''𝙎𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨𝙨.''
𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗨𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝘂𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹. If anything, I would think that she knows about our little group that the trio had brought together. And without a doubt, she most likely found a way to expose us to the rest of the school. I wouldn't be surprised, she does this sort of stuff all the time now. Harry still hasn't spoken to Dumbledore, I'm not sure anyone has.
Draco has met up with me just a few moments ago, before Hermione had been calling for me down the corridor. He was reluctant to let me go, saying that I could just hide away from her. We both know I couldn't do that, Hermione would ask Harry to use the Marauders Map to find me and then they would all start asking why I wasn't shown on the map.
After a few words of reassurance, like saying that I would meet again with him later, he let me go. He stayed hidden as I walked out to Hermione, waiting until we turned the corner to continue on with his day. Hermione pulled me along a few corridors, ranting about something that she never gave a topic about. I wish I could intervene, but I couldn't.
She grabbed me all the way to the top floor, looking left and right to make sure that no one was watching. When we saw that nobody was in the corridor, she walked forward and the familiar door had appeared. The big wooden door with the rusted gold, metal frames. They had somehow found the Room of Requirement, the one place I didn't want them to find.
Walking through the door and shutting it quickly, I saw that a few other people were there. Neville and the rest of the trio included. The room had been transformed into one that was more than big enough for the group they had put together, mirrors on the wall with a few books that were placed accordingly on bookshelves. All the books were about Defense Against the Dark Arts, which both helped Harry and the people he would be teaching.
''You've done it, Neville. You found the Room of Requirement.'' Hermione praised Neville. So it was Neville who found the room, I couldn't be mad at him, though.
''The what?'' Ron asked, looking around the vast room.
''It's also known as the come and go room. The Room of Requirement only appears when a person had real need of it. And It's always equipped for the seeker's needs.'' The fireplace at the other end of the room was currently on, being the only light that illuminated the room.
''So say you really needed the toilet. . .'' Ron let out, his hands in his pockets. Everyone looked over at Ron with slight disgust, George lightly hitting my shoulder with a barely audible chuckle.
''Charming, Ronald. But, yes, that is the general idea.''
''It's brilliant.'' Harry suddenly spoke up. ''It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back.''
''Maybe it does, Harry. It's been standing for years. Would be a shame if it falls now.'' I spoke up, Ron playfully elbowing my side with a smile. Hermione also gave me a smile, Harry nodding from where he was standing.
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A dummy stood in the middle of the room, two lines of students standing a foot or two away from it on either side. The dummy moves, raising a fake wand. Neville stands at the front of the line on the right side, Harry standing next to him in the left line. Ron stands behind Neville as Hermione stands behind Harry, Luna standing behind Hermione. I stood behind Ron.
Neville looks over at Harry, unsure about casting the spell. Harry nods at the boy in reassurance, before Neville lets out a breath and faces the dummy again.
''Expelliarmus!'' Neville shouts. Though, instead of disarming the dummy, he had disarmed himself. People moved to the sides as Neville's wand flies back, the last kid ducking to avoid getting hit. Neville looks saddened, I feel bad for the boy. ''I'm hopeless.'' Neville mumbled.
''You're just flourishing your wand too much. Try it like this. Expelliarmus!'' Harry demonstrates, the wand flying out of the dummy's hand.
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Umbridge had apparently gotten word that something is going on around Hogwarts. Students were now being questioned, lining up outside her office and taking turns walking in and out. I was up next, just awaiting for the current student to leave.
''Ms. Granger.'' Guess that time is now. Pushing myself off the wall, I watched as Astoria had walked down the stairs. She hadn't been giving me any shit lately, wonder what she heard of?
Walking up the stairs, I went as slowly as possible. I didn't want to see her office again, even though I had only seen it for a few seconds. Last time I had seen her office was when Harry and I got detention, he got his hand scarred while I got my darkest secret revealed to the whole school.
''Welcome back, Ms. Granger.'' Umbridge greeted, sitting at her desk with the sickly smile she has.
''I would say it's a pleasure, but I would be lying.'' I replied, reluctantly sitting down in the seat.
''Backtalking your Professors seems to be a hobby for you. That is going to end very quickly.'' Of course, she had known something and was holding it against me. ''Tea?'' She asked, pushing a cup towards me that was filled to the rim with the creamy liquid.
''I'm fine, just had some water before I came up here. Not to mention, I'm rather hungry.'' I momentarily raised my brows in her direction, watching as the smile she held had tightened. She was trying not to frown or scowl, but that deemed easier said then done.
''I insist.''
''I also insist.''
''Drink the tea, Ms. Granger.'' She seethed, her smile now forming a thin line. I rolled my eyes, looking down at the cup of tea as I slowly picked it up from the cup it had been placed on. When I had looked back up at Umbridge, her smile came back and her head was tilted.
Now, I'm not stupid. I smelt the Veritaserum from down the corridor. This stuff is illegal to use against students, so how did she get her hands on it? Snape surely wouldn't give it to her either, he supports Dumbledore's rules on this school and despises the pink toad as much as the rest of us.
Lifting the cup to my mouth, I made sure that the liquid barely skimmed my lips and that I didn't accidentally swallow any of the infected tea. Making an audible sipping sound with my mouth, I had try to make it believable before I put the cup back down. I gulped, making it look like I had just swallowed down the tea, Umbridge smiling happily at me.
''Good girl.''
''Don't coo at me.'' I scowled at her, my nose scrunching. She only let out her usual giggle, before she stood up from her seat and started to circle my chair. Almost like predator and prey, with her being the predator. Only when the moon isn't full that is, then the tables turn.
''Anything you would like to share with me?''
''You're my favorite parasite.'' I let out with a shrug of my shoulders. She stopped her walk behind my chair, freaking me out just a bit.
''What?''
''No. . . Ringworm's my favorite parasite. You're my second favorite parasite.'' She looked even more mad then before as I lifted my hands and started to talk with my hands. Something that happens when I start to rant and actually mean what I'm saying.
''How dare you, you little-''
''I lied. . . Ringworm, then rats with the plague, then you.'' I set my hands back down in my lap, smirking triumphantly when Umbridge had let out a huff from behind me. All that, was true. Very true.
''Anything else?'' She inquired, lifting her hand off the back of my chair and continuing her walk. This time, she went to the side of her desk and started to straighten things that were already straightened.
''I believe that there are two people in this world. Some look at people from a point of view that says they are evil because they chose to be. The others look at people and say that there is more behind those that are evil. No one is truly evil and for that, I say to you. . .'' I turn my head to look at Umbridge, who was watching me with an inpatient look. ''You are neither of those people. You exist in a word that doesn't exist.''
She looked furious, her lips pulled into a thin line. I almost wanted to laugh out loud, before I had seen the familiar red quill sitting on her desk. At that, I didn't seem so humorous. They freaked me out a bit, how anyone could let a Professor use those against kids for punishment.
''You are free to leave, Ms. Granger.'' She waved me off. I didn't say anything, just got up and left out the door. Umbridge glared at the back of my head, calling the next person into her office. I felt bad for them, not knowing that she had spiked the tea with Veritaserum.
For that reason, I decided to make my way down to the dungeons.
I swiftly moved through the corridors, not wanting to be stopped and talked to at the moment. Draco was currently at Quidditch practice, since the Slytherin's had been approved by Umbridge to train on the Pitch. Graham Montage was the new Slytherin Capitan, despite Marcus' utter beliefs about the man. I still catch Montague sending me looks here and there.
The dungeons were colder then the corridors up the stairs, unsurprisingly. This was the dungeons for a reason, where barely any warm air comes through and the whole place is under the Black Lake. I haven't seen the Slytherin Common Room, but I'm jealous either way. I have a heck ton of blankets that I could wrap myself in as I stare out the window.
Taking my place outside the familiar classroom, I rapped my knuckle against the door and awaited for the door to be thrown open. I hadn't heard footsteps until the second time I had knocked, Snape probably sitting at his desk as he tried to act like he wasn't there. I knew he was there and he didn't have a class, where would he be otherwise?
When the door had opened, he looked down at me with the same face he does every year. Depression and despair.
''Ms. Granger.'' He greeted grimly. ''What brings me the utter most pleasure to be visited by your presence?''
''Snape, good to see you, Professor. Good job with the sarcasm by the way, amazing, truly.'' I squeezed my way past him, stepping into his classroom as I heard the door shut from behind me. The room hasn't changed and never will, the room still dusty with cobwebs hanging in the corners. Potion vials being held on the shelves, which were poorly polished and dusted. I guess this is just how he liked to live.
''Explain. Now.'' Snape demanded, sitting back down at his desk. I let out a huff of breath before sitting down at a desk in front of his, his elbows resting against the table as I leaned forward on the stool.
''I happen to know something, something valuable.''
''And that certain thing would be?''
''Umbridge using Veritaserum on students.'' I shrugged my shoulders, closely watching Snape's face. His eyes squinted a bit before returning to normal.
''What does that have to do with me?''
''Besides the fact that she stole it from your stores, nothing.''
''How do you know she stole it and I didn't give it to her?''
''Do you really want me to answer that?'' The look on his face showed almost nothing, just waiting for the answer to fall from my mouth so that he could tell me that I was wrong. And I am going to say this now, he won't say that I'm wrong. ''For one, a little birdy told me that you had told Harry last year about how illegal it is to use it against a student. One slip and it might just land in his morning pumpkin juice, isn't that right, Snape?''
He glare at me, his head tilted just the slightest when I had used the same line he told Harry last year. I didn't need to share all the details, I just thought that the extra line was a nice touch.
''Second, she has been avoiding you lately.''
''I don't know what you mean.''
''Of course you do, Snape.'' I waved my hand at him, hopping off the stool and starting my walk to his desk. ''I see the way you glare at Umbridge whenever she enters a room and that glare isn't the same glare that you give to the rest of us students, is it? That glare is a warning glare and don't ask how I know, I've been your student for five years. You threatened her in a secluded spot and time, where nobody would be looking for the two of you. After that, she decided to keep her distance. It's not just students who think you're intimidating.'' I let out a small laugh before continuing. ''Umbridge has apparently done her homework and that led her to steal from your stores, with Filch wrapped around her little bitchy finger and Dumbledore not showing his face, it was quite easy. That's how she accessed the Veritaserum and is now using it against students.''
Slamming a hand down on his desk, I had a grin across my face. I found out all this information and made up this little theory in a matter of two minutes, which is also the time it had taken me to get down here. Snape let out a slow and steady breath before he stood up from his desk.
''Out.'' He spoke.
''What? Come on, Snape. You have to do something.''
''I am not doing anything with this crazy theory of yours.''
''Correction. It's not a theory, it's the truth.'' I pointed my index finger towards the air, Snape grabbing the back of my shirt and pushing me towards the door. The only thing was, he also stepped out the door and locked the door behind the both of us.
''Ohh, what are you going to do? Tell Dumbledore, I bet you still have contact with him, right? Maybe intimidate her some more, that'll be one heck of a show. How about-''
''How about you stay quiet.'' He suggested, raising his brows momentarily before walking down the corridor. I followed close behind Snape, almost having to run with the way he had walked through the school. His large and proud strides not being broken by anything that stood in his way. Everyone moved before he could even reach them.
Harry was currently in a session with the people that we had collected from the group. I decided to skip out on it for now, since Harry had both Hermione and Ron to help and since I already know the spell. They shouldn't need my help anyway, they have three heads against ten others. It might be more, I wasn't one to count how many people were in the group.
The last student left Umbridge's classroom, Umbridge still held up in her office. Snape went through the door of the classroom, not caring about the door looking like it was about to fall off it's hinges. I was practically bouncing on the spot, wanting to see Snape and Umbridge get into an argument. It would be the most amazing thing that has happened today.
Snape made his way up the stairs, looking towards me.
''Don't get involved.''
''So you're actually going to tell her off?'' I asked happily, my eyes shining with amusement. ''And you're going to let me watch, this is amazing. You see, this is why I tell people that you are the best Professor.''
''Quit your ranting.''
''Yep. Okay.'' I nodded with a dorky smile. Snape rolled his eyes before looking back to the door, opening it without asking for permission. Umbridge looked up from whatever papers were on her desk, her hands going from the top of them and dropping neatly into her lap.
''Severus.'' She sweet talked. ''What a pleasant surprise, I didn't know you would be stopping by this evening.'' She tried to play it off, but I could see the way that the corner of her lips turned into a worried frown.
''It wasn't scheduled, Dolores.'' Snape replied.
''Well.'' She clicked her tongue off the roof of her mouth, her head tilting to the side. ''As much pleasure as your visit brings me, what are you doing here?'' I could faintly hear a drawer close on her desk, most likely trying to avoid the attention of Snape. Speaking of, Snape had turned his head the slightest to see that I was gesturing over to the desk.
He turned back to Umbridge, as if I wasn't there.
''Dumbledore wanted me to keep appearances.'' He simply replied, taking in the office for himself. The pink walls that were covered from top to bottom in plates with cats on them, pictures of moving cats on them. Reminds me of Tonks when she had came to visit me at the Hospital Wing.
''Dumbledore?'' She asked, a hand coming up to her chest. ''Last time I had checked, he hasn't been out of his office.'' Umbridge looked down at a paper settled on her desk, I was too far away to see what it was.
''Your knowledge about Dumbeldore's appearances seem out of date.'' He replied, making me bite my tongue so I didn't burst out in a laugh or a squeal. ''For someone from the Ministry, you are far behind.'' This is good.
''Are Snape and Umbridge seriously fighting?'' A sudden voice whispered from beside me. I jumped at the new arrival, them calming me down by placing their hands on my shoulders and making calm 'shh' noises. Draco had been standing there, still in his Quidditch uniform and trying to keep us hidden outside the office. ''Don't expose us now.''
''I thought you were still at Quidditch practice?'' I questioned, seeing as he had about five minutes left of practice.
''Montague let us go early. Says we've been doing better.'' He shrugged.
''Montague is a dick and a lier, we both know that.'' I deadpanned. He only playfully rolled his eyes and let out a huff before looking back into the office.
''Mind letting me in on some information?'' He gestured towards the two.
I perked back around the door with a grin, Draco doing the same thing from behind me.
''You've got to promise me that you won't tell anyone.''
''Alright.'' He nodded. I looked at him, awaiting his promise. ''I won't tell anyone, I promise.''
''Absolutely sure?''
''Positive, love.'' He kissed my forehead before leaning back. ''Now can I be let in on the information? What happened and why is Snape in Umbridge's office? He looks more pissed then usual.''
''Well, Umbridge has been interrogating students all day. Asking them questions and the like.'' I waved my hand a bit.
''What does Snape have to do with that?''
''Let me continue and you'll find out.'' He let out a breathless laugh and let me continue. ''She gives the students tea, but it's spiked with Veritaserum. I'm guessing you already know what that is.'' He nodded. ''I happened to figure out that Umbridge has been avoiding Snape for some time now, either because of pure hatred towards one another or Umbridge is scared of Snape. It's either because of a threat or something else I didn't bother to think about.''
I looked back into the office, pausing my talk for a minute. Umbridge was now stood behind her desk, Snape stood in the same spot. He hadn't even moved an inch, not fazed by now intimidating Umbridge tried to seem. I then turned back to Draco to continue explaining.
''Since Umbridge was avoiding Snape, she had to steal from his stores. And also, Filch has a not-so-seceret crush on Umbridge, so it was pretty easy. Last year I happened to hear from somewhere that giving Veritaserum to students is illegal here in Hogwarts, which is exactly what Umbridge had been doing. I went to tell Snape, he got pissed and now, here we are.''
Draco seemed lost for a moment before he slowly nodded. It took him a minute to register the information in his head. It was a lot to take in, especially with Snape being his Head of House.
''Severus, I have rules in my classroom.'' Umbridge suddenly pipped up. Draco and I looked back around the wall and into the office.
''I did not ask to hear about-''
''I didn't ask if you wanted too, I am simply telling you.'' She interrupted Snape. Ouch. ''Students are to be punished if not doing the right thing. And when I put them in detention, the way that they spend detention, is completely my control.''
''Forcing the students to write till they bleed is not a proper-''
''Loyalty, Severus. That's all I'm asking. Me and the Ministry. We are asking that you show us your loyalty. With it, we can make Hogwarts a better place.'' She tried to bring Snape into the usual talk about how the Ministry could use his help and yada yada yada.
''I believe that the Ministry is filled with people who do not know their head from their foot.'' Snape replied, which seemed a little weird, the way he had worded it. But, it took Umbridge off guard. ''I can see clearly, you are not any different.'' Snape turned towards the door, his cape swishing behind him. ''I expect that Veritaserum on my desk by tomorrow morning. Good day, Dolores.''
Snape then left out the door and started walking down the stairs, only taking a small glance towards Draco and I. He didn't seem surprised by the fact that Draco was practically hugging me. Umbridge was quiet, the sound of a chair scraping across the hardwood floors came from inside.
''Snape is a badass.'' I openly commented. Snape had already left out the classroom door while Draco and I stood at the bottom of the stairs.
''That's one way to put it.'' Draco shrugged.
''What's another way to put it, then?'' I asked with a smile and a raised brow. Draco looked down at me, thinking.
''That Snape is better then Umbridge. Possibly, Snape is the best Professor ever.'' Draco suggested.
''I like mine better.''
''Yes, you do have a way with words. Don't you?'' Draco turns me so that I am facing him. He smiles down at me as I reciprocate the action.
''Apparently, I do.'' I whispered out, my lips barely skimming his as we both slowly leaned forward.
Draco chuckled before he closed the inch gap between us, his hands slowly traveling down to my waist. My hands slowly run through his hair, leading down the back of his neck and starting to play with the little hairs at the back. Draco groaned a bit when I had pulled at his hair, tugging me closer to him.
It didn't last long, before we had both pulled away in need of air.
''How about we don't do this in Umbridge's classroom?'' He suggested, taking a quick glance around the place.
''And how about you get yourself in the shower.'' I poked at his chest. ''You're all sweaty.'' Draco rolled his eyes with a smile.
''Fine. Fine. I'll take a shower.''
''You'll thank me later.'' Draco grabbed my hand as we started to walk towards the door.
''How about, we take a shower together?'' He suggested, yet again.
''I know a good bathroom on the third floor.'' I smirked. Draco knew what I was talking about, especially since he was a Prefect. Luckily, I had remembered the Prefects bathroom on the third floor from fourth year, when Harry visited there for the egg.
''Perfect, darling.'' He cooed, squeezing my hand as he leaned in to kiss my forehead again. I chuckled before we cautiously made our way out the door and towards the Prefects bathrooms.
Little did we both know, Umbridge had been watching and listening to the whole conversation. To say that she had a few ideas beginning to sprout, was an understatement.