Chapter 17: Judas Edgecombe
With easter holiday now over, The Hogwarts Express pulls into Hogsmeade Station, all the students exited out of the train. Marietta Edgecombe spots her target Cho walking with Harry, Michael, Padma, Hermione, and Luna rage and jealousy fills up the Senior Ravenclaw as they walk to the carriages heading back to the school. During dinner she ease drops on her 'friend,' Michael and Padma's conversation about the next Dumbledore's Army meeting before they looked at her then she turned away and said nothing else. However, she did find out that the meeting was next week.
The next day in the afternoon, Marietta heads to Umbridge's office with what she heard last night about the Dumbledore's Army Meeting being held on the 15. She knew that Umbridge was interrogating students after Potter made that interview with the Quibbler. Only to test the loyalties of the students and the teachers whether they are for the Ministry or Dumbledore and Harry. To Marietta this was perfect opportunity for her to set up Cho so she could take the fall and would lead to Harry breaking up with her best friend as well as being ostracized by the Dumbledore's Army killing two birds with one stone. As Marietta enters Umbridge's office she walks into a conversation between Snape and Umbridge.
" This is going nowhere at this rate Cornelius is going to fire me if don't prove to him that senile old lemon drop sucking twat and that attention -seeking brat are planning something against him" Umbridge said unsettled then turns to Snape and asks him, Severus don't have any more until next week?"
"Yes, but it's going to be the last of it before we restock th-"
Both Snape and Umbridge looked at Marietta who just entered the office before the Ravenclaw said anything the toad spoke first with her grandma-like façade, "Ah miss. Edgecombe what a pleasant surprise."
"Hello Professor." Said Marietta as she sat down
"What brings you here today? Umbridge asked.
"Are you still asking students about if they have any information about the Dumbledore's Army?"
"Yes, I'm looking for information about that do you have any information yourself Miss Edgecombe?
"No, but my friend does. "Marietta replied
"Who Cho Chang the Ravenclaw seeker?"
"Yes her professor she can tell you everything about Potter and Dumbledore." Marietta said
Umbridge smiled like a Cherise cat and asks "when is this Dumbledore's Army meeting happening miss. Edgecombe?"
"Last night I overheard my friend talking about Potter's club meeting being on the fifteenth of this month which is next week." Marietta answered.
"I see" Umbridge said "Why are you doing this for miss. Edgecombe?"
"To convince Cho that she is on the wrong side, and I'm done convincing her myself Professor." Marietta said agitated by Cho siding with Harry over her. "I know Cedric's death affected her greatly to side with Potter after 'he knew' it a little on the nose for me."
"Okay miss. Edgecombe your point is very clear to me." Umbridge said she then orders Snape "Severus, I want you to make me the last batch of Vertiaserum."
"Yes Delores" Snape said as he leaves her office.
"Is my mother still on Probation Professor?" Marietta asked.
"Not exactly but if Miss Chang is here and tells me what I want to know about Potter's Army the next thing is that I'll get Cornelius to promote your mother to head of the Department of Magical Transportation." Umbridge replied
Marietta glee in joy after hearing that she then gets up and says, "Thank you Professor doing this for me I really appreciate it and my mum will be happy that she will get the promotion in the department she so desperately works hard for."
"Your welcome Miss. Edgecombe I'm sure Miss. Chang would indeed understand that she is in the wrong siding with Potter."
"Yes, she will understand Professor." Marietta said then leaves Umbridge's office.
As Marietta left Umbridge's office she mutters, "This is for your own good I can't have you later in life saying I do to an unstable lunatic who thinks he's a hero 'for returning' Cedric's body last year at the third task of the Triwizard Tournament ."
Four days later, after an exhausting Quidditch Practice session Cho heads into the bathroom for a nice relaxing shower. As the hot water relives her aching body, she felt a pair of hands groping her breasts.
"Ahh!" She gasped then quickly turned around covering her breasts and finds Marietta behind her, also naked as well. "Wh -what do you want Edgecombe?"
"What's with the formalities Cho I thought we were friends." Marietta said as she inches towards her friend.
Cho backs away from Marietta slightly "You didn't answer my question."
"Fine, Cho I just want to say that I'm sorry for not believing Harry you were right about him after all he was telling the truth he didn't kill Cedric, nor he is a delusional attention seeker." Marietta said sounding sincere
"Okay what made you change your opinion, Mari?" Cho asked.
"Anything for you after all Cho you're my best friend and I want to make amends with you since I can't hold anything against you for the entire year." Marietta said.
"Okay Mari I accept your apology" Cho assured "All I wanted was your support that was it."
"I Know you wanted me to support you and now I'm back okay so don't worry about it" Marietta said, "I also I heard you were kicking arse in the practice drills of the Dumbledore's Army."
"Oh yeah" Cho said then asks Marietta "Do you want to join us again?"
"Of course, Cho I want to come to the meeting. You are not going to set my sleeve on fire, are you?" Marietta said, accepting Cho's offer to join Dumbledore's Army meeting once more.
Cho laughed at that moment when she, Marietta and the Dumbledore's Army learned how to practice the disarming charm. "Not this time Mari."
"Okay just making sure." Marietta said assured then she laughed along with Cho about that moment.
Cho stops laughing and says "It's good to have you back as my friend again you are right, I can't hold anything against you as well. The Ministry wanted us to believe their side of what happened last year and-"
"You're just glad that Harry told you directly and then wizarding world what happened to Cedric last year with the interview and wanted me to believe you." Marietta interrupted
"Yeah, I was going to say that, and you are right you can't hold anything against me for wanting to know the truth of what happened." Cho said and hugged her friend, "I'm glad to see you again as my friend Mari."
"Me too Cho I'm glad as well." Marietta said hugging her back.
Monday morning at the Great Hall Cho and Marietta walk over to where Michael and Padma are sitting down at. "Hey guys."
"Oh hey Cho and uhm Marietta?" Padma said surprised to see Marietta with Cho again.
"You two are friends again?" Michael asked suspiciously.
"What Michael you have a problem with that." Marietta said defensively
"I do you always be like you know I would never leave you Cho I got your back." Michael said imitating Marietta
"I don't do that." Marietta replied
"You do" Michael said
"No, I don't, and you always try to get Cho to date you but ends in failure like always." Marietta told him harshly
"Okay guys that's enough" Cho said calming both Michael and Marietta, she then tells them "Look I gave you two a second chance okay please don't make me regret my decision."
"Alright." Michael huffed.
"Fine." Marietta said not wanting to further argue with Michael.
"So, are you joining us for this afternoon's event Marietta?" Padma asked.
"Of course, I'm coming to the meeting I want to see how everyone progressed Including Cho who I hear disarmed Potter in the duel." Marietta replied.
"Okay you better not do anything to screw us over." Michael chimed in
"Says the one who can't screw." Marietta said
"Alright guys enough let's eat our breakfast." Cho said intervening as she put some bacon and eggs on her plate.
Late in the afternoon in Divination class, which was about to end in fifteen minutes, Marietta gets up and asks Firenze the Centaur who replaced Professor Trelawny early in the year to the bathroom.
"Mari, we have fifteen more minutes can you hold it?" Cho said.
"Sorry I can't but I'll meet you at the Seventh-floor corridor okay" Marietta replied.
"Okay then see over there." Cho said as Marietta leaves for the 'bathroom'.
Once out of the classroom Marietta went the opposite direction of the bathroom to Umbridge's Office. As she walks inside the High Inquisitor's office Snape is there again giving her the Vertiaserum.
"Thank you Severus after this is settled I will a point you to the teaching position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts." Umbridge said.
"That's wonderful I'm literally celebrating, but I have to come back with the antidote when miss Chang is here." Snape replied sarcastically as he leaves for the potion labs.
"Ah, it's good to see you again miss Edgecombe." Umbridge said as Marietta sits on the chair opposite of her.
"You as well Professor." Marietta said. "So, the Inquisitor Squad are out to bring Cho here?"
"Yes, I have sent them not too long ago." Umbridge replied as she took a sip of her tea.
"Okay good. I want to say thank you for doing this Professor I really appreciate it." Marietta said
"I should be thanking you and later miss. Chang will expose Potter's whereabouts today and you two rewarded greatly for this." Umbridge said.
"I look forward to that I never believed in Dumbledore nor that attention seeking twerp anyway and Cho shouldn't their dogmatic beliefs either." Marietta said.
"So do I miss. Edgecombe." Umbridge said taking another sip of her tea
As Snape walks back to his Potions lab, he spots Michael and Padma on their way upstairs he intercepts them. The two Ravenclaw were shocked to see him somewhere other than the Potions lab.
"Oh Professor what are you doing here?" Padma asked.
"I would be asking you the same thing about where you and Mr. Corner are going to miss. Patil, but listen what I have to say." Snape said.
"What is it Professor?" Michael asked.
"Miss. Chang is in danger miss. Edgecombe sold her out to be interrogated by Umbridge" Snape responded
"What?!" Michael and Padma shouted in unison.
"If you two hurry now you will able intercept Malfoy and his gang." Snape said as he left.
"Okay um thank you Professor." Said Michael "Alright come on let's go Pad."
"Alright" Padma said as they ran off to save Cho from Umbridge's goons.
"Man, I can't believe Edgecombe would set up Cho like that." Michael said running up the stairs to the seventh floor.
"Yeah to think she was wrong about Harry being a liar and an attention-seeking git it was all charade." Padma replied
"Tell me about it I bet Edgecombe wanted to leave Cho alone long before she sold her out." Michael said
"Look I would love to talk about how Marietta is a deceiving cunt but, there is no time to talk about that right now let's save Cho from being illegally interrogated." Padma told him
"Right Pad."
As Michael and Padma make it to the seventh floor the spot Cho heading to the corridor on the left side they rush towards her, Michael shouts, "CHO!"
Cho turns around and sees Michael and Padma running towards her. They stop, and catch their breath, she asks them, "What's going on guys? Did you see Marietta yet?"
"No we haven't Cho, but look Marietta set you up!" Michael shouted.
"What Mari set me up? Why?" Cho asked in confusion.
"Come on Cho you know why. So don't act like you don't know" Padma said.
Cho was about to reply to Padma until they hear, "Look there is Chang let's get her."
"Shit it's the Inquisitorial Squad." Michael said in a panic.
"Where are you three going?" Malfoy asked rudely as he, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, and Millicent surround Cho, Michael, and Padma
"Nowhere of your concern Malfoy." Cho snapped
"Oh really" Malfoy said
"Yeah, now if you excuse us." Cho said as she and her friends were about to walk away.
Professor Umbridge wants to see you, Chang." Malfoy insisted as he, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, and Millicent surrounded the trio.
Surrounded, Cho looked at Padma, nodded her head. Padma nodded her head then looked at Michael who was a bit confused but went along. The Asian Ravenclaw then says as her wand slipped into her hand, "You can tell Professor Umbridge STUPEFY!" Malfoy was knocked from his feet Cho points her wand at Crabbe and Goyle then shouts, "EXPULSO!" Both of Malfoy's goons were pelted by the Machine gun like spell.
Padma fired Petrificus totalus at Pansy making her stiff as a board. Michael pointed his wand at Millicent and yells "STUPEFY!"
"Come on let's get out of here." Cho barked as she, Padma, and Michael ran for the Room of Requirement.
Malfoy gets up and see Cho, Padma, and Michael escaping, angry at this he releases Pansy from her binds and shouts "Stop them."
Cho turns around and conjures the floor to be a slippery slope and a puddle of blueberry jam on the floor below The Inquisitorial Squad fall down on each other and into the puddle.
"Looks you guys are caught in a jam see ya" Cho said as she makes a run for it.
The three Ravenclaws make it to the entrance of the Room of Requirement the doors opens, Harry was in the middle of explaining the Patronus Charm to the D.A. Harry spoke first, "You guys are late what happened?"
"Slytherin ambushed us." Michael answered in a panic
"What?" Ron gasped
"Don't worry I jammed them up outta slow'em down" Cho assured
"Okay um we were just going over Patronus Charm." Harry said.
Cho, Michael, Padma's hearts beat fast with excitement they always wanted to know the Patronus Charm ever since Harry conjured his when played against their quidditch team two years ago.
"Now the Patronus Charm is a spell that repels Dementors. It is supposed to be your guardian in the form of your happiest memories. The key is choosing the moment of your life when you were happy." Harry explained to the group.
For the next ten minutes the Dumbledore's Army made some progress with conjuring the Patronus charm some had difficulty others had no trouble like Hermione's Patronus that took form of an Otter then Ron's took shaped into a Jack Russel's Terrier after that Ginny's Patronus became a Horse.
Cho closed her eyes remembering all the memories she had so far one took form of a bird that soared through the air and dove down into the ocean below. She then says, "Expecto Patronum." An Osprey shot out of Cho's wand and flew around the Room of Requirement.
"Wow that impressive Cho." Harry said looking at Cho's Patronus.
"Yeah, I love it an Osprey that is so me." Cho said then asks Padma, "Hey Pad what's your Patronus Charm?"
"Mine is a Leopard." Padma answered, she says, "Expecto Patronum." A Leopard jumped out of Padma's wand and started to run all over the place.
"Pad it's so amazing." Cho praised. She looks over at Michael who looked embarrassed as if his favorite quidditch team "What's your Mike?"
"You guys are going to laugh." Michael said
"Oh, come on it's not that bad." Cho assured him
"Okay here goes." Michael said then pointed and shouted "Expecto Patronum." A silver squirrel ran across the room.
"Aww it's cute Mike." Cho said
"Yeah it is but it's a bloody squirrel how I'm going to fight a dementor with a little squirrel." Michael complained.
"Michael stop being an ungreatful twat because they other people in this group who didn-" Cho was interrupted mid-sentence when a loud crash brought everyone's attention.
"You said you guys were followed but slowed Inquisitorial Squad down." Harry said.
"We did but-"
"Bombarda Maxima." The wall explodes revealing Umbridge, Filch, the Inquisitorial Squad and Marietta who has pimples spelling out the word Sneak across her forehead. Umbridge then orders "Take them."