It Could Have Gone That Way; A Harmione Fanfiction

Chapter 57: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

"No way!" Harry yelled.

"We'll have to, Harry, she'll force it out of you anyway, what's...what's the point?" Hermione began to cry weakly into the back of Millicent Bulstrode's robes. Millicent stopped trying to squash her immediately and dodged out of her way, looking disgusted.

"Well, well, well." Umbridge lowered her wand triumphantly,"Little Miss Question-all is going to give us some answers. Come on then, girl, come on!"

Ron tried to shout through Crabbe's weight,"Er-my-nee-no!"

Ginny, Luna and Neville were staring at Hermione as though they had never seen her before. Harry noticed something that made his heart do a flip. Though Hermione was sobbing desperately into her hands, there was no trace of a tear.

"I-I'm sorry everyone!" She sobbed,"But - I c-can't stand it!"

"That's right, that's right, girl!" Umbridge thrust Hermione into the chair next to Harry. "Now then...with whom was Potter communicating just now?"

Hermione gulped into her hands,"Well, he was trying to speak to Professor Dumbledore."

Everyone froze in utter, wordless shock.

"D-Dumbledore?" Umbridge breathed in disbelief,"You know where he is, then?"

"Well...no!" Hermione, Harry discovered, was a very convincing fake-crier,"We've tried the Leaky Cauldron and the Three Broomsticks and even the Hog's Head-"

"Buffoon of a girl!" Umbridge shrieked,"Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when the whole Ministry's looking for him!"

"But-but we needed to tell him something important!" Hermione wailed, holding her hands more tightly over her face to use the a scene of tears.

"Which is what?"

The room listened in with bated breath.

Hermione choked,"We...we wanted to tell him it's r-eady!"

"What's ready?" Umbridge grabbed Hermione's shoulders and shook her.

"The...the weapon."

"Weapon? Weapon?" Umbridge released her in shock,"You mean to say...you have been developing a method of resistance? A weapon you could use...against the Ministry? On Professor Dumbledore's orders, of corse?"

"Y-Y-yes," Hermione gasped,"but he had to leave before it was finished and n-n-now we've finished it for him, and we c-c-can't find him t-t-to tell him!"

Umbridge grabbed her shoulders again,"What kind of a weapon is it?"

"We don't r-r-really understand it. We j-j-just did what P-P-Professor Dumbledore told us t-t-to do."

"Lead me to the weapon!" Umbridge ordered.

"I'm not showing...them!" Hermione said shrilly, peeking through her fingers at the Slytherins.

"It is not for you to set conditions." Umbridge said harshly.

"Fine." Hermione pretended to sob into her hands again,"Fine. Let them see it. I hope they used it on you! In fact, I wish you'd invite loads and loads of people to come and see! Th-that would serve you right - oh, I'd love if the wh-whole school knew where it was, and how to u-use it, and then if you annoy any of them they'll be able to s-sort you out!"

Blinking contemplatively at this powerful statement, Umbridge sighed,"All right, dear, let's just make it you and me. Oh, and we'll take Potter too, shall we? Get up, now."

"Professor," Malfoy stepped forwards,"Professor Umbridge, I think some of the Squad should come with you to look after-"

"I am a fully qualified Ministry official!" She barked,"Do you really think I cannot deal with two wandless teenagers alone? You will remain here until I get back. Keep them all still and do what you must to stop them from escaping. Lead on!"