A Sly Escape and Sisterly Concern

"You can ask him when we get back." Apophis said as he walked out of the cell and gestured her to follow, she growled but the thought of seeing her lord had stopped her from making things more difficult, she followed after him, a smile appearing on her face as she thought about how she would reunite with her lord.

"Bellatrix." She was brought out of her thoughts when she saw her husband Rodolphus Lestrange and her brother-in-law Rabastan Lestrange freed along with other death eaters from their cells by a group of men dressed fully in black.

"Why aren't you all wearing the proper death eater uniforms?!" She hissed to Apophis upon noticing that while the uniforms matched the death eater uniforms, none of them were wearing their death eater masks and were instead covering their faces with plain black masks.

"You haven't kept up with the news." One of them said. "The fools at the ministry do not believe that the dark lord has returned, he is biding his time and staying hidden until he is ready to strike. You of all people know how smart our lord is Mrs Lestrange." The man said as he removed his mask and revealed himself as Barty Crouch Junior.

"Ah Barty," Bellatrix smirked. "so grown up."

"Crouch." Apophis said in an impatient voice. "Catch up later, Voldemort's orders will not be delayed for you."

"Of course." Crouch nodded and gestured to Bellatrix and the others to follow him before he put his mask on and followed Apophis out.

"Who the hell is this guy?" Bellatrix whispered to Barty as she gestured to Apophis.

"I will tell you when we get out of here." Barty replied.

"Ah Mr Potter, I am glad you have brought Miss Greengrass and Miss Davis with you, please come in." Umbridge said as she gave Harry and the girls what she thought was a welcoming smile, but in reality it was quite creepy. Harry and his friends walked in to her office only to find the fifth year inquisitorial squad standing off to the side of the room, the trio were instantly on guard but took their seats across from Umbridge who had sat down at her desk.

As they sat down Harry looked at the members of the squad, Pansy Parkinson followed by Crabbe and Goyle plus non other than Draco Malfoy. Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson were glaring at Harry while Draco simply sneered, though his eyes gave him away, he was staring at Harry with pure hatred. Harry could have just left it but decided that it would be funnier to smirk and wink at him, and it was as Malfoy's face took on a look that made him look like he was constipated.

"You wanted to see us Professor Umbridge?" Daphne asked in a polite voice.

"Yes, I had wanted to talk to the three of you for a very important reason." Umbridge smiled as she looked at the three of them. "I am offering you three a great opportunity."

"I accept galleons and sickles." Harry replied.

"That's not what she meant Potter!" Malfoy spat before Umbridge could respond. He was doing his best to keep calm in front of Umbridge, even if it was really hard for him. Right now he could not think of anyone he hated more than Harry Potter, he could not wait for Apophis or the dark lord to kill him, to be honest Malfoy was hoping that he would be the one who was given the pleasure of doing so.

As far as Draco Malfoy was concerned it was all one hundred percent Potter's fault that he ended up in trouble not just with his father but also with the dark lord and his heir. As far as Draco was concerned it was Harry's Potter's fault that he was tortured by the dark lord's heir. Draco could not wait for the dark lord to finally take over and teach the half-blood a lesson that he would never forget.

"You can have the knuts, I think you might need them more than me." Harry said with a small but innocent smile.

"I am not offering you money Mr Potter," Umbridge said, either not noticing or not commenting on Harry's comment regarding Malfoy's need for knuts. "I am offering the three of you positions on my 'inquisitorial squad'." Umbridge said in a way that would lead you to believe that she expected them to jump up and down on their feet in excitement before bowing down and shouting how eternally grateful they were. Instead all she got was three eyebrow raises.

"What?!" Pany Parkinson screeched. "You can't be serious!"

"Watch your tone Miss Parkinson." Umbridge said in a warning tone. "You can still be taken off of the inquisitorial squad if needs be." She added, Pansy looked mutinous for a moment but nodded and muttered out an apology before she stepped back into line. "Now then," Umbridge smiled as she turned back to Harry and his friends. "are you three willing to join?" She said as she waited for their answer, unfortunately for her it was not the answer she wanted.

"Unfortunately Miss Umbridge I will have to refuse at this current time," Daphne said, her voice betraying nothing. "I would prefer to focus on my studies."

"Same." Tracy nodded. "It is our owl years after all."

"I will also have to refuse for the same reasons." Harry added.

"Mr Potter," Umbridge said, "surely you can see the benefits of joining the squad far outweigh the costs?"

"I am not quite sure I agree but even if I am wrong I have already made my decision." Harry replied. "Perhaps next year."

"Very well." Umbridge said, she seemed to be trying to copy Dumbledore's disappointed voice, however she was not nearly as effective with it as the old man.

"Well if that will be all Professor Umbridge?" Daphne asked.

"For now." Umbridge nodded.

"Excellent." Harry said as he and the girls stood up. "Goodbye." He said before they walked out. "Was there a particular reason why you two didn't want to join the squad?" Harry asked the girls once they were far enough away from Umbridge's office.

"Besides the reason we gave?" Tracy asked. "Yes, yes there is."

"It's rather simple, we don't want to spend anymore time with Malfoy and his gang or Umbridge than I have to." Daphne added.

"Same here," Harry nodded. "besides everyone knows that the squad is essentially just Umbridge's group of enforcers."

"That's probably why she wanted you on it," Tracy said to Harry. "the boy-who-lived and defeater of dark wizards would have certainly helped her a lot."

"I'm flattered you think so highly of me." Harry smirked. "I refused for the exact same reasons as you guys plus I just really don't have the time for it. Between studying, my extra studies where I practise spells, going on dates with Tonks, corrupting Astoria, going on dates with Fleur and practising for owl exams I have become incredibly busy." Harry said as if he was suffering beyond what they could imagine.

"What was that about my sister?" Daphne narrowed her eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Harry said as he ever so slightly increased his walking speed.

"Potter," Daphne increased her speed to match him. "what was that about my sister?"

"You mean the very sister that is walking up to us now?" Harry said as he looked in the direction they just came from.

"Huh?" Daphne looked back only to find an empty hallway. "But there is nobody there." She turned back only to find that Harry had dissepeared. "Damn." She said when she realised what just happened.

"I cannot believe you fell for that." Tracy chuckled as she shook her head with amusment.

....

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