𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗟

ACT TWO, CHAPTER SIX
O.W.L.'s and a really terrible
situation.

O.W.L.'S HAD BEGUN, and truthfully, Penelope was pretty fucking stressed.

Pretty much every moment was taken up by studying. Teachers were no longer giving homework and lessons were set up for review. Penelope could probably be spotted pacing the Slytherin common room, twirling her wand nervously in her fingers as Tracey or Daphne asked her questions for review. The words of Snape seemed to really weigh on her now — she had to get an Outstanding in Potions or she wouldn't get into his N.E.W.T. class, which was required for being a Healer. Penelope was getting herself so worked up that Daphne had even called over Ron from the Gryffindor table one day at lunch to calm her down.

Monday morning was the very first exam, and it was Charms. Penelope always had a knack for Charms, so she felt very prepared — not to mention that the Slytherin common room had been set up with multiple study stations so they could be as prepared as possible. The Theory part of the exam went extremely well. And then, for the practical — she did everything perfectly. She basically already knew that Charms would be one of her O.W.L.'s, which calmed her nerves some, but not enough.

The next exam was Transfiguration. Penelope normally struggled with Transfiguration, so she decided to study extra hard. The theory exam went well, and the practical was just okay. Herbology went well also, but Penelope was reassured that Professor Sprout would be more than happy to accept her with an E. Defense Against the Dark Arts, however, went so well that Umbridge had even glared at Penelope after she executed every spell perfectly. It wasn't because of her stupid little book, it was because of Harry. Thanks to him, Penelope now knew that she had at least another Outstanding.

If Penelope thought she studied very hard for Transfiguration, she was mistaken. Potions took up all hours of her weekend, and on Monday, her stomach was basically churning with nerves. She kept a straight face as she began to take the written part. It was difficult — of course it was — but Penelope found herself knowing most of the answers. The practical in the afternoon also went better than she expected it to. Her potion looked nearly identical to Venus Black and Charlotte Thomas', which told her she definitely did it right, because those two were geniuses at Potions.

Her final exams were Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy (where they witnessed Hagrid try to be Stunned by the Ministry, McGonagall get Stunned by multiple people, and a whole fight break out), Care of Magical Creatures, and finally, History of Magic. She was doing good in History of Magic until — get this — Harry fainted.

Penelope was almost done with her exam when a body hit the floor with a scream. She turned with her eyebrows knit in confusion to see Harry laying on the floor, a look of pure terror on his face. Venus instantly went to his side and informed Professor Tofty that she could take him to the hospital wing since she was done with her exams. Penelope watched as they walked out of the Great Hall. A feeling of worry in her heart, she turned back to her exam and quickly wrote down the answer to her last question. Penelope handed in her exam and exited the Great Hall.

Ron, Hermione, Charlotte, and Elijah (he was a little reluctant) all seemed to do the same, finishing their exams quickly and leaving the Great Hall. Penelope's hand instantly found Ron's as the group looked around for them. They spotted Harry and Venus at the top of the staircase, and all of them rushed up to join them.

"Harry!" Hermione said at once, looking extremely frightened. "What happened? Are you all right? Are you ill?"

"Where have you been?" Ron demanded.

"Come with me," Harry urged quickly. "Come on, I've got to tell you something . . ."

He led them all along the first floor corridor. Penelope watched in concern as he finally dove into an empty classroom. They all entered and Harry closed the door, leaning against it and facing them.

"Voldemort's got Sirius," Harry revealed.

"What?" Hermione questioned.

"How d'you—?" Ron began.

"Saw it," Harry replied.

"You saw it?" Elijah repeated. "In those dream things you have?"

Harry nodded. "Just now. When I fell asleep in the exam."

Hermione's face was white. "But — but where? How?"

"I dunno how. But I know exactly where. There's a room in the Department of Mysteries full of shelves covered in these little glass balls, and they're at the end of row ninety-seven . . . he's trying to use Sirius to get whatever it is he wants from in there . . . he's torturing him . . . says he'll end by killing him . . ."

"Harry, you're shaking," Penelope told him worryingly. "Go sit down."

He obeyed. "How're we going to get there?"

A moment of silence.

Charlotte raised her hand. "Get there? Get where? I mean, I'm all about field trips—"

Venus scolded her quickly, and Charlotte responded with a sorry.

"Get to the Department of Mysteries, so we can rescue Sirius!" Harry exclaimed.

"But — Harry . . ." Ron trailed off, his hand gripping Penelope's tight.

"What? What?"

"Harry, er . . . how. . . how did Voldemort get into the Ministry of Magic without anybody realizing he was there?" Hermione inquired in a rather frightened voice.

"How do I know?" Harry bellowed. "The question is how we're going to get in there!"

Hermione took a step towards him. "But . . . Harry, think about this, it's five o'clock in the afternoon . . . the Ministry of Magic must be full of workers . . . how would Voldemort and Sirius have got in without being seen? Harry . . . they're probably the two most wanted wizards in the world . . . you think they could get into a building full of Aurors undetected?"

"I dunno, Voldemort used an Invisibility Cloak or something! Anyway, the Department of Mysteries has always been completely empty whenever I've been—"

"You've never been there, Harry. You've dreamed about the place, that's all."

"They're not normal dreams!" Harry shouted in her face, standing up and taking a step closer to her this time. "How d'you explain Ron's dad then, what was all that about, how come I knew what had happened to him?"

"He's got a point," Ron admitted quietly.

"But this is just — just so unlikely!" Hermione insisted desperately. "Harry, how on Earth could Voldemort have got hold of Sirius when he's been in Grimmauld Place all the time?"

Ron tightened his grip on Penelope's hand, signaling to her that he was worried. "Sirius might've cracked and just wanted some fresh air. He's been desperate to get out of that house for ages—"

"But why, why on Earth would Voldemort want to use Sirius to get the weapon, or whatever the thing is?"

"I dunno, there could be loads of reasons!" Harry yelled at her. "Maybe Sirius is just someone Voldemort doesn't care about seeing hurt—"

"You know what, I've just thought of something," Ron announced in a hushed voice. "Sirius' brother was a Death Eater, wasn't he? Maybe he told Sirius the secret of how to get the weapon!"

"Yeah — and that's why Dumbledore's been so keen to keep Sirius locked up all the time!"

Penelope shook her head. "This isn't making any sense. I'm sorry, but Harry, you said you're connected to Voldemort. What if it's a trap?"

Ron rounded on her. "P, you can't be serious. Harry's seen them!"

"Okay, I've just got to say this . . ." Hermione admitted, looking frightened but determined at the same time. "I've just got to say this . . ."

"What?"

"You . . . this isn't a criticism, Harry! But you do . . . sort of . . . I mean — don't you think you've got a bit of a — a — saving-people-thing?"

Penelope winced. That was definitely not what should've been said.

Harry glared at her, one that was so cold it could've rivaled with Penelope's. "And what's that supposed to mean, a saving-people-thing?"

"Well . . . you . . ." Hermione looked more apprehensive than ever. "I mean . . . last year, for instance . . . in the lake . . . during the Tournament . . . you shouldn't have . . . I mean, you didn't need to save that little Delacour girl . . . you got a bit . . . carried away . . . I mean, it was really great of you and everything," she added, looking positively petrified at the deadly look on Harry's face. "Everyone thought it was a wonderful thing to do—"

"That's funny, because I definitely remember Ron saying I'd wasted time acting the hero . . . is that what you think this is?" Harry stated. "You reckon I want to act the hero again?"

"No, no, no! That's not what I mean at all!"

"Well, spit out what you've got to say, because we're wasting time here!"

"I'm trying to say — Voldemort knows you, Harry!" Hermione insisted. "He took Ginny down into the Chamber of Secrets to lure you there, it's the kind of thing he does, he knows you're the — the sort of person who'd go to Sirius' aid! What if he's just trying to get you into the Department of Myst—?"

"Hermione, it doesn't matter if he's done it to get me there or not — they've taken McGonagall to St. Mungo's, there isn't anyone left from the Order at Hogwarts who we can tell, and if we don't go, Sirius is dead!" Harry urged.

"But Harry — what if your dream was — was just that, a dream?"

Harry let out a roar of frustration. Hermione stepped back from him, looking a little alarmed. Ron jumped a little. Elijah's eyes widened. Charlotte raised an eyebrow. Even Venus flinched. Penelope, however, just stared at Harry. He was scary when he was angry, but so was she.

"You don't get it!" Harry shouted at Hermione. "I'm not having nightmares, I'm not just dreaming! What d'you think all the Occlumency was for, why d'you think Dumbledore wanted me prevented from seeing these things? Because they're REAL, Hermione — Sirius is trapped — I've seen him — Voldemort's got him, and no one else knows, and that means we're the only ones who can save him, and if you don't want to do it, fine, but I'm going, understand? And if I remember rightly, you didn't have a problem with my saving-people-thing when it was you I was saving from the Dementors, or—" he rounded on Ron, and Penelope found herself stepping a little bit in front of him "—when it was your sister I was saving from the Basilisk—"

"I never said I had a problem!" Ron protested heatedly.

"But Harry, you've just said it," Hermione voiced fiercely. "Dumbledore wanted you to learn to shut these things out of your mind, if you'd done Occlumency properly you'd never have seen this—"

Harry's face was red with anger. "IF YOU THINK I'M JUST GOING TO ACT LIKE I HAVEN'T SEEN—"

"Sirius told you there was nothing more important than you learning to close your mind!"

"WELL, I EXPECT HE'D SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT IF HE KNEW WHAT I'D JUST—"

Venus was in the middle of telling Harry to stop when the classroom door opened. The group whipped around to see a curious Ginny walking in, followed by Luna, who looked like she was just drifting with the wind.

"Hi," Ginny greeted uncertainly. "We recognized Harry's voice — what are you yelling about?"

"Never you mind," Harry snapped.

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "There's no need to take that tone with me. I was only wondering whether I could help."

"Well, you can't."

"You're being rather rude, you know," Luna revealed.

Penelope shrugged. "Sorry, Harry, but you are being kind of a dick. We're trying to help you here."

"Wait," Hermione interrupted suddenly. "Wait . . . Harry, they can help." They all looked at her. "Listen, Harry, we need to establish whether Sirius really has left headquarters—"

"I've told you, I saw—" Harry insisted.

"Harry, I'm begging you, please! Please let's just check that Sirius isn't at home before we go charging off to London — if we find out he's not there then I swear I won't try and stop you, I'll come, I'll d-do whatever it takes to try and save him—"

"Sirius is being tortured NOW! We haven't got time to waste—"

"But if this is a trick of V-Voldemort's — Harry, we've got to check, we've got to—"

"How?" Harry demanded. "How're we going to check?"

"We'll have to use Umbridge's fire and see if we can contact him," Hermione decided, looking very terrified at the thought. "We'll draw Umbridge away again, but we'll need lookouts, and that's where we can use Ginny and Luna."

"Yeah, we'll do it," Ginny agreed.

"When you say Sirius, are you talking about Stubby Boardman?" Luna questioned.

Nobody decided to answer her. Penelope felt bad, but she thought that this mission was a little more important.

"Okay, okay, if you can think of a way of doing this quickly, I'm with you, otherwise I'm going to the Department of Mysteries right now—" Harry told Hermione aggressively.

"The Department of Mysteries?" Luna repeated, looking mildly surprised. "But how are you going to get there?"

Once again, nobody answered her. Mostly because they didn't know.

"Right," Hermione stated, twisting her hands together nervously and pacing up and down between the desk. "Right . . . well . . . two of us has to go and find Umbridge and — and send her off in the wrong direction, keep her away from her office. They could tell her — I don't know — that Peeves is up to something awful as usual . . ."

"I'll do it," Ron offered at once. "I'll tell her Peeves is smashing up the Transfiguration department or something, it's miles away from her office. Come to think of it, I could probably persuade Peeves to do it if I met him on the way. . . ."

"Oh my God, let me come," Charlotte pleaded. "Dude, please."

"Yeah, Charlie. You can come."

"Wicked."

"P, you'll come too," Ron voiced.

She nodded. "Fine by me."

"Okay," Hermione continued, still pacing. "Now, we need to keep students away from her office while we force entry, or some Slytherin's bound to go and tip her off . . . er, no offense, Penelope and Charlie . . ."

Penelope shrugged. "None taken."

"Luna, Eli, and I can stand at either end of the corridor, and warn people not to go down there because someone's let off a load of Garroting Gas," Ginny suggested. Hermione looked surprised, making Ginny shrug. "Fred and George were planning to do it before they left."

"Okay, well then, Harry, you, Venus, and I will be under the Invisibility Cloak, and we'll sneak into the office and you can talk to Sirius—" Hermione said.

"He's not there, Hermione!" Harry reminded her.

"I mean, you can — can check whether Sirius is at home or not while Venus I keep watch, I don't think you should be in there alone, Lee's already proved the window's a weak spot, sending those Nifflers through it."

"I . . . okay, thanks," Harry muttered.

"Right, well, even if we do all of that, I don't think we're going to be able to bank on more than five minutes, not with Filch and the wretched Inquisitorial Squad floating around," Hermione admitted.

"Five minutes'll be enough," Harry responded. "C'mon, let's go—"

"Now?" Hermione inquired, looking rather shocked.

"Of course now! What did you think, we're going to wait until after dinner or something? Hermione, Sirius is being tortured right now!"

"I — oh all right. You go and get the Invisibility Cloak and we'll meet you at the end of Umbridge's corridor, okay?"

Harry didn't answer and flung himself out of the room. Penelope let out a deep breath. This was bound to be interesting. After a couple of minutes — and a change of location to the end of Umbridge's corridor — Harry reappeared while clutching a silvery cloak in his hand.

"Got it," Harry revealed. "Ready to go, then?"

"All right," Hermione whispered. "So Ron, Penelope, and Charlie — you go and head Umbridge off . . . Ginny, Elijah, Luna, if you can start moving people out of the corridor . . . Harry, Venus, and I will get the cloak on and wait until the coast is clear . . ."

Penelope, Ron, and Charlotte walked down the corridor. They didn't find Peeves, but they did find the ugly woman in pink walking.

"Professor Umbridge!" Penelope announced, and Umbridge looked to her. "Professor Umbridge — oh, it's awful — Peeves is destroying the Transfiguration department."

Charlotte nodded in agreement. "We had to run out of there. Stuff everywhere."

"It's a bloody mess," Ron added.

"Is he?" Umbridge asked, smiling widely for some reason. "Well, I'd better go check it out."

However, she didn't head in the direction of the Transfiguration Department. Instead, she went towards her office. And that's when Penelope knew they royally fucked up.

"Run," Penelope announced quietly. "Run, she knows, she knows—"

"I don't think so," the familiar voice of Theodore Nott said, and Penelope turned to face him, along with Warrington and a Slytherin Penelope didn't know. He pouted. "Shame. You and I really could've been something, Lestrange."

Penelope glared at him. "It was one kiss, Theo. Shut up about it already."

"You kissed?" Ron exclaimed.

She ignored him. "Now, if you would excuse us—"

"Uh-uh, not so fast," Theodore cut in, him and the Slytherins blocking them from exiting. "You're coming with us."

Before any of them could protest, they surged forwards. Warrington took a hold of Ron, who struggled against him. He even went as to punch Ron in the mouth, making his lip start to bleed. Penelope cried out in protest and went to go check on him, but Theodore took Penelope's arm in his hand and began to drag her along, while the other Slytherin was dragging Charlotte along. They unfortunately brought them back down to Umbridge's corridor, where another struggle was happening. Neville had suddenly appeared now — which made Charlotte's face slightly brighten.

Penelope, Ron, Charlotte, Luna, Ginny, Elijah, and Neville were all then pushed into Umbridge's office. She spotted Millicent pinning Hermione against the wall, Venus being held back by another Slytherin, and Harry on the floor by Umbridge's desk. Draco was leaning against the window sill, throwing Harry's wand up and down in the air casually. However, his expression hardened once he noticed Penelope there. Penelope averted her gaze and turned back to Millicent.

"Millie, let her go," Penelope insisted.

Her friend — at least who she thought she was — shook her head. "I can't do that, Penelope."

"Got 'em all," Warrington told Umbridge, shoving Ron roughly into the room, making Penelope grit her teeth. "That one—" he pointed to Neville "—tried to stopme taking her—" he pointed to Ginny, who was trying to kick the shins of another Slytherin girl "—so I brought him along too."

"Good, good," Umbridge approved, watching Ginny struggle. "Well, it looks as though Hogwarts will shortly be a Weasley-free zone, doesn't it?" Draco laughed at that, and Penelope glared at him as Umbridge sat down in her armchair. "So, Potter. You stationed lookouts around my office and you sent this buffoon—" she nodded to Ron, making Draco laugh even louder.

"Don't talk about him like that," Penelope protested, her voice muderous.

Umbridge smiled widely. "—along with Miss Thomas and Miss Lestrange to tell me the Poltergeist was wreaking havoc in the Transfiguration department when I knew perfectly well that he was busy smearing ink on the eyepieces of all the school telescopes, Mr. Filch having just informed me so. Clearly, it was very important for you to talk to somebody. Was it Albus Dumbledore? Or the half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall, I hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone . . ."

Draco and some of the other members of the Inquisitorial Squad laughed more at that. Penelope glared at them and tried to wrench her arm out of Theodore's grip, but he merely held on tighter.

"It's none of your business who I talk to," Harry snarled.

Umbridge's face tightened. "Very well. Very well, Mr. Potter . . . I offered you the chance to tell me freely. You refused. I have no alternative but to force you. Draco — fetch Professor Snape."

Draco left the room with a smirk, stowing Harry's wand inside his robes. The office was silent besides the efforts from everyone being held to escape. Ron's lip was bleeding onto Umbridge's carpet, and Penelope wanted nothing more than to go over to him. He seemed to be glaring straight at Theodore's hand on Penelope's arm. Ginny was still trying to stamp on the Slytherin girl's feet who was holding her arms in a tight grip. Neville was turning purple in the face while tugging at Crabbe's arm to let him go. Hermione was struggling to push Millicent off of her. Venus kept coming close to escaping but just got recaptured every time. Charlotte and Elijah were sharing grave looks from their places next to each other. Luna, however, was standing limply by the side of her captor, gazing vaguely out of the window like she was bored.

Penelope's idiot of a cousin then returned, holding the door open for Snape.

"You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" Snape questioned, looking at the struggling students with a very indifferent expression.

Umbridge smiled widely and stood up again. "Ah, Professor Snape. Yes, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."

"You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter. Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."

Umbridge's face flushed, making Penelope smirk a little. "You can make some more, can't you?"

"Certainly," Snape answered, 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?" Umbridge repeated incredulously. "A month? But I need it this evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons unknown!"

"Really?" Snape then looked at Harry with a very faint sign of interest. "Well, it doesn't surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules."

"I wish to interrogate him!" Umbridge shouted angrily. "I wish you to provide me with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!"

"I have already told you that I have no further stocks of Veritaserum," Snape replied smoothly. "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. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for truth-telling . . ."

"You are on probation!" Umbridge shrieked, and Snape raised his eyebrows. "You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!"

Snape gave an ironic bow and went to leave.

"He's got Padfoot!" Harry suddenly exclaimed. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"

Well, that's one way to tell someone something. Snape seemingly understood the message and stopped with his hand on Umbridge's door handle.

"Padfoot?" Umbridge cried, glancing in between Harry and Snape eagerly. "What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?"

Snape looked at Harry for a moment. "I have no idea. Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little, if Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork, and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."

He then closed the door behind him with a snap. Penelope rolled her eyes. Five years, and Snape was still as cold as ever, not caring about his students at all.

"Very well," Umbridge voiced, pulling out her wand. "Very well . . . I am left with no alternative . . . this is more than a matter of school discipline . . . this is an issue of Ministry security . . . yes . . . yes . . ." She was pretty much talking to herself, shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot as she stared at Harry and beat her wand into her empty palm. "You are forcing me, Potter . . . I do not want to, but sometimes circumstances justify the use . . . I am sure the Minister will understand that I had no choice . . . the Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."

"What the fuck?" Penelope yelled, not even caring it was in front of a Professor. Tears filled her eyes a little upon remembering what Neville's parents were like because of her mother — Harry couldn't turn into that, she wouldn't let him. "No, you can't—"

Venus instantly protested after her.

Hermione did as well. "No! Professor Umbridge — it's illegal—" Umbridge ignored her, a nasty, eager, excited look on her face as she raised her wand. "The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law, Professor Umbridge!"

"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," Umbridge responded manically, panting slightly as she pointed her wand at different parts of Harry's body like she was deciding what would hurt the most. "He never knew I ordered Dementors after Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel him, all the same . . ."

Penelope's eyes widened. Well, shit.

"It was you?" Harry gasped. "You sent the Dementors after me?"

"Somebody had to act," Umbridge breathed out, her wand resting on Harry's forehead. "They were all bleating about silencing you somehow — discrediting you — but I was the one who actually did something about it . . . only you wriggled out of that one, didn't you, Potter? Not today, though, not now . . ." She took a deep breath. "Cruc—"

"NO!" Hermione shouted in a cracked voice from her place behind Millicent. "No — Harry — Harry, we'll have to tell her!"

"No way!" Harry yelled.

"We'll have to, Harry, she'll force it out of you anyway, what's . . . what's the point . . . ?"

Hermione began to cry weakly into the back of Millicent's robes. Millicent stopped trying to pin her to the wall and dodged out of the way, looking disgusted. Penelope quietly scoffed. Millicent always hated crying.

"Well, well, well!" Umbridge stated triumphantly. "Little Miss Question-All is going to give us some answers! Come on then, girl, come on!"

"Er — my — nee — no!" Ron protested through his gag that Warrington was using.

Ginny stared at Hermione incredulously. Neville was gazing at her as well. But Penelope . . . she saw right through Hermione. There was no trace of a tear as she sobbed desperately into her hands. That's when Penelope knew that this was an act. Merlin, Hermione Granger was a genius.

"I'm — I'm sorry everyone," Hermione said. "But — I can't stand it—"

"That's right, that's right, girl!" Umbridge voiced. She took Hermione by the shoulders and put her in her armchair before leaning over her. "Now then . . . with whom was Potter communicating just now?"

Hermione gulped. "Well, well, he was trying to speak to Professor Dumbledore . . ."

Ron froze with his eyes wide. Ginny stopped trying to stamp on the Slytherin girl's toes. Even Luna looked surprised.

"Dumbledore?" Umbridge repeated eagerly. "You know where Dumbledore is, then?"

"Well . . . no!" Hermione sobbed. "We've tried the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley and the Three Broomsticks and even the Hog's Head—"

"Idiot girl, Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when the whole Ministry's looking for him!"

"But — but we needed to tell him something important!"

"Yes?" Umbridge urged, suddenly excited again. "What was it you wanted to tell him?"

"We . . . we wanted to tell him it's r-ready!" Hermione choked out.

"What's ready?" Umbridge demanded, now grabbing Hermione's shoulders and shaking her slightly. "What's ready, girl?"

"The weapon," Venus blurted out.

Umbridge's head whipped over to her. "Weapon? Weapon? You have been developing some method of resistance? A weapon you could use against the Ministry? On Professor Dumbledore's orders, of course?"

"Y-Y-Yes," Hermione stuttered. "But he had to leave before it was finished and n-n-now we've finished it for him, and we c-c-can't find him t-t-to tell him!"

"What kind of weapon is it?"

"We don't r-r-really understand it. We j-j-just did what P-P-Professor Dumbledore told us t-t-to do . . ."

Umbridge straightened up, looking very joyful. "Lead me to the weapon."

"I'm not showing . . . them," Hermione refused, looking at the Slytherins (the ones holding everyone captive) through her fingers.

"It is not for you to set conditions."

Hermione began to sob into her hands again. "Fine, fine. . . let them see it, I hope they use it on you! In fact, I wish you'd invite loads and loads of people to come and see! Th-That would serve you right — oh, I'd love it if the wh-whole school knew where it was, and how to u-use it, and then if you annoy any of them they'll be able to s-sort you out!"

Those words seemed to impact Umbridge. She looked suspiciously around at her Inquisitorial Squad, her bulging eyes resting for a moment on Draco, who looked very eager.

Umbridge contemplated it for a moment longer. "All right, dear, let's make it just you and me . . . and we'll take Potter and Black too, shall we? Get up, now—"

"Professor, Professor Umbridge, I think some of the squad should come with you to look after—" Draco suggested eagerly.

"I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you really think I cannot manage three wandless teenagers alone?" Umbridge snapped. "In any case, it does not sound as though this weapon is something that schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until I return and make sure none of these—" she gestured to Penelope, Charlotte, Elijah, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna "—escape."

"All right," Draco agreed, looking very sulky and disappointed.

"And you two can go ahead of me and show me the way," Umbridge instructed, pointing at Harry, Hermione, and Venus with her wand. "Lead on . . ."

The four of them left the room. Penelope, thinking fast, quickly kicked Theodore on his knee. He stumbled over and was forced to let Penelope go. She pulled her wand out of the band of her skirt and pointed it everywhere.

Penelope glared around at all of the Slytherins, some of whom who she considered her family and those who were actually her family. "All right, bitches. So what's gonna happen is you're going to let us go and we'll forget all of this ever happened. Got it?"

Pansy scoffed. "As if. Listen, Penelope, I already hated that you were dating Weasley, but it's just going too far that you want to help save Potter. Don't you realize he's the enemy? You should know—"

And then Penelope did something she had been wanting to do for a long time.

She punched Pansy Parkinson right across the face.

☆ 彡

PUNCHING PANSY PARKINSON >>>>>

also next chapter is when things start to go south for baby girl penny so . . . you've been warned <3