Yo! So, the power went out right when I was about to update this. Weird, right? Luckily, it wasn't gone long this time, because when the power goes out in my building, the water does too. Yeah, that sucks. We once had the water gone for twelve hours after a mere power surge. Like, the fuck? Thank you to all readers so far!
"...Am I hallucinating?"
"No, Harry, not this time."
"Ugh, that's what I thought."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Sooo...is anyone else happy that the coward and bitch are dead?" Harry questioned eventually. "I mean, at least we won't have to worry about ever being tortured by her again. I can't be the only one who hated those stupid, fucking 'detentions'."
It was a surprise to everyone when Snape of all people surged to his feet, turning not on Harry, but Dumbledore. "You assured me the students were exaggerating," he snarled. "You assured me they were lying."
McGonagall wasn't far behind. "You said they were only writing lines!"
Harry, who was still seated at Gryffindor Table with his brows raised in surprise, scoffed. "We were writing lines," he confirmed, causing everyone to look over at him. "But I'm preeeetty sure being forced to write lines with a quill that not only uses your own blood as ink, but carves what you're writing into your own bloody skin isn't considered normal." He shook his head in exasperation. "Honestly, it's a damn good thing my uncle and Umbridge never met. I think they'd have been best friends otherwise."
When silence fell once again, Hermione just dropped her head down onto the table, narrowly missing her golden plate of mashed potatoes.
"You have to stop dropping these bombs, Harry," she muttered tiredly.
Now Sirius was on his feet too, growling and looking absolutely livid. "A Blood Quill!? A fucking Blood Quill!? Are you kidd-argh!" With an infuriated roar, he leapt off the raised platform and rushed over to where his godson was sitting. "Show me," he demanded, grey eyes furious.
A little surprised because he had never seen the man so tense and angry before, Harry just silently raised his left hand. Sirius took it, and his jaw clenched so tightly, the teen was surprised he couldn't hear his godfather's teeth cracking under the force.
McGonagall and Snape approached now too. The woman grabbed Harry's hand to examine the scar herself, before Snape did the same.
The Deputy Headmistress looked around the Hall. "How many of you served detentions with Umbridge last year?" she questioned loudly.
Seventy percent of Gryffindor Table raised their hands, followed by fifty percent of Ravenclaw Table, thirty percent of Hufflepuff Table, and, surprisingly, ten percent of Slytherin Table.
McGonagall seemed a little surprised, as if not having expected so many raised hands. This was at least half a the students in the school! "How many of you are now physically scarred from these...'detentions'?" she asked after a pause.
After a few hasty, hesitant looks exchanged with their neighbours, about fifteen percent of those who had raised their hands the first time, did so again.
"What were you told to write?"
"I must not tell lies," Harry supplied, quickly followed by others calling out their own versions.
"I must obey authority."
"I must not dislike cats."
"I will follow the rules."
"Dogs are evil."
"Dumbledore is a liar."
"I will not disobey the Ministry."
"Fudge is sexy."
"I will not sleep in class."
"V-man is my imaginary friend."
"Trevor is Sata-"
"Enough!" McGonagall interrupted, rubbing her temples in irritation. What in the world had Umbridge been punishing these children for!? Catching a movement out of the corner of her eye, she whipped around towards the massive doors. "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore! Don't you dare run away again!"
The Headmaster froze in the doorway and turned around somewhat awkwardly, before smiling genially. "I really must go, Minerva," he said calmly. "As head of the Wizengamot, it is necessary for me to congratulate our new Minister."
McGonagall's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Very well," she replied, anger clearly audible in her tone, "do be sure to inform him that half of the students in the school were forced to torture themselves on a regular basis. I'm quite sure his master will not be pleased to hear that!"
Dumbledore gaped in shock. Everyone else did too. Even the owls that had stayed behind were silent, everybody staring back and forth between McGonagall and Dumbledore.
Harry just frowned. "You can let go of my hand now, Snape. This is getting kind of creepy, even for Halloween, and I never thought I'd say that."
I'm not feeling big on this chapter, but meh. I think I know how I want the next two or so to go, so hopefully I'll be able to get those down. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!
