Chapter 242 - The Legends (2/2)
But before Colin could answer, Hagrid's door burst open and by the light flooding out of the cabin they saw him quite clearly, a massive figure roaring and brandishing his fists, surrounded by six people, all of whom, judging by the tiny threads of red light they were casting in his direction, seemed to be attempting to Stun him.
”No!” screamed Ginny.
”Let's go.”
Without waiting Chris ran out of the common room.
”Should we transform?” Colin said catching up with her.
”We should use the invisibility cloak,” Ginny answered.
”You can if you want but I am not sneaking today,” Chris said sprinting down the stairs. ”What does she thinks attacking Hagrid like this? I had enough.”
Just then Chris heard Hagrid giving a howl of fury, she fastened her speed. But as reach the last corridor near the entrance hall, they found Flich waiting for them.
”Well, well, Headmistress knew you would come—”
Flich had barely finished her line before Chris stunned him.
”Go to hell,” Chris spit looking at him before racing towards the entrance hall.
The double door of the entrance hall was open, someone was already marching towards Hagrid's hut, screaming.
”How dare you! How dare you!”
”McGonagall!” said Chris, Ginny and Colin together as they reached the door.
”Leave him alone! Alone, I say!” said Professor McGonagall's voice through the darkness. ”On what grounds are you attacking him? He has done nothing, nothing to warrant such —”
Ginny screamed and Chris skipped the last four stairs. No fewer than four Stunners had shot from the figures around the cabin toward Professor McGonagall. Halfway between cabin and castle the red beams collided with her. For a moment she looked luminous, illuminated by an eerie red glow, then was lifted right off her feet, landed hard on her back, and moved no more.
”Professor!” Colin yelled as they reached McGonagall's unconscious body.
But Umbridge was too busy with Hagrid to notice them.
”COWARDS!” bellowed Hagrid. ”RUDDY COWARDS! HAVE SOME O' THAT — AN' THAT —”
Hagrid took two massive swipes at his closest attackers; judging by their immediate collapse, they had been knocked cold.
”Get him, get him!” screamed Umbridge, but her remaining helper seemed highly reluctant to go within reach of Hagrid's fists. Indeed, he was backing away so fast he tripped over one of his unconscious colleagues and fell over. Hagrid had turned and begun to run with Fang still hung around his neck; Umbridge sent one last Stunning Spell after him but it missed, and Hagrid, running full-pelt toward the distant gates, disappeared into the darkness.
Furiously Umbridge turned to McGonagall's body and saw Chris, Ginny and Colin kneeling beside her. She marched towards them as the others with her still stared at the place where Hagrid just disappeared to.
”What are you doing here? Do you know I can expel you three, right now, right here,” growled Umbridge.
Chris looked up at her, fury in her eyes.
”And do you know I can kill you, right now, right here,” muttered Chris through her clenching teeth.
Umbridge looked taken aback for a moment.
”But you are a fourteen years old kid,” she tried to say it firmly but her voice shook as she gazed at Chris' eyes.
”You think so?” Chris said so coldly that Umbridge retreated a few steps.
”What is going on?”
A sharp voice came behind them.
”Snape!”
Umbridge looked relieved to see him.
Snape surveyed the scene, and rest his black glinting eyes on McGonagall and Chris.
”I think if you don't want any more problems with others, Headmistress, you should send Professor McGonagall to the hospital wing,” said Snape in a bored neutral voice.
Umbridge suddenly looked as realization had dawned on her and she nodded.
”Take her Severus,” she said.
”I think I will take the students too?” Snape sneered.
”Yes, yes, absolutely.”
”Follow me,” Snape looked at Chris, Ginny and Colin then pointed his wand towards McGonagall's body and it rose from the ground.
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To be continued. . .