Chapter Ten: The resistance of Hogwarts

Delores Umbridge was a happy woman. She had finally become what she had always dreamed of, the Minister of Magic. True it was that she was working under some people, that before she made any change in the ministry rules she had to consult Bellatrix Lestrange, who consulted The Dark Lord. But still, most of the changes that she made were evil enough to be passed. Her personal favorite was the legalization of hunting of Centaurs. She had passed a decree that said that centaurs were dangerous, evil animals and supported in the fall of Rufus Scrimgeour. And so now she will be sending people from the ministry to find and kill them. She personally wanted the Hogwarts herd to be killed first. She was sending some highly efficient Aurors to kill them. another of her favorite decrees was removal of mudbloods from the magical community. Even though the decree said that mudbloods are to leave the magical world and go and live with muggles, she had ordered many of her workers to get them secretly killed. About a hundred mudbloods were already dead. And then there was the tournament, the muggle-hunting tournament to be held in a few months. Now there was just one thing that wanted, and that was to kill the members of the order.

But it was difficult. Whenever in the past one week they tried to kill anyorder member, they ended up getting their death eaters killed. But it was not the order that concerned Umbridge now, it was Hogwarts. The Dark Lord wanted his servents to be in hogwarts. He wanted Lucius to be the Headmaster, after the courage he showed by fighting his own son... he deserved this honour. Also, his loyal death eater Elizabeth McDowel, will take the job of the new Defence against the Dark Arts Teacher. She had always been good at luring people towards the dark arts. This would turn out more Death Eaters that anyone could imagine. He remembered how he met lisa, as everyone called her. she was in Albania when he met her. She had brought the maximum number of people there to change their minds. and now she will change the minds of the students. And of course, Fenrir Greyback will be the Gamekeeper and the Care of Magical creatures teacher, to take care of the mischievious lot... yes. So Umbridge signed the orders of appointment of these teachers, happily.

And so they were all ready. Ready for taking over Hogwarts. There were a few students who Umbridge would make sure get punished. The longbottom and that lovegood will be the first in the list. Within two days the new staff will reach Hogwarts. She would personally accompany them to the castle, just to see the horror on Minerva McGonagall’s face. It was a pity she wasn’t proved a member of the order, that she could still walk freely in the magical world. It would have been good to see her get killed, thought Umbridge.

Two days later the death eaters left for Hogwarts. Umbridge couldn’t leave because of some work. But she was happy nonetheless. It was only some time later when her happiness vanished. All the death eaters returned, claming that they could not find Hogwarts. She sent a whole staff of aurors to see what’s the matter but even they returned, saying that Hogwarts had vanished.

It was bellatrix who told this to the dark lord. He decided that this was magic these mediocre people will not know off. That he himself will have to go and solve this mystery. And so he left. He flew towards Hogwarts. He reached Hogsmede and went towards the castle. But there was no castle. He could sense some very strong magic. But he did not know what was it. He moved forward but was stopped. Where the gates used to be, there was now a barrier that he could not penetrate. He tried using all kinds of magic but couldn’t get through. It was then that he heard something. someone was coming towards him. It was professor Trelawney. She looked lost, in her own world. She didn’t even notice anyone was there but kept moving forward. It was again that barrier that stopped her. She looked up and said, ‘Oh no! not again. Now how will I get in? I hope someone come out from that side soon or else-’

She finally saw Voldemort standing in front of her. ‘the- the- D-D-Dark Lord…’

‘I presume you don’t know how to get past this door?’ he said

‘N-N-N-No, sir I d-d-don’t’ she said.

‘I can see you are not lying, I have great respect for teachers at Hogwarts hence I am leaving you alive’ and he started to leave. He was a little further away when he herd her making some odd sounds. He turned. She was on the ground breathing fast and then she said, in a voice that was not like her own., ‘THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AS LONG AS THE BOY WHO LIVED DOESN’T COMES TO KNOW ABOUT THE VERY MYSTERIOUS SAND. BUT THIS MOMENT WILL COME SOON WHEN THE BOY WILL KNOW ABOUT IT. AND IT WILL MARK THE FALL OF THE LORD. THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE IS TO TURN FRIENDS INTO FOES.’

And then she was back to her normal self. But as she regained consciousness, she found the dark lord close to her. ‘what did you just say?’ he asked

‘I –I don’t know, w-w-what are you t-t-talking about.’ She said

Voldemort could sense the truth in her. But still it would be dangerous now to leave her alive. ‘I will have to kill you know’ he said raising his wand.

‘n-n-not without a d-d-d-duel’ she said.

And the dark lord laughed. But suddenly a red light came out from professor Trelawney’s wand and hit voldemort in the chest. He fell, but stood up again.

‘HUMMETI’ she said, and a purple light came out from her wand and encircled Voldemort.

‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH’ he shouted. It was agony beyond measure that he felt. But somehow, he gathered the strength to raise his wand and point it at Professor Trelawney. And he shouted ‘AVADA-KE-DAVRA’ the pain stopped. As the caster of the painful spell was now dead. And he left that place, wondering about the prophecy he had just heard.

Chapter Nine: Kreacher’s Mistress.

By evening, Harry, Ron and Hermione were ready to leave. Mrs Wheasley was sobbing like mad while Mr Wheasley was helping them pack. The tears of Mrs Wheasley were making Harry feel guilty. As if he was taking Ron to his death. He tried to speak to her and say that he didn’t force Ron and Hermione to come and that they can stay but he only increased her sobs by doing that. ‘Harry’ don’t think I am blaming you for all this. You are all fighting. We are all fighting. But its – its just that, where will you go?’

‘Don’t worry Mrs Wheasley,’ said Hermione. ‘I have a plan.’

Before sunset they had packed up all gathered in the burrow’s kithen to say goodbyes. Hermione had an enchanted bag that could take in things the size of a Hungarian horntail. And then they left. They apparated from the front gate of the burrow.
Harry Ron and Hermione apparated together. It was hermionee who was leading them. when they reached, it was in front of a familiar, but unfriendly place called Grimmauld Place. They had apparated under the invisibility cloak so they were not seen by anyone. and then in front of them, number twelve appeared, pushing the other buildings aside.

‘Hermione, why are we here?’ asked Ron.

‘R.A.B.’ said Hermione, ‘come.’

They went into the house. ‘regulus,’ said Hermione. ‘his full name was Regulus Arcturus Black. I read about him in a book. And that locket, u remember when we were cleaning this place, we did get a locket?’

‘yes,’ said Harry, astonished. ‘but – but we had thrown that locket, hadn’t we? Where is it now? Wait a minute. He must be knowing it. Kreature, come here.’

And with a loud pop, kreature arrived. Bowing low and muttering things under his breath. And Harry asked him, ‘do u know anything about a locket kreature? That we had thrown two years ago while cleaning?’

‘yes’ said kreature. ‘can you bring it?’

‘yes’ said kreature. And he went. He then brought a box. Harry took the box and opened it. But it was only disappointment that filled his heart when he saw an ordinary locket lying in the box.

‘this is not the one.’ Said Harry. He could see the same frustration on the other’s face as well. And then Hermione asked Kreature, ‘Kreature, how did, master Regulus die?’

And kreature burst into teares. Hermione tried to pat him but he pushed her hand away. He then said, ‘Horcruxes. Master knew about the horcruxes of the Dark Lord. He was regretting being a death eater. And somehow, he – he knew it. The Dark Lord knew it. And he killed him. he killed Master Regulus.’ And he sobbed. Harder than ever. ‘and my poor mistress. Kreature knew the reason of master’s death. He told that to his mistress. And she sobbed. And one day, she killed herself. She told kreature that her death will one day help bring the Dark Lord down.’

It made Harry feel sad. After all, Regulus and Mrs Black were not that bad. He looked at Ron and saw a similar expression on his face. But Hermione looked triumphant. ‘Kreature, your mistress’s death was not a waste. We have finished three of the six horcruxes.’

‘but kreature, why did you helped the Malfoys when Sirius died?’ asked Harry. ‘they were also on the dark lord’s side’

‘Kreature didn’t know. He thought they were good people. And they were very good to kreature. Master Sirius had never been good to kreature. He hated kreature and kreature hated him.’

‘Kreature’ said Hermione, ‘we are sorry. Extremely sorry for what you have gone through. But we need your help. We want to destroy the horcruxes. We want to complete the task that Master Regulus started. Are you with us on this task?’

‘yes’ kreature said. And he started sobbing. And Harry hugged him.