Chapter 98: An Army's Inquiry
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
The Corridors, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Chaos erupted throughout the school as Harry Potter's assembled Dumbledore's Army was captured via a raid and hauled off toward the Headmaster's office where Dolores Umbridge was tasked with using her newly awarded High Inquisitor status to interrogate students via vile methods. Snape was tasked with brewing veritaserum as she'd used the entire supply he'd brewed before her arrival to get confessions out of the various students she'd rounded up. Harry was convinced that his godfather was in extreme danger and would stop at nothing in a bid to keep him safe. As a result he started training his fellow students in defense against the dark arts due to Umbridge's lack of interest in doing so despite her status as Professor. Snape's patience with the overbearing witch had grown thin and he made no secret of his loathing of her and her methods. Knowing he'd been the only Potions expert around for miles, Umbridge could do little to him as far as forcing him out of the school went. Despite his issues with Harry Potter, when the lad believed the young witch he fancied had turned traitor when revealing his exploits behind Umbridge's back, Snape took it upon himself to very subtlety inform Harry that there was no way the lass would have betrayed him had it not been for the potion. Umbridge aimed her wand at the boy who lived an expression of outright rage and barely concealed hatred filed across her toad-like face. Snape and Potter's eyes met, the unnerving emerald thing that they were for a brief few moments before the Potions Master turned his attention to the wicked crone. She'd done quite a lot of damage in her short reign of terror as it were and after accosting minors it was surely at an end. Umbridge turned her attention to Snape delighted that she might get the chance to continue her horrendous investigation and uncover more secrets at Hogwarts.
"Professor Snape...I assume you have come to deliver the latest batch of veritaserum." she said in a rather smug tone while eyeing a distressed Harry Potter as he attempted to weather the brunt of her poised wand being maliciously poked into his cheek. "I have quite a few questions for our young Mr. Potter here."
Harry's eyes once more darted over toward Snape. He had no idea how the dour wizard would react given their history but he had showed an interest in keeping him safe at least for Dumbledore's sake.
"We are all out, I'm afraid and there is a distinct lack of yearly ingredients to brew more." replied Snape in a nonchalant tone that not even Hermione, whom had been rounded up with the rest of Dumbledore's Army recognized. "You've used up the last of our on hand supply when you were interrogating Miss Chang as it were."
Umbridge didn't seem to like the sound of that. Harry knowing exactly what the potion did as Snape threatened him with it and the effects once before turned his attention to the girl he believed had betrayed him. Hermione had caught on as well pleased that Cho was absolved at least in Harry's eyes for betraying the army to the unruly toad before them. Snape seemed to take on a rather lax demeanor as if he'd been bored with the conversation entirely.
"So..." he continued. "Unless you wish to poison him...a feat in which I assure you I have the greatest sympathy, there is nothing more I can do for you."
Harry remained quite confused despite being clad that she couldn't use a potion to get secrets about Dumbledore and Hogwarts out of him.
Hermione continued to watch her husband, unsure of what to do but quite grateful that she wouldn't be forced to reveal any secrets of her own to the Ministry Of Magic's High Inquisitor. The last thing anyone here needed to hear was the rather complicated history of her marriage to their Potions Professor, least of all Harry Potter.
Overwhelmed by fear and sensing the minor window to save his apparently missing godfather closing, Harry turned toward Snape making sure to speak in a manner the dour wizard would understand but would keep Umbridge at bay.
"He's got Padfoot." said Harry struggling against the wand and his own reservations. "He's got Padfoot in the place where IT is hidden."
"Padfoot?" asked Umbridge in confusion as she whirled around on Snape. "What's he talking about a Padfoot?"
Snape took a moment before shrugging his shoulders in response to her question.
"No idea." he replied before walking out seeing as he had been no longer of any use to the toad-faced wretch.
Visibly flustered, Umbridge turned her attention back to Harry Potter with every intent on extracting the supposed information from him by force if necessary.
Terrified of what the deranged old witch would do next, Hermione immediately spoke up.
"I know where it is!?" she said quickly. "I can take you to it."
Harry looked over at Hermione unsure what it had been that she was talking about.
"Alright then." insisted Umbridge as she forced Harry out of the chair while Hermione followed behind.
The rest of the staff assisted the other students Umbridge had accosted and Professor McGonagall petitioned the Ministry of Magic to reign in their lapdog as it were.
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The Forbidden Forest, Scotland, Wizarding World...
Both Hermione Granger and a very confused Harry James Potter found themselves making an unseemly trek into the deepest region of the Forbidden Forest. The chill in the air and the scent of death had not been a welcome omen as they continued their walk with the deranged pink clad teacher aiming her wand at them as if they were captured via pirates and ordered to "walk the plank" as it were. Hermione continued to lead them deeper into the darkened forest unsure of what would happen but desperate to find some means of getting rid of Umbridge before she hurt someone, especially if that someone was her dearest friend. Harry had no idea what was happening but followed after Hermione assuming she had some sort of plan in the works.
When he was close enough to her to speak without the older witch hearing he inquired about the oncoming events.
"What are you doing?" he asked rather nervously.
Hermione continued her steps unsure herself what she'd been searching for but having all the confidence in the world she'd find it.
"I'm improvising." she replied looking around at the hollowed tree trunks and mangled roots that surrounded them.
Umbridge seemed to grow even more impatient as she turned her wand on the both of them.
"Where is the weapon!?" she growled her eyes crazed and her intent all too clear. "There is no weapon is there?"
Hermione turned to face the witch with a glare of her own.
"You were trying to trick me." declared Umbridge further enraged. "You know I really hate children..."
As both Harry and Hermione stood unsure of what to do now that they'd run out of ideas, the centaurs arrived apparently angered by the intrusion of their territory by wizarding kind. In a display of actual skill the witch managed to best the centaurs and seemed to gloat about their lack of ability to do her in.
"I will have order." she declared when she was suddenly snatched from off the ground via a giant's hand.
Harry at once realized Hermione's plan. She had brought them to Hagrid's younger brother for assistance.
As Hagrid's brother dangled the babbling and now defenseless witch the angry centaurs rushed her in an attempt to get their revenge. Dropping her to the angry mob of half horse men, Hagrid's brother backed away and the centaurs closed in on Umbridge.
"Do something." she urged Harry as she noted her lack of defense. "Tell them I mean no harm."
Harry's green eyes seemed to flicker with malice before he uttered his reply.
"I can't do that Professor, I must not tell lies." he replied as the centaurs dragged the screaming deranged witch away.
Immediately sensing the opportunity and the fear getting the better of him, Harry Potter turned his attention to his Godfather.
"Hermione." he said in an urgent tone. "Hermione, Sirius!"
Hermione rushed after her friend knowing all too well what had been on his mind and where he was headed. They were going to rescue Sirius Black from the clutches of the despot Voldemort and his death eaters. She had just hoped that Severus could forgive her for not informing him of what was about to happen as there was no time to send him a message.