Author's Note: Dai5ycake – Luna was not seen till Order of the Phoenix in both the books and movies. So, her knowing about Harry from the beginning could have been possible, but I have no idea to tell the truth. There are some confrontations between Buffy and Umbridge. There is a small one next chapter, but a larger one in chapter 31 when Umbridge inspects Buffy. Buffy is never fired though, but she is eventually placed on probation. On Sirius surviving or not I think I will leave that reveal for chapter 44.
Chapter 29: Umbridge
Rattling and swaying, the carriages moved in convoy up the road.
Dawn wondered why she and Luna could see the creatures and Ginny couldn't.
"Are you okay?" Ginny asked.
"Just thinking," Dawn admitted as she waved toward the front of the carriage to indicate the creature. "Wondering why I can see them."
When they finally arrived at the castle, they got out hurried up the stone steps into the castle.
The entrance hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast.
Dawn and Ginny spotted Ron, Hermione and Harry already sitting at the Gryffindor table and moved quickly to join them.
"Who's that?" Hermione said moments after Dawn and Ginny sat down, pointing toward the middle of the staff table.
They looked toward where Hermione pointed. They lit first upon Professor Dumbledore, sitting in his high-backed golden chair at the center of the long staff table, wearing deep-purple robes scattered with silvery stars and a matching hat.
Dumbledore's head was inclined toward the woman sitting next to him, who was talking into his ear.
"What are you guys looking at?" Buffy asked as she came up to them and sat between Harry and Dawn as usual.
"The woman next to Dumbledore," Harry said. "Do you know who she is?"
"No idea," Buffy said. "Maybe she's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
It was then that the doors from the entrance hall opened. A long line of scared-looking first years entered, led by Professor McGonagall, who was carrying a stool on which sat the sorting hat. At the very end of the line was Willow.
The buzz of talk in the Great Hall faded away. The first years and Willow lined up in front of the staff table facing the rest of the students, and Professor McGonagall placed the stool carefully in front of them, then stood back. Then the rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and the Sorting Hat burst into song. Once it was done the hat became motionless once more; applause broke out, though it was punctured with muttering and whispers. All across the Great Hall students were exchanging remarks with their neighbors.
"Branched out a bit this year, hasn't it?" said Ron, his eyebrows raised.
"Too right it has," said Harry.
The Sorting Hat usually confined itself to describing the different qualities looked for by each of the four Hogwarts Houses and its own role in sorting them, but it had never given the school advice before.
"I wonder if it's ever given warnings before?" said Hermione, sounding slightly anxious.
"Yes, indeed," said Nearly Headless Nick knowledgeably. "The hat feels itself honor-bound to give the school due warning whenever it feels—"
But Professor McGonagall, who was waiting to read out the list of first years' names, was giving the whispering students the sort of look that scorches. Nearly Headless Nick placed a see-through finger to his lips. With a last frowning look that swept the four House tables, Professor McGonagall lowered her eyes to her long piece of parchment and called out,
"Abercrombie, Euan."
They watched as each of the first years' were sorted till only Willow remained.
Dumbledore stood up and smiled at the assembled students. "Once again, we have a new transfer student, coming from the Sunnydale Academy. Yes, I know many of you have never heard of the Sunnydale Academy. It is a small institution on the west coast of America situated on the Hellmouth. Normally it is home to only a select few as most witches and wizards stay away from the Hellmouth. Today our new transfer student hails from there and will be joining us for her seventh-year. Ms. Willow Rosenberg, will you have a seat so you can be sorted."
Willow moved up to the stool and sat down. She waited as McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
"You are unusually difficult, my dear," the hat whispered to Willow. "You have power and would do well in Slytherin. You enjoy learning and would do well in Ravenclaw. You are also brave and have a thirst to protect those you love from harm and so would do well in Gryffindor. So where to put you, where to put you. It better be…"
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat finally shouted.
McGonagall took the hat off Willow's head as she smiled at the redhead and motioned towards the Gryffindor table. Willow stood and hurried down the table till she found Buffy who had asked Harry to scoot over and Willow sat down next to her smiling.
McGonagall picked up the hat and stool and marched them away as Dumbledore rose to his feet again.
"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome! To our old hands—welcome back! There is a time for speech making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"
There was an appreciative laugh and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly and threw his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it out of the way of his plate—for food had appeared out of nowhere, so that the five long tables were groaning under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread, sauces, and flagons of pumpkin juice.
Willow's eyes went wide. She had seen food appear over the summer but that was just the staff table as she had technically been the only student here during the summer and there had been no need for her to sit at a house table alone. So, the amount of food that now appeared was even more surprising to her.
"First time seeing this much food at once," Buffy said as she looked toward her friend and seeing Willow's reaction.
"Yes," Willow replied as she began piling food her plate.
"What were you saying before the Sorting?" Hermione asked Nearly Headless Nick. "About the hat giving warnings?"
Willow looked up and waved at the ghost who returned the gesture before he turned his attention to Hermione. "Oh yes. Yes, I have heard the hat give several warnings before, always at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school. And always, of course, its advice is the same: Stand together, be strong from within."
"Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat?" said Ron. His mouth was so full it was quite an achievement for him to make any noise at all.
"I beg your pardon?" said Nearly Headless Nick politely.
Ron gave an enormous swallow and said, "How can it know if the school's in danger if it's a hat?"
"I have no idea," said Nearly Headless Nick. "Of course, it lives in Dumbledore's office, so I daresay it picks things up there."
"And it wants all the Houses to be friends?" said Harry, looking over at the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was holding court. "Fat chance."
"Well, now, you shouldn't take that attitude," said Nick reprovingly.
"I agree with Nick," Buffy said. "While yes there are some in this school, I don't really like. Doesn't mean I wish them harm either."
"Professor Potter is correct in her thinking," Nick said. "Peaceful cooperation, that's the key. We ghosts, though we belong to separate Houses, maintain links of friendship. In spite of the competitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would never dream of seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron."
"Only because you're terrified of him," said Ron.
Nearly Headless Nick looked highly affronted.
"Terrified? I hope I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, have never been guilty of cowardice in my life! The noble blood that runs in my veins—"
"What blood?" asked Ron. "Surely you…"
"Ron," Buffy interrupted. "It's a figure of speech! He can say what he wants even though he can't do things like you and I can, such as eating this meal. You would be best to remember that."
"Yes, Buffy," Ron said. "Sorry, Nick."
"All is forgiven," Nearly Headless Nick said.
Rising into the air, Nearly Headless Nick straightened his feathered hat and swept away from them to the other end of the table, coming to rest between the Creevey brothers, Colin and Dennis.
When all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the hall was starting to creep upward again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the headmaster.
"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore. "First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students—and a few of our older students ought to know by now too. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door."
"We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. And Professor Potter has …"
He broke off, looking inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. As she was not much taller standing than sitting, there was a moment when nobody understood why Dumbledore had stopped talking, but then Professor Umbridge said, "Hem, hem," and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech.
Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat back down smartly and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than to listen to her talk. Other members of staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise. No new teacher had ever interrupted Dumbledore before. Many of the students were smirking; this woman obviously did not know how things were done at Hogwarts.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "for those kind words of welcome. Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking back at me! I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"
Students exchanged looks at this; some of them were barely concealing grins.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."
Professor Umbridge paused here and made a little bow to her fellow staff members, none of whom bowed back.
Buffy was getting the impression that she was going to be in for a rough year with Umbridge around.
"Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation…"
"…because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."
Her speech finally done Umbridge finally sat down.
Dumbledore clapped. The staff, Buffy included, followed his lead. A few students joined in, but most had been taken unawares by the end of the speech, not having listened to more than a few words of it, and before they could start applauding properly, Dumbledore had stood up again.
"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," he said, bowing to her. "Now—as I was saying, Professor Potter, as was mentioned at the end of term feast last year, has accepted the post of professor for the new Defense Against the Forces of Darkness class in addition to her guidance counselor responsibilities. Since her bedchambers are traditionally occupied by the Head of Gryffindor House. Professor Potter will also be taking on the duties of Head of Gryffindor House at Professor McGonagall's request. Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the—"
"Yes, it certainly was illuminating," said Hermione in a low voice.
"You're not telling me you enjoyed it?" Ron said quietly, turning a glazed face upon Hermione. "That was about the dullest speech I've ever heard, and I grew up with Percy."
"I said illuminating, not enjoyable," said Hermione. "It explained a lot."
"Did it?" said Harry in surprise. "Sounded like a load of waffle to me."
"I agree with Hermione," Buffy said. "If you read between the lines. I can tell you for both students and professors the coming months are not only going to be interesting but be difficult. I expect she will be making my life difficult." She looked at Willow. "Which means our sessions will have to look official."
"In another words, in your office," Willow said. "That will make things a little difficult. I've been staying in your suite all summer. If she finds that out…"
Buffy sighed and nodded. She looked toward Dumbledore who was finishing up his speech. She noticed he was looking at her. She mouthed, 'We need to talk.' He nodded in agreement as he dismissed everyone.
Everyone began standing up.
"For now, Will," Buffy said. "Follow Hermione and Ron since their prefects, like you would if you didn't know the castle yet. Once in Gryffindor tower they can show you the other entrance to the suite."
Hermione jumped up, looking flustered. "Ron, we're supposed to show the first years where to go!"
"Oh yeah," said Ron, who had obviously forgotten. "Hey—hey you lot! Midgets!"
"Ron!" Buffy said as Ron looked at her and he sighed. "You can't call them midgets. Now you need to lead Willow to Gryffindor tower too. Then when the common room is emptying out show her the entrance to my suite from the common room."
"Will do, Buffy," Ron said.
"First years!" Hermione called commandingly along the table. "This way, please!"
A group of new students walked shyly up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, all of them trying hard not to lead the group as Willow stood and joined them.
"See you later," Harry, Dawn and Ginny said to Ron and Hermione and they made their way out of the Great Hall.
Buffy stood and again looked at Dumbledore as she mouthed, "My office," Dumbledore nodded and made a gesture of five. He would come after five minutes.
Buffy stood and made her way through the castle and into the office she had used the year before as guidance counselor. It was nearly ten minutes later when Dumbledore joined her.
"We have a problem," Buffy said.
"Willow," Dumbledore said. "I figured as much. Not Willow per say but Dolores Umbridge. Since Willow hasn't been staying in the dormitories since she wasn't sorted till tonight and seventh-year dormitories are full with our normal students. She will have to be careful about leaving your suite. Either way could be caught by anyone watching."
"Then there are my sessions with her," Buffy said. "It's going to look odd that she is coming in here day after day. Now some need to be in here to throw off suspicion. But…"
"Yes," Dumbledore said as he saw where Buffy was going. "You will have to do the majority of them in complete privacy. I recommend doing them when she is in your suite and nowhere else."
"Now that leaves the last problem. I know I am supposed to be helping her get over Tara's death and eventually find love again. If that is with me, which at this point I am not going to say it is. Just because I love her doesn't mean she's going to love me back, not that way anyways. But if she does reciprocate. It was already going to be difficult with just the students since student/teacher romantic relationships are a big no, no. Now that this woman is here looking over our shoulders it will be that much more difficult."
"Do what you can," Diumbledore said. "Teaching Willow to open her heart and love again, regardless if it happens with you, someone else or no one at all, may have to wait till next summer."
When Buffy arrived in her suite, she found that Ron, Hermione, Dawn, Harry or Ginny had already shown Willow the entrance to the suite from the Gryffindor common room. "Hey, Will."
"Hey, Buffy," Willow said as she crossed the room to her friend and hugged her.
When Willow had stepped back Buffy decided to broach the subject of her feelings. "I'm going to be up front here," Buffy said. "Do I love you as more than just a friend, yes. But I'm not going to push you, Will. If you don't share those feelings that's fine. You be you, that's all I ask."
"Thanks, Buffy," Willow said. "That means a lot."
"For your first counseling sessions we will start with Tara," Buffy said. "Helping us both to grieve. Not only for someone you love, but someone I thought of as one of my best friends."
"You thought of Tara as one of your best friends alongside me and Xander?" Willow asked.
"I did," Buffy said. "I do."
September 2, 2002
Buffy smiled as she watched both the fifth-year Gryffindors and the fifth-year Ravenclaw students file in and take a seat for her first class of Defense Against the Forces of Darkness. She waved briefly at Harry and Dawn when she saw her siblings take their seats.
"Good morning," Buffy said, "and welcome to the first ever lesson for Defense Against the Forces of Darkness. This year will primarily deal with the Slayer, which I am a Slayer. Despite what your books say there are currently two. That book is slightly outdated but it is the most current book to date on the Slayer. The reason that there are two Slayers will be discussed in another lesson. For now, I would like to see what you know about Slayers and the creatures that a Slayer faces. After the quiz you will be dismissed for the day so I have time to go over them before our next class."
As the class took their quizzes she watched. The first to be done, as she had expected, were Harry and Dawn. "Did you two get everything right," she whispered to them. "I will be disappointed if either of you didn't."
After the last of the fifth-year students left Buffy pulled Dawn and Harry's quizzes out. She wanted to see if her brother and sister had been paying attention to everything she had said when it came to the supernatural. She found that they had missed some things but otherwise got the majority of the quiz right.
Buffy smiled as she looked at the quizzes, she was proud of how much they got right.
"Professor Potter?"
Buffy looked up startled at the voice and saw a young boy, one of the new first year students, Justice Adams.
"I know you don't do counselor stuff till after dinner, but…"
Buffy nodded as she rose to her feet and gestured to the chair by her desk. "Have a seat."
He sat down, his eyes staring at the floor. Buffy sat on the corner of her desk. "I'm Justice Adams," he said softly, looking at her for the first time. His wide blue eyes looked fresh with sadness and tears.
"Can you tell me what's wrong, Justice?" asked Buffy, her voice laced with concern.
Justice nodded, putting his face in his hands. "I was in Potions this morning. It was my first time ever making a Potion and I was so excited. I'm a muggle born so I'm still getting used to all this magic stuff. I was doing so well, but I went so fast that I mixed up my ingredients. My cauldron exploded, showering the whole class. People started to swell up and boils appeared on their skin." He paused as a tear made its way down his cheek.
Buffy stood and put a hand on his shoulder. "Go on," she urged, softly.
Justice sniffed, wiping his noise with his sleeve. "Professor Snape said that I was stupid and incompetent. He took fifty points away from my house. It's only my first day! My housemates looked like they were so disappointed in me. I swear I didn't mean it! Honest!"
Buffy rubbed his back soothingly. She remembered that her mother had used this tactic on both her and Dawn when they were younger to calm them down. Eventually the rubbing started to work and Justice began to regain control of himself.
Buffy looked down at him with a small smile. "You know it's not your fault. I don't mean to bad-mouth him, but Professor Snape isn't that good of a teacher in the first place in my opinion. My brother has had the same problems that you had in regards to Professor Snape. Then when Dawn and I and came to Hogwarts last year. Dawn found that he was harsh with her as well."
"I figured that but he took away fifty points. On the first day! My housemates are going to hate me. We're already in the negatives," said Justice sadly.
"I'm sure when your housemates find out that it was Snape who took the points, they'll understand. Everyone is used to it," she handed him a Kleenex. "Dry your eyes and just don't fret over it. Your housemates are your family, your friends for the next seven years. Points or no points. They will stick by you no matter what. Plus, you are in Ravenclaw, the brains of Hogwarts. I'm sure you guys will make up the lost points faster than you can say Prada."
Justice suddenly smiled. "Your right. I'll take it as it comes and just work hard to make up the points."
"There you go," replied Buffy, patting his back.
Justice picked up his shoulder bag still smiling. "Thank you, Professor." He walked to the door.
"Hey, Justice," called Buffy, stopping him. He turned around wondering what she wanted. "For coming to me, take twenty-five points for Ravenclaw," she winked.
Justice smiled widely, practically beaming. He smiled thankfully at Buffy then departed the room.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Harry, Dawn, Ron and Hermione entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and immediately found Professor Umbridge seated at the teacher's desk.
The class was quiet as it entered the room; Professor Umbridge was, as yet, an unknown quantity and nobody knew yet how strict a disciplinarian she was likely to be.
"Well, good afternoon!" she said when finally, the whole class had sat down.
A few people mumbled "Good afternoon," in reply.
"Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge. "That won't do, now, will it? I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!"
Harry and Dawn glanced at each as they chanted with the rest of the class, "Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge."
"There, now," said Professor Umbridge sweetly. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please."
Many of the class exchanged gloomy looks; the order "wands away" had never yet been followed by a lesson they had found interesting.
Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, extracted her own wand, which was an unusually short one, and tapped the blackboard sharply with it; words appeared on the board at once:
Defense Against the Dark Arts
A Return to Basic Principles.
"Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" stated Professor Umbridge, turning to face the class with her hands clasped neatly in front of her. "The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year."
"You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please."
She rapped the blackboard again; the first message vanished and was replaced by:
Course aims:
1. Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.
2. Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic can legally be used.
3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use.
For a couple of minutes, the room was full of the sound of scratching quills on parchment. When everyone had copied down Professor Umbridge's three course aims she said, "Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"
There was a dull murmur of assent throughout the class.
"I think we'll try that again," said Professor Umbridge. "When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply 'Yes, Professor Umbridge,' or 'No, Professor Umbridge.' So, has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"
"Yes, Professor Umbridge," rang through the room.
"Good," said Professor Umbridge. "I should like you to turn to page five and read chapter one, 'Basics for Beginners.' There will be no need to talk."
Professor Umbridge left the blackboard and settled herself in the chair behind the teacher's desk, observing them.
Dawn and Harry glanced at each other again as they silently agreed this needed to be reported to Buffy. They then turned to page five of their copies of Defensive Magical Theory and started to read.
Hermione was about the only who had not even opened her copy of Defensive Magical Theory. She was staring fixedly at Professor Umbridge with her hand in the air.
"What are you doing Hermione?" Dawn whispered to her friend having seen Hermione's hand in the air.
Hermione merely shook her head slightly to indicate that she was not about to answer questions, and continued to stare at Professor Umbridge, who was looking just as resolutely in another direction.
After several more minutes had passed, however, Dawn was not the only one watching Hermione. The chapter they had been instructed to read was so tedious that more and more people were choosing to watch Hermione's mute attempt to catch Professor Umbridge's eye than to struggle on with "Basics for Beginners."
When more than half the class were staring at Hermione rather than at their books, Professor Umbridge seemed to decide that she could ignore the situation no longer.
"Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?" she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her.
"Not about the chapter, no," said Hermione.
"Well, we're reading just now," said Professor Umbridge. "If you have other queries, we can deal with them at the end of class."
"I've got a query about your course aims," said Hermione.
Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows.
"And your name is—?"
"Hermione Granger," said Hermione.
"Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully," said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness.
"Well, I don't," said Hermione bluntly. "There's nothing written up there about using defensive spells."
There was a short silence in which many members of the class turned their heads to frown at the three course aims still written on the blackboard.
"Using defensive spells?" Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?"
"We're not going to use magic?" Ron ejaculated loudly.
"Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class, Mr.—?"
"Weasley," said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air.
Professor Umbridge, smiling still more widely, turned her back on him.
Dawn and Hermione immediately raised their hands too. Professor Umbridge's eyes lingered on Dawn for a moment before she addressed Hermione.
"Yes, Miss Granger? You wanted to ask something else?"
"Yes," said Hermione. "Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells?"
"Are you a Ministry-trained educational expert, Miss Granger?" asked Professor Umbridge in her falsely sweet voice.
"No, but—"
"Well then, I'm afraid you are not qualified to decide what the 'whole point' of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devised our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way—"
"I want to ask what use is that?" Dawn said loudly. "I live on a Hellmouth. I've been attacked there; in fact, I was attacked there just this summer. I just want to know why you're not teaching us defensive magic."
"Hand, Ms. Potter!" sang Professor Umbridge.
Dawn thrust her fist in the air.
Professor Umbridge promptly turned away from Dawn, but now several other people had their hands up too.
"And your name is?" Professor Umbridge said to Dean.
"Dean Thomas."
"Well, Mr. Thomas?"
"Well, it's like Dawn said, isn't it?" said Dean. "I too want to know why. I don't want to be attacked and …"
"Do you expect to be attacked during my classes?" Professor Umbridge said.
"No, but—"
Professor Umbridge talked over him.
"I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run in this school," she said, an unconvincing smile stretching her wide mouth, "but you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class, very irresponsible indeed—not to mention," she gave a nasty little laugh, "extremely dangerous half-breeds."
"If you mean Professor Lupin," piped up Dean Thomas angrily, "he was the best we ever—"
"Hand, Mr. Thomas! As I was saying—you have been introduced to spells that have been complex, inappropriate to your age group, and potentially lethal. You have been frightened into believing that you are likely to meet Dark attacks every other day—"
"No, we haven't," Hermione said, "we just—"
"Your hand is not up, Miss Granger!"
Hermione put up her hand; Professor Umbridge turned away from her.
"It is my understanding that my predecessor not only performed illegal curses in front of you, he actually performed them on you—"
"You do know he was an imposter don't you," Dawn said in anger. "Buffy almost died because of him."
"Your hand is not up, Ms. Potter!" trilled Professor Umbridge. "Now, it is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be more than sufficient to get you through your examination, which, after all, is what school is all about. And your name is?" she added, staring at Parvati, whose hand had just shot up.
"Parvati Patil, and isn't there a practical bit in our Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.? Aren't we supposed to show that we can actually do the countercurses and things?"
"As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells under carefully controlled examination conditions," said Professor Umbridge dismissively.
"Without ever practicing them before?" said Parvati incredulously. "Are you telling us that the first time we'll get to do the spells will be during our exam?"
"I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard enough—"
"And what good's theory going to be in the real world?" said Harry loudly. "Like Dawn said she and I live with our sister on a Hellmouth. Theory won't protect us there."
Professor Umbridge looked up. "This is school, Mr. Potter, not the real world," she said softly.
"So, we're not supposed to be prepared for what's waiting out there?"
"There is nothing waiting out there, Mr. Potter."
"Oh yeah?" said Dawn. Her temper, which seemed to have been bubbling just beneath the surface since the beginning of the lesson, was reaching boiling point. It was at that time Harry, Hermione and Ron all noticed the green glow around her.
"Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves?" inquired Professor Umbridge in a horribly honeyed voice.
"Demons, Vampires, the forces of Darkness," Dawn said.
"Lord Voldemort?" Harry added.
Ron gasped; Lavender Brown uttered a little scream; Neville slipped sideways off his stool. Professor Umbridge, however, did not flinch. She was staring at Dawn and Harry with a grimly satisfied expression on her face.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor, Mr. and Ms. Potter."
The classroom was silent and still. Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Dawn and Harry.
"Now, let me make a few things quite plain."
Professor Umbridge stood up and leaned toward them, her hands splayed on her desk. "You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead—"
"He wasn't dead," said Harry angrily, "but yeah, he's returned!"
"Mr.-Potter-you-and-your-sister-have-already-lost-your-House-twenty-points-do-not-make-matters-worse-for-yourself-or-her," said Professor Umbridge in one breath without looking at Harry or Dawn. "As I was saying, you have been informed that a certain Dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."
"You will NOT lie!" growled out Dawn. "Buffy saw him, fought him! You will NOT lie about MY SISTER!"
"Detention, Ms. Potter!" said Professor Umbridge triumphantly ignoring Dawn's transformation. "Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard, nor are you in danger from any of the forces of darkness. If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, vampires and demons, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, 'Basics for Beginners.'"
Professor Umbridge sat down behind her desk again.
"Dawn, no," Hermione whispered in a warning voice, tugging at her friend's sleeve as Dawn stood up.
"So, according to you, my sister did not face him, is that what you are saying?" Dawn asked, her voice shaking with anger.
"Nothing happened to your sister," Professor Umbridge said coldly.
"You lie," said Dawn. She could feel herself shaking as the green glow intensified. Professor Umbridge ignored the glow, apparently, she couldn't see it. "My sister almost died."
Professor Umbridge's face was quite blank. "Come here, Ms. Potter, dear."
Dawn strode to the teacher's desk.
Professor Umbridge pulled a small roll of pink parchment out of her handbag, stretched it out on the desk, dipped her quill into a bottle of ink, and started scribbling, hunched over so that Dawn could not see what she was writing. After a minute or so she rolled up the parchment and tapped it with her wand; it sealed itself seamlessly so that Dawn could not open it.
"Take this to Professor Potter, dear," said Professor Umbridge, holding out the note to Dawn.
Dawn took it from her without saying a word, gathered her stuff and left the room. She hurried down the corridor till she reached Buffy's office and knocked.
"Come in." came Buffy's voice from inside.
Dawn opened the door and stepped inside. "I've been sent to see you," she said.
"Sent? What do you mean, sent?" Buffy asked as Dawn handed her the parchment. Frowning, she slit it open with a tap of her wand, stretched it out, and began to read. Her eyes zoomed from side to side as she read what Umbridge had written, and with each line they became narrower.
"Well, Dawn?" said Buffy. "Is this true?"
"If you mean shouting at Umbridge, yes," Dawn said as tears dripped down her face. "I-I couldn't, Buffy, I couldn't let her call you a liar."
Buffy sighed as she looked at her sister. "What was it about?" she asked.
"First it was about not teaching us defensive spells," Dawn said. "Then she was calling you a liar, saying you never saw Voldemort rise."
"Oh, Dawn," Buffy said as she came around the desk and held Dawn in her arms.
"I-I think I was glowing," Dawn said.
"You're sure?" Buffy asked.
"Yes," Dawn answered.
"Dawn, you need to be careful around her. If she found out, it'll cost you more than House points and a detention. It could cost all of us; you, me and Harry. From what I've heard she reports directly to the Minister of Magic."
"Is there anything you can do?" Dawn asked as she motioned toward the parchment.
"I wish there was, Dawnie," Buffy said. "She has the right to give you detention and take house points. Though reading through that I think a weeks' worth of detention for one outburst is excessive. You'll have to go, I'm sorry, Dawn. That said. You need to stay calm. We both know you can control the Key. But Umbridge doesn't know that it's a part of you. If she found out she could tell Fudge. And we don't know exactly what that might entail Dawn. And given the way Remus is treated because he's a werewolf I don't think it would be good. You have to remember that they are looking for any excuse to get us out of Hogwarts. Remember the dementors. I believe that the Ministry of Magic was intentionally watching you and Harry looking for any reason to expel either of you. If they could expel you then I would have to resign here as I would have to remain in Sunnydale with you and Harry. Thankfully Albus was well informed on the laws in the U.S. in regards to Wiccan magic and was able to get the charge dropped."