In my downtime, I thoroughly enjoyed throwing myself into my magical theory papers, working on them every chance I go. Often I had parchment and journals spread around me, each of them dedicated to a certain part of my research, and as I was sat at the library table, the one I happened to have in front of me was the one where I listened and detailed the new counter-spells I had been developing for hexes, jinxes and even curses that as of yet, had no counter measure. I was now looking into researching their applications, as some of them looked as if they could be medically beneficial and right now, I was looking into a counter for the memory charm, Obliviate. That's when I heard that same, girlish cough behind me. "And what exactly are you doing here Miss Black?" Umbridge asked me as if it wasn't quite obvious, peering at the parchments and papers strewn across the table.
"Well professor, I would have thought it seemed rather obvious." I told her tartly as I continued to work, not even bothering to look behind me. "I am studying."
"Clearly, but if I am correct in thinking, this is not ministry approved study. These spells…what are they?"
"New. I developed them." I heard something clatter to the ground and when I deigned to look, I saw her clipboard was on the floor and she was staring at me with her small mouth forming a perfect 'o' shape, looking quite horrified.
"You…you developed…Miss Black, I must tell you now that such research is quite unwarranted! Surely you have been dissuaded from such dangerous practices?" Giving her a dry look, I placed my quill down for a moment in order to give her my full and undivided attention as I noticed a few people looking over. One of them was Neville, who was in the Herbology section, though he was now peeking out to see what was going on.
"Quite the contrary, professor. It is encouraged. You see, my research has taken great leaps and bounds since I began it last year, in fact some of it will contribute to medical practices once it's finalised. I wouldn't expect you to understand, of course, since you're only a ministry official merely filling the role of a teacher with no real experience or expertise, but I suppose if you really insist, I may allow you to have a glimpse at my summary." Her mouth dropped further, losing the perfect round shape to become elongated before it promptly snapped shut.
"Unfortunately, Miss Black, I must confiscate this research from you. Hand it over now, all of it." She started to reach for my papers and I immediately became defensive, leaping up so quickly she jumped away from me and her hand pulled out her wand to point it at me as she gasped.
"What do you think you're doing?! This is my research! I'm perfectly entitled to research theory and provide my own practical evidence! What do you think I'm doing, trying to create some kind of all-powerful spell? I'm trying to find ways to help people!" I raged, doing my best to keep my voice down but I could already see the librarian storming over. "See this?" Snatching at my journal, I flipped it open and held it out right in front of her face as she continued to point her wand at me. "This is the counter-curse for the Cruciatus Curse, if I can perfect it, I might be able to help treat those who have been affected by it! And this one! This one treats the symptoms of a person who's been injured with curses such as excessive bleeding…"
I hastily began to gather it all together, hoarding it to me and clutching it at my chest as the librarian appeared. "What on earth is all this noise? Oh!" She gasped, seeing me holding papers and parchment against me whilst Umbridge held her wand at my face. "Professor Umbridge! I must insist that you lower your wand! I don't know how things are run in the ministry, but in this school, we never point our wands at students!" I felt a glowing respect for our librarian who now had her hand hovering over her own wand. "If there is a problem, I suggest you take it up with Professor Dumbledore or this girl's head of house. Gryffindor are you? You'll want Professor McGonagall." She began to inch closer, starting to reach towards me but Umbridge promptly lowered her wand and cleared her throat in that annoying way.
"A misunderstanding, I am certain. Very well then, Miss Black, if you refuse to hand over your research for inspection, then you leave me no choice. Detention. I think a week should do it, and…oh let's say, fifty points from Gryffindor." My jaw dropped at me as I demanded what for. "For disobedience, obstinacy, violent and aggressive behaviour towards a teacher, need I continue? Believe me, I can if you would like." She smiled at me and I felt sick to my stomach. The librarian and I actually looked at each other, wondering if this was all a joke but apparently, it wasn't. "Come along then, dear, come along. I think we should just pop into my office first."
Then she toddled away with her little heels clicking before looking back at me with a smile whilst her eyes penetrated mine, hand still hovering over her wand. I had no choice but to neaten up my research and tuck it away into my bag over which I placed a sealing charm so that Umbridge wouldn't be able to get into it, defiantly lifting my head high and stalked after the woman as she led me to her office. It was dreadful. The walls had been painted a pale shade of pink and everywhere I looked there were pictures of kittens. However, after a thought, I grinned to myself. So she likes cats, does she? Well, I wonder if she likes big cats like lions? "Sit down, Miss Black. Would you like a cup of tea?" She offered me sweetly, as if she'd just invite me for a polite chitchat.
"No." I answered shortly, making her tut her tongue at me.
"Now that won't do, every child should have basic manners. Shall we try that again?"
"No." Continuing to be obstinate, I sat down and folded my arms in order to just stare out of the window as Umbridge huffed, clearly incensed and hastily began to scribble something down on a piece of parchment, a letter. Wanting to irritate her further, I made sure to slouch in the chair and picked up my feet to rest them on top of her desk, crossing them casually and pointedly ignored any of her little coughs meant to garner my attention so that she could tell me off. The scratching of her quill was the only sound in that room as I sat and waited until she finished it with a flourish, sealed it up then went over to her fire where she tossed a fine powdery substance onto the flames to make them turn bright green.
"Ministry of Magic, Cornelius Fudge's office." She said slowly before tossing the letter into the flames which snapped it up and just like that, it vanished. "Now then, are you sure I can't persuade you to drink something? Would you prefer pumpkin juice? Also, please remove your feet from my desk. We are not animals now, are we?" Speak for herself. I can actually turn into an animal, so her argument was lost here. What was this woman playing at anyway? She was insane. Completely insane. I ignored her from then on, staying in complete silence as she'd sigh heavily from now and then, with seemingly dramatic excessiveness like she hoped I would ask her what was wrong.
I had no idea what we were waiting for, but about fifteen minutes after coming here, the door suddenly burst open and in swept Professor McGonagall like an emerald storm. "What is the meaning of this?" She demanded immediately as Umbridge leaped to her feet indignantly and I quickly removed my feet from the desk and sat up straight, McGonagall's eyes sweeping sharply over the two of us. "I have just been informed that you tried to confiscate Miss Black's personal research material and pointed your wand at her, professor, is this true?"
"I'm afraid it is, I deemed the contents to be far too dangerous to be in the hands of a student. Completely irrational, you know, unnecessary too…sort of wild thinking that creates mayhem and chaos." Umbridge quickly stuttered, fanning her face as if she were in a faint.
"And is it true that you pulled out your wand and pointed it directly at Miss Black in a threatening manner?" McGonagall continued to demand and I finally found myself relaxing into my seat, now grinning smugly. Oh Umbridge was going to get it now. If there's one thing that could be said for McGonagall, it was that she was fiercely protective over her students. Umbridge tried to give her excuses, saying that I had behaved aggressively and she was merely preparing to defend herself so McGonagall turned to me. "Is this true?"
"I only jumped to my feet quickly, professor. She was trying to snatch my papers without asking for them properly, then she was talking about taking it all away, Professor McGonagall." I responded honestly, looking her straight in the eye so that she could tell that I wasn't lying. "I may have shouted a little bit, but I panicked. She can't take my research away, professor, she just can't."
"Very well, I understand Miss Black." Placing her hand on my shoulder, I now returned my smug look at Umbridge who bristled at the both of us. "Dolores, this is highly irregular. No matter the circumstances, we never draw our wands on students. Never. Even if you are the High Inquisitor, you are still a teacher of this school and you have a responsibility towards the safety and wellbeing of its students. You are not permitted to confiscate the private property of a student or staff member. Have I made myself clear?" McGonagall never once raised her voice, but the constant rumble of thunder in her tone made even Umbridge look nervous.
"Yes, yes of course." And then, the most golden moment occurred that I will remember for the rest of my life as McGonagall bristled fiercely.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall." Umbridge stared at McGonagall with the most affronted expression. Honestly you'd think McGonagall slapped the woman. She stared at her, then looked at me, then angrily clamped her mouth shut, but before she could say anything else, the fire suddenly sparked and turned green, then out flew two items. One was a letter and the other was a scroll. I sat up a little, McGonagall tensing behind me as Umbridge picked up both and first unravelled the letter to read it. She started to hum, a pleased smile breaking out across her toad-like face before she then unravelled the scroll next.
"Well Minerva, it appears after all that I can confiscate unapproved research." She announced, making my jaw clench as I tightly gripped onto my bag. "See here, take a look." She then handed the scroll over to McGonagall who plucked it deftly from Umbridge's hand in order to read it. As she read, her lips grew thinner and thinner until they were all but disappeared and her shoulders were shaking slightly in anger. This seemed bad. McGonagall then passed it to me, not even bothering to ask permission but Umbridge said nothing, but watched me with a smug little look on her face as I read.
BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS
All personal research projects not assigned by teachers or fall outside the approved
Ministry education curriculum, is hereby banned.
Students wishing to continue already existing research must submit all material
to be inspected by the High Inquisitor.
Any students found continuing unapproved research will be immediately expelled.
Then it was just signed by Umbridge and the Minister of Magic, with the educational decree number. I couldn't believe it, that slimy toad! She seemed so gleeful, so sure that she won. She's not getting her hand on all my research, she'd burn it right in front of me and then I'd have to start from scratch. It's not happening. "So, Miss Black, will you hand over your research for inspection?" With a light and airy voice, Umbridge held out her hand expectantly, like she'd already guarenteed victory but I gripped onto my bag all the more tightly.
"No." Her had quickly dropped and her face flashed with anger.
"Now see here, young lady, according to Educational Decree number twenty four, if you do not hand over your research for inspection, you will face expulsion. You don't want that, do you?" I thought quickly as McGonagall remained silent, probably too angry to speak.
"It says I only have to hand it over if I wish to continue it." I pointed out as I tossed the parchment onto her desk so that it landed in front of her. "Second line. Right there. See? Well, I've decided I've had enough with research for now. I have too much on my plate with N.E. and quidditch practice, I have to focus on my priorities." Once more her jaw went slack as I stood up. "So if there'll be nothing else, professor, I'll be going now and I'll see you in detention."
"Detention?" McGonagall finally recovered and her quick quip made me look at her.
"Yes, professor. Umbridge gave me detention and a fifty point deduction for protecting my research. Apparently I'm disobedient, obstinate and aggressive." She gaped at me before rounding on Umbridge.
"Fifty points! You deducted fifty points all because a student jumped up from their seat too quickly? Dolores if you were so quick to frighten, then perhaps being a teacher is not a job suitable for you! I shall be going to the headmaster about this, this is clear prejudice and I will not have it. Black! I award you fifty points for controlling your temper so efficiently. Oh and take another twenty points for your excellent paper that was released over the summer. I read it myself and could not be prouder." This was high praise indeed from McGonagall as she defiantly flaunted her authority in front of Umbridge who was now stammering.
"N-Now see here, Minerva…"
"No! I do not see! Miss Black, you may go. A note will be passed to you with the date and time of your detention unless I can get it rescinded. Dolores! Follow me to the headmaster's office." McGonagall was completely on the warpath as she stormed out of the office, leaving myself and Umbridge behind. I blinked, completely in shock before I was then grinning, leaping to my feet and dashing away with my bag flung over my shoulder, racing to go find the twins. They were going to love this.