Selena glanced between the two of them. "He's being held captive? By You-Know-Who? At the Ministry?"
"Yes, that is what I just said, try to keep up," Anne snapped. "We don't have much time, we have to hurry."
Footsteps started to come towards them. Selena looked up to see Harry Potter and Hermione Granger approaching them.
Anne looked at Selena. "And we're going to save him."
Selena glanced between the three girls. The corridor was completely empty now. "You're... you're going to the Ministry of Magic?"
Anne nodded.
"But how... why is You-Know-Who holding him captive? And why at the Ministry of all places?"
"Harry," Ginny and Anne answered simply.
"He knows Harry, so Voldemort thinks he'll know where Harry's Prophecy is," Anne continued.
Luna swayed on the spot. "It's all quite complicated really."
Selena's mind spun. Voldemort, Prophecy, Ministry, Sirius, Harry. How in Merlin did any of this add up?
"Anne."
Selena turned to the right, looking over Ginny's shoulder where the voice came from. No one was there. Ginny didn't seem surprised though, and neither did Anne.
"Let's go," a voice whispered. Selena recognized it as Hermione Granger. But where-
"Invisibility cloak," Anne said simply to Selena, reading her mind. She turned to her. "Stay here with Ginny and Luna." Without another word she stepped forward.
The air split like it had been cut, revealing Harry Potter and Hermione Granger underneath the invisibility cloak. Anne huddled with them before Hermione nodded. "Don't forget the signal," she said quickly and then draped the cloak around them. The three Gryffindors vanished.
Selena turned to Luna and Ginny as quiet settled over the empty corridor. Luna just smiled serenely back, blinking her silvery eyes. "Where are they going?" Selena finally asked.
"Umbridge's office," Ginny whispered, glancing over her shoulder to check for anyone passing by. "They're trying to charm her fire to talk to... well, you know. To check where he might be."
Selena's dark eyebrows rose. They were going to contact Sirius? Didn't Anne say Harry had just had a vision of him at being held at the Ministry? Selena's heart beat faster, her palms becoming clammy at the thought. It was like a dream. It didn't seem real. How could Lord Voldemort have found Sirius? Why Sirius? As a hostage to get to Harry?
"If we see the headmistress coming, we need to sing 'Weasley is our King' to give them a heads up," Luna added. "Ron went and told Umbridge that Peeves is in the Transfiguration department to distract her."
"Oh, hello, everyone."
Luna smiled over Selena's shoulder. Selena turned, watching as Neville Longbottom walked up to the group, running a hand awkwardly through his blond hair.
He nodded to each of the girls. "Lovely day, isn't it? I was with Professor Sprout just now, it's quite exciting - the Flitterblooms are getting over the winter frost. Won't be long now before the juveniles can be repotted!"
Ginny forced a smile. "That's... thrilling, Neville."
He beamed back.
"Hey!"
The four turned. Selena watched with dread as a tall Slytherin boy with light brown hair walked towards them, black-and-emerald robes fluttering. On his chest was a silver 'Inquisitorial Squad' badge. Selena's stomach dropped.
"What are you all doing loitering?" the boy demanded.
"Hello, Cassius," Luna said simply.
He shot her a look. "Did you hear me or are you just stupid?"
"Don't talk to her like that," Neville snapped.
Cassius glanced over at Neville. Selena suddenly recognized him as one of the Chasers on the Slytherin Quidditch Team along with Damon. "What's it to you, Longbottom?"
Neville stared up at Cassius, refusing to break eye contact.
Cassius glanced back at Luna. "So? Going to explain?"
"Is it against the rules to be in the corridor?" Ginny sniped. "Or has Umbridge passed Educational Decree four-hundred-and-twenty-nine against it?"
"That's Headmistress Umbridge," Cassius sneered. "And I'm asking the questions here under her authority. I'll ask you again, Lovegood, what are you all doing here?"
Luna smiled. "I was looking for some Blibbering Humdingers. You might have seen them before? I think they might like to be around the Astronomy Tower."
Cassius looked at her like she was chewing gum stuck to the bottom of his shoe. "Right," he muttered. Then he took a step forward. "You can come with me to see Headmistress Umbridge and ask her about your Blithering Humdungers yourself." He reached forward.
"It's Blibb-" Luna began before Cassius grabbed her slender arm.
"Let go of her!" Neville said, grabbing Cassius' arm.
Cassius grabbed Neville all of a sudden, making Luna stumble back.
"Leave him alone!" Ginny cried, trying to pull Cassius' large arm away from Neville.
Around the corridor corner came a group of Slytherins, their faces lit up with gleeful, twisted smiles that made Selena freeze rooted to the spot. Ron was being dragged along by two of the Slytherins, a gag in his mouth tinted red with blood, red hair tousled and sweater askew like he's been in a scuffle.
"Got 'em!" one of them, a larger boy with pink cheeks, crowed.
"Take him too," Cassius said, shoving Neville towards them once they were closer.
Neville glared at Cassius before the larger boy grabbed him roughly, laughing as he put Neville in a chokehold.
A dark-skinned, muscular Slytherin girl grabbed Ginny as she tried to hit the boy holding Neville. "Can't believe you all sent this one as a distraction," the girl laughed, nodding to Ron as she pinned Ginny against the stone wall with her arm up. She pried Ginny's wand from her pale fingers as the redhead struggled. "Headmistress Umbridge isn't stupid - unlike you lot."
"Like the badge?" a familiar voice said.
Selena turned to see Maryana Callahan standing behind one of the taller boys. "Headmistress Umbridge says I have potential. I could work for the Ministry one day."
For a moment, Selena couldn't reply, imagining her parents' faces when they got a letter saying she'd been expelled from Hogwarts. What would her friends say? Maryana would gloat about it, no doubt. Finally, she muttered "I feel pretty bad for the Ministry, then."
Maryana frowned, narrowing her eyes. Her wavy hair brushed her shoulders as she shook her head. "Wrong answer."
Someone suddenly grabbed Selena's shoulder roughly, making her yelp. They pulled her arm back, yanking her wand from her robe pocket. And then Maryana was in front of her, pulling a cream-colored kerchief over her mouth. Selena could hear Neville coughing as someone tied an identical gag around his head before the large Slytherin boy grabbed him by the neck again.
"Let's go," one of the Slytherins said triumphantly.
They were pushed and pulled towards Umbridge's office, Ginny struggling against the girl who held her. Selena stumbled as Maryana walked behind her, holding her arms behind her back. "I hope we can get Hatten next time," Maryana hissed. Selena felt her blood boil at the mention of Alisson. "Or," Maryana went on, "the Mudblood. She's always so tenderhearted, isn't she?"
Selena scowled, knowing it was no use to fight back right now. She knew Maryana was just baiting her. But it was hard to resist the urge to try to stomp on her feet in retaliation for insulting Tess.
The wooden door to Umbridge's office was already open. Cassius Warrington shoved Ron inside, and then the other Slytherin boy dragged in Neville, whose face was turning purple. Ginny and Luna were pushed in the room before Selena.
Maryana pulled her hard and Selena nearly fell as she stumbled into Professor Umbridge's office. Inside the pink room, cats mewed from decorative plates on the walls, the sun setting outside the windows bordered by frilly pink lace. Selena's eyes snagged on Hermione Granger, pressed against the stone wall by a large black-haired Slytherin girl someone had called Millicent.
Harry Potter stood by the fireplace. He watched the students get dragged in the room, his fingers barely twitching as Anne was pulled in last, struggling hard against her captor. Selena bit down on her gag when Umbridge smiled sickeningly at them all. In her toad-ish hands was a wand Selena recognized as Harry's.
"Got 'em all," Cassius said. He pushed Ron so roughly that the ginger boy tripped several feet before regaining his balance. Cassius pointed at Neville. "That one tried to stop me taking her." He nodded at Luna, who blinked unconcernedly.
Ginny pulled her foot back, trying to kick the Slytherin girl's shins.
Umbridge nodded, her eyes trained like a predator on Ginny. "Good, good. Well, it looks as though Hogwarts will shortly be a Weasley-free zone, doesn't it?"
Draco Malfoy - who stood by the window, silver Prefect badge glinting on his chest - laughed. Selena glared at him (not that he bothered to notice.) What in Merlin had Wendy ever seen in this weasel?
Umbridge smiled as though everything was right in the world and sat down in one of the stiff-looking floral chairs. "So, Potter. You stationed lookouts around my office and you sent this buffoon-" she nodded to Ron, making Malfoy burst out laughing as though she'd said the best joke in all the Wizarding World, "to tell me the poltergeist was wreaking havoc in the Transfiguration department when I knew perfectly well that he was busy smearing ink on the eyepieces of the school telescopes, Mr. Filch having just informed me so."
Selena glanced over at Anne. Her cousin was gnawing at the binding as though trying to chew through it. Her blue eyes burned, focused on Umbridge. Selena swallowed - which was difficult with the gag. How much longer until the Minister of Magic showed up and expelled them all? What would Harry say about Sirius? What if the Minister found out about Sirius in hiding? He'd never believe Harry's story about Voldemort holding Sirius. Selena shuddered.
"Clearly, it was very important for you to talk to somebody," Umbridge continued. "Was it Albus Dumbledore? Or the half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall, I hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone."
Some of the Slytherins laughed. Anne pulled even harder against the girl holding her. The girl instead pulled Anne's arm even more behind her back, making Anne wince in pain before covering it up. Selena stared Anne down, willing her to stop struggling. It wasn't going to get them anywhere, though the idea was tempting. Having Maryana's sweaty palms around her arms made her skin crawl.
"It's none of your business who I talk to," Harry seethed.
Umbridge tensed. "Very well, Mr. Potter," she said. Her voice went up a few notches in mock sweetness, making Selena tense herself. Nothing good was going to follow this. Why was Harry just setting her off more? "I offered you the chance to tell me freely. You refused. I have no alternative but to force you. Draco - fetch Professor Snape."
Selena glanced at Anne at this. Draco left the room with Harry's wand, but she barely noticed. Anne looked back at Selena, pausing her futile struggle for a moment. Selena knew they both were thinking the same thing: what did Professor Snape have to do with any of this? Ron struggled as Cassius gripped him around the neck. Selena watched as drops of blood fell from Ron's lip, staining the rose-colored rug. Hermione kept squirming, and Ginny still hadn't managed to stomp on the Slytherin girl's feet. Only Selena and Luna stood motionless.
She knew it wouldn't make a difference. Besides, if they needed to make a run for it when they had a chance, it wouldn't help to be tired from fighting the Inquisitorial Squad. Selena's eyes followed Luna's gaze out of the high window. What was the Ravenclaw looking at? She began to stand on her tiptoes to try to get a better view, but footsteps echoed outside.
Draco came back in, looking smug. Professor Snape trailed him, black robes swirling around his feet. His dark, glimmering eyes scanned the students but his expression just seemed bored. Selena tried to take a deep breath. Was Dumbridge going to have him make some awful potion to give to Harry? Or torture him with his hand in a burning draught? Countless horrific scenarios passed through Selena's head, none better than the last.
Umbridge grinned. "Ah, Professor Snape." She stood up, clasping her hands. "Yes, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."
Selena's eyes widened. Harry was going to admit everything if Umbridge gave him that.
"You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter," Snape said simply. "Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."
Selena nearly laughed as Umbridge's expression fell and the blood drained from her cheeks.
"You can make some more, can't you?" Umbridge asked, her voice going back to its high sweetness.
Snape sneered ever-so-slightly. "Certainly. It takes a full moon cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in around a month."
"A month?" Umbridge said hoarsely. She puffed up her cheeks. "A month? But I need it this evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons unknown!"
Snape glanced at Harry. His black, stringy hair hid his face from Selena's view. "Really? Well, it doesn't surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules."
"I wish to interrogate him! I wish you to provide with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!" Umbridge said.
Selena tuned them out, glancing around at the other D.A. members. They had paused some of their struggling to listen to the conversation. Neville's poor face was turning a deep purple. The Slytherin boy holding him had his arm so tight around Neville's neck that even Selena felt hurt to see it.
"He's got Padfoot!" Harry suddenly yelled, making Selena turn her head back to him. Harry's eyes were on Snape, who had paused with his hand on the door. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"
"Padfoot?" snapped Umbridge. She looked between the two. "Who is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does that mean, Snape?"
Selena felt all the D.A. members draw in a breath. Anne had frozen, rooted to the spot. Selena felt a bead of cold sweat drip down the back of her neck, twining down her spine. Professor Snape knew?
"I have no idea," Snape finally said, ice in his voice. "Potter, when I wasn't 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 you ever apply for a job." He swept out, shutting the door behind him.
Umbridge's face had gone red. "Very well." She pulled out her wand, her breathing heavy, and began to shift from foot to foot. "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... You are forcing me, Potter... I do not want to, but sometimes circumstances justify the use... I am sure the Minister will understand that I had no choice... The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."
Selena's stomach swooped in terror.
"No!" Hermione screamed. Everyone turned to look at her as she struggled against Millicent, her face splotched with red. "Professor Umbridge - it's illegal!"
It seemed to be of no use. Selena watched in horror as Umbridge's bulging brown eyes sparked with glee. She raised her wand.
Anne began to fight harder against the Slytherin girl holding her, her yells muffled by her gag.
"The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law, Professor Umbridge!" Hermione shrieked.
Umbridge had begun to take shorter breaths now, her wand's aim moving around Harry. "What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him. He never knew I ordered dementors after Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel him, all the same..."
Selena gasped but Anne didn't seem to even notice. This was just the confession they had needed! Selena hoped beyond hope that the spy ear was still beneath Umbridge's desk. This was the exact proof they had needed to get Umbridge sacked. She had set dementors on a student. The Ministry couldn't stand for that, surely.
"It was you?" Harry said, aghast. He furrowed his dark eyebrows at Umbridge. "You sent the dementors after me?"
"Somebody had to act." Umbridge breathed heavily, moving her wand so that it centered on Harry's forehead. "They were all bleating about silencing you somehow - discrediting you - but I was the one who actually did something about it... Only you wriggled out of that one, didn't you, Potter? Not today, though, not now..."
Anne began to fight harder. The Slytherin girl shoved her to the ground, making Selena jerk and Maryana grip her arms tighter.
Umbridge opened her mouth, wand pointed at the Boy Who Lived. "Cruc-"
"NO!" Hermione shouted, her voice breaking. Millicent tried to keep her shoved against the wall but Hermione kept talking. "No - Harry - Harry, we'll have to tell her!"
"No way!" Harry yelled back.
"We'll have to, Harry, she'll force it out of you anyway, what's... what's the point...?" Hermione said, her voice growing weak. She began to cry, making Millicent move away, wrinkling her nose with disgust.
Selena felt like her shoulders grew heavier, her arms limp. So this was it? How could Hermione sell out Sirius to Umbridge?
Umbridge's face began to glow, her lips curling into a proud smile that made Selena nauseous. "Well, well, well! Little Miss Question-All is going to give us some answers! Come on then, girl, come on!"
"Er-my-nee - no!" Ron shouted, barely able to talk through his bloody gag. Cassius pushed him down harder.
The others watched Hermione with mixed expressions of confusion. Anne was shaking her head, struggling to stand up against her Slytherin guard.
Hermione sobbed into her hands. "I'm - I'm sorry everyone. But - I can't stand it-"
"That's right, that's right, girl!" Umbridge grabbed Hermione shoulders. She shoved the witch into the floral chair, looming over her as Hermione continue to cry, palms against her face. "Now then... with whom was Potter communicating just now?"
"Well," Hermione said with a gulp.
Selena closed her eyes.
"Well, he was trying to speak to Professor Dumbledore..."
Selena's eyes flew open.
The other D.A. members seemed even more confused now, too. Ron was still as a statue, staring at Hermione. Luna had looked away from the window to stare at Hermione. Anne was now just weakly trying to shove the Slytherin girl away from her, eyes trained on Umbridge.
"Dumbledore?" Umbridge said excitedly. "You know where Dumbledore is, then?"
"Well... no!" Hermione said into her hands. "We've tried the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley and the Three Broomsticks and even the Hog's Head-"
"Idiot girl, Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when the whole Ministry's looking for him!" Umbridge snapped, looking irritated.
Selena frowned. What was Hermione playing at?
Hermione pushed her hands even more against her face. "But - but we needed to tell him something important!"
"Yes?" Umbridge's eyes lit back up. "What was it you wanted to tell him?"
"We... we wanted to tell him it's r-ready!"
"What's ready?" Umbridge reached forward, stubby fingers digging into Hermione's shoulders again as she gave her a shake. "What's ready, girl?"
"The... the weapon," Hermione finished weakly.
Selena's frown deepened. She glanced at Anne, but her cousin's eyes were stuck on Hermione now.
"Weapon? Weapon?" Umbridge parroted. Her eyes bulged even more than usual. "You have been developing some method of resistance? A weapon you could use against the Ministry? On Professor Dumbledore's orders, of course?"
Hermione gasped in a breath. "Y-y-yes. But he had to leave before it was finished and n-n-now we've finished it for him, and we c-c-can't find him t-t-to tell him!"
"What kind of weapon is it?" Umbridge barked.
Hermioned sniffled, hanging her head lower. "We don't r-r-really understand it. We j-j-just did what P-P-Professor Dumbledore told us t-t-to do..."
Umbridge stood up straight, her eyes lighting up with a glow that made Selena's stomach sink.
"Lead me to the weapon," Umbridge said, her high voice smooth.
Hermione turned her head, eyes peering out between her fingers at the Slytherins behind Selena and the others. "I'm not showing... them."
Anne jerked her shoulder. The Slytherin girl shoved her closer to the ground in response.
"It is not for you to set conditions," Umbridge seethed, glaring at Hermione.
Hermione broke down, covering her face with her hands. "Fine," she sobbed, "fine... let them see it, I hope they use it on you! In fact, I wish you'd invite loads and loads of people to come and see! Th-that would serve you right - oh I'd love it if the wh-whole school knew where it was, and how to u-use it, and then if you annoy any of them they'll be able to s-sort you out!"
Selena held her breath. She felt Maryana's grip tighten on her arms, but she couldn't care at the moment. She just kept her gaze transfixed on Umbridge. Please believe it, please believe, please believe it... Selena didn't know what Hermione was planning, but she trusted her enough to know it mattered.
Umbridge's eyes darted to the Inquisitorial Squad. She looked over Hermione, gripping her wand tight enough for Selena to see her knuckles turning white. When she spoke, her voice was a poor imitation of consoling: "All right, dear, let's make it just you and me... we'll take Potter too, shall we?"
Anne jerked even harder. This time the Slytherin girl behind her pulled her hair, making Anne gasp. Selena instinctively went to step towards her cousin without thinking. She stumbled as Maryana held fast.
"You're not going anywhere," Maryana hissed into Selena's ear.
"Get up, now-" Umbridge began, but Draco Malfoy took a step forward.
"Professor," he said, eyes wide with hope. A bit of a smile drew along his pointed chin. "Professor Umbridge, I think some of the squad should come with you to look after-"
"I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you really think I cannot manage two wandless teenagers alone?" Umbridge snapped.
The color drained from Draco's face.
Selena bit back a smile.
"In any case," Umbridge continued haughtily, "it does not sound as though this weapon is something that schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until I return and make sure none of these -" she waved her hand at the members of Dumbledore's Army, the gaudy rings on her fingers glinting - "escape."
Draco's shoulders sank a bit with disappointment. "All right," he mumbled.
Umbridge raised her wand, pointing it between Hermione and Harry. "And you two can go ahead of me and show me the way. Lead on..."
Hermione and Harry exchanged a look for a moment, one that Selena couldn't decipher, and then Hermione wiped away invisible tears. She sniffled once and stood up slowly. Umbridge flicked her wand to the door, and Hermione started walking slowly out of the room. Harry quickly followed her, not making eye contact with any of the Dumbledore's Army members.
Umbridge paused in the doorway, turning back to give the students a cold glare. "I don't want to hear of so much as a peep from any of you. You will behave yourselves to the best of your ability... which I know is so difficult for some of your..." - her eyes drifted to Ron and then to Anne - "kind."
When her eyes met Selena's, the Gryffindor didn't look away. She stared back, hoping to communicate what she couldn't with a gag in her mouth: she wasn't afraid of Umbridge and she never would be. None of them would.
Umbridge turned, shutting the door behind her with a slam.
For a moment, everything was silent. The cats on the wall plates meowed.
"Bet your friends are gonna' be expelled pretty soon," Cassius said, finally breaking the silence. He narrowed his blue eyes at Ron, who was still in a headlock on the ground. "Maybe she'll get around to that Cruciatus Curse after al-"
Ron slammed his head into Cassius' nose. Selena jumped and Cassius howled in pain. In a flash, Ron reached into the Slytherin's cloak pocket, yanking out a spindly wand. Cassius grabbed a fistful of Ron's red hair, shoving his face against the desk with a smack that made Selena wince.
Cassius reached to slam Ron into the desk again.
And then Anne's pale hand flew out, a wand clutched in her grip. Selena couldn't even stop to wonder how she'd gotten her wand before Anne cried out, her voice muffled by her gag but clear enough, "Stupefy!"
A scarlet flame shot from her wand and hit Cassius square on the back. He slumped against the desk, his face frozen in shock. Ron yanked the gag from his mouth.
"Give me that!" the Slytherin girl holding Anne shrieked, trying to pull Anne back up to her feet.
Ron raised his wand, pointing above Anne's head. "Stupefy!"
The spell hit the Slytherin girl, close enough for Selena to hear the red light sizzling as the girl fell backwards to the ground. Anne scrambled to her feet. Maryana gripped Selena's arms tighter, holding her close like a human shield.
"Not so fast, Weasley!" Draco Malfoy yelled, finally seeming to get over his shock from behind Umbridge's desk. He plunged his hand into his robe pocket, but Ron was faster, his voice hoarse.
"Expelliarmus!"
Crimson light shot towards Draco's hand, knocking the brown wand into the air. Draco yelped with pain, clutching his hand.
Ginny suddenly tore away from the girl holding her, but the larger girl, Millicent, who had been holding Hermione, reached out, hitting Ginny across the face. Ginny screamed, holding a hand against her cheek.
Anne pointed her wand at Millicent. "Petrificus Totalus!" A white light shone at the end of her wand.
Millicent stiffened, falling to the floor with a crash, making Draco stumble out of the way. Panic filled Draco's eyes as Ron pointed his wand at him.
Neville kicked the Slytherin boy holding him. Another Slytherin dove for Neville, but he dodged right. His foot caught on the rug and Selena squeaked, expecting Neville to fall. Instead he caught his footing, but the two Slytherins who had been after him were so confused by the change of direction that they ran into each other.
Neville pulled his gag out of his mouth, reaching down to the floor in a flash to pick up his wand that the Slytherin boy had dropped. He pointed his wand at one of the two boys. "Impedimenta!" Turquoise light shot at the two, causing them both to be rooted to the spot, swearing and shooting Neville glares.
"Ginny!" Ron yelled, his chin covered in blood. He grabbed Draco's wand, still holding Draco at wand-point with the other. He tossed the Slytherin's wand towards Ginny who caught it with the precision of a Quidditch Seeker.
She turned the wand on Malfoy. "Mucosachiro!"
Selena's eyes widened as large green bats flew out of Draco's nose, flapping around his face as he yelled in terror.
There was a howl that made Selena whip her head to the left. One of the boys Neville had used the Impediment Jinx on was unfrozen now, and punched Neville across the face so hard the Gryffindor boy fell to the floor. Ginny screamed. Neville scrambled to hide underneath Umbridge's desk as the Slytherin boy pointed his wand at Ron.
"Depulso!"
Ron was shoved backwards against the pink wall in a blast of white light. The cats in the decorative plates ran out of their paintings, meowing with fright.
Anne pointed her wand at the Slytherin boy as he aimed his at her.
"Expelliarmus!" Anne yelled.
"Protego!" the Slytherin boy countered, just in time as the blue spell ricocheted away from him.
"Stupefy!" Luna cried.
The Slytherin boy hit the floor faster than Selena could blink.
Anne looked at Luna, apparently feeling the same surprise Selena had. She hadn't even remembered Luna was standing there in the corner. The Slytherin boy must not have either.
Ginny, Luna and Anne turned to look at Maryana.
The grip on Selena's arms loosened. Selena stumbled away, pulling the gag out of her mouth and turning to look at Maryana. The Slytherin girl glanced around the room, her bright green eyes stopping on Selena for a moment. Maryana took a step back towards the door.
"Wait," Selena said. She held out her hand, keeping her eyes set on Maryana. "My wand."
Maryana didn't move for a moment. Then she looked over again as Ron and Neville began to get up. She took out Selena's wand from her robe pocket, throwing it on the ground. "You're thick if you think Headmistress Umbridge won't expel you for this. Or worse."
"We'll see about that," Neville said simply over Selena's shoulder.
"Better run before you end up like the rest of Umbridge's squad," Anne added.
Maryana scowled and turned, running out the office door.
Draco Malfoy was still screaming as the bats flew around his head, flailing his hands and yelling about his father.
"Let's go, then," Neville said. "No need to stick around and wait for the Stunning Charms to wear off."
"Where do we even go?" Ginny demanded. "Hermione didn't say where she was taking them."
"The forest, of course," Luna piped up, looking calm as if they hadn't just fought off the Inquisitorial Squad.
Selena tilted her head. "The Forbidden Forest?"
"Which other one?" Luna said with a smile.
"Luna, how are you sure-" Ginny began before Luna pointed towards the window.
"I saw them walking with Umbridge into the woods," she said simply.
Ron raised his eyebrows, seeming impressed. "Alright, then. Let's not waste any more time." Despite his quick answer, Selena saw a proud smile flit over his bloodied lips before he started walking from the room. Ginny shared a similar look as she looked down at the frozen Slytherin girl on the floor who had been holding her. On her fair cheek, four bright red nail scratches had dried blood running to her jaw.
Selena bent down to grab her wand, feeling relief make her smile just a little to have her wand back. As if her wand was happy to be back with her too, a warmth lingered in her hand for a moment. Selena hurried, following the others out of the office, heart in her throat.
Twelve minutes later
Hogwarts Lawn
9:32 pm
The air was balmy as Selena stepped out onto the green, sloping lawn. She watched the orange sun drip evening rays over the top of the Forbidden Forest. Six long shadows stretched across the grass.
Anne's red eyebrows creased as she looked at the fading sun. "We're running out of time."
Ron didn't turn back around as he led the group down the lawn. They were somewhere between a jog and a run, trying not to slip down the dew-covered grass. Selena held her robes tight in her fists. She wasn't tired of running yet. There was too much adrenaline in her system. All of them looked energized, swinging their arms and looking determinedly at the forest.
Neville glanced over at Anne, a large, purple bruise puffing up right above his right eyebrow. "We'll get there, Annabeth, don't worry."
Anne gave Neville a quick smile. Ginny and Luna had been catching him up to everything going on during their sprint down the Grand Staircase.
"This certainly hasn't gone to plan so far, though," Ron muttered. He nearly slipped on a knot of grass but caught his footing.
"You mean dueling the entire Inquisitorial Squad?" Ginny asked. "Kind of what we've been training for. Sort of."
A quick smile crossed Neville's lips. "They had it coming."
"You're not wrong," Anne said.
Even Selena had to bite back a smile. If Renee or Alisson heard about what had happened, they'd be so jealous. Tess would probably just lecture her, but still - it was quite the story. She hadn't done much dueling, but the older kids seemed to know what they were doing. Draco Malfoy was probably still stuck with bats flying all around his face.
The group was quiet for a few moments, the only sounds coming from their feet hitting the ground and crows cawing from Professor Hagrid's distant pumpkin patch. The closer they got to the forest, the longer the dark shadows became. It would be night soon.
"Do you think Umbridge is going to try to curse us when we get there?" Ginny asked.
Selena remembered with a jolt that Umbridge had been with Harry and Hermione.
"To be honest, I completely forgot about her," Anne said, echoing Selena's thoughts. "But I don't care at this point. Her guard dogs aren't here now."
"I wonder what Hermione was on about," Neville mused. "That whole 'weapon' rubbish, I mean. Umbridge would've realized there was nothing in the Forbidden Forest when they got there. She must be fuming by now."
Ron waved his wand hand. "I have an idea." He didn't elaborate as they entered the edge of the forest. "I'm more concerned about actually getting to the Ministry."
"Floo powder?" Ginny offered. She brushed a low-hanging branch out of her way.
"That would take too much time," Selena replied. Branches cracked underneath her white Converse trainers. Taking the Floo Network route would take them back up to the castle and, by now, the Inquisitorial Squad would be up and moving. The spells would've worn off and they probably weren't too happy.
"Listen," Luna said softly. She glanced to the left a bit. "I think I can hear them."
The group paused, listening for anything aside from the rustle of cool evening wind through leaves. Sure enough, Hermione's voice - sounding very pessimistic - was close by.
"- how exactly were you planning to get all the way to London?"
Ron walked forward, pushing aside some of the heavy brush. "Yeah," he said, "we were just wondering that."
Ginny was quick to follow him, followed by Neville and Luna. Selena went after Anne, stopping in stunned silence when she saw Harry and Hermione. Their clothes were covered in splashes of scarlet blood. A metallic scent floated on the breeze, making Selena cover her nose with her sleeve instinctively. It reminded her too much of the gory, blood-covered zombie that Renee's boggart had taken the form of back a year ago in Professor Lupin's class.
What had happened to them?
More importantly, where was Umbridge? Harry and Hermione were alone.
"So." Ron shoved another branch out of his way, holding out Harry's wand as if they weren't covered in blood. "Had any ideas?"
"How did you get away?" Harry said, his voice going up an octave in surprise. He took his wand back.
"Couple of Stunners, a Disarming Charm, Neville used an Impediment Jinx," Ron rattled off casually as if talking about what happened at breakfast. He gave Hermione's wand back. "But Ginny was best, she got Malfoy - Bat-Bogey Hex - and 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?"
"She got carried away," said Harry simply. "By a herd of centaurs."
Selena and Anne exchanged a puzzled look. Centaurs?
"And they left you behind?" Ginny asked, her red eyebrows rising with surprise.
"No, they got chased off by Grawp," Harry replied.
"Who's Grawp?" Luna asked, mirroring Selena's thoughts.
"Hagrid's little brother," Ron said swiftly. "Anyway, never mind that now. Harry, what did you find out in the fire? Has You-Know-Who got Sirius or-?"
"Yes," Harry said. He winced. "And I'm sure Sirius is still alive, but I can't see how we're going to get there to help him."
Silence thick as morning fog settled between them all. Selena clenched her fist around her robe fabric. No one looked as hopeful as they had a few minutes ago. Poor Sirius. Did he know they were coming for him?
"Well, we'll have to fly, won't we?" Luna asked, saying it like it was as simple as could be.
"Okay," Harry said, gritting his teeth and whirling to face Luna, looking down the inch that separated their height. "First of all, 'we' aren't doing anything if you're including yourself in that, and second of all, Ron's the only one with a broomstick that isn't being guarded by a security troll, so-"
"I've got a broom!" Ginny piped up.
"Yeah, but you're not coming," Ron snarled at her.
"Excuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius as much as you do!" Ginny snapped, glaring at her older brother.
"You're too-" Harry started, but Ginny interrupted him before he could continue.
"I'm three years older than you were when you fought You-Know-Who over the Sorceror's Stone," she said, hands on her hips, "and it's because of me that Malfoy's stuck back in Umbridge's office with giant flying bogies attacking him-"
"Yeah, but-"
"We were all in the D.A. together," Neville murmured. He blinked his eyes, seemingly painful to Selena with the bump on his head. "It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it? And this is the first chance we've had to do something real - or was that all just a game or something?"
"No - of course it wasn't-" Harry said, looking at Neville.
"Then we should come too," Neville replied, matter-of-fact. "We want to help-"
"That's right," Luna added with a bright smile.
Harry looked over at Ron. His expression wasn't very reassuring to Selena.
"Well, it doesn't matter, anyway," Harry said, gritting his teeth again, "because we still don't know how to get there-"
"I thought we'd settled that. We're flying!" Luna said, glancing at Harry.
"Look," Ron said, balling up his fist and rounding on Luna. A vein in his neck throbbed. "You might be able to fly without a broomstick but the rest of us can't sprouts wings whenever we-"
"There are ways of flying other than with broomsticks," Luna replied with a dreamy smile like they were discussing afternoon tea.
"I s'pose we're going to ride on the back of the Kacky Snorgle or whatever it is?" Ron spat.
"The Crumple-Horned Snorkack can't fly," Luna said, lifting her chin a bit higher. "But they can, and Hagrid says they're very good at finding places their riders are looking for."
The group turned to look at the patch of woods Luna was looking at.
"Yes!" Harry whispered. He started walking towards the spot of dead leaves and brush.
Selena squinted. What exactly were they supposed to be looking for?
"Is it those mad horse things?"said Ron, his voice wavering a bit. "Those ones you can't see unless you've watched someone snuff it?"
"Yeah," Harry replied.
"How many?" Ron asked.
"Just three."
"Well, we need four." Hermione sounded certain, looking at Anne, but Selena could see her hands shaking just the smallest bit as she gripped her wand.
"Five, Hermione," Ginny said with a scowl.
"I think there are eight of us actually." Luna started counting everyone.
"Don't be stupid, we can't all go!" Harry practically yelled. "Look, you four-" he pointed at Luna, Ginny, Neville, and finally Selena - "you're not involved in this, you're not-"
All at once, the four of them started crying out arguments.
"We've already come this far!" Neville said.
"I'm not about to turn back now!" Ginny added.
"You can't just leave us here!" Luna said.
"I'm part of this and you know it!" Selena yelled. Sirius was her uncle after all.
Harry winced. "Okay, fine, it's your choice," he said in a clipped voice, "but unless we can find more Thestrals you're not going to be able-"
"Oh, more of them will come," Ginny said with an air of assurance. She squinted around where Harry stood.
"What makes you think that?" Harry asked.
"Because, in case you hadn't noticed, you and Hermione are both covered in blood," Ginny said, "and we know Hagrid lures Thestrals with raw meat. That's probably why these two turned up in the first place."
Harry's robe sleeve moved just the slightest bit, as if a ghost had pulled at it. He looked down at nothing but air. Selena squinted harder as if that would help her see the Thestrals better.
"Okay, then," Harry said, sounding more cheery all of a sudden. He glanced at the group, blinking behind his glasses. "Ron and I will take these two and go ahead, and Hermione can stay here with you five and she'll attract more Thestrals-"
"I'm not staying behind!" Hermione yelled.
"And you're mad if you think I'm letting you leave without me there," Anne snapped, taking a step forward.
"There's no need," Luna said with a smile. "Look, here come more now... you two must really smell..."
Harry turned before looking at the ground, eyebrows creased with an angry frown. "All right," he said, sounding anything but. "Pick one and get on, then." Harry didn't waste any time turning and throwing his arm around where the Thestral must've been.
Likewise, Selena watched Neville and Luna walk towards the invisible animals and start using tree stumps as stepstools. For a witch who grew up watching the pans scrub themselves, saw her father apparate to work every morning, and watched pictures move in the newspaper, Selena found herself stunned into silence. The three teenagers in front of her seemingly floated on air, their legs and arms wound around an animal the size of a horse (except Luna who was sitting elegantly side-saddle, preening her robes.) Selena couldn't help but wonder if this was how Muggle-borns felt when they arrived at Hogwarts.
Ron, Ginny, and Hermione shared her amazement, mouths ajar, eyes wide.
Only Anne seemed unconcerned. She stood on the spot, her eyes fixed ahead of her.
"What?" Harry said when he noticed them staring.
"How are we supposed to get on? When we can't see the things?" Ron asked softly.
"Oh, it's easy," Luna said. She slid off the invisible animal, her white-blonde waves swishing over her shoulder. She walked over to them, a purpose in her steps. "Come here..." She motioned to them, grabbing Ginny and Neville's sleeves, pulling them towards the Thestrals. Ron followed. Selena took a tentative step before glancing over at Anne.
"It's a bit scary," Selena murmured to her cousin. "Isn't it?"
Anne finally broke her gaze from the empty air for a second. "They aren't that frightening to be honest."
Selena cocked her head in confusion. She opened her mouth before freezing in realization. Anne could see the Thestrals. Selena didn't know what to say for a moment. All she could do was wonder, sadly, who Anne had seen die to be able to see the animals.
"Come on," Anne said, monotone. She started walking towards a spot to the right of Luna as she helped Ginny onto one of the Thestrals.
Anne paused, looking up a bit into empty air. Or, at least, what was air to Selena. Anne swallowed, her face a bit paler than usual. "Do what I do." She stepped up onto a rotting tree stump, stuffing her wand into her pocket. She brushed a lock of red curls behind her ear, taking a deep breath, and then threw her leg up. She knotted her hands into something - Selena assumed the creatures had manes or some kind of hair - and pulled herself upright. It looked bizarre watching Anne float in the middle of the air.
She held her hand out to Selena. "Come on."
Selena stepped up onto the stump, looking hesitantly at Anne.
Anne nodded her head once. "You can trust me."
Selena blinked, tucking her wand into her back pocket like Anne had. She reached out, hesitant. Her fingertips brushed something. She jumped, her heart jolting. She'd expected the animal to be soft, like a horse, but it was hard and leathery like the wings of a bat.
"It won't bite," Anne assured her.
Selena took a calming breath, grabbing Anne's warm hand. She half-jumped, half was pulled up behind Anne. Selena immediately wrapped her warms around Anne's waist, hugging her back. The ground floated below them, but beneath her, she could feel the animal was solid, swaying just ever so slightly like a broom. It certainly felt like sitting on a horse now.
"This is mad," Selena heard Ron say. She looked over to see the Weasley boy stroking the air, floating above the ground as well. "Mad... if I could just see it-"
"You'd better hope it stays invisible," Harry said in a grim voice that made Selena hug Anne tighter. "We all ready, then?"
Everyone nodded. Selena pressed her knees tighter, hugging the Thestral with her legs. She could feel the animal breathing slowly, much calmer than she felt. Her heart jack-hammered in her ribcage, probably enough for Anne to feel. Then again, Selena could feel Anne's heart beating uncharacteristically fast too. Somehow it made her feel better imagining that her brave, confident cousin was just as nervous as she was.
"Okay..." Harry trailed off as he looked down. "Ministry of Magic, visitors' entrance, London, then. Er... if you know... where to go..."
"Selena, whatever you do, don't let go," Anne murmured.
Selena swallowed hard, knotting her hands together to keep them from shaking. As if she would even think of letting go in the slightest.
Suddenly the animal swooped down, making Selena's stomach drop. In a flash, the Thestral threw itself into the air, flying through the high tree branches. Selena smothered a scream by burying her face against Anne's robe hood. They broke through the tops of the trees, cool air skimming past them, tugging at Selena's long hair. Anne bent down like a jockey.
Selena peeked one eye open, glancing down for a moment.
Hogwarts stood beneath them, the tall tower spires rising up, windows gleaming red in the sunset. Selena's stomach churned and she shoved her face back against Anne's robe hood. She swore to herself to not look down again.
The air whistled past Selena's ears and could feel the thumping of Anne's heart beneath her fists. The Ministry wouldn't be far at this speed.
Selena hugged her cousin tighter.
Sirius Black was within reach now. Just barely.
Sorry it's been so long since I've updated, this chapter is kinda' slow because it's sort of bridging us into the final parts of the year. I think there will be one more or two (maybe) chapters, then the epilogue, before this school year wraps up. After that, the characters will be moving into the Half-blood Prince year! I'm so excited.
The next year will be pretty character-driven rather than following the plot of the book (but that'll be there too) so I'm looking forward to it. We'll be seeing more of the characters. Sorry this chapter is so focused on non-OCs, but that'll change in the next year.
So, as always with these kinds of chapters, I took dialogue from the book and adapted it to suit the story.
Thanks to our reviewers for the last chapter:
CharmedMilliE- Karry Master
SakuraDragomir
I appreciate you guys following this story a lot. :)
I'll try to update faster next time, and don't worry - we'll be seeing a lot more of Damon and Serena in the next year!
Thanks for reading!
~ Meghan