Black had to let an Echo take control of his body for the Quidditch Practice on Sunday morning.
Someone had opened the Chamber of Secrets — on the very first day of the second year.
To Black's utter shock, he still had no idea who possessed Tom Riddle's Diary.
Yellow Crystals danced in Black's eyes furiously, the Ad Infinitum pushing its processing power to the limit, and that was saying something in itself.
What he was doing right now did need almost all the AI's power.
The yellow crystals weren't just dancing in Black's eyes, they were dancing in almost all students, many Professors, wizards and witches outside Hogwarts, and even Muggles' eyes.
Every single man, woman, or creature that had ever come in contact with Black and Kai had Echoes planted in them.
Because of the Order's presence, Black dared not fully control minds.
Such a thing would invite massive retaliation from not only the Order of the Immortal Lotus, triggering the full-scale war, but it would also upset the Timeline.
Nyarlathotep's authorities, and strength, were only strong enough to bargain with the Timelines, not resist. Not yet.
Still, the Echoes could barely be counted as parasites lingering on the surface.
They didn't interfere with thoughts, reasonings, and actions, but they did note meaningful things.
Yet, no matter how many times Black went through the Echoes, he just couldn't find what he was looking for.
It was especially so with Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa, Draco, and Dobby.
It was like…
Black frowned, looking up suddenly.
Was the Timeline preventing him from having access to this knowledge?
As the AI came to the same conclusion, with almost 100% accuracy, Black had to let go of it.
Well… he ruminated, focusing on the practice, instead. It doesn't matter who has the Diary and when the Chamber is opened. What matters is the ending… Not everything is in Timeline's hands…
"Black!" Wood shouted. "Focus! Why are you smiling?!"
"I saw a toad!"
"Eh?"
They soon realized what Black was talking about.
"GET DOWN!"
Wood's face paled.
Black and Harry exchanged glances.
Fred and George weren't smiling anymore.
Angelina, Alicia, and Katie cursed under their breaths.
They flew down and landed in front of Dolores Umbridge, a nasty smirk dancing on her lips.
Behind her, the Slytherin Quidditch Team was also sharing her smirk. Darcie wasn't among them.
"I've booked the field…" Wood began.
"30 Points from Gryffindor…" Umbridge spat, "… for speaking out of turn."
All Gryffindors' faces went red, their grips on their brooms tightening, making their knuckles go white.
"You two!" Umbridge waved her wand at Harry and Black. "Out!"
Wood couldn't hold it any longer. "They are Gryffindor's Seekers, Professor…"
"Director…" Umbridge hissed. "Call me Director. And, they were Seekers. Not anymore. With immediate effect, they are banned from playing Quidditch."
What?!
"You can't ban them," Fred said, stepping next to Wood.
"You can't ban anyone!" George said, stepping up as well.
The girls, too, nodded, though they were a bit apprehensive about Umbridge's presence.
The nasty things Umbridge had done to some sixth-year girls were circulating around since last year. They didn't want their bodies to get scars…
"20 Points from Gryffindor for questioning my authority!" Umbridge snapped.
They all looked at her with stunned gazes.
How could someone be so unreasonable?!!!
Wood's mouth had become a thin line.
"I can ban," Dolores said, now smiling. "And I have banned these two… until they serve their detentions for the trick they pulled a week ago."
Harry's jaw tightened.
First, it was the chilling hisses he had been hearing all the week, making him go mad. Then, when he just got the time to relax, Umbridge came to ruin it as well.
Standing next to him, Black was frowning as well.
That was saying something, given his personality, Harry observed.
"Well," Wood said, bringing out all his confidence, "if it's just a matter of serving detention, then they can serve it today."
Yes.
Black and Harry hurriedly nodded.
They had to go with this sooner or later anyway. Why not today?
Umbridge smirked, and the Slytherins standing behind her laughed.
"I haven't thought of it…" the Director of Student Discipline and Order told them. "I will put up notices when I have decided. And… with your Seekers gone, I don't suppose you will need the field anymore. I am giving Captain Flint here permission to use it, instead."
Saying that, Umbridge marched away, giggling to herself.
"She… She can't get away with this!" Wood hissed under his breath as the Slytherins took to the air. "I will talk to Professor McGonagall and Madam Villanelle."
But, seeing the expression on his face, it seemed unlikely that he would receive any positive news regarding this.
Umbridge was out to get Harry, Black, and Ron.
It would be a miracle if they survived this without gaining a few scars.
…
Speaking of Ron, as Umbridge was walking out of the Quidditch pitch, he and Draco were rushing in, with an ecstatic Colin running behind them.
"Ah! Here's the third one…" Umbridge squeaked, waving her wand.
Instantly, the three boys paused wherever they were, even their eyes couldn't move.
Umbridge looked at Draco and her smile flickered for a moment, but she regained it right after.
Then she unfroze them with another wave of her wand. "20… 30 Points from Gryffindor for running on School grounds. 10 each for you three."
Draco ground his teeth. "My father will hear…"
Umbridge giggled. "I will tell him myself, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco's face paled. He was just bluffing. He had stopped complaining to his father long ago, finding it useless.
The Director then stared at Ron. "I just banned the other two from playing Quidditch," she told them, taking pleasure in the expressions surfacing on the boys' faces. "You are also banned…"
"I am not even on the Quidditch team," Ron spat.
"…" Umbridge's smile disappeared. "10 Points from Gryffindor for cutting off a Professor."
"… I thought you were the Director," Draco said, failing to bring out a smile like Black.
Umbridge's mouth twitched.
She flipped around and walked away, even forgetting to take more Points out of Gryffindor. She did leave behind a few words, though.
"Mudbloods rampaging on Quidditch field…" she was saying, giggling. "… what has the world come to?"
Ron and Draco just knew she was talking about Black.
Anger, like never before, flashed on their faces.
None could call Black a mudblood except him, Draco thought, taking out his wand.
Ron was a touch faster, though. He flicked his wand at Umbridge's back, but something unexpected happened.
A loud bang echoed around the stadium, and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backward onto the grass.
Umbridge jumped.
She looked over her shoulder, saw Ron lying on the ground, and shrugged, walking away.
Behind her, the Gryffindors had seen magic backfiring from Ron's broken wand. They came running toward Ron, Draco already trying to pick him up.
"… What happened?" Harry asked, looking at Ron. "… Did she… ?"
The question Harry wanted to ask was on everyone's lips, too.
Even Umbridge couldn't get away with cursing a student. So, as much as they felt sorry for Ron, they felt good that they got an excuse to do her in.
So when Draco told them what happened, their faces fell lower than ever.
"Ugh!" Ron suddenly belched, vomiting out a slug.
"Let's take him to Hagrid's," Black said. "If I hear Umbridge's name one more time, I am gonna vomit slugs, too. Already going mad with these stupid hisses…"
Harry's head snapped up like a spring in tension. "You too?!"
"Eh? What?!" Black asked, putting Ron's arm around him.
Harry noticed others listening to them. "I need to tell you guys something…"
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