"All student organizations are henceforth disbanded. Any student in noncompliance will be expelled", the Black girl glared at another education decree that tarnished the once pristine walls of Hogwarts. She wanted to strangle Dolores Umbridge.
Her punishment sessions had not yet ceased, and the girl was growing angry at the minute. Last night she was obligated to hear her rant about the half-blooded scum. She felt her eyes glow, and her powers churning inside of her. It was certain that her lessons with Snape were helping her tremendously, but when she was angered, she sometimes lost the rein on her powers.
"You've done it, Neville. You found the Room of Requirement", Hermione said, pulling Beatrice along with the group.
"The what?", the boy replied back
"It's also known as the Come and Go Room. The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has real need of it. And it's always equipped for the seeker's needs", Beatrice stated. she watched in astonishment as the wall parted to reveal a door.
"So say you really needed the toilet...", Ron continued, earning a glare from the Black girl and a well-earned scoff from Hermione.
"Charming, Ronald. But, yes, that is a general idea", finished Hermione
"It's brilliant. It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back", Harry ended.
With that, the first session of the club began. She would often hang back and watch, she was the oldest student. All of her friends were worried about NEWTs. She was too, but she would often study until late in the morning, not wanting to sleep in fear of a nightmare. So, let's say the girl was even ahead of her study calendar. She already learned the spells being used.
Occasionally, Beatrice would help Ginny, Neville, or Ron. The twins of course excelled. No one gave them recognition apart from their prankster nature. She knew that both boys were extremely intelligent, but they were not that interested in showcasing their skills in school and rather outside of it.
She continued to walk around the room and found a mirror. Her breath caught in her throat when she spotted a picture of Cedric in the mirror. It was right before the last task. She was in the background talking ecstatically with Amos. Her fingers traced gently the photo. She closed her eyes, not wanting tears to escape.
It was still hard to know that Cedric, a gentle soul, with a heart of gold, and the purest person she ever met was gone because of Voldemort's temper. She was so mad that Cedric was tossed aside, he at least deserved a death fitting for such passion and dreams inside of him. She would avenge him. Cedric did not deserve to die like that. Next time a loved one is in the same danger, not even Voldemort's own curses will penetrate her defenses. She vowed herself that in the spot.
A laughing Fred suddenly looked for his best friend, finding her glued to the mirror. He sighed and excused himself.
"Tris, it's okay to miss him, and it's certainly fine with me if you decide to use me as a practice dummy for your powers. Let's stay with Georgie a while after this", Fred said, in an attempt to boost her spirits.
She only shook her head, "It's fine Freddie. I already take lessons with Snape which leaves me a bit drained. I miss him. I know I am with your brother, and I truly love him. But sometimes, I imagine what would be of me if Ced was still alive".
Fred sighed and continued, "You once said something to us. I won't forget it. The pain in your face, but your determination to not live in the past was there. You said something like being happy because it happened, not because it's over. I am sure living in the past will do you no good. C'mon you tosser, let's go to dinner".
She grinned at the boy and hugged him. She really was grateful for Fred's words of comfort. She needed a friend like him always.
Soon, after dinner, she was summoned to Dolores's office. A skeptical Snape brushed past her, holding her gaze purposely.
"Ms. Black, take a seat. So, I have been given information about some activity commenced by students, a club of sorts. Do you have any knowledge of this?"
The girl only laughed and shook her head, "Dolores, if you are insinuating that I am participating in an activity, then rest assured, of course, I am. It's called "Make Umbridge wear something other than pink association". Surely, this is the club you are talking about?"
The pink toad licked her teeth in annoyance. She truly wanted Beatrice Black to suffer, and to show her that she was above her on so many levels.
"I suggest that you Black, shut your mouth. I will not tolerate any more of your nonsense. In fact, this ought to loosen your silver tongue you insolent child, Crucio!"
Before even batting an eyelash the gremlin launched and an unforgivable curse. Beatrice's eyes widened as she took the curse in. She would not let her power be known to the woman
She growled in anger and clenched her teeth. The Black girl would not give the benefit of hearing her scream to Umbridge. Her nails engraved in her palms as they created half-mooned wounds. The toad-like professor let out a laugh and said,
"Well, what do we have here? Ms. Black, I truly admire your unbreakable nature. But dear, you deserve this. Mark my words, Black, you will be broken beyond your limits until you tell me about this organization. Dumbledore isn't here to save you, or your dead boyfriend. What was his name again? Oh, yes, Cedric Diggory, was it?"
Her eyes burned of unshed tears. She bit her tongue, not wanting to let out any reaction to satisfy the pink gremlin.
"Nothing? I will stand by what I said, Black. I will break you right here and now. Crucio!"
Before the curse even hit her, the girl raised her hands, lashing her currents towards a wide-eyed Dolores. Beatrice's eyes glowed dangerously in an electric blue hue and she continued to prance toward the cornered Professor.
"You won't ever break me, Dolores. I will not bow to you. You are just a filthy excuse for a human being. C'mon, even I can do better, torture me! Throw another unforgivable, I dare you!", the Black girl said murderously
"Crucio!", the pink gremlin once again said
Before the curse could even touch her, the pink woman was already launched towards the wall, breaking most of her kitten plates and tea set.
"Obliviate", the girl said finally, pointing her wand at gremlin's head.
"You are to forget this encounter ever happened, or a reason to question me about group activities", she finished.
She repaired the damaged pottery and soon ran to Snape's classroom, finding him grading papers.
"She used the cruciatus curse on me. I couldn't help it. She mentioned Cedric's name and taunted me with his memory. I obliviated her, making her forget about the encounter and why she was evening questioning me in the first place", she said, collapsing onto the nearest stable surface she could see.
The misunderstood man ran up to her, checking for any other injuries and sighed in contempt as he saw none. However, he noticed her shaking hands and bloodshot eyes.
"Black, go to the hospital wing, tell Poppy I requested for you to have a sleeping draught. Stay there for the night. I will inform Dumbledore", the beady-eyed man said.
As soon as the girl left, the man sighed in disapproval. He should have stayed and make sure the girl was fine. He knew that Dolores had a special resentment towards her, and today was not even her usual detention night.
The girl found herself in the hospital bed, taking the potion. She thanked the matron and pulled the sheets of the bed to completely cover her form.
In the morning, she gasped as she saw Albus Dumbledore sitting in the bed beside her. She shot up and apologized to the headmaster. Dumbledore dismissed her and said,
"Young Ms. Black, I am terribly sorry for not being here yesterday. I had to attend to important matters. As for what happened, you did everything I would have done. I would have defended myself too. I came here to tell you that next week you are to take your NEWT's in advance. By Christmas break, you will be finishing Hogwarts. We need you at the order now more than ever, and I know you already studied ahead for your exams. Next week you must come to my office and take a subject every two nights. As for your detentions, you are adjourned from them Ms. Black, not without a great struggle with Dolores. Do not provoke her again, or I won't be able to help you. I really enjoy some treacle fudge".
The girl only nodded in approval. Part of her was excited, but other wanted more time in order to remember Hogwart's.
She climbed back to her individual room and did not waste any second, she started studying. At lunchtime, she found the twins, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron sitting at the table. She rushed in and told them about what happened. Every single bit of the truth.
Fred was livid. George planned to dung bomb the gremlin every time he'd see her. Harry flinched and hugged her sister. Hermione went on about how it was illegal and Ron only wanted to calm everyone down so that he could enjoy his lunch.
"I'm leaving Hogwarts in two weeks", she bluntly stated.
Forks clattered, and wide eyes turned to her. She flinched knowing she was about to be barreled with questions, but Fred only grinned and said,
"Explain"
"Dumbledore wants me to take them. On winter break, I won't be coming back. Dumbledore arranged so that I could take my NEWT'S next week. He said the order needed my help, I just quite don't know why though", she replied.
Needless to say, nobody saw Beatrice that week. She was huddled in her dorm studying restlessly. From time to time, the golden trio and the twins came to tell her about D.A or to bring her any food they found.
Finally, it was Monday. She groaned as she stretched herself. It was time for her first exam. She headed to Dumbledore's study, finding a desk, chair, and quill in front of his desk. She gulped.
"Ms. Black, right on time. Please take a seat. You will take two exams per day. If I remember, you are taking ten NEWT exams; Potions, DADA, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, and History of Magic, correct? Eight NEWT'S is a lot, so you would take them all along this week. Each day you must take one in the morning and one in the evening. On Friday, you have the whole day to pack your belongings. You may start today with Potions and History of Magic", He said, handing her the first test.
She began to furiously scribble at the paper, knowing the answers to the questions. Potions was her best subject by far. She truly wanted to be a potioneer if she wasn't an Auror. After an hour passed, she quickly checked her answers and gave the papers back to Dumbledore. His eyes glistened in surprise as the girl quickly finished. Soon, a Severus Snape appeared at the door.
"I'm here for the practical part of your exam. You will brew liquid luck or Felix Felicis. Your time starts now", he said as he moved his wand to make a table and ingredients appear.
The girl remembered the steps in the textbook and started adding to a cauldron horseradish and heat. She stirred vigorously and added a squill bulb. She chopped up anemone-like growth on the back of the murtlap and added it to the mixture. Then, she added a dash of tincture of thyme and stirred slowly. She proceeded to add the occamy eggshell and stirred. She powdered the rue and stirred for the last time. Finally, she swept her brow filled with sweat and finished by whispering, "Felixsempra".
"Very well Black, I must examine it and find if it's competent for use", the man waved his wand and disappeared the table with the ingredients.
And so, the week progressed until her final transfiguration exam. She was certain that she had achieved an outstanding in all of the subjects required for the Auror program. The others, she had acquired an acceptable grade, she was sure.
She stumbled into her room and collapsed in exhaustion. She was finally leaving tomorrow in two days.
The next day, she packed everything in her trunk, gathered Artemis in her cage, and continued to walk towards the lake. As she arrived at her desired spot, she suddenly could not help but break down.
She cried for the first time in relief, pain, and sadness. She knew that leaving Hogwart's felt like leaving Cedric's memory behind. She sighed and leaned into the tree, tracing her parent's initials.
"Mum, Dad, I hope you are proud of me. Look after Cedric for me please", she said, finally getting up and making her way to the castle.
She hugged her friends, Scarlett and Emma goodbye. It was a teary farewell, to say the least. She headed to her room and sat staring at the wall.
Soon, she heard Harry scream and a ruckus starting to form. She cursed and ran downstairs in her a black hoodie that probably once belonged to Regulus.
Harry cried into her shoulder as she burst into the room. A weary Minerva McGonagall urged every Weasley on sight to Dumbledore's office. Then proceeded to guide the girl to the study also.
She arrived when Dumbledore said, "Everard, Arthur's on guard duty tonight. Make sure he's found by the right people. Phineas. You must go to your portrait at Grimmauld Place. Tell them that Arthur Weasley is gravely injured... and his children will be arriving there soon by Portkey".
He turned to Beatrice and said, "Ms. Black, take this portkey, it will lead you into the department of mysteries and to Arthur. Find him and protect him from any other harm. You must hurry or else, we'll be too late".
The girl nodded and disappeared into a massive place with glowing orbs. She saw as a huge snake was ready to pounce on a fallen Arthur Weasley.
She held her hands and blue currents danced around her, trapping the snake. The animal hissed as it hit the protective barrier between her and Arthur. She launched once again but recoiled in pain as the currents burned its skin. It bared fangs, but Beatrice produced more currents, making the snake hiss and slither away, disappearing under the huge cases.
The girl ran to Arthur and pressed her hands to his wounds, not wanting the man to lose any more blood. As she heard people running she screamed for help.
Remus's eyes widened as he took the sight. Surely he thought his goddaughter was arriving with the rest and not in danger here. Tonks took the girl in her arms as Auror's levitated Arthur's body to St. Mungos.
"Beatrice, why are you here?", Tonks asked the girl warily. The girl only continued to glance at the blood sporting the floor.
"Dumbledore sent me here to make sure he wasn't injured further. Since nobody knew what caused the attack, he thought it was essential for me to come to protect him from any further danger. I had to, I couldn't let Mr. Weasley die".
Remus hugged her comfortably and kissed her forehead, "you did good, Tris".
After everything, the girl was transported to Grimmauld Place. She was greeted by questions by everyone but was pushed aside by Bill who knew that the Black girl was almost collapsing in exhaustion.
She said, "I tried Bill, but when I got there, the snake had already landed about two hits on him. Is he alright?"
Bill nodded and kissed her forehead, "He is stable, Rose. You actually saved his life. One more bite and he wouldn't have made it. Thank you. I love you so much, I was worried when Sirius told everyone you were also at the department of mysteries".
She kissed his lips and said, "I am so tired. I haven't slept properly this whole week with NEWT's and all".
The man laughed and said, "Tris, you still have a whole semester to study for them".
"Oh, I haven't told anyone yet. I already took my NEWTs. Dumbledore arranged it so that next semester I was here helping the order. I'm done with Hogwarts, Will".
The man in shock laughed and proceeded to lift her up and spin her. She squealed and said, "alright lover boy, just put me in bed. I want to sleep. Sorry, I'm grumpy, but you know I love my sleep".
Bill only lowered her and said, "as your highness wishes. I know better Tris. C'mon, I'll stay over and make sure you are fine. Goodnight Rose".
The girl once again was happy to find herself home. Soon, she would start to worry about her future. But for now, she wanted to be with Bill and relish in the comfort he brought her.