The Last Black (Hermione Granger x Male Reader) Vol.2

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: July 1996

The clock struck eight, and everyone put down their lurid, black quills. I picked up my bag and exited the classroom, after once again pulling off my little stunt of not letting the nib of the quill make contact with the parchment. I had had my fair share of scars, I didn't need any more to add to my collection. Umbridge was usually too busy flicking through one of her ministry manifestos or clinking a tiny teaspoon against the edge of her teacup to notice I'd cheated my way out of her torture. Some people clearly didn't have my smarts though, most people actually.

I was leaning against the wall outside of the defence against the dark arts classroom when I saw a young Gryffindor boy emerge, rubbing his hand and sniffing. He walked quickly down the stairs towards the courtyard where he sat on the wall and sobbed. I approached him slowly, not wanting to scare him off. When he looked up at me and didn't seem too bothered, I jumped up onto the wall beside him. "It's Colin, right?" I asked him.

"Dennis," he corrected, "Colin's my big brother."

"Ah, yeah, you're the one that's really good at disarming charms aren't you." He smiled a little at this but continued to rub his sore hand. "Where's your brother?"

"Umbridge caught him not writing so she's kept him back; I thought I'd wait for him."

"That's a nice thing to do," I told him, "sit at the back tomorrow night, I'll show you two how to get away with it."

"Really?" Dennis questioned, looking up at me.

"Really," I smirked.

Fred and George came bumbling down the corridor towards us, both laughing. "(Y/N)!" Fred called out to me, "we need you!"

"What's up Dennis?" George asked.

"Just waiting for Colin," Dennis replied. He was no longer rubbing his hacked up hand, which was a good sign.

"Ah yeah, Dumbridge caught him didn't she," said George.

"Dumbridge," I laughed, and Dennis chuckled too.

Unfortunately, Professor Umbridge had just left her study at that moment, along with Colin Creevey in front of her, who hurried off along the corridor towards us. "Ahem," Umbridge cleared her throat, "I think it's past bedtime, don't you?" She patronised, her beady little eyes staring between the four of us. None of us said anything, just walked away in the opposite direction. We must have all had the same idea. Get as far away as possible from the frog lady.

Colin and Dennis walked ahead, talking in hushed voices. Fred, George, and I trudged behind. "What is it you need me for then?" I asked the both of them. The twins looked behind their shoulders, a smart choice; nobody knew who or what was listening, ready to snitch to Umbridge. I'd never thought Marietta Edgecombe would have grassed on the DA members, but she did. I'd always considered her a friend. And yet it was her who'd ultimately been the cause of my worst scar.

"We need our brooms," Fred said in a hushed voice, clearly still paranoid about who may have been lingering behind us.

"What makes you think I can get you them?" I questioned.

"Well, you must know where they are," George said, "you wander around all over the place, you must've seen them."

"If I knew where that hag had hidden our brooms, I'd have gotten my own back by now," I told them.

"I reckon they're in Dumbledore's office," Fred said, "have any idea how to get in there?"

"No idea," I lied.

As soon as I'd heard about Dumbledore's suspension and attempted arrest, I'd memorised every single password to his office and burnt the parchment. Nobody could enter the office no matter how hard they had tried, much to Professor Umbridge's displeasure. I could get in there though if I wanted.