𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 || h.potter

thirty-six || Year 5 ✔️

"How much further?" asked Umbridge, getting impatient.

"Not far." answered Hermione. "It had to be somewhere students weren't going to find it accidentally." 

Owls start to hoot and rustlings from the shadows. Umbridge flinches at every sound, growing more paranoid by the minute.

She brambles pull at her frock, dirt falling on her shoulders, which she compulsively brushes off...

Harry leans in to Hermione, whispers: "What are you doing?"

"Improvising." replied Hermione, in a hushed tone. Amelia nods.

As the four enter Grawp's clearing Hermione stops, stares: he's nowhere to be seen. The ropes that bound him lie frayed and broken.

"Well? Where is this weapon?" asked Umbridge, look at the three children. Hermione looks helplessly at Amelia and Harry. Umbridge realises. "There isn't one...is there. You were trying to trick me."

Umbridge pauses--Harry, Amelia and Hermione brace for the explosion--then, her voice quivering: "you know...I really hate children. You really are the most...untidy creatures. Lord knows I've tried to help you...to instill discipline, and respect for decorum. I've tried my very best to bring order, yet at every turn been assailed by chaos..."

She now seems on the brink of a nervous breakdown. She regards her ruined frock, her flyaway hair. "I mean Look What you've done to me! I really cannot take it anymore...but I must! Authority must be upheld! Sometimes the ends do justify the means—and certainly no one could blame me..."

Umbridge continues to blabber about, Amelia rolls her eyes. "...and if it falls to me to sort out the mess—to tie up the loose ends—then so be it. For the greater good I will do what must be done..." she raises her wand.

A guttural voice barks in an ancient tongue. Umbridge whirls...slowly looks up as a Centaur steps forward. He has long black hair, and his face and body is covered with markings. He holds a cocked bow in his arms.

"Y-You have no business here, Centaur! This is a Ministry matter..." Umbridge looks at him fearfully.

Magorian reacts--speaks low as another Centaur steps forward, bow also raised. Nervously Umbridge glares at them. "Lower your weapons! I warn you—any attack on a Ministry Official by a half-breed is—"

Bane spits a furious responds to Magorian. More centaurs step forward as Umbridge continues, growing hysterical. "Under the law, as creatures of near-human intelligence—"

A centaur looses an arrow. It sails toward Umbridge-- who raises her wand. The arrow bounces harmlessly to the side.

"How dare you! You filthy half-breed!" Umbridge raises her wand. "Crucio!"

Bane stumbles in agony. Amelia flinches and Hermione screams. Umbridge's eyes gleam as she uses her wand to force the proud Centaur to its knees it sumnles, rolls down the hill to her feet.

"Stop it! Stop!" yelled Amelia, looking pleadingly at Umbridge. "Stop!"

The centaurs on the ridge draw their bows. Umbridge raises her wand as Hermione throws herself in front of the fallen
Centaur; Harry and Ameli quickly joining her.

"Enough! I will. Have. Order!!" yelled Umbridge. She aims her wand and Hermione and Amelia suddenly a tree trunk cracks behind her, as a giant hand grabs Umbridge around the waist--she drops her wand-- Umbridge looks up in speechless horror as Grawp glares furiously down at her through broken yellow teeth.

"No. Hurt. Hermy and Amy!" said Grawp at Umbridge.

"He remembered..." breathed Hermione, touched. Amelia gave him a small smile.