Black and Potter | H. Potter

56 ⋆*⋆:⋆ the lioness vs the snake.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:✧*⋆.*:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾

| THE LIONESS VS THE SNAKE |
song: end game by taylor swift.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:✧*⋆.*:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾

"UMBRIDGE HAS BEEN READING YOUR MAIL, Harry. There's no other explanation."

"You think Umbridge attacked Hedwig?" he said, outraged.

"I'm almost certain of it," said Hermione grimly.

"Your frog is escaping, Bambi," said Ara, tilting her head towards its direction.

Harry pointed his wand at the bullfrog that had been hopping hopefully toward the other side of the table — "Accio!"— and it zoomed gloomily back into his hand.

Charms was always one of the best lessons in which to enjoy a private chat: There was generally so much movement and activity that the danger of being overheard was very slight. Today, with the room full of croaking bullfrogs and cawing ravens, and with a heavy downpour of rain clattering and pounding against the classroom windows, Ara, Harry, Ron, and Hermione's whispered discussion about how Umbridge had nearly caught Sirius went quite unnoticed.

"I agree with smarty pants here—" Hermione gave Ara a pointed look at the nickname, "—ever since Filch accused us of ordering Dungbombs, because it seemed such a pathetic lie,"

"I mean, once your letter had been read, it would have been quite clear you two weren't ordering them," Hermione whispered, "so you two wouldn't have been in trouble at all — it's a bit of a feeble joke, isn't it? But then I thought, what if somebody just wanted an excuse to read your mail? Well then, it would be a perfect way for Umbridge to manage it — tip off Filch, let him do the dirty work and confiscate the letter, then either find a way of stealing it from him or else demand to see it — I don't think Filch would object, when's he ever stuck up for a student's rights? Harry, you're squishing your frog."

Ara looked down; Harry was indeed squeezing his bullfrog so tightly its eyes were popping; she took it from him and placed it upon the desk gently.

"It was a very, very close call last night," said Hermione. "I just wonder if Umbridge knows how close it was. Silencio!"

The bullfrog on which she was practising her Silencing Charm was struck dumb mid-croak and glared at her reproachfully.

"If she'd caught Snuffles . . ." Hermione started.

Harry finished the sentence for her. "He'd probably be back in Azkaban this morning."

"And I'd join him for the murder of a pink toad," Ara said.

Harry waved his wand without really concentrating; his bullfrog swelled like a green balloon and emitted a high-pitched whistle.

"Silencio!" said Ara hastily, pointing her wand at Harry's frog, which deflated silently before them. Her expression turned defeated. "Well. . . as much as I hate it, he shouldn't do it again. Not if it puts him at risk of getting caught. We can't send him an owl either, I'll tell Atlas to do the same."

"I don't reckon he'll risk it again," said Ron, trying to console his sister. "He's not stupid, he knows she nearly got him. Silencio!"

The large and ugly raven in front of him let out a derisive caw.

"Silencio! SILENCIO!"

The raven cawed more loudly.

"It's the way you're moving your wand," said Hermione, watching Ron critically. "You don't want to wave it, it's more of a sharp jab."