Hogwarts: The Secret Society - BOOK 5 (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

9: Caught in the Act

We returned to school and Umbridge was back to her usual act. Josh and I couldn't even openly date because of all of her new educational decrees. I wasn't even really allowed near Nico, which bugged me to no end. In her classroom, she ended up moving everyone so girls sat with girls and boys with boys. I sat next to Hermione, complaining constantly.

We continued DA right under Umbridge's nose. We taught everyone how to defend themselves, how to pass their practical O.W.Ls. Umbridge would be in for a shock when everyone passed with flying colours, she was setting us up for failure. 

I was getting more and more enthusiastic with it. It was exciting! I bounced my way around the Room of Requirement, encouraging people to the best of my ability. I often came out covered in bruises, having giving someone too many pointers and had them practice on me, only to have them perform the spell perfectly and send me flying across the room.

'Wow, Neville!' I laughed in shock after he sent his first successful Stunning spell, 'That was so impressive!'

'Go Neville!' everyone cheered him as he helped me stand up again.

'I'm really sorry, Molly!' he said, looking worried.

'No, Neville,' I just laughed, 'I expect to be thrown back like that every time you perform that spell.'

'There's been a mass breakout from Azkaban,' Josh walked over to the Gryffindor table that breakfast with the Daily Prophet in his hands, 'Ten of the worst Death Eaters, gone. Just like that.'

Nico grabbed the Prophet and I dropped my bit of toast, reading over his shoulder. A frown slowly appeared on my face as I read more and more.

'The ten highest security prisoners? If they were high security, how the hell did they escape?' Nico said angrily.

'Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Rodolphus Lestrange,' I read the names, but my heart dropped at the last one on the list, 'Bellatrix Lestrange.'

I sat back, my blood running cold. Anyone but her.

'Are you alright?' Josh asked, his brow furrowed.

'She's a relative of mine...' I sighed, 'She's crazy, obsessed with Voldemort. She was in Azkaban because she tortured two people to insanity. There were other crimes, of course, but that one hits close to home for someone we know well. How could Fudge let this happen?! They should be guarded constantly, how the hell did they get out?'

Someone cleared their throat behind us. We turned to see Umbridge behind us, a sickly smile on her face. She snatched the Prophet from Nico, glancing at it and frowning. She then set eyes on the book next to my hand. It was Hairy Snout, Human Heart.

'I do believe you should be at the Slytherin table, Mr Freeman,' she said in a sickly sweet voice and Josh grudgingly left us, 'Black, Cortell, eight inches please.'

With a wave of her wand, Nico and I slid away from one another. She then picked up the book in front of me.

'Did you forget about decree forty-six?' she asked, smiling, 'Literature by non-wizards or half-breeds is banned.'

I clenched my fist at her words. Nico gave me a warning glance as I bit my tongue. She knew exactly what she was saying and she seemed to take great joy in it. I glared at her retreating figure before sliding over to Nico again. He glanced over at her before turning back to me, concern clear on his face.

'This is just the beginning, Nico,' I whispered, 'It's going to get much worse than this, and now that he has his most loyal Death Eaters back...'

'Eight inches, Black!' Umbridge screeched and I slid to the other end of the empty bench without moving a muscle myself.