Back at the Hut

As they approached the door, Hermione heard shouting from inside. That was Ginny's voice.

"We don't have wands." Said Harry, "What are we supposed to do?"

"Just open the door." Replied Hermione.

"But Malfoy's-"

"Just trust me." She clumsily turned the handle and push the door open with her shoulder. She almost fell over staggering into the hut and then actually fell over, taking in the scene in front of her.

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were slumped, **** against the wall and were very thoroughly bound, Ron was also apparently stunned but wasn't tied up, Luna was still hanging from the ceiling with an expression of curiosity and delight on her face as she watched Ginny and Mel. Ginny was also hung in the elaborate suspension of Umbridge's making, but her attention was entirely occupied by Mel. Mel was pinching Ginny's left nipple in one hand and slapping her bottom with the other. Ginny gave a yelp with every hit and by now her bottom was a deep shade of red. Mel noticed Hermione and flashed a brilliant smile before pulling Ginny into a deep kiss. At that moment Harry came charging through the door.

"What's going on?" Harry shouted, as Hermione tried to pick her self off the floor in between fits of laughter with her hands still bound.

It was a couple of minutes before Ginny was able to explain that she and Mel were "old friends" and that Mel had been working against Umbridge from within her own ranks for months. When Harry demanded to know why Ron was also stunned if Mel had been trying to free him, Ginny giggled a little and muttered something like "he was getting in the way."

While Ginny was talking, Mel revived Ron, handed everyone back their wands, and managed to free Hermione and Luna using a releasing charm.

"I think there's something you didn't need magic to undo." Mel said with a raised eyebrow.

"What? Oh!" Hermione moaned with the sudden burst of pain as Mel pinched off the nipple clamps. "I... didn't think about them."

"I bet." said Mel, evidently unconvinced.

Suddenly Harry burst out "Fine! I don't care. I need to go to London and I can't stay here talking about your coup."

"We need to go to London." Corrected Hermione.

"What? No."

"We just threw Umbridge to a herd of angry centaur and a giant together. We're all seeing this through to then end."

"It's too dangerous, someone will get hurt." Harry protested.

"We know, and that's why we can't let you go alone."

Harry's resolve to argue was rapidly draining. "Fine, but how do you propose we all get there?" We don't all have broomsticks and you don't even have clothes."

"We can fly on thestrals!" chimed in Luna.

Harry opened his mouth as if to argue, but, unable to find anything to say, he shut it again.

"And as for clothes," Hermione continued, "I've been naked for months, another day won't kill me."

Harry had no answer to that and was aware that he was loosing time. He and Luna left the hut to find thestrals; they were the only ones who could see them after all.

"Hermione," Mel said tentatively, "what's in London and why are we going there?"