39: Fireworks
Revising with Neville became an almost daily occurrence.
Neither spoke much, apart from Madeline correcting any fleeting mistakes she caught in his notes. Neither really dared to bring up Dumbledore's Army either (that would be far too awkward). Instead, the two settled happily on just working through each others notes, Madeline helping him with Potions and Transfigurations while he helped her with Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. It was a good deal, Madeline thought. And it was nice to be out of the Dungeons, even for a few nights a week.
"I like your perfume," was the only real discussion they'd had out of revision, to which Madeline had replied, "Thank you; my grandma and I made it together."
"I remember," Neville had smiled back, "You told us at the Yule Ball; lemongrass."
And that's when Madeline remembered that she had friends in other places, not just the dungeons.
Meanwhile, Theo and Daphne had taken to the girls dormitory to do revision of their own. Their next exam was in Divination, the one exam everyone seemed either concerned or completely unbothered by.
Theo waited until they were alone before he even dared to say anything.
"So, you and Pansy are getting on pretty well," Theo tried carefully, noticing the way Daphne's eyes widened just the slightest bit.
"She's alright when you get to know her," Daphne replied vaguely, keeping her eyes trained on her parchment.
"She seems to like you, too," Theo continued, "That's rare."
"She's not as bad as everyone thinks she is; she's just selective," Daphne shrugged, struggling to change the topic of conversation. She glanced at an empty star chart near Theo's stuff, "Hey, can you explain this to me again?"
That was all Theo was going to get from her.
Madeline thought her Transfigurations paper went rather well, as did the practical. In fact, so far, all of her exams were going pretty well, if she could say so herself. Most of her evenings were spent revising with Neville, but when they weren't, it was with Draco and her friends. And they were all quite bright, if she could say so herself.
They had their Herbology exam on Wednesday; and then, on Thursday, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Madeline was excited, especially after her written paper went so well. She had her aunt to thank for that; she would've never been able to write in such detail without her. And her practical exam went just as well, despite Umbridge's beady little eyes watching her the whole time.
Professor Tofty was examining her once again, and she took great pleasure in performing every spell and counter-jinx perfectly. She could feel Umbridge's eyes on her, even if she was halfway across the room. However, things started taking an odd turn when Professor Tofty started asking her to perform more complex jinxes, which she of course complied to. It was right at the end of her exam, double as long as it should've been, when he asked her;
"Please, do excuse my curiosity… But I heard through the grapevine that you can produce a Patronus?"
Madeline furrowed her eyebrow, "Who told you that?"
"The paintings have ears," he teased, but leant forwards, "For a bonus point…?"
Madeline paused, but decided it was better to comply than loose any marks. She lifted her wand in the air, thinking of every note her aunt had given her. She thought of a happy moment; her, with her friends, around the Slytherin fireplace. Dancing at the Yule Ball with Fred, which should've been a sad memory, but it wasn't. She thought about every happy moment she'd had in Hogwarts so far, from finding her friends to Cedric's smile.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Her silvery translucent Runespoor Patronus erupted from the end of her wand, slithering around the sky above her. Everyone turned to watch as it happily danced across the air, disappearing into a mist at her feet as Professor Tofty clapped happily.
"Very well done, Miss Bisset! You may go."
Madeline didn't miss the painful smile from Umbridge, nor the half-eyed glare.
"Interesting Patronus," Gabe Birch, who had been in her exam, mentioned as the two made their way back to the Slytherin common room later that evening, "A three-headed snake?"
"Fangs and all," Madeline confirmed, raising her eyebrow, "Did you expect anything different?"
"Oi, Bisset!"
"There comes lover boy," Gabe laughed under his breath, going unheard by Madeline as she turned. She watched Draco walking towards her, waving his exam timetable as Pansy and Blaise followed him.
He hooked his arm around her shoulder, "Rumour has it that you summoned a Patronus?"
"Something like that," Madeline shrugged, frowning, "Didn't any of you have to?"
"Nope," Blaise shook his head, popping the 'p', "Only you and Potter."
"Potter?" Madeline frowned, "That's… Odd?"
"You're probably the only ones ballsy enough to try it," Gabe shrugged, "And by the way, her Patronus is a three-headed snake."
"Obviously," Draco huffed, playfully messing up Madeline's hair, "She's the biggest snake of them all."
"Am not!"
"This is sickening," Blaise whispered to Pansy as they watched the two friends laughing together, Madeline slapping Draco's hand from her hair yet never leaving his side, "You sure you're okay with this?"
Pansy smirked, a silent joke to herself, before nodding, "Trust me; Draco is just a friend to me. Nothing more."
The weekend was spent revising for Potions. While most of the Slytherins had a pretty good grasp on the subject, Draco and Madeline were racing ahead in their studies, so much so that they spent the majority of their weekend going through the more complex questions they might be asked in the exam, as well as just… Well, hanging out.
"See, that's where you messed up," Madeline tutored him as the two were crouched around a Wizarding Chess board, "You've left your queen open."
"This is the most boring idea of fun I've ever seen, Bisset."
"You're the one that wanted to play! Only because I've beat you five times-"
"Twice," Draco wheezed, "You've beat me twice!"
"Alright, then you think of something," Madeline relented, scrunching her nose up at the sight of her Potions textbooks, "If I have to go over common antidote formulas again, I might gauge my eyes out."
"I don't think we have the same idea of fun, Bisset."
"Try me," Madeline challenged, leaning back and crossing her arms.
"There is literally absolutely nothing entertaining about Hogwarts, Bisset."
"I distinctly recall you being transfigured into a ferret; that was quite funny, if you ask me. You should try that again."
The two continued with their bickering, despite the smiles on both of their faces, unbeknownst to them that they were being watched by their friends. In fact, on the other side of the common room, Daphne, Pansy, Theo and Blaise were all watching curiously.
"Since when," Blaise asked slowly, frowning, "Have those two been so…"
"…So happy?" Pansy finished as Gabe sat himself at their table, Tracy Davis following suit.
"Are you talking about those two over there?" Gabe asked, smirking, "Honestly, I swear it was a matter of time."
Daphne frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Draco has spent the last year and a half ranting about how he couldn't stand her," Gabe pointed out, "And I'm sure Madeline did the same about him."
"Well, yeah. Because they couldn't stand each other," Daphne crossed her arms, "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that you don't think about someone that much without other feelings creeping in," Gabe finished, leaning back in his chair and throwing his feet onto the table, "And now that Weasley is out of the picture, I reckon it's a matter of weeks until one of them realises they like the other."
"Nope," Daphne shook her head, "No way. Madeline would never, and I mean never, fall for Draco. They're opposites."
"Of the same coin," Theo finished thoughtfully, groaning when he received a sharp kick from Daphne.
"How about," Blaise offered calmly, "We stop watching our friends like creeps and revise for potions?"
The Potions paper was an absolute breeze.
Both the theory and the practical exam had gone swimmingly. The best of all her exams, in her opinion. Draco's too, for the both of them came out of the hall grinning at each other. And it seemed that Madeline's revision help had paid off for Neville too, who looked much happier than Madeline had ever seen him in a Potions class.
Tuesday's Care of Magical Creatures exam was perhaps Madeline's worst performing exam, but it went far better than it could have had she not had Neville's revision help. The practical examination took place in the afternoon on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where students were required to correctly identify the Knarl hidden among a dozen hedgehogs; then demonstrate correct handling of a Bowtruckle; feed and clean out a Fire Crab without sustaining serious burns; and choose, from a wide selection of food, the diet they would give a sick unicorn.
Madeline had no serious burns (maybe a few minor ones), and was sure she'd selected the right diet for the unicorn, which meant there were only three exams left to go.
The Astronomy theory paper on Wednesday morning went well, despite the fact she'd rarely covered Astronomy within her homeschooling. She would have to wait until evening for the practical Astronomy exam; the afternoon was devoted instead to Divination.
That was the exam Madeline wasn't exactly the most confident in. Okay, not at all. Despite her lack of confidence, the exam definitely didn't go terribly. She aced the tea leaf reading, but perhaps not the crystal ball reading.
She looked over her star charts at dinner with Theo and Daphne right before their practical Astronomy exam. When they reached the top of the Astronomy Tower at eleven o'clock, they found a perfect night for stargazing, cloudless and still. The Astronomy Tower wasn't a place Madeline often found herself in, but it was beautiful nevertheless, with the dark blues of the sky glinting off the golden decor.
Each student set up their telescope and, when Professor Marchbanks gave the word, proceeded to fill in the blank star-chart they had been given.
It was less than an hour into the exam when a roar sounded from Hagrid's cabin.
Several people ducked out from behind their telescopes and peered instead in the direction of Hagrid's cabin, including Madeline. She noticed Harry had already been looking, as if he'd been observing the whole time.
Madeline had finished her star chart, and so when the examiners reminded everyone to concentrate, Madeline simply continued to watch Harry, and Hermione too as she watched the cabin through her telescope.
"Ahem-twenty minutes to go."
There was silence for a few moments, Madeline double checking her work reluctantly. What was going on outside? Suddenly, there was a loud BANG from the grounds. Several people cried 'Ouch!' when they poked themselves in the face with the ends of their telescopes, ducking to see what was going on out of the windows.
Madeline felt goosebumps run up her arms. Her aunts letter was still keeping her on edge, after all. What if whatever was happening outside was what her aunt had tried to warn her about?
Hagrid's door had burst open. Madeline couldn't quite see what was going on from her angle, but from Hermione's outraged 'No!', she assumed that Hagrid was, perhaps, being kicked out of Hogwarts.
Nobody was paying the slightest attention to their star-charts any more. Madeline managed to find an angle that caught a blurry sight of what was happening down below; it seemed that a group of wizards was trying to stun Hagrid, but it wasn't working. Jets of red light were flying about beside Hagrid's cabin, yet somehow they seemed to be bouncing off him.
"Be reasonable, Hagrid!" echoed through the dark grounds and up to the Astronomy tower.
"Reasonable be damned, yeh won' take me like this, Dawlish!"
Madeline watched in horror as one of the wizards stunned Hagrid's dog, Fang. And of course, this only enraged Hagrid further, as he lifted the culprit wizard into the air and threw him several feet across the grounds. He didn't get back up, a series of gasps echoing in the room.
The exam now forgotten, all the students were watching in horror. Parvati squealed a small 'Look!', pointing across the lawn to the entrance of the castle, which had opened once more. A long black shadow was now rippling across the lawn and towards the cabin at a rapid pace.
"Now really, only sixteen minutes left you know!"
The examiners words were lost, nobody listening as they all began gathering closer towards the best view. They were watching the person now sprinting towards the battle beside Hagrid's cabin.
"How dare you!" the figure shouted as she ran. Madeline recognised her as McGonagall, "How dare you! Leave him alone! Alone, I say! On what grounds are you attacking him? He has done nothing, nothing to warrant such-"
Madeline wasn't sure who screamed, but all the students watched in shock horror as four Stunners hit McGonagall. She hit the ground; hard.
"Galloping gargoyles!" shouted Professor Tofty as he and Professor Marchbanks rushed to the windows, exam forgotten, "Not so much as a warning! Outrageous behaviour!"
Madeline rushed next to her friends to get a closer look, all star charts forgotten as she, Theo and Daphne peered over Hermione's head.
Hagrid took two massive swipes at his closest attackers; judging by their immediate collapse, they had been knocked cold.
"Get him, get him!" screamed Umbridge, but her remaining helper seemed highly reluctant to go within reach of Hagrid's fists.
Hagrid had managed to put Fang on his shoulders. He had turned and begun to run, but Umbridge sent one last Stunning Spell after him. It missed; and Hagrid, running full-pelt towards the distant gates, disappeared into the darkness.
Silence fell upon the Astronomy tower. No one dared to speak as they looked out into the grounds, stunned. Madeline had never truly had too much love for Hagrid; she hadn't had the chance to be around him, after all. But she was glad he'd escaped; Umbridge had no right to try and sneak up on him like that.
"Um… Five minutes to go, everybody."
Once the exam was over, everyone packed up their telescopes as quickly as possible, rushing out of the room. None of the students were going to bed; they were all talking loudly and excitedly at the foot of the stairs about what they had witnessed.
"I can't believe it," Daphne shook her head, "She's- Merlin that wasn't fair!"
"Hagrid did well," Theo mused.
Draco scoffed, joining the trio as they made their way to the dungeons, "He's gone now; Umbridge still got what she wanted."
"And I assume you're happy about this?" Madeline asked, raising her eyebrows.
"I was never a fan of that oaf…" Draco replied, leaving the sentence open ended. Madeline was sure he wanted to add something, but didn't know how to.
It took hours for the Slytherin students to get to bed. The commotion had awoken other students, too. It took many hot chocolates and gossiping before, finally, everyone headed off to bed.
The next day brought about even more gossip at McGonagall wasn't present at the staff table. Their final exam, History of Magic, was not to take place until that afternoon, which meant that many students were taking the entire morning to revise.
The fifth-years entered the Great Hall at two o'clock and took their places in front of their face-down examination papers. Everyone was exhausted, including Madeline, who had to down a full coffee before entering the exam.
"Turn over your papers," said Professor Marchbanks from the front of the Hall, accompanied by Umbridge, who stood primly despite what the students had witnessed the evening prior, "You may begin."
Madeline muddled her way through the exam pretty well, she thought. She answered questions with the best of her knowledge, thankful for those last few hours of revision. She was an hour into the exam when it happened.
There was distant banging from the Entrance Hall. A couple of students turned to look at the door, but Madeline watched Umbridge, watching the smile on her face slowly melt into a frown. Students tried to return to their papers, but the noise became louder, so much louder that Umbridge began stalking down the rows of tables and towards the doors.
A couple of students began murmuring, wondering if Hagrid had come back to enact revenge on Hogwarts. It was all drowned out by the sound of Umbridge's heels clicking against the stone floor as she reached the door. She swung it open at once, standing in the Entrance Hall with a frown on her face as she looked around.
A tiny, single little spark began flying across the air around the door, landing in front of Umbridge's face, on her nose. It sizzled there for a while, teasing, before flying into the hall. At once, it started bursting and flittering, like a firework.
Madeline's face fell. A firework. Bloody hell, there were only two people ballsy enough to do this.
As if on cue, at once, the Weasley twins came flying into the exam hall with loud cheers, both from themselves and some of the Gryffindor students. They started throwing firework balls in the air and between the students, small fireworks multiplying into bigger ones as the Great Hall sky became flooded with them.
Madeline stood up with the rest of the students, laughing as she watched the bright colours burst all around her. Dragons comprised entirely of green and gold sparks were soaring up and down the rows of tables, emitting loud fiery blasts and bangs as they went; shocking-pink Catherine wheels five feet in diameter were whizzing lethally through the air like so many flying saucers; rockets with long tails of brilliant silver stars were ricocheting off the walls; sparklers were writing swear words in midair of their own accord; firecrackers were exploding like mines everywhere she looked, and instead of burning themselves out, fading from sight or fizzling to a halt, they seemed to be gaining in energy and momentum the longer he watched.
Madeline laughed and clapped as they continued flying all around her, meeting eyes with Daphne and Theo as they too cheered, Daphne even getting onto her exam table. Across the room, Ron and Harry were cheering the loudest, sparks flittering all around them. The room was filled with colour as the twins kept throwing down fireworks, small little ones exploding all around Madeline's head.
She made eye contact with Fred for a fleeting moment before his broom whisked him back up in the air, and Madeline felt a pang of something in her chest. She hadn't really seen him since… Well, the broom cupboard. But her feelings had changed; she'd made peace with the fact that they weren't the ones for each other.
And then Madeline's eyes found Draco, who was trying to dodge the small fireworks that seemed to be attacking him. She laughed at the sight, and felt something warm blossom in her heart as he met her eyes through the hazy smoke and colours.
Oh. There he is.
The twins high-fived each other, one large firework thrown into the air. It turned into a huge dragon, much larger than the previous ones. Umbridge was standing apparently transfixed in horror as the dragon decided to make her its target. It ducked and roared, chasing her out of the hall and into the Entrance Hall. Of course, everyone followed eagerly.
As soon as Umbridge stepped out of the hall, the dragon exploded into hundreds of tiny little fireworks, wheezing through the air and destroying every single decree hung outside the hall. Everyone cheered, following the twins as the soared across the ceiling and out of the door, pushing past Umbridge as they ran out into the courtyard, clapping and cheering.
The twins smirked at each other, winking before ducking up towards the sky, their brooms taking them far up and across the Hogwarts grounds. A few fireworks exploded in their wake, Professors rushing out to watch the action. Madeline even caught Professor Flitwick cheering.
A large 'W' appeared in the sky, made entirely of fireworks. Daphne and Theo were clapping and cheering wildly, the former jumping up and down and shaking Theo's shoulders. Madeline was clapping too, despite the sad smile on her face as she watched Fred disappear in the distance. She didn't notice Draco sliding up to her, also clapping despite his disheveled hair from trying to avoid the fireworks.
"Pretty cool," Draco mumbled, just quiet enough for her to hear it.
Madeline rolled her eyes, nudging him, "Oi, cheer up will you?"
Draco shrugged, but gave her a cheeky smirk, "Only because you asked."
Madeline didn't know why she'd been called for that evening.
It was barely a few hours since the twins had pulled their stunt, the Entrance Hall still littered with burning papers and glass. Despite this, Umbridge had called for her. Not to her office, but outside the common room.
Madeline raised her eyebrow, following Umbridge as they made their way out of the dungeons, "Something wrong, Professor?"
"I figured you out a long time ago, Miss Bisset," Umbridge hummed, a chill seeping into Madeline's veins at her tone, "You're most definitely not a people pleaser, but you're smart. Smart enough to know what's best for you, am I correct?"
"I'd like to think so," Madeline answered, struggling to keep up with Umbridge's fast pace.
Umbridge hummed again, no words spoken as they made their way to her office. It was only when Madeline had stepped inside that she realised exactly what this was.
Harry was strapped down to the chair, with Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Luna all held hostage by members of the Inquisitorial Squad. The door had barely closed behind them when it was pushed open once more by none other than Draco, pulling Neville into the room.
"I found another one, Professor. Was trying to help the Weasley girl," Draco announced smugly, his grin falling as he noticed Madeline.
"Very well, Draco dear," Umbridge nodded, turning to face Madeline. Yet her eyes stayed trained on Draco for a few moments.
"I was hoping, perhaps, that you could shed some light on this situation, Miss Bisset," Umbridge began sweetly, yet her stare seemed almost manic, "You see; I just caught Mister Potter and his friends try to get to Dumbledore through my fireplace-"
"I wasn't going to Dumbledore-"
Ginny gasped as Umbridge slapped Harry across the face. Madeline winced, but her instincts were in overdrive. Be safe, get out.
"You think," Umbridge seethed, "That after two Nifflers I was going to let one more foul, scavenging little creature enter my office without my knowledge?"
Madeline had spotted Millicent and Warrington, as well as Crabbe and Goyle, in the Inquisitorial Squad group. Draco had somehow obtained Harry's wand, playing with it gleefully, refusing to meet Madeline's eyes. She frowned, turning back to Harry and Umbridge.
"Very well, Mr. Potter… I offered you the chance to tell me freely. You refused. I have no alternative but to force you," Umbridge decided, and as if on cue, the office door was carefully pushed open.
None other than Professor Snape, of course.
"You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" Snape asked, looking around at all the pairs of struggling students with an expression of complete indifference. Madeline could've scoffed.
Umbridge smiled widely, "Yes, Professor. Yes; I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."
"You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter, Bisset and Greengrass," Snape reminded her, "Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."
Aha, Madeline thought, I knew it.
"You can make some more, can't you?"
"Certainly," nodded 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?! Surely you can speed up the cycle-"
"I have already told you," interrupted Snape smoothly, "That I have no further stocks of Veritaserum, nor does anyone else here in Hogwarts. 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."
Snape didn't waste any longer. He gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave, but was halted by none other than Harry.
"He's got Padfoot!" he shouted, every head in the room snapping to him, "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?"
Madeline watched eagerly, awkwardly stood in the middle of the room opposite Harry. Their eyes met, Harry's pleading ones begging Madeline to do something anything. She had been on his side once, hadn't she? She'd been the one to back him up about Cedric.
"I have no idea," Snape replied coldly.
The door closed behind him with a taunting click.
The room fell into an eerie silence.
"Very well," Umbridge eventually announced, "Very well… I was going to ask Miss Bisset to shed some light on this issue, but I assume that you have nothing to do with this at all, do you Miss Bisset?"
"None at all Professor," Madeline nodded. Be smart, get out.
"I've always liked you, Miss Bisset," Umbridge continued, rubbing her hands, "I always thought you were smart. A bit snarky, sure. Perhaps with your loyalties in the wrong hands, but we can correct that.
"I am left with no alternative, as I'm sure you'll agree," Umbridge decided, nodding to herself, "This is more than a matter of school discipline… This is an issue of Ministry security… Yes, yes."
"Professor?" Madeline tried, ignoring the fact that Crabbe was almost strangling poor Neville and Ron looked terrified out of his mind, "I still don't understand where I come in with all of this."
"You're a very bright witch, Miss Bisset. And I understand that your uncle has very deep ties within the Ministry," Umbridge continued, as if she was talking herself into something, "A very bright and capable witch, I'm sure. Your uncle has told me all about it."
"You spoke with my uncle?" Madeline asked in disbelief.
"A good friend of the Ministry he is, as well as his own role in the French branch, of course," Umbridge nodded. She turned back to Harry, humming, "Potter has left me no choice, you see Miss Bisset. And as this is a Ministry matter… I think this is the right thing to do. Wand out, please Miss Bisset."
Madeline complied slowly, watching Umbridge look at Harry with an almost hungry gaze.
"The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue, Potter," Umbridge eventually announced, and Madeline felt sick to her stomach, "And Miss Bisset here seems to have all the skills needed to perform it."
"No!" shrieked Hermione, as if she'd read Madeline's mind, "That's illegal!"
Madeline's eyes met Draco's once more, trying to find a way out. She couldn't do it; wouldn't do it. She could simply refuse; Umbridge was just using her because she knew that there was no way the Ministry would press charges against her. It had all been a ploy, every detention and favouritism during her exams. She felt sick.
Draco watched her helplessly, his grip on Ginny's shoulder tightening. He had no idea… Had no idea that Umbridge would ever try to get a student to do such a thing. No, not a student. Madeline.
"The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law, Professor Umbridge!" Hermione tried again, earning a sharp nudge from Warrington.
"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," Umbridge continued, "He never knew I ordered dementors to go after Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel him, all the same."
"You?!" Harry cried, "It was you? This whole time?!"
"Somebody had to act," Umbridge continued, walking behind Madeline and placing her hand on her shoulder, "Just like someone has to act now, too."
"Professor, this is dangerous," Madeline pointed out, "And I'm not exactly comfortable with this, either."
"It's a simple favour, Miss Bisset," Umbridge replied sweetly, forcing Madeline's arm up, "A simple favour that will ensure my position here at Hogwarts stays intact, and so will yours. Now, I'm sure you know the curse, correct?"
Madeline swallowed, and nodded. Her eyes finally met Harry's, and she felt like she was going to convulse. She could see her Boggart in her minds eye; the reflection of her, but with the Dark Mark on her forearm. If she did this… She'd be the monster she saw in the reflection.
But if she didn't… She looked at Draco. He didn't look happy about this either, but he didn't make a move to stop it. His survival instinct, she realised, the same that had kept her out of most trouble this year. And with a sickening feeling, Madeline realised that the small part of her brain keen to keep her alive and safe was urging her to do it; to comply.
"Miss Bisset, are you ready?" Umbridge cooed, an eager look on her face.
Madeline swallowed, and made the decision.
She nodded.