Okay, the Inquisitorial Squad was created after the end of the D.A.
I'm sick today, so I got to finish off this chapter. The next one will be the battle and the return of Bellatrix. I've been having too much fun thinking about Bella and Katherine scenes, so I can't wait to write them.
Enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 26
Umbridge had been made the new Headmistress and, much to the majority of the school population's amusement, Dumbledore's office had sealed itself and would not let her in.
The next morning after Herbology, Katherine saw that Draco had just slipped through the door. Katherine walked right behind him.
"Care to finish that, Granger?" Draco drawled as Hermione was speaking ill of Umbridge.
Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ernie Macmillan turned around. Katherine upturned her nose and pretended to be disgusted.
"I'm afraid I'll have to take a few points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff." Draco drawled again.
"Only teachers can dock points, Malfoy." Ernie said.
"Neither can prefects." Ron snarled.
"I know that, Weasel King." Draco sneered. Katherine pretended to find it funny. "But members of the Inquisitorial Squad-"
"What?" Hermione interrupted sharply.
"The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger," Draco pointed to a silver I badge underneath his prefect's one. Katherine unconsciously touched hers that was over her heart. "A group of students that are handpicked by Professor Umbridge due to their allegiance to the Ministry of Magic. Anyways, we do have permission to dock points. So, that will be five points from Granger for insulting our new Headmistress . . . . Macmillan, five from you for talking back to me. . . . Five because I don't like you, Potter . . . Weasley's shirt is untucked, so that's five . . . Oh, and I forgot Granger's a Mudblood, so that's ten. . . ."
Ron started to pull out with wand, Hermione pushed it away.
"Smart move, Granger." Draco breathed. "New Head, new times, new fun. Be good, Potty, Weasel King."
Draco walked away. Katherine started to follow him, but Hermione grabbed her arm. Katherine jerked it away and plastered a sneer on her face.
"Don't touch me, Granger." Katherine snarled, brushing her hand at the spot where Hermione's had been. "Now, I'll have to wash this."
"It's probably better to burn it, Katherine." Draco said with an identical sneer on his face. "Mudblood stains."
Katherine could tell by the shocked and hurt look on Hermione's face that Harry had not told her or Ron about her position as a spy.
Draco put a hand on her shoulder and led her away. Katherine tried to erase her friends' faces from her mind, but failed.
They went inside the Great Hall and Filch came over to her. He handed a note from Umbridge. It was an order to bring Harry to her office.
Katherine turned on her heel and marched towards the entrance of the Great Hall where her Gryffindor friends were. Hermione looked away as she bit on her lip. Ron and Harry were glaring at her.
"Potter," Katherine said, lifting her chin up to give herself an air of authority. "Professor Umbridge wishes to speak with you."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Just come along." Katherine said, grabbing his arm. Harry jerked his arm out of his grasp and they walked in silence to Umbridge's office.
Katherine grabbed his shoulder and whispered into his ear, "Do not drink a single thing she gives you."
Harry gave her a look as she knocked on Umbridge's office. An expired honey voice told them to come in. Katherine opened the door and shoved Harry roughly inside.
"Potter for you, Professor." Katherine said.
"Thank you, Katherine." Umbridge said, leaning her chin on her hands. "Tell me, how are you and Mr. Malfoy finding the responsibility of being Captains of the Inquisitorial Squad?"
"Draco is enjoying it very much. I love it. I usually walk around like I'm powerful, now I have a reason as to why I feel that power." Katherine smiled.
"You're a Captain of the Inquisitorial Squad?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Potter. So, you better behave." Katherine smirked at him.
That night, Katherine came into the Common Room late. Umbridge had created a rule that allowed Inquisitorial Squad members to not have a curfew. Katherine had been using it to use the Room of Requirement to work out and practice fencing.
Everyone had gone to bed, except a red haired fourth year. Katherine stifled a yawn as she walked over to the youngest Weasley.
"Hey, Ginny." Katherine said. Ginny looked up at her and glared with unrestrained hatred. Katherine looked taken aback.
"You insulted Hermione." Ginny accused. Katherine looked down at her shoes in shame.
"Where is she?" Katherine asked.
"She's gone to bed." Ginny answered.
"I must go speak with her." Katherine said. She tried to walk away, but Ginny stood up and blocked her path.
"She doesn't want to see you." Ginny said.
"Ginny," Katherine said.
Ginny took out her wand and stuck it in Katherine's face. Katherine got an amused twinkle in her eye as she chuckled.
"Ginny, you think that this will scare me?" Katherine asked smiling.
Ginny pressed her wand in between Katherine's eyes. Katherine continued to seem highly amused.
"You haven't seen my Bat Bogey Hex, have you?" Ginny asked.
"I can't say I have." Katherine said, her eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Would you like to see it?" Ginny asked, pressing her wand harder into Katherine's brow.
"Not really." Katherine smiled.
"You're right. Bat Bogey wouldn't make my point." Ginny said, putting her wand away.
"Your point?" Katherine asked, still smiling.
"That you can't get away with insulting friends." Ginny said.
Katherine saw the fist coming. She could have caught it. She could have stopped it. But she didn't. She stood with her hands at her side.
When Ginny's fist connected with her nose, Katherine did not flinch or gasp in pain. She took the hit and her nose broke. She felt wetness start to cover her face.
Ginny looked at her in surprise.
"Didn't that hurt?" Ginny asked.
"Yes." Katherine said.
"Why didn't you stop me or hit me back?" Ginny asked.
"Because, Ginny," Katherine said as she took out a handkerchief to wipe her face. "I don't fight back when I deserve to be punched."
"Why are you so bloody noble?" Ginny asked. She threw her fist at Katherine again, who grabbed her wrist.
"I'm afraid, Ginerva, that I do not deserve to be punched for being noble." Katherine said smiling softly through the blood. Katherine released Ginny's wrist.
"What about for being a prat? Can I punch you for that?" Ginny asked, nearly snarling.
Katherine smiled at her. "Yes, but not now. My nose is damaged enough for one night, don't you think?"
Katherine didn't wait for Ginny's response. She turned on her hell and went up to her room. She searched through her trunk and found the Muggle first aid book the Peters, her ex-foster parents, had given her for Christmas.
"Broken nose, broken nose, broken nose." Katherine muttered under her breath as she searched through the book. "Ah ha!"
Katherine snapped her nose back in place and gasped in silent pain.
I think I prefer it when other people inflict pain upon me than when I do it to myself. Katherine thought as she put the book back.
"Katherine?" A quiet voice asked. Katherine turned and saw Hermione was awake.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up." Katherine said as she got up and went to go sit on her bed.
"Goodness! What happened to your face?" Hermione asked. Katherine mentally cussed at herself for not cleaning the blood off her face.
"Nothing." Katherine lied smoothly. She picked up a handheld mirror and wiped the blood away.
Hermione said nothing and was watching Katherine like she was the family dog that had just got rabies. Katherine finished cleaning herself and refused to meet Hermione's stare.
Katherine knew that she had made a mistake in telling Harry. She was risking that more people would find out about her being a spy. She could not do her job if people found out. And if she failed, Dumbledore would never let her join the Order.
Katherine looked up at Hermione, forcing herself to adopt a cold demeanor. Hermione looked taken aback.
"Goodnight, Granger." Katherine said. She lied down on the mattress and closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to see Hermione's face. But she could imagine the hurt look.
This is the consequence of wanting to do my duty too well. Katherine thought as she groaned inwardly. I'm such an awful person.
It was the start of the Summer term and Katherine had to attend a meeting with her Head of House about her future career. At two, Katherine walked into Professor McGonagall's office.
"Afternoon, Professor." Katherine greeted with a smile.
"Have a seat, Miss Peters." Professor McGonagall said. Katherine noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Umbridge sitting in the corner with a clipboard. Katherine flashed her a smile.
"Hello, Professor." Katherine said as she took her seat. Umbridge nodded a greeting.
"The point of this meeting, Miss Peters, is to talk out any career ideas you may have, and to decide which subjects you'll take should you continue into your sixth and seventh years." Professor McGonagall said. "Have you any thoughts on what you would like to do once you leave Hogwarts?"
"Um," Katherine said.
"I remember from our last conversation that you had mentioned an interest in politics, perhaps a career at the Ministry?" Professor McGonagall prompted as she looked through some sheets of parchment. "I also see that you have one of the top grades in your Political Science course."
"I find that rather scary, Professor." Katherine said as a smile tugged at her lips. "A fifteen year old politician. Scary, scary thought."
"So, how about the career at the Ministry?" Professor McGonagall asked. Katherine thought for a moment.
"I think that would be nice." Katherine said sincerely. "But I think I'd like to do something else."
"If I may interrupt-" Professor Umbridge said.
"You may not, but I doubt that you won't." Professor McGonagall muttered.
"But if Miss Peters wants to join the Ministry, I would be happy to get her a job in a senior department." Umbridge said, ignoring McGonagall. Katherine turned to her and smiled appreciatively.
"Why, thank you, Professor." Katherine said, inclining her head.
"What would you like to do instead of joining the Ministry?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Play Quidditch. I'm a pretty good Chaser." Katherine smiled smugly.
"You can't play Quidditch forever." McGonagall pointed out. "What would you like to after that?"
"I'd like to teach History of Magic." Katherine said, and then she smiled. "That is if Binns ever retires."
"I am sure the student population will rejoice at receiving an energetic History of Magic professor." McGonagall said. Katherine smiled and her eyes lit up with ideas. Already, she was starting to plan lectures.
"I think that's what I'd like to do." Katherine said.
"Let's move on to the classes you'll take next year." Professor McGonagall said as she picked up a quill. "What would you like to take?"
"I'd like to continue with Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, History of Magic and Political Science." Katherine said.
"The Political Science course is very advanced and very demanding." McGonagall said, peering at Katherine through her spectacles.
"Sounds like fun." Katherine smiled confidently. "I like challenges."
Speaking of challenges, Quidditch was a big one. The first practice after the end of the D.A., Angelina had pulled Katherine aside.
"Now, I know you're Umbridge's pet," Angelina had said. Katherine had bristled at the comment, but held her tongue. "And if you make us lose or worse than we already are, I will kick you off the team. Understand?"
"Angelina, I'm all for Gryffindor." Katherine had said. "If you haven't noticed, I have yet to take any points from Gryffindor. Besides, I don't think it's possible for me to lose."
It was the final match of the season, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Gryffindor had a chance to win the Cup, but Ron's skills as Keeper were making that goal impossible.
The Gryffindor team walked out onto the pitch. Katherine jumped on her broom and Madam Hooch started the game. Ravenclaw Captain Roger Davies managed to beat Katherine to the Quaffle. He dodged the other Chasers, took a shot, and scored. The Gryffindors groaned as the Slytherins started singing "Weasley is Our King."
Ron tossed the Quaffle to Angelina, who took off down the field. She threw it to Katherine, who redirected the pass to Katie. Katie got tackled by Bradley and the Quaffle was stripped.
Bradley flew off towards the goal. Katherine chased after him, but she knew she wasn't going to reach him in time. Ron was the only thing that stood between Bradley and the goal.
Crap! Katherine thought as she urged her broom to fly just a little bit faster; it had reached its maximum velocity.
Ron sat on his broom like a deer in the headlights as Bradley readied himself to shoot. The Quaffle went flying to one of the goals.
"YES!" Katherine screamed triumphant as a very surprised Ron looked at the Quaffle in his hands. He finally saved a goal.
The Gryffindors screamed in surprise and happiness. Ron passed Katie the Quaffle and she flew towards the Ravenclaw goals. Katherine raced in front of her and held up her hand to show she was open. Katie threw it to her and Katherine dodged Davies.
Katherine was about fifteen yards away from the goals. She threw the Quaffle up and pulled her broom out from under of her. She adopted a batting posture and whacked the Quaffle.
"GRYFFINDOR SCORE!" Lee Jordon yelled. The red and gold clad supporters cheered.
Katherine sat on her broom again. The Ravenclaw Keeper threw the Quaffle to Bradley, but Katherine intercepted it. She shot it like a bullet at the right goal post.
"GRYFFINDOR SCORES!" Lee Jordon yelled. The Gryffindors were turning into maniacs.
The Ravenclaw Keeper threw into to Davies, who turned around to see Katherine knock the ball out of his hands. Katherine came up to the goal, feigned left, and shot in the right goal.
"THIRTY TO TEN GRYFFINDOR!" Lee shouted.
Katherine flew over to the Gryffindors who were bowing to her and shouting "We are not worthy!" Katherine pumped his fist into the air as she passed them.
The game continued with neither side scoring. The Ravenclaw Chasers managed to strip the Quaffle from all the Gryffindor Chasers. There were many chances for Katherine to do the Wronski Feint, but she didn't try the move. Ravenclaw hadn't scored because Ron was actually doing a good job. The Gryffindor side of the stadium had started singing their version of "Weasley is Our King."
Katherine was flying after Bradley, when a Bludger slammed into the side of her head. She felt her grip on her broom and consciousness slipping. She barely registered hitting the ground.
When Katherine woke up, she was lying on her back on grass. Her head was ringing and felt like someone had just whacked it with a blunt ax. Katherine sat up and saw that the stadium was nearly empty. In the distance, she could hear people singing "Weasley is Our King" and she hoped it was the Gryffindors.
Katherine stood up too quickly and leaned against her broom until the world stopped spinning. Once the dizziness stopped, Katherine walked to the changing rooms. As she was pulling off her Quidditch robes, she realized something; everyone left her. No one bothered to make sure she was okay nor did they take her to the Hospital Wing. Her hands shook in anger.
"Oh no! Let's not help the person who scored three times in a row! Of course not! Why would we do that?" Katherine muttered angrily.
She pulled on her school robes, shouldered her broom, and walked to Gryffindor Tower. She was trying to calm herself down.
When Katherine reached the Common Room, there was a party going on. People were cheering about Gryffindor winning the Quidditch Cup. Katherine grinned to herself, but she knew better than to try to join the party. She tried to slip past quietly and quickly to get to her room.
Unfortunately that was not to be.
"Well, look who it is. Captain Katherine Peters of the Inquisitorial Squad." A Gryffindor snarled. Someone stopped the music and the room went silent.
"Is there now a law against having parties?" Another Gryffindor said. "Educational Decree Number 492: No parties for Quidditch victories unless the Slytherins win."
The Gryffindors laughed cruelly.
Katherine picked up a glass of butterbeer and raised it in a toast.
"To Gryffindor." Katherine said, taking a sip. No one returned the toast. Katherine put the glass down and walked towards the stairs.
"I was the one who hit the Bludger." Jack Sloper said.
Katherine froze on the second step and tensed. She erased her face of any anger before she turned around. She raised her eyebrow and tried to look very amused.
"Oh," Katherine said with a fake smile on her face. "Why?"
"You aren't trying anymore. You were practically giving them the Quaffle." Jack said.
"How am I not trying? I score three times in a row." Katherine said, using all of her self control to keep herself from yelling.
"D'you know how many chances you had to do the Wronski Feint? Ten times! If you did it, you would have scored!" Sloper yelled.
"You hit a Bludger at me because I am not doing a move that I haven't done since the start of the season?" Katherine said, trying to keep calm.
"Don't talk to me like I'm stupid, Peters!" Sloper threatened as he took out his wand. Seamus Finnigan stopped Sloper.
"Careful, Jack. I saw Katherine attack Fred and George as they left and they were her friends." Seamus said. Katherine bristled. She had sent some curses at the twins, but aimed it so that she would miss.
"I also heard she took points away from someone because they were Muggleborn." Someone said from the back of the crowd. Katherine's jaw twitched, but she knew that it would do no good to get angry.
"I heard that she said the M word to someone." Someone else said. Katherine lost it.
"Did you also believe that if you throw a bucket of water over me, I melt?" Katherine yelled.
The Gryffindors stared at her. Then, someone filled a bucket with icy water and dumped it over Katherine's head. As she shook the water out of her eyes, the Common Room roared with laughter.
Katherine turned around and walked up the stairs with all of the dignity she could muster. Once she was inside her dormitory, she shed the wet robes and put on her pajamas. She sat down on the edge of her bed and ran a hand wearily over her face.
"What did you expect, Peters?" She muttered to herself. "You could win every Quidditch game for them, but they'd still hate you for being a prat."
Katherine heard someone coming up the stairs. She quickly dived under the covers and pretended to be asleep. She heard the floor creak as someone walked over to the bed on her right, Hermione's.
"Katherine?" Hermione whispered. Katherine's eyes flew open and she adopted the cold attitude she used on everyone, except Draco and Umbridge.
"Yes, Granger?" Katherine asked, staring at her with unfeeling eyes.
"Congratulations on the game." Hermione said. Katherine allowed a soft smile to appear on her face.
"Thanks." Katherine said, and then continued in a whisper so it would seem that she did not want Hermione to hear. "But it was a team effort."
It was O.W.L.S. time. Katherine was spending most of her time studying in the library because the Common Room was a hazardous place for her. She had Charms on Monday, Transfiguration on Tuesday, and Herbology on Wednesday. She thought she did alright on all of them, but five years of schooling had taught her not to get her hopes up.
On Thursday, she had her Defense Against the Dark Arts test and Katherine felt like it was the easiest thing in the world. She had a free day on Friday because it was the Ancient Runes exam. She spent the weekend studying for Potions.
Monday was Potions. Care of Magical Creatures was on Tuesday. Wednesday morning was the Astronomy theory and the afternoon was Divination. The practical for Astronomy was at midnight.
Katherine discovered that she did not have the gift of the Inner Eye. She didn't care because she knew that the future is not set in stone, so she didn't think that one could predict it.
Katherine ascended the stairs of the Astronomy Tower by herself. Everyone single one of the Gryffindors had been avoiding her or she them.
Each student had a telescope to themselves. Katherine next to Hermione, who was on Harry's left.
About an hour or so had passed, when Katherine heard a loud bang coming from Hagrid's cabin. Katherine ducked out from her telescope to see a group of people attacking Hagrid led by a short, toady-looking one.
"No!" Hermione cried.
"My dear!" One of the examiners said. "This is a test!"
No one was paying attention to their star charts. Jets of red light were flying at Hagrid, but they seemed to be bouncing off of him. Fang jumped in front of one of the Stunners and went down. Hagrid picked him up with a roar and threw the man who stunned Fang ten feet away.
"Look!" Parvati screamed as she pointed to the front doors of the castle. A lone figure sprinted over to Hagrid's cabin.
"How dare you!" The figure shouted as she ran.
"It's McGonagall!" Hermione whispered.
Katherine's fingers wrapped under her wand. She was tempted to Summon her broom and fly to help McGonagall and Hagrid.
"Leave him alone!" McGonagall shouted.
The Summoning spell was on the tip of Katherine's tongue eager to be said.
"On what grounds are you attacking him?" McGonagall shouted. "He has done-"
Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender screamed. Katherine rose to her feet, her face arranged in a snarl. Four Stunners had shot out from the figures attacking Hagrid and slammed into McGonagall's chest. She flew backwards and landed her on her back. She wasn't moving.
"Merlin!" One of the examiners shouted.
"RUDDY COWARDS!" Hagrid bellowed. Hagrid swiped at two of the guys and they fell unconscious.
"Get him!" Umbridge shouted. But her remaining helper tripped over one of his unconscious colleagues and did not get up. Hagrid turned and ran with Fang on his shoulders.
There were a long minute of silence. Katherine collapsed back into her chair. She couldn't believe it; McGonagall and Hagrid were the last of the Order at Hogwarts. Umbridge had taken over and destroyed any resistance.
"Five minutes left." The examiner said.
History of Magic was to take place Thursday afternoon. Harry saw, to his surprise, Katherine sitting in the Common Room, and, even more surprising, Hermione was speaking with her. Curious, Harry walked over to them. History of Magic were spread out in front of them and Hermione was listening intently as Katherine lectured about some goblin war or something like that. Katherine stopped talking when she saw Harry.
"I only exist when you need something, don't I, Potter?" Katherine said harshly, but then she smiled.
"Katherine's helping me study for History of Magic, Harry." Hermione explained. Katherine picked up some of her notes to make room for Harry.
"Join us." Katherine said. Harry sat down, but watched her warily.
Katherine started lecturing and Harry found himself to be utterly fascinated. Soon, more and more fifth years, and even some seventh years, were sitting around her. Some abandoned their notes from Binns and started writing down what Katherine said.
Harry could tell that Katherine was resisting the urge to smile. She was able to summarize five years of Binns' droning into a two hour story. The lunch bell rang and Katherine smiled apologetically.
"That should be enough for everyone to get an E." Katherine said. The crowd dispersed.
"An E?" Hermione asked flabbergasted.
"Hermione, you'll do fine." Katherine smiled.
History of Magic is so easy. Katherine thought as she scribbled down another answer.
Suddenly, Harry screamed behind her and fell out of his desk. Katherine slipped out of hers and knelt by Harry. He was thrashing and screaming and holding his scar.
"Harry! Harry!" Katherine yelled as she shook him. He stopped screaming and woke up. Professor Tofty, the examiner, hurried over to him.
"My dear boy," Professor Tofty said. Katherine helped Harry to his feet. Professor Tofty led him out of the Great Hall. Katherine returned to her test, but Harry didn't.
Katherine was patrolling the corridors with Umbridge, when Umbridge froze and her eyes glinted maliciously.
"Someone's in my office, Katherine." Umbridge said. "Assemble the Inquisitorial Squad."
"Yes, ma'am." Katherine said. She pulled out her wand and said the spell to signal the Inquisitorial Squad.
Katherine and Umbridge hurried to her office. The rest of the Inquisitorial Squad met up with them in the hallway before the one that contained Umbridge's office.
Once they rounded the corner, the corridor exploded with spells. Hermione, Ron, Neville, Ginny, and Luna were fighting the Inquisitorial Squad.
"With me, Peters." Umbridge commanded.
"Yes, ma'am." Katherine said.
She stood in between Umbridge and the students. Katherine produced a Shield Charm as she and Umbridge crept towards the door. Ron jumped in front of them. Katherine was about to tell ask him to move.
"Expelliarmus!" Umbridge said. Ron flew backwards. Katherine sent him an apologetic look as Umbridge went inside her office. Katherine heard the cries as the Inquisitorial Squad grabbed her friends.
Umbridge walked forward and Katherine could see a boy using her fireplace. Umbridge grabbed his head and dragged him out by his hair. She was pulling Harry's head back far enough to where it looked like she was trying to slit his throat.
"Take his wand." Umbridge barked. Katherine took Harry's wand and put it in her inside coat pocket.
The Inquisitorial Squad came through the door. They each handed Katherine their victim's wand. Katherine put them all in her inside coat pocket, except Ginny's. Katherine made eye contact with Ginny and scratched her nose. Ginny looked confused.
Hermione was pinned against the wall by Millicent Bulstrode. Draco was leaning against the window looking very smug. Ron was being restrained by Warrington. Neville was in a headlock from Crabbe and was looking like he was about to be suffocated.
"Crabbe, loosen your grip." Katherine barked. Crabbe did as he was told.
Ginny was struggling with the Slytherin student that was holding her. Luna was being held, but she looked up at the ceiling as if she found the pink paint interesting. Umbridge threw Harry into a chair.
Katherine took a step closer to the struggling Ginny. They made eye contact and Katherine scratched her nose again. Ginny blinked, and then a light bulb went off in her head and she nodded.
Ginny freed herself from the Slytherin and charged towards Katherine. As she screamed, "TRAITOR!" she slammed her fist into Katherine's nose. Katherine took the hit without flinching. She grabbed the red haired girl's wrist and twisted her arm behind her back. Ginny winced in pain. Katherine slipped Ginny's wand into the Weasley girl's sleeve as she shoved her back to the Slytherin student.
Katherine's nose was broken. She snapped it back into place and Draco handed her his handkerchief so that she could wipe her face.
"Who were you talking to, Potter?" Umbridge demanded. "Dumbledore? The half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall, I heard she's too ill to speak . . ."
Draco and some other Inquisitorial Squad members laughed. Katherine's hands shook with anger and she put them in her pocket so no one would notice. She saw Harry shaking in rage, too.
"None of your business." Harry snarled.
Umbridge's smile disappeared.
"Very well, I offer you the chance to tell me." Umbridge said. "But I suppose I'll have to force you. Draco, go get Professor Snape."
Draco left the office. There was silence, except for the struggles of some of the prisoners. Ron's lip was bleeding on Umbridge's carpet. Ginny was trying to kick the Slytherin girl who was holding her upper arms in a tight grip. Neville couldn't move in Crabbe's headlock. Hermione was attempting to push Millicent Bulstrode off of her, but it wasn't working. Luna had changed to looking out the window as if the proceeding bored her.
Draco returned with Snape.
"You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" Snape asked as he looked around at the students with indifference.
"Yes, Professor Snape," Umbridge said, smiling. "I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, please."
"You used my last bottle to interrogate Potter." Snape replied. "Unless you want to poison him, I can't help you."
"Go." Umbridge said. Snape gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave.
"He's got Padfoot!" Harry shouted. Katherine turned to look at Harry. She flicked her gaze to Ginny, who nodded. "He has Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"
Snape had stopped with his hand on the doorknob.
"Padfoot?" Umbridge cried. "What is Padfoot? What is he talking about?"
Snape looked at Harry, which an unreadable look on his face.
"No idea." Snape said, before he left the office.
Umbridge took out her wand. She paced in front of Harry.
"You're forcing me, Potter." Umbridge said. "The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."
"No!" Hermione said. Katherine took an step forward, a hand on her wand.
Umbridge was staring at Harry with an eager, nasty look on her face.
"The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law, Professor!" Hermione cried.
"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him." Umbridge said as her wand rotated, picking which part of Harry's body would hurt the most. Katherine stepped forward and put a hand on Umbridge's wand, attempting to lower it.
"Professor, I think the Ministry will find out." Katherine said in a calm voice as she channeled Kingsley.
"Cornelius never knew that I ordered the Dementors after Potter over the summer." Umbridge countered. Katherine left go of Umbridge's wand and tried to mask her look of disgust.
"It was you?" Harry gasped. Umbridge pressed her wand into his lightning bolt scar.
"Someone had to act." Umbridge said as she took a deep breath. "Cru-"
"NO!" Hermione shouted. "No! Harry, you have to tell her!"
"No!" Harry yelled.
"We'll have to . . . oh, Harry . . . what's the point?" Hermione began to cry into Millicent Bulstrode's robes, who basically ran to the other side of the room. Katherine went over to Hermione.
"Well, well!" Umbridge said triumphantly. "Little Miss Questions is going to give us some answers. Tell me, girl, tell me."
"Er-my-nee-no!" Ron gagged.
Ginny was staring at Hermione in shock. Neville was gazing at her like she was insane. Katherine looked down at Hermione and noticed that though Hermione's shoulder's were shaking, there were tears.
"I'm sorry." Hermione said.
"That's right, girl!" Umbridge said as she grabbed Hermione and threw her into another chair. "Who was Potter contacting?"
"He was trying to contact Professor Dumbledore . . ." Hermione said.
Ron froze, Ginny stopped trying to kick her captor, and Luna finally gave the incident her attention. Katherine blinked in surprise. Neither Umbridge or the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad noticed any of this.
"You know where Dumbledore is?" Umbridge asked eagerly.
"No. We were trying all the places we could think of-" Hermione said.
"Argh!" Umbridge shouted in disappointment.
"We need to tell him something important!" Hermione wailed, holding her face tighter to hide the absence of tears.
"Yes? What is it?" Umbridge asked, getting excited.
"We want to tell him that his weapon is ready." Hermione choked.
"Weapon?" Umbridge's eyes seemed to pop out of her head. "You've been developing a weapon to use against the Ministry on Dumbledore's orders?"
"Y-yes." Hermione sputtered.
"What kind of weapon?" Umbridge demanded.
"We don't k-k-know." Hermione said, sniffing. Umbridge straighten herself.
"Take me to it." Umbridge ordered.
"I'm not showing them." Hermione said, looking at the Slytherins and Katherine.
Umbridge looked a Hermione for a long moment, and then spoke in what she thought was a motherly voice. "Alright, dear, you, me, and Potter can go see it, shall we? Get up-"
"Professor," Draco said eagerly. "I think some of the Squad should come with you."
"I think I can handle two wandless teenagers, Malfoy." Umbridge snapped. "You remain here and make sure no one escapes."
"They'll be here when you get back, Professor." Katherine promised.
"Good." Umbridge said, before she pushed Hermione forward. "Lead on."
Katherine plopped down in a chair once Umbridge was gone. Draco sat down in a chair next to her.
"Is there still blood on my face?" Katherine asked.
"Yeah, here." Draco took back his handkerchief and gently cleaned up Katherine's face.
"How does my nose look?" Katherine asked.
"Want me to fix it?" Draco asked.
"That bad?" Katherine raised an eyebrow, and then sighed. "Please."
Draco pressed his wand lightly against her nose. "Episkey."
Katherine sighed in relief as the pressure left her nose.
"I don't understand, it worked last time." Katherine muttered.
"What did?" Draco asked.
"Snapping it back in place." Katherine said.
"Did you have a mirror last time?" Draco asked.
"Yeah. That probably helped." Katherine said.
Katherine stood up and looked at her nose in the mirror on the wall by Ginny. Katherine and Ginny made eye contact and Katherine winked. Katherine turned on her heel and walked over to Draco. She had her wand hidden up her right sleeve.
"Draco." She said. He looked up, smiling. She rested her left hand against his cheek. He closed his eyes with a content smile on his face. Suddenly, Katherine pushed Draco's chair and made it flip over.
"Stupefy!" Katherine cried. The Stunner hit the Slytherin holding Ginny, who brought out her own wand and Stunned Warrington. Katherine tossed the newly released Ron his wand.
Draco got to his feet and tried to hex Ginny, but Katherine tackled him. They wrestled each other for each other's wands. Katherine had Draco pinned underneath her. She straddled him as she raised her fist and hesitated.
Katherine couldn't hurt her brother. Draco saw she hesitated and used it to his advantage. He knocked her off of him and he was the one pinning her down. He grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. Their faces were inches apart.
"Get off, Draco." Katherine said.
Draco's eyes flitted down to her lips. She was immobile underneath him. He leaned down. There was barely time for Katherine to register the kiss; Ginny had Stunned Draco, and then kicked him off of Katherine. Ginny helped Katherine up.
All of the Slytherins were lying unconscious on the ground. Katherine pulled out Neville's and Luna's wands and gave them to their respective owners.
"Voldemort's got Sirius?" Katherine asked.
"Harry dreamed about it during the History of Magic exam." Ron explained.
"Ah." Katherine said as everything made sense. "Where?"
"The Department of Mysteries. In the Ministry." Ginny said. Katherine looked the four faces in front of her.
"Then we better get going." Katherine said.
Anyone catch the Wicked reference?