Chapter 11

The next day the school was alight with rumours about Umbridge's new position, Sam was pleased as it took some of the attention off her. Although she did worry about some of the teachers here and her own lesson plans.

She'd received her note it was the year 5's she was going to be observed on, which should be interesting.

It was 4th lesson when Professor Umbridge arrived in the classroom, just before the 5th years descended in. Sam had moved the desks to one side giving them plenty of practice space, it was only her 4th lesson with this group and she was shocked at how bad there basic defensive spells were they needed to be so slick when the deep panic set in they could be cast easily not so weak in a classroom it was 50/50 as to whether it worked.

"Everyone find a partner" she ordered, there was an uneven number so she partnered herself with Harry knowing they could demonstrate.

"Today we will be practicing our basics as I am surprised how poor some of you are in this area we will start with disarming, Harry disarm me" she ordered he did sending her wand flying Sam cast a retrieval spell bringing her wand back, it was more complex but necessary. "Ok everyone, disarm retrieve go" as she expected some were struggling with this others had it mastered, she wasn't surprised to find Harry, Ron and Hermione were excellent at it. Satisfied Harry didn't need the practice she asked him to help some of his classmates and was pleased to see him go both Hufflepuffs and Gryffindor's who needed the most help. She went over to Neville who didn't seem able to master it.

"Sorry Professor its just I'm not good at spells" Sam nodded,

"I heard you were good at Herbology" he nodded, "Ok casting this spell is exactly like stroking the leaves of a spiking vanctus plant, down up flick, try it" he closed his eyes pretending he was in the greenhouse and sure enough it worked,

"Thanks Professor" he said, Sam smiled and started talking him through other basic wand movements, getting them to be familiar.

Sam wondered over to the group near where Umbridge was. Umbridge began coughing in her I want your attention kind of way. Sam had prepared getting out her pocket some cough sweets.

"Try these Professor muggle cough sweets work wonders, now class" she said aware Umbridge was now gawping at her shocked.

"Actually Professor Carter I wanted a word" she asked

"Oh well why didn't you ask instead of coughing at me?" Sam asked. "After it is politer that way" Umbridge went slightly red with anger

"So you started teaching at Hogwarts in September" she asked

"That is what the record in front of you says" Sam replied, knowing this was Umbridge tactic to destroy the teachers' confidence, she had been carefully listening in the staff room to other teachers' experiences.

"Right, did you get the ministry approved lesson plans" she asked, Sam nodded she'd got them 2 days before term had started, none of them involved any magic even the NEWT level. She'd burnt them.

"I did"

"And you're not following them" She asked

"No they were insufficient, nobody at the ministry has experience teaching which was obvious from the plans, there were multiple spelling errors and worst thing was that no years according to your lesson plans would be doing magic" Sam told her, the whole class now was listening,

"It is the ministries believe that students do not need to do magic if they have correctly studied the theory" Umbridge stated

"Yes, I got that impression, however several researchers looking into this field in American wizard journals have dismissed that practice in magic cannot be replaced" Sam recited, "I can lend you the articles if you would like"

Umbridge snorted in anger

"Why do student need to do magic there is nothing they need to fight against." She protested. It was Sam's turn to laugh

"Really, Harry, Hermione and Ron took on a troll and a ballisk, Neville was attacked by snout bearers when he was young, Semus was cornered by a griphooks, Lavender and Paviti were attacked on their family holiday by Sandcrabs, that's just these students, in this classroom they used magic to defend themselves, that's why they need to practice, now do you have any more concerns that need to be addressed now or can I get back to teaching?" Sam asked aware she'd won but made herself an enemy.

"Right class next spell" she moved them on, at the end she asked Harry to stop behind, she was aware he'd be annoyed that she hadn't mentioned Voldemort.

"Have a seat Harry" she ordered he did. "I know you're probably angry at me right now for not mentioning your fight with Voldemort, yes I do say his name, I do not let the enemy have that power over me. I do believe you, and lots of people out there do but it's scary for a lot more people. Most don't want him to be back, it's easy to believe the daily prophet there's only you as evidence. When Voldemort was in power really in power so many died, it was like the muggle WW1, everyone knew someone that had died, but it could be anyone anywhere, nobody was safe. People lived in fear every day, trying to do the right thing without being killed. Just remember the truth will come out and people will know the lies, just believe in yourself and keep your head down." She warned, Harry considered her words, he'd not been angry he had been hurt that she hadn't believed him but now it made sense. He decided to use this opportunity to ask her some questions of his own.

"Professor, how come you speak parcel tongue like me?" he asked

"I was born with the ability. I didn't even realise it wasn't normal until I was 7 when my dad caught me in the garden with a rattlesnake, being muggle he freaked." She smiled at the memory.

"What happened last night at the feast?" he questioned gaining confidence at her honest answers

"Do you remember that bogart?" She asked, he nodded "the man was my ex boyfriend, he must have used some kind of spell to bring me back to him, I was ready and managed to escape and come back. It's why I'm here I was escaping him" she lied. Harry nodded he'd run it past Hermione. Sam waited patiently sensing there was something more bothering him. She waited, using Teal'c's method of silence. Harry nervous pulled at his sleeve to hide Umbridges quills work. Sam watched and made a note as Harry debated whether to tell her or not. Finally not being able to give up his secret yet he grabbed his satchel,

"Thanks Professor" he said,

"No problem Harry just remember patience the truth will come out" she told him hoping he'd understand. Outside she was pleased to see Hermione and Ron had waited for him and were no doubt quizzing him on what had happened.