A/N: Three chapter left after this one. :)
Chapter Thirty-Five
The Weasley twins were like a breath of fresh air, as cliché as that sounds. Their fireworks exploded around me, fizzing through the sky making all sorts of patterns. The bright colorful array had made everyone step outside away from their studies and even some discrete teachers gave their approval at the grand display of magic.
It was chaos though despite the beauty of it. Some of the fireworks had been trained to follow people as some sort of joke and it had several people running away frightened. Others formed into dangerous beasts like dragons, one of which had chased Umbridge out from the Great Hall and into the corridors running for her life. It was completely and utterly a beautiful display. It had the right amount of elegance in how the fireworks exploded and the perfect amount of mischief expected from the twins and then some.
Everyone around me yelled and cheered along as what could only be the finally began. Heavy amounts of explosions coursed through the open sky forming a large golden blazing 'W' as Fred and George yelled out to us.
"Products from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes," Fred yelled.
"Visit us at our new location in Diagon Alley," George finished off exclaiming.
Where did they even get the money? I look towards Harry's smiling face and noticed the glint in his eyes. So it was him. Taking my gaze towards the twins again they flew off in their brooms no doubt to Hogsmead to later apparate to their new place. It was safe to say they weren't coming back to finish their N.E.W.T.s. Regardless if they stayed, their talent didn't need much schooling. Their ambition would take them farther in life and somehow they already manage a measure of success more than their father in terms of ambition.
Umbridge yelled at us to head back to classes, her screechy voice piercing the air filled with laughter. We all begrudgingly came back inside, the mutterings of the event still spilling from our lips. Several fireworks that were outside followed us in, exploding around us making others scream and shout. The pink toad's irritation was showing as she took her wand trying to vanish the magical fireworks, they tripled. Her face contorted and she said another spell, they grew larger. Eventually she was the only one left in the corridor growing even more flustered as the firework relentlessly grew and grew.
Potions class was in high chatter despite the normal calm that was usually in place. Everyone still talked of Fred and George's exit, no doubt it would become something legendary in the school's history. If not the fireworks, then the small swamp they had left behind in one off the corridors surely will.
Severus entered slamming the door behind him as his robes trailed at the end of his feet, billowing with every step.
"Begin your review," he drawled on trying his best to ignore the constant talk amongst the students. Everyone seemed to stop talking when he did before shuffling in their seats to pull out their review notes. "Minor chatter will be allowed in this class and this class only. Should you have any questions," he looked at me mockingly, "do not come to me." With a twist he turned to walk back to his desk. Potions was relatively calm even with conversations flying in all directions. The other classes weren't so lucky.
As Ancient Runes came up there were more fireworks in the halls. No doubt manufactured by Umbridge's attempts on vanishing them or at the other professors hand. At one point in class someone was sent to find Umbridge and bring her along to vanish they stray sparkler that had gotten into the class. The toad huffed about the professors not being able to do their jobs as she used spell after spell to vanish the little things. Honestly, the professors could they just didn't want to. I could see the pleasure in their eyes as the talentless toad ran around the castle to vanish the explosions which seemed endless.
Her exhaustion at the end of the day was notable as she sat in the Great Hall for supper. Her shoulders were hunched over and her chest rose and fell in sharp breaths as if her heart was racing in overtime. The professors around her looked smug and I caught on to Severus gleaming smirk. There was something hidden in his hand and I could see his wand poking out of his sleeves on the other hand. Surely he won't.
The explosion was sharp and echoed throughout the room and Severus sent a quick array of spells towards it to make the chaos grow. Umbridge grew red in frustration as she slashed through the air in ager trying to vanish the pesky little things. Her sense of order was nonexistent at that moment as she grew out of control when she hit a first year Slytherin with a spell. The sudden cry brought everyone to their feet as the first year girl fell bleeding from the cut.
"Are you out of your mind," Severus snapped as he rushed out from his seat and towards the crying girl. Although he did start the chaos, hurting a student was not in his prediction. I mean who would even try using a cutting hex when trying to vanish a sparkler?
"I, I-" Umbridge stuttered. Her face had grown pale as her body shook.
"My father will hear about this," Draco said loudly at her as he knelt behind the girl. The little one cried as Draco made her lay down, his wand in hand. All the students seemed to watch as Severus drew his own and began chanting to heal the wound. It wasn't something fatal, no, it was nothing like that but it was deep enough to cause pain and possibly other problems. The innocent girl was so young, so new to the magical world that it was nothing short of evil to have caused her the pain she was at.
Severus finished his chant and the girl was more or less healed. She would be traumatized of the ordeal, you can see it in her frightened eyes. If Severus could have stomped in public he would have been stomping as he made his way to Umbridge with his wand in check. Pressing it against Umbridge's neck he hissed loud and clear.
"If you ever hurt another one of my students again you may just find yourself a bit worse for wear after your morning tea," He spat in her face consequence be damned. His threat made her shake like a leaf and I could see him press his wand uncomfortably deeper into her little neck. "Is that clear?" He hissed. She gave him a shaky nod and he stepped away as calmly as he could. "Now leave," his order made her flee the room with as much dignity as she can muster. The other professors were silent throughout the ordeal and Severus went back to the still weeping girl.
I could hear her whimpers as she spoke to him and he muttered something I couldn't quite hear. Draco had seemingly been ordered by him as he picked up the girl gently in his arms. She leaned towards him in comfort as she wept a bit more quietly and they disappeared through the doors, probably heading to the infirmary with Severus right behind him.
McGonagall, finally composing herself stood up from her set ordering for order once more. She had a perplexed expression spread on her face as she kept her gaze to the spot Severus had stood. Supper was quiet after that and as quickly as Luna and I could we dismissed ourselves from the others to find Draco and Severus.
It didn't take long for us to find them. Just one stop to Severus' office was all it took. They sat there both frowning with equal distaste at what had occurred during the meal.
"How is she?" Luna asked softly as she approached Draco. She put her arms lovingly around him to sooth his raging thoughts.
"She's lucky. If she had been hit somewhere else she could have been seriously hurt," Draco confessed. He had some sorrow in his eyes as he stared at Luna. He will never be able to kill a child, not like how Umbridge nearly did. "My father has been informed. He will be bringing it up to the minister when the time is right."
The information was easy enough to accept and I turned to Severus who paced in front of his desks. Back and forth he went lost in his thoughts.
"Leave us," I whispered towards Draco and Luna. They looked at me shocked at my abrupt dismissal and I turned to look back at Severus who still had not said a single word. I heard the door shut behind me and walked towards the potions master. His pacing was methodical, something that he did at times when he couldn't outright show his temper that was no doubt trying unleash itself. "Severus?" My direct call to him snapped him to his senses as he stopped in his step. He stood there his head bowed and his hands clenched tightly, digging into his palms.
"I lost my temper," he spoke softly. I bit my lower lip as I looked at him concerned. His nails dug further in his palms and I could see the strain on his hand, the small droplets of blood forming with the small cuts.
"You did," there was no need to lie about that fact or soften the ordeal. He lost his temper, as simple as that.
"I should not have," he whispered.
"But you did. What's done is done. There's no need to torment yourself about it," I replied back. I crept up towards him letting my arm wrap around his neck as his own encompassed my waist. He pulled me close in comfort, craving my touch.
"There will be consequences," he muttered into my curly brown hair. I could feel his hand wander up from my waves to twirl a lock of hair.
"Nothing we can't handle," I muttered into him. He gave a breath of irritation and pulled himself off me. Severus brought his hand up to let his fingers comb through his oily hair in frustration.
"That damn toad," he sighed.
"Severus?" I whispered. He looked at me quizzically .
"Yes."
"I'm very proud of you." His quizzical expression turned to bewilderment at my words.
"Why?" He croaked out.
"You acted like the wizard you try so hard to push down. You acted and healed her. You, to an extent, protected all Slytherins with your words. You're a good man," I explained.
"I'm not," he refused to believe my words but I shook my head at him before grabbing his head to force him to look at me.
"You are. You are a good man, Severus. A powerful extraordinary man who I love." I leaned in towards him and pressed a long hard kiss to his cheek. He held me closely and we stood there. Wrapped in each other's arms.
The stars were beautiful. Each one seemingly arranged by the heaven's, by the Fates, to create a masterpiece. I scribbled the countless constellations into my chart, each delicate placement of stars and everything the night sky was made up of was put down. Just one little dot was just a mark. Together they made art, a brilliant ancient artwork that would never truly be finished.
For now my job was done as I reviewed my chart. It was perfect, made exactly like I wished it too and with plenty of time to spare. I didn't want to leave though. It was too beautiful of a night to stop gazing at the stars just then. If only I could reach one of them. Just stretch out my arms towards the Fates to talk to them for once instead of having relayed information to get to me like Luna's experience with them, visions of information. No, I don't want to stop there. Just once I wished to talk to them. Why did they choose me? Of all people, why was I chosen?
Harry's scream sent a jolt through my veins and I took hold of my wand in that very moment, ready for anything. What I didn't expect was him to be shouting about Hagrid and Umbridge. Leaving my telescope I leaned over the edge of the railings. We were high above the ground but the clear night let the moonlight brightly beam down, illuminating the scene. At what a scene it was.
Umbridge had taken on a new level of low. She, with her flock of what can only be aurors, tried to apprehend Hagrid. Their castings of several spells bounced off of him easily enough due to his half-giant blood. His own sloppy castings flew from his Umbrella as he tried to flee. His yells at the injustice could be heard even to our height and it really was injustice. Hagrid hadn't done anything to warrant such a thing.
McGonagall flew in screaming at Umbridge for the cruelty being done to her fellow friend and teacher. With her wand in hand she sent countless of protection charms around her and Hagrid. Her screams were muffled as they reached our ears but I could tell she tried to stop the dueling. She had no such luck.
The moment the aurors sent their stunners she didn't have enough time to cast herself another protective shield. They hit her full on and she crumpled to the ground with a thud. Her fall was dramatic and I could hear everyone gasp. My own breath was caught as I stared at her fallen form. It was a horrible sight. Her limbs were spread out, somewhat disjointed as she laid on the soft grass. She was a strong witch, a bit aged but strong. It was a shock to my system to see her in such a state.
The instructor tried to command order back to the examination but I could hear in his voice his own shock at the brutality. The exam ended in hushed whispers over the event after some persuasion from the examiner. Harry's and Ron's retelling and opinion was told around the common room making everyone there turn to shock. It was the clear emotion of the night it seemed.
As everyone headed to bed I sneaked out of the tower once again to go back to Severus. He was unusually up still in his night clothes and his normal robes covering him. At this time he was already in bed with a book or journal in hand waiting for my return. He looked angry. No he looked furious, completely maddened, certainly over the night's event.
"Severus?" I said cautiously. As if my call was the rupturing of the damn he began his furious rant. It was something I had suspected would happen. He was much more easily angered these past few days. Everyday that passed the closer the day will come. The day all hell will break loose. We prepared as much as we could but everything always has the possibility of going horribly wrong. The Fates could change and someone else could die. Someone like me or Luna.
His words spat out like a volcano. Severus face turned sour as he explained to me the state of McGonagall.
Seven. It was always that number seven. Seven stunners to the chest. No wonder she fell. Seven stunners sent her to the infirmary with her heart barely hanging on. Seven stunners nearly caused her heart to fail. Seven stunners caused such a strong witch to be sent to St. Mungo's for further observation once she was stabilized. Seven stunners were all it took.
"Are you done?" I asked as he had taken a long pause in his rant. He nodded his head slowly taking deep breaths in order to calm himself. "She will be alright though? Nothing permanent?"
"She will be making a full recovery though it will take several weeks," he muttered.
"So you are deputy to the headmistress?" I questioned.
"Yes," he whispered tentatively looking at me wondering where I was going with this.
"As deputy, your floo should be open am I correct?"
"No, you are not," he said bluntly as if knowing my line of thought. I pursed my lips and he continued. "She keeps only her own open now."
"I see. I suppose we will be using brooms once again." I muttered begrudgingly. As fine I was on a broom I still didn't prefer it. Apparating was so much easier, except I wasn't supposed to be able to. I wasn't supposed to be doing a lot of things. "I'm tired," I commented dryly.
I let Severus follow me back to the bedroom as I took out a nightgown from the drawers. By the time I had come back form the bathroom completely ready for sleep Severus was already in bed waiting. With his arms wrapped around me I let his grip tighten on me. No matter what he said, he was scared. No matter what the others said, they were scared. No matter what I said, I was completely and utterly terrified. Because with only two days left of school left there was only those two days for the fight to begin.