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"Oh, Minerva! I thought you were a student lurking around the hallway," Dolores stated, a little too sweetly.
Minerva took a step back and allowed Dolores to drop her wand. "I would suggest that you do not patrol the hallways, Dolores. We have plenty of staff on watch. If they see anything lurking in the shadows, they will not hesistate to fire."
"I don't know why you think I am uncapable of helping protect this castle," the short woman stated.
"You aren't! You have no idea of the precautions we have taken to keep Hogwarts and its students safe. Now, if you will kindly go back to your rooms and stay there. You are not needed." Minerva tried to walk away but Dolores stepped in front of her again.
"Why do you insist of not answering any of my questions or allowing me to help out at Hogwarts?"
"Maybe because of the horrible mess you placed us in last time," Minerva answered simply.
"Mess! This castle is a mess! There is no way that students are being kept safe in this mudpile! I cannot believe you agree with Albus Dumbledore! You are smarter than that! You would be a much better witch if you realized that Dumbledore is not always right!"
Minerva took two steps forward, standing right over Dolores. Dolores seemed to shrink even shorter than she already was. Minerva glared down at her.
"Don't you dare say anything negative about Albus Dumbledore in my presence again," she said quietly, yet firmly. And with that she walked down the hall towards her husband's office.
Dolores humphed and watched as the witch strode away. She raised her wand again, knowing that this time she would get the job done.
"Accio!"
Her wand flew out of her hand and right into the hands of Harry Potter. Minerva whirled around quickly, her wand out and at the ready. She saw the Trio with all of their wands pointed at directly at Umbridge.
"You see, Minerva! Students wandering the halls at all hours of the night! This is exactly what the ministry needs to know about! And taking a superior's wand for no reason! This is preposterous! I will make sure that the Minister knows about this, Minerva McGonagall!" She rushed over to Harry and grabbed her wand before hurrying out of the dark corridor. Minerva lowered her wand and then marched over to the Trio.
"And just what do you three think you are doing! You have just sent off an enemy to deliver a message that Hogwarts is not safe! This will get back to Voldemort and now there is nothing to stop his attacking us!"
"Professor, we weren't trying to make any trouble! Honest!" Ron said quickly.
"Ron's right, Professor. We were coming to find Professor Dumbledore, but when we saw Ms. Umbridge pointing her wand at you..." Hermione trailed off.
"That's when we decided to make sure you weren't hurt by her," Harry finished. Minerva's face softened a little.
"I do thank you for helping me out but I thought we discussed what you wanted to talk about in the common room."
"We had some other ideas that we thought Professor Dumbledore needs to hear right away," Hermione said. "Please Professor, let us come."
Minerva sighed. "Well, the damage has already been done. Come along." The Trio followed her to the Headmaster's office and walked inside. Albus looked up, expecting only Minerva, but instead, was confused to see the Trio with her.
"Professor McGonagall, I thought I told you to keep these three in the common room."
Minerva went to answer but Harry cut in. "It's our fault, Professor. We needed to talk to you."
Albus looked at Minerva for any clue he could get but she couldn't give him any. He motioned for the Trio to sit. Minerva took a seat next to his desk and waited for the Trio's explanation.
"We had some ideas after Professor McGonagall left the common room that we thought needed to be brought to your attention right away, Professor," Hermione said quickly.
"Slow down, Miss Granger. We have some time I believe. Tell me your ideas."
"You see, Professor, after we saw Umbridge with her wand out against Professor McGonagall, we had some suspiscions as to what she was really up to. We believe she is directly linked with Voldemort. However, we also believe she may have had something to do with what happened to Professor McGonagall eleven years ago. Because that didn't work then, she is trying to finish her job now. Voldemort wants to get to you, Professor, but there are many teachers here that are standing in his way. One of those is Professor McGonagall. We think that Umbridge is Voldemort's way of getting rid of Professor McGonagall and therefore, making you an easier target," Harry explained
"And why do you think Voldemort wants Professor McGonagall? Why not Professor Snape or Professor Flitwick or..." Dumbledore asked.
"They don't matter! You work the closest with Professor McGonagall! She's the Deputy Headmistress! Everyone knows that you two are always on the same side! And you're considered the most powerful witch and wizard of your age! That's why he wants to get her out of the way!" Harry shouted a little too loudly.
Albus exchanged a look with Minerva and then stood.
"I...I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to yell," Harry said, his head hanging in shame. He and Dumbledore had tried to patch up their differences since last year but now he seemed to have messed it all up again.
"There is no need for apologies, Harry. I appreciate your concern for Professor McGonagall, but I myself know that she is not one to reckon with."
"But Professor, Ms. Umbridge doesn't play fair! Just now she tried to hex Professor McGonagall from behind!"
Albus' eyes widened slightly, but he did not let on his anger to the three students in front of him. "Miss Granger, I am well aware of Dolores Umbridge's ways and methods. However, I must ask that all of you steer clear of her until she is gone from this castle. We cannot have you wandering about in the hallways where she is. She is very dangerous and unfortunately, we have no proof with which to put her away."
"What about what she did to you last year, Professor McGonagall? Doesn't that count for anything?" Ron asked.
"I am afraid that Ms. Umbridge would argue she was simply doing her job, and would in turn put the blame on Professor McGonagall for trying to stop her from sacking Hagrid," Albus explained.
"This is so unfair," Hermione said, tears coming to her eyes. "We can't do anything!"
"Ah, but you can Miss Granger. You can keep an eye out for the other students when Ms. Umbridge is about. Don't let any of them talk to her. Make sure you keep them as far away from her as possible and give her as little information about Hogwarts as you can. If she is reporting to Voldemort regularly, we don't want to give her too much information about our methods, now do we?" Albus asked, a small smile on his face. The Trio nodded and sighed.
"I guess that's all we can do," Harry said.
"For now, yes. But you have come up with some good assumptions. I, myself, am very curious as to the attack on Professor McGonagall eleven years ago. I do know one who was involved in the attack, but you may be right in saying that Dolores Umbridge was involved in some way."
"Wait...you know who attacked you, Professor?" Harry asked Minerva. Minerva caught Albus' eye and after a slight nod from him, she turned back to the students.
"Yes, I do."
"Was it Umbridge?" Ron asked.
"No, it wasn't."
"So you don't think she had anything to do with it?" Harry asked her.
"I don't know. It is most likely that she did have something to do with it. But, that was the past and we cannot change it now. What is important is keeping her away from the students and keep all of you safe."
"Professor McGonagall is right. Now, I believe it time for you to get back to the Tower before she can do any more damage tonight," Albus said. Minerva moved to stand but saw that the Trio was not following. Albus noticed as well. "Is there something else?"
"Yes," Harry said. "Professor McGonagall, was it Lucius Malfoy that attacked you?"
Minerva drew in a sharp breath and quickly looked over to Albus. "What makes you think that?" he asked quietly.
"When he tried to get in last time, he took Professor McGonagall right away," Harry explained.
Albus was silent as he took his seat. He looked over at Minerva for a moment and she at him. There was a question in his eyes, a very important question that she knew he had been wanting to ask her for a very long time. She nodded and turned to stare at her hands in her lap.
"I believe it is time that you three know just exactly what has been going on," Albus said.