"Umbridge is going to kill me." I wheezed to Eloise, falling back on the sofa.
"Why?" Eloise looked startled.
I laughed psychotically. "Because I accused her of favoritism and then I ran away."
"Oh, you are toast."
"Jam or cinnamon?" George sat down next to me.
"Marmalade perhaps?" Fred sat on my other side.
"Umbridge." Eloise said, scribbling on her notes.
"Ew, that's a nasty flavor." Fred crinkled his nose.
"That's no more kisses for you, Ms. Fynn." George shook his head.
"Hey! She let you kiss her and not me?" Fred mockingly clapped a hand to his mouth.
"Mum always said I got all the looks in the family…." George said, looking at his identical twin with an air of importance.
"Hm." Was my bland response. Umbridge would kill me, that I was sure of. There was a shriek from somewhere in the depths of the castle. Fred, George, Eloise and I jerked up. We clambered quickly through the portrait hole and ran towards the noise. Trelawney was being harassed by Umbridge. Then I realized she was being kicked out! I couldn't believe it. My mouth fell open as I saw the state of the ex-teacher.
"No!" She screamed. "NO! This cannot be happening… It cannot… I refuse to accept it!"
"You didn't realize this was coming?" Said the high girlish voice of Umbridge. "Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrow's weather, you must surely have realized that your pitiful performance during my inspections and lack of any improvement, would make it inevitable you would be sacked?"
"You c-can't!" Howled Professor Trelawney, tears streaming down her face from behind her enormous lenses. "You c-can't sack me! I've b-been here sixteen years! H-Hogwarts is m-my home!"
"It was your home." Said Umbridge, clearly enjoying her authority. "An hour ago the Minister of Magic countersigned the order for your dismissal. Now kindly remove yourself from this hall. You are embarrassing us."
I had the wild urge to run down and hug Trelawney, even though I didn't even know her.
"Us?" I whispered. "Is there a mouse in her pocket?"
Umbridge's head snapped around when she heard my whispering. I was ready to let her have it, but Fred put a hand on my shoulder and I remembered my place. Umbridge was distracted by McGonagall rushing forward to help Trelawney.
"There, there, Sibyll… Calm down…. Blow your nose on this. It's not as bad as it seems, now…. You are not going to have to leave Hogwarts…." McGonagall handed Trelawney a large handkerchief.
"Oh really, Professor McGonagall?" Said Umbridge in a deadly voice, taking a few steps forward. "And your authority for that statement is…?"
"That would be mine." Said a deep voice.
The oak front doors had swung open to reveal Dumbledore. He swept in from the misty night and left the doors wide open behind him. He strode forward through the circle of onlookers toward the place where Trelawney sat, tearstained and trembling, upon her trunk, Professor McGonagall alongside her.
"Yours, Professor Dumbledore?" Said Umbridge with a singularly unpleasant little laugh. "I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister of Magic. Under the terms of Educational Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the power to inspect, place upon probation, and sack any teacher she- that is to say, I- feel is not performing up to the standard required by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her."
I was shocked to see that Dumbledore was still smiling. "You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge. As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the castle. I am afraid," he went on with a courteous little bow, "that the power to do that still resides with the headmaster, and it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts."
Trelawney gave a wild little laugh in which a hiccup was barely concealed.
"No- no, I'll go, Dumbledore! I shall l-leave Hogwarts and s-seek my fortune elsewhere-."
"No." Said Dumbledore sharply. "It is my wish that you remain, Sibyll."
I clenched my fist, resisting pumping it into the air in triumph.
A few teachers rushed in from the crowd to help Trelawney get her things back up to her room. Her luggage rose into the air and proceeded up the staircase after her.
"And what," Umbridge whispered loudly, "are you going to do with her once I appoint a new Divination teacher who needs her lodgings?"
"Oh, that won't be a problem," said Dumbledore pleasantly. "You see, I have already found us a new Divination teacher, and he will prefer lodgings on the ground floor."
"You've found-?" Umbridge cried shrilly. "You've found? Might I remind you, Dumbledore, that under Educational Decree Twenty-two-"
"-the Ministry has the right to appoint a suitable candidate if- and only if- the headmaster is unable to find one," said Dumbledore. "I am happy to say that on this occasion I have succeeded. May I introduce you?"
He turned to the open oak doors. I heard hooves and wondered if the teacher was arriving on horseback. There was a shocked murmur around the hall as a centaur entered. Not just any centaur.
"Firenze!" I whispered happily.
"This is Firenze," said Dumbledore happily to a thunderstruck Umbridge. "I think you'll find him suitable." And I'm quite sure that Dumbledore winked at me.
While most of the Gryffindors had their extra subject that day, Divination in some cases, I had nothing. My homework was done and I had a free period. I used it to go to my spot on the roof and talk to Jaeger for awhile. He was rather twitchy.
"What's wrong?"
He shrugged.
"Does the sun make you uncomfortable?"
He nodded.
"Ah, well, I've got to go anyway."
My classes that day were fine, and for the rest of the week okay as well. Umbridge kept a particularly sharp eye on me and Harry during class. Thinking of Harry… that boy still hadn't spoken to me. During D.A. meetings he avoided helping me. My Patronus was a dove and while it was sweet, it gave me the chills because it reminded me of things I'd have preferred to forget. It faded when I remembered. My mouth hadn't moved in awhile and it felt rather cemented together. Even for the Patronus spell I thought the words without saying them and it seemed to work all right. Hermione and Harry were talking about the Patronus she had conjured. I felt desolate and alone in the corner of the room. Dean and Ginny were talking animatedly and I felt a ping of jealousy, so I looked away.
Dobby burst into the room.
"Harry Potter, sir…" squeaked the elf, trembling all over, "Dobby has come to warn you… but the house-elves have been warned not to tell…." He ran headfirst into the wall. My hand flew to my throat in surprise. Harry tried to seize Dobby but didn't need to because Dobby's eight hats bounced against the wall and he flew backwards.
"What's happened, Dobby?" Harry asked, grabbing the elf's tiny arm and holding him away from anything with which he might seek to hurt himself.
"Harry Potter… she… she…."
Dobby hit himself hard on the nose with his free fist. Harry grabbed that too.
"Umbridge." I whispered.
Harry nodded, and made eye-contact with me for the first time in weeks.
"What about her, Dobby- she hasn't found out about- this… has she?"
"She's coming." I breathed.
"Yes! Favian Fynn! Harry Potter! You are in danger!"
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" Harry bellowed. "RUN!"
Everyone pelted towards the exit at once, forming a scrum at the door. Then they burst through. I could hear them sprinting down the hall.
"Harry, come on!" Hermione shrieked from the center of the knot.
"Dobby- this is an order- get back down the kitchen with the other elves, and if she asks you whether you warned me, lie and say no!" Said Harry. "And I forbid you to hurt yourself."
"Thank you, Harry Potter!"
"Favian! What are you waiting for?" Harry grabbed my wrist and pulled me through. He looked around and stared at the boys' bathroom just up ahead. Something caught us by the ankles and we fell hard on top of each other. I tilted my head back and saw Malfoy grinning down at us.
"Trip Jinx, Potter!" He said. "Hey, Professor, I've got two!"
Umbridge came bustling around the far corner, breathless but wearing a delighted smile.
"It's him! And her!" She cried jubilantly at the sight of us on the floor. "Excellent, Draco, excellent, oh very good. Fifty points to Slytherin! I'll take them from here… Stand up Potter! Fynn!"
We got to our feet and I noticed Harry glaring ferociously at them. I felt so deep in myself that nothing could penetrate. I didn't even fully understand what Umbridge was saying. I saw Malfoy bounce off happily, shooting me a nasty grin as he went. My face remained as smooth as stone because I was lost inside of myself. My arm was squeezed between Umbridge's pudgy fingers as she dragged us away.
"…me to the headmaster's office, Potter. And Fynn." We were at the stone gargoyle of Dumbledore's office within minutes. "Fizzing Whizbee." Sang Umbridge and the stone gargoyle jumped aside and the wall behind split open to reveal the spiral staircase. We stood on a step and rode solemnly up. Well, Umbridge was practically jumping with delight, but Harry and I were in foul moods.
There was a short man with a look of vicious satisfaction on his face. I remembered him from Diagon Alley. Corny Fudge or something.
"Well," he said, "well, well, well…."
"He was heading back to Gryffindor Tower with the American," said Umbridge. "The Malfoy boy cornered them."
"Did he, did he?" Fudge beamed. "I must remember to tell Lucius. Well, Potter… I expect you know why you are here?"
"Yeh… no." Harry responded, watching the headmaster. I was shocked that Harry held his tongue but somewhat glad that he did.
"I beg your pardon?"
"No," said Harry firmly.
"And what about you, Ms. Fynn?" Fudge turned on me, hoping for a more honest answer.
"Not really." I shrugged, following Harry's lead.
"You don't?"
"Not a clue."
Fudge looked incredulously from Harry to Umbridge to me.
"So you have no idea," Fudge said in a voice sagging with sarcasm, "why Professor Umbridge has brought you to this office? You are not aware that you have broken any school rules?"
"School rules?" Said Harry. "No."
"Or Ministry decrees?" Amended Fudge angrily.
"Not that I'm aware of," said Harry dully.
I couldn't imagine how we were going to get out of this one. If someone tattled on us, we were screwed.
"So it's news to you, is it, that an illegal student organization has been discovered with this school?"
"Yes, it is." Harry, drop the look of surprise, it isn't convincing!!
"I think, Minister," said Umbridge silkily from beside him, "we might make better progress if I fetch our informant."
"Yes, yes do." Fudge nodded. "There's nothing like a good witness, is there, Dumbledore?"
"Nothing at all, Cornelius," said Dumbledore gravely.
There was a very awkward silence in which nobody talked. I looked around the room and saw who was there. I saw Shacklebolt and almost said hi, but realized that it probably wasn't the time. He nodded almost unnoticeably to me but pressed his lips together very slightly. He stood next to a short, wiry-haired wizard. They looked like guards positioned on either side of the door.
In waltzed Umbridge accompanied by the curly-haired friend of Cho, Marietta. She was hiding her face in her hands.
"Don't be scared, dear, don't be frightened." Be very afraid, you squealing bitch. "It's quite all right, now. You have done the right thing. The minister is very pleased with you. He'll be telling your mother what a good girl you've been. Marietta's mother, Minister," she added, looking up at Fudge, "is Madam Edgecombe from the Department of Magical Transportation- she's been helping us police school fires, you know."
"Jolly good, jolly good!" Fudge was clearly excited. "Like mother, like daughter, eh? Well, come on, now, dear, look up, don't be shy, let's hear what you've got to- galloping gargoyles!"
Marietta's face was disfigured by a horrible series of purple pustules that read SNEAK. Go Hermione.
"Never mind the spots now, dear," said Umbridge impatiently, "just take your robes away from your mouth and tell the Minister-."
Marietta gave a muffled wail and shook her head frantically.
"Oh very well, you silly girl, I'll tell him." Snapped Umbridge. "Well, Minister…." Umbridge went on to explain how Marietta was telling Umbridge about the D.A. but had to stop when she saw her face in the mirror. My hearing suddenly became impaired. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart in my chest. Images flashed before my eyes of people dying, people writhing and me… me wondering a rocky shore and me crying on a roof. I wobbled oh-so-slightly but the arguing continued loudly outside of my sphere. My vision swam and sweat broke out on my forehead. I licked my lips and swallowed.
Make the swirling stop…. I closed my eyes to no avail. A deep voice rumbled somewhere as I tottered. I heard the word Army… Army… Death Eaters…I will have you…. No! Yes, Favian. You swore yourself to me and there is no retracting on promises. I made no promises! Potter shall die, like his father and your own parents and you shall make my cause whole. Never!
"NO!" Harry shouted from my side. It wasn't for me. Something was happening but I couldn't… I couldn't understand…. Shut up Potter…. Fudge? Voldemort? GO AWAY! Favian… you cannot banish me. You promised! I promised not to make you fall asleep. So far you are awake.
"Dumbledore…." I whispered. "Help…." But no one could hear me. There were angry voices and energy… it was everywhere.
"He will not…." I am not alone, Favian. Remember that forces bend to my will. "Single-handed!" McGonagall?
"Oh yes he will, Minerva!" That was certainly Dumbledore. My knees buckled and there was all this… silver….
"Are you all right?" Dumbledore asked. I still couldn't see anything but swirls of color. I felt myself dragged to my feet. "Favian? Was she…."
"I… help!" I gasped. "I can't…. leave… help."
There was a rough hand on my face.
"What's happening?" I heard McGonagall.
"Favian, come back." Dumbledore whispered. "You can fight it."
I breathed in until I thought my lungs would pop and suddenly I could see again.
"What's happening?" I asked, standing up on my own as I saw all the bodies around us.
"Later, Favian. They mustn't know we have spoken."
I nodded.
"Where will you go, Dumbledore?" Whispered McGonagall, a hand still firmly on my shoulder. "Grimmauld Place?"
"Oh no," said Dumbledore with a grim smile. "I am not leaving to go into hiding. Fudge will soon wish he'd never dislodged me from Hogwarts, I promise you."
"He what?" I was stunned.
Harry and McGonagall stared at me as though I had been living under a rock.
"Ask Harry later, Favian, there is no time."
"Professor Dumbledore…." Harry began.
"Listen to me, Harry," he said urgently, "you must study Occlumency as hard as you can, do you understand me? Do everything Professor Snape tells you and practice it particularly every night before sleeping so that you can close your mind to bad dreams- you will understand why soon enough, but you must promise me-."
The wiry-haired man was stirring. Dumbledore seized Harry's wrist.
"Remember- close your mind- you will understand." The phoenix flew to Dumbledore, who grasped his tail and they were gone in a flash of fire.
"Where is he?" Yelled Fudge. "Where is he?"
"I don't know!" Shouted Kingsley, leaping to his feet.
"Well, he can't have Disapperated!" Cried Umbridge. "You can't inside this school-."
"The stairs!" Cried the wiry-haired wizard and he, Shacklebolt, and Umbridge wrenched the door open and ran. Fudge got to his feet slowly.
"Well, Minerva," said Fudge nastily, straightening his torn shirt sleeve, "I'm afraid this is the end of your friend Dumbledore."
"You think so, do you?" Said McGonagall scornfully.
Fudge looked around the office, ignoring McGonagall. A few of the portraits hissed at him; one or two even made rude hand gestures.
"You'd better get those three off to bed." Fudge motioned towards Marietta, Harry and myself. McGonagall marched us towards the door and down the halls.
"I'll take Marietta to the hospital wing. I trust you two know how to get back to the Common Room?"
I nodded weakly.
"And, Ms. Fynn, if you have any further problems, please come and see me immediately." And she went off to the hospital wing with Marietta in tow.
I told Harry what had happened and he told me.
"You really ought to take Occlumency too." Harry suggested.
"It wouldn't work. This is something different." I shook my head. "Dumbledore considered it." I realized suddenly that he was talking to me again. "It's this whole Aviata business."
"Yeah." Harry flushed and looked away. And so ended the Harry-talking-to-me spell.