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Chapter Twenty Eight

Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived early at Defence Against the Dark Arts after lunch, they went to their usual seats near the front and waited for the rest of the class to arrive.

'Did you read the notice in the common room?' Ron asked quietly 'it said this Umbridge is going to be sitting in all lessons and grading teachers on how well they perform I heard that Sprout's already been done.'

'Professor Sprout will pass, but its Trelawney's that's in trouble,' Harry said confidently 'she's the worst teacher in the whole school.'

'Yeh but most of the other teachers won't have anything to worry about,' Ron shrugged 'pity really I was hoping Snape would get the boot.'

'Do use your heads,' Hermione cut-in 'the Ministry isn't just going to be trying to get rid of rubbish teachers, they'll also be trying to remove good teachers that are sided with Dumbledore rather than the Minister.'

'But they'll have to have a good reason to get rid of them won't they?' Harry said concerned 'they can't just dismiss them without proper cause.'

'This is the Ministry,' Hermione replied checking the door to see if anyone could listen to what she was saying 'I doubt it would weigh much on their consciences to be slightly unethical.'

'But Dumbledore wouldn't allow that,' Ron said angrily 'surely he could stand up against the Ministry.'

'I don't know,' Harry muttered 'there's been a lot of things written on how Dumbledore's losing it, I wouldn't expect that he's got the same amount of influence as he did a couple of years ago.'

'Yeh but still,' Ron shrugged 'he's Dumbledore.'

Hermione opened her mouth to say something but shut it as the rest of the class came rushing through the door, Neville slid into the seat next to Hermione and Harry realised that over the last few months he'd got a lot more confident in himself and his skills and most of that was probably down to the work of Anton.

Five minutes after the bell rang Anton breezed in holding his usual goblet of mysterious potion. A minute later Umbridge entered the room and sat stiffly at a desk in the back row, she pulled a clipboard out of her bag and stared at Anton as if just waiting for him to do something stupid. She had already sat in on Professor Sprouts. The half of the class who had been in the lesson had been furious with the way she had treated the kind herbologist, utter scorn and malevolence had poured from her mouth and although Professor Sprout had treated the Inquisitor with her customary politeness and courtesy it had not endeared her to the students of Hogwarts.

'Righty class,' he said setting the goblet down on his desk 'today we're going to be covering…,'

'hem hem.' Umbridge cleared her throat in her annoying way.

Anton gritted his teeth and his hand clenched tightly over his wand, relaxing slightly he schooled his features into a look of utter tediousness.

'May I help you Madam Umbridge or can I resume my lesson?'

'I was wondering, Professor, whether you had received my note detailing the time and date of your inspection?'

'Even without seeing your wonderful penmanship firsthand, you also informed me at breakfast and you posted a list in the staffroom.' Anton said his voice laced with bored disdain as if even talking to her was a great chore. 'And still if I had missed any of those I am positive your presence at the back of my classroom would have tipped me off.'

The class all grinned delightedly while Umbridge glared angrily at Anton, 'well so much for being careful' Anton thought.

She scribbled furiously on the piece of parchment attached to her clipboard, Anton raised an eyebrow in disbelief before shaking his head and returning to the lesson.

'Draco,' he said making the boy fidget uncomfortably 'I believe that you have mastered the shielding spell for the Endarios curse, so please come up to the front and demonstrate it.'

Malfoy sauntered up to the front a look of confidence on his face, he brandished his wand and shouted,

'Teractus!'

The blue web sprang from his wand instantly and Malfoy smirked at the scowls on the Gryffindors faces.

'Excellent ten points to Slytherin,' Anton said as the teenager went back to his seat.

'Now most of you have got that spell, however we're going to take ten minutes for everyone to have another go before we move on. Now pair up.'

The class hurried to their partners and immediately began casting the shielding spell, as Anton made his way round the classroom correcting stances and arm movements Umbridge took the opportunity to start asking questions.

'So Professor,' she started her voice sickly sweet as usual 'it was quite a surprise to hear that you had been asked to step in as teacher this year, I was wondering why you didn't mention this at your hearing?'

'I didn't see how it was relevant,' Anton said simply.

'I would say that the Headmaster was rather quick off of the mark to offer you the job, especially as you had not yet been cleared of the murder charges.'

Anton immediately noticed that number of spells being cast dropped dramatically as his students attempted to listen in to the conversation, especially as it involved their teacher being a murderer.

'I killed a Death Eater who had attacked me,' Anton answered calmly 'a Death Eater who's actions both directly and indirectly led to the murders of many innocent people, I'm sure you realise that according to the 1978 law of murder it states A person will not be tried in a court of law for the murder of an assailant who is dark in nature and who is responsible for the deaths of others therefore even if you had wanted to convict me which you didn't at the time as the Minister cleared me of all charges, you couldn't have anyway.'

Umbridge's face turned as pink as her cardigan in fury, she seemed to realise how angry she was because she took several deep breaths before continuing in a much less childish voice.

'You missed the last few weeks of the Christmas term as you were supposedly seriously ill, yet the Headmaster, the nurse or any of your colleges actually informed people as to what was actually wrong with you, care to explain what was?'

'Not really,' Anton said keeping his voice light 'my health is my own business.'

'It was rumoured that you were found outside in the middle of a storm,' she said watching his face carefully.

'Well how irresponsible of me,' Anton shot back in reply 'but I fail to see what this has to do with my teaching, so can you please return to questions that are relevant.'

She opened her mouth to speak again but Anton turned away from her and began addressing the class nearly all of whom had now stopped to watch the exchange.

'Wands down and back to your seats,' Anton instructed striding back to the front 'now I am going to give you all a piece of parchment, on there will be a word or sentence on, you must move around the classroom and match your piece up with the relevant curse, countercurse and effect of the curse. Off you go.'

--

It was too much to hope that Umbridge had finished with her questions however she did wait until the end of the lesson which internally delighted Anton because it meant she saw him both as a threat and as a serious teacher, but that didn't make his job any safer in fact it made it worse.

'Professor Lukyen,' Umbridge said making her way to his desk as the class packed up.

Again Anton was quick to realise they were perceptibly slowing down so they would be able to hear more.

'What can I help you with now Madam Umbridge?'

'hem hem, you do understand I will be talking with everyone involved on that night until I discover what happened,' she said her lips twisting into a self satisfied smile.

'So is this what this is?' Anton asked revolted with the woman in front of him but carefully not showing it 'this has less to do with my teaching and more to do with the Ministry knowing every small detail even if it does not concern them.'

A furious look came over Umbridge and she practically screeched 'you forget it is not your place to question the Ministry's actions.'

'Then I will take comfort in knowing that the Ministry rarely acts on anything important,' Anton responded sweeping from the room.

But sadly he was not quite fast enough as Umbridge caught up with him.

--

Harry, Ron and Hermione watched like the rest of the class in amazement as Anton casually rebuffed every move made by the Ministry's toad. The highlight had come at the end when Anton standing well over a foot and a half taller than the woman had delivered his final sentence with a look of utter composure.

He left the room followed by Umbridge who looked close to an aneurism with how pink she had turned, and like the others in the class the three hurried out as well in order to catch anything that was left to happen.

They rounded the corner just in time to hear Umbridge say loudly

'hem hem, You do realise Professor that the Ministry is only trying to make the school safer for the students, we don't want to repeat the unfortunate accident that happened last year.'

Professor Lukyen opened his mouth to respond but before he could Harry pushed his way angrily over.

'His death was not an accident!'

Anton shot him a warning look but Harry was so angry at the woman in front of him he forgot the risk he was taking or the whispers coming from the crowds around him.

'How dare you!' she shrieked 'I will see you punished I will not have you speak to me like that, his death was an accident!'

'And I suppose Lord Voldemort hasn't really returned either!' Harry shouted.

'No he hasn't!' Umbridge yelled 'that is nothing more than I lie! I will see you in detention tomorrow night!'

Harry opened his mouth but Anton cut him off,

'Detention with me tomorrow night,' he intervened before Umbridge could continue, he turned to the Ministry spy,

'I'm sure you understand Madam Umbridge but detentions must be carried out by a teacher, we have to make sure that the students are in a safe hands, and no offence but you are not a teacher.'

Umbridge bristled furiously 'You are making a mistake Professor, I have every right!'

'I will still be taking Harry's detention,' Anton said with utter coolness 'now Harry I suggest you go to your next lesson.'

Harry didn't look like he was willing to leave at any moment soon but thankfully Ron and Hermione were more responsible and together they dragged him away. Anton turned back to the enraged inspector, it was one thing avoiding questions but he had just gone directly against her authority, he didn't have a chance that he would get favourable marks.

'The results of your inspection will be sent to you over the next week,' she hissed.

Anton bowed his head politely to her knowing that the damage was done 'I await them with interest.'

She stormed off to her next appointment and Anton turned to the fifth years who were still thick on the ground.

'Everyone get to their next lessons immediately!' he ordered 'there's nothing to see here.'

--

'Well well you certainly made an impression on Dolores Umbridge,' Snape said silkily as Anton sat down next to him that evening as dinner.

Anton groaned and looked at the Spy who was sitting in-between Professor's Sprout and Vector (though neither was talking to her) and glaring every so often at Anton.

'Is it that bad?'

'Lets just say the events of your inspection were being recounted across the entire school by the end of the next period,' Snape replied.

Anton couldn't be sure but he would have sworn that the thin lipped potions teacher was slightly amused by it all,

'I didn't do much, I practically ignored her the whole lesson, I even answered some of her stupid questions, which were I might add, completely irrelevant.'

'I believe she told the headmaster that your dismissal of her authority was outrageous and that she would be seeing to it that it would not be happening again.'

Anton groaned again and Snape's lips twisted into an almost smirk

'I think it also fairly safe to say that Minerva is furious with you as well,'

Anton turned to look at the deputy and she glowered at him, next to her Madam Pomfrey gave him an equally displeased look which reminded Anton he had yet to go and see her and it was already nearly a week into the new term.

'I think,' he remarked dryly 'that I've lost my appetite.'

--

Anton had been sitting in his office for less than ten minutes following dinner when a sharp knock sounded at the door, without waiting for a reply McGonagall stormed in making Anton recall just why she was remarked to be one of the scariest witches on the light side.

'How could you be so reckless!' she demanded 'do you not remember the meetings we had prior to the new term, where it was specifically said that we must all be wary of Madam Umbridge and that it would be wiser to avoid any conflict.'

'I remember,' Anton said quietly hoping his chair might develop a life of its own and swallow him whole, he had forgotten just how ashamed of himself McGonagall could make him feel.

'Then why in the name of Merlin were you not more responsible, it was a simple task, put up with her for an hour and that was it, that was all you had to do!'

'Minerva…' Anton attempted.

'Don't you dare attempt to defend you actions,' she said sternly 'one detention while not being pleasant would not have cost Harry too much, whereas your actions could cost you your job.'

'I…'

'Hopefully this time it has not done much damage however you need to be more careful Dolores will certainly have her eyes on you when it comes to getting rid of some staff, and let us not forget you are the person she lost her potential permanent position at Hogwarts to.'

'I hadn't forgotten,' Anton muttered quietly.

'Well then maybe you can keep your actions in line over the coming months,' Professor McGonagall she raised her eyebrows at him as she tapped her foot quickly.

'I'll be sure to make sure to keep my behaviour in check,' Anton said with the tone of a disgruntled teenager.

'Mind that you do,' she warned leaving his office.

Anton let his head drop to his desk with a thud, a moment later another knock sounded at his door, Anton lifted his head off of his desk to see a third year standing at the door holding a note, Anton gestured for him to pass the message over and nodded his thanks. Opening it read,

Professor Lukyen,

Your presence is required in the Hospital Wing without delay, I gave you until now to make your own way but as you have refused to I am ordering you to, as is my right as Nurse of this school. Failure to comply will mean I will go to the Headmaster.

Madam Pomfrey

Scowling Anton stood up and left his office.

--

The Nurse was waiting expectantly for him the second he entered the Hospital Wing and so to his surprise was Dumbledore.

'Ah Anton,' he said cheerfully 'there you are.'

'Headmaster,' Anton gave him a look of suspicion.

'I am here to make sure my teacher is up to scratch,' Dumbledore replied his eyes twinkling 'but also to make sure we are all reciting the same story to Madam Umbridge about the events just before Christmas.'

'She's been asking questions?' Anton said.

'Quite a few,' Madam Pomfrey frowned in distaste 'but she'll not be getting the ones she wants from me.'

'And rightly so,' Dumbledore spoke 'but to be safe I have a backup story, Anton, you were went running late in the evening a got caught up in the storm, she has seen you running has she not?'

Anton confirmed it with a nod of his head.

'That will make it more plausible then,' Dumbledore continued 'you managed to send a Patronus to alert me of the state you were in, luckily Severus was with me at the time and together we both found you. However you were in a bad state and had it not been for the work of Madam Pomfrey you may have died.'

This time Madam Pomfrey began speaking 'you were seriously ill with hypothermia and other cold related sicknesses, but with warming spells and good potions from Severus we managed to get you back on track.'

'Wow,' was the most Anton could manage 'well you've got it all figured out, and it ties in with the rumours.'

'Indeed it does,' Dumbledore twinkled 'now let us get back to the subject of your actual health.'

Anton scowled.

--

An hour and numerous tests later the Nurse had finished, she judged Anton to be fine apart his immune system still being low so a continuation of the potions was necessary, she also gave him a lecture of making sure he didn't get cold, go running when it was to cold or go to near people with cold or flu symptoms.

When she eventually let Anton go he left as quickly as possible for fear she may call him back for something else.

He was nearly back to the third floor when he felt a sense of unease climb over him, he quickened his pace to his quarters and as he reached the corridor he ran to the mirror guarding his personal space.

'Inferno'

Anton stepped into his quarters and was immediately assailed with the freezing temperatures, Anton ignored his own dropping temperature and cast round trying to spot what he was looking for.

His eyes fell on her seconds later, Pyra she was curled up in a small ball, her fire had nearly completely extinguished and the scales on her tail were starting to turn blue.

Anton dived over to her,

'Pyra!'

She managed to lift her head a small distance off of the floor and Anton scooped her up into his arms, she blinked at him once before her eyes closed completely.

'PYRA!' Anton yelled trying desperately to wake the lizard.

She didn't move.

--

I hope you liked it, and a cliffie I couldn't resist evil grin

Luv SpikyStar x x

Also I didn't have enough time to check this through properly so please forgive me any mistakes x

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