Giving the Devil Her Due

The next morning at breakfast, a house elf in a long dark shirt stood in the shadows glancing towards the plump pink witch at the very end of the long table. None of the staff or the students paid attention to the house elf in the shadows. Its dark eyes glanced around just to make sure, though, before it pulled out the small vial of black liquid. House elves didn't usually interfere, but they all had the pleasure of meeting Dolores Umbridge. She called them vile names and treated them as if they were dirt. She also made no attempt to hide her attitude towards Headmaster Master Dumbledore. The other house elves were too afraid of what would happen to them, but not Kali. She had seen what evil vile Umbridge did to Mistress. She had heard the words of hate spewed at Mistress in attempts to hurt her.

Last night had been pure luck that Kali had been walking the corridors late at night when the Weasley twins headed back to their common rooms. She instantly recognized the potion in one of their hands. Mistress had received that from Mr. Dark Wizard earlier. The two Slytherins had spoken in hushed tones, but Kali had overheard that it was for evil Umbridge. Kali had tried to get it from Mistress so Mistress didn't get in trouble again, but Mistress refused Kali. So as any good house elf serving a Slytherin would do, Kali waited patiently for an opportunity to present itself. The twins easily handed the potion towards Kali because they saw the dislike in the young house elf's deep sapphire eyes.

Glancing around once more just to ensure no one had noticed her yet, Kali sighed contently. They were too busy eating their breakfasts. She looked at the black liquid to the pink plate filled with food. It would be too noticeable if she just poured it in the witch's food. She'd have to create a distraction. She then glanced towards the student tables. Suddenly, an idea popped in her head.

Snapping her fingers, she made two syrup-covered pancakes fly through the air towards a blond Slytherin and a dark-haired Gryffindor. She nearly giggled when both students stood up glaring at each other. The animosity between the two was legendary. She ignored the shouting from the students and staff, though. She had a mission to do. More food flung across the hall as a savage food fight ensued between Gryffindor and Slytherin. The staff quickly tried to subdue it, though, but Kali had magically charmed the food. She knew Headmaster Master Dumbledore would recognize her house elf signature, but evil vile Umbridge needed to learn her lesson. Kali would take whatever punishment Headmaster Master Dumbledore had for her later. She snapped her fingers once more, transferring the black liquid into the witch's waffles since the plump woman was shouting that she'd have order. Having completed her mission, Kali ended her spell and faded away. She didn't need to see the witch's punishment. Between Mr. Dark Wizard and Mistress, Kali knew Umbridge didn't have a chance in hell.

~CCAH~

Snape sighed heavily from his chair at the head table. He wasn't an idiot to think that Malfoy and Potter had started that food fight. He knew Dumbledore was the same way. Someone else had, and his guess was that it was a house elf. Idly, he wondered if perhaps Dobby had instigated it, but that pathetic elf would probably be sobbing and begging Dumbledore for forgiveness now.

Glancing at his untouched food, he sighed again. It looked rather edible, but Snape knew that Umbridge had regained control of the menu for all meals again. He slowly picked up his fork and attempted to eat the green goo. He grimaced at the bitter taste, but forced himself to eat it. His dark eyes glanced towards Harry very briefly. The young man was eating it as if it was full of chocolate frogs. Obviously, the Dursleys had mistreated the poor child more than what Harry claimed.

"Hem-hem," the witch to his left said with that sickly plastered smile on her face.

"Yes?" he drawled in a deadly tone that he knew would be lost on the idiot.

"I'm having an affair with Cornelius," Umbridge replied grinning stupidly.

Had Snape not been the ultimate Slytherin, he would have choked in shock. He instantly glanced sideways at her. Why in hell was she telling him that? His eyes then narrowed on the words 'I must not eat sweets' that was now written on her forehead. That was…but… In horrible understanding, his head then whipped towards Aurora who sat on the other side of the table from him. She was engaged in conversation with Septima and Flitwick, though. How in the nine hell's had she done it without him noticing? Could it be that he was slipping?

"I sent Dementors to Privet Drive this past summer to get rid of that horrid Potter brat." Umbridge then gently patted his arm as if she was comforting him.

Snape's eyes narrowed into slits on the witch. She was the reason the Wizengamot nearly expelled Harry? He felt his blood boil as he glared at her. She had nearly cost him everything. He then shook his head violently. Cost him everything, what was he saying? Harry Potter was so not everything. He possibly might be the one to defeat the Dark Lord. He definitely is the son of the witch Snape fell in love with when a young man. It was too laughable, though, to say the Gryffindor was everything to Snape. Well, he did tie his life to the boy. So the boy was the one thing keeping him alive.

The words on her forehead then morphed into 'liar,' 'temptress,' 'Hufflepuff,' 'half-blood,' 'pretender,' and 'hag.' Inwardly, he was rather impressed with the display. It wasn't what he had wanted the potion to do. Her spilling her guts to him hadn't even been his intention with it. He hoped he would get to see his intended result, though. But these other ideas were rather impressive.

"I used a blood quill on the horrid little brats here just to make them feel pain. I love seeing the look of shock on a student's face as the words etch into his or her hand. Naughty children deserve it."

Snape thanked Merlin that he had his barriers up. Otherwise, he'd be throttling the witch. He could feel Minerva's anger beside him. It was rather suffocating, but he could understand her anger, though. If the Gryffindor wanted to slap her into Tuesday, Snape wasn't going to stop her. There was a slight chance that he might even have cheered her on, which would shock all.

"Cornelius and I bet on how long Dumbledore would last without lemon drops. Unfortunately, we both lost. Our main goal here is to make Dumbledore and Potter suffer the most by torturing all of you so they recant their statements that You-Know-Who has returned." Umbridge then laughed softly as if she shared a joke with a friend.

Snape wanted desperately to scoff at the idiot in front of him. If he thought Gilderoy Lockhart was an idiot, Dolores Jane Umbridge took the cup. He realized that someone had mixed Veritaserum or some version of it into his potion. His current guess was Aurora had done it, but she would have needed help. The writing on Umbridge's face had to be a Weasley twin's invention. They were the only resident pranksters who could pull it off. He was rather positive that once his part of the potion kicked in, Albus would know instantly that he had been involved. Snape didn't care, though. This woman was pissing him off worse than Sinistra ever had. And Sinistra had done some rather stupid things during their Hogwarts years. She had stepped in front of a Marauders' hex meant for him, ice-skated on thin ice, threw an unknown ingredient in a cauldron to see what it did, and his all-time favorite moment, snarled that the Dark Lord should look up in a history book what a true Dark Lord was because he wasn't one. He had thought for sure she'd be dead by breakfast for making such a comment in the Slytherin common room, but she wasn't for some reason. In fact, Rosier and a few of the others actually seemed a bit hesitant around her. He never found out why, though.

"I'm not teaching the little monsters anything to defend themselves because I want them to die."

Within seconds, half of the staff was on their feet with their wands drawn. Snape glared at Umbridge feeling now more than ever the urge to cast the ultimate Unforgivable on her. He, however, quickly got his temper back under control. Even though, his Slytherins knew that he was a member of the Inner Circle, there was no need to prove that to the rest of Hogwarts. No matter how badly this woman was pissing him off.

"If anything happens to me, I've informed the Ministry to take Sinistra into custody. Everyone knows that woman is out for my blood." Umbridge then laughed loudly as if something was absolutely hilarious. "I've recommended an immediate Kiss for her…just to break her."

The blood in Snape and Sinistra's faces vanished within seconds. This was not good. Snape quickly went through his list of antidotes before his part kicked in. However, he knew that he wouldn't be able to reach it in time to override it. He had brewed it so that potion forced her to view the memories continuously for an hour without anyone removing it. He wanted her to suffer without any permanent damage, but with the two new variables added, anything could happen now.

Suddenly, piercing screams reverberated throughout the hall. Snape instantly closed his eyes. He knew without a doubt that Umbridge was experiencing the memories now. His best bet now was to pray the additives didn't react negatively with her. He glanced towards the terrified witch screaming bloody murder next to him. He could see the fear in her eyes, which he had once wanted. However, if that fear led to Umbridge going into cardiac arrest, then he killed Sinistra. He whipped his ebony wand out.

~CCAH~

In her mind, Dolores Umbridge watched Voldemort slowly walk towards her, looking as menacing as ever. She shook uncontrollably at the sight of his wand. She had seen the results of his first campaign. Now that she saw him up close, she was terrified beyond all belief. His nostrils, if one could call it that, flared as he stalked towards her. His black robes billowed behind him, and his black eyes held a tremendous dark power in them.

"You doubt my return," Voldemort hissed. A red jet of light slammed against her, making her screams pierce even higher. "Do you dare to doubt my return now?"

"No…dear Merlin…please…please…I'm sorry," she cried. "I'm so sorry."

"Not yet, but you will be." Loud sinister laugher spread throughout her as she pleaded.

~CCAH~

At the sight of Umbridge trying desperately to flee from him, Snape sent a powerful sleeping spell at her without a second thought given to the implications. When she unceremoniously dropped to the floor, he whirled around towards the young Slytherin.

"Did you add it?" he snapped stalking towards her and grabbing her robes. "Dammit, Aurora!" he yelled. "Did you add it?" By the look their coworkers were giving them, he knew that he had just confirmed their suspicions of the two Slytherins working together to driving Umbridge insane. He watched the witch stare blankly at him as if the Dementors had already sucked her soul out.

"I'm going to die," she whispered softly.

Snape instantly released her and whirled around. He couldn't deal with her when she was hysterical. He glared down at the pink plump witch that made his life a living hell. He wanted to kill her. How could he have been so stupid? He had healed Harry. There was no need for him to retaliate. He internalized his anger quickly. It was neither the time nor the place for an audience to witness the most feared Potions Master throwing a temper tantrum. He drew in a deep breath before storming off between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. His black cloaks menacingly billowed behind him. Why had he done that? WHY?