Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter or its characters.
The weeks passed slowly, painfully. . . . Though Priya supposed there were some highlights. She finally had her meeting with Flitwick for which she had been overly prepared. She had gone into his office with pamphlets and lists and options only for him to completely tear apart all her ideas with one sound.
"Hmm," he muttered.
"I'm sorry?" she responded, leaning forward towards his desk.
"Oh nothing dear," Flitwick twittered. "It's just – in the years that I have watched you grow, I've come to learn a few things about you. I know, due to your grandmother's name, you detest to be noticed, but I don't think you would be content with fading into the background at the Ministry, though I have no doubt you'd work your way up in no time. . . . You just have so much more to offer, so much to say. Every essay you turn in is absolute perfection and captivating. I think you," he finished with a smile, "would make a great Journalist."
That of course had opened a whole new door she had never even thought to venture through. The more she had thought about it, she realized it was perfect. She could travel the world, she could meet interesting people. . . . When she had gone to Hogsmeade with Blaise (another highlight), she had forced him to Scrivenshaft's so that she could buy a journal and fresh quills. Flitwick had told her she should begin compiling a portfolio so, though she still had time, she wanted to get started. Blaise had teased her but also seemed surprisingly supportive.
"It's your life, Queen," he had said, brushing a quill across her nose (which she of course smacked away). "Do what you think best."
She was surprised by how good a time she had had with Blaise. It started off a little weird because people stared when the two of them met up outside and Blaise had wrapped her arm around his as he walked her out the gates. "People will talk," Priya had argued.
"Let them," Blaise responded, sending a smirk towards the gawkers. "You and I know what's true. Besides, I've already told you, you've nothing to worry about. You're not my type."
"Merlin, you know how to flatter a girl." After that, the day passed smoothly, little sarcastic jibes passed between them along with snickers.
The rest of the school year passed by like it did every year. Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup (of course). Even Priya had to admit that Ron had picked it up and done a spectacular job (not that she would tell him that). Meanwhile everyone was studying hard, clocking ridiculous hours of time on subjects. Malfoy was terrifying people into thinking that, if they didn't know the examiner (like his parents did), your chances of passing the owls was slim to none. Priya and Hermione had busted several sixth years who were attempting to sell 'products' to help with memory and concentration. All of it was actually quite dangerous and wouldn't help anything, though Priya sort of wished they did. She wanted to do well, even if she only needed A's for her career as a journalist, which A's wouldn't be enough to continue to N.E.W.T level; anything below Exceeds Expectations would be insulting to her.
The Charms exam took place on Monday. The written portion turned out not to be too hard because Stella was a magnificent teacher . . . meaning she drilled the other four girls relentlessly the night before, on spells, on theories, on wand movement, everything she thought they needed to be successful. Priya was called in for the physical exam with Dean Thomas, Ron Weasley and Blaise Zabini, the Slytherin boy sending her a wink as they moved into the room, the last group to do so. She thought she could have done better on the Lumos Duo spell (the beam of light shot feet away from the intended target). Ron Weasley somehow managed to change a dinner plate into a mushroom; surprisingly when the two of them made eye contact they both had to turn away to hide a snicker, which was probably the most civilized moment the two of them had ever had.
There was no reprieve as Tuesday brought with it the Transfiguration exam and Priya spent Monday evening tutoring her friends like Stella had. The test didn't seem to hard, as Priya sped through the written exam and got an approving smile from Madam Professor Griselda Marchbanks during the practical portion. "Very good, Tollop," she had muttered, marking something down on her clipboard.
Herbology on Wednesday went as well as could be expected for all of the students (beside Neville Longbottom who seemed to just be really good at the subject). On Thursday, Defense against the Dark Arts was a subject that all fifth years (meaning those who had been in Potter's class) had looked forward to and did very well in. Priya couldn't help the grin that came to her face as she managed to successfully cast the Disarming spell. She wished she could show the examiner her Patronus like Potter did, rub her success in Umbridge's smug face, but she knew better than to be too cocky.
On Friday, Hermione and Priya braved Ancient Runes. Despite their practice, Priya knew there were a few words she mixed up, though so did Hermione (even if it was only one word). The Ravenclaw left her new friend before the other girl could go through the exam (as she was heard to do with poor Harry and Ron).
Priya and her friends spent Saturday relaxing by the lake but Sunday called for more studying, this time led by Muni, who tested them on properties of potions they had learned since the First year. Monday came and Eloise, Guinn, and Stella scrapped their way through the practical. None of them probably got above a P but they didn't seem to mind it so much.
"I'm just glad to be done with Snape," Eloise confessed in a whisper, as if the hooked-nose teacher was waiting around the corner.
Guinn excelled at the Care of Magical Creatures exam on Tuesday while the rest of them (all of the fifth years besides the Slytherins) did their very best. If they could at least get A's, it would look good for Hagrid. Wednesday morning, they named all the moons of Jupiter for their practical exam in Astronomy before Eloise, Guinn, and Stella went off to their Divinations exam after lunch, Priya and Muni heading to Muggle Studies, which went swimmingly thanks to their Muggleborn friends.
Eleven o' clock that evening found the fifth years climbing the stairs to the Astronomy tower. They set up their telescopes, Priya finding herself near Potter. The two of them hadn't seen each other since Fred and George left the school months ago. Like Priya had told Blaise during their trip to Hogsmeade (and as she repeatedly told herself), the two of them weren't friends; more like acquaintances. It made sense that they didn't see each other anymore now that they didn't have to. They exchanged a quick, awkward smile, before Professor Marchbanks instructed them all to get started.
An hour in and Priya was about three-fourths of the way through her chart when she noticed a light on the ground below. She watched, confused, as Umbridge led a group of five across the grounds. Looking around she noticed that, of course, Potter had seen it too. Before they could analyze it any further, Professor Tofty passed near them, causing them both to quickly go back to their work, lest they be accused of cheating. Not but five minutes later, a roar echoed across the grounds from the direction of Hagrid's cabin, causing several of the fifth years to look up from their work.
"Try and concentrate now, boys and girls," Professor Tofty said. "Ahem – twenty minutes to go."
Whoever hadn't gone back to their work after his first warning went quickly back to it after the second and peace came back to the parapet. It didn't last long.
BANG!
Priya nearly pushed her telescope off the ledge, she jumped so high. She leaned out as far as she could as Hagrid's door burst open. The large man was yelling and swinging his fist as the six people around him cast red lights at him from their wands.
"No!" Hermione cried out.
"My dear!" Professor Tofty followed up. "This is an examination!"
Nobody was working anymore. Everyone watched as the Stunners seemed to just bounce off of Hagrid. Fang, Hagrid's dog, leapt in front of a Stunner, falling to the ground. The Half-giant screamed and picked up the man who had Stunned Fang, throwing him. Priya's hands flew up to her hair, grasping her head as the man landed, not moving.
"Look!" Parvati Patil screamed as another shadow appeared in the light of the Great Hall.
"Now really!" Professor Tofty reminded them. "Only sixteen minutes left, you know!"
"How dare you!" The newcomer shouted. "How dare you!"
"It's McGonagall!" Hermione whispered.
"Leave him alone! Alone, I say!" The Transfigurations Professor shouted. "Oh what grounds are you attacking him? He has don't nothing, nothing to warrant such –"
Priya's gasped aloud as four Stunners hit one of her favorite Professors in the chest, lifting her off her feet. She landed hard and didn't get up. Professor Tofty was yelling now, caught up in the battle below them just as much as they all were. Hagrid was still screaming, but he scooped up Fang and ran off into the dark. . . .
No one spoke. No one breathed.
"Um," Professor Tofty stutted, "five minutes to go, everybody. . . ."
Needless to say, Priya turned in her start chart, still only three-fourths of the way completed. She was trembling by the time she and her friends reached the Ravenclaw tower, though none of the fifth years spoke. Professor McGonagall may not have been their Head of House, but she was still a favorite, bright as she was. Priya especially admired the woman, spent a lot of time in her younger years getting advice from the older woman about her favorite subject.
All she could do was hope that the Professor was okay.
During the History of Magic exam the next day, near the end, Harry passed out, crashing to the floor of the Great Hall.
Priya spun in her seat as Professor Tofty hurried over to the boy, helping him off the floor. Harry was stuttering as the Professor escorted him out of the hall. The whispers started then.
Is he sick?
What's wrong with him?
Potter is always so damn dramatic.
Priya turned back to her paper, determined to ignore it, glad when Professor Tofty came back in (Harry not with him) to quiet the whispers. Knowing how she didn't finish her Astronomy exam, she really wanted to do better on this one, even if her eyelids were heavy from lack of sleep and boredom.
When the time was called and the fifth years were dismissed, Priya watched as Hermione and Ron hurried out of the room, obviously determined to meet up with their friend again. Priya followed behind her friends, listening to them talk.
"You'd think he'd have grown out of this by now," Muni whispered, running a hand over her short, cropped hair.
"Leave it to Potter to do something eye catching by the end of the year," Guinn agreed. "Right Priya?"
"Oh . . . right," she answered half-heartedly, tugging on the end of one of her plaits. "I think I'm going to head to the library," she said to their shocked faces.
"Why?" Stella asked. "Exams are over. We made it!"
"Flitwick told me I should round out my writing portfolio. I'm just going to go do some research. I'll catch you all at dinner, okay?"
She left them, holding on to her bag strap. She was tired and wanted some quiet. Also, she was strong enough to admit that she was a little worried about Potter. When Professor Tofty went to help him up, he had been holding his forehead, the place were his scar was. That thing couldn't still hurt after all these years, could it? Was that what made him pass out?
Priya didn't make it to the library, choosing instead to walk the hallways, distract herself with the portraits. She did love Hogwarts and always tried to give herself a moment to do this, to memorize the school's details, every year before the summer vacation. It was relaxing, gave her mind a break to watch the portraits bicker and laugh and just be alive.
"Hullo, Priya!" The Ravenclaw looked up as Neville Longbottom bounded towards her. She couldn't help the small smile that came to her face as he stopped in front of her. Even after the D.A. had disbanded, Neville made sure to always be kind to her, always stopped to have a conversation. "How are you doing?"
"Pretty good, I'd say," Priya responded as the Gryffindor fell into step with her. "And you?"
"Tired," Neville admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "That last test took everything out of me."
"Tell me about it. How do you think you did with everything?"
"I think I did well in everything but potions. I probably just scrapped through on that one but I doubt I'll get N.E.W.T level. Though," he added with a grin, "that does say me the trouble of having to deal with Snape for another year!"
"What is it you want to do?" Priya asked. "With your career?"
Neville blushed. "I'm not sure yet. I know it'll be something to do with Herbology. . . . Professor McGonagall suggested teaching."
Priya smiled up at the boy. "I think you'd make a great teacher, Neville."
The boy grinned. "Thanks Priya. What about you? How do you think your exams went?"
"Well I –" Priya broke off as she Neville rounded a corner. Up ahead, Cassius Warrington had what looked to be a hard grip on Ron's arm while Goyle held onto Luna and Ginny struggled against Sixth Year Slytherin Gertrude Meads. Crabbe, Graham Montague and Pansy Parkinson stood nearby, laughing as the others forced gags on her friends.
"Let go of her!" Neville yelled, sprinting at Walstag.
"Crabbe!" Warrington ordered.
"Neville don't!" Priya cried out, reach for her wand but the warning came too late. Crabbe reached Neville before the Gryffindor could reach Ginny, wrapping a meaty arm around Neville's neck. Priya turned towards Parkinson as the girl approached her, wand raised.
"Ictus!" Priya shouted, hitting Pansy's shoulder with the Stinging Jinx and stopping the girl in her tracks. She had been so focused on the other girl that she didn't catch Montague pull out his wand.
"Expelliarmus!"
Priya gasped as her wand flew out her hand but before she could retrieve it, Montague gripped her about the waist, practically lifting her off her feet. "Let me go!"
"Gag her!" Montague ordered as Priya tried to kick against him. He set her down and held her head steady as Pansy (wincing because of her arm) tied another scarf about her mouth. "Feisty one, isn't she! Grab her wand."
"Who put you in charge?" Pansy said through gritted teeth but she still did what she was told.
"Got a good grip on her?" Warrington asked. Montague nodded, taking both her wrists in his hand, dragging her towards what she realized was Umbridge's office.
"Got 'em all," Warrington said as he pushed Ron into the room, only to grip him up again in a half-nelson. "That one," he added pointing towards Neville, "tried to stop me taking her so I brought him along too."
"What about Tollop?" Umbridge asked.
"She attacked me, Professor," Pansy whined. "Plus we figured you did want any witnesses."
"Good, Good," Umbridge responded, swinging her eyes over towards Ginny. "Well, it looks as though Hogwarts will shortly be a Weasley-free zone, doesn't it?"
A laugh drew Priya's attention and she looked around. Harry was on the ground against Umbridge's desk while Hermione was pinned against a wall by Millicent Bulstrode. What was happening? What had she gotten herself dragged into?
Malfoy walked past, stopping to smirk at her on her way out the door. "Tell me again . . . who's going to knock who on their arse?"
Priya jerked towards him with a glare, causing him to step back. He chuckled and left, leaving the room in silence. The only thing that could be heard were the grunts and shuffles as everyone tried to get away from their perspective captors. Poor Neville was turning purple, pushing at Crabbe's arm. Priya shot a glare towards Potter who met her gaze as she tried to ask a silent question.
What the hell, Potter?
The door opened again and Malfoy walked in, followed by Professor Snape. The man glanced around at all of them, struggling, but didn't say anything. "You wanted to see me, Headmistress?"
Either Snape was just difficult no matter whom he was talking to or he just didn't like Umbridge. It was a shock (was it though?) to find out that Umbridge had previously tried to force truth potion on Potter before.
This woman was crazy.
Either way, what Umbridge had been hoping for was obviously not what she wanted."
"You are on probation!" she shrieked. "You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!"
Snape gave her a little bow and spun to leave. He wasn't even going to try to help them?!
"He's got Padfoot!" Potter yelled suddenly. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"
Whatever that meant, it stopped Snape in his tracks. Umbridge looked back and forth between Snape and Harry. "Padfoot? What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?"
The Potions Master turned around, his face blank as he met Harry's hopeful eye. "I have no idea. Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loose your hold a little, if Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork, and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."
The Professor left, leaving them alone with Umbridge muttering to herself like a crazed woman. Priya rubbed her face against her shoulder, working to move the gag down as the woman turned towards Harry, withdrawing her wand. "The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."
"No!" Hermione screamed. "Professor Umbridge – it's illegal! The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law, Professor Umbridge!"
"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," Umbridge panted. "He never knew I ordered dementors after Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel him, all the same. . . ."
"It was you?" Harry gasped. "You sent the dementors after me?"
"Somebody had to act," Umbridge responded, leveling her wand with Harry's forehead. "They were all bleating about silencing you somehow – discrediting you – but I was the one who actually did something about it. . . . Only you wriggled out of that one, didn't you, Potter? Not today, though, not now –"
The gag, hastily put on, slipped down around Priya's neck with one more rub against her shoulder. "You're mad!"
"Quiet, you!" Montague yelled, twisting Priya's wrists hard enough to make her cry out.
"No, no," Umbridge said, "let her talk. Little Miss Perfect. I'm mad, am I? We'll see how mad I am when you are expelled, begging for scraps in Diagon Alley, your family out of on the streets with your mother fired in disgrace. We'll see how mad I am," she breathed, turning back to Harry, "when I get all the information I need. . . . Cruc –"
"NO!" Hermione shouted. "No – Harry – Harry, we'll have to tell her!"
"No way!"
"We'll have to, Harry, she'll force it out of you anyway, what's . . . what's the point . . .?"
Priya couldn't tell if her friend was lying or not. The sobs sounded real but there was no trace of tears. . . . Hermione told Umbridge that Harry was trying to get in contact with Dumbledore and Priya took notice of how the others paused in their actions, stopped trying to get away, their eyes wide with shock.
So lying it was then.
She spun a tale about some sort of weapon, something for Dumbledore and Umbridge was eating it up. Priya had to admit she was a little impressed; who would have thought that Hermione could act like that.
By the end of the conversation, Hermione had Umbridge convinced that the weapon was hidden somewhere in the Forbidden Forest and had even planted the idea of her own Inquisitorial Squad using the weapon against her. Before Priya could truly comprehend what was going on, Umbridge was directing Harry and Hermione out the door with her wand pointed at their backs, leaving the rest of them alone with the Slytherins. Malfoy sat on Umbridge's desk, kicking his feet gleefully. He glanced around at all of them, looking as if he had just gotten his Christmas wish. For a long moment he didn't speak but Priya knew that wouldn't last long.
Malfoy was a gloater.
"Oh how, the mighty have fallen!" he practically crowed. "What will you do now? Expelled, wands snapped. I bet your dad will be fired from the Ministry as well, Weasley. Then you'll have to squeeze the whole lot of you into boxes . . . though I'm sure it's not much different from where you live now. Boxes will probably be cleaner."
"Oh, shut your ugly gob, Malfoy," Priya said through gritted teeth, Montague's twist on her wrists still too tight. She noticed how red Ginny and Ron's faces had gotten and, seeing as how she was the only one able to, she thought she should speak up.
Malfoy's smirk fell from his face. "Do you really think you should be talking to me like that?"
"You're such a tosser, you know that?" she continued. "A real git. How high do you think you'll climb in this world? With your power? Your money? That won't last you long, because people like you, awful, horrendous people like you, always get what they deserve in the end."
Pansy walked towards Priya, her pug face screwed up in anger. "You shut your mouth you slag!"
And that's when Priya saw it. Her wand, sticking out of the inner pocket of Pansy's robe. She may not know what's going on, why Umbridge had them all detained in her office, what Harry and Hermione had been doing there in the first place, but she knew three things.
Harry and Hermione were out there, somewhere with a crazy person who would surely use an Unforgivable Curse to get what she wanted.
The five of them needed to get out of that office.
Ginny had been steadily, discreetly jiggling her wand out of her pocket this whole time.
So she took a chance.
She bit Montague's hand.
The older boy screamed as her teeth sunk into his flesh, but it was enough. He wrenched away from her, freeing her left hand. She reached and grabbed her wand from Pansy's pocket, aiming it under the girl's arm at Gertrude. "Stupefy!"
The Stunner hit the Sixth year in her stomach and she keeled over, freeing Ginny, who pulled her wand from her pocket. Bulstrode ran towards Ginny, swinging her arm, her nails catching Ginny's face but Ginny didn't stop as she danced away. "Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!"
One Stunner hit Warrington and the other hit Montague. The other one was aimed at Bulstrode but Priya couldn't see if it hit because Pansy lunged for her, knocking her to the ground as she slapped her before grabbing at her arms, trying to get Priya's wand.
"Expelliarmus!" That was Ron, Priya thought, as she wrestled with Pansy on the ground. Distantly, she thought about how glad she was wearing jeans; brawling like Muggles would have been really hard in a skirt.
"Impedimenta!" That straggled voice sounded like Neville, followed by an 'oof'
"Stupefy!" Pansy went limp on top of Priya and she pushed the other girl off, clambering to her feet again. Warrington, Bulstrode, Montague, Meads, Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle were down. Malfoy was somehow still standing, dueling with Ron.
Priya jabbed her wand to the right of Malfoy, exploding one of the many cat-decorated tea sets that Umbridge had around the room. It was enough. Malfoy jerked in that direction and, in doing so, realized all his cronies were down. With a smirk, Ginny raised her wand at the blond boy. "Vespertilliofors!"
Draco screamed as his boogers crawled out of his nose, attacking him as he fell to the ground.
"Let's go!" Ron called. "I saw Harry and Hermione heading towards the forest, they couldn't have gotten far."
Priya was the last to follow, closing the door to Umbridge's office behind her, reinforcing the Silencing Charm she was sure had been on the door. Her cheek stung and her wrists were throbbing but she didn't think about that at that moment.
She just ran, leaving all thoughts about whether this was a good idea or not behind.