Chapter 21
Down with Umbridge Part II
(Opening song. Danger Danger by FZMZ feat. icy.)
(Hogsmeade village, hours before the fire)
So any recommendations, dragon?" Arianna asked Draco as they made their way through the snow-covered grounds of Hogsmeade village. It was eerily quiet due to it not being a weekend where students would frequently be. Only a few villagers were in the streets.
Draco rolled his eyes, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "I'm not a tour guide," he grumbled. "What do you want to do anyway? It's not like you can just waltz into the shops."
"I am new, so I figured a pure-blood like yourself would have the best taste when it comes to food and drink around here" she mused.
"You figured right. I do have the best taste when it comes to food and drink," he said with a smug smirk. "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks. It's where I go with the other Slytherins frequent on the weekends."
"Lead the way then"
Draco nodded and led the way toward the Three Broomsticks. The outside was a typical old-fashioned building, with a weathered sign swinging above the door, and the windows lit from within, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere. They entered the pub, the building giving off a welcoming mix of familiarity and warmth. The air was filled with the smell of ale and roasted meat. The interior was cozy, fitted with wooden tables and chairs, and a crackling fire burned in the hearth, casting a soft glow across the room. The only thing that was different was the lack of Hogwarts students, with only a few of the village locals sitting at the bar.
Draco found an empty booth in the corner of the pub and gestured for Arianna to sit.
"Sure, just let me hang up my cloak. It's too warm in here for my liking." Arianna said.
"Too warm? It's called having a fire. It's the middle of winter," he said with a scoff. "But fine, hang up your cloak. Just be quick about it."
She proceeded to take off her cloak and couldn't help but stare as Arianna revealed her outfit. He had never seen a girl dressed like this, especially at Hogwarts. The top left her back completely exposed thanks to the black criss-cross top she wore, revealing the intricate design of her Nordic-looking tattoo. Her jeans shorts stopped at the very top of her thighs, showing off her long legs that ended in brown combat boots. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, revealing her upper back even more.
"Um..." Draco struggled to form a coherent thought. He was still staring at Arianna's exposed upper back and legs, his cheeks growing slightly pink." Draco sputtered, his eyes nearly popping out of his head when he turned to face Airanna after hanging up his coat on the booth. The heat in his cheeks felt like he had accidentally splashed hot coffee on his face
"You say something?" she asked, turning to look at him.
"Nothing! Uh, I-I'll go get us some drinks," he muttered, hoping she didn't notice the slight falter in his confident tone. He quickly walked to the bar, praying that the cold air would cool his burning cheeks. He shortly returned with two butterbeers in his hand. She laughed as he sat down "What are you doing?"
Draco sat down in his seat across from her, his cheeks still flushed, but he tried to maintain his usual aloof demeanor. "What do you mean what am I doing? I'm sitting down. What else would I be doing?"
Arianna didn't say anything and slid over close to the wall on her end of the table. She looked at the space next to her.
Draco hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering between the space beside her and her face. He wasn't sure what she was playing at, but something told him that giving in to whatever she wanted was probably the better choice. With a gruff sigh and a shake of his head, he slid over and sat down next to her.
"Satisfied?" he grumbled,
"I'd say so," she said before she downed her whole mug of Butterbeer. "You know I wished these came in a can" she added leaning back and draping her legs across Draco's lap.
The unexpected contact sent a jolt through him, and his cheeks burned even hotter. He tried to maintain his composure, but the feeling of her legs on his lap was undeniably distracting.
"A Can?" he managed to respond finally with a condescending tone. "Why on earth would you want that?"
"You probably haven't, but have you ever heard of shotgunning?" Arianna asked.
"Shotgunning?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow, " What the hell does that even mean? It's a muggle thing, isn't it?"
"Yep," Arianna took her empty mug and showed it to him "It's when you punch a hole in the side of the can, near the bottom. You place your mouth over the hole you made and pull the tab on the top open. The liquid will shoot into your mouth like a bullet, so you have to drink it fast. Hence the name" Arianna explained, using the mug to demonstrate.
"You seriously do that?" he asked in disbelief. "Why not just drink it normally like a civilized person?"
"We do drink normally thank you," Arianna rolled her eyes. "But you can have shotgunning competitions at parties. Whoever finishes the drink first, wins"
Draco scoffed, taking another swig of his butterbeer. "You turn drinking into a competition? How barbaric. In the wizarding world, we have manners...decorum."
He glanced down at her legs still stretched across his lap, the material of her shirt hugging her waist, and the words slipped out before he could stop himself. "Not to mention proper dress code."
"Glad you like it" she retorted with a mischievous smirk
A hint of color tinted his cheeks as he realized he'd said his thoughts out loud. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. But damn, her smirk was maddening, knowing she had caught him off guard like that.
"What makes you think I like it?" He stammered "It's not proper, and all your doing is drawing attention to yourself"
"Maybe I like the eyes on me, the gray ones especially" She leaned back putting her hand behind her head.
He forced himself to maintain his composure, his eyes narrowing as he met her gaze. "Don't flatter yourself," he grumbled, trying to sound nonchalant, but the faint pinkness of his cheeks betrayed his true feelings. "I'm not interested in... your appearance."
Arianna giggled and didn't say a word, only pointing to her cheek with a raised eyebrow.
Draco's cheeks flushed even deeper at her gesture, realizing he had been caught. He let out a scoff, trying to cover his reaction with annoyance. "It's this damn heat!" he exclaimed defensively, gesturing to the warm pub.
"Mhm" she hummed
Draco's annoyance was growing with her nonchalance. He fidgeted, his fingers gripping the mug tightly as he struggled to keep his composure. "Can't you sit normally?" he asked sharply.
Arianna smiled and gave a quick snort. "Why? I'm not doing anything"
"It's damn distracting," he snapped quietly.
"It's not like we're in class"
"That's not the point. There's such a thing as decency, y'know."
"Relax, Dragon. We're not even supposed to be out here anyway. No Slytherins are gonna see us if that's what you're worried about" she said, leaning one of her arms on the table and resting her head in the palm of her head.
"I'm not worried about anyone seeing us," he hissed, his voice dropping to a whisper as he looked back at her. "But does it have to be like this? You're practically sprawled across me like you own the place?"
"Sorry, being irritating suits me,"
Draco let out a sigh of defeat. "Yeah, I noticed. And you're too damn good at it."his eyes flickered down to her legs again before he could stop himself.
Arianna gave a self-satisfying smile, and grabbed one of the menus "So what are you getting?"
"Probably the shepherd's pie," he grumbled, though his mind was still very much preoccupied with the proximity of her legs to his body. He took another hasty gulp of his butterbeer, hoping it would calm his racing thoughts.
"Knowing you, you'll get something equally barbaric to that "shot-whatever" you do to have a simple drink"
Arianna let out a snort "Just a simple basket of fish'n chips, and a bottle of Firewhiskey to go" she said nonchalantly.
Draco's eyebrows shot up to his hairline at her answer. "A whole bottle of Firewhiskey? Bloody hell, are you trying to get pitched!?"
"I'm not gonna drink it in one night," Arianna said, rolling her eyes. " It's just better to buy a bottle outright and take shots later throughout the year rather than spend the Galleons here."
"Well just take it easy, yeah?" he muttered, his voice roughened with a hint of worry. "I'm not gonna be carrying around while you wobble all over the place."
"Wouldn't be the first time," she replied with a proud smirk
Draco raised an eyebrow at that statement. "Not the first time? How often do you drink?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of disbelief and a bit of worry.
Arianna caught onto his concerned tone and gave a warm smile as a subtle blush came to her cheeks. "Not very often if that's your concern. Just when Galin and I decide to go to the muggle parties in our neighborhood back in the States. "
"Muggle parties?" he echoed, his voice filled with curiosity. "What the hell are those like?"
"Drinking games, music, occasional bonfire, midnight swims on the beach during the summer, mild delinquent behavior, etc." she listed
"That sounds like a disaster just waiting to happen" he scoffed trying to imagine such a scene. He couldn't picture the controlled, refined world he was used to being turned into a messy, alcohol-fueled party with a bonfire thrown into the mix.
"Well, there was that one time Galin threw a bunch of fireworks into a bonfire when he was shit-faced."
The mention of Galin's antics, Draco pinched his brow and let out an exasperated sigh "That brother of yours would be that stupid." he finally said. "Bloody hell! What happened after that?"
"Cops came to investigate the sounds. Everyone made a break for it into the woods"
Draco's eyes widened at the mention of cops, and he couldn't help but let out a sharp laugh. "You got muggle law enforcement called on your arse?! And you just ran into the woods like a bunch of hooligans? Merlin's beard woman, you're absolutely mental."
"I guess our antics aren't something you don't really experience during a pure-blood wizarding party." Arianna laughed.
"Y'think!?, we don't have muggle police to worry about, or idiots throwing explosives into a fire," Draco responded dryly. "But we have a whole different set of things to deal with, trust me."
"I was gonna ask you how wizard families like yours throw parties," she said her interest piqued.
"Well, they're far more civilized and regimented than your muggle parties, I can assure you," he said condescendingly. "There's usually a lot of wine, formal dancing, the occasional duel for entertainment, and a lot of old money folks dressed in their finest."
He leaned back in his seat, taking another gulp of his butterbeer. "And we certainly wouldn't be running off into the woods from the law enforcement."
"Sounds like a networking event" she mused.
Draco's smile disappeared at the statement. He turned his gaze away from her "I suppose you could call it that. Networking is a big part of it. A lot of old wizarding families use these parties to strengthen their connections, and yes, occasionally even to arrange marriages. It's all about status, mingling with the right people, and maintaining appearances in our world. It actually happens so many times I get deja vu each time I attend one." he said looking down at the butterbeer in his mug.
Arianna took her arm off the table and sat up straight, her smile disappearing. "Why am I getting the feeling you don't enjoy them because of that."
Draco exhaled deeply, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"Let's just say they can get a bit... predictable, tedious," he finally said. "It's all just the same people, the same conversations, the same old dances. Nothing exciting ever happens, and there's always a sense of being put on display, like a bloody show pony. To act a certain way, to wear certain robes, to say the right things in front of the right people. It's all just a facade, a performance, a constant battle to keep up appearances and one-uping each other." he started before taking a chug of his butterbeer.
"And the expectations, they're relentless. My family is one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, a group of families that have zero traces of muggles in them, and because of that, I'm always in the spotlight. I'm always expected to say the right things to the right people. Associate with people I hate for my parent's sake. Don't get me wrong, I love my mum and dad. They've done everything for me, but… because of that, it shows I haven't accomplished anything on my own. It was always because of the family name that's responsible for the accomplishments and positions I've held at Hogwarts…Sometimes I feel like a puppet, never being myself, just dancing to the tune of my family's expectations and the demands of our society. I'm bloody exhausted from it." he ranted.
Arianna listened to Draco's confession, empathy slowly forming across her face as she listened to each word. Once he finished she took her legs off Draco's lap and put her hand on top of his, her fingers sliding gently between the space between his. "You can always be yourself around me, Draco,"
He turned to look at her, a rare look of vulnerability in them, after a long pause he looked down at her hand that was intertwined with his.
"I don't even know who that is," he admitted with an unusually soft tone. "Where do I even begin to look?"
"Well," Arianna said, pausing and looking around at the almost empty pub. "Here you are having a nice bite to eat with a muggle-born... I'd say it's a good place to start," she said giving a warm smile
Draco couldn't help but let out a small quiet laugh at her response. "Yeah, I guess it is," he conceded, the tension slowly draining from his shoulders. He gently squeezed her hand that was on top of his, still intertwined on the table. I...appreciate this, Ari," he said quietly, his tone softer than usual. "For allowing me to let my guard down around you."
Arianna gave a small smile in return. "Don't thank me, I like seeing this side of you," she soothed.
Draco smiled at the words, turned to her, and gave a mock scowl at her. "Yeah well, just don't expect this behavior to continue when we're at Hogwarts. This is just a simple alliance against Potter, nothing more."
"Ok, whatever you say" Arianna chuckled, her usual mischievous smirk returning.
The waiter came to the table and gave them their food and drink. Arianna grabbed the bottle of Firewhiskey. and unscrewed the lid. Before taking a drink, she tilted the neck of the bottle toward Draco
"To our little secret then?" she asked with a sly smirk.
He chuckled slightly accepting the gesture, taking a swig from the bottle. The fiery liquid burned as it went down his throat, a familiar warmth spreading through his chest. "To our little secret," he agreed, setting the bottle down and taking a bite of his shepherd's pie.
Arianna took the bottle herself and took a large swig of her own from it, draping her legs over Draco's lap again and leaning back. "Ah,180 proof. Reminds me of home."
"You really aren't afraid of anything, are you? Teachers are gonna have a fit when they smell that alcohol." He stated with a raised eyebrow looking back down at her legs.
"What can I say, I'm a Gryffindor" she shrugged, setting the bottle down.
"Of course, how could I forget," he scoffed, rolling his eyes and looking back up at her. "Fearless bravery, and recklessness. It's almost nauseating."
Arianna chuckled at Draco's comment, her smirk widening. "Hey, you're one to talk, Mr. Slytherin. Cold, calculated, and full of ambition. It's almost like we're a match made in heaven."
He shook his head at the statement. "Yeah, a match made in heaven. Right in between hell and damnation," he replied sarcastically.
The two students finished their food and quickly made their way back to the grand entrance through the snow. Arianna slipped back into her robe before leaving the pub and the two and blended back in with the rest of the students. Arianna walked with Draco back to the Slytherin common rooms, the two having a bit of banter and forth along the way
"You know, for an annoying Gryffindor and a muggle-born, you're not too bad to spend time with," Draco muttered as they walked side by side.
Arianna chuckled at his comment. "And I thought the Slytherin Prince was incapable of saying something nice. Your words are a true honor." she teased.
Draco rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Don't get used to it, princess," he said gruffly, his hands shoved into his pockets. "You promise you'll be careful with that Firewhiskey, yeah? Don't do anything stupid."
"Sure, on one condition," she said, turning around and walking backward to face him.
"It's never just simple with you is it?" he muttered and pinched the middle of his brow. "Fine, what condition?"
"We do this again sometime"
Draco's eyebrows shot up at the statement, but he quickly regained his composure. "I have a busy schedule, but I wouldn't be opposed," he said in a huff "But no one else knows about these... outings. Understood?"
"Sure thing 'Malfoy', stays between us," Arianna said giving a playful wink
"Yeah, yeah, very funny," he muttered, rolling his eyes at her. "I mean it though, this stays between us. No one needs to know about... our little meetings."
"Well, my brothers probably already assume we're meeting up"
"Darkwood, I swear if-"
"Relax dragon, I'll make sure they won't say anything." Arianna chuckled, cutting him off, as she leaned into him as they came to a stop at the Slytherin common room. Before Draco could say the passcode, the door opened, and in the entryway was Yuno.
The boy eyed his sister and Draco. "Date night?" he asked with a knowing raised eyebrow
"No!" Draco said sharply. "We were just... talking." He looked over at Arianna, silently hoping she would back up his story.
Yuno sighed and rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say." He then stepped out of the hallway and stood by Arianna. " Can you do us all a favor and talk to Umbridge about Crabbe and Goyle's position on the Inquisitorial Squad? As funny as it is to see them keep docking points from our house because I'm a mudblood, we lost the lead for the house cup now because of it. They're making us look like absolute morons. " Yuno explained.
"AGAIN!?" Draco shouted. He let out an exasperated groan and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Those idiots can't even handle the power Umbridge gave them the right way!"
Yuno let out a snort "Well, you better tell them that before they start a fight with Nott. He's been arguing with them for about an hour now" he said, pointing down the corridor to the common room.
Draco's shoulders slumped and he shook his head. "Of course, I can't be away for ten minutes without trouble because of those baboons. I'll go sort them out" He turned to Arianna. "Duty calls, unfortunately"
"I guess it does... See you soon, Dragon," Arianna said, giving Draco a peck on the cheek.
"Yeah... see you soon, Princess," he answered back with a hint of warmth and a small smile from the gesture. He gave a final nod to Yuno before turning and making his way into the Slytherin common room.
Yuno watched Draco's retreating figure before turning to his sister. "He's getting pretty comfortable around you," he said
"Told you had the wrong idea about him," Arianna said smugly.
"We'll see about that," Yuno said, rolling his eyes. He glanced at Arianna's bag smelling the faint scent of alcohol. "You get the fuel?."
Arianna smirked and pulled the Firewhiskey. "Yep got the good stuff. It's smooth, sweet…and extremely flammable. I kind of feel bad about wasting it."
"I'm sure you'll manage…princess," Yuno said as he opened a portal to the restricted section of the library. She gave a mild scowl in his direction and walked through the portal with him.
(A few minutes before the Grand Hall fire, Second floor)
Filch shuffled down the corridor, mumbling to himself about the mess some students had left behind, he suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. "Norris, do you smell something?" he asked the cat at his side.
The cat meowed and began to twitch its whiskers, sensing something in the air.
"I thought so. I know that smell anywhere. Fire whiskey," Filch muttered, his eyes narrowing. Ms. Norris let out a soft meow and sprinted off, disappearing around a corner. Filch then followed the direction of the cat, walking with a determined stride. He continued down the corridor, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls until he came to a stop. The strong scent of alcohol was coming from down from the first floor and filled Filch's wrinkled nose.
"Bloody students," Filch muttered. Before he could go down the stairs Ms. Norris hissed at him not letting him pass down the stairs.
"What is it? Get out of my way, Norris!" Filch grumbled trying to nudge the cat away. Ms. Norris refused to budge, continuing to hiss and swat at him. Frustrated, he tried to step over the cat, but she clawed at his pant leg, holding onto him with surprising strength. Filch let out a grunt of pain and swatted her away.
"Damn cat! What's-"
Before Filch could finish he felt a pair of powerful legs triangle themselves around his neck and they lifted him off the ground a couple of inches. He gasped, his eyes bulging as his airway was constricted. He struggled and thrashed, trying to break free from the strong grip around his neck. He tried to scream, but the pressure made it difficult to even breathe, let alone call for help.
"What...the...damn..." he croaked, his voice barely a strangled whisper.
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5" a voice barely above whisper counted.
Each number slowly counted off as Filch struggled to break free. He clawed at the legs that held him captive, his face turning red from the lack of oxygen.
"6, 7, 8, 9, 10"
Filch's face contorted in pain and desperation as the count continued. Each number felt like an eternity as the grip on his neck tightened and his vision started to blur. He tried to cry out again, but all that came out was a strangled croak.
"11, 12, 13, 14"
His struggles were weakening as the count continued. He could feel himself starting to lose consciousness. His vision started to darken around the edges, and his gasps for air grew weaker.
"15, 16,17-"
With a final gasp, Filch's body went limp, his face turning a ghastly pale color as he passed out, the legs still wrapped tightly around his neck.
"18, 19, 20, 21, 22" Galin finished counting, he then dropped Filch on the ground and let go of the pole above landing on both feet. Satisfied, he turned towards Ms. Norris, who was rubbing against his leg, purring. Galin chuckled and gave the cat a soft pat on the head.
"I think that was a new personal best of mine," he said to Yuno who was hiding behind a corner. "Nice work having Cath possess Ms. Norris"
"Nice job not killing him," Yuno said stepping out of the shadows. He walked over to stand next to Galin, looking down at the unconscious body of Filch. Ms, Norris looked up at Yuno and her eyes briefly appeared purple from their usual yellow, and the cat gave a Chesire-like grin.
"What should we do with him?" Galin asked, his eyes still on Ms. Norris who was now sitting elegantly at their feet.
"Leave him, he didn't see you, so it just makes it look like an unknown assailant got to him. More fuel to help Umbridges case against Dumbledore from my perspective," Yuno said kicking Filch's body lightly.
"Good point, he probably won't wake for a while," Galin said. His hands then glowed with Anti-Magic and he stood in the archway leading to the Great Staircase. "Cover my six"
Yuno nodded and took a few steps behind Galin, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings to watch their backs. The corridors remained still and silent, only the occasional crackle from the torches lighting their way.
Galin clapped his hands together, and an Anti-magic pulse echoed through the Grand Staircase. The staircases ground to a halt, their rhythmic shifting and rearranging coming to a complete stop. The portraits hung motionless, the figures and animals within them frozen in their tracks.
"Clear?" Yuno asked in a whisper, keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of movement or detection.
Galin pulled out his pistol and glanced back at him. "Clear" he whispered back. The halls were utterly silent as Galin and Yuno moved, their footsteps barely making a sound against the stone floor. They moved stealthily, sticking to the shadows and keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of patrolling teachers or students.
As they reached the first floor, Galin paused to scan their surroundings again. "Portraits" he whispered to Yuno. He nodded in understanding his eyes darting around the dimly lit corridor. Portraits lined the walls, some of the figures within gazing out curiously while others were fast asleep. Galin's hands glowed with Anti-Magic and he clasped them together again. The Anti-Magic pulse rippled through the corridor once again, freezing the portraits in place and stopping any potential witnesses in their tracks. The coast seemed clear for the moment, but they needed to stay vigilant nonetheless.
Galin and Yuno continued down the corridor, keeping their steps light and stealthy as they moved towards the entryway into the Grand Hall. Once they reached the archway, they saw Arianna standing on the side of the wall, like her feet had been glued to the wall. She poured the Firewhiskey onto the wall, using the liquid to spell out "DOWN WITH UMBRIDGE" and underneath it "DUMBLEDORES ARMY"
"Showoff," Galin whispered with a smirk, as he watched her artfully pour the Firewhiskey onto the wall.
Arianna began to walk down the wall splashing a line of Firewhiskey down it. She then lept off it and stood between Galin and Yuno.
"How pissed do you think she's gonna be?" she asked them.
"Oh, she'll be absolutely livid. But that's the point, isn't it?" Yuno asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, she'll be foaming at the mouth over this little stunt." Galin laughed, crossing his arms.
Arianna smirked at the two remarks. She then headed over to a torch along the wall and took it out of its holder. "Care to do the honors," she asked Galin
He took the torch and held it up, the flaming tip casting dancing shadows across his grinning face. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes as he spoke, "Let's give Dumbledore hell, literally."
Galin put his palm near the flame and enchanted the fire with his Anti-Magic. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the torch onto the wall, aiming it where a trail of Firewhiskey had been spilled. There was a small, but noticeable flash of light as a burst of flames erupted, igniting the trail and quickly spreading along the wall. The flames traveled along the length of the wall, devouring the message Arianna had poured on the stone, burning it into the surface. The fire danced and flickered, the heat causing the air in the hallway to become warmer.
"We should scatter," Yuno said.
"Right, good idea," Arianna said, still watching the flames hungrily consuming the wall. "Let's go before anyone shows up."
With one last look at the burning message, Yuno opened a portal to the restricted section, leaving the message behind to scatter around the hallway.
(Three minutes later)
Dumbledore turned and began making his way down the hall, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine following closely behind in secret. They moved cautiously, their wands at the ready as they navigated through the smoky halls. The silence that enveloped them was almost eerie, and every creak and groan was amplified by the tense atmosphere.
They finally rounded the corner and came to the source of the fire. Harry, Ron, and Hermione faces paled as they saw the inferno. Dumbledore's own eyes went wide at the message the fire was made to spell out.
"Shite," Dumbledore whispered to himself
The message read: DOWN WITH UMBRIDGE!- DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY!
Hermione and Ron gaped at the burning message, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. "Merlin's beard," Ron managed to mutter, his voice barely above a whisper.
Harry, on the other hand, looked at the flames with a mixture of worry and grim determination. "This is bad," he said, his forehead creased with a frown. "The Triad is trying to frame the D.A"
Dumbledore's eyes scanned the burning message, his usually calm demeanor replaced with a mix of concern and calculation. The message was a clear declaration and a bold move, one designed to anger Umbridge and the authority.
As Dumbledore took in the magnitude of the scene before him, his mind began to work quickly, trying to decipher who could be behind such a daring act.
"This must be the work of that group Ms. Granger mentioned," he thought to himself. Just then all the faculty members came rushing out to the entryway to the Great Hall. Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall gasped, covering their mouths in shock at the sight of the fire message. Professor Binns looked on in horror, his face pale as he looked at the message. Umbridge, on the other hand, was nearly vibrating with anger.
"HOW DARE THOSE IMPUDENT LITTLE BRATS!" Umbridge she, her high-pitched voice carrying an air of absolute rage. The ministry woman's face was red with anger, her tiny hands balling into fists. She took a step toward the burning message as if daring it to burn her.
"ALBUS!" she shouted
Professor Dumbledore turned slowly, his expression controlled though he couldn't help the slight twitch of annoyance that crossed his features. "Yes, Dolores?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.
"Do you care to explain what this "Dumbledore's Army is?" she seethed
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Dumbledore's Army? Why, it sounds like a rather interesting name, doesn't it?" he replied, his tone mildly inquisitive.
Umbridge's cheeks flushed angrily, her lips pursing into a thin line. "Don't try to play coy with me, Dumbledore," she snapped, her voice shrill with frustration. "You know damn well what it is!"
Dumbledore held his ground, his gaze unwavering. "And what makes you think I have anything to do with it, Dolores?" he asked, his voice maintaining a level of calm that seemed to rile Umbridge further. "After all, it seems quite presumptuous to assume that I, the headmaster of Hogwarts, would have any knowledge of such a...club."
"Would you call this 'club appropriate activities' headmaster?" she asked in a cold rage. "It would seem Minister Fudge's suspicions of you were right," she said with a victorious crazed smile. "You are turning the students of Hogwarts into your army"
Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout, who were standing nearby, exchanged a glance, their expressions full of both frustration and disbelief. Dumbledore, on the other hand, didn't let his composure falter.
"I assure you, Professor Umbridge, I have no knowledge of this 'army,'" he responded, his voice steady and firm. "It seems someone is simply using my name to stir things up"
"Don't try to fool me, Dumbledore," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "I'm not buying it this, "someone is building an army against the Ministry, and they're doing it right under your nose" act!" she paused and stepped closer to Dumbledore in an attempt to intimidate him.
"I think Fudge would be quite interested to see this declaration of war from your students," she said as she hobbled away. "I hope you have a very steadfast defense built for yourself come the end of the semester."
Dumbledore's expression darkened as Umbridge walked away, her veiled threat lingering in the air. He knew that she was determined to find any excuse to discredit him, and this act would only bolster her accusations.
"This isn't a good look Albus, what do we do" Snape whispered, walking up beside him
Dumbledore looked at Snape, his expression grave. "We need to find out who did this and put a stop to it," he said quietly. "This kind of incendiary language is not something we can ignore, especially with Umbridge already looking for an excuse to accuse me."
McGonagall and the other Professors watched the exchange, their faces filled with worry. "This is a serious matter," McGonagall said, her voice low. "Whoever did this is playing with fire."
"Quite literally, Minerva" Dumbledore replied, his eyes fixed on the fading flames. "We need to find the culprits and nip this in the bud before things spiral out of control."
The teachers tried to extinguish the remaining flames but saw that their wands wouldn't work on them. Instead, they cast 'Auguamenti' and that seemed to do the trick. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine crept away unnoticed and gathered their thoughts. "Harry?" Hermoine asked. "What do we do now"
Harry let out a heavy sigh as he looked at his friends. "We have to be more careful," he said, his voice barely above a whisper ."No D.A. meetings, Not til the start of the spring semester"
Agreed," Hermione nodded, her expression serious. "It will be too risky, with Umbridge and the Ministry watching so closely in the next couple of weeks."
The trio fell silent, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon them. It was true; the actions of the Triad had put their organization on pause, at least for the time being.
Ron was the first to speak up again. "We can't give up."
"We won't," Hermione agreed with a determined nod.
Harry looked around, making sure they weren't being overheard. "The Dark Triad may be winning the battles, but they won't be winning this war."