Over the next few months, Scott worked with the rest of
Dumbledore's army, all of them successfully learning several defensive spells
that would aid them in the events to come. Without really showing his true
potential in the ways of defense against the dark arts, Scott was recognized
for being one of the top students in the DA, closely followed by Hermione.
Scott often worked with Nigel on learning new spells and practicing them on each
other. As a result, the two quickly became fast friends despite their age
difference.
Shortly before Easter, Harry arrived at a meeting a few minutes
late. When the DA members had seen that he had walked in, their chatter died
down and their attention focused on him.
"Okay everyone, I think it's time for us to learn how to do
Patronuses," he announced.
At his words, the chatter rose up again. After letting everyone
talk to each other for a few moments, Harry raised his hand to silence them and
their chatter died away again.
"Now, what you have to do when you want to cast a Patronus is
focus on a memory," Harry explained. "And this isn't just any memory,
it has to be a happy memory and a very powerful memory. It has to be one of the
happiest moments of your life. Now, I want all of you to close your eyes and
focus on a memory." All of the members closed their eyes. As they did,
Harry continued. "Allow the memory to fill you up. Concentrate. And speak
incantation Expecto Patronum.
"
"Expecto Patronum,"
rang through the Room of Requirement as the DA members spoke. When they said
the incantation, silver whips burst out of some of their wands. Harry, smiling,
spoke again.
"Very good, you all seemed to have selected some good
memories. Now, I want you all to practice on your own and remember, focus on
the memory and you will be able to successfully produce a Patronus."
Scott and Nigel worked together to cast their Patronuses. Nigel,
after some encouragement from Scott, managed to produce a Patronus in the shape
of a tawny owl, just like the one he owned. Scott on the other hand produced a
Patronus in the shape of a golden retriever, exactly like his dog he owned at
home.
While they were practicing their Patronuses, Scott and Nigel stood
close to the entrance, near where Harry was standing. Without warning, the door
suddenly opened and closed very quickly, as if somebody had wanted to enter,
but hesitated. They both noticed it and when they turned to look, they saw a
house elf had entered the room and was talking to Harry.
"Not her?"
Harry exclaimed. Knowing there could only be one "her" that Harry
would talk about with such disdain, Scott walked over to him.
"What is it, Harry?" he asked.
"It's Umbridge, she's found us!" Harry shouted. He
turned to the rest of the DA. "You heard, she's coming! Run!"
The rest of the DA members began to scatter and run toward the
exit. As they were leaving, Scott yelled at Harry.
"How could she have found us?"
"I don't know, but we gotta get out of here, quick!"
Harry shouted back.
"You go on! I'll see if I can head off Umbridge. I'll make up
something. Get back to your common room!"
Scott turned and ran toward Umbridge's office. As he did so, he
ran past several members of the Inquisitorial Squad, a group of students who
had devoted themselves to Umbridge. Umbridge had made Scott himself a member of
the group, but he had no idea that they would be making their move against the
DA tonight. As he turned down the corridor that would lead him to the defense
against the dark arts room, Umbridge herself came walking toward him, dragging
Harry along with her.
"Ah, Mr. Peck!" she exclaimed. "So sorry not to
tell you that we had found the group, but I wanted them to be caught as soon as
possible. Please follow me to the Headmaster's Office and I will inform the
Minister of your involvement in exposing this group," she finished,
smiling nastily at Harry.
When she turned to lead Harry and Scott to Dumbledore's office,
Scott shook his head at Harry to tell him that it wasn't true that he had
exposed them and Harry raised an eyebrow, showing that he understood. She led
them to the office and dragged Harry in, Scott following closely behind.
Dumbledore was leaning on his desk. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister, was standing
next to him along with two aurors. Professor McGonagall stood beside Dumbledore
along with somebody who appeared to be hiding their face. Harry and Scott stood
next to McGonagall as Umbridge began to talk.
Scott listened as Umbridge explained to the Minister of Magic
everything that had happened. Marietta, Cho's friend, had exposed the DA to
Umbridge earlier in the evening shortly after dinner and Umbridge gathered
members of the Inquisitorial Squad and sent them to the seventh floor to corner
members of the DA. As she spoke, Scott noticed that Dumbledore seemed
untroubled by the events occurring in his office; on the contrary, he appeared
to be enjoying himself.
At one point, Marietta refused to answer one of Umbridge's
questions and Umbridge, losing her patience, started to shake her. At this,
Dumbledore suddenly pulled out his wand and pointed it at them, forcing
Umbridge away from Marietta.
"I'm sorry, Dolores, but I cannot allow you to manhandle my
students," he said, his blue eyes glistening in a fire of anger.
Umbridge continued on. She showed Fudge the parchment with all of
their names on ith that revealed the name of the group. She then explained that
Scott had been a spy for her working directly in the DA. When she revealed
this, Fudge smiled at him.
"Well done, Scott," he said jovially. "I think you
deserve an award for this, I shall see to it personally.
Scott looked back at Fudge with a look of contempt, which Fudge
mistook as a silent thank-you.
"No need to thank me, Scott. You have done a great thing for
your school. Now," he said, turning to Percy Weasley, who stood with a
quill and notebook in his head, looking excited. "You've written down
everything, Weasley?"
"I think so, Minister," Percy replied excitedly.
"Very good. Dispatch an owl to the Daily Prophet, if we hurry we can make the morning issue,"
Fudge said. He then turned to the two aurors that had come with him. Scott
recognized one of them as Kingsley Shacklebolt, a member of the Order of the
Phoenix. "Dawlish, Shacklebolt, you will escort Dumbledore to Azkaban, to
await trial for conspiracy and sedition."
"Ah," Dumbledore said, standing up and retreating behind
his desk. "I thought we might hit this little snag. You seem to be
lingering under the delusion that I'm going to, what was the phrase? Come
quietly. Well I can tell you this, I have no intention of going to
Azkaban."
"Enough of this!" Umbridge hissed. "Take him!"
Dumbledore drew out his wand and the four of them stopped dead in
their tracks, not daring to move any closer to him.
"So," sneered Fudge. "You intend to take on
Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores, and myself single-handed do you,
Dumbledore?"
"Merlin's beard, no," said Dumbledore, smiling.
"Not unless you are foolish enough to force me to."
"He won't be single handed!" said Professor McGonagall
loudly, plunging her hand inside her robes.
"Oh yes he will, Minerva!" said Dumbledore sharply.
"Hogwarts needs you!"
"Enough of this!" Umbridge repeated. "Dawlish,
Shacklebolt, take him!"
Dumbledore winked at Scott. Scott had a half-second to respond and
stepped in front of Harry to shield him from what Dumbledore did. There was a
burst of silver light and a bang, which shook the whole office. There was a
sharp "No!" from somewhere to Scott's left as Professor McGonagall
tackled Marietta and Harry to the ground with Scott diving down after them.
Once the smoke had cleared from the force of Dumbledore's spell, Dumbledore
strode over to them and helped McGonagall stand back up.
"Are you alright?" Dumbledore demanded.
"Yes I'm fine," McGonagall replied.
"Unfortunately, I had to stun Kingsley as well or it would
have looked suspicious. It was well of him to stun Marietta like that when no
one was looking, thank him for me."
"Where we will go, Albus? Grimmauld Place?"
"No, I shall go underground. Fudge won't be foolish enough to
send anyone after me. I sense that Lord Voldemort will be revealing himself to
the public soon." Dumbledore then turned to Harry. "Harry, you need
to practice Occlumency every night before you go to sleep. Work as hard as you
can with Professor Snape and do your best to clear your mind before you go to
sleep each night."
Harry looked up at the ancient face, not knowing what to say.
Sorry for what he had done, sorry that Dumbledore had to leave the school at
such a critical moment. But Dumbledore shook his head. "Keep practicing
Occlumency. Keep your mind closed." He then stood up and turned to leave
the office before speaking to Scott.
"Scott, I will inform Professor Snape of what has happened
and I will have him send word to you when I have."
Scott nodded and then Dumbledore turned and left, Fawkes the
Phoenix flying after him. The four ministry officials then stirred back into
consciousness and stood up. Umbridge shouted about Dumbledore escaping and left
the office in a hurry. Fudge, knowing that Dumbledore could not have
Disapparated out of the castle, merely smiled at McGonagall.
"I do believe this is the end of your friend Dumbledore,
Minerva," he said.
"Oh I don't think so," McGonagall replied sharply.
"I daresay he will be back amongst us again soon. Now if you will excuse
me, Minister, I have to take these three students back to their common
rooms."
McGonagall then shooed Scott, Harry, and Marietta from the office.
As they left, Scott heard the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black speaking to
Fudge.
"You know, I may not agree with Dumbledore on many occasions
just like you, Minister," he said. "But you can't deny that
Dumbledore's got style."
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