Splitting the Party
Hermione was roused from her bed that night at two in the morning. Sally-Anne stared down at her.
"What do you want?" Hermione hissed.
"Headmistress Umbridge would like to see you," Sally-Anne said. "Now."
"Grahk d'ka."
Hermione rolled over and tried to ignore Sally-Anne.
"Either I bring you, or she sends someone else that will drag you out of bed. I'd really rather we not have to, but you know she will."
Hermione rolled back over and glared at Sally-Anne.
"Fine."
"Thank you. Don't worry about getting dressed, just make sure you're decent."
Hermione tossed on a robe and grabbed her pack.
"No, leave your pack here," Sally-Anne said.
Hermione followed Sally-Anne down to the common room, where she found a growing mass of students. Most of Gryffindor must have congregated in the common room. Sally-Anne went back up to the girls' rooms and returned with more students. Hermione realized who she was collecting: their former students. Sally-Anne was fetching members of the CI.
"Alright, everyone, follow me," Sally-Anne called to the tired students after she'd finished. "You'll be recounted when we reach the Great Hall, so don't stray."
As their group trudged through the castle, Hermione noticed people there she didn't recognize. The people, Ministry workers, she figured, were putting in place small black trinkets. They fixed them to the walls in various places towards the ceiling, then moved on. She also noticed a classroom sealed off on the seventh floor, not far from Dumbledore's office.
It's not his anymore, she thought. The thought took some of the precious remaining energy she had out of her, making her feel defeated.
They met up with another group from Ravenclaw along the way. This group was being guarded by some Slytherins, and merged into their group when they passed Ravenclaw Tower. They made their way down to the Great Hall, collecting a sizable group of Hufflepuffs along the way.
Sally-Anne led them inside the Great Hall, then stood at the entrance as they all filed in.
"File in," Umbridge commanded. "Form rows of six, starting here. Potter, Granger, front row."
They did as they were instructed, forming rows of six, standing still.
"No one is to speak unless I address them directly," Umbridge said. "You mustn't move unless instructed. All eyes face the front of the room."
Hermione did as she was told. She was far less resistant at two in the morning, although she suspected that was the point: everyone was less resistant at two in the morning. That meant she couldn't turn back and see what had become of Sally-Anne.
"You are all troublemakers," Umbridge said. "All of you need to be taught how to behave in a proper, civilized world. I knew Hogwarts was bad, but I had no idea just how awful it had become. Now, more than ever, my help is required. It is necessary to maintain order."
No one coughed, or sneezed, or yawned. They were all exhausted.
"Granger, step forward!"
Hermione started forward, but Umbridge stopped her.
"Lead with your left foot, take exactly five steps, stop in front of me, then turn to face me."
Hermione's blood boiled, but she wouldn't show any of it on her face. She obediently followed Umbridge's exact instructions, stopping in front of her.
"Remove your gloves, and drop them to the floor."
Hermione stopped and glared at Umbridge in defiance, but still obeyed.
"This girl is a traitor to the Ministry!" Umbridge said to the rest of the students. "She tells you that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned, and that he killed the girl Rose Peta-Lorrum. Rose Peta-Lorrum committed suicide! You-Know-Who has not returned!" She turned to Hermione. "Say it."
"'It'."
Umbridge didn't so much as flinch.
"Now you can see what happens to traitors in a proper world."
Umbridge grabbed Hermione's right hand and pressed the tip of her wand into it.
Hermione winced as the tip burned her skin, right where the scar from her detentions with Umbridge was healing.
"Say it, Traitor."
"Make me."
Umbridge gave a small laugh, then turned back to the other students. "This girl is no longer Hermione Granger. You shall all refer to her as 'Traitor'. Don't worry; I shall make it easy for you all to remember."
Umbridge turned back to Hermione and grabbed a tuft of her hair. Hermione glared at Umbridge as the so-called teacher smiled back at her.
"Remember, Traitor, this is for your own good."
Gasps came from the audience when Umbridge brought her wand to Hermione's forehead. Pain shot through her as Umbridge burned the word "Traitor" into her skin. Hermione didn't squirm or flinch. She held fast, remembering Rose. She never faltered, nor would Hermione. No matter how much abuse she took, she refused to back down.
"There," Umbridge said, stepping back from Hermione when she finished. "Now I want everyone to say 'Hello, Traitor'."
Hermione's ears rang with a chorus of "Hello, Traitor".
"Very good," Umbridge said. "Traitor, please take four steps, starting with your right foot, and return to your place in line."
Hermione took four large steps, then faced the front of the room. Her forehead still stung, but she kept her face blank.
Umbridge walked along their ranks, careful to step on Hermione's gloves on her way past. When she reached Harry, she stopped.
"Potter, please take five steps forward, starting with your left foot, and face me."
Harry did as he was commanded, his neutral expression matching Hermione's.
"This boy you all know as Harry Potter committed the crime of attempting to overthrow the Minister of Magic. Like his friend Traitor, he went against those that only tried to help him. We can't very well call him 'Traitor', so he shall be 'Criminal'. Everyone say 'Hello, Criminal'."
Hermione kept her mouth shut, but she must've been the only one.
"Criminal, tell these children that you were lying to them," Umbridge said. "Tell them the truth, that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has not returned, and that you made the whole story up."
"You said tell the truth," Harry said. "Should I tell the truth, or that Voldemort hasn't returned? I can't do both."
Hermione heard a giggle from the crowd that sounded a lot like Ginny.
"It doesn't surprise me that you've turned to a life of crime," Umbridge said, more to the students than to Harry. "Given that your legal guardian is a criminal."
"That's slander," Harry replied. "He–"
"A case has been brought against Sirius Black. It is obvious to the Ministry of Magic and Department of Magical Law Enforcement that Black played a leading role in the recent breakout of Azkaban. He will be arrested along with Remus Lupin for crimes against the Ministry."
"You can't do that!"
"The Ministry can arrest any criminal it wants." Umbridge's smile broadened. "Including you, Criminal. You would do well to remember that in the future."
"I haven't done anything wrong."
"That's for us to decide, not you."
For the rest of the night, Umbridge walked back and forth and told them how worthless they were. That they needed her guidance to be decent people. That their lives were meaningless without the Ministry.
As the night went on, it grew harder for Hermione to keep her face neutral. Umbridge held them there for another two hours, during which Hermione learned to use the Tempus charm without moving her mouth.
Anger swirled inside Hermione, threatening to burst free and rip everything apart. She knew it wouldn't help. No doubt Perks had already told Umbridge about Hermione's control issues. Umbridge would've had something on standby for it.
Every time Umbridge addressed her, it was always "Traitor this" or "Traitor that". She was always careful to use Hermione's "new" name, or to make someone else use it. Fortunately, she hadn't felt the need to brand Harry as she'd branded Hermione. It didn't matter; it'd heal. Failing that, Hermione could use glamour magic to hide it.
After the two hours, they were released and escorted back to their rooms. They past more Ministry workers installing the same sort of trinkets. Hermione didn't even think about what they might be. She had other plans.
When she returned to her room with Parvati and Lavender, the other two girls collapsed in their beds. Hermione noticed a similar trinket in their room, but ignored it. She walked into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror.
Focusing on the words on her forehead, she ran equations in her mind. It was only a matter of boosting her immune system to expedite the healing process. Muttering the resulting incantations, she watched the brand disappear. Then, she used another spell, and sure enough, an almost identical brand reappeared.
She smirked.
"Grahk d'ka, jato."
Less than a minute later, she was passed out in her own bed.
The next morning somehow got even worse. A large part of the school was exhausted from the previous night. Hermione was so tired she nearly missed it. Had there not been a small group of "innocent, decent" students looking at it, she would've missed it.
It was one of the trinkets she'd seen fitted in place, except this one was in the common room, and it wasn't the same as the others she'd seen. The center piece had opened, revealing what looked to be a sort of eye.
"What is it?" one student asked.
"I don't know, but I think I saw another in our room."
"Is it watching us?"
"What's it doing here?"
Hermione frowned, then turned back to the girls' staircase. She bounded up to her room, taking the stairs two at a time. When she got there, she indeed found another eye, but this one was closed.
"Headmistress Umbridge had them installed last night," Perks said. "They're to help maintain order. She's going to explain them at breakfast."
She held a stack of papers in her hand as she walked past Hermione. The moment Perks left, the eye opened again.
Harry was equally infuriated when he realized what the eyes were doing. Worse yet was Sally-Anne posting a piece of parchment on the common room notice board. When she walked into the common room, the eye closed, startling some of the students.
She posted the parchment, then promptly left the common room. The moment she was out, the eye opened again.
Attention All,
On the order of Dolores Umbridge (High Inquisitor, Headmistress of Hogwarts) the following sanctions have been approved:
1. Students shall be supervised at all times. The new supervision eyes are to assist in this endeavor.
2. Students are to remain in meals, class, and common rooms until dismissed.
3. Students will submit to inquiries by the High Inquisitor at her discretion.
4. Students will turn over all bags, purses, parcels, and sacks for searches for contraband when requested by the High Inquisitor or the Inquisitorial Squad.
5. Students will submit letters to be inspected by a member of the Inquisitorial Squad when requested. If the member feels that the letter should not be sent, they may deny that student the privilege of sending the letter.
6. Students are no longer allowed to function as Teaching Assistants.
7. Members of the Inquisitorial Squad are exempt from all the above rules.
8. Failure to comply with any of the above sanctions will result in immediate disciplinary action.
Regarding the newly formed Inquisitorial Squad, it shall consist of the following students:
Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Every time he thought the rules seemed bad, they just kept getting worse. He scanned the Inquisitorial Squad list, stopping at one name: Sally-Anne Perks.
"'Will lead the squad in the High Inquisitor's absence?'" he read. "What?"
For a moment, he wanted nothing more than to drive his fist through the wall. For years, Sally-Anne had been his best friend, and now, she'd completely turned her back on them. Any possible chance of redemption was crushed at that moment. She knew all his secrets, and she'd already spilled them all to Umbridge. He'd been right; she couldn't be trusted.
"She won't get away with this," Hermione hissed. "Perks will pay for this. I swear, she's going to pay."
"Did you read her definition of contraband?" Ron asked, nodding to another section of the order.
Any news sources spreading falsities
Any potentially lethal objects, apart from wands
Any objects of unknown magic
"'Any objects of unknown magic'," Hermione read. "Perks knows all about the equipment Rose gave us. It won't be long before Umbridge shows up to take it."
"Or Sally-Anne will do it for her," Harry said. "Or Malfoy, or one of his goons."
"Then why hasn't she?" Ron asked. "If she were going to tell Umbridge, why hasn't she already?"
Neither Harry nor Hermione had an answer to that. The best Harry could think of was that Sally-Anne didn't want Umbridge taking her precious pendant, dress, or ribbon. How else would she manipulate people?
Breakfast was no better. Umbridge informed them of the changes, and that she would be reassessing the staff. She introduced each member of the Inquisitorial Squad, pausing after each one as if expecting applause. Slytherin was the only house that applauded. They even applauded Sally-Anne, the one non-Slytherin member of the squad.
Harry wondered if they realized she was Muggle-born, and wondered how they'd react when they realized it.
Hermione didn't know how things kept managing to get worse. She was told repeatedly by the Inquisitorial Squad that she wasn't allowed to cover her forehead.
"We wouldn't want people to forget your name, Traitor!" Parkinson mocked.
That wasn't even the worst of it. The worst of it came when she was called on during class. The first day wasn't a problem; the teachers still called her by her name. Then they began to hesitate, and it didn't take Hermione long to realize why. Umbridge had told them to use her "new" name.
It stung, being called "Traitor" by Professors Sprout and McGonagall, but the worst was Professor Vector.
"Ms… Ah."
The whole class stopped, waiting for her to say it.
Hermione's eyes checked Rebecca's expression, expecting to see her thrilled over her academic rival's shame. But even she didn't look comfortable with it.
"I'm…"
"It's alright, Professor," Hermione said. "Do what you've got to."
If there was anyone that hated her being called "Traitor" more than Hermione herself, it was Professor Vector. Her face twitched with contained anger and resentment. Hermione had felt it a few times, that feeling when she was going to do something she already regretted, but had to do it anyway.
"Traitor… I'm sorry… have you got the answer?"
After that, Hermione stopped raising her hand in Arithmancy. She wrote the answer to every question Professor Vector asked, but never raised her hand. Still, she and her remaining friends found ways around the rules.
"Can anyone tell me— Mr. Diggory?"
Hermione showed her notes to Cedric.
"That's a growth charm mixed with a color-changing charm."
"Very good."
At the end of the week came the news of the staff that were being sacked. Firenze was the first to go, naturally. No one, not even Firenze himself, was surprised. He left without difficulty, without a fuss. Hermione didn't catch the name of his replacement over the loud uproar at the next members of staff that were deemed "unnecessary".
"Due to budget constraints, I'm sorry to say that Mr. Filch's assistants, Mr. Alavel and Ms. Taltria, are also being sacked."
"WHAT?!" Harry roared, although his voice fit in well with the rest of the students.
Shouts of "Boo!", "Rubbish!", and a few of "Dürah!" came from most of the students, Slytherin included. Hermione never realized how well the Nimblewrights got along with the students. Even Filch looked annoyed at the news.
"SILENCE!" Umbridge screeched. She composed herself before continuing. "This is for the betterment of Hogwarts. Your safety and education aren't cheap."
"She can't!" Harry shouted.
"Of course she can, Lord Skyeyes," Alavel said when Harry caught up with him. "She's well within her rights as Headmistress."
"Only because she framed Dumbledore!"
"He confessed to a crime, which, might I remind you, he did to save you from punishment."
Harry hated arguing with Alavel. Not because Alavel was stubborn, but because he always managed to make too much sense. In the back of his mind, Harry knew that if he stopped listening to reason, Alavel would stop using it, and Harry hated the idea of Alavel treating him like a child. Anyone else could, but not Alavel.
"So that's it? You're just going to leave?"
"Headmistress Umbridge spoke with my sister and I earlier this week. This is far less about our being assistants to Mr. Filch; she doesn't see a problem with it. It is that we have no history, no previous employment, and no proper names. There's a lot missing from our files that she would otherwise require. Professor Dumbledore employed us because he knew who and what we are."
"Hold on, he paid you?"
"Of course not. What use would we have for money? He gave us lodging and the chance to be with you and your friends. That was enough for us."
"THEN WHY—"
"Because I asked her to," Alavel said, cutting Harry's rant short. "I asked her to cite monetary troubles as the reason for us being sacked so as not to alarm the students. She's quite reasonable so long as she gets what she wants in the end."
Once again, Harry hated how everything Alavel said made perfect sense to him. So he changed tactics.
"What about Perks? Did she know about this?"
"Lady Princess is doing what she believes to be right. She's not evil, nor has she turned her back on anyone. In fact, she still cares deeply for all of you. She has made a choice. A choice with which she must now live."
Hermione sat up reading in her room. She was weary of the eyes realizing she didn't need sleep, but she didn't care that night. If they figured it out, good for them.
"You shouldn't still be up," Perks said when she walked in from her nightly patrol.
Hermione didn't bother looking up from her book.
"Umbridge know you don't need sleep?"
"She doesn't ask."
"Of course, she trusts her favorite little traitor."
"Hermione—"
"Traitor. Remember." Hermione pointed to her forehead. "That's my name now."
"I'll admit, that was a little harsh."
Hermione was surprised to find she actually found that funny. Laughing felt so foreign to her after weeks of living under Umbridge's rule. No chance to tell her parents anything, not even writing letters.
"'A little harsh'," Hermione said, mocking Sally-Anne's voice. "No, a little harsh was lying to us about Voldemort and Rose. A little harsh was sacking Alavel and Taltria, who even Filch likes."
Hermione raised her voice with every sentence. She felt her anger welling, but she was more worried about Parvati and Lavender waking up than she was about attacking Perks.
"It's a little funny, since I'm not really the traitor here, am I? I didn't turn my back on my best friends. I didn't sell them out to a tyrant. That's what you did. Ms. Perfect. As bad as I was at first, I was never that much of a teacher's pet."
Perks paused for a moment, collecting herself. Hermione smirked, happy Perks was as annoyed as she was.
"Follow me," Perks said. "We're going to continue this in the common room."
"Make me, Jato."
Perks took another deep breath.
"Do you really want me to use the pearls again? I figured I'd show you all the respect of not using them, but if you want me to tell everything I know about Rose where Parvati and Lavender can hear it, then by all means, I'll do that."
Hermione growled something unkind under her breath, then threw off her sheets and stomped down to the common room. Perks followed her, admittedly much more composed than Hermione. Not that it surprised her; purebloods were supposed to be composed and proper. It's what set them apart from lowlife mudbloods like Hermione.
"You know what happened last year," Hermione said the moment they were in the common room. "You know! Why all that dürah? Just for a pat on the head? To impress your pureblood friends?"
"I don't know what happened last year, Hermione, and neither do you. All we know is what we saw."
"Voldemort killed Rose!"
"Do you realize how mad that sounds? You're not well, Hermione."
"We live in a school that's practically alive! How is it such a stretch to believe that an evil wizard killed our friend?"
"Because he's dead! It's not possible to bring people back from the dead, even for Rose."
Hermione finally felt a sense of relief. She knew that was possible, and she knew she had finally caught Perks.
"Rose can bring people back from the dead! She's done it before!"
Perks closed her eyes and breathed to collect herself. Hermione hoped it calmed her down, because it only served to make Hermione even more angry than she already was. The more condescending Perks became, the more determined it made Hermione to prove her wrong.
"Hermione, I know Rose has told us plenty of stories about a different world, but you've got to accept that she made the whole thing up."
Hermione felt her emotions run wild, and she nearly lost control and willed Perks to die. She took breaths herself, struggling to stay calm. The beast inside her banged on its cage bars, demanding that it be let out to silence Perks.
Not after what happened to Moon.
This isn't Moon. Perks deserves it!
"How could you say she made it up? You've seen what she can do."
"Her magic is different, but that happens with self-taught wizards. They find new ways of doing things, but she's still just as much of a witch as you or I. She was nothing more, and she certainly couldn't bring back the dead."
"Yes, she could!"
"Hermione, be sensible about this," Perks ordered.
That order was the last straw. Hermione kept control of her magic, but not her mouth.
"She brought you back!"
That finally broke through to Perks, or if it didn't, it made her pause to think.
"I think I would've remembered dying, Hermione."
"You do, except you thought you'd just been petrified. When Rose found you, you were dead! She brought you back, and made it look like you'd been petrified so no one would realize she could bring back the dead!"
"And how do you know this?" Perks asked without giving it any thought.
Hermione opened her mouth to shout "Rose", but thought better of it. She knew what the response would be. In the end, it didn't matter. Perks answered for her.
"Rose told you. Of course, she did. How many times have you caught her lying, Hermione?"
"You think—"
"How many times have you caught Rose lying to you? Once? Twice? Ten times? More? Rose wasn't right in the head. When Umbridge says she killed herself, that it didn't come as a surprise to people that knew her, she wasn't talking about us. She was talking about the people looking at her from the outside. People that saw that she was mad, and knew she was unstable. Professor Umbridge isn't trying to attack any of you, she's not trying to take over the world like some cartoon super villain, she's trying to restore order. She's trying to make a better world."
Hermione looked at the young woman in front of her, but she didn't see her friend Princess anymore. This was something new, something vile. This thing looked like a pureblood, looking down on the rest of the world. She realized she was never going to get through to her, because to Perks, Hermione was only a mudblood.
"Is that what she calls it? A world run by purebloods? You're still muggle-born, in case you'd forgotten. How long until they toss you aside?"
"Don't be ridiculous, they're not going to toss me aside."
"Why not? Because you're still useful? Once 'my rebellion' is put down, how useful will you be?"
"Your rebellion is put down. I've been loyal to her, because she came through for me when I needed it."
"Is that all it takes to buy your loyalty? I didn't realize it was that cheap."
Hermione had always had a sort of alarm in her head that informed her when she was being rude. She could still hear it clearly, but chose to ignore it. It had nothing of use to say.
"Why are you still fighting this, Hermione? I would've thought you of all people would understand."
"Me?" Hermione laughed as condescendingly as she could manage. "What makes you think I would understand anything that pink jato has done?"
Perks rolled her eyes.
"How is swearing at her any better than Malfoy calling you 'mudblood'? Do you honestly think it's helping? She's not listening to you, but perhaps insults will help. She didn't listen the first thousand times, but this one will get her to change her ways. Wake up! She doesn't care anymore what you have to say. That's why you'll never change her mind, Hermione! You can't force her to agree with you, but I can make her listen!"
"Really?"
"Really! I don't agree with everything she says, but blindly arguing with everything she does isn't going to make a difference! She's making a new world, whether you like it or not! Neither of us can stop her! The difference between us is that I've got a chance to help shape it into something better."
"And her world is better?"
"Yes, because in her world, the Aurors will run in before my friend gets tortured!"
Perks's face was red. She didn't speak after that, but stood still, catching her breath. Her glare remained fixed on Hermione.
Hermione didn't have much to say to that. Perks clearly believed everything she'd said. Hermione wasn't sure if she'd always been that naive, or if it was after spending so much time with Malfoy and Umbridge.
"If you believe that, then there's nothing left to talk about."
With that, Hermione turned and left the common room. She wanted to break something, to rip bricks from the walls and bury Perks under them, but she didn't have the energy. All she could do was return to her room. She didn't speak; anything she said would be picked up by the eyes.
She hated it in Hogwarts. All she wanted to do was go home, to run away, but it wouldn't solve anything. She didn't know what she was going to do next. There was no privacy, no safety.
So instead, she went to sleep. She had nothing. All she could do was sleep, and hope the morning would bring some sort of improvement.