[Prof. Umbridge] Chapter 57

"Alright," said Orford after listening to her rambling explanation. "Got the gist. Now, Dolly, set your emotions aside. No time for crying over your lover or cursing Dumbledore—that comes later."

"My what?!" she exclaimed, then sighed. "Ah, right, I forgot who I’m talking to..."

"Don’t forget," he smirked. "Now, any idea where this whole gang might be?"

"In theory—somewhere nearby, but I can’t pinpoint their exact location. My guess would be Malfoy Manor, but that’s definitely not close!"

"What’s your house-elf for, then?"

Marina Nikolaevna cursed profanely and snapped her fingers.

"Letty, find Harry Potter! Tell us where he is and who he’s with."

"Madam, why doesn’t Letty just kidnap him?" the elf asked, perplexed.

"Can you? Dumbledore and Voldemort are likely there. And that blasted phoenix—may it drop dead!"

"Letty will try," the elf replied. "If madam allows me to bring Trinky and Dixie along, it’ll be easier!"

"Do it. Tell them it’s my order. But be careful—first scout out how many people are there and what’s going on," Marina Nikolaevna nodded.

"See? You panicked for nothing," Orford said calmly. "Typical. Call a couple more house-elves to take us to the barracks; it'll take too long to limp there ourselves. We need to grab some heavier gear and rally the boys."

"Why not just order the house-elves to bring Dumbledore and Voldemort here?" she asked as she carried out his instructions.

"All in good time. First, tell me your objectives: who are we saving, who are we killing? Come on, while I’m getting ready. Boys! Wake up!"

"Sir?" A few men gathered quickly.

"We’ve got a job. Not an Auror assignment—more up our alley," he said with a grin. "The Headmistress will brief you. Go ahead, Dolly, make it short and clear for everyone."

"Right..." Marina Nikolaevna collected her thoughts and gave a quick rundown of the Horcrux theory as it related to the unfortunate Harry Potter and Voldemort.

"Got it. So, theoretically, the boy can be pulled out of this mess, and we don’t care about the other two," one of Orford’s subordinates concluded. "And there’s a snake too..."

"The snake’s probably Voldemort’s top priority," Marina Nikolaevna added.

"We’ll handle it. So... Where are your house-elves?"

"They’re not mine—they’re school’s," she snapped. "I only have one... Ah, here she is! Letty, what’s the update? And where are the others?"

"I told them to observe and intervene if necessary. But we can’t just snatch Harry Potter, madam," Letty reported. "Everyone is standing very close, and Dumbledore is gripping the boy’s shoulder tightly with his iron hand."

"Just shoot it off and move on," a younger operative suggested.

"Voldemort is very close," Letty continued, "with his snake. It’s inside some... some... rainbow sphere."

"Davis, grab the armor-piercing rounds," Orford said. "Defense or no defense, we’ll see if it breaks through."

"The phoenix tried to peck at it, but it didn’t work, so now it’s guarding Dumbledore and Harry Potter."

"What are they even doing there?" Marina Nikolaevna frowned.

"Talking," Letty replied. "A lot, taking turns, just like in plays!"

"House-elves sure are well-read these days," quipped Davis, a short, snub-nosed man, weighing some hellish contraption in his hands.

"Letty’s former master wrote plays," the elf said indignantly. "But they were too long and boring. Just like Dumbledore’s speeches!"

"Alright, enough theater talk," Orford raised a hand. "Actually, why not? Boys, go scout out a staging area and set up some lights. Inform Berkley—his team will be needed too, I’m sure. 

Dolly, do you know if there’s any basilisk venom left?"

"There definitely is," she nodded. "Snape only broke one vial trying to protect Potter, but he’s a hoarder—he’ll have more for sure. Letty, fetch it! And check on the infirmary while you’re at it."

The elf vanished, and Marina Nikolaevna exhaled deeply.

"Need a gun? Just in case?" Orford asked helpfully.

"And you think I know how to shoot?"

Marina Nikolaevna quickly realized Dolores had likely never fired a shot, but she herself had trained in her youth. It had been ages, but still—ingrained skills should still be there!

"What’s there to know? No harder than an Avada. Though a wand is definitely lighter," he admitted after a moment. "Take it anyway—it might come in handy. Here’s the safety, press this to fire, and aim properly. Just don’t point it at us, and if you’re not sure you’ll hit, don’t pull the trigger!"

Letty returned, holding two vials.

"Here, madam!" she said quickly. "There’s more, but Professor Snape says he won’t give any."

"He’s still alive?" Marina Nikolaevna was pleasantly surprised.

"Yes, madam! Mistress Ingebjorg gave him a potion and froze his arm to... to stop the venom from spreading. Now she, Madam Pomfrey, Hrafn, and the professor are monitoring what happens next. Professor Snape specifically asked not to be interrupted while he’s dying because it’s a fascinating process. He said no one else could observe it properly except Harry Potter, and he wouldn’t be able to describe it coherently even if he survived."

"Crazy bastard!" Marina Nikolaevna hissed, kicking a step. "Of all times for memoirs..."

"Well, what’s the point of wasting time if he can’t do anything else?" Orford said seriously. "I like the approach—practical. Anyone can drop dead for nothing, but this way, there’s at least some benefit. Like Muggle inventors—what were their names? One inoculated himself with smallpox, I read, others tinkered with... something. Help me out, Dolly!"

"Radiation? Curie? Yeah, Snape is a worthy successor to mad scientists," she said with a reluctant smile. "And he was so adamant—it’s all perfectly warded, he said. Carrying a basilisk fang in your pocket is safe he said..."

"But he didn’t get pricked by a fang, right? And weren’t you planning to experiment in the infirmary, not on the battlefield? How did this happen?"

"I didn’t see it. Letty, do you know?"

"It seems when the professor tried to grab Dumbledore or Harry Potter, someone hit the hand holding the vial..." she said, ears drooping.

"Or maybe he just squeezed it too hard," Marina Nikolaevna sighed. "No use speculating. These accidents happen... Dad? What are you planning?"

"The boss and the Aurors will be here soon. I’ll tell you then—no point repeating myself."

The Aurors arrived promptly.

"Speak of the devil!" said O’Leary with a bloodthirsty grin. It wasn’t his shift, but he couldn’t resist the action. "So, where’s Voldemort?"

"He’ll be here soon," Orford replied. "Listen up..."

…

"Backup… again…" O’Leary sighed heavily.

"Can’t always be on the front lines," Connor smirked. "Alright boys, you know the plan. The gist is this - Orford from range; the rest cover for any surprises if they resist."

"They'll almost certainly resist," Berkley added. "Let’s go. Regular methods are useless against them, from what I understand?"

"Except Dumbledore. By the way, he's the most stubborn of them all."

"Then we’ll deal with him."

"It would also be nice to capture the bird alive," Orford chimed in. "It's a valuable creature, could come in handy."

"Alright, who’s the last amateur ornithologist here?" O’Leary barked. "No one? Guess it’s me then! Don’t even try to take my spot!"

"Good Lord, will you ever shut up?" Berkley muttered quietly. "Get to your position! Madam—"

"I’m coming with you," she replied firmly. "That’s my student out there, after all."

"Understood. Just don’t—"

"Get ahead of myself?" she cut him off with a biting smirk. "Don’t worry, I know when to let the professionals take the lead."

"And where are the main targets?" Connor asked.

"The house-elves will bring them," Orford said. "We decided it’s better they come to us… Davis, are you here already? Did you pick the spot? Show everyone their positions."

The senior officers exchanged glances, smirked, and jogged off to the tower.

"When else can you boss around your superiors if not from retirement," Orford said contentedly, reaching out for the vial. "What do you think, Dolly? Will the venom evaporate when fired?"

"Did you try enchanting it?"

"That’s what I’m asking you! I handle the tech; this magic stuff is your department."

Marina Nikolaevna nodded silently, summoning all of Dolores Umbridge’s knowledge of dark magic, and got to work.

"Who would’ve thought you'd be handing me ammunition," Orford said suddenly, nearly causing her to drop everything. 

"Life is wildly unpredictable, Dad," she snapped. "Here. I hope this is enough."

"And I hope so too. After all, it’s not every day you go up against Voldemort. But if something happens," he added seriously, "name your son after me."

"What?"

"Alright, alright, can’t even joke anymore... Like I don’t know people like you and that boy. You wouldn’t reproduce even if forced to," Orford chuckled, adjusting his weapon. "And you shouldn’t. You’re great at raising kids, just not your own. And he’s not fit for it at all, I can tell. Besides, Mary’s expecting her third—it's going to be a boy. What more do we need?"

"Dad, can we talk about this later?" Marina Nikolaevna managed to say, finding her voice. "We’ve got an enemy at the gates, and you’re—"

"The enemy’s not going anywhere, but I might not get another chance to say this," he said seriously. "There’s a time for everything, Dolly. Now that I’ve said my piece and you’ve heard it, we can go."