Trials and Tribulations
Chapter 6
A week had elapsed since the last incident in the library. Hermione and Cho once again put space between each other, not coming within close proximity of each other. It seemed as if Cho was feeling guilty of what had happened, because she avoided all eye contact, and even when Harry would say hi to her, she wouldn't even acknowledge Hermione's existence.
The only time they really endured each other's presence was when they had the same defense against the dark arts class, and even then they would not talk or even make eye contact.
It almost seemed better that they kept their distance, because with the O.W.L. exams coming up next week, Hermione needed all the study time she could get. Spending almost all her possible extra time in the library, she studied for hours on end, not eating or even thinking about Cho.
Professor Umbridge was getting more on everybody's nerves as the exams came closer. The class still had not performed any of the magic that they had been taught, and they were still only reading the text in the enormous books that they were issued.
"The exams are next week and you sadly bunch of students do not seem ready enough! Do you realize how bad the marks were for our last test? With the exception of a few miss-know-it-alls…" she glanced at Hermione and then swept her gaze over onto Cho "…I believe most people had gotten near-failing scores on those tests."
Harry snorted and whispered to Ron, "Yeah, well, I guess she didn't want to remember how well I scored on that test. How'd you make out?"
Ron's freckled face twisted, "Are you kidding? I did horrible! I was so confidant that I could have sworn that I aced that test, but noooo, I get a dreadful score. What rubbish, I swear."
They chortled quietly to themselves as Professor Umbridge stopped talking. She turned her head around slowly as if a crank and gears were rotating it.
"Who is making noise in my classroom? I will have none of that kind of nonsense around here!" She spotted Harry still trying to hold in laughter and she sneered at him.
"So, Potter," she spat out, "you find something in this class amusing? I'd like to hear what you'd like to say, so please, share with us your fascinating piece of information, not that anything you say is credible nowadays."
Draco and a few other Slytherins snickered as Harry glared back at Umbridge. They were all still believing the lies that the Ministry was pumping into the Daily Prophet. It was old news, but with Harry making outbursts earlier in the year about Voldemort returning, Umbridge had always carried some sort of a grudge against him.
He didn't stand up, but instead just kept staring at her. "Well, you forgot to mention my score. It wasn't perfect marks, but it didn't fail. It was a fairly decent, even passing grade, so why didn't you mention me? Well, that is, unless your word isn't credible either, and you just made that up. Maybe the whole class passed, and you're just mad because we're not failing."
Smirking triumphantly at Professor Umbridge's appalled face, his smug smile soon turned down as she grinded her teeth at him. Her features turned even more like a frog as her lips stretched widely into a malicious grin and her eyes slit downward into a menacing gaze.
"So… we have a funny guy, a real crack up, eh? You think you're real smart and witty, don't you, Potter. Well, you'll just get to take your exams soon, and see me for detention when you're all done…all week. That's right, you'll have a weeks detention from me boy."
She wagged her finger back and forth as his face slumped into his hands as if he didn't care anymore. He sighed hopelessly, "Bah, I should have seen this coming. Not that it matters anymore, I've been given so many, it doesn't even matter anymore."
"Um, Professor, doesn't that seem a bit harsh? Your punishment that is. I understand that the remark might have been rude, but you honestly don't think that it deserves a week's worth of detentions with you."
Everyone stared as Cho spoke cautiously, unsure if she was going to get punishment as well. Umbridge looked at her curiously. "Well well, if it isn't one of the miss-know-it-alls that I spoke of earlier. Craving attention as well like Potter here? Well just keep your own ridiculous gibberish to yourself, nobody wants to hear anything from a stuck-up girl who thinks the world revolves around her, now do they?"
Hermione scowled at this comment. She knew Cho, and that wasn't how she was. Perhaps she gave off that air at times, but that was not her true personality.
Cho shut her mouth silently, not wishing to talk back, and unable to come up with a witty retort.
Professor Umbridge turned back around as she smiled and began writing on the blackboard again. The class fell silent, but the quiet stiff atmosphere was disturbed by a sudden buzzing noise.
A scream ripped through the air as Professor Umbridge began swatting at her head. Furiously swiping at her hair, she did a sort of jig as she ran around in quick circles, attempting to get the 'bow' off her head.
The black velvet bow that usually adorned the top of her hair had been turned into a rather large and grotesque fly with five wings and a dripping nose. Seven hairy legs sprouted off in different directions and its multiple wings beating made the buzzing noise even louder.
"Get it off, get it off, GET IT OFF!" She kept attacking her own head as everybody erupted into hysterical laughter. Apparently, even though she could be cold as stone, Umbridge didn't like flies that much.
She grabbed her wand, aimed it at her head, and shut her eyes tight as she transfigured it back into the familiar black, velvet bow.
Still laughing, the class suddenly stared in horror as Professor Umbridge stomped her way around her desk and to the very front of the room. Her eyes practically blazing, she clenched the bow with her fists, the knuckles turning slowly white and pale.
"WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!" Utterly ashamed from the horrible incident, she wished to punish the person responsible. A week of extended time detentions seemed like enough for her.
After her loud, demanding question, she was met with a wave of silence as nobody wished to speak or fess up to the deed.
Darting her eyes back and forth like a hawk searching for prey, she searched the faces of every student, trying to find the guilty eyes.
Her gaze fell upon Hermione's.
Everybody seemed to notice whom Umbridge was staring at, and even Hermione started to sweat a little under the pressure. She gulped, as Umbridge was about to speak, until an almost inaudible, muffled chuckle rang throughout the room.
All pairs of eyes turned to Cho, who had stopped as soon as Professor Umbridge strode over to her desk quickly. She slammed her fist on her desk and pointed an accusing finger at her.
"You! You are the one who did this! But with no spoken incantation, you must think you're real advanced, real smart, don't you? Of course, you're a very smart girl. Oh, that might explain why you're taking this class over again, right?" she stared coldly at the girl.
Returning the stone cold gaze with an empty one, Cho replied, "I'm only taking this class again because I wanted to refresh my basics in defense against the dark arts. I'm taking my N.E.W.T. for this, but I haven't learned anything. Sadly, this was a waste of time! I should have just asked for private lessons elsewhere with a more capable teacher. Oh and, yes, I might have possibly transfigured something of yours into something else, but I my vision seems kind of blurry. What did you say happened?"
"YOU INSOLENT LITTLE GIRL!" shouted Professor Umbridge as she swung her fist around, but turned it quickly into a pointing finger, "You! I want a week's detention from you! And it won't be just the average amount either. You will stay for extra hours! STARTING TODAY!"
Cho stared at her with her clouded eyes still smiling as Professor Umbridge stomped back to her desk. Still fuming, she slammed a large book onto her special professor's desk and spat out, "Back to reading, NOW! There is no need for talking!"
Hermione looked at Cho in astonishment as everybody shoved their faces back into their books, afraid of what Umbridge might do next.
"YOU TOO GRANGER!"
She stared hard back into the book that she had already read over twice. It didn't make sense. Why did Cho…
A large bell rang out through the school grounds signaling the end of the class, and so the students put away their belongings and filed out of the classroom as quickly as possible. Hermione could have sworn that Umbridge was beat red with contained anger as she exited quietly.
She met up with Harry and Ron as the trio walked through the halls to their Gryffindor common room.
Ron laughed, "Can you believe that Cho really transfigured miss ugly's hair bow? That was bloody awesome! I nearly split my sides with laughter." Harry nodded in agreement and smiled, "It did seem unbelievable. I didn't even know she knew how to cast spells without actually saying the words. That's incredibly hard."
Hermione frowned, "When do you think her detention will end? I mean, it can't last for hours and hours after class is over, can it?"
Harry looked at her, "Well, that's how mine was, and if Umbridge said 'extra hours' that probably means, well, extra hours." She shook her head and muttered something to herself.
The day passed on and the sun sunk into the horizon. Night descended upon the Hogwarts as everyone gathered in the Great Hall for some food. Noisy platters and dishes clattered on the tables as people conversed and ate, and sometimes both at the same time resulting in the spouting of food particles. Like Ron for example.
"Hoi H'mione, wortf's wrong? Yuf scnem dsistr'actd." He said through a mouthful of bread as crumbs flew out his mouth.
She didn't answer his question, too preoccupied with the absence of Cho from the Ravenclaw tables. After seeing Harry's hand from all of the detentions he received, Hermione knew all about the unique punishment that Umbridge would force upon the students.
"Hermione, are you there?" a hand waved in front of her face, snapping her out of her thoughts. Ron had swallowed his food and was now talking properly without flying crumbs.
She looked at him and smiled briefly. "I guess I'm not that hungry right now. Too many things. I think I'm…going to go study for all of my upcoming exams now. I'll catch you guys later."
Both Harry and Ron stopped momentarily as Hermione stood up slowly but quickly darted out of the Great Hall. They exchanged worried glances, but carried on eating as desserts appeared before them. Ron stuck his spoon into a wobbly bowl of pudding as Harry rested his fork and reached for his spoon.
"I think something is wrong," he said flatly.
Ron continued eating his pudding, not looking at Harry directly, "Well, hwateever gave youf thatbl idea?" he mumbled as pudding went in, but also came out.
Harry stared at him, half disgusted and half jokingly, "Err… would please talk after you're done eating something? I don't like to see stuff go in and then get regurgitated. A tad bit creepy you know." Ron frowned and reached for a custard pie.
Meanwhile, Hermione had walked towards the library and took a seat anxiously at a vacant table inside of it. She drummed her fingers on the desk as she kept looking at the clock ticking away on the wall. Finally, she stood up and walked towards a large bookshelf with an assortment of different books on its racks.
She pulled out multiple books and balanced them carefully in her arms. Delicately, she started to slowly walk back towards her table, but let out a squeak as the books started to sway and shift.
The top book that held information and a brief history on potions slipped off, and soon a few other books followed it. With a loud thump, half the books tumbled down and hit the floor. Thankfully, Madam Pince wasn't around anywhere.
"Oh bother…" Setting the other half of books down on a nearby table, Hermione hunched over and began picking up the books.
"One of these days, all this studying will kill you, you know."
Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest out of surprise and relief. Cho helped pick up the books as the two girls walked over to the empty desk. They both took seats across from each other and fell silent.
Hermione coughed and picked out a book and flipped to a random page as a distraction from the silence. "So…um…how are you doing?"
It was a very lame question; she knew it, and so did Cho. It did make for friendly conversation however, since they hadn't talked in nearly a week since the last time they met up, which ironically was in the very same library.
Cho frowned slightly, "Well, that detention with Professor Umbridge was perhaps one of the most debilitating thing I have ever gone through." She looked up at Hermione and realized that the girl had already gotten out of her chair and had already walked around to examine her hands.
"Strange…your hands aren't marked up. I thought Professor Umbridge punished students by using that horrible quill, but your hands are still smooth and unharmed." She felt both of Cho's hands and pulled away quickly, blushing while she did so. "Err… sorry about that."
Taking in a deep breath, Cho stood up and looked at her. "Well, my hands aren't hurting, but my arm is. I can't really see what's wrong with it though, it just… burns. It's tingly and stuff, almost a prickly feeling. It's pretty inflamed as well. All I see is that my skin looks reddish for some reason."
Hermione reached for Cho's sleeves on her robes and rolled them back up to her shoulders and her eyes widened. All along her right arm, the words 'I will not disobey or humiliate teachers ever again' were inscribed all up her skin. It wasn't completely bleeding, but blood was still slowly surfacing through the cuts. The sentence was probably too long to fit on her hand, so Professor Umbridge must have found a unique fix to the problem.
She let the robes fall back down her arm. "The quill you used to write that sentence on paper, it somehow also writes onto your arm. It usually is just written on the hand, but I guess Professor Umbridge was really, really mad, and…" she paused, "…why did you do it? You… you knew it was really me who transfigured her bow, right?"
Cho looked at her and her face broke into a smile, "Of course, who else could perform a transfiguration spell and not have to speak it? You're the smartest person I know, and I think you're probably the only one in that class who could do it. Like I said, you should have been Ravenclaw."
They both laughed and walked out of the library with the books deserted and still left on the table.
Strolling through the hallways, they enjoyed the other's company and walked on in silence. After a week of staying away from each other, it felt good for both of them to finally be talking again.
"So… how is your vision coming along…?" Hermione asked softly. Cho grinned, "Well, my hearing and sense of smell is starting to get a bit better I think. However, the surroundings are starting to get darker and darker. Sooner or later, it'll all be gone."
She came to a stop and turned her head slightly and looked at Hermione.
"Um…is something wrong Cho?" The blue-black eyes continued to stare at her for a few moments before they tore away and she began walking again. She smiled and shook her head, "No, nothing's wrong, don't worry."
They continued on like that, chatting for a few minutes and then silence, talking a bit, and then more silence. Hermione would steal a few glances at Cho when she wasn't looking at her.
The way her hair slid off her shoulder and glided behind her serenely made it look like black silk strings trailing behind her. The way she smiled at a funny memory or a joke made her insides melt with the warmth that radiated from it. As they passed tall windows, the moonlight shone down on her whole figure, making her look elegant.
"She's really cute…"
They both stopped suddenly. Hermione's chest constricted as if a basilisk were wrapped around her and squeezing away her life. The only string of thought that was processing through her head was stupidstupidstupidstupidstupidstupidstupid. Even Cho seemed to be a bit tense as she looked at her uncertainly, an eyebrow arched.
"What did you say?"
"Err…he's a newt?" replied Hermione lamely. Cho looked at her and then broke out into a genuine laugh.
"Nice try but…I guess I'll buy it for today. It's getting late, I think I'm going to start heading back to my dormitory. I'll talk to you later."
They faced each other awkwardly, as if expecting something to happen. Cho took a step forward and placed a quick peck on her cheek before running off in the direction of Ravenclaw Tower.