A/N: Though Umbridge was a simpering toady in OOTP, I believe she had the makings of a truly nasty character. Case in point: she was about to use a Cruciatus on a student before Hermione diverted her attention. Thus, her character in here seems more in-character to me than OOC.
Chapter Ten- Unforgivable
Rial was fuming as he walked briskly toward Defense Against the Dark Arts. How blind did Draco have to be to see the way Terry bothered him? The kiss from the end of last year weighed heavily in his thoughts. Had he been the blind one? Had Draco not meant the kiss the way he took it? It was highly frustrating as his lack of social skills put him far behind his peers.
Pansy Parkinson strode up next to him and said tartly, "Draco's an idiot. Don't mind him; he'll come around soon enough."
"I beg your pardon?" Rial said mildly.
She snorted in indignation. "Don't play the fool with me, Rial. I've seen the expression on your face when Draco and Terry are acting like all they see is the other. You want Draco a great deal, don't you?"
Rial looked away, glaring at a second year Hufflepuff girl and her Gryffindor friend. Her pale complexion reddened and she turned away, obviously embarrassed at having been caught in her poor attempt to eavesdrop.
"Yes," he admitted finally, speaking very quietly. "I have ever since before he kissed me at the end of last term."
"He kissed you?" Pansy squeaked. Rial glared at her and hissed, "Lower your voice, would you?"
"Sorry, but he's more of an idiot than I thought. He should remember that you've had very little social interaction and know that he has to be a bit more vocal about it than demonstrative."
Brisk footsteps from behind them made Rial turn slightly. Draco was gracefully moving in their direction at a fast walk, giving them a slightly irritated look as he caught up. "I don't know why you two are in such a hurry. After all, this Umbridge character obviously favors the Gryffindorks."
"If you're not worried about the classes then go spend your morning with your precious Terry," Rial hissed scathingly, moving forward a few paces.
:Master, you are angry,: Cyphre hissed from around his neck. Stroking his emerald familiar gently he replied, :I'm all right now, Cyphre. I'm sorry I disturbed your rest.:
:Your Dragon watches you with a strange expression,: Cyphre observed.
:My dragon? Why do you say that?:
:You are attracted to him. I can smell it. I approve, he would be a good sire for your hatchlings.:
Rial's face tried to flame in embarrassment. It was a good thing Pansy was walking between him and Draco. Cyphre had given Draco the understanding of Parseltongue last term. It would be a very bad thing for Draco to hear what Cyphre had stated so frankly.
:Cyphre, I'm a little young to be thinking about hatchlings,: he scolded.
:You are precisely the right age to be thinking about who you want to be the sire of those hatchlings, however,: Cyphre retorted.
Sighing at his stubborn familiar he hissed, :Go back to sleep. This next teacher would probably wish to harm you.:
Cyphre didn't reply, instead gliding along his skin under his shirt to coil around his upper right arm. Taking a moment to steady himself he strode into the classroom, ignoring Zachary and his cronies already seated and laughing about something.
He took a seat toward the back of the classroom, sitting next to Theodore Nott. Pulling out the book Basics for Beginners he glared at it balefully. Normally he loved this class; however with her teaching it had become his least favorite in a millisecond. He preferred Transfiguration to this class and that was saying something. After all, Transfiguration was taught by MeowGonagall, Head of Gryffindor herself.
Theo shifted nervously next to him and finally said hesitantly, "Rial?"
Turning green eyes on his companion he asked, "Something on your mind, Theo?"
"Would you like to come to Hogsmede with me next weekend?"
To say Rial was shell-shocked would be polite. Of all the things Theodore Nott could have said, this was one he never counted on. Rial considered for a moment, a little gleeful voice in his head saying, just think of how jealous Draco would be!
It was that little voice that decided it for him. Turning a bright smile on Theodore he said softly, "I would be glad to. When and where would you like to meet?"
"How about the clock tower around 11 o'clock?" Theo suggested, looking rather stunned that he'd agreed.
"Sounds perfect," he replied. Theo grinned at him and turned away as Umbridge came into the room accompanied as usual by the crashing doors.
"Wands out," she trilled in her little breathy soprano.
Rial hesitated for a second before retrieving his white wand, uncertain if this wasn't another trick. Her next words nearly caused his jaw to drop to the floor.
"We are going to be learning the Disarming Spell today, children. Now, this spell is a bit difficult and I don't expect you to master it the first day," she smiled brightly around at their dumbfounded expressions.
"The incantation for the Disarming Spell is Expelliarmus. When properly pronounced it will cause an opponent's wand to fly out of their hands like—"
Rial lost his temper. "Expelliarmus!"
Umbridge's wand soared out of her outstretched hand and smacked firmly into his palm. "Like that," he said steadily. "A fool who can't cast a proper Disarming Spell should be in 2nd year, not 5th. What did you do, mix up your class notes?"
The Gryffindors caught their breath in anticipation. Umbridge's eyes narrowed and she stalked up to him. Plucking her wand out of his hand she said softly, "A lack of manners do not become you, little Slytherin. 50 points from Slytherin and a weeks' worth of detention. Be at my office by 6 o'clock this evening."
Rial neatly put his book away, picked up the strap of his bag and stood. He walked all the way to the door before turning to her. Upper lip curling in a slight sneer he said in a voice as slick as his Head of House, "Perhaps we Slytherins should be the ones teaching you, Madam Umbridge, if a Disarming Spell is the extent of your knowledge."
Then he strode out, slamming the door behind him. It was childish but he felt better as the bang echoed down the hallway ahead of him. He knew his Head of House had a free period this morning, so he strode swiftly toward the dungeons. Severus, he reflected with a wince, was not going to be happy with the lost points or the detentions.
Poking his head around the door of the Potions classroom he saw Severus writing swiftly on the chalkboard, preparing for his next class. Hesitantly he entered, dropping his bag on one of the chairs. The instructions were for a younger class, he decided. The potion to be attempted was a Pepper Up. Fiendishly tricky if you tried to rush on your cutting. Pepper Up ingredients especially had to be cut evenly and smooth.
"Sir?" he spoke up quietly.
Near-black eyes met his and Severus' eyes widened minutely in surprise. "Aren't you supposed to be in Defense right now, Mr. Black?"
"I walked out in the middle," Rial admitted.
Severus set down the chalk, long fingers moving precisely. "You walked out on Umbridge? I can't say that I expect her to take that lightly."
"She'd already given me a weeks' worth of detention and docked 50 points from Slytherin," Rial lowered his eyes, feeling ashamed to admit it. He hadn't felt too badly walking down here, but now he could see exactly how stupidly he'd behaved.
"For what?" Severus' tone was even, without accusation.
"She was going to teach us a spell and I lost my temper and used it on her," Rial admitted.
"You attacked a teacher?" Severus asked, sounding incredulous. "Rial, are you a numbskull Gryffindor?"
"No!" Rial said defensively, stung.
"Then what in Merlin's name possessed you to attack a member of the STAFF?"
"THE SPELL WAS EXPELLIARMUS, Professor! She was acting as if we didn't know how to cast a basic Disarming Spell! If you'd rather I just sat there like an ignorant 1st year than maybe I should switch Houses," Rial snapped.
Severus froze, glared at him momentarily. "Of course I don't expect you to act like an idiot, Black," he said icily. "You failed to mention the spell she was going to teach. What conclusion do you think I came to when you said you used the spell on her?"
Rial slumped into a chair, lowering his eyes to the floor. "I'm sorry Professor Snape. I didn't mean to yell at you, nor imply that I should do such a thing as switch Houses. The Gryffindor comment hurt and I overreacted. I seem to be doing a great deal of that lately."
Long fingers touched his chin and tilted his head up. Severus looked into his eyes and said quietly, "You are not the only one who should apologize. I am sorry as well; I know how much you despise that House. Now, when are you to report for detention tonight?"
"6 o'clock," he replied, feeling relieved. "I kind of insulted her before I left as well," he admitted.
Severus turned away from him and walked back to the chalkboard. Chuckling ruefully he said, "You certainly are your father's child, Rial. Hot-headed, impetuous and silver-tongued included."
Gathering his things, in a much better mood now, Rial decided to tease the Professor a little. Pausing on his way out the door he said pertly, "Should be good practice for you then with the way you've been looking at my father recently, shouldn't it?"
Severus' embarrassed sputtering followed him out the door.
6 o'clock that evening found him in Umbridge's study, looking around with an expression of distaste plain on his face. The room was bright pink and white, a small table had a checkered pink and white tablecloth and there were pictures of cats all over the walls. Rial hated cats with a passion, as well as the color pink. The room made his skin crawl.
His other source of distaste was the image on the desk. It was a photo of Umbridge standing, beaming, in between Cornelius Fudge and James Potter. Fudge was grinning openly and James had a thin-lipped smile pasted in place.
Rial quickly smoothed his expression as he heard the door open behind him. Umbridge walked into the room in her fluffy pink cardigan and walked over to her desk. Pouring herself a cup of tea she precisely placed two lumps of sugar and a small drip of cream in the cup before stirring. Setting the tiny pink rhinestone tipped spoon on a napkin and wiping her pudgy fingers she looked up at him with false sweetness and said, "Now, little Slytherin, do you know why you are here tonight?"
"Because I cast a spell out of turn?" he said curtly.
"No, it was because you cast a spell at all. Only the Gryffindors were practicing today. And I can't have anyone flouting my authority or making a fool of me in class, either. Do you know how to cast a Silencing Charm?"
"Yes," he just barely refrained from snapping at her.
"Cast one so that this room is enclosed in a bubble of silence, little Slytherin."
Retrieving his wand he flicked it and intoned, "Silencio totale."
"Very good," she said sweetly. "Now put your wand away."
He did so. When he straightened she said softly, "You will not be writing lines tonight, little Slytherin. I have authorization from the Minister to use this as I please."
Picking up her wand she locked the door and turned to him. Pointing the wand at him she murmured, "The Silencing Charm was so no one can hear you, little Slytherin. I fear this will hurt, just a little though."
She leveled the wand and said, "Crucio."
A/N: Cliffhanger! Aren't I evil? Really, the last few lines of this chapter make me shiver. She is CREEPY!