Chapter 17: New Year
You could have cut the air with a knife. Everybody looked back and forth between Jones and Dumbledore.
"They are at Hogwarts?" confirmed Dumbledore, "The floo is closed?" Jones nodded. "Then they are safe. I will contact the ministry. They can send aurors to Surrey. We need somewhere to send Petunia. She can't stay here. The boys can spend the rest of the holidays here."
"I'd like to talk with the three of them," said Lupin. Severus nodded.
"Do I need to remind you of word?" asked Jones.
"Only for information," said Severus, "I'll even promise not to shout."
Harry and Dudley heard footsteps in the corridor. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Lupin and Jones came into the room.
"Mrs Dursley," said Dumbledore, "You'll have to come with me. The muggle repelling charms will start to assert themselves again soon, and it'd be better if you leave. We'll floo to Diagon Alley and then I'll escort you to somewhere safe. The boys will be staying at Hogwarts for the remainder of the holiday. I realise this is all a bit sudden. I will explain as we go, but time is of the essence."
"But, but..." began Petunia.
Dumbledore had already thrown floo powder into the fire, "Diagon Alley!" the flames licked green, "Come along, Mrs Dursley." Petunia had no choice but to follow.
This left Harry and Dudley in the room with the three remaining staff and Healer Jones. Jones sat down at his desk, picked up a quill and parchment and waited.
Snape was clearly not happy. He leaned his back against a bookcase and watched the boys. McGonagall and Lupin sat in the available armchairs.
"Harry, Dudley, Good afternoon," said Lupin, in order to break some of the tension in the room.
"What's going on?" asked Dudley, "Where's Professor Dumbledore going with Mum?"
"Petunia can't stay in Hogwarts for any length of time, I'm sure you know about the muggle repelling charms, Mr Dursley," said Minerva, avoiding answering his real question.
Snape didn't say anything.
"Boys," said Lupin, "There's no easy way to tell you this, but we believe that Privet Drive isn't safe for you at the moment. We believe that Sirius Black is there." Harry and Dudley's eyes went wide.
"Mum isn't going back there, is she?"
Minerva shook her head, "No, the Headmaster is taking her elsewhere. Aurors are being sent to Little Whinging. When it's safe, your school things will be brought here. Neither of you will be returning to Privet Drive this holiday."
"Uncle Vernon is supposed to be home tomorrow. Just for the day, then he's off to Liverpool for work again."
"I will contact him and make sure he knows not to come home," said Jones, making a note on the parchment in front of him.
"What about Hedwig and Loki?" asked Harry.
"After the aurors have been to the house they will be brought here with your things," said Jones. "Not before."
"Why is he there? Is he after me? How do you know he's there?" asked Harry.
Snape joined in the conversation. "We presume he's there for you, yes. He was spotted by a reliable source. Beyond that, you do not need to know."
"But..." started Harry.
"Don't argue with me on this, Mr Potter. When and if we deem it suitable for you to know more, you will be told," growled Snape.
Harry picked at his fingers. Snape was annoyed. The Healer had clearly told him about the flying.
"W... Why did you need to tell them about the Firebolt, Mr Jones?" asked Harry meekly.
Snape glared at Harry. Harry felt very small.
"Mr Potter," said Minerva, saving the Healer from answering or lying, "When the Aurors bring your things, you will not be getting the Firebolt immediately..."
Dudley opened his mouth before Harry, "Why not?" he demanded, "You promised!" shouted Dudley at Jones.
"... Because," said Minerva, cutting Dudley off, "It will be inspected for curses and charms first. Harry received an anonymous package the day before Black appeared in the neighbourhood, and we know you were seen by at least one person while you were flying it in the middle of the muggle countryside. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Sirius Black sent you that gift to lure you into doing just that. Is it, Mr Dursley?"
Harry and Dudley looked shocked. They hadn't considered the possibilities of where the broom had come from.
"Um," said Dudley.
"And Mr Dursley," said Snape, silkily, "If I ever hear you speak to an adult like you just did again, you'll be scrubbing cauldrons until you leave school, do you understand?"
"Sorry, Professor, Sorry, Mr Jones," said Dudley quickly. Snape had promised not to hand out any penalties for anything at Privet Drive. He'd made no such promises about behaviour now that they were back at Hogwarts.
"Could he have sent it?" asked Harry, more than a little bit horrified.
"Easily, Mr Potter, assuming he knew where you lived. While we don't know that he knows that, and your house is strongly warded, it's better to be safe than sorry, don't you think?" he growled, still clearly annoyed with both boys.
Harry nodded, not speaking.
"Boys, there are a few students in school over the holidays," said Minerva, "There are a couple of fourth year Gryffindors, but only N.E.W.T. Slytherins, so I suggest you both stay in Gryffindor for the holidays. Harry, your things will be taken there, unless you've an objection?"
"Thank you, no, I'd like that," said Harry, also aware that putting physical distance between him and his Head of House for a while would be beneficial. Snape had promised not to punish him, he hadn't said he wouldn't make it clear how irresponsible Harry's actions had been. He was going to avoid talking to Snape for a while.
Harry and Dudley made themselves very quiet and small at dinner that evening. There was only one table set up in the Great Hall. The staff tended to sit at one end and the students the other. Harry and Dudley sat at the very far end away from the staff and only spoke quietly. They knew they weren't flavour of the month. Dumbledore was back for dinner and beckoned the boys over as they were getting up to leave.
"Dudley, your mother has gone to stay with an old school friend of hers who lives in Shrewsbury. She will be quite safe. An auror has been assigned to quietly observe the house she's staying in. No-one will know she's there. Your Uncle is staying an extra night in Cornwall before traveling on for his work. Both of you, your things have been transferred to the Gryffindor dorm. Hedwig is up in the owlery and the exceptionally cute kitten is currently in Minerva's office. Minerva went with an auror to collect your things. It seems your new familiar was a hit with her." Harry bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. "Do I need to point out that there's likely to be more than one member of staff not happy with your actions yesterday and perhaps you'd be best to keep a very low profile for a while?" asked Dumbledore, glancing at the retreating back of Severus Snape leaving the hall.
"We've worked that out already, sir," said Harry, guiltily.
"Good, I'm glad school is educational," said Dumbledore drily. "Enjoy the rest of the holidays!"
Harry and Dudley did enjoy the rest of their holidays. Dudley asked Dumbledore for the address where his mother was staying and Dumbledore provided it, so Hegwig could take letters to and from them to Petunia. Petunia was glad to know the boys were safe. Harry wasn't daft enough to ask anything about the Firebolt. He flew a couple of times on his Nimbus broom but didn't do anything reckless and stayed near the castle. Both boys made sure they avoided Umbridge, which wasn't too difficult as she rarely even joined everyone for meals. She ate mostly in her room.
Lupin escorted them to Hogsmeade one morning and they stocked up on Honeydukes and had a nice time just looking around. But the castle during the holidays was simply a nice place to explore. Harry now understood why the twins enjoyed navigating the castle. There were so many things to see and places to explore.
On New Year's Eve, the older students were invited to the Great Hall for the evening. Fourth year and below were asked to stay in their common rooms, but clearly no-one was going to care what time anyone went to bed.
The staff all came to the hall to see in the new year, or see out the old one depending on your mindset. The older students got an education into exactly how much alcohol teachers can imbibe given little excuse. Filius was very merry all evening, and Minerva could drink whiskey without seemingly being affected. Trelawnley was more than a little merry. Wasted was a closer description. Even Umbridge had a drink. But Umbridge and drink weren't a good mix. She didn't get merry, she got cattier. Her inhibitions lowered and she told more than one person what she thought. A number of students found out what she really thought of their essays in DADA.
It was after 1am when the students went to bed and the staff ambled off back to their quarters.
"Is someone going to give Sybil a hand to get back to her rooms?" asked Minerva, a little uneasily, "She looks like she could sleep there!"
The staff remaining in the room looked across at Sybil, who was falling asleep in her chair.
Severus sighed, "I'll do it. Again. It's every year, you know. Just once, I'd like it if she showed a bit of restraint."
He walked over to Sybil and quite gently helped her out of her chair, "Come on, Sybil, time to go!"
"Oooh, Severus, aren't you strong!" giggled Sybil.
The rest of the staff fled so they didn't have to see the expression on Severus' face.
Minerva stopped on a second floor corridor and looked out at the courtyard below. Severus was slowly escorting Sybil to her tower. Severus was right. It was every year, and it was usually him that ended up escorting her back to her room as he was the most sober and able to help her up the stairs. Minerva heard girlish giggling rising up from below. She clearly saw Severus remove Sybil's hand from his behind at least twice in their journey across the courtyard. That was the penalty for being the only good looking eligible bachelor under the age of 40 at Hogwarts! She smiled and continued on to her quarters.
Next day Minerva went to the staffroom (late in the morning after a lie-in) and found Sybil drinking a strong coffee.
"Good Morning, Sybil," said Minerva.
"Good morning, Minerva," said Sybil, "Did I make a fool of myself again last night? I never mean to, it just happens."
"Filius' whiskey shots are the same every year, Sybil, I think we're just getting a little too old for them now," replied Minerva.
"Is that a polite way of saying yes I did?" asked Sybil. "You know, I can't help but think I'm forgetting something important about last night. Something I heard, or saw, or did, and I just can't remember."
Minerva hoped Sybil didn't remember Severus escorting her home. She'd be mortified. As would Severus if she ever mentioned it to him. So it was very unfortunate that Severus came into the staffroom just at that moment.
"Severus, can you remember me saying anything odd to you yesterday?" asked Sybil.
"Saying? No, Sybil, you didn't say anything odd to me." Minerva had to hide behind her coffee. Severus did not know she'd seen them crossing the courtyard last night.
"There's something I can't remember. Maybe it was something else. It'll come to me. Are you sure, Severus?" she asked.
"Quite sure, Sybil," said Severus, and having poured a coffee, looked round, and realising there was no sane conversation to be had in the room with Sybil present, left again.
"I'm sure I said something to him," said Sybil to Minerva.
"Mmmm" said Minerva, not trusting herself to speak.
"I remember something..." she said slowly, "Oh, Minerva, he had to walk me home again, didn't he?"
"Um hm," agreed Minerva, hoping she wouldn't remember anything else.
"Did I...? No, I must have imagined it," said Sybil, going pink around the ears. "That's not it though. Someone told me something. Something important. I can't remember," said Sybil irritatedly.
Umbridge woke on New Year's Day with a hangover. She rarely drank. And the irritating half-breed kept plying her with drink after drink of those whiskey shots. She summoned an elf.
"Bring me some scrambled eggs on toast. Be quick about it. And an iced water." The elf hurried away to do her bidding.
Umbridge had enjoyed the first part of the evening. She'd had a drink, perhaps two, and she'd told people what she really thought. That had been fun. The students had looked hurt, but that didn't matter. The truth hurts. Then things got a bit fuzzy. She'd ended up talking to that total waste of space, Trelawney. Trelawney was telling her all about the importance of her visions. What total codswallop they were! And Umbridge had got fed up with her. She'd demanded Trewlawney foretell the future. Could she see the vision of the future for the Hogwarts staff? Was it accurate? What could she see? When Trelawney couldn't predict the future, Umbridge had enjoyed telling her she was on borrowed time. Trelawney had looked like a rabbit in headlights.
Umbridge's recollections of the evening went a bit fuzzy then. She'd carried on talking to Trelawney. She remembered saying that they were better off without Hagrid. She remembered Trelawney being shocked that that was Umbridge's attitude towards the man. She was even more shocked when Umbridge had called him a half-breed out loud. She remembered talking about Flitwick in the same way. She said she wished he'd left before the holidays, that he'd been classified nuts. Sybil had leapt to his defense as expected.
Shit. She'd said she'd use a stronger potion next time and she'd stalked off saying they'd be better off without any of these idiots teaching here.
Umbridge quickly ate her breakfast and went to find Trelawney. She found her in the staffroom nursing what looked like her fourth cup of coffee. There was no-one else in the room.
"Delores, Good morning!" said Trelawney, brightly. The coffees were working.
"Trelawney," said Umbridge. Umbridge made a point of looking at the coffee mugs strewn on the table in front of her.
"Haha, oh that, yes, I can't remember a thing from last night. Filius' drinks are getting worse. I remember eating dinner, greeting the students, chatting with Pomona, but not much of anything after that. Midnight might as well have not happened. I remember Severus taking me back to my tower. But everything in between is a blur. How about you? Did you have any of Filius' drinks?"
"No, Sybil, I didn't," said Umbridge, feeling happy enough for a moment to use her actual name.
Umbridge got back to her quarters and was genuinely annoyed with herself. She'd nearly been caught by her own hubris. With such important work still to do for the minister it was imperative she not fail.
So far this week, she'd made observations of staff. She'd called on them when they'd been in their offices, a simpering question here and there about a student, or an idea about teaching a particular topic. It'd given her ample opportunity to look around their offices for things like where they kept their post. It'd mean that she'd have more of an idea where to look when it came to rifling later.
Dumbledore was tricky though, he didn't invite drop-ins and Umbridge had yet to come up with a good reason to visit. Her last visit to his office still grated. A reason would be sure to present itself when the students returned. Failing that, the squib Filch has keys to everywhere.