"Professor Umbridge, I've got Potter!" Jon shouted loudly.
Luck was definitely on his side today. He'd only planned to show up for appearances' sake, but instead, he had ended up catching Harry Potter practically walking right into him… Jon thought to himself.
The boy he'd just tripped was struggling, trying to push himself up from the floor.
"Expelliarmus!" A crisp voice came from behind.
Before Harry could even lift his head, his holly wand had already flown out of his hand…
"I'd advise you to behave, Potter," Jon said calmly, aiming his wand at him.
As he spoke, Jon reached out and grabbed Harry's wand. It felt surprisingly comfortable in his hand—unlike using young Barty Crouch's wand, which always gave him a strong feeling of rejection.
Umbridge came hurrying around the corner, breathless and flushed, but her face was bright with delight.
"Yes, it's him!" she said cheerfully when she saw Harry crouched on the ground. "Excellent, Christopher, excellent…"
"Get up, Potter!" Umbridge ordered from above. Then she turned toward Jon with a beaming smile. "Wonderful. Christopher, you did very well… Fifty points to Slytherin!"
Harry stood up and glared furiously at the two of them.
He had never seen Umbridge so happy before. Her left hand clamped onto his arm like an iron vice as she turned back toward him with a bright, triumphant smile.
"Go check if you can catch a few more," she reminded Patrick without missing a beat. "Tell the others to search the library for anyone out of breath… and check the bathrooms—Miss Parkinson can search the girls' lavatory…"
"As for you," Umbridge said in a voice that was both soft and terrifying as Christopher Patrick walked away, leaning toward Harry's ear, "you're coming with me to the Headmaster's Office, Potter."
"Oh, Professor Umbridge—Potter's wand." Jon paused mid-stride as if remembering something and tossed the holly wand toward the pink toad.
"Good, thank you." Umbridge caught the wand and urged Harry forward.
...
"Draco, take Crabbe and Goyle to the library!" With Umbridge's orders in mind, Jon shouted in the eighth-floor corridor, "The ringleader Potter is caught, but we shouldn't let the small fry get away."
"Pansy, you and Tiffany—girls' bathroom!"
"…And Mr. Filch, please block the stairs on the seventh floor."
Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch emerged from the Room of Requirement, panting heavily and holding a parchment filled with names.
"Their list…" Filch said, sounding excited.
"I'll take that," Jon said, accepting the parchment. "I'll bring it to Professor Umbridge."
Filch jogged off, while Jon walked unhurriedly toward the other end of the corridor.
Because there, he had seen a glint of golden light.
...
A few minutes later, Jon returned to the entrance of the Room of Requirement.
Most of the fleeing members of Dumbledore's Army had already been dragged back.
Jon saw Crabbe and Goyle each holding one of Ron Weasley's arms. Poor Ron—one of his eyes was red and swollen, like he'd been punched hard.
Goyle grinned at Jon.
Pansy Parkinson had just returned as well, dragging Hermione Granger by the hair.
"Let me go…" Hermione struggled, yelling, "I founded Dumbledore's Army! It has nothing to do with Harry—"
"Your word alone doesn't count!" Pansy Parkinson sneered. "I hope you two get expelled together."
The rest of Dumbledore's Army members were being rounded up one after another. Late at night, with Umbridge's little kittens watching everywhere, there was nowhere for them to run.
Just then, a wizard with stiff short hair and a broad build walked over.
"Which one of you is Christopher Patrick?" he called in a thick, booming voice.
"That's me." Jon raised his hand.
"I'm Dawlish. Auror." He sounded casual, almost bored. "Madam Umbridge sent me. She wants you to bring Miss Marietta Edgecombe to the Headmaster's Office."
"Alright… She's in Professor Umbridge's office."
"Marietta Edgecombe—so it was her… that traitor!" Hermione burst out angrily.
A sharp crack echoed in the hallway.
Pansy Parkinson struck her hard across the face. "Shut up, you Mudblood!" she roared.
Jon couldn't help frowning.
"Easy, Pansy," he said lightly. "Professor Umbridge might need her later as a witness in front of the Minister."
"None of your business… you Umbridge lapdog—coward…" Hermione spat at him furiously.
"Seems she doesn't appreciate your kindness, Christopher," Pansy said with a laugh, clamping a hand over Hermione's mouth.
...
Jon didn't stay to argue. He first escorted Auror Dawlish to Professor Umbridge's office.
Together, they collected Marietta Edgecombe, who stood there pale and flustered, not knowing what to do.
A few minutes later, the three of them arrived at the stone gargoyle.
"Fizzing Whizbees!" Dawlish said rhythmically.
The gargoyle moved aside, albeit very reluctantly. Jon used the moment to give it a discreet wink.
Then he pulled Marietta along and stepped forward first.
They had barely stepped through the opening when the hideous gargoyle behind them suddenly let out a furious roar.
Dawlish nearly got crushed under its foot and stumbled backward, looking completely unprepared.
Marietta screamed in terror, while Jon did his best to look just as frightened, pulling her further behind the wall.
"Patrick, take Miss Edgecombe ahead… The Minister and Madam Umbridge are waiting," Dawlish's voice called from the other side.
"Yes, Mr. Dawlish… Please be careful!" Jon shouted back, tugging Marietta onto the spiraling stone staircase.
Once they were on the stairs, Marietta exhaled in relief, gasping for breath.
She didn't notice the companion behind her draw his wand, raise it, and aim it at her head:
"Obliviate!"
...