Chapter One Hundred and Three

Dolores Has a Nasty Plan

'Mr Weasley, can we have a word,'

Ron slumped as his head of House approached the quiet spot of the Gryffindor table, he was sitting at closest to the Head table. Ron knew just from looking at her that it was not a good thing. That meant only thing that Babbling had heard of his detention which was not his fault. Yet, it was he would probably be expelled for it!

'Yes, Professor,' Ron muttered.

Ron couldn't help but look longingly back at his dinner as he followed Babbling back to her office. Ron doubted he would have time to finish dinner before his detention at seven o'clock. Oh well, Ron would just have to go back via the kitchens. Ron liked the kitchens and the house elves were always happy to help.

Ron sat quickly, 'you heard about Care, didn't you?'

'I did,' agreed Babbling. 'You know you are on your final warning-'

'I couldn't let her treat Hagrid like that!' Ron burst out.

Babbling raised her eyebrow, 'oh?'

'She was treating him like he was subnormal because he's … you know … a half giant,' Ron said. 'Someone had to stand up to her! Anyway, Abbott agreed with me.'

Babbling sighed heavily, 'then I can only commend you for standing up against prejudice.'

'Can you get me out of the detention?' asked Ron hopefully.

'Honestly, I am not sure she should even be giving you a detention,' admitted Babbling. 'She is here to investigate educational standards. It is not her place to discipline our students. If she wants to recommend us doing so that is different. Let me talk to the Headmaster and I will get back to you. And if Umbridge asks why you are not there – tell her that it is because of me.'

Ron felt relieved, 'really.'

Babbling nodded, 'I am here for you. But Mr Weasley you should be careful. Dolores Umbridge is the Senior Undersecretary.'

'I know,' muttered Ron mutinously.

'That means she is very well connected and protected,' warned Babbling. 'And from all accounts has a nasty side. You in particular cannot afford to risk her wrath falling down upon you as you are already on your last line. I should think very carefully before you talk back to Madam Umbridge again, Mr Weasley no matter what she says. I know it's not fair but that's the way of it.'

'Yes, Professor,' Ron said mutinously.

'Good,' Babbling said. 'Make sure you remember that.'

Filius was just about to head to dinner after doing the last of his paperwork when Pomona and Bathsheba entered. Both of them were wearing unhappy expressions on their faces. Filius just knew it had to do with that awful Ministry witch who actually had the cheek the measure him. Filius had never tried to pretend he wasn't part goblin, had never tried to pretend that he was just small or had been hit by a shrinking jinx when he was a kid. Yet, Umbridge had tried to shame him like his blood did anything but made him lesser than a wizard when in fact it just meant he was able to utilise both goblin and wizard magic.

'Ah, Bathsheba, Pomona,' sighed Filius. 'What has Madam Umbridge done?'

There was only one thing that could make normally calm and peaceable Pomona Sprout look so upset and angry. And that was if one of the students, especially her badgers, but really any student was threatened. And for them both to be here it must be their Inquisitor. Unless, Filius was only seeing what he wanted to see because he hated the woman!

Pomona did not bat an eyelid, 'Hannah Abbott came to visit me after classes. She was terribly upset. Apparently, Madam Umbridge had decided to inspect Hagrid's class.'

Filius sighed, 'not surprising she started with him given her … beliefs … and his giant blood. Not good, but she is acting in her purview. Is Hagrid, okay?'

Filius knew that the big man was a softie at heart and had a naïve black and white worldview. There was an innocence to Hagrid that you wouldn't expect from his big size, which could get him into trouble as much as his obsession with highly regulated beasts did.

Thus, such treatment would cause Hagrid a lot of upset. The last time that his giant blood had come out he locked himself in his cabin for a week. He would go and see Hagrid after this meeting was over. After all he was his staff it was Filius' job the ensure a healthy working environment for all those who worked for him!

'We haven't been to check,' admitted Babbling sounding slightly guilty. 'Our first concern was our students.'

'Your students?' asked Filius darkly.

Bathsheba nodded gravely, 'Mr Weasley – and Miss Abbott – stood up for Hagrid.'

'From what Miss Abbott has said she does not believe they were unduly rude,' added Pomona. 'Actually, she feels that Madam Umbridge was far ruder to Hagrid than either she or Mr Weasley were to her. But they she couldn't stand aside and let Umbridge's bigotry stand. She has admitted she has problems with Hagrid's style of teaching, but the way she was going after him was awful using prejudice rather than what he was teaching. Although, she did say today's lesson was a good one and very informative even if she regrets that she could not see the Thestrals.'

Filius blinked, 'she would not if she knew what it cost to see them.'

Pomona nodded, 'she's a child. It is understandable that she does not understand it.'

Filius nodded, 'but I agree that Umbridge's attitude is deplorable. I'll send a missive to the governors, but you should be warned that although there may be some who stand by him giants and their kin are not well regarded. But we should still support our colleague however we can. I will visit him tonight and make sure he is okay and offer support in whatever manner I can do.'

'I know,' sighed Bathsheba.

'But Hagrid isn't actually why we are here,' Pomona said softly. 'It's our students. Umbridge gave them detentions.'

'We don't believe she can do that,' Bathsheba said fiercely. 'She is here to inspect us – she has no authority over the students.'

Filius nodded in agreement, 'you are quite right. I will contact the board of governors to clear up this matter.'

He hoped Lord Slytherin would help him. Filius was sure he would do if it was any child, but Ronald Weasley involved. After all, Weasley was one of those who had been using his Heir on his Heir's abuser's behalf. It would be understandable for any father to not be impartial in those circumstance and the Dark Lord was nothing if not vengeful!

-0-0-0-

Tom had been packing for his and Harry's impromptu trip to Austria when Headmaster Flitwick called him. Apparently, Umbridge had gone out with her mandate that day and had the teachers upset. Tom sighed tiredly; so, the vile woman had managed to irritate the staff already. It had only been one week.

Naturally, after informing Hadrian that he would be away Tom had Flooed directly to the headmaster's office. He was immediately greeted by a very sour looking Dolores Umbridge and a grim faced Filius Flitwick. There was clearly no love lost there but what would you expect from a part goblin and a creature hating xenophobe like Umbridge?

'What has happened?' asked Tom coolly.

'The headmaster,' Umbridge threw a sneer at Flitwick, 'has seen fit to interfere in my investigations.'

'Oh,' Tom raised an eyebrow, 'you know that the investigator is a neutral body to improve our children's education.'

Flitwick nodded, 'I have not interfered in any investigations. Nor shall I. But the remit of the High Inquisitor is to observe the teachers and their teaching method. Not the punishment of our students!'

'Ronald Weasley was speaking out of turn,' Umbridge returned.

Tom couldn't help the sneer at the name of the Weasley boy who had hurt his son and somehow escaped any punishment. And was instrumental to putting the Flint boy into touch with Dumbledore and thus attacking Hadrian. So naturally it would be about that boy.

'Be as that may, it is not your place to assign student's detention,' Flitwick said sharply.

Tom sighed, 'the headmaster is correct. I wish he wasn't. I would like to see that boy punished. However, if you do feel that Mr Weasley was misbehaving you can recommend detentions for him. I am sure that the teachers will be able to handle discipline quite well on their own. You are, of course, welcome to sit in on such sessions.'

Umbridge scowled, 'I shall do that.'

'Now,' Tom said. 'Can I leave you to arrange Mr Weasley's punishment amongst yourselves.'

'Yes, of course,' Flitwick said.

Tom nodded, 'oh, and I am taking my son on a vacation before it become inadvisable for him to travel so I will be out of contact for the next couple of weeks. Lord Smith will be taking over my duties whilst I am away, so you should contact him instead if there are any further problems.'

'Of course,' Flitwick said.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

The next morning Ron was eating breakfast when Professor Babbling walked down the table to him. Ron's heart sank – here she was to tell him that he had to do the detention despite everything she had said. Ron had thought because she wasn't supposed to be giving him detentions he would escape. But Ron should know by now that nothing good would happen now as it had been one thing after another for the last few months. Of course, in the grand scheme of things one detention was not that bad.

'Mr Weasley, you will be serving your detention with me in my classroom tonight,' Babbling said quietly.

Ron felt betrayed. She had said that she would stop the detention – not give one to him herself. What had he done to her? He wasn't even in her class! It wasn't fair! Babbling had seemed supportive, like she was on his side. Well, what should Ron expect from a conniving, job-stealing, traitorous witch like Babbling?

'But you said that you would speak to the headmaster?' Ron complained.

'I did,' sighed Babbling. 'And he spoke to the Board who agreed that Umbridge could not oversee detentions – but she could recommend detentions and we would have to have a very strong case to argue against it. And unfortunately, I don't think you would win that – not with your record nor your personal history with the Head of the Board. It is far better to just do it and get it over with.

'But you should be warned that Professor Umbridge is allowed to inspect our detentions so may do so. Just keep your head down and don't answer back no matter what she says. Umbridge is very powerful – it would not do well to get on the wrong side of her.'

Ron scowled, 'you've said that already.'

'That's not fair,' Dean said after Babbling had left. 'You were just standing up to Umbridge's abhorrent prejudice and stereotyping of Hagrid! You shouldn't be punished. Not for that!'

It was the nicest thing his classmates had said to him since the start of the year. And that was really saying something given that Dean had made it clear he still thought Ron should be punished. Just not for what he was being punished for.

'Yeah, well, life isn't fair,' Ron said bitterly.

If it was Hermione and Ginny would be here too!

-0-0-0-

Babbling had been right. When Ron had showed up for detention Umbridge had already been there. Ron scowled at the woman but tried to hold his tongue. He once again repeated his therapist's lessons and tried counting backwards.

'Ah, Mr Weasley, come on in,' Babbling said. 'Today you will be helping me to sort through the old textbooks. There will be a pile that will be donated to the library – those are the best quality, those that are decent quality but may have some wear and tear which I keep as spare for those who have forgotten their textbooks or can't afford their own, and those that are almost utterly ruined – they may have been soiled, or be so faded that they are illegible or some other serious damage and will be vanished.'

Ron nodded.

'Hem, hem,' Umbridge did her weird cough thing.

'Yes, Madam Umbridge,' Babbling gave a tight smile.

'May I ask how this is teaching him a lesson,' she smiled like a shark.

Babbling gave a tight smile back, 'here at Hogwarts we believe that if they are being punished then they should be being useful. What use is it to have him write lines all night? And I believe that the hard work builds character, and boring work will teach him not to do so again.'

Umbridge scowled, 'if that is what you believe.'

'It is,' Babbling said a little steel in her voice.

Ron suddenly remembered that this woman was also a Gryffindor. That, of course, she would not buckle under Umbridge's pressure. Otherwise, she would have no right to still call herself a Gryffindor least of all their Head of House!

Ron began sorting through the roomful of books some of which were probably older than his parents. Some of them were so ancient that Babbling said their information was likely not worth much. Others were literally falling to bits and smelt of mould and mildew. Very few were of any decent quality.

But, finally after about an hour and having barely made a dent in all these second-hand books that made what his parents gave him actually look of good quality Babbling called it quits. Ron as relieved – it was boring work, but it was more taxing than one would think. And it wasn't fair that he was being forced to do grunt's work when all he had done was stand up for someone who had done no wrong to anyone!

'Hem, hem,'

Of course, Umbridge had something to contribute Ron thought sourly.

'Do you really think an hour is long enough to have been taught better behaviour?' asked Umbridge sweetly.

Babbling gave that tight smile again, 'our students do need time to their coursework before they go to bed. A good night's sleep is important for them to be able to get a decent education. Do you not agree?'

Umbridge scowled, 'but he has more detentions.'

Babbling blinked, 'I would think one detention is plenty for cheekiness, would you not, Dolores? The more detentions the less time he has for homework – you do have homework, don't you, Mr Weasley?'

Ron nodded, 'I have a history test this week. And I have to read through the Tales of Beadle the Bard. And a charms essay.'

'Precisely, OWL year is hard enough without unnecessary detentions for a mild offence,' Babbling said.

Umbridge scowled.

'Now, Mr Weasley, why don't you go to your common room or the library and study,' Babbling said refusing to back down.

'Yes, Professor,' Ron said quickly.

Ron left before Umbridge could insist he have more detentions.

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Dolores Umbridge scowled as she left the Ancient Runes professor office. Dolores couldn't help but spray herself still smelling the mould and mildew and damp smell of books. There were just too many damned creatures in this damned school and dirty children too.

Umbridge had been so excited when she realised that she would be working beside Lord Slytherin. Scared too because she had believed the rumours about him being the Dark Lord. But it was now obvious to her that those were exactly those rumours.

He had spent the last few weeks ensuring that Mudbloods had an easier time in adjusting to Hogwarts. He had championed a half-breed becoming headmaster of Hogwarts. And if things continued both Slytherin and the headmaster would champion half-breeds being taught at Hogwarts. Dolores shuddered at that very idea.

The Dark Lord would never have done that!

And now he had refused to allow her to torture Ronald Weasley. Dolores was sure he of all people would not be against that! Yet, whilst he had not stopped her giving him a detention nor had he allowed her to have power over the boy.

If he was the Dark Lord, there was no way he would have protected the boy who had harmed what was his so much. In fact, if he really was the Dark Lord, it was doubtful that the boy would still be alive. No, it was obvious to her now that Lord Slytherin was just the Dark Lord's cousin which was quite the disappointment to Dolores if she was honest.

Well, never mind Lord Slytherin was out of the country for a while. And Lord Smith wouldn't care what she did as long as she left his Heir out of it. That meant Dolores could happily instil some discipline into these horrible brats.

Unfortunately, that wouldn't last because Lord Slytherin would be back after his holiday and would likely reign her in again. And it was clear that if she pushed the half-breed too far, he would run back to Lord Slytherin for protection. Dolores scowled again at the thought of how much better it would have been had Lord Slytherin really been the Dark Lord!

But clearly, he was just a foreigner who didn't understand their ways and was changing things in ways that disturbed Dolores. But Lord Slytherin had far too much power and influence between his and his son's multiple houses and being the father of the Boy Who Lived. Never mind the grandfather of Lucius Malfoy's second child which was obviously why Lucius was cosying up to this foreign upstart so much.

Dolores wondered if there was a way to undermine him or to convince him to take his brat back to his own country. But the Lord Slytherin seemed to have settled in Britain for reasons Dolores did not understand. Possibly because his son refused to leave or maybe some strange sentimentality to his late lover's country.

And unfortunately, Lord Slytherin did not seem to have very many weaknesses. And from all accounts was powerful even if there were no accounts of him actually fighting! Still there was no way several former Death Eaters would respect him so much unless he could hold his own. Dolores could not defeat him in armed combat as she had little skill in offensive magics.

Nor could she defeat him politically – she was just an undersecretary. Besides, Dumbledore had tried and failed. And Albus Dumbledore was the Dumbledore and was a Lord of the Wizengamot, the former Chief Warlock. If he couldn't do so, then Dolores knew she did not have the clout to go after him politically.

And Dolores couldn't find anything in his records that she could blackmail him with. He seemed squeaky clean – too clean to be honest. It was the reason she had thought he was the Dark Lord because his history was all too clear.

But he was not!

In fact, it seemed to Dolores that Lord Slytherin had only weakness! And that was his brat. Dolores shook her head. It always baffled her how stoic Lords could melt at the sight of their offspring. Dolores was so glad she had never had a child. Could never understand why anyone would want one!

Still, the fact that Lord Slytherin had such a clear and obvious weakness was good for him. Especially an obvious weakness who if what she had read was unable to use magic. If Dolores could get hold of the boy, then his father would have to do what she said.

Still, she would have to be careful after all any attack on the boy and Lord Malfoy would also respond. Although, it could mean that she had both the Chief Warlock and Head of the Traditional Party under her thumb which would not be a bad thing.

Dolores had tried blackmailing Lucius Malfoy in the past. After all the man who had different affairs every few months had an easy source of blackmail. Except his wife knew and didn't care. And when she had threatened to go to the newspapers, he had refused to give into her demands, so the Witch Weekly did print salacious details of Lord Malfoy's affairs. But it didn't seem to bother him or his allies at all. In fact, he seemed absolutely shameless in his approach.

And she hadn't even found out about him, and Harry Potter until the Prophet had found out first. If that wasn't the case Dolores might have had enough blackmail material to get his help in passing her creature reform bills. Unfortunately, the whole world knew now so there was little she could do.

But, maybe, if she took the bearer of his second child that might change.

Of course, she would have to wait until the Slytherin Heir returned home from abroad. And probably wait until things had cooled off a bit. Because after Dumbledore's attack a few weeks ago then Lord Slytherin was still going to be paranoid about his son's safety.

But there was no rush – she would have the boy before he gave birth in March.