The Leader

Chapter 71

Umbridge apparated to the home she had coerced her father to buy, far away from the wizarding world. Far away from being detected as her father, the shame of having a Muggle mother and brother too much for her to bear. She knew if she wanted to get up there in the Ministry and make the changes she wished, to finally have the power to kill off the filthy creatures that roam the magical world. She'd worked for years upon years tirelessly making her indispensable to some, and blackmailing others to meet her goals. Then in one fell swoop everything was lost.

Shaking in rage, Umbridge flicked her wand at the door and it blasted into smithereens. The screaming and shrieking music to her ears, she should have killed them all. She should have just killed them years ago instead of enduring this. If this hadn't happened, she'd be just one step closer to her goal.

"Dolores…what on earth is going on?" her father asked her, wand out held loosely in his hand, "Is everything alright?" as always delighted to see her, she didn't come very often. He missed her, and even when she did come, she only stayed for a few minutes. He saw more of his daughters back than anything else.

"Why did you do it?" Dolores snarled, her eyes almost popping out of her head, veins throbbing in rage.

The wizard stepped back, fear crawling up the back of his mind. Yet he didn't believe his daughter would ever hurt him, in fact he knew she wouldn't. Yet the feeling refused to fade, as his daughter advanced on him. "Do what?" hands up, placating his daughter, wand already sheathed.

"Just remember you made me do this!" Dolores declared, beady eyes flashing in anger, "Crucio!"

The unholy scream of agony that left her father's mouth barely helped.

"Quentin!" Dorothy cried out, rushing through from the bedroom falling down at her husband's body. Attempting to quell the spasming that her husband was undergoing. "Stop it, please, stop!" flinching when her husband hit her with his head, hands, legs as he writhed uncontrollably.

Dolores let up the spell, watching her parents sob together on the floor. Watching as her mother petted at her father ineffectually. Snot and tears smothering them almost completely, as they choked on them and the fear and tears.

"No more, please, daughter stop, think, please," Quentin pleaded of his daughter, shaking hand raised in the air in an attempt to stop her after seeing the wand raised. His feeble attempts at making himself the target and not his wife, whom he loved so much. So much so that he would have given up the wizarding world entirely for.

"YOU DESTROYED EVERYTHING!" she shrieked, practically howling in rage. "I WILL NOT LET YOU LIVE!"

"Dolores, please," Dorothy pleaded, staring at her daughter in abject fear. With her husband she didn't fear magic, not the way her daughter made her fear magic.

"You've ruined everything!" Dolores stomped her feet, cheeks flushed red. "Both of you ruined everything!" with that she began aiming her wand and smashing up the property, "You don't deserve anything!" smashing and clattering as the Bombarda's hit their targets.

Dorothy huddled around her still labouring husband, trying to protect both of them. Sobbing at the sheer unmitigated anger Dolores was displaying. Oh, her daughter had a temper, yes, and neither she nor her husband liked to set her off. She'd been that way since she was young, but this? This was just horrendous.

"What did we do?" she begged of her daughter, who was getting even angrier.

"EVERYTHING IS IN THE NEWSPAPERS!" she shrieked, "Crucio!"

Quinten had enough energy there to shove his wife aside, and take the full brunt of the spell again. He didn't know where his wand was, even at that he couldn't conceive defending himself. Nor his wife against his daughter's rage. Which should have tipped him off that there was something seriously wrong.

"Stop it! Just stop it this instant!" Dorothy shouted, tears rushing down her face as her husband clawed at her, her skin being torn into ribbons.

"What did you say to me you, filthy muggle?" Dolores questioned, staring at her mother as if she was shit under her shoe. Her wand flicking off her father, ceasing the Cruciatus Curse effective immediately.

The wet gurgling wheeze was the only sound as Dorothy stared at Dolores utterly petrified.

Dorothy withered at the look on her daughter's face, she looked like her grandmother, her mother. It was horrendous seeing such glacial hatred set upon her face. She had no idea what had happened either, or why her daughter was so furious with them. This was wrong, it was all so very wrong.

"I'm done with the pair of you! I tried to do the kind thing and let you live but no more!" Dolores declared, lips pursed, she knew she'd be blamed for this, but it was such a small part that she ignored it. She'd claim it was all lies, and who could dispute it if there was nobody there to say otherwise? Yes, she'd claim it was someone setting her up, something. She would not be stopped here.

Her cause was too important.

"Avada Kedavra!" aiming her wand at both her parents, entirely unapologetic. She would stay until her brother got home and deal with him, his wife and the little brat. At the same time as she cast the spell, a loud surrounding voice called out.

"AURORS! You're surrounded, come out with your hands in the air hand between your index finger and your thumb."

The door slammed open, and before anyone knew what was happening, the two would be victims disappeared entirely. Too quickly for the human eye to see.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't stand by and do nothing," Rachel said, the vampire raising her hands in subjugation. "She cast the killing curse; I couldn't let them die…"

"What…" clearly unsure of what to do, but he lowered his hand, she was a good person, she'd just saved two people even they wouldn't have been able to. It was amazing to think if they had vampires in the department, they'd save even more lives.

Two Aurors were quick to step into the small home, stunning Umbridge for their own safety. "She was just given bail! With the assurances that she wasn't violent!" Auror Proudfoot declared, completely aghast.

"Uh, Sir? They need to see the healers…" the vampire trailed off, "They need checked for potions too." Flinching away from them, as if expecting them to kill her for speaking up.

"I um…I have to go," Rachel said, pulling away, being careful of the two humans she'd just 'saved' it shouldn't surprise her that Harry's – their Leader's – plans had been just about perfect and down to the very spell too.

"No, you can't," The Auror stated, raising his own hands, "We need to take your statement first, then you can go. You're safe we won't do you any harm." Understanding why the vampire didn't want to linger, the Aurors reputations didn't do them an ounce of good sometimes. Especially when it came to any creature in the magical world, vampire, werewolves, Veela's anyone really.

Rachel glanced outwardly, as if she were considering the urge to run away.

"Honestly, you're really quite safe," Auror Proudfoot hastily added, "It won't take any more than five minutes."

Rachel sighed, "Very well," wary as if she had been tricked before.

Truth was, Rachel had three others as back up, all of them in the immediate area. She was safe with members of her clan having her back. Slowly but surely, so that when the big scene happened…people would be more trusting. The fact their hero was a vampire would just sweeten the pot for them really. Although, Harry honestly didn't like that the terms the wizards had come up with. The look on his face when it was brought up was frankly hilarious. It was usually kids, since everyone else knew better.

Two pops in the area, had Auror Proudfoot glancing behind him, and relaxing. It was two healers, dressed in their lime green robes, exclusive to St. Mungo's. They immediately rushed towards their patients, regardless of the vampire in their midst.

"Healer Darling, what happened?" Darling requested.

"Obvious signs of long-term exposure to Cruciatus curse," the second healer, Abbott declared, "Should we get them to St. Mungo's immediately?"

"She's right, he was hit with it twice, she held it on for over one minute," Rachel replied, "She seemed very angry about something, and was saying she was done…and she should have done it earlier."

"They need checked over for illicit potions," Auror Proudfoot added recalling what the vampire said.

"What indication has made that likely?" Abbot questioned, relieved to see that only one of the patients had suffered from the horrendous spell.

"He never made any move to defend himself or his wife," Rachel told the healer quietly, "Daughter or not, I think he would have under normal circumstances."

Healer Darling nodded, "Then we'll have them checked."

"Auror Draken will accompany you, until we find out if she was acting on her own, they'll have protection." Auror Proudfoot declared, "She got out too quickly and it's remarkably suspicious given what she was arrested for." Speaking mostly to himself, mumbling really, but everyone heard, none more than Rachel, and the surrounding vampires naturally due to their magnificent hearing. Showing a remarkable amount of insight and professionalism.

It would seem as if Auror Proudfoot was one of the remarkably rare people who actually cared about the people and the job and the integrity to see that his honour wasn't impugned.

"He's turning blue, we must go now!" Healer Darling sharply bit out, unveiling a Portkey, "St. Mungo's Emergency ward!" and with that, she and her patient disappeared.

Healer Abbott followed her boss and took the female patient with her.

Rachel stared at the spot the two had been in moments ago, genuinely worried about them. Unlike what the magical world would have everyone believe, vampires weren't cold, hard and unfeeling. Likely what they told themselves in order to stop feeling guilty for killing someone for existing she thought derisively.

"Right, to start with, your name please," Auror Proudfoot said, notepad open and self-inking quill at the ready, intending on writing everything down, he'd rather this than looking through memories, then writing then looking at the memory again if he forgot. Too bad the boss had declared 'a dicti-quill' an unnecessary distraction.

"Rachel…Ollivander." She answered slowly and grudgingly, she so very rarely used that name. It was a genuine surprise nobody noticed she had all the characteristic Ollivander traits. She'd even learned everything about wandlore and such, before she'd been bitten. Just shy of beginning her work, now nobody would buy from a vampire. Not that she'd attempted to.

Auror Proudfoot made an astonished noise at the back of his throat.

"Tell me what happened or what you know when you came upon the scene?" Auror Proudfoot asked, giving a shake of his head to the other Auror. Silently letting him know that he wasn't to leave, he wasn't trusting anyone with her. Even if he had to sit outside of her damn cell, she wouldn't have been let loose to begin with.

So, she did, leaving nothing out, effusing enough emotion into it to have the Aurors questioning everything they had been told about vampires while at Hogwarts.

Another piece of the puzzle set into place.

Harry and Severus sat in the office, they'd been informed that Rachel had saved the Umbridge's and that she was currently being questioned by the two remaining Aurors, and that two others were remaining in the background, ready to jump in if anything happened. Such like the Aurors deciding to try and kill Rachel. After that they left Harry's office and both vampires to their thoughts and activities.

"This potion requires both Fluxweed and Knotgrass…nine words…" Severus murmured, the answer already clicking.

"Polyjuice potion," Harry said absently, "It's said to be one of the most complicated potions but I highly disagree."

"Agreed," Severus murmured, filling in the crossword puzzle in Potioneer weekly, some of the questions were extraordinary easily others actually had him having to think it through. "This one is rather a let-down." he murmured, "My fifth years could have completed this without difficulty."

"Nobody learns Polyjuice in fifth year," Harry absently commented, re-reading the newest dark arts book he'd bought. "At Hogwarts." He corrected himself with distaste.

Severus huffed quietly, desiring so much to defend the school that had been his home. However, he was intelligent enough to know that it was a failing endeavour. Truth was, he had learned that Hogwarts education was substandard to all other magical schools in the world. He'd refused to believe it, and had set out to prove Harry wrong, but he'd been wrong. They truly were in the eyes of the entire world a laughing stock. It wasn't just by a small margin either, no it was hundreds of points, and Merlin, the grades…he didn't even want to mention those.

"Don't worry, once the magical world is fixed you can do whatever you like with Hogwarts." Harry replied, sounding deeply amused by Severus' huff. He understood it, and would have thought the same when it came to Hogwarts if not for Kai, Kai had given him a home, a real home that was just his and Kai's and it didn't belong to the rest of the students and he didn't need to return to the Dursley's.

Severus' brows rose, turning to glance at Harry, who's eyes were already roaming over another page, then another page. He made no effort whatsoever to hide his vampirism. Not that there were any real ways to do so unless you were half-vampire or gained a creature inheritance. "Do you mean that?" desiring to know if he could plan it.

Harry stopped, glancing up, "You loathe teaching, does the same still stand if you were the headmaster of Hogwarts?" cocking his head to the side, deeply curious.

"You do intend to get rid of Dumbledore completely then?" Severus mused, "I think I would enjoy it." Nodding his head, "Yes, I would." He loathed trying to teach children potions…but as Headmaster he wouldn't have to?

"How about D.A.D.A?" Harry asked, finger keeping his space in the book, not that it would take overly long to find it again even without it. "You've always enjoyed that, and the passion you infuse into your voice has carried over onto the children here."

Severus glanced up, thinking about the words, mulling them over. "The children are grateful for their tutelage. There is no thinking you're better than your neighbour or partner. They were excited, respectful, and very well mannered. It's like the first-year students the first week at school before they are tarnished by their surroundings." Something Dumbledore had made no effort to stamp out.

"Are you implying that passion isn't evident at Hogwarts?" Harry asked dubiously. "I heard it in my first year, that passion stays with you. It makes you want to feel that passion too. To carry it over, and it has its affect, Sev, believe me whether it's potions or defence." That was the sort of passions students needed, but if it wasn't what Severus wanted then so be it.

Severus' lips twitched, "I am just following in the footsteps of a former professor, ironically enough, a substitute teacher." He'd had a massive effect on him, and that's how he'd chosen to teach the students at Hogwarts.

Harry hummed, in understanding, it was clear he wasn't going to get an answer. Perhaps Sev didn't have an answer because he didn't know himself. Either way, there was no point in trying to get an answer before Severus was ready.

The door opened and Rachel and Rick entered, the brunette and red head both amused.

"How is it you can predict people so easily?" Rachel asked, utterly befuddled.

Severus smirked wryly, setting his finished crossword puzzle aside. "People are predictable." He pointed out.

"They really aren't," Rachel replied, shaking her head, "It's good to think the worst of people but it doesn't make you right." Which was her all over really. She'd been glad for shade and Howard keeping her safe from a distance earlier and the Aurors had surprised her. They'd sincerely thanked her and said she'd done a good job, and how they wished they had her speed.

"What surprised you?" Harry asked, shutting the book eyes gleaming.

So, Rachel explained, how kind the Aurors had been, how sincere. She'd never really interacted with humans like that before. They'd be more liable to string her up and set her on fire in the past, now things were changing. "Could a few 'saved lives' have that affect on everyone?" honestly bewildered.

"Yes," Harry replied, "Perception plays a large role in wizarding society. It's helping, but the reality is you probably dealt with someone kind and fair. It's too early I think for anything we've done to rub off on them." Glancing at Severus who nodded in agreement.

"The good wizards guide hasn't gone out yet either, which really will get them thinking." Severus pointed out, "Who was it you dealt with?"

"Ah, um, Auror Proudfoot?" Rachel said, not sure if she was saying it correctly.

"Yes, likely one of the few rare good decent aurors, I'm glad that's who came," Severus told him, it could have gone different, and not in a good way.

"He is," Rachel agreed, "How did you know she'd do that?"

"It was only logical, she had blackmailed her way up, there was little doubt she still had her claws in a few In case she needed them." Harry explained, shrugging indifferently, uncaringly. "If she got out, there would have only been a few places she would go. There was only one thing she could do to attempt to rescues her reputation."

"So that means killing her entire family?" her stomach rolling, it was disgusting.

"It meant killing her family." Harry agreed a grim look on his face.

"She shouldn't get to live," Rachel scowled, just when you think you've seen and heard it all. Someone comes along and surprises you. Wanting to kill her entire family for what? She didn't get it and even if she could, there was no excuse good enough in her book.

"Where she will end up, it's hardly going to be a vacation," Harry said, "And she can't manipulate her way inside either." Although it would amuse him to see her attempts though.

"How are the Umbridge's?" Severus asked, from what he understood the father had magic and the mother was a Muggle. The opposite from him, but Umbridge wasn't powerful and the brother had no magic but had a son. It was odd, every other half-blood he knew was extraordinary powerful.

"Last I saw they were being transported to St. Mungo's, the wizard couldn't breathe, due to the repeated exposure of Cruciatus curse I assume?" Rachel replied, "I hope I got there soon enough, if I had apparated to the area closer I would have gotten there earlier."

"Shade said you got there before she could kill him," Rick commented, "Put it in the win column kid." He added, handing her a glass of blood, before levitating one over to Severus and Harry and sitting with his own, giving a cheers before sipping the warm brew.

"I agree with Rick," Severus murmured a haunted look on his face, "Keeping a tally is just…detrimental to your mental health." He should know he'd done it himself, before he hardened up further, as impossible as it sounded.

"Speaking from experience?" Rick deduced, as always eager to know more about Severus, who kept a lot to himself, only letting out little snippets now and again during their conversations.

"I am," Severus inclined his head, "I understand that death is necessary but with the Dark Lord most if it did not seem…prudent."

"That's because they weren't," Harry sighed, "The Horcruxes had eaten away at his intelligence by the time you knew him. He's nothing but a gigantic ball of paranoia, cautious and wariness, with a single-minded focus to add in."

"You make it sound like he's on illegal drugs." Rachel said, paranoia etc…which is exactly what illicit drugs did to you.

"That's a good way to put it, but without any possibility of getting better." Harry stated, sipping the blood, Dobby always did well, it was delicious. "Except if he felt remorse which he cannot do so catch twenty-two."

"He was doomed the moment he created the first one," Rick and Severus said in almost sync.

"It creates the compulsive urge to create more," Severus added, lips quirking at Rick.

"Hence why the spell I created is the best defence we have against him," Harry sighed, "He's laying low too long." it was making him anxious; he didn't think Voldemort had been this quiet except for when he was cast out of his own body and ended up a spirit.

Rachel was delighted in this, listening intently at the meeting currently going on. She'd never really been part of one before, she'd always been curious about it too. Now she didn't need to be. "You've got everywhere watched, the Ministry, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, Knockturn alley, there's literally nowhere else you could put your cameras unless you put them up where you suspect he might be staying. Turn them invisible, float them to their destination?"

The vampires glanced at each other, "Do you think it would work?"

"With runes maybe…"

"Or just randomly spaced…"

"Can't do that, we're watching many as it is…"

Knocking at the door interrupted their speculations, Harry flicked his wand, causing the door to open without anyone getting up. "Sir, just letting you know the Umbridge's survived, they did blood works and have found compliance potions in all of them except the baby." Wyatt explained, walking up and handing over the file filled with copied information from St. Mungo's.

A/n – there we go that's Umbridge already taken care of will she die before she reaches prison? Will she become one of the very things she despises? Aka vampire 😉 she's already been a werewolf so spicing it up a bit LOL hmm now to think on something suitable for Skeeter…what do you guys think? I've done everything including Harry smacking her in her animagus form 😉 haha that was so fun to write 😊 like seriously so much fun. Will Severus go back to Hogwarts or will he remain behind Harry (his Leader) while creating his potions content to be in the background except when it came to potion conferences? 😉 and I've got an upcoming duel on the works not as fun as it sounds lol 😊 but R&R please and take care everyone