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Chapter Eighteen: Umbridge
Staring after Master Harry as he ran up the steps, disappearing from view, the girls turned to one another. "Better get going then." Carla looked at her apprehensively, nodding at her. Hermione couldn't help but feel a squirming within her stomach, an oncoming feeling of fear and regret, just as she had done so many times over the past years when she had been thrown into a situation by either her own Master or Master Harry. All she could think was that their situation was coming to a head, the year was about to end it explosion. Bending quickly she scooped Crookshanks into her arms and then turned to Kevin, almost desperately, holding him out towards her.
"I...I don't know what's going to happen, but please take him." He looked back at her, very confusedly, though took the feline anyway, holding him tightly and nodding at her. Turning back to Carla she tried to force out a small smile, "Let's go." The two of them shot down the stairs and towards a set of double doors that led towards the Suspension Bridge, Hermione leading the way across it and towards the Viaduct Entrance.
"Where are we going?" Carla cried out from behind, Hermione only flipping her head around momentarily,
"Her office of course!" She replied as the crossed the half way point of the bridge, Carla's voice faltering. Hermione turned to find hr stood still, looking perplexed,
"But I thought Kevin said the Hospital Wing?" Shaking her head a little, Hermione moved back to her,
"Only maybe. She could easily be up here." She said, ready to continue running towards Professor McGonagall's office.
"What about the Headmasters office?" Hermione froze, turning back to Carla, looking bewildered at her sudden spark of genius. Laughing a little into a smile, she nodded rapidly,
"Good, yeah, you go there. Meet me back here in ten." Carla turned from her and ran back the other way. Hermione turned and carried on herself, picking up her long dress as not to trip over it. Crashing through the double doors, she made for the doorway and up the Defence Against The Dark Arts Tower, towards the first floor. Banging on the door as loud as she could, she waited patiently, tapping her foot. Raising her hand again, she pounded her fist into the wood, "Professor? Professor!" Looking around her she made a spontaneous decision, throwing open the door and walking into the office, finding it empty but for the crackle of the fire as it danced by the hearth. "Damn it..." Her heart racing, her breath heaving, she rushed over to a nearby desk, rummaging around the papers upon it, desperate for some indication of where she could be. Desperately scanning every piece of paper she could find that could possibly help Master Harry, oblivious to the creaking of the door as it slowly opened.
"Hem hem." Came a small, sickly sweet voice, causing Hermione to jump backwards into a chair, scraps of parchment still filling her hands. A hand still propping open the door, a short, squat woman resembling a large pale toad, smiled cruelly back at her, her large flabby face, supporting the corners of her slack mouth and her bulging eyes that were gleaming with delight and cruelty. Almost blinding Hermione in a full pink tweed suit and a large velvet bow that resembled a large fly perched unwisely on top of an even larger toad; the woman fluffed her mousey hair and giggled a little.
"Professor!" Hermione cried, her eyes widening further as three boys stepped from behind her and into the room, dragging a familiar face with them, "Carla?" She received a weak smile from her, an excruciatingly sorry smile, as she was dragged upwards by a boy she recognised as Gregory Goyle. She felt instantly sick, surrounded by her new Headmistress and the son of the Deputy Minister with his cronies, with no way of escaping, apart from throwing herself out of the window.
"And you think you are doing what exactly?" She asked in a high pitched, girlish voice, causing Hermione to stumble over her words a she tried to think of an excuse as to why she had intruded a Professors personal belongings.
"I...I was looking for Professor McGonagall." She spewed, knowing that it would not suffice as all four smiles turned upwards cruelly, almost mocking her ineptitude to cover her own lies,
"For what purpose?" Umbridge asked, almost breathlessly, giggling a little at the same time,
"I just need to find her." Hermione mumbled in response, seeing Carla sink lower and lower into the floor as her knees gave way, needing more and more support from both Crabbe and Goyle as her body gave way. Her stomach spasmed and she released a nervous giggle as Umbridge turned to the remaining Slytherin, nodding lightly. He marched around the desk and took sharp hold of her arm, twisting it behind her back, causing her to squeal in pain and drop all she was holding. "Hey, what?" She was dragged forwards as he took hold of her other wrist, keeping her as close to his chest as he could, forcing her in front of Umbridge. Sneering, she withdrew her wand, "Since no-one is around..." She smiled purposefully, knowing that she herself could not be punished for showing magic to Muggleborns, especially when she intended to use it upon them. Eyeing the tip, a blue spark flickered out of it, panicking Hermione greatly, causing her to squirm a little, trying to pull away, yet Draco held her fast as it was pushed hard into her throat directly over her carotid pulse. Her breathing increased a little, her body dragging in air as quickly as she could in an attempt to calm herself and stop her body from shaking. "I said...for what purpose?" Her voice suddenly angry, Hermione seriously considered just being honest, but remembered who the woman before her was, and all that she had done to her and her fellow Muggleborns, her prejudices and even poor treatment of Master Harry. Her eyes glazed over and she glared back at Umbridge, determined not to say anything, even if it cost her. She could see the old hag in front of her increasingly anger through her silence, seemingly ready to curse her, for a small voice floating over to them from by the door.
"Master Harry needs her!" Barely even lifting her head, Carla had spoken, dragged upwards suddenly once more and onto her feet, slammed back into the wall,
"Carla..." Screwing her eyes tight she wished she could take back her words for her, take her and run, hide her from the world and protect her. Umbridge turned to look at Carla and then back at Hermione with a sadistic smile, pushing her wand a little further into her, and then flicking it away, rounding on Carla, short arm extending her overly short wand in her direction.
"Aah, well, what shall-" Umbridge began, being brutally cut off as a short, hard faced Pansy Parkinson crashed against the door, clearly struggling for breath,
"Professor! Potter and his lot are in your office! Millicent's standing guard." Straightening suddenly, the look of shock that had spread over her face suddenly melted and she turned to Hermione, taking her chin forcefully, digging her nails painfully into her skin,
"Let's go and pay them a visit then shall we?" Giving her a harsh tap to the cheek she straightened, although this did not improve her height by much, and then made for the door, Hermione's heart still pounding as she watched after her, willing her to carry on walking. Yet when she turned back around to the boys, Hermione knew what was coming, bile rising in her stomach, knowing that if her Master was to be caught, she would not be able to sit back, she would have to protect him. "Bring them." She felt herself shoved forwards, her arm being twisted further, causing her to cringe, feeling as though it were going to break, but refusing to cry out loud anymore, even as Draco sneered into her ear,
"Hurting yet Granger?" Obviously enjoying her pain, even as everyone else exited the room.
"No, Sir." She dared to reply, earning herself a sudden yank, causing her to whimper, before shoving her out of the door, following the others back down the staircase.
"I hadn't thought so."
~x~x~x~
By the time Hermione reached Umbridge's office with Draco, Master Harry was being held up by his hair by the teacher herself, bending his neck back as far as it would go as though she were about to slit his throat. Carla had been thrown into a corner, looking lifeless, and several large Slytherins were each gripping Master Ron, Mistress Ginny, Mistress Luna and Master Neville, all of whom were gagged and the latter being trapped in a stranglehold by Crabbe and looked in imminent danger of suffocation.
"You think," Umbridge whispered, dangerously low in Master Harry's face, "That I would not know that a filthy little creature like yourself would be in my office. Almost as bad as your second little Mudblood spy over there." The group turned to the doorway to look at Hermione, who looked back in sorrow and despair, humiliated and immensely sorry for allowing herself to be caught. A muffled cry came from her Master, seemingly as he tried to call her name as she looked over towards his now terrified face. Feeling the pressure upon her arms slacken, she looked behind her to Draco, who simple smirked and then walked away from her, distracting her attention so that when Millicent Bulstrode, a giant of a girl came over to her, she was completely unprepared when she was slammed violently into the wall by the door, gasping as the wind was knocked clean out of her. "Take his wand." She heard Umbridge say, from behind the Slytherin girl's hulking form that was shielding her view. "Now what were you doing?" Asked Umbridge, her sickly voice returning, seemingly attempting to restore order in her office, whilst threatening them at the same time.
"Nothing." Came Master Harry's strangled reply, a pathetic attempt at covering his tracks.
"Liar." She stated simply, "I want to know why you were in my office and who you were trying to contact. Albus Dumbledore? That half-breed Hagrid? That foolish cow McGonagall?" Umbridge was now pacing around the room speaking as though she had the sole authority of the world upon her, her hands clasped tightly, drifting in and out of Hermione's line of sight. "Clearly so important that you sent this buffoon," She paused momentarily and nodded towards her Master, causing anger to break out over her, already upset by his bruised face and bleeding lip, enraged that the Malfoy boy dares laugh at him, "To tell me the poltergeist was wreaking havoc in the Transfiguration Department-" Yet she was cut across as Hermione's anger boiled over suddenly, not caring about the consequences that could possibly come to her, shouting loudly,
"How dare you, you foul, lying, twisted gargoyle!" There was a long pause in which all eyes turned at her as she stared under Bulstrode's arm, glaring at Umbridge as if it were enough to kill her.
"Oh?" She was still smiling, unnerving Hermione greatly as she took a step towards her, Bulstrode moving out of the line of fire. Yet her smile faltered suddenly, when she was close enough, her slack face tightening as she took hold of Hermione and shoved her into the table, pain erupting in her lower back as they connected, "You dares cross me you worthless little girl?" Her chest rising and falling rapidly, she could not even regret her words as a crack echoed through the room as Umbridge's hand connected with the side of her face, sending her directly into the floor, "You should be grateful I haven't killed you yet, you meddling little bitch." She gave Hermione a sharp kick to the leg and then strode back over towards Master Harry who had been watching speechlessly, his mouth wide open and gaping. Her cheek was on fire, a ringing resonating through her head as her eyes longed to close themselves, let her sleep as her vision slipped and swam in front of her, barely able to even concentrate upon what was happening, vaguely hearing 'Professor Snape' before the office fell into silence. Trying to keep herself focused, she looked over to her Master, the only place noise was coming from by the various fidgetings and scuffling resulting from the three Slytherins effort to keep him under control and restrained. Ignoring the opening of the door as Draco and Snape returned, their exchange hushed, she turned to look further down the wall, towards Carla's crumpled form. Taking a huge ragged breath, she reached out to her, unnoticed by the Slytherins who were watching Umbridge and Snape intently, and touched her hand, noting how cold she seemed. Shuffling towards her, Hermione took her head up and held her slightly stirring body tightly, whispering into her ear softly,
"It'll be alright, I promise you. Come on now, get up. Wake up. Carla!" A sudden out burst from Master Harry, caused all of them to turn around and face both Harry and Snape, who looked round at Harry. His face was inscrutable. "I have no idea," said Snape coldly. "Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."
"Oi!" Bulstrode shouted suddenly at Hermione, who looked startled after listening so intently to the conversation taking place in front of her. "Get away you filthy creature!"
"No! Wait! She's sick! I can't just leave her!" Yet Hermione was dragged suddenly away by Bulstrode, despite her protests and attempts to wriggle free and return to her friend.
"Bulstrode. Take the girl to the Hospital Wing. You're as stupid as Crabbe when creating problems for me when killing off the Gryffindors." They all looked around at him, Hermione's face full of appreciation for the teacher that most people despised and that many had told her was cold hearted and full of hatred towards any student that wasn't a Slytherin. Bulstrode obliged, albeit looking bewildered, hauling Carla onto her shoulders and walking out of the door, closely followed by Snape who closed the door behind him with a snap.
"Very well," Umbridge said, pulling out her wand slowly, twiddling it in her fingers slowly, "Very well...I am left with no alternative...this is more than a matter of school discipline...this is an issue of Ministry security...yes...yes..." She seemed to be talking herself into something and the way she was pacing was making Hermione feel sick and anxious as she watched Umbridge in silence, shifting her weight from one foot to the other nervously, staring at Master Harry, and then at the others and back to him, beating her wand against the empty palm, breathing almost as heavily as Hermione, who could not shake the feeling of oncoming terror and the need to avert it. Feeling more powerless than ever, Hermione could not even move, simply stare at the muttering woman, "You are forcing me after all Potter...I don't want to...but with the slave as well," She turned to look at Hermione intensely, her eyes hungry and rabid, "Sometimes circumstances justify...I am sure the Minister will understand that there is no real choice..." Reassuring herself by turning to the eager and excited faces of the Slytherins, she gave herself one last nod, "The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue." She said quietly, earning a whoop from Goyle. Hermione's eyes bulged and she lunged forwards, caught suddenly by Draco who dragged her backwards, trying to cover her mouth with his hand,
"No!" She shrieked as loud as she could, "That's illegal!" Yet Umbridge barely took any notice, flippantly commenting with a wave of her hand,
"A slave like you shouldn't even have that kind of knowledge. You'll be next don't you worry." She gave a little chuckle as she began aiming her wand at different points of Master Harry's body, presumably trying to decide which point of contact would hurt his the most. Still struggling desperately, not wanting to fail him or Carla in letting her friends close Master and friend be hurt by such a vile woman. Trying again, she cried out,
"The Minister wouldn't want you breaking the law, Professor!" Yet she was waved away by a hot pink glove as her wand finally rested directly over Master Harry's heart, sending Hermione's beating like crazy with fear, struggling a little more and being swept off of her feet suddenly and thrown next to her Master, who glared at Bulstrode, still struggling against his restraints whilst trying to stand in front of Hermione.
"What he doesn't know won't hurt him." Umbridge looked back towards her desk that bore a picture of the Minister, and though it was facing way from her, she smiled at it sickeningly, "Doesn't even know I sent those Dementor's for you over the summer does he, loved a chance to expel you though." She turned back to Master Harry who made a sudden lunge for her, his fists scrunched up tightly, looking as though he were about to hit her sharply in the nose,
"You-" He began, but she threw him back, her voice high and shrill,
"Silence!" Shaking herself a little, she lifted her wand high, Hermione, pushing her Master out of the way as hard as she could, "Cruc-"
"NO!" She screamed, Umbridge turning to face her suddenly, "No! Please Master Harry! Please just tell her!" The Professors eyes lit up instantly, but his fell in shock and disgust at the mention of him giving the game away, but also in confusion as to how she could have possibly known what he was doing.
"No way!" He shouted back, almost spitting spitefully at her stupidity,
"Just do it! She'll force it out of you anyway!" Hermione began sobbing, or pretending to at least, collapsing to the floor in a giant heap, creating a big a scene as she possibly could, fully aware that all eyes were on her, particularly the appalled eyes of the Gryffindors, who looked down on her with hatred.
"Well, well, well!" Umbridge quickly whipped her wand away and walked over towards Hermione, putting an arm around her and bringing her towards Master Harry, placing her gently in a comfortable armchair where she continued to sob, feeling exhilarated at the lie she was about to tell, wondering if she really could get away with it for long enough, "The little Mudblood may be use for something after all! Come on then girl, come on!" Umbridge urged her, shoving tissues into her face, which Hermione accepted, pretending to dab her eyes in order to cover the fact that no tears were actually falling from her eyes.
"Er-my-nee...NO!" Her Master half screamed, lunging forwards. She looked to her and shook her head, drawing as big a shuddering breath as she possibly could, trying to flush her cheeks,
"Come on!" Umbridge urged her excitedly, shaking her shoulders a little,
"He was trying to get in touch with Dumbledore! He needs to know it's ready! The weapon is ready!" Hermione threw her head back into her hands, sobbing violently once more at her 'betrayal', seeming to be the only one in the room to notice that her housemates had stopped struggling and were all staring at her wide eyed and open mouthed.
"Right. Let's go then shall we my love? And we'll take Harry too dear, just us. That's go and see it." Umbridge tried to muster the most motherly voice she could, patting Hermione gently upon the head and shoulder, rubbing her arm a little before standing and offering her hand. Rubbing her eyes with one hand, Hermione gave another gulping gasp and then accepted it with her other,
"Okay, yeah, we should do that. It's for the best." Both smiling at one another, they began walking towards the door,
"Good." Dragging Master Harry with her, she turned momentarily towards the Slytherins, "Make sure they don't escape!" Whipping out her wand, she smiled down at Hermione once more and extended her arm forwards, giving Harry a shove with the other, "Lead on my dear."
~x~x~x~
There they stood, directly upon the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, the balmy evening air cooling their bodies as they waited patiently. "Is it in Hagrids hut?" Umbridge addressed Hermione eagerly, ignoring the Forest completely,
"Of course not, he might have accidently set it off!" Sheblabbered, knowing the professor would agree instantly,
"Yes," She said, her excitement mounting, "Yes he would have. Great half-breed oaf that he is." She laughed at her own comment, a strong urge building within Hermione to turn around and lamp the old toad as hard as she could and then run for it, having to suppress her anger and turn it into her own evil, high pitched laugh, noting how Harry glared at her, saying nothing.
"It's in there." Hermione stated casually, extending a hand towards the forest, as if it were nothing, "Away from the students, you understand." Hermione smiled back at her, both of them seemingly apprehensive, though she refused to show it, carrying on her charade.
"In you go then!" Umbridge gave Harry a push, Hermione going in herself without the need to be forced, taking the lead once more, since Master Harry obviously had no clue as to where they were going. All she could think about was her Master, still up in that office with those awful Slytherins, anything could have been happening to him. Every so often she would here Umbridge call out, "Are we there yet, my dear?" Giving a short reply of,
"Not yet Professor. Just a little further now." Knowing that Umbridge would struggle to keep up because of her short, stumpy legs, Hermione quickened her pace, hearing the Professors ragged breathing and feeling Master Harry's piercing stare upon her back, knowing he was obviously very confused about where they were going. On top, Umbridge was making a hideous amount of noise as she traipsed after them, Hermione adding to this by purposefully taking a route that was covered in brambles and thick vegetation which had to be shifted in order to pass. Catching up to her as the light faded, Harry took her arm as she shouted 'a little further' back at Umbridge once more,
"Be quiet Hermione! You don't know what's listening to us!" He hissed, pretending to steady her as she stumbled,
"I want us heard. You'll see" He let her go, his misgivings increasing, but deciding to just go with it and trust her as he had done so many times before. Stepping into a clearing, it was obvious that Umbridge was becoming ever more disgruntled, unaware of the unseen eyes that were watching her. An arrow flew suddenly through the air and landed with a menacing thud by Umbridge's head, causing her to shriek loudly, running behind Harry, and using him as a human shield as a great heard of centaurs crowded around them, hooves pounding into the ground, causing it to quiver and quake beneath them. Hermione smiled a little as a chestnut bodied centaur stepped forward, bow raised in their direction.
"Who are you?" HE asked, looking lazily towards Umbridge's raised wand,
"I am Dolores Umbridge!" She shrieked painfully, "Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and Headmistress and High Inquisitor of Hogwarts! So I am warning you, you stupid half breed-"
"How dare you! You despicable woman!" Hermione rounded on her, shocking her,
"And you, you filthy Mudblood!" There was a rush of hooves as the centaurs suddenly charged, Hermione being thrown to the ground by Master Harry, face down on the Forest floor, terror leaping through her as they jumped over them or ran around, screaming with rage. With Umbridge herself screaming, she was lifted into the air, attempting to fire stunning spells all around her, to little avail, screaming into the distance.
"And these?" Came a voice from behind them. They spun to see a few remaining centaurs baring down upon them, "They brought her here, and must suffer the consequences." Raising their hooves ready to strike, Master Harry pulled Hermione behind him, yet all turned suddenly as a loud crash came from the edge of the clearing. Two trees were suddenly parted and the monstrous form of Grawp appeared, raging in an apparent tantrum.
"Oh my god..." Hermione took a hand to her mouth, looking absolutely terrified up at Grawp, his lopsided mouth gaping stupidly, his brick like yellowed teeth glimmering in the little light that there was as he opened his mouth wide,
"Hagger!"
"What the hell is Hagger?" She sobbed, seemingly about to cry, but then stopped suddenly, her brain engaging, "Wait...Hagrid?" Grawp's head suddenly whipped around in their direction, the centaurs raising their loaded bows high up at his face. She began physically and visibly shaking as Grawp took a step closer, taking hold of Master Harry's arm and squeezing as tightly as she possibly could, wondering how she had got herself into such an awful situation in the first place.
"HERMY! WHERE HAGGER?" He addressed her directly and she squealed back, terrified,
"I don't know, I'm sorry, I just don't know!"
"GRAWP WANT HAGGER!" He reached down towards them and she shot backwards, falling over in the process, looking on in horror as arrows shot directly at his face, puncturing him and causing him to howl in pain, pebble sized droplets of blood showering them. As she sat there in horror, Master Harry had taken his chance and dragged her to her feet, turning from the clearing and making for the edge of the forest, not stopping, never wavering until the crashed back into the grounds, both falling back onto the grass, panting heavily. A loud roaring reached them from the Forest, causing nesting birds to evacuate their homes suddenly,
"Grawp..." She said quietly, regretting abandoning him to save herself,
"He'll be okay," He said, pushing himself up to his feet, legs shaking slightly. She nodded and then attempted to get up herself, legs feeling like jelly, but she simply fell back down, instead resting her back against a tree with her hands above her head, panting.
"Master Harry, please, tell me what's going on." He looked at her apprehensively, but guiltily, hating that she had just done so much for him despite knowing nothing about what had been going on.
"Just the quick version, okay?" She nodded back at him, grateful that he could at least trust her with something. " There's a place in the Ministry of Magic, called the Department of Mysteries, knowing you, you'll know what I'm on about, even if you're not meant to," He raise an eyebrow at her and she blushed scarlet, nodding slightly, "Well, I had this dream, but it wasn't a dream, it was a vision. Sirius is there. Voldemort's going to kill him. I have to get there." She sat in silence, not even looking at him, feeling as confused as ever, always having been hesitant of prophetic visions and their confusion with vivid dreams. Yet she could see no reason as to why he would lie to her, surely he would have simply told her nothing rather than creating some kind of fantasy.
"How are you planning to get to London?" She asked quietly looking up at him, yet they were interrupted by a familiar voice and as they turned around Master Ron cam into sight, leading the others towards them. Hermione stood up instantly, "Master!" Running to him, she stopped inches away, taking a hand to his face and wiping his ever worse bleeding lip,
"It's alright Hermione." He took hold of her wrist gently and drew it from his face, smiling a little, "Right, any ideas?"
"How the hell did you get away?" Asked Master Harry, half astonished that they had come to be here.
"Couple of Stunners, a Disarming Charm, Neville brought off a really nice little Impediment Jinx," He said airily, brushing himself down, 'But Ginny was best, she got Malfoy - Bat Bogey Hex - it was superb, his whole face was covered in the great flapping things. Anyway, we saw you out of the window heading into the Forest and followed. What've you done with Umbridge?"
"Let's just say, centaurs and Grawp. I'll explain later, we don't have time." Master Harry replied, nervous and anxiously shuffling about where he stood, taking his wand back as Mistress Ginny handed it to him.
"Shall we fly then?" Came the voice of Mistress Luna, in the closest thing to a matter-of-fact voice she had ever been known to use, causing them to look at her bewildered.
"You lot aren't going anywhere and we don't have brooms anyway!" He spat at her furiously, wondering how she dare assume that she was welcomed along.
"Harry Potter, you shut up!" Ginny cut in, giving him a little push, Neville looking at him determinedly,
"We want to help."
"We we're all in the DA. There's a reason for it." Luna finished, looking perfectly pleased with herself as he squirmed under their gaze.
"We still can't get there, even if you were all coming anyway!" Master Harry folder his arms defiantly, turning to look exasperatedly at his ginger haired friend.
"I've already settled it, we're flying." She repeated ephemerally, causing his anger to sky rocket, openly beginning to rage at her,
"No. We're-" Yet Hermione interrupted her, watching how Mistress Luna's eyes had been flicking to the Forest behind her,
"Flying. We'll fly. Thestrals. Right?" She received a polite smile and nod,
"That's what you get for being covered in blood." Luna gave a small chuckle which unnerved Hermione slightly.
"Right, well there's five here now, that's enough. Hermione, you go back to the castle and-" Said Master Harry angrily, turning to see them appearing from the Forest, one licking his sleeve a little, where a large damp patch of blood had soaked in.
"No! You are not leaving me behind!" Hermione suddenly cried, feeling immensely betrayed after all she had endure for him that night.
"Don't be stupid! You'll just get killed!" Interjected her own Master, as they all began mounting the invisible horses with Master Harry's help.
"The amount of times I've almost been killed because of you two, don't you dare start being sympathetic now!" Hermione's face darkened suddenly, appalled that her Master would dare to tell her she couldn't come, her face darkening as she pointed her finger directly into his, despite him now being high upon the Thestral. "Plus, I'm meant to go everywhere with you, Master." Looking into his eyes, she knew she had won, the fire within her burning brightly. He screwed his face up tightly, not wanting to utter his next words as he extended an arm out to her,
"Get on."
Japan's Arc Angel x
