A/N So we're getting closer to the end of the fifth book! I'm very sorry if none of your hopes come true, but I've written the sixth book so there might be some nice surprises :) keep reviewing! xxx
Chapter Thirty-Three
Fight and Flight
"MPPH!" Amara shouted against the gag. The Cruciatus Curse?
"No!" shrieked Hermione. "Professor Umbridge — it's illegal"
Umbridge took no notice. She actually seemed eager to be able to do it. Her face had a nasty, excited look on it that made her look like a toad even more. She raised her wand.
"The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law, Professor Umbridge!" cried Hermione.
"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," said Umbridge, who was now panting slightly as she pointed her wand at different parts of Harry's body in turn, apparently trying to decide what would hurt the most. "He never knew I ordered dementors after Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel him, all the same. . . ."
"It was you?" gasped Harry. "You sent the dementors after me?"
"Somebody had to act," breathed Umbridge, as her wand came to rest pointing directly at Harry's forehead. "They were all bleating about silencing you somehow - discrediting you — but I was the one who actually did something about it. . . . Only you wriggled out of that one, didn't you, Potter? Not today, though, not now . . ."
And taking a deep breath, she cried, "Cruc —"
"NO!" shouted Hermione in a cracked voice from behind Millicent Bulstrode. "No — Harry — Harry, we'll have to tell her!"
"No way!" yelled Harry and Amara agreed one hundred percent. What was Hermione thinking? Tell Umbridge what they were doing? Putting the Order in danger as well as Sirius? And putting them in danger because they were communicating with a fugitive?
"We'll have to, Harry, she'll force it out of you anyway, what's . . . what's the point. . . ?"
And Hermione began to cry weakly into the back of Millicent Bulstrode's robes. Millicent stopped trying to squash her against the wall immediately and dodged out of her way looking disgusted.
"Well, well, well!" said Umbridge, looking triumphant. "Little Miss Question-All is going to give us some answers! Come on then, girl, come on!"
"Er — my — nee — no!" shouted Ron through his gag.
"Don't - do - it!" Amara screamed.
Ginny was staring at Hermione as though she had never seen her before; Neville, still choking for breath, was gazing at her too.
"I'm — I'm sorry everyone," said Hermione. "But — I can't stand it —"
"That's right, that's right, girl!" said Umbridge, seizing Hermione by the shoulders, thrusting her into the abandoned chintz chair and leaning over her. "Now then . . . with whom was Potter communicating just now?"
"Well," gulped Hermione into her hands, "well, he was trying to speak to Professor Dumbledore. . . ."
Amara's stomach dropped to the floor in shock. Hermione was a genius! She was misleading Umbridge and putting on a very good show indeed. The others were stock still in surprise too, and Amara quickly rearranged her features so they didn't look surprised. It didn't matter anyway - Umbridge was too engrossed with Hermione to notice the change in attitude.
"Dumbledore?" said Umbridge eagerly. "You know where Dumbledore is, then?"
"Well . . . no!" sobbed Hermione. "We've tried the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley and the Three Broomsticks and even the Hog's Head —"
"Idiot girl, Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when the whole Ministry's looking for him!" shouted Umbridge, disappointment etched in every sagging line of her face.
"But — but we needed to tell him something important!" wailed Hermione, holding her hands more tightly over her face, and Amara realised she was faking her anguish.
"Yes?" said Umbridge with a sudden resurgence of excitement. "What was it you wanted to tell him?"
"We . . . we wanted to tell him it's r-ready!" choked Hermione.
"What's ready?" demanded Umbridge, and now she grabbed Hermione's shoulders again and shook her slightly. Amara resisted in kicking out at her. She had to keep her cool so Hermione could do her thing. "What's ready, girl?"
"The . . . the weapon," said Hermione.
"Weapon? Weapon?" said Umbridge, and her eyes seemed to pop with excitement, making her toad like features emphasise even more. "You have been developing some method of resistance? A weapon you could use against the Ministry? On Professor Dumbledore's orders, of course?"
"Y-y-yes," gasped Hermione. "But he had to leave before it was finished and n-n-now we've finished it for him, and we c-c-can't find him t-t-to tell him!"
"What kind of weapon is it?" said Umbridge harshly, her stubby hands still tight on Hermione's shoulders.
"We don't r-r-really understand it," said Hermione, sniffing loudly. "We j-j-just did what P-P-Professor Dumbledore told us t-t-to do . . ."
Umbridge straightened up, looking exultant.
"Lead me to the weapon," she said.
"I'm not showing . . . them," said Hermione shrilly, looking around at the Slytherins through her fingers and Amara mentally praised Hermione for her acting skills.
"It is not for you to set conditions," said Professor Umbridge harshly.
"Fine," said Hermione, now pretending to sobbing into her hands again, "fine. . . let them see it, I hope they use it on you! In fact, I wish you'd invite loads and loads of people to come and see! Th-that would serve you right — oh, I'd love it if the wh-whole school knew where it was, and how to u-use it, and then if you annoy any of them they'll be able to s-sort you out!"
These words had a powerful impact on Umbridge. She glanced swiftly and suspiciously around at her Inquisitorial Squad, her bulging eyes noticing their eager faces.
Umbridge contemplated Hermione for another long moment and then spoke in what she clearly thought was a motherly voice. "All right, dear, let's make it just you and me . . . and we'll take Potter too, shall we? Get up, now —"
"Professor," said Malfoy eagerly, "Professor Umbridge, I think some of the squad should come with you to look after —"
"I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you really think I cannot manage two wandless teenagers alone?" asked Umbridge sharply. "In any case, it does not sound as though this weapon is something that schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until I return and make sure none of these" — she gestured around at Amara, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna — "escape."
"All right," said Malfoy, looking sulky and disappointed.
"And you two can go ahead of me and show me the way," said Umbridge, pointing at Harry and Hermione with her wand. "Lead on. . . ."
And Hermione and Harry left the room, leaving Amara and the others to get rid of the Slytherins holding them captive.
Amara, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna stopped struggling when Umbridge left. Malfoy was looking most displeased, but now the headmistress had gone it gave them a chance to think about their escape.
Alderton was still holding onto her tightly, but Amara felt her shift her weight away once Umbridge had left the room.
Amara glanced around the room - Ron, Ginny and Neville were looking at her and each other whilst Luna was gazing rather cheerfully out the window. In fact, the Slytherin holding her wasn't doing anything but holding one elbow, leaving one arm free.
Amara assessed the situation. She could see Ron doing it as well. Malfoy and Millicent were standing by the desk, Crabbe still had Neville in a headlock, but it meant his hands were free to grab his wand.
Amara knew they could beat the Slytherins in magic, but not in combat. The Slytherin holding Ginny was clutching her wrists tightly, and Warrington did the same to Ron.
The Slytherins started muttering to themselves whilst the Gryffindors and Ravenclaw were gagged.
Amara looked up at Ron. She stared at him and then glanced at Luna, Neville and back again. Ron did the same and saw the two of them could get their wands easily.
Amara gave a slight jerk of the head to Neville and tried to do it at Luna, but she was still gazing out the window. Neville got the picture and started making his arm reach his wand.
Amara looked back at Ron and Ginny. She jerked her head once more as a signal.
Immediately Amara took advantage of Alderton's now weakened grip and kicked backwards, kicking the girl hard with her foot, then drawing back her elbow as winding her. Alderton groaned and swiped blindly as Amara slipped out of her grip. Ginny and Ron had managed to get out of their grip too - Neville had stunned Crabbe and Luna's captor was on the floor. Ginny's captor leapt forwards to take Ginny and she grabbed her wand to fight back. Acting quickly, Amara whipped out her wand at Alderton.
"Stupefy!"
Alderton crumpled.
"You'll pay for that one Mudblood!" Millicent Bulstrode said angrily, leaping forwards with her wand and hitting Amara on the head with her elbow, Amara paused for one moment to let the pain fade.
"Expelliarmus!" Amara said quickly so that her wand flew out of her hand and Ron caught it, having finished off Warrington and only receiving a slightly worse bloody lip.
"Why you -"
"Stupefy!"
Ron disarmed Malfoy and Ginny performed a spectacular Bat-Bogey Hex which left Malfoy screaming.
"Let's go!" Ron said and they all ran out the door with only a few injuries. They locked it behind them and turned to grin at each other.
"You got Harry and Hermione's wands?"
"Yeah."
"Where do we go now?" Neville said, panting slightly and wincing at a large swelling bruise over his eye.
"I don't know," said Amara worriedly. "Hermione could've taken Umbridge anywhere ..."
"They went into the forest," said Luna as though this was a common thing. "I saw them."
Amara and the others paused to let this get through their brains.
"Well," said Ginny. "Let's go!"
They took off down the corridor. It was a good thing it was dinner time or else people would have wondered why four Gryffindors and a Ravenclaw were tearing down the corridors all having a few minor injuries and had their wands at the ready.
They managed to get through the front doors without meeting Filch or any Slytherins, and they slowed to a walk once on the green lawns.
"Whereabouts did Hermione and Harry go into the Forest Luna?"
"Over there," Luna said vaguely, pointing to a direction that could have been seen from Umbridge's window.
The five took off at a brisk pace, looking anxiously around them to check no one was following them. Once they entered the trees they looked at each other hesitantly.
"C'mon then," said Amara and she and Ron led the way through the trees, which began to get closer together as they went deeper.
"Where d'you think -"
"Shhh!"
There were noises coming from up ahead. There was a roar and several noises of galloping horses and a few screams.
Amara and Ron looked at each other and nodded. They followed to where the noise had come from, which seemed to be a clearing, but no centaurs or giant was there anymore. Instead there were two teenagers talking to each other, both looking slightly torn up.
"Anyway, Harry, how exactly were you planning to get all the way to London?" Hermione was saying.
"Yeah, we were just wondering that," said Ron.
Harry and Hermione moved together, peering through the trees at them nervously. The five of them hurried into the clearing towards them.
"So," said Ron, pushing aside a low-hanging branch and holding out Harry's wand to him, "had any ideas?"
"How did you get away?" asked Harry, looking amazed and taking his wand from Ron.
"Couple of Stunners, a Disarming Charm, Neville brought off a really nice little Impediment Jinx," said Ron airily, now handing back Hermione's wand too.
"Ginny's was the best," Amara interjected. "She got Malfoy with a Bat-Bogey Hex -"
"It was superb," said Ron. "His whole face was covered in the great flapping things. Anyway, Luna saw you heading into the forest out of the window and followed. What've you done with Umbridge?"
"She got carried away," said Harry. "By a herd of centaurs."
"And they left you behind?" asked Ginny, looking astonished.
"No, they got chased off by Grawp," said Harry.
"Who's Grawp?" Luna asked interestedly.
"Hagrid's little brother," said Ron promptly. "Anyway, never mind that now. Harry, what did you find out in the fire? Has You-Know- Who got Sirius or — ?"
"Yes," said Harry, "and I'm sure Sirius is still alive, but I can't see how we're going to get there to help him."
They all fell silent, looking rather scared. The problem facing them seemed impossible to get over. Amara had never been this scared before: not in first year with the Stone, or second year with the Chamber or even third year.
"Well, we'll have to fly, won't we?" said Luna in a slight matter-of-fact voice.
"Okay," said Harry irritably, rounding on her, "first of all, 'we' aren't doing anything if you're including yourself in that, and second of all, Amara and Ron are the only two with a broomstick that isn't being guarded by a security troll, so —"
"I've got a broom!" said Ginny.
"Yeah, but you're not coming," said Ron angrily.
"Excuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius as much as you do!" said Ginny, her jaw set so that her resemblance to Fred and George was suddenly striking.
"You're too —" Harry began.
"I'm three years older than you were when you fought You-Know- Who over the Philosopher's Stone," she said fiercely, "and it's because of me Malfoy's stuck back in Umbridge's office with giant flying bogeys attacking him —"
"Yeah, but —"
"We were all in the D.A. together," said Neville quietly. "It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it? And this is the first chance we've had to do something real — or was that all just a game or something?"
"No — of course it wasn't —" said Harry impatiently.
"Then we should come too," said Neville simply. "We want to help." "That's right," said Luna, smiling happily.
Amara glanced at Hermione. She knew that Harry and Ron did not want Neville, Luna and Ginny to be there in a rescue attempt. But Amara decided that the three of them were probably the most loyal out of the DA members and had got out of one situation: they could definitely get out of more together.
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway," said Harry frustratedly, "because we still don't know how to get there —"
"I thought we'd settled that?" said Luna maddeningly. "We're flying!"
"Look," said Ron, barely containing his anger, "you might be able to fly without a broomstick but the rest of us can't sprout wings whenever we —"
"There are other ways of flying than with broomsticks," said Luna serenely.
"I s'pose we're going to ride on the back of the Kacky Snorgle or whatever it is?" Ron demanded.
"The Crumple-Horned Snorkack can't fly," said Luna in a dignified voice, "but they can, and Hagrid says they're very good at finding places their riders are looking for."
Amara looked around and with a jolt saw two Thestrals standing between two trees, looking as though they were listening.
"Yes!" Harry whispered, moving toward them. They tossed their reptilian heads, throwing back long black manes, and Harry stretched out his hand and patted the nearest one's neck.
"Is it those mad horse things?" said Ron uncertainly, staring at a point slightly to the left of the thestral Harry was patting. "Those ones you can't see unless you've watched someone snuff it?"
"Yeah," said Harry.
"How many?"
"Just two."
"Well, we need four," said Hermione.
"Five, Hermione," said Ginny, scowling.
"I think there are seven of us, actually," said Luna calmly, counting. "Don't be stupid, we can't all go!" said Harry angrily. "Look, you three" — he pointed at Neville, Ginny, and Luna — "you're not involved in this, you're not —"
They burst into more protests.
"Okay, fine, it's your choice," he said curtly. "But unless we can find more thestrals you're not going to be able —"
"Oh, more of them will come," said Ginny confidently, who like Ron was squinting in quite the wrong direction, apparently under the impression that she was looking at the horses.
"What makes you think that?"
"Because in case you hadn't noticed, you and Hermione are both covered in blood," she said coolly, "and we know Hagrid lures thestrals with raw meat, so that's probably why these two turned up in the first place. . . ."
It was true. Hermione and Harry were covered in Grawp's blood.
"Okay, then," Harry said. "Ron and I will take these two and go ahead, and Hermione can stay here with Amara and you three and she'll attract more Thestrals —"
"No way!" Amara said hotly.
"I'm not staying behind!" said Hermione furiously.
"There's no need," said Luna, smiling. "Look, here come more now. . . . You two must really smell. . . ."
Six or seven Thestrals were no walking towards them. Amara grinned. They were definitely all going now.
"All right," Harry said angrily, "pick one and get on, then."