A/N:...
I had one choice.
I grabbed my wand with shaky hands, not yet in balance, and opened the door to Umbridge's face.
"Stupify!" I yelled in her face, the red bolt nailing her in the forehead with a sizzling sound.
"PEEVES!" I screamed down the hallway. I wasn't disappointed. Peeves appeared, followed by every single ghost you could imagine.
And it was entirely creepy at what ghosts he'd scrounged up.
There were half mauled faces, missing limbs, leering grins, wailing screaming, all out terrifying things. "Okay, Peeves, I need you and the ghosts to find all of the people in Umbridge's Inquisition Squad and stall them. No doubt they heard me screaming like a bloody werewolf was on my trail."
He saluted, his evil little ghosty face lighting up with fiendish glee.
"Ashie Ashie, locked in a painting, gonna get the toad cause she's good at waiting!" he cackled before leading his army of scary in all directions.
I laughed a his statement, I'll admit.
Hey, at least I have civil conversations with ghosts. Well, other than third year...but he started it!
I slunk down the hallways, looking around corners before darting around them. Sprinting through the halls, I desperately hoped Peeves had managed to stall the Slytherin brats under Umbridge's orders.
Sliding past Flitwick's classroom, I ran a little ways down the hall and to McGonagall's classroom, slamming open the doors.
The entire class snapped their necks as they looked at me.
"Okay, do I even want to know how this happened?" Hermione asked, her bushy hair in a ponytail.
"Probably not." I panted. "Anyone got a broom?"
Harry shrugged. "You can use mine. Umbridge banned Quidditch anyway."
"Thanks. McGonagall, think you can make sure you don't get caught by Peeves? I kinda sorta managed to get a ghost army that like pranks going after the Inquisitorial Squad.."
McGonagall reminded me of a fish, not quite understanding. "Oh, and Harry? Tell dad the next time you see 'im I'm in hiding. Okay?"
He nodded.
"Now kiddies, this is why you don't piss off Umbridge before she has her pumpkin juice in the mornin', understood?" a few chuckles and laughter broke out, and I called out, "Accio Harry Potter's Firebolt!" to which it came flying out of nowhere, almost hitting me in the head, and leapt on it as it began to turn around for a second charge.
"If anyone has any questions, you might be able to get some from Fred and George Weasley. Spread the word!" I called out as I soared upwards, headed for the glass window in the ceiling.
I crashed through it, feeling it shatter, some of the shards getting stuck in my flesh.
Unfortunately for me, I'm not of age for another month, so I couldn't jinx the school, not that I wanted to. Instead, I settled for some nasty little creations called Darkness Pixies.
You let them go, and they are magically created to attack anything you tell them to. "Find Umbridge, my pretties." I crooned to them as they fluttered off.
Flying away from Hogwarts was probably the hardest and easiest thing I've ever done. I also prayed Flitwick would be okay. I mean, he is a pretty cool little guy, if a little crazy.
0-0-0-0
Fred and George Weasley waited anxiously at the counter of their joke shop, both mechanically going through the job of being happy hosts.
Tara hadn't been seen or heard from since the Dementor attack three months ago. Both Twins had a nagging suspicion that Umbridge was behind it, but without much proof, they hadn't been allowed to charge into Hogwarts and confront the witch.
Suddenly, a tap at the relatively quiet shop window alerted them.
George went over, and opened the window to an unfamiliar owl holding parchment in its beak. George gently took it from the bird, and unrolling it, breathed in sharply.
Fred and George,
It's Tara.
I know it has been months since either of you have heard or seen from me. There is a simple solution to this.
Umbridge was the one who sent the Dementors after me.
I've been trapped in a painting since my capture, and am now on the run and in hiding from the Ministry, not to mention Umbridge and her ego. I stunned her upon my release, due to Professor Flitwick for discovering the way to free a piece of soul from a painting. He is in contact with the Order. You can trust him.
However, I have my worries. Mundungus Fletcher has recently been in Grimmauld Place, and I know he's been stealing items of value from the floors upstairs. Keep an eye on him.
The owls name is Penelope. She belongs to me. I can't use Orion any longer, since he can be traced back to me. He is currently at the Burrow, with a letter explaining to Molly that I am Sirius Black's daughter and that he's kept it a secret from most of the Order. I can tell dad won't be to pleased with that one.
Remember though, it was to protect me. Dad had to keep my real relation to him very very close to him.
Write soon!
Love always,
Tara
"Bloody Hell. I knew something had happened!" Fred growled.
"Wait. There's another piece of parchment underneath." George said quietly, pulling back the letter.
In case something happens to me;
I love you both dearly.
Tell dad and Lupin I love them.
Never forget me.
P.S, burn the note.
The two stared at each other in shock. Was Tara saying that she might die?
"I'll get the quills and parchment." Fred choked, walking off in a daze.
When his brother returned, both got to work, their quills scratching at the parchment until customers came in, but then they went right back at it.
It was a while later when they attached the two letters wound about each other and tied it to Penelope's leg, to which she sent them a short owlish glare before hooting and taking off from her perch outside the window.
0-0-0-0
TaraPOV
My wand was examined closely by myself, double checking for any cracks or damage.
Seeing none, I tucked it back into my boot.
Penelope's figure could be seen on the treetops, and I held out my arm, covered with a leather glove for her to land on.
It had only been a few days since I'd sent them the letters explaining mostly everything that had happened in the last few months.
Penelope's wing almost clipped me as she landed on my arm, her tawny colored feathers shifting and fluttering as she settled.
"There we are. Did you have a good flight?" I cooed to her as I pulled the thick parchment from her.
She merely sent me a look that told me I was nuts.
Rolling my eyes, I sent her off again, her large wings silent as she flew away, leaving me to open the Twins letters.
Tara,
So, Umbridge trapped you in a painting? How in Merlin's name did she manage that?
George and I sent an owl to mum to explain why Orion is there and you aren't. By the way, Penelope likes the Darkness Pixies. She tried to bloody eat one out of their cage!
Anyway, where are you?
Oh yeah, we both want to know how the HELL you're an Animagus. (George has a letter almost the same as mine.)
I miss you. It isn't the same without you around. I think it's too quiet around the shop now you're gone.
By the way, I think you're an idiot for leading the Dementors off in the first place, probably because it was so stupid to begin with.
Write back soon.
Fred
Sighing, I knew I had a long long letter ahead of me, both to Lupin, and the Twins.
Unrolling the second piece of parchment, I got a slightly more sympathetic letter from George.
Tara,
How are you? Where are you?
When we got your letter I didn't know what to do. You always seemed so much more alive and rebellious when you were with us, but then when I read the letter it seemed like you were defeated. That or you're just getting old.
Fred is blunt, and I have to admit, you were pretty reckless out there. I mean, we're partners! Let us help you sometimes!
I hope you managed to get away without too much damage.
Fred and I will hunt you down if you don't explain your Animagus situation to us.
Owl soon.
George
Again, insert sigh here.
Grabbing a quill from where I'd stashed some, (don't even ask me how I got it), I sat down on the ground and began to write back.
0-0-0-0
When I'd completed both letters, sent Penelope off, and double checked to make sure I left no belongings behind, I shifted into my Animagus form.
No one but my father knew I was an Animagus, and only he knows what form I take.
Well, now Fred and George and Lupin know, but that doesn't really count now, does it?
...You know what? Forget I said that.