Chapter 14
The Rogue Lion
(Opening song. Danger Danger by FZMZ feat. icy.)
(The Quidditch Stadium.)
The team rose, shouldered their brooms, and marched in single file out of the changing room and into the dazzling sunlight. A roar of sound greeted them in which Harry could still hear singing, though it was muffled by the cheers and whistles.
The Slytherin team was standing waiting for them. They, too, were wearing those silver crown-shaped badges. The new Captain, Montague, was built along the same lines as Dudley Dursley, with massive forearms like hairy hams. Behind him lurked Crabbe and Goyle, almost as large, blinking stupidly in the sunlight, swinging their new Beaters' bats. Draco Malfoy stood to one side, the sunlight gleaming on his white-blond head. He caught Harry's eye and smirked, tapping the crown-shaped badge on his chest.
"Captains, shake hands," ordered the referee Madam Hooch, as Angelina and Montague reached each other. Harry could tell that Montague was trying to crush Angelina's fingers, though she did not wince.
"Enjoy the trip, Monty?" Fred snarked at the captain. Montague narrowed his eyes at the twins after they had pushed him into the vanishing cabinet.
"'Mount your brooms…" barked Madam Hooch before the Montague could bark an insult back at them.
Madam Hooch placed her whistle in her mouth and blew.
The balls were released and the fourteen players shot upwards. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Ron streak off toward the goal hoops. Harry zoomed higher, dodging a Bludger, and set off on a wide lap of the pitch, gazing around for a glint of gold; on the other side of the stadium, Malfoy was doing exactly the same.
Lee Jordan's commentary rang through the stadium and Harry listened as hard as he could through the wind whistling in his ears and the din of the crowd, all yelling and booing and singing.
"- dodges Warrington, avoids a Bludger - close call, Alicia - and the crowd are loving this, just listen to them, what's that they're singing?"
As Lee paused to listen, the song rose loud and clear from the sea of green and silver in the Slytherin section of the stands:
"Weasley cannot save a thing, He cannot block a single ring, That's why Slytherins all sing: Weasley is our King."
"Weasley was born in a bin, He always lets the Quaffle in, Weasley will make sure we win, Weasley is our King."
"Got hand it to them, songs catchy" Galin snorted looking over at Arianna as they stood in the Slytherin stands singing along to the song.
Harry swerved, his insides boiling at what he had just heard, he knew Lee was trying to drown out the song's words.
"Come on now, Angelina — looks like she's got just the Keeper to beat! - SHE SHOOTS - SHE - aaaah…"
Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper, had saved the goal; he threw the Quaffle to Warrington who sped off with it, zig-zagging in between Alicia and Katie; the singing from below grew louder and louder as he drew nearer and nearer Ron.
Arianna smirked as she saw Ron tense up at the sight of Warrington approaching him. "I think I just found my opportunity to practice a spell I've been working on," she said in Galin's ear over the crowds singing. She focused in on Ron, her eyes began to glow a subtle purple color.
Ron was ready to save the Quaffle until he saw the Quaffle suddenly turn into a giant spider as Warrington took his shot. Ron let out a panicked yelp and darted away from the "lunging spider" as it sailed through the goal.
"RON NO!" Harry mentally screamed as he saw his friend dart away from the goal ring terrified.
"You boggarted Weasly!? Ha!" Galin chuckled under his breath, and Arianna gave him a knowing smirk.
The Slytherins stopped singing as they burst into laughter watching the Quaffle easily fly through the ring. "Oi! he looked like he about pissed himself!" one of them laughed.
"Wha-why did he-" Lee sputtered over the mic but he quickly composed himself.
"Slytherin score!" came his voice amid the cheering and booing from the crowds below, "so that's ten-nil to Slytherin - um, bad luck Ron?"
Alicia and Katie stared at him, dumbfounded. "What're you doing!?" Alicia yelled at him
Ron looked equally perplexed, pointing at Warrington who had scored. "What didn't you all just see-" Ron began until Alicia cut him off "Get it together Weasley or you'll just end up proving Slytherin right!" she barked at him.
"Right," Ron said despite his face being red from pure embarrassment at the blunder. The two girls shook their heads in frustration as Warrington and the other Slytherin players cackled. The Slytherins began up another round of that song with it with glee.
"I keep forgetting how versatile that creature-based magic of yours is," Galin said after calming down from the fit of laughter he had.
"I'm wondering what he saw that would make squeak like a little girl?." Arianna chuckled, as the Gryffindor chasers got possessions of the Quaffle again.
"- and Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell tanking up the pitch -' cried Lee valiantly, though the singing was now so deafening that he could hardly make himself heard above it.
"WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN! WEASLEY IS OUR KING!…"
"Harry, DON'T JUST SIT THERE!" screamed Angelina, soaring past him to keep up with Katie. "GET GOING!"
Harry realized he had been stationary in midair for over a minute, watching the progress of the match without sparing a thought for the whereabouts of the Snitch; horrified, he went into a dive and started circling the pitch again, staring around, trying to ignore the chorus now thundering through the stadium.
There was no sign of the Snitch anywhere he looked; Draco was still circling the stadium just as he was. They passed one another midway around the pitch, going in opposite directions, and Harry heard Malfoy singing loudly: "WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN…"
Harry gritted his teeth at the song being sung by the Slytherins.
The song continued around the pitch while the score continued to go up, and it seemed as if it were going to continue to do so forever as neither team could find the Snitch. Harry kept taking laps around the pitch, growing more and more agitated as the song continued, the words "Was born in a bin" ringing in his ears.
Arianna continued to focus on Ron making him see the Quaffle as a giant spider whenever the Slytherin chasers throw the Quaffle at the goal behind him. With each throw, a terrified Ron would run away or pathetically try to swipe at the Quaffle with his eyes closed. Harry did not have to look to see what had happened: there was a terrible groan from the Gryffindor end, coupled with fresh screams and applause from the Slytherins.
"And that's 60-ten. Things are not looking good Gryffindor right now folks." Lee's voice said, just barely audible over the speakers as the singing grew louder.
There was an edge of panic in Harry's desire to find the Snitch now. If he could just get it soon and finish the game quickly. Harry ducked a Bludger that Crabbe had sent rocketing in his direction and resumed his frantic scouring of the pitch for the Snitch, keeping one eye on Draco in case he showed signs of having spotted it.
Harry had seen it at last: the tiny fluttering Golden Snitch was hovering feet from the ground at the Slytherin end of the pitch.
He dived… In a matter of seconds, Malfoy was streaking out of the sky on Harry's left, a green and silver blur lying flat on his broom. The Snitch skirted the foot of one of the goal hoops and scooted off towards the other side of the stands; its change of direction suited Malfoy, who was nearer; Harry pulled his Firebolt around, he and Draco were now neck and neck…Feet from the ground, Harry lifted his right hand from his broom, stretching towards the Snitch to his right. Draco's arm extended too, was reaching, groping.
It was over in two breathless, desperate, windswept seconds -Harry's fingers closed around the tiny, struggling ball - Malfoy's fingernails scrabbled the back of Harry's hand hopelessly. Harry pulled his broom upwards, holding the struggling ball in his hand and the Gryffindor spectators screamed their approval…
They were saved, it did not matter that Ron had let in those goals, nobody would remember as long as Gryffindor had won -
(Arianna saw Harry catch the snitch and scowled. "Well that was quick," Galin said sighing. "I was enjoying seeing Weasely squirm.")
WHAM!
A Bludger hit Harry squarely in the small of the back and he flew forwards off his broom. Luckily he was only five or six feet above the ground, having dived so low to catch the Snitch, but he was winded all the same as he landed flat on his back on the frozen pitch.
("Oooo, That gotta hurt!" Galin winced as he saw Harry get hit with the iron Bludger)
He heard Madam Hooch's shrill whistle, an uproar in the stands compounded of catcalls, angry yells and jeering, a thud, and then Angelina's frantic voice.
"Are you all right?"
"Course I am," said Harry grimly, taking her hand and allowing her to pull him to his feet. Madam Hooch was zooming towards one of the Slytherin players above him, though he could not see who it was from this angle.
As Arianna and Galin were leaving the stands, she saw Draco land close by to them on the field. White-faced with fury, he was still managing to sneer.
"Let it go, dragon!" Arianna thought sharply as if her words would someone reach him.
"It was that thug Crabbe," said Angelina angrily, "he whacked the Bludger at you the moment he saw you'd got the Snitch - but we won Harry, we won."'
Harry heard a snort from behind him and turned around, still holding the Snitch tightly in his hand.
"Saved Weasley's neck, haven't you?" Malfoy yelled at Harry. "I've never seen a worse Keeper… but then he was born in a bin… did you like my lyrics, Potter?"
Harry didn't answer. He turned away to meet the rest of the team who were now landing one by one, yelling and punching the air in triumph; all except Ron, who had dismounted from his broom over by the goalposts and seemed to be making his way slowly back to the changing rooms alone.
"We wanted to write another couple of verses!" Malfoy called, as Katie and Alicia hugged Harry. "But we couldn't find rhymes for fat and ugly - we wanted to sing about his mother, see -"
"Talk about sour grapes," said Angelina, casting Malfoy a disgusted look.
"We couldn't fit in useless loser either, for his father, you know!" Fred and George had realized what Malfoy was talking about. Halfway through shaking Harry's hand, they stiffened, looking round at him.
"Leave it!" said Angelina at once, taking Fred by the arm. "Leave it, Fred, let him yell, he's just sore he lost, the jumped-up little -"
"- but you like the Weasleys, don't you, Potter?" said Malfoy, sneering. "Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles, even the Weasleys' hovel smells OK -"
Harry grabbed hold of George. Meanwhile, it was taking the combined efforts of Angelina, Alicia, and Katie to stop Fred from leaping on Draco, who was laughing openly. Harry looked around for Madam Hooch, but she was still berating Crabbe for his illegal Sludger attack.
"Or perhaps," said Malfoy, leering as he backed away, "you can remember what your mother's house stank like Potter, and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it —"
Harry was not aware of releasing George, all he knew was that a second later both of them were sprinting towards Malfoy. He had completely forgotten that all the teachers were watching: all he wanted to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible; with no time to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist clutching the Snitch.
TWACK!
Arianna had dashed forward from the crowd, her green eyes flashing dangerously as she reached Malfoy's side. With a fluid movement, she yanked Draco's Nimbus 2001 from his grip and swung the broom at Harry, the handle cracking sharply across Harry's jaw.
The impact sent a jolt through Harry's arm, and his head shot back. His glasses flew to the side, the taste of metal started filling his mouth and his ears were bombarded by a high-pitched ringing. When he looked up, he saw Arianna standing between him and a bewildered Malfoy.
Arianna twirled the broom with a fluid, practiced motion, holding it like a sword. Her stance was poised, as if ready for a duel, eyes locked onto Draco's would-be attackers. Galin stood just behind her, his expression a mix of shock and admiration, though his fists remained clenched, prepared to jump in if anyone dared to rush her.
"Bloody hell!" George exclaimed, his voice thick with disbelief as he and Fred stopped dead in their tracks, eyes widening at the sight of Arianna holding off the group like a seasoned fighter.
"Arianna!?" Angelina's voice was sharp, rising above the chaos, filled with a mix of concern and frustration. "Have you gone mad!?"
The entire Gryffindor team, as well as several of the onlookers, stood frozen, staring at her in stunned silence. She didn't back down. Her eyes were alight with a fierce energy as she challenged George with a gaze that dared him to make a move.
Arianna glanced back at Draco and flashed him a smirk. "Not very heroic of them to try and jump you like that, wouldn't you say, dragon?"
Draco's eyes were wide, his pale face a mask of shock as he stared at her, unable to process what was happening. The idea of being defended—by a Gryffindor no less—was beyond his comprehension.
"How'd you...why?..." he breathed, glancing between Arianna and Harry, trying to make sense of the situation, as though waiting for the whole thing to be some kind of twisted joke. Then his face morphed into a scowl
"I had the situation under control, Darkwood!" he protested
"Maybe, but if anyone is going to mess with you, it's me," she said, winking at him in a way that caused Draco's heart to jump.
Harry gritted his teeth, his head still spinning from the blow, but the anger was beginning to outweigh the pain. His hands shaking slightly, he grabbed his broom and charged at Arianna, swinging it like a sword. His movements were fueled by rage, the fight blurring everything else from his mind.
Arianna's eyes flashed in surprise at the speed of his attack, but she was quick to react. She parried his blow with a sharp, resounding crack as their brooms collided. The sound of wood meeting wood echoed across the pitch. Without hesitation, she countered, jabbing the wooden handle of her broom into his stomach.
Harry's breath left him in a sharp gasp, but the pain only seemed to make his anger burn hotter. He struck back immediately, aiming for her shoulder with all his strength. Arianna evaded the blow and then bounced back with a swing at Harry's neck. Harry swerved to the side just in time, but the broom handle grazed his ear, leaving a thin red line on his skin.
"She's quick!," Harry thought to himself as he was barely able to evade Arianna's strike
"He's faster than expected," Arianna thought to herself in frustration as her strike merely grazed Harry.
Despite the pain in his ear, Harry came at her again, swinging harder this time. His blow landed, grazing her forearm. Arianna hissed under her breath, irritated at herself for not taking the fight more seriously.
She retaliated with a flurry of quick, precise strikes. Her movements grew more fluid as she put more energy into each blow, her broom a blur as it swiped through the air. For every strike Harry managed to block, Arianna followed it up with another, her attacks now striking his midsection and arms.
Harry gritted his teeth, fighting to stay on his broom. He was struggling to keep up with the rapid pace of Arianna's assault. Each hit sent a fresh wave of pain through him—his arms stung, his ribs ached. He was starting to get winded from the series of attacks, while Arianna remained cool and collected as she continued her blitz assault
Finally, they locked brooms again, both hovering just a few inches apart, their faces inches from one another. The tension between them was palpable, their matching colored eyes glaring back at the other like a twisted mirror.
Then a voice shouted out "Impedimenta!"
Arianna had caught the wand motion of Madam Hooch, instinctively, she redirected the force of the stalemate towards the stream of light, positioning Harry right in the line of fire. As he stumbled past her, still trying to regain his balance, she discreetly placed one of Yuno's sigils in his pant pocket.
Everything around Harry seemed to move in slow motion. He looked back, struggling to focus, only to meet Arianna's gaze-
"You're sloppy, Potter," she said coldly, her voice a whip in the thick air.
Just as the words left her lips, the spell struck him in the chest. Time snapped back into place with brutal speed. The force of "Impedimenta" sent Harry careening to the right, his body spiraling through the air for several feet. He hit the ground with a sickening thud, the impact knocking the air out of him.
He lay there for a moment, dazed, gasping for breath as his world swam. His limbs felt like dead weight, his chest heaving with each desperate breath.
"What do you think you're doing!?" screamed Madam Hooch, as Harry struggled to his feet. She was holding her whistle in one hand and a wand in the other; her broom lay abandoned several feet away. "I've never seen behavior like it - back up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your Head of House's office! Go! Now!"
Harry and Arianna turned on their heels and marched off the pitch, neither saying a word to the other. The howling and jeering of the crowd grew fainter and fainter until they reached the Entrance Hall, where they could hear nothing except the sound of their own footsteps. They occasionally glared at each other.
They had barely reached the door of Professor McGonagall's office when she came marching along the corridor behind them. She was wearing a Gryffindor scarf but tore it from her throat with shaking hands as she strode towards them, looking livid.
"In!" she said furiously, pointing to the door. Harry and Arianna entered. She strode around behind her desk and faced them, quivering with rage as she threw the Gryffindor scarf aside onto the floor.
"Well?" she said. "I have never seen such a disgraceful exhibition. Explain yourselves, both of you"
"Harry and George were about to attack Draco, and I stopped them," Arianna said.
Professor McGonagall, eyes flashed and turned to Harry. "Is this true?" she said with a hint of skepticism.
"He provoked us! He insulted my mum, and Ron's parents!" Harry said stiffly.
"Provoked you?" shouted Professor McGonagall, slamming a fist onto her desk so that her tartan tin slid sideways off it and burst open, littering the floor with Ginger Newts. "He'd just lost, hadn't he? Of course, he wanted to provoke you! 'But instead of leaving it to Madam Hooch to sort out, you two decided to give an exhibition of Muggle dueling, did you?'
Professor McGonagall continued to regard them with a stern glare. "And Ms. Darkwood you may choose to intervene, but instead of attempting to de-escalate the situation, you chose violence. You chose to engage in a reckless muggle duel and put yourself, and others in harm's way."
Arianna kept quiet, her expression remained unchanged like a soldier while Harry squirmed a bit with unease
Professor McGonagall leaned forward, her hands clenched into fists. "What have you got to say for yourselves?" she demanded, her voice shaking with anger.
"I don't regret my actions Professor, but I accept any punishment you deem necessary," she said unfazed and standing tall.
Professor McGonagall seemed taken aback by Arianna's calm and steadfast demeanor. She stared at her for a moment, trying to figure her out. "Well at least you seem willing to accept responsibility for your actions, Ms. Darkwood," she huffed. "And you, Mr. Potter?"
Harry stayed silent as he shifted uncomfortably. McGonagall sighed in frustration. "Have you any idea what you two have -?"
"Hem, hem."
Harry and Arianna both wheeled around. Dolores Umbridge was standing in the doorway wrapped in a green tweed cloak that greatly enhanced her resemblance to a giant toad, and was smiling in the horrible, sickly, ominous way that Harry had come to associate with imminent misery.
"May I help, Professor McGonagall?" asked Umbridge in her most poisonously sweet voice.
Blood rushed into Professor McGonagall's face. "Help?" she repeated, in a constricted voice. "What do you mean, help?"
Umbridge moved forward into the office, still smiling her sickly smile. "Why, I thought you might be grateful for a little extra authority."
Harry would not have been surprised to see sparks fly from Professor McGonagall's nostrils.
"You thought wrong," she said, turning her back on Umbridge.
"Now, you two had better listen closely. Potter I do not care what provocation Malfoy offered you, I do not care if he insulted every family member you possess, your behavior was disgusting. As for you Ms. Darkwood, your reason behind engaging may seem noble to you, but that doesn't excuse you from punishment"
"I expect nothing less, Professor," Arianna said stoicly, her expression unchanged as Harry was about to protest.
"I am giving each of you a week's worth of detentions! Do not look at me like that, Potter, you deserve it! And if either of you ever -"
"Hem, hem."
Professor McGonagall closed her eyes as though praying for patience as she turned her face towards Professor Umbridge again.
"Yes?"
"I think he deserves rather more than detentions," said Umbridge, smiling still more broadly. Professor McGonagall's eyes flew open.
"But unfortunately," she said, with an attempt at a reciprocal smile that made her look as though she had lockjaw, "it is what I think that counts, as they are in my House, Dolores."
"Well, actually, Minerva," simpered Umbridge, "I think you'll find that what I think does count now. Educational Decree number 26 states I have supreme.." she gave a false little laugh. "Supreme authority over, over all punishments, sanctions and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions, and removals of privileges as may have been ordered by other staff members."
Professor McGonagall clenched her fist at Umbridges words, showing a visible snarl.
"But I am not unreasonable, Professor McGonagall," she continued, turning back to Professor McGonagall who was now standing as still as though carved from ice, staring at her. "The rest of the team can continue playing, I saw no signs of violence from any of them."
Harry's eyes widen at her statement. "What are you saying!?" Harry said looking at her as if she was about to cast Cruciarius curses at him.
"I'm saying I think a lifelong ban ought to do the trick," said Umbridge, her smile widening still further as she watched him struggle to comprehend what she had said. "You and Mr. Fred George Weasley are off the team. For the safety of the other students of course."
Harry shook in anger at her words. He wished he had his broom again so he could knock the smug look off Umbridges face. his mind whirled at the injustice of it all. He couldn't believe that such a person, such a toad-like creature, had the power to take away something he loved so much.
"You can't do that!" he spluttered furiously, "you haven't got the authority!"
But deep down, Harry knew that she did have the authority, and there was nothing he could do about it. Professor Umbridge merely gave him a saccharine smile in response. She then turned to Arianna
"As for you young lady, while I had suspension on the mind for you, Mr. Malfoy pleaded to me that you not be punished for protecting him from Mr. Potter and the Weasleys," Umbridge said.
Arianna's eyes widen at her words. "What! But I-"
"Tut-Tut," she said firmly, "I don't want to hear any more from you. Mr. Malfoy was quite insistent to have you spared from any consequences. He was very insistent that your intervention in the matter was an act of a hero. So, in consideration of his words, I have decided to show some mercy on you considering your actions were in a sense 'noble', even if misguided. But rest assured, I will be keeping a close eye on you from now on dear."
Arianna looked at the ground. "Insistent" she muttered to herself.
Harry felt his anger growing even more. How could Malfoy have the nerve to ask for such a favor? He clenched his fists, trying to keep his emotions under control. Harry clenched his jaw, clearly seething with anger but forcing himself to remain silent.
"Well… good afternoon to you." And with a look of the utmost satisfaction, Umbridge left the room, leaving Harry in horrified silence.
Professor McGonagall stood frozen in place, her face contorted with anger. She seemed to be fighting the urge to chase after Umbridge and give her a piece of her mind. But she took a deep breath and composed herself as she turned her attention back to Harry and Arianna.
Harry took McGonagalls silence as a sign to leave her office. He stormed out, shooting another glare back at Arianna who returned one of her own at him.
McGonagall sighed heavily as Harry stormed out of the office, slamming the door shut behind him. She turned her attention to Arianna, who remained standing before her, her eyes still burning with anger. Professor McGonagall's expression softened as she studied the girl in front of her.
"Professor, I just can't go unpunished for this. I'll stay and help you clean up your classroom or help you with office duties, even if it's unofficial" Arianna pleaded.
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow at Arianna's eagerness to face punishment. It was rare for a student to admit their mistake in a situation like this.
"I appreciate your honesty and willingness to accept responsibility," McGonagall said, her voice still stern but with a hint of understanding. "But I cannot allow you to work for me unofficially. The Headmaster would be furious if he found out."
"But Professor-"
Professor McGonagall held up a hand to stop Arianna's protests. "Enough," she said firmly. "It is clear to me that you have a strong sense of honor, but you must also learn the importance of restraint and obeying authority, even when it seems unfair."
Arianna silently cursed. "Not just unfair, it's not just at all,"
"Then let this serve as your punishment Ms. Darkwood," Professor McGonagall said.
Her words hung heavy in the air, leaving a bitter taste in Arianna's mouth. The sense of injustice was like a bitter pill she had to swallow. She took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to argue further. Professor McGonagall's decision was final, and she knew it would be pointless to protest. Instead, she simply nodded in resignation.
"Yes, Professor," she said quietly as turned to leave only stopping when Professor McGonagall called her to wait.
Professor McGonagall studied Arianna for a moment, her eyes filled with a mix of admiration and concern. "Your actions today were unacceptable, but you weren't trying to use your reason to shy away from taking responsibility. It's not too often I see a student embody such characteristics, especially at your age... Please, act more rationally next time."
Arianna looked back at Professor McGonagall, she didn't say anything but simply nodded. With that, she shut the door behind her.
(Gryffindor Common Rooms, Evening)
"Banned!" said Angelina in a hollow voice, late that evening in the common room. "Banned. No Seeker and no Beaters… what on earth are we going to do?"
It did not feel as though they had won the match at all. Everywhere Harry looked there were disconsolate and angry faces; the team themselves were slumped around the fire, all apart from Ron, who had not been seen since the end of the match.
"It's just so unfair," said Alicia numbly.
"Unfair doesn't even begin to cover it," Fred said darkly, pacing up and down the common room. "She's done it on purpose," he snarled.
Everyone nodded gloomily. The injustice of the situation hung heavy in the air. Even Hermione, who wasn't usually interested in Quidditch, looked livid.
Fred and George sat off to the side, their usually mischievous faces somber. "It's worse than we thought," Fred said, a rare hint of anger in his voice.
"I mean, what about Crabbe and that Bludger he hit after the whistle had been blown? Has she banned him?" Angelina asked.
"No," said Ginny miserably; she and Hermione were sitting on either side of Harry. "He just got lines, and just one line from what I've heard. Montague was laughing about it at dinner."
"You sure that wasn't because he's too stupid to write a whole paragraph?" Katie joked trying to lighten the mood.
A few people chuckled half-heartedly, but even the attempt at humor couldn't dispel the sense of injustice that hung over the group.
"If you think that's bad. Umbridge let Darkwood off scott-free" Harry said, his jaw still sore from the place she had struck him with Malfoy's broom. Everyone turned to look at Harry in surprise.
"You can't be serious mate," George said, his eyebrows shooting up. "She let her off completely!?"
"Malfloy "insisted that she not be punished" were her exact words," Harry said with some venom in his tone.
The group sat in silence for a moment, digesting this new information. The idea of a Gryffindor standing up for a slimy Slytherin, Malfoy of all people no less, was hard to stomach.
"Traitor" muttered Dean, looking disgruntled. "Don;t know how she can look at herself in mirror after that"
"Don't be so harsh," said Angelina, though her voice was strained. "For all we know, Malfoy might have threatened her or something. I doubt she'd help him willingly."
"No," Harry said, everyone looked at him, not expecting his interjection. "I saw it. Malfoy was just as surprised as the rest of us when she showed up. And then she told McGonagall—straight-faced—that she didn't regret it. She didn't do it because she was forced to, it's because she wanted to."
A stunned silence followed. It was hard to even process. Harry could see the same shock spreading across the room. The idea of one of their own turning against them was, quite frankly, incomprehensible.
"Guess we know where her loyalties lie now," muttered Fred, shaking his head.
"Coudn't agree more George," Fred muttered, shaking his head. "Just when we thought Umbridge and The Triad were our biggest problem, now we have a rogue Gryffindor running around
"What were you even thinking when you and Arianna started attacking each other," Hermione asked. "I never seen you so angry"
Harry let out a heavy sigh, reliving the heat of the moment in his mind. "I don't know. I was just so angry and frustrated, and Malfoy was being his usual obnoxious self. And then Arianna just decided to jump in and defend him out of nowhere… I just lost control, like something was driving me to go on the attack"
"Well, I wouldn't recommend trying that again with her. Bloody dangerous that one is, wielding Malfoys broom like a knight" George said.
"Yeah," said Harry bitterly, "she's got some skills, that's for sure. But it doesn't change the fact that she chose to stand up for Malfoy, of all people."
"Which makes it's clear that the common rooms aren't a safe place to talk anymore. She could tell Malfoy about what were saying about him or about the D.A. meetings." Hermoine added. The group lapsed into silence again, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Great, just what we need," said Katie sarcastically. "Another person who's going to cause trouble for us."
"Let's just hope she doesn't mess with us again," said George darkly.
"Shite, this is a mess" Dean cursed.
Harry got up from his seat and walked towards the window to try to maul over his thoughts. Ginny walked over to see what was wrong while the other discussed what to do moving forward.
There was a long silence between them. "I always thought of Hogwarts as home, but this year..."
"This year has been a nightmare," Ginny muttered bitterly. "First Umbridge, The Dark Triad lurking in the shadows, and now Arianna going rogue. Feels like nothing's the same anymore."
Harry nodded silently, sharing her sentiments. Hogwarts didn't feel like the safe haven it used to be. The presence of Umbridge has only heightened the uncertainty and tension among the students.
"This was one place I felt I could escape from the Durseleys, but now I'm even more stressed than ever, and not this uncontrollable anger I've been feeling recently… I feel like I'm losing myself." Harry said sounding exhausted.
Ginny's expression softened with sympathy as she listened to Harry's words. She could see the weariness etched on his face and hear the frustration in his voice.
"You're not losing yourself, Harry," she said reassuringly. "You're just going through a tough time. This anger you've been feeling, it's normal to feel frustrated and overwhelmed when things are messed up."
"But you're still the same stubborn, fearless Gryffindor you've always been," she added with a small smile. "You just need to learn to channel that anger in a healthier way, not let it control you."
"How, with everything that's happening. How can I not be frustrated and angry with everything." Harry sighed.
Ginny thought for a moment, trying to find the right words. "I don't know," she admitted honestly. "But you're not alone, Harry. You've got Ron and Hermione, The D.A., and you've got me. We'll get through this together." she said squeezing his hand and comforting Harry.
"And who knows," Ginny added, her tone lightening a bit. "Maybe Umbridge will get hit by a falling tree or something. Stranger things have happened at this school."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at Ginny's joke. "If only we were that lucky
Ginny chuckled too, her smile contagious. "Hey, never underestimate the power of wishful thinking."
They looked out the window in comfortable silence for a while, the cool night air calming their frayed nerves.
"Thanks, Gin, you always seem to know what to say," Harry said looking at her with a warm smile.
Ginny shrugged modestly. "It's a talent of mine," she said jokingly. "But seriously though, you can always talk to me, you know that, right? No matter how angry or frustrated you feel."
"I might just take you up on that," Harry said with a chuckle. "I'm going to head off to bed, I'll talk to you in the morning"
Ginny nodded understandingly. "Get some rest, Harry. You look like you could use it."
"Yeah," he admitted, feeling the exhaustion hit him. "Night, Gin."
Harry walked away, feeling like a ton of bricks had been lifted off his shoulders, but in the back of his head, he couldn't help but feel that a storm was brewing.