Two Sisters, Two Loves

Dumbledore's Army is Caught

*Krista’s Point of View*
  A couple months have gone by. It’s spring now and all the snow has melted. I was busy searching for my boyfriend.
  “Seamus, have you see Neville?”
  He shrugged, “I think he headed up to the room of requirement early.”
  Already? Practice isn’t for another hour, “Thanks, Seamus.”
  He smiled, “No problem. Hey, Krista. Do you know where your sister is?”
  I sighed, “Are you still on this? I swear I need to spell this out for you.” I held up one finger on each hand, making sure to add emphasis as I spoke, “Okay, you and her,” I made my hands pretend to kiss, “and the kissy-kissy is NEVER going to happen!”
  He frowned, “You don’t know that.”
  “I have it on pretty good authority that it won’t, Seamus. Believe me.”
  “Well, she won’t stay with Malfoy forever,” He scoffed. His Irish accent making him sound that much more sarcastic, “Not with his attitude.”
  I shook my head in disbelief, “Like yours is any better?”
  “I only have one because of him. Not my fault he’s such a git.”
  “Be nice, Seamus. Malfoy never speaks badly of you,” I scolded him.
  He scowled, “I don’t believe that. Anyways, I need to go do something before practice. See ya.”
  I watched him head into the great hall, muttering to myself, “She’s not in there.”
  Still in disbelief at his arrogance, I headed upstairs to the seventh floor. I wonder if Neville’s practicing a bit more before everyone else arrives.
  “Oy, Krista!” Came George’s voice.
  I turned around to see them following close behind, “Couldn’t be more perfect timing. I have a job for you two.”
  The bounded up the steps to me, speaking in unison, “What would that be?”
  I grinned, but shook my head, “You know how Seamus keeps bothering Kenzie? I want you to go downstairs, find him and come up with something that’ll keep him away from her. I don’t care what it is as long as it doesn’t hurt the poor kid.”
  They grinned at me then at each other. I can see their wheels turning.
  “I think we have a top-secret mission on our hands, George.”
  “You think, Fred? Granting we have permission from Krista?” he grinned mischievously.
  I noticed the room of requirement door wide open, which was a bit strange. Nothing like being exposed. I crept in quietly, seeing Harry walking up to Neville who was standing frozen in front of the mirror. The pain in his eyes broke my heart.
  “Neville?”
  Neville kept his eyes on the pictures taped to the mirror. All was silent for a few moments.
  He gulped, “Fourteen years ago, a Death Eater named Bellatrix Lestrange used a Cruciatus Curse on my parents. She tortured them for information, but they never gave in... I’m quite proud to be their son. But I’m not sure I’m ready for everyone to know just yet.”
  They both looked back to the mirror, Harry assuring him, “We’re going to make them proud, Neville. That’s a promise.”
  Tears stung my eyes, “Neville...”
  The two turned around, startled to see me.
  Neville seemed terrified, “Krista, d-did you hear...?”
  I ran across the room and jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly, “Yes.”
  Harry smiled, “See, Neville? Don’t give up hope. You’ll always have us.”
  Neville hugged me back. His voice more lively, “You’re right, Harry. Thank you. Both of you.”
  I looked up to see a cheerful smile on his face. I let go of him just as the others started arriving for practice. It wasn’t long before everyone arrived and Harry got us started.
  “Today, we will be working on Patronus charms. In order to produce a Patronus, you need to think of a happy memory and say expect patronum. Make it a powerful memory, the happiest you can remember,” he called out to everyone, “Allow it to fill you up. Keep trying, Seamus.”
  I watched intently as Seamus tried to produce a Patronus and fail. He glanced over at Kenzie and tried to shuffle over to her before trying again. I bit my lip in anticipation.
  He took another step closer; a powerful force yanking him back a few feet. I bit my hand, forcing back hysterical laughter. I’ve never seen him more confused and those around him were confused too. I turned around and saw Fred and George snickering in the corner. Obviously, they did what I asked.
  I went up to them, patting them on the back, “You two are geniuses.”
  They high-fived each other and I went back to Neville. He seemed even more frustrated.
  “This isn’t working,” He frowned.
  I laughed and winked at him, “It can’t be that hard. I can think of plenty of happy memories.”
  He grinned, “Oh, I can too.”
  Harry kept teaching, “A full-bodied patronus is the most difficult to produce, but shield forms can also be equally useful against a variety of opponents. Just remember, your Patronus can only protect you for as long as you stay focused. This is really advanced stuff, guys. You’re doing so well.”
  Everyone seemed to be having a great time. I laughed as Ron’s dog Patronus ran through Neville’s legs, knocking him over.
  “Are you okay?” I giggled.
  “Spells hate me,” He grinned, getting up from the floor.
BOOM.
  The entire room went silent. The lights flickered and the chandelier tinkled as the room shook. Everyone was unsure of what was going on. I grasped on to Neville, looking around at the walls.
BOOM.
  The dull pounding came again. Making the lights flicker and dust from the ceiling fall to the ground. Everybody kept growing more uneasy, flocking near where the exit would be. The pounding came a third time and then a fourth. The mirror on the wall cracked at the fourth time, shattering to hundreds of pieces with a crash. Harry and Nigel stood before the brick wall, the rest of us uncertain to move. The two crept closer to the small hole among the bricks, quickly turning back and diving to the ground as the wall detonated into rubble and smoke. Everyone backed away from the flying debris.
  I coughed as the dust cleared away, looking up to see Umbridge, Filch and a little less than a dozen Slytherins crowding behind them. Malfoy came up, dragging Cho with him. For a minute or two, nobody spoke. Everyone was in shock.
  Umbridge smirked, “Get them.”
  The Slytherins marched inside the room of requirement, taking us one by one.
  Blaise came up to me, grabbing me by the arms and dragging me out, muttering low so only I could hear, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
  Everyone was held in a row. Malfoy had run off with Kenzie and Harry was being dragged to Dumbledore’s office. I held my breath, suddenly hearing a shout. Everyone looked down the corridor to see Kenzie attacking the man dragging Harry.
  Blaise looked around and released his grip on my arms, “Go. Get out of here and hurry before someone notices.”
  I’m completely dumbfounded, “Why are you letting me go?”
  “Don’t question it, just go.”
  I took off down the hallway as fast as my legs could carry me. I could hear Umbridge scream, “Someone get her!” behind me and I ran faster. It wasn’t until I reached the fourth floor that I realized she wasn’t talking about me. Kenzie must’ve been distracting them to give the group the chance to get away and Umbridge wanted her caught. I ran to the main floor and entered the Hufflepuff common room. I know they can’t reach me in here. Hopefully the others can get away too.
*Kenzie’s Point of View*
  I watched, horrified as the wench sent the Slytherins in. Draco went up to seize Seamus, but he looked up into my eyes. Shock filled his expression and he ran towards me, ignoring everyone else. He grabbed my hands tightly, pinning my arms behind my back.
  “Why’d you do it?” he whispered.
  “I should be asking you the same thing. I’m fighting back.”
  Draco guided me out of the room of requirement with several others, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
   I glanced around to see Harry be dragged by a guard from the Ministry, “I’m sure Umbridge questions you. If she had any suspicions of you knowing something, she’d wring you out like a wet towel.”
  Draco’s voice cracked a bit, sounding disheartened, “You don’t trust me?”
  His grip loosened and I turned to face him, kissing him sincerely on the lips, “Of course I trust you. It’s her I don’t trust. I know she’s been using illegal methods on students.”
  “If I had known, I could’ve helped. I don’t want to see you hurt,” He frowned.
  I looked back towards everyone, “Draco, if you want to help, let me go. I need to help the others.”
  He held my face in his hands, kissing me lightly, “Please be safe.”
  I ran back to the room of requirement and down the hall. I saw Harry still being dragged and ran faster to catch up, jumping the man holding him, “Let him go!”
  He released his hold on Harry to grab at me, missing slightly. I ran past him and took off in another direction.
  Umbridge screamed behind me, “Someone get her!”
  I kept running, hearing someone chase after me. As long as the focus is drawn away from the others, I don’t care how bad the punishment is. Then again, they have to catch me first. I glanced back behind me only to see nobody there. I guess I lost them.
  I sighed and turned around to keep going; a surprised gasp caught in my throat as he clutched my wrists, staring at me in annoyance.
  I couldn’t help but to be sarcastic, “Huh. Wasn’t expecting to ever see you again.”
  Percy pressed his lips into a thin line, “Sure, you weren’t.”
  He grabbed me by my shirt collar, shoving me back the way I came, but towards Dumbledore’s office instead.
   I tried breaking out of Percy’s grasp, muttering to him, “How does it feel, Percy? How does it feel betraying your family and friends?”
  His grip tightened, but he did not speak.
  I kept going, “After everything they’ve done and you run off with a delusional man who wants them all thrown in prison for speaking the truth. A truth he’s too pathetic to admit to.”
  He shoved me down the hall with even more force, still refusing to speak. I could tell I was getting under his skin and it was pissing him off. We turned the corner and the guard stood by the griffin statue, clutching Harry in one arm and Cho in the other.
  “Nice job, Weasley. I’d bet fifty galleons Fudge will grant you that promotion.” He shoved Cho over to us, “Here, take this one too.”
  The statue began to turn and the two dragged us with them up the stairs. We got to the top and the guard kicked the door open, Percy following behind with me and Cho.
  Umbridge kept pacing, “Been watching them for weeks. And see, “Dumbledore’s Army.” Proof of what I’ve been telling you right from the beginning, Cornelius. All your fear-mongering about You-Know-Who never fooled us for a minute. We saw your lies for what they were: A smokescreen for your bid to seize control of the Ministry.”
  Dumbledore kept his voice calm, “Naturally.”
  Harry fought against the guard’s grip, “No, professor. He had nothing to do with it. It was me.”
  Dumbledore acted like the whole thing was nothing, “Most noble of you, Harry, to shield me, but as has been pointed out the parchment clearly says “Dumbledore’s Army” not “Potter’s.” I instructed Harry to form this organization. And I, and I alone, am responsible for its activities.”
  Fudge heard enough, “Dispatch an owl to the Daily Prophet. If we hurry, we should still make the morning edition. Dawlish, Shacklebolt, you will escort Dumbledore to Azkaban to await trial for conspiracy and sedition.”
  Dumbledore’s face brightened, “Ah, I thought we might hit this little snag. You seem to be laboring under the delusion that I’m going to--What was the phrase?-- Come quietly. Well, I can tell you this: I have no intention of going to Azkaban.”
  “Enough of this,” Umbridge hissed quietly. “Take him!”
  I grew worried as the three tried to enclose around him. Dumbledore glanced over to us with a subtle wink and Fawkes flew up behind him. Diving down in perfect sync with Dumbledore. With a clap and burst of fire, they were gone.
  Fudge, Umbridge, Kingsley and the guard turned back toward us and I gulped.
  Umbridge scorned at us, “Percy, let the dark-haired girl go. She led us to these troublemakers.”
  Percy let go of Cho’s collar, tightening his grip on mine and grabbing my arm. Cho ducked out of the office.
  She glared at me and Harry, “As for you two. Well... Let’s go get your little friends and show you what happens to rule-breakers.”