Chapter 52
AN: Hi All, sorry there has been a delay with this chapter. I'm struggling a lot, and not just with writing, I've had this chapter posted for a while, so I've decided I would post it even though I haven't been able to finish a chapter. I don't know when the next update will be. I'll do my best.
Staring at the paper that Lily is holding up Mie sees the headline "Gellert Grindelwald, Darklord turned Hogwarts teacher?" with an old picture of Gellert on it.
"Damn it," Sirius says, as Lily hurriedly passes the paper to Mie so she can read it, and it is clear that everyone who is near Mie at the Gryffindor table are listening so that they can learn what is going on.
"How much do they know?" Remus, who is sitting next to Mie, asks trying to lean over to read the paper.
"Um... give me a sec," Mie says as she quickly reads the page. "Gellert Grindelwald know ….released from Nurmengard and into the custody of Albus Dumbledore's custody," Mie says, reading the paper. "Don't know why…. He's at Hogwarts… what is Albus Dumbledore up to…" Mie reads. "This isn't good," Mie says, and once she finishes skimming reading the table she glances up at her father and Gellert. As Mie looks towards her father he locks eyes with her, and shakes his head, as if to say don't react, and that they will talk about it later when there isn't as much attention on them.
"Mie? Is this true?" Mary asks. "Is Gerald, Gellert Grindelwald?" Mary asks, having put the pieces together as it would make sense.
"Yes, it's true," Mie confirms as she doesn't want to lie to her friend no does, she sees the point in doing so, not when the Prophet has already revealed so much. "Dad went to Grindelwald to get insight into Voldemort, and to save me," Mie explains.
"Is that how you were rescued?" Marlene asks surprised, not sure how to feel about everything.
'Yes," Mie confirms. "Grindelwald is a complicated…." Mie starts to say, but then she notices the ministry people arrive, and while she isn't surprised to see them and recognize Crouch, she sees someone else she recognizes from her time, despite them being younger, and that feels Mie with horror.
"Mie?" Remus asks concerned, looking between Mie and where she is looking as Mie has gone white. "What is it?" Remus asks concerned, feeling extremely worried as Mie is looking how she looked when the books talked about the Cruciatus curse, and from his experience he knows that means nothing good.
"Umbridge," Mie says and while those who read the books understand what that mean those who didn't are confused.
"Who?" Emmaline asks confused, having no idea who that is.
"Corrupt Ministry person, not a fan of Dumbledore," Sirius supplies as he knows that is the best way to avoid more questions being asked.
From where she is sitting Mie watches as Albus gets up and greats Umbridge, Crouch and the other ministry officials.
"I can't…I can't be here," Mie says before getting out and hurrying out of the hall, doing her best not to make it seem like that is what she is doing so that shed doesn't draw attention to herself, but the second she is outside the Great Hall, when no one is around, she runs as fast as she can.
"Um, what's the deal?" Dorcus asks confused, looking between the other seventh years and trying to figure out what is going on.
"Umbridge was there after Mie's Aunt and Uncle were killed," Amelia says, saying the first thing that she can think of. "She was the reason there was a delay in Dumbledore being told, she is the reason Mie was alone in the house where her family was killed for hours," Amelia supplies, that being the first lie she can think off, as she knows that is something they can lie about and create a story around if needed, and would also explain Mie's reaction.
"Oh god," Mary says, looking horrified, not at all blaming Mie for her reaction.
"We should go check on her," Marlene says, clearly concerned about her friend.
"Sirius, Remus, Amy and I will," Lily says as she stands up and picks up Mie's bag. "We don't want to overwhelm her," Lily says, that being part of the reason why the other part of the reason is that she knows that whoever talk to Mie must be people who know everything.
"Tell her we're here," James requests, understanding what Lily is doing.
"We will," Amelia assures him as she, Sirius, Remus, and Lily head out of the hall.
"Do we need the map or do we know where she is?" Sirius asks the others, once they are outside the hall.
"I don't know," Lily admits, feeling uncertain about where the best place to start would be.
"Let's think, she's seen Umbridge, everyone knows about Gellert, she needs space…. The grounds?" Remus supplies.
"If she needs not to help feel suffocated that would make sense," Amelia says and so, hoping that their speculation is correct the four Gryffindors head out to the grounds.
As Amelia, Sirius, Remus, and Lily get out to the grounds they look around and they see Mie kneeling on the ground, gasping for air, and looking like she is hyperventilating. Exchanging looks the foursome walk towards Mie but stop when they are several steps away.
"Mie, it's me, Siri, and Remus, Lily and Amy," Sirius says. "You're safe, we're here," Sirius says, watching her carefully for some kind of reaction.
"Siri?" Mie asks, and as they have conformation that Mie heard them Sirius, Remus, Amelia and Lily approach her, but only Sirius squats down in front of her.
"Hey, we're here," Sirius says to Mie. "It's okay, you're okay," Sirius says, and Mie hugs him, clinging to him.
"I wasn't expecting Umbridge, I wasn't ready," Mie admits, as she returns Sirius's hug, holding onto him for dear life, knowing that if she could have prepared her reaction wouldn't have been so extreme.
"That's okay, it's understandable," Sirius assures her as he comfortably runs his hand down her back. "We've got you; you don't have to face her alone," Sirius assures her, and the two of them break apart.
"What did you tell the other?" Mie asks, as she needs to know what story to tell.
"We said that Umbridge was there after your aunt and uncle were killed, that she was the reason why your Dad was delayed in being told, that she was the reason you were alone in the house where your family were killed for hours," Amelia explains, as she, Lily, and Remus walk over and also squat down next to Mie.
"Thanks," Mie tells her, as she knows that that will explain how she is going to react, as the truth is she doesn't know how she is going to react now that Umbridge is at play.
"Mie, I know it's the worst timing, but we've got an exam," Lily tells her, as she knows that breakfast is almost over.
"I know… I don't know if I can do it," Mie admits as seeing Umbridge, someone she didn't think she would have to deal with for a long time, has thrown her.
"Yeah, you can," Remus tells her. "Mie, in your timeline Umbridge took so much away from you, you still carry those scars, and I'm not talking about the ones on your hands. Don't let her take this too," Remus tells his friend as for Mie's sake he doesn't want Umbridge to take this form her as well.
"Mie, this is it. Our last exam, you've gone through hell and back, more than once, to get here, it's time to cross the home stretch," Lily tells her.
"I know it goes against everything you were raised to believe, but you don't have to do well, you just have to do it, you just have to try," Sirius tells her, feeling that Mie trying, even if she doesn't do well, is better than not trying at all because of Umbridge.
"I can try," Mie tells her friends, and after taking a few moments to brace herself Mie stands up. "Thanks," Mie says, looking between her friends, who have also stood up.
"What for?" Amelia asks curious.
"For not asking if I'm okay," Mie says, looking between her friends.
"We know better than asking that," Remus says as he puts his arm around Mie and the five of them head back into the castle.
In the Great Hall even though he is greeting the Ministry officials Albus notices as soon as Mie goes running out of the hall, and he wants, more than anything to follow her, but he can't, however, he does feel relief when he sees Sirius, Remus, Amelia, and Lily follow her as he knows that her friends will help her.
"Dumbledore," Crouch greats, his tone overly formal.
"Mr Crouch," Albus responds, in the same tone of voice.
"Now, I believe you know almost everyone," Crouch says, and Albus nods. "This is Dolores Umbridge, she is my new assistant," Crouch says as soon as Albus hears that he now knows why Mie reacted the way she did.
"Of course, you graduated a few years ago," Albus says to Umbridge, not saying what he would rather say.
"Yes, I did professor," Umbridge responds. "I look forward to seeing how things have changed," Umbridge says and Albus practically hears a threat behind that.
"How about we start with a tour," Albus suggests as he feels that would be the best.
"Just us?" Crouch asks, glancing up at the hall where Gellert is sitting next to Minerva.
"Yes," Albus says, with a pleasant smile, purposely not raising to Crouch's threat and explaining more. "Follow me," Albus requests, and he leads the group of ministry officials out of the hall.
"It will be okay," Minerva tells Gellert, noticing that he has watched both Mie and Albus leave the hall.
"I'm not so sure it will be," Gellert responds, feeling that all he is doing is blowing up Albus's life, and he has no idea how to fix that, though he wishes he could.
Over the next few hours Mie, and her fellow seventh years, sit their Defence Against the Dark Arts NEWT and for Mie after seeing the paper, and Umbridge, it is like she is writing on autopilot, she reads the questions and answers them and couldn't tell anyone what she wrote afterwards.
As lunch time comes Mie and the other seventh years return to the hall, and as they start to eat Mie glances at the table and sees that neither her father nor Gellert are there.
"Not good," Mie mutters, feeling terrified about what that means, as her mind goes to all the worst possible explanations.
"So, one practical to go," Severus comments, breaking the rather awkward silence they have been eating in.
"One practical to go," James confirms.
"I assume you've got a big party planned," Marlene says, looking between Sirius and James.
"Of course," Sirius and James answer.
"Good," Dorcus says, looking amused, as she is sure that that is exactly what they all need.
For the rest of the lunch the seventh years eat together, or in Mie's case, just picks at her plate, and talk. As her friends talk about what is to come Mie keeps glancing at the teachers table, feeling more and more concerned when she sees no sing of her dad or Gellert. For Mie the worst part is that she doesn't know what is going, she doesn't know what Umbridge is doing, and that terrifies her, as while she is sure that they can figure out a way to deal with Crouch Umbridge is a wildcard, and has the potential to be a lot more horrific.
After lunch finishes the seventh years and the fifth years wait in the chamber next to the hall, waiting to be called in to perform their practical exam. When her last name was Granger Mie never had to wait too long to be called for things, but with her last name now being Dumbledore Mie is glad that her wait is going to be even less as she is sure that she can't handle a wait that is too long.
"Annemie Dumbledore," a voice finally says sand Mie walks into the hall.
As Mie walks into the hall, she doesn't see her father, which makes her feel even more concerned, rather she sees that Moody is observing the exam. Looking around Mie sees that Crouch, Umbridge and the other ministry officials are all standing around.
"Great," Mie mutters, feeling a flashback to her OWLS, but she pushes that down as she knows that she needs to focus.
"Professor Marchbanks is free," Moody tells Mie, giving her a subtle encouraging look as he knows that she must be struggling right now as he has learnt that Umbridge is in the room.
"Thank you," Mie says, and she walks over to where Marchbanks is, and it just happens to be that Umbridge is standing extremely close to Marchbanks.
"Of course," Mie mutters, feeling that that is just her luck.
"Miss Dumbledore," Professor Marchbanks greats, and Mie doesn't need to look at her to know that Umbridge is watching her closely.
"Professor," Mie responds, forcing herself to ignore Umbridge as she isn't going to give her that satisfaction.
"Again, you can use verbal and nonverbal spells, but I may you need to explain what you did afterwards," Professor Marchbanks says.
"Yes Professor," Mie responds.
"Let's get started," Professor Marchbanks says and Mie proceeds to complete her exam, doing her best to ignore Umbridge as she completes what she needs to do.
For the next ten minutes Mie completes her exam, and by imaging Umbridge, the Umbridge standing before her before she can do what she did in the timeline Mie is from, being arrested, Mie is able to produce a Patronus on her first attempt.
"Congratulations Ms Dumbledore, that's it, you're done," Marchbanks says to Mie, with a proud look on her face.
"Thank you, Professor," Mie says before heading out of the hall.
As Mie heads out of the hall she finds Sirius and Amelia waiting, and so she walks over to them.
"Hey," Mie greats.
"Hey, so both of us think we did well, how about you?" Sirius asks curious.
"I think I did as good as I could have done," Mie admits.
"That's all any of us can hope for," Amelia responds. "Is this it? Are we done?" Amelia asks, an amazed look on her face.
"We're done," Sirius responds, and as no words can accurately portray what they are feeling Mie, Sirius, and Amelia all walk towards each other and embrace, hugging each other tightly and allowing their emotions to display how they are feeling. "We did it," Sirius says, as he kisses both Mie and Amelia's cheeks, after the three of them have been embracing for a while.
"We did it," Mie confirms, feeling so overwhelmed that she isn't sure how she actually feels about that.
"I can't believe it," Amelia says, wondering how long before it is going to sink in that this is actually it. "Guess we should celebrate," Amalia realises.
"Yes, we should, and I have an appointment with Ab," Sirius reveals, as Aberforth has put together supplies for them. "Mie? Want to join?" Sirius asks, as he figures it could do her some good to get away from the castle for a little while. "I could use some help carrying everything," Sirius admits.
"Sorry, but I need to go find Dad and Gellert," Mie explains.
"Understandable," Sirius admits, honestly surprised that Mie didn't run as soon as the exam was finished. "Amy? Trip to Hogsmeade?" Sirius asks, as he knows that he needs help.
'Sure," Amalia responds, and the three of them head up the stairs.
As the trio walk none of them talk and after Mie leaves Sirius and Amelia at the third floor she runs, being glad that most people are still in class, up to her father's office. Once in her father's office Mie doesn't even great the portraits like she often does and rather heads straight into the Dumbledore Family quarters.
"Dad? Gellert?" Mie calls and as she walks into the main living area and as she does she sees the two of them walking out of the kitchen.
Between completing her final exam and seeing Umbridge again Mie feels quite overwhelmed and so she walks straight over to her father, who sees her coming and so he hands his cup of tea to Gellert and hugs him.
"I've got you, I've got you sweetheart," Albus tells his daughter as he hugs her close, and kisses the top of her head, knowing that she would have been struggling.
For a few minutes Albus holds Mie while Gellert, who is feeling quiet confused about what is going on, watches on. After a while Mie and Albus finally break apart, and as they do Gellert notices the look on Mie's face and realises how far from okay she is.
"Umbridge? What is Umbridge doing here?" Mie asks her father, barely being able to get the name out.
"She's Crouch's new Assistant," Albus explains, feeling bad about breaking the news to his daughter.
"Of course, because we can't get one single break," Mie says, as tears of frustration come to her eyes. "It had to be Umbridge, I could handle everyone else…. But her?" Mie says, her voice breaking.
"Who's Umbridge?" Gellert asks as Albus hasn't gotten around to an explanation, and Albus glances at Mie, being able to tell that she wants to give the explanation.
"In my time she was Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic," Mie explains and Gellert is sure that there is more to the story than that. "She taught Defence in my fifth year, was the person who got Dad dismissed from Hogwarts. When Voldemort was at full power she ran the Muggle Born Registration committee, and is the reason I have this," Mie says, showing Gellert the scar on her hand, the scar he has seen before.
"And now she's here," Gellert says, his face being hard to read. "Being in a position where she can cause all that to happen much sooner," Gellert says, his tone of voice low and quiet, but there being something about it that makes Mie's hair almost stand up.
"Gellert, no," Albus says, seeing the look on his partner's face, and knowing what it means even if Mie doesn't.
"They already want to arrest me again. If they're going to do it anyway maybe I should give them a reason," Gellert suggests, looking between Mie and Albus, the two people he desperately wants to protect.