Sorry for the huge gap between posts but i have had a huge amount on. Also a new girlfriend has been taking up most of my time lately.
Harry awoke to the sounds of birdsong. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around. The sun was half visible behind the forest and the shadows were shortening. He was about to sit up when the bushes to his left rustled. His head snapped around and he tried to see what had moved. He thought he saw a figure making its way back to the castle but in the light he couldn't be sure.
"Harry?" Hermione said as she was jolted awake by Harry movement.
"We had better get back" he said as they stretched. She nodded and they stood up. They brushed as much mud and bracken off their robes as they could and set off to the castle hand-in-hand. They got their just as breakfast was starting. They walked in and took their seats. Harry glanced around the room. Umbridge was staring at him with an evil cast to her features. He looked over at the other tables. Luna smiled at him from her table. Malfoy grinned at him from his and motioned towards the staff table with his head. Harry's heart fell as he realised he hadn't imagined the figure in the bush.
When breakfast was over they headed off to their lessons. The day passed normally until lunchtime. As the three of them reached the hall they saw Filch talking to Umbridge in the doorway of the hall. She smiled at them as they walked past and Harry's felt his scar twinge. He shook his head to try to clear the feeling
"You alright Harry?" Ron asked with unexpected concern in his voice.
"Yea, I was just thinking about what Umbridge was talking to Filch about" Harry lied quickly. Ron nodded and grimaced.
"Whatever it is, it will not be good for us" He said, taking Harry's comment at face value. Hermione was listening to their conversation and she interjected at this point.
"I think that we are going to find out quite soon" she said. They turned to look at her. She was looking up at the staff table. Umbridge was sitting in her chair and was reading a letter she had just received in the owl post. She looked quite pleased with what she read.
"Things can't be much worse. Can it?" Ron asked. Hermione shook her head.
"Not really" she said.
When lunch was over they headed up to their lessons. The rest of the day passed without further incident. After Harry's last lesson he headed up to Umbridge's office for his detention.
"Ah Mr Potter" she said as he entered. "Please sit down"
Harry said nothing and he followed her instruction.
"You are going to be doing some lines for me tonight" Harry's heart rose slightly, if lines were his only punishment maybe he wouldn't hate this as much as he thought he would.
As she talked she put a piece of parchment and a quill in front of Harry. The quill was different to others he had seen; it was longer and more slender. It also had a large black head which looked like a shrunken head that had been melted and twisted through its self to make a knot-work effect. The nose of the head pointed out to form the tip.
"What should I write?" Harry asked shortly. He was determined to keep calm during the evening, and that meant not talking except when needed.
"I want you to write, I will not tell lies" she said with a slight smile on her ugly face.
He nodded and looked back at the table.
"How many times?" he asked
"Until the message sinks in, I think" she replied and turned to sit down behind her desk.
"You haven't given me any ink" he said. She didn't turn when she answered.
"You will not need any ink" he thought about this for a minute and then shook his head and picked up the quill. He put the tip to the parchment and took a deep breath. He started to write. As he wrote the words appeared in a deep red colour on the page. He was surprised by that and also by the fact that the back of his left hand was itching. As he finished the first line he looked at the back of his hand. His heart suddenly leapt and started racing as he saw what was happening to his hand.
The words he had just written had appeared cut into the flesh. The letters stared out of his hand and just as soon as they had appeared they vanished, leaving only a slight red mark in their place. He felt sick as he heard Umbridge lean forwards in her chair.
"Is there a problem Mr Potter?" she asked, sickly sweet. He realised what she was doing. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
"No Professor" he said and he put his head down and bit his lip as the quill cut into the thin skin of his hand.
Harry didn't know how long it had been when Umbridge spoke again.
"That will do Mr Potter" she said and Harry put the quill down. His eyes were watering from the pain in his hand and he looked up at the woman. She looked amused at his expression.
"Can I go?" he said levelly and she nodded, looking slightly disappointed that he didn't rise to her bait. He stood and left without a backwards glance.
He walked in silence towards the common room, his mind churning. His mind flew to his recent meeting with Ginny, Luna and Hermione. He tried to remember the sensations he had felt but the pain in his hand stifled any hope of reprieve. He was so lost in thought he failed to notice that he was walking with someone.
"Hello Harry" his companion said, breaking the silence. Harry nearly jumped out of his skin and looked down. Luna stood next to him looking straight at him.
"Hey Luna, you shocked me" Harry said, trying to compose himself. She smiled at him and she took his hand.
"I noticed" she said. She was going to say more but her fingers found the slight deformation on the back of his left hand. She peered closer at it and then Harry saw an expression on her face that he hadn't seen on her before, Disgust. He tried to pull away but she held his hand tightly.
"What happened?" she asked. He shook his head and her eyes darkened.
"Tell me Harry" she said sternly. He sighed and pulled her over to a nearby bench.
"Umbridge's detention was lines. She gave me a quill that cut the words into the back of my hands. The words got written on the page in blood" Harry explained. Luna looked revolted and her wide eyes were going red and blotchy.
"You should report it" she said. Harry shook his head. He brought his free hand up and wiped away the tears that had started to form in her eyes.
"There is no point. She is from the ministry and will just use my complaint to solidify the story that me and Dumbledore lied" he explained. She thought about this for a minute and then nodded her head in agreement.
"I suppose. It is just horrible" she said. Harry remained silent.
"We better get to bed" Harry said. Luna raised her eyebrow and Harry couldn't help smiling.
"Maybe tomorrow" he said and they got up and made their way towards their respective dorm rooms. When they reached the bottom of the grand staircase she reached up and kissed him.
"See you tomorrow Harry" she said and made her way towards the Ravenclaw tower. Harry took the stairs two at a time, wanting nothing more than to be in bed. When he reached the seventh floor he reached the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Your hand looks painful Harry" she said and Harry nodded absently. She opened the door without a password. He headed in with a thankful nod.
"Hey Harry" said Hermione from the sofa.
"Hey" was all he said. He sat down next to her, consciously hiding his left hand from her. She wasn't fooled.
"What is it" she said. She pulled Harry's hand from behind his back and examined it.
"What happened?" she asked as she examined the ridges and scars. He explained what had happened with Umbridge and described the quill to her.
"That's a blood quill. Gringotts uses them for documents. They are only meant to be used once" she said, her eyes misting up. He didn't know what to say to comfort her so he just put his arm around her.
"Come on we better get to bed" he said and she shook her head.
"You need to report it to Dumbledore" Now it was his time to shake his head.
"I am not going to give her the ammunition against me" Harry said and Hermione slowly nodded in acquiescence.
"I suppose your right Harry. It is just that it makes me so angry" she said, her voice rising. He shushed her down and she curled up into his embrace.
"We had better get to bed" Harry said and Hermione nodded. They stood up and just as Harry was about to head up the stairs to his dorm Hermione stopped him.
"Are you sure there is nothing that I can do to make you feel better" she said, a glint to mischief in her eyes and the corners of his mouth twitched upwards.