Of those that had escaped the Room of Requirements the night before had made it back to their common rooms in one piece, Mason and Astoria had got so caught up in the commotion that they ended up spending the night in the Slytherin common room, especially since Daphne refused to leave Astoria out of her sight, and Theo made the executive decision that, while Teddie was elsewhere, Mason was his responsibility.
Teddie, who had been caught by Malfoy and hauled off to Dumbledore's office by Umbridge along with Harry, didn't return to the common room until late, and even then, she was escorted back by Professor Snape. He gave a dark, cold look that told her she was not out of trouble with him, and then left her alone beside the fireplace.
She stayed awake for a long while before climbing the staircase to the girls' dormitory and falling asleep on top of the covers, and still fully clothed.
The next day dawned and with it came several horrible changes. When she arrived in the common room in the morning, Teddie was ambushed by Mason, his arms tightening around her waist and squeezing as she patted his back comfortingly.
"We thought you had been caught," said Mason, withdrawing from the hug. "What happened? Where did you go?"
"I did get caught," Teddie said, sliding into the black leather couch. "Harry and I were the last to leave the Room of Requirements. We tried to run for it, but Malfoy caught us with a Trip Jinx, and them Umbridge hauled us off to Dumbledore's office."
Daphne pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "What happened?" she asked, resting her chin on the tops of her knees. "I'm guessing since you're still here that you aren't expelled?"
"Why would Dumbledore expel her?" Astoria asked. "Personally, I think he would understand why we did what we did."
Teddie sighed and lowered her gaze. Her mind racing with images of the night before, and the consequences the D.A. group would now have for Hogwarts. Her concerns about calling the group Dumbledore's Army had come to pass last night, but it was too late then, and it was definitely too late now to do anything about it.
"Ted?" Mason asked, drawing Teddie out of her thoughts. "You okay?"
"I'm sorry," Teddie said, her voice quiet.
"Sorry?" Theo asked. "Why?"
"I got you involved in the D.A.," said Teddie. "Everything that follows last night's actions is my fault. You're going to be punished for my mistakes."
Her friends shared concerned looks and Mason lay his head on her shoulder. "We all made our own choices," he said. "Whatever happens next is all our fault, not just yours."
"Yeah. Besides, like I said, Dumbledore isn't going to punish us," said Astoria. "He wants us prepared for what's to come, doesn't he?"
Teddie swallowed hard and shook her head. "I wish it were that simple, Tori," she said. "But Dumbledore's not here anymore."
The silence that followed her words were deafening. The only sound was the crackling of the flames in the grate.
~X~
- BY ORDER OF -
The Ministry of Magic
Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-Eight.
.
Signed:
Cornelius Oswald Fudge
MINSTER FOR MAGIC.
Unlike the other decrees, which were only posted in the House Common rooms, the new one was plastered all over Hogwarts. Everywhere a student went there was a notice explaining Educational Decree Number Twenty-Eight. It was as if Umbridge and Fudge wanted to drill into the students and teachers of Hogwarts that Dumbledore was no longer around to protect them, and that the new changes that were to come were not negotiable.
"But Dumbledore escaped," whispered a seventh year Ravenclaw as they passed Mason and Astoria in the common room.
" – yeah, how can they say he's not here protecting us if they don't know where he is?" questioned a fourth year Hufflepuff.
"Dumbledore was escorted out of the school when the Chamber was open," said a fifth year Gryffindor. "He protected us them, why should now be any different?"
The whispered questions and concerns flittered all around the castle, and Teddie couldn't help but smile when she heard them.
"What are you smiling about?" Blaise asked her one evening at dinner.
"This is exactly what Umbridge didn't want," Teddie replied. "She was hoping that it would be a smooth transition for her to take over as Headmistress, but the whole school is still talking about Dumbledore and what happened that night? She'll never be accepted as Head of Hogwarts if Dumbledore's memory remains."
Mason, who had joined them, nodded in agreement. "It's hard to kill an idea," he said. "Especially when it's made home in your head. If the Ministry had managed to arrest Dumbledore and carted him off to Azkaban, then his name would have been smeared and nobody would trust him. But with him on the loose? People are going to continue to question whether or not the Ministry is capable of catching him."
"Well, they haven't managed to capture the Death Eaters that escaped," said Daphne. "Maybe Azkaban isn't as secure as we've been led to believe."
Teddie nodded and spooned a load of stew into her mouth. She chewed and then swallowed. "Dumbledore won't be gone long," she said. "When he comes back, hopefully it will be to dethrone Umbridge and take back his place as Headmaster."
"Now that will be a sight to see," said Theo, grinning.
The group laughed
~X~
On Wednesday afternoon, while in the library with her friends, Teddie looked up as Marlene rushed up to her desk looking flustered and alarmed. Judy came behind her, also out of puff. Teddie furrowed her brow as the two collapsed into chairs opposite.
"What did you two do?" Teddie asked. "Run all the way here from the Slytherin common room?"
Marlene shook her head and sucked in a deep breath. "We… we…" she stammered, struggling to catch her breath.
"Calm down," said Teddie, setting down her quill. "Get your breath back. Whatever is wrong probably isn't worth you two passing out on us."
"It actually is," said Judy, catching her breath. She was still short of breath, but she was managing to breath easily enough. "Professor Snape has been looking for you."
Teddie frowned as everyone turned their gazes to her. She'd already been punished for being a part of the D.A., even though Snape had agreed that it was a good idea, he still didn't approve that a Slytherin had been caught breaking Ministry rules.
"Umbridge has been to him," said Marlene, finally catching her breath. "He's looking for you because she is looking for you."
"Why?" Teddie asked.
"Maybe she means to expel you?" Daphne asked.
Teddie shook her head. "If she does that then it'll be the whole 'Dumbledore' ordeal over again," she said. "People will question why I was expelled."
"It's like the old saying 'dead men get listened to'," said Mason.
"Where is she?" Teddie asked Marlene and Judy.
"In her office," Judy answered.
"Do you want us to go with you?" Theo asked.
Teddie shook her head and packed away her things. "I'll meet you in the common room later," she said, heading out.
~X~
Teddie took a deep breath as she entered Umbridge's office. There had been a rumour that she had tried to get into Dumbledore's office, but the stone gargoyle had prevented her from doing so, which was why, it seemed, she had redecorated her own office in the Defense classroom as the new Head of Hogwarts.
HEADMISTRESS had been painted in block letters across her desk, and Umbridge smiled pleasantly from behind her desk as Teddie stepped through the door, her eyes immediately reading the glittering words.
"You got my message them. Good. Now, sit," Umbridge said, indicating to a chair across from her.
Teddie clutched her backpack to her chest as she sat in the chair. She had been attacked enough times in this room, and she was determined to not be caught off guard again. She could feel her wand brushing against her forearm as it sat idly in her wand holder under her sleeve. She was pretty fast when she needed to be, but if push came to shove, Teddie wasn't above throwing a punch, regardless of who the receiving target was.
"What would you like to drink, Miss Green?" Umbridge asked.
Teddie blinked and stared in confusion. "I'm sorry, what?" she asked. She may not have liked Umbridge, but her mother would turn in her grave if she knew that Teddie was being disrespectful. Kill them with kindness, if you must, Rose had always said.
"To drink," said Umbridge. "Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice?"
As she named each drink, she gave her wand a wave and a cup of each liquid appeared on the desk between them.
Teddie furrowed her brow as she looked from each cup, and then looked up at Umbridge and shook her head. This had to be some form of a trick, right? Umbridge wasn't about to attack her, like Moody had, or kidnap her like Avery, but instead she was to poison her?
"Oh, uh, no thank you," said Teddie. "I'm okay."
"I wish you to have a drink with me," said Umbridge, her voice growing dangerously sweet. "Choose one."
Teddie swallowed as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Her heart had started to beat faster and faster, and her hands gripped her backpack a little tighter. She shook her head again, declining the drink.
"I must insist, Miss Green," said Umbridge. "Pick One."
Her mouth dry, Teddie licked her lips and stared at the cups in front of her. She didn't want a drink, but Umbridge was pressuring her into taking one. How could she get out of here?
"Miss Green –"
"I don't want a drink," said Teddie. "Thank you, but I'm fine."
Umbridge's lip curled into a nasty smile. "I am aware of your fears of this room, Miss Green," she said. "But I assure you, no harm will come to you with me present. Mr. Potter has just left here, and he has no qualms with drinking with me."
"Harry hasn't been attacked in this classroom though," said Teddie, shaking her head. She just wanted to go back to her friends. She didn't feel safe here.
"It won't take you two minutes, Miss Green," said Umbridge. "I just want to be sure that you are okay. The last few days have been difficult, and my first job as Headmistress is to make sure that my students are feeling safe and secure."
Teddie quirked and eyebrow as she stared at Umbridge. Was she for real? The students were safe and secure before she reared her ugly head and started making things worse.
"Won't you drink with me?" Umbridge asked. "Maybe a glass of warm milk will ease your nerves? That always helped me when I was a child and scared."
Teddie shook her head again.
Umbridge's smile dropped and her eyes narrowed. "Fine," she growled. "I'll ask you with it!" she waved her wand and the drinks disappeared. "I was serious when I said that we should have a chat about the distressing events of the last few days, warm milk should've calmed your nerves and eased your worries, but never mind, I'll make do."
Teddie stared at Umbridge. What did she mean when she said she'd make do without it, without what? Was there something in the drinks? Teddie's eyes widened as she realised Umbridge's true intentions, but quickly pushed aside the idea. Umbridge wouldn't risk poisoning a student, not when said student was known to be with Umbridge, if anything happened to her right now, then Teddie knew her friends would point the finger at Umbridge.
"Where is Albus Dumbledore, Miss Green?"
Teddie cocked her head to the side. "What makes you think I would know?" she asked.
"Are you sure I can't persuade you to have a drink?" Umbridge asked.
"I'm not thirsty," said Teddie.
Umbridge huffed and leaned forward in her seat. "Consider your position here, Miss Green," she said. "I understand that you received some hard news over Christmas, and there are some nasty rumours in the Daily Prophet about you, rumours that I am sure you'll admit are untrue. I can make those rumours go away, you know, the Daily Prophet will issue an apology to you for any trouble they caused. But you have to answer my questions as honestly as you can."
"I don't know where Professor Dumbledore is," Teddie repeated. "Why would I? I'm just a student. The only interaction I have ever had with Dumbledore was when I was rescued from the Chamber of Secrets, and I saw him in third year when I was wishing Professor Lupin goodbye at the end of the year, otherwise, I don't see him."
Umbridge pursed her lips. "Very well, Miss Green," she said. "You've made your loyalties quite clear. But, if you insist on remaining Dumbledore's good little student then, I am sorry to say, that I cannot help you with your problems outside of this school. The rumours of you being the Heir of Darkness will remain, and forever follow you when you leave Hogwarts. Are you sure that is what you want?"
Teddie shrugged. "I'd rather people think I am the Heir of Darkness than a traitor for helping you," she said. "Can I go now?"
Teddie had barely made it to the office door when a loud, resounding BOOM! shook the office floor and walls, even the door quakes in its place.
"What was -?" Umbridge asked, her eyes widening as she stared at the door. "Back to lunch, Green! Go!" she ordered, as she bustled past Teddie and disappeared out into the corridor.
Teddie lingered outside of the office then, when she was sure that Umbridge had a long enough head start, she set off down the corridor, curious to see what the commotion was all about.