Lucille Rose Potter

Chapter 40

"What do you mean?" Harry's voice was barely audible.

"I don't know," Lucy closed her eyes, "I only saw a moment, he fell through this curtain...I don't know how to explain it...it was black. You were there...and a man, I couldn't see his face, only his clothes...I think I've seen him in the bar before. I'm so sorry Harry."

"Wait," Harry shook his head, his eyebrows knit, "if I was there, that means there's still time to stop it, it hasn't happened yet, we need to go save him."

"Hold on," Hermione said desperately, "don't you think we should make sure Sirius isn't at headquarters? You know how Voldemort gets inside your head, Harry."

"Headquarters?" Lucy asked.

Ginny gave her a look saying she would explain later.

"There's no time Hermione!" Harry yanked at his hair, "they're torturing him! Lucy saw him die!"

"Harry! Please..." Hermione cried, "I'm begging you, please, just let us check to make sure he's not at home before we go barging into London! If we find out he's not there I swear I won't stop you, I'll come, I'll do whatever it takes to save him!" She let out a shuddering breath, "but please, we need to make sure..."

"Sirius is being tortured NOW!" Harry's face was red, "we don't have the time to waste!"

"But if this is a trick!" Hermione argued, "we have to check to make sure!"

"How?" Harry demanded, "how would we check?"

"We'll have to use Umbridge's fire again...see if we can make contact," Hermione thought aloud, "we'll have to lure her away again, but we need new lookouts, that's where we can use the girls..."

"We'll do it," Ginny said immediately, although she didn't seem to be following Hermione's train of thought.

"Lucy isn't being a lookout," Harry insisted, "no way."

"You're right," Lucy nodded, "I'll be the distraction."

"You're joking right?" Harry asked, "we're trying to keep you away from Umbridge, she'll kill you."

"That's why I'm perfect," Lucy didn't back down, "she's been trying to get her hands of me for months, I can keep her busy."

"Harry...she's right," Hermione said, "she's our best option."

"No," Harry glared at Hermione, "she's not doing it."

"Please Harry," Lucy frowned, "I can help."

"Fine," Harry said reluctantly, "don't do anything reckless though."

Lucy smirked, "you're one to talk."

"That's settled then," Hermione said, "now..."

"Just one thing," Luna interrupted, "when you say Sirius Black...are you talking about Stubby Boardman?"

>•<

Lucy set off down the corridor alone, trying to drown the fear that had begun to creep inside her mind.

She would distract Umbridge, nothing too drastic, a distraction enough would just be Lucy walking by herself. Umbridge would jump at the opportunity since she had been trying to catch Lucy alone for months.

If she didn't take the bait, as unlikely as it was, Lucy would 'accidentally' run into her.

"What're you doing?"

Lucy jumped as she suddenly wasn't alone.

"Go away," she whispered, "you're ruining the plan."