PART 2
Ch. 19- Primrose Avery, assistant to the High Inquisitor
I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO HARRY POTTER
Hermione, Harry, and Ron entered their transfiguration classroom and they all stopped speaking abruptly. Professor Umbridge stood in the corner of the classroom, a small clipboard in her hand. Close beside her sat Primrose Avery, the girl who had been named Professor Umbridge's personal assistant. Hermione watched her as she took her seat, the girl did not look up as any of them entered. She remained poised and serious. Ron Muttered excitedly to Harry about what Umbridge deserves, but Hermione felt unnerved. The ministry interfering at Hogwarts was weighing on her.
When Professor McGonagall entered the classroom, she did not acknowledge neither Professor Umbridge, nor her assistant.
"That will do." Professor McGonagall spoke strongly. "Mr. Finnigan, kindly come here and hand back the homework. Miss Brown, please take this box of mice, don't be silly girl, they won't hurt you. Hand one to each student- "A small cough interrupted Professor McGonagall's instruction of Lavender Brown. Everyone looked back at Umbridge.
"Hem hem." She coughed again. Seamus handed back the homework, his eyes on the student in front of him. Professor McGonagall continued as if she had not heard Professor Umbridge.
"Right then, everyone, listen closely. Mr. Thomas if you do that to the mouse again, I shall put you in detention. Most of you have successfully vanished your snails and even those who were left with a certain amount of shell have the gist of the spell. Today we shall be - " Once again Umbridge's cough interrupted.
"Hem hem," Professor Umbridge spoke in her girlish voice.
"Yes?" Professor McGonagall turned around to face her. The girl beside Umbridge remained impartial to the situation unfolding.
"I was just wondering, Professor, whether you had received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspec - "
"Obviously I received it, or I would have asked you what you are doing in my classroom," Professor McGonagall snapped and Umbridge turned to look at Primrose for a moment. Their eyes met and Primrose began to scribble on the sheet of parchment. "As I was saying, today we shall be practicing the altogether more difficult vanishment of mice. Now the vanishing Spell- "
"Hem hem." The ever so annoying cough interrupted her again.
"I wonder," Professor McGonagall began coldly, a new fury emanating from her. "How you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking." When the words escaped Professor McGonagall's lips, the classroom smiled, holding back laughter. Hermione watched carefully as the girl beside Umbridge continued to scribble furiously. Professor Umbridge herself only making notes here and there.
The Class continued as all their others had, except that every so often, Umbridge would whisper something to the girl beside her, who would then scribble again furiously. As the class ended, Professor Umbridge approached Professor McGonagall's desk. Harry had stopped walking out; Hermione and Ron followed his lead. The girl stood about a few feet behind Umbridge her quill waiting.
"How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" The girlish voice of Dolores Umbridge, spoke.
"Thirty-nine years this December," Professor McGonagall shut her bag.
Professor Umbridge made a note.
"Very well," Umbridge Spoke, "you will receive the results of your inspection in ten days' time."
"I can hardly wait," Professor McGonagall spoke as she walked towards the door. "Hurry up, you three," she added, sweeping Harry, Ron, and Hermione before her. Harry smiled at her, and she returned it, but Hermione still lingered for a moment.
"Primrose, be sure to send a copy of all your transcripts to Percy Weasley at the Ministry before our next class.
"Yes, Ma'am." She told her, strolling from the classroom with Umbridge. They both stared at Hermione as they left. Ron and Harry waited, perched on the wall across from the classroom. They all stared at Umbridge disappeared down one Hallway, while the girl stored the papers in her bag, looking around.
"Might you be able to point me in the direction of the Owlery?" She asked them and they looked back at her Surprised.
"I'm sure you're capable." Harry spat, kicking off the wall with Ron on his heels, but Hermione pushed back her shoulders and took a step towards the girl.
"It's a little confusing, I can show you the way, if you'd like?" Harry and Ron were too far to notice Hermione's actions. The girl nodded and together they walked in the opposite direction as the boys.
"Thank you." She said to Hermione.
"No problem." Hermoine said, nervously. "I don't believe we've ever been introduced." She told her, as they walked down the stairs.
"I know who you are." She told her, seriously. "Hermione Granger."
"Did Draco mention- "Hermione asked without thinking.
"Professor Umbridge has a file on all her students." She responded. "I'm Primrose Avery by the way, not to be confused with the High inquisitor's lackey." She smirked. Hermione looked away. Ron had called her that as they entered the great hall the first morning and saw her sitting with Draco.
"I'm sorry about that." Hermione tried to say, but the girl shook her head as they stopped in the courtyard.
"Don't be. I'm not here to make friends. I have one job and that is assist the high inquisitor of Hogwarts."
"Surely you can see that Hogwarts does not need a high inquisitor." Hermione mentioned and the girl smirked, something wicked.
"It's not really your place to say." The girl said to Hermione. "You don't know me, but from what I've been told about you and your friends, it's clear the lot of you, don't know how to mind your business."
"Excuse me?" Hermione stiffened; her arms crossed over her chest.
"I want to make myself perfectly clear. I am here to do my job and you should know that I was not chosen only for my attention to detail. I have particular skills that allow me to assist Professor Umbridge in anything she may need, and I've been given full authority to use them if ever the need may arise."
"Are you threatening me?" Hermione asked.
"Of course not. I'm merely stating the facts so that you are aware." The girl turned away from Hermione a slick smile on her face. "Thank you for the assistance." She told her from over her shoulder.
Hermione stood there for a moment, watching her walk along the bridge, towards the owlery in awe. She had thought that perhaps the girl was just unaware of the type of person Professor Umbridge was turning out to be, instead she had been shown exactly who Primrose Avery was.
_
During care of Magical Creatures, Professor Umbridge inspects the classroom once again. Rose arrives just as the class begins. Hermione crosses her arm as the two begin to speak to all the students.
"Primrose, dear, why don't you go to these students," Umbridge points to a group of Slytherins. "And ask them the questions I've given you."
"Yes Ma'am." Rose told her. Draco smiled as Rose came closer to them. She walked up to Pansy and her followers. "What is your normal Care of Magical Creatures like?" She asked, trying to keep her voice a mere whisper.
"Awful." Pansy says. "Hagrid, the part giant teacher, tends to put us at risk every year." She says and Rose raises an eyebrow.
"How so?" Primrose asked, as Umbridge questioned the substitute teacher.
"Tell her Draco, about the Hippogriff who tried to kill you." Rose looked at Draco shocked.
"It was nothing." Draco said as he noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione all eyeing Rose strangely. "But yes, he does tend to pick ridiculously dangerous creatures. Rose jotted down some notes.
"And how do you feel Professor Grublyplank is doing?"
"Wonderful. I've never seen a unicorn, this close." Pansy said and another Gryffindor girl nodded. Rose made her way closer to where Harry stood, but Draco didn't like the way they stared at her.
"Do you agree?" The girls were Parvati and Lavender. They stared at one another and nodded.
"This is exactly what I thought Care of Magical Creatures would be like." Parvati pointed to the Unicorn so close, Rose looked back to admire it for a moment.
"Anything else to add?" She asked them.
"Hagrid is a great gatekeeper, but he tends to fall in love with the most dangerous creatures. Like the skrewts." Lavender added.
"Thank you." Rose moved from student to student, as she approached Harry and Ron, Draco felt uneasy. Hermione herself tried to ignore her altogether, staring at the unicorn, but her eyes peered around to see where Rose was every so often.
"Primrose, dear. I think that's enough questions for now." Rose smiled and a wave of relief fell upon Draco. "I think you have enough for the transcript. Be sure to send a copy to Percy and leave the others at my desk. You are free to commence your independent study."
"Thank you, Professor." She said and turned her back. She pushed the papers into her bag and made her way towards the owlery once more. Hermione and Draco both stare after her, but the anger in her eyes is unfathomable to him. As the class begins to pack up, he catches Hermione still admiring the Unicorn.
"May I speak to you a moment?" He whispers but Hermione shakes her head.
"No." She turns away from him, but Draco manages to keep up, while Ron and Harry follow close behind.
"Do you have a problem with Rose?" he asked her anyway.
"No, I have a problem with the High inquisitor stooge sent here by the ministry." Hermione spoke and Ron smiled, wider than he should have.
"She's not a stooge." Draco defended. They were beginning their decent towards the school.
"Stop trying to defend her, Malfoy. She's just like you and pack of evil snakes." Harry offered, but Draco ignored him. It bothered him greatly that Hermione did not like Rose. It greatly affected him. Rose was quickly becoming the greatest friend he'd ever had.
"She's not a bad person." He told her.
"Well, she's not a good person either." She told him.
"You don't have to explain yourself to him Hermione. Come on, let's go." Ron offered her his hand, and she took it willingly. Draco stood there looking at her for a moment. He needed to find Rose. Something must have happened between them. He could not understand the instant hostility towards Rose. Professor Umbridge approached a stack of papers still in her hands. The girlish smile across her face, sent a chill down his spine.
"Don't pay them any mind. Mr. Malfoy. Primrose is a very loyal and important part of the Ministry. I look forward to mentoring her in my image." Draco smiled at her uneasily. He highly doubted that, but if she believed it, then at least he knew Rose would be kept around at Hogwarts.
"Thank you, professor." He told her. Draco continued to his next class and then once he was gone, he made it to the library. He spotted Rose sitting close to the entrance of the library but hidden behind some shelves. The books laid outstretched before her, but she did not seem to be reading any of them. As he approached the table, he could see exactly what she read and worried about prying eyes. "Rose." She looked up her eyes wide with excitement.
"Draco, thank Merlin." She spoke as he sat beside her, in a whisper. "I need you to read this." She told him, handing him the book, but Draco could not be distracted by her excitement.
"What's happened between you and Hermione?" He asked and her face fell. She looked around the library and pushed her head closer to his.
"Umbridge was listening to my conversation with Hermione, I knew I had to keep on her good side, so I played my part a little more then necessary. And it worked!" She told him. Draco looked at her confused. "Come now, don't look at me like that. I can't risk being sent back to my family's house. I have a good thing here, a lot of different people who may know who my father is. I can't risk that, just to be nice to a girl I don't know." She told him.
"Just be careful Rose. Umbridge thinks you're her next prodigy." He told her and she laughed.
"As long as she keeps me around, she can think whatever she wants." She told him. "Now read please." Draco stared down at the page and began reading. It was not like the other letters they had come across the book so far. This one was different.
FLASHBACK
Amelia sat with her back towards the Slytherin's common room entrance. She sat watching the roaring fire, as it dimly lit the green room. It was late and she was tired, but refused to turn in. She heard as the snake began to open behind her. The boys who entered all laughed and snickered. They did not notice her at first, but then she stood. Her brother Alex smiled widely.
"Lia, you didn't have to wait up for us." He told her. "But that was so kind. Isn't my sister sweet chaps?" He laughed and she could smell the fire whiskey on his breath. She crossed her arms. A few of the boys whistled and Alex straightened up in front of her. "That's enough, off to bed. We have a big day ahead of us." He said sternly and a few of the boys left. Amelia stared after one boy as he left. The boy looked back at her for only a second, a small smile playing across his face. Only She and Alex and Severus remained in the common room.
"He's just a boy, Alex." She turned to him, her anger flaring. He turned to her and smiled.
"He's not a boy, he's a man and he chose to be there tonight. Where you should have been." He told her and she scoffed.
"Where I should have been?" She asked. "Is that where I should have been? Following the dangerous path that you have chosen?" She asked.
"It's the right path. Our family's legacy is tied in this, and you cannot avoid your destiny forever." Alex told her. He took a step towards. "Do you think you're clever Lia? Do you think I do not know where you spend your time?" He spat. "Tell me, why are you really interested in the boy's fate?"
"You're drunk." She told him, turning away from him. Alex took hold of Amelia's arm and spun her back to face him. Each hand gripped her shoulder, and a fiery look crossed his now dark eyes.
"Don't turn your back on me!" He shouted. Severus appeared and pulled him apart from his sister.
"Enough." Severus said, holding up his wand. "You're not acting like yourself, best to sleep it off." He told him. Amelia breathed heavily behind Severus, her hands rubbing where her brother had just hurt her. Alex watched her for a moment and then nodded.
"You're right." Alex replied. "I should lie down." He said and disappeared towards the dormitories. Severus turned back towards Amelia who sat down on the couch once more, her face inside her hands.
"Are you alright?" Severus asked her and she ripped her face from her hands to look at him appalled.
"You have no idea what you're doing." She told him. "You and Alex, the lot of you, none of you can see the bigger picture. Where it all leads." She said to him.
"The dark lord?" He questioned and she looked at him appalled.
"Severus, do you not know what he stands for? What he believes? Are you unaware of what his plans are?"
"We shouldn't be speaking about this." He said, standing up.
"Think of Lily." She told him. Severus looked down at her. Severus sat back down beside her. "I have known you for a very long time Sev. I can see the way you look at her. Don't become someone who could be capable of hurting her." She whispered.
"I would never hurt her." He told her. "Never." He said again.
"Dark magic has a way of corrupting your mind Severus." She told him. "I can't imagine either of you joining him." She spoke.
"Why do you care what happens to the boy?" Severus asked and she looked up at him.
"He means a great deal to me. And he and I care very much about the same person." She said and looked back at the fire.
"Who?" He asked. She looked up at him and shook her head.
"Not yet." She told him. They sat together for a while without speaking, just staring at the fire, and enjoying the silent company.
Draco stared at the place where the story ended. Rose waited eagerly for him to finish. She took the book back from him and flipped through the pages.
"This entire section is all stories. I think this was more than a way for my mother to communicate with my father. I think this was a sort of time capsule or journal for her. But one thing is clear, she and Professor Snape were close. He may know exactly who my father is." She told him. Just then Hermione, Harry and Ron entered the library and Rose stiffened. The smile faded from her face.
"I'll only be a minute." Hermione said loudly, whilst Ron stared at Rose.
"Let's go." Draco told her, gathering her books.
"Don't mind us, just passing through." Harry said. "Go on about your business." He aimed his remark at Rose.
"Listen Potter- "Draco began, but Rose put her hand on Draco's arm. He noticed for the first time, Umbridge wandering the halls outside.
"Let's head to supper." Rose said, pushing book after book into her bag. When she slung it over her shoulder they headed towards the entrance and when she was close enough to whisper to Harry, she did. "I hope you're learning something during your detentions, Mr. Potter." She winked and Harry flinched. Draco stared at Umbridge as they left her staring into the library. Rose walked tall ahead of him. He looked back at the vile look that Harry gave them. Rose had no idea what she had gotten herself into, but he had to admit, her acting skills were unparalleled.