Percy Jackson and the Department of Mysteries

137) Fudge Fell Down A Well - That Rhymed!

Everyone booked it for the door, first forming a pileup, then managing to force through. I hoped they had the sense to go to the library or owlery, they were closer than the dormitories, but I had the feeling that Umbridge wouldn't be looking for the crowd — she'd be looking for specific people.

"Come on!" Hermione called to us, running for the knot of people.

Instead, I knelt by Dobby, "Hey — this is important — get back down to the kitchen with the other elves, and if she asks whether you warned us, tell her no!" I said. "And don't hurt yourself!" I say him down and stepped into the hallway with the others.

I could've run — maybe it would've been better for me if I had. Probably. But a part of me felt that if she got me, maybe she'd let some of the others go. The only time I could and would do what she wanted was when it kept other people from being hurt.

So, I stood in the corridor, letting everyone run past me. I was alone after a second or so, the others having turned corners and disappeared.

Umbridge and a band of Slytherins turned the corner, spotting me.

"Mr. Jackson," Umbridge said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"You know what I'm doing here," I said.

"Yes," Umbridge smiled quite unpleasantly. "But what are you doing here? Why aren't you running?" Her eyes narrowed. "Do you plan on fighting? Because if so —"

"I don't," I said, locking eyes with Draco, who looked incredibly sad, "but I don't see much point in running. I'm here. You've caught me."

Umbridge nodded, "Come with us — Mr. Malfoy, go find him."

Draco didn't move — he looked more angry than sad now, and his eyes stayed locked on mine.

"Mr. Malfoy," Umbridge said darkly, "how do you think you're father would feel if I told him about this?"

Now he looked scared. I nodded, and he stepped around me, the rest of the Slytherins scattering to go find more people.

"Oh, and Mr. Malfoy?" Umbridge called as he was about to turn the corner. "You have my permission to use magic against him."

Draco nodded stiffly, looking very much like he didn't want to use magic at all.

"You're a terrible person, you know," I said quietly as Umbridge and I turned down the same corridor Draco had went down.

"I'm just trying to do what's best for the students," Umbridge said.

"You're hurting them."

"Sometimes you have to break things down to build them back stronger."

"We're not things," I said. "We're people."

Umbridge looked at me, eyes cold and full of hate, "You're not, Mr. Jackson." Demigods aren't people. What a wonderful message to teach children.

"PROFESSOR!" Draco called. "I've got one!"

I knew who it was immediately — Draco would've let them go if it were anyone other than the one he'd been sent to find.

We turned the corner, Umbridge smiling in delight, "It's him! Excellent, Draco, excellent, oh, very good — fifty points to Slytherin! I'll take him from here.... Stand up, Potter!"

Harry climbed to his feet, glaring at Draco and Umbridge. His eyes landed on me, and he frowned in confusion. He knew I could've gotten away if I'd wanted to.

Umbridge grabbed Harry's arm (I noted that she didn't seem to want to touch me at all), and turned beaming back to Draco, "You hop along and see if you can round up anymore of them, Draco. Tell the others to look in the library — anybody out of breath — check the bathrooms, Miss Parkinson can do the girls' ones — off you go — and you," she spoke dangerously as she looked at Harry, "you can come with me to the headmaster's office, Potter."