Umbridge Triumphant

School began and David went back to appearing stupid and talentless. He made it into a challenge to get a particular mark for his work, and none other. He had to make his magic go wrong only so much and not more and thus get his chosen low mark. It made it more interesting to fail. The teachers were piling on the homework to prepare the fifth years for their OWLs. Hermione and Ron were studying hard, but somehow David could not do the same. He had been working all holiday and now he wanted a break.

"I'm just so tired," David responded when Severus tackled him on the subject. Severus looked at him thoughtfully. David looked tired. He had black smudges under his eyes and his skin was very pale.

Severus looked David straight in the eyes and fell into his mind. As expected the first memory he saw was of David and Sirius eating Easter eggs at Headquarters, something he was sure had not happened. Severus pushed deeper and was looking at David studying in the library at Lions' Den. As he approached close enough to see which books David was reading, David forced him out of his head.

"How dare you!" said David.

"I am you father and your teacher," said Severus. "Besides, I think I now know why you are so tired. I think you are picking up on the Dark Lord's exhaustion and that is chipping away at your occlumency walls. I think he may be deliberately sending you his tiredness to lessen its impact on himself."

Severus crossed the room to his cupboard. He drew out three small potions vials. One was bright green and the other two were purple. He handed David the green one. David uncorked it and sniffed it. It was his revitalicorpus potion. At a look from his father he downed it in one go. Severus looked at him curiously. If David had been well, the potion would have had him bouncing off the walls. Yes, something was definitely wrong.

"These are sleeping draughts," said Severus handing David the other two bottles. "Take one tonight and one tomorrow night. Hopefully that will put you back to normal."

David felt better the next day after a proper night's sleep. He felt like he had woken up properly for the first time that term and was able to take an interest in the events around him once more. The fifth years were all discussing careers. Their heads of houses were giving them individual interviews to guide them towards possible future career choices. It hardly mattered to David, but it was important for everyone else.

Hermione came back very pleased and full of herself. Professor McGonagall had told her she had the brains and skill to do anything she wanted. She had told Ron and David this three times before Ron threw a cushion at her. Ron was much quieter as he leafed through pieces of parchment with different career choices on them.

"I don't think I could do any of these things," he said to David.

"What would you like to do?" asked David.

"Don't laugh," said Ron, "But I want to be an auror."

"Well, be one then," said David.

"But you need Potions," said Ron miserably. "And everyone says Snape only takes those who get Outstanding on their OWLs. I don't stand a chance."

"Course you do," said David. "Bet you know a lot more about potions than you think you do. I reckon Snape's just a harsh marker and loads of us will get the grade."

"What about you?" asked Ron. "What're you thinking of saying at your interview."

"I don't know," said David. "What do I say… Professor McGonagall knows what I will be doing anyway."

A couple of days later, David entered Professor McGonagall's study for his careers advice interview. His heart fell as he saw that Umbridge was sitting there too. He had thought that they could have a proper talk. Now it would all be subterfuge.

"Sit down Potter," said McGonagall and David sat down in the chair in front of her desk, with his back to Umbridge. "We are here to discuss your future plans and look at which subjects you will need to take next year to achieve them. Do you have any ideas as to what you want to do after Hogwarts?"

David looked at her with amusement, knowing that Umbridge could not see his face. He could not say, 'Yes, I'm going to be Lord Crimson," and he knew McGonagall knew what he was thinking.

"Er, not really Professor," said David.

"Well," said McGonagall looking down at the file of parchment on her desk. "You are averaging between 'Dreadful' and 'Poor' in Potions, Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts, despite your remedial sessions so I would not suggest anything which requires those subjects." David nodded.

"Do you think I might be able to continue painting?" David asked. He reached into his bag. "I've been thinking about a portfolio." He pulled out a sketch book and handed it over to McGonagall.

"These are really good, Potter," said McGonagall. Umbridge left her seat to look over McGonagall's shoulder. She was surprised by what she saw. David could imagine the cogs turning in her head. The boy certainly had talent. Artistic talent was not a threat to the Ministry so why not have Potter pursue that rather than learning more dangerous skills.

"To pursue art you will need to get an apprenticeship when you leave school," said McGonagall. "You will need to study Charms so that you can learn how to animate your paintings. Transfiguration would be helpful, but your score is so low you will need to put in a lot of effort. I only take students who achieve 'Exceeds Expectations' in my NEWT classes. I think Care of Magical Creatures would be good, it would give you subject matter and I see you are top of the..."

David swayed slightly.

"Are you alright Potter?" asked McGonagall. Was this a vision from Voldemort again? David's eyes rolled up in his head and he fell face downwards on McGonagall's desk. He was vaguely aware of McGonagall rounding her desk to raise him up. "Call for Poppy!" she said to Umbridge.

"Oh no," said Umbridge. "This keeps happening to the boy. The place for him is St Mungo's."

David found himself gliding, slithering down a long corridor. He spotted Mr Weasley sitting at the end of it. He tried to say something, but no words came out. Then he was attacking, biting, striking and tasting blood.

David was horrified. Mr Weasley was lying unconscious and bleeding on the floor. he had to tell someone quickly.

David began to come back to himself in the classroom and could hear Umbridge's voice. he held on to it as a lifeline back.

"Ah Severus," said Umbridge. When has his father got there? He had to tell him about Mr Weasley.

"This is Healer Strout from the Janus Thickey ward at St Mungo's," continued Umbridge. "She has come for Mr Potter. The boy is obviously deranged, probably as a result of the curse he received as a baby from You-Know-Who," said Umbridge. "Wouldn't you agree Healer Strout?"

David tried to open his eyes.

"It is very probable that such a curse would cause some brain damage," agreed the healer.

"Potter is fine, Dolores," said McGonagall. "He's just been skipping meals again and fainted."

David tried again.

"Potter has done this before," said Severus. "It has had quite an effect on his growth. Thank you for your help, Healer Strout, but I think we can solve this problem without resorting to St Mungo's. All we need to do is send Potter home for a few days and his guardian will make sure he starts to eat again. Sirius Black can be very persuasive."

"I would prefer for Potter to be looked over at St Mungo's," said Umbridge firmly. "It is not like this has been a onetime occurrence."

David tried to protest, his eyes finally opened and he managed a small groan.

"Potter?" said McGonagall seeing David was coming around.

"Prfessr?" said David with great effort. "Mr Weasley, he's…"

"Potter! Professor Umbridge would like you to be looked over at St Mungo's" said McGonagall.

"But I'm fine," said David weakly.

"Let the Healers be the judge of that," said Umbridge firmly.

David looked helplessly up at Severus, but his father had no reassurance to give. He ran out of time to find an answer to appease the Healer when another healer came through the office fireplace, bringing a stretcher with him. David was levitated from the floor up and onto the stretcher.

"Professor?" said David looking up at Severus. He looked his father straight in the eye and planted a thought directly into his brain. The effort to do this was immense and given David's weakened state it pushed him over the edge and back into unconsciousness.

David woke up to confusion. He was somewhere strange. It was not Hogwarts or Lions' Den. He tried to sit up but he could not move his hands and feet more than a few inches. His eyes flew open and a blurred figure came into view. David's glasses were slipped on his nose by the figure and the room came into focus.

"So Harry," said the Healer in front of him. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm fine," David tried to say but what came out was, "Mermaids beards wash in juice."

"I see," said the witch. "Well, my name is Strout, Miriam Strout and I am your Healer. Hopefully on some level you can understand what I am saying."

"Quidditch Boggarts kill dolphins," said David.

"Quite," said Strout. "You are in St Mungo's, Harry. You're safe here. If you are feeling a little better this afternoon I expect you could have a visitor or two."

The Healer left and David tried to remember what had happened to help work out what was happening. He reached out his magical senses and tried to work out what was wrong with his speech. He could feel no curse upon him so a potion was the most likely culprit. He racked his brains and looked through his potions books in his mind's eye. Dementialis, the potion that makes a person appear demented. Depending how much he had been given, it might take weeks to wear off.

David was very bored that day. He could barely move and all he could see was the ceiling. It was enough to send him really mad. In the end he tried to run through all his school books in his mind's eye. He might as well do some revision for his OWLs while he was here.

A couple of hours later the Healer appeared again with a student Healer. The student sat down beside him, modified his restraints and helped him into a sitting position. "My name is Helen Stome, I'm a student Healer," she said. "I've brought your lunch.

David tried to say 'thank you,' but what came out was "Humongous Hummingbirds."

"You're welcome," said the student. She picked up a tray from his bedside table and placed it on his lap. David found that he could move his right hand and he picked up a fork from the tray and started eating. He had a plate of spaghetti bolognaise so no knife was required. That must be deliberate. He ate slowly with Stome watching him all the time. "Very good," she said when he had finished. "Now for your potion." She lifted up a large smoking tumbler. It was full of green sludge and smelt faintly of aniseed. He knew at once what it was and had no intention of drinking it. He wanted to get better, not worse. "Now, now," said Stome as he tried to move his head away from the potion. "We must take our potion, mustn't we? We want to get better, don't we?"

"Do we have a problem here?" asked Healer Strout coming over. She held David's nose while her student poured the potion down his throat. David gagged but could not keep himself from swallowing the liquid. He sent a spurt of magic into his stomach and took some pleasure in vomiting the whole lot up and over his two captors. Strout shook her head sadly. "No visitors for you then," she said, producing another tumbler of potion.

The same thing happened the next day. David sprouted nonsense whenever he spoke and then the thick potion was produced. David knew exactly what it was; Dementialis. He had no intention of keeping taking it, but at the same time he really needed to see a friendly face and work out how to get out of St Mungo's.

On the third day when David was once again given the potion he was ready. As it went down his throat he banished the liquid. It was very difficult to do without banishing part of his body, but he managed to get rid of most of the potion. His throat was a bit raw, but that was a price he could pay.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" said Strout. "Now that you have been a good boy I'll let your guardian come in to see you this afternoon."

David went back to revising for his OWLs in his head while he waited impatiently for Sirius's visit.

"Hello, Harry," said Sirius entering the room. Harry was sitting up in bed.

"Harpies panpipes sing in the mud," said David.

"Oh, Harry," said Sirius looking David straight in the eyes. David took the hint and Legilimensed himself inside his guardian's head, careful to stay in the surface thoughts.

"David," said the mind Sirius, "Mr Weasley will be fine, we found him in time. You've been drugged, don't worry about it, Severus sabotaged the potion slightly and it will wear off much more quickly than Umbridge thinks. Be on your guard, St Mungo's isn't safe for you. Just take the potions and don't give them any reason to examine you thoroughly. They'd soon work out you weren't a wizard."

"I've managed to banish the potion today before it reached my stomach," said the mind David.

Sirius breathed a sigh of relief. "That will help," he thought at David. "Don't try anything 'unexplainable' and wait for us to get you out, okay Small One?"

"How's Cedric?" thought David. "Does he know what is happening?"

"He's livid," thought Sirius. "We all are. Don't worry, he won't be storming in here and making matters worse. Just wait for us, okay?"

The next day passed predictably for David. He was given several potions, all of which he got rid of before they reached his stomach. Seeing how docilely David was behaving, the healers removed his restraints. He was able to move around the ward and immediately recognised one of his fellow patients. It was Gilderoy Lockhart. So he was deemed as insane as Lockhart.

David wandered around the ward, noting the position of the windows and door. There was a tall sandy-haired man sitting at a table with a wizarding chess set on top of it. David sat down opposite him, expecting to play, but the pieces seemed to be moving without instructions. David tried to start a conversation, but with his "nonsense" and the man's silence he did not get very far. David was bored and decided to enter the man's head, perhaps then they could have a conversation. David looked the man in the eyes and silently Legilimensed him. Instead of the building he had come to expect, David fell through layer after layer of cloud. Some were white and fluffy, others were dark and foreboding.

David fell for several minutes before the clouds cleared and he spotted a tiny island below him. He floated towards the island and on it there was a man; looking like a younger version of the man whose head he was in. There was a large television in front of him, on which David could see the hospital ward. The man had been watching everything, but could not interact with it. The island was about two meters in diameter and the waves were washing up, almost over the top of it.

"I have waited a long time for you, Harry Potter, Master Crimson," said the man. "Can you get me out of here?"

"If that is what you want," said David.

"I've been trying to leave for so long," said the man. "But I can never leave the island, and now it is getting smaller and smaller."

"Then let us leave this place together," said David. He held out his hand to the man and conjured up a motorbike.

"That looks like Sirius's," said the man as they mounted the bike.

"You know Sirius Black?" asked David.

"We were at Hogwarts together," the man replied. "Perhaps I should introduce myself; I am Frank Longbottom."

"How did you know who I was?" asked David.

"I was offered a Wilfred's Choice years ago, you are now finishing it for me."

"What was the choice? If I may ask?"

"To live like this, for nearly fifteen years and miss my son growing up, but to save the Order and aid the one person who could defeat Voldemort, the future Lord Crimson."

David revved the bike and they took off, climbing through the clouds.

"What happened to you?"

"My wife Alice and I, we were Aurors and we were in the Order of the Phoenix. Then when you temporarily defeated Voldemort, the Death Eaters came after us and tortured us, thinking we knew where to find Voldemort and bring him back. They did it in front of our son Neville. He was just a baby."

"That's terrible," said David.

"Terrible things happen in war. I could have stopped it, that was the choice. But it is more important that I am here now. Your enemies are gathering Master Crimson and you will need allies in here."

"Thank you," said David. "I don't know how to say it more adequately, but thank you."

"So how did you work out how to rescue me? And what's been going on? All I was told was that you'd come for me at the right moment and that I must be there for you." asked Frank.

"It was a bit accidental," said David. He told Frank about how he had been incarcerated in St Mungo's and the nonsense he was babbling. This ended up being an even longer conversation about Voldemort coming back and the Ministry's refusal to accept that.

"And the Order did nothing about this?" Frank asked.

"They may be trying to get me released," David admitted, "But they only allowed me a visitor today. The Ministry wants to discredit Dumbledore and me."

"As long as you are at St Mungo's you are in danger," said Frank. "It is not as well protected as Hogwarts."

They were interrupted by a cry. "That was a dragon!" said David. "Get your wand out… aim for the eyes while I try to avoid it."

After a few tense minutes of daredevil flying they were outstripping the dragon and continuing upwards to the surface of Frank's mind.

"I think," Frank said as they were nearing the surface, "that I won't reveal that I am cured, that way I can keep a covert eye on you. My wife is here and the man in the corner is Sire Hapstaff. He could be useful too and Alice would help, assuming you can cure them both."

"I will try," said David, "but it may take me a while to recover from the effort of rescuing you."

"I understand," said Frank.

"Don't tell anyone about me being a Zia," said David as he left. "That secret must be kept!"

With a burst of blinding sunlight they were back in the ward, supposedly playing chess, although the pieces were playing themselves. A small wink was the only sign David had that Frank was now in his right mind. David leaned back in his chair and was soon asleep. Frank looked curiously at David. Now he was out of his mind, David looked much more like James Potter and was much more recognisable.

That afternoon it was Professor McGonagall who visited, as a concerned Head of House. She gently shook David's shoulder to wake him up.

"Babbling king oysters," said David in greeting. McGonagall winced. David smiled apologetically. Just as Sirius had done, McGonagall looked David straight in the eyes. He entered her head. "Keep your wits about you, Master Crimson," she thought at him. "We have heard of a plot to kidnap you from here."

David thought back. "I'll be careful: nothing that can't be explained."

"Master Crimson," thought McGonagall, "Your friends send their best wishes. We have managed to get a tribunal together to appeal your incarceration. It will take place in two days' time – that was the best we could do. Professor Snape assures us that the Dementialis potion will have worn off by then. Keep your spirits up, we are going to get you out of here."

Frank watched as David slept most of the day away. The boy was clearly exhausted by his efforts of the morning. All the more reason for Frank to keep an eye on him. He just hoped there was enough time to cure Alice before whatever was going to happen did happen.

The next day David made sure to approach Alice Longbottom. Frank had been very careful not to arouse suspicion that he was back in his right mind, but his glance kept going to his wife and David knew what he had to do. Once again David banished the potion he was fed as it went down his throat and then he walked over to Alice who was waltzing around the ward on her own. David grabbed hold of her and began to dance with her. She was a tall woman and kept her head facing forwards so David could not look into her eyes. In the end he pushed his Legilimency through their clasped hands as though he was core healing her and fell into her mind.

David fell downwards and landed at the edge of a familiar looking forest. Looking over his shoulder he could see Hogwarts Castle in the distance. The witch's awareness must be deep in the forest. He entered, stretching out his magical senses through her mind to find her.

"Mrs Longbottom?" he called every few metres. He walked further and further into the forest keeping a ball of light hovering in front of him, lighting up the dark shadows. Eventually he found Alice Longbottom. She was in a clearing, surrounded by werewolves. She had a flaming torch in her hand and was trying to keep the wolves at bay, turning around and around while brandishing the torch.

David crossed the clearing and stood next to Alice. He handed her his wand and she fired some spells at the werewolves and they fell back. David took Alice by the hand and led her out of the forest and back up to the castle. While they walked, David explained what had been happening.

"Frank agreed to a Wilfred Choice?" she said. "He agreed to this torment for both of us and for Neville?"

"I think so," said David. "At least he knew who I was as soon as I entered his mind. He said something bad was about to happen. When Professor McGonagall visited today she said there was a plot to kidnap me. Given that the Ministry have already abducted me and placed me here, I am assuming she means the Death Eaters also want me."

"I'll watch your back with Frank. No-one will suspect us after all this time." As they entered the school Alice let go of his hand and they were back in the ward.

David let go of Alice's hands. She continued to dance around the ward while he lay back down on his bed and fell asleep. There was one more patient on the ward, apart from Lockhart who had lost his memory so David doubted he could help him. David thought that he might benefit from Legilimency as well. But he would have to try later, for now all he wanted to do was rest.

David was woken up late in the afternoon by his visitor. He recoiled from her touch immediately. This was Professor Umbridge and her eyes looked very happy.

"Good afternoon, Potter," said Umbridge oozing concern. "How are you today?"

"Sealing wax and oysters," said David deliberately. Umbridge was expecting him to still be under the influence of the potion.

"Oh Potter, I see you are still not yourself," said Umbridge, her eyes gleaming in triumph. "Such a pity."

When Umbridge had finally left after spouting more platitudes, David walked over to the strangely familiar man in the ward whom he had not yet Legilimensed. David was wondering how he could cure the Longbottoms, surely they had been Legilimensed before? Maybe it was a combination of Legilimency and core-healing which had finally done the trick. Anyway, Neville was going to be over the moon. This must be Sire Hapstaff. Certainly he could be a useful ally. It was worth a try. David would have wanted to try to cure him anyway. There was nothing he could do for Lockhart, given the wizard was suffering from a lack of memory not a hidden mental state, but he could try his best for everyone else.

The wizard was sitting on his bed, his eyes focused on his hands which were folded in his lap. David wandered over and sat down cross legged on the bed and placed his hands over the wizard's ones. The wizard did not move. David pushed his Legilimency through his hands and fell into the wizard's mind. This time he did not have to go in search of his patient's mind self. The man was standing there waiting for David as if he knew to expect him. David joined the wizard and the man turned to him.

"I have been waiting," he said. "But not for you. You are familiar young man, but I don't know you."

"Sire Hapstaff?" said David. The man nodded. "I am Harry Potter, I have come to take you back, if you would like me to."

"You can't," explained Sire Hapstaff. "I need a Zia to cure me."

"I am a Zia," said David. "My other name is Crimson."

"Then you'll do," said Sire Hapstaff.

"Let's get out of here," said David.

"We go through that door," said Sire Hapstaff. He reached down and took David's hand. "We must go together, Master Crimson."

"How do you know?"

"It's my mind," answered Sire Hapstaff.

David reached out and opened the door. They walked through together. In front of them was an ever changing scene. David could see the ward but the people in it were moving extremely fast. He could not see what they were doing, they were a blur of activity.

"You need to slow them down," explained Sire Hapstaff.

"Very well," said David and he waved his hand at the ward. Slowly David pushed more and more magic into the scene before him and it began to slow. David felt like he was trying to slow down a large rotating object, being pulled along with its momentum. Sire Hapstaff held on tightly to David's hand and grounded him. As last the ward slowed enough to show people moving at a normal speed. Sire Hapstaff squeezed David's hand and then suddenly they were back in their own heads. David fell back and lay exhausted on the end of Sire Hapstaff's bed, realising that his frequent bouts of exhaustion were probably not escaping notice. It was just his 'saving people' thing again; it would get him into trouble.