"Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil, if she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will."
-Roger (101 Dalmatians)
By the time exams rolled around, Professor Sprout hadn't been able to find any way to prove that Umbridge had purposely failed Scarlett. She also hadn't been able to find or get her hands on Scarlett's files. Scarlett was devastated, but by the time her Defense Against the Dark Arts exam, her last one, came around, she was determined to prove Umbridge wrong on her own. She didn't know how, but she was going to.
She was fed up with Umbridge. Besides everything the toad had been doing already, only a few days ago she had tried to fire Hagrid, causing him to run away, and when Professor McGonagall ran outside to put an end to the chaos, she was hit with four Stunning Spells. She was currently in critical condition.
Due to Scarlett's studying, she felt confident in all of her NEWTs, including Defense Against the Dark Arts, so once she was finished, she was able to focus solely on proving Umbridge wrong.
The only thing that came to Scarlett's mind was sneaking into Dumbledore's office to try to find some information. She didn't know the password, but maybe she could figure it out. She decided to head there straight away without wasting any time. However, she had only gotten halfway there when she ran right into Ron.
"Sorry," she said, "I wasn't looking where I was going."
"Neither was I," Ron admitted. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"I was going to snoop around in Dumbledore's office," Scarlett answered.
"You'll never get in," Ron said. "There's the password security system that Dumbledore had already set up and now that Umbridge has taken over, she's added even more security."
"Like what?"
Ron shrugged. "If I knew, I would tell you. It's just what I heard. What are you looking for, anyway?"
"My records," Scarlett answered. "Either my cumulative ones or the ones for Defense Against the Dark Arts. It doesn't matter." She didn't elaborate and Ron didn't press for more information, for which Scarlett was grateful.
"It might be easier to just sneak into her regular office, then," he said.
"Well, I don't think what I need is in there. I've looked already." She paused. "Why would it be easier?"
"It's just…if you wanted to take another look, Harry needs to get in, so I'm supposed to be distracting Umbridge. I mean, if you really wanted to give Dumbledore's office a try, you can do that. She'll be distracted either way. I just don't know for how long. Anyway, we have Ginny and Luna acting as lookouts. If you do go to Dumbledore's office on your own, you won't have any lookouts in case Umbridge does end up in that area."
"You don't think going to Dumbledore's office is worth it?" Scarlett asked.
"There is a lot of security like I said," Ron shrugged. "If you gave her office another try, you'd get in easy and we have lookouts. It's up to you, really. I've got to get going, though. I have to distract Umbridge and tell her that Peeves is destroying the Transfiguration classroom."
Scarlett thought about it for a second as Ron began to walk away. It was true that she hadn't gotten a thorough look through Umbridge's office. One more look couldn't hurt. After that she would figure out how to get into Dumbledore's office. Besides, like Ron had said, she didn't have any lookouts, which meant she had a higher chance of being caught, even if Umbridge was distracted. And truthfully, the last thing Scarlett needed was to be caught by Umbridge snooping through an office the toad had so wrongly claimed as hers.
"Ron, wait, I'll come with you," she decided, running to catch up with him.
He nodded and explained the plan to her again. "We're just going to tell her Peeves is destroying the Transfiguration classroom. It's the furthest from her office."
"So," Scarlett said, "why does Harry need to use the office again?"
"How did you know he was in there before?"
"I ran into him. I told you I checked that office for my records already. He didn't tell you?"
"No," Ron shrugged.
"Yeah, well, what he was doing was probably more important."
Ron nodded. "Anyway, he fell asleep during our History of Magic exam and had a dream. I guess he—he saw Sirius being held captive by You-Know-Who in the Department of Mysteries. He's convinced it's real, like what he saw with my dad, but Hermione managed to persuade him to double check by contacting Grimmauld Place before running off to the Ministry."
"Wow," Scarlett said quietly. She really hoped Sirius was okay. She had really grown to like him a lot during her time at Grimmauld Place.
The two of them finally found Umbridge. Scarlett had to fight the urge to demand a confession right then and there.
"Where are the two of you headed?" Umbridge asked with a large, fake grin.
"We were actually looking for you," Ron said. "We just passed Peeves destroying the Transfiguration classroom. Since you're headmistress, we thought we should report it to you."
Umbridge just studied the two of them wordlessly as Scarlett nodded at Ron's side.
"I see," Umbridge finally said.
"Yeah, he's really making a mess," Scarlett added.
"Well, then, I suppose I'd better head there straight away," Umbridge said. She spoke slowly, but she was still wearing her smile.
"Yeah, okay," Ron said, nodding.
"You may go," Umrbridge told them, smiling wider. "I'm sure you both want to enjoy finally being finished with your exams."
Scarlett and Ron both nodded before hurrying away.
"Do you think she believed us?" Scarlett asked as they made their way back to Umbridge's office.
"I don't know. I hope she did," Ron shrugged.
They finally reached their destination where Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Luna were waiting outside. They looked at Scarlett curiously, but only for a second.
"Finally!" Hermione sighed impatiently. "What took you so long? And why is Scarlett with you?"
"We ran into each other," Ron said. "She was going to try and get into Dumbledore's office but in the end, she decided to give this office another try to get what she needs since Dumbledore's office has all that security."
Hermione looked at Scarlett and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you need to get into Dumbledore's office and Umbridge's office?"
"Your grades?" Ginny piped up.
"How did you know?" Scarlett asked.
"Fred mentioned something before he and George left, but really only because I pestered him. I really shouldn't have. It is a private matter. Sorry about that." She gave Scarlett an apologetic smile.
"Don't worry about it," Scarlett told her, shaking her head.
"You need to look at your records, then," Hermione said. "Are you planning on changing them?" She widened her eyes almost comically.
"No, actually I think Umbridge changed them. I just want proof," Scarlett said.
"Well, even if you could get into Dumbledore's office, you wouldn't be able to touch the files. They're charmed so that once they're stored in the office only the headmaster—or headmistress—can touch them."
Scarlett groaned. So that meant that Umbridge definitely had access to the records. She had had access to them since the night the D.A. was discovered and all of this information was making the grade changing theory seem entirely plausible. And, of course, the charm around the files would protect anyone else from discovering what she had done. "What about the files for her class specifically?" Scarlett asked.
Hermione shook her head. "I have no idea. They could be in her office, but I don't know. I'd say it's worth a shot, though. In any case, we need to hurry. Ginny, Luna, you know what to do. Scarlett, Ron and I will go inside with Harry."
Everyone nodded in agreement and sprang into action. Ginny and Luna headed off to the end of the hallway to keep anyone who wanted to pass by away while Harry opened the office door and led the way inside. Scarlett once again made a beeline for the desk while Harry, Hermione and Ron went straight to the fireplace.
After only a few minutes, Harry quickly pulled his head out of the fireplace. "He's not there," he said urgently. "He's at the Ministry, just like I said."
"You're sure?" Hermione asked as Scarlett looked up in alarm.
"Positive. We need to leave now, Hermione."
"You aren't going anywhere, Mr. Potter."
Scarlett jumped and froze with her hand on one of Umbridge's desk drawers. Harry, Ron and Hermione jumped as well. Umbridge herself was standing in the doorway, aiming her wand at them and looking furious.
"I knew something was going on the second Mr. Weasley and Miss Callaway told me that Peeves was destroying the Transfiguration classroom. You see, I knew perfectly well that he was smearing ink on all of the school's telescopes, Mr. Filch having just told me so. From there, I rounded up my Inquisitorial Squad right away, as backup."
As if on cue, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad came into the room. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were dragging Luna, Ginny and Neville with them.
"This one was trying to defend them," Malfoy said, gesturing first to Neville and then to Ginny and Luna, "so I brought him in, too."
"Very good," Umbridge said. She turned to the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad. "Grab the rest of them…except Mr. Potter. I'll deal with him." She grabbed Harry and pushed him into a chair as the Inquisitorial Squad grabbed Ron, Hermione and Scarlett.
The Slytherin that grabbed Scarlett just so happened to be Marcus Flint. She smiled to herself as she remembered the conversation she had had with Erica. It was definitely a good thing that she wasn't getting married to Marcus Flint. Her faint smile faded completely when Flint roughly dragged her across the room to stand by the window with the others. Umbridge then began to question Harry.
"So, Potter," she said, "clearly it was important for you to talk to someone, and clearly it was important for you," she whirled around and pointed her wand at Scarlett, "to dig through my desk. I wonder what you could possibly be looking for." She smirked widely and Scarlett picked up on the sarcasm in her voice. The toad definitely knew what Scarlett was looking for.
"Nothing," Scarlett shrugged, trying to lie anyway.
"Don't lie," Umbridge snapped. "However, I will deal with you later." She turned back to Harry. "Who were you trying to talk to, Potter? Was it Albus Dumbledore? Or that half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall. I hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone."
The Inquisitorial Squad laughed. Ginny tried to stomp on Goyle's foot, but he only laughed harder and tightened his grip on her wrists.
"It's none of your business who I talk to," Harry snapped.
"Very well," Umbridge said, taking a breath. "It seems as if I am going to have to force you to tell me. Draco, go fetch Professor Snape."
Draco shoved Neville at Crabbe, who grabbed him with one hand, while still holding onto Luna with the other. Smirking widely, Draco hurried out of the room.
Scarlett tried to jerk out of Marcus Flint's grip, but he was too strong. He laughed even harder than before. "Not going to happen," he said.
Umbridge made her way over to stand in front of Scarlett. "I know what you were looking for," she said quietly, while still managing to keep her girly smile on her face.
"Yeah, well, I'm not going to give up. I'm going to find what I was looking for and prove you're lying."
"That will be impossible, Miss Callaway," Umbridge giggled, "because I did not lie."
"You did. I know you did," Scarlett said through gritted teeth. She was aware of everyone watching her, but didn't break her gaze from Umbridge's. Before the toad could answer, there were footsteps in the hallway.
"I'm not done with you," Umbridge sneered as Draco re-entered the room with Professor Snape, who stood in the doorway as if he couldn't bear to set foot in such a ridiculously decorated room. Scarlett actually couldn't blame him.
"You sent for me?" Snape asked, looking at Umbridge.
"Ah, yes, Professor Snape," Umbridge said, walking back and standing beside Harry's chair. "Yes, I would like another bottle of Veriteserum as quickly as you can, please."
It was then that Scarlett wished she could either get her hands on or brew Veriteserum on her own. If she could, and if she could have come up with a great plan, it would have been the perfect way to get Umbridge to confess. However, getting her hands on some was nearly impossible and no use to her now, held captive in Umbridge's office.
"I believe you used the last of what I had on Miss Edgecombe," Snape said.
"You can make some more, can't you?" Umbridge asked.
"Certainly," Snape said after a brief pause. "It should be ready in a month."
"A month?" Umbridge practically shrieked. "But I need it tonight! I've just found Potter using my fire to communicate with someone!"
"Really?" Snape said, looking at Harry. "I'm not surprised."
"I wish to interrogate him," Umbridge said.
"Well, as I've told you, I have no Veriteserum left, so I cannot help you."
"You are on probation!" Umbridge yelled. "You are being very unhelpful! Now, get out of my office!"
Snape raised his eyebrows slightly before glancing around the room and taking in the kitten plates on the wall and the overwhelming amount of pink. "Gladly," he said slowly before turning towards the door.
"He's got Padfoot!" Harry suddenly yelled. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"
Snape paused halfway out the door.
"Padfoot?" Umbridge asked. "What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?"
Scarlett was wondering the same thing. She guessed it had something to do with Sirius, but she didn't know exactly what and she didn't know if Snape would pick up on the code either, even if he was part of the Order.
Snape stared between Umbridge and Harry, his expression unreadable. "I have no idea," he said before turning and leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Very well," Umbridge said again, taking another deep breath. "I am left with no alternative. I am sure the Minister will understand that I had no choice." She pulled out her wand and slowly twirled it between her fingers. "The Cruciatus Curse should loosen your tongue, Potter."
"That's illegal!" Hermione cried. "The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law!"
"What he doesn't know won't hurt him. He never knew I set the dementors after Potter last summer, and he still would've gladly expelled him just the same."
"You set the dementors after me?" Harry asked.
Umbridge nodded. "Somebody had to act. Everyone was complaining about silencing you, but I actually did something about it." She turned her wand on him and took a breath.
"Wait!" Hermione yelled. "Harry, we have to tell her."
"What?" Harry asked, looking aghast.
"She'll force it out of us anyway," Hermione said. And then she began to cry.
"All right, well tell me!" Umbridge said eagerly.
Ginny, Ron and Harry were staring at Hermione, shocked. Luna was off in another world as usual and Neville looked confused. Scarlett felt the same way. She had no idea what was going on.
"Well," Hermione gulped, looking up. It was then that Scarlett noticed there were no tears in her eyes. She had been faking, which meant that she had a plan.
"Well, what?" Umbridge prodded.
"Harry was trying to speak to Dumbledore."
"You know where he is, then?" Umbridge asked.
"No," Hermione sighed. "We tried the Leaky Cauldron, The Three Broomsticks…."
"Silly girl!" Umbridge laughed. "Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when he knows the Ministry is after him!"
"Well, we were desperate!" Hermione said shakily. "We needed to get in touch with him to tell him that it's ready."
"That what's ready?"
"The weapon! He left us to finish it and we finally did so we needed to tell him!"
"Weapon? Well, where is it?" Umbridge looked about ready to explode with happiness.
"It's very well hidden," Hermione said. "We couldn't risk someone coming across it."
"Well, you and Potter can take me to it." Umbridge signaled for Millicent Bulstrode to let go of Hermione. "Go on. Lead the way," Umbridge said, prodding Harry to his feet with her wand. She turned to the remaining occupants of the room. "I'll be back to deal with the rest of you later."
When she was gone, the room was thrown into total silence. Scarlett was thinking that she would have had better luck going to Dumbledore's office after all, but she didn't dare say that out loud with the Inquisitorial Squad there.
Flint began twisting one of her arms and he chuckled when Scarlett grimaced.
"Is that a form of entertainment for you?" she asked, trying not to cry out in pain as Flint twisted her arm harder.
"Yeah," he answered, still laughing. "Why, is it a problem?"
"No, not at all. Please, carry on trying to rip off my arm," Scarlett answered sarcastically.
"Gladly," Flint smirked, twisting her arm so hard that tears actually formed in Scarlett's eyes.
"Clearly you didn't pick up on the sarcasm," she muttered.
"Of course I did," he shrugged. "I just chose to ignore it."
Scarlett began nervously chewing on her lip. She wondered what was going to happen when Umbridge came back and what kind of punishment she was going to give out.
"I'm hungry," Goyle suddenly complained.
"Honestly, Goyle," Malfoy scoffed.
Ron awkwardly stuck his hand into his pocket, a difficult task with his arms being pinned down by a Slytherin. "Here," he finally said, bringing out a handful of sweets wrapped in bright paper. Scarlett recognized them right away. They were the same ones she, Fred and George had given to Umbridge—the Skiving Snackboxes.
Crabbe and Goyle were the first to grab a piece, but one by one, the others took a piece and soon, Ron's hand was empty. Within another few seconds, every member of the Inquisitorial Squad had a bloody nose.
Flint let go of Scarlett as if she were on fire in order to put his hands to his face. Scarlett snatched her wand out of his robe pocket and hurried out the door after the others, but not before stomping on Flint's foot as hard as she could.
"So, what next?" Neville asked.
"We go catch up with Hermione and Harry," Ron said instantly.
"Are you coming?" Ginny asked Scarlett.
"I don't think so," she replied slowly. "I think I should give Dumbledore's office a try now that I know Umbridge is distracted for sure."
"But you won't even get in! There's no way for you to get inside," Ginny said. "And didn't you hear Hermione earlier? The records are charmed, so it's useless. You might as well come help us. Harry's going to need all the help he can get."
Scarlett hesitated. She knew where they were most likely headed after they caught up with Harry and Hermione, but was it worth it? If they got caught or something happened, then they would surely all be in lots of trouble. Especially with Umbridge around. Besides, was even Scarlett's place to go with them? They were going to rescue Harry's godfather. She didn't feel like it was her place to butt in. However, she had spent a month of her summer as well as her Christmas holiday in Sirius's house and she considered him a friend now.
"It's what Dumbledore's Army was all about, wasn't it?" Neville asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Doing something, right?"
"Oh, yes," Luna said, nodding. "I agree."
Scarlett had to admit, she agreed as well. She sighed. "Okay, I'll come."
"All right, now let's go before we waste any more time," Ginny said.
They walked as fast as they could out through the front doors and towards the forest.
"Is that them?" Neville asked, pointing at two specks in the distance at the edge of the trees.
"Yeah," Scarlett said slowly, squinting towards the two figures, "but it's just Harry and Hermione. Where's Umbridge?"
They began walking even faster. The quicker they walked, the quicker they'd find out what was going on.
"How'd you manage to get rid of Umbridge?" Ron asked the moment the two groups had met up.
"She insulted the centaurs and they took her away," Hermione said with a slight smile. "How'd you get away from the Inquisitorial Squad?"
"It was Ron's idea," Ginny said, grinning. "He gave them all Nosebleed Nougats."
"Brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed.
"So," Ron said, "what's next, Harry?"
"The Ministry. I'm almost certain Sirius is there."
"But how do we get there?" Ginny asked. "Not all of us have brooms…."
"What do you mean, how do we get there? All of you can't come!" Harry looked at Ginny, Luna, Neville and Scarlett.
"We want to!" Ginny cried.
"It's what Dumbledore's Army was all about!" Neville said again. "It was about doing something. Or everything you said-was it all just words to you?"
Harry hesitated. "I can't put all of you in danger."
"We want to come with you," Ginny said.
"Yes, and Neville's right," Luna added. "It's what we all signed up for, really. We knew we would need to defend ourselves one day."
"Yes, but against Voldemort!"
"Isn't he at the Minsitry?" Luna asked, tilting her head. "From what you said earlier, he's holding Sirius captive. So we will be defending ourselves against Voldemort."
"He's not attacking any of you. You don't have to put yourselves in danger," Harry argued.
"We want to come," Ginny said again, crossing her arms. She wasn't backing down. Scarlett kind of had to admire that about her.
Harry didn't say anything for a moment. "Fine, but we still don't have any way to actually get to the Ministry."
"We can fly," Luna suggested with an airy smile.
"Haven't we just said that not all of us have brooms?" Harry asked impatiently.
"I didn't mean on brooms," Luna replied. She pointed to a spot just over Harry's shoulder. Everyone turned to look where she was pointing. Scarlett frowned. She didn't see a thing. Harry, however, was nodding, and Neville was grinning.
"Thestrals," Harry said. "I didn't even think about them."
"You mean those things Hagrid talked about?" Ron asked. "The things that can be seen only by people who've seen death?"
Harry nodded and walked over to what Scarlett assumed was a thestral. Luna and Neville did the same. "There are exactly seven of them, too, so everyone gets one," Harry continued.
Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Scarlett immediately began walking around with their arms outstretched. "That's great, Harry," Scarlett said, "but the four of us can't see them."
"You can't see them?" Ginny asked.
"No," Scarlett replied, shaking her head.
"But weren't you in the car when—well, you know, when the accident happened? It's what you told me over the summer."
"Well, yes, but I'm guessing I can't see them because I was unconscious from the time of the accident until two days later. I didn't actually see my dad die."
Ginny nodded. "So, where are these thestrals?" she asked.
"Here, I'll help." Luna had been already sitting on her own thestral, but as she spoke, she slid down to the ground. She led Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Scarlett each to a thestral before returning to her own once again.
"So, uh, we need to get to the Ministry," Harry said to his thestral. "In London," he added.
Nothing happened for a moment and Scarlett was beginning to wonder just how to get the thestrals to move when they finally took off all at once and headed for the Ministry of Magic. Scarlett squeezed her eyes shut. There was no turning back now.
A/N: Okay, so Scarlett's going to the Ministry. I debated over whether or not she should go, but the story just kind of flowed into her going and besides, I really like the whole Department of Mysteries scene. I'll keep all that to just the next chapter though so things can be moved along a little bit. I know everyone's anxious for her to break up with Justin, and don't worry, it's coming. It shouldn't be too much longer. Honestly, I think I'm just as anxious as everyone else and I know what's going to happen! I'm trying to not make this too drawn out, but I also didn't want them to break up too early and you'll see why in the next few chapters.
Thanks so much for all the feedback!
