The moment we slipped into Umbridge's office, the air felt suffocating. The room was thick with the scent of her sickly perfume, the pink walls and meowing plates a grotesque contrast to the tension crackling between us.

Harry wasted no time, grabbing the Floo powder and tossing it into the fireplace, the flames roaring emerald green.
"It's too dangerous. Rose and I will go alone."

I nodded, heart pounding. "The rest of you should stay here."

But before either of us could step forward, Estella blocked the fireplace, arms crossed, her green eyes burning with defiance. "Absolutely not," she said firmly. "Sirius is my father. I'm going."

"Este, it's too dangerous—"

"So am I," Mattheo added, standing beside her, his expression unreadable but unwavering.

Harry sighed. "We can't drag everyone into this—"

Hermione shook her head. "We're in this together."

"That... you... are."

A chill ran down my spine.

The voice was shrill, smug, and it sent an immediate wave of dread through my chest.

We turned just as Umbridge stepped through the doorway, a victorious smirk stretched across her toad-like face.

I barely had time to react before Draco entered behind her, gripping Neville's arm.

Neville's expression was tight with pain, his jaw clenched, but Draco wasn't looking at him. His eyes flickered to me, to Mattheo, to the fireplace behind us, realization settling into his gaze.

My pulse pounded as Umbridge moved further into the room, her wand raised.

She made a beeline toward me, her grip tightening on the rope she was holding. She meant to tie me up.

I stiffened, instinctively stepping back, but before she could reach me—

Mattheo shifted.

His entire posture changed. His shoulders tensed, his eyes darkened, and his hand twitched toward his wand.

Umbridge froze mid-step, her gaze flickering toward him.

His expression was unreadable, but something in it stopped her in her tracks.

I knew exactly what it was.

She was remembering.

Remembering our last encounter.

Mattheo didn't have to say a single word. His glare was enough.

Her fingers tightened around the rope, her lips pressed together, but—she hesitated.

Then, with a sharp exhale, she turned away from me and grabbed Harry instead, forcing him into the chair. The ropes wrapped tightly around him, binding him in place.

"Don't touch him," I snapped, stepping forward.

Umbridge ignored me, leaning down until she was eye-level with Harry.

"You were going to Dumbledore, weren't you?"

"No," Harry said flatly.

Her hand flew across his face, the slap echoing through the room.

"Liar!"

"Stop!" I shouted, my hands balling into fists.

Harry barely reacted to the hit, only clenching his jaw in defiance.

Before I could step forward, the door creaked open again.

Snape.

"You sent for me, Headmistress."

Umbridge straightened, smoothing out her robes. "Snape. Yes." She turned back toward Harry. "The time has come for them to give me answers, whether they want to or not."

A sick feeling settled into my stomach.

"Have you brought the Veritaserum?"

Snape's face remained carefully neutral.

"I'm afraid you've used up all my stores interrogating students," he said smoothly. "The last of it on Miss Chang."

The room fell silent.

My head snapped toward Cho. She looked away quickly, her shoulders tensing.

Umbridge's smile flickered for a moment, her expression darkening.

"If you wish to poison him," Snape continued, his voice slow and deliberate, "and I would have the greatest sympathy if you did, I cannot help."

He turned, already heading for the door.

"He's got Padfoot."

The words made me freeze.

Harry's voice was urgent, his eyes locked onto Snape.

"He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden."

My chest tightened.

Snape turned back slowly, his face blank.

"Padfoot?" Umbridge repeated, her brows furrowing. "What is Padfoot? Where is what hidden? What is he talking about, Snape?"

There was a beat of silence.

"No idea."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Snape's face was unreadable, but I knew what he was doing. He couldn't react—not in front of Umbridge. But the message had been sent.

Umbridge's patience finally snapped.

Her gaze sharpened as she turned back toward Harry, her fingers tightening around her wand.

"Very well, you give me no choice, Potter."

My stomach dropped.

"As this is an issue of Ministry security, you leave me with no alternative."

She raised her wand.

"The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."

"No!" I shouted.

"That's illegal," Estella said sharply, her voice shaking. Theo's arm tightened around her protectively.

Umbridge barely acknowledged us. "What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him."

She reached for the picture frame on her desk, turning it over.

A lump rose in my throat. She was actually going to do it.

"Tell her, Harry!"

Hermione's voice was frantic, desperate.

"Tell me what?"

I turned, my breath caught in my throat as Hermione stared at Harry, her expression a mix of fear and determination.

"If you won't tell her where it is, I will."

The entire room stilled.

Umbridge's gaze snapped toward Hermione, suspicion laced in her sharp features.

"Where what is?"

Hermione took a breath, then—

"Dumbledore's secret weapon."

Umbridge's face lit up, her entire demeanor shifting into something eager.

And just like that—

Harry, Hermione, and Ron were leading her out of the office.

I exhaled shakily, my chest tight with fear and relief.

I felt Mattheo's presence beside me, felt his fingers graze my wrist for just a second before pulling away.