The first week back was utterly abysmal. That Umbridge woman was a foul piece of work, refusing to allow us to practice spells in her classroom, and even put Harry in a weeks' worth of detentions in his first lesson with her. That meant that every evening at five, he had to go down to her office. The first night I didn't notice anything, but on the second, I saw him favouring his hand so I snatched it, ripped back the sleeve to reveal deep imprints written into his flesh. I must not tell lies. I hit the roof. I bellowed so loudly that even Harry cowered away from me, several first years looking at me in alarm.
I'd then dragged Harry to sit down as I summoned some things from my room, ingredients, mortar and pestle and such in order to mix together a solution after brewing it in my cauldron by the fire to treat the hand, using essence of Murtlap at first before then using the solution. I forced him to tell me everything, the two of us whispering together away from everyone else as they'd smartly given us room after my outburst. Harry persuaded me not to tell anyone as I bandaged up his hand with it having soaked in the solution, but I vowed to make life as hellish as possible for Umbridge after that.
I wrote to dad to tell him, writing the letter then transfiguring it into a bird before releasing it, wanting him to know what was happening. At quidditch try-outs, we all missed Harry, but after testing out the new keepers, we all settled on Ron, which made him very happy. Things didn't get any better at the weekend, as that Saturday, there was an article in the newspaper that there had been a tipoff that my dad was in London, making me go pale as I read it, making the twins look at me with worry. They were about to ask me what was wrong, but then we heard a girlish cough from behind which made us all jump. "He-hem." Ugh, that woman. We turned around and there she was, all fluffy and pink and grotesque. "Is there something the matter, dears?" She questioned us, making us all frown and look at her suspiciously.
"No, why?"
"Oh dear, I do believe you mean 'no Professor Umbridge'." She said to me in that girlish voice I couldn't stand. I just stayed silent, because I could sense that McGonagall was now staring at me from the head table, and I knew if I opened my mouth, anything that came out would land me in a month's worth of detentions. Umbridge looked at us expectantly, though the only sound she got was Fred coughing slightly as the twins turned back to their breakfast and I made to do the same. "You seem quite pale, Miss Black. I see you're reading this morning's newspaper. Nothing alarming, I hope?" With a grunt, I folded up the paper and proceeded to thrust it towards her.
"You can have it, if you want. I'm done with it."
"Professor Umbridge." She reminded me curtly, giving a little huff as she snatched the paper from me, seeming most indignant. "You should really watch how you speak, young lady. Especially as Head Girl, you must set the example to your peers. Of course, some teachers were highly against you being given such a distinction considering your record, but it appears the voices of reason are not to be heard at Hogwarts." Umbridge sighed sadly, as if this was a personal insult to her. Just shut up and go away, you'll put me off my breakfast. "So next time I ask a question, I expected it to be answered politely and respectfully, Miss Black. Have I made myself clear?" She asked me and all at once, I rushed to my feet.
Stepping over the bench put me right in front of Umbridge, small and squat as she was, which made her squeak with fear as I easily towered over her as I was fairly tall anyway. I peered down at her with a stony expression, seeing Harry's hand flash in my mind's eye but I pushed it aside, already hearing McGonagall come sweeping towards us from where she had been sitting. Don't make trouble. She works for Fudge. She'll be dying for an excuse to keep me under a close eye, or better yet, throw me out of here altogether. Play along now, and make war later. So with a deep breath, I leaned down a little further so that I leaned over her and gave Umbridge my most sinister smile.
"Yes, Professor Umbridge." I enunciated before turning on my heel and striding away, grabbing food as I went to eat on the go just as McGonagall arrived. Getting out of there as fast as I could, I reached the stairs then promptly sat down, trembling from head to toe out of anger. Lowering my head I gripped onto it, resting the apples and oranges in my lap until I heard the familiar sweep of robes which I knew would be emerald green, the familiar voice of Professor McGonagall speaking my name. I said nothing for a moment, still too angry to trust myself not to have an outburst, but then to my surprise, McGonagall came and sat down on the steps next to me and put her arms around me.
"There now, you did very well Miss Mia. You controlled your temper, and there I was thinking you were going to give that odious woman a good thump." Releasing a laugh, I instantly felt a little better, managing to sit up with a smile.
"I was sorely tempted professor, believe me. Only reason I didn't was because I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of proving her and the papers right. They think I'm wild and violent, a danger to others." With a heavy sigh, I turned to look at McGonagall with a heavy expression as she continued to keep her arms around me. "This is just the beginning, isn't it? She'll look for any reason to come after me and Harry, we'll have to be more careful than ever."
"Indeed, Miss Mia. I'm glad that you are aware of the precarious situation. Though Potter seems to be struggling to keep his temper in check. Perhaps you could have a word with him. As I understand it, he responds well to you." She suggested so I promised to do so when I next got the chance. "Although it is going to be a difficult year, do try not to let that woman get to you. Don't give her the satisfaction, as you say. If ever you need to come and talk to me, my office will always be open to you. Now, will you be alright?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall. I'm calmer now." Giving me a smile and squeezing my shoulders, McGonagall left me to some quiet where I started munching on the fruit I had picked up, thinking. I suppose I'll go to the library until quidditch practice later. There's work I need to do, and I'd reached a new breakthrough with my papers. The werewolf paper I had published under my initials only, so no one could make the connection to my name and outright reject it, and it had received both negative and positive feedback. It was a stepping stone, at least, to publishing more papers with research into possible remedies and solutions to the safe werewolf integration into ordinary wizarding life, and reconditioning the general prejudice against them. I knew that not all werewolves were bad, and they deserved the chance to live normal lives again.