Through The Veil「 The Veil Trilogy Part Ⅱ 」✔

[27] Early Christmas But Bitter Start

After that Unforgivable Curse incident, things got even strained between me and Umbridge. But I had decided to ignore her though it was very evident that if she obtained more power, I would be the first person she would kick out of Hogwarts.

Right then she was definitely more focused on trying to get the headmaster out of office. Because as long as Professor Dumbledore was still the Headmaster of Hogwarts, she couldn't take any severe action against me.

So I was still on my post as the Head Girl despite not being able to carry out my duties. Everything I did seemed to annoy the High Inquisitor and she would keep on causing trouble for me to deal with.

By then Fred and George were planning to escape the school already but I had managed to convince them against it as there was still some hope that with Professor Dumbledore's return, Umbridge will not be able to exercise so much control over the school.

But there was no knowing when the headmaster would come back and so far our last year in Hogwarts was going rather bleak.

When we thought things couldn't get any worse, it all took a turn for disaster again.

It was past curfew and I had completed my rounds and was in the Head perfects' dorm that I shared with Davies when there was a knock on my door. I had drifted off the sleep a while earlier and at first I got angry that probably Davies was outside and had disturbed my sleep.

Putting on my robe over my pajamas, I slipped my feet into my slippers and went to open the door.

"What is it?" I snapped but my face lost color seeing that Professor McGonagall was outside instead of Davies, "oh I am so sorry, professor. I thought it was Davies..."

"Miss Weasley, the headmaster wishes to see you in his office."

That statement truly was shocking because a) I didn't know the headmaster was back and b) it was truly an awkward hour.

"Right now? Like this?" I stuttered, waiting for her to clarify.

"You are not the only one who was called. Your siblings are there too, I'm afraid there has been an emergency."

Hearing about it being an emergency worried me. If Fred, George, Ron and Ginny were there too then it directly concerned our family. So I didn't object and followed her to the office immediately.

Much to my surprise, Harry was there too and he looked absolutely worried.

I went to Fred and George who looked just as worried while they were explaining the situation to Ginny. The few words I could catch from their explanation was that someone had gotten injured but didn't hear it clearly.

"What happened?" I asked the twins.

But the Headmaster had arrived so silence gripped the room.

"You all will be allowed to go to the Order headquarters right now," he spoke up, "Harry, you will be staying at school and join during the Christmas break. I have verified and Arthur Weasley was truly attacked by a snake and has been taken to St. Mungo's."

Hearing that made my heart sink as well. The rest of Professor Dumbledore's words didn't register in my mind however all I knew was that Dad had been severely injured and we were all being sent to the headquarters so that we could visit him. There was a week left until Christmas break already but we all will be going home early.

But none of us was happy to hear about the week early vacation because we were all worried for Dad.

"Harry saw it in a nightmare  and alerted Professor Dumbledore," Fred spoke up after the headmaster had left and we were told to pack up and get ready to leave immediately, "he had just come back to school and sent someone from the Order to check if Dad was safe or not."

But what plagued me was that why would a snake attack Dad while he was in the Ministry doing his guard duty? How could a snake turn up there out of its own accord?

"We don't know that either," George remarked as I voiced out my question, "but it could be a work of You-Know-Who. Dad's terribly hurt and Mum would be a mess right now. We have to go to them."

So I returned to my dorm as well and packed up my trunk. The thestral carriages were prepared to take us to the headquarters in the silence of the night and probably Umbridge wasn't aware of the current situation. I hope she doesn't find out until we've left the school premises or else she will definitely cause a ruckus.

While I was dragging the trunk out of my room, the commotion must have woken up Davies as well and he came out to the common area to check.

"Is everything okay? Where are you going?"

I didn't want to tell him in detail but then he must have a heads up that he would be managing the prefects on his own. I bet the first thought that crossed his mind on seeing me dragging my trunk out was that I had probably been expelled by Umbridge.

"I'm not expelled yet so don't look at me in worry," I remarked, "my siblings and I are going home due to a family emergency."

"Oh..."

"Yeah so you'll have to handle the prefects here while I'm gone and it's only a week until Christmas break but... There will be one meeting before that so you think you can manage that?"

He was sleepy but had heard me clearly, "sure, don't worry. Take care of things at home."

There were times when he was actually quite understanding and not as annoying as I expected.

"Thanks, Davies. See you after Christmas break."

He smiled slightly, taking my trunk and helped me in carrying it out, "of course. You're welcome."

Fred and George were already outside the prefects common room and they were waiting for me. So with Davies stepping back in, I followed the twins out to the school grounds where the carriages and the rest of our siblings were waiting.

I wanted to get to Mum and Dad as soon as possible because the fact that we were being sent back in the middle of term made it evident that things were very severe. Dad must have gotten very badly hurt for the headmaster to make this exception.

I hope he recovers soon because none of us want to even think about losing him.

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