Chapter 244 - Commotion

"Harry, calm down," said Ginny.

"Yes, Harry, what do you mean by that they are going to kill —" said Hermione anxiously.

"Harry! Did you see through Riddle's mind?" Chris asked cutting everyone off.

Harry met her eyes then nervously nodded.

"He was angry at the death eaters," Harry gulped. "Bellatrix Lestrange had wanted to prove her loyalty. Voldemort asked her if she can kill her sister. To prove that she has kidnapped Tonks and her family and torturing them in the Department of Mysteries."

"But — but where? How?" said Hermione, whose face was white.

"She can't kill Tonks," said Ginny. "Tonks is with the order."

"We have to inform the order," said Ron.

"But how?" Harry said desperately. "There is no one here, no Dumbledore, no McGonagall, no Hagrid. Who are we going to inform?"

"We have to do something," said Ginny. "We can't let them die when we know about it."

"But we're not sure if it's true or not," said Hermione tentatively.

"What do you mean, Hermione?" Harry almost yelled.

Luckily Madam Pomfrey was other side of the room checking on a different student, though she gave a curious look to them.

"I mean — mean — maybe you just dreamed it," Hermione mumbled.

"Dreamed it? Dreamed it?" Harry shouted.

Madam Pomfrey came to them looking angry.

"If you are feeling alright then you may go, Potter," she said strictly. "I think you forgot that this is the hospital wing."

"I think that will be good," Harry said angrily and got off the bed.

"Sorry, Madam Pomfrey," said Colin apoplectically.

Madam Pomfrey walked away and Harry stormed out of the hospital wing. Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Colin quickly followed looking worried. Chris was about to follow them when a voice stopped her.

"He didn't dream that."

Chris turned around and saw Theodore looking at her from his bed.

"Potter didn't have a dream. It's true," he repeated.

"How do you know?" Chris asked surprised.

"They are living in our mansion. I heard them — speaking. When they were planning it," Theodore looked at Chris' eyes. "I did not tell you this."

Chris nodded in understanding. Theodore sighed.

Chris ran out of there and through her talisman, she knew where others were and quickly reached them. 

Hermione was still arguing with Harry.

"What are we going to do?" Harry suddenly turned to Chris, cutting off Hermione. "You know it was not a dream, right?"

Chris nodded.

"We need to inform someone."

"But how —" Ron began.

"There is still an order member left," said Chris. "Snape."

All of them ran towards the dungeon, to Snape's office. Only to collided with Draco Malfoy, in front of the office.

"Whoa!" Draco sneered. "Are you all blind or what?"

"Sorry," Chris said urgently. "Is Professor Snape in there?"

"No," Draco raised an eyebrow. "But what do you need him for?"

"None of your business, Malfoy," said Harry. 

"Where is he?" asked Chris.

"No idea," Draco shrugged. "Left an hour ago for some important work."

"How do you know?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"Listen up Mud—" Draco stopped then sighed. "Granger, I am not interested in your stupid interrogation. If you don't believe me, just check yourself."

Draco walked past them.

"Now what?" asked Colin as they stood in the empty hallway.

"There got to be a way," said Chris thoughtfully. "Why did Snape leave now?"

"Maybe Snape had some order work," suggested Colin.

"No time to think about that," Chris checked her watch. "Half-past seven. We need to — Mirror."

"What?"

"Sirius' mirror, Harry," Chris turned to Harry. "Use it."

"Right, it's in my trunk," said Harry before sprinting towards the stairs.

But the mirror didn't show them anything. Just darkness.

"What the f*ck is going on?" grumbled Chris. "Three lives are at stake and no one is available."

"There is a way!" said Harry suddenly. 

"What?" said Ginny and Ron together.

"Umbridge's office," said Harry. "She told me herself that the only working floo network in Hogwarts is her own."

"Great, so we can use the floo network and contact in the Grimmauld Place," said Chris running.

"But what about Umbridge?" Hermione said looking nervous.

"Colin and I will distract her and you four go in," said Chris quickly. "Or I can just jinx Umbridge out of the way.

"The first one is good," said Colin hastily.

"Chris, it sounds dangerous," said Hermione.

"Hermione, people are going to die if we don't do this," said Ron angrily.

Hermione didn't say anything else.

They reached Umbridge's office corridor.

"Colin you keep a lookout while I lure Umbridge—" Chris began.

"No!" Colin snapped. "I will lure her out, you stay here."

"But Colin —"

"Hide before she comes out," Colin said and walked away.

No one spoke and quietly stay hidden in a corner. After a few minutes, Filch came running and called Umbridge then they left urgently.

"I hope Colin knows what is he doing," said Ron.

Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron entered Umbridge's office while Chris walked around, thinking what were they going to do if this plan doesn't work when suddenly —

"Chris?" 

Chris whipped around holding her wand out.

"Jason? What are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask the same," Jason said coming towards her.

"I —"

Jason looked at the empty corridor then at Umbridge's office and turned back to Chris.

"You are doing something — with Umbridge," he said suspiciously. "You aren't doing something like the Weasleys, do you?"

"No, it's not a prank," muttered Chris. "It's —"

They heard footsteps at the end of the corridor. Chris pulled Jason behind a statue and held her breath. The noise became louder and the people came into view. Luna, who was dragged by Pansy Parkinson and — to Chris' bewilderment — Neville, who was trapped in a stranglehold by Crabbe and looked in imminent danger of suffocation. Both of them gagged. Umbridge, Filch and many other Slytherins behind them.

"What the —?" Chris gasped.

Jason held her shoulder tightly to stop her from doing any movements.

Chris quickly concentrated on Ginny first.

"Gin, they're coming, hide," she said in her mind, then said to Luna. "Luna, what're you two doing here?"

Luna froze in surprise for a moment, then looked around but couldn't see Chris.

"Colin told me what happened just a few minutes ago," Chris heard Luna. "I was looking for him when I met Neville. He said he had Harry's wand."

Before Chris could respond, Ginny's panicking voice came.

"Crap, Harry doesn't have his invisibility cloak and I didn't bring yours."

"Great!" groaned Chris in frustration as Umbridge and her minions entered her office.

Then came shuffling, grumbling and screaming sounds. 

"I have to go in," said Chris looking back at Jason, who was looking shocked.

"No, you will be caught," said Jason.

"Doesn't matter, I can't leave them there," said Chris looking him in the eye.

"But —"

"Colin, where the hell are you?" Chris said in her mind ignoring Jason's protests.

"Chris, don't please —" said Jason. "You will be expelled."

"Chris, Luna. They caught her," came Colin's voice.

"I know, now come here. We need to rescue them," said Chris in her mind then focused on Jason, "Jason, I was the one, who jinxed her in an empty hallway. I need to go, now."

Chris ran towards the office leaving Jason behind the statue. 

"The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue, Potter" Chris heard Umbridge as she reached the door.

"Oh, you wish!"

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To be continued. . .