Chapter twenty-seven: breaking point
January continued with lots of meetings for Dumbledore's Army. As much as she despised the name, Alicia really enjoyed helping out the students. The things she learned from the duelling sessions she had with Remus she passed on to the students. She could see that some of them were really far behind in protective spells, which worried her. But with every passing meeting they got better.
Her bond with Harry had grown into a mutual understanding. Harry was no longer angry, but he also stopped searching her out for private conversations. Alicia decided it was for the best; at least she didn't have to betray him anymore and spill the beans to Dumbledore.
Another positive side effect from her time spend with the DA was that she had less time to hang around Dolores. At some point the witch clad in pink asked her what she was so busy with. Alicia had given her a slightly reproachful look, saying that she was taking action to work Dumbledore out of the school. Dolores had stared with wide eyes.
'For you, of course,' Alicia had hastened to add. 'I'll move him out of the way, for you.'
From that moment on, Dolores no longer questioned her when she left the room. She was sure Alicia was her right hand now.
There was still no news from Hagrid. At this point Alicia was starting to worry. What if something had gone wrong on his mission? It annoyed her that Dumbledore refused to tell her where he was. She supposed she had lost her privileges with him.
On a cold afternoon in the last week of January, Alicia stood at the edge of the forest. Her company was a small herd of mooncalves that she was taking care of for a while. She had requested them from a magical farmer to teach the students about them, but her true reason for requesting them was a lot more personal. No one could feel sad with all those bright eyes looking up at you. The creatures were incredibly cute.
Charles was circling the herd. Dragons were known for feeding on mooncalves. And even though he was a dog now, he could still bite them.
'Down Charles,' Alicia warned. 'Or I'm chaining you up.'
Charles whined but retreated.
'What the bloody hell are these things? Sheep?'
Alicia looked up to see the notorious Fred and George walk up to her. She smiled. 'Mooncalves. With some luck I can show them to you next class. What you got there?'
Both boys were carrying a piece of paper. Where the one was empty, the other was filled with ink letters and moving photographs. The twins shared a look.
'We sort of got good news and bad news. Well, bad news and a sort of funny little thing to distract you from the bad news,' George said in a way of apology.
Alicia sighed and stepped out of the enclosure of the mooncalves. She dipped her hands in a bucket to clean them. She pulled her gloves back on quickly.
'Okay. Tell me,' she stated as she reached the two.
'Which one first?' George asked. Alicia shrugged.
'I think we should start with the nice thing George. Who knows how angry Alicia can get and what she is capable of,' Fred said, actually sounding a bit scared.
Alicia chuckled and placed her hands on her hips. 'Oh dear. Am I that terrifying?'
'Well, they did name you fire girl in a dragon camp.'
Alicia nodded slowly. 'Good point. I haven't really lived up to that reputation lately, now have I?'
'You are kidding right?' George laughed. 'Do you have any idea how much you have helped us out in the last weeks? All the tips and tricks how to stay alive? Nessie, you might have already saved our lives without knowing it! You are breaking all the rules to help us out. You have always been good at that, bending the rules to do the right thing. You are a bit of a legend around Hogwarts and you clearly know the castle and the grounds very well.'
Alicia raised an eyebrow. 'Where is this going?'
The twins shared another mischievous look. 'Well, it was bothering us and Harry for a while now. But it felt weird just to remove it. We wanted to change it. So we did.'
George held out the blank piece of paper. Alicia took it in her gloved hands.
'Did Lupin ever tell you about this neat little trick of them?' Fred chimed.
Her fingers moved over the paper to fold it open. 'Is this the Marauders map?'
'Ha! We figured you knew it. I have to say, your husband is kind of a genius. Open it,' Fred said happily.
Alicia realised she hadn't yet opened the map by herself. But she knew what to do. She took her wand from her inside pocket and pointed the tip to the paper.
'I solemnly swear I am up to no good.'
The ink started blotching out the standard text of the map. Alicia looked at the twins, who were wearing identical smirks on their faces.
'I know the map. I have seen it before. What are you showing it to me for?'
'Just look,' they told her.
Alicia looked. She was about to fold the map open to watch the dots moving around the castle, when something caught her eye. Her eyes grew big in surprise when she spotted it. The text on the front page was different. There were always four nicknames on the front. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.
But it no longer said Wormtail.
'Messrs and Mrs Moony, Nessie, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present the Marauders map,' Alicia read out loud. She tried very hard not to cry.
'Harry was done staring at the name of a traitor. He asked us whether we could remove it. But we had a better idea,' George told her.
When she looked up at them, it was impossible to keep her eyes dry. She cried happily as she drew her arms around them both. 'This is so awesome! You have no idea how much this means to me. It is just…thanks guys.'
'You're welcome,' they chorused.
Alicia was enjoying the warmth of their embrace and the warmth of their gesture right before her body stiffened. She leaned back to look at them.
'But this was the good news.'
They both looked uncomfortable. They shuffled around and stopped looking directly at her.
'We figured it was better you heard it from us. I'm sure Umbridge will soon gloat about it to you,' Fred mumbled. 'Alicia, we are really sorry. But I don't think we can do anything about it now.'
Finally Fred handed over the newspaper. It was folded over to the second page. There was a picture of a sign that was placed in a neat-looking window. The sign said: WEREWOLVES AREN'T WELCOME HERE. Alicia started reading.
ANTI-WEREWOLF LEGISLATION FURTHER INSTATED IN WIZARDING WORLD
Two years ago Ministry of Magic Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge instated the anti-werewolf legislation. Where would we be today, without her firm hand to ban werewolves from most workplaces? Finally employers had the right to ask employees whether they were infected with the lycanthropy virus and could refuse them a job based on that.
Many workplaces, varied from retail to banks and institutes, applauded the new law. 'I've been working with a werewolf for four months,' a spokesperson from Gringotts tells the Daily Prophet. 'We had no idea that he was infected. But after a while the monthly sick days were starting to get noticed by one of my colleagues. At first we couldn't do anything about the situation, but then the new legislation was instated. Finally we, and our families were safe again.'
Nevertheless the great impact the legislation had two years ago, Dolores Umbridge was not yet satisfied. She has pushed the rules further, and yesterday a new rule was added. The legislation no longer only covers workplaces; werewolves can now also be rejected from public places, establishments like shops and restaurants, suburbs and even complete towns. Wimbourne is the first proclaimed werewolf-free wizard village in England. Many citizens pushed the local government for the ban on lycanthropes. 'And now, with the help of Dolores Umbridge, that was finally made possible. Our community wishes to thank her for standing up for our rights and the safety of our children!' says the head of the local community.
Dolores Umbridge herself, responds modestly. 'It is only a first step. Werewolves are the worst among them for sure. But why should we accept half-giants? Why isn't there a ban on breeding between wizards and goblins? Why are we allowing centaurs to terrorize our forests?' Miss Umbridge, who is currently teaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, says she sees too much acceptance towards half-breeds. 'This school, along with our entire community, could do with a good sweep.'
This morning there was a small crowd of werewolf-lovers who were protesting in front of the Ministry of Magic. With slogans supporting werewolves into our society they did a desperate cry for attention from our minister. The group was quickly taken care of by the Aurors.
'The future is looking bright,' Fudge states this morning from his own office in an exclusive interview with the Daily Prophet. 'A future with less dangerous creatures haunting our children. Now everyone can live, shop, eat and stroll around town while knowing they are safe.'
'Alicia?'
She had been standing so still while she read the article. The picture was one that would haunt her for a long time. The words, so twisted to fit the view of the government, seemed like knives in her skin. The problem was that people believed that propaganda. Most people would actually cheer for a law like this. Most people thought werewolves were dangerous every day of the month.
'Alicia, maybe we can-,' Fred started, but Alicia was already pushing past them. She whistled and a second later Charles was at her heels.
'Alicia!' they yelled after her. But she wasn't listening. There was a burning rage within her now.
Too far. She went too far.
The Great Hall was packed for lunch. The sun was trying its best to warm up the cold walls of the castle, but soon it would set again. There was a pleasant amount of chatter going on as most students were chewing away their food while quickly scribbling down homework or talking to friends.
The doors had been left ajar, but Alicia pushed them open widely with her magic as she entered. She was wearing her usual attire of fireproof robes in a dark purple colour. The heels of her boots clicked ominously against the stone floor. Her long blonde hair was braided with multiple smaller braids that twisted around each other in the back of her neck. Her stride was fierce, her eyes murderous.
Most of the chatter died down when they noticed her walking in with Charles beside her. Charles held his head low and snarled softly, clearly as ready to attack as she was. Alicia didn't look around at the students. She didn't notice Harry, Ron and Hermione who were looking rather disappointed they would lose their duelling instructor. Because they already knew. They knew what was going to happen.
Who also knew, but still thought he could stop her, was Dumbledore. He raised from his chair at the High table with a dangerous dark look in his eyes.
'Professor Doreen. Think carefully before you-,'
'I quit.'
Now it was completely silent in the hall filled with people. A fork clattered to the ground somewhere.
'I think you should reconsider,' he told her, trying his mind-tricks on her.
Charles growled. It was something Alicia wished to do also.
'Hem hem,' said that familiar annoying voice. Alicia looked around to Dolores Umbridge. She stared the smaller woman down in the way she had wished to stare her down since the day she met her. 'My dear, what is all the fuzz about?'
In a way of responding, Alicia threw the newspaper on her plate. The paper was on fire now. A circle formed around the words Dolores Umbridge.
She looked up. 'I don't understand. I thought you would rejoice in the news of the stricter legislation. I really don't understand this behaviour Miss Doreen.'
Alicia glided away from Dumbledore to stand in front of Dolores, who was still sitting in her chair. Alicia leaned her knuckles on the table and gave Dolores a look that could darken the sky.
'My name,' Alicia hissed, 'Is Alicia Lupin! You will do well to remember it Dolores. It's the name you will hear when your pure-blood fanatic friends whisper in fear. It's the name that is going to put an end to tyranny of you and the Ministry. If all goes well, it is the name that people say when someone asks who put you in your grave. I'm not afraid of you, Dolores. You repel me.'
Alicia spat in her food. Dolores was too shocked to respond. Alicia walked along the table, looking at the astounded faces of Filius, Pomona, Poppy, Minerva….even Severus. Only Dumbledore wasn't surprised. He was calmly furious.
'You can't control me Albus,' Alicia stated a lot calmer than she had been in front of Dolores. She pulled a ring out of her pocket, wiped some dust of it and placed it around her finger. She wiggled it in front of his face. 'I told you that day after the dragon task, when you tried to recruit me. I am not going to be your pawn. You should have realised I was never going to listen to your ridiculous demands.'
Dumbledore stood very still. 'I guess I should have.'
After one final venomous look in his eyes she turned on her heels, ready to leave.
'You can't go!' said a squeaky voice. A student raised from his seat. 'You are one of the best teachers here!'
Alicia recognized him as a member of Dumbledore's Army. His remark put a smile on her face. 'You're gonna have to figure it out without me kid.'
Some other student – must be a Gryffindor – stood up and started clapping. Soon a group around him followed. Then more and more students were standing, clapping. Alicia walked between the students as they cheered and gave her high-fives.
'Now wait just a minute!' the high-pitched voice of Dolores rang through the hall. A lot of students quiet down when they spotted her walking behind Alicia, trying to catch up.
Alicia slowed her step but didn't turn around. 'Don't provoke me, Dolores.'
'You are NOT just stating you are involved with a werewolf and then leaving like that! I should take you to the Aurors!' she yelled after Alicia.
Alicia decided to ignore it. She kept walking, when she was suddenly frozen in place. Dolores had frozen her body.
'Release me. Now,' Alicia warned.
A couple of students were quick to help to release her from the spell, but not before Dolores had caught up and was now blocking her way.
Alicia sighed. 'Final warning. Stand aside.'
'No! I will have order in this place! You lied to me! You pretended to help me but you were just one of them! One of Dumbledore's spies! I trusted you! But you actually were the lowest kind of person I can imagine! I will find you, and your filth of a husband and I will put you in jail!'
'Here it comes,' whispered Fred Weasley who was once more sitting at the table with his brother.
A second of silence passed before Alicia said something under her breath and moved her wand an inch. Charles, who was snarling at Dolores, started growing. His low snarl turned into a deep thundering growl as he transformed back into the beautiful dragon that he really was. He snaked his body around Alicia and leaned over the tables, where students were making quick retreats before they would get crushed. Charles folded his wings out. The tips were touching the walls on either side of the Great Hall.
His head lowered as he looked down at the tiny pink blip that was in his way. He roared right at her, throwing her back by the intensity of it.
Alicia looked down at the witch that had fallen over on her ass. She looked more dishevelled than ever. Her eyes were on the dragon, big and terrified.
'DRAGON!'
'Did she have a dragon with her the entire time?!'
Some people started screaming. Others were just staring in awe. If Alicia could have seen past Charles, she would have seen Minerva looking positively gobsmacked.
'I warned you,' Alicia said with a shrug. Then she started climbing on Charles' back. She placed the tip of her wand to her neck to amplify her voice. 'And let this be a lesson for everyone! If you are openly discriminating werewolves, you will have to face me and my dragon one day! I will not kill you now, Dolores, no matter how much I want to. Let this be the clearest of warnings. Stand in my way again, and you will perish.'
Charles roared to emphasize her statement. Then he folded his wings in to walk through the doors. Alicia looked back towards Harry one last time, hoping he knew she was sorry to leave him. Harry looked at her, but he was too far away to read his expression.
Once outside, Charles took off into the sky.
They left Hogwarts behind them.