"Um, I'm alright, thank you," Aubrey laughed weakly, closing the door behind her but leaving a small gap. 

The first thing she noticed was how immensely pink Umbridge's office was, even more so than she remembered other than the brilliant orange blossoms on her desk. Surrounding the desk like a bizarre fortress were heaps of old, leatherbound books stacked up around the desk, garnished with bizarre newspaper clippings which Aubrey recognised as the same ones she'd been reading regarding the villages razed to the grounds. In the middle of it all sat Umbridge, ruling over her paper wasteland with an iron fist and sweet cups of tea.

"Close it completely, my dear," Umbridge said. With a sigh, Aubrey obliged - the woman really didn't miss much, "I'm surprised to see you actually came back to this office. Very few people who visit ever return by choice, even fewer come to drink tea ... although I suppose you never break promises, isn't that correct?"

"Um, I didn't promise and it's actually the opposite really," Aubrey admitted, "But of course I'd come, the invite was ... unexpected but nice..."

"I couldn't agree more," Umbridge giggled, "I felt that tea is the perfect way to bridge a gap and the gap between us was ... quite severe. You know, Minerva said you'd never attend as did Pomona but I knew you would. But you know as well as I do that circumstances have changed now, my dear and whilst I'm usually not a forgiving person in times such as these ... I can be. In fact, I rather hope that we can be friends..."

Aubrey almost choked on air, nodding quickly. She wasn't quite sure why the plan had worked this efficiently but was in no position to turn it down, nodding profusely. If things continued at this rate, every single one of Umbridge's secrets would be out in the open by tomorrow. Fred would probably think this was a little weird but all Aubrey could think about was the satisfaction of knowing the end of the mystery.

"I think that would be wonderful!"

Umbridge's face remained unchanged at this latest development before she remembered to smile again, "Lovely. Are you sure you don't want sugar with your tea? It can be very refreshing."

"I said I'm alright but thank you," Aubrey said quickly.

"Hmm, just like your father - "

"Actually, I will have some," Aubrey changed her mind, "Just one spoonful though..."

"Lovely choice, although you can never have enough sugar to sweeten your tea" Umbridge smiled, obligingly lumping in one spoonful and stirring it for her, "Drink it whilst it's hot unless you prefer cold tea."

Aubrey wasn't sure what to say this so laughed awkwardly, "I don't."

This ignited a small titter from Umbridge even though it wasn't funny in the slightest. Quickly, Aubrey joined in, determined to not squander this rare (if already unbearable) opportunity. 

"Um, Professor, what did you call me here for exactly?" She asked, holding the tea in her hands, inches away.

Umbridge moved slowly, gently stirring hers whilst her gaze remained fixed on Aubrey's cup, "How about you drink the tea first, my dear?"

Suddenly drinking the tea felt like the worst idea in the world. Still, she forced herself through but as she drew it to her lips, a pungent odour filled her nose ... one that she was incredibly familiar with.

Veritserum.

"Professor, um ... maybe this wasn't intentional but I think there's something in my cup," Aubrey tentatively said.

"Elaborate my dear," Umbridge breathed, "There's nothing in there but tea...no?

"It's Veritserum., I think ... maybe it was unintentional but - "

She jumped as Umbridge's head jerked as if controlled by a puppeteer, "How did you know?" The vibe given off her was immensely sinister as she looked from underneath her eyelashes, eyes narrowed.

"The smell," At this, a smile crossed her lips to which Aubrey murmured, "Did you, er ... want me to suss it out?" Aubrey asked suspiciously.

"I would have been happy had you drunk it but I'm even happier now you've figured it out. The result's the same anyway," She leant forward prissily, picking up the tea and vanishing the contents before giggling, "Severus keeps me well stocked up on Veritserum. One cup won't matter and we can continue now. I was merely checking..."

Aubrey forced a smile, "Good?"

"Good," Her fingers drifted away from the blossoms, "You seemed familiar with these last time you came in here ... are you still? Did they ... make you feel something? Even just a flicker, those are still important."

"They belonged to ... Gil, right?"

Umbridge nodded, "Correct."

"You knew her?"

This time, Umbridge paused, a deep longing filling her eyes before looking up, "You could say that but Aubrey, what we shared was far more intense than that, nobody had what I had with her ... surely you understand that though, my dear."

"I had an inkling..."

"Do you know about her? Do you remember anything?" Umbridge said, "Or did he neglect that too ... to even bring up her name ..." Aubrey wasn't sure how to respond to this so remained silent, allowing the woman to work through this on her own, "Well, why would he ... especially when she'd come back for me and not him, he must be positively insane with jealousy ..." Swiftly the Professor looked back up again, "Well, no matter. I shall inform you ... nobody else wants to talk about her around here with me, it will be nice to ... relive things with another person."

Umbridge stood up, her hands clasped, "She was brilliant, Aubrey, I don't believe there was anyone smarter than her except perhaps even Rowena herself. It was from her Father, Cyrus Lennox ... he's quite famous in the right circle of people. She would go where nobody else dared to which is why she was the best. You could see it all just by looking at her ... unlike that buffoon, carrying her all wrong ..." Her tone changed swiftly again but Aubrey was too enthralled to notice, wishing she'd brought something to take notes on.

"I still remember meeting her, all the way back in First Year. I was towards the end, U is rather far down the register as you know and she should have been before me but it appeared a twist of fate intervened. She had strayed from the group and got lost within the wily walls of Hogwarts so moments before the hat was to be placed over my eyes, she burst open the doors and we caught a sight of each other from across the room," Umbridge laughed fondly, "She was the very last thing I saw before the hat covered my eyes, debating which house to put me in but I knew in that moment, what would it be. Hufflepuff."

"A good choice," Aubrey cut in, unable to suppress the house pride even if it was in the context of Dolores Umbridge.

"Indeed. Some said I should be in Slytherin but those people are wrong. How could a Slytherin be this loyal ... this patient after all these years ..." Her fists tightened again before she took a deep breath, regaining her sweetness.

"Professor?"

"Yes?"

"Er ... did you become friends with her then? After the sorting?"

"No, how could I? We were separated by house, it wasn't until Fifth Year that we spoke for the first time and it was everything I imagined ... had he not been there."

"My Father?"

"They weren't friends, Aubrey, not really," Umbridge was suddenly frantic now, "No friend would do what he did to her, no friend would never mention her name to his own daughter ... if you even are his. If we're to be ... friends, you have to understand that your father was not her friend. I was her friend, I left it all for her, gave up so much: my job ... my O.W.Ls ... everything ... but I would do it all again ... and maybe I will. I was her friend which is why Jasper ... won't be in this story. He hasn't earnt it so he shan't be in it."

"What did he do - "

"In order, Aubrey ... this story, it goes in order and I ... I think that's enough for the night," Aubrey glanced at the clock, frowning slightly, "My story ... did it make you feel anything? Even just a flicker of something ... anything?"

"It was a really nice story, if that's what you mean," Aubrey replied, "You could tell me more - "

"No, not tonight, maybe you'll feel something next week," Umbridge said, "If you do ... come back and tell me."

Aubrey wasn't quite sure what she meant exactly by this but nodded anyway, "... next week," It felt like an awfully long time but considering how willing Umbridge was to talk all of a sudden, she was in no mood to complain. After saying goodbye, Aubrey hurried out, over to the Gryffindor common room to tell Fred of her progress as fast as she could.

Due to George and Lexy taking up the dorm with activities she didn't want to think about, Fred had been banished to the common room. Still, he didn't seem to mind, arm wrestling Alicia Spinnet and losing poorly. He quickly let go though when he saw her at the portrait hole though, waving awkwardly.

"Aubs, what's up? Are you here for Lexy because she's ahem ... occupied."

Instantly Aubrey covered her ears, "Don't say any more please."

"I wasn't!"

"I didn't want to risk it," She replied, slowly lowering her hands, "Fred ... Umbridge doesn't hate me anymore ... or maybe she does. Either way, she talked and she ... she told me about Gil!"

Fred's eyebrows seemed to reach his hairline, "She did? What just like that?"

"Just like that, apparently circumstances had changed or something, maybe the prank or maybe my Mum's letter but she told me something about her and ... it sort of makes sense."

He leant against the wall, "So tell me, what is this famous Gil like? Is it proving your theory?"

"Apparently she was smart and would do what other people didn't ... Umbridge sacrificed a lot for her. And her Father's name was Cyrus ... Saskia Cyrus! But wait, that's not all..." Aubrey continued to explain it, all the while Fred's smile disappearing. By the time she'd finished, his face had darkened completely.

"That doesn't sound like Saskia in the slightest..."

"Maybe resurrection changed her."

"What did Umbridge say the special circumstances were exactly?" He asked, trying to smile but clearly concerned.

"She didn't."

"And that doesn't bother you?"

"Fred! Why all the questions, hon? I'm being spontaneous and getting the precious information ... it's probably just my Mum's letter!" He still didn't look happy but she was too giddy to allow herself to be dampened by this, "Fred, it's fine. Look, I'm not really friends with her, I've got this under control."

And as she said it, she really meant it. But over the next few days, she began to doubt herself especially as Umbridge seemed to watching her and Saskia closely, except this time she wasn't punishing. And she doubted herself, even more, when a package from Umbridge appeared outside the Hufflepuff common rooms.

• • •

It's suddenly hit me that in almost exactly a month I'll probably be starting Uni which is exciting but updates of everything will probably be infrequent whilst I figure it all out. So if spam happens, you know why! The countdown begins! - E x