The Secret Society Chapter 35

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Harry almost zoned out at Umbridge’s attempt at a power play. When someone was staring at him to try and be threatening, especially when that someone had a horrid fashion sense and still had the insultingly horrible smile in an attempt to look menacing.

He was more worried about his meeting with Dumbledore in a few hours. The detention yesterday had been postponed for obvious reasons, but he doubted another fortunate delay would happen again.

Harry supposed that he could hunt down some of Warrington’s friends since they weren’t entirely innocent. That would make Dumbledore busy for another night and give him more breathing room to think about what to do. Of course, these were all idle fantasies.

He had the excuse of self-defense with Warrington and his two friends. That would not apply if he chose to become the initial attacker.

“Mr. Potter, I am highly disappointed with your actions since we last talked.”

Harry blinked, the sugary sweet, high-pitched voice dragging him out of his thoughts. It seemed that Umbridge had finally gotten tired of being silent. He prepared himself for the exaggerated expressions of regret and shame he would have to show.

“Professor?” Harry asked as if he was taken aback, “I thought I was doing well?”

“Well? I received word that you were gallivanting off in Diagon Alley, of all places! Since when has it been acceptable for students to leave the castle during the school year? On top of that, I hear you are wasting time in the library, using the pass I graciously gave you for silly reasons! Were you only intending to use it to impress your muggleborn friend?”

Harry barely stopped himself from showing the flare of anger that rose at the way Umbridge spat the word ‘muggleborn,’ as if it was lower than even the lowest of filth.

This was new. He was aware that she gave more praise to the ‘correct’ type of pureblood, but he didn’t know she hated muggleborns to this extent. As if Harry needed another reason to feel disgusted by Umbridge.

Thinking of Hermione, one of the few people who insisted on being friendly with him, derided as such was shockingly infuriating.

Still, Harry put on a relieved smile before he started his assurances.

“Ah! So that’s what you mean, professor. Longbottom has been tough to get close to, so I thought that the best way around that would be through his friends,” Harry made his smile waver as he continued, “Unless Granger isn’t friends with Longbottom anymore? Please tell me I didn’t waste my time, Professor Umbridge.”

The way Harry almost pleaded Umbridge for approval reduced her ire significantly. As he thought, reinforcing that she was in power and everything was done for a plan they had spoken about was enough for the stupid woman. Of course, Harry knew this wasn’t the end of it.

The finishing stroke had yet to be said. Where she had the opportunity to come to her own conclusions.

“I see,” Umbridge muttered, pausing a few seconds to seemingly gather her thoughts, “You are going to great lengths to help me. I do appreciate your effort, Mr. Potter.”

“Thank you, professor!” Harry interjected as if he couldn’t hold back his excitement from her praise.

“As that may be, this does not excuse your decision to leave Hogwarts,” Umbridge seemed less severe with her questioning, “What do you have to say for that?”

“That… I’m not sure,” Harry said with confusion, “Headmaster Dumbledore insisted that I follow him. I wasn’t given much of a choice.”

“Did he?” Umbridge seemed triumphant, “I’ll have words with him, that I can assure you.”

“We didn’t really do much, professor. The Headmaster only took me around Diagon Alley before showing me Carkitt Market. It was a little odd, really.”

“He’s doing this on purpose!”

“Professor?”

“Hmm?” Umbridge looked startled, “Never mind that. You keep doing what you have been, Mr. Potter. Thank you for clearing up my misunderstandings.”

“Er, it’s no problem, professor,” Harry replied hesitantly before waiting for Umbridge to let him go. Of course, she chose this moment to throw him off.

“Actually, Mr. Potter,” Umbridge suddenly had a frown on her face, “I think it would be best if you don’t associate yourself with undesirables. At least until I am able to protect you from the repercussions.”

Harry quickly went over the conversation to figure out what pushed her to make this decision, but couldn’t really make heads or tails of it. Unless she actually looked to him as a real protege of sorts and wanted to keep Dumbledore’s attention off him.

That, however, made zero sense to Harry. He was under the impression that they were both using each other for their own reasons, with him playing her like a fiddle.

“Mr. Potter?” The frown on Umbridge’s face grew more exaggerated, “Do you disagree?”

“… No,” Harry said slowly before repeating it in a firmer tone, “No, professor, of course not. I’ll have to distance myself naturally to not cause any suspicion, but you know best.”

“Good!” Umbridge returned to her sugary cheerful tone, “Then off you go. And do remember that you can come to me if you have any doubts.”

Harry found himself walking back to the common room, replaying his interaction with Umbridge from every angle, and one thing became clear. He needed to know more about her as a person. Perhaps the strangeness would have an explanation then.

He looked around to make sure he was alone, ducked into an empty classroom, and pulled out the map. He unfolded it to see that it was already active, something that he noticed after using it a few times.

No matter what Harry did, the map would not return to its blank state. It was apparent that there was a phrase that he had to use, but he had no idea what it could be. No matter, it wasn’t important since it didn’t affect the functionality of the map.

Harry tracked Umbridge walking around her office briefly before locating Greengrass. His eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline when not only did he see that Greengrass and Zabini were still together, Tracey had now joined in on the party.

It didn’t take long for Harry to change his destination. He quickly walked to them with his cloak over him and the map open to make sure they didn’t change their spot.

However, when Harry arrived outside their location, he stopped at the feeling of familiarity that washed over him. Disregarding the oddness of three Slytherin students meeting in a bathroom, something about it was at the edge of his mind.

The irritation of the thought so close but impossibly far was replaced by frustration when a buzz entered his ears. Of course, they were using the muffliato charm.

However, with their odd decision to use a bathroom without doors for their ‘secret’ meeting, Harry saw Zabini and Davis huddled closely to Greengrass as they listened to her talk. Whatever the blonde said must be riveting since Harry saw they didn’t dare to blink during this lecture.

He tried to read Greengrass’s lips, but it was beyond pointless. Not only did he have no idea what she was saying, he started to be distracted for reasons he didn’t care to think of.

Harry decided to stay purely because of his gut feeling that this was somehow related to him. The girls never really bothered to pay special attention to Zabini before, especially not to the point of speaking alone with him in a secluded area.

It went on for well over thirty minutes, a length of interaction that Harry considered unnecessary for most situations. Were they planning some sort of intricate master plan for the ages? That was the only thing he could think would be a satisfactory interaction.

Thankfully, Harry had the map to entertain him while his housemates plotted between themselves. It was mostly uneventful, but there was a movement that made him forgive the long talk they were having.

Umbridge had left her office and headed to Dumbledore’s office. Right when she was allowed inside, Harry heard the annoying buzz disappear.

“Do remember to keep your mouth shut, Zabini.”

Harry looked away from the map to see Greengrass glaring at the boy. Given that it was almost murderous, he felt it was safe to rule out the slight chance that this was something romantic or affectionate.

“Don’t worry. Nobody’s going to hear anything from me.”

Harry silently clapped at Zabini’s eager expression to please Greengrass.

Pathetic.

Greengrass nodded and turned to an empty stall. Strangely, she spoke to it and sweetly said, “Do you mind starting today, Myrtle?”

Harry blinked in shock when a ghost he purposely blocked from his memories popped her head out of the toilet bowl. No wonder this was familiar. Longbottom had somehow discovered that the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets was in this very bathroom.

"Do you reeeally promise me that the kind boy will speeeeak to me if I do?”

“Of course I do. I’m a witch of my word,” Daphne said solemnly.

"Then I won't let Hermione Granger out of my sight!" Moaning Myrtle squealed before creating an unnecessary splash when she dived back into the toilet.

After that, Harry didn’t hear what was said since he silently left the bathroom. Two possibilities were most likely.

Either Hermione was the leak, which he found… almost comical. Harry seriously doubted that she was aware of his little business. Still, he didn’t want to rule anything out, especially since he recently suspected that she was attracted to him. Maybe that hadn’t been foolish of him to assume. However, Harry doubted this since he didn’t see why Zabini's presence was needed for this.

The other possibility was that Greengrass was using Myrtle indirectly to show Zabini and Davis the Room's existence. Harry wasn’t sure how this was possible, but there were theoretically some ways to do this without breaking the contract Greengrass agreed to. She would need to thread a line so thin that he thought it was practically impossible due to the need to lie to oneself with such skill that it would become the truth.

Harry still believed it was near impossible, but the panic he felt at Greengrass doing such a thing took over his mind. No amount of occlumency, at his current level, would have stopped his following actions.

With a hasty plan in mind, Harry put away the map in his robes, whipped off his cloak, and stored it in his pouch before storming back to the bathroom.

He didn’t have to put on a fake expression since the manic rage was already on full display.

“Myrtle!” Harry roared, “I need your help!”

He had his wand out and flicked it to open the stalls with a slam, purposely pretending like he had tunnel vision as he ignored his three housemates standing there with shocked looks on their faces.

“You took a fancy to Longbottom, did you not?” Harry gritted out between his teeth as he tried his best to not snarl at Greengrass and give it away. “I’m somewhat friends with the boy. Help me, and I can help you.”

Harry didn’t know if he was right about the annoying ghost’s crush, but that shouldn’t matter since she had already gone on Greengrass’s request.

He paused for a few seconds for a reply that would never come before growling like an animal and yelling, “Fine, you want to ignore me?"

"REDUCTO!”

The stall he aimed at was pulverized by the spell, splinters, shards of porcelain, and Merlin knows what else scattering in every direction. It would have been disastrous for Harry and the others watching his show if not for the quickly cast shield that blocked everyone from harm.

Harry took deep breaths before rubbing his face in frustration. “Bloody Warrington with his bloody fucking ambush. I should have caved his face in.”

“Reparo.”

Harry watched as all the damage he caused was reversed, something he was still genuinely amazed by, before sighing loudly. “I apologize for acting like that, Myrtle. I promise what I said wasn’t a joke. Why don’t we have a talk about it?”

After waiting a few seconds, Harry shook his head and muttered, “Blood hell. Nothing is going my way recently.”

He turned and pretended to freeze in shock when he saw his three targets staring at him with varying expressions. The one he took most pleasure in was Greengrass, of course. It wasn’t often he saw such shock on her… never before this, actually.

As for Zabini and Davis, he didn’t care too much.

“… What in Merlin’s name are you doing here?” Harry asked incredulously while staring at Greengrass.

“That is none of your concern, Potter,” Daphne’s voice wavered, “No need to add to your already overloaded mind. It seems you have enough on your plate.”

Harry clenched the hand holding his wand, enjoying how Greengrass twitched. That might as well be the most dramatic flinch on any other witch or wizard.

“… You’re right about that. I don’t have time for this,” Harry waved them off irritably. They seemed to be ecstatic to leave him alone in the bathroom.

Once Harry heard their footsteps disappear, he pulled out the map to ensure they were far away from this bathroom before searching for Myrtle.

The ghost was waiting near the Gryffindor common room entrance.

All Harry hoped was to put some doubt in Greengrass’s mind about using Moaning Myrtle due to the ghost’s supposed closeness with him. That was the only reason he shamed himself in front of those three by acting like he was losing control of his mind.

As for letting them know that he was behind Warrington’s attack… that was the result of, frankly, losing his mind. It was poorly thought out, even though his desired result was likely achieved.

Harry could only console himself that most of the Slytherins already assumed that he was the reason Warrington’s group had been sent to St. Mungo’s.

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