"It's what makes the most sense," he said. "Right after we confirm that he's missing, we need a plan to get over there. McGonagall can't stop Voldemort on her own-"
"Can she stop him with our help?" she asked as they went up the stairs. "What we did with the DA this year, that was important- without our efforts, or whole class would be a year behind preparing-"
"Preparing for what?" he asked, not turning around. "Hermione, I can't promise anything, but if we get ten or eleven wands on him- that's the best chance we have. We have to kill him at some point, and we know where he is. Sirius is in danger too, we can't just-"
"I'm not suggesting that we sit around- please Harry, I'm suggesting that when we get to the office, we use her floo to get in touch with other members of the Order if she hasn't heard of where Sirius might be- I want to believe you and I don't want to say it, but it's the elephant in the room- Voldemort could be tricking you; Dumbledore warned you all year that he knew about the mental connection you share with him."
"Why'd he show me Ron's dad getting attacked?"
"He doesn't care if Ron's dad lives or dies in the long run. He doesn't hate everyone as much as you care for them."
"It didn't feel intentional," he said.
"It might not have been. Now, though, now that it's been in the Prophet that Arthur Weasley was saved in the nick of time when no one could have known where he was- Harry, even Malfoy reads the news! I know I can't even guess why he wants you to go over there, but... it could be a trap."
They continued to run for a moment as he thought about her words when he wanted to think about saving his godfather.
He was frustrated; it was terrifying how much was going on beyond his knowledge, and the only reason he could persuade himself to keep running for McGonagall was because whatever they were about to do, they had to do it quickly, and she was their best bet for instant transportation.
He was trying to think of a possible rationale for why Voldemort wanted to do Sirius harm, but as important as the lost Black heir was to Harry, it was the same as the situation with Ron's father.
The only reason the dark wizard could want to kidnap him was for use as a hostage, or maybe something to do with the Department of Mysteries. If he was restrained and presented no threat, there was no reason to kill him.
"Harry," Hermione breathed as they ran up to the level where they would find McGonagall's office. "I know you think that I'm just running to the authorities again, but-"
Nothing could be further from the truth about his friend; she was the same as he and Ron. They had violated more rules than he could count and the year was not even over.
"Hermione, it's not that- it's just... when I see something like that it's hard for me to just believe that it's fake. It didn't feel intentional.
It didn't feel like he was putting on a show for me." He thought for a moment as they forced themselves to slow down.
As urgent as the situation was, they could burn themselves out and there was no reason to get caught running by another teacher or a Prefect who failed to see the situation for what it was.
Fortunately, when they got to the office, the Transfiguration teacher was there, if surprised to see them.
"Mr. Potter; I thought there was an order to apprehend you and your friends-"
"Professor, we're asking you to rescind it. Supreme Undersecretary Umbridge is no longer living, meaning the position goes to you automatically."
"Miss Granger, I need not ask if you killed her, do I?"
They gave a quick rundown of what happened as the Deputy Headmistress, or acting Headmistress started to write something on her desk.
As the charges against Dumbeldore were unlikely to be dropped because a servant of the Ministry turned up dead, she would not be able to invite him back to the school, but as he gathered in glances at what she was writing, she could change quite a few of the rules and keep the entire student body from interfering with the scene of the death of Umbridge.
There was no avoiding the fact that investigators would have to come and verify that the death was not a murder, but that was a problem for another day; he needed to know if Sirius was all right and jumped in as soon as there was a pause.
"Professor, I had another dream, just like the one that showed Mr. Weasley getting attacked, only this time it's Voldemort holding Sirius hostage in the Department of Mysteries."
"We've forbidden him from leaving his home, Mr. Potter. He resents it greatly especially given his history with the property and its former inhabitants, but we have convinced him that the best way of keeping you safe is not getting himself arrested or even seen."
"Why wasn't he there?" he asked. "Could the Death Eaters have broken in? Didn't some of them live there once?"
"Yes, but we thought of that when we decided to make Grimmauld Place the base of our operations. Sirius, the eldest son and heir, can deny entry to his cousins if he so chooses." She handed the letter to her owl and sent it out the window. "Still, the fact that he would send you a vision that takes place in the Department of Mysteries is concerning."
"Professor, it might not be what we think it is, but we should still go over there," Hermione said. "If we know that Voldemort is there-"
"The risk of playing into his hands is great, but we can minimize it with a coordinated strike, our members who are active Aurors opening certain doors for us-" She was writing again; perhaps it was a letter; perhaps it was just a way of organizing her thoughts. "I must object to endangering you and your friends, Miss Granger.