I Think We Really Overdid It This Time
…
"DON'T LET HER COME OUT OF THE MIRROR!"
The scream echoed throughout the entire library.
"SHE WANTS TO REPLACE ME! DON'T LET HER OUT! HER SMILE! HER SMILE!"
Dozens of students remained gathered on both sides of the path while two St. Mungo's Healers pushed a stretcher between them.
Dolores Umbridge was lying on it.
The inspector was screaming while magical ropes held her down to keep her from hurting herself as she thrashed on the stretcher, trying to break free.
Her hair was completely disheveled, her clothes were dirty, and a blanket covered part of her body, while one of the Healers kept trying to cast calming spells on her, but they weren't very effective right now.
Umbridge wouldn't stop trying to sit up so she could desperately look at any surface that might show her reflection.
"IT WAS ME!"
"BUT IT WASN'T ME! I DON'T SMILE LIKE THAT! THE SMILE!"
The Healer let out a long sigh and finally gave up, casting a paralysis spell on her, leaving her petrified. Her eyes continued darting around wildly, but at least they finally managed to keep her still.
The entire library remained in a strange silence.
Fred and George Weasley each had a hand covering their mouths while their shoulders trembled, trying not to let their laughter escape.
"George," Fred whispered.
"No."
"I think I'm going to..."
"Don't."
"But..."
"If you start, I will too."
Fred pressed his hand even harder against his mouth.
They weren't the only ones.
Several students watched the scene with expressions ranging from concern to an enormous effort not to start laughing.
Especially those who had been forced to endure Umbridge's inspections over the last few days and those who had participated in whatever had left Umbridge in such a state.
Especially one small group trying to pretend they were innocent.
Tommy was holding one of the suits of armor's helmets. Billy had a somewhat guilty look for letting his brothers drag him into participating in this.
Luna and Astoria were still wearing their identical blue dresses.
And Harry's group couldn't help scratching their heads, feeling that this time they might have gone a little too far.
Harry glanced sideways toward Luna and Astoria, who for some reason couldn't help giving him a slight chill while wearing those dresses.
"Maybe you should change," he said.
Astoria looked down at her dress.
"Why?"
Luna tilted her head.
"They're pretty dresses," she added.
At one point, when Umbridge's gaze, which was moving in every direction, landed on them, she seemed to lose control even more internally before her eyes rolled back and she fell completely unconscious.
Only those paying close attention managed to notice it, especially Harry, who could only close his mouth.
"If you like them, just do whatever you want," he let out, no longer caring about it.
Astoria and Luna remained exactly as they were, with happy smiles because of their pretty matching dresses.
A few meters away from them stood most of the professors.
McGonagall kept her lips pressed tightly together as she watched the stretcher pass.
Flitwick looked genuinely worried.
Snape had his arms crossed and his usual expression of absolute displeasure, although his eyes slowly moved toward the small group of suspiciously innocent students. But he quickly acted as if he hadn't seen them, or rather, as if he didn't care at all.
Narcissa simply gave them a brief look, although the slight rise of one eyebrow said quite a lot.
Meanwhile, Selene was looking at her daughter. She brought a hand to her forehead and let out a sigh.
Wanda, for her part, had a completely neutral expression, but her gaze was firmly fixed on her sons, who were doing everything possible to avoid her eyes.
All three could feel that gaze that seemed to pierce through their souls.
The three of them immediately put on the most innocent expressions they could manage.
Wanda narrowed her eyes.
Tommy looked like he couldn't take much more as he stood there covered in sweat.
"I-I think we went a little too far."
"Hold it together," Billy whispered, barely moving his lips, knowing that if his brother gave in, the only thing waiting for them was one of their mother's punishments. And he, as the best-behaved son, was the one who had received the fewest punishments, which also made him the one who feared them the most.
Harry continued staring straight ahead, knowing he would be the one to get the worst of it for being the older brother who had led his younger brothers into misbehaving.
"I didn't know her mind was that weak," Daphne said.
Hermione, who was standing beside them, immediately turned her head.
"That's not funny," she said with a completely serious expression.
"Well. The Halloween game we do with Sirius at the amusement park is much scarier than this," Daphne immediately added.
"That's true, the pranks we pull on Sirius are worse," Harry added.
Hermione turned toward Harry with the most serious expression she could manage.
"You could've actually driven someone insane."
Harry made a small grimace.
"Well..."
"Harry!"
"All right, all right. We went too far this time. We'll be more careful in the future," he said softly, knowing there wasn't really anything else to say after seeing how Umbridge had ended up right now.
Draco gave his friend a look, focusing especially on the "be more careful in the future" part, but didn't say much.
A few meters away, Sirius Black walked beside the senior Healer from St. Mungo's.
As Headmaster of Hogwarts, he maintained an appropriately serious expression.
Or at least he tried.
A small smile kept insisting on appearing at the corner of his lips.
Every time it did, Sirius cleared his throat and became serious again.
"So, will the inspector be all right?" he asked.
"Yes, Headmaster Black. There doesn't seem to be any permanent damage," the Healer replied. "A rather severe panic episode and exhaustion, mainly. I've seen similar cases before."
Sirius nodded solemnly.
"Terrible," he said, although his smile almost came out again, so he covered his face as if this really affected him because she was one of the school's workers.
Professor McGonagall looked at him from behind.
Sirius ignored that look.
"She'll probably remain at St. Mungo's for a couple of days," the Healer continued. "She needs rest, and we'll have to examine her properly. If those memories continue causing such intense episodes, we can specifically remove the ones that caused the trauma."
Sirius seemed to consider it with enormous seriousness.
"I understand. If there's anything she needs, remember to send the bill directly to the Ministry under Albus Dumbledore's name," Sirius added.
The Healer froze for a moment while looking at Sirius, but continued.
"After that, she should be able to return to her duties normally."
Sirius's small smile disappeared.
"...Ah."
The Healer raised an eyebrow.
Sirius immediately recovered his concerned expression.
"I mean, excellent. Excellent news. Although there's no need to rush," Sirius quickly added. "She can remain at St. Mungo's for as long as she needs."
"A few days should be enough," the Healer said with slight confusion.
"A few days... a few weeks wouldn't be bad either," Sirius added.
"I don't think that'll be necessary," the Healer said, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the Headmaster.
Sirius smiled kindly.
"I just want to make sure she receives the best treatment possible."
"Well... we'll keep that in mind," the Healer said with a confused look.
"A month would be perfectly acceptable."
"Sirius."
McGonagall's voice came from behind him.
Sirius closed his mouth.
"I'm only concerned about her health, Minerva."
"Of course."
McGonagall walked past him without adding anything else to finish the necessary paperwork and accompany the Healers to the Floo Network in her office.
Meanwhile, something red ran between the legs of several students.
"Red!"
Harry barely had time to move aside before the stupid red dragon ran past him.
Red had a small black cape tied around his neck that fluttered behind his body as he happily ran around the library with pride.
He ran in a circle around Harry.
Then around Tommy.
Then he ran toward Billy.
"Yes, yes. You did a good job," Billy said as he petted his head.
Red proudly raised his snout.
Tommy, who was approaching to pet the stupid dragon, stopped and his expression changed.
"Ugh."
He immediately turned his face away.
"Your mouth stinks."
Fred and George finally approached.
"Our dead-body stink bombs still seem to be working. We need to write that down," Fred said.
"Right away," George added proudly.
Before Red could cause any more trouble, Harry moved his hand slightly, catching the dragon while at the same time making the cape disappear to destroy the evidence. Likewise, he also tied his snout shut.
At last, the students and professors began leaving the library with nothing else left to see, leaving behind only a few who seemed to be starting their homework without worrying too much about what had happened to the inspector.
Harry and the others stayed as well, since they still had plenty of evidence to destroy.
Fleur couldn't help approaching Harry while the others left the two of them alone, knowing what was coming now.
"Wow, Mr. Villain. I heard our inspector ended up like that because a certain gentleman couldn't talk to me thanks to her regulations. Is my charm really that great?" Fleur said as she approached Harry with a proud, teasing smile.
Harry turned his gaze toward her and gave her a sarcastic smile.
"Of course. I'd feel very sad if I couldn't talk to my good friend," he said.
Fleur's expression almost broke, but she kept her smile composed as she stared at him.
Harry calmly stared back.
The two stood face-to-face, neither taking their eyes away from the other's.
"Are you two going to kiss?" Luna suddenly asked, appearing out of nowhere beside them.
Hearing that question, both Harry and Fleur cleared their throats.
"Well, I have things to do, my good friend. See you later," Harry quickly said.
"Of course, good friend. See you later," Fleur replied as both of them nervously walked away in different directions.
Leaving Luna there, waiting for an answer and tilting her head.
It wasn't until Astoria came back to take her away that she disappeared.
Daphne, Hermione, and Draco, who had been watching from a corner, couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
"What's wrong with those two?" all three asked at the same time.