Chapter 18

A bottomless bag always came in handy when I had too many books to carry. Many of the books I received from the Potter Vault were on bookshelves in my room, but I kept the darker ones in the bag. I didn't need Pansy and Daphne seeing them before they needed to, or rather anyone.

It was particularly useful on the two times a week we went to the library to study. I wasn't a fan of it but my Magical knowledge came quickly to me. I absorbed everything practical and theoretical presented to me, wanting every advantage that I could get my hands on.

On one particular trip, it was interrupted by the younger Greengrass sister. She had almost turned up her nose at me but a sharp look from Daphne got her speaking quickly.

"Your boys are asking for you," Astoria said, pushing her blonde hair off her shoulders. She wore a pair of golden studs that sparkled like stars. "Umbridge is making a mess."

Pansy snorted, "Where?"

"The courtyard,"

Withing the instant, we were in step together and striding towards the main courtyard.

A crowd had gathered around every wall of the archways. No one dared to stand directly in the courtyard where the pink bitch was talking ill to Trelawney.

Between two curved arches, a bench was taken by the three Slytherin Aces. When Blaise's dark eyes caught mine, he nodding for us to join. He and Theo stood while Draco remained sitting for the moment. All of us watched Umbridge begin her spewing of words.

"Always a mess," I said without even greeting the boys. "Umbridge doesn't even have the decency to tell her in private."

"I understand she's getting fired but doing it in public?" Pansy snided. "Now that's low."

"She wants everyone to know," Daphne frowned at the vulgar display.

"Umbridge wants everyone to know her power at Hogwarts," Silver said to me. I didn't even react. Years of soft scoldings and reminders set it into me.

Only alone, could I react to the Ghost that protected me.

Instead, I said, to the group, "Her power at Hogwarts is expanding. She's getting cocky."

The four laughed. When Pansy and Daphne sat down on the empty space, Draco stood and gestured for me to take a seat.

I had a better idea.

The ledge in between the arches was enough for me to sit on. I stepped on the bench, feeling Draco's hand pop out to hold my arm as I sat on the edge of the ledge, settling myself down so Pansy and Daphne could still see from their seats.

Umbridge's next words caught my attention.

"It was your home," Umbridge said, a revolting look of enjoyment on her face, stretching it out even more like a toad's. "until an hour ago, when the Minister of Magic countersigned the order for your dismissal. Now kindly remove yourself from this hall. You are embarrassing us."

The way she stared at Trelawney was like Voldemort looking at Harry right before our parents were killed. She had a gloating face on, like she had just won the biggest prize of being the biggest bitch in the world.

Professor McGonagall broke away from the spectators, marching straight up to Professor Trelawney. She patted her on the back, taking out a large handkercheif from her robes.

"There, there, Sibyll . . . Calm down. . . . Blow your nose on this. . . . It's not as bad as you think, now. . . . You are not going to have to leave Hogwarts. . . ."

"Oh really, Professor McGonagall?" Umbridge took a step forward, her voice turning to a mimic of Snape's when he trained me, like she was in charge of everything happening. "And your authority for that statement is . . . ?"

"That would be mine."

I whistled lowly, "The big boss himself."

Pansy snickered as the oak doors had opened and Dumbledore appeared, walking through to the courtyard to face Umbridge with McGonagall and Trelawney behind him.

"Yours, Professor Dumbledore?" Umbridge's voice hiccuped higher with a laugh. "I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister of Magic. Under the terms of Educational Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the power to inspect, place upon probation, and sack any teacher she — that is to say, I — feel is not performing up to the standard required by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her."

Oh?

What was her true powers on Hogwarts and in the Ministry? What could she achieved by this?

Dumbledore smiled before looking down at the sobbing Trelawney with McGonagall comforting her.

"You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge. As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the castle. I am afraid," he went on, with a courteous little bow, "that the power to do that still resides with the headmaster, and it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts."

Then Trelawney began to mumble something too low for us to hear. She went on and on until Dumbledore calmed her.

"This is taking a while," I muttered, then looked at Daphne and Pansy. "We should go to the Library. We have so much work to do."

Pansy sighed dramatically, slouching in her seat. Daphne, on the other hand, sat up straight and nodded.

"We do," she nudged Pansy. "Let's go before this crowd makes corridor unwalkable."

I nodded, turning to try to climb down. Instead, as soon as I raised myself enough to try to unstrable the ledge, Draco held me by the waist and guided me off. If I didn't have better control of myself, I would have blushed.

I dusted myself off.

"Ready to go?" Pansy nudged me with a few winks. She had an eager smile on her face and mischievous glint in her eye. "Or do you need some more time?"

I gave her the darkest, most hateful look I could and she just snickered and laughed, pulling me along as Daphne had started to walk. We caught up to her and headed to the Library, getting ready for our OWLs at the end of the year. Since Dumbledore had given me a new purpose in his plans, he deemed me ready to take my OWLs without consequence. I didn't think credentials would be useful when a skill in torture would be preferred.

)()()(

As the weeks passed on without notice, I settled into my friendship with Pansy and Daphne. They adored me and I, regretfully, had to admit I liked them. It didn't mean I agreed with what they thought but they had to believe I did. I was a horrible person, but I was never a horrible Witch. My comments were small and scattered between, muttered to the only Witches who mattered at the moment. And when those words were so ingrown in my skin, like a serpent with thick scales, each lie written on a single shiny scale, I would sprinkle in a few more choice comments.

Only ever words a proud Pureblood Witch with Magical strength would do, edge the conversation into the direction of Dark Arts and eventually to Death Eaters and Voldemort.

How else was I supposed to show my interest?

I needed to have a head start if I wanted to get into his ranks before he could kill my brother. At this rate, there was a chance he would and wouldn't. With my brother's likelihood of getting into trouble, there was a chance of him getting himself into deep shit. I wasn't going to be responsible for the shit show he could cause, but I'd try to keep it tame.

I had caught up to the level needed to pass my OWLs in less than a year. The concept and history of Magic came to me like walking. I just needed to be pushed before I could truly achieve.

I was given everything I would need to become an Animagus with a note from McGonagall, simply stating 'Be cautious'.

I kept my head down when Umbridge was there, never falling on her radar. After being friends with Pansy and Daphne, I could keep my cool when speaking to her and she bothered me less when I was with them.

But then his little group of rogue students just had to be caught and my duelling lesson with Snape had to be paused. With how my duelling was going, Snape added to my schedule. We changed out from the Room of Requirement and went to the forest, standing in the clearing made for rituals. He would send spell after spell at me and I had to know the counter-curse and everything that came with it while duelling the spells off. Then I would send my own.

Their little circumstance interrupted my lesson by being forced to be called to Dumbledore's office, still dressed in my duelling outfit. My hair was a wave of a mess, curling whichever way it wanted. My sleeves were rolled up and my wand was tucked into a loop of my trousers.

I knocked at the office door and went in, carefully looking through the room. It was just me and Umbridge, who sat in Dumbledore's chair.

"The headmaster asked for me?" I calmly said, watching her expression change from mirth to hidden glee and smugness.

She hummed, "Have a seat, Miss Potter. Tea?"

I nodded politely, taking the offered seat slowly. "Thank you."

She swayed her fingers in the air, summoning the teapot and cups to the table. It was impressive enough to make me raise an eyebrow but never enough for me to bow at. Both Pansy and Daphne could do that already. She let the tea settle before sipping hers, letting me take my first sip.

As if on cue, I felt the impulse of Veritaserum in my system, trying to force me to speak the realest truths. And, as my training taught me, I shoved those thoughts aside and took another sip, consuming even more.

"If I may ask, where is Headmaster Dumbledore?" my tone was polite, keeping it level to steep a realness to my words.

She drank her tea again, taking her time in putting the teacup down before speaking slowly, as if to a young child, "Circumstances have occurred that has forced Albus Dumbledore to resign his Headmaster title. Do you have any knowledge of an illegal grouping of students?"

I shook my head, "No, ma'am. I thought all groups were to disband due to your decrees, unless authorised such as Quidditch teams. I thought the Quidditch teams were the only students you allowed to have meetings."

"You're a clever girl, Miss Potter," she curled her words around my name, trying to entice me to spill the goings-on that occurred. It wouldn't work. "You must have heard of something."

I shook my head again and she sighed, drooping her shoulders.

"Hmm," there was a pause as she looked into her cup and then into my eyes, daring me again. "I see. Well, under everyone's noses, there is a small collection of students. Only a few, very powerful students, falsely chosen for their ability to protect Hogwarts. Do you know of this?"

I scrunched my eyebrows together, tilting my head, "Why would students be chosen to protect Hogwarts? Wouldn't professors make more sense? We're only students. We couldn't possibly do that."

We, as a plural of all students, couldn't do that. It was the truth, plain and simple and it satisfied her.

Her lips stretched out in a wide smile.

"You are right, Miss Potter," she took a second to consider her words. "But, as a student, you have something I do not. Invisibility within your peer group. As Albus Dumbledore was forced to step down, I have been promoted to his position as Headmistress. I need you to promise that whatever is said, is never spoken of."

I crossed my arms loosely, finished with my cup, leaning on the desk a little as the hand I stuck under shifted until two fingers were crossed.

"I promise,"

A promise which I would never have to fulfil, voided by simply cross two limbs.

"There's a group of students, always four," she said and I instantly knew she was talking about the Aces. "I need to know who they are. I understand the curse of knowing of them, never able to speak about it to someone who doesn't know. I assure you, Miss Potter, I wouldn't tax students with this unless I had a true reason to be concerned for their actions. You yourself said that you are all only children."

I wouldn't tax students with this.

There were more students she had given this order to. I doubted it was just any students. She would carefully choose them, making sure she had someone everywhere. I had to be careful.

I smiled brightly, as if I was overjoyed with the chance to serve her. "Of course, ma'am. I don't know of them but I will do my best to find out."

It was a quick dismissal after that, being sent out of her new office. I had to tell the Aces.

)()()(

My first stop was back to Snape. He had returned to his office after the interuption, letting him mark some work as he waited. I didn't bother knocking, just shouting as always.

"UMBITCH PUT TRUTH SERUM IN MY DRINK!"

Snape blinked, his hand pausing his scripture before he frowned deadly. He slowly pulled out a drawer, continuing his marking as he held out a small bottle.

I took it and downed it before I could think, gagging at the taste of the counter potion. I slumped into the free chair and rubbed my eyes before realising I was wearing dark eyeliner today. My fingers and eyes were smudged. I rubbed my thumb and fingers, reversing it and letting my makeup settle.

"I do not believe that is her title, Miss Potter," he said, never looking up from his papers.

I rolled my eyes, waving a hand, "Better than her title of Headmistress."

He paused, placing down his pen carefully before sitting back in his seat, observing me. It was almost a curious look he gave me, questioning what I said.

"Her title of Headmistress?" he said slowly, repeating it once more. A grim expression appeared. "Her title of Headmistress? Are you sure?"

"She was in Dumbledore's office," I said. "He was gone and she wanted a meeting with me. She told me that something happened that forced Dumbledore to step down."

"Unwillingly, I'm sure," Snape frowned. "It seems like I have a competitor. Delores Umbridge did not get the Veritaserum from myself or my stock. I will need to have a word with her about using unethical methods on my student."

His student, not students. I was his sole attention at the moment, being forced to mentor me. I almost smiled at that but refrained from it.

"With Dumbledore's absence, I will be the one forced to tell you this," he said lowly. "What you have been doing, preparing yourself, training like a soldier, maintaining your appearance and reputation within Hogwarts, has been successful. Being invited to the Greengrass Ostara ball is a great achievement, one which you will not find enjoyment in."

I narrowed my eyes, sitting up straighter at an instant, "Why?"

Dark eyes looked into mine. It was like staring into a void, everything dark and consuming. Something prickled at the back of my mind, telling me a hunter was nearby. I had to keep watching his eyes. Something changed in them when he told me the reason for his distaste for this small meeting.

"The Dark Lord is foretold to be appearing at the party," he said. "There is very little you can do to prevent your meeting. You must act surprised, almost astonished at his mere presence. You need to grovel before him."

I sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of my nose, "This isn't how I wanted my first Ostara to be like."

"This is a situation of the utmost respect and reverence for this man," Snape said again. "You cannot treat this as a game. Your continuation of life might be in the balance, and the lives of you and your new friends."

"I know," I nodded. "I'll prepare myself as needed. Will you be there, sir?"

"I will be attending, not as your mentor, but as the Dark Lord's left hand," he said. "I will not be your connection to him. You will be speaking to many influential people at the party, and when he arrives, you will have to ask for a private word. I would assume you would be allowed your wand, unless he truly fears your existence."

"Will I be alone with him?" I grimaced. "I don't think I would fancy that."

"It does not matter if you like the situation or not. As much as word of mouth can flow through the gossip circles of the Pureblood society, his word is final. You will speak to him. You will convince him, within the capabilities you've been given by our training, and you will be given a task."

"A task?"

"He will give you a task before you can be marked, one you have to accomplish before you can move up his ranks," at his words, I nodded softly before he took a second to gaze at me. He stared for only a moment before looking back at his papers, tucking them together. "Get yourself ready for bed. I need to speak to our new Headmistress about her actions."