"Very good, Neville" I said as he finally disarmed Padma Patil.
"Hermione, watch out!"
I turned and saw Ron's dog patronum coming my way, and I dodged as the uncontrollable dog ran around people.
This class was one of the most fun, mostly because Harry had gave us a free class to practice whatever we wanted. While it was fun, I couldn't help but be disappointed that Cedric didn't come. Thomas said he didn't know why, he hadn't seen him since breakfast. Ron seemed especially happy about it. And while I loved Ron, he was being an ass. Harry tried to talk to me into giving Ron a break, but I wouldn't. First it was Viktor at the Yule Ball, the night Ron got me so upset I barely had fun. Now it was Cedric. Luna and Ginny insisted that I should see his side, that I was breaking his heart by dating someone else. Well, I had a goddamn crush on Ron since second year and he hadn't done anything about it ever since. I wasn't about to stop my life for him. And Cedric made me happy. I needed happiness… Soon Cedric would be gone from Hogwarts and if rumors had any truth in them, he would end things with me before graduating. I just hoped we could still be friends. He was already one of my best friends, and I liked his company. It was good to have someone older, smarter to talk to, that wouldn't be actually an adult. He understood me better than anyone else, and he was great.
"Ah!"
I turned as we all heard Nigel screech and fall on the floor. Lee Jordan that was levitating him stood there with a frown. We heard a thump against the wall, and then a louder one. We all gathered and stood facing the wall. A louder thump, and dust came from the wall. It was being attacked. I pushed people back and Nigel looked into a small hole that had formed in the wall with Harry.
"Harry" I warned quietly.
"Bombarda Maxima"
Harry pulled Nigel away from the crumbling wall just in time. There stood Umbridge with her Inquisitorial Squad and Cho Chang that was crying. Harry narrowed his eyes at her, and then glared. But something called my attention as Umbridge smirked at me. Cedric stood beside Cho, all sweaty and tired, and looked into my eyes with sadness, apology, remorse. He had told Umbridge. I stared at him with a frown, and my eyes filled with tears. He betrayed us, all of us. He betrayed me. Ginny pulled me back, closer to her, and Ron stood in front of me. I didn't need to look in his face to know he was giving Cedric the death glare of his life. I looked away from Cedric, and Umbridge told the Squad to get us. I avoided looking at him as Montague grabbed me and Ginny by the arm and dragged us out of the Room. As we followed Umbridge to Dumbledore's office, I heard what sounded like a fight behind us.
"Let go of me!" Cedric exclaimed.
Suddenly he was by my side but Goyle tried to pull him back by the arm.
"Hermione, please, let me…"
I turned to him and my glare shut him up.
"Don't ever again say a word to me, turncoat bastard" I spat.
The members of the Squad laughed and Goyle successfully pulled Diggory away from me. He gave me a pleading look and I continued to glare at him for a minute before turning away and facing forward.
"Are you alright?" Ginny asked quietly.
"Fine" I grumbled, willing the tears away.
"I'm sorry…"
"Shut up" Montague told us harshly.
We entered Dumbledore's office and the wizard leaned back on his chair, his hand still raised to give Fawkes some kind of threat. Following us, Fudge, Shacklebolt and an Auror I didn't know entered the office. They pushed past us, and Goyle brought Cedric and Cho forward. Malfoy had a grin in his face as he held Harry by Umbridge's side. Parkinson gave her a piece of parchment, and by the triumphant grin Umbridge had as she extended it to Fudge, I knew it was the parchment all members signed.
"There is the proof of his betrayal!" Umbridge said.
Dumbledore stood up slowly and arched an eyebrow to all of us.
"Dumbledore's Army!" Umbridge said and Fudge glared at the Headmaster. "I told you, Cornelius"
"Yes, I should have listened to you, Dolores" Fudge said. "You think you can train students to help you take the Ministry…"
"It wasn't him!" Cedric blurted.
"Mr. Diggory, I would advice you to stay silent" Kingsley said with a meaningful look.
"It was me!" Harry said. "I created the army! It's my responsibility!"
"Nice try, Potter" Fudge said. "But it's Dumbledore's Army…"
"No! We gave the name…" Harry said.
"Thank you, Harry, for trying to protect me" Dumbledore interrupted. "But as Cornelius said, it's Dumbledore's Army, not Potter's"
"So you confess then?" Fudge said.
"Yes, I created the army"
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but both Kingsley and Dumbledore shot him a look that clearly meant he was to stay silent.
"A traitor!" Umbridge said angrily. "Disloyalty!"
"Effectively immediately, as Minister of Magic, I declare, that Albus Dumbledore is to be arrested for betrayal to the Ministry…"
"No" Harry said.
"Oh, shut up, Harry" Cedric said, surprising all of us. He swallowed hard, glanced at me and rolled his eyes. "Let this be over with. Better him than us. Tell them the truth. Dumbledore told you to create the Army…"
We all stared at him in shock. Ron tried to get free from Crabbe's grip, but was unsuccessful. Thank God, because I am sure it wouldn't be a pretty fight if he got to Cedric. We all glared at Cedric. Another betrayal. Why was he doing this? Did he and Cho betray us to secure themselves and their parents' job on the Ministry? He knew that they would be fine, without proof of anything, Fudge couldn't just fire them… Why then?
"Get him" Fudge said to Kingsley and the Auror.
"See, Cornelius, you seem to be thinking that I would go to Azkaban willingly" Dumbledore said rounding his table. "That's where you are wrong, my friend"
Fawkes jumped in the air, opening her red wings, and Dumbledore raised his hands, touching her claws, and in a blink, he was gone, with a small burst of sparks.
"Minister, you may not like him" Kingsley said. "But you've got to admit, the man has style"
And with that, Dumbledore was an out-of-law, with a cell waiting for him in Azkaban, the Minister had proof of a revolution against him, Hogwarts had no headmaster and Dumbledore's Army was over. Umbridge was the new Headmistress and we had to be watched for any illicit activities. I would never look at Cedric again, I refused to talk to him. He was a traitor. I should have listened to Ron. He was up to no good. And if my opinion counted for anything inside the Order, I would get him banned from Grimauld Place, forever.
I watched as Cho tried to talk to Harry as the Army's members filled out of the great hall where they had detention. Everyone ignored her, some even pushed past her. Harry gave her a glare and continued walking. Cho had a deep frown and was clearly fighting tears. I almost felt bad for her, except it was all her fault. It had been almost a month since Dumbledore disappeared and Umbridge was Headmistress. Cho and I had detention apart from the Army's members. No one wanted to talk to me. Thomas had changed rooms with another Hufflepuff. Hermione refused to even look at me, not that the Weasleys, Harry, or Army's members let me close to her often. Jenna was the only one who spoke to me, and it was to tell me that she didn't know why I did it, but she was disappointed with me. In a moment, I had lost everything. Friends, respect… Hermione. I wish I could explain to her that I didn't betray her. She was so angry, and hurt… It was never my intention to hurt her.
I was sitting in the courtyard, playing with my D.A.'s coin, the one that hadn't warmed up in weeks. My hand was bandaged from the latest detention session. I saw Hermione, Harry and Ron passing, and I didn't expect them to even look at me. I had learned by now that they ignored my existence. But what called my attention was that Hermione seemed a little nervous, her hair was messy and her clothes crumpled.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Ron asked her.
"Yes, Ron, thank you for worrying, but Grawp didn't hurt me, just scared me…"
"Are you sure?" he asked grabbing her forearm.
She smiled at him, and slipped her hand on his. I watched them in silence from my corner. They were natural. He would be good for her. He wouldn't lie or keep secrets. He wouldn't pressure her into anything. They would experience everything in due time, together. Harry was the only one that noticed me there, and cleared his throat. Hermione followed his gaze and her eyes turned cold when she saw me. I stood slowly and Ron glared at me as he pulled her closer.
"Let's go" Harry said quietly.
They started to walk away and my heart almost stopped when I saw her stop. She told them to go ahead and then walked back to me. I sighed with relief, happy she would give me a chance to talk to her, to explain… She glared at me as she got close, and then took the coin from my hand.
"You don't have the right to have that" she snapped.
"Hermione" I whispered.
"No, you betrayed us!" she said scowling at me.
"Let me explain…"
"Here" she ripped the necklace I had given her from her neck and threw at me.
I stared at the red charm with her initial as I heard her walk away.
I had been taking the N.E.W.T. Without any friends and pastimes, I had a long time to study lately, and the test seemed easy. I was on the Magical Creatures section of the test when we all heard screams and cheering outside the hall we were in. Snape only arched an eyebrow at the door and snarled at us to continue with our eyes on the parchment and in silence. Half an hour later, Filch entered the room and said something to Snape, who rolled his eyes and nodded. Snape started letting the students that had finished go, and as I walked out with a few colleagues we found all fifth year students on the corridors, talking excitedly and with huge smiles. I got snippets of conversations, something about the Weasley twins and interrupted O.W.L.s. The entrance of the great hall where they were supposed to be doing the O.W.L.s, was a mess. I saw Ginny and Luna passing, almost running and talking in hushed tones. Something was up. My theory was confirmed when Neville joined them with an alarmed expression. I walked to them and they went silent when they noticed me.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"None of your business, Diggory" Neville snapped while glaring at me.
"Guys, I know you think I am a traitor, but I know that we don't have time to talk that out, because it's clear something is wrong"
"It's Harry" Luna said.
"Luna!" Ginny chastised.
"Ginny, we need help… He can help" Luna said and gave me a small smile. "And I know he can explain what happened with Umbridge…"
"Thanks" I said. "Now… What happened to Harry?"
Ginny and Neville hesitated, but with a sigh Ginny showed me her coin.
"Luna said Harry had a vision, like the one with my dad… But with… his godfather, and our coins warmed up" she said.
The date and hour indicated immediately.
"Where did they go?" I asked frowning. I knew that if Harry went somewhere after such vision Hermione and Ron would go too.
"They went to use Umbridge's floo to check on Grimauld Place" Ginny said.
"Let's go" I said.
We dodged students as we headed to the stairs, but as we reached the second floor, we met the Squad. Malfoy grinned at us as they pointed their wands at us.
"We'll get at least 100 points for this" he said happily.
In a few minutes we were dragged in Umbridge's office where Hermione and Ron were being held by two Slytherin students while Harry sat in a chair with Umbridge hovering over him.
"We got these coming here" Crabbe said.
"Great" Umbridge said and turned to glare at Harry. "Now, tell me, where were you going?"
"Nowhere" he said.
She slapped him so hard that his head turned. His cheek had an angry red mark as he looked at her in shock while she lost her mind. She was frazzled, it was clear.
"Liar! You were going to meet Dumbledore!" she accused.
"No" he frowned at her.
"Then where were you going?" she asked.
"Ahn… Home" he lied.
She pressed the tip of her wand against his throat and he winced.
"You can't hurt students" I blurted.
A knock on the door interrupted before she could answer. Snape walked in and looked at us, expressionless, as if we being held in her office wasn't anything.
"Asked for me, Headmistress?" he asked Umbridge.
"Yes, Severus!" she said happily. "Get me the Veritasserum"
"I am sorry. I am out of it" he said looking at all of us. "The last was used on Diggory and Chang"
Hermione and Harry's heads snapped to me and while he was shocked, she seemed regretful. I gave her a weak smile and her frown softened a bit.
"It would take a month to make more" Snape continued and shrugged. "But if it's so urgent, torture whatever you want out of them… I am not against it" and with that he turned to leave.
"He's got Padfoot!" Harry blurted desperately. "He's got Padfoot where you know what is hidden!"
"He? Padfoot? What's hidden? What is he talking about, Severus?" Umbridge asked.
Snape looked at Harry for a long moment with a frown and then turned to Umbridge with a confused expression.
"I have no idea" he said and left.
"Alright" Umbridge said with a sigh. "You leave me no choice, Potter. The Ministry's Security is my priority and if you won't tell me willingly, I'll have to make you"
"No" I snapped at her.
"The Cruciatus Curse didn't work on your friend over there, but I am sure it will loose your tongue" she said.
"What!" Hermione gasped looking between me and Harry. "It's illegal!"
"What Cornelius doesn't see, doesn't hurt" she said lowering a frame with the Minister's photo.
"Stop! I'll tell you! I know!" I blurted.
She continued to point her wand at Harry.
"Tell her, Harry!" Hermione cried.
Everyone looked at her with shock.
"Tell me what?" Umbridge asked.
"Tell her or I will" Hermione said.
"What?" Umbridge snapped.
"Dumbledore's secret weapon, we know where it is" she said.
As Umbridge's eyes gleamed, I realized Hermione was a better liar than we thought.
"What's taking so damn long?" Malfoy complained.
Hermione and Harry left with Umbridge over half an hour ago, and we were all waiting for one of them to come back. That was the fourth time Malfoy complained. It was getting on my nerves. My eyes kept wondering to the drawer Goyle was guarding, the one that had our wands inside.
"Bet five galleons Potter is sent straight to the Ministry" Crabbe said.
"Bet ten mudblood Granger won't survive two days in Azkaban" Malfoy laughed.
I glared at them, but felt Luna tugging on my arm, silently telling me to calm down.
"I'm hungry" Ron blurted and we all frowned at him as he took sweets from his pocket.
"Give me one, Ron" Ginny said.
"No"
"Give me one, Ronald!"
"No way"
"Ronald!" she whined.
"Give me that!" Montague snapped taking the candies from Ron and shared with his friends.
"What the hell is this?" Malfoy said a minute later scowling. "Ugh!"
They all ran out of the room clutching their stomachs.
"Vomiting pastils" Ron said smiling.
"Brilliant, Ron" I said and opened the damn drawer.
We got our wands and Ron said he had a good idea where Hermione and Harry would be. We were reaching the bridge, but they were coming back. Hermione threw herself on my arms, hugging me tightly.
"God, I'm so sorry" she cried in my shoulder.
"Why are you sorry, love?" I frowned. "It's fine"
"How did you get away?" Harry asked.
"Said I was hungry and they took vomiting pastils" Ron said.
"It was brilliant" Luna said.
"So, what now?" Neville asked.
"Ahn, really, thanks… I appreciate your help. But you got in enough trouble for me. I'm going alone" Harry said.
"What? No!" Hermione snapped.
"No, way" Ginny said.
"When are you going to get it, Harry? We're in this together" Ron said.
"Yes. The Army was made for us to be able to fight, together… Or were that just words?" I asked arching an eyebrow.
Harry stayed at us for a moment and with a sigh he began to nod.
"So, how are we going to London?" he asked.
"Flying of course" Luna said.
"Flying?" Hermione squeaked frowning. "Brooms were confiscated…"
"Thestrals" I said.
"What?" Ron asked.
Luna explained it was creatures that led the carriages of Hogwarts and could fly too, while she and Harry led us to the forest.
"What about Umbridge?" Ginny asked.
"The centaurs took her" Hermione said shrugging.
We entered a clearing in the woods, and there were thestrals. After a few minutes assuring the others we were not seeing things, we mounted four of them. Ron went alone n one of the thestrals while the others paired. He seemed queasy about mounting something he couldn't see, but once Luna showed him how to hold on tight, he seemed a bit more confident. Hermione held tightly to me muttering things about flying and safety.
"Do you truly think I would let you fall?" I asked her over my shoulder while taking the reins.
"I trust you…" she said tightening her hold on my waist. "I do. Sorry. But my fear of flying is still here"
I kissed her forehead and then turned ahead. Pulling on the reins, the thestral began to gallop before taking off, and Hermione buried her face in my back.
"This thing really exists" she mumbled.
"You thought Harry, Luna and I were lunatic, didn't you?" I chuckled and looked down at Hogwarts.
"How long it will take to get there?" she whimpered.
"Hermione, look" I said.
She slowly took her face from my hands, and screeched when I let go of the reins, using one hand to point out Hogsmeade.
"Oh, god…" she mumbled. "Scary as hell… but the view is nice"
"See?"
"Well, I'm still not enjoying this"
When we were close to London I put a disillusionment charm on us, so we wouldn't be seen, and Harry showed us where the muggle entrance we could use was. It was the middle of the night, and my first nightly visit to the Ministry. It was silent and there wasn't anyone there.
"Harry… Are you sure about this? What if it's a trap?" I asked quietly as we took the elevator.
"Sirius isn't home" he said.
Since people still considered Sirius a murderer and were looking for him to take him back to Azkaban, it was very rare for him to go out Grimauld Place. Harry's worry was logical. But we could still be in danger. We held our wands tightly as we stepped in the department of mysteries.
"That's it. The door I've been seeing" Harry mumbled.
The department of prophecies.
We entered the door and as we closed it, I realized the room had a undetectable extension spell and we could easily get lost.
"Stay close to me" I whispered to Hermione.
She slipped her hand into mine and we searched for the section Harry had seen Sirius. Harry looked desperate as we approached the corridor intersection and there weren't signs of anyone. He finally stopped and we looked around, our wands the only illumination we had.
"He was here" Harry mumbled. "He should be here"
"Let's get out now" I said.
"Harry… it has your name in it" Neville said.
Harry took the crystal ball Neville had been looking at and stared at it. As I looked around, I thought that it wasn't the time to hear prophecies.
"Harry" Ginny said.
We turned and a Death Eater was coming our way. We all lifted our wands, and the man took off his mask, revealing he was Lucius Malfoy.
"Good evening, children" he said.
"Where is Sirius?" Harry snapped stepping forward, I blocked his path with my arm.
"You really should know the difference between dreams and reality, Potter" he said with a smirk. "You saw only what the Dark Lord wanted you to see"
Hermione tugged on my arm. We were being surrounded by Death Eaters.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Give me the prophecy and no one gets hurt" Lucius said.
"Why didn't you get it yourself?" Harry asked.
"Only people the prophecy mentions can take it" I said. "That's what Voldemort wants, but he needed you to get it"
"Very well, Diggory" Malfoy said. "You really are a smart boy. You should reconsider your choices and alliances"
"And you should all go to hell" I shot back.
"If you do anything, I'll break it" Harry said lifting the prophecy.
Lucius narrowed his eyes.
"Uh, he knows how to play. Eeny-teeny-baby-Potter"
Belatrix Lestrange joined Lucius side with a grin. The woman looked terrible, like someone who spent years in Azkaban… she should have stayed there.
"Belatrix Lestrange" Neville said scowling.
"Let me see… Longbottom?" she laughed. "How are mum and dad?"
"Better now they are about to be revenged" he snapped.
"Neville, no!" Ginny said holding him back.
"Let's all calm down, shall we?" Lucius said and extended his hand to Harry. "Give me the prophecy. I will answer all your questions. Haven't you always wondered why you? Why you have that scar?"
"I have so many questions" Harry said looking at the prophecy. "I've waited sixteen years…"
"I know" Lucius said soothingly reaching out for the prophecy.
"I can wait a little longer" Harry said. "Now!"
"Stupefy!"
I grabbed Hermione as we started to run on the opposite direction to the door. Death Eaters continued to appear to block our path.
"Glacius!" I incanted freezing a Death Eater before he could curse Hermione.
We ended up divided, and as Hermione and I tried to find the door, while defending ourselves the others were running around. Finally, the Death Eaters cornered us all together. Ginny used the Reducto spell and although she succeeded, the shelves started to fall. We ran as crystal balls rained over us.
"Over there" Luna said pointing to a door.
We all entered the door, and started to fall.
"Aresto momentum" Hermione gasped.
We stopped inches from the ground and then fell with small impact.
"Good one, Hermione" Ron said as we stood up.
"Where are we?" Ginny asked.
The room was completely empty except for the archway in the middle.
"Can you hear it?" Harry asked.
"Hear what?" Hermione asked.
"Voices" I said. "From the archway"
"There's nothing there. It's empty" Neville said. "Come on, let's go"
"I can hear it too" Luna said
"Get down!" Ron exclaimed.
We stayed down, lying on the ground as Death Eaters attacked. I felt Hermione being pulled away and although my arm around her tightened, I was pulled away from her too. Everything spun as someone grabbed me, and my wand was taken. When everything stopped we were separated, around the room all held by Death Eaters except Harry that was still where we were before, looking at us with desperation. Greyback was holding Hermione and I fought against the Death Eater holding me as the disgusting werewolf nuzzled her neck while she whimpered.
"I'll kill you" I growled and he chuckled.
"Give me the prophecy, and your friends won't get hurt" Malfoy told Harry.
"Don't give it to him, Harry" Neville said.
If I knew for sure that they would let us go, that Hermione would be safe once Harry gave him the damn prophecy, I would have told him to give it. But we all knew we wouldn't be safe, Harry giving it to Lucius or not.
"I don't want anyone hurt" Harry said looking at the prophecy in his hands.
"Give me and you all are free" Malfoy said stepping closer.
I sighed with relief as Sirius came out of the archway, and tapped Malfoy on the shoulder.
"Stay away from my godson" he said calmly but added a nice right hook.