Alexandra Dursley {Golden Trio}

Chapter 83 - Hermione's Plan

Folks these next few chapters...easily the best bit of the book so far :)

 Al was panicking, and her hands and breath were shaky. She double checked for McGonagall's pulse. There was still nothing there. What was it they did in muggle hospital? Defibrillation? She was sure it was just electrocuting them.

 Al placed the tip of her wand directly over McGonagall's chest, taking a deep breath. "Electrilisis," she whispered. There was a small flash and McGonagall's body jumped. Al felt for a pulse an yes - there it was. And she was breathing faintly too. Al thought she might pass out, but then realised she still needed to get her to the hospital wing.

 Al shakily conjured a stretcher, having read about it for her revision, just in case it had come up. She levitated McGonagall onto it, almost banging her head on the side from nerves. "Locomotor stretcher," she said, copying what Flitwick had done to Trelawny's trunks. It worked, and the stretcher followed her up the lawn and through the castle.

 She met Madame Pomfrey with a sixth-year Gryffindor prefect just around the corner from the hospital wing. "Her heart stopped," Al cried, and the prefect gasped, "I-I electrocuted her...and there's a pulse now."

 "Thank you, Miss Dursley, I can take her from here," and Al watched as McGonagall floated off to the hospital wing, feeling as though she herself may collapse from the stress of it all.

*****

 There was only five minutes left of Al's history of magic exam. Five painful minutes, and then she was free, and she didn't have to worry again for months. A yelp sounded from near the back of the hall, and then a long scream and a thud. Al turned around and peered over other students. She saw as a black-headed boy was helped out the exam hall by one of the examiners. Harry. Al desperately wanted to go and help, but she really needed to get this bit about goblin rebellions down first.

 The exam was called to a close, and Al was one of the first out, shortly followed by Draco, Daphne and Theo. "Can you see Harry?" Al asked urgently, her eyes darting around.

 "Oh who cares," Draco said, "We're free! Let's celebrate!"

 "I can go and get butterbeer from the kitchens," Daphne volunteered.

 Al sighed, Harry would be fine. "I got a bottle of firewhiskey for Christmas," Al offered.

 "Excellent," Draco said, rubbing his hands together, "Theo and I'll reserve that tree by the lake."

 Ten minutes later, and Al reached the lake, bag swinging from the weight of the firewhiskey. "Well," Draco said with a grin, "Cheers!" They threw their butterbeer bottles together and drank deeply, the sun shining on their backs, as the golden liquid poured down their throats.

 Al only got one swig in, though, before Umbridge trotted over to them down the lawn. She hurriedly stashed her firewhiskey out of sight. She didn't want that confiscating.

 "Dursley, Malfoy," Umbridge called, "Potter's broken into my office."

 Draco subtly rolled his eyes, "We'll be about half an hour," he promised Daphne and Theo. The two of them followed Umbridge, wands drawn, down the corridors and into her office. Millicent Bulstrode already had a hold of Hermione, and Umbridge pulled Harry out from where his head was in the fire place. Draco took his wand.

 Moments later, Ginny, Luna, Neville and the Weasel, came in, having been dragged by other members of the Inquisitorial Squad. Al and Draco remained calmly perched on the windowsill. "What were you doing?" Umbridge demanded.

 "Trying to get my firebolt," Harry said, and Umbridge threw him into the desk. Al almost flinched. Almost.

 "Liar! With who were you communicating?" Umbridge asked, her eyes flashing.

 "No one-" Harry began. It was a stupid lie - he was obviously using the floo network.

 "You sent this buffoon to tell me Peeves was destroying the Transfiguration corridor, which was clearly a lie! It must be very important for you to speak to someone so tell me who! Dumbledore?" Umbridge shrieked. It was clear to Al she wanted the answer to be Dumbledore very much.

 Harry remained completely silent. "Very well," Umbridge said, stepping back, "I've given you a chance. Draco, go and fetch Professor Snape." There was silence in the room for the prolonged time it took Draco to return. Al wished he'd hurry up.

 He soon did and Umbridge turned to Snape, "I require more veritaserum. Potter will not tell me who he was speaking to." Al swore Snape's mouth twitched.

 "I'm afraid you used the last of it up to interrogate Potter before. I could offer you some poison-" Snape explained tonelessly.

 "Can you not brew more?" Umbridge asked, seething with apparent rage.

 "Of course," Snape replied, "I can have it to you in a month."

 "A month?" shrieked Umbridge. "A month? You are being deliberately unhelpful, Snape! You are on probation!" Snape didn't look at all fazed, instead turning to leave.

 "He's got Padfoot!" Harry called after him, grabbing Al's attention, "He's got Padfoot in the place where it's hidden!"

 "What? What is this Snape? What does he mean?" Umbridge asked.

 "Potter if I wanted codswallop from you I'd have fed you a Babbling Beverage," Snape said before turning on his heel and leaving. Someone had Sirius. Probably Voldemort if Harry was this scared. But where? Where was he?

 Umbridge was raising her wand to Harry now...if she dared do anything...Al would kill her. She would actually kill her. Her adrenaline was pumping now. Where was Sirius? "The Cruciatus Curse should loosen your tongue."

 Al's wand was in her hand as Hermione shouted, "No! That's illegal!"

 Al stepped forward to Umbridge's side and spoke in a low whisper, "If word got out that you'd used that curse...it wouldn't matter who it was on...the Minister would be finished. Parents would withdraw their children immediately."

 For a moment, Al thought Umbridge saw sense, but then she whirled round on Al and screamed in her face. "You wouldn't understand you silly girl!" Al looked around, shocked and saw a steely glint in Hermione's eye.

 "Very well," Al said, "Continue if you're sure."

 The Weasleys, Neville and Luna squirmed as Umbridge raised her wand, when Hermione shouted, "Tell her Harry!"

 "Tell me what?" Umbridge asked quietly.

 "About Dum-Dumbledore's secret weapon," Hermione said, now shaking with false sobs. Al felt relieved that somebody else had a plan. "We were trying to contact him...to-to tell him it's f-finished."

 "Well then," Umbridge said, "You and Potter will take me to it." And with Umbridge's wand pointing at their chests, Harry and Hermione left to go to Merlin knew where.