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Chapter 14: Personal Vendetta

February began with the St. Brigit's day celebration between the Irish and Scottish societies. After to much food they were heading back to the tower. "I'm afraid I've gained ten pounds tonight," Ginny complained.

"Dean won't mind," Seamus teased. Ginny smacked him.

"Seamus Finnegan, I should hex you right here," she said.

"Ah, can't you wait till tomorrow Ginny?" Emma teased. "We are almost to the tower and I don't feel like having to take him all the way to the hospital wing."

"Alright, I'll wait till breakfast when he is closer to the wing," she decided.

"Well I for one am not going to haul you there," Neville laughed.

"I hate mondays," Emma said. "Double Umbridge."

"And her weekly rants," Neville said.

"We think she will have to start making creatures up soon," Seamus said.

"Or move on to Flobberworms," Ginny said. "They stain the soil! They eat dirt! They must be punished!" Every laughed at her impersonation.

"I hear we are starting Patronuses soon," Ginny said. They knew she meant the DA.

"You coming to the meetings?" Neville asked Seamus.

"You don't think Harry will get angry?" he asked hopefully.

"He thinks you are angry with him," Emma said. "Honestly, boys can be so stupid sometimes." She saw Ginny nod in agreement.

"I will have to come simply because they are saying you are getting good Nev," Seamus said. "Your hexes actually hit their target once in awhile," he teased.

"I'll practice on you if you piss me off," Neville threatened. Emma shot Seamus a look to make him stop his next comment. They had walked in and went their separate ways.

"Emma, do you get this potion homework?" Harry asked. Emma nodded and showed him hers.

"Honestly, I think Snape just wants to kill me through schoolwork this year," Harry muttered.

Emma laughed. "No, he is planning something much more subtle," she teased. "Something involving blue beetles and flobberworms."

"So doublecheck my oatmeal in the morning," he said grinning. "Can you believe Angelina in practice today?"

"I know. Almost makes me miss Oliver."

"She is certainly channelling him or something," Harry muttered. "Be so glad you aren't in divination."

"Believe me, I am," Emma said. "No way could I handle being told I'm about to die. Aren't you the lucky one."

"Yay for me," he said as he continued to make up stuff for his diary homework.

"You should add tooth decay there for the 19th. Something different," Emma said.

"What about the 27th?"

"Hmm . . . a falling out with horses leaves you in the hospital wing with a fractured arm," she said. Harry laughed as he added that. They continued making up his moon chart for the next half hour since Emma had already finished all her work before dinner.

"Rotten peaches can really do that to you?" he asked.

"No, but I highly doubt she knows that," Emma said grinning. They went on to talk about the homework Snape was giving all of them before going to bed.

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Emma wasn't psychic, but she should have realized Umbridge would eventually do something to hurt her. She figured she would want to get back to her for reinstating the team, but she never thought that Umbridge would open this can of worms . . . and completely unintentionally.

"Now, this week I will discuss with you the ministry's position on Empaths," she said as they all sat down that afternoon. "Thankfully, Empaths have become extinct, but regardless, the ministry still feels you should know the history of the Ministry in their dealings with these creatures so you may appreciate the success the ministry has had with purging them."

Emma's jaw dropped. Her and Draco were both bewildered and angry. "Now, empaths were dangerous creatures because they feed of the emotions and feelings of other people. They would manipulate the minds and senses of witches and wizards for their own sick pleasure. Thankfully, Nature has seen the need to destroy any remaining empaths."

Only Emma and Draco were paying any attention to her. By now, people just stopped listening to Umbridge's weekly rants, but Emma was too angry to care.

'Just let her rant, and then she will move on and forget it,' Draco warned even though he knew Emma wouldn't listen.

Emma raised her hand. "Have you ever met an empath, Professor? How would you even know if you were sitting in the same room as one," Emma asked her voice not betraying the fury she was feeling.

"Miss O'Neill, one can tell when their soul is being eating away so there is no need to fear of being caught unaware."

"I believe you have them confused with dementors then. An easy mistake for a Defense against the Dark Arts teacher to make," Emma said snidely. Before Umbridge could turn away Emma asked quickly, "And what is the ministry's official position? What would they have done if there were empaths still today?"

"Why, the ministry would have them registered, as they should do with all creatures that pose a threat to the wizarding, and in this case, muggle world."

"But how do you know it would be you who suffered, and not the empath?" Emma asked.

"That is enough, now, Miss O'Neill," Umbridge said. "I will not suffer you to keep my class in disarray with your impassioned and misguided speech."

"As we must suffer with your bigotry?" Emma asked sweetly.

"Perhaps a detention is in order." Umbridge threatened.

Umbridge saw something dangerous flash in Emma's eyes. "Oh, yes please," Emma said earnestly surprising Umbridge (and the rest of the class). "Yes, give me a detention," Emma said deathly calm. The entire class was watching curiously. No one asked Umbridge for a detention, or for that matter, engaged her in any type of argument. And it wasn't like Emma to be argumentative either.

"This way when I explain to my father why it is I received my first ever detention, I may tell him it is because I stood up against bigotry and discrimination from the likes of you. In fact," Emma said excitedly, making the class jump from some sort of electric pulse and Draco rest his head in his hands. "I beg you to give me the same type of detention as Harry. Lets say, 2 weeks worth? This way I'll have a nice prize to show off and my father will know exactly who to show his displeasure too."

Everyone watched as Umbridge eyed Emma uncertainly. "Oh, a bit of friendly advice, write an educational decree by then to allow your type of detentions. You wouldn't want the ministry to know your breaking your own laws now, would you. Wouldn't impress Fudge at all to see the unlawfulness going on in this class."

Umbridge dismissed class an hour early. Emma stalked off down the hall oblivious to everything until Draco pulled her into a broom closet. "What do you think you are doing?"

"I hate that wretched woman!" Emma declared. "Did you listen to her?"

"Yes, and so did the rest of the class now," he said.

"Don't you understand! I'm a creature! I'm not human to her, I am a soul sucking, manipulative dark creature who deserves nothing but to be obliterated." Emma said as a single tear rolled down her cheek. "And people wonder why empaths are not well known."

Draco pulled her into an embrace. "I know. She doesn't like anybody or anything except her and Fudge. You can't let her know she got under your skin, though."

"Normally I am self controlled, you know that."

Draco smirked. "Actually, I think it's great you finally got riled up over something. Guess what Umbridge is doing now, though. She asked me and Pansy after class to keep an eye on some of the less trustworthy students."

Emma sighed. "She knows about the DA, then."

"It seems so. I can keep her off track so long as no one tells her where you meet."

Emma rested her head against Draco's chest. "I really hope this pattern of DADA professors only teaching a year holds. If she teaches next year, I will refuse to come back."

Draco laughed. "And leave me to do all the work for the both of us?" He changed the subject to his family. He had received a letter from his aunt encouraging him to join the dark lord. "So far, though, mum seems to be holding them off. It looks like they won't force me until I am seventeen. If I'm lucky, they will wait till I'm out of school completely."

"If we're lucky." Emma repeated. They made plans for Valentines day and the Hogsmeade trip next weekend.

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Author's Notes: I had so much fun updating THE NECKLACE I decided to go ahead and post the next chapter of Emma. It's actually one of my favorites, and I've been impatient to get to it :-). Some teasers in the replies ::evil author grin::

Amarthiel— Hmm . . . the clubs uniting against Umbridge! I like it. I'll see what I have left and what else happens. Maybe . . .

Year1989– Thank you!

KRP– I like the groups ganging up on Umbridge too :-) Maybe some marauder influences too. I loved the idea of the betting; the societies way of playing off of Umbridge and her ridiculous measures to seize power. I don't think it's so much Umbridge is predictable, just to Emma.

AnimeCrazy– yay! I'm glad I am keeping it interesting! I am looking forward to the Dept of Mysteries now :-)

Potter Fan Bo– Ah, I see Draco as a romantic (not that he would flounce it). I'm rooting for him to sweep Emma off her feet ;-)

Iceball– I hope you read my reply in THE NECKLACE. Some hints there about Emma! I am addicted to some stories too, and just love that mine is addicting! It certainly is addicting when it comes to writing.

Snuffles-sweetie– Hello! I love hearing from new reviewers! Thank you! I'm flattered! Harry finds out in year 6. He can't find out before he knows about the prophecy, and then . . . well, he finds out about everything kind of at once. Emma sort of hits him with it all at once. ;-)

I love putting teasers in!