Chapter Seventeen: Out of the Fying Pan…Into the Fire
"Hey!" She yelled and jumped right in. "Expelliarmus." Her spell caught one, and she dodged a spell sent her way. Someone came up behind her. She elbowed them in the eye but another large boy tackled her. They grabbed her wand and put a gag on her as well. She struggled against them but they were surprisingly large for a 17 year old.
They all shuffled them right into Umbridge's office. Hermione was trapped against a large girl, Mallicent, her name was. Harry was leaning against Umbridge's desk. Malfoy was sitting in the window, playing with Harry's wand. Whatever they were planning they had been caught and she had been too late to stop them.
"This one," a boy was saying, "elbowed Blaise and tried to stop us."
"Good good." Umbridges said. "Looks like Hogwarts will shortly be a Weasley-free zone, doesn't it." She turned her gaze to Iris, "and back to the states for you.
Iris stomped on the foot of the boy who held her and lunged for Umbridge, who had the good sense to step back in fear. "Restrain her!"
This time two sets of hands held her. She let out a growl towards Umbridge. She tried to smile as she sat her squat ass in the chair, but Iris could see the little seed of fear in her eye. Good, when she got out of her fuck magic, Iris was gonna beat her with her bear hands.
'So, Potter,' she said. 'You stationed lookouts around my office and you sent this buffoon,' she nodded at Ron - Malfoy laughed - 'to tell me the poltergeist was wreaking havoc in the Transfiguration department when I knew perfectly well that he was busy smearing ink on the eyepieces of all the school telescopes -Mr Filch having just informed me. So clearly , it was very important for you to talk to somebody. Was it Albus Dumbledore? Or the half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall, I hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone."
Iris had to calm herself but every word out of the toad's mouth angered her more. She couldn't struggle against the two large boys who held her. She sure as hell would get her payback though and she remembered their names and faces. She had to calm down, had to check Harry's mind. Umbridge instructed Malfoy to fetch Professor Snape.
That reached her senses. She took a couple deep breaths. Snape couldn't very well get them out of her but he could check whatever it was Harry needed the floo for. Iris closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She took a few deep breaths to center herself and slowly she reached out to Harry's mind.
Merlin that boy was filled with rage. He was scared too. But of what? She dug a little deeper, following the fear. There it was, Sirius Black. The image of him being tortured by Voldemort was flashing through Harry's mind. It felt as real as Mr. Weasley and the snake. Iris pulled back. Damnit. Sirius was a grown ass man who knew the risk if he stepped out of his house. He would never put the Order or Harry at risk. He hated it, yes but he was no fool. Voldemort must have realized their connection and he was using it against Harry. Harry who had no damn idea.
Footsteps pulled Iris out of her thoughts. Snape had arrived. "You wanted to see me, Headmistress."
His eyes swept the scene and lingered on Iris a moment longer, his eyebrow quirked up ever so slightly.
"Ah, Professor Snape,' said Umbridge, smiling widely and standing up again. 'Yes, 1 would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."
"You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter," he said, surveying her coolly. 'Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient.'
Umbridge flushed. 'You can make some more, can't you?' she said, her voice becoming more sweetly girlish as it always did when she was furious.
Certainly,' said Snape, his lip curling. 'It takes a full moon-cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in around a month.'
'A month?' squawked Umbridge, swelling toadishly. 'A month? But I need it this evening Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons
'Really?' said Snape, showing his first, faint sign of interest as he looked round at Harry. 'Well, it doesn't surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules."
He turned his eyes unto Harry and Iris chose that moment to reach out to him.
Harry was trying to talk to Sirius Black. He thinks Voldemort has captured him and they are at the Ministey of Magic.
Black is not foolish enough to leave the manor.
Yes well we know he's a idiot but not stupid enough to leave. Harry and his hero complex do not. He's acting out in fear.
I can confirm whether or not Black is still there.
"I wish to interrogate him." Umbridge said angrily. "I wish you to provide me with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth."
"I already told you," Snape replied smoothly, "'that I have no further stocks of Veritaserum. Unless you wish to poison Potter -and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did - I cannot help you. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for truth-telling."
Really Severus. Merlin just go inform the Order. I have a plan.
You are on probation!' shrieked Professor Umbridge, and Snape looked back at her, his eyebrows slightly raised. 'You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!'
Don't get caught again. I will not provide aid.
Oh yeah you've been so helpful. Remind me to send you thank you chocolates
Snape gave Umbridge an ironic bow and turned to leave. Iris mentally slapped herself as Harry yelled out, "He's got Padfoot. He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden."
'Padfoot?' cried Professor Umbridge, looking eagerly from Harry to Snape. 'What is Padfoot?
Where what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?'
Well damn big mouth.
Need a new plan?
Don't sound so smug. Get the big idiot to let Neville go a bit.
'I have no idea,' said Snape coldly. 'Potter, when 1 want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."
Real fucking smooth. I got the rest handled.
So maybe Iris didn't have a solid plan. She still had her wand hidden up her sleeve. In a split decision she had decided to transfigure a quill into her wand. She needed Umbridge gone, though. It would make beating the shit out of the Slytherins easier. She wanted to know who Harry was talking to, how could Iris use that. After Snape left she seemed to grow more desperate. Mumbling nonsense to herself, tapping her wand against her hand. She even had a crazy look in her eye. Finally she uttered a not too surprising statement.
"The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."
Hermione, the only one without a gag, protested against it. Though her cries fell on deaf ears Umbridge did let it slip to everyone that she sent the dementors after Harry. Iris eased her way into Hermione's mind, who was pleading with Umbridge. Clever little witch had a plan. A dangerous stupid one. But if it could get Umbridge out of the way then Iris would have a chance to get the rest of them out of this. The other kids were looking at Hermione with hurt, they couldn't see that she was fake sobbing. Neither could greedy little Umbridge. She said the one thing that Umbridge couldn't resist, that Harry was trying to talk to Dumbledore.
Iris listened intently to Hermione as she laid out her plan. Damn that girl was good at manipulating Umbridge. Playing to her fears expertly. Saying they had made a weapon on Dumbledore orders and that she hopes everyone find out and uses it against Umbridge. When Malfoy couldn't hid his greedy little face her fears became real.
"Professor," said Malfoy eagerly, "Professor Umbridge, I think some of the Squad should come with you to look after -"
"I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you really think I cannot manage two wandless teenagers alone" asked Umrbridge sharply. "In any case it does not sound as though this weapon is something that schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until I return and make sure none of these - she gestured around at Ron, Ginny, Neville, Iris and Luna- "escape."
"All right"' said Malfoy, looking sulky and disappointed.
"And you two can go ahead of me and show me the way," said Umbridge, pointing at Harry and Hermione with her wand. 'Lead on."
They were finally alone with the Slytherins. Iris kept her eye out the window. She spotted the trio heading into the Forest near Hagrid's hut. Now was the time. Iris pulled her wand down into her hand, Lumos Solem.
A blinding flash of light burst through the room blinding everyone. Iris stunned the two boys holding her. She heard other commotion as the light continued to burn.
Iris summoned the wands, the others had also taken advantage of the light. Ginny and Ron were free. She threw them their wands. Ginny entered a duel with Malloy. Iris went to assist Neville. Disarming the boy who held him and punching him in the face for her own pleasure. She handed Neville his wand.
"Protego Maxima." She protected everyone as Ron freed Luna. Ginny got Malloy with a bat boogy hex, Neville pulled off a nice impediment jinx. All the Slytherins were incapacitated.
"petrificus totalus" Iris cast the spell over all of them. "Don't want them warning anyone. Hermione and Harry headed into the forest."
"Nicely done." Said Ron.
"Let's go!" Ginny chimed in.
Together they headed through the castle and towards the forest.
"How are we going to find them?" Luna asked as they entered.
Iris let down her walls searching, and found the only two minds she could read. "Let's go this way, base off tree movements I think they went this way."
Iris led the way. "It's a big forest, how can you be sure Iris?" Ron asked skeptically.
"Girl scouts." They gave her weird looks. "Er-it's a muggle thing where they make you go into a forest and learn to survive." They walked in silence.
The looks got stranger but before they could say anything else Harry's voice came loud and clear from up ahead.
"By the time we do that Sirius will probably be dead!"
As they got closer they heard Hermione's timid reply, "Anyway Harry how exactly were you planning to get all the way to London."
"Yeah, we were just wondering that." Ron said before pushing aside some branches and walked into the clearing, closely followed by Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Iris brought up in the rear.
"So," Ron held out Harry's wand to him, "have any ideas?"
"How did you get away?" Harry asked in amazement.
"For being cunning, Slytherins tend to be pretty stupid. They never had my wand, I hid it in my sleeve." Iris shrugged.
"Iris set off a bright light, then some stunners, a nice Impediment jinx from Neville, and an amazing Bat Bogey Hex on Malfoy by Ginny and we were free." Answered Ron.
"All those lessons paid off Harry. Anyway, we saw you head into the forest. What happened to Umbridge?" Iris asked.
"She got carried away," Harry answered, "by centaurs."
Iris sniggered. "And they left you behind?" asked Ginny, looking astonished.
"No they got chased off by Grawp."
"Who's Grawp?" Luna asked interestedly.
"Hagrid's little brother," said Ron promptly. "Anyway, never mind that now. Harry, what did you find out in the fire? Has You-Know-Who got Sirius or -?"
'Yes,' said Harry" Iris felt his scar prickle painfully. '"and I'm sure Sirius is still alive, but I can't see how we're going to get there to help him."
"Well, we'll have to fly, won't we?" said Luna, in a matter-of-fact voice
'OK,' said Harry irritably, rounding on her. 'First of all, "we" aren't doing anything if you're including yourself in that, and second of all, Ron's the only one with a broomstick that isn't being guarded by a security troll, so -'
'I've got a broom!' said Ginny.
'Yeah, but you're not coming,' said Ron angrily.
'Excuse me, but 1 care what happens to Sirius as much as you do!' said Ginny, her jaw set
'You're too -' Harry began, but Ginny said fiercely, 'I'm three years older than you were when you fought You-Know-Who over the Philosopher's Stone, and it's because of me that Malfoy's stuck back in Umbridge's office with giant flying bogies attacking him -'
'Yeah, but -'
'We were all in the DA together,' said Neville quietly. 'It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it? And this is the first chance we've had to do something real - or was that all just a game or something?'
'No — of course it wasn't -' said Harry impatiently.
"Then we should come too,' said Neville simply. 'We want to help.'
That's right,' said Luna, smiling happily
"Enough!" Iris said impatiently. "You brought us together Harry, do not turn us away now. We are your friends. This isn't just your war, it belongs to us all."
Harry eyed Ron. They seemed to be having a conversation. Iris knew Harry would give in, even though he still was fighting it. "Well it doesn't matter anyway," He gritted his teeth. "We still don't know how to get there-"
"I thought we'd settled that," said Luna maddeningly. "We're flying!"
"Look,' said Ron, barely containing his anger, "you might be able to fly without a broomstick
but the rest of us can't sprout wings whenever we -"
"There are ways of flying other than with broomsticks," said Luna serenely.
"I's'pose we're going to ride on the back of the Kacky Snorgle or whatever it is?" Ron
Demanded.
Iris rubbed her eyes, Merlin, she was dealing with children it was maddening.
"the Crumple-Horned Snorkack can't fly,' said Luna in a dignified voice.
Iris caught what Luna was looking at. "Threastle can." She said, "And Hagrid said they had a good sense of direction too." Standing between two trees, their white eyes gleaming eerily, were two Thestrals, watching the whispered conversation as though they understood every word,
Harry turned around, 'Yes!' he whispered, moving towards them. They tossed their reptilian heads, throwing back long black manes, and he stretched out his hand eagerly and patted the nearest one's shining neck.
Iris approached the one other, gently giving it a pat. 'Is it those mad horse things?' said Ron uncertainly, staring at a point slightly to the left of the Thestral Harry was patting. "Those ones you can't see unless you've watched someone snuff it?'
'Yeah,' said Harry.
'How many?'
"Just these two, but I bet we can get more."
'Well, we need three,' said Hermione, who was still looking a little shaken, but determined just the same.
"four, Hermione,' said Ginny, scowling.
"I think there are seven of us, actually," said Luna calmly, counting.
'Don't be stupid, we can't all go!' said Harry angrily. 'Look, you four -' he pointed at Neville, Ginny, Iris, and Luna, 'you're not involved in this, you're not -'
Iris felt his scar give another painful prick. "Merlin! I thought I told you to shut up, in case I didn't, here it is, SHUT UP!" Iris was tired of this useless arguing. "We are going and we are going together Harry. I don't want to hear another word about it."
Harry looked a bit ashamed, Ginny amused, and the rest a little shocked.
"You and Hermione are covered in blood, more will come. The smell obviously attracted them."
He was about to retort with a bright idea and opened his mouth, "Don't you finish that sentence Harry Potter, or I swear to Merlin I will hex you." He closed his mouth.
"Look," Luna said smiling, "here come more now."
Harry turned: no fewer than six or seven Thestrals were picking their way through the trees, their great leathery wings folded tight to their bodies, their eyes gleaming through the darkness. He had no excuse now. 'All right,' he said angrily, 'pick one and get on, then.'
Harry jumped on his Thestral. Luna jumped on her own, and Neville struggled to get on his.
"What?" said Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermone were lost.
"How are we suppose to get on?" Asked Ron "we can't see them"
Luna jumped off her own. "Oh it's easy. Come here."
"I'll help you guys too." Together Iris and Luna helped them each on their own horse, making sure they gripped the hair tightly. Everyone looked extremely nervous.
"Don't worry guys, they are pretty smart creatures."
This is mad,' Ron murmured, moving his free hand gingerly up and down his horse's neck. 'Mad… if I could just see it -'
'You'd better hope it stays invisible,' said Harry darkly. 'We all ready, then?'
Everyone nodded. Iris looked down at her own Thestral. "Okay then, let's get this show on the road! Take us to the Ministry of Magic visitors entrance in London if you please!"
For a few moments nothing happened, then the wings extended, the horse crouched down and rocketed up so fast Iris feared she would fall off for a moment. A few screams behind her, let her know the others had taken off as well. The cold wind cut her face, she bent low into the neck on her own horse.
Whatever awaited them at the Ministry was a trap. She knew she was leading the children into the spider's web, but she had no choice. Harry was beyond reasoning. The others ,so loyal, all she could do was join them and protect them as best she could. Best case scenario Death Eaters awaited them, worst case Voldemort did. If he did she would blow her cover in an instant to protect them. Damn, she should have sent Snape a message, hopefully he would go back and find the Slytherins and deduced what happened. If anything, hopefully the Order would show up. But who would show up first. If they did, how long before back up arrived? There was so much uncertainty, and though Iris was confident in her abilities, she only ever had to protect herself, not six children.
After what felt like an eternity, the Thestrals suddenly started diving down. Down into the muggle city of London. Though they were descending fast the horse landing was surprisingly gentle. Iris got off and looked around, making sure everyone was in one piece.
Never again,' Ron said, struggling to his feet. He made as though to stride away from his Thestral, but, unable to see it, collided with its hindquarters and almost fell over again. 'Never, ever again… that was the worst -'
Hermione and Ginny touched down on either side of him: both slid off their mounts a little more gracefully than Ron, though with similar expressions of relief at being back on firm ground; Neville jumped down, shaking; and Luna dismounted smoothly
Phew another chapter done its sooo close to the ending a few more chapters! And boy i wrote the last chapter so long ago i cant wait to post it
