Without You

Inquisitorial Squad

Autumn made sure she hadn't arrived late to breakfast the next morning. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Madam Pomfrey had told her to remove the bandages from her hand after the weekend, but it looked like it was going to stay on for a little longer. Much longer.

"For some reason, Umbridge dismissed me," Autumn told the three as they sat down, "She said I didn't have to go to detention anymore, but she never explained why."

Harry raised a brow, "And why is she being so nice to you all of a sudden? I just got myself into another week's detention. Please don't tell me I have to endure it alone with Malfoy."

"He's not even that bad." Autumn defended, frowning.

Ron laughed, biting onto a corn cob. "How was he in detention anyway? Did he cry like a baby?"

"No," Autumn replied, "In fact, he didn't flinch at all."

Hermione took Autumn's hand gently, studying it for a while. Ron looked at her strangely, as if she were doing the weirdest thing in the world.

"What are you staring at her hand so hard for?" he asked, eyes wide.

"I think I can make an ointment for this."

* * *

By three o'clock that day, the number of Educational Decrees had increased by at least five. The one directly in front of Autumn read: 'Educational Decree Number Twenty Six: Boys & girls are not permitted to be within 6 inches of each other.'

Autumn felt someone nudging her side.

"Walk me to class, won't you?" Draco asked, tracing Autumn's fixed gaze on the Educational Decrees. He smirked at Autumn, taking a step away from her, approximately six inches.

"These new rules are really stupid." Autumn mumbled in a low voice. She was clearly upset about all the changes happening in Hogwarts. She hated sitting in a classroom where Umbridge would be sitting in the corner with her pink clipboard, judging every move and word made by any of the staff members.

Autumn's next class was Transfiguration, and Malfoy had Potions. He had decided to drop Transfiguration due to his lack of interest. After Malfoy walked Autumn to her class, he headed off to his own. Umbridge, as expected, was sitting in the corner of the room with her bright clipboard and quill. She sat straight, smiling. Harry compared Dolores Umbridge to a toad, which Autumn now completely understood. Umbridge did look like a toad when she smiled.

"Autumn," McGonagall said, "your Vanishing Spell demonstration, please."

Autumn nodded, standing up. She pulled her wand out of her sleeve, pointing it at the mouse McGonagall had placed at the front of the classroom. Everyone, including Umbridge, watched in anticipation with the wonder of whether she'd fail it or succeed.

"Evanesco!"

The mouse vanished in thin air, her classmates applauding her success. She took her seat, smiling at Cho who was sitting on her right.

"Wait."

Umbridge stood up, placing her clipboard onto Lee Jordan's table. She stared at Autumn, eyes narrowed. "Show me your wand."

Autumn looked at Professor McGonagall, waiting for her to say something. None of this was necessary. McGonagall only nodded, gesturing towards Umbridge. She looked like she had no power over the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts this time. Autumn then remembered that she was still in possession of Draco's wand. Was it that obvious that the wand was not hers? She pulled the wand out of her sleeve, giving it to Umbridge, who stared at the wand closely.

"Hmmm... Hawthorn and unicorn hair? I remember you telling me your wand was made of rosewood and veela hair," she paused, looking up at Autumn, "Don't tell me you stole someone's wand."

"No, I didn't steal it... We've swapped wands my mistake, and we didn't get the chance toㅡ"

"And who's wand might this be?" Umbridge raised the wand up, waiting for an answer. The whole classroom was silent, as everyone awaited Autumn's response. She mustn't tell lies. She couldn't afford another detention. She couldn't lie about it belonging to Ron, Hermione or Harry. Umbridge would only ask them, getting them into trouble as well.

"It's... Draco Malfoy's."

Umbridge's smile did not fade away, but only widened. "Well, well. Taking property that is not yoursㅡ Five points from Gryffindor."

"Wait, that isn't fair!" Ron exclaimed out of the blue.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley!" she yelled, straightening up afterwards. She dropped Draco's wand onto Autumn's table before letting out a soft sigh. Autumn sat down, as Umbridge returned to her corner at the back of the classroom. She had never felt so angry in her life before.

"Why do you have Malfoy's wand, anyway?" Ron asked from her left.

"It's a long story." Autumn wrote down notes with her quill, half-listening to McGonagall and half-gritting her teeth in annoyance.

"Harry, Hermione and I decided to make this ...special group, Autumn. Practising our defensive magic behind Umbridge's back in the Room of Requirement. Wanna come?"

The Room of Requirement was a room that could only give entry to those who needed it. Autumn had used the room last year with Cedric before the first task of the tournament had even started. She hated to think about it. There was no way she was going back in there, either. The memories were too much to handle. Even just thinking of him gave her the pain of losing a friend.

"That's a great idea, Ron, but someone needs to cover up for you. I'll make sure Umbridge knows absolutely nothing about it."

* * *

The first session of practise started late that night, when the hallways were empty. All those who agreed to meet in the Room of Requirement quietly made their way to the seventh floor, while Autumn wore Harry's invisibility cloak. When she signalled the others to enter the room, they ran as fast as they could, careful not to be seen. Harry whispered a quiet 'thank you' before the secret door shut behind him.

Harry requested that Autumn should try to find out exactly what Umbridge was up to, while she was in the possession of the cloak. With the invisibility cloak, Autumn had confidence in this job. All she needed to do was find Umbridge. Autumn went down the stairs to the third floor, where Umbridge's office was located. As usual, her door was closed. She must have kept others back for detention.

Autumn froze when she heard approaching footsteps. Making sure the cloak was covering her entirely, she turned her head slightly to see who was coming. Coming her way was Millicent Bulstrode, Graham Montague, Cassius Warrington, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson. There was another girl with them who Autumn couldn't recognise. She must have been in her sixth year. Autumn realised that all of them were Slytherins.

Worried about getting in their way, Autumn pushed herself up against the wall. The group walked up the stairs, knocking on it roughly. Autumn held her breath, as Pansy stood directly in front of her. If she blew her cover, she'd probably get expelled for good. Not only that, but the large group of Slytherins would probably beat the hell out of her for eavesdropping.

The door finally opened after at least a minute. Autumn turned her head, expecting Umbridge's toad face, but instead saw Draco. Autumn stepped behind Crabbe, following the group inside Umbridge's office. They didn't seem afraid at all, and it definitely did not seem like a detention. Autumn looked for Draco, who was standing between Crabbe and Goyle. His left hand had the message scarred onto it, a bit of blood seeping out of it. His detention must have ended only now.

"Good evening," Umbridge started, "As you all know, there are very troublesome students here at Hogwarts who struggle to follow the Educational Decrees and happen to misbehave. That is why, my dears, I have appointed you as my Inquisitorial Squad."

Pansy crossed her arms with a frown, "When did we sign up for this?"

"Your kind friend, Draco Malfoy, selected you specially." she replied, "Any questions?"

"Exactly what do we do?" Gregory asked, finally looking curious.

"Well, I give you the power to deduct points from houses when students misbehave themselves, including Prefects," she started, "It's the best way to keep them in line."

Autumn's eyes widened. How was Draco apart of something like this? After all she's done, he's supporting her? The only thing holding her back was the fact that she wanted to tell Harry and the others about all of this. In that same minute, Autumn lost all her respect for Draco. How could he side with the woman who was destroying Hogwarts?

The meeting soon finished, majority of the members returning to the Slytherin Common Room. Draco was the last to leave Umbridge's office. Autumn followed after him, waiting for the other Slytherins to disappear. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Pansy Parkinson decided it was a good chance to speak to Draco. Autumn, huddled up in the invisibility cloak, rolled her eyes.

"Good one, Draco. Now's your chance to get back at Potter."

Draco simply nodded, as Autumn continued to follow them. He paused in his tracks, causing Pansy to turn around.

"Not coming?"

"I'll catch up."

She nodded, walking away, as Autumn grabbed Draco by the hand. She led him down the hallways, to the unused girls' bathroom on the first floor. Draco must have known it was her, since he didn't call out or yell.

"What are you doing?" he asked, frowning, "Snooping, are you?"

Autumn didn't seem to be in a pleasant mood, either. She tossed the cloak off her shoulders, crossing her arms.

"What was all that about? The Inquisitorial Squad? Who's side are you on, Draco?"

He sighed, expression softening, "Autumn, you don't understand..."

"You've seen what she does to people, Draco. She's done it to you. Tell me what's going on!" she urged, her voice quiet but harsh. Again, she could hear footsteps approaching. Autumn bent down, covering herself with the invisibility cloak once again. Draco ran to hide in one of the cubicles, pushing himself against the tiled walls.

Standing in the doorway was Dolores Umbridge, the largest grin plastered on her face.