Cielie
The rain splatters my robes, and in seconds I'm soaked. I don't mind though; I just have to get away for a while. Hagrid's cabin gives off a warm glow. I think about knocking on the door but then I'd have to explain why I'm not in class. And that's something I really don't want to think about right now. I'll deal with it later. Like most things.
I am almost at the tree line, almost in the safety of the Forbidden Forest, when a voice shouts, "Oi, what're you doin'?". I groan as Hagrid comes stomping out into the rain. "Shouldn't you be up in the castle?" he says coming closer.
"I…," I'm not sure what I should say. Tell Hagrid what I did or run into the forest like I'd planned? After a long pause I tell Hagrid, "I hexed the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." I wait, watching Hagrid's face fall. He knows I'm normally a good student. And normally I am, but Umbridge really needed to be taught a lesson.
"Well, I better take you up to the castle," Hagrid tells me, nearly shouting above the rain. I walk up to the castle and almost immediately I see Professor McGonagall marching down the stairs. Umbridge right behind. The look on Professor McGonagall's face lets me now just how much trouble I'm in. Cedric would be so disappointed.
"Ms. Diggory, I'm afraid that you have done it this time. The Minister is coming and his letter didn't sound very pleased. I'm quite disappointed in your behavior, I would have expected such behavior of a band of babbling baboons, not one of my top students," Professor McGonagall says, clearly displeased as we wait for Dumbledore to come. We are sitting in his office along with Umbridge.
The door creaks open and the Minister walks in followed by Dumbledore. I can only think of how the toad insulted Cedric's memory, how she told be a blatant lie. The way she told me Cedric's death was a 'tragic' accident, the nerve on that woman. I am not even the tiniest bit ashamed. Then Dumbledore and the Minister take their seats and the conversation starts.
"I'm afraid that this behavior is unacceptable, Ms. Diggory," Cornelius Fudge says, "We simply can't have young children spreading lies and attacking ministry officials. It just sends the wrong message." Umbridge gives a little tut-tut and Professor McGonagall sighs. Dumbledore looks rather uninterested with the whole thing.
"I had a reason, you know. I won't be told that my brother's death was a tragic accident. I'm far too bright for that. Anyone in the class can tell you that much," I say in the silence that follows Fudge's comment. Umbridge looks at me indignantly. Dumbledore contemplates my words and Fudge is momentarily speechless. Then he goes red in the face.
"He's not back. We all know it. It's just Dumbledore's way to power. Make the wizarding world unsure and then seize power. So you have no excuse to say that you were provoked," Fudge looks at me, furious.
"I never said anything about Voldemort. I simply told you that Cedric's death was not an accident. I think it would do the both of you well to listen when important things are said," I snap at Fudge, I can feel the tension in the room growing. "And besides, what are you going to do with me? Stick me in Azkaban? You know you can't send me home, there's no one there," I feel my rage boiling up again.
"Perhaps expulsion is too harsh, I suggest suspending Ms. Diggory and giving her detention," Dumbledore comes to my rescue.
"Under Secretary Umbridge what do you think?" Fudge asks, his bowler hat slightly askew.
"But will detention be enough? Can this flame be controlled? Expulsion would be the best course of action," Umbridge replies, her smile is so sweet I almost gag.
"Expulsion is too much. Ms. Diggory is an other wise perfect student, she should be given a chance. Suspend her for a month, give her detention, if she acts out again she knows the consequences," McGonagall defends me.
"It won't happen again, I promise Minister," I give him a smile that drips with sweet innocence. He turns to Umbridge and she nods, her smile equally sticky.
"Well, I think that's settled. Ms. Diggory, you will not be allowed to participate in classes for the next month. You will help Professor Umbridge with whatever tasks she needs done and you will not be allowed on Hogsmeade's weekends. You will be permitted to live and eat in the castle. Is that clear?" Dumbledore says turning towards me.
"Yes."
"You may go down to the Great Hall," McGonagall excuses me. She gives me a small smile. "Don't let me down again."
I run down the stairs and come face to face with Malfoy. Now what would he be doing here? "Shouldn't you be down in the Great Hall?" I ask nonchalantly.
"I could ask the same of you, Diggory. Got ourselves in a little trouble with a professor earlier, did we?" he says, his eyes dangerously cold.
"I know hexes that would make that one Ginny did look like child's play. Watch yourself, I might just slip," I whisper in his ear as I brush past him.
"I won't let you forget this, Diggory. Mark my words," Malfoy sneers.
"Sure you will pussy cat," I turn and spit in his face as I enter the Great Hall.
"Cielie, there you are. Where were you? We heard you hexed Umbridge," Ginny says running up to me. Luna isn't far behind.
"Actually I transfigured her into a likeness to Voldemort. Your brother can tell you all about it. Now let's eat, I'm famished," I tell them as we sit down at the Gryffindor table. Luna joins us and we talk and eat and I feel, given my current situation, quite happy. I don't know how long it will last.
The next morning, I go to Umbridges classroom. I begin, without complaint, the task she has laid out for me. I am to repair copies of theory books for the 1st years. This isn't all that bad since I'm fairly good at the repairing spell, until Umbridge tells me I must do it by hand. When I leave for lunch my hands are rubbed raw.
When I return after lunch Umbridge has a new task laid out for me. Her tea sets must be cleaned, and once again I'm forced to do it by hand. Luckily she doesn't get the chance to give me any other tasks because after finally scrubbing the last pot it is dinner time. I don't think I'll ever drink tea again. Which is quite sad really because I grow tea at home.
Ginny and Luna are simply aghast when they see my hands. They are raw and blisters are forming. My hands aren't weak, I love to climb, but the combination of soap and rubbing for endless hours didn't help. "That evil hag, and it's her own fault really that she was hexed. She shouldn't have said those horrible things," Ginny protests.
"No, it's my fault. I knew I was going to get in trouble. It was worth it though," I say, watching Umbridge eat at the Head Table. "She doesn't deserve to sit up there with all those great people. She shouldn't be allowed to sit alongside Dumbledore, or McGonagall," I say bitterly. I will have more vengeance on her, just not yet. I have to time it right.
"She is quite a strange woman. Why anyone would let her teach even my father couldn't tell you, and he can tell you a lot of things," Luna tells us in a dreamy voice. Luna reminds me of my mother, always different from everyone else. She knew so much about the world. Her life ended so abruptly and the Ministry never even tried to find the culprit of her murder.
A voice in my ear startles me and I turn already knowing who it is. "What do you want from me?" I ask, genuinely bewildered. What would Draco Malfoy, a disgusting low life possibly want to do with me? Haven't I made myself clear enough that I won't hesitate to hex him given the proper chance.
"Have you heard about your father? He's gone and followed your mother," Malfoy informs me, with an almost apologetic look. Am I imagining things?
"What?" I know what he means before it comes out of his mouth though.
"Your father's dead, Diggory. D-E-A-D." I definitely imagined the apologetic look. How did Malfoy find out about before I did? Shouldn't I have gotten a letter first, before anyone else. "You're lying, I would have gotten a letter."
"Oh really, so sure about that are we?" Malfoy laughs, holding up a black envelope that's clearly already been opened. So my father really is dead, figures. I snatch for the letter and to my surprise Malfoy lets me take it without struggle. I take out the letter and read it. According to it my father committed suicide in the night. He always was a coward, so it shouldn't surprise me. But it still stings a little that he would leave his only living child, just like that.