37: Love (In Idiocy)

Maddie kept her promise. She didn't rat Harry and his friends out, because she didn't need to. They were discovered by Umbridge only a few days later.

And with Umbridge's discovery, something else happened; Dumbledore vanished.

It was rumoured through the paintings that Marietta Edgecombe, a shy fifth-year Ravenclaw, had been the one to rat out Dumbledore's Army. Dumbledore took the blame, of course, none of the students ever being truly caught breaking any rules. And with Marietta's confession, came a shiny new notice plastered on the Slytherin Common Room door;

BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.

Signed: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic

"You're joking," Daphne screeched, the first to find the parchment that morning. It was snatched out of her hands by Madeline, who almost choked at the words.

"Nightmare," Madeline concluded, handing the parchment off to the next person, "This is a living nightmare."

"About time that oaf left," Malfoy scoffed. He held the parchment as if it were gold, smirking, "New head; new rules. Am I right?"

By lunchtime, it seemed that every student in Hogwarts somehow knew that Dumbledore had overcome two Aurors, the High Inquisitor, the Minister for Magic and his Junior Assistant to escape. Harry and Marietta were the only two students to be in the office at the time of Dumbledore's escape, and of course, both were pestered throughout the day for their retellings of the story.

It seemed that within a day, the student body had been upturned. Members of Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad (once again, mainly Slytherins) were taking house points off students as if it were nothing. Someone had spotted Fred and George push Montague into a Vanishing Cabinet on the first-floor; he had yet to reappear.

Madeline had heard from the few people in other houses that still spoke to her (mainly Luna) that Fred seemed to have gone into self-destruct mode. He hadn't been as upbeat since the breakup, even Madeline had noticed despite her very successful attempts at avoiding him. In fact, it was overheard that the Weasley twins had decided that it was time for mayhem. 'Real mayhem,' they'd said.

The easter holidays arrived rather quickly. Although Madeline had been tempted to visit home, she'd decided against it. She could use the downtime with her friends in Hogwarts, and with only six weeks until exams, she still had hell of a lot of material to cram.

Also, being with her friends kept her mind off Fred.

It was getting easier to not think about him, but he was still there. Always nagging at the back of her mind every time she caught a glimpse of a red tie or red hair.

It was the last Sunday of the easter holidays when Umbridge called her into her office.

She was escorted there by Theo, one of Umbridge's new favourites in the Inquisitorial Squad, who tried to reassure her that she was not going to be shipped back off to France without good reason. With that in mind, Madeline knocked on the office door, straightening her jumper and black slacks.

"Come in!"

"Good luck," whispered Theo, "I'll stay here."

Madeline stepped into the office alone. It hadn't changed at all, not really. It was still awfully pink and filled with cats, except for a shiny new self-standing tag on her desk with 'HEADMASTER' in bold golden letters.

"Good afternoon dear," Umbridge smiled sweetly, motioning for the chair in front of her desk, "Please, do sit down. Would you like any tea?"

"Yes, please," Madeline replied hesitantly, lowering herself down onto the seat. She watched as Umbridge hummed to herself, pouring tea into a teacup on a cart on the side of the room.

Madeline took the steaming cup of tea gingerly. She didn't know why it felt so odd to be taking something from the woman, but she brought the cup to her lips, sipping the warm liquid. It was bitter; far more bitter than any tea should ever taste. Something was wrong.

"I don't want you to fret dear; this isn't a bad talk," Umbridge began, folding her hands on the desk as she watched Madeline drink the tea, "I just have a few questions for you to ensure that Hogwarts continues to run… Smoothly."

Madeline nodded, placing the tea on the desk, "Of course."

"Are you aware of Dumbledore's whereabouts?"

"No," Madeline replied immediately and honestly, "I've never been in a position of trust to know anything like that, Professor."

"I see," Umbridge smacked her lips, thinking, "You've been recommended to me to join my special Inquisitorial Squad. I think you'd make a great fit, Madeline."

"Thank you, Professor," Madeline had to play her cards right, even if it meant almost being sick at the thought of helping Umbridge in any way.

Madeline looked back at the teacup, thinking. She'd replied… Awfully easily. Something was wrong. Her stomach twisted at the thought that, just maybe, Umbridge could have slipped something in the tea. Something like a truth serum, or worse.

"As a member of the Inquisitorial Squad, I would expect you to bring any wrongdoings in the school directly to me," Umbridge continued, leaning closer, "Is there anything you'd like to tell me in regards to that, Miss Bisset? Perhaps anything to do with Mister Potter or Dumbledore?"

She had to be smart about this. Umbridge had used the words 'anything you'd like to tell me'. Madeline didn't want to tell her anything; that was her get out of jail card. She wasn't lying; she didn't want to tell Umbridge anything.

"No Professor," Madeline shook her head, "There is nothing that I'm aware of."

Gotcha.

Umbridge hummed, leaning back. She pulled her desk drawer open, rummaging through, "Very well, Miss Bisset. I think you would make quite a fit for the Inquisitorial Squad."

Umbridge handed her a pin; the same shiny silver 'I' half of the Slytherins in her year now wore. She took the pin carefully as Umbridge continued.

"That is all for now. I'm sure your housemates will show you the ropes," Umbridge finished, gesturing to the door, "I wouldn't want to keep you any longer. Please, enjoy your holidays. Thank you Miss Bisset."

Madeline let the door slam behind her, still holding the pin between her hands as Theo and Daphne approached her, looking concerned.

"What did she ask you?" Daphne asked, "I'm next in."

Madeline looked at the pin, thinking. There was absolutely no way she wasn't taking this opportunity. She fixed the pin onto her tie, straightening it out and looking back at her friends.

"Whatever you do," Madeline began, "Do not drink anything she gives you."

Daphne didn't tell anyone about the kiss. Or, well, kisses.

It wasn't that she was embarrassed or ashamed. A Greengrass? Never. But with Madeline having just broken up with Fred and the drama around Umbridge… She didn't want to add fuel to the already burning fire that was Hogwarts right now.

But despite the rumours and the lying that seemed to come so naturally to everyone, things with Pansy were… Normal. Easy. She didn't feel like she had to hide their friendship, or whatever they'd eventually decide to call it.

They didn't talk about it, but in the last few days, they'd spent more than one evening sat by the window in their dorm while everyone was asleep, letting the little moonlight that would trickle down through the lake and to their window illuminate their interlocked hands. Neither really spoke in fear of waking anyone else up, but Daphne liked it that way.

Right now, whatever they were was enough for her. And she didn't see the need to tell anyone else.

And besides; it wasn't like much was different between them. To any onlooker, they'd see a budding friendship, not a budding romance. Not that anyone would be looking for one anyway, not around here.

No, she was happy where they were. She liked it. It was comfortable; safe.

It was enough.

All hell was breaking loose in Hogwarts.

With Umbridge's rise into power came, of course, side effects. The biggest one of these being the Weasley Twins.

According to Ginny Weasley, it seemed that following Fred and Madeline's breakup, Fred had taken it upon himself to fill the gaping hole in his heart with mischief. Pure, unadulterated mischief. The stuff of legends, really.

Dungbombs and Stink Pellets were the new rage, dropped in the middle of boring lessons or in corridors. Many students had taken to using the Bubble-Head charm almost constantly to save their noses. Many of the Slytherin students had their pumpkin juices explode in their faces at dinner (Daphne would always swear Fred had copied Madeline's idea from last year, thank you very much). Owls were let loose, teacups transfigured into worms… It was like Hogwarts had finally decided to fight back.

And of course, being part of the Inquisitorial Squad, Madeline had to fix it. All of it.

But the shiny 'I' badge was not the protection she'd hoped it would be. It was a big red target on her back, because why wouldn't the twins want to take out Umbridge's henchmen? The theory was proven when Warrington reported to the hospital wing with a horrible skin jinx that made him look as though he had been coated in cornflakes, and Pansy had sported antlers the very next day.

Madeline hadn't been targeted yet, but people were also staying away from her. No one dared look at the girl that had 'broken' Fred Weasley's heart; the one who could've ratted Dumbledores Army out, but didn't. And now, she was on enemy lines, taking house points away from second years chewing gum too loudly or first years trying to mimic the twins.

Draco seemed to have been put in charge of the Inquisitorial Squad by Umbridge, which clearly wasn't making him the most… Amicable right now. Especially after Hufflepuff defeated Slytherin in their last match, which had sent the Malfoy into multiple rants in the common room late in the evenings.

Everything toppled on its head one early May afternoon.

"Exams are coming," Madeline complained as her and Theo stormed out of the dungeons, sent for after yet another disturbance in the fifth floor corridor, "Surely everyone should have better things to do than to deprive us of precious, precious sleeping time?"

"Filch just got his application to whip students approved," Theo answered gloomily, "I don't know if that makes our job easier, or worse."

"Bloody hell," Madeline huffed, "This is like a whole different form of Umbridge torture."

"Tell me about it- woah!" Theo slipped on something sticky as they finally reached the fifth floor, barely catching himself on Madeline's arm, "What on earth?"

Madeline looked down, wrinkling her nose. The floor was partially covered in thick dark green sludge, that seemed to be bubbling. It took the two Slytherins a few moments to register the great deal of shouting coming from further down the corridor, towards the centre of the fifth floor. And of course, Pansy and Draco had also arrived at the scene, rushing past them.

"What are you two waiting for?" Draco called, "Hurry up you idiots!"

"Watch your face Malfoy; you might break it," Madeline retorted, but the two followed suit, jogging behind the other two Slytherins as the shouting got louder, more and more green sludge covering the ground and some of the walls.

What they found was, quite frankly, confusing.

It was as if someone had turned the better part of the fifth floor into a swamp. The floor was marshy and wet, and the air smelt almost like rotten eggs. Madeline's shoes were damp from only a few steps, and that's when she realised why all the students were stood in a circle; the middle part of the swamp was, in fact, a small body of water.

"This is gross," Pansy huffed, covering her nose, "It's on the walls too!"

"I'm not cleaning this one up," Madeline decided, shaking her head, "Absolutely not. Malfoy, this one is yours."

"Agreed," Theo nodded, ignoring the glares they were receiving from a few Gryffindors, "Let Filch do the whipping."

"This has your ex boyfriends name all over it," Draco snapped, turning to Madeline, "What did you to do him Bisset? Huh? Or did he break your heart to the point where you're incapable of doing your job?"

Madeline glared back at Draco. He knew fully well how upset she'd been about the breakup. Hell, she'd cried in his shoulder about it. But before she could reply, she caught a flash of familiar ginger hair hiding between Lee Jordan and Seamus, both of who were cackling at a first year Hufflepuff falling into the swamp water.

'Alright then," Madeline huffed, "You want me to do my job? Watch me."

She didn't bother waiting for his reply. Instead, she stalked through the least-squishy part of the swamp and straight towards Fred's hiding place. She spotted him trying to make his leave at the same time as Filch entered the swamp, yelling already audible as Madeline quietly followed him through the corridors.

She waited until the action was far behind them, until Filch shouting sounded like a distant whisper. And at the first chance she got, Madeline grabbed Fred's robe sleeve, pulling him into the nearest storage cupboard.

She ignored the shocked look on the boy's face, and instead flicked the only hanging lantern in the room on, shelves upon shelves of brooms and empty potion bottles surrounding them.

"What the hell are you playing at?!" Madeline hissed, locking the door behind them with a swish of her wand, "Are you trying to get all your house points redacted, or worse; get expelled?!"

"At least it got your attention," Fred snorted, "I didn't think you'd be one to care, especially with the crowd you're hanging around with now,"

Madeline stared at him in disbelief. Who did he think he was?!

"Who I hang out with is no ones business," Madeline huffed in exasperation. First Draco gave her crap about dating Fred at the beginning of the year, and now Fred is trying to do the same with her hanging out with Draco? She needed a break.

"I know you better than any of them, and I know you hate everything they stand for!" Fred argued, flailing his arms in the air, "This isn't you."

"You have no claim on who I am or what I do," Madeline snapped, rage starting to build, "You have no idea who or what I am!"

"I couldn't tell you about the DA!"

"And I don't give a crap about that!" Madeline almost yelled, weeks of pent up anger surfacing, "You haven't seen me as me for a long time, because you stopped looking! You started to believe every single rumour and lie your housemates whispered every time I walked past-"

"It wasn't like that."

"Yes, it was Fred!" Madeline shouted.

The two stared at each other in silence for a few long moments. Madeline took a deep breath; she needed to calm down. He was an ass, and he was just trying to get a reaction out of-

"To tell you the truth, I don't recognise who you are anymore, Bisset," Fred admitted, almost looking remorseful. That was new. However, the moment of weakness soon faded, a hardened glare passing over his eyes, "Or is it Dearborn?"

Oh.

Screw. Him.

In an instant Madeline had her wand back in her hand. She took two quick steps forwards, crowding Fred up against a wall of potion bottles, the tip of her wand digging upwards under his chin. Despite him being taller, she was more intimidating. Nothing but anger and betrayal could be seen in her eyes, and Fred knew he'd screwed up.

"Keep my name out of your mouth, Weasley," Madeline hissed with a surprising amount of calmness, "Or I will hex your tongue off with your own wand."

"I'd like to see you try," Fred smirked.

And then, his eyes fell to her lips. Hers mirrored, following the map of his face down to where her wand was leaving a painful bruise under his chin, back up to his own lips. Madeline didn't know if it was out of habit, instinct, or desire that she decided to lean in exactly when he leant in.

And oh, she'd missed this.

She kept the grip on her wand firm, yet moved her hand to grip the hair at the base of his neck as the kiss deepened. His own hands found purchase on her waist, gripping on her robe fabric and bringing her closer, flush against his chest. His back hit the wall of shelves, but their lips never left each others, even as a bottle smashed at their feet.

"I missed this," Fred mumbled between kisses, his fingers gripping tighter on her waist.

"Shut it Weasley; don't ruin this by talking," Madeline huffed. And of course, Fred turned them so her back was now against the shelves, more out of spite than convenience.

He didn't respond, smirking against the kiss as he heard her gasp as the second bottle smashed. Her hands tightened around his shoulders, her nails scratching at the base of his hairline, like she knew he liked. He huffed into the kiss, one of his hands moving to the outer part of her thigh, hiking her leg up to his waist.

Yeah; she missed this too.

It was a flurry of heated kissing and grabbing. Nothing was romantic about this, and yet it felt right. Not right like it had before, when they were together, but a new kind of urgency had taken the air.

"Merlin," Fred mumbled between kisses, "I love you so much."

Madeline froze.

Asshole.

"No," Madeline froze. She pushed Fred away, staring at him in disbelief, "Fred, no."

"Wha-"

"You don't get to say that. Not now, not ever," Madeline was angry again, but for a different reason, "You don't get to lie to me just to get into my pants."

"I'm not lying-"

"SHUT UP!"

Madeline didn't even wait to see his reaction. Instead, she ran out of the broom cupboard, because she didn't give two shits about what happened to Fred at that moment. Nope, not anymore.

She blatantly ignored Draco as he turned the corner towards her, shrugging away any remark he could've said about her disheveled robes before he could even think about saying it. Instead, she made her way straight back down the stairs and towards the dungeons.

She was done with people for today, and she was definitely not going to cry over Fred Weasley.

The idiot who told her he loved her.