𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐱 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈

Chapter 11 - the Culmination

The atmosphere at Hogwarts was growing more tense by the day, as whispers of rebellion against the oppressive reign of Dolores Umbridge spread among the students. Dumbledore's Army, the secret group Harry had formed to teach defence against the dark arts, was flourishing, but the risk of being discovered was ever-present. It was only a matter of time before their secret meetings in the Room of Requirement would be exposed.

Exposed they were.

Harry's heart sank when he learned that Umbridge had found out about the DA.

The news spread quickly through the school—Dumbledore's Army had been betrayed.

Harry's mind raced as he considered the possibilities, trying to figure out who could have ratted them out. It didn't take long before he confronted Marietta Edgecombe, a shy Ravenclaw girl who had been hesitant about joining from the beginning. She stood before him, eyes downcast, her face marred by ugly pimples spelling the word "SNEAK" across her cheeks—a result of Hermione's protective charm.

"How could you do this?" Harry demanded, his voice trembling with anger. "We trusted you, Marietta! Why would you betray us?"

Marietta flinched but didn't meet his eyes. Cho Chang, who had been standing by, stepped forward defensively.

"Harry, she didn't mean to!" Cho said, her voice pleading. "She was pressured to tell the truth by her mother—she works for the Ministry, you know that! Marietta didn't have a choice."

Harry turned on Cho, the anger still simmering beneath the surface. "Didn't have a choice? We're all risking something, Cho! We're trying to fight against everything that's wrong, and she sold us out to Umbridge!"

"She's my friend, Harry. She's scared! We're all scared!"

Harry wasn't willing to let it go.

His trust in Marietta—and by extension, in Cho—was shattered.

With a final glare at Marietta, who still refused to meet his eyes, Harry turned and stormed out, leaving Cho behind, a few rogue tears silently falling down her cheeks.

As Harry left the confrontation behind, a heavy guilt settled in his chest, the memory of another confrontation resurfacing—a confrontation that now made him feel even more ashamed.

Before he had discovered Marietta's betrayal, Harry had lashed out at Malia Beaumont, the Slytherin girl known for her dark demeanour and sharp tongue, now walking around with a different personality, had been his first suspect. He had personally seen her leave the ROR, assuming she was a spy like many of the other Slytherins. Harry had accused the girl of being the rat, the snake in the grass that had sold them out to Umbridge.

The scene replayed in the boy's mind:

~The Memory~

They had been in the Great Hall, surrounded by curious eyes.

"You're the one who told Umbridge, aren't you? You knew, I saw you come out of the ROR, you knew why we used the room, you snake!" Harry had yelled, his voice carrying across the hall. "Always slithering around, you reptile! What, did she promise you something in return? Or did you do it just because you're hateful like the rest of your friends?"

Adeline, Malia's reputation still haunting her, had stood there, her expression unreadable, as Harry's accusations echoed in the Great Hall.

She didn't refute his claims, didn't defend herself—she simply let him vent his fury. When he was done, muttering a curse under his breath, Harry stormed off, leaving her feeling embarrassed.

Daphne, sitting beside Adeline, leaned in, whispering, "Why didn't you stand up for yourself? You just let him tear into you like that."

"It wouldn't matter," Adeline let out a sigh, her voice soft. "No one would believe me anyway."