After All This Time - Book 2

Thirty Nine

"The dream, it felt so real" Harry whispered to Hermione, Ron, and I.

The four of us were huddled around the large Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, trying to keep our voices as low as possible while also keeping from raising any suspicion from Umbridge.

"I was in the Department of Mysteries, in a room, full of glass spheres..."

"And? What were they?" Ron said through a mouthful of food.

"I-I don't know" Harry replied, turning his attention down to the untouched food infront of him. "I woke up before I had touched one."

"This isn't the first dream you've had in there, it has to mean something" Hermione added looking worriedly between the three of us.

"I've never even been there" Harry said, his attention still on his breakfast.

"Are you sure it was a dream and not some sort of vision" I asked him, gaining the attention of all three of them. "Maybe someone else is in there, and you're seeing it through their eyes?"

"I don't know why I didn't think of that, that's what happened last time too" Hermione said, suddenly pulling a book from her bag.

I was going to stay, I was quite interested in whatever she was about to say, but Draco had just stood up from his place at the Slytherin table and caught my eye.

"I'll see you guys later" I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder as I stood from the table. "Let me know what you find out Hermione."

Ron flashed me a half smile as I left and walked across the room to Draco. Pansy was eyeing me dangerously as I approached Draco and he slid an arm around my shoulder.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything" I remarked as his groups attention turned to me.

"Of course not, we were just talking buisness" he said, guiding me towards the exit of the Great Hall. "Umbridge buisness" he then whispered in my ear.

We continued walking on, out the front entrance of Hogwarts and out to a bench on the far side of the courtyard.

"I should warn you" Draco said as we dropped our bags and sat down, "Umbridge is getting to the bottom of this DA buisness."

"And what about it? Dumbledore is gone to who knows where-"

"That's just it" Draco interrupted. "She wants information. The Ministry wants information. They believe that the DA knows where he has gone and more."

"And so what is she going to do? Question them to the ends of the world? Hold them in wizarding court under oath?"

"I believe she'll be using other means" Draco said flatly.

"Like what" I exclaimed, sitting up straight from where I had been leaning back. "Torturing them again like she did me?!"

"No. I've talked to Snape, I believe she will be using something else. Oh what was it-"

"Veritaserum."

"Yes, that's it! Snape said she's been trying to pry into his private store."

"Is that even allowed? Not the prying into his store, the using it on students part."

"I don't know. It's the Ministry we're dealing with now."

I nodded and leaned back against the cool stone pillar. I considered going to McGonagall with this information, but even then I knew she couldn't even do anything against Umbridge lest she find herself out of a job. I was worried for Harry though. Should she use it on him, who knows what information would be revealed; his dreams of the Department of Mysteries, watching Mr. Weasley attacked. And what if she got ahold of me, the chosen one's cousin. There was not a doubt in my mind that even though I wasn't involved, she would still suspect me of harboring information, give me the potion and next thing you know, I would be uncontrollably blabbing about how I'm becoming a Death Eater.