Chapter 18: Everybody Wants To Rule The World
"There's a room where the light won't find you
Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down
When they do, I'll be right behind you"
Elowyn's P.O.V
'Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three: Delores Jane Umbridge has been appointed to the post of Hogwarts High Inquisitor'
Staring at the words of the plaque that now adorned the entryway of the Entrance Hall, where the student body chattered around me, I seethed at the lettering that felt as if they were mocking me. To think this year at Hogwarts had this shadow of lingering stares, the ever-present idea that no matter where I went, I'd be bombarded with scrutiny in who I kept close, and fighting the urge to slam my face into the desk with each Defense Against the Dark Arts class. It wasn't just the fact the material was boring, especially compared to last year's asinine teachings of the fake Moody, but it was also due to the fact I wouldn't take the chance of putting on my headphones around Delores Umbridge.
That woman's presence had created an environment that dampened the mood no matter what class I ventured to before or after. Knowing that it wouldn't be long before I'd have to enter her domain that had curated the souring of my day, and knowing I'd be hearing every little scribble, tapping, shuffle that would distract me from the writing material that was instructed.
How utterly ridiculous too; pen and paper for theories of defending yourself versus physical practice and action was insufferable! Not to mention the teachings of the books had to of been completely outdated. I was nothing if not persistent, however. I'd grit my teeth and bear it through the entire portion of the class, trying to replay music in my mind or even turn slightly in my chair to facilitate some type of seclusion. I probably looked crazy trying to get comfortable at my desk in my area, but I'd never let that hellish woman get the better of me and my education, even if by the end of the class period I would put my headphones on to just drown out the excessive noise of everyone around me. Unfortunately, that also included my friends for a bit.
There was one thing I could admire about Defense class was how Harry and Hermione became vocal against Umbridge. The Ministry didn't want any of us to practice any magic that was deemed unnecessary, which was a load of mooncalf shit if I ever heard of it. She said it was dangerous, and Harry didn't miss a beat to tell her we'd be defenseless against Voldemort. It earned my friend detention every night for a week with Umbridge, but I couldn't even blame Harry after everything he had been through only to be faced with even more scrutiny within the safe confinements of Hogwarts.
Although, it didn't feel so safe anymore. The constant eyes on me within my common room as if my fellow snakes were surveying my every move, the relentless defense in Harry's honor that I was subjected to against even other houses, and even the nearly overwhelming amount of schoolwork all combined to provide evidence of a pessimistic year ahead.
I ripped myself away from the new declaration and headed inside the Great Hall. The only comfort I could find was within my friend group, and of course, my boyfriend. The day could be easier whenever I found Hermione and Ginny, debated with Ron about Quidditch tactics I knew nothing about, which only antagonized him more, and did what I could to get Harry to smile for once out of the damn day. Yet even then I found that the lack of action from where I was as a student within a school to be nauseating. It was all so mundane now compared to the ending of last year's school term.
After this summer there was this itch to contribute to our cause. I could sympathize with Harry and Sirius the most; what good were we if we couldn't find a way to fight back? Weren't we old enough to learn some kind of defensive spells, potions used as some type of ammo if not for healing, or maybe an ancient rune to boost our chances of winning? Maybe I was pulling things out of thin air to make a point, but there had to be something we could do to stand up for ourselves!
Hermione in her ever-logical, and practical, mind had constantly stated it was for the best to let the Order handle the situation. I knew she was probably getting tired of me trying to reason with her, but I couldn't help myself. However, as this school has proven, things were bound to change and due to our curriculum being less than satisfactory, Hermione was starting to complain about the lack of actual learning. Mess with our education and the Ministry be damned! Plenty of conversation between me, Hermione, and Ginny revolved around how we would be stunted in future issues involving potential battles where we would be completely vulnerable. It would normally result in the same consensus; we must find a way to properly teach ourselves how to fight.
The question was how, when, and who would be appropriate to teach us. The first two questions were much more difficult to decide, but the last wasn't.
Harry.
The three of us mused about how Harry had enough experience on how to defend himself and would have the capability to teach us, too. There was no way we were the only ones to think that, and from the court of public opinion I wouldn't lose a bet with how a vast majority of students felt about Umbridge and her lessons. We could create a group, and Harry could be our actual DADA professor, and finally, we would get the appropriate lessons we deserved!
Even with this idea brewing on how to bring it up to Harry, let alone organizing something that would no doubt set us all up for expulsion, I felt like that it wasn't enough. These circumstances alone would warrant us to keep an eye out at all times, but none of us had a way of keeping up with Umbridge.
At least, that was until I had an idea come from the most unlikely of people.
Natalie Montgomery and I had been in the common room and took advantage of couches in front of the fireplace to work on our homework. All was well, quiet, and we could easily sit back, relax, and enjoy ourselves in our work when all of a sudden, I heard this agitating, grating laughter that entered the room. I didn't have to look up to know that Pansy 'Pissed-Off-About-Not-Making-Prefect' Parkinson and her bulldog friend Milicent Bulstrode, walked in followed by her least annoying friends Daphne Greengrass, and Tracey Davis. Clara Montgomery had excitedly been holding the conversation between the girls as they all came surrounding our area.
"I mean, she is a Slytherin, so of course she's going to remain loyal to the house! Snakes slither together, girls!" Clara exclaimed while plopping a seat down next to Natalie, who stopped her writing and looked at her sister with annoyance before looking at me. I raised my eyebrows as the rest of the girls had come to sit on the opposing couch.
'Am I somehow invisible to them right now? Why the hell are they even coming over here?!' I thought to myself while eyeing Natalie before looking over to Clara.
"Even if some of them tend to wander off and get mixed up with the worst crowd imaginable!' Pansy chided while doing very little to be subtle as she looked at me. Milicent laughed loudly while Tracey snickered and tilted her head to the side, eyebrows raised with her teasing eyes directed at me. Daphne paid no attention as she studied her nails, sitting next to Tracey.
Narrowing my eyes and pulling my brows close I started to say something until Clara leaned over to look at me, sincerity in her question as she spoke. "Has Professor Umbridge spoken to you, Wynnie?"
Blinking, my jaw dropped slightly as the other girls waited nearly impatiently for my next words. "... No." I looked to Natalie who shrugged, her curious and concerned expression crinkling her forehead as she looked between me and her sister.
"You ought to," Clara continued, "we've all been able to have a little chat with her since she's started here, and it seems like every time we talk about our house, you somehow get brought up in the conversation!"
I looked at her with wide eyes, but she was quick to wave off my panic. "Nothing terrible! It's just that, well, me and the girls here have noticed a pattern is all." She motioned to the girls opposing us. I looked over to Tracey who nodded, Milicent whose upper lip curled as she looked me up and down, Daphne who still didn't pay attention, and Pansy who studied me with narrowed eyes.
"She asked me," Pansy started, "how close I thought our housemates were, and telling her honestly, that most are in line. That was until I mentioned how you meander with those blood traitors, that mudblood and Potter." She scoffed while rolling her eyes. Clenching my jaw while allowing a glare to form on my face. "She seemed rather interested in how that friendship worked, and that got all of us thinking," She motioned to the girls around, "what exactly is that you see in those freaks anyway?"
I scoffed while starting to gather my books. I wasn't going to sit here and let the nastiest girl in my year try to tear down my friendships and get a rise out of me. I had to keep my head down, as much as I wanted to tell her to piss off, the urge was growing by the second after the disrespectful slur she just said about my best friend.
"Wait, wait!" Clara leaned forward to put a hand on mine as she threw Pansy a look that told her to settle down, "Let me translate! Pansy's asking how do you know they're your real friends, is all. Something we tried to practice earlier but is still adamant about going her own route!" Clara through another accusatory look at the girl, who rolled her eyes in response.
"I meant what I said—!"
"You're asking me," I cut through while looking at the girls incredulously between me as Natalie scooted up from her seat, "how come I'm friends with them? That's the whole reason you're here having this little unscheduled meeting, then?"
"How come you didn't want to be friends with us?" Milicent's alto voice broke through as she leaned forward, her stout figure making her more intimidating as she put her elbows to her knees. "You like riding off Potter's fame, yeah? Maybe think he could make you famous, or something?"
Gods bless Milicent for her incredibly dim-witted explanations, and lack of vocabulary to capture what I was able to understand at that exact moment. I had hoped my realization hadn't shown on my face as the idea swarmed within my mind. It was half-baked, but the start of it was enough to dawn on me the understanding of how I could play a more vital role.
'I hope my friends forgive me for this…' I thought to myself while putting on the act.
I sighed and leaned back, shaking my head while biting my lip and shrugging. "Look, the idea of blood purity is…" Being careful with my words, and amplifying the dramatics, I continued. "Foreign to me. I'm adopted, so what does that matter to me, right?" I threw my hands up and shrugged, seeing very little sympathy for me on the stance but carried on, "And when it comes to the Gryffindors I hang around with, well… I took a chance with them because you didn't exactly give the best impression, now did you?" I looked between the girls in front of me who looked between each other. "So, after being here for a while and seeing how everything works… not to mention—" I sighed and threw up my hands more before standing, "never mind–"
"Not to mention what, Beaumont?!" Pansy was quick to jump to her feet too, but instead of anger or hostility as I had known her, it was full of curiosity and a glint of mischief in her eyes.
Staring at her I bit the inside of my cheek before shaking my head, "Not to mention… I've been having doubts about them—"
"Even with how cozy you've been with that Weasley twin?" Daphne questioned while eyeing me.
I rolled my eyes and swallowed, trying to keep the flow of convincing confliction, "he has his charms, you know–"
Pansy and Milicent broke out into laughter making it hard to maintain my cool, "I don't see either of you two getting cozy with any boys!" I barked at them, but even then, that seemed to fly over their heads from their laughter. Pansy stayed in Delusion-ville with her chance of getting close to someone like Draco Malfoy, but by all means, let her make herself a fool for trying.
"Besides, that's irrelevant to the situation at hand, isn't it, girls?" I put my hands on my hips as I looked at the girls around me, Pansy wiping away her tears dramatically as she looked up at me with such disinterest.
"Listen, little weird witch," Pansy said while walking over to me, "since you've been here, we've let your little loyalty fuck up slide, you know that? Because, even with the disrespectful attitude you like prancing around with, you're still one of us through and through!" She tilted her head to the side, her small and upturned nose scrunched in disgust before her face pulled into a challenging smirk. "Don't pretend you aren't seeing Potter and his little band of merry misfits for what they are; troublesome, ignorant, and obsessed with staying on the front page of the Prophet." Pansy seemed to wait for me to retort, but through gritted teeth, I said nothing and a pleased smile formed on her face, "Maybe now you deserve the proper chance to join the elite…"
I chuckled humorlessly before folding my arms, "Yeah? Just why would I do that, Parkinson?"
"I forget you're not from around here, but every time I hear you and your silly little accent, I'm reminded you don't know how family names work around here!" She teased while looking behind her. Milicent and Tracey giggled and chuckled, Daphne scoffed while smiling, but Natalie and Clara looked between each other with less amused faces. "You've got your mommies fame to open doors for you anywhere, so use that genius brain of yours and think about it. You start associating with the right people around here like Milicent, Tracey, Daphne, Blaise… even Vincent, Gregory, Draco, or Theo… me, more specifically, then the doors for power and respect will open without turning the knob."
I stared at her while trying to calm the inner excitement of how far I had gotten just from that one little act. Pansy had no understanding of how stupid she truly was, and if any of the others she had listed were willing to fold as easily as she did, then my plan was going to be much easier than expected.
"But you need to prove your loyalty to us, first." She finished while raising and delicate eyebrow first and folding her arms.
I feigned consideration before my eyes narrowed into slits, clicking my tongue before speaking, "And let's say I take you up on this offer, what would you be asking of me?"
A slow, sly smile spread across her face. "I'll know you're ready when you dump those pesky, so-called, friends of yours. May as well get rid of that boyfriend, too!"
To hear it was worse, but Pansy underestimated me and my ability to play the part. She didn't have a single idea of just how close I was to Fred and George, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. She had no inkling of an idea of how closely connected I was to Harry even before I knew him. She must've thought I'd be easy to manipulate, but even I could see how ignorant she was to play right in my hands. If letting her think she has the upper hand to get me to do whatever she wants, then I'd have to comply. I wasn't a fool though, and there were plenty of ways of going around her that I would fully exploit.
"We can find you a much better match, anyway." She added with an air of confidence that was disturbing. To think of whatever idiot she'd tried to set me up with sent a shiver down my spine I did what I could to stifle.
"Let's hold off on the match-making portion, yeah?" I finally spoke before flicking my eyebrows up, "You'll know when I accept when you see that then."
"If you accept," Milicent broke our stare off as she stood up and came to stand off to the side of Pansy, "look at her, Pans, she's not like us. She won't do it—"
"I said when, didn't I?" I interrupted, earning interested looks from both girls. I sidestepped them while waving my hand to send the violet-purple energy to levitate and gather my belongings, "besides, you've interrupted my studying, and I have a lot of it."
"She needs to let it settle in, girls!" Tracey proclaimed as I started toward my dorm, Natalie hastily making her way with me, "I told you not to crowd her!"
"Don't leave us waiting long, Wynnie!" Clara called as the rest of the girls started to laugh. Their voices drowned out the further we made our way up the set of stairs that split off to the girls' section.
"Elly," Natalie whispered, stopping me in my tracks before the dorm room door, "Is that really how you feel? I-I mean, do you really want anything to do with those girls?"
I looked into the icy blue eyes that held worry, confusion, and concern all in one look. As much as I wanted to tell her everything, and even make fun of Pansy and Milicent, I couldn't discern if she'd end up telling Clara about my scheme. Clara may associate herself with the group, but she wasn't exactly approving of how Parkinson and Bulstrode conducted themselves. It was the association that allowed Clara to hold leverage even a year older than us, and it was purely to push her further in popularity and notoriety. Still, Slytherin's loyalty was a big discussion tonight, and I wasn't sure if I could trust Clara to keep this to herself either. Especially if it might put her on a higher pedestal in Pansy's eyes.
"I-I–" I wasn't sure how to answer Natalie without the stabbing guilt from lying, "I just think… maybe I was wrong… I don't know, honestly," I said while looking away from her.
There was no going back now. I had already set up the blueprint within my house, and no doubt that the yapping of Pansy and her little gang would circulate the common room quickly. The next day I had allowed myself to get through the day as normal, but when it came to meeting with Hermione and Ginny, I could anticipate the eyes of the Slytherin girls finding me through the chaos of breakfast.
"I need to talk to you guys," I told them in a lowered voice as I stopped them within the corridor, "tonight after curfew, actually."
Hermione looked at me with a questioning stare, "Where? Elly, that's dangerous–"
"I'm not above breaking the rules, but with everything happening, I have to agree," Ginny added.
I sighed, "I'm coming up to your tower. Don't worry about leaving, I can disillusion myself, but I could use a little help from Harry's little nifty map and the password."
The girls looked at each other as I went on, "I need you two, Ron and Harry of course, but also Fred and George. It's top secret, and… honestly, it depends on how well this meeting with Umbridge is going to go."
"What meeting?" Ginny asked,
I looked around at the students passing us, and while I hadn't seen any green ties, that didn't mean they couldn't spot me just yet. "I'll explain later, but right now it's too risky to talk about." I started while taking a few steps before turning back to my bewildered friends, "If I act distant just go with it, okay? Trust me," I gave them a tight, reassuring smile to my friends before heading toward the Great Hall.
Even in their confusion, the girls were able to accommodate my change in behavior. The boys, however, were much harder to be around. I wasn't as distant from George as I was with his brothers and Harry. Keeping to myself and my food was only so distracting, and when I felt George put his arm around me, lean in, and ask if there was something wrong, I leaned into him and just shook my head. I had to admit this plan required me to do some awkward acting, putting on a face of discontentment and leaving my friends clueless for most of the day. To leave them behind as I waited for class to disperse and avoided eye contact with anyone else as I walked up to Umbridge.
"Professor," I gave a small, less confident smile, to the woman who stood eye level with me, "I was wondering if we could have a moment to talk?"
The unlikable, and persistently forced, smile that greeted me as she raised her eyebrows. "May I ask what this pertains to, Miss Beaumont? I expect any questions you have about the material could be easily answered in your book!" She answered.
I shook my head while forcing a more humorous chuckle, "No, Professor, this isn't an academic question," I looked toward the door before looking back to her, "It actually has to deal with circumstances outside of the classroom."
Umbridge's forced smile seemed to morph into a genuine one, her eyes showing great interest as she nodded her head slowly. "Let's discuss this in my office, shall we?"
I followed the woman up into her office which looked like bubble gum, light blush and Valentine's Day had exploded inside. Everything was pink, there wasn't a speck of a different color consuming the whole office. Pink was Aurora's favorite color, but knowing the association with this room, she'd probably hate it. The smell in the office was floral, and if used in small doses would've been more complimentary but it was nearly suffocating. Everything had a place that was neat, tidy, and orderly that I didn't doubt she'd know if anyone had been in her office if it was a hair touch off from the place she put them. There were saucers of all kinds lined the room with so many different kittens, mewing and purring which happened to be the only likable thing within the office. I took it as an opportunity to kiss-ass.
"These are precious," I complimented while smiling up at the grey, white, black, and calico kittens that watched me.
"I've collected them over the years," She explained, and for a moment it sounded as if it were genuine conversation rather than the professor persona I had been accustomed to. "Do you have a feline yourself?"
I looked at her and shook my head, "Maeve and Aurora won't let me get one. That's while we were traveling, but I'm afraid I'll be told no again if I ask."
This was a complete lie. I've always wanted an animal of my own, but I could never decide on which one to get. It was a three-way tie between a Puffskien, a regular cat, or a Kneazle. I just couldn't decide between any of them and ended up dropping the topic altogether, knowing fully well I wouldn't be able to have all three.
Umbridge furrowed her eyebrows, pouted her lips, and clicked her tongue, "Such a shame! A young witch should have the ability to choose a familiar!" She commented while waving to the chair, and sitting down as well. "I've always had one around," She stated with an air about herself that seemed to contradict her concern. I smiled politely, sat down, and continued to take in my surroundings unsure of what else to say.
"Tea?" She asked while pointing her wand to levitate the pink and frilly-looking teapot over with two matching cups and saucers. After hearing about the details of what happened to Maeve last year, I had to be on alert for situations like this, and I knew I wouldn't make the same mistakes as she did. Not that Maeve was foolish, and it wasn't like she could know anyway, but experience is the best teacher. I politely accepted and let the silence filter through as she magicked our tea to pour. I accepted the extra sugar that she suggested with the flavoring of the tea, and picked up the cup once the saucer floated to me.
"Now, Miss Beaumont," She started as I faked a small sip of the tea, hoping she wouldn't notice, "what can I help you with?"
"Well, I wanted to ask you…" I cleared my throat, feeling my nerves starting to flare, but pushed on, "If you had friends that… you would've trusted with anything… who then lied to you about something grand… would you still consider them friends at all?" I didn't look at her as I spoke and bit my lip to convey the nervousness that I was feeling. For as confident as I felt I could pull this off it didn't stop the anxiety of getting caught within me. I knew I was lying, creating a story that never happened, just to secure a position close to Umbridge. Of course, I was going to be nervous, but it was becoming rather irksome how persistent the feeling became.
Umbridge gave her high-pitched chuckle that was able to pull me out of my anxious feelings and throw me into vexation. I looked up at her with confusion as she kept her smile, "Why, they wouldn't be my friends after that!" She stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "I couldn't call them trustworthy, or reliable, or have any sense of what true, loyal, friendship would offer!" She went on.
Swallowing, I nodded and allowed myself to hang my head. That seemed way too easy for me to pull off, but how could I ever doubt myself? Anything I wanted to do, I could pull off. I had to fight the urge to smile as this was going far too well, and thankfully, she went on.
"Miss Beaumont, don't take me for a fool," My eyes widened at the words, and I stiffened.
'Oh fuck!' I thought to myself, looking up at her I tried to hide my worry as best as I could, but her smiling face did not ease me, "You're a brilliant girl, your grades are so impressive I do not doubt in my mind that you'll pass your O.W.L's with flying feathers! So, you must realize I understand that you're referring to those Gryffindors you hang about with so much, correct?"
'Crises averted,' I thought to myself and internally smiled at dodging that curse.
I sighed and nodded, "Forgive me, Professor, I'm just… embarrassed is all." Looking away I took another deep breath, "To think I felt like my decision was so right in who I thought I could trust only to be proven wrong time, and time again… Just makes me feel so mortified." I huffed and kept my eyes on the ground.
'Maybe I could become an actress if usurping Snape's position goes up in smoke.' I thought to myself trying to my humorous comment to myself.
Umbridge nodded, "Well, of course, you are!" She stated, "You put your faith in the wrong people, and now you're starting to see them for who they truly are." Umbridge stood from her desk and slowly made her way around, I looked up to watch her, keeping eye contact with me as she spoke. "I have to admit I've been curious how a proud, and logical, Slytherin like yourself ever got tangled up in someone like Potter, Weasley, and Granger." She held out her hands and furrowed her brows, her smile dropping slightly.
Feeling on the spot I shrugged, licked my lips, and chuckled, "When I first got here, I wasn't taken to the rest of my house. I've been sorted into houses that were similar to Slytherin, but they were just… All of Slytherin had their guard up or something." Looking away, I tried to think of how to explain it, and while I was partially telling the truth, I felt it was best to leave out how I thought their attitudes toward me, questioning my blood status, and general snobbish demeanor were best left unsaid. "I thought that those three were easier to connect with." I finished while looking back up at her.
She tittered and nodded, seeming to understand what I was saying as if she understood the experience. "You were an outsider to them, and like true Slytherin fashion, they weren't warming up just yet." She sighed while tilting her head to the side, a more genuine smile on her face, "Do you know what's so grand about the Slytherin house, Elowyn?"
Hearing her use my first name was strange, seeming to throw away any type of professional setting just by using it. I blinked and pulled my shoulder, sitting up a bit straighter before answering. "Well, a lot of things can be grand about our house from what I've been told and read."
Another genuine, high-pitched chuckle as she nodded once. "I can't disagree with that, but what I find particularly great about our house is that we have the ability to grasp–" She made a clutching gesture with her tiny, stubby-fingered hand, as the work she used to gesture held a slight growl. "And hold our housemate's loyalty with a vice grip! You see, it doesn't necessarily matter about your past experiences, or… totally, matter what your family history is like." She clasped her hands together to stare at me with a seriousness I hadn't seen before. "Once a Slytherin has been sorted in emerald and silver, we take count of every serpent. Even the weakest of us, are better than the best of them!" She tilted her head and smiled once more, "Those who've strayed away have eventually come back, and I would think someone like you—a very… unique witch—can come crawling back!"
I blinked, trying to hold my tongue at the small insults thrown at me. As if I were to actually degrade myself with the likes of those kinds of people. They have their weird prejudices, well, mine were against cruel people. Pushing the rising ire back down I held a face of curiosity and focused on her particular phrasing.
"You… you were a Slytherin, I take it?" I asked in a small voice.
She brightened up at my understanding, straightening up as well, and nodded, "And trust me when I say this, Elowyn, that it would be in your best interest to try your hand at giving your housemates an actual chance. After all, you'll find your real friends there!" She held my stare with eyes that seemed to try and will me to what she was saying. Her bright eyes seemed unreal in how wide, how calculating they were. For a small, fleeting moment, she looked deranged, before she bounced back to a softer and more reserved expression while humming, "Now, I have a question for you."
I nodded, trying to ignore the fear of whatever this weird lady wanted to question me about, and she continued.
"How come you didn't feel this discussion was best served with your guardians? I'd assume those two would've been the first to hear about this unless they've given you some advice that was… ill-advised." She blinked at me while raising her thin eyebrows once more, her thin lips forming a small pout.
While I anticipated this question, I hadn't exactly come up with anything to answer it and had hoped that she would've avoided it altogether. Wishful, and foolish, thinking. Sometimes, winging it was the only way to go and I hoped this would be one of those situations.
"W-Well," internally cursing my stutter I pushed on, "I've always gone to them for everything and…" sighing I shrugged once more, "They're busy with teaching, and I wasn't sure if they'd understand why I was so upset anyway. They like my friends, and–" a sudden spark of inspiration came to me and straightening myself once more I allowed the creativity to flow. "And I just felt maybe that would've swayed them from telling me the truth. I know they're protective of me and… I'm not a child anymore."
This classic teenager response I had seen in countless Muggle movies, and even though it was something that I could use to hopefully pull this off, I still understood what that meant deeply. I wasn't some child who needed constant surveillance or was completely defenseless. I can use my wit, my abilities, and my charm to get whatever I wanted! Everyone could underestimate me if they wanted to or try to baby me as much as they wanted, but I knew they'd feel ridiculous once I came out unscathed, or on top.
Umbridge stared at me, calculating my response, and after a nerve-wracking minute, she nodded slowly once more before smiling. "You felt I wouldn't lie to you, then? To try and protect your feelings?"
I nodded, "I needed the truth, and I think you've given that to me, Professor." I offered the best smile I could to her while softening my stare.
Another high-pitched laughter broke through that startled me. She started to head back to the front of her desk but kept her sites on me, "Any time you feel like you need the truth, dear, come to me." She simply stated with a wide smile. With a quick wave of her wand, she cast Tempus and gave an alarmed shriek before looking to me. "Your free period is nearly over. I'd hate to cut our very delightful conversation short—"
I shook my head before setting my barely touched tea down and grabbing my purple bag, "No need, Professor, I absolutely understand!" I forced some cheerfulness as I nodded to her, "Thank you for being honest with me, Professor Umbridge."
"Of course," She stated with a tight smile, "and Elowyn,"
I turned to look at her once more from in front of the door.
"Remember, give them a chance, and I'm sure you'll be rewarded beyond your imagination!" She tilted her head as she smiled.
I felt the fear in the pit of my stomach. There was something strangely ominous about the way she worded her so-called advice. I couldn't discern if it was just from the plastered and ever-present, unhuman smile that the woman seemed to always carry on her face, or if it was because whatever she considered a reward couldn't possibly be so welcomed in the long run. I forced a smile and nodded before turning away to hurry out of the office and classroom trying to shake off the unpleasant meeting that I successfully just left. She fell for it! She completely ate everything I said up as if it were a pumpkin pastie! I left that portion of the tower feeling more accomplished than I ever did, even after finishing the potions book Professor Snape gave me for the summer. This was a type of high that I could ride out for quite some time, and yet my first portion of the plan wasn't over.
I had to convince my friends to get on board, and hopefully understand just how important this could be.
If there was one thing, I could say it was that my Slytherin side was showing far more than any housemate, or professor, could catch. No doubt in my mind, they all thought they were getting the upper hand on me, and if anything, I was gaining the advantage the more they believed me.
The thought left a sly smile on my face as I ventured to my next class.
)))(((
"Leunculus," I whispered after uncovering my disillusionment charm, staring up hopefully at the Fat Lady portrait whose suspicious and aggravated look on her face halted my advances.
"You're no Gryffindor," She commented while looking down at me from her nose.
Rolling my eyes I scoffed, "Yes, but you've seen me with my friends, who are Gryffindors, so can you please let me see them? It's urgent." I pleaded.
Eyeing me for a minute longer the Fat Lady turned her sights away from me as the door swung open, smiling after getting exactly what I wanted, I started to crawl through the hole into the scarlet and gold-colored common room of the Gryffindor tower.
"There you are!" Ron's voice was the first I heard as I struggled to climb out of the hole and stand upright. Sighing I looked at my friends in front of me who had varied expressions, while Ron's was more scrutinizing for my tardiness. "We've been waiting forever, Elly! Some of us need our sleep, you know!"
"Yes, yes, your beauty sleep is of great concern to me!" I mocked as George came to my side immediately, looking at me with raised eyebrows.
"What's this about, anyway?" George questioned, "Wouldn't have anything to do with how you acted all day?" I hated to see his lack of hilarity all because of my show, and for that, I couldn't help but give him a huge embrace. He wrapped his long arms around me, and I was met with the familiar smell of his cologne of spices and sweet marshmallows. His tall frame always felt so protective that it made me weak in my knees.
"It is, and I'm so sorry!" I whined while burying my face into his lower chest. For how short I was the height difference was considerable, and I basically topped out right at his chest. Pulling away, looking up at him all he did was simply smile down at me before kissing the top of my head. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks as I turned to Hermione, "Did you talk to him?" I asked while glancing at Harry.
"Yes, she did, and honestly I think all three of you are out of your minds!" Harry stated while getting up to look between me, Hermione, and Ginny. "You realize I'm not some professor, right?"
"That doesn't mean you lack the experience to do the teaching," I countered while putting my hands on my hips and walking over to the group, "Besides, there's no one here that would be able to say they've faced mortal danger and walked away after defending themselves!"
"Nice try, but I think we both know that's not entirely true," Harry grumbled. "Are you all forgetting that the Ministry is breathing down our necks here with Umbridge? Just how exactly would we plan on avoiding someone like her?"
"That's where I come in," I took another step to gather their attention, "I think I've figured out how to be of use for that."
"And what brilliant scheme have you come up with?" George asked while raising an eyebrow at me from the place he stood.
"Well, apparently, the woman was a Slytherin in her younger—much younger—days and according to a lot of the Slytherin girls she's been asking about me in particular." I walked over to sit in front of the group with my back turned to the fireplace. "This got me thinking about how valuable it would be if we had someone on the inside, keeping up with her moves and keeping us out of any potential surprises. What better way to watch our backs if we knew when and where they were watching!" I explained while smiling brightly at the faces of my friends, who did not share my excitement.
"Hold on!" The twins stated in unison, Ginny and Hermione looked at each other as if I just proclaimed I was Voldemort's heir, while Ron stared at me with saucer-plate, wide eyes. Harry narrowed his eyes at me but said nothing as his jaw moved back and forth.
George came to sit next to me, "Are you trying to tell us you want to—to—spy on Umbridge?!"
"Georgie, your girlfriend has lost her head somewhere, maybe she lost it after all that extra credit work, she's gotten!" Fred chimed in.
"Elly, that's mad! I think those Order meetings have gone to your head!" Ron scoffed,
"Guys, it's the perfect opportunity! The old hag ate out of the palm of my hand earlier—and none of you can honestly say that it would be good to have someone undercover! Professor Snape does it, too, and he still walks around in one piece!"
"Have you actually ever done something like that? Saying Snape can do it doesn't mean you can, Elly." Ginny pointed out.
I rolled my eyes and nodded, "Okay, so maybe I've never done anything major like him, or… anything like this before, but c'mon guys! After the way she's infiltrated this school, what she's done to you, Harry!" I pointed to his bandaged-wrapped hand as he shrunk it back from view from the attention directed to him, "There has to be something else we can do for us, our friends and just—just not sitting on our asses waiting for something to happen!" I looked to a rather quiet Hermione who looked hesitant to say anything, "Back me up here, Jean, I know you've got to see how it's a good idea."
Hermione looked between everyone and with bated breath as she exhaled sharply and looked skyward, "I-I don't think it's actually a bad idea, but you're forgetting the fact that she knows we're all friends."
I nodded, licked my lips, and prepared myself. "I've been thinking about that, and I also have a solution for it." I looked down, biting the inside of my cheek for a moment, "I just don't think you'll like it…"
"What, pretend to chuck us to the side and act like Malfoy and Parkinson?" Ron jested while laughing with his brothers, Ginny snorted but Harry and Hermione did not join them as they caught my wincing face. It wasn't until George looked at me as if I had lost my mind, once again, that they realized my silence was telling.
"You're serious, Elly?"
"I wouldn't treat any of you the way they do, and I'd keep my distance to make sure we're not associated with each other, but we would have to pretend we're not friends…" I nodded while looking at each of them.
"Why don't you just make it real, and get it over with?" Harry snapped.
I looked over at him with a questioning stare, raising an eyebrow at his outburst. "Get what over with?"
"Obviously you don't want to be friends with us anymore, Elowyn, that's what! That's why you've come up with this cowardly, roundabout way of cutting us off!" He accused me while getting to his feet.
I blinked at his completely confused at such a grand suggestion that was completely far off my radar and looked to the others around me in a panic to see if the others felt the same way. Thankfully, the others seemed just as taken aback by his outburst as I was, which made it easier to deny him.
"That's completely wrong, Harry! Do you really think I'd go through sneaking out, coming to your house commons, and give you this crazed plan to try and stop being friends with you? After everything we've gone through the last year, you'd think I'd just drop you guys?" I got up and walked over to him, staring daggers into his eyes as I continued, "You guys are so important to me that I'd risk setting myself up in major trouble, let alone probably some medieval torture from Umbridge, just to keep an eye out for us! If you're so unconvinced then let's do an Unbreakable Vow, right now!" I held out my hand for him to take, but he didn't waver his eye contact from me. He only glanced to the others with a perplexed expression that mixed with his hardened stare.
"What's an Unbreakable Vow?" He asked flatly,
"It's exactly what it sounds like; you can't break an unbreakable vow because it's the upmost form of a pinky promise to uphold your end of a deal. If you do break that vow, then you die." I answered him. He looked down at my hand before looking back up at me and at the others once more. Shaking his head and sighing he started to sit back down.
"Sorry, just… Seems like everyone is ready to turn on me these days," He muttered while hanging his head. I looked to Hermione and George who shared a sympathetic look before taking a seat on the arm rest of the couch next to Harry, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"You guys may as well be family because you're stuck with me. You're like a… God-Stepbrother or something, you know?" I lightly shook his shoulders as his lips twitched in a forced smile.
I smiled softly then got up and looked at the others with my hands on my hips, "If we just pretend to break off our friendships, then that'll convince them that I'm on their side. It won't take too much—just some kind of big display of us going our separate ways. I've been thinking we could communicate in a charmed journal that I can update you guys or some kind of token that signals we need to meet!"
Silence filled the room for quite some time, and I was starting to lose confidence in my plan.
"I think I can come up with something like that token," Hermione spoke up, looking at me before looking around. "I think there might be a shop that has enchanted journals in Hogsmeade, too."
I smiled at my friend who gave me a small smile before looking back down. I looked to Ginny who looked just as saddened along with Ron. Taking a look around the room everyone seemed to share the same somber emotion at what was happening.
"Does that mean we have to break up?" George finally asked while looking up at me like some kind of wounded animal. I gave him a saddened smile before walking up and coming to sit on his lap.
"Just means we get to sneak around," I smiled at him mischievously as he slowly allowed a smile to form on his lips before winking. The action was followed by a dramatic gagging sound from Fred and a groan from Ron.
"When do we do this? And what are we even going to fight about?" Ginny asked.
For the rest of our time there we devised a plan that as I left, double checking the Marauder's Map before giving it back to Harry, couldn't deny was full proof.
)))(((
It had to be calculated perfectly as the first part of the plan was the most important. It would be the setup for the second part, so this was our most vital step at the time. Just before dinner on Thursday, and after a particularly grueling Arithmancy class that fueled the agitation I needed, I found George in our agreed spot to host a spectacle of me arguing with him. It was a dramatic display of yelling between us and gathered quite a few stares from anyone by. I was genuinely surprised he was able to even hold it together knowing how mischievous he really was, but later we had a good laughing fit in one of the greenhouses that was empty. If you didn't count the Mandrake seedlings, that is. News traveled quickly through the school, and it wasn't lost on me to see the approving stare of Pansy and Daphne as they walked past me. Milicent, Tracey, and Clara, all greeted me when I walked by, and I could've sworn I noticed Draco and Vincent Crabbe looking at me with no hint of disgust, and hostility, but with more interest.
The hurdle I needed to actually get over was the concerned questioning from Aurora and Maeve. I told them that it was a fight that needed to happen and that I didn't care about it anymore. It was harder for me to even believe my own words in front of the two, but even with Maeve scanning over my face to find something wrong I was able to subdue their questions and concerns.
This began the second part of my plan where predictably Ron started to pull away first while shooting me nasty looks, accompanied by his sister. Hermione stopped approaching me and continuously stayed by Ginny's side, and soon Harry started to pull back with Ron. The separation was already starting to affect me negatively; I was starting to have second thoughts about going through with all of this. I hated even pretending acting like we all were at odds and ends, and trying to find a time to see George was becoming more frustrating than I realized.
Now the finale of my separation from anything involving Gryffindors. I had to pull together my thoughts, practiced my angry and offended expressions in the mirror when I had the privacy, and realized there was nothing else I needed to do. I headed up from the dungeons to the Great Hall on a Saturday afternoon and tried everything I could to shake my nerves. I had worn my headphones for hours before I finally told myself there was no use in stalling anymore. Internally telling myself good luck, and goodbye to my friends before rolling my eyes at my dramatics I walked through the entrance of the Great Hall. I started to pick up the pace to march down the side of the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables, locking my sights on the group I had conspired with days before.
'Now, or never!' I thought before I cut in between Fred and Ginny,
"So, is that it, then?" I barked at the group while slamming my hands flat on the table, shocking them out of their conversation while drawing a lot of attention to myself. Hopefully, that of the Slytherins behind me, too. "You all start dropping me after I break up with George here?" I motioned to the twins to my right while looking between Harry and Ron.
"Oi, can't tell that I'm Fred, can you? Good thing you're done with her, Georgie!" Fred teased while George blew air and shook his head, covering his face with his hand.
"Whatever! As if it matters now!" I spat and looked back to Hermione, who seemed nervous having to be up for her part, "I thought you guys were my friends, but I guess you fooled even me!"
"You—!" Hermione swallowed, and I stared at her wavering confidence hoping she could pull through. "You couldn't possibly believe that we'd stand by you after all those cruel, and terrible things you've said!"
"He's our brother, Elowyn!" Ron interjected while scrunching up his face in disgust that could've used a bit more work, "We've only known you for what—a year if that, and you think we'd just have your back!?"
With a mixture of a scoff and gasp I looked at him with a gapped expression, feeling more eyes on me that accompanied whispers and more silence as the fake argument continued to fuel my fire. "So, you'd just abandon our friendship? I thought you'd all understand what loyalty was, but it looks like you barely understand that!"
"Since you're so concerned with loyalty why don't you go and join your snakes?!" Harry shouted up at me.
Even though this was planned, getting the gist of what we were supposed to say to each other and letting emotions just fly, there was something about the way Harry was heated as he spoke his part. For a moment I couldn't tell if he meant it or not, even after my dramatic declaration the other day of performing a very serious, very stern promise that I was still on their side. However, that only helped provide the reaction that I needed.
"Piss off, Potter!" I hissed at him,
"Wynnie," I jumped as a delicate hand touched my right shoulder, and another delicate hand came to touch the other shoulder. I looked to see Clara who held her head high on my right, and Natalie who glared so menacingly at the group of Gryffindor's from my left that I almost didn't recognize her. I shook my head while looking back to Harry.
"At least I'll know they'll have my back and won't be so quick to stab it!" I glared at the group of Gryffindors before I felt myself being guided by the sisters back to the table behind us. My cheeks felt warm, and my heart was racing, but none of it was actual anger except for maybe Harry's stinging display. I
"It's for the best, Wynnie," Clara whispered in my ear as a group of clapping Slytherins caught my attention. I noted that it was Tracey who was laughing with Milicent, Daphne looking impressed as she clapped lightly, as well as Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Theo Nott who joined them while laughing with each other Pansy Parkinson was standing as she clapped slowly, a triumphant and snooty smile wide on her face puggy little face. Why they were clapping, I wouldn't understand, but I could assume it was the victory of having their fellow Slytherin come "crawling back on their belly" to them.
"Wow, Beaumont," She chuckled while tilting her head and looking me up and down, "Gotta say I wasn't sure if you'd find your way to us, but good to know you've found some sense even if it was a bit of help from those cowardly lions."
I huffed while clearing my throat and trying to calm my breathing down. The performance I had just given started to sink in with the realization that a lot of eyes, not just my house or Gryffindor's, but it seemed like nearly the Great Hall had silenced itself to watch what would happen. It was unnerving to know that if I turned around, I'd have too many eyes upon me.
"Give her a minute, will you?" Natalie's smaller voice spoke up while grabbing my wrist and guided me to sit down with her sister, who joined Pansy as she also sat down. It must've been obvious how upset I looked, or even shaken up, and for that, I could thank Natalie for her intuitive and insightful eyes.
"She's fiiine!" Pansy ignored the younger Montgomery girl while rolling her eyes.
"So, you've got some sense after all, eh, Beaumont?" Basically, repeating what Pansy had said, Crabbe leaned forward to grab my attention, my eyes darting between him and his brute of a friend, Goyle, who laughed along with him. "Why the change of heart?"
"Didn't you two see what happened?" I looked over to see Draco Malfoy who eyed me up and down, his annoyance present with the sneer he gave his two lackeys. His bright eyes looked at me and pierced me as if he had been scanning every movement I made. Those bright crystal blue eyes were almost too much for me to look at directly, and I wanted to look away so badly, but I couldn't stand down. "Potter and his stupid friends changed their minds about her, not the other way around."
I wasn't sure how to take the look that Draco was giving me, but what I could understand was the sneer that reappeared on his face as he leaned forward. "Don't think this means you're forgiven for that little stunt you pulled last year, Beaumont. Pansy might see potential in you, but I've yet to witness that. You've got a long way to go before we'd accept you!"
I narrowed my eyes at him, and before thinking, I laughed at him. "Think I'd suit you better as an ally than an enemy after what happened last year, yeah?" I challenged while raising my eyebrows at him. It wouldn't help me if I insulted him, or told him how I wouldn't give two troll shits if he forgave me for what he rightfully deserved, but if I teased him and tried to use a bit of logic…
He narrowed his eyes at me before leaning back and a twitch in his lips gave the impression of amusement, a twitch in the corner of his lips. "We'll see about that, girl."
"Clara here calls her Wynnie," Pansy motioned with her head to the blonde girl next to her, "I think that should mark a new era for her—her true allegiance era!"
"To Wynnie and her seeing the light then!" Tracey Davis declared while raising her goblet. The small group of Slytherins that paid attention had raised their goblets and laughed as they drank. It seemed like they were only celebrating the idea of winning their housemate back, rather than having me around them. It was fine by me; I couldn't care either way because they acted like just won a battle. I just needed them to believe I had switched sides, and I needed to start working on building their trust. The only one who didn't raise his glass was Draco Malfoy, who still stared at me with lightly narrowed eyes, no matter how many times I had looked away from the startling blues. Finally, I returned the squinting look at him as he silently scoffed, his body jumping lightly when he did, grabbed his goblet, and with a small motion toward me, drank without removing his sights from me. Rolling my eyes I turned away and decided to sneak a glance behind me to see the damage. I noticed that my actual, true friends were glancing at me and speaking in hushed tones, a few Gryffindors had started talking to them like Angelina Johnson, Kate Bell, and Neville Longbottom, glancing at me from their spot at the table.
I looked farther back to the High Table to see the appraising, triumphant, and approving smile of Delores Umbridge from her seat next to Professor Sinistra. A small nod that would've otherwise gone unnoticed by anyone else was sent my way, and all I could do was offer a small, nearly untraceable smile to her. Scanning over the table I noticed the worried and confused sights of my mothers. Well, Aurora was more concerned, whereas Maeve had raised a questioning brow my way while tilting her head to the side and narrowing her eyes at me. I was starting to think that she was going to be harder to deceive with how her eyes studied me. Looking down I didn't want to give her a chance to dissect my actions so openly and as I started to turn back to the front of the table I noticed that the darkened eyes of my Head of House staring me down with unwavering contact. Professor McGonagall was standing by his chair speaking animatedly while throwing looks to the Gryffindor's, and finally my section of the Slytherin table, but he didn't seem to be listening.
I thought of everything these past few days, the scheming and planning, the way my tummy turned to knots anytime I enacted something of my carefully crafted plans. Blinking I wondered why I needed to be reminded of what I was doing, and how the intense stare-down from Professor Snape was strange. Maybe as a double agent himself, he could see right through my plans and wouldn't be so easily convinced of my so-called changed alliances. I reminded myself to be careful of his presence as, thankfully, Natalie provided a distraction.
"Hey," She spoke softly as I finally was able to rip myself away from looking at those nearly black eyes to meet her kinder waters of blue, rimmed with the black liner that was smudged. "Can I still call you Elly?"
)))(((
The days following my new double life were hard to balance, to say the least. The two enchanted journals where one was kept with Hermione, after an expressed delivery via Owl, were constantly updated with how our days went, how we missed each other, and our times together with the group. Truthfully, I knew this would be hard, but I underestimated the effects of being without my friend group. There wasn't much to report, but I did what I could and asked for constant updates to see if Harry had changed his mind. Hermione mentioned that at this point he didn't seem completely opposed to it, but she thought maybe he just didn't see his confidence in his teaching ability. I understood Harry had been through so much, but of all the times to get cold feet this was by far the worst of them. I wrote to my friend to tell her to be patient, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep dropping hints of why he should follow through—one being that I've already committed to my act!
Maybe guilt-tripping would work better.
The next hurdle I had trouble overcoming was the grilling session between Aurora and Maeve. By the grace of Merlin and Circe, those two didn't seem to want to take any of my answers the way they had before with George.
"This was all a misunderstanding, I'm sure! I know it's rough being a teenager." Aurora had said.
"Incredibly, your friendships fell apart after all you've gone through with them," Maeve pointed out while raising an eyebrow, "I can't really wrap my mind around you all calling it quits all because of a breakup."
They were tough, but I was stubborn. Anything they questioned I answered, an explanation, until finally, I told them I couldn't talk about it anymore because it was far too much. The bottling of all my emotions, like having to stomach my new double life while watching my friends walk around and attend class together without talking, not being able to hold George's hand freely, and struggling to find time to see him all came to a boiling point. It didn't help knowing I couldn't tell them what was truly going on, and in a moment of weakness, I couldn't hold back the tears.
Aurora had comforted me with quiet, and a tight hug as she had rocked me back and forth. Maeve had lost all her suspicions seeing me crumble beneath the heavy weight that they knew very little about. For once in the last week this wasn't an act to convince someone of where I stood. I knew if I told them they'd do anything they could to stop me and talk me out of it. Not to mention the trouble I could possibly get into, and the scolding that would've given me third-degree burns. How embarrassing that would be to all of a sudden go back to my friends after being reprimanded by my two guardians all because they thought it would be too risky?
Life with the Slytherin girls was becoming tedious in keeping up appearances. I found that Pansy had to try to prove herself better than me in every aspect, but she could never have the title of prefect like I did, so it mattered very little in my eyes. While I let most incidents slide, I couldn't help myself from throwing a comment or two to bring her down to Earth. Milicent was too stupid to understand my remarks but knew when her friend was displeased. Interestingly enough it only seemed to motivate her to find other ways of one-upping me. Tracey found common ground by lightly teasing her friend with me, Daphne found amusement in the banter between me and her friend, and Clara was doing everything she could to keep the peace to help all of us connect. Playing along, and hoping I wouldn't lose too many brain cells, it would work. The only peace I found in my day was when I could hang out with Natalie and talk about how foolish Pansy and Milicent were in privacy. She was unlike the rest of them, sneaking in the background and keeping to herself, but when she was able to talk with me, she was much more open and blossomed. I was starting to wonder when, and hopefully if, this was over I could bring her around Hermione and Ginny to hang out with outside of a school setting.
It had become an-ever-so-often occasion when Umbridge would have us girls join her for tea within her office, and it was just as awkward as it sounded. Well, for me at least, but for Pansy and Clara who would yap for hours while Umbridge entertained the idea that whatever they had to say was interesting, it was their time to shine and kiss her uppity, and hairy, ass. I did what I could to provide conversations and insights, or generally try to charm Umbridge. I found that Umbridge didn't mind when I had to attention and seemed as close to genuinely interested as someone like her could be.
So far, this espionage mission was becoming a chore. If my days were to be spent listening to everything these girls had to say, then I was in for the worst type of double agent duty known to mankind. I'd rather switch places with Snape and handle business with the Big Bad Guy any day and let the man spend his time with all of them. However, the Friday just before October, Detestable Umbridge had asked me to come bright and early to her office on Saturday morning and to keep it between us on my affairs. Confused, intrigued, and apprehensive of what this could mean, I made my way up to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom that Saturday morning. I had gone over every possible scenario, mainly thinking that I was caught, and she was going to find a way to silence me forever, but regardless I was ready for anything. I found Umbridge in her office as she said, but not alone. Blinking as I stepped through the office door, I looked up at the chubby face, the hands that held the green bowler hat, and the black pin-striped robes of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge who smiled at me.
"Professor?"
"Elowyn," Umbridge fashioned her same polite grin to me as she motioned to the Minister of Magic, "I'm sure there's no need for introduction, but this is Cornelius Fudge," She looked at me as she continued, "The Minister of Magic."
"How do you do, Elowyn?" Fudge extended his hand, and I automatically allowed his large hand to shake mine.
"I'm well, and yourself?"
'As if I care—why the fuck is he here!?' I thought to myself, very contradictory to my statement, I swallowed and bit my tongue to try and steady the sudden ambush of the Prime Minister himself.
"I'm doing splendidly this morning! Delores has told me a lot about you personally, although I've heard quite a bit about you from your guardians." He laughed, and Umbridge joined in. I smiled politely and gave an awkward chuckle at whatever missed inside joke they must've had.
"I hope all good things," I pulled a shoulder as I looked between the two.
"Oh, yes, yes!" Fudge hurried to say, "In fact, I'm quite impressed with your academic record, and well, with knowing Maeve and Aurora the way I do I've been very interested in how you've managed to… produce magic." His casual and light tone set up the idea of a friendly conversation, even boasting about achievements, but I could feel an underlining reasoning between his words.
"Well… thank you, Minister," I replied politely,
"Which, after discussing certain things with Delores, I've decided that maybe you ought to be properly rewarded." He concluded, and Umbridge nodded expectantly.
I blinked between them and forced a smile, inwardly I was worried about what these two could possibly have for an idea of rewarding me.
"R-Reward?"
"Oh, don't be worried, girl! A trip to Diagon Alley to pick out your gifts is all we meant!" The Minister chuckled while throwing a look to Delores who shared the same amused chuckling with him. I joined in while shaking my head.
"Forgive me, Minister, I'm just surprised that I… would've been recognized personally—all in thanks to Professor Umbridge, a-and my mothers," I said.
"It's not every day you hear about a child capable of producing such an ability as yourself, let alone how proficient you are in your grades," He commented, "So, are you ready to venture out?"
"Now?" I asked crinkling my eyebrows, "Shouldn't I ask Maeve or Aurora?"
"That won't be necessary," Umbridge quickly assured while holding up a hand, "We won't be gone long enough for them to worry, not to mention you'll be accompanied by the most secure members of the Ministry; what's there to report?" Her smile widened as if to say she wasn't going to give me a choice on the matter.
It felt like I didn't have much of a choice considering what I had planted myself in. How would it look to Umbridge, or the freaking Minister of Magic, if I denied them this just to ask my parents' permission? Even if the feeling in my gut told me this wasn't just some thoughtful, prize-winning, trip I was about to embark on, I knew I still had a lot at stake in how I responded. I had to play my tarot cards right, or I could lose a lot of what I had worked for in the last few weeks. So, being mindful and swallowing the rising hesitation, I nodded once and straightened myself up, tugging on the purple thin sweater of my shirt and putting my hands behind my back. "You're completely right, so… let's go." I looked up and smiled at both of them.
"Excellent!" Fudge declared while stepping up to the fireplace directly to my right, "Ladies first, Delores,"
Delores stepped up to her place and looked at me as she took a bit of the floo powder from the pink pot that was attached to the mantle. "Remember, Diagon Alley." She stated before throwing the powder in, the green light flames came alive before she spoke the location once more and stepped through. Swallowing my nerves against my dry throat and wondering just what in the seven hells I was thinking, I took one more look at Fudge who nodded encouragingly before repeating the same process to step through the green flames. The swirling of floo powder travel was always nauseating to me and thankfully ended up lasting just a short time as I came out on the other side to find a busy street.
Diagon Alley was alive and well, but not nearly as packed as it had been the first time I traveled here. Lots of wizards and witches in their rainbow of cloaks that passed by, chattering of conversations that would enter in and out, and of course sights of each shop. Blinking and shaking off the feeling of the floo travel I started to brush myself off of the excess ash while trying to steady myself against the crazy amount of people surrounding me.
"Let me," I turned around to see a wand pointed straight at my face, and Umbridge's inhuman smile as she waved her wand. A quick sweep of wind came over me as I watched the ash clean itself off just in time for Fudge to step through. Umbridge had done the same for him who thanked her before Fudge looked to me.
"Shall we?" He offered, and as we walked through the street of the lively Diagon Alley, it was evident that soon Fudge's presence would attract any and all folk to have a moment to speak to him. He didn't seem keen on staying long to converse but offered kind and personal words to anyone who spoke to him, even naming a few personally as well.
"Professor," I whispered to Umbridge, "May I ask where we're going?"
"And spoil all the fun?" She offered in her own way of teasing, her high-pitched chuckle only answering that question. I forced another smile and chuckled but wanted nothing more than to pry the information out of her by strangulation. I wasn't fond of large crowds, and I didn't have my headphones to drown anyone out, so secrecy was the last thing I wanted in this very out-of-place situation.
It wasn't long before we stopped in front of a store called Magical Menagerie, and from what I could tell of the windows there was a ton of movement.
"Now, Elowyn, I'm told you don't have a familiar." Fudge turned around while looking at me, a small wrinkly smile on his lips.
I nodded, catching a few distinct features of animals from the outside, and putting the pieces together rather quickly.
"Well, your first prize would be the chance to procure just that!" Fudge announced while motioning to the door. "I believe it's long overdue."
My mind started to wonder just how many things they were going to get me, the money situation, and how in the world I was going to explain this to Maeve and Aurora. This didn't seem like the time or place to do either, or instead of protesting I simply gapped at him since I wasn't sure how to respond.
"You can say thank you as you purchase that feline," The small, stubby hand of Umbridge had pushed me lightly, but firmly, forward toward the door and all I could do was nod and sputter out a reply.
"Yes, yes u-uhm, thank you!" I managed to get out as I walked forward the now open threshold of the store, thanks to Fudge. I noticed that Umbridge didn't walk with me or Fudge into the store, and strangely enough, I wasn't sure if I liked that or not.
"Why, hello, Minister!" The skinny, balding, and mustached man greeted first before a round and rosy-cheeked woman followed closely behind.
"Norbert, Matilda!" Fudge greeted them as if they were old friends, "How're you both on this fine day?"
"We're wonderful, Cornelius!" The woman, Matilda, answered before noticing me, "Ahh, and who do we have here?"
I hated having to do all this smiling. Masking myself without my headphones or a place to hide away my thoughts was already beginning to get to me. At this point, I was dreading having to speak to anyone else, let alone venture with someone who would no doubt end up talking to more than half of the citizens we would pass.
"This here is one of Hogwarts' most promising students," Fudge explained while putting an arm around my shoulder, patting his hand a few times as he gave me his star-politician smile. "We've come here to give her a chance to find her familiar—a feline, specifically."
The two nodded and hummed their approval as the woman stepped out from behind the counter. "Well, let me show you our selection—I'm sure you'll find the perfect friend!" Matilda concluded excitedly.
There wasn't much room within the shop that required actual guidance, but being escorted by the Minister of Magic, I assumed it was part of their show. There were cages everywhere within the small, smelly, cramped store. No wonder Umbridge decided to stay out. There were animals of all kinds, humming, hissing, squawking, or various other animal noises that were over-stimulating to point out. I did what I could to listen to Matilda ramble on about the selection of each animal they had and stopped herself to verbally remind both of us that we were looking for feline breeds. Swallowing I tried to force a smile on my face, but it probably looked more pained or even showed my discomfort from all the noises and chatty woman. Stopping in front of the cages that held the various colored cats I noticed there were only two Kneazles there, one of which seemed to be smaller than a normal Kneazle, but much larger than the regular cat.
"Now, we do have a lot of to choose from, Miss. It seems like we're able to find all the cats a home quite easily, and our little Kneazles here seem to only take to strong-willed people." Matilda explained.
"Is that one a mixed breed?" I heard myself ask as I watched the long-haired, pure black feline curled up within its cage possibly sleeping away. I watched as the slow, steady and even breathing of the body wasn't disrupted by all the sounds. It made me wonder how long the animals had been here for them to be so used to the loud disruption. The other cats were participating in meowing, or bopping each other through the cages if they could, while the noticeable Kneazle was grooming itself with its calico leg sticking straight in the air.
"Yes, actually a couple that regularly helps bring in animals, or finds adopters that are suitable to the animal's needs, have brought many liters of the mixed breed for some time now!" Matilda explained, "We had one that lingered around for a while—a ginger-haired one—that found its home with another student if I remember right! However, this one seems to be pickier on who it wants to stay with. It's a female, if I remember, too."
I approached the cage and watched as the ears of the cat perked up, large and pointy with tufts of black coming out, and the head swiveled slowly turned to look at me. I was taken aback by the uniqueness of her face; the squished-in features of a Kneazle were obvious, but the patch of ginger encompassing a portion of the face right over its right eye also held a familiar, bright yellow eye. The other side of her face held a bright, vivid green eye. Her whiskers were long like a Kneazles, and as the cat stared at me for a moment before getting up and stretching, I noticed that the paws were speckled with ginger, and even a few white spots as well. She was the most amazing-looking cat I had ever seen!
"Ohh, she doesn't give anyone this much attention!" Matilda mused, "Could this be your pick, miss?"
"Only one way to find out," I replied while putting my hand up slowly to the cage for the feline mixed breed to smell. The cat paused to stare at my hand before slowly approaching to sniff the tips of my fingers through the bars. Her cold, wet nose tickled against my fingertips as she took her time to investigate my scene. After a moment of sniffing the cat pushed its cheek and rubbed its neck and body onto the tips of my fingers, allowing me to lightly scratch her in the process.
"This is wonderful! I've never seen her give anyone the time of day like you, miss!"
I smiled brightly, genuinely as the cat twirled around and stared up at me, mewing in a high-pitched tone that was barely audible around the animals. "Does she have a name?"
"Well," Matilda chuckled, "We've started referring to her as the feisty one. Any other name we chose she seemed… highly aware and didn't like any of them." Matilda blinked a few times, tilted her head, and looked at the cat strangely. I looked back at the animal and felt the flare of excitement; a unique-looking cat, that was picky with people, and showed high intelligence? It was truly meant to be!
After retrieving my newfound friend Fudge had allowed me to pick out a very nice carrier, even though I tried to protest and didn't want to seem entitled, he was adamant on wanting me to pick out anything I wanted despite the expenses. I left the Magical Menagerie with a luxurious, flat-purple pet carrier, two new collars for the unnamed animal (one vivid indigo that was suede with a golden heart tag, the other was dark emerald suede with a silver heart tag), and an offer for a discount on the next animal should I purchase again, Fudge and I returned outside where we found Delores Umbridge who just finished speaking with another witch dressed in all dandelion-yellow robes.
"Oh, my!" Umbridge exclaimed as she looked down at my new friend, "You certainly found yourself quite the… unusual companion!"
I could tell she was trying to provide some type of compliment, whether it was for the benefit of her boss or me mattered little in my mind, but her eyes and tight smile told a different opinion. It made me even more content with my pick.
"Have you decided on a name yet?" Umbridge asked still eyeing the feline,
"I'm not too sure yet, but I'm thinking of something… involving the zodiac, or related to the stars," I answered while smiling down at the cat that trilled as she cleaned her paws.
"There will be plenty of time for that," Fudge stated while putting on the green bowler hat on his head once more, "Shall we head to our next shop? I'd like to stop at one more place before we find a bite to eat say at… Florean's?" He looked down at me with another award-winning smile.
I smiled widely and nodded up at him, and without asking where we were going like the good little, double agent that I was, we headed down the street. The same process of being greeted by many folks continued, and in order to distract myself I kept focus on my newfound friend who enjoyed many finger scratches through the cage.
"Minister Fudge—ah—Delores!" I came to a stop after noticing the two adults through my peripheral beside me do so but continued to keep my focus on the feline.
'I could name her a constellation name… Perhaps a planet like Venus, or Jupiter… Maybe a zodiac sign like Leo, or Libra!... Hmm… Maybe a Goddess name like Circe!' I thought to myself, not paying any attention to the voices in front of me. I just watched as the yellow and green eyes stared at me as if to judge my own face before rubbing herself against the carrier once more.
"You mean to tell me this is Maeve Thorne and Aurora Ramsey's daughter?!" I looked up abruptly to meet the astonished face of a woman with brightly, bleached blonde hair and dressed in eccentric reds that coordinated with every accessory she had on. Her horned glasses even matched the red, and in my humble opinion, was absolutely too much. At least Maeve paired her scarlets, crimsons, and maroons with a complimentary black. "What a pleasure to meet you, Miss…?"
"Beaumont," I forced out while reaching out slowly to shake the woman's hand lightly, however, her nice grip and animated shaking made it all the more awkward enough for me to redact my hand quickly after she let go. "Elowyn Beaumont."
"What an absolutely lovely name you have there—not to mention that American accent!" She smiled the way a hungry dog looked at a nice, juicy piece of meat, "I'm sure I don't need any introduction, now do I?" The woman straightened herself while fluffing her hair. It was then I noticed that there was a swishy, and quick-moving, quill and notepad that levitated next to her with a man holding a clunky, magical camera who kept looking around the area.
I offered a polite smile while looking to Fudge and Umbridge who didn't offer any help in the moment, "Well… A reporter?"
While the woman didn't find that as amusing, keeping a smile that melted into a tighter grin while looking me up and down, Fudge and Umbridge had found it entertaining enough to laugh.
"Probably doesn't read the paper, Rita!" Fudge stated,
The light bulb lit for me as I remembered the fiasco of last year's paper and had a hard time refraining from my distaste for the woman in front of me as I narrowed my eyes before swiftly allowing them to dull.
"No matter," She stated while turning around to speak to Fudge and Umbridge, "I'm sure with a little photo on the front page, she'll want to get to know me personally!"
Before I could object Umbridge and Fudge had put a hand on each shoulder to pull me forward. The man with the camera aimed and all I could think to do was give my best smile, and hope that it turned out convincing or didn't make me look foolish.
"What a lovely picture!" Rita's sickly-sweet tone made me highly uncomfortable, not to mention unconvinced by her words. "I'm sure we can get an article out by tomorrow's page!"
"Send me your first draft as always," Fudge ordered before waving them off along with Umbridge. As we ventured away from the journalist and her photographer, I heard Fudge sigh while giving a look that was shared with my professor.
It wasn't long before we found ourselves at the Twilfitt and Tatting's shop. From what little I understood it seemed to be where all the wealthy witches and wizards shopped at, and only catered to their price ranges. It did not matter to the Minister of Magic, and even after assuring I'd only accept one outfit, Umbridge had insisted it would be more polite to accept more. Playing this smart once again, I had no choice but to act grateful and profusely to thank the Minister for his generosity. I left the shop with a new plum-colored dress robe tailored to my frame to get it a more mature figure, a violet set of real leather gloves, and an amethyst cloak. Just like before, Tiffy Tangleton encouraged my presence to return and offered to make any deal for the occasion. She had also said that she'd love to see me in something different, like a deep red. Inwardly chuckling to myself I humored her and said I'll consider it next time.
We headed to our presumed last stop, and truthfully, I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but as we approached the wand shop of Ollivander's I couldn't help but look at both adults with me with worry.
"No need to be afraid dear," Umbridge assured while gesturing to the door, "trust us." She smiled widely at me with a glint in her eye that seemed more mischievous than I liked to admit. Swallowing I carried my belongings with me into the store as Fudge kept the door open to allow us to walk through.
The bell had run when the door opened, and as it closed it did so again. I had only been to two other wand shops when Maeve and Aurora had tried to find a wand for me, and even though they were highly supportive of my ability I never forgot how humiliating it was for every wand to reject me. It wasn't normal for me, and I can pride myself now on how my magic has worked for me to stand out against the crowd, but back then I couldn't help but hope to be normal enough to have my own. It was a rite of passage from what I understood; every witch and wizard had a wand to rely on. Even my guardians had their own when their abilities would fail them.
I looked around at the countless stacks of wands on the shelves and wondered if the Minister of Magic and my professor had any inkling of an idea of what they were trying to prove. They had to be aware, right? They were the ones to state that I had unique abilities, that they were an accomplishment, even if I could tell there was some kind of weariness in the way they spoke about me. No wand wanted me, and I didn't need one, so why were we here?
"Prime Minister! Undersecretary—or should I say Professor?" The scraggly voice of a man emerging from behind the counter greeted us as he smiled at the adults before finally looking at me.
"Sorry we're late, Garrick, we had some run-ins with a few folks and simply lost track of time." Fudge explained as if it were nothing, and Ollivander nodded in understanding.
"Not to worry, not to worry!" He assured the Minister once more before looking back to me, "Is this the special one?"
"Yes," Umbridge spoke up while putting her arm around me, "Elowyn Beaumont, is her name."
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Beaumont!" Ollivander extended his hand, and after putting down my bags, and being careful to set down my unnamed friend, I stepped forward to shake his hand which was much kinder to hold.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Ollivander," I greeted,
"I've heard you're a remarkable case, aren't you?" He asked while staring at me curiously.
Sheepishly I nodded, and after he politely asked for a demonstration, I looked back to the two adults who nodded to me before lifting my hand. The violet color of my energy seeped out over my hand as I waved to levitate the bell that was at the top of the counter. My energy encased the bell and brought it up in a controlled manner before I let it float back down to its place.
"Fascinating! Why, I've never seen anything like that before!" Ollivander gapped at the bell before looking back at me with wide eyes of astonishment.
I took a deep breath and decided to rip the band-aid off the concern I had. "It's always been like that, and—and when I tried to obtain a wand it never worked out. Wands always reject me—or even worse they would break!" I looked between Fudge and Umbridge, "I don't want to cause any trouble, or break a wand that could potentially be for someone else—"
"Now, now," Umbridge interrupted as I turned to look at her, "Don't fret about any of that! Just like a familiar, a witch is entitled to a wand—and to be quite frank with you, I don't believe your guardians tried hard enough to accommodate you!" She tilted her head, gave her high-pitched chuckle and gave what I presumed was her best version of a sympathetic smile, "No offense, Elowyn."
There was much to be offended by that statement, and all I could do was merely look at her trying to refrain from saying or doing anything else. Double agent status was harder to do when your loved one's characters were insulted.
"We believe, Elowyn," Fudge stepped forward to put a hand on my shoulder, like he had done other times to convince of his side, bringing my attention over to him, "that Ollivander might have a few selections that other wandmakers possibly didn't have, and to provide you an opportunity for you to… explore traditional options." Fudge gave an encouraging smile, and when I didn't offer one back, he went on. "Don't worry about what happens; Ollivander is more than capable of replacing or mending wands, aren't you Garrick?"
Ollivander tried to look confident enough in what the Minister had said, but even I could sense the apprehension of what Fudge said. I looked back to the Minister and nodded as he smiled that politician grin and looked at Ollivander to nod his head.
The wand maker disappeared behind the counter to the back of the shop and after many minutes of waiting returned with three wand boxes. One green, one red, and the other black.
'How special are these wands? Only three of them?' I thought to myself staring at the boxes.
"These are my most unique wands that I've created in the past, Miss Elowyn," Ollivander explained as he laid out each box to face me on the counter. He took off the covering of the green box and set it carefully to the side, "This one is a White River Monster Spine core, birch wood, ten and one-fourth inches long. Pliable. This core is meant to produce spells of force and elegance." Ollivander extended the wand for me to take, and with hesitation, I took it carefully.
The wand was white with a blue finish, the texture looking like weathered wood with a handle that blocky and was rough to the touch even with a finishing. There were no sparks, or a sudden feeling of connectedness like I had been told would happen, but a true disdain for touching this wand. I winced as I looked up at the wandmaker, "I don't like the feel of this one, Mr. Ollivander."
Ollivander immediately took the wand back with a nervous chuckle, "No need to test that one then!" He explained while putting the wand delicately back within its box, covering it, and pulling out the wand from the red box. "This is a… Rougarou hair, willow wood, twelve and two-thirds inches long. Surprisingly swishy. This core is… controversial, to say the least, but the pull to certain arts is more inclined in this core. This wand can produce incredible magic with powerful intent."
This wand was interesting to look at. It had a gradient look of grey at the very tip that melted into a pitch black at the handle. It had a smooth handle with a bulb at the very end and overall looked bland compared to the last one. After taking the wand in my hand I felt more of a draw to the wand, but no sparks. I looked up and was met with the hopeful, bright eyes of the wandmaker, and after nodding I tried to levitate the bell once more. Surprisingly, the bell had started to levitate, and for a fleeting moment I thought the wand had accepted me, but soon I was proven wrong whenever the bell started to shake softly and quickly rattled loudly before it zoomed around the room in unpredictable ways. Covering my head it was a second later when the zooming and clinking sound stopped. Daring to look up I watched as Ollivander levitated the bell back to its place with his wand. "Definitely, not that one I'm afraid." He commented as I handed the wand back to him with a meek smile.
I bit my lip as the last wand from the black box was handed to me, losing more faith in the idea of having a wand at all, and wondering how this might affect my plans in the future.
"Curupira Hair, known for the extremely talented and unpredictable nature of the witch or wizard. Eleven and three-fourths inches with Elmwood. Also, surprisingly swishy."
I looked at the intricate carvings of runes that were highlighted in the lightest purple upon the black, and otherwise smooth, wood. The handle swirled with the same mixture of purple and black, adding an elegant touch to the wand. There were numerous wands I had looked at and may have appreciated the work and given a chance to try and focus my magic through, but this was the very first one where I actually wanted—needed—to hold it.
With wonder, I grasped the handle of the wand and felt a surge of joy, and excitement as the glow of the wand was consumed by my energy. Sparks of violet-purple flew from the top as the overwhelming sensation of connection overtook me. I smiled up at Ollivander and looked to Fudge and Umbridge who showed approval as they looked to each other before setting their sights back to me. I could swear I was seeing some sort of excitement on their faces, too.
"We may have just found a match, Miss Beaumont!" Ollivander declared, "Give it a wave!"
I waved the wand and eagerly watched as the purple energy I had been so familiar with shot through the wand, encasing the bell to levitate it perfectly. The strangest feeling was the sensation of feeling my energy pull through, almost like pushing it into a narrow space that was an extension of the wand rather than through me. I gasped in amazement as small and quick clapping came from Umbridge and a hearty laugh from Fudge to my right.
"You've done it again, Garrick!" Fudge complimented while throwing down several Galleons, "I knew you'd be able to properly find your match." Fudge commented.
I looked to Mr. Ollivander and thanked him through a thick voice, trying my best to contain the emotional moment I had that came out of nowhere. It was strange for me to think I could use this wand just like everyone else, and while I prided myself on my unique abilities, it almost seemed comforting to know I had a way of blending in. There was some underlying reason for everything Fudge and Umbridge did today, and while I absolutely wasn't going to fall for it, I had to admit that this act meant… something to me. I wasn't sure what it was, but I felt something akin to this being a special moment that wouldn't have happened had I not been brought here.
'It's more than likely not out of the kindness of their heart, but still…' I thought to myself while gazing at my wand.
Leaving Ollivander's with my wand (which would have to take some getting used to and was becoming fun to think about in those terms) we headed to Florean's Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor for a well-deserved treat. I was able to pick whatever I wanted and decided on a blueberry and lemon-flavored ice cream that interested me the most. It has edible purple and blue glitter, with a candied yellow flower on the side. Per Fudge's request, we were given a special booth that was more secluded and hidden away from most of the commotion of the customers around us inside the parlor. This had to be the most awkward moment of the whole trip here since it required all of us to sit around each other and prompted conversation. I wanted nothing more than to head back to the safety of my dorm room, get my no-named friend settled in let her stretch her legs, and look at my wand more, but unfortunately, I had to be polite enough to enjoy ice cream with these two. It was mild, and I mostly talked about the subjects I enjoyed, how life was outside of Hogwarts which was given only minimal and boring details. They could've bought me whole potions set up and they'd never know any private, or personal things about my life. As far as they knew I was a boring, and simple teenage girl who put her nose into the books of her school subjects. However, the next subject that was brought up, finally pieced together what this was all about.
"Elowyn," Fudge started as he laid down his spoon from his hot fudge sundae, "I hope you've enjoyed this day as much as we have. It's a rare treat, so to speak, to be able to have a… normal day." He motioned to Umbridge who kept her polite smile on her face as she lightly picked over her rosy sorbet.
I wiped my mouth with my napkin as I looked at Fudge and nodded, "I'm a bit overwhelmed with your generosity, Minister. I genuinely thank you for what you've done for me today—both of you!" I said while giving a smile to both of them.
'Too bad neither one of you are decent people!' My snarky inner commentary fueled the appearance of a genuine smile.
Fudge chuckled, "Please, as long as you continue to show your professors, specifically Delores, your ability to stay true to yourself and… follow the right path, there's much more we could offer you, you know." He stated while glancing at Umbridge before looking back at me.
'There it is,' I thought to myself without changing anything on my face or my demeanor, 'this was a bribery, of course, and here's the pitch!'
"I think that'll be easy to do," I gave a small giggle while looking at Umbridge, "Professor Umbridge has just taught me well, not just in class, but outside of it as well."
Delores waved her hand while beaming proudly, that annoying high-pitched giggle came next as, surprisingly, a light tint of pink erupted on her cheeks. "How endearing of you, Elowyn, but I must say that's actually a discussion I'd like to have with you." The pink in her cheeks remained as she looked at me, a strange tinge of intensity in her light eyes as she stared at me.
I dropped my smile and looked between the two with Fudge waving his hand, wiping his face with his napkin, "No worries, dear, it's more so a favor you could do for us."
'Butter me up with materialistic shit, give me a companion and a wand, and fucking ice cream… and they think I'm just gonna be putty in their hands, huh? Guess they think I'm just some naive little girl…' I thought to myself, inwardly wanting to roll my eyes at them but I had to play the game correctly. They wanted to play checkers, but I was more skilled at chess. This would be the moment they would ask something of me that had to be contradictory to my morals or ask me to go on a special mission for their personal interests, and I had to act as if I wasn't catching on.
"Well, of course!" I said while looking at them both, "What could I do for you both?"
Fudge took a moment to glance at Delores before offering a kinder smile to me, "As I understand it, you've recently separated yourself from a well-known troublemaker, and false-tale fabricator, Harry Potter?"
I blinked up at him feeling as if I were put in a spotlight once more and decided to tread carefully. The way he mentioned Harry was such a stark difference in how he treated me today, and I could see the disapproval in his beady eyes when he referred to my friend.
"Y-yes…" I nodded while looking down, "It was more a betrayal, actually."
Clicking his tongue Fudge put yet another hand on my shoulder, and I had to remind myself to keep up appearances. He was lucky I had to play along or else I was tempted to bind his hands to himself. "Yes, yes, I heard all about that from Delores here. It was quite the show of your housemates coming in to stand with you, is that right?"
I nodded, unsure of just exactly where this was going.
"And, as I hear it, they've shown you quite the welcoming into their house that you didn't experience before, yes?"
Once again, I nodded.
"Well, I must say that has to be a relief knowing who your true allies are." He stated. I swallowed the sudden swelling of fear as thoughts of trying to figure out how I got caught swirled around my mind. I was waiting for the ambush, but it didn't come, and after a moment I cleared my throat.
"I'd have to agree,"
"Which got me thinking about this dire time that we're in right now, Elowyn. I'm doing all that I can to assure the Wizarding World that all is safe from You-Know-Who since we all know he isn't truly back," He nodded as his brows raised when referring to the subject, and I was quick to nod back to him in understanding that I, in fact, did not believe. "But I'm finding it difficult to try and raise morale within the younger generation. Word gets around to the parents, and soon I'm afraid they'll try and sway them into… well, being more outspoken about that than I think is right for our community." Fudge started to use his spoon to push around his ice cream, avoiding my eyes. "And I was thinking that you would be perfect to… amplify, that idea of safety."
I tilted my head to the side as I studied him, "How could I do that, Minister? I'm not sure if I have enough weight to pull such a task."
"Well," Umbridge spoke, "you're a prefect, for starters, and that type of responsibility also holds authority. I have particular plans for the future of potentially implementing a student body to help… enforce the rules, and think you being a part of that would also help."
I blinked at my Defense Professor, seeing how this could easily play into my hands to help my actual friends. This would give me the perfect access to know just what Umbridge would plan to do and allow me to discreetly protect my Gryffindors while potentially gathering information. This was what my plan was for! Our little rebellion would be able to remain safe as long as I stayed alongside Umbridge and played the part of a devoted Slytherin.
I nodded while giving a proud smile before looking back to Fudge. "So, really, you're setting me up for success by enacting me into a certain social group, right?"
Fudge had a thoughtful frown as he raised his eyebrows to give Umbridge an approving look before looking at me with a more satisfied grin. "I like how you've worded that, Elowyn Beaumont, but it goes a bit deeper than that."
"We'd like for you to try and make amends with Harry Potter," Umbridge spoke once again, causing me to look at her with furrowed eyebrows, "obviously with someone like him, and his unfortunately cruel friends, we believe he'll do anything in his power to cause panic and strife within the community." The same attempt at sympathy was made on her face as she looked at me.
Blinking a few times, I looked between the two adults before nodding slowly, "You want me to spy on him?"
"Spy is… an intense way of putting it, but another way of saying it is watching him and listening to anything involving rebellion… rising against the Ministry–"
"Anything with Dumbledore that seems misplaced for a school setting." Umbridge cut short the long about way of what Fudge was saying. Fudge seemed to give her a twitch of a warning in his eye but cleared his throat to look back at me with anticipation.
I nodded once again and took a deep breath, "If… If it's for the greater good, then… then I can do that." I agreed.
"Are you sure? You can take some time to think about this, Elowyn. It would require keeping this a secret from everyone, to assure you're not caught or… reprimanded." Fudge questioned.
'More like so you don't get caught, you shithead.' I thought to myself while allowing a smile to show from my inner comment but display it as agreeance. "Thank you for looking out for me, but I think I'm up to the task. Besides, I'd like to look at it as getting even."
Umbridge started giggling and Fudge joined her tittering. "Remind us to never cross you, Miss Beaumont!" Fudge joked while giving a playful wiggle of his eyebrows. I allowed myself to laugh while shrugging.
"So," Umbridge brought our attention to her, "give me about a week or so before you… amend your friendships. Do whatever you can to convince them you've forgiven them, that you're on their side—whatever may be the case. I'll hold you back from class to let you know when I'm done with my part." Umbridge explained, "That way you don't have any issues with your newer friends, to say the least."
I nodded and took a bite of my ice cream, trying to figure out how to summarize all of this into a journal entry for Hermione to look over. The rest of our time at Florean's was dedicated to solidifying my participation before moving on to rather dull subjects, asking questions about the Ministry, and asking personal questions like favorite colors or hobbies.
After spending most of the day with the two adults I was finally able to get myself, and my no-named cat back to my common room to decompress with my headphones. I had to think over all of the strangeness of the day before I could find the time to write Hermione, or even find a way to pull one of the Gryffindors to the side and talk to them. Soon, Fudge left me with Umbridge to travel through the floo network, and back into her bright pink office. After exchanging pleasantries, I quickly made my way to my common room. I had to be quick, as traveling with an expensive animal carrier filled with a mixed breed, and two full bags full of clothing where one of them hid my newly acquired wand made me stick out like a sore thumb to anyone I passed by.
I received several stares, and after an unfortunate run-in with The Bloody Baron who zoomed right through me leaving me with a chill that I'd hoped to forget soon, with a sour stare as he turned to look me up and down. I needed to be back in my common room before my head was going to explode. I mentally cursed the ghost for running through him and adding to my already flustered mood carried on with a quicker pace.
I had made it down into the dungeons and headed down the hallway where I would soon get to my common room; I could see the entryway up ahead and put a spring in my step just to hasten the experience of being free. However, I praised my blessings too early when I was suddenly confronted with the tall figure of my Head of House as he came barreling out of the now-opened door of the potion's classroom and locked eyes with me immediately.
I felt my face drop watching his eyes burning into my own, as if to try and hex me with just by his ire. I wasn't sure why I was worried to see him in this state, but his booming, and vexed tone told me I should have plenty to be concerned about.
"Beaumont!" He roared,
But the worst was yet to come as the blur of red came from around him, and tawny brown that accompanied the same blur. The frantic eyes of Maeve and the worried stare of Aurora confronted me with nearly the same effect that Snape brought, pure panic and dread.
'Fuck!'
"Where on Merlin's green—" Maeve stopped short from confronting me as she noticed the hissing coming from the carrier in my left hand, before looking to the bags in my right before narrowing her eyes at me.
"My Star, what in the world do you have there?" Aurora questioned, though her tone was more stern than I heard in… well, ever.
I smiled sheepishly while wincing and shrugging with my items, and new familiar, lifting to show them. "Uhm… just… stuff?"
My no-name familiar mewed rather pathetically, and lifting the carrier I quickly apologized to the cat. I looked back to the adults to see all three of them giving me a less-than-pleased look and knew that no matter how I tried to get out of this, they were going to make me expose my plan to them.
"I'm… in trouble… aren't I?" I asked while wincing once more.
"With your brilliance and clever mind..." Snape's low voice and flat tone spoke chillingly as he never once failed to keep harsh eye contact, "what do you think?"
A/N: First, I hope everyone in the HP fandom is doing alright with the recent news of Dame Maggie Smith passing. Every time I hear about a cast member passing on it's a part of me that feels like it goes with them in my childhood. We grieve for our McGonagall, but know any time we miss her we can always put on the films. Like Sirius Black said: "The ones we love never really leave us."
Also, I hope this was a comic relief break for some of you as well as a way to push the plot and drama in this story. I've hidden two meme's in this story and if anyone can guess what they are, I'll make a special little cameo with a character thrown in the next chapter that you design! They're both worded just slightly different, but you may be familiar with them lol I've also created a TikTok to post some promo videos for this story! When I'm not writing, I'm editing, and I'm still new with it but I'm soooo proud of the videos I've made so far!
How do we feel about Miss Elowyn's secret, spy plan? I have to admit I do love writing Elowyn from time to time, and before a very emotionally charged chapter, I felt that you all needed this. It's also my longest chapter LOL
I want to thank Maiyin for their incredible review! I can't tell you how many times I read it, and felt so emotional about what you said. You, and Heilia Revelio have been amazing for your support and in sight. You're incredible, and I hope to hear from you again in future chapters with your insights and opinions!
Also, please let me know if you notice any spelling errors, anything messed up, because I'm posting this at 4AM since I really wanted to get the chapter out. I will be looking it over again tomorrow just to be sure, but I just want it to flow nicely for you all :)
