Chapter 15: Flight of the Ministry
Three days passed and very little word from those that left Hogwarts other than they were fine.
"Fine means nothing! It means freaked out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional. It is never good to say you are fine," Tabitha exclaimed as she read over her aunt's short letter. She, Sabrina, and Severus were in the staffroom just after lunch.
"You've spent too much time with a psychiatrist," Sabrina said shaking her head, "You're too paranoid."
"I'm vigilant," Tabitha defended as she stood and walked to the window, "We need to be…there's no telling what will happen…"
The clock in the staffroom struck 2 o'clock and she turned gasping.
"Oh no the boys are going for their last exam," she exclaimed and ran out of the room,
"I think she's getting to close to them. They can't possibly see her in the same light as she thinks they do," Severus stated.
"She's always had a mothering quality though. I remember when we were fifteen she called me every day for a week straight to make sure I was sleeping and studying for my exams. She just wants them to do well Sev. She's taken Aunt Min's job…they've become her cubs," Sabrina explained.
Neville and Harry were idly waiting to enter the Great Hall for their last exam.
"Harry, Neville we have to go," Hermione sighed.
"Yeah…I was just hoping to talk to Professor Reynolds," Neville sighed.
Just then Tabitha came around the corner and down the banister.
"Oh boys I'm so sorry I lost track of the time," she breathed. They smiled at her.
"So we studied and we're confident yes?" she asked.
"No," the boys shook their heads.
"No what?" Tabitha asked confused.
"We have no confidence," Harry sighed, "I fall asleep in every history class."
"That's all right. History is boring sometimes. That's why when I helped you study I reenacted some of the battles. Now just pretend you're in the middle of the battle and write what you see," she explained, "as long as it answers the question of course."
"Right," Harry laughed.
"Good now good luck, relax, and no matter what don't forget…." She stopped her thought.
"Don't forget what," they asked.
"No matter what I'll be proud of you," she smiled as she kissed their heads. They blushed but nodded and hurried into the room.
Ron wandered up to her looking nervous.
"Yes Mr. Weasley?" she asked.
"I…uh…I'm a little nervous too," he stated.
"Well you haven't really been studying," Tabitha stated.
Ron's face turned as red as his hair.
Tabitha giggled and kissed his head saying, "But I'll be proud no matter what." He smiled widely and entered the Great Hall.
"Professor Reynolds! Professor Reynolds!!" a little first year Gryffindor named Mary Charter called. She was standing at the top of the main stairs looking very upset.
"Yes Miss Charter what's wrong?" Tabitha asked as she started up the stairs to the little girl. The girl was one of the smallest in her class.
"My c-cat. M-m-Missy," the girl was crying, "I-I c-can't find her."
"Calm down sweetie. Do you remember where you last saw her?" Tabitha asked bending slightly to be more level with the girl.
"I-In t-the common room," the girl sniffed. Her large chocolate eyes were filled with tears as she looked up at the Professor. Her blonde curls were falling down her face.
"Come on then let's go find her. I bet she's as upset about you as you are about her," Tabitha smiled warmly holding her hand to the girl.
The child nodded and took the woman's hand as they headed to the Gryffindor Tower.
"I want that prophecy and you're going to get it for me," Voldemort hissed.
"No! You'll have to kill me," Sirius stated.
"Oh I will," Voldemort nodded, "But first you will get it for me. Crucio!!"
Sirius' head snapped back as he screamed.
"Crucio!!" Voldemort shouted and Sirius screamed again.
"Tom stop leave him alone!" Minerva's voice cried in the back ground before it was silenced.
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Harry woke up falling out of his chair in the middle of the exam. He made his excuses and ran out of the room. His first thought was to tell Sabrina and Tabitha but he did want to worry them.
As soon as his friends got out of the exam they ran to Umbridge's Office. It was the only one with a fireplace not being monitored.
"But Harry…what if this is a trick by Voldemort!?" Hermione stated as they entered the office.
"What if it is? I'm supposed to let him die? Let McGonagall?" Harry snapped. He threw some floo powder in the grate.
"Alert the Order if you can," he stated.
"No we'll go with you," Ron stated.
"No you have to stay," Harry replied.
"When are you going to get it through your head …we're in this together," Hermione stated.
"That…you…are," Umbridge shrieked.
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"Found these two trying to help the Weasley girl," Malfoy stated pulling Neville and a girl named Luna Lovegood with him.
"Now then. You were going to Dumbledore weren't you?" she asked.
"No I…"
"Don't lie!" she snapped slapping him hard on the face just as Severus entered the room.
"You wish to see me headmistress?" he asked eyeing the scene.
"Yes I want him to tell the truth whether he wants to or not," Umbridge stated pointing at Harry.
"You used the last of my Verituserum interrogating students so unless you want me to poison him and I assure …I would have the greatest pleasure in it. There is nothing I can do. Good day," Snape stated. He was just about to turn when he caught the eye of Crabbe.
"Loosen your hold Mr. Crabbe. We do not need Mr. Weasley dying of suffocation," he stated.
"He's got Padfoot and Tabby! He's got them at the place where's it's hidden!" Harry shouted.
Severus turned and eyed the boy as Harry willed the vision to the front of his mind for Severus to see.
"What's Padfoot and Tabby? Where what's hidden?" Umbridge asked.
"No idea," Severus shrugged and left the room.
As soon as he shut the door Severus ran as fast as he could go to Sabrina's bedroom. He threw open the door and found her curled up on the couch reading a book.
"Severus? What's the matter?" Sabrina asked.
"Where's your cousin? Harry had a vision Minerva and Sirius were at the Ministry with Voldemort. It's not true but I think it's a trap," Severus stated breathing heavily from his run.
"I don't know. I haven't seen her since she left us this afternoon," Sabrina stated grabbing her wand and running out of the room.
Severus sent word to Albus by patronus as they ran.
The two ran to Gryffindor Tower and found a few students reading and other activities. They looked up with surprise at the professors.
"Is Professor Reynolds here?" Sabrina asked.
"She was. She helped me find my kitten then she went into the forest. She said she had to talk to the centaurs," Mary explained.
The professors looked at each other and ran back out of the room and onto the grounds. Tabitha was just coming out with her arm hooked around a centaur's and they were laughing.
"Tabitha!" Sabrina shouted.
"Thank you Vaughn for the escort," Tabitha bowed to the creature.
"It is a pleasure to speak with an intelligent human for once," the centaur bowed before reentering the forest.
She giggled and waved him away before turning to her cousin and her cousin's fiancée.
"What?" she asked frowning at their expressions.
"The kids are in trouble. Harry had a vision about Aunt and Sirius," Sabrina stated.
"Well where are they!?" Tabitha asked.
"If I'm any guess…" Severus said looking up as several thestrals flew out of the forest, "On their way to the Ministry."
"Damn," Sabrina cursed.
"Come on we'll follow them!" Tabitha said pulling her friends into the forest.
She was leading them to the thestrals when they came across Dolores Umbridge being held by the centaurs. She was tied up and they were slowly lowering her into a large boiling pot.
"Miss Reynolds! Miss Reynolds you talk to beasts tell them to let me go!" Dolores cried.
The centaurs looked at the three professors and they looked up at Dolores.
"Dolores let me make something quite clear….I do not talk to beasts. I talk to intellectual beings. I'm sad to say you are not one and I have to go save a couple of children so…have fun men and ladies," Tabitha saluted the centaurs.
They nodded and continued to lower the screeching Headmistress.
"You think you'll get in trouble for that?" Sabrina laughed.
"Does it matter?" Tabitha asked.
"No," Sabrina laughed as they made it to the thestrals.
Tabitha mounted one and set off; she was used to riding horses and this was not much different. Severus and Sabrina followed her sharing one.
"Did you honestly think or did you really believe... that children stood a chance against us?" Lucius sneered.
Harry was alone as the others were being held by the other death eaters.
"Just give me the prophecy," Lucius snapped.
"Don't give it to him Harry!" Neville shouted.
"Shush," Bellatrix hissed.
A light appeared behind Lucius and Harry smiled. Malfoy turned and was shocked to see Sirius.
"Get away from my godson," Sirius stated punching the man in the face.
The battle was then on as others appeared and began shooting spells. Minerva grabbed the children and was helping them dodge the spells.
"Go with the others Harry. Minerva will protect you," Sirius stated.
"No I won't leave you," Harry said as they took cover by the veil.
"You've done beautifully. Now let me handle it," Sirius stated as a spell shot over Harry's head.
"Black!" Malfoy snarled.
Sirius and Harry began shooting spells at the man. Harry shot his cane out of his hand and Sirius shouted, "Nice one James!"
Harry looked at his godfather just as Sirius shot the wand out of Lucius' hands and shot him off the dais.
From somewhere to the side a voice shouted, "Avada Kedavra!" the green light came toward Sirius but a large shield shot up in front of him and rebounded it.
Bellatrix shrieked in anger and looked for the source of the shield. She saw Tabitha glaring daggers at her.
Sirius smiled at his fiancée as another spell was shot at him that he dodged and someone shouted Dumbledore was here.
Bellatrix ran after hearing Dumbledore was there and Tabitha followed her.
"Crucio!!!" Tabitha shouted and the witch fell to the floor screaming.
"Very good. You know to mean it," Voldemort whispered in her ear as he appeared behind her.
Bellatrix smirked seeing the man.
Tabitha snarled and shot a spell at the Dark Lord. He dodged it but her concentration on him gave Bellatrix the chance to grab her and her wand.
"Such a pretty little witch," Bellatrix hissed.
"She's rather intriguing as well. Looks just like Angelica," Voldemort sneered.
"You monster!" Tabitha screamed lunging for him but was jerked back by her hair.
Voldemort chuckled as he heard several gasps from behind him.
He turned and grinned as he stood by Bellatrix and saw the students, Sirius, Severus, Sabrina, Minerva, and Albus with their wands drawn.
"Tabby you still kicking?" Sabrina asked.
"I'd be doing more than that if she didn't have my hair," Tabitha snapped, "It is low to use a woman's hair against her!"
"Let her go Tom," Albus stated. You could feel the angry energy radiating off of him.
"I must say Minerva she has an incredible likeness to Angelica. Do you remember your sister? She had such a pretty voice. It made a wonderful scream," Voldemort taunted. Minerva snarled as her eyes narrowed.
"Let her go Voldemort!" Neville and Harry shouted stepping forward. Everyone looked at the two boys oddly.
"Longbottom and Potter…am I so assume you two care for a simple Professor?" Voldemort chuckled sinisterly.
"That's where you loose Voldemort," Harry stated, "I've learned that isolation just makes a psycho. I.E. you! You need friends and family to stay sane. Love really is the greatest power because you feel sympathy and pity for even those that don't deserve it," Harry stated.
"Like you two," Neville stated.
Voldemort and Bellatrix were livid and both shot spells at the boys though they kept the hold on Tabitha. The boys blocked their spells and nodded.
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Potrificus Totalus!"
Two spells were shot. Voldemort was hit in the chest and blown into a wall; dead. Bellatrix fell backwards frozen. Tabitha was released.
The two Gryffindors grinned at each other before running to Tabitha and hugging her tightly. She laughed delightedly as did the others.
"What did I say? I said heart of a Gryffindor! The heart of a lion! Excellent Neville," Tabitha smiled holding the boy's face.
Neville was beaming with a brilliant smile as he looked at the woman that taught him how to look beyond his insecurities.
"And you Harry. Harry you figured it out wonderfully!" Tabitha smiled moving to cup the other boy's face.
"Well it was bound to click sometime," Harry laughed.
"I couldn't be more proud of you boys," Minerva replied as she came up to the two boys and hugged her lions tightly.
"Thanks professor," the two smiled.
"What's going on?" Minister Fudge snapped as he and several other Ministry officials came in through the floo.
"What's going on!? Neville and Harry just defeated Bellatrix and Voldemort that's what's going on!" Tabitha exclaimed.
"They're heroes!" Sabrina shouted.
"And Sirius is innocent," Albus added.
Fudge was absolutely gob smacked as he looked at the two evildoers. One was dead and one was frozen stiff.
"Let's go home children," Albus smiled grabbing Minerva around the waist.
"Yes sir headmaster," the students said smiling.
Severus and Sirius mimicked Albus' hold on their own fiancées.
"Wait! I uh…so…you six are…" Fudge was at a loss of everything.
"We witnessed the final battle and are couples," Severus stated giving a big smile.
"But it's been a long day and these kids need sleep," Sabrina added.
"Right," Tabitha nodded.
"Come along children," Minerva added smiling pleasantly as she and Albus led them all past everyone to the port-key station where they happily vanished.