The Wizard's Guide to Timelords and Other Demons Book 1: The Forgotten War

The Beast

Arriving at the office of Professor Umbridge, Snape, Dumbledore, Elise, and the Doctor found her standing in front of her desk, her back turned towards them, facing the rows of decorative plates mounted on the back wall. Some of the plates appeared to have fallen from their places, their broken remains scattered on the floor behind the desk. The kittens that dwelt on the remaining plates were unmistakably in distress. Some paced back and forth nervously. Others stood facing Umbridge, backs arched, their fur standing on end, as they hissed and spat aggressively at her. A few of the plates were empty, their furry residents apparently having scurried off, perhaps to find safer flatware to occupy in other parts of the castle. Her desk, ordinarily neat and orderly was now cluttered with pencils, paper and a silver teapot tipped over with tea spilling out onto the varnished desktop. A small teacup and saucer lay broken on the floor, shards of China littering the tea-stained carpet beside her. Professor Umbridge quickly sensed that she was not alone.

Umbridge spoke in voice that was clearly not her own, though a fragment of her voice could still be heard within the whisper chorus that accompanied a single, penetrating, baritone sound.

tone that seemed a blend of her own voice combined with multiple others saying the same words together, but at different pitches. It sounded deep, menacing and, somehow, evil.

"Are you here to destroy me Doctor?"

The Doctor turned towards Dumbledore and offered him a puzzled look. Dumbledore looked back, equally puzzled, shaking his head slightly as if to say, I have no idea how she could know who you are. Still, to the Doctor, that multi-pitched ensemble sounded oddly familiar.

Elise, visibly agitated, leaned over to the Doctor, and spoke softly.

"I know that voice," she said, almost in a whisper. Her fists were now clenching. "It is the voice of...him."

The Doctor glanced at Elise, then back to Umbridge. He removed his 3-D glasses from his coat pocket and placed them over his eyes. He could not discern any void-stuff flittering about Professor Umbridge as he had expected. But she herself had not passed through the void into this universe. She was only possessed by someone—or something that had. Should he still be able to detect the void-stuff? The Doctor was uncertain. However, from Elise's reaction, he was convinced that whatever was possessing the body of Dolores Umbridge had likely accompanied Elise through the rift. It may have even caused the fracture that was tearing Cardiff apart. Regardless of who or what it was, the Doctor considered it an imminent threat to earth.

"You should know that this world is protected," he said.

"Protected by who?" the menacing voices replied contemptuously, all traces of Umbridge's own voice having now vanished, "By you?" it continued, "Just as you protected your own world?"

The Doctor winced within his mind. He dreaded what he knew was coming next.

"All of Gallifrey burned Doctor, because of you! Your hands are bathed in the blood of billions of your own kind. Tell me Doctor, do you not mourn their passing? Are you not saddened over the countless live you extinguished in the consuming fire? Or are you completely without remorse?"

Deep inside, the Doctor writhed in emotional turmoil. The creature—or whatever it was—knew him well enough to strike where it caused the most hurt.

"I mourn every day of my life," he replied in despair.

"If I may, Professor Umbridge," Dumbledore interposed, hoping to give the Doctor an opportunity to restore his composure, "how is it that you..."

"Albus Dumbledore," the voice interrupted, "I know how much you resented your sister after she took your mother's life. Then you murdered her!" Poor, sweet Ariana. You knew she loved your brother more than she did you, so you took her from him! And soon you will die a coward's death."