Ownership
A girl no older than fourteen lingered in the dungeon hallways, she was illuminated by nothing more than flickering torchlight. Her otherwise fair skin was filtered with the low light, giving it slight colouring while her eyes were mostly masked. Hiding the look of total contempt she reserved for most people.
Her ears twitched as the sound of footsteps filled the open air and her slender frame suddenly edged towards the wall, as if she would melt against it. Though she relaxed when she saw who was coming. A slight smile played across her face and her river of black hair looked suddenly smooth and relaxed. The person approaching nodded and gave her a slight smile.
"Alice," Harry James Potter greeted his little sister, though behind the smile his emerald green eyes were studying her intensely. Something was wrong, he already knew it.
"Harry," she smiled back in a slightly higher tone, their voices were very similar. As were the colour of their hair and eyes, even their personalities were comparable.
"How are you?" she asked the question tensing up, trying to stop her body moving in the slightest. Harry however frowned, then slowly removed his spectacles, polished them and perched them back on his head. He was frowning. Then he noticed her hands were entwined and nodded.
"You know Alice, I have been by your side since the day you were born and I know a few things about you. When you're in pain for example," in one swift movement Harry snatched up her right arm and pulled back the sleeve. His face morphed into shock horror, laced with a touch of disgust.
"What the hell is this?" he whispered. The words I will not answer back, were visibly imprinted into her flesh. A vibrant red mark allowed them to gleam. Harry however just stared, incomprehensibly at the wound.
"My detention," Alice sighed knowing deep down she wanted him to find out.
"Why didn't you do anything?" Harry inquired gently, slowly massaging the mark, she winced slightly.
"Do what exactly? The only thing I could think of at the time was use it make her carve hideous words into her flesh before murdering her." Alice whispered, savouring the thought. Harry placed a finger to her blood red lips.
"Shh, I told you, your thoughts need to be kept between us. Voices carry," he warned looking anxious. His sister was some form of Psychopath and he had spent a lot of time ensuring no one found out. He had known of course for quite some time. Both of them were in Slytherin and Harry often found himself watching how she could bend almost anyone to her will, charm her way into anything and manipulate anything. Except him that was.
"I didn't want to tell you," Alice hissed lowly with a dangerous flashing in her eyes. Harry made a small noise with the back of his throat.
"Yes you did, whenever you're in pain you stand upright. Still and then you place your left hand over the afflicted area. You wanted me to know because you can't manipulate Umbridge. She's a sadist, one of the few people outside your influence." Harry dismissed her statement as he did. His condition something no one understood. Many people knew what he was like but they had serious incentive not to talk. Harry gently dropped her arm.
"Don't worry about this sister, I think it's time I introduce myself to Dolores Umbridge, she needs to learn a few things." Harry explained leisurely not really talking to her. Alice simply rolled her eyes and turned away. Knowing her brother was planning something.
Later
"This in unacceptable, medieval methods..." Lily Potter was stood in the overly pink office which had housed so much torture in the last week alone it was unreal. Portraits of cats fixated on the fiery redhead while Umbridge sat behind her desk, uncaring. She brought a steaming cup to her lips, drank and for all intents and purposes the other woman wasn't even in the room.
"Ministry approved methods," she hissed knowing it would annoy her. Lily growled.
"Professor Potter if you have a problem with the way I discipline then take it up with the governors, not me. Your son was causing a problem."
"Ryan was not..." a knock filled the room and for a second Umbridge was interested. There was something about the noise alone which shook her. A slow meticulous tapping had found its way into her office.
"Enter." A boy who bore remarkable resemblance to James Potter walked in, a slow walk which was filled with thought and design.
"Are you trying to torture him as well now?" she demanded immediately.
"Mother, she already gave Alice a detention, if she wanted all three I would not be here. I'm here for work related purposes. Would you mind giving me a moment?" Harry asked turning to Umbridge with cold eyes that were slowly reduced to snakelike slits.
"You gave Alice one?" Lily was surprised. Harry was not. His mother had very little time for either he daughter or her second son. She was more focused on Ryan. The great Boy Who Lived and had without knowing it neglected her other two. Perhaps she had played a role in what they had become. Maybe not,
"Of you go Professor Potter, education is indeed everything is it not?" Umbridge asked with a girly giggle which made Harry shudder inside. Not that he would show it. Lily however left.
"So what is the problem?" Umbridge began wondering if she could walk over all three of the Potter children within a week.
"There is no work related problem Professor. No we have a more personal problem to deal with. You gave a detention to my sister correct?" Harry asked politely. He was always civil. At least during this bit, he enjoyed the build up.
"I can discipline my students how I wish, if you are here to complain I would follow your mother out." Umbridge advised with fading interest. She turned back to her tea.
"Of course you can, that is your right as a teacher. In the same way a dog has the right to walk, though ultimately it is on a lead." Harry retorted and Umbridge looked up. Her toad like face tensed as she comprehended what he had said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I'm pulling on the lead. You are not going to give me or my sister a detention at all."
"Don't dictate to me? Would you like that on your hand? I am sure..."
"Don't threaten me Delora?" Harry interrupted in a low dangerous voice. Umbridge however looked like a rabbit caught in headlights; wide eyes and a gaping mouth greeted Harry who took a seat opposite her.
"Yes Delora, a name you haven't heard for quite some time, well thirty years next November." Harry smiled watching her face lose all power and look to him with nothing more than absolute dread.
"A name that appeared on a series of letters addressed to none other than Cornelius Fudge. All of them were sent and signed by a Delora whom it seems had captivated his heart. Indeed during that summer almost sixty letters were sent, though also during those three months you had a very passionate encounter," Harry smirked as he withdrew an envelope from his inner pocket. The details on it were scandalous to say the least.
"I've never heard..." Umbridge began but Harry pretended as if she had not even spoken.
"Though the last letter has been torn, and yet the imprint is on the back. The letter was folded at the it seems and using a very accurate method it simply says gone. Though we both know what I'm going to say next don't we?" Harry looked up at Umbridge who was sucking in deep breaths.
"No, in fact the next day a Miss Delora Fudge checked herself in to a hospital which has lost all records and paperwork. A muggle hospital and the doctor that was seen specialised in terminations." Harry this time took out a copy of a handwritten document and a picture.
"Clever of you to hide them but you forgot the notes." He tutted loudly. "A shame, a real shame. You were playing a very elusive game but you slipped up and it just so happens that a file was created on you. They thought you were a new patient and just look who this is." Harry exposed an aged photograph of a much younger Dolores Umbridge. The woman in question was now pale, shaking and terrified. This was her weakness, her greatest secret.
"I think you understand now. This is a copy of course and while you're thinking of extracting the location I'd stop. I have a lot of friends who will release the information if you attempt to strike at me. Regardless you understand now correct?" Harry inquired looking up.
"Say it!" she commanded as he watched her lips move without sound.
"I understand," she half spat , half sobbed and Harry got to his feet.
"If you understand my dog metaphor now, then well done. Goodbye Dolores Umbridge, I would call you madam or Professor but that would equal power and respect and at the moment you command neither. Goodbye, send my regards to the minister."
Slytherin common room
Draco Malfoy was reclined in the green leather sofas that dominated the common room. He was relaxed and calm at last. With Crabbe and Goyle at his side there was very little that could disturb him. Today felt like his day, Ryan Potter was the scorn of the school, Slytherin house was as powerful as ever and it looked like the rest of the year was going to go well.
"Harry, sit down." He smiled toothily when seeing his friend walk in. "Is it done?"
"Umbridge is on her leash." Harry chuckled sitting down, the leash metaphor seemed perfect. Everyone he controlled had their freedom but at the end of the day Harry could yank on the chain and he did. Though leashing was something he could do well, overly so in fact.
"This feels like our year," Draco declared slouching back, then he turned towards a sixth year girl. He looked conflicted for a moment. As if he was internally debating something.
"Little sister," Harry commented without even looking. Draco for a second turned to Harry alarmed but that faded quickly.
"Every summer I forget just how good you are at this," he smirked before sighing deeply. It was strange being friends with a person who could force half the school to jump of the Astronomy tower by using the other half against them.
"Then it may please you to know that every prefect, apart from you and Pansy of course, will be receiving their letters right about now." Harry chuckled adopting the same relaxed slouch as Draco.
"Harry Potter, Master of Blackmail." Draco toasted without a drink.
Gryffindor Common Room
Brooding in a crimson red armchair was a person who could almost be described as a Weasley. A mop of reddish hair resting on a rounded face with the hint of a double chin stated out from its position on an average sized body. His slouch however made him look bigger and yet he had the same emerald eyes as his brother and sister, though his were a lighter shade.
"Are you ok Hermione?" he asked suddenly, she was one of the very few people talking to him as was Ron and yet she suddenly looked taken aback by whatever she was reading. It looked like a slip of paper but she quickly placed it in the pocket closest to her robes.
"Yeah fine," she squeaked quickly looking shaken. Ron looked up.
"Was that a prefect letter?" he asked in a strained voice and Hermione nodded, Ryan Potter watched as unheard message was passed between the two.
"Anything I should know?" he asked but received two very definite no's. They sent him back into his brooding, his hand hurt, his friends were slowly turning their back on him and things seemed like they were getting worse and worse. For the first time in a long time he was the less fortunate of the Potter children.