B.Q. Book Two: Black Princess Ascendant

Chapter 36: A Giant Blunder

Disclaimer: Did Hagrid intentionally build a thriving colony of Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest, a species that anyone who knew magical creatures as well as he did should have known routinely preyed on humans?

If so, I don't own the Harry Potter franchise; it belongs to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Press, Warner Bros., and whomever else she sold the rights to.

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Staring at Umbridge, Jen replied to the obese witch's smug smile with one of her own, one that was all teeth. I promise you this, Umbridge. When you die, it will not be quick. It will not be painless. I will make you suffer. "I hope you realize just how big a mistake this is. A high-ranked Ministry employee having someone stalk the wife and scion of two Wizengamot members? Our Houses won't stand for that, and I can only wonder how the rest of the chamber would react to hearing about it."

"Stalk?" Umbridge teased, waving the photo between them. "Not at all. I just happen to be good friends with an amateur photographer. It is not my fault that he was so eager to share a candid shot he took when he spotted two supposed enemies having a friendly lunch together."

Bullshit. There is no way that photographer could have just stumbled on us. The way Cissy described Umbridge back when she first took the job, she would not be caught dead interacting with anyone of 'dirty' blood, and how many Purebloods would be willing to brave Muggle London? It is the whole reason I chose to meet Lily there. Several drifting ideas clicked together at that thought, and she forced herself to meet Umbridge's gaze rather than pound her head against the desk as she wanted. And after so many years away from the Muggle world, how comfortable is she anymore? The café is just a few blocks off Charing Cross Road. She either teleported into the Alley or Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron, and if Umbridge has a couple of stooges spending their days in the pub and keeping their eyes and ears open for any interesting rumors, he could have followed her out and to our meeting. Away from wards, my sonar only stretches a couple of meters in any direction, and we were on the second floor; he could have been right below me, and I never would have realized he was there.

Bugger!

She turned her attention back to the conversation. "You'll have to forgive me if I don't believe you," she snapped, shoving herself to her feet. This whole meeting was a mistake; she had been completely unprepared, and Umbridge had held the advantage at every turn. She needed to retreat, regroup with Sirius and Cissy to figure out—

"Sit down, Miss Black." Umbridge twirled the photo in her fat fingers. "Unless you want this sent to the Daily Prophet, of course, maybe with a copy of your little chat with Miss Granger? If so, you can run right along. Even with Skeeter in your 'employ' – however voluntary it may or may not be – I know there are plenty of other reporters who would love to earn their spot above the fold at your House's expense, and the possibility that a Halfblood is passing herself off as a Pureblood heiress? The outcry would be enormous, and the backlash in the Wizengamot…"

Jen's voice was a growl. "Are you threatening us, the House of Black? And is House Selwyn prepared to back you up on it? I doubt it; we don't make any secret of how we respond to attacks upon us. Just ask the Maddoxes… if you can find any."

"You should stick to fighting other children," Umbridge replied, not worried in the slightest. Jen would make her regret that. "I have the authority of the Ministry behind me, and for all your bluster, you are just a teenaged bastard in a fading House, an arrogant girl of currently… uncertain heritage. Those who matter know that the goblins' blood magic can do more than just read someone's bloodlines. Keep that in mind, Miss 'Black'." Her point made, she pointed at the chair again with a smirk. "Sit. Down."