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[Prof Umbridge] Chapter 49
🕑 Added 2024-12-11 18:44:37 +0000 UTCThe day was a whirlwind of activity, leaving barely enough time to carve out a quarter of an hour to visit the infirmary and check on Dumbledoreâs condition.
Madam Pomfrey, who was just changing the bandages on Colhoun (the cheerful, freckled young man who had suffered an attack by Inferi), nodded towards the screen partitioning off a distant corner and said:
âHeâs fine, Dolores, but he refuses to talk. Heâs not entirely here, you might say. Stares right through you, answers when he feels like it, but not every time.â
âMay I see him?â
âOf course. And youâhold still!â she added, addressing Colhoun. âBrave enough to face Inferi, but canât tolerate five minutes of treatment?â
âIâm not brave!â protested the Auror. âItâs just... fighting under Polyjuice... ow! Fightingâs so much harderâitâs a different body, coordinationâs off, reflexes are foreign... ouch! And there wasnât time for proper training...â
âYouâll live,â Pomfrey grumbled, thrusting a large mug of potion into his hands. âDrink it all!â
Dolores carefully peeked behind the screen. Dumbledore lay under a sheet pulled up to his chin, staring at the ceiling. It was hard to tell if he heard any of what Hagrid, sitting beside him and muttering incessantly, was saying. Hagridâs face was decorated with fresh bruises.
âHow is he?â she asked softly.
Hagrid started and turned to her, dabbing his nose with what appeared to be a checkered tablecloth.
âAlive,â he rumbled in a low whisper, âbut he wonât talk... What happened, maâam? The Death Eaters came for Harry, didnât they? And the headmaster wanted to protect him, so he led him away, relying on the teachers and Aurors to defend the school. But heââ
âWho told you that?â Dolores interrupted, her tone sharp.
âHe did,â Hagrid replied guilelessly. âSaid if anything happened, Harry had to be saved firstâbecause without him, You-Know-Who canât be beaten! Said the Death Eaters would move mountains to get to him, but if he wasnât at the school, they wouldnât bother anyone else. Their own kids are here, after all!â
âI see...â
âYeah... And I swore Iâd protect Harry, the school, and the headmaster himself!â
âI heard you distinguished yourself in the battle,â Dolores said seriously.
âEh, I got there near the end. Couldnât get through the barriers they put up everywhere,â Hagrid sighed. âSaw someone in a mask running past, clearly trying to escape, so I threw my club at them...â
âGood aim,â she reassured him.
âMaâam...â Hagrid hesitated, sniffled, then added quietly, âI heard Harryâs been punished?â
âCorrect.â
âMaybe donât be too hard on the lad? Heâs been through a lot... Send him my way, like Professor Dumbledore used toââ
âHagrid,â Dolores sighed heavily, âHarry is no longer a âlad,â as you put it. Heâs a young man now. And no, I wonât send him to you for tea. Heâs not leaving the castle unescorted. Youâve understood correctly: the Death Eaters and their master want him, so no oneâs taking their eyes off him! As for the punishment, itâs a minor one, nothing more than what heâs had to endure with Mr. Filch before...â
âWell, maybe...â Hagrid scratched his beard thoughtfully. âStill, when you work with your hands, it clears your head a bit!â
âExactly. Take care, Hagrid. If Professor Dumbledore wishes to speak, call me.â
As she left, Dolores happened to run into Ingebjorg in the corridor.
âDumbledore didnât want to talk?â Ingebjorg inquired with genuine curiosity. Dolores shrugged.
âAs expected. He said far too much last night and now has to think it overâalong with how to untangle the web of lies heâs been spinning for years. Heâs trapped himself in his own net.â
âSeems so... Do you know where he went last night with Potter? You fixed the boyâs memory, but I didnât think to ask then. Now Hagridâs saying Dumbledore was trying to protect Harry from the Death Eaters!â
âI know, but not from Harry. He had no idea where or why he was being taken.â Ingebjorg turned toward the stairs. âDumbledore realized time was running out, and the Horcruxes were still missing. He found the ring, that much is true, the diaryâs long destroyed, and he recently traced a medallion.â
âHe mentioned this last night?â
âYes, half-deliriousâan unfortunate side effect of the emerald potion,â Ingebjorg nodded. âIf you ask the right questions, you get interesting answers. And asking questions is my trade...â
Dolores was silent for a moment before asking, âFrom what we learned about the medallion, does that mean... he really intended for Potter to drink the potion?â
âWell, it didnât come to that,â Ingebjorg shook her silver head. âHe planned to drink it himself.â
âBut he didnât know the medallion was fake...â Dolores murmured. âAh, I didnât tell you about that yet!â
After a brief explanation, Ingebjorg simply nodded.
âFake or not, Dumbledore would have drunk the potion. Following his plan, heâd have gained nothing but lost much...â
âAre you saying he lost nothing now?â
âIf you mean his hand, Dolores, thatâs a trifle,â Ingebjorg smiled. âWhat he gained, I hope, is understandingâand he kept his life. I doubt heâd have survived the potion, cursed as he is, without supervision...â
âBut he also gained torment,â Dolores muttered.
âWho says gain must always bring joy, or loss always bring grief?â
âTrue...â Dolores paused, collected her thoughts, and then glanced around to ensure no one was listening. âIngebjorg, be honestâwhat was in your flask?â
âIâve already answered that question once today, around six in the morning,â Ingebjorg replied calmly. âNo mind-expanding potions, then or now. Want me to drink it in front of you?â
Dolores shook her head.
âSo it was that bad?â Ingebjorg asked with interest.
âItâs not that,â Dolores replied darkly. âItâs just...â
âRidiculous, inappropriate, and ill-timed?â
âExactly. And that stupid joke!â
âWell, our colleague has a rather peculiar sense of humor,â Ingebjorg nodded. âBut think, Doloresâhasnât he always acted this way?â
âNo,â Dolores replied almost immediately. âHeâs already... hmm... made jokes with textbooks, and before that, with another matter of ours. And Iâll bet he turned a blind eye to the headmasterâs left-handedness, even though he must have noticed Lettyâs antics!â
âAnd what does this behavior resemble?â
âCertainly not that of an adult,â Dolores answered grimly. She paused, then asked hesitantly, âIngebjorg, youâre not suggesting...â
âWhy suggest what you already know, Dolores?â Ingebjorg looked at her slyly. âOur colleague may appear to be an accomplished Master, but deep down, heâs an awkward teenager with no sense of tact. Most of them are, with few exceptions. âWhatâs the big deal?â Thatâs their favorite phrase! And they genuinely donât see the problem...â
âIâve thought about this before,â Dolores admitted. âThat heâs spent two-thirds of his life at this school, with no chance to learn how to interact with others beyond... uh... professional boundaries.â
"Are you more upset with yourself? For failing to stay within the boundaries of the rules you set for yourself?"
"Yes," she nodded. "In this case, I have only myself to blame. Never before have two sips affected me so much, and to such a degree!"
"It's not as if you end up in situations like this every day," sighed Ingebjorg. "There's no point in blaming yourself. What's done is doneâgrind it down, and you'll have flour. By the way, here's your note. He was too scared to return it himself, said your hand was far too heavy..."
"The bearer of this note consents to perform any actions I command," Marina Nikolaevna read aloud, the words written in her own hand. She was at a loss for words.
"As if I didn't already have enough troublesome teenagers..." she finally muttered. "Speaking of which, Ingebjorg! Could you perhaps take on Potter?"
"No," the seer replied immediately. "As your deputy, of course, Iâll assign him yet another detention. But if you're talking about mentorshipâno, no, and again no!"
"Why not?"
"Because, Dolores, those who come to me seek knowledge," said Ingebjorg. "Even if they don't fully understand what they're looking for, they strive for something greaterâsomething they believe I can give them. Take Hrafn: when he came to me, he could barely communicate like a normal human being. But he knew, with absolute certainty, that he wanted to learn skills to restore his clan's glory. He spent years as my apprentice, doing dirty and arduous work, learning our language. Only when he was able to clearly articulate his desireâand when I was certain it wasn't mere whimsyâdid I accept him as a student."
She paused and added, "You see, he stayed with me. Perhaps, after so many years, his dream of becoming the ruler of a few surviving dvergar clans faded, replaced by something else. I think even Hrafn himself doesn't yet understand what that is, but he'll find his path. At this point, he knows and can do enough not to lose his way."
"So you're saying that if someone doesn't want to learn, you can't force them?" Marina Nikolaevna asked.
"Precisely. But that boy who always clings to youâI would take him," Ingebjorg replied, completely seriously. "He's too young for apprenticeship now, but he has all the makings of a great student. And if he doesn't lose his inner fire by the time he's of age, I would gladly welcome him to my hearth."
"You mean Abercrombie? That little second-year Gryffindor?" she clarified, waiting for Ingebjorg's nod before adding, "Heâll probably be thrilled."
"Of course he will. As if itâs not obvious... A curious mind paired with a pure heart and kind soul is a rare find," the seer smirked. "But your Potter... He was once clever, but he's forgotten his wit, replacing it with a companion. He was once kind, but he's lost that kindness and instinct, replacing it with a friend. You canât blame him for thisâit wasn't his choice, nor his doing."
"Can he be helped?"
"Only if someone comes along who can take him in and warm him, like a frozen bird in their hands," said Ingebjorg, pausing. "And thatâs not a task for a day or two; it's for life. His godfather won't helpâhis fire only burns cities down. The Weasley matriarch? Even less soâsheâd smother him with her love, like a heavy quilt. He has no one nearby. No one to both hold him steady and give him rest."
"So, will he just be lost?" Marina Nikolaevna asked quietly.
"Perhaps heâll find a friend," Ingebjorg replied gravely. "One who wants nothingâno glory, no heroics, neither theirs nor his. But, as I said, thereâs no one like that here in the school. Maybe later, he'll meet someone. For now, weâre powerless, Dolores."
"And the Auror Department is no option for him."
"Gods forbid!" she exclaimed. "As if youâve never seen Aurors before! Speaking of which, theyâre right on cue..."
"Madam Umbridgeâuh, I mean, Headmistress," OâLeary appeared unexpectedly, as usual. "We need you for five minutes."
"Of course," she replied. "Whatâs the matter?"
"Eliminators are here," he said in a low voice.
"I beg your pardon?" she frowned.
"The guys from the Department for the Regulation of Dangerous Creatures," Berkeley clarified, appearing on the other side. "Theyâve already taken out two groups of giants moving toward Hogwarts. They were likely heading to support you-know-who but never made it... And now weâve got the Forbidden Forest right at our doorstep."
"Theyâve already surveyed the forest from above," OâLeary continued, "and found a massive acromantula nestâone. And two, giant tracks. Just one giant, but still..."
"Wait..." Marina Nikolaevna held her head. "That forest has centaurs, hippogriffs, unicorns, thestrals, and..."
"And who knows what else," Berkeley finished. "All within walking distance of the school. Ordinary creatures wonât bother people, and centaurs keep to themselves. But giants and acromantulas? The eliminators are asking for permission to handle it."
"Handle itâas in destroy it?" she asked softly.
"Yes. Do you want a breeding ground for such threats right next door?"
"No, but... where did the giant come from?"
"Now thatâs an interesting question," OâLeary said. "Theyâll try to capture it alive if possibleâmaybe they can figure out how it got here, who brought it, and which routes it used. Giants arenât stupid, but theyâre hard to negotiate with!"
"Perhaps Hrafn can help," Ingebjorg said quietly. "He knows how to communicate with the Jotnar and may find common ground with this one."
"That would be splendid, madam," Berkeley nodded. "As for the spiders, though... their nest will have to be burned."
"The centaurs will be furious," Marina Nikolaevna sighed.
"Then they should stay out of it," OâLeary shrugged. "Canât we send Firenze as a mediator?"
"No, heâs an outcast. Theyâd kill him if he entered the forest," she explained.
"Too bad. Well, they can wait until the spider lair burns outâretreat to the ravine, perhaps. The eliminators wonât let the fire spread to the forest. And as for the rest... Lightning couldâve caused such a fire anyway," he chuckled. "The creatures will flee on their ownâtheyâre not stupid. So, Headmistress, do we have your approval?"
"What choice do I have?" she muttered. "But seriously, try to avoid unnecessary casualties!"
"Weâll start with flashbangs," OâLeary said. "Those Weasley twins invented some great stuff! The noise and light will drive most creatures away. Then the eliminators will surround and neutralize the spiders. Weâve got sleeping potions ready, among other things..."
"And if the centaurs show up with their arrows," Berkeley added with a smirk, "theyâll be dealt with quickly. As for the giant, a special unit will handle it."
"Alright, proceed," Marina Nikolaevna nodded. "Ingebjorg, will you explain to Hrafn whatâs needed of him?"
"Of course."
The Forbidden Forest had long been a source of anxiety for her, but there had been no time to deal with it. The thestrals and other creatures generally kept to themselves, avoiding humans. But still...
"Iâll keep watch to ensure no harm comes to the peaceful creatures," Ingebjorg said. From seemingly nowhere, Hrafn appeared, handing her a fur cloak and standing by her side. "Letâs go, gentlemen. Dolores?"
"Iâm counting on you," Marina Nikolaevna nodded and headed toward the stairsâthere was no shortage of other matters to attend to, especially after what Letty had uncovered!
The artifacts were neatly arranged on the table, and Marina Nikolaevna made a wide detour around it: the unknown artifacts were "radiating" noticeably, as she recalled the appropriate term.
Here was a heavy chain with a pendant shaped like a skull with ruby eyes and pearl teeth, and there, a braceletâor perhaps a shackle? How had they ended up in the Room of Requirement? And when? No answersâŠ
"There were a few crowns, Madam," Letty said, appearing by her side. "But only one is special, and the rest are just objects with strange powers."
"This one, you mean?" Marina Nikolaevna pointed to a modest diadem among the other treasures. "It seems like there's something engraved on it. Can you read it?"
She had no desire to pick up the object herself.
"It says, 'Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure,'" Letty read, squinting at the diadem.
"Fitting⊠But there's only one way to confirm if it's the real thing," thought Marina Nikolaevna and instructed: "Fly to Professor Snape and tell him I need to see him. And have him bring the fang."
"Yes, Madam!" Letty replied.
It took a while for her to return, and when she did, she reappeared arm-in-arm with Snape, who Letty promptly explained had been busy with a conversation, then writing a letter, then busy again, and thenâŠ
"Stalling for time," Marina Nikolaevna concluded. "Severus, really, what were you doing?"
"And do you think it's simple to compose a letter to Malfoyâone that ensures the Dark Lord doesnât catch on to what's really happening here?" he snapped. "Lucius only cares about Draco, but as for meâhow do you expect me to manage? 'Oh, my Lord, the castle is crawling with Aurors, but theyâre such incompetents they missed the attack and only overwhelmed the intruders with sheer numbers! No, my Lord, I havenât lost control of the situation! Dumbledoreâs in the infirmary, and the Minister is so terrified he appointed some⊠ahemâŠ"
"A chicken," she supplied.
"What, would it have been better to write 'manticore'?" Snape asked dryly. "Though you're far worse than a manticore⊠All right, letâs get to the point."
"Here," Marina Nikolaevna nodded at the table. "The Room of Requirement yielded a lot of interesting items, but this diadem seems to be what weâre after. Although, as a precaution, we could test the fang on the other objects tooâŠ"
"And what if we ruin them?" he asked with genuine curiosity, eyeing the pendant shaped like a skull. The lower jaw of the pendant was visibly moving, and he had no desire to stick a finger in its teeth. "Letâs start with the diademâif itâs a Horcrux, weâll know immediately."
"Then get on with it. What are you waiting for?"
Crack. The diadem split in two, and as if echoing the sharp sound, something distant burst with a crackling explosion.
"Another attack?!" Snape was the first to rush to the window.
"No, itâs the exterminators chasing off the spiders," Marina Nikolaevna said, moving aside to peer at the fireworks over the Forbidden Forest.
From the depths of the forest, thestrals and hippogriffs soared into the air, shrieking and crying as they scattered to the edges. Flashes of spells, bursts of gunfire, and someoneâs roaring could be heard.
"It would look better at night," Snape muttered.
"At night, the Acromantulas would be active, and now they havenât fully woken up yet," Marina Nikolaevna explained. "Why waste time?"
"IndeedâŠ" He kept looking into the distance. "Dolores⊠so only two Horcruxes remain? The snake andâŠ"
"Yes. Figuring out how to get the snake wonât be too difficult. But as for the other oneâŠ" She paused before saying, "I have an idea. I just need to consult with Ingebjorgâthis kind of thing is her specialty."
"You might as well tell me what isnât her specialty," Snape muttered, still staring toward the Forbidden Forest.
Marina Nikolaevna carefully placed a hand on his chestâhis heart was racing, sometimes skipping a beat, like that of a frightened bird.
"Severus, weâll figure something out," she said seriously. "I donât know what yet, but Harry will survive. Iâm certain."
"Really?" he asked quietly, covering her hand with his own.
"Absolutely," she repeated.
