Read My Mind

Being A Spy

"Malfoy had been deducting our points!" Ron groaned.

"They are just a few points." Hermione said. "I'm not happy about it, but I guess we would just need to forfeit that now. There are more important things to do."

"Yeah, at least right now Umbridge is not constantly breathing on our backs."

With Ria offered to patrol the 8th floor, they were less worried about revealing their secret rendezvous place.

"Does your scar still hurt, Harry?" Ria asked.

"No...yeah." Harry knew better than lying to her now.

"Have you been talking to Sirius about it? He would want to know how you are doing."

"No...I don't want to put him at risk."

Ria nodded. It's a hard balance. Sirius would want to feel useful and be able to provide care for his godson, but Harry would rather keep everything to himself and protect his godfather.

"Well, just be careful, will you? Run everything with us before you commit to doing anything. Please?" Ria was still talking to Harry, but she was also looking at Fred and George.

"Okay." Fred sighed.

George and he had planned already that they were going to make the most grandiose messy and the most magnificent exit out of their Hogwarts careers. But Ria wouldn't have liked that, and quite frankly, Fred wasn't even sure if he still wanted to leave Hogwarts early now. He would very much like to spend more time with her as if possible, even though all they have been doing was talking once or twice a week, avoiding everyone else.

"What did I say about doing anything stupid?!" Ria was screaming from the top of her lungs.

Half an hour ago, Umbrige had summoned all of them into her office. She walked in, seeing Harry, Hermione, and Ron being held by a few Slytherins.

"We have caught Mr. Potter trying to use my personal fireplace. I think it's best for us to extract whatever information that Mr. Potter had, for the safety of all our students and staff." She demanded Veritaserum from Professor Snape.

"You have wasted all my stash already." Professor Snape glanced at Ria.

"Miss Granger had named you specifically and said Potter will only talk to you." Professor Snape said.

Ria looked atHarry, he was thinking very loudly, on purpose, so that Ria could hear him.

SIRIUS IS IN DANGER?

"Well, then, perhaps I should--" Ria said.

"No, wait a second. I don't think this is a good idea." Umbridge stopped them. "I still think a simple Excruciatus could work just as fine."

"No Mame, I'm sorry to say that you are horribly wrong."

Umbridge looked as if Ria had shoved a toad under her throat, uncooked.

"My father always says, the best information comes to you willingly. Mr. Potter, although it doesn't bring me pleasure in saying this, is rather, admittedly brave, and not afraid of physical pain. Torturing him will not open his mouth, but rather force him into committing more lies."

"A bundle of chopsticks are invisible, but an individual woodstock is so easy to break. That's what my Shifu used to say. I think it's better if we separate them, and I shall interview Mr. Potter individually. I happen to know an excellent way of executing the ancient water tortue, where the prisoners listen to the sound of water drip. Waiting, wanting, expecting, but never knowing when exactly the next drop will come. Many had lost their minds." Ria circled around Harry, giving him a harsh stare that made Umbridge satisfied.

"Very well then, you may use my office even."

Before she took away Hermione and Ron, Ria spoke up again, "Miss Granger, I suggest you act wisely. Whatever is on your mind, do it early rather than regret it later."

Hermione slammed shut the door behind her .

"What did I say about not doing anything stupid?"

"It's Sirius!"

"Okay, now, tell me what did you see."

"Sirius, he was captured. I have to go save him."

"I know, I know, Harry, hear me out." Ria forced Harry to sit down and told him everything about the orb and why Voledmort wanted it.

"So only I can take it?"

"You or him."

"Then why didn't he go."

Ria didn't say anything.

"He is waiting for me. He wanted me to go so he could--"

"Kill you."

"But didn't Dumbledore say something about our wand being siblings, and we can't hurt each other?"

"He didn't know that. He thought the prophecy would tell him how to kill you."

"I see. I still need to go to the Ministry then."

Ria widened her eyes.

"Listen to me Harry, you got to stop acting like this! Say, if by any chance, you-know-who had snatched your godfather from the most secure place that Dumbledore had found, and took him all the way to the Ministry without having a single person noticing him. Say if that's the case, how are you going to save him? Huh?" Ria grabbed him by his collars.

"He didn't even need to do it. It takes as simple as a Lucius Malfoy to take you down."

"Well, what do you suggest I do? Stop talking like you know everything. Stop acting like you know better. Tell me, tell me then, what AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?"

"Do you have the mirror with you?"

"No, I left it in my dorm."

"Well, okay then." Ria shoved him into the fireplace.

"Where is Sirius?" Harry stared at Kreacher.

"He's not here, he's in the Ministry." Kreacher said, in his usual disoriented style.

Harry was ready to rush to the fireplace and Ria grabbed him.

"He's lying." And she rushed upstairs.

"Harry!" Sirius embraced his godson in surprise.

"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed. "Wait--how?"

Ria appeared after him, "He had to make sure you are safe." She explained to Sirius.

"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" Sirius was still attending Buckbeak. "That filthy--Kreacher hurt Buckbeak."

Harry explained to Sirius his visions.

"He's infiltrating yourbrain, Harry. Perhaps you should stay here with Buckbeak for a while." Siriussuggested, ready to go downstairs and yell at Kreacher.