Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
A/N: So, I got carried away writing this chapter and managed to make it very long.
Anyway, thank you for your words of encouragement. I got very attached to this fic instantly so, you know, it's my baby and I like to hear nice things about my baby haha.
Drop a review!
Chapter Five: Fifth Year
Something had definitely changed.
Ever since she went home to the Malfoy Manor over summer, Iris already braced herself with this 'inevitable change' that her father had written to her on her last day in Hogwarts. He was vague, always has been, but he hinted that there would be more visitors during her stay in Malfoy Manor and he expected her to be on her best behaviour. As the sole heiress of the Malfoy family, he expected nothing less than perfect from her.
Suffice to say, there was terror in her heart ever since. With Cedric Diggory's death coupled by Harry Potter's ridiculous, but eerie, claim that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was back, well, Iris wasn't stupid to deny that his father's strange letter was connected to all of it.
The Malfoys were highly regarded in society, especially since they were one of the oldest Pureblood families and part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. She knew of her father's fascination in the Dark Arts but she'd heard rumours ever since she went to Hogwarts. Rumours that Lucius Malfoy had willingly allied himself with Voldemort during the First Wizarding War. Her father told her that he was Imperio-d, that he had no choice, and Iris accepted that. Some didn't believe Lucius' words. She had been adamantly defending Lucius ever since, because she knew her father wasn't stupid. Besides, he was a man of arrogance and pride! He answered to no one.
She had clung to that thought throughout the Hogwarts Express ride home. By the time she walked out of the barrier between 9 and 10, she felt marginally better.
Her steps faltered when it was only her mother who came to escort her home.
"Your father's been very busy for the past few days, Iris," Narcissa Malfoy simply said.
The horror in her heart came back full force. Her father always, always waited for her in King's Cross, no matter what time or how late it was in the day. 'Keeping up appearances' he always told her. At least he was there, no matter his ulterior motives. Iris knew her father hated being in public places teeming with mudbloods and filthy muggles after all.
For the next few days, she'd seen a flurry of her father, always accompanied with shady looking men she never thought he'd willingly associate himself with. Lucius Malfoy had a fair share of suspicious associates in the past, but there was an increase in the number of wizards and witches screaming dark magic who just came to their pristine manor every day, without fail.
"What is going on, Mother?" Iris firmly asked one day in disgruntlement when Lucius failed to accompany them for afternoon tea for the umpteenth time. The blonde Slytherin glared at her tea, remembering all the days Lucius would get angry at her when she was a few minutes late for their tea time or her dress robes weren't appropriate enough.
Narcissa merely gave her a small smile. "Do not concern yourself with your father's affairs, Iris dear," she assured. "You are too young to understand." Then, she lifted the cup to her lips elegantly that Iris never seemed to perfect. Such peacefulness was shattered, however, when Iris pointedly noted how her mother's hand were shaking.
And then… and then, he came.
She had seen him, from a great distance. She just finished doing her summer Potions homework in the vast Malfoy library and realised it was already late. As a yawn tore out from her mouth, she noticed a flurry of black robes and shuffling footsteps, all hastily going to their drawing room. The place had been off-limits to her ever since she went home; it was where her father kept on bringing their guests over and Iris, although admittedly curious, never bothered to investigate.
But this time, it had gone too far. She rarely saw her father, her mother's pretend nonchalance was driving her insane, and she just needed some answers.
Hence, she waited behind a suit of armour that was centuries old until the noises had died down. She slipped quickly from the armour and spelt the drawing room to open slightly without making any noise.
Iris peered inside and recognised the familiar faces that had graced the Malfoy Manor for the past few weeks. Auntie Bella was cackling over something she bet wasn't even remotely funny. There were also other people scattered along the long table with questionable clothing; really, how could her father stoop so low and associate himself with these kinds of people? Lucius himself looked quite uncomfortable, but then he'd realise he was in company and school whatever emotions he had behind a mask of indifference.
Classic Malfoy trick.
And then… and then there was a voice. It was soft, but screamed command. Everybody fell silent instantly. Even her insane aunt had shut up, eyes a tad bright with excitement and curious adoration.
The voice was too soft for her to hear, and try as she might, she couldn't quite catch what he was saying. All she could see was how tensed everybody in the room became.
A man, who was most definitely a werewolf, stepped aside and revealed an image born out of a nightmare. A snake-like man, pale as alabaster, stood tall and proud at the very front of the table. He had slits for a nose, his teeth razor sharp. He didn't look human, not at all. His eyes were very red… eyes that were suddenly connected with hers.
"Lucius," the snake-like man said, deceitful calmness in his voice, "I think we have some company."
Iris froze as all eyes settled on her. She was quite aware of the thunderous expression on her father's face, but she couldn't seem to look away from Voldemort's eyes.
Lucius was quickly at her side and pushed her away. The door was firmly shut behind him, but Iris was still too shell-shocked to be bothered by her father's palpable anger.
"So i-it's true," she whispered in horror, tears slowly sliding down from her grey eyes. "He's back. He's really back."
Before she could register what was happening, Lucius already had his wand tip pointed at her temple. "Obliviate," he murmured.
Iris was midway from releasing a scream when she paused, and frowned.
"Father?" she asked, blinking rapidly in confusion upon seeing her stoic father standing in front of her. "Wha –? W-why am I here?"
"Do not stutter, Iris," he snappishly replied. "That is very unbecoming of a Malfoy!"
She stiffened and automatically straightened her back. "Of course, Father," she quickly said. "I apologise."
"Go back to your bedroom," he ordered, turned around, and slipped back into the drawing room without another word.
Iris lightly glared at the closed door. "'Do not stutter, Iris,'" she echoed mockingly, turning on her heel and stomping back to her bedroom, still unsure how she got there in the first place. The last thing she remembered was that she was finishing her homework in the Malfoy library.
Brushing those thoughts away, Iris promised to practice more beauty spells Pansy had taught her before going to sleep.
Dolores Umbridge was steadily becoming the bane of their existence.
The moment she was introduced during the Welcoming Feast, clad in the most atrocious shade of pink, promising to keep Hogwarts safe and reassuring those who disrupted the blanketed peace surrounding the school would surely be severely punished. She was also their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, much to Hermes' dread. She seemed like she was going to be the worse DADA teacher they ever had… yes, even worse than Quirrell!
Their first DADA lesson was disappointing, to say the least. Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise as Mad-Eye Moody's class was impressive, albeit dark and uncomfortable. Still, they learned about the Unforgivables and their consequences.
Now, Umbridge firmly told them to read the very first chapter of their DADA textbook and make notes about it. Notes. She ordered all their wands to be safely kept inside their backpacks because they wouldn't need them.
Hermes could not accept that. Defense Against the Dark Arts was a skill-based subject! True, the theories would significantly enhance their understanding in casting the defensive spells, but it would be pretty useless if they did not practice it with an actual wand.
Before his best friends could stop him, Hermes' hand was already in the air. Umbridge glanced at it briefly and pretended to busy herself with the clipboard she was holding.
"What are you doing?" Ron murmured under his breath, looking at him as if he'd gone mental.
Hermes ignored him and cleared his throat, trying to gain her attention. He persisted until a look of irritation flickered on Umbridge's face. She finally addressed him with a saccharine smile.
"With all due respect, Professor," he started, "I don't think merely understanding the basic principles of magic will help you in the battlefield."
"Battlefield?" Umbridge said, a hand flying to her heart. "Goodness, Mr…?"
"Granger."
"Yes, Mr Granger, I don't think you younglings must think of something so dangerous as fighting on a battlefield," she said, tutting under her breath.
She turned away from him, but Hermes wasn't done.
"If," he shot back, "only if, Professor, of course, a time will come when we are faced against a wizard who shoots a dark curse our way, say one of the Unforgivables, I'm sure we cannot counterattack by reciting the benefits and consequences of the Stunning Hex. If, only if again, Professor, it was the Avada sent our way, we would have been dead by then."
"Dead," she echoed, her eyes already dangerously glinting under the dim lights of their DADA classroom.
Hermes steadfastly nodded his head. "Yes, dead, Professor," he said, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Only if, of course. Purely hypothetical."
Snickers ran rampant in the room. Hermes knew he was outrightly rude to someone of higher status, but Umbridge was annoying. She treated them as if they were children, like bloody fools, and Hermes wouldn't just stand aside and let her do her way.
"Hem, hem!" she exclaimed, louder than usual, and the snickering quieted down.
The toad-faced professor gave him a stern glare as she stepped away from her table. She walked closer, her kitten heels ringing loudly in the suddenly silent classroom, until she stopped in front of the table where the Golden Trio sat.
"What is your blood status, young man?" she asked, an unsettling smile on her face.
Hermes frowned. "Muggleborn, Professor," he replied without skipping a beat.
Her smile widened and for a moment, Hermes imagined she looked like a huge toad with human teeth.
"Of course," Umbridge tutted condescendingly, lightly patting his brown curls. Hermes flinched and backpedalled. "That explains it."
His frown turned into an offended scowl. "With all due respect," he started once more through gritted teeth, "whatever did you mean by that, Professor?"
Umbridge's simpering smile wavered a little, but she gave him a sigh and shook her head. "It means, that of course you wouldn't understand because you weren't raised in the Wizarding World, Mr Granger," she simply explained. "The other students who grew in this world can testify that this world had always been safe because, as what we've been telling you all since the end of the Triwizard Tournament, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone for good. All thanks to Mr Potter here, of course." She beamed brightly and gestured at the glowering bespectacled Gryffindor. "Why don't we all give him a round of applause, yes? A terrible, terrible tragedy, of course, but it's been for the greater good."
Hermes' jaw dropped. "His parents died," he claimed with widened eyes. "How can you say that?"
"Now, now, no need for that tone of voice," Professor Umbridge with a tut. "Sacrifices are meant to be done, Mr Granger. Poor Mr Potter's parents knew this and because of that great sacrifice, the Wizarding World is now safe. Still very safe, if I may."
"Safe," Harry spat for the first time, deceptively calm. He slowly lifted his eyes, hateful and angry, to look back at the great toad. "Voldemort is back, and you think the Wizarding World is still safe?"
People flinched with the mention of the Dark Lord's name. Even Ron sitting beside Hermes stiffened with his name.
"Mr Potter," Umbridge admonished, that sickening smile now completely wiped away from her face. "Don't dis – "
"NO!" Harry bellowed. Hermes expelled a soft groan, knowing that a furious Harry would be difficult to mollify. "Voldemort is fucking back and the stupid ministry is in denial."
His simple claim was met with deathly silence. Umbridge was steadily turning purple and Hermes had to clutch onto Harry's arm to keep him seated.
"Detention," the professor spat. "Detention tonight, Mr Potter. You must learn not to tell lies in order not to disrupt the peace that had befallen over the Wizarding World." She theatrically placed another hand against her heart. "What would your poor parents say?"
"Harry!" Hermes sharply exclaimed when The-Boy-Who-Lived shook, his wand now on his right hand. "Quit it!" The damage had already been done and Hermes would prefer it very much if Harry would only get detention.
Then, to Umbridge, he started, "Professor, I don't thi – "
"Quiet, Mr Granger," the Professor said with that sweet smile on her face again. "I'm sure you don't want to land yourself in detention, too, yes?"
He bit his tongue very hard until the end of their class.
Hermes flinched when Harry angrily ripped his bed curtain open.
Ron and Hermes lounged on Harry's bed, waiting for the Boy-Who-Lived to come back from his detention with Umbridge. They exchanged guesses on what Harry's detention would be, bordering imaginative (mostly from Ron) to downright insane. They had the Marauder's Map on hand, trying to gauge what Umbridge's dot was doing with Harry's dot, but to no avail.
"That good-for-nothing, toad-faced, condescending bitch!" Harry hissed, clambering onto his bed and effectively pushing Ron to the wall.
Hermes spied the suspicious look Seamus Finnegan was shooting at Harry's bed and immediately closed the bed curtain around them. The half-blood had been antagonistic to Harry ever since school started, claiming he was barking mad for spewing lies that did nothing to alleviate his parents' worry. Hermes was sure he was looking for anything incriminating about Harry he could bring to Umbridge, that smarmy git.
After a quick 'Muffliato', Hermes worriedly looked at the fuming Harry, still murmuring insults about Umbridge under his breath.
"What did she do?" he quickly asked, surveying Harry from head to toe to look for any sign of physical punishment.
"Did she force you to have a tea party with her kittens?" Ron hopefully asked, a humoured smile on his face.
Harry frowned. "What?" he asked.
Ron sighed, clearly disappointed. "Never mind, mate," he said.
"But what did she do?" Hermes insisted, shooting a brief glare at Ron.
The-Boy-Who-Lived sighed and yanked his right sleeve. Hermes darted a curious glance at Harry's forearm, not entirely sure what he was showing them, but when Hermes noticed the slight disfiguration on his arm, he gasped. He grasped Harry's arm and muttered a quick 'Lumos'. Under his wand light, he was able to clearly see the raw and slightly bleeding wound on his skin.
"'I must not tell lies'," he read aloud.
"What the bloody hell?" Ron exclaimed, grabbing Harry's arm with a glare.
"A blood quill?" Hermes thundered. Harry slightly flinched at his voice, but Hermes trudged on. "But that's illegal!"
"Bloody hell," the redhead repeated, turning pale. "Mum will go ballistic if she discovered this is how students in Hogwarts are punished right now."
Hermes angrily pulled out his wand and summoned dittany from his backpack. It came hurtling within seconds and he quickly caught the tub with his hands. He opened the lid and angrily grabbed onto Harry's arm once more. He scooped a few of the gel and rubbed it over Harry's wound, despite his protests.
"Merlin, Hermes, be gentle," he grumbled.
The curly-haired Gryffindor mellowed a bit and sighed. "Sorry," he said, "Umbridge just makes me so angry."
"Tell me about it?" Ron snorted, rolling his eyes. "I can't believe she'll use something illegal for detention."
"Oh, I can perfectly believe it," Hermes said, still rather sore with the professor's words during their DADA class. "As a racist and a bigot. I mean, honestly, she treats us as if we are 5!" Then, to Harry, he asked, "How many times did she make you write this?"
"I wasn't entirely sure," Harry said through gritted teeth. "I was too busy being angry at that toad and biting back any complaints."
"So, a lot," Hermes concluded with a disgruntled sigh.
"You have to tell someone, Harry," Ron suggested with a frown. "Dumbledore! Or… or McGonagall. Blood quills are considered as dark artefacts and using it as a form of punishment is bloody illegal."
Hermes earnestly nodded his head in agreement but Harry shook his. "No, I don't think we should bother Dumbledore," he murmured with a frown. "He has too much on his plate, anyway. And McGonagall…" He shook his head. "I have this inkling she has no authority over that slimy toad."
"But if she continued to get away from this, more students will fall victim to this barbaric punishment," Hermes insisted.
"You know, the best thing for everybody to be happy is if Dumbledore sacked Umbridge," Ron quipped.
"Umbridge was placed there by the ministry," Harry said with a sigh. "I don't think Dumbledore could sack her if he wanted to. Besides, I think they placed Umbridge in Hogwarts to keep an eye on me. You know, the barmy Boy-Who-Lived spouting claims that Voldemort is back."
Ron noticeably flinched, prompting Hermes to roll his eyes.
"Blimey, Ron, it's just a name," he shot back.
"Well, sorry, but I've been trained since I was young that that name is evil," the redhead replied defensively.
Hermes sighed, but dropped the subject in the end. "What are we going to do?" he mused aloud. "We can't keep going to DADA while reading our textbooks."
Ron quirked an eyebrow. "Isn't that a dream come true for you, Hermes?" he lightly teased.
"Shut up, Ronald," he said, throwing Harry's pillow towards his head. He gave a satisfied grin when it hit him squarely on his face. "DADA was made specifically to improve our skills in defending the dark arts. We need to practice with our wands, not just read the theories behind the spells."
"Then we practice," Ron said matter-of-factly. "During our free time."
"I don't think it's as simple as that," Hermes said with a frown. "I think if Umbridge realised the students were freely practising defensive spells over lunch, she'd go ballistic and purchase more blood quills for detention."
"No, Ron's right," Harry suddenly said, his eyes lighting up with an idea. "We can practice during our free time."
Hermes looked at Harry incredulously. "Didn't you just hear what I just said?"
"We can do it secretly," the bespectacled wizard elaborated. "Umbridge doesn't have to know. We can ask around if other people would like to practice DADA with their wands. Under an oath or a contract, if you want to be careful."
"But where will we conduct these 'secret lessons'?"
Harry absentmindedly rubbed his scar. "I'll figure it out," he murmured. "Maybe there's someplace in the Marauder's Map or something." His eyes widened as a huge grin appeared on his face. "Maybe Dobby will know something."
"This isn't a good idea, Harry," Hermes claimed, his eyebrows knitting at the middle. "But, if we are to be careful…" He was unable to finish his sentence, the gears in his brain already working overtime to come up with a comprehensive plan. "We need a binding contract, that's for sure. We'll be able to figure out who ratted us out if ever. And… and perhaps a way of communicating without passing letters. Umbridge might intercept them and we'd be in so much trouble."
Hermes had always been intrigued about how Voldemort summoned his underlings through the Dark Mark; hence he researched about it extensively and came across the Protean Charm. He promised to go to the library first thing tomorrow to read on it more.
"All right, well then, that's it!" Harry said and an excited smile. "Since Hermes here is already formulating a wonderful plan, I think it's safe to say that we'll start practising DADA behind that toad's back!"
"Who's going to teach us, though?" Ron quipped.
Hermes gave Harry a pointed glance. "You will," he said without skipping a beat.
"Me?" Harry asked with wide eyes. "Why? Between the two of us, you're the brilliant one."
"Thanks, mate, but you're loads better in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hermes said with a smile. "You know more defensive spells than any fifteen-year-old knows. Besides, you can produce a corporeal patronus. That's already advance magic and you're amazing at it."
"I don't know…"
"I'll make the curriculum, don't worry," Hermes said with an eye roll, prompting Harry to smile sheepishly.
"You'll be brilliant at it, mate," Ron wholly agreed. "You've always been the leader-type, you know."
Harry's cheeks had reddened a bit. "Fine," he said with a put-out frown.
Ron chuckled and swung an arm over his shoulders. "Don't worry, Harry," he chirpily said. "If you go down, we'll go down with you."
A corner of Hermes' lips lifted when Harry snorted and finally kicked them off his bed.
"What the fuck!" Dean Thomas exclaimed, jumping a little when he felt sudden heat in his trousers. The Golden Trio simultaneously snickered under their breaths. The dark-skinned Gryffindor shot them a look, realising it was the charmed coin Hermes had distributed that frightened him. "A little warning next time."
"Hence, the coin," Hermes said with a smirk. "Don't be late, Thomas."
Harry snickered when Dean rolled his eyes. He swung both of his arms over Ron's and Hermes' shoulder, excitement emitting from his body.
"Curb the excitement, Potter," Hermes furiously said under his breath. "We don't want anyone getting suspicious now."
"And me acting all excited is suspicious?" Harry asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.
"Yes," the curly-haired of the trio answered without skipping a beat. Ron snorted, while Harry scowled.
He pulled their heads closer none too gently, earning groans of pain from the other two. "Come on, wankers," he gleefully said. "We have some learning to do."
It was perhaps their third lesson as the new Dumbledore's Army and Hermes were pleased that all was going according to plan. All the names of those who joined were written on one parchment spelt to curse whoever ratted them out; Hermes specifically told them the curse that will befall the sneak would be nasty, effectively frightening the new members.
Harry, as predicted, was as brilliant as their teacher. He taught the Stupefy, Reducto, Expelliarmus, Protego and other simple defensive spells that would be mighty useful when they were finally on the battlefield.
Today, they were going to learn the Patronus Charm, much to Hermes' excitement. While Harry walked thrice in front of the bare wall opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, he wondered what his patronus would be. Harry's was magnificent – a silver stag as a nod to his father's animagus form. Hermes had read somewhere that some patronuses would take the form of an animal best attributed to them or, like in Harry's case, animals that greatly represented someone important to them.
Hermes beamed when they walked inside. The ensemble of mostly Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, with some Ravenclaws, scattered around the training room given to them by the Room of Requirement. Although Hermes insisted that it would be fair if they offered these lessons to other Slytherins, Harry pointed out it would be too dangerous especially they were Housemates with Iris Malfoy. He was sure Malfoy would figure it out and rat them to Umbridge.
"Hello, Hermes," Luna Lovegood, an eccentric Ravenclaw fourth year, greeted with a dreamy smile on her face.
"Hey, Luna," he said with a small nod. He eyed her cork necklace and radish earrings with mild amusement, before Ron and Harry pulled him at the very front of the Room of Requirement.
While Harry prattled about the theory behind the Patronus Charm, Hermes silently contemplated what his happiest memory would be. Harry revealed his memory was discovering he was a wizard. After years of feeling like he didn't belong with the Dursleys at all, it gave him much relief and happiness to know that it was because he belonged somewhere else, somewhere better, and had always clung to that memory during times of hardships.
Hermes didn't have a terrible childhood like Harry. Sure, he was ecstatic to discover he was a wizard, too, but it wasn't a strong enough emotion for him. For him to produce a corporeal patronus, the feeling should be overwhelming and powerful.
"Draw out your wands," Harry chirped out happily, pulling out his wand, "And say 'Expecto Patronum'!" He repeated the spell and drew a circle in the air. White mist shot out from the tip of his wand and formed a magnificent stag, galloping around the awed students before vanishing into thin air. "Go on. Try it."
"Expecto Patronum," Hermes said after conjuring a happy, peaceful memory he had with his parents after a vacation in France. To his disappointment, merely a silver mist shot out from his wand.
"That's brilliant, Hermes!" Harry exclaimed.
"It's incorporeal, Harry," the curly-haired student shot back with a sigh.
"It's a start," he insisted, before bounding on to another student to correct his stance.
'All right, Hermes, think, think, think,' he thought, drawing in a deep breath as he started to sort through his memories. Trolls. Quirrel. Quidditch. Basilisk. Chamber of Secrets. Werewolves. Sirius Black. Scabbers. Triwizard Tournament. Cedric Diggory dead… 'Well, that's not exactly a dandy thought."
Hermes sighed and shook his head, realising that almost of all of his memories here in Hogwarts were those of dangerous adventures that nearly cost him his life and his best friends. He shot a glance at Ron and rolled his eyes, nothing how Ron was drawing the circle counterclockwise instead of the usual clockwise. 'Idiot,' he thought with a smile.
He then looked at Harry Potter, blushing furiously as he tried to guide Cho Chang in drawing a perfect circle in the air. 'Idiot,' he thought once more, his grin growing wider.
Then, it just clicked to him—his happy memory.
He didn't have friends before Hogwarts. He was always alone, with his books and his imagination. Then, he came to Hogwarts and became best friends with two total buffoons that had a penchant for danger and adventure. Hermes already lost count how many times he saved their sorry arses.
But despite their stark differences, they forged a friendship more profound than anything Hermes had ever read in his books. They always got each other's back, and although there were moments when one was too insufferable to deal and handle, they still stuck through together.
Hermes, with a brilliant grin, knew he would never trade them for anything in this world.
He then thought of a simple memory, of Ron apologising to Harry during the Second Task, and being absolute wankers about it. He realised he was always the happiest when they made up and became friends once more.
Taking a deep breath, he drew a perfect circle in the air, and exclaimed "Expecto Patronum!"
A powerful silver mist shot out from his wand and, to his utmost amazement, formed a giant brown bear. It barrelled towards a stunned Harry, his patronus gathering The-Boy-Who-Lived in its arms, and swinging him around in a dizzying pace.
"HERMES!" Harry exclaimed at the top of his voice. "MAKE IT STOP!"
The curly-haired Gryffindor muttered a quick Finite. Harry fell on the cushioned floor with a soft thud, and stayed there for a few moments.
Silence fell in the Room of Requirement. Ron released a small cough, and then another, then Hermes realised the redhead was trying to hide a laugh but was failing miserably. Loud, roaring laughter escaped from his lips and Merlin; it was so infectious the others started to laugh heartily too.
Hermes found himself snickering a little as he ran towards Harry's fallen form. "Harry," he said, kicking him a little. "You all right, mate?"
Harry groaned and shifted on the floor so he was lying on his back. His glasses were smashed beside him and absentmindedly, Hermes shot a quick Oculus Reparo before squatting down to look at Harry.
"Sorry about that," he said sheepishly.
"What the fuck was that?" Ron said, falling beside him.
"A brown bear, I suppose," Hermes said with a casual shrug as he helped Harry on a sitting position.
Harry shot forward and smacked his hand behind Hermes' head.
"Bloody hell!" Hermes exclaimed in pain.
"You wanker," Harry said, glowering darkly at him. "You did that on purpose!"
"I did not!" he retorted in indignation. "How was I to know that patronus bear was going to… to…" He burst into uncontrollable snickering. "I mean, it was hilarious, Harry…"
"If you weren't the one held in a bone-crushing hug and swung around, it is!" Harry cried, crossing an arm across his chest.
Ron was laughing wildly once more. "Blimey, a brown bear totally suits you, Hermes," he said. "What with your Hug of Warmth and all."
"Must be one hell of a memory for you to produce something so mighty," Harry grumbled, rubbing his smarting chest.
Hermes grinned widely and swung an arm over their shoulders. "Absolutely," he simply replied.
Iris wasn't entirely sure why Professor Umbridge formed the Inquisitorial Squad. Well, as long as she got a shiny badge, then she didn't care really. All Umbridge told them was that their squad's primary task was to catch any students blatantly breaking all the decrees she had decorated over the walls of the Great Hall.
Theo once pointed out to the other members of the Inquisitorial Squad why Umbridge just didn't say outright that their main job was to catch the Golden Trio in the act. It would have made their job a lot easier.
Despite their confusing job description, Iris was happy to tell her father about her new position at school. Although his reply was brief, she knew he was pleased with her new shiny badge. That was all that mattered to her.
Besides, her new position brought powers even Prefects couldn't possess. Docking points here and there every time she found something she disliked, strutting the hallways like she was queen, and smirking at those who questioned her authority. All she had to do was point a manicured finger at the silver 'I' pinned on her breast pocket, and the student would shut the hell up and accept any punishment she would give them.
Now, Iris volunteered to patrol the library every day. When Blaise asked why she got to handpick her patrols, she merely gave him a withering glare. "I'm a Malfoy, of course," she snootily claimed. "I can do whatever the hell I want." There was also an unspoken agreement that she was the Head of the Inquisitorial Squad, so there's that, too.
She smirked widely when a second year Hufflepuff scampered out of the library when she came inside. She glanced at the other students studying inside, mindlessly docking points if they were holding their quill wrong or they were just plain ugly, whatever tickled her fancy, until she finally spied her favourite Gryffindor.
Hermes Granger was this time studying on a desk near the Potions section, almost near where Blaise usually sat when he's studying. She finally concluded that whatever subject he was studying, he would sit near that section in the library so that he could reach out a reference book easily if he needed to.
"10 points from Gryffindor for being a swot, Granger," she drawled, announcing her presence.
Granger frowned. "Is that even allowed?" he shot back, indignant.
"10 more points for questioning authority," she added, her smirk growing when he bristled. "Be very careful with your words from now on if you don't want to lose precious points for your beloved House, mudblood."
He neatly placed his quill back on his desk and stared at her in annoyance. "What do you want, Malfoy?" he snapped.
"Just making sure the brain of the Golden Trio isn't doing anything shady," she said with a casual shrug.
"I'm not hiding anything," he pointed out.
She quirked an eyebrow. "Interesting," she said, "I didn't even say you're hiding anything, Granger."
He stilled for a bit, before he schooled his emotions and looked back at her coolly. Too late, because Iris was able to see the slight panic on his face. She had this inkling ever since Umbridge became High Inquisitor that the Golden Trio were doing something illegal behind her back. It was much more interesting because Granger, the swotty, stick-to-rules bastard, was scheming with his idiotic friends, too.
Slowly, she leaned down, bracing both of her hands on the wooden table. She gave him a good view of her new shiny badge, and maybe her new black, lacy bra, too, and smirked at him sweetly. His eyes widened at little, cheeks blushing, before hastily gazing away to look at anything but her.
"Watch your every step, Granger," she purred in a low whisper. "I can squish you like a good little bug if I were given a chance."
She pulled away and casually turned around, very much aware that his eyes burned holes at her back until she disappeared behind the great doors of the library.
Iris knew it was only a matter of time before the Golden Trio was busted.
"Keep moving, bitch," Pansy snarled, pushing Marietta Edgecomb a little too hard. She almost fell on all fours if Blaise hadn't grabbed onto her arm.
A soft whimper escaped from the Ravenclaw's mouth, tears already gathered at the corner of her eyes. Iris glanced at the crying blonde student with harsh pimples that spelt the word 'SNEAK' across her nose and cheek. Merlin, it was bold and embarrassing. Iris had no doubt this was Hermes Granger's handiwork.
'Swot,' she thought, a small smile flitting her face.
"What's gotten your knickers in a twist?" Theo asked, glaring down at Pansy's glowering face.
"Being in this stupid squad is too much work," she complained, prodding Marietta's back to keep her walking. "I just want to crawl back to my bed and get my beauty sleep."
"As if that's going to help," Theo murmured under his breath.
"I heard that, Nott!" she shrieked, pointing her wand at his nose.
The gangly Slytherin smirked down at her. "Really now?" he asked with a mock gasp. "I didn't mean to offend, Lady Parkinson."
"Stu – "
"Shut up!" Iris hollered, fed up with their antics.
Pansy paused, wand hand mid-air, before walking as far away from Theo as possible.
"Well someone's got her knicker in a twist," Theo murmured under his breath, comically placing a hand against his mouth to mime a whisper towards an unamused Blaise. "I can't believe you briefly dated her, Blaise. I mean, she's a terror."
Iris narrowed her eyes as Blaise rolled his eyes. The Italian glanced at her briefly and the blonde noted pinkness on his cheeks. Iris made a face, remembering their pathetic attempts for snogging last week, which were, simply put, atrocious. It wasn't because Blaise was a terrible kisser, really, but they practically grew up together. It was like kissing a brother. Thankfully, he had the same thoughts as her and immediately broke everything off before things started to become unbearably awkward between them.
Grimacing, Iris once again remembered to pen a letter to her parents regarding her failed relationship with the Zabini heir. Her father would surely be disappointed, but Iris couldn't care less.
"Are we there yet?" Theo then whined, grating on Iris' nerves.
"Crabbe, Goyle, make Nott shut up," Iris barked. Her two, silent cronies immediately walked towards the gangly Slytherin, hands curled into fists.
"Merlin, Malfoy, lighten up," he said with a nervous laugh, raising both of his hands as a sign of surrender.
Crabbe and Goyle looked at Iris in question, before she silently nodded her head. The two buffoons went back to their usual position, always behind Iris, and continued their journey in silence.
"Where the hell are you taking us, Edgecomb?" Iris snarled, getting irritated herself. They were steadily rising through the staircases, still without an exact destination. Marietta insisted that the room where Potter and his squad were practising was secret, and the only way she could describe it was to show it to them.
"Almost," she murmured, her eyes trained intently on the stone floor.
Iris sighed and urged her to go faster. She made a face at a tapestry of a wizard hilariously training a couple of trolls for ballet. At the corner of her eyes, she saw Theo snicker under his breath, hitting Blaise with his pointy elbow to point at the tapestry.
"We're here," Marietta declared.
They all halted in their steps and expectantly looked at the Ravenclaw.
"There's no bloody door," Blaise pointed out, seemingly bored.
Iris lifted the tapestry with her wand and peeked behind. Only a smooth stone wall greeted her.
Furious, she shifted her wand tip at the quacking Ravenclaw. "I swear Edgecomb," she started with a nasty look in her eyes, "if you're tricking us, the word 'sneak' will not be the only thing on your face."
The Ravenclaw whimpered and took a few steps back. "N-not behind the tapestry," she stuttered. "But across from it!"
All their eyes landed on the stone wall across, hastily searching for any hint of a door or passageway.
"There's still no door," Theo singsonged, pulling out his wand and casually twirling it with his fingers.
Marietta stumbled back until she collided against the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. "T-the door will only materialise if you walk across it thrice while thinking what you need," she explained. "I told you this place is secret."
Iris quirked an eyebrow. "I've never heard of a room like that in Hogwarts before," she voiced aloud.
"Hence, secret," Theo said with a huge eye roll. "Honestly, princess, weren't you just listening to her?"
She gave him a sharp glare, effectively shutting up the annoying wizard. Then, she looked back at Marietta and ordered, "Show us."
The younger witch hesitantly nodded her head and walked towards the wall opposite the tapestry. She slowly walked to and fro thrice and, much to their amazement, a massive wooden door materialised.
"Wicked," Theo murmured as Iris hastily walked forward and blasted the door open.
A huge smirk appeared on her face, identical looks of horror seen on the occupants inside. The room was impressive with a ceiling as high as the one in the Great Hall. It was arranged like a training room of sorts, with noticeable scorch marks and scratches seen around. The floor was charmed to cushion their fall every time they were blasted away.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Iris said, striding inside, the others closely following behind. She smirked menacingly at Marietta and continued, "You've been of great help, Edgecomb. Take 50 points for Ravenclaw."
"Sneak," somebody hissed from the group. Marietta hid her scarred face behind her hands and started to cry earnestly.
Iris' grey eyes landed on the person who insulted the Ravenclaw and settled on Ginny Weasley. The redhead looked fiery and angry, wand out and poised for a duel. The blonde Slytherin then surveyed the other people in the room and frowned.
"The Golden Idiots aren't here," she realised. Her eyes landed back at the youngest Weasley. "Where are they, she-Weasley?"
Ginny lifted her chin, her blue eyes turning steely. "As if I'll tell you, Malfoy," she spat.
The infamous Malfoy smirk appeared on her face as she sashayed towards the redhead, her heels clicking loudly in the stone floor of the training room. The other students moved away like she was the plague until Iris was standing in front of the Gryffindor.
"I wasn't asking nicely, Weasley," she sweetly purred. "20 points from Gryffindor."
The bitch dared to snort. "Merlin, that's terrifying," she drawled.
The smirk fell from Iris' face as cold fury appeared on her face. With deceptive calmness, she walked behind Ginny and kicked behind her shin. The redhead released a surprised, pained cry and fell on her knees. Iris placed the tip of her wand underneath her chin and crouched forward. "I'm going to ask again, Weasley," she whispered against her ear. "Where is the Golden Trio?"
"Expelliarmus!"
Her wand flew away from her grip. Iris straightened herself, furious beyond reason, and saw eccentric Looney Lovegood clutching her wand.
"Ginny doesn't know where Harry and the others went, Iris," she calmly said with that breathy voice of hers.
"Crabbe, get me my wand!" Iris shrieked.
Before Crabbe could snatch her wand from Iris' hand, a loud "Stupefy" resounded in the whole room. Crabbe became unconscious and fell on the floor with a loud thud.
Iris stared at the source of the spell and scowled upon seeing a trembling Neville Longbottom. "Really, Longbottom?" she snarled.
"We don't know where they went," he grounded out with false bravado. He scrunched up his forehead as if deep in concentration. "I overheard Harry saying about a firecall and – "
"Neville!" Ginny hissed, cutting him off from his sentence. The older Gryffindor's eyes widened, realising his mistake.
Iris smirked once more. "Never mind, I already know where they went," she said, absentmindedly flicking her hair behind her shoulders. Firecalls were forbidden in any fireplaces in this school except one – the High Inquisitor's office. "Bloody stupid too."
She then grabbed a handful of Ginny's hair and glanced at the others. Theo and Blaise understood her silent command for they immediately incarcerated Luna and Neville.
"Goyle, go get Umbridge," she said. "Bring her to her office."
Then, to the others, "Let's bring these three little students too, eh? I'm sure Umbridge would love to punish more rule-breakers."
"I must say you lot are either very brave or downright stupid."
Hermes froze and turned around. Harry told him to guard the door while he and Ron tried to contact Sirius' through Umbridge's fireplace. The whole plan in the first place felt disastrous but for it to actually fail… well, Hermes could already feel his blood freezing in horror.
The whole Inquisitorial Squad, led by Malfoy, together with incarcerated Ginny, Neville, and Luna were standing at the other end of the hallway.
"Sorry, Hermes," Neville meekly whispered, whimpering in pain when Zabini prodded his wand against his back to shut him up.
Hermes tried to think of an escape plan fast. "Stu – "
"Expelliarmus," Malfoy calmly said, Hermes' wand immediately shooting out from her wand. She placed it in her breast pocket and smirked. She pushed Ginny into Goyle's hands and sauntered closer to him.
"Malfoy…"
"Shut up, Granger," she said. Ropes shot out from her wand and bound his hands together. "Now, why don't we pay your precious friends a visit?"
She yanked the door open and pushed him inside. Her grip with his arm was tight and painful, her long nails already digging deep into his skin.
"Hermes!" Ron exclaimed, paling at the sight before him. His eyes almost bulged out when he saw Ginny among the group.
Before the two could react, Malfoy already caught their wands.
They were effectively cornered and Hermes thought really, really hard to plan how they could survive this situation. Malfoy was out for blood, that was for sure. He didn't doubt it if they already called for Umbridge.
As if on cue, the High Inquisitory dressed in garish pink came barging in, her toad face resembling the sick colour of her dress.
"What is the meaning of this?" she snapped, eyes narrowed mostly at Harry.
"High Inquisitor," Malfoy said, her grip on his arm still firm and secure, "I caught them sneaking into your office, attempting to firecall someone."
Hermes glared down at her shiny blonde hair, but Malfoy did not look back at him.
Umbridge's pink face was slowly turning purple as she stalked forward and pushed Harry onto one of the chairs. "Incarcerous," she shrilly exclaimed, ropes emerging out from her wand to secure Harry's arm against the armchair.
She took a deep breath and showed that sickly sweet smile on her face. She levelled her eyes at Harry and said, "You were going to Dumbledore, weren't you?"
"No," Harry bluntly said with a firm stare.
Hermes flinched when Umbridge's hand shot forward and forcefully slapped Harry across his cheek.
"You called for me, Dolores?"
His eyes widened when Snape suddenly strode inside. Their Potions professor didn't even bat an eye at the strange ensemble inside Umbridge's office.
"I need Veritaserum, Severus," she said, bordering pleading. "The time for answers is now. This cannot go on for a few more days! They're growing insolent."
Snape quirked an eyebrow, his face still not betraying any emotions. "I'm afraid you've used up all the Veritaserum in your last interrogation, High Inquisitor," he said, looking mildly bored. "So, unless you want me to poison Potter with an unfinished new batch, I'm afraid I cannot help you."
He was about to turn away when Harry blurted out, "He's got Padfoot!" Snape paused in his walking and turned around, curiosity on his face. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden."
Hermes knew there was recognition in Snape's eyes. His heart almost soared with hope, wondering if they could finally make sure that Sirius Black was all right and put Harry's heart to peace.
"Padfoot? Who's Padfoot?" Umbridge asked shrilly. "Severus, what is he talking about?"
It took a moment before Snape turned his face away from Harry and stared squarely into Umbridge's eyes. "No idea." He soon left without any other word, his black cloak billowing behind.
Any hope he felt was now crushed and Hermes glared as hard as he could at Umbridge.
"Well then," the High Inquisitor said. She strode closer to her table and placed a framed picture of the minister down. "You leave me no choice, Mr Potter." She dramatically placed a hand against her heart and faced the bespectacled wizard. "As much as it pains me, I have the right to know." She pulled out her wand and pointed it at Harry. "It has been proven that even the stubbornest wizard cracks after one Cruciatus Curse."
Hermes stilled, disbelief on his face. 'No, no, no, no, no,' he chanted in his mind, trying to piece a lie that could save Harry, save all of them from this evil, pink-clad, cat lady!
"Cru – "
"TELL HER, HARRY!" Hermes blurted out, a half-assed idea already forming in his mind.
Umbridge paused and turned to him. "Tell her what?" she asked, eyes brightening in curiosity.
Iris' grip on his arm tightened. "Shut up, Granger, if you want to live," she warned, trying to keep him in place, but Hermes determinedly shook her off.
"Well, if you're not going to tell her where it is, I will," he firmly exclaimed. Harry was looking at him in confusion and he stared at him sternly, mentally relaying him to trust whatever he got up his sleeve.
"What the fuck are you doing, Hermes?" he heard Ron whisper.
"Where what is?" Umbridge grounded out, her wand still pointed at Harry's face.
Hermes took a deep, shaky breath and stepped forward. "Dumbledore's secret weapon," he lied through his teeth, praying that he looked guilty as hell to convince Umbridge.
Upon the mention of their Headmaster, Umbridge's eyes widened in excited wonder and finally lowered her wand. "Mr Granger, I am glad you are cooperating," she said, striding closer to where he stood. "Tell me where this secret weapon is."
"If I do," he slowly started, "you have to let us leave unscathed."
Her eyes turned steely. "I am the High Inquisitor of this school and you have no right – " She paused midway and took a deep calming breath. Once she expelled all of it, a small, condescending smile appeared on her face. "Very well, Mr Granger. Please continue."
"It's hidden in the Forbidden Forest," he blurted out, his tongue rolling out flawlessly for such an elaborate lie. "We broke into your office because we need to contact Dumbledore to tell him it is ready."
The smile on her face grew into a pleased one. "Well, isn't that easy?" she said, clasping both of her hands together. "Tell me where it is this instant."
But Hermes already shook his head. "Only Harry and I know where it is," he continued. "Dumbledore made sure that we are the only ones who will be able to see it." He confidently lifted his chin. "If you want to know where it is, Harry and I must come."
She looked conflicted for a moment before waving her wand, vanishing Harry's ropes. "Very well," she said. She looked at the other students in the room and smiled. "Guard these troublemakers for me. I'll deal with them once we return."
She hauled Harry back onto his feet and pushed him out. Hermes was about to follow but he was stopped when Malfoy's hand grabbed onto his sleeve.
"Liar," she hissed for only him to hear.
He looked down at her with a firm stare. Malfoy was too brilliant to buy his lie; it was honestly preposterous, but he knew mentioning Dumbledore and some secret weapon would interest Umbridge. Ever since she discovered Dumbledore's Army, she had been convinced Dumbledore was secretly trying to bring her down.
He stared at the Slytherin's grey eyes with a silent challenge, waiting with bated breath if she'd reveal that everything he said was a lie. There was something indecipherable in her eyes, something only Malfoy could truly pull, before she finally let go of his hand and looked away.
Hermes looked down at her in shock. She was literally looking the other way and he couldn't understand.
Before he could question her, Umbridge was already calling for his name.
With one last confused glance at Iris, he walked away and immediately followed Umbridge and Harry.
Ron went down from their dormitory room and glanced at Hermes. He sadly shook his head and looked down at his shoes.
It was all the answer Hermes needed, prompting him to sigh and sling his bag across his shoulder. "It can't be helped," he quipped in a whisper. "Might as well give him some space, mate."
"I'll be over the Quidditch Pitch if you need me," Ron said.
To which he replied, "I'll be at the library if you need me."
They shared a small smile before going their separate ways, their minds still busy worrying for their other best friend.
The hallways were annoyingly cheery as the students excitedly prepared for the coming summer. They still glanced at Hermes curiously, exchanging whispers blatantly, wondering what had transpired back at the Department of Mysteries. It especially didn't help when the latest edition of the Daily Prophet had Harry's grieving face flashing front and centre, an article underneath how the ministry finally accepted the rebirth of Voldemort and hailed Harry as the 'lone voice of truth'.
Hermes had burned every edition he had seen, still furious that the ministry had to discredit him and Dumbledore for a whole year just because they were in denial. Now, Sirius Black was dead and it could have been prevented if they believed Harry in the first place.
Shaking those thoughts away, Hermes told himself he'd study until his brain bled just to distract himself. Harry was almost a shell, blindly walking around the halls of Hogwarts, and they could barely talk to him. Hermes understood he was grieving the only family he had ever got, and wanted to be left alone in his grief.
The library doors were in sight and Hermes hastened his pace. At least, inside, he knew he'd be shielded from the unfolding atrocities of this world.
Before he could step in, a hand suddenly pulled him inside a broom cupboard. He yelped in surprise and tried to pull out his wand, but the sight of Iris Malfoy's furious eyes stunned him into place.
The broom cupboard wasn't big enough; she was crammed in between him and the cupboard wall. His senses filled with a flowery scent that was almost dizzying and tried as he might to move away, he couldn't.
"Bloody hell, Malfoy!" he harshly whispered in the dark.
The light outside the hallways was their only light source, seeping through the cracks of the broom cupboard, so Hermes couldn't entirely see her face. All he could see were her eyes, glistening too brightly in the dark, and with widened eyes, he wondered if she had been crying.
"Are you happy now?" she asked, her voice high and quivering. "Did you finally get your revenge?"
He stilled. Although the article of Harry and the other members of Dumbledore's Army was at the very front page of the Daily Prophet, crammed at the rightmost corner was another article about the imprisonment of prominent figures in this society, including Lucius Malfoy, due to being identified as a Death Eater.
"He's…" he started, hesitantly looking into her eyes. "He tried to kill us, Malfoy."
He remembered the vicious spells that Lucius Malfoy threw into their direction, desperate to get the prophecy about Harry and Voldemort. It was plain to see that the older Malfoy intended to get it at all cost, not minding to take a life here or there if the situation required it.
Iris Malfoy started quivering in the dark. Her usual guarded eyes now showed emotions, too many emotions, that Hermes wasn't able to understand. Tears formed in her eyes and tumbled down her cheeks and he watched, dumbfounded, as she started breaking down before his eyes.
He grabbed her wrist and held on tight. Iris released a gasp and tried to pull away but he held on. "You don't have to follow his footsteps," he pleaded, his voice sounding shaky and too desperate for him to understand. "You don't… you don't have to be evil like him, Malfoy."
The Slytherin released a hollow laugh and viciously glared through her wet eyes. "You don't know what you're talking about," she whispered through the dark.
"I do," he replied earnestly. "I do, Malfoy."
"No, you don't," she harshly replied. "You don't know anything about me. My life hasn't been easy, Granger. Do you honestly think my life was easy because I got everything? Because I'm a fucking Pureblood? Walking away from everything… it's a death sentence. If I do… I die and…" She got choked up and harshly took numerous, shallow breaths.
The cupboard was crampy, her heaving chest pressed firmly against his. Hermes was tempted to reach at her, to mollify her, but he wasn't entirely sure how.
"I…" he started, finally settling to put his hand on top of her head. "I never assumed your life was easy, Malfoy. You're not… you're not happy. I see it in your eyes every day, masking it with hate and anger." He took a deep breath and stared straight into her eyes. "It might suck being someone you're really not to please the people you love, yeah?"
Malfoy froze, her eyes turning steely, before she roughly pushed him away. His head collided loudly against the cupboard wall, blinding pain shooting through his skull. Despite his painful haze, he watched as Iris managed to school all of her emotions once more and deftly wiped away the remnants of her breakdown.
"Never assume anything about me, mudblood," she bitingly hissed with a glare. "You will never understand."
She furiously tore the cupboard door open and stumbled outside.
Hermes stayed inside for a few more moments, trying to compose himself.
A/N: Drop a review :)
So, we all know that canon! Hermione had an otter as her Patronus, but I wanted to change it because, well, this is fanfiction hahahaha. I think a big, brown bear will suit my version of Hermes Granger very, very much.
With love,
WickedlyAwesomeMe