Part 6: Win or lose?

They took Professor Dumbledore and Amelia to the hospital wing.

‘Are you ok?’ asked Olivia. 

‘Yeah… I’m only hurt because I had a duel with my father and Mr. Malfoy…’ 

‘Dumbledore must’ve helped you! Did he?’ asked Isabell, looking at Amelia.

‘No, he was already unconscious by the time I reached his office,’ Amelia said, glancing at the other bed in the hospital wing, which Dumbledore was on. 

Albert arrived as he walked towards them, also shocked. 

‘How is he still unconscious?’ asked Olivia worriedly. ‘He should’ve gained consciousness by now!’

Olivia was still shocked by what happened yesterday.

‘Maybe they… killed him?’

‘No, they didn’t, remember Mr. Clearwater said: “When can I kill him?”’ Isabell said. 

‘Mrs. Dragonheart-’ but Amelia broke off, looking shocked and worried.

‘You knew my parents were alive?’ asked Olivia, glaring at Amelia. 

‘No no… um… were they good?’ Amelia asked.

‘Quite the opposite really, they were Death Eaters, they faked their death!’ Isabell said, but she didn’t notice that Amelia’s face was covered in guilt.

‘Ah well… I knew that…’

‘Oh you always- wait… what?’ Olivia looked mad as her face was as red as a tomato. 

Albert sighed. 

‘WHAT?’ Isabell’s jaw dropped as well.

‘I-I knew,’ Amelia looked so guilty her face had turned pink.

‘My dad told me almost every Death Eater that has ever joined You-Know-Who, he mentioned your parents in the end. I knew they would have been dead but he told me they faked their deaths. They made people see them as amazing people and kind ones… To hide their true identity. A-and your uncle and aunt. You were never related to them. They did take you right when your parents threw you. They hoped you would be like them… cruel and evil. He also told me Snape was-’

‘Wh-why didn’t you tell me?’ asked Olivia furiously as tears slid down her cheeks.

‘I-I didn’t want to make you scared or something if you found out that your parents were evil and were Death Eaters!’ Amelia said, now equally angry.

‘Your dad was a Death Eater! And you weren’t scared!’ Olivia said.

‘I know, because I already knew from the start, but if I told you it would‘ve been a terrible surprise.’ 

‘Yes, well-’ 

‘Guys! Dumbledore is moving!’ Albert interrupted them, pointing at Dumbledore, who was indeed moving and regaining consciousness.

‘Ah… hello girls… you have done an amazing job,’ he said, standing up and ignoring Albert, who looked down disappointedly. ‘But may I ask who is taking my position? And what about the Death Eaters?’

‘Oh, Snape and Professor Mcgonagall got that all sorted!’ said Isabell cheerfully.  

‘Professor Snape, and did the Minister come to the school?’

‘Eventually, to put the Death Eaters in Azkaban!’ Amelia said. ‘Wizard prison, Isabell,’ Olivia said, glancing at Isabell’s confused face. 

‘B-but Mr. Clearwater wasn’t in the room when the teachers took them away, and I heard my- nevermind…’ began Olivia.

‘Her parents were Death Eaters and they escaped, they went to the exit of the school and just- disappeared. I think they disapperated…’ Isabell said, glancing worriedly at Olivia. ‘Well, that’s what Professor Flitwick told me.’

‘What about dad?’ asked Amelia. ‘And Mr. Malfoy?’ 

‘They… are both in Azkaban now, they found your dad in the office eventually, somehow he was invisible,’ replied Dumbledore.

‘Oh, I know how, he has this spell he invented…’ Amelia said.

‘Oh well, they took Draco to prison too by the way,’ sighed Olivia.

‘WHAT?’ yelped Amelia. ‘He’s young, and he-he called the teachers for help, like you said!’ 

‘He did call the teachers for help! He was being framed!’ Isabell said confidently, because she felt guilty that she accused Draco for no reason. 

‘Is he in prison now?’ asked Amelia fearfully. 

‘No, he’s having a trial, I think,’ Olivia said. 

‘B-but that’s not fair!’ Amelia said.    

‘I know,’ Olivia said, nodding her head. ‘He actually tried to help us, not including the time he called the teachers for help!’  

‘Who? When? What? Why? Where?’ questioned Amelia.

‘Draco, when we were going to help you, because he said his father took it too far. He came and knocked on the door for the Ravenclaw common room,’ shrugged Olivia, who didn’t look worried.

‘I hope they don’t put him in Azkaban, there are Dementors there! They could take away his soul!’ Isabell said worriedly.

‘Why don’t we save him?’ Amelia said, glaring at the shocked face of Isabell and the calm face of Olivia.

‘W-we can’t do that! Just getting in Azkaban and saying we don’t want Draco to be put there?’ Isabell said.

‘I don’t want you to keep letting Olivia face trouble,’ Albert said suddenly. 

Olivia looked at him, looking very mad.

‘Oh, so you think I’m not capable of defending myself? Is that what you’re saying? You’re saying I’m some sort of princess and my prince always rescues me to avoid me getting injured?’ 

Olivia had pretended she was wearing a dress and was in a depression pose. 

‘N-no! I’m just scared that y-you might get injured again!’

‘All you care about is that if I don’t get injured! Honestly!’ 

‘I’m not allowed to?’

‘Albert, I’m perfectly capable of defending myself and I don’t care if I get injured, so you shouldn’t either.’

Olivia avoided eye contact with Albert, who looked even more sad. Amelia and Isabell gaped at them.

‘F-fine,’ said Albert stiffly.

‘I thought they were getting along?’ Isabell whispered to Amelia.

Amelia had no answer.

‘Sir, we need to rescue Draco, now!’

‘Now, now, I will go to Fudge and tell him everything, it is nothing that concerns you three, you focus on your education,’ Dumbledore said softly.

‘Please sir! I’ve got to help!’ said Amelia urgently.

‘I am sorry Ms. Clearwater,’ said Dumbledore calmly. ‘You are too young.’  

Amelia looked at her feet, close to tears. 

‘Professor Dumbledore!’ said a female voice. 

It was Professor Mcgonagall, followed by Snape and Fudge (the Minister of Magic). 

‘Oh, hello Cornelius,’ said Dumbledore, getting up.

‘I hope you are well Dumbledore, we just wanted to ask about Draco Malfoy, he has been sent to Azkaban but-’

‘WHAT?’ yelled Amelia.

‘Amelia, this is the Minister you just interru-!’ Olivia whisper-shouted.

‘But I also disagree with letting an 11 year old child be taken to such a place,’ Dumbledore interrupted, his eyes now full of fire.

‘Dumbledore, he has been sent to Azkaban and that’s that.’

‘No!’ Amelia said confidently. ‘If you want to send an eleven year old to Azkaban you have to recite what he did first!’

‘Ms. Clearwater-’ 

‘Just because his dad is a Death Eater doesn’t mean you can put his son in Azkaban too!’ Olivia said, wanting to attack Fudge. 

Her fury on Albert was going to Fudge now. 

‘Enough of this nonsense!’ Fudge snapped. ‘I expect your parents were Death Eaters too, were they Ms. Dragonheart?’ 

‘I-I DON’T CARE ABOUT THEM NOW THAT I KNOW THE TRUTH!’ Olivia yelled, glaring at Fudge in pure loath.

‘Excuse me Ms. Dragonheart, but I don’t think you have the authority to yell at the Minister of Magic. This is preposterous! Ridiculous! Outrageous!’ yelled Fudge, his face now red. 

‘SHUT UP AND GET OUT OF HERE!’ 

‘How dare you say that in front of the Minister-’

‘I agree with Olivia, please just shut up and get outta here,’ Isabell said, trying to steady her voice.

‘Ah, Ms. Bluesky! The one with a Muggle mother, and who definitely has no authority over the Minister,’ Fudge said as raised his eyebrows, ‘Now you won’t be glad if I get your father fired, especially since he is in very high ranks… Do you?’

Isabell froze, face pink, surely she didn’t want her father to be fired.

‘HOW DARE YOU TELL HER THAT JUST BECAUSE HER MOTHER IS A MUGGLE? SHE SHOULD BE PROUD SHE HAS A MUGGLE MOTHER!’ Olivia yelled, making Isabell smile slightly. ‘I THEREFORE HAVE PURE-BLOOD PARENTS AND I’M NOT PROUD! THEY ARE EVEN DEATH EATERS AND ABANDONED ME! I SAY AGAIN, GET… OUT… OF… HERE!’

‘Olivia! No!’ Amelia whisper-shouted. ‘You’re the one who told  me not to interrupt the Minister!’ 

Albert looked shocked at Olivia’s actions.

‘How dare you yell at the Mini-’

‘SO WHAT IF YOU’RE THE MINSTER? IT’S NOT LIKE YOU’RE THE MOST POWERFUL WIZARD IN THE WHOLE WORLD! THE GREATEST WIZARD IS ON THIS BED!’ Olivia yelled as she pointed at Dumbledore. 

Amelia saw him smile slightly out of the corner of her eyes.

Fudge raised his eyebrows.

‘We’ll see about that!’ he snarled. 

Fudge was about to curse Dumbledore to prove he was more powerful than him, but Dumbledore pointed his wand at Fudge. 

‘Ms. Dragonheart, how could you do or say such a thing?’ Snape whispered, looking more pale than ever. ‘And to the Minister of Magic!’

‘I-’ Olivia began. 

‘Enough! I will be really pleased to let you join Draco in Azkaban!’ yelled Fudge, his face looking redder than a plum. 

‘Now, now I think one eleven year old in Azkaban is enough for one day,’ said Dumbledore, trying to calm everyone down. 

‘BUT DRACO DIDN’T DO ANYTHING! HE JUST CALLED FOR HELP! YOU IMPRISONED HIM JUST BECAUSE HE RESCUED US?’ Amelia started raging.

‘I SHALL TAKE YOU TO AZKABAN TOO IF I WANTED!’ Fudge started to laugh.

‘I’D LOVE TO SEE YOU TRY!’

‘I SAID THAT IS ENOUGH!’ yelled Dumbledore, his eyes wide with anger. ‘ONE CHILD IS ENOUGH! YOU CAN’T IMPRISON ALL OF THE STUDENTS! YOU MIGHT AS WELL IMPRISON THE WHOLE SCHOOL!’ 

‘Albus!’ Professor McGonagall whisper-shouted, her face getting paler.

‘But I shall also take Ms. Dragonheart too, she can tell us all about her filthy rotten parents,’ Fudge broke the silence, holding Olivia’s shaking wrist. 

‘NO!’ 

Albert used a jinx on Fudge which froze him, Olivia escaped his grab.

‘ALBERT! WHY DID YOU DO THAT!’ Amelia said. 

‘NO, ALBERT!’ Isabell yelled, looking pale and shaking. 

‘He deserves it,’ said Albert, breathing heavily and glaring at Fudge, who was lying on the ground unconscious.

Then his focus was on Olivia, who was looking at him with wide eyes.   

‘Professor Dumbledore, we need to rescue Draco, and now!’ Amelia said suddenly.

‘I am sorry Ms. Clearwater, but that is impossible, for now.’

‘NO SIR! HE NEEDS OUR HELP! WE ARE WITCHES AND CAN DO ANYTHING! PLEASE GIVE US A CHANCE!’ Amelia yelled at Dumbledore.

‘Calm down Ms. Clearwater!’ yelled Professor McGonagall. 

‘I WON’T CALM DOWN UNTIL I RESCUE MY FRIEND!’ Amelia yelled.

‘I- I shall give them a chance,’ Dumbledore interrupted.

Albert, Professors McGonagall and Snape stared at the old man.

‘They have proven to be kind, unselfish and brave throughout the year, we shall let them rescue Mr. Malfoy,’ Dumbledore said calmly.

Amelia smiled, but Isabell and Olivia looked at each other nervously.

‘Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go and rescue him!’

‘Amelia… are you sure about this? Azkaban is guarded by D-dementors,’ Isabell shuddered as she said the last word.

‘So, you want me to go alone? I’m ok with that!’ Amelia glared at her in such a strong way that Isabell gasped. 

‘Let one of you try to come back to Hogwarts and contact me if you get in any trouble,’ Dumbledore said, smiling.

‘THANK YOU PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE!’ Isabell and Olivia shouted as they followed Amelia.

Albert tried to wave, but Olivia was already out of the Hospital Wing.

‘Where to go now?’ Olivia said, slightly worried.

‘Azkaban,’ Amelia replied simply.

‘B-but how do we fend off the Dementors?’ asked Isabell.

‘By using the Patronus Charm,’ Olivia said, interrupting Amelia before she spoke. ‘It is the spell that creates a protection against the Dementors, the patronus is usually an animal.’ 

‘WE NEVER LEARNED IT!’ shouted Isabell.

‘Then… let’s try it… maybe in The Room of Requirement,’ Olivia said confidently. 

‘We won’t have time to learn it!’ Amelia yelled, panting.

‘We have until-’ began Olivia, looking for a clock, but Amelia was already gone outside the castle.

‘WAIT! How are we going to go to Azkaban? It would take 2 days to get there...’ Olivia asked, catching up to Amelia. 

Isabell caught up five minutes later. 

‘I did get into quidditch you know!’ said Amelia.

‘Brooms aren’t fast enough either.’

‘Maybe a portkey?’ Isabell suggested. 

‘But it would take a while for the ministry to set it up… and they don’t want us to even go to Azkaban so we can’t do that,’ said Amelia, thinking deeply.

‘Why don’t we just like, take a dragon or something?’ Isabell said, her mind blank.

‘I have an idea…’ said Amelia 

‘What?’ Isabell yelled, while Olivia grinned as though she knew what Amelia’s idea was.

‘We can transform into our Animagi!’ she said.

‘But we didn’t finish the process…’

‘Dumbledore said that two of us could fly, the dragon and the Phoenix, we were ready to transform! Now we just need to find out how to transform. And we already made the three potions! It would be much easier!’ Amelia said, thinking. 

‘Wait! I have my broom!’ she pointed at her Nimbus 2001. ‘I can fly to get the potions!’

‘Ok!’ said Olivia and Isabell.