Chapter 12 – Dragon

I didn't go to Dumbledore. I wanted to say I was the one who had done it. It's not like I'm afraid of getting detention. I've had my share of detentions in the past. I didn't go forward because it would put not just me but also H, Harry and Ron under scrutiny. We don't want that. I need to keep my anger for the toad in check. H gave me a good lecture when we got back to our dorm. If that was not enough, I got an owl from Draco stating he was very disappointed at me. I'm glad he didn't send me a howler.

Hermione was anxious for the Daily Prophet. In fact most of the students were waiting for the newspaper. After the breakout two weeks ago, everyone is eager to know what else is happening. Then a bunch of owls came and delivered the papers, took the payment and left. Harry got a brown package from an owl. He opened it and found himself staring at a shy photograph of himself. Mr. Lovegood published the article on Harry. I thought it was going to come out next month. Soon, there were other owls flocking around Harry.

"Harry, I think these are responses from the readers. May we open them?" H asked.

"Go on." Harry said happily.

I chose to read the article. I can't believe Harry had to go through all that. Ya, he told me everything. But reading it felt different, more real. Without thinking, I put my hand on his, "Harry, I'm so sorry. I wish I was there with you."

He looked confused then he saw the Quibbler in my hand, "I don't. I would have been even more scared if you were there with me." He smiled at me. He put his hand on mine.

I nodded. "Actually, I wish you were not there in the first place."

"Don't we all wish the same thing!" He came closer and pecked me on my cheek quickly.

My heart started beating erratically so I started helping the others with the letters. The responses till now were mixed. We have some believers, some non-believers and some who are in the between. Then there was this annoying 'hem hem' sound behind us.

"What's going on here?" The toad asked in her sickly sweet voice.

"People have written to me 'cause I gave an interview about last June."

"What do you mean interview?" She asked with and edge in her voice.

"You know, talking to a reporter and they print your article in a newspaper or magazine." Harry said rather casually. "Here." He shoved the magazine into her hand.

She took one look at the article title and looked angrily back at him, "When did you do this?"

"The last Hogsmeade trip."

"Well, there will be no Hogsmeade trips for you anymore, Mr. Potter."

"Are you sure you can do that? I think only the headmaster has the final say things around Hogwarts." I said firmly. The others around me snickered at her.

She looked at me venomously, "I assure you that I have the authority."

I have half a mind to ask granpa to pull in strings and get her removed. Normally, I don't ask things for favours like these from granpa but I really can't bear her anymore. We stared at each other before she turned and left. Draco watched the entire exchange. His expression said it all, 'what the hell do you think you're doing!'


By the time our first class was over, the toad had passed another decree. She banned everyone from reading the Quibbler. This upset Harry, Ron and I a lot. But H was unusually chirpy about it.

When we asked her about this, she said, "This is exactly what I was hoping she'd do."

"But why?" Ron asked.

"This is bound to create interest in everyone. So they are going to read the interview to find out why it is being banned." H said excitedly.

"That makes sense. You tell someone to not do something and they end up doing that very thing." Why am I stating the obvious?

By the end of the day, I was pretty sure that everybody had read the article. They read the article disguising the Quibbler as a textbook. Luna told us that this was the fastest selling Quibbler issue ever and that her father has to reprint the issue. This is super cool. Again there were students who believed and students who didn't. Harry had mentioned the names of the death eaters present that night so a lot of the Slytherins were laying low. If the Slytherins reacted then they would have to admit that they read the article. The teachers, except the toad, were happy that Harry had finally told his side of the story but couldn't express it in words. So, they handed out points to Harry for the most mundane things. It was comical watching this happen. Well, as long as Gryffindor is getting points, I don't care why we are getting them.

I discreetly signalled to Draco that I wanted to see him. I was dying to know what he thought about the article. I told H that I was going to see Draco and left. Ever since, I told H everything, it's been easy. She covers for me. For all this, I have to occasionally answer a question or two about the contract. Even Draco has reduced insulting H. He didn't stop completely though.

I went to the floor, which has the most number of unused classrooms. I entered one of the rooms. He came in behind me and put all the necessary charms on the door.

"What do you think?" I asked him excitedly.

"Why didn't you tell me about this before?" He asked me agitatedly.

"With everything that's been going on, this slipped out of my mind. Besides, this was supposed to come out next month. It came out early." I explained.

"It is a good move. After the mass breakout, this coming out is smart. It'll at least make people think about Potter's side, whether or not they believe it is another story." He drawled.

"So you are impressed?"

"Far from it actually. He mentioned the names. I wished he hadn't. The Slytherins are not very happy about this. Neither am I. It's humiliating. Everyone is talking about my father like he is going to attack any damn person on the street."

This was kind of shocking to me, "Draco, you don't even like your father. He deserves it."

"True but that doesn't change the fact that he's my father. He is still my family. And anything against my family is against me. Until we find a way to end this stupid contract, my family is almost like your family as well. It would do you good to remember this." He said haughtily. "You've not just humiliated my father but also me, Nat." He snapped.

"Draco, I thought we are in this together. This was not targeted at you. This is against Voldemort. You're not seeing the big picture."

"I just told you what I felt, Nat."

I hugged him, "I'm sorry you feel this way. But I'm not against you." I held him tight. "I've been thinking about something." Changing the subject felt like a good thing to do.

He pulled back, "What?"

"I think when the time comes, you should join the order. We can be in this together." I told him hopefully.

"We'll talk about this when the time comes." He said carefully. He kissed me on my forehead. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm sorry. It's just that Umbridge has been getting on my nerves. She keeps asking me why I don't have anything on you guys till now. It's a tough job to get the others to go in the wrong direction. Thank God, I at least have Blaise to help me out. But you don't want to make things easy for me either. Maybe, I should just tell Umbrigde everything."

"You wouldn't." I said confidently. He sighed.


I thought firing Prof. Trelawney would end the probation on Hagrid but no. The toad still came to Hagrid's classes. This makes it difficult to talk to him. There are fresh bruises on his face. I am concerned. We all want to ask him about it but we do get the chance.

The only silver lining is the DA sessions. Everyone is showing great progress. Harry finally decided to teach us the Patronus charm. He showed everyone his stag patronus and everyone was amazed by it. He told us that we have to think of our happy memories and then cast it. I was having trouble selecting a happy memory. I chose one in which mom was baking chocolate chip cookies and whole kitchen filled with the smell of cookies. But I managed to get a silvery smoke from my wand. I chose different memories with my family. They were not enough.

I thought of the Yule Ball, last year. Dancing with Harry had made me really happy. But then I remembered how he stamped my feet. I thought back to our first kiss. It still warms up my heart. That chaste little kiss when Harry saw me at Grimmauld Place. This time I got a stronger silver light from my wand. Harry said I was close and that I need to concentrate more. I tried with another memory of Harry and I. I got the same result.

While I was trying to sift through my memories of Harry, Dobby appeared. He looked really nervous and scared.

"What is it, Dobby? You look terrified." Harry asked him.

"The other elves told me not to come here, Harry Potter." He began hitting himself.

Harry stopped him, "What is going on?"

"She knows, Harry Potter." He said in a scared voice.

"Who 'she'?" He thought for a moment. "Umbridge?"

Dobby nodded but didn't say anything. She can't know, can she? Draco assured me he was handling everything.

"What does she knows? Does she know about us? About the DA?" Harry asked.

Dobby nodded again. Did Draco tell her? No, no, he wouldn't do such a thing. I believe him.

"Is she coming?"

He nodded again, "Yes, Harry Potter!"

Holy Crap! Time for Damage Control!

"How much time do we have, Dobby?" I asked him.

"Miss, she be gathering the group, now. Ten or fifteen minutes, me thinks." He answered.

"All right everyone, don't panic. Don't shout. Move towards the door in small groups. The nearest house is the Ravenclaw tower. Safe to hide in there for some time. Don't the take the moving staircase 'cause they are most probably using those. Dobby, will you be able to take some of the students with you?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Take the first and the second years. Take them to the kitchen. Keep them there for a little and then send them off after thirty minutes. If possible mess with the moving staircase and buy us some time. If anyone asks you anything, you don't know anything."

"And Dobby don't hurt yourself. This is an order." Harry said.

"Yes Miss. Thank you, Harry Potter." The first and second years took hold of Dobby's hands. Dobby was gone with a crack.

Everyone left quickly in small groups. Soon it was only the four of us. We moved out in different directions. While running I fell down. I knew, a trip jinx hit me. I wish I were an animagus.

"Oh, it's you." I heard someone's voice.

I turned around and saw Blaise standing over me. "I'm not sure how to respond to that." This is the first time I'm talking to Blaise.

"Just go from here. Run! Scram!"

"Wait, why are you doing this?"

"Draco asked me not to catch you. So, go now. Don't waste my time."

"Right, thanks. Wait did Draco send Dobby?"

He smirked at me, "I don't know what you're talking about. Now, leave before I change my mind."

We heard footsteps coming in our direction. I thanked him again and cast a disillusion charm on me. I stuck myself to the nearest wall.

I saw the toad. Followed by Draco and he was dragging Harry along with him.

"Did you find anyone here?" The toad sounded so happy.

"No Professor, this corridor is clear." Blaise answered. Draco and Blaise exchanged meaningful looks and Draco sighed in relief.

"I'll take him from here. You both check the other corridors. Check the bathrooms. Have Parkinson check the girls' bathrooms." The toad ordered and left with Harry. At least, he is not hurt.

When she was out of our eyesight, Draco asked, "She is safe right?"

"For now." Blaise answered.

"What do you mean?"

"She's right behind you."

When he turned to look at me, I grinned at him. "What the hell are you doing here?" he hissed at me.

"I didn't have much time so I used the disillusion charm." I told him with puppy dog eyes.

He hugged me, "Thank God you're all right."

"Thank you for sending Dobby. What is she going to do with Harry?"

"I don't know. She's taking him to Dumbledore's office. The Minister's here."

"What? How the hell did she even get to know about this?"

"It was that twit Edgecombe. She informed Umbridge about your illegal group."

"What?" I was shocked. I always thought if anyone would ever betray the group, it would be Zacharias Smith from Hufflepuff.

"Now, go to your dorm. I'll let you know if I get to know something." There was a sense of urgency in his voice.

I thought it's best not to argue with him right now, "Okay. Thank you so much." I kissed him on his forehead. "I owe you one, Dragon."

He smiled the nickname I used for him as a kid. Draco hated it when I called him a dragon when we were kids. In most of the stories my mom read out for us, dragons always held princesses as captives or they destroyed homes and etc. So, he didn't like to be called dragon. But when I told him that my dragon is a saviour not a destroyer, he let me call him dragon occasionally.


I got back to the Gryffindor tower quickly. Fortunately, I didn't run into anyone else from the Inquisitorial Squad. After about twenty minutes later, a parchment swan floated towards me. How did that get in?

'All clear now. No one else has been caught. But Pansy found a list of all the members of the group in the Room of Requirement. She has given it to Umbridge already. Nothing I can do now.'

It was Draco's handwriting. I sent him a small reply on the same piece of parchment.

'Thanks. You're the best. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night. .'

I took the coin with which all the DA members communicated. I sent out a message saying it was all clear now. After about twenty minutes, a large group of Gryffindors entered the common. I saw Andy and hugged him in relief. I didn't find H and Ron with the group. I asked Andy if he saw them. He said he didn't see them. After a few tense minutes, they came in.

I hugged H, "Where's Harry?" She asked.

"They caught him. He was taken to Dumbledore's office." I answered.

"How do you know that?" Ron asked me.

I mentally hit myself. I decided to be coy, "Let's just say I know someone on the inside." Andy and H's eyes popped out of their sockets. Others looked like they wanted to be impressed.

"What? Is this true?" George asked me.

"Who is your source?" Fred asked me.

"I'm kidding. I managed to cast a disillusion charm on myself before they could catch me. Lucky, I was on a dark corridor. So, no one could spot me. I saw Umbridge, Malfoy and Zabini with Harry."

Everyone was deep in thought.

"I think, it's best if we get to bed now. We've all had a long day. It's best if we discuss this in the morning." H said.

Everyone agreed despite wanting to discuss everything that happened in detail. I wanted to wait for Harry but H pulled me up stairs.


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Sorry for the delay! I'll be starting a new job some time next week...so, i may not be able to post chapters as often as I did before! But i will try to post at least one chapter every week!

Enjoy! Neepa :-)