Chapter 54:
Alicia was right, before the holidays even came to an end a notice appeared within the Gryffindor Tower, highlighting the importance of their upcoming exams. With these appeared a bunch of pamphlets, leaflets and notices about various Wizarding careers.
CAREER ADVICE
All fifth years will be required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the first week of the Summer term, in which they will be given the opportunity to discuss their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below.
Alicia scanned through the list to find she had Monday morning, taking her out of Potions. She wasn't at all upset about this considering the last time she'd seen Snape it had not promised a very happy lesson the next time they met.
The fifth years then spent a considerable part of the final weekend of the Easter break reading all the career information that had been left there for their perusal.
"Well, I don't fancy Healing," said Ron on the last evening of the holidays. He was immersed in a leaflet that carried the crossed bone-and-wand emblem of St. Mungo's on its front. "It says here you need at least an E at N.E.W.T. level in Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. I mean… blimey… Don't want much, do they?"
"Well, it's a very responsible job, isn't it?" said Hermione absently. She was poring over a bright pink-and-orange leaflet that was headed so you think you'd like to work in muggle relations?
"You do have people's lives in your hands after all." Alicia agreed as she had an Auror Ministry pamphlet in her hand.
"You don't seem to need many qualifications to liaise with Muggles… All they want is an O.W.L. in Muggle Studies… 'Much more important is your enthusiasm, patience, and a good sense of fun!'"
"You'd need more than a good sense of fun to liaise with my uncle," said Harry darkly. "Good sense of when to duck, more like…" He was halfway through a pamphlet on Wizard banking. "Listen to this:
" 'Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel, adventure, and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting Curse-Breakers for thrilling opportunities abroad…' They want Arithmancy, though… You could do it, Hermione, Alicia!"
"I don't much fancy banking," said Hermione vaguely, now immersed in have you got what it takes to train security trolls?
"I don't fancy goblins." Alicia added
"Hey," said a voice in Harry's ear. He looked around; Fred and George had come to join them, Fred pulling Alicia up so she could sit on his lap. "Ginny's had a word with us about you," said Fred, stretching out his legs on the table in front of them and causing several booklets on careers with the Ministry of Magic to slide off onto the floor. "She says you need to talk to Sirius?" Alicia rose a confused eyebrow.
"What?" said Hermione sharply, freezing with her hand halfway toward picking up make a bang at the department of magical accidents and catastrophes.
"Yeah…" said Harry, trying to sound casual, "yeah, I thought I'd like —"
"Don't be so ridiculous," said Hermione, straightening up and looking at him as though she could not believe her eyes. "With Umbridge groping around in the fires and frisking all the owls?"
"Why would you even bother—" Alicia began
"Don't you want to talk to him?" Harry asked
"Of course I would but—"
"It can't be done right?" Hermione cut her off this time
"That wasn't what I was—"
"Alicia you can't be considering, I mean with Umbridge!" Hermione said strongly as Alicia looked irritated.
"Well, we think we can find a way around that," said George, stretching and smiling. "It's a simple matter of causing a diversion. Now, you might have noticed that we have been rather quiet on the mayhem front during the Easter holidays?"
"What was the point, we asked ourselves, of disrupting leisure time?" continued Fred. "No point at all, we answered ourselves. And of course, we'd have messed up people's studying too, which would be the very last thing we'd want to do."
He gave Hermione a sanctimonious little nod. She looked rather taken aback by this thoughtfulness, though her eyes flickered to Alicia on his lap.
"But it's business as usual from tomorrow," Fred continued briskly. "And if we're going to be causing a bit of uproar, why not do it so that Harry can have his chat with Sirius?"
"Yes, but still," said Hermione with an air of explaining something very simple to somebody very obtuse, "even if you do cause a diversion, how is Harry supposed to talk to him?"
"Umbridge's office," said Harry quietly.
"Are — you — insane?" said Hermione in a hushed voice.
Ron had lowered his leaflet on jobs in the cultivated fungus trade and was watching the conversation warily.
"I don't think so," said Harry, shrugging.
"And how are you going to get in there in the first place?"
Harry was ready for this question.
"Sirius's knife," he said.
"Excuse me?"
"Christmas before last Sirius gave me a knife that'll open any lock," said Harry. "So even if she's bewitched the door so Alohomora won't work, which I bet she has —"
"Harry, all of this is very unnecessary, if you want to talk to Sirius—"
"This is the only way." he was appalled Alicia wasn't agreeing to this with excitement, needing clarification herself.
"Well actually—"
"What do you think about this?" Hermione demanded of Ron, and it was surprising how much Hermione was like Mrs. Weasley appealing to her husband during Harry's first dinner in Grimmauld Place.
"I dunno," said Ron, looking alarmed at being asked to give an opinion. "If Harry wants to do it, it's up to him, isn't it?"
"Spoken like a true friend and Weasley," said Fred, clapping Ron hard on the back. "Right, then. We're thinking of doing it tomorrow, just after lessons, because it should cause maximum impact if everybody's in the corridors — Harry, we'll set it off in the east wing somewhere, draw her right away from her own office — I reckon we should be able to guarantee you, what, twenty minutes?" he said, looking at George.
"Easy," said George.
"Hang on, will someone just let me finish, this fuss isn't necessary if you want to talk to Sirius then just—"
"Alicia I can't send him a letter." Harry said with irritation "I really need to talk to him and this is the—"
"It's not the only way!" Alicia snapped, cutting her brother off this time. "But if you refuse to let me tell you of another, much less extreme and easier way to talk to him, than fine! Go into Umbridge's office for no reason, get caught and be expelled only to have Sirius tell you how stupid you are. Cause he'll tell you exact same thing I'm trying to!" she got to her feet and stalked up the girl's dormitory stairs.
They all stared after her surprised.
"Well, I'm glad someone sees sense." Hermione huffed
"She's barking, there's no way to talk to Sirius that isn't being monitored." Ron believed before he turned to his brothers. "What sort of diversion is it?" asked Ron.
"You'll see, little bro," said Fred, as he and George got up again.
"At least, you will if you trot along to Gregory the Smarmy's corridor round about five o'clock tomorrow."
Alicia moved straight for breakfast the next morning, not bothering to wait for the boys or Hermione. She had basically finished by the time they had arrived and she got up to move for History of Magic.
Everyone arrived and Alicia said good morning but didn't direct it towards any individual. She saw Harry frown as they moved into the classroom. It was easier to ignore her brother than she expected as Hermione spent the entire lesson nagging Harry about how he shouldn't be breaking into Umbridge's office. She even neglected to take notes and was the least attentive she had ever been.
"… and if she does catch you there, apart from being expelled, she'll be able to guess you've been talking to Snuffles and this time I expect she'll force you to drink Veritaserum and answer her questions…"
"Hermione," said Ron in a low and indignant voice, "are you going to stop telling Harry off and listen to Binns, or am I going to have to take notes instead?"
"You take notes for a change, it won't kill you!"
The two boys got so annoyed by her nagging that they too fell quiet and started to ignore her, neither speaking to her by the time they reached the Dungeons. Alicia checked her watch, her meeting wasn't until a little bit later in the lesson. She hoped Snape had been informed of her meeting as she didn't particularly want to talk to the man. She worried a little about what might happen in the potions lesson but Snape had a habit of ignoring her so maybe he'd continue with that. What he did to Harry however may be much worse.
Hermione continued her harping as they entered the dungeons, taking advantage of the fact she wasn't being interrupted by anyone.
The class wasn't as bad as Alicia feared, Snape ignored her as usual but more so he ignored Harry. Harry of course was used to this from his family and seemed to be doing well with his Invigoration Draught when Alicia got up to leave for her meeting with McGonagall.
She moved over to Snape who was over with the Slytherins and she ignored them all and she took a breath.
"Professor, I have my meeting with Professor McGonagall for the careers advice." she said and Snape didn't bother to glance at her "Great so I'll be back." and she turned to leave.
McGonagall told her to enter when she knocked on her office door.
"Morning Miss Potter." McGonagall answered when Alicia walked in.
The girl however paused for a fraction of a second when she saw Umbridge sitting in the corner. She smirked ever so slightly at the annoyance that Umbridge wiped from her face when Alicia turned to her.
"Sorry Minerva but could you please address Miss Evans properly." she interrupted. Professor McGonagall said nothing as Alicia took a seat, ignoring Umbridge.
"So Miss Potter, careers, have you any thoughts?" she wondered
"I have a few. To be honest an Auror has stood out rather well. It interests me to be able to help out those who are in a spot of trouble. But also it gives me the chance to learn more of course. But I was also thinking about teaching maybe later after that if it was available."
"Well, you have put some thought into it." Professor McGonagall nodded, seeming impressed. "Well, for an Auror you'd need top marks," she pulled out a pamphlet from the pile that littered her desk from other meetings. "They ask for a minimum of five N.E.W.T.s, and nothing under 'Exceeds Expectations' grade. Then you would be required to undergo a stringent series of character and aptitude tests at the Auror office. Now they only take the best and I don't think anybody has been taken on in the last three years."
"I'm aware, you are required to do some rather dangerous and difficult tasks after all." Alicia nodded. Umbridge gave a cough from behind Alicia and she instantly assumed the women wanted to make a remark as to their discussion but neither her nor Professor McGonagall acknowledged her presence.
"Well, you're marks throughout your classes are rather remarkable, as they always have been, so I doubt getting at least an 'Exceeds Expectations' would be all that difficult for you, however, some teachers have a preference of which students they take within their classes for their N.E.W.T students. For example, I do not accept students into my class unless they have achieved an 'Exceeds Expectations' or higher at Ordinary Wizarding Levels. Likewise Professor Snape absolutely refuses to accept student who get any lower than an 'Outstanding'."
Alicia wasn't surprised by this and she nodded in understanding.
Umbridge coughed again, slightly louder.
"For an Auror you'd do well to take both these classes, as well as Charms and of course Defence Against the Dark Arts." Professor McGonagall continued. Alicia watched as she opened a folder in which her name flashed momentarily and guessed they were her track record so far within her classes. "So far it seems none of these will be unobtainable to you to achieve the marks required—" Umbridge had given yet another cough and Alicia glanced to the side as McGonagall stopped. She took a breath and turned to Umbridge.
"Have a cold to you Dolores? Perhaps a cough drop?" she offered
"Oh, no thank you. However I would like to point out that Miss Evans' result so far in my class—"
"Are sitting on an 'Exceeds Expectations'." McGonagall interrupted her
"Things can change in the time left Minerva." Umbridge warned with her smile still in place.
"In the case of Alicia Potter she has always succeeded within her classes and I doubt that, unless something changes or is unnecessary adapted, she is unlikely to loose that devotion. Four years in this school have proven that much."
"Well unfortunately her will to break and disregard rules will effect her being accepted into the Ministry let alone the Auror office." Umbridge continued
"I'm sorry Dolores but I was under the impression it was a students grades and performance that were being examined, not whether she seems fit to follow a bed time or not." Professor McGonagall answered, her mouth in the hard line it always was when Umbridge was present. She turned back to Alicia to ignore Umbridge again. Alicia so wanted to turn around and smirk at Umbridge but guessed it would only get her into trouble.
"Any questions, Miss Potter?" McGonagall asked
"The Character and Aptitude tests, they're examined obviously?" Alicia asked
"Yes, so you will continue to study and do examinations after school." McGonagall nodded.
"And what do they test?"
"You demonstrate the ability to react well to pressure and so forth," said Professor McGonagall, "perseverance and dedication, because Auror training takes a further three years, not to mention very high skills in practical defence." Alicia nodded. She could handle that no problem, after all she'd already been through. Her brain was also wired that way.
"Anything else?"
"I don't think so." Alicia smiled "I mean I guess to be a teacher you'd have to get rather top marks in what ever subject it is you're teaching right?" she asked
"Correct."
"Then I think I'm all good."
"Very well, you'd better return to potions."
"Thank you professor." Alicia nodded before she turned to leave the office, smiling a little too smugly as she did. She guessed Umbridge wanted to know her choices so she could mess with it, but Alicia had no criminal record, had very high marks in all subjects, was persistent and determined. And breaking school rules were not measured after school, and she had no way of changing that or making that an educational decree. Careers were after school and your behaviour within it wasn't taken into account.
Alicia sighed. Harry on the other hand, had low grades in some subjects, his since cleared criminal record she would use, although it wasn't liable.
"If anything it proves he can act under pressure…" Alicia mumbled.
She returned to the dungeons in time to finish her potion, having not been with McGonagall for more than ten minutes and put the flask at Snape's desk with the rest of them, labelling it.
She moved off to lunch, where Harry sat between Neville and Seamus in order to avoid Hermione. Snape had purposely dropped his potion sample and Hermione, thinking Harry was finished, cleared Harry's potion away so that he couldn't give another sample. Alicia predicted he was also sick of Hermione's nagging.
"Harry ready?" Fred asked as he sat beside Alicia, George on his other side.
"Dunno." Alicia responded. The two shared a look when she didn't look up to answer.
"Are you still angry at him?"
"For not listening to me? Absolutely. He could potentially get expelled for no reason."
"I don't think ignoring his need to talk to Snuffles is no reason." George said
"It is when there's another way. But he clearly doesn't care."
"Another way? How?" Fred questioned. Alicia sighed
"Remember for my birthday, Snuffles gave me a pair of mirrors?" they nodded "Well he had a pair himself, he and my dad used to use them when they had separate detentions. You can talk through them. Snuffles gave Harry the other one of his. That's why I was in the boys dormitories. I was talking to him." Alicia explained. They looked surprised. "They're apparently rare."
"So all he has to do is look in the mirror?" George asked
"Yep,"
"Why doesn't he?" Fred wondered
"I think you'll find he's forgotten he even has it, and if he's not going to listen to me I'm not going to bother remind him. He can just feel stupid when he's kicked out for his insecurities."
"Insecurities?" Fred asked
"It's a long story." Alicia mumbled
"I'm guessing you spoke to him for the same reason?" George asked
"Yes. I did. And I didn't put my future on the line to do so." Alicia replied. The twins shared a look, slightly surprised. She took a breath before tuning to them more eagerly. "So, what you guys doing?"
"It's a surprise." George said
"Yeah you already know about the premises, this one you can wait for." Fred decided
"I waited for the fireworks though." Alicia frowned. They chuckled.
"Two more lessons wont kill you." Fred believed he patted her back.
"I dunno, ones with Umbridge…" Alicia mumbled and they chuckled.
Fred kissed her cheek as they got up to move to their next class and she did the same with Hermione to head to Arithmancy.
Harry didn't look as resolved about his plan as he had in potions for this afternoon when he arrived in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Umbridge too seemed out of sorts and was breathing hard as though she'd run a marathon.
"I hope you've thought better of what you were planning to do, Harry," Hermione whispered, the moment they had opened their books to chapter thirty-four ("Non-Retaliation and Negotiation"). "Umbridge looks like she's in a really bad mood already…"
Every now and then Umbridge shot glowering looks at Harry, who kept his head down, staring at Defensive Magical Theory, his eyes unfocused, clearly thinking. Alicia guessed Umbridge had been in Harry's interview and the two Professors had had an argument over something they disagreed about with Harry, likely his likeliness to excel in his chosen career choice.
"Dumbledore sacrificed himself to keep you in school, Harry!" whispered Hermione, raising her book to hide her face from Umbridge. "And if you get thrown out today it will all have been for nothing!"
Hermione didn't give up, especially when the Bell rang.
"Harry, don't do it, please don't do it!" Hermione said in anguished tones as the bell rang at the end of the class. "Alicia talk to him." she demanded
"You saw him, he doesn't want to listen to me!" Alicia sneered before she hurried out the door to proceed upstairs and find out what Fred and George were up to.
It started before she got there, screams and yells started and many people stopped in their tracks around her scared. Alicia however continued until she reached the fifth floor of the East Wing and when she arrived she found there was a giant swamp in the middle. Several people were covered in the stuff. Alicia snorted slightly before covering her mouth to stop her laughing. Fred and George on the other hand had bursted out and not bothering to hide it. George heard Alicia and the two ran towards her.
Fred decided it was a good time to kiss her before grinning at her.
"Come on, before Umbridge arrives!" Fred said and he grabbed her hand to run off down the corridor.
"There! Professor!" They turned to see one of the Slytherins who were part of the Inquisitorial Squad pointing after them. Alicia smirked slightly and drew her wand. With a clever little flick the Slytherin was tied up and his mother covered with what looked like a cartoon paint sticker plastered over his face. Fred and George laughed as they continued on their way down the stairs towards the Great Hall for dinner. They stopped running after long and strolled through the people who were making their way to see what the commotion was upstairs.
"You know those people can dob on you." Alicia said through her chuckles
"Narr, they hate Umbridge too much." George believed
"Not all of them." she corrected
They got down to the entrance hall, several people having caught up and congratulated the two boys. Some where covered in the swampy substance and scowling, others looked disappointed by the substance but also impressed by the two.
When they got to the Entrance Hall Fred and George decided to make an announcement to everyone heading to dinner.
"Portable Swamps available!" Fred Shouted
"Demonstration up on the fifth floor!" George added and many turned to look at them, some very confused.
It seemed the two wanted to get caught because there were Inquisitorial Squad members surrounded the three within minutes, those who clearly weren't at Umbridge's side. One however did run off and soon Umbridge arrived to look at the two twins.
They heard her shouting in anger and slight satisfaction before she even arrived. People stopped and listened, a few teachers walked out of the Great Hall and the ghosts had even started to stop and listen.
"Filch!" Umbridge's voice sounded and silence fell in the Entrance Hall, everyone stopping. "I have the approval for your punishments in my office. Please go and collect it!" Many looked shocked by this news but Fred and George didn't think any of it. Alicia however hoped Harry had decided against talking to Sirius and wasn't in the office.
Many by now had began to stand waiting for what ever commotion was going to unfold. It wasn't until Umbridge appeared at the top of the stairs that majority of the school had gathered, surrounding Fred and George as Umbridge walked down the Marble Stairs to stare down at the two.
"I should have known!" Umbridge breathed "I should have known you would be at the centre of all this, Miss Evans." Alicia actually looked slightly surprised but the calm remained.
"I'm sorry Professor, but I was in your classroom until the bell rang remember? How could I have done anything in such a short amount of time?" she wondered before turning to the twins.
"Where's this…" she broke off as though not knowing what had happened.
"The Swamp?" George asked and she nodded
"Fifth floor, East Wing." Fred grinned and many murmured around them.
"How could I have gotten from your classroom to the Fifth Floor in such a short amount of time Professor?" Alicia wondered
"She was with them!" The Slytherin Alicia had hexed was in the crowd, someone had freed him.
"I met them. Besides what proof do you have that they're to blame?" Alicia wondered, rolling her eyes at the ignorance of the Slytherin.
"How about through eyewitnesses?" Another Slytherin of the Inquisitorial Squad pointed at those covered in swamp.
"Did they say anything?" Alicia asked
"Enough!" Umbridge snapped and everyone turned to her. Despite not being able to pin anything on Alicia she still had a triumphant look on her face at having caught the two twins. Fred and George however were snickering at the people covered in their instant swamp charm and Umbridge stared at them with her toad like smile.
"So! So… you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"
"Pretty amusing, yeah," said Fred, looking back up at her without the slightest sign of fear.
Filch elbowed his way closer to Umbridge, almost crying with happiness.
"I've got the form, Headmistress," he said hoarsely, waving a piece of parchment. "I've got the form and I've got the whips waiting… Oh, let me do it now…"
"Very good, Argus," she said. "You two," she went on, gazing down at Fred and George, "are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school."
"You know what?" said Fred. "I don't think we are."
He turned to his twin.
"George," said Fred, "I think we've outgrown full-time education."
"Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself," said George lightly.
"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?" asked Fred.
"Definitely," said George.
And before Umbridge could say a word, they raised their wands and said together, "Accio Brooms!"
There was a loud crash somewhere in the distance and Fred and George's broomsticks, one still trailing the heavy chain and iron peg with which Umbridge had fastened them to the wall, were hurtling along the corridor toward their owners. They turned left, streaked down the stairs, and stopped sharply in front of the twins, the chain clattering loudly on the flagged stone floor.
"We won't be seeing you," Fred told Professor Umbridge, swinging his leg over his broomstick.
"Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch," said George, mounting his own.
Fred turned and took Alicia's hand to kiss the back of it and she smirked as he winked before looking around at the assembled students, and at the silent, watchful crowd.
"If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley — Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes," he said in a loud voice. "Our new premises!"
"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat," added George, pointing at Professor Umbridge.
"STOP THEM!" shrieked Umbridge, but it was too late. As the Inquisitorial Squad closed in, Fred and George kicked off from the floor, shooting fifteen feet into the air, the iron peg swinging dangerously below. Fred looked across the hall at the poltergeist bobbing on his level above the crowd.
"Give her hell from us, Peeves."
And Peeves, whom had never take an order from a student before, swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the students below and sped out of the open front doors into the glorious sunset.