A/N: We had Severe Thunderstorm/Tornado Warnings/Watches in my area today (yay Iowa)! Since I have PTSD from two other storms that went through previously I decided to write and get my mind off of the storm. So enjoy this bonus chapter.
I had been able to have a fair few lessons with Remus and Bill before April, but stopped for a few weeks as it approached Easter and the O.W.Ls got closer and closer. Also, with the DA lessons, I was getting plenty of practice. In fact, in this week's meeting, we started the lesson we've been waiting for since the last term.
Patronus's!
"Think of your happiest memory, the happiest one you've got," Harry instructed. We were all standing in small groups, I was in a group with Dean, Neville, and Seamus (Dean finally managed to convince Hermione to let him attend the meetings now that all had been resolved with Harry). As we stood and tried to get them to appear, Seamus exclaimed loudly.
"Harry, I think I'm doing it!" he yelled as a very small whiff of silver spouted out of his wand. By the time Harry got over though, it was gone. "I know it was working Harry, I just know it!" Dean rubbed Seamus's shoulder as Neville and I continued to try. I shut my eyes tightly and racked my brain for my happiest memory, a thousand ran through my head, but one stuck out.
It was the day Neville and I went to Diagon Alley and had the best day ever. Drinking coca, butterbeer, eating food, joking around, the snowball fight, but most importantly it was the day I knew, truly knew in my gut that I loved Neville forever.
"Expecto Patronum!" I whispered while waving my wand. As I opened my eyes and kept the memory in the front of my head, I saw a magnificent Bay Mare galloping around the room. Lori let out a small giggle as the horse knocked over Ron who just cast his Jack Russel Terrier Patronus.
"Expecto Patronum!" I heard Neville whisper. Still keeping my memory in my head, I looked over to see Neville finally had a successful attempt and cast his Patronus. What as his Patronus, you may ask? Well, his Patronus was none other than a Bay Stallion! We both watched in awe as our horses galloped around together. Finally, after a few moments, they slowly faded away and we stood by each other still in awe over what happened.
Suddenly and loud CRACK could be heard all around the room, and Dobby appeared a few feet in front of Harry.
"Mr. Harry Potter, she's coming!" Dobby shouted frantically. Everyone stared waiting for Harry to clarify but Harry didn't. He just shouted at all of us.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!" Harry bellowed, "RUN FOR IT!" Everyone started running for the exit not even paying attention to the younger kids. I just managed to pull Colin Creevy up from the ground before his little brother Dennis got shoved to the ground by a sixth-year Ravenclaw.
"I get you're wanting to run, but PLEASE REFRAIN FROM TRAMPLING THE YOUNGER STUDENTS!" I shouted. Neville, Dean, and Seamus sprinted off towards the boy bathroom that was closest to the RoR, while the plan was for Hermione and me to run to the Library. However, I noticed Harry's robe was caught on the hook and rushed over to help him.
"You should be gone by now!" he shouted as I helped him.
"I wasn't going to let you're robe rip now was I?" I snapped back. "Now let's get to the Owlery and pretend we are sending a letter off to my parents about you spending the summer holidays with us." I grabbed Harry's hand and off we ran down the hall. Sadly someone jinxed us from behind, causing both of us to plummet face-first to the stone ground.
"Shit!" I said as we got flipped over to reveal and smirking Draco and an equally smirking Pansy.
"Professor! We have two of them!" Draco shouted behind him. Pansy pulled us both up by our robes as Umbridge's disgusting face turned the corner.
"It's him!" she said jubilantly at the sight of Harry being held by the neck of his robe. "Excellent, Draco, excellent Pansy, oh, very good - fifty points to Slytherin! I'll take him from here ..." She grabbed Harry's robe and stared at me. "You've also managed to capture Miss Weasley as well, fantastic. Now they both can come along." Umbridge seized my robe, while also grabbing some of my hair, as I winced, she pulled even tighter.
As we approached the gargoyle that lead to Dumbledore's office, I started getting more and more worried. Not only for the others but for whoever snitched on the DA. I knew how much time Hermione spent on that jinx, so I pitied the person who had to deal with that. Umbridge basically shouted at the statue, and basically shoved us up the spiral stairs.
"Percival! Take this one - oh forget taking notes and hold this one!" Umbridge shoved me towards the one person I didn't expect to see tonight, Percy. "She's a sneaky little brat."
"Understood, Madame Umbridge," said Percy as he grabbed my shoulder tightly and held me. As I stood next to Percy, Harry started getting questioned by the Minister, Percy loosened his grip while he started to quickly take notes over what was happening. Since Fudge was having no luck with Harry, Umbridge went to fetch the "informant" and left the room.
"Now, who do we have here?" Fudge said looking over at me. "Ahhh yes, Miss Lorrinda Weasley, correct?" he looked up at Percy who just curtly nodded. Fudge shook his head and tsked. "And I thought you would have so much promise, Miss Weasley. So much promise."
"I still do, thank you very much." I snapped.
"Miss Weasley, I would just remain silent if I were you," McGonagall spoke sternly at me. "That warning goes for you too, Potter." she snapped as Harry opened his mouth to defend me. Suddenly loud whimpering could be heard coming from the door.
"Don't be scared, dear, don't be frightened," said Professor Umbridge softly, patting a girl on the back, "it's quite all right, now. You have done the right thing." As they entered the room more, I realized it was Cho Chang's best friend Marietta Edgecombe! A little gasp escaped my mouth as Umbridge forced her to lower her hands and reveal her face. I so wanted to just walk over and hug her tightly but I knew, no way in merlin they would let me near her.
Umbridge went on to explain how Marietta exposed the DA, and how she had been onto us since the meeting in Hogs Head. Dumbledore came to our defense but sadly it didn't seem to knock Umbridge off her high horse. For now, she turned back to pressure Marietta some more.
"Miss Edgecombe," Umbridge asked "Please do tell us how long these meetings have been going on, dear. You can simply nod or shake your head, I'm sure, well hoping it won't make the spots worse dear."
To our surprise, Marietta shook her head no!
"I don't think you understood my question, dear. Has this organization been meeting for the past six months?" Umbridge asked again, her voice going up a few octaves.
Once again Marietta shook her head no.
"What do you mean by shaking your head, girl?" Umbridge asked irritably.
"Well, I thought it was quite plain." McGonagall snapped. "Now unless Miss Edgecombe has managed to learn a whole new sign language unknown to the wizarding world, then she is telling you that they haven't been meeting for the past six months. Is that correct, Marietta?"
Once again, Marietta nodded her head.
Umbridge suddenly kept forward and seized Marietta by the robes, I kicked Percy in the leg and lunged forward.
"Get off of her!" I shouted as Umbride dropped Mariettaas Dumbledore and Kingsley Shacklebolt had started to come at her as well. "Marietta, are you alright?" I said getting down beside her and checking her.
"I told you to keep a grip on her, Percival. Or is it because she's your little sister, you couldn't bear to give her the proper treatment." Umbridge spoke venomously at Percy. She grabbed me and shoved me across the room to where Harry was standing. "I knew you had no guts."
"Don't you dare talk to him like that! He's brave that you could ever be!" I shouted, storming back over. Umbridge just struck me to the ground with a slap and yanked my hair as she kicked me back across the room.
"I cannot have you mistreating my students, Dolores," said Dumbledore darkly as his wand stayed aimed in his hand. "Now kindly step back from the students." As she stepped back even further the Minister made some comments, that I wasn't hearing because I was too focused on the small slip of parchment that had fluttered down my be feet. I reached down and picked it up, only to see it was a note written by ...
Percy
I quickly opened the small piece and read it quickly.
Rinda,
Are you alright?
I glanced up and saw a small sliver of the old Percy I knew from a child was looking out through his eyes. I looked to make sure no one was looking at us, but after that, I nodded my head and flashed a caring smile at him. Once the exchange was done, Percy's wall built back up as he scribbled notes for the records.
"Then you have been plotting against me!!" Fudge yelled, bringing my focus back onto the issue at hand. I glanced around the room, trying to get caught up on the issue at hand.
"NO!" shouted Harry. "Professor Dumbledore you can -"
"Be quiet, Harry, or I am afraid you will have to leave my office," said Dumbledore calmly.
"Yes, shut up, Potter!" barked Fudge, who was quivering with delight, "Weasely! Weasley, have you written it all down, everything he's said, his confession, have you got it?"
"Yes, sir, I think so, sir!" said Percy eagerly, whose nose was splattered with ink from the speed of his note-taking. Fudge barked for Percy to send a fast Owl to the Daily Prophet so it would make tomorrow's paper. Percy gave me one last look, before dashing out of the room and slamming the door tightly.
"Dumbledore, you will now be escorted back to the Ministry, where you will be formally charged and then sent to Azkaban to await trial!" Fudge shouted.
"Ah," said Dumbledore gently, "yes. Yes, I thought we might hit that little snag. You seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to - what is the phrase? 'Come quietly' I am afraid I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban."
Suddenly a loud bang and a bright silver light flashed throughout the room, knocking us to the ground. I expected to be knocked out, and wake up tomorrow in the hospital wing, but luckily McGonagall had managed to pull Harry, Marietta, and myself out of the blast. Dumbledore came over to make sure we were okay, and make sure Harry knew his place.
"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said turning to me, "Your lessons will be on hold, however, Minerva here will hold you after class to talk about a lesson plan you will need to follow in your own dorm room every single night."
"But what about -"
"McGonagall will handle everything she can," Dumbledore said quickly as Kingsley and the other man began to stir. Dumbledore winked at Harry just before his phoenix, Fawkes flew down from his perch. Dumbledore raised his hand into the air grabbed ahold of Fawkes's long golden tail, and in a flash of fire, they were gone. As soon as the last timber of the flames fell down to the floor, Fudge, Umbridge, Kingsley and the other man all got up and went frantic trying to find Dumbledore.
"Let's get you three off to bed," McGonagall said escorting us out of the office. As the door was beginning to shut, we heard Kingsley speak to Fudge.
"You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts ... but you cannot deny he's got style."