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Chapter 5 – The Great Escape

The Marauders were not the only people to find secret ways to leave the school. Cyrus Greengrass knew of a few and had trusted Daphne with this information but only on the condition that she use it in emergencies only. Now was definitely an emergency!

Her best friend and "partner in crime" was Tracy Davis who unfortunately and been "interviewed" by Dumbledore, and there were few persons she trusted enough to share the secret and in some cases feared that they would betray her to Dumbledore. Pansy Parkinson was one of them.

Pansy was many things but was not a fool. She knew what was going on and feared for Draco and some of the others. From what she had heard about the Dark Lord, he would blame Draco for allowing himself to be used by Dumbledore despite the old coot dosing, spelling or even the use of the Imperious on the Slytherins. Since it was getting closer to the holidays, Dumbles was interviewing as many as three students per day. She had to escape but didn't know how.

There was only one person in the front of the alphabet who had not been interviewed. Millie Bulstrode had been in the Infirmary for several weeks due to having a serious case of Muggle flu. How she had acquired it was unknown but because it was a filthy Muggle disease, it took longer to heal than a magical illness. Apparently, Dumbles had forgotten about her, but would soon remember.

Pansy just happened to walk in to hear the conversation between Millie and Daphne regarding escaping from the castle and doing it tonight. "I want in" Pansy said after Millie agreed to help Daphne. "I know you don't trust me – and with good reason – but I don't want Dumbledore controlling me. If even one of us makes it out, we can warn our families and maybe the DMLE will believe Daphne." For once they believed Pansy and decided to let her in on the plan.

The plan was simple except if anyone noticed a bunch of Slytherins amassing at a certain point far away from Slytherin House, word would soon reach Dumbledore. Therefore, they had to leave separately and only in ones or two. "Say out loud that you are going to the Library or for a fly or something and then go. Keep away from the portraits and suits of armor as they report to Dumbledore. If one of us is captured, we are all doomed."

Only certain people could attempt to go, such as trustworthy upper years who were most at risk and a few of the younger years who were siblings of those at risk or from families who Dumbles "suspected" were dark and held allegiance to Voldemort. Unfortunately, since Daphne was scheduled for tomorrow's interview, there wasn't much time to contact everyone and again, large groups of Slytherins heading in stealth towards a certain area where Slytherins were not known to "lurk" would see the plan fail.

Therefore, as much as it pained her, Daphne had to make a difficult decision regarding who could go. "The plan is for some of us to escape, alert our families and the DMLE and have Aurors raid Hogwarts and find out exactly what Dumbles is doing."

"What happens after we leave the passageway leading us to Scribners?" 4th year Jason Flint (and brother of Marcus) asked.

"We summon our house elves. If anyone doesn't have an elf, I'll see that one of mine is available to take you home. Now does anyone have any other questions?" Daphne asked. Since no one did, they were all told to go to dinner and take NOTHING other than their wand. You also had to leave your familiar behind as that would tip off that you were leaving. Poor Millie hoped her cat Sophie would be cared for by someone until she could be rescued.

So it was off to dinner with the further order of "Try to be relaxed and not show signs of nervousness or fear" which of course was easier said than done.

Meanwhile, Ron Weasley was again trying to force Hermione to do his homework. "Voldie is back so Dumbledore will be needing the Weasley services – and not yours – more than ever. Besides, you main duty was to help Harry and ME with our work so we wouldn't fail so you better get back to doing the ONLY thing you are good for."

"If you will recall, and your excuse for a brain probably doesn't, Professor McGonagall told you that if you don't do the work yourself, you will never learn and no one but you can help you with the OWLS."

"OWLS are next year, so you can do my work this year and give me notes, etc. to take my OWLS. Now are you going to OBEY your betters or SUFFER the consequences" Ron asked.

The stunner Hermione sent at Ron answered his question. She then reported to McGonagall, who then really laid down the current law to Ronald B. Weasley.

"I understand that you have once again started annoying Miss Granger, actually ordering to not only do your homework but to create an easy to understand notebook so you can just read it and pass your OWLS?"

"Is that what that bushy-haired, bucktooth bitch told you? Well let me tell you what really happened and you'll see…."

"Mr. Weasley, I believe Miss Granger as she swore on her magic that she was telling the truth. Would you care to do the same?"

"Ah…" Ron stalled trying to think up a convincing lie. "I don't, I don't know the wording for the swearing so I can't swear…."

"I will be glad to enlighten you, Mr. Weasley" McGonagall replied. When Ron started to go so pale that his freckles seemed to shine, McGonagall took pity – the only pity she would show him – and read him the riot act – for his own good. It was mostly the same speech she had given to him before, but then she added another warning.

"Although your family are staunch followers of Dumbledore, they have their uses just as you have yours. However, you main purpose, which you did poorly on, was to keep Harry Potter away from undesirables and…."

"But you He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named IS BACK, so I am going to play an important part and should be given…."

"HE may be BACK, but Harry Potter is STILL DEAD" she added sharply. If you must know the truth, and you better listen to me well and believe it, Miss Granger, by her intelligence, loyalty, special talents and is a powerful young witch, is infinitely more useful in the upcoming war. To use a rather vulgar Muggle term, you, as an individual, are just cannon fodder in the scheme of things. Other than playing chess, and perhaps flying a broom, you have no outstanding attributes, which is due to your own carelessness, indifference and laziness.

"I have already alerted Professor Dumbledore and he agrees with me. Therefore, on HIS direct order, stop trying to intimidate Miss Granger or any other students, especially the first years, as it has been reported to me by several reliable sources that you make fun of them, are mean and a total bully. That stops immediately unless the career you chose upon graduation is that of permanent detention in this school and being an assistant to Filch."

Ron was already turning a nasty shade of red. McGonagall wondered that if she looked closer at his ears, steam might be coming out of them, but she had better things to do. The only reason why Ron hadn't responded to her was because he couldn't immediately think up a believable excuse (or rather lie) and even he knew that if he exploded and expressed his real opinion of Granger, McGonagall and the late Harry Potter, he just might be expelled, so for once he kept his mouth shut until McGonagall dismissed him.

It wasn't fair. He was a Pure-blood, but a very poor one thanks to his parents. His older brothers had all the "good jobs" such as curse breaker and dragon handler that he wanted to do except then he would be accused of being a copycat. He never did, nor would, understand why you had to learn stupid things, the theory behind it, etc. In his opinion, all they should do was teach spells, charms, defense or other interesting things, and then let them practice. Why you had to start with useless things like turning a match into a needle (like you'd be using that a lot) when they could be taught things like stupefying, curses, becoming an animagus, jinxing Slytherins, etc.

If the curriculum of Hogwarts was run the Ronald B. Weasley way, they would only have to be in school two, maybe three years at the max. How could they not respect, listen to and obey such a powerful, talented wizard such as himself was a mystery. And totally unfair!

Maybe it would be better for him to join up with old Voldie as Ron was a powerful Pure-blood, would made a great spy, had learned strategy from playing chess and beating the hell of out all those who played with him and had many other talents that Voldie could use. Ron didn't care for Muggles and HATED most Mudbloods (such as Granger) so that would also be pluses in Voldie's eyes.

Ergo, Ron would keep his options open and to hell with Dumbledore, his parents, his siblings, other Gryffindors, etc. He knew he was still destined for greatness and he would achieve it someday, by fair means or foul. His name would go down in history and in glory. He felt a lot better after his newest plan, so to celebrate he made his way to the kitchens to have a bit of a snack. He left after two hours as dinner would be starting in another hour and the elves said lamb chops would be served so he had to get to the table first so he could eat most of them. Who dared to say he never had plans or goals!

It had been touch and go, but Daphne, her sister Astoria, Millie and her younger brother, Pansy, Theo Nott and two fourth years succeeded in escaping. Once these eight students arrived out of the tunnel, Daphne called for two of the Greengrass elves and had them take all eight of them to her house and then return but keep hidden as there might be others coming. Nott asked for "sanctuary" with the Greengrasses until he found out if his father would be pleased that he had escaped to warn the others or if for some reason he would be angry with his son. Nott, Sr. was a loose cannon and one never knew what he would approve or disapprove, especially when it was something his son did.

Naturally Daphne's parents were surprised for the company but after Daphne told them why an escape was needed her father asked "But there is no proof. The DMLE will demand proof and since none of you have been "interviewed" as you call it…."

Millie interrupted saying "My brother Mordred is a second year and he was done while I was in the Infirmary – in case I died, I think. He came with me as proof and because he just thought we were going for a walk and then I'd show him where the kitchens were so we could get a snack. I'm sure that a ward master or spell breaker can find the spell and get the magical signature."

"Also, there might be more coming" Daphne added. "We were the first ones out because we all met up together away from prying eyes and left. I called for Zelda and Zippy to get us and to go back and wait to see if any other people escaped."

Lady Greengrass saw to the preparing of rooms for her guests and the promised snack for Mordred, while Lord Greengrass alerted the proper people, starting with Amelia Bones, who brought along two Aurors and an Unspeakable to verify the story. The boy had indeed been spelled to report to Albus Dumbledore anything concerning Voldie or what mischief their parents might be doing or planning.

It was all seriously against the law but a little thing like that never stopped Dumbledore and never would – especially if it was found out and there was lots of evidence.

"Do you know if any of the other Houses were "interviewed" like Slytherin was?" Amelia asked Daphne.

"No, but as you no doubt know Slytherins don't associate with the other Houses and the other three avoid Slytherins. Sometimes during sixth and seventh year, couples might form and depending on the status of the person from another House, it is "allowed" but basically, none of us know if any others but us were targeted."

Amelia was worried because who knew what other illegal deeds were done by the old coot. He could have been doing this to certain students for years. Her niece Susan was especially at risk because although the girl knew better than to report on any Ministry business involving her aunt, but if she was spelled….

Although the Greengrasses and the two Aurors wanted to have a posse formed and Hogwarts shut down, the Unspeakable thought it would be better to wait after Dumbles had "interviewed" a new student or two before they attacked. "Then we would have enough evidence to check on every student for anything that shouldn't be spelled or potioned. We'll need about a half dozen Unspeakables and specialized healers when we do descend on the school."

Since Daphne was scheduled to be "interviewed" tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., after a sixth year at 9:00 a.m., it was decided to drop in for lunch and arrests. In any event, tomorrow was going to be a busy day!