Please note that I do not own Dungeons and Dragons,their relevant editions, Pathfinder or Harry Potter. Dungeons and Dragons are owned by Wizards of the Coasts, Pathfinder is owned by Paizo and Harry Potter and its franchises are owned by JK Rowling. The following story is just for my enjoyment and hopefully yours as well.
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Chapter 12: Mind Trip
Umbridge sat down in the office that was usually used by DADA professors. As the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, she could have taken the Headmaster's office, which was only her rightful due but she couldn't. Try as she might, even the air in that room had the presence of Dumbledore. While she didn't consider herself superstitious –a common belief, even among wizards and witches- she also was pragmatic. Who knew what awful things Dumbledore kept hidden in that office of his? He had held the position for quite a long time and could have cultivated any number of secret traps that could trigger without the proper password or spell. Better to leave it for now and concentrate on the real matter at hand.
In her pink room, on her pink desk, sheets of paper detailed attacks, assaults and acts of hooliganism both mundane and magical. She had lost full a quarter of House Slytherin to the ungrateful delinquents of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Despite the large numbers of perpetrators being sent into detention and even a few cases of students about to be expelled, the attacks were continuing, though not as much as the past few weeks.
The attacks had been tapering out, on both sides, though she couldn't understand why. The Slytherins she picked for patrols still had not caught any of the mysterious members of the mystery group, which was whispered to be called Dumbledore's Army and at this point, she found it to be mocking tribute left by the former Headmaster.
She hated that the students did not conform to her orders. Didn't these uncivilised brats see that she wanted only for them to follow civilised people? That's how one moved through life and all the challenges that came with it. Follow orders, enjoy your position regardless whatever it is and stick to the course. That's how she succeeded in life and by God that should be good enough for Hogwarts!
There was a knock at the door and she called for the person to enter. As expected, Draco Malfoy came on time for their scheduled meeting. More and more in the past few weeks she had begun to rely on the young Malfoy's help. He was a good student, no, a good Slytherin and was one who followed the rules. He knew the way the world worked and stayed the course. It was for those reasons as well as the fact he displayed contempt for the other Houses that she chose him to be her second.
It made things easier and she found comforting that she could have at least someone to rely on. She sat up a little straighter, feeling that presence again. It occurred a few months back, on and off, as if she were being watched. However despite her spells, she found nothing. She feared it was Ira Gold and his alien magic affecting her but the man was gone from Hogwarts and the world if his extended absence was anything to go by.
The sensation of being watched though had increased in recent months with all the attacks but she hoped it would stop. It was distracting and she didn't like it one bit but if necessary she would endure it as she did adversity. She motioned for Draco to sit down and he did so with a sardonic smile on his face.
Her anger flared but she held it back. She didn't know why as she could have reprimanded him for his insolence but it didn't seem worth it. Umbridge couldn't spare to alienate her one ally among the students and she didn't want to go to all the trouble to cultivate another among the current batch of Slytherins.
"What is the general disposition among the students?" she asked, cutting to the point. No sense for frivolities at this point. He smiled, "The school is quiet and I do have it on good authority that it should remain so in the coming weeks. There may be a few incidents but other than that, Hogwarts should be fine"
Dolores frowned, "Incidents? Then we should stop them immediately regardless. I will not tolerate any challenges to my power, regardless of your source's claim" It occurred to her some time ago that she should have asked about the source but it never seemed like a good idea. Let Draco keep his secrets, after all he was entitled to a few.
Malfoy shrugged, "If you do order such a thing, you'll lose whatever goodwill with the rebels," Draco had begun to use that infuriating word, as if they were in a war, "and they will continue to launch their night-time wars. They may even accelerate measures"
"Accelerate?! Then we'll crush them and hack them down to the roots! Call up every Slytherin you can muster and send them out into the halls in droves!" Dolores couldn't take any more of this. The 'Civil War of Hogwarts' was beginning to take its toll on her health and career. Already rumours and whispers were going around the Ministry and it was only a matter of time before Cornelius came calling. At such a point, even the Minister couldn't protect one of his most loyal colleagues and she would be left to burn at the political stake.
Draco gave her a smile, "I don't think we need to go so far, Headmistress. Let us keep our cool and for now maintain the status quo. If anything untoward happens, then we can discuss a rational plan of action"
At first Dolores felt red-hot with rage that Malfoy disobeyed but as she listened, she found logic and rationality in his words. It wasn't that he was saying anything she hadn't already thought of but when the boy said it, it sounded like the smartest thing she had ever heard. She nodded and concluded the meeting since there wasn't anything else to talk about. Draco gave her a mocking smile and left. She wanted to reprimand him for that but the presence was gone from the room and she decided not to punish anyone. Silence and some rest would be rather preferable.
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As Draco stalked the hallway, he saw some students walking past on their way to class who waved at him. He didn't notice their House colours and just waved back. He was in a good mood and Pease was feeling rather satisfied with himself as well. Months ago when Hermione asked him to send Pease on a spying mission, he had grudgingly agreed. He had wanted to keep the imp close at hand in case he needed the familiar immediately.
Of course the spying had not gone so well at first. The crazy pink lady was suspicious of being watched and despite Pease's invisible state; his otherworldly presence could not be hidden. But the months of spying had not paid off since they couldn't even prevent the war within Hogwarts.
But the months of sneaking around had paid off, somewhat. Pease had a few ways to get into the office and in recent weeks had been administering a Hell-produced drug that slowly weakened the mind to enchantments. He did so by pouring the pink coloured drug into her sugar. For some reason the woman used pink sugar in her tea and coffee and fortunately, Hell produced the mind-weakening drug in a variety of colours.
It had been easy to purchase the drug as well. Some entrepreneur devils were openly selling it for hard currency and Draco had some gold that Ira gave all his apprentices as a monthly stipend. The drug was always made invisible by Draco and when Pease got the chance, he always left a little more in her sugar cup.
The drug allowed Draco to control her mind through compulsion spells if he so wished but that wasn't the plan. Rather he used spells that increased his own personal charm and charisma to influence her. If he used Dominations and such, that could have its own repercussions if she were discovered to be mind-controlled.
The drug was also potent so they couldn't put too much otherwise she would be brain dead and that wasn't what the Hand wanted. After being informed of what they were planning, Hermione had not liked it one bit but Luna was accepting of their actions. After a short time, the diviner was resigned to their actions and they had begun to plan their 'conquest of Hogwarts'
With a Headmistress under their thumb and a goodly number of the general populace being maintained under their supervision, they were relatively free to act as their own whims desired. Of course this could have its own consequences if they were found out. Luckily though in the next few weeks the attacks would stop and everything would be under the Right Hand's control.
All that was needed now was for Hermione to do her part. Pease had already given her a potent amount of the mind drug and hopefully she would have the guts to carry it out. If not, well then Draco wouldn't blame her. After all Ron was a dear friend, at least he was a year ago or so. But devils and wizardry were time consuming and if necessary, Pease could administer the drug so that Dumbledore's Army was under their control. For the safety of the children and the school, of course.
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Hermione felt nervous but smothered the tightness in her guts away. She needed to do this because the alternative was letting Ron and the D.A continuing their conflict with the Slytherins and god-knows who else if they became inclined to commit more acts of violence. And she was sure they would do so. She didn't doubt Ron at leading the D.A but what if pressed into certain situations, he acted in a more violent manner. And if he did so and found that got him results, what was to stop him from continuing until there was nothing left of the boy she knew?
She stopped blaming him for what happened at the Ball but she couldn't help herself from questioning his character. She waited in the Room of Requirement, the space still decorated as a duelling chamber but now complete with two chairs and a table. She had conjured some tea and slipped the drug into the tea. The drug had made no visible change in the drink as she stirred it so she added more until the entire packet was put into the cup. She expected some hissing noise or smoke pouring out of the fine china but nothing happened. The Hell drug was truly insidious.
A side door opened and in came Ron. He looked at her and smiled while she motioned for him to sit down and have some tea. Without even asking about it, he downed the whole cup in one go. She felt herself flinch. Ron was supposed to slowly drink it not inhale it in one go. He sat down and massaged his temples. She wondered if the drug had taken effect so quickly.
"Ron, are you okay?" she asked. He nodded and replied, "I think so. Got a splitting headache all of a sudden but I think that's because of Umbridge or maybe what she's planning" Hermione frowned, "And what's that?"
Ron shrugged and filled his cup, "She's not planning anything actually from what I've heard and that what's frightening me. I don't know what game she's planning but I'm sure it's going to be big. She hasn't given up yet and neither has Dumbledore's Army. We aren't just going to lay down our wands like that, not with all the progress we've made since"
She nodded sombrely. Things were going as planned. Draco had Umbridge under his thumb, matters at school were going to be cool down and now Ron needed to be pacified, "You know Ron, I think we should stop" At that Weaseley's eyes seem to glaze over and he nodded slowly and Hermione continued, "we've made significant gains and Umbridge probably means it. We won't have to worry about her and we can even expand the D.A with the downtime she's going to enforce"
Ron slowly nodded, "Yes, I think you're right" His speech pattern reminded her of a year ago when the ginger boy was drunk but this time it sounded more lax, as if he were in a waking dream. She nodded and got up, "I can count on you to keep the others under control right. Remember, we can keep our strength, even improve it and Umbridge won't be the wiser"
He nodded and gave her a stupid looking smile at that. A while ago she might have been horrified but now she only pitied him. She walked away without even saying goodbye.
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Harry was in his dorm room, now empty of everyone due to his own enchantments. He wanted the private space as he and Hermione sometimes cuddled together and he wasn't comfortable with others in the room. So the Boy-Who-Lived used various spells to 'convince' the dorm mates to stay with others and now he had all the space for himself.
No one knew about it besides him and those affected. If asked those spell bound students would reply that they had moved willingly or some other excuse. He was getting better at casting enchantment spells thanks to Draco and Neville's aid. Together the three worked together and were slowly increasing in strength.
Hermione wasn't here as Harry wanted to be alone. Now the abjurer was in a circle, drawn in silver, a potent abjuration against the concept of evil itself. He needed this protection because he wasn't sure what exactly he was doing. The past few months had been straining his mental defences which Harry attributed to Voldemort. At first the probing had been like ant bites. Painful but nothing too serious. Now it had increased in intensity and the Initiate wondered if something else was at play. So he exercised his mental control and concentrated on what he perceived as a link between him and the Dark Lord.
He felt fire across his mind but the pain dulled instantly, his Mind Blank withstanding the intrusion or was it defence mechanism? The pain flared again but it wasn't so bad this time. He pushed on and wondered what his parent's killer could want from him. Then he saw something, a word or an image and it whispered to him, "Prophecy"
A shriek came after that word and Harry saw a white head, with yellow eyes like a snake and no nose at all in a harsh looking face. The abjurer willed the defences of his mind and the circle to shield him. The face came forward but broke against the iron wall of his protections and Harry flexed the shielding's. They burned the face and it shrieked again. The connection ended and Harry rose to full wakefulness.
That must have been Voldemort, reborn and in the flesh. Otherwise he could not have utilised the link in such a way. And it looked like he was after something, a prophecy of some sort. Perhaps it pertained to him as well since his fate was tied to that of the Dark Lord. He needed to tell the rest but first, he cast a Sending to Ira. His master needed to be in on this as well.
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