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They were at the stone gargoyle within minutes. Iris could only wonder how many of the others had been caught. She thought dreadfully of Ron— Mrs Weasley would kill him— and of how Hermione would feel if she was expelled before she could take her O.W.L.s.

"Fizzing Whizbee," sang Umbridge, and the stone gargoyle jumped aside, the wall behind split open, and they ascended the moving stone staircase. They reached the polished door with the griffin knocker, but Umbridge did not bother to knock, she strode straight inside, still holding tight to Iris and Harry.

The office was full of people. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, his expression serene, the tips of his long fingers together. Professor McGonagall stood rigidly beside him, her face extremely tense. Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, was rocking backwards and forward on his toes beside the fire, apparently immensely pleased with the situation. Kingsley Shacklebolt and a tough-looking wizard Iris did not recognize with very short, wiry hair were positioned on either side of the door like guards, and the freckled, bespectacled form of Percy Weasley hovered excitedly beside the wall, a quill and a heavy scroll of parchment in his hands, apparently poised to take notes. Worst of all, sitting front and centre was Cho's curly-haired friend Marietta, who was hiding her face in her hands, and Iris knew immediately it had been her who ratted them out.

The portraits of old headmasters and mistresses were not shamming sleep tonight. All of them were watching what was happening below, alert and serious. As the twins entered, a few flitted into neighbouring frames and whispered urgently into their neighbours' ears.

Beside Iris, Harry pulled himself free of Umbridge's grasp as the door swung shut behind them. Cornelius Fudge was glaring at the Potters with a kind of vicious satisfaction upon his face. Iris couldn't find it in herself to care about his gaze, though she found herself wilting in shame under the disappointed eyes of Professor Dumbledore.

They had messed up— big time.

"Well," Fudge said. "Well, well, well..."

Umbridge dropped her grip on Iris and suddenly brandished a familiar piece of parchment and to the brunette's horror, it was the list of names that had been pinned upon the Room of Requirement's wall.

"Dumbledore's Army!" The woman proclaimed triumphantly, "Proof of what I've been telling you right from the beginning, Cornelius!" Umbridge handed the D.A. Parchment to a stunned Fudge as she sneered at Dumbledore.

"The moment I saw the Potters' names on the list, I knew what we were dealing with," she said softly. Umbridge then hissed haughtily to Dumbledore, "All your fearmongering about You-Know-Who never fooled us for a minute. We saw your lies for what they were— a smokescreen for your bid to seize control of the Ministry!"

"Naturally," Dumbledore said solemnly, without hesitation.

Iris' eyes widened as she realised what Dumbledore was doing.

"Professor— no!"

Harry turned desperately to Umbridge, "He knew nothing about this! It was us!"

"Most noble of you two, to try and shield me, but as has been pointed out, the Parchment clearly says 'Dumbledore's Army'— not 'Potter's.'" He turned to Fudge, "I instructed Iris and Harry to form this organization— and I alone am responsible for its activities."

Fudge blinked at Dumbledore, slightly stunned. Dumbledore looked reassuringly at Iris who was on the verge of tears. She couldn't believe how badly she had messed up. She never once saw this conclusion coming.

"Dispatch an owl to the Daily Prophet; if we hurry we should still make the morning edition," Fudge said gleefully to Percy. Iris was appalled but unsurprised that that was his first concern, "Dawlish, Shacklebolt: You will escort Dumbledore to Azkaban to await trial for conspiracy and sedition—"

Dumbledore stood from his desk and cut the Minister off, "Ah, I thought we might hit that little snag. You seem to be labouring under the delusion that I am going to— what is the phrase? 'Come quietly' I am afraid I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course — but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing."

Umbridge's face was growing steadily redder, she looked as though she was being filled with boiling water, "Enough of this rubbish," Umbridge shouted angrily, "Take him!"

As the ministry workers raised their wands Dumbledore smiled a warm, encouraging smile at Iris and Harry who looked helplessly back. The Headmaster met Iris' eyes for not even a full second, but yet conveyed through to her one strong message: Protect him.

A streak of silver light flashed around the room as Fawkes swooped low overhead. Iris watched in astonishment as Dumbledore whirled— a concussive blast of light sent Fudge and Umbridge sprawling as Dumbledore reached up to grab the Phoenix's tail— there was a bang like a gunshot and the floor trembled, and in a blaze of fire both bird and Headmaster were gone. They all stood silent, stunned.

Things at Hogwarts only got worse after Dumbledore's departure.

Each member of the D.A. had detention with the newly crowned Headmaster Umbridge every other night that week, and by the end of it, Iris and the other students all had bloody scabbed scribbles streaking the back of their hands. They had nearly run out of murtlap and Iris had begun to ration it out in small doses only for the first and second years. The older students had to put the younger ones first— the older ones could manage the pain, but Iris had to comfort another crying child every night. It wasn't fair for them to know hurt so young.

In other news, all fifth years had been subject to mandatory career advising appointments with their Head of House. Iris' appointment consisted of her sitting in McGonagall's office with Umbridge hovering in the back corner taking notes while Iris was informed that she was failing out of nearly every class that term.

Iris didn't really care though. And at first, she wasn't sure why, but then she realised— she could hardly imagine or care about what job she would have in the future when she was too busy dealing with the horrible reality of the present.

A chilly drizzle had fallen over the valley in front of Iris, as she stood looking out over one of the bridge's railings at the sea of shifting mist. Harry stood silently beside her, distraught.

Behind the twins were Ron and Hermione. Ron said quietly, "...you both did everything you could. No one could win against that old hag."

"He's right," Hermione chimed in, "Not even Dumbledore saw this coming. Besides, if it's anyone's fault it's ours..."

Ron nodded, "Yeah, we talked you into it."

"None of this is on you two," Iris said sadly. She didn't blame either of them or Harry for the events that had occurred. The blame rested solely upon herself. Iris knew she should have known better— if she had just been smarter, thought it through more, maybe none of this would have happened and Dumbledore would still be there. 

"I tried so hard to help— but all I've done is make things worse," Harry said quietly, his head hanging low," Anyway. It doesn't matter now..." Iris glanced at him, confused, and then he spoke intensely, "I don't want to play this game anymore. All it does is make you care too much. And the more you care... the more you have to lose." Iris knew he was right about that, "Maybe it is better just to..." he trailed off.

"What?" Iris asked cautiously.

Harry looked at her, "To go it alone."

Iris shared a worried look with Ron and Hermione as Harry turned away and started down the bridge.

"Well you can't exactly get rid of me that easily, Harry," Iris called after him.

Her brother stopped in his tracks and turned back to her. When their eyes locked, all she could see looking back at her was sadness and hopelessness that she knew she was also reflecting.

Before either of them could say any words, Iris was distracted by the sight of Hagrid peering in from the forest end of the bridge— his face was scratched and bruised; his eyes red from crying.

"Hagrid...?" She called out in confusion.

He shushed her and waved the group of four over toward him, all the while looking around nervously. The students exchanged a look and it was clear none of them knew what their friend was up to. They followed Hagrid in silence as he led them down the hill and toward the Forbidden Forest.

"We're goin' in here," he said, jerking his shaggy head toward the trees.

"Into the forest?" said Hermione, perplexed.

"Yeah," said Hagrid. "C'mon now, quick, before we're spotted!"

Reluctantly, they all ducked into the cover of the trees behind Hagrid, who was already striding away from them into the green gloom, his crossbow over his arm. The path was becoming increasingly overgrown and the trees grew so closely together as they walked farther and farther into the forest that it was as dark as dusk.

"Any idea where he's taking us?" Ron whispered.

Hermione shook her head. Iris and Harry both shrugged.

Harry finally asked, "Hagrid? Please, can't you just tell us—"

Hagrid tried to reply, but, too upset to speak, just shook his head woefully and continued on.

Ron looked after him with quiet awe, "He's lost his mind."

It was a great struggle to keep up with Hagrid, what with branches and thickets of thorn through which Hagrid marched as easily as though they were cobwebs, but which snagged Iris and the other's robes, frequently entangling them so severely that they had to stop for minutes at a time to free themselves. Iris' arms and legs were soon covered in small cuts and scratches. They were so deep in the forest now that sometimes all Iris could see of Hagrid in the gloom was a massive dark shape ahead of him. Any sound seemed threatening in the muffled silence. The breaking of a twig echoed loudly and the tiniest rustle of movement, though it might have been made by an innocent sparrow, caused Iris to peer through the gloom for a culprit. It occurred to her that she had never managed to get this far into the forest without meeting some kind of creature— their absence struck her as rather ominous.

After several minutes of walking, Hermione said gently, "Hagrid? What's going on?"

Hagrid took out his huge spotted handkerchief and blew his nose, also wiping his tear-filled eyes.

"Sorry t'be so mysterious you four. I wouldn' be botherin' yer with this at all— but with Dumbledore gone I'll likely be gettin' the sack any day now," Hagrid's voice was thick with emotion, "An' I can' leave withou' tellin' someone abou' him..."

Harry asked cautiously, afraid of the answer, "About... who?"

They crept forward and Iris saw that they were facing a large, smooth mound of earth nearly as tall as Hagrid that she thought for just a second, with a jolt of dread, was sure to be the lair of some enormous animal. Trees had been ripped up at the roots all around the mound, so that it stood on a bare patch of ground surrounded by heaps of trunks and boughs that formed a kind of fence or barricade, behind which Iris, Hagrid, and the other three teens now stood.

"Sleepin'," breathed Hagrid.

Sure enough, Iris could hear a distant, rhythmic rumbling that sounded like a pair of enormous lungs at work. It took only a few seconds for Iris to notice. The great mound of earth, on which they all could easily have stood, was moving slowly up and down in time with the deep, grunting breathing. It was not a mound at all. She glanced, horrified, sideways at Hermione, who was gazing at the mound with her mouth slightly open. She looked utterly terrified.

Hagrid said nervously, "Go easy now... he can be a bit... high-spirited."

With fear in his voice, Ron whispered, "That hill... It's breathing."

As the "hill" shifted in its sleep, several birds fluttered into the air. Hagrid cautiously approached the slumbering giant.

"Oh Hagrid... you didn't," Iris moaned fearfully.

Hagrid had tears in his eyes, "I had ter bring 'im back! The other giants were all bullyin' him, 'cause he's so small!"

"Small?" said Hermione, "Small?"

"I couldn' jus' leave 'im!" Hagrid tried to explain, "See— he's my brother."

They all simply stared at him, mouths open.

"Blimey," Ron uttered.

"Well—half-brother. Turns out after me mother left me dad she took up with this other giant, see— well actually, she knew him before she left, but it wasn't 'til after that she went an had Grawp here—"

The sleeping giant suddenly stirred, and Iris took a set back. Grawp cautiously opened a sleepy eye.

Hagrid smiled, "Had a nice sleep, did yeh Grawpy?"

Grawp yawned and stretched before rising to his full sixteen-foot height. He peered in fascination at the circling birds.

Hagrid waved his arms around trying to catch his attention, "Grawp! Down here, yeh big buffoon! Come on now Grawpy! I brought yeh some company!"

Finally, Grawp peered curiously down at the quartet; as he started toward them he absently knocked Hagrid out of the way. The four students stepped back in alarm, and Iris reached out to tightly grasp Harry's arm, but Grawp was stopped short by a rope tying him to a nearby tree.

Harry couldn't take his eyes off of the giant as he asked, "Hagrid... is this how you got all your injuries?"

As Hagrid climbed back to his feet he flushed, embarrassed. "Oh, no no no... well, yes. But he's a good boy, really— jes don' know his own strength is all..."

Grawp bent down; Iris, Harry, and Ron didn't much interest him, but Hermione was another matter. He sniffed, smiled a shy broken-toothed smile, and with a swift movement grabbed her and lifted her into the air. Hermione and Iris screamed.

Hagrid yelled, "GRAWPY! THA'S NOT POLITE!"

Hermione was rigid as Grawp stared at her and sighed happily. Iris watched in horror from behind Harry, who had immediately pushed her behind him.

"HAGRID, DO SOMETHING!" Ron yelled in panic.

Sternly, Hagrid shouted, "Bad boy, Grawpy! I tol' yeh, we don' grab--! Tha's yer new friend Hermione!"

Ron picked a branch up off of the forest floor and ran at Grawp, smacking him in the shins as Hagrid desperately tried to save the situation.

"Don' you worry now, he's completely harmless! PUT HER DOWN YEH BIG OAF! Like I said, jes a bit high-spirited is all— GRAWPY—!"

Suddenly Grawp kicked Ron, sending him sprawling into a tree— hard. Iris gasped, running to help him up. Ron winced in pain. Hagrid grimaced. Hermione turned instantly to Grawp and fixed him with a furious stare.

"Grawp. GRAWP. Put. Me. DOWN." At his hesitation, she added, "NOW."

Grawp frowned... then reluctantly complied. Ron was at her side in an instant as Hermione brushed off her jumper. 

"Are you alright?"

Hermione let out a breath, "Just needs a firm hand is all."

Harry side-eyed Hermione, "I think you've got an admirer..."

Grawp was gazing down at Hermione with inordinate fondness. Quite quickly, he apparently lost interest, straightening up again, and became engaged in pulling back a nearby pine as far as it would go.

"He can get his own food an' all... it's company he'll need— after I'm gone." Hagrid turned sadly to the four students, "Yeh will look after him, won't yer? I'm the only family he's got."

Iris looked up at Grawp, who was now pulling back the pine with an expression of detached pleasure on his boulderish face; the roots were creaking as he ripped them away from the ground...

She looked at Hermione, who peered back at Iris with an expression of great displeasure.

"Kind of makes you wish we had Norbert back, doesn't it?" Harry said and Iris gave a very shaky laugh.

"Yeh'll do it, then?" said Hagrid, who did not seem to have caught what Harry had just said.

"We'll..." said Harry.

Iris finished for her brother, "We'll try, Hagrid..."

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please drop a vote in honour of this being the last chapter before things break into chaos... next chapter begins exam season (and you know what) 😈