Tori always liked Neville, he was a nice kid. This was proven when Neville tried to stop Ginny from getting taken to Umbridge. Unfortunately, this backfired terribly and only got Neville caught too.

Neville, who was trapped in a stranglehold by Crabbe and looked in imminent danger of suffocation when they entered Umbridge's office. Tori wanted to yell at Crabbe, but unfortunately, all five of them had been gagged.

''Got 'em all," said Warrington, shoving Ron roughly forwards into the room. "That one," He poked a thick finger at Neville, ''Tried to stop me from taking her," He pointed at Ginny, who was trying to kick the shins of the large Slytherin girl holding her, ''So I brought him along too."

''Good, good," said Umbridge, watching Ginny's struggles. "Well, it looks as though Hogwarts will shortly be a Weasley-free zone, doesn't it? Take their wands."

Draco Malfoy laughed loudly and sycophantically as he ripped Tori's wand away from her. Umbridge gave her wide, complacent smile and settled herself into a chintz-covered armchair, blinking up at her captives like a toad in a flowerbed.

''So, Potter," She said. "You stationed lookouts around my office and you sent this buffoon," She nodded at Ron—Malfoy laughed even louder and Tori tried to break away from her captor. "To tell me the poltergeist was wreaking havoc in the Transfiguration department when I knew perfectly well that he was busy smearing ink on the eyepieces of all the school telescopes— Mr. Filch having just informed me so."

''Clearly, it was very important for you to talk to somebody. Was it Albus Dumbledore? Or the half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall, I hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone."

Malfoy and a few of the other members of the Inquisitorial Squad laughed some more at that. Tori found she was so full of rage and hatred she was shaking.

''It's none of your business who I talk to," Harry snarled.

Umbridge's slack face seemed to tighten.

''Very well, She said in her most dangerous and falsely sweet voice. "Very well, Mr. Potter... I offered you the chance to tell me freely. You refused. I have no alternative but to force you. Dove, Draco — fetch Professor Snape."

Dove, who was standing by the door glanced at Tori uneasily before nodding and following Draco out of the room.

There was silence in the office except for the fidgetings and scufflings resulting from the Slytherins' efforts to keep Ron and the others under control. Ron's lip was bleeding on to Umbridge's carpet as he struggled against Warrington's half-nelson; Ginny was still trying to stamp on the feel of the sixth-year girl who had both her upper arms in a tight grip.
Neville was turning steadily more purple in the face while lugging at Crabbe's arms; Hermione was attempting, in vain, to throw Millicent Bulstrode off her. Tori was trying to lunge forwards, nearly drooling into her gag. Luna, however, stood limply by the side of her captor, gazing vaguely out of the window as though rather bored by the proceedings.

Harry looked back at Umbridge, who was watching him closely. He kept his face deliberately smooth and blank as footsteps were heard in the corridor outside and Draco and Dove entered the room, closely followed by Snape.

''You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" said Snape, looking around at all the pairs of struggling students with an expression of complete indifference.

''Ah, Professor Snape," said Umbridge, smiling widely and standing up again. "Yes, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."

''You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter,' he said, surveying her coolly through his greasy curtains of black hair. "Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."

Umbridge flushed.

''You can make some more, can't you?" She said, her voice becoming more sweetly girlish as it always did when she was furious.

''Certainly," said Snape, his lip curling. "It takes a full moon-cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in around a month."

''A month?" squawked Umbridge, swelling toadyish. ''A month! But I need it this evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons unknown!"

''Really?" said Snape, showing his first, faint sign of interest as he looked around at Harry."Well, it doesn't surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules."

His cold, dark eyes were boring into Harry's, who met his gaze unflinchingly, concentrating hard on what he had seen in his dream, willing Snape to read it in his mind, to understand ...

''I wish to interrogate him!" repeated Umbridge angrily, and Snape looked away from Harry back into her furiously quivering lace. "I wish you to provide me with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!"

''I have already told you," said Snape smoothly, ''That I have no further stocks of Veritaserum.
Unless you wish to poison Potter—and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did—I cannot help you. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much lime for truth-telling."

''You are on probation!" shrieked Professor Umbridge, and Snape looked back at her, his eyebrows slightly raised. "You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!"

Snape gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave. "He's got Padfoot!" Harry shouted. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"

Snape had stopped with his hand on Umbridge's door handle. Tori furrowed her eyebrows, Padfoot? Like the Marauders Map Padfoot? What did that have to do with Sirius? Unless...

''Padfoot?" cried Professor Umbridge, looking eagerly from Harry to Snape. "What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?"

Snape looked round at Harry. His face was inscrutable. "I have no idea,' said Snape coldly. "Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."

He closed the door behind him with a snap, leaving Tori in a state of worse turmoil than before: Snape had been their very last hope. Harry looked at Umbridge, who seemed to be feeling the same way; her chest was heaving with rage and frustration.

''Very well," She said, and she pulled out her wand. "Very well... I am left with no alternative... this is more than a matter of school discipline... this is an issue of Ministry security... yes... yes..."

She seemed to be talking herself into something. She was shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot, staring at Harry, beating her wand against her empty palm and breathing heavily.

''You are forcing me, Potter... I do not want to," said Umbridge, still moving restlessly on the spot, ''but sometimes circumstances justify the use... I am sure the Minister will understand that I had no choice..."

Malfoy was watching her with a hungry expression on his face.

''The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue," said Umbridge quietly.

''No!" shrieked Hermione as Tori nearly screamed into her gag. "Professor Umbridge—it's illegal."

But Umbridge took no notice. There was a nasty eager, excited look on her face that Tori had never seen before. She raised her wand.

''The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law, Professor Umbridge!" cried Hermione.

"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," said Umbridge, who was now panting slightly as she pointed her wand at different parts of Harry's body in turn, apparently trying to decide where it would hurt most. "He never knew I ordered dementors to go after Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel him, all the same."

''It was you?" gasped Harry. "You sent the dementors after me?"

''Somebody had to act," breathed Umbridge, as her wand came to rest pointing directly at Harry's forehead. "They were all bleating about silencing you somehow—discrediting you —but I was the one who actually did something about it... only you wriggled out of that one, didn't you, Potter? Not today though, not now—" And taking a deep breath, she cried, ''Cruc—"

''NO!" shouted Hermione in a cracked voice from behind Millicent Bulstrode. "No—Harry— we'll have to tell her!"

''No way!" yelled Harry, staring at the little of Hermione he could see.

''We'll have to, Harry, she'll force it out of you anyway, what's... what's the point?"

And Hermione began to cry weakly into the back of Millicent Bulstrode's robes. Millicent stopped trying to squash her against the wall immediately and dodged out of her way looking disgusted.

''Well, well, well!" said Umbridge, looking triumphant. "Little Miss Question-all is going to give us some answers! Come on then, girl, come on!"

''Er—my—nee— no!" shouted Ron through his gag. Ginny was staring at Hermione as though she had never seen her before. Tori wasn't sure she had ever looked at someone with such betrayal in her eyes. Neville, still choking for breath, was gazing at her, too.

''I'm—I'm sorry everyone," said Hermione. "But—I can't stand it—"

''That's right, that's right, girl!" said Umbridge, seizing Hermione by the shoulders, thrusting her into the abandoned chintz chair and leaning over her. "Now then... with whom was Potter communicating just now?"

''Well," gulped Hermione into her hands, ''Well, he was trying to speak to Professor Dumbledore."

Tori stopped fighting her captor; Ron froze, his eyes wide; Ginny stopped trying to stamp on her Slytherin captor's toes, and even Luna looked mildly surprised. Fortunately, the attention of Umbridge and her minions was focused too exclusively upon Hermione to notice these suspicious signs.

''Dumbledore?" said Umbridge eagerly. "You know where Dumbledore is, then?"

''Well... no!" sobbed Hermione. "We've tried the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley and the Three Broomsticks and even the Hog's Head—"

''Idiot girl— Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when the whole Ministry's looking for him!" shouted Umbridge, disappointment etched in every sagging line of her face.

''But—but we needed to tell him something important!" wailed Hermione, holding her hands more tightly over her face.

''Yes?" said Umbridge with a sudden resurgence of excitement. "What was it you wanted to tell him?"

''We... we wanted to tell him it's r—ready!" choked Hermione.

''What's ready?" demanded Umbridge, and now she grabbed Hermione's shoulders again and shook her slightly. "What's ready, girl?"

''The... the weapon," said Hermione.

''Weapon? Weapon?" Umbridge asked, and her eyes seemed to pop with excitement. ''You have been developing some method of resistance? A weapon you could use against the Ministry? On Professor Dumbledore's orders, of course?"

''Y—y—yes," gasped Hermione, ''But he had to leave before it was finished and n—n—now we've finished it for him, and we c—c—can't find him t—t—to tell him!"

''What kind of weapon is it?" said Umbridge harshly, her stubby hands still tight on Hermione's shoulders.

''We don't r—r— really understand it," said Hermione, sniffing loudly. ''We j—j—just did what P—P—Professor Dumbledore told us t—t—to do."

Umbridge straightened up, looking exultant.

''Lead me to the weapon," She said.

''I'm not showing... them," said Hermione shrilly, looking around at the Slytherins through her fingers.

''It is not for you to set conditions," said Professor Umbridge harshly.

''Fine," said Hermione, now sobbing into her hands again. "Fine... let them see it, I hope they use it on you! In fact, I wish you'd invite loads and loads of people to come and see! Th—that would serve you right—oh, I'd love it if the wh— whole school knew where it was, and how to u—use it, and then if you annoy any of them they'll, be able to s—sort you out!"

These words had a powerful impact on Umbridge: she glanced swiftly and suspiciously around at her Inquisitorial Squad, her bulging eyes resting for a moment on Malfoy, who was too slow to disguise the look of eagerness and greed that had appeared on his face.

Umbridge contemplated Hermione for another long moment, then spoke in what she clearly thought was a motherly voice.

''Alright, dear, let's make it just you and me... and we'll take Potter, too, shall we? Get up, now."

''Professor," said Malfoy eagerly, ''Professor Umbridge, I think some of the Squad should come with you to look after—"

''I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you really think I cannot manage two wandless teenagers alone?" asked Umbridge sharply. "In any case, it does not sound as though this weapon is something that schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until I return and make sure none of these—" she gestured around at Ron, Tori, Ginny, Neville, and Luna "— escape."

"Nicolas, tighten your grip around Miss Silvers. And you two can go ahead of me and show me the way," said Umbridge, pointing at Harry and Hermione with her wand. "Lead on."

They left, leaving Tori feeling helpless. She needed her wand. She could help get then out of here if she just had her wand.

She stared at her wand as Nicolas gripped her arm tighter. She could feel her hand tingling bit by bit. Come on, she told herself. Come on. We need to save Sirius.

It moved. Only a bit. Tori swore it moved. She tried again. It didn't work. She had read about spells without using a wand. That was very difficult magic. But if she could do it...

Tori shut her eyes tightly, pressing her lips together as she tried to channel all the energy in her body. Move, please.

It moved once more. Tori took a deep breath, blocking out Malfoy's gloating. Ginny and Luna seemed to notice as well. Ginny was staring at her with wide eyes while Luna looked slightly amused.

Tori closed her eyes once more. Come on, come on, COME ON.

Everything happened so fast after that.

Tori's wand went flying off Umbridge's desk and into her hand. Tori didn't even have time to celebrate. She quickly turned, yelling "Stupefy!" And sending Nicolas backward into the plate of cats. She was quick to grab the other's wands and Umbridge's office became a war ground. Hexes of all kinds were being cast, hell, even Tori was throwing punches.

All of them looked a little the worse for wear—there were several long scratches running the length of Ginny's cheek; a large purple lump was swelling above Neville's right eye; Tori had one nasty bruise on her cheek; Ron's lip was bleeding worse than ever—but all were looking rather pleased with themselves.

All of the Inquisitorial Squad was on the floor by now, all expect Dove, who stood at the door. She had not gotten into the fighting. Tori stepped forward, raising her wand in case Dove wouldn't move.

"Are you going to hex me?" Dove asked, staring at Tori. Tori didn't hesitate. "If it means we could save a life? Without a doubt."

Dove stared at Tori for a moment before moving out of the way. She simply opened the door for them to walk through. Tori walked through leading the others out of the room. "How do you know I'm not going to go get a teacher?" Dove called.

Tori turned, shrugging. "I don't."

Ron began leading them away and towards the Hogwarts ground. "How do we know she's not going to get a teacher?" Neville asked Tori nervously. Tori only shrugged. "Who is she going to tell? Snape's apart of the order."

Ron led them into the woods, where they began to hear familiar voices.

Hermione was standing next to Harry, both of them had blood on their hands, making Tori a bit uneasy. "Anyway, Harry, how exactly were you planning to get all the way to London?"

''Yeah, we were just wondering that." Ron sighed as they all came into the clearing.

Harry and Hermione moved together instinctively and peered through the trees.

"So," said Ron, pushing aside a low-hanging branch and holding out Harry's wand, "Had any ideas?"

"How did you get away?" asked Harry in amazement, taking his wand from Ron.

"Tori managed to get her wand by using some sort of hand magic. A couple of Stunners, a Disarming Charm, Neville brought off a really nice little Impediment Jinx," said Ron airily, now handing back Hermione's wand, too. "But Ginny was best, she got Malfoy—Bat Bogey Hex—it was superb, his whole face was covered in the great flapping things. Anyway, we saw you out of the window heading into the Forest and followed. What've you done with Umbridge?"

''She got carried away," said Harry. "By a herd of centaurs."

''And they left you behind?" asked Ginny, looking astonished.

''No, they got chased off by Grawp," Harry shrugged.

''Who's Grawp?" Luna asked interestedly.

''Hagrid's little brother," said Ron promptly. "Anyway, never mind that now. Harry, what did you find out in the fire? Has You-Know-Who got Sirius or—?"

''Yes," said Harry, as his scar gave another painful prickle, ''and I'm sure Sirius is still alive, but I can't see how we're going to get there to help him."

They all fell silent, looking rather scared; the problem facing them seemed insurmountable.

''Well, we'll have to fly, won't we?" said Luna, in the closest thing to a matter-of-fact voice Tori had ever heard her use.

''Okay," said Harry irritably, rounding on her.
''First of all, 'we' aren't doing anything if you're including yourself in that, and second of all, Ron's me only one with a broomstick that isn't being guarded by a security troll, so—"

''I've got a broom!" said Ginny and Tori.

''Yeah, but you're not coming," Ron angrily snapped at Ginny.

''Excuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius as much as you do!" said Ginny, her jaw set so that her resemblance to Fred and George was suddenly striking.

''You're too—" Harry began, but Ginny said fiercely, ''I'm three years older than you were when you fought You-Know-Who over the Philosophers Stone, and it's because of me that Malfoy's stuck back in Umbridge's office with giant flying bogies attacking him—"

"Might I also remind you that I'm two years older than you?" Tori stepped forward, crossing her arms as her eyes narrowed dangerously at Harry. "You're going to need someone with advanced magic. Besides, I'm the only one here who's actually a legal adult."

''Yeah, but—"

''We were all in the DA together," said Neville quietly. "It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it? And this is the first chance we've had to do something real—or was that all just a game or something?"

''No—of course, it wasn't—" said Harry impatiently.

''Then we should come too," said Neville simply. "We want to help."

''That's right," said Luna, smiling happily.

"Ditto." Tori snapped.

''Well, it doesn't matter, anyway," said Harry through gritted teeth, ''Because we still don't know how to get there—"

''I thought we'd settled that," said Luna maddeningly. "We're flying!"

''Look," said Ron, barely containing his anger, ''You might be able to fly without a broomstick but the rest of us can't sprout wings whenever we—"

''There are ways of flying other than with broomsticks," Luna sighed serenely.

''I s'pose we're going to ride on the back of the Kacky Snorgle or whatever it is?" Ron demanded. "Don't be a jerk, Ronald." Tori snapped.

''The Crumple-Horned Snorkack can't fly," said Luna in a dignified voice, ''But they can, and Hagrid says they're very good at finding places their riders are looking for."

Harry whirled around.

''Yes!" He whispered, moving towards the emptiness.

''Is it those mad horse things?" said Ron uncertainly, staring at a point slightly to the left of Harry. "Those ones you can't see unless you've watched someone snuff it?"

''Yeah," said Harry.

''How many?"

''Just two."

"Well, we need three," Hermione began, who was still looking a little shaken, but determined just the same.

''Four, Hermione," said Ginny, scowling.

''I think there are seven of us, actually," said Luna calmly, counting.

''Don't be stupid, we can't all go!" Harry sighed angrily. "Look, you four—" pointed at Neville, Ginny, Tori, and Luna, ''You're not involved in this, you're not—"

They burst into more protests.

''OK, fine, it's your choice," Harry said curtly, ''But unless we can find more Thestrals you're not going to be able—"

''Oh, more of them will come," said Ginny confidently, who like Ron was squinting. "What makes you think that?"

''Because in case you hadn't noticed, you and Hermione are both covered in blood," She said coolly, ''And we know Hagrid lures Thestrals with raw meat. That's probably why these two turned up in the first place."

''OK, then," Harry said, ''Ron and I will take these two and go ahead, and Hermione can stay here with you four and she'll attract more Thestrals—"

''I'm not staying behind!" Hermione yelled furiously.

''There's no need," said Luna, smiling. "Look, here come more now... you two must really smell..."

Harry turned: Tori still couldn't see anything but Harry let out a sigh.

''Alright," He said angrily, ''Pick one and get on, then."

dang this chapters long lol