Two Sisters, Two Loves

O.W.L.s an Harry's Vision

*Krista’s Point of View*
  Along with a hundred others, I shuffled into the great hall. Desks filled the room, obsessive compulsively spaced at the same distance from the others. A large, metal pendulum swinging at the back of the room. Kenzie, Neville and I sat together and pulled out our quills, parchment and ink bottles. I’ve always expected the O.W.L.s to be no problem, but with the added stress from Umbridge taking over as Headmistress, I don’t think I’ll be able to focus properly.
  An hour into testing, I set my quill down and stretched out my cramping hand. I noticed many of the others doing the same and I picked my quill back up to keep writing, but a faint banging sound caught my attention. At first I didn’t think much of it until it came again. This time, everyone was starting to notice. It almost sounded like explosions and crashing. Getting nearer and more frequent. Everyone paused their testing to watch Umbridge walk down to the entrance of the hall. More banging sounds coming from behind it. She opened the door and stepped out to corridor. Everyone and everything was still as stone.
  Almost out of thin air, a small spark floated in front of Umbridge’s face. Ducking around her before flying into the room in a burst of blue fireworks. I couldn’t help but to laugh at it. Everyone else seemed surprised and pleased by the disruption. I glanced at Kenzie and she smirked. There’s only two people we know who would do this.
  Everything went silent again. Umbridge still stood outside the door, trying to see where the spark had come from. I laughed as Umbridge was thrown backwards. Fred and George flying into the room on their broomsticks and having everyone’s test papers fly into the air, setting off more fireworks in bursts of pink and orange. The great hall broke into applause and cheers, watching the show. I laughed harder at everything. Everyone else was awed by it, but Umbridge was horrified. The great hall was a mess of papers, broken lamps and firework debris. A bunch of the little sparklers chased after a few Slytherins, including Malfoy. Even Kenzie was laughing.
  Filch came running into the great hall with a mop, staring at everything is disbelief. Explosions of color in every inch of the room. I glanced up at the pranksters, George holding something in his hand before tossing it into the air in a detonation of orange and red. A grotesque dragon’s head forming from the flames, diving to the ground and chasing after Umbridge. This is the best thing I have ever seen.
  The dragon chased her out of the great hall, snapping its jaws over her and exploding into a hundred spiraling sparks. The crashing sound of shattering glass filled the room and I knew all her rules had fallen to the ground. Nothing left but the junky rubble that they were anyway. The twins flew past Umbridge and the entire crowd followed them outside, cheering. We watched as they set off more fireworks, filling the air with color and a sparkling golden “W” for “Weasley.” I looked over at Ron. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him more proud to be their brother.
  “Krista!”
  Kenzie grabbed my arm and pointed to the other end of the school. Fred and George flying in that direction.
  I grinned, pulling her away from the crowd, “Let’s go.”
  We took off running down the nearest hallway as fast as we could. Heading more towards the back of the school where we leave for Hogsmeade. I could see them in the courtyard, high-fiving and hugging each other.
  “Fred! George!” I called to them.
  The saw us coming and ran to meet us. We hugged them both in excitement.
  “What did you guys think?” Fred grinned.
  “It was the greatest thing you’ve ever done!” I smiled, hugging them again.
  Both of them suddenly looked sad. George looked at the ground, “I guess it was success, Freddy. Always save the best for last.”
  Kenzie and I glanced at each other worriedly, “Last?”
  Fred sighed, “We’re leaving after today. Harry helped us get started on our business and we’re dropping out to run it full-time.”
  I squared my shoulders, trying to stay strong, “You can’t leave. What’re we going to do without you? We can’t just prank with others or by ourselves.”
  George chuckled, “You got that right. We’ll still see you around, just not here.”
  I fought back tears, “But you’re our best friends. Why can’t you finish the year?”
  They hugged us tightly, “After that, we’ll be expelled way before tomorrow morning. Don’t worry about us, though. Just get through.”
  Kenzie became choked up, “What if I need you to put Draco in check?”
  They laughed, “You’re more than capable. But don’t hesitate to write if you need an idea.”
  Fred looked between us sadly, “You guys should get back. We’re in enough trouble as it is, you don’t need to be part of it.”
  I wiped away a tear, “We’ll miss you guys.”
  “We’ll miss you, too. Don’t be shy and be sure to visit.”
  We said our goodbyes and left them to plan. I’m heartbroken they’re leaving, but they have a life set out for themselves and I couldn’t be happier for them. We walked inside and saw the trio heading upstairs in a rush.
  Kenzie called to them, “Hey, where are you guys going?”
  They stopped short, Hermione calling back, “Harry had another vision. He thinks Sirius is in trouble.”
  We ran up the stairs after them asking to fill us in.
  Harry kept rushing upstairs, “Sirius said Voldemort was after something. Something he didn’t have the last time, and it’s in the Department of Mysteries.”
  Hermione stopped him, “Harry, please, just listen. What if Voldemort meant for you to see this? What if he’s only hurting Sirius because he’s trying to get to you?”
  Harry snapped back, “What if he is? I’m supposed to just let him die? Hermione, he’s the only family I’ve got left.”
  We glanced between each other in uncertainty. Ron looked at us, “What do we do?”
  Harry headed upstairs again, “We’ll have to use the Floo Network.”
  “Umbridge has the chimneys under surveillance,” Hermione pointed out.
  “Not all of them. Krista, Kenzie, Neville, Luna and Ginny are already on the guard in case Umbridge comes back. I’m going to need you as well.”
  “Sure thing, Harry,” Kenzie accepted.
  We followed them upstairs to Umbridge’s office. The trio slipped inside and Kenzie stood outside the door. I went further downstairs with Neville, Ginny and Luna. I thought we were in the clear when we were ambushed by a group of Slytherins. Crabbe grabbing me, with Goyle holding onto Luna, some other Slytherin I don’t know seizing Ginny and Malfoy dragging Neville. All of them taking us to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and back to Umbridge’s office. Harry was sitting in a chair, held at wand point by Umbridge and the others were held a wand point too by the Slytherins. I glanced at Kenzie who seemed ready to kick to guy holding her where it hurts. Her eyes saddening when she saw Malfoy. He noticed her too and even shoved Neville to the other guy and taking her himself. I don’t understand how she’s tolerating all of this. If I were her, I would tell him to shove off and leave me alone.
  Umbridge leaned closer to Harry, “You were going to Dumbledore, weren’t you?”
  “No.”
  She slapped Harry across the face without warning, “Liar!”
  I swallowed back the anger, looking at the door to see Snape walk in.
  “You sent for me, headmistress?”
  She stood up straight, “Snape, yes. The time has come for answers, whether he wants to give them to me or not. Have you brought the Veritaserum?”
  “I’m afraid you’ve used up all of my stores interrogating students. The last of it on Miss Chang. Unless you wish to poison him—and I assure you, I would have the greatest sympathy if you did.—I cannot help you.”
  Snape turned to go and Harry piped up, “He’s got Padfoot. He’s got Padfoot at the place where it’s hidden.”
  Umbridge looked between them, “Padfoot? What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What is he talking about, Snape?”
  Snape turned around slowly. He looked terrified, “No idea.”
  Umbridge grew impatient, “Very well. You give me no choice, Potter. As this is an issue of Ministry security, you leave me with... No alternative. The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue.”
  “That’s illegal,” Hermione snapped at her.
  We watched angrily as Umbridge set a picture of Fudge face down, “What Cornelius doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
  The room became filled with the stressed meows of Umbridge’s cat plates on the wall as she aimed her wand at Harry. I tried breaking from Crabbe’s grip, but he held onto me firmly.
  Umbridge opened her mouth to speak, but Hermione screamed, “Tell her, Harry!”
  Everyone in the room looked at her, Umbridge a bit confused, “Tell me what?”
  Hermione sighed, “Well, if you won’t tell her where it is, I will.”
  “Where what is?” Umbridge asked getting more annoyed.
  Hermione swallowed her fear, “Dumbledore’s secret weapon.”
  Everyone in the room went silent. Umbridge ordered for Hermione to be let go and she shoved her and Harry out the door, ordering her squad to keep an eye on us and slamming the door after them. Neville fought against the Slytherin boy, breaking free momentarily to get to me only to get held down.
  “Get off of me, you thickhead,” he snapped at his captor.
  I fought against Crabbe again, “Neville, please. It’s okay.”
  He looked at me sadly and calmed down. Everyone else kept quiet. I looked to Malfoy and Kenzie. He held her close to himself and she was clinging to him in fear. I wanted to punch him in the face for what he’s done. He has the nerve to try to comfort her when this is partly his own fault. All the others glanced at each other, communicating with their eyes. I knew they have a plan now we have to wait for the right moment to use it.