PART 26

HER footfalls echoed across the tawny walls , the sound of shoes dragging across the flagged stones - pleasant speckles of mercury alight in the blue spheres of her irises , a pleased smile on her lips as her obsidian robes brushed against her ankles as she walked. Her eyes searched the crowd for a familiar Gryffindor with brown hair , and upon spotting Hermione outside a classroom , she swiftly walked up to the girl.

Her fingers clamped tightly around the girl's arm , and Evanna ignored the yells of protest that emanated from Hermione , pulling her aside - towards the shadowed walls of the corridor. Standing underneath a lit torch , it's amber flames irradiating the nooks stitched apart by spider webs - Evanna turned to face an irate Hermione.

"What is it , Frey ? I am getting late for Ancient Runes", She whispered. Evanna's hand dropped from the girl's robe sleeve - as she spoke hurriedly ,"Muffliato."

"Why are you using a silencing charm ?", The Gryffindor questioned , as she looked around frantically to see the scarlet flickers solidifying into a transparent wall barring the duo from the other students. A myriad of thoughts rushed through her mind - and she drew in a suppressed breath.

"The D.A. is about to get caught", Evanna said calmly , watching with an inner feeling of glee as Hermione's features paled instantaneously , a gulp running down the girl's throat.

"W-what ?", She said , before composing herself and saying ,"Aren't you supposed to keep that pink toad away from us ?"

"I did. For almost the entire year , Granger. But I think Umbridge has finally caught up , considering she asked all the Inquisitorial Club members to meet her today before dinner. I was on my way to there , when I decided to inform you", Evanna inferred. "I suppose someone sold you out."

"But who could it be ?"

Evanna shrugged , blatantly lying as she turned on her heels - beginning to trace her steps towards the meeting , before she felt a hand on her shoulder make her halt her steps.

"You have formed some sort of defensive magic group as well , haven't you , Evanna ?", Hermione whispered - making the girl turn around to face her.

"What makes you think so ?", The Ravenclaw enquired with a gentle smile , and Hermione shook her head - a soft , weary sigh escaping her sanguine lips.

"I have seen you , Evanna , I have seen you in the library at the crack of dawn - I have seen you study so , so much outside of what we need to know. You don't have any singular aims , but all these signs lead to something surely , that I need to know. You have formulated a group , I see them moving with you all the time - quiet. And the defensive magical abilities of a few Slytherins - namely , Warrington , Shafiq , Parkinson and some  others have improved quite suddenly , and quite considerably. I haven't figured out what you're up to , why you haven't been caught yet - but I need to know", Hermione finished with a slight pant for breath.

The corners of Evanna's lips curved upwards into a cheshire-like grin - as she spoke ,"When you do know what I am up to , do tell me - I , frankly , have no idea what shit you are talking about."

                                                            _______________________

She stood close to the few Slytherins , a similar mercury 'I' badge tied into their emerald hemmed collars. Evanna scrunched her nose at the walls that had been washed with a sickening shade of pink - a myriad of ceramic plates with moving pictures of cats stuck onto them. A  repugnant smell of roses staunched the air , and all maintained a stiff silence as they waited for the arrival of Umbridge.

Her fingers occasionally brushed against Draco's , who stood next to her - tilting his head down at her with a soft smile tugging at the corners of his rosebud lips. She smiled up at him , the light of the dim torches illuminating the filaments of azure in his optics , and the roots of his silken hair.

The sound of footsteps shuffling against the spiral of stairs that led to the wing alerted them , and they all stood straight as the woman clad in pink walked in through the doors , followed by a students who had their face hidden underneath their robe sleeves and Professor Snape.

Umbridge took a seat behind her rosewood desk , a faux smile painted across her thin lips that seemed excruciatingly painful for her toad-like features to pull off. With a soft cough , she spoke ,"Now , I assume you all know why you have been summoned here ?" , as Professor Snape stood in a corner , a look of annoyance knitted onto his features.

Everyone nodded , and seemingly satisfied , she continued in her repellent , glazed voice ,"Well , Miss Edgecombe has very graciously opened up to the truth regarding the illegal society we have trying to track down for the last three months."

At the words , the corners of Evanna's cherry lips lifted into an incandescent smile.

"And she is here to tell us what really happened in the group , and where they have been meeting", Umbridge said , before facing the student who still hadn't revealed their face.

"Go on dear , it's alright. We value the truth , and those who speak the truth only."

Slowly , the  student lowered their arms that concealed their face - and as soon they did , it revealed a distraught Marietta , cheekbones stained by splotches of red - scars and an aeonian of burning boils marring her once porcelain skin , all forming a line of amaranthine pimples to read the word 'SNEAK'. Tears escaped the corners of her eyes , whimpers resounding from her throat as almost everyone in the room looked away at the first glance. The triumphant smile on Evanna's lips only widened , but ever so slightly.

Letting out a huff , slight disgust swimming in her eyes - Umbridge said ,"Marietta , continue dear. Say more about that wretched group. Name the students who are a part of it."

Uncontrollable sobs continue to etch out from her throat , incoherent words of Marietta stitching between them , "I- They call themselves Dumbledore's Army. T-they meet up a-at the Room of Requirements once a week. They communicate using the Protean Charm , bewitched galleons."

The toad in pink nodded , flashing her pearly teeth as she regarded the solemn faces of all those present in the room. Beckoning the members of the Inquisitorial Squad closer , she hissed ,"I want you all to find the Room , now." She stood up , moving towards Evanna - before quietly saying ,"Thank you , Miss Frey - for recommending us to interrogate Miss Edgecombe."

"My pleasure , Professor", Evanna replied , flashing a smile , before her lips twisted into a sneer as soon as the woman turned away. 

And with those words to Evanna , Umbridge shuffled out of the room - but not before asking Professor Snape to prepare a batch of Veritaserum , for interrogation , as she put it. All followed , and the boy with moon-like eyes looked at her , patiently waiting for Evanna to come along.

"Go on , I will be there", Evanna whispered - and he nodded , following the others out of the room. The clicking of shoes faded into the vicinity , and Evanna spoke ,"So , Marietta , I finally realise why you are a Ravenclaw. Wise choice of you , to speak up."

She whirled around on her heels , studying the weeping figure of Marietta with disgusted , malignant eyes. Eyes that circled her prey like the retinas of a hawk upon lesser creature. Evanna chuckled , mirth coruscating her irises as her voice echoed off the walls - along with the mixed sounds of Marietta's sobs.

"But I still can't say quite clearly whether or not your mother will be removed from her position. Afterall , her department still is controlled by my family - that is , me."

Tracing her steps towards the cowering girl , she came so close that her breath fanned Marietta's face - abhorrence etched onto her pretty features.

"C-can you heal me ? P-please ? I beg of you - just rid me of these scars , they are so painful. I will do anything", Marietta wailed - almost falling to her knees in desperation. The pain ate her alive , and had it not been her mother's job at risk , she would never have uttered a single word against the D.A. Why , oh why had she been so adamant on insulting Evanna ? Why had she been so loud in the library the other day - which had caused Evanna to hear about the Dumbledore's Army ? She questioned herself over and over , and at last - she was relieved to hear Evanna exhale , as though contemplating. Maybe , just maybe - Evanna would rid her of the horrendous boils.

"How about..... no ? I will not heal you", She said , a spiteful smile playing at her lips as she dragged Marietta by the hem of her robes , out of Umbridge's office , ignoring the pleas of the girl. 

                                                                  _________________________

A thunderous brontide , that shook the walls and the chandelier that hung from the arching ceilings of amber hues - echoed as soon as the spell 'Bombarda Maxima' , fell from Evanna's lips. Shudders ran down the spine of all those who stood in the room , in the process of evacuating it as they were caught. Faces painted in fear watched as slowly - the selected Slytherins filled the room , hands clamping tightly around their shoulders , while Evanna inwardly sighed as she realised Hermione had possibly mistrusted her and not asked the members to flee earlier. Ron and Harry looked towards her , brows furrowed as they silently asked for the explanation. Evanna's features twisted into faux fear for them , feigning worry and apology.

"Get them", Umbridge hissed , lips twisting into something ugly as the Squad members got a hold of their collars , dragging them by their arms - and as she looked at Draco , the annoyance in his eyes so clear for her to see , she realised that he did not really wish to do what he was doing. He nodded once at her , and she returned it - almost unnoticeable , and held the arm of Parvati Patil.

As she pulled Parvati along , the Gryffindor said softly - betrayal flashing in her warm caramel eyes ,"How could you , Evanna ? We had been told we could trust you."

Evanna's lips tilted slightly upwards into a smile of sadness , eyes betraying all the inner emotions she felt , exhibiting the false worry she held for her friends as she looked ahead - not meeting Parvati's gaze. She shook her head , strands of soft copper hair falling to her cerulean retinas - as she spoke clearly ,"Not me , Patil. It was Marietta."

An almost inaudible gasp escaped Parvati's lips , and Evanna loosened her grip on the girl  - before the Gryffindor mumbled ,"So why are you doing this ? Why are you listening to her ?"

"To save myself , but I was not aware it would come at the cost of the safety of others."

Satisfied with the answer , Parvati's fists clenched as she silently questioned Marietta's loyalty. Evanna let out an inaudible chuckle of triumph , as they entered the rose coloured room that Umbridge called her office. Sighing softly , Evanna stood next to Draco - who held a tight grasp over some Hufflepuff. 

A gasp of glee rang through the room , the clicking of familiar heels as Umbridge clasped her hands together at the sight of Crabbe and Goyle holding back Harry Potter , hands wound behind his back into a painful contraption. She began speaking in her sickly , high-pitched voice - asking questions about his objectives regarding the formation of the D.A.

Evanna looked away , but not before silently gesturing to those who belonged to the Alliance - to let the members of the army escape. Gaining the trust of the light side was a crucial step to their aim , afterall.

[ A/N : YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I AM TOO LAZY TO WRITE IT OUT. I AM ON A SPREE - NEXT CHAPTER COMING OUT SOON. THIS WAS THE WORST CHAPTER I EVER WROTE.

WITH ALL MY HEART ,

ORPHIC_MOON ]