Chapter Fifteen
Hermione had just finished getting ready when a loud wailing klaxonlike sound shattered the early morning peace. Hermione walked out of her dormitory and slid down the stairs, which had melded together to make a slide.
"Hermione's allowed in our dormitory, how come we're not allowed — ?" Hermione overheard Ron say to Harry.
"Well, it's an old fashioned rule," said Hermione, who had just slid neatly onto a rug in front of them and was now standing up, "but it says in Hogwarts, A History that the founders thought boys were less trustworthy than girls. Anyway, why were you trying to get in there?"
Ron grabbed Hermione and dragged her over to the notice board saying, "To see you — look at this!"
Hermione read the new sign rapidly and her expression became stony.
——— BY ORDER OF ———
The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.
An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.
Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).
No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.
Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.
The Above is in accordance with
Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
High inquisitor
"Someone must have blabbed to her!" Ron said angrily.
"They can't have done," said Hermione in a low voice.
"You're so naïve," said Ron, "you think just because you're all honorable and trustworthy —"
"No, they can't have done because I put a jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed," said Hermione grimly. "Believe me, if anyone's run off and told Umbridge, we'll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it."
It suddenly just dawned on Hermione that if anyone did tell Umbridge not only would the jinx take its toll, but she doubted very seriously that she or anyone else could hold Kit back on his retaliation. And he would know exactly who said anything.
"What'll happen to them?" said Ron eagerly.
Hermione debated if she should tell them what she had just realized. And decided that it would be best if they only knew what the jinx would do.
"Well, put it this way," said Hermione, "it'll make Eloise Midgen's acne look like a couple of cute freckles. Come on, let's get down to breakfast and see what the others think…. I wonder whether this has been put up in all the Houses?"
It was immediately apparent on entering the Great Hall that Umbridge's sign had not only appeared in Gryffindor Tower. There was a peculiar intensity about the chatter and an extra measure of movement in the Hall as people scurried up and down their tables conferring on what they had read. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had barely taken their seats when Neville, Dean, Fred, George, and Ginny descended upon them.
"Did you see it?"
"D'you reckon she knows?"
"What are we going to do?"
They were all looking at Harry, who glanced around to make sure that no teachers were near them.
"We're going to do it anyway, of course," he said quietly.
"Knew you'd say that," said George, beaming and thumping Harry on the arm.
"The prefects as well?" said Fred, looking quizzically at Ron and Hermione.
"Of course," said Hermione coolly.
"Here comes Ernie and Hannah Abbott," said Ron, looking over his shoulder. "And those Ravenclaw blokes and Smith… and no one looks very spotty."
Hermione instantly went on alert.
"Never mind spots, the idiots can't come over here now, it'll look really suspicious — sit down!" she mouthed to Ernie and Hannah, gesturing frantically to them to rejoin the Hufflepuff table. "Later! We'll — talk — to — you — later!"
"I'll tell Michael," said Ginny impatiently, swinging herself off her bench. "The fool, honestly…"
She hurried off toward the Ravenclaw table.
But for Harry and Ron the full effect of the sign were not felt until they had left the Great Hall for History of Magic when Angelina informed them that they had to get Professor Umbridge's permission to reform the Gryffindor team.
"Bet Umbridge is in History of Magic," said Ron grimly, as they set off for Binns's lesson. "She hasn't inspected Binns yet…. Bet you anything she's there…."
But he was wrong; the only teacher present when they entered was Professor Binns, floating an inch or so above his chair as usual and preparing to continue his monotonous drone on giant wars. Hermione could tell that Harry wasn't even making an attempt to listen to Professor Binns.
As she was taking notes she detected movement at the window. Looking out the window she saw Hedwig looking directly at Harry with a letter attached to her leg. Hermione attempted to get Harry's attention by nudging him in the arm. After several failed attempts Hermione jabbed Harry viscously in the ribs to get his attention. Harry looked up angrily at her.
"What?"
Hermione pointed at the window. Harry turned to look out the window. Other people in the class were beginning to point out Hedwig to each other.
"Oh, I've always loved that owl, she's so beautiful," Hermione overheard Lavender sigh to Parvati.
Hermione continued to take notes on what Professor Binns droning on about. Completely unaware of how little anyone was paying attention to him. Harry returned to his seat and placed Hedwig in his lap.
"She's hurt!" Harry whispered. Both Hermione and Ron leaned in closer; Hermione put her quill down on the desk. "Look — there's something wrong with her wing —"
Hedwig was quivering; whenever Harry attempted to touch the wing she would give a little jump, all her feathers on end as though she was inflating herself, and gazed up at Harry reproachfully.
"Professor Binns," said Harry loudly, everyone in the class turned to look at him. "I'm not feeling well."
Professor Binns raised his eyes from his notes, looking amazed, as always, to find the room in front of him full of people.
"Not feeling well?" he repeated hazily.
"Not at all well," said Harry standing up, concealing Hedwig behind his back. "So I think I'll need to go to the hospital wing."
"Yes," said Professor Binns, clearly very much wrong-footed. "Yes… yes, hospital wing… well, off you go, then, Perkins…"
Hermione watched as Harry walked out of the classroom. As she continued to take notes she wondered what had happened to Hedwig. She began mentally listing all of the things she knew that could do something like that to Hedwig. Ranging from running into a first year who was having their first experience on a broomstick, the Whomping Willow, and Hedwig possibly running into one of the helicopters' rotors that Kit had orbiting the school, but she quickly ruled that one out because at the speed of which those were spinning she would have been shredded. Hermione shuddered at the mental picture that brought to mind. Then she remembered what Harry had said about Filch being tipped off that Harry was ordering Dungbombs. And it could be entirely possible that Umbridge had attempted to intercept Hedwig in order to read Harry's mail.
'Six-one this is six-four, go to UHF secure. I've got some bad news.'
'Six-four this is six-one go ahead.'
'From what I'm hearin' on the ground looks like they're watchin' all comms in and out of the castle. Best inform Kit so he can get the word around.'
'Roger that six-four, will pass the word on up. In the mean time continue your orbit of the target area and provide sniper cover.'
'Roger, six-four out.'
'Kit!' Shouted Leon. 'Kit, we found something I think you'll want to see.'
'Whatcha got for me Doc?' Asked Kit looking at Leon.
'Super Eight-five was doing a routine patrol about two klicks out when they picked up something on the thermals. Well they dropped down to check it out and they found two Death Eaters in the forest, possibly new recruits, I'm not really sure. But according to their wands these were the two fethers who killed Stillwell and Roberts last week. Most likely they were on their way back to take out another few of our guys.
'I figured you'd want to know as soon as you could. We tried to figure out where Voldemort was located, but they didn't know, we gave 'em some Veritaserum and they still didn't know. They didn't even see the face of their recruiter so they couldn't tell us anything about that either.'
Kit's appearance changed visibly. His pupils narrowed the slight smile that was always there disappeared. 'Where are they being held?'
'Come with me, sir,' said Leon nervously.
The change in Kit was obvious to everyone at the base; the air grew tense and heavy. As if an omen to the coming event.
They arrived at the tent where the two Death Eaters were being held prisoner. Kit inspected the two with an insane glint to his eyes. Dekker, who stood behind one of the Death Eaters with his rifle pointed at the back of their heads, knew that Kit was riding shotgun and O'Malley was driving. He found himself pitying these two.
The sneers on the two Death Eaters' faces disappeared the second Kit walked into the room, and the air grew cold and heavy. Kit took the two wands from one of the soldiers standing guard and snapped them in half.
'Burn these,' Kit said to the soldier who he had taken the wands from.
Kit reached from behind his back and pulled out the pistol he always kept there. Moving to stand beside them he aimed and fired a single shot into their throats so that neither of them could do anything should they some how get their hands on a wand. He placed the pistol back to its holster. Looked down at their gasping forms, like fish out of water.
'Take down the tent, and douse it in gas. And then put it around them,' ordered Kit.
Minutes later the tent was down, and doused in gas.
'Doc, fix their throats,' ordered Kit.
'What?' Asked Leon, 'Sir, with all due respect —'
'Fix their throats, Sergeant. That's an order,' said Kit.
'Yes, sir,' said Leon pointing her wand down at the two Death Eaters lying down on the ground.
Once Leon had performed the spells; she walked away as fast as possible without running.
The Death Eaters were now hurling insults, and threats towards Kit.
Kit turned to face Dekker, 'Burn them. From this point on, no prisoners will be taken. Question any Death Eaters you come across, then shoot them. Leave their bodies there as a warning to the others that will come. When these two are cooked, take their bodies back to the spot where you found them put a sign on them and write on it, 'Try our Resolve Again', understand?'
'Yes sir.'
Dekker lit a small section of the tent on fire and walked away leaving Kit to stand by the tent alone. But the screams and the smell could not be avoided.
"No Quidditch practice," said Angelina in hollow tones when Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the common room that night after dinner.
"But I kept my temper!" said Harry, obviously horrified. "I didn't say anything to her, Angelina, I swear, I —"
"I know, I know," said Angelina miserably. "She just said she needed a bit of time to consider."
"Consider what?" said Ron angrily. "She's given the Slytherins permission, why not us?"
Hermione while she hated that Umbridge was keeping the Gryffindor team from reforming, couldn't help but think that this would at least help both Harry and Ron catch up on their homework.
"Well, said Hermione, "look on the bright side — at least now you'll have time to do Snape's essay!"
"That's the bright side, is it?" snapped Harry, while Ron stared incredulously at Hermione. "No Quidditch practice and extra potions?"
Hermione sat quietly in her chair occasionally casting glimpses into the fire, but spent most of the time looking at the large group of people surrounding Fred and George who apparently had perfected one type of Skiving Snackbox, which they were taking turns to demonstrate to a cheering and whooping crowd.
First, Fred would take a bite out of the orange end of a chew, at which he would vomit spectacularly into a bucket they had placed in front of them. Then he would force down the purple end of the chew, at which the vomiting would immediately cease. Lee Jordan, who was assisting the demonstration, was lazily vanishing the vomit at regular intervals with a Vanishing Spell.
Unable to take any actual action Hermione only sat there, occasionally letting out a sniff of disapproval.
"Just go and stop them, then!" Harry said to Hermione irritably as he crossed something out on his paper.
"I can't, they're not technically doing anything wrong," said Hermione through gritted teeth. "They're quite within their rights to eat the foul things themselves, and I can't find a rule that says the other idiots aren't entitled to buy them, not unless they're proven to be dangerous in some way, and it doesn't look as though they are…."
Hermione, Harry, and Ron watched George projectile-vomit into the bucket, gulp down the rest of the chew, and straighten up, beaming with arms wide to protracted applause.
"You know, I don't get why Fred and George only got three O.W.L.s each," said Harry, watch as Fred, George, and Lee collected gold from the eager crowd. "They really know their stuff…."
"Oh, they only know flashy stuff that's no real use to anyone," said Hermione disparagingly.
"No real use?" said Ron in a strained voice. "Hermione, they've got about twenty-six Galleons already…."
It was a long while before the crowd around the Weasleys dispersed, and then Fred, Lee, and George sat up counting their takings even longer, so that it was well past midnight when Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally had the common room to themselves again. At long last, Fred closed the doorway to the boys' dormitories behind him, rattling his box of Galleons ostentatiously so that Hermione scowled. Harry put his Potions essay and books away. Ron meanwhile, was dozing lightly in an armchair, gave a muffled grunt, awoke, looked blearily into the fire and said, "Sirius!"
Harry and Hermione spun to face the fire. Sirius's untidy dark head was sitting in the fire again.
"Hi," he said, grinning.
"Hi," chorused Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all three kneeling down upon the hearthrug. Crookshanks purred loudly and approached the fire, trying, to despite the heat, to put his face close to Sirius's.
"How're things?" said Sirius.
"Not that good," said Harry, as Hermione pulled Crookshanks back to stop him singeing his whiskers. "The Ministry's forced through another decree, which means we're not allowed to have Quidditch teams —"
"— or secret Defense Against the Dark Arts groups?" said Sirius.
There was a short pause.
"How did you know about that?" Harry demanded.
"You want to choose your meeting places more carefully," said Sirius, grinning still more broadly. "The Hog's Head, I ask you…"
"Well, it was better than the Three Broomsticks!" said Hermione defensively. "That's always packed with people —"
"— which means you'd have been harder to overhear," said Sirius. "You've got a lot to learn, Hermione."
"Mundungus, of course. And four of Kit's men," said Sirius, and when they all looked puzzled. "He was the witch under the veil."
"That was Mundungus?" Harry said, stunned. "What was he doing in the Hog's Head?"
"What do you think he was doing?" said Sirius impatiently. "Keeping an eye on you, of course."
"I'm still being followed?" asked Harry angrily.
"Yeah, you are, as a matter of fact the only one who's not being followed is Ron of course Hermione already knows that she's being watched," said Sirius, "and just as well, isn't it, if the first thing you're going to do on your weekend off is organize an illegal defense group."
But he looked neither angry nor worried; on the contrary, he was looking at Harry with distinct pride.
"Why was Dung hiding from us?" asked Ron, sounding disappointed. "We'd've liked to've seen him."
"He was banned from the Hog's Head twenty years ago," said Sirius, "and that barman's got a long memory. We lost Moody's spare Invisibility Cloak when Sturgis was arrested, so Dung's been dressing as a witch a lot lately…. Anyway… First of all, Ron — I've sworn to pass on a message from your mother."
"Oh yeah?" said Ron, sounding apprehensive.
"She says on no account whatsoever are you to take part in an illegal secret Defense Against the Dark Arts group. She says you'll be expelled for sure and your future will be ruined. She says there will be plenty of time to lean how to defend yourself later and that you are too young to be worrying about that right now. She also" — Sirius's eyes turned to Harry and Hermione — "advises Harry and Hermione not to proceed with the group, though she accepts that she has no authority over either of them and simply begs them to remember that she has their best interests at heart. She would have written all this to you, but if the owl had been intercepted you'd have been in real trouble, and she can't say it for herself because she's on duty tonight."
"On duty doing what?" said Ron quickly.
"Never you mind, just stuff for the Order," said Sirius. "So it's fallen to me to be the messenger and make sure you tell her I passed it all on, because I don't think she trusts me to."
There was another pause in which Crookshanks, mewing, attempted to paw Sirius's head, and Ron fiddled with a hole in the hearthrug.
"So you want me to say I'm not going to take part in the defense group?" Harry muttered finally.
"Me? Certainly not!" said Sirius, looking surprised. "I think it's an excellent idea!"
"You do?" said Harry.
"Of course I do!" said Sirius. "D'you think your father and I would've lain down and taken orders from an old hag like Umbridge?"
"But — last term all you did was tell me to be careful and not take risks —"
"Last year all the evidence was that someone inside Hogwarts was trying to kill you, Harry!" said Sirius impatiently. "This year we know that there's someone outside Hogwarts who'd like to kill us all, so I think learning to defend yourselves properly is a very good idea!"
"And if we do get expelled?" Hermione asked, a quizzical look on her face.
"Hermione, this whole thing was your idea!" said Harry, staring at her.
Shrugging Hermione said, "I know it was… I just wondered what Sirius thought."
"Well, better expelled and able to defend yourselves than sitting safely in school without a clue," said Sirius.
"Hear, hear," said Harry and Ron enthusiastically.
"So," said Sirius, "how are you organizing this group? Where are you meeting?"
"Well, that's a bit of a problem now," said Harry. "Dunno where we're going to be able to go…."
"How about the Shrieking Shack?" suggested Sirius.
"Hey, that's an idea!" said Ron excitedly, but Hermione made a skeptical noise and all three of them looked at her, Sirius's head turning in the flames.
"Well, Sirius, it's just that were only four of you meeting in the Shrieking Shack when you were at school," said Hermione, "and all of you could transform into animals and I suppose you could all have squeezed under a single Invisibility Cloak if you'd wanted to. But there are twenty-eight of us and none of us is an Animagus, so we wouldn't need so much an Invisibility Cloak as an Invisibility Marquee —"
"Fair point," said Sirius, looking slightly crestfallen. "Well I'm sure you'll come up with somewhere…. There used to be a pretty roomy secret passageway behind that big mirror on the fourth floor, you might have enough space to practice jinxes in there —"
"Fred and George told me it's blocked," said Harry, shaking his head. "Caved in or something."
"Oh…" said Sirius, frowning. "Well, I'll have to think and get back to —"
He broke off. His face was suddenly tense, alarmed. He turned sideways, apparently looking into the solid brick wall of the fireplace.
"Sirius?" said Harry anxiously.
But he had vanished. Harry stared into the flames for a moment, then turned to face Ron and Hermione.
"Why did he —"
Hermione gasped in horror and leapt to her feet, staring at the hand that was groping amongst the flames, as though it was trying to catch a hold of something; a stubby, short fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned rings…."
The three of them ran for it. Hermione didn't look back when she closed the door to the entrance to the girls' dormitory. When she reached her bed she sat there panting breathless with fear. When she finally managed to calm herself down she changed into her nightgown and lay down. She sat there thinking about all that Sirius had said, if they were doing the right thing, why she kept dreaming of small, shadowy childlike figures always blotted out by the sun and always there was the one on the tree stump being ignored by the others.
Hermione slowly drifted off to sleep, hoping that the dream would be different if anything more clear. And the dream was different.
Hermione stood in front of a medium sized fire, inside the fire were two people. She could hear their screams as they were burned alive, but she was lucky not to be able to smell the odor of burning flesh. She tried to move but found that her body would not respond and so she stood there watching who ever these people were be burned alive. She was, however, able to turn her head.
But suddenly everything grew cold and Hermione turned and looked up to see Kit standing beside her. Except Kit was different his eyes held a fury behind them and an insane smile upon his face, as he stared, as if he were enjoying every moment of this. His skin looked like it belonged to someone dead and his voice was like ice. Before everything went black Hermione heard a distant voice filled with terror. 'It has begun…'
Hermione awoke, breathing rapidly and she was drenched in cold sweat. Minutes later she fell back asleep, to another dream.
Kit stood there, looking the same as he had in the previous dream. Except he was staring off into the darkness. Hermione stood looking at him and an old voice spoke, as moving all around her, but staying in the same spot at the same time.
'Born four days past the peak of the month in which the leaves begin to die, to those who have no knowledge of magic,' the voice faded until only the occasional breath could be heard, until the voice returned to an audible level.
'This one, aided by an unseen element, which is lead by one who is of two minds, shall bring the unseen element's leader to redemption by means of either death, or the banishment of one of the two minds. And upon the eve of the redemption's end shall the one know all that which that one must know to fulfill their task. And rebellions and wars shall follow. Yet, lead by this one our people shall be lead to a new age…'
The voice was cut of in mid sentence and standing before Hermione was Dobby, who disappeared, and Kit had returned to his normal appearance.
Hermione awoke again, except she was neither scared, nervous, or any of these things. She was only confused, and she then fell into a dreamless sleep.