"This time you'll be writing I will conform"
I wrote in silence, filling the page with the phrase. I wasn't going to back down. I would be showing weakness if I didn't outdo myself this time, or at least match by filling the page. The only difference was that Fred and George weren't here to support me this time.
It was the final match of the season and Harry wasn't there. Or, rather, he was in the stands and I was in his place. We were matched against Ravenclaw, this time, which didn't worry me much. Slytherin was our main opponent while Ravenclaw didn't spend nearly as much time excelling in sports as in school.
I stood proudly as we entered the pitch, flying to my position on my broom. I nodded to Ron, who had been practicing significantly since the last game. We were determined to win this.
The whistle blew and our team swept into action. I watched from above as our new players desperately tried to score. Angelina and Ginny were enough to get us some points, but we were pretty well matched by Ravenclaw. Ron was keeping up pretty well, though.
Then I saw it.
I zipped forward, my broom much faster than the other team's seeker's. I followed the snitch, a golden little sun that was determined to exhaust me from the chase. It flew enthusiastically, like a Tom and Jerry chase from a cartoon. The only difference was- I caught it.
"Miss Bennett," Umbridge's voice pulled me to a halt, "come with me, please, to my office. We're going to have some tea"
I turned and followed her. I was supposed to be meeting Hermione. She had wanted to talk about something.
"Now," she added firmly.
I wasn't pleased, but I didn't say anything that would get me kicked off the quidditch team. Our next game was soon, and they couldn't afford to lose me.
"Why is it that I'm here?" I asked, hesitantly coming into her pink perfume room. I also wondered why we needed an audience, but I wasn't too keen in asking them directly.
"This is my inquisitorial squad. Perhaps you've considered joining it-" I looked at her like she had asked me if I had eaten any slugs lately. "No matter, you wouldn't have made the cut"
"Is there sugar in this?" I asked, gesturing to the cup of tea sitting before me. She shook her head, but pushed a small dish towards me anyhow.
"Miss Bennett, do you, perhaps, know of any illicit activities happening at Hogwarts?" she inquired in a way that was suspiciously like a "good cop" interrogation.
"No, I don't reckon there is anything bad happening, or else your loyal pawns, here, would have caught it and put an end to it," I smiled smugly, sipping at my tea.
"Miss Bennett, you must not keep secrets-"
I must not keep secrets was still carved into the back of my hand, a now permanent scar. I scowled, nearly spitting out my tea.
"Are you sure there's no sugar in this?" I asked, removing it from my lips. There is definitely something funky about this tea.
"Miss Bennett, would you say you are fond of Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes, he's a rather wise old man. He always seems to know what's happening-"
I furrowed a brow, surprised by my openness. Umbridge seemed pleased.
"Miss Bennett, would you say Dumbledore thinks himself wise?"
"I guess. He seems to be rather witty when it comes to words"
What's going on?
"Would you say Dumbledore thinks himself above the ministry?"
"No, he doesn't think like that. Dumbledore just sees people-"
What the bloody hell is going on?
"Miss Bennett, is Dumbledore turning against the ministry?" she rephrased. My eyes widened and I looked down at the tea. They put Veritaserum in it!
"Well, that all depends on what you consider…" I tried to avoid direct answers. I couldn't seem to stop babbling, let alone lie. I narrowed my eyes at her, not giving up just yet.
"Is Dumbledore building an uprising or not?"
"You know, I don't really like the color lavender. Dumbledore seems to favor it a lot-"
"Miss Bennet, I advise you to stay on topic-"
"The only lavender thing I own is my new pair of quidditch gloves Harry gave me. Really sweet of him, I think-"
Oh god, I did not want to babble about Harry on front of all of these Slytherins.
"Miss Bennett-"
"Then there's pink, which isn't all bad, but this much pink is disgusting. It's like barbie barfed in here-"
"Miss Bennett! I implore you to stop speaking"
"I would if I could, Professor, but I just can't seem to stop!"
"Please, Professor. Allow me to try," a blonde girl offered. Professor Umbridge seemed to be on her wits end and allowed her to proceed"
"It's you, that Slytherin girl from before-"
"I want you to answer yes or no: is there a rebellion?" she looked me dead in the eye with her moss green eyes.
"Your eyes are such a pretty color. It's a pity that they vein such a cold unforgiving soul"
"Yes or no," she glared, leaning in until I felt as if she were squeezing my lungs.
"It depends on what you mean. I'm not sure if Dumbledore's Army counts as a rebellion-"
Shit.
"Dumbledore's Army?" Umbridge's ears perked.
"Where can we find this army?" the girl asked.
"Within the walls of Hogwarts," I pressed against the back of my chair, hoping I could just sink into it and never come out.
"Where do you meet?" she specified.
"The Room of Requirement"
"Inquisitorial Squad," Umbridge barked, shuffling her way out of her office. She was probably on her way to bust Dumbledore's Army right now. No! No no no!
The girl stood tall, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Who are you?"
"Blaire! You coming?" someone shouted behind me. She looked at the doorway briefly before turning back to me.
"Your father wants to meet you"
"What?" my eyes near popped out of their sockets. "I don't understand, how-
"You can find him at the Ministry. He's a prisoner of Voldemort"
"I don't understand-"
"He's in the Department of Mysteries! Are you even listening?"
"Yes, I am, but what I don't get is why you're helping me"
"I have my reasons," she turned and left swiftly, leaving me to take in what she had said.
I darted out of the chair and ran for the doors. My heart was racing my dad is alive and he needs me.
I didn't even stop by my dorm- it would take too much time.
Blaire had said he was at the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry. I wasn't quite sure where exactly in the building he was, but I had been there before and been through the halls from Harry's trial. I never thought that experience would come in handy later.
I knew if Hermione had known about this she would say it was a trap. I knew the possibility and the risk, but if he's really there then he needs my help. He's the only family I've got left.
Seeing Mr. Weasley so close to death made me realize that I have to protect those I love.
Even if that meant leaving them.
A thought occurred to me. A terrifying one.
What if I didn't come back?
I was going to face death eaters and, possibly, Voldemort himself. There was no way I was going to make it out alive.
I felt as if someone had ripped out my gut. I'm never going to see Harry again.
I pulled out my broom and swung my leg over, lifting into the air and turning around. I flew straight for the boys' dorms. When I reached the window, I dug my fingernails into the crack and pulled it open. I flew into the room, finding it eerily empty. The only reason they wouldn't be back by now is if they were captured.
I felt a pang of guilt. I had betrayed the DA and I had betrayed Harry. I reached into my pouch and pulled out my journal. I had written everything in here, my feelings, thoughts, and songs. I felt that Harry deserved to know, even if I couldn't tell him myself. I set the book gingerly onto Harry's bed, leaving one word written on an open blank page.
Sorry