Pathos | A Pansy Parkinson Fanfiction

t w e n t y _ f i v e

Maeve headed to Umbridge's office. It was Christmas Morning, and everyone would be scouring through their gifts, overloading on eggnog in the Great Hall and going to Hogsmeade. 

Thus, began the harder part of the plan. She had to get back home before anyone woke up. And the watch on her wrist was slowly inching towards 5:30 A.M. 

How was she going to go from Hogsmeade to London - a typically twelve hour trip - in within an hour?

Well, after so many interrogations and an entire week of detention, Maeve had observed the office. Sure, the cat plates and the overall pink demeanor of it made her sick to the stomach, but her room had something most of the other teachers' rooms didn't - a Floo Chimney. 

Within ten minutes, she was in front of the old hag's office. Naturally, the door was locked. A simple Alohamora unlocked it. 

The hard part was dragging herself in there.

And the second she opened the door, she regretted her decision, because the room smelled like rusted iron, no doubt from the blood of all the children Umbridge had given detention to - including Maeve. A flowery fragrance also hung in the air - as if to make up for the smell of dried blood. 

Maeve gulped, actually thinking of turning back. 

But then how would she go back to London?

The only other Floo Chimney was in the Headmaster's Office and that room had a password. It was either this or a twelve hour ride home.

With renewed energy, Maeve forced herself through the door, plugging her nose as she shut the door behind her as quietly as she could. 

Her face fell as she looked at the desk, where the bitch had watched sadistically as blood dripped down Maeve's cut up arm. She shut her eyes tight, heading straight for the Chimney, almost tripping over one of the chairs. 

"Ay, who's in there?" a voice called and Maeve's eyes widened. 

Filch. 

She hurried to the Chimney, grabbing some floo powder. She heard the door knob open and for once, Maeve was thankful she had had the presence of mind to keep her hood on. 

"You! Come 'ere. I'll hang you by your ankles-"

"The Ministry of Magic!" Maeve made her voice as deep as possible, throwing the powder into the flames before finding herself in the familiar Ministry Floo Network. Julia would often take her there when she was younger. 

Julia. 

Maeve didn't have a clue why she wasn't affected by her basically murdering her godmother. But she had been thinking about the plan for four days by then. And not once had it occurred to her that she wasn't as upset as when Cedric had died. She stopped, trying to process what she'd done. Yet, she didn't regret it - not one bit - which scared Maeve more than ever. 

"Maeve Kingston?" 

The brunette looked up sharply at the sound of her name being called. 

"Oh, hi." Maeve smiled nervously at the Auror who had asked her questions that day. 

"What are you doing here? It's almost 6 o' clock you know, on a Christmas morning. Shouldn't you be opening presents?" 

"Well, yeah..." Maeve trailed off, gulping, "... but I was feeling nostalgic. So I came by to visit Julia's office. It's hard spending this time of the year without her - I... I miss her." she looked down, wondering when she had turned into such a massive liar. 

The Auror squeezed her shoulder. "I get it, Maeve, I do. But there is still an investigation going on about Julia's death, about which Death Eater caused it. You won't be allowed to enter her office for a while, sorry. That's actually why I'm here - to know more about your godmother." she said understandingly, having no idea that Maeve knew the whole truth.