Feral Den

Chapter 53

She couldn't say she hadn't expected to be caught. It had been a quick decision to come to Umbridges office.
No plan apart from knowing Sirius was safe.

But Sirius wasn't safe.
He hadn't answered Hailee's call.
Kreacher had. And had confirmed that Sirius wasn't in Grimmauld Place.

Hailee needed to get to Sirius.
To the Department of Mysteries.

Fuck that Malfoy had asked for her help during winter holiday to save his father's bloody hand.
Hailee needed to get to her own family.

Umbridge shoved Hailee into the chair before her desk. Didn't need to bend to meet Hailee's eyes.
She was confident Umbridge wasn't a Legilimens. Hailee had no fears she wouldn't be able to read her thoughts.

Umbridge grinned widely at Hailee. Showcasing her jagged teeth behind her flappy lips.

"Argus, be a dear and call for Severus."
Hailee didn't like that. "What does Snape have to do with anything?"
Umbridge ignored her question.

She very nearly snarled. But was careful to keep her facial expressions to herself as Filch released the collar to Hermione and Ron's shirts.
He grabbed a pinch of floo powder, threw it  into the fireplace. The flames burned green.

"Severus." Filch called in his greasy voice. "Dolores calls for you."

The flames die back to pink. The wood pops underneath the immense pressure of the heat.
Umbridge swiftly turns back to Hailee. Smiles.

"Miss Potter, would you like to tell me why you and Mister Weasley, Miss Granger. Found yourselves in my office after curfew?"
"We got bored." Hailee snips, smiling pleasantly back. "With O.W.L.s finished what is to entertain us than you?"
Umbridge doesn't take kindly to Hailee's sarcasm. She leans closer to her face. "Why were you in my office?"
"I was bored."
"Miss Potter," Umbridge lays a careful hand on top of Hailee's right. The hand with the scars 'I must not tell lies'. "If you tell me the truth, I promise to let you and your friends go. Without punishment."
Hailee doesn't bite.
"If you don't." Umbridge continues when she doesn't speak. "I will use other methods to get the truth."
"And you're confident I'm lying, why?"

"Argus!"

Filch twiddles to the office door. Ripping it open and pulling in three individuals. Hailee's eyes immediately narrow on Malfoy, Thomas and Greengrass. She had expected the spell to work longer.
Guess she had been wrong.

Hailee turns back, nearly jolts at the proximity Umbridge is now occupying. She can smell the woman's breath.
Hailee struggled to keep her nose unwrinkled.

"Because they would not be here."
Hailee does wrinkle her nose minutely as Umbridge hisses into her face. "Bold of you to assume Malfoy would do anything to help me."

Hermione gasps. Her hand flying to her mouth. Ron jolts. Malfoy eyes widen, matching that of Thomas' and Greengrass' as Umbridge slaps a hand across Hailee's cheek.
The girl herself hardly reacts. Her head snaps to an angle. Shock stiffening her muscles.

Hailee's quick to jerk her head back.
Eyes bright with anger. Defiance.

"You slap like my dead grandmother." She hisses, hardly speaking English in a moment of lost control.

Umbridge brings her hand back, preparing to slap Hailee once more. When a knock freezes the room.

It clicks open. Snape saunters in. His teaching robes flowing eloquently behind his powerful figure.
Hailee bristles seeing him. Umbridge straightens.

"I need a bottle of Veritaserum." She snips. Clearly ordering Snape.

Hailee and Ron's jaws nearly drop in shock at her tone toward Snape. If either of them ever dared to even say more than a 'Yes, sir' they had detention for a week.
Ludicrous! The Ministry Worker was!