Percy dashed from the room, slamming the door behind him, and Fudge turned back to Dumbledore. You will now be escorted back to the Ministry, where you will be formally charged, then sent to Azkaban to await trial! 'Ah,' said Dumbledore gently, yes. Yes, I thought we might hit that little snag. 'Snag? ' said Fudge, his voice still vibrating with joy. I see no snag, Dumbledore! 'Well,' said Dumbledore apologetically, I'm afraid I do. 'Oh, really? 'Well-it's just that you seem to be labouring under the delusion that I am going to-what is the phrase? -come quietly. I am afraid I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course-but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing. 'Umbridge's face was growing steadily redder; she looked as though she was being filled with boiling water. Fudge stared at Dumbledore with a very silly expression on his face, as though he had just been stunned by a sudden blow and could not quite believe it had happened. He made a small choking noise, then looked round at Kingsley and the man with short grey hair, who alone of everyone in the room had remained entirely silent so far. The latter gave Fudge a reassuring nod and moved forwards a little, away from the wall. Harry saw his hand drift, almost casually, towards his pocket. Don't be silly, Dawlish,' said Dumbledore kindly. I'm sure you are an excellent Auror-I seem to remember that you achieved Outstanding in all your NEWTs-but if you attempt to-er-bring me in by force, I will have to hurt you. 'The man called Dawlish blinked rather foolishly. He looked towards Fudge again, but this time seemed to be hoping for a clue as to what to do next. So,' sneered Fudge, recovering himself, you intend to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores and myself single-handed, do you, Dumbledore? 'Merlin's beard, no,' said Dumbledore, smiling, not unless you are foolish enough to force me to. 'He will not be single-handed! ' said Professor McGonagall loudly, plunging her hand inside her robes. Oh yes he will, Minerva! ' said Dumbledore sharply. Hogwarts needs you! ' Enough of this rubbish! ' said Fudge, pulling out his own wand. Dawlish! Shacklebolt! Take him! 'A streak of silver light flashed around the room; there was a bang like a gunshot and the floor trembled; a hand grabbed the scruff of Harry's neck and forced him down on the floor as a second silver flash went off; several of the portraits yelled, Fawkes screeched and a cloud of dust filled the air. Coughing in the dust, Harry saw a dark figure fall to the ground with a crash in front of him; there was a shriek and a thud and somebody cried, No! '; then there was the sound of breaking glass, frantically scuffling footsteps, a groan . . . and silence. Harry struggled around to see who was half-strangling him and saw Professor McGonagall crouched beside him; she had forced both him and Marietta out of harm's way. Dust was still floating gently down through the air on to them. Panting slightly, Harry saw a very tall figure moving towards them. Are you all right? ' Dumbledore asked. Yes! ' said Professor McGonagall, getting up and dragging Harry and Marietta with her. The dust was clearing. The wreckage of the office loomed into view: Dumbledore's desk had been overturned, all of the spindly tables had been knocked to the floor, their silver instruments in pieces. Fudge, Umbridge, Kingsley and Dawlish lay motionless on the floor. Fawkes the phoenix soared in wide circles above them, singing softly. Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too, or it would have looked very suspicious,' said Dumbledore in a low voice. He was remarkably quick on the uptake, modifying Miss Edgecombe's memory like that while everyone was looking the other way- thank him, for me, won't you, Minerva? Now, they will all awake very soon and it will be best if they do not know that we had time to communicate-you must act as though no time has passed, as though they were merely knocked to the ground, they will not remember-'Where will you go, Dumbledore? ' whispered Professor McGonagall. Grimmauld Place? 'Oh no,' said Dumbledore, with a grim smile, I am not leaving to go into hiding. Fudge will soon wish he'd never dislodged me from Hogwarts, I promise you. 'Professor Dumbledore . . . ' Harry began. He did not know what to say first: how sorry he was that he had started the DA in the first place and caused all this trouble, or how terrible he felt that Dumbledore was leaving to save him from expulsion? But Dumbledore cut him off before he could say another word. Listen to me, Harry,' he said urgently. You must study Occlumency as hard as you can, do you understand me? Do everything Professor Snape tells you and practise it particularly every night before sleeping so that you can close your mind to bad dreams-you will understand why soon enough, but you must promise me-'The man called Dawlish was stirring. Dumbledore seized Harry's wrist. Remember-close your mind-'But as Dumbledore's fingers closed over Harry's skin, a pain shot through the scar on his forehead and he felt again that terrible, snakelike longing to strike Dumbledore, to bite him, to hurt him--you will understand,' whispered Dumbledore. Fawkes circled the office and swooped low over him. Dumbledore released Harry, raised his hand and grasped the phoenix's long golden tail. There was a flash of fire and the pair of them were gone. Where is he? ' yelled Fudge, pushing himself up from the floor. Where is he? 'I don't know! ' shouted Kingsley, also leaping to his feet. Well, he can't have Disapparated! ' cried Umbridge. You can't do it from inside this school- 'The stairs! ' cried Dawlish, and he flung himself upon the door, wrenched it open and disappeared, followed closely by Kingsley and Umbridge. Fudge hesitated, then got slowly to his feet, brushing dust from his front. There was a long and painful silence. Well, Minerva,' said Fudge nastily, straightening his torn shirtsleeve, I'm afraid this is the end of your friend Dumbledore. 'You think so, do you? ' said Professor McGonagall scornfully. Fudge seemed not to hear her. He was looking around at the wrecked office. A few of the portraits hissed at him; one or two even made rude hand gestures. You'd better get those two off to bed,' said Fudge, looking back at Professor McGonagall with a dismissive nod towards Harry and Marietta. Professor McGonagall said nothing, but marched Harry and Marietta to the door. As it swung closed behind them, Harry heard Phineas Nigellus's voice. You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts . . . but you cannot deny he's got style . . . ' J. K. RowlingHarry Potter&The Order of the Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lionfish 11/Nov/2007 Chapter Twenty-eight Snape's Worst MemoryContents Prev Chapter Next Chapter . BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replacedAlbus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School ofWitchcraft and Wizardry. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight. Signed: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for MagicThe notices had gone up all around the school overnight, but they did not explain how every single person within the castle seemed to know that Dumbledore had overcome two Aurors, the High Inquisitor, the Minister for Magic and his Junior Assistant to escape. No matter where Harry went within the castle, the sole topic of conversation was Dumbledore's flight, and though some of the details may have gone awry in the retelling (Harry overheard one second-year girl assuring another that Fudge wasnow lying in St. Mungo's with a pumpkin for a head) it was surprising how accurate the rest of their information was. Everybody knew, for instance, that Harry and Marietta were the only students to have witnessed the scene in Dumbledore's office and, as Marietta was now in the hospital wing, Harry found himself besieged with requests to give a first-hand account. Dumbledore will be back before long,' said Ernie Macmillan confidently on the way back from Herbology, after listening intently to Harry's story. They couldn't keep him away in our second year and they won't be able to this time. The Fat Friar told me-' he dropped his voice conspiratorially, so that Harry, Ron and Hermione had to lean closer to him to hear -that Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after they'd searched the castle and grounds for him. Couldn't get past the gargoyle. The Head's office has sealed itself against her. ' Ernie smirked. Apparently, she had a right little tantrum. ' Oh, I expect she really fancied herself sitting up there in the Head's office,' said Hermione viciously, as they walked up the stone steps into the Entrance Hall. Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy old-'Now, do you really want to finish that sentence, Granger? 'Draco Malfoy had slid out from behind the door, closely followed by Crabbe and Goyle. His pale, pointed face was alight w th malice. Afraid I'm going to have to dock a few points from Gryffincor and Hufflepuff,' he drawled. It's only teachers who can dock points from houses, Malfoy,' said Ernie at once. Yeah, we're prefects, too, remember? ' snarled Ron. I know prefects can't dock points, Weasel King,' sneered Maltby. Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. But members of the Inquisitorial Squad-'The what? ' said Hermione sharply. The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger,' said Malfoy, pointing towards a tiny silver I' on his robes just beneath his prefect's badge. A select group of students who are supportive of the Ministry of Magic, hand-picked by Professor Umbridge. Anyway, members of the Inquisitorial Squad do have the power to dock points . . . so, Granger, I'll have five from you for being rude about our new Headmistress. Macmillan, five for contradicting me. Five because I don't like you, Potter. Weasley, your shirt's untucked, so I'll have another five for that. Oh yeah, I forgot, you're a Mudblood, Granger, so ten off for that. 'Ron pulled out his wand, but Hermione pushed it away, whispering, Don't! ' Wise move, Granger,' breathed Malfoy. New Head, new times . . . be good now, Potty . . . Weasel King . . . 'Laughing heartily, he strode away with Crabbe and Goyle. He was bluffing,' said Ernie, looking appalled. He can't be allowed to dock points . . . that would be ridiculous . . . it would completely undermine the prefect system. 'But Harry, Ron and Hermione had turned automatically towards the giant hour-glasses set in niches along the wall behind them, which recorded the house-points. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been neck and neck in the lead that morning. Even as they watched, stones flew upwards, reducing the amounts in the lower bulbs. In fact, the only glass that seemed unchanged was the emerald-filled one of Slytherin. Noticed, have you? ' said Fred's voice. He and George had just come down the marble staircase and joined Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ernie in front of the hour-glasses. Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points,' said Harry furiously, as they watched several more stones fly upwards from the Gryffindor hour-glass. Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break,' said George. What do you mean, tried"? ' said Ron quickly. He never managed to get all the words out,' said Fred, due to the fact that we forced him head-first into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor. 'Hermione looked very shocked. But you'll get into terrible trouble! 'Not until Montague reappears, and that could take weeks, I dunno where we sent him,' said Fred coolly. Anyway . . . we've decided we don't care about getting into trouble any more. 'Have you ever? ' asked Hermione. Course we have,' said George. Never been expelled, have we? 'We've always known where to draw the line,' said Fred. We might have put a toe across it occasionally,' said George. But we've always stopped short of causing real mayhem,' said Fred. But now? ' said Ron tentatively. Well, now-' said George. -what with Dumbledore gone-' said Fred. -we reckon a bit of mayhem-' said George. -is exactly what our dear new Head deserves,' said Fred. You mustn't! ' whispered Hermione. You really mustn't! She'd love a reason to expel you! 'You don't get it, Hermione, do you? ' said Fred, smiling at her. We don't care about staying any more. We'd walk out right now if we weren't determined to do our bit for Dumbledore first. So, anyway,' he checked his watch, phase one is about to begin. I'd get in the Great Hall for lunch, if I were you, that way the teachers will see you can't have had anything to do with it. 'Anything to do with what? ' said Hermione anxiously. You'll see,' said George. Run along, now. 'Fred and George turned away and disappeared into the swelling crowd descending the stairs towards lunch. Looking highly disconcerted, Ernie muttered something about unfinished Transfiguration homework and scurried away. I think we should get out of here, you know,' said Hermione nervously. Just in case . . . ' Yeah, all right,' said Ron, and the three of them moved towards the doors to the Great Hall, but Harry had barely glimpsed the day's ceiling of scudding white clouds when somebody tapped him on the shoulder and, turning, he found himself almost nose-to-nose with Filch the caretaker. He took several hasty steps backwards; Filch was best viewed at a distance. The Headmistress would like to see you, Potter,' he leered. I didn't do it,' said Harry stupidly, thinking of whatever Fred and George were planning. Filch's jowls wobbled with silent laughter. Guilty conscience, eh? ' he wheezed. Follow me. 'Harry glanced back at Ron and Hermione, who were both looking worried. He shrugged, and followed Filch back into the Entrance Hall, against the tide of hungry students. Filch seemed to be in an extremely good mood; he hummed creakily under his breath as they climbed the marble staircase. As they reached the first landing he said, Things are changing around here, Potter. 'I've noticed,' said Harry coldly. Yerse . . . I've been telling Dumbledore for years and years he's too soft with you all,' said Filch, chuckling nastily. You filthy little beasts would never have dropped Stink Pellets if you'd known I had it in my power to whip you raw, would you, now? Nobody would have thought of throwing Fanged Frisbees down the corridors if I could've strung you up by the ankles in my office, would they? But when Educational Decree Number Twenty-nine comes in, Potter, I'll be allowed to do them things . . . and she's asked the Minister to sign an order for the expulsion of Peeves . . . oh, things are going to be very different around here with her in charge . . . 'Umbridge had obviously gone to some lengths to get Filch on her side, Harry thought, and the worst of it was that he would probably prove an important weapon; his knowledge of the school's secret passageways and hiding places was probably second only to that of the Weasley twins. Here we are,' he said, leering down at Harry as he rapped three times on Professor Umbridge's door and pushed it open. The Potter boy to see you, Ma'am. 'Umbridge's office, so ery familiar to Harry from his many detentions, was the same as usual except for the large wooden block lying across the front of her desk on which golden letters spelled the word: HEADMISTRESS. Also, his Firebolt and Fred and George's Cleansweeps, which he saw with a pang, were chained and padlocked to a stout iron peg in the wall behind the desk. Umbridge was sitting behind the desk, busily scribbling on some of her pink parchment, but she looked up and smiled widely at their entrance. Thank you, Argus,' she said sweetly. Not at all, Ma'am, not at all,' said Filch, bowing as low as his rheumatism would permit, and exiting backwards. Sit,' said Umbridge curtly, pointing towards a chair. Harry sat. She continued to scribble for a few moments. He watched some of the foul kittens gambolling around the plates over her head, wondering what fresh horror she had in store for him. Well, now,' she said finally, setting down her quill and surveying him complacently, like a toad about to swallow a particularly juicy fly. What would you like to drink? 'What? said Harry, quite sure he had misheard her. To drink, Mr Potter,' she said, smiling still more widely. Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice? 'As she named each drink, she gave her short wand a wave, and a cup or glass of it appeared on her desk. Nothing, thank you,' said Harry. I wish you to have a drink with me,' she said, her voice becoming dangerously sweet. Choose one. 'Fine . . . tea then,' said Harry shrugging. She got up and made quite a performance of adding milk with her back to him. She then bustled around the desk with it, smiling in a sinisterly sweet fashion. There,' she said, handing it to him. Drink it before it gets cold, won't you? Well, now, Mr Potter . . . I thought we ought to have a little chat, after the distressing events of last night. 'He said nothing. She settled herself back into her seat and waited. When several long moments had passed in silence, she said gaily, You're not drinking up! 'He raised the cup to his lips and then, just as suddenly, lowered it. One of the horrible painted kittens behind Umbridge had great round blue eyes just like Mad-Eye Moody's magical one and it had just occurred to Harry what Mad-Eye would say if he ever heard that Harry had drunk anything offered by a known enemy. What's the matter? ' said Umbridge, who was still watching him closely. Do you want sugar? 'No,' said Harry. He raised the cup to his lips again and pretended to take a sip, though keeping his mouth tightly closed. Umbridge's smile widened. Good,' she whispered. Very good. Now then . . . ' She leaned forwards a little. Where is Albus Dumbledore? 'No idea,' said Harry promptly. Drink up, drink up,' she said, still smiling. Now, Mr. Potter, let us not play childish games. I know that you know where he has gone. You and Dumbledore have been in this together from the beginning. Consider your position, Mr. Potter . . . 'I don't know where he is,' Harry repeated.He pretended to drink again. She was watching him very closely. Very well,' she said, though she looked displeased. In that case, you will kindly tell me the whereabouts of Sirius Black. 'Harry's stomach turned over and his hand holding the teacup shook so that it rattled in its saucer. He tilted the cup to his mouth with his lips pressed together, so that some of the hot liquid trickled down on to his robes. I don't know,' he said, a little too quickly. Mr. Potter,' said Umbridge, let me remind you that it was I who almost caught the criminal Black in the Gryffindor fire in October. I know perfectly well it was you he was meeting and if I had had any proof neither of you would be at large today, I promise you. I repeat, Mr. Potter . . . where is Sirius Black? 'No idea,' said Harry loudly. Haven't got a clue. 'They stared at each other so long that Harry felt his eyes watering. Then Umbridge stood up. Very well, Potter, I will take your word for it this time, but be warned: the might of the Ministry stands behind me. All channels of communication in and out of this school are being monitored. A Floo Network Regulator is keeping watch over every fire in Hogwarts-except my own, of course. My Inquisitorial Squad is opening and reading all owl post entering and leaving the castle. And Mr. Filch is observing all secret passages in and out of the castle. If I find a shred of evidence . . . 'BOOM! The very floor of the office shook. Umbridge slipped sideways, clutching her desk for support, and looking shocked. What was-? 'She was gazing towards the door. Harry took the opportunity to empty his almost-full cup of tea into the nearest vase of dried flowers. He could hear people running and screaming several floors below. Back to lunch you go, Potter! ' cried Umbridge, raising her wand and dashing out of the office. Harry gave her a few seconds' start, then hurried after her to see what the source of all the uproar was. It was not difficult to find. One floor down, pandemonium reigned. Somebody (and Harry had a very shrewd idea who) had set off what seemed to be an enormous crate of enchanted fireworks. Dragons comprised entirely of green and gold sparks were soaring up and down the corridors, emitting loud fiery blasts and bangs as they went; shocking-pink Catherine wheels five feet in diameter were whizzing lethally through the air like so many flying saucers; rockets with long tails of brilliant silver stars were ricocheting off the walls; sparklers were writing swear words in midair of their own accord; firecrackers were exploding like mines everywhere Harry looked, and instead of burning themselves out, fading from sight or fizzling to a halt, these pyrotechnical miracles seemed to be gaining in energy and momentum the longer he watched. Filch and Umbridge were standing, apparently transfixed in horror, halfway down the stairs. As Harry watched, one of the larger Catherine wheels seemed to decide that what it needed was more room to manoeuvre; it whirled towards Umbridge and Filch with a sinister wheeeeeeeeee'. They both yelled with fright and ducked, and it soared straight out of the window behind them and off across the grounds.Meanwhile, several of the dragons and a large purple bat that was smoking ominously took advantage of the open door at the end of the corridor to escape towards the second floor. Hurry, Filch, hurry! ' shrieked Umbridge, they'll be all over the school unless we do something-Stupefy! 'A jet of red light shot out of the end of her wand and hit one of the rockets. Instead of freezing in midair, it exploded with such force that it blasted a hole in a painting of a soppy-looking witch in the middle of a meadow; she ran for it just in time, reappearing seconds later squashed into the next painting, where a couple of wizards playing cards stood up hastily to make room for her. Don't Stun them, Filch! ' shouted Umbridge angrily, for all the world as though it had been his incantation. Right you are, Headmistress! ' wheezed Filch, who as a Squib could no more have Stunned the fireworks than swallowed them. He dashed to a nearby cupboard, pulled out a broom and began swatting at the fireworks in midair; within seconds the head of the broom was ablaze. Harry had seen enough; laughing, he ducked down low, ran to a door he knew was concealed behind a tapestry a little way along the corridor and slipped through it to find Fred and George hiding just behind it, listening to Umbridge and Filch's yells and quaking with suppressed mirth. Impressive,' Harry said quietly, grinning. Very impressive . . . you'll put Dr. Filibuster out of business, no problem . . . 'Cheers,' whispered George, wiping tears of laughter from his face. Oh, I hope she tries Vanishing them next . . . they multiply by ten evey time you try. ' The fireworks continued to burn and to spread all over the school that afternoon. Though they caused plenty of disruption, particularly the firecrackers, the other teachers didn't seem to mind them very much. Dear, dear,' said Professor McGonagall sardonically, as one of the dragons soared around her classroom, emitting loud bangs and exhaling flame. Miss Brown, would you mind running along to the Headmistress and informing her that we have an escaped firework in our classroom? 'The upshot of it all was that Professor Umbridge spent her first afternoon as Headmistress running all over the school answering the summonses of the other teachers, none of whom seemed able to rid their rooms of the fireworks without her.When the final bell rang and they were heading back to Gryffindor Tower with their bags, Harry saw, with immense satisfaction, a dishevelled and soot-blackened Umbridge tottering sweaty-faced from Professor Flitwick's classroom. Thank you so much, Professor! ' said Professor Flitwick in his squeaky little voice. I could have got rid of the sparklers myself, of course, but I wasn't sure whether or not I had the authority. '