pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "I love you, you know."
He smiled and gave her an affectionate squeeze. "Of course I do, m'dear…"
Angelica awoke suddenly, feeling unusually calm. The rain was steadily falling outside. Typical of London, she thought. Beside her, Corneilus was still asleep and his thoughts were calm. She could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. Glancing at the time, she considered calling her father in New York but paused with her hand over the reciever. As quietly as she could, she slipped out of bed and walked lightly down the stairs to the living room, where the other landline was. It was just past three in the morning in London, but, in New York, it was only a bit past ten in the evening. She bit at her lip as she pressed her parents' landline number into the rotary phone. It rang for several seconds that felt much longer to her. Her thoughts had retreated from the calm and begun to race. She was flooded with anxiety about work, about the looming threat of war, concern for her children, and jealousy. To her relief, however, her mother answered.
"Angelica," Rebecca Graves answered smoothly. "What time is it in London, dear? Must be early morning, right?"
She sighed. "I just needed someone to talk to."
"Corneilus is still asleep," Rebecca surmised. "Alright, dear, what is it?"
"I'm losing it, mom," Angelica said, trying to be quiet as she spoke. "Everywhere I turn it seems there's another crisis, or there's someone else I have a bone to pick with...and…"
"And?" Rebecca prompted.
"I cannot believe I'm saying this, let alone feeling it, but I feel threatened by a woman that's got nothing on me because she's got a thing for my husband," Angelica half-muttered. "It's complete nonsense on my part, but…"
"I know, being a legilimans opens you up to these worries," Rebecca paused for a moment as she went on. "But I've never seen anyone love someone much more than Corneilus loves you. You're wound up, you're exhausted, and you're paranoid. Everything is fine, Angelica, and I wish you could believe that."
She shook her head. "Why is nothing ever enough for me?"
"You never could be satisfied," Rebecca mused. "Not even after the miracles."
"Now you're making me feel like a terrible mother," Angelica said. "I would do anything for them —"
"I know you would," Rebecca said calmly. "But there's never going to be enough. Not for you."
Angelica was silent and then shakily ended the call and set the reciever down. She despised the hatred coursing through her veins, and, if anything, she felt worse than before. Hell seemed to have fallen upon her.
"Angelica?" Corneilus asked a bit groggily as he stepped into the room. "Are you alright?"
She hesitated. "Sure."
"Angel…" He said tiredly. "Please tell me what's bothering you. I can't read your mind."
Rather than bothering with words, she embraced him tightly and then passionately kissed him, resting her head on his chest whilst he held her close after they broke their kiss.
"I don't know what I'd do without you…" She murmured. "I really don't…"
"You'll never have to know," He swore. "Ever."
May Part 1:
"I have had enough of the lies and manipulation," Umbridge declared, her eyes narrowing on the trio and the twins in her office. "Particularly from you two."
Cait ignored the sickening feeling rising in her and flipped the woman off. "Still breathing."
Umbridge grabbed Eliza — whom was nearest to her — and forced her down into the chair in front of her desk despite the young woman's cry of fearful surprise.
"I'll get to Potter in a minute," She said, pointing her wand at Eliza's throat. "But I need you to speak first."
"Because I'm the minister's daughter?" She suggested.
Umbridge did not respond to that, although she did take in a sharp breath.
"I am not going to wait for Severus to bring us the Veritas Serum," She finally said, her voice shaking. "Not for you. And if you refuse to talk —"
"Which I do —" Eliza began angrily.
"— then the Cruciatius curse ought to loosen your tongue."
They all stared at her in abject horror.
"That's illegal!" Cait and Hermione simultaneously protested.
"What Corneilus doesn't know," Umbridge said, slipping the photograph on her desk into the drawer which she promptly shut. "Won't hurt him."
"You're bluffing," Eliza said as Umbridge shakily pointed her wand at her. "You have to be, you wouldn't —"
"Crucio!" Umbridge declared as forcefully as she could.
Eliza let out a terrible shriek of pain, writhing in the spot. Hermione painfully looked away; horror filled her and she could almost feel the other woman's pain herself. Ron threw up onto one of the men holding him, who let go in disgust. Harry struggled to wrench out of the firm grasps of the two who were restraining him, but the struggle was intense. Cait, however, collapsed to the ground in extreme pain herself. She had a hand pressed against her head, her glasses were slightly askew, and her grip on her wand was slackening. The thoughts of everyone in the room were flooding her mind, and she could not shut out as much screaming as her mind was perceiving. A hazy dark flash held over her vision, and she fell unconscious for a moment though things were still painful when she came to. As soon as she could raise her wand, she pointed it at Umbridge, and whispered the first spell that came to mind.
"Levicorporus…"
Umbridge swore as she found herself slammed into the wall, which broke her hold on Eliza.
"What?" She exclaimed. "How —"
"Dolores," Snape said, raising an eyebrow as he stepped into the room. "I'm afraid that we have no more Veritas Serum as you've used up the last of it on interrogating students, most recently Miss Chang."
She sent him a withering gaze.
"Unless you wish to poison Mister Potter," Snape said slowly. "Then I cannot be of use."
He began to leave but paused upon Harry speaking.
"He had Padfoot," Harry told him in a desperate attempt to communicate to the Order. "He has Padfoot in the place where it's hidden."
A weighty silence fell over them, for a moment.
"Padfoot?" Umbridge questioned. "What is he talking about, Severus?"
"No idea," Snape responded coolly.
As soon as he was gone, she turned on Harry.
"Now —"
"Tell her, Harry!" Hermione shrieked. "Tell her where it is!"
Umbridge sent her a befuddled look. "Tell me where what is?"
Hermione swallowed hard. "Dumbledore's secret weapon."
The woman smiled, expecting a victory, yet she had not even the first clue as to what awaited her in the Forbidden Forest.
May Part 2:
The aurors stared onto the scene in horror, taking in the fact that Voldemort was standing over Harry. A group of teens were standing nearby, and Albus Dumbledore began to step towards Potter in concern. The assistant director of Magical Law Enforcement walked forward, her wand aimed at the Dark Lord. It all happened in a matter of seconds; she aimed her wand at him as she summoned all the courage she required. Voldemort turned around, hearing her footsteps, and moved to disarm her though she was faster and blocked his attempt. The minister for magic stepped out of the floo and paused for a moment, staring in horror at the scene before them. Eliza let out a shriek upon seeing her father, terrified as to what would happen to him and believing Cait who had informed her and their parents back in November of regarding Umbridge's loyalties. She ran forward, the rest of the D.A. in horror. Cait ran to tackle her sister — the thoughts of everyone in the room giving her physical and emotional pain — but slipped.
Several aurors ran forward and grabbed Cait, who whipped around to see that her sister was alright. Eliza was almost exactly halfway in between Corneilus and Angelica. Harry came to, his friends and the others coming into focus. Voldemort raised his wand. The American Director Of Magical Security steadied herself to duel him but he was not after her. Dumbledore, knowing this, stepped in front of Harry and cast a protection, believing him to be the target. In that one instance, he was wrong. Cait, despite the pain it caused her, focused on reading the thoughts of He-who-must-not-be-named, but what she saw caused her even more. A terrible cry escaped her, and she clenched her wand tightly in her hand as the broke out of the grip of the aurors. She was not, however, fast enough. Time slowed. Everything hung in the balance. Nothing moved more than a few centimetres. There was a brief silence, but it was defeated by a gut-wrenching scream.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled, aiming at and hitting Eliza.
A few seconds passed in horror before anything more happened. Angelica, in rage and in the silence, fired several non-verbal spells at the Dark Lord. Voldemort parried her attacks, but not without effort. Even he could not deny her skill as a duelist. Each spell he fired was dodged or knocked back by her, and he did the same with hers. The room was stopped, still reeling in horror and still shocked by what was happening. It was not until Angelica caught a glimpse of her daughter's body on the ground that she lost focus. Voldemort took advantage of this and opted to briefly knock her unconscious rather than kill her, seeing Dumbledore stepping forward out of the corner of his eye. In an instant, Voldemort disappeared in a cloud of smoke but not before the Daily Prophet had gotten multiple photographs of him and the events and Angelica came to. A tense, sick silence passed. Cait ran towards her twin but did not make it, instead fainting. Angelica barely caught her eldest as Corneilus ran to them in horror.
"Eliza…" Her voice broke as she held her unconscious daughter in her arms and reached out to brush her deceased one's hair away from her eyes. "Elizabeth Catarina —"
"Angelica —" Corneilus began, his voice shaking as he wrapped an arm tightly around her and fought back tears.
"She's…" Angelica broke down in sobs, clutching the unconscious Cait close to her and curling into her husband as he held onto her. "No…"
And none of them noticed as the Daily Prophet began to photograph the teens, Dumbledore, Harry, and the grieving family.
