Chapter 3: The Butler, Spying

The start of year feast was always something to behold. Daphne sat at the Slytherin table, which seemed to be groaning under the weight of all the food on it. She glanced around the table, and saw Draco Malfoy, gloating about something. Daphne had never cared for the boy, though her sister seemed quite taken with him. Astoria Greengrass was sat next to Malfoy, gazing at him lovingly. Astoria had gone skiing with the Malfoy family over the summer holidays, and it seemed as though the marriage contract between the two was still going ahead as planned, despite her parent's death. She recognised a few of the other Slytherin's: Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Bulstrode, Not, Zabini, and Pucey. She didn't particularly care for any of them. The only one she truly cared for, aside from her sister, was Tracey Davis. The two had become fast friends from their first day at Hogwarts, though they appeared as complete opposites. Daphne was relatively short, pale, with long platinum blonde hair, and a cold, abrasive personality, hence her Ice Queen nickname. Tracey however, was tall, with long dark hair, tanned skin and a friendly, bubbly personality.

"Hey, Daphy! What's up?" the dark haired girl grinned

"Tracey, I thought I told you never to call me 'Daphy'!"

"But you're cute when you're annoyed."

"Keep going, and you'll see how cute I am when I'm furious." Daphne muttered.

Tracey just laughed. "So, how was your summer."

"It was fine. The same as always."

"Hey, listen… I heard about… Y'know."

"I said it was fine. Leave it be."

"Sure, if you do wanna talk about it though, let me know."

"That will be quite unnecessary, thank you."

After the feast, Daphne was sat in a private study room in the Slytherin Dungeons. She was sat in an armchair staring into the fire, her legs crossed, and her head resting on her hand, deep in thought. Sebastian stood by her, pouring her tea.

"Sebastian, I want you to find out what Umbridge is up to."

"Of course, my lady." Sebastian nodded, handing her the teacup. "Chai tea, imported from India"

Daphne nodded, taking the cup. "I want to know who she's writing to, talking to, what statutes she's breaking, or vetoing. Everything. That's an order."

"Yes, my fair lady."

"Get going, and don't let anyone see you." she said, waving him away.

Sebastian bowed and left, disappearing into the shadows.

"What's your plan, Dolores?" she muttered to herself.

Dolores Umbridge smiled smugly to herself, making her already toad-like face even more grotesque. Her office was decorated in a garish shade of pink, pictures of kittens, and various kitten related memorabilia decorated the office. She hadn't bothered making any lesson plans, after all, the Minister himself had designed and approved the new DADA curriculum. Turning towards her private rooms, she waved her wand to dim the lights, and left her office. The door shut behind her, and the telltale 'click' indicated her locking it. A figure dropped from the high rafters of the office, and landed silently in the darkened room. Sebastian glanced around the office. He resisted the urge to shudder at the pink walls, and resisted the urge to examine the kitten pictures. His love of cats was something that Daphne had rolled her eyes at on more than one occasion. Sebastian waved his hand, silencing the room, then stepped over to the desk. There was nothing amiss on the desk. A class schedule, a list of assignments she was planning on giving throughout the week, and a quill sat in an inkpot. Opening the drawers, Sebastian noticed nothing strange in the top drawer, nor in the second. In the third however, sat a long, black, thin, extremely sharp quill. Dark magic emanated from the quill, it was almost palpable. Sebastian picked it up, holding it gently as though it might shatter. Despite his better judgement, Sebastian lowered the quill to one of the class schedules on the desk and drew a line across the length of the top. As the point of the quill glided across the top of the parchment, he felt a sharp pain across the back of his hand. Sebastian looked at his left hand, and noticed a red patch forming on his, otherwise pristine, white gloves.

"My, my." He muttered to himself. "This won't do at all.". He pulled his gloves off, and examined the wound. It was a simple line across the back of his hand, however it seemed to run deep. Sebastian ran his tongue over the wound, sealing it. He examined his hand, there was no evidence that it had ever been injured. Just his own pale skin, long slender fingers, and black fingernails.

"Hmm, the young mistress will wish to hear of this. I cannot allow her to fall victim to such a tool." Sebastian thought to himself. "But first, I wonder how our dear headmaster is fairing with his new staff."

Sebastian replaced the quill as he had found it, unsilenced the room, and with a final cursory glance around the office to make sure he had left nothing out of place, disappeared into the shadows from whence he came.

"Dolores Umbridge has no doubt been sent to spy on me." Dumbledore confirmed to Professors Mcgonagall and Snape, two of his closest confidants, colleagues and friends.

"Albus, surely you cannot allow her to remain here." said Mcgonagall.

"I don't have a choice, Minerva." said Dumbledore, sadly.

"Headmaster, if I may. Perhaps it is best to… allow these events to unfold." said Snape

"Severus, surely you can't be serious. The Ministry are interfering with the students education."

"Minerva, please. I believe that Severus is right." sighed Albus "There's nothing we can do right now. Dolores knows this as well, she has us pinned down."

"Headmaster, I have heard… rumors, that Madam Umbridge is in possession of several dark artifacts. Dark artifacts, that have no place at Hogwarts."

"Monitor her, Severus. Keep an eye out for changes in student behaviour." said Dumbledore. Snape nodded, and stood to leave.

"Albus, has there been any word in the search for Harry Potter?" asked Mcgonagall.

"None. I'm sorry, Minerva. We may have to accept that Harry is truly gone."

Mcgonagall wiped her eyes, and nodded.

"One last thing, Severus. Keep an eye on Miss Daphne Greengrass. We may be able to use her yet."

"Use her?"

"Yes, she may become a useful ally in the fight against Voldemort."

"Useful in what capacity?"

"Now is not the time to worry about such things, Severus. Good night."

Snape frowned, and left Dumbledore's office, deep in thought. Mcgonagall followed him.

"What was that about Severus?"

"I don't know, Minnie." sighed the dark haired man "But whatever it is, it certainly isn't good."

After the two professors had left, Dumbledore retired to bed. As soon as the lock clicked closed, Sebastian stepped forth from the shadows and used the same process as he had in Umbridge's office. Noting nothing of interest on the desk or in the drawers, he turned his attention towards the cabinet to the right of Dumbledore's desk. Opening the top drawer, he found several rolls of parchment, and newspaper clippings. Quickly scanning them, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

"I see, so that's why you were so desperate to win the young mistress' favour." Sebastian chuckled to himself "No doubt you have many more plans up your sleeve, Headmaster. However, you won't lay a finger on my fair lady."

He quickly duplicated the newspaper clippings and scrolls of parchment, then carefully placed them in the drawer, and pocketed the originals. He cast one final charm on the originals, then shut the drawer. He glanced out of the window and sighed.

"My, my. The sun will rise shortly, I should begin preparing the young mistress' morning tea. What a troublesome night this has been."