Dumbledore was not alone in his office when Audrey climbed the headmaster's spiral staircase. The old wizard smiled at her warmly from behind his desk.
"Perfect timing, Professor Callahan," he said. "We were just talking about you."
Severus Snape turned in his chair, surveying Audrey with an air of annoyance before facing the headmaster again.
"Do sit down," Dumbledore said, gesturing to the open seat beside Snape. Audrey obeyed, feeling very shaky. She had so many things she wanted to say to Dumbledore that she didn't know where to begin. And none of them did she particularly want to discuss in front of Snape.
"You look unnerved, Audrey," Dumbledore remarked, raising an eyebrow. "I take it you've seen the Prophet?"
Audrey nodded. "Have you spoken to him? Is he okay?"
"Sirius is fine," Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand. Audrey jumped at the use of Sirius's name, but she figured Dumbledore's office would be the safest place besides Grimmauld Place to be forthright about Order business. "Number Twelve's security is still in place, so as long as he stays put, he cannot be apprehended."
"Who saw him?" Audrey asked.
"Lucius Malfoy," Dumbledore said, and Audrey shuddered. If their theories about Malfoy's loyalties were correct, Ministry officials weren't the only ones informed of Sirius's presence in London.
"Fortunately, Severus confirmed that your name did not come up with the Death Eaters as someone spotted with Sirius at the platform," Dumbledore continued. "So your position has not been compromised."
"With Umbridge?" Audrey guessed, thinking of the message she asked Natalia to deliver, and Dumbledore nodded. "Did you intend for me to be a double agent when you hired me?"
"I didn't know the Ministry would send one of their own to infiltrate my staff when I offered you the position," Dumbledore explained. "But I did hope something like this would occur once I assigned your offices in such close proximity."
"Why didn't you tell me you had this idea at an Order meeting?" Audrey said, dismayed that Dumbledore had set her up. "Why am I only learning of this plan now?"
"I hoped it would be arranged organically," he replied. "That Professor Umbridge would be drawn to you of her own accord. And so she was."
Audrey wasn't sure what her lack of foresight had to do with the effectiveness of her going under cover, but Dumbledore's satisfaction with the outcome was starting to irritate her. She changed the subject.
"So what sort of information should I be giving her? She was disappointed to find the two of us weren't especially chummy when I saw her yesterday. I don't know if she'll be forthcoming with me if I don't have anything to offer."
"Well, I'm sure she'll be aware of our meeting now," Dumbledore said. "So you'll be able to tell her you're starting to open an avenue of trust, or some such line. That should make her happy enough."
Audrey frowned. "What sort of surveillance does she have access too already that she'll know about this?"
Dumbledore sighed. "It'll be announced tomorrow, but Dolores Umbridge has been made High Inquisitor of Hogwarts by the Minister, effective immediately."
Audrey's eyes widened. "Well, that was fast."
"She's certainly effective at what she does," Dumbledore nodded. "I'm sure you know this is only the beginning. We'll see increasing Ministry control in the school shortly. All classes will be observed and evaluated. Please make sure you pass. As frustrating as it is, I need you to ensure she thinks she has your support."
Audrey groaned internally. "How can you sit by and let this happen? Let the Ministry wrench the whole school away from you and manipulate us all?"
"We must pick our battles, Audrey," Dumbledore said. "You know Umbridge will take any sign of rebellion to garner even more power here. I cannot let that happen, not when Voldemort grows stronger every day. So we wait, we gather intel on as many fronts as we can, we prepare for war."
Audrey frowned and didn't reply. It made her nervous to allow Umbridge this kind of authority, but Dumbledore was right. There was so much at stake, and the Order wasn't in a place for an offensive attack.
"I think you're well suited for this task," Dumbledore continued. "But there's one aspect of training I think will be vital, especially considering your emotional investment in sensitive matters."
Audrey flushed, knowing he was referring to her relationship with Sirius, which surely wasn't a secret to anyone in the Order at this point.
"Severus has agreed to coach you in Occlumency," Dumbledore said, and Audrey looked at Snape for the first time since she sat down. The potions master was still scowling, and Audrey wondered what Dumbledore's definition of "agreeing" amounted to.
"In precarious circumstances, discretion is vital, and while I feel certain Dolores Umbridge is not an accomplished Legilimens like Voldemort, I am not willing to gamble," Dumbledore continued seriously. "She is a difficult woman, so keeping emotions in check with her may not be easy. But it is still vital in the art of Occlumency, hence why this coaching will be important."
"We can begin during my free period on Tuesday morning," Snape said.
"And what should I say we are doing if I'm asked?" Audrey said. "Why would the Muggles Studies professor need to meet with the potions master?"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "I am able to assist my fellow professors with whatever potions they may need. I daresay you'll think of something."
Audrey glared at him; the derision in his voice was unmistakable. She didn't blame Sirius for loathing him when she already found him so unlikable, and she wasn't looking forward to one-on-one time with the man. Especially, as she remembered, he was once a Death Eater.
"That will do for today," Dumbledore said, frowning at them both. "Audrey, perhaps you will leave first, to avoid suspicion? Besides, I have one more question for Severus."
Audrey left stiffly, not happy with either of the men in the room, and immediately set off for the Owlery to subscribe to the Daily Prophet. She wanted to keep tabs on any more mentions of Sirius in the news. She shivered to think how very close she was to being outed as his associate, deemed either an Order member or a Death Eater, depending on who would have spotted her with Sirius. Either way meant immense danger for her. But she found she didn't really care. Her strongest desire was to speak with Sirius, but she couldn't figure out how to do that. Moody had warned that Owl Post was not secure, and the Ministry would be monitoring the Floo Network. If only she could conjure a Patronus, just to let him know she was thinking of him.
By the following night, she was feeling particularly miserable. She didn't have classes to distract her, and she found herself examining Aurora's copy of the Prophet with Sirius's mug shot at her desk. She had almost wandered to Hogsmeade to Apparate to Sirius's house to see him, but Umbridge seemed to appear everywhere she went. In fairness, Audrey had been avoiding the woman, even though Dumbledore instructed her to prove loyalty to her. But Audrey was feeling very vulnerable from Dumbledore's plotting and Sirius's exposure so she didn't feel ready to start her charade just yet.
She watched Sirius's maniacal laugh in the newspaper photo, the darkness in his eyes filling her with dread. She knew the truth of what happened that night: Sirius was not a murderer. And she even sympathized with the desire for revenge against Peter Pettigrew that motivated him that day. So why did the image still disturb her so much? She hated seeing him this way, darkness pushing him to the brink of sanity, no matter how justified. She wanted him happy, like he was with her. Like she was with him. Yet she couldn't stop torturing herself, watching Sirius's rage-filled mug shot.
With great difficulty, Audrey stood and made her way to the washstand she added to her office. She pulled out a bottle of wine and a glass and started pouring. If she was going to wallow, she may as well do it properly with alcohol added.
Suddenly, a great roar of flame came from her fireplace, and Audrey yelped, dropping her wine bottle which shattered with a loud crash. The flames were a shock, as she had not even lit a fire that warm night, but her heart leaped when she saw the man who stepped out of them.
"I'm sorry to show up like this," Sirius said. He brushed ash from his robes, looking agitated. "I just had a bit of a row with Harry and I didn't know—"
There was knock at Audrey's door, and her breath caught in her chest as Sirius's eyes widened and met hers. She sprang into action, snatching the book on her shelf that opened to her bedroom. Wordlessly, she ushered Sirius inside and swiftly shut the bookcase behind him. With a deep, steadying breath, she opened her office door.
"Dolores!" she said as loudly as she dared. It was just her luck her neighbor was the exact person she didn't want to see this scene.
"Audrey," Umbridge said with an innocent tilt of her head. "I heard a commotion and just wanted to make sure you were alright."
Without invitation, Umbridge pushed past Audrey into the office, and Audrey almost groaned out loud. A bit rattled, she nevertheless came up with a story.
"I'm fine, just an overreaction upon seeing a rat. I have such a phobia of them. I've taken care of it, so no need to worry, it won't be creeping into your chambers or anything. I'm sorry if I disturbed you."
Umbridge was scanning the office, taking in the broken wine bottle and – to Audrey's horror – the fresh ash by her fireplace.
"Do you need help cleaning up?" Umbridge said finally.
"No, no," Audrey said a bit quickly. Her heart was pounding. She needed this woman out of here.
"You're so uptight, my dear, please let me help." Before Audrey could protest, Umbridge was amending the wine bottle and, to Audrey's dismay, pouring two glasses.
"You're too kind, thank you," Audrey said without smiling as she accepted one of the glasses.
"Have you been avoiding me?" Umbridge asked plainly.
Audrey bristled. "Yes, in fairness. What you asked of me this weekend… it's a bit nerve-wracking."
"Are you not up for the challenge?" Umbridge frowned.
"I am," Audrey assured her. "In fact, I met with Dumbledore yesterday."
Umbridge did not seem surprised, and Audrey thought of Dumbledore's prediction that she had her own surveillance in the castle. The woman tilted her head. "And?"
"He called the meeting to see how my first week of classes were," Audrey said. "It went very well, he found me very unassuming. He seems to trust me. I think I've opened a good line of communication."
Umbridge nodded. "You're very mild as a person. No one would ever suspect you of any sort of espionage."
Audrey did her best not to roll her eyes at the insult. Instead, she focused on creating an aura of serenity about herself. Keeping her voice unwavering, she said, "I apologize for not coming to you sooner. This is all very new to me. But I can assure you, I won't let you or the Ministry down."
Umbridge smiled and finished her wine. "I expect you won't. I'm glad to see you've calmed down as well after your little scare. And I thank you that I won't be seeing this rat in my own quarters."
"Of course," Audrey said, draining her glass too. She felt a thrill of excitement as Umbridge headed to the door. "And I want to congratulate you as well for your promotion, Dolores. You'll be able to do so much good as High Inquisitor."
With one hand on the door Umbridge let out a high-pitched giggle. "Oh, just you wait, Audrey, I've got magnificent plans. But my dear, you're not immune to the evaluations, you know? You can expect to be observed by me on Friday."
"I wouldn't dream of special treatment," Audrey nodded. "But I'll admit I'm not worried. Ministry standards are very important to my curriculum."
"That's what I like to hear," Umbridge said. "Good night, Audrey."
As Umbridge left, Audrey let out a massive sigh of relief, her limbs shaking. She locked the door and put a number of protective charms on it before she made her way into her bedroom. She cast the Imperturbable charm on every wall, and finally, her voice quavering, she said, "She's gone. It's just us."
