black and white ✰ g.w.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Harry had no sooner thrown Floo powder into Umbridge's fireplace and stuck his head in than a chorus of the Gryffindor version of 'Weasley Is Our King' sounded throughout the corridor outside.

"I appreciate it and all," Ron said, "but what did I do now?"

"I don't think they're singing for you, Ron," Hermione said.

Olivia let out a defeated sigh. "Shite," she muttered.

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Sure enough, 'Weasley Is Our King' had been a warning; Umbridge and her Inquisitorial Squad burst in, holding Faustus, Ginny, Luna, Evelyn, and Arabella with their hands behind their backs and wandless. Before they could react, Ron, Hermione, and Olivia were in the same position while Harry was tied down to a chair.

"Caught this one trying to help the Weasley girls," said Draco, bringing in Neville.

With the last of them captured, Umbridge leaned over, looking Harry in the eyes. "You were going to Dumbledore, weren't you?" she asked him.

"No," Harry told her honestly.

She slapped him. "Liar."

"You sent for me, Headmistress?" Snape said, appearing in the doorway of the office and looking around at all of the students held against their will.

"Snape, yes," said Umbridge, standing up straight and facing him. "The time has come for answers, whether he wants to give them to me or not. Have you brought the Veritaserum?"

"I'm afraid you've used up all my stores interrogating students. The last of it on Miss Edgecombe. Unless you wish to poison him - and I assure you, I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did - I cannot help you." He turned to leave.

Olivia looked over at Faustus just in time to see him looking intently at Harry, subtly nodding towards Snape occasionally and mouthing, though hardly even moving his mouth, "Tell him. He's in the Order."

Harry nodded and then called after Snape, "He's got Padfoot. He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden."

"Padfoot?" Umbridge asked. "What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What is he talking about, Snape?"

Snape slowly turned back around to look at her. "No idea," he said. He looked at Harry one last time before he left.

It took all of Olivia's willpower not to sigh. Of course Snape wouldn't care - he hated Sirius.

"Very well," Umbridge said. From the look on her face and the tone of her voice, Olivia could tell she was greatly contemplating something. "You give me no choice, Potter. As this is an issue of Ministry security, you leave me with... no alternative. The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."

"That's illegal," Hermione blurted, looking very desperate. Olivia didn't dare look, but she could see Arabella struggling to free herself from Pansy Parkinson's grasp out of the corner of her eye.

As a last ditch effort to possibly convince Umbridge not to torture Harry for information, Olivia composed herself, pushing all of her emotions down so that they wouldn't show on her face or in her voice. "Somehow I don't think the Minister would approve of you using an Unforgivable Curse against a defenseless student, Professor," she said, hoping bringing up the Minister of Magic would deter the woman.

It didn't.

"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," Umbridge said, folding down her framed photograph of him so that the portrait version of Fudge wouldn't see what was about to take place.

"Does he know you're obsessed with him, Professor?" Arabella asked, sniggering. Olivia could hear Pansy muttering threats to her and wondered vaguely how Draco felt about that.

Umbridge was only able to raise her wand and point it at Harry's head before someone else yelled out as an attempt to stop her.

"Tell her, Harry!" It was Hermione this time. Olivia was unable to keep up her unbothered act as she looked over at the brunette. She wasn't seriously asking Harry to tell Umbridge about Sirius, was she?

"Tell me what?" Umbridge asked, intrigued.

"Well, if you won't tell her where it is... I will."

Because of this, Olivia was allowed to inwardly relax. This was clearly a lie to fool Umbridge.

"Where what is?" Umbridge questioned.

"Dumbledore's secret weapon."

[word count: 699]
[written: 8/25/20]
[published: 8/25/20]