The Granger Son
Harry; Hermione; Dr. Grangerx2
Rated T
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling
The Granger Son
Chapter 26
Since her failure with Longbottom, Dolores Umbridge had since been successful in giving other students tea spiked with Veritaserum. However, though she was successful in that and was keeping it up, she had not had much luck, if any at all. None of the students she had spoken to were able to tell her anything concerning Potter and his friends, or anything out of the ordinary. Even so, she felt as if she was getting closer to a possible confession. If only she could find the right student that would be able to spill unintentionally their guts.
She was still brooding over this during lunchtime, her sitting at the Head Table with the other professors that decided to dine in the Great Hall. As she sat there, Umbridge observed all four House Tables. And at each table, she took in all the students that she had called into her office, and the many that she still had not. She didn't know from which Table, or which student, but one of them would have to crack under the Veritaserum to tell her the truth. There was no way she was going to approach the Minister again emptyhanded. She needed substantial proof, and a spoken confession—even one that was coerced—would be sufficient enough.
Her eyes caught movement near the entrance of the Great Hall, and she looked to see Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger walking in together. The two of them were holding hands and had very happy smiles on their faces, the brunette's face absolutely shining. It had been a bit of a surprise when it came out that Mr. Zabini and Miss Granger were an item, and they had been so far now for two weeks. Despite such an odd and unexpected pair, the two of them seemed to compliment each other. Umbridge watched and observed as Zabini walked Granger over to the Ravenclaw Table, him saying something to her before conjuring a rose. As he handed it to her, Granger smiled with a bright blush on her face as she accepted the rose. She said something to him as well, obviously thanking him, before kissing the dark-skinned male on his cheek.
"Ah, young love," Professor Flitwick's squeaky voice spoke up.
Turning to look at Filius, she found him, as well as Minerva and Aurora Sinistra conversing. Sinistra nodded in agreement saying, "Yes, it is quite a wonderful sight to see, especially considering the kind of family Mr. Zabini comes from."
"It is a pity that his family hates Muggleborns, but it is nice to see and know that he doesn't carry his family's sentiment. After all, he would not be together with Miss Granger, let alone date her, if he did," Minerva added.
"That is true, Minerva," Filius said. "I am glad that he genuinely cares about her, and she feels the same about him. See that, I still have hope for this world and that things will change."
Umbridge couldn't help but scoff softly that. Did they really think their fawning and blubbering over the young couple and their "love" was going to help change the world? The world didn't need love to change. After all, what good was love when it was nothing but a hinderance in the way of making it in the world? Still, their discussion of the couple made her think of said students. Looking at the Slytherin Table, she focused on Zabini where he sat with Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, and a few other Slytherins. As she watched them all together, she knew instantly that there wasn't any way that she could interrogate him or any other Slytherin at that table. They wouldn't budge into telling her anything she wanted to know—whether they knew anything or not—and none of them liked or trusted her. Even her coming from Slytherin House herself wasn't enough for them to want to trust or like her.
Turning her gaze from Slytherin Table to Ravenclaw, she observed Granger where she sat with a few Ravenclaw girls. No, she couldn't interrogate Granger, either. The girl was too close to Potter; the closet of his friends, she was sure. There wasn't anyway she'd willingly talk or take anything from her. If anything, she would be onto the fact that she spiked it with something. No, she couldn't summon Granger to her office. However…
She looked at two girls seated with Granger: Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe. Perhaps one of those two girls would be the ones to spill what she needed.
Harry sat with his best friends outside near the Great Lake, enjoying the fresh air around him. It was free period, and all five of them were busy watching the Giant Squid pop out of the water and back in again, tentacles dancing as it did. They were all talking about their progress in Potter's Army, their progress from when they first started the secret Defense lessons to now. As to the topic they were currently discussing, it was concerning how they were coming along with their Patronus Charms. Harry, of course, already could produce his stag Patronus, and Draco had been successful in producing his own peacock Patronus. Hermione, while still not being able to produce hers, was almost able to if the white wisps from her wand were any indication. As for Blaise and Daphne, they were still working on it, and like Hermione, wondered what animal they would turn out to be.
There was a break in the conversation, all of them watching the Giant Squid once again, before a sudden thought came across Daphne's mind. Looking at her friends, particularly the Granger siblings, she asked, "Hey, have either of you had any more dreams or visions that we need to know about? Any from you, Hermione? I know you tend to get them a lot in your sleep."
Shaking her head, Hermione answered, "No, not since that one about Umbridge finding us. But…but I can't shake this feeling that that vision will soon come to pass. I don't know why, but I feel it."
Harry looked at his sister as she finished speaking, watching how Blaise took hold of her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Listening to her say that, it made him think back to that night when he himself had a dream—more so a vision—of Death Eaters escaping Azkaban Prison with help from Voldemort. He hadn't told Hermione about it, nor did he tell Minerva. He didn't want them to worry, but he felt he needed to speak about it now. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I have something to share."
"What is it, Harry?" Blaise asked.
"Well, about two or maybe three weeks ago, I had a dream. Or rather, it was more like a nightmare. But I'm pretty sure it was a vision. I saw Death Eaters being broken out of Azkaban, several of them. And…and I'm sure it was Voldemort that released them. I believe that he is rounding up his loyal followers for some reason. I believe he is going to plan an attack."
They were all silent as they took in what the bespectacled wizard said. Draco had a grim expression on his face before he finally spoke up saying, "My father wrote to me about this. The jailbreak had been written about in the Daily Prophet, but he said the Ministry made sure not to send any copies of that article to Hogwarts. Apparently, they don't want to alarm the students and get us riled up into thinking the Dark Lord is back."
"But he is back," Daphne said.
"I know, and that is why he told me—and I'm telling you all this, too—to be careful and alert. We can't afford to slip even once."
Nodding in understanding, the five friends continued to talk and enjoy their free period before their next class. Even so, Harry couldn't help but think about what Draco had said. He just had a feeling that if things were already beginning to get bad, it wouldn't be long before things suddenly got worse.
Dolores watched silently as Miss Edgecombe walked out of her office, the two of them having finished having tea and biscuits. As the door closed behind the young girl, she couldn't help but smile widely, the smile so wide, it was evil. And through that smile came a giggle, a very unsettling giggle, and yet it was one of delight.
Finally, finally! Marietta Edgecombe had been the one to tell her everything! She had her evidence! She now knew what Potter, his friends, and other students were doing. Now she could get Minister Fudge involved properly. Taking a sip of her own tea, still giggling to herself, she couldn't help but think of all the trouble the Potter boy was going to get into, as well as Dumbledore for letting this all happen under his nose. Perhaps she would even get a promotion. Now she could finally say 'goodbye' to Potter and his illegal activities. Oh, she couldn't wait to gloat over her upcoming victory.