𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑋.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙭𝙩𝙮

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

HERMIONE AND CAROLINE were leading Harry and Umbridge through the Forbidden Forest. Caroline had no idea what she was doing, and Hermione was trusting her enough to follow her lead. How much further?" Umbridge asked from behind Harry.

        "Not far. It had to be somewhere students wouldn't find it accidentally." Caroline said, holding Harry's hand as he walked behind her.

        Harry caught up to the two girls. "What are you doing?" he whispered in her ear.  

        "Improvising." Caroline answered.

        "I thought you had a plan?" Hermione whispered quickly.

        "Nope. You want to take over?" Caroline said to her best friend.

        "Yes, please." Hermione walked quicker, before Umbridge noticed their conversation.

        They stopped when they saw the rope Grawp used to be tethered to. Hermione had a plan now. "Well? Where is this weapon?" Umbridge asked impatiently, looking between the three teens, getting no answer. "There isn't one, is there? You were trying to trick me," Caroline held Harry's hand tighter as Umbridge's wand remained pointed at them. "You know... I really hate children. You really are the most untidy creatures. Lord knows, I've tried to help you. To instill discipline and respect for the decorum. I've tried my very best to bring order."

        Umbridge continued her long rant, stepping towards the three as Harry pushed Caroline behind his back, Hermione beside her. As Umbridge opened her mouth to curse the three, a large twig cracked, and she turned around quickly, hiding behind the teens as a herd of centaurs made their presence known. "Oh, the centaurs must hate you, too." Caroline remarked, her hand shaking in Harry's grip.

        "You have no business here, centaur. This is a Ministry matter," Umbridge spoke, a few centaurs walking towards them, raising bows notched with arrows. "Lower your weapons. I warn you, under the law, as creatures of near-human intelligence–" one of the centaurs launched an arrow, Umbridge performing a spell to quickly deflect it, Harry ducking from it just in time. "How dare you? Filthy half-breed. Incarcerous." Umbridge sent a rope towards a centaur, the object wrapping around his neck, strangling him.

        He fell to the ground, roaring in pain, and Hermione couldn't let it happen. She rushed to the centaur and Caroline moved quickly to help her, the two of them working together to undo the knots. "Please. Please stop it. Please." Hermione begged Umbridge, the spell still killing the animal. Harry stood with them now.

        "Now, enough. I will have order!" Umbridge shouted, and then she screamed out in fear as Grawp lifted into the air by her shirt. The centaur freed himself from the rope, the herd charging at Grawp, Harry pulled Caroline into him as she almost was run over. "You filthy animal. Do you know who I am?" Umbridge screamed from Grawp's grip.

        "Leave him alone! It's not his fault. No, he doesn't understand." Hermione shouted at the centaurs that were attacking Grawp, trying to get to Umbridge while Harry pulled Caroline and Caroline pulled on her.

        Grawp, terrified, dropped Umbridge, the centaurs leaving him alone. "Potter, do something. Tell them I mean no harm!" Umbridge begged Harry, being lifted by the centaurs.

        "I'm sorry, professor. But I must not tell lies." Harry said, the three watching as Umbridge was dragged away. Caroline exhaled once the herd of centaurs was gone, her head falling to Harry's shoulder.