Chapter 38 – The Devil Wears Pink
It felt like hours until Yaxley and Vipera were done with their searches of the Slytherin dormitories and the Common Room, but given that it was only just lunch time, Harry knew it hadn't been all that long. But even so it had been long enough for Harry to have become bored, worried, and bored again several times until he'd just decided to occlude harder and slow his thoughts down.
That had helped, especially once the students who hadn't been caught with anything had started to circulate increasingly ridiculous rumours about what Harry had been found with amongst themselves. And that was made worse by the fact that Harry was sat right there in the Common Room, and they could have just asked him.
But of course, nobody did. But then, people seemed unwilling to interact with any of the students who'd been caught with something, even the ones who were obviously not caught up in any wrongdoing like that first year who'd been caught with a multi-lingual music box.
When they'd finished, Vipera and Yaxley gathered all the Slytherins together in the Common Room to make an announcement.
"Those of you who've been searched and found to have nothing untoward—congratulations. You've passed the inspection and have nothing to worry about. You may go to lunch secure and happy in the knowledge that you are not part of the problem," Yaxley said to the gathered students. "If, however, you have been caught with something you should not have had… the unpleasantness has only just begun. You poor unfortunates will be taken at once and interviewed pending a full investigation into your particular crimes."
Crimes, thought Harry. The vast majority of the students didn't have anything illegal on them, and of those who did, it was silly little things like that weird plant some of the fifth years smoked or fourth years with a bit of firewhisky.
Admittedly, one girl had been caught with a potion labelled as Amortentia, but Harry didn't think it would really be the one banned love potion. It was probably a cheaper – and legal – alternative mislabelled.
Not that that was much better, but it was better.
"So go on—get off to lunch with you all," Vipera finished off. "Except for anyone we've said needs further investigation. You'll be coming with us."
At first, nobody moved. Not the students who were allowed to go to lunch, not Snape, and certainly not Harry and the other 'miscreants'. But then Vipera clapped her hands and students started to move.
"This is wholly unnecessary," Snape said once the other students had left the Common Room. "I understand what the High Inquisitor has set out to do, but—"
"With all due respect, Severus," Yaxley said, his tone firm, "what you think is irrelevant. This is Ministry business. Jenkins there was caught with proscribed materials—what's he need an erumpent horn for? Too dangerous to even think about keeping, let alone in his bloody school trunk! Hexworthy had a book of Dark spells. Potter was caught in communication with a wanted criminal and traitor to the realm."
Snape's lips drew tight then, into a pair of thin little lines. He clearly didn't like that response, but even Harry had to admit it was perfectly fair reasoning. Even in a more normal time Jenkins would have been justifiably expelled for keeping an erumpent horn in his school trunk, while Hexworthy would have been lucky to keep her wand without a very good reason.
But Harry could have simply had a series of old letters from Dumbledore, letters which were perfectly legal to own at the time of receipt and which had nothing more outrageous than arrangements for the trial in the summer in them. Of course, Harry assumed that whatever the letters said would be completely unhelpful and cast both him and Dumbledore in a poor light. Otherwise there would have been no point at all in planting them. But in principle Harry didn't think it fair to include him with Jenkins and Hexworthy.
"I told you those letters aren't mine," Harry said. "I'm still willing to take Veritaserum. I promise you those letters weren't there this morning because they aren't mine."
"We'll see how the investigation goes, Potter," said Vipera. "Until then, be quiet."
The investigation would only ever go in the Inquisition's favour, but Harry kept quiet anyway. There was no sense causing a scene over it in the Common Room, especially not after everyone had already seen him offer to take Veritaserum. That would put more than a few students on Harry's side no matter the outcome of the Inquisition's pointless investigation, so Harry could afford not to argue the point.
And really, next to an erumpent horn and a book of Dark spells, correspondence with Dumbledore was nothing at all. Assuming the planted letters weren't totally outrageous, containing 'definitive' evidence that Harry was engaged in a conspiracy to treason with Dumbledore.
…which was entirely possible, depending on what Yaxley – what Voldemort – thought people might be willing to believe.
Ugh, Harry thought.
"Well, Potter's futile protestations notwithstanding," drawled Snape, "I am concerned with what has been considered suspicious. Letters from a headmaster? Books of popular songs? While it is indeed true that several of the students sat here have been found with dangerous items, most have not." Snape paused. "And there is of course the matter of discrepancies in the application of the rules. There are things found by Inquisitor Vipera amongst the girls' belongings which apparently did not warrant punishment—and yet the very same items when found by Inquisitor Arlecchino apparently did. Far be it from me to suggest that there has been any—"
"Each Inquisitor is free to interpret the standing orders to the best of his or her understanding," Yaxley interrupted. "Given the nature of our role it is understood that we must act according to our own feelings and interpretation of the rules, and the discretion afforded us is an important part of that. I can assure you there has been no misapplication of authority here today."
Snape simply nodded.
"As you say," Snape said. He glanced at the students sat waiting for judgment. "What do you wish to do with your suspects, Inquisitors? It is lunch time and if you are not going to take them elsewhere I suggest that they be allowed to—"
"You don't need to worry about what we're going to do with them," Yaxley said, interrupting Snape. "That's Inquisition—that is to say, Ministry—business from here out. Your presence today was helpful, Severus, but now that the investigation has moved away from the students' dormitories your co-operation is no longer required."
Snape's not going to like that at all, Harry thought. Such a sharp rebuke was unlikely to win Yaxley any favours from Snape, but then Harry supposed he didn't need them. Snape was widely seen as Dumbledore's man – something to do with how the war ended and Snape's role in it, Harry remembered vaguely – and with Dumbledore wanted for treason, Snape's fortunes were somewhere between the floor and the toilet.
And with Yaxley no doubt in the castle on Voldemort's business, Harry didn't doubt he had little care for Dumbledore and his allies.
Unless Snape was Dumbledore's spy, Harry supposed, and Yaxley thought Snape was on his side and all this bother was just a bit of subterfuge. Harry thought that could be true. Unless… unless Yaxley thought he knew Snape was a spy, but Snape didn't know Yaxley was actually Yaxley.
Ugh, thought Harry. This is too complicated…
"Be that as it may," Snape said, lips curled, his distaste clear for the entire world to see, "I am still these students' Head of House and must inform their parents—or indeed, other guardians—should the need arise. If the need has arisen I shall do so at once as the law requires of me, but this is contingent—as I am sure you understand—on what exactly the Inquisition intends to do."
"We're going to take them away for questioning as soon as possible," Yaxley said. "Isn't that right?" he said with a glance at Vipera, who nodded in confirmation.
"Yes. We'll take the students to see the High Inquisitor at once," Vipera said, "although I'm sure that the other Houses will have had their own fair share of infractions too, so we'll have to figure out a way to triage the…" she trailed off. "But that's Inquisition business. Really, Severus, we thank you for the assistance but now is the time to let us do our jobs."
Snape seemed quite keen on the pair of Inquisitors doing anything but their jobs, at least from the sour look on his face, but he nodded slowly.
"As you wish," Snape said. "I am sure you know what's best." After that the three of them spent some time arguing over the logistics of moving the accused from the dungeons to the upper levels of the castle, but even that didn't take too long. Soon enough Harry and the rest of the Slytherins accused of various and sundry things were marched off to Umbridge's office, joining a rather large contingent of students lined up outside.
And it really was a large number: Harry could see students from every one of the school's various factions. People who had been at Hogwarts from the beginning and even a few Harry knew had never been in trouble before; students from the minority language schools whose only infractions were likely to have been possession of books in languages the Inquisition didn't like; and former homeschoolers and Wandwright's students who could have been caught with God only knew what.
But Harry was very glad to see that none of his friends had been caught with anything. There were many students he knew, and some even quite well – flyers from the Aerobaticum, some from his lessons, and so on – but Blaise's warnings had served all of Harry's closest friends very well. Which left a large number of unfortunate students caught with all manner of things.
"Jenny told me I shouldn't have kept them," Harry heard one boy say to his companion, a stout Hufflepuff girl, "but I just didn't listen…"
"To be fair," said his companion, "I wouldn't have listened either…"
All of them stood outside Umbridge's office in a long line, watched over by pairs of Inquisitors. There was a low buzz of conversation in the corridor which the Inquisitors didn't seem too concerned with, but none of the students were talking especially loudly or excitedly. To Harry's ears what conversation there was was half-hearted and nervous. He didn't see any point in joining it, anyway, although in fairness the only people he had to talk to were FitzRoy and Oliver Wash, who'd been caught with rude magazines.
That particular corridor had been redecorated to better fit Umbridge's own personal style, which meant that many of the old paintings and tapestries and the like had been replaced by garish substitutes featuring kittens, at least where she hadn't put up copies of Educational Decrees and 'motivational' posters.
Harry and the Weasley twins had done nothing to mess with any of that, but Harry felt as if he would have done if he'd realised he'd have to stand outside the office for quite so long the very next day. Of course, he hadn't expected to be caught with anything at all…
The door to Umbridge's office opened with a loud – and very smelly – fart.
Harry stifled a laugh. Evidently Umbridge had been unable to remove the Weasley twins' fart charms from her doorway, and none of the teachers had seen fit to help. All along the line of ne'er-do-wells students laughed, some not even bothering to hide it, while Inquisitors admonished them.
"Oi! No laughing at the—er—the farting door," said Inquisitor Weekes. "It's—it's evidence in the—er—on-going investigation into—"
"Just shut up and wait your turn," interrupted Yaxley from where he stood with the Slytherins. "Excessive laughter at vandalism of school property can and will be taken as evidence of wrongdoing."
That shut more than a few of the sniggering students up, although Harry noticed it wasn't quite enough to get them all.
"Send in the next of the accused," called out Umbridge from within her office. The Inquisitor at the front of the queue moved to usher the next student in, but Yaxley stopped her.
"We'll send Potter through next," Yaxley said. The other Inquisitor didn't seem overly pleased by the interruption but acquiesced anyway, and Yaxley moved Harry along the line of student and into Umbridge's office.
And that was something Harry didn't enjoy at all as he could feel every eye upon him as he walked along the corridor, and thanks to his vastly improved hearing, heard all of the whispers too. Not that the whisperers were anywhere near as quiet as they thought they were. Still, it was embarrassing, and Harry felt the back of his neck go warm at their words.
As best he could Harry ignored it. No sense worrying about that when he had to face Umbridge and answer questions about letters he knew nothing about.
Yaxley followed Harry inside the office, closing the door behind himself. Harry noted with distinct pleasure – tinged with distaste at the smell – that the door farted as it did so. If nothing else, Harry could at least be happy in the knowledge that Umbridge had been dealing with that all day.
"I am quite surprised to see you here today, Harry," Umbridge said as Harry sat down in the chair in front of her desk. "You have always been an excellent student—befitting your status as a prefect, of course—and all that fuss from previous years notwithstanding. So I am quite surprised and of course, upset that my Inquisitors have found cause to bring you before me." She paused and leaned closer, leaning on the edge of the table slightly. "Is everything all right, my dear?"
If Harry hadn't known Umbridge cared for little other than her own fortunes and how to climb higher in the Ministry he might have been prepared to believe she was actually concerned. Certainly, she had the right tone, posture, and even look in her eyes. But Harry simply couldn't believe that she really cared. No, more likely she wanted him to feel at ease so he would spill some secrets.
Unfortunately for her, Harry was becoming quite the proficient occlumens, and even if he had been nervous, anxious, or lulled into a false sense of security, he could dampen those feelings. And if she attempted to use Veritaserum on him – which to be fair, Harry would encourage – he could occlude past it and lie anyway.
"High Inquisitor," Harry said, "I'm only here because of a misunderstanding. I haven't done anything at all wrong—I promise."
"Well, we'll get all this sorted out right away, won't we, my dear?" she said. She glanced up at Yaxley. "Would you please explain?"
"Of course, High Inquisitor," Yaxley said immediately. He produced the planted letters from his robe pocket and handed them to Umbridge. "I found these letters in Potter's school trunk," Yaxley explained, "obviously from the traitor Dumbledore. I haven't had a chance to read through them—above my pay grade, you see—but I recognised the seal. So I brought them here for you to look at."
Harry sat there with what he hoped with a totally impassive look on his face. He was occluding, anyway, so he didn't think he would be overly emotional. He resisted the urge to look back at Yaxley. Yaxley knew what the letters said. Or Harry supposed he might not have if he'd simply been told to plant them and not read them.
Depending on how closely involved Yaxley was with Voldemort and his plans, he could know everything or nothing at all.
"Letters from Dumbledore," repeated Umbridge, looking down at the letters. "Harry, would you mind if I read these letters? I must—of course—ascertain your innocence, and I can only do so with evidence. I would not otherwise be inclined to pry into your personal correspondence."
Ugh, Harry thought. None of Umbridge's concern was genuine, but quite apart from that, she was going to read the letters regardless of Harry's answer. It was part of an official Ministry investigation.
The problem was, Harry didn't have a clue what the letters said because he'd never seen them before. Not that he expected anyone to believe him. Still, offering to take Veritaserum would probably go some way to making Umbridge consider his words, and hopefully she'd have some around to actually use it. He'd heard rumours of her dosing her cakes and tea with it for some of the student interviews, which he definitely felt was plausible.
"I don't mind at all, High Inquisitor," Harry said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, "but I have to tell you—they're not mine. I don't get letters from Professor Dumbledore; I think someone must have planted them in my trunk to make me look guilty of something."
"That is a very serious accusation, Harry!" said Umbridge. She made no move to read the letters. "Just what are you suggesting?"
Harry shrugged.
"I don't know who would have done that, High Inquisitor, but I'm just saying that someone did." He fought the urge to look back at Yaxley. Harry knew Umbridge relied on Yaxley and quite possibly even liked his Arlecchino persona on a personal level, so he didn't want ruin his chances at survival by implicating Yaxley.
Even though it was definitely Yaxley who had done it.
Umbridge was silent. She looked as if she were considering Harry's words, although whether or not she actually was, Harry wasn't sure. This whole plan could have been cooked up with Umbridge's blessing, after all, although Harry didn't think she would have understood the wider implications of it.
"I find it not wholly inconceivable that someone would do that," Umbridge said eventually, although she didn't seem happy at the thought. "But even so, I must read these letters and make a decision based on the evidence I have before me. Do you have any evidence of what is, after all, quite an extraordinary claim?"
"Not directly," Harry said quickly. "But I'll take Veritaserum. Right here and now, if you've got it. I promise you, High Inquisitor, those letters have nothing to do with me. If this has to go to an official investigation at the Ministry they'll use it anyway—so if we can just get all of that done right now, isn't that better for everyone?"
"An interesting defence," Umbridge murmured. Harry couldn't tell whether she'd be prepared to go for it or not. She'd want the chance to ask him questions, certainly… but Veritaserum was a controlled substance.
Umbridge opened the first of the letters and read through it, her expression remaining impassive as she did so. Then the second, and then the third. When she was done Umbridge placed the letters back onto her desk. "I am concerned, Harry," Umbridge said eventually. "Deeply concerned."
Bollocks are you concerned, Harry thought. Whatever it said in the letters, Harry knew the only thing Umbridge would be at all concerned about was that she wouldn't be able to control him. Or the narrative.
"High Inquisitor, I really don't know what you're talking about," Harry said. "I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but I don't know what's in those letters. They aren't mine. Can I at least read them so I can see what I'm being accused of?"
Umbridge ignored Harry. Instead, she looked past Harry and at Yaxley, who was standing there silently watching the proceedings.
"When you found these letters," Umbridge said to Yaxley, "was Harry's response the same then as it is now? That is to say, has he been proclaiming his innocence from the very start?"
This time Harry looked back at Yaxley. The man had been asked a direct question about Harry, and Harry wanted to see the answer.
"He has, High Inquisitor," said Yaxley after a few moments of silence. "Which isn't surprising—nearly all of them have said the same sort of thing. 'That's not mine', 'I've not seen that before', 'I'm holding onto it for a friend'." He shrugged. "You've heard the excuses. Don't doubt there'll be some real interesting ones coming through today. But Potter's been saying this since I found them."
"Because they really aren't mine," Harry said again. He didn't think Umbridge would believe him, but he had to keep trying. "I really will take Veritaserum. I've got nothing to hide, High Inquisitor."
"My dear, we—that is to say, the Ministry—does not use Veritaserum willy-nilly," Umbridge said, "though your willingness to cooperate with the investigation is in your favour." She glanced back at Yaxley. "Is it possible that someone planted these letters in Harry's belongings?"
Yaxley shrugged.
"It's always possible," he said. "Can't see why anyone would've, though—only Inquisitors knew there would be searches today, and only myself and Inquisitor Vipera attended the dungeons."
Harry frowned. The implication being, of course, that neither Vipera nor Yaxley's Arlecchino persona would ever do such a thing. And Harry didn't doubt that Umbridge believed that. Or at least believed that her underlings were as committed to the cause as she was, even if she didn't rate their trustworthiness in other areas.
And since the Inquisitors were all above reproach, that left the only person with any forewarning about the searches as Blaise. And not even Blaise would have known the searches were going to take place that day. Harry didn't think even Umbridge had known there would be searches until Yaxley had fallen foul of Harry and the twins' handiwork.
"Yes, yes," said Umbridge quietly. "An unusual situation indeed."
Silence.
Yaxley seemed quite content to let Umbridge work through whatever problems she was thinking about, whilst Harry was sat there trying to figure out how to get a look at the letters and how to persuade Umbridge that he'd done nothing wrong.
And failing that, how to convince Umbridge that whatever he'd done wrong wasn't worth any major forms of punishment. And definitely not anything to contact the Ministry over.
"High Inquisitor? May I see the letters, please? I'd like to know what I've been accused of," Harry said again. He wasn't at all sure Umbridge would even let him look – even if Umbridge believed he was telling the truth Harry assumed she would like the upper hand in any negotiations. But he waited for a response anyway.
After what felt like forever, Umbridge nodded and passed the letters across her desk towards him. Harry scanned through them quickly.
Immediately, Harry knew they weren't actual letters written by Dumbledore. The handwriting was off, like someone had tried to replicate Dumbledore's by memory. But the content… the content was enough to give Harry reason to worry. Several times the letters referenced Harry and Dumbledore meeting in an unspecified secret location over Christmas.
Meetings that had, in fact, happened – but which nobody outside of the Order of the Phoenix should have ever known about. There was nothing concrete in the fabricated letters – no actual identifying information, not even a mention of Sirius or other members of the Order.
But there was just enough true information inside it that Harry was worried. It was certainly enough to link Harry to Dumbledore and Dumbledore's supposed ongoing treason and treachery. And the worst part was, despite being faked letters, it was all true.
Not that Harry was going to tell the truth about it. But that wasn't the point.
"High Inquisitor, I don't know why someone would go to the trouble of doing this, but these letters are all complete lies," Harry said once he'd finished reading through the letters. He put as much force behind his words as he could – although everything he'd said was a lie, he needed it to sound like the truth. "I haven't seen Headmaster Dumbledore—er, the former Headmaster Dumbledore—since before he left Hogwarts. This," Harry said, gesturing to the letters, "is nonsense. I spent Christmas and New Year's Eve with my family. My muggle family. We didn't… I certainly wasn't…"
Harry shrugged.
"The idea that I was in secret meetings with Dumbledore is ridiculous, if I'm honest, High Inquisitor." He leaned back in his chair and tried to project an air of nonchalance. "I don't even know where Dumbledore is—I literally couldn't even begin to tell you where he is." Well, that was actually true, but for reasons other than ignorance. "These letters are just—I mean, it's all vague nonsense, isn't it? And I know Dumbledore's a—you know, I know he's a traitorous criminal and all, but he's not stupid. He'd never write to anyone and say something like—"
"High Inquisitor," said Yaxley, "the evidence against Mr Potter is quite substantial. It seems clear to me that there has been some degree of collusion between Potter and Dumbledore, and that Potter is—if not directly involved in—at least party to knowledge of seditious and treasonous activities. As per the Standing Orders I propose we contact the Office in Charge of—"
"High Inquisitor, I promise you I have no idea why these letters were in my trunk. They're nothing to do with me," Harry said, interrupting. The moment anything got to the Ministry was the moment everything spiralled out of control. If he could, he needed to avoid that. "You can use Veritaserum—"
"I don't think there will be any need for all of that," Umbridge said, interrupting both Harry and Yaxley. She looked up at Yaxley. "Inquisitor—you have done excellent work today. Thank you. But I would now like for you to leave us. What is to pass between myself and Harry here is no one's business but our own. Do you understand me, Inquisitor?"
Umbridge's statement took Harry by surprise. Shocked him so completely that Harry had nothing more to say, but Yaxley evidently hadn't been expecting Umbridge's words either. He stood there, mouth slightly agape, staring.
Clearly, Yaxley had been anticipating an entirely different outcome, one which involved Harry clapped in chains under Ministry interrogation. Perhaps even held without charge or trial under the Treason Act.
But as nice as it was to have Yaxley dismissed, Harry knew Umbridge had plans of her own. Her agenda was mostly that of the Ministry, except where it wasn't. And where it wasn't invariably had to do with Umbridge's own fortunes.
Think, Harry. What could she want?
The trouble was, Harry hadn't been able to figure out what it was that Umbridge specifically wanted. For the most part he was convinced that Umbridge really was totally on board with what the Ministry wanted. But there was something else, some other motivation that moved Umbridge to make her own plans wrapped within those of the Ministry. Something for Umbridge alone.
"I—if you're sure, High Inquisitor," Yaxley said eventually, after far too long a silence. "But the letters are quite incriminating and I wouldn't want anyone to suggest any—any impropriety in regards to evidence handling."
"My dear Inquisitor, I can assure you that there shall be no impropriety under my watch," Umbridge said with a smile. "Do not forget that I am here on the Minister's authority. I understand well what I am supposed to do, and how I am supposed to do it. Now…?"
"Of course, High Inquisitor," Yaxley said. He made a little bow and then backed out of the office, closing the door behind him.
"Now then, Harry," said Umbridge once the door was shut and they were alone in the office, her tone full of cheer. "I'm quite sure that neither of us wants to have to contact the Ministry with all of this." Umbridge gestured to the letters on the desk. "I am afraid that a full and proper investigation into the circumstances surrounding your receipt of these letters would require far too much time and too many resources which at present, no one is able to spare. This is, of course, regrettable; the Inquisition and the Ministry strives to adhere to rules and regulations and to carry out duties in only the most proper and complete way. Alas, this most recent spate of bad behaviour from your colleagues has stretched the Inquisition thin."
Umbridge sighed an exaggerated, almost theatrical, sigh and tilted her head slightly to one side.
"The circumstances surrounding these letters are quite unusual, as I am sure you agree. I find that it is… plausible… that you have no knowledge of them, and yet they have been found in your possession by a trusted agent of the Inquisition. Were the press to hear of this questions would be raised, questions which neither of us would like to answer overly much. For you to be found with such things in your possession… well, I need not stress how it would look for the Inquisition. And I am positive that you understand the difficult consequences which would befall you should the press get wind of all this…"
Umbridge sighed again.
"Especially if, as you say, you have no knowledge of these letters. And if you do… well… I think we can use this opportunity to make a positive intervention to align you more closely with the Ministry and its agents. So I am sure that you understand when I say that we shall find another way to put this little affair behind us."
Umbridge paused.
"Do you understand, Harry?"
From where Harry was sat it sounded like Umbridge was prepared to look the other way. Perhaps not entirely, but she didn't intend to have the letters sent to the Ministry. From the way she was speaking it seemed like Harry wouldn't even get half an hour on the rack or face the Stinging Jinxes either.
But that hardly seemed possible given the woman's general love of meting out cruel and unusual punishments, especially to those who didn't support her. Although… from what Umbridge had said there was the potential for things to reflect on Umbridge poorly should the right questions be asked.
Perhaps due to a perceived inability to control students, if Harry really had been conspiring with Dumbledore… or perhaps if the letters were discovered to have been planted by Yaxley – or more likely, Yaxley would frame someone else – or… any number of things.
Umbridge was sure to have enemies within the Ministry. If she had any talent at all it was making sure people around her hated her with every fibre of their being.
But what did that mean for Harry?
Can I push it? Harry wondered. If he pressed the issue, made it go to a proper investigation with Veritaserum and Aurors, would that work out well for him? He couldn't say. The last time he'd engaged with the wizarding legal system was a mixed bag, and he had been the clear victim on that count. Harry could easily lie under Veritaserum, and he really hadn't received those letters from Dumbledore… but an investigation would surely take a lot of time to happen.
More than usual if Umbridge decided to impede it.
And throughout it all Harry would be… well, he wasn't sure. Expelled, perhaps. Suspended pending review, at the very least, and even if he won in court or passed the investigation it would delay his OWLs and see his name and face plastered all over the papers. Even if Harry came out of it all looking squeaky clean the whole thing was predicated on Dumbledore's treason charges, so it would harm his reputation even further, and a Dumbledore whose name was mud was far less useful fighting against Voldemort than the alternatives.
That all seemed too risky. Harry glanced around the office but found nothing in its kitschy décor to help him.
No, Harry decided. Pushing it was a bad idea. But Umbridge clearly wanted something. She was willing to concede some ground… if Harry was, too. She wanted to make a positive intervention, which Harry supposed was code for wanting to exert some influence over Harry. Make him do favours. Something along those lines.
Harry tried to think through the likely consequences of such a thing. If they were caught, Umbridge would be able to suggest that she'd taken the opportunity to help win Harry back to the path of the good and righteous. Failing that, that she'd done her duty as a Ministry agent and tried to learn more about an on-going conspiracy.
But what could Harry claim? He could try to plead innocence, he supposed. He could always take Veritaserum. He could try to claim Umbridge's gambit had worked, and he was fully on board with the Ministry. But… Harry doubted Umbridge wanted it to get that far in the first place. She probably really did want to sweep things under the carpet while coming away with something nice in her robe pocket.
Harry glanced back at Umbridge, waiting as she was with her little smile. Expectant.
He couldn't figure out a third option. It seemed as if his choices really were between Umbridge and the Ministry. Given everything, Harry thought Umbridge was his only real option.
Is that what this was all about? Harry wondered. She could have been in on it all, he supposed, and Yaxley's disappointed act was really an act concocted by the pair of them to gain Harry's cooperation in… something.
Harry glanced at Umbridge again.
That didn't sound right, though. He thought Umbridge probably didn't know anything about the letters and was just taking her chance to gain some sort of control over Harry. Making the most of an opportunity that likely wouldn't come again. From her perspective it likely didn't matter whether the letters were real or not – even if she was inclined to believe Harry, what really mattered was what she could use them for. And enough people would believe in their veracity that Harry would be faced with all sorts of problems trying to fight his case.
Going along with Umbridge was likely his best option. But what would the cost be?
"I think I understand what you mean, High Inquisitor," Harry said. "The Inquisition and the Ministry have both got their hands full dealing with real problems. We can sort this out between the pair of us."
"Having been told by your professors that you are a clever student I am of course relieved to see that their assessment has been correct," Umbridge said, still with that same little smile. That was enough to make Harry wonder if he'd made a mistake, but he didn't want to walk out of Umbridge's office and into a cell at the Ministry.
Depending on what Umbridge was going to ask of him, Harry could always agree and back out later. Or agree, carry out his duties, and do the opposite in private.
Hopefully.
He just had to get past the initial hurdle and figure out what Umbridge wanted.
"So," continued Umbridge. "We shall put this matter behind us in the understanding that, should the need arise, the Inquisition shall have your full and open support. There shall be no… how shall I put it… pointed questions in lessons; no attempts to skirt the rules regarding fraternisation in groups; no attempts to breach curfews and so on. I expect there shall be a spot of insubordination following this most recent intervention. I expect you to do your full and proper duty as a prefect in the event," Umbridge said. "And there shall of course come a time when I will need to call on you personally. I trust that you will answer me." She paused.
"Do this, Harry, and we shan't need to bother with any of the unpleasantness of punishments or disciplinary actions—those are for students whose understanding of the way of things is rather less developed than yours." She blinked several times, and Harry belatedly realised she was fluttering her lashes. "I do believe this is the beginning of a very fruitful relationship, my dear."
Students who don't have anything you want, you mean, Harry thought. He had no doubt in his mind that the only reason he was getting any kind of clemency was because he was Harry Potter. That his name and reputation could be used to further some goal of Umbridge's, and that was more important than pesky things like rules or regulations.
That and the fact that perhaps Umbridge had questions over the loyalty of her lieutenants or even goals at odds with the Ministry's… and that was perhaps the key takeaway from the whole sorry affair. If Umbridge had questions about Yaxley – or Vipera, Harry supposed, but she hadn't been inside the boys' rooms – that was something Harry could use.
It was, in a strange twist of fate, something they had in common.
And for the rest, well… Harry supposed that at least he wouldn't have to put up with an hour's stretching on the rack. Or that awful blood quill.
But maybe those are the better option…
Harry fought the urge to laugh. Sat there in Umbridge's office full of its tacky ornaments festooned with images of cats and kittens playing, the thought that the alternative to working with Umbridge was literal medieval torture seemed absurd. Farcical, almost. Even Umbridge herself, always at pains to appear approachable and sweet – almost girlish rather than womanly – belied the severity of the situation.
"Of course, High Inquisitor," Harry said, injecting as much warmth and sincerity into his voice as he could. "I've always supported the Inquisition and the Ministry—I'll do what's needed to keep order at the school. That's why I was made a prefect."
But will I wish I'd taken the torture once this is over? Harry wondered. He didn't much like the thought of working to stop the very revolution he'd been working so hard to foment. That seemed not only pointless but contrary to his core beliefs and values.
Far better to just take a punishment instead.
But then, he supposed for him the alternative wasn't torture at the hands of the Inquisition, but instead a highly public investigation and possible trial before the Wizengamot for treason. Or conspiracy. Or… whatever trumped up charges Umbridge and the Ministry decided to come up with.
And that was the real danger, the one that Harry had to avoid at all costs. That would put him squarely in the hands of Voldemort and Voldemort's own goons, where not even Dumbledore could help him. Better to tread carefully. Cells at the Ministry were notoriously leaky.
"I am so glad that you understand the situation we find ourselves in, Harry," Umbridge said. "Now, I shall for my part do my best to investigate how such letters could come to be in your trunk without your knowledge." She clutched the letters closer, clearly having no intention to give them over to Harry. "We will achieve great things together, Harry. Of that I am sure." She smiled.
Harry did his best not to grimace. That was entirely the wrong sort of vibe to send even if it would make him feel much better about the situation.
"Of course, High Inquisitor," Harry said, forcing himself to smile instead.
"You may go, Harry. I shall inform my Inquisitors that we have an understanding from now on. All I ask of you is your continued cooperation with and commitment to the Inquisition and its goals at Hogwarts. I daresay you will be needed in the aftermath of this—most necessary—intervention."
"Yes, High Inquisitor," Harry said. "Thank you. I'm… I'm pleased we could come to an understanding." He felt sick at the words, but he knew he had to say them. He couldn't flounce away like a petulant child. He had to look and sound pleased, ready to work with Umbridge on whatever she was going to ask. Full of the proper gratitude.
He stood up and left the office, walking past the snaking queue of students yet to be investigated by Umbridge – along with their Inquisitorial supervisors.
He felt every eye on him as he moved away but ignored it as best he could. It wasn't as if he didn't have practise ignoring it either, since people were always watching him for one reason or another. Still, it wasn't nice, and Harry was glad to get away.
He headed back to the dungeons right away, keen to speak with his friends and debrief. He passed several groups of Inquisitorial Squad on his way back, along with teachers and some other prefects, but a quick explanation that Umbridge had sent him back to his Common Room was enough to get him past.
Apart from them, the castle was eerily quiet. Empty, almost.
By the time Harry got back into the Common Room lunch was over. The growling of his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten, but Harry ignored it. Instead, he found Tracey, Daphne, and Millie where they sat together in their usual spot. Blaise was nowhere to be seen, but Harry assumed he was discharging his Inquisitorial duties.
Many of the usual groups had students missing from them, the other unfortunates arranged outside Umbridge's office or sent God only knew where after being seen by her, but the Common Room was packed to bursting anyway. It seemed like everyone who wasn't outside Umbridge's office was in the Common Room.
"How did it go?" asked Tracey as soon as Harry sat down. Her voice was as cheery as always, but Harry knew it for a lie – her hair was messy, which meant she'd been messing around with it through stress, and she kept tapping her leg. But the other girls were much the same – Daphne was braiding Millie's hair, which Millie almost never let her do, so clearly all three girls were spooked by the day's events.
"Not as bad as it could have gone, if I'm honest," Harry said quietly.
"So, shit, you mean?" said Millie.
"Well, yeah," Harry said. He shrugged. "But after what Arlecchino planted in my trunk, I could have been facing something much worse. So it's not so bad."
Optimism. That's what Harry had decided he needed to deal with everything. He would have to do at least one unspecified favour for Umbridge, but that was fine. That was better than being snatched from Ministry custody by the Malfoy-Voldemort amalgam and sent… well… probably to Malfoy Manor, and that was the most pleasant possibility.
"What did he put in there?" asked Tracey. "There's all sorts of rumours going around…"
"Some people are saying you've gone Dark and you're trying to assassinate the Minister," Daphne said. She immediately frowned. "Obviously, I told them off—but no one's listening."
"Thanks, Daph," Harry said. "I mean, obviously I'm not trying to kill Fudge. That's just ridiculous. But… Arlecchino put fake letters from Dumbledore in my trunk." Harry lowered his voice. "The thing is, some of the details in the letters were real. Which means…"
"There's a spy!" gasped Tracey.
"Yeah," said Harry. "Not good news at all. I'm thinking that we need to have a meeting—all eight of us. In the You-Know-Where. As soon as possible."
The three girls shared a look.
"That's going to be hard," Tracey said after a few moments. "The entire castle's been put on lockdown. No clubs. No trips out on the grounds. We're not supposed to leave the Common Rooms except for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
Harry grimaced. Of course Umbridge would do that. It would certainly lessen the chances of any reprisals from the student body if they weren't allowed to go anywhere. And if no one was allowed to leave the Common Rooms, nobody could send an owl home to complain. With the Floos being watched – and quite possibly blocked off given recent events – nobody could firecall their parents either.
"Of course she did. Brilliant."
Harry sighed. He needed to get a message to Sirius and Dumbledore. That was his number one priority. It would be difficult if he wasn't allowed out of the Common Room. Especially without his Cloak. He could wait until later on at nighttime once everyone else was in bed and sneak out to use the two way mirror he'd stashed in the Chamber.
Assuming the Squad hadn't been put on round the clock patrols. Blaise would let him get away with it, but some of the others…
"It won't last," Millie said. "It can't. People are already pissed off with all this—too many people were caught with something they shouldn't have had."
"That's true," Daphne said. "Some people are already talking about just ignoring the curfews and lockdowns. Some of the fifth years have said they'll defend themselves if the Inquisitors try any spells on them."
Wouldn't that be something, Harry thought to himself. Of course, if that actually happened it would lead to all out war in the corridors. Prosecutions, maybe. But perhaps that was where things were headed…
"But if Umbridge found those letters on you," Tracey said, drawing Harry back into the conversation, "why did she let you go?"
"Ugh," Harry said. "Yeah. So. Don't hate for me this one, but I've had to agree to, basically, support her and the Inquisition. She won't go to the Ministry if I help her. She wants us to have a 'fruitful relationship'. But I felt like I had to agree because if I didn't I might end up in a cell at the Ministry, and if that happens I'll be right where Voldemort can get me."
"You did the right thing," Tracey said immediately. "You've got to keep yourself safe. We can work around that, anyway. Especially if we know you've got that favour hanging over you." She glanced at the other girls. "Right?"
"Deffo," Millie said.
Daphne had gone even paler than usual, but she nodded.
"I don't like any of this," Daphne said. "This is just… it's a lot."
"But there's nothing we can do about it," said Millie, "so…"
"Do you think she'll keep up locked down for the whole Easter break?" Harry wondered aloud. "That would be a bit much, even for her."
The students would go mad if kept inside that long without their clubs, friends in other Houses, and just generally the ability to move about the castle. And that would have been the case if there hadn't been a massive abuse of power which had caused the lockdown. With everything that had happened Harry was surprised there weren't already literal riots.
All three girls stared at him.
"Harry, she's just ordered searches of the dorms, she's blackmailed you into doing whatever she wants, and she's got dozens of people outside her office right now waiting for punishment," Tracey said. "I don't think she knows the meaning of 'a bit much'."
"If she thought she could get away with it I bet she'd have us stuck in here until summer," Millicent said. "Allowed out just for lessons and meals."
"I don't think she could get away with that, though," Daphne said. "Could she?"
Harry just shrugged. Umbridge had the Ministry's authority, so as long as she acted within the bounds of the law – bounds which were increasingly flexible – she could do what she liked. But if she pushed the students too far a dam would break and Harry wondered whether the resulting flood could be contained.
"We can worry about that if it happens," Tracey said. "Did Umbridge keep the letters?"
Harry nodded.
"Yeah. So I'm going to have to do what she wants when she asks or…" Harry sighed. He didn't like it. It felt cowardly, almost like he was giving up or rolling over without a fight. But there was much more at stake than a trip to the dungeons. There was more to worry about even than expulsion, as Harry had some very dangerous wizards out for his blood.
Dangerous wizards who had infiltrated the Ministry. At least Yaxley was constrained by the presence of teachers and even the other Inquisitors and Umbridge herself. There was simply no telling who Voldemort had within the Ministry, since Harry didn't doubt Malfoy was only the tip of the iceberg.
"Well, that's just sensible," Tracey said. "Don't even think about refusing, Harry—it's too dangerous. As long as she doesn't ask you for anything really bad, just do it. We can worry about how it looks afterwards."
"Ugh." Harry glanced away. "I know that's what I need to do. I just… well, I don't like it."
"Let's try and focus on something else," Tracey suggested. "Shall we play a game? I've got a couple of our board games in my trunk, or we can do cards if you want. Or we don't even have to play anything at all and you can read or do revision or whatever you want—I just think maybe it's a good idea to focus on something else right now. Nan always says… oh, well, you know what Nan always says."
"Er… let's play a game, then," Harry said. He didn't much feel like it, but there wasn't anything else they could do and he didn't want to do homework or revision either. And it would kill the time until Blaise got back and they could debrief further.
