A/N: here we go! One last chapter before the school year starts and things are going to get interesting.
Chapter 4: Voldemort!
All the students around her were bustling into a classroom. Looking around, Juniper saw that they were all Hufflepuff students, like her. Blinking, she stood there trying to recollect what had just happened. The Headless Huntsmen, her rescuer, and the voice. The voice puzzled her the most. Somehow it, more likely he, knew her muggle identity and, the weirder part, he said he had brought her here. But the most haunting part was the last thing it had said. "I will be looking for you." She hoped it wasn't who she thought it was. The other question was who was her rescuer. It took someone to walk into her to wake her up from her thought. "Watch it!" Juniper snapped as she regained her balance. A much older Harry Potter gave her a quick glare saying,
"Shut up." Before he stalked away. She saw the older versions of Hermione and Ron not far behind. Harry Potter nearly trampled me. She thought happily, worries suddenly vanishing. And I yelled at him. Harry didn't look like he was in the greatest of moods. Looking back down at her book she saw it was the ending of chapter twelve, when Harry meets Dolores Umbridge and gets a detention. No wonder he was so angry. Juniper thought sympathetically. I would be too.
"Hi! You ready for our first DADA class?" said a very chipper voice behind her. Juniper spun around and saw Ren.
"Ren!" was the first thing to come out of her mouth. "I-I... uh, didn't expect to see you."
"What are you talking about? I always see you before class." Ren said, giving a big smile. Juniper felt the wheels in her head suddenly creak to a halt.
"But the last time I saw you was in the Great Hall, five years ago." She said.
"Juniper, you and I both know we've been friends ever since that. We study together." Ren then fixed her with a scrutinizing look. "Has someone put a memory spell on you?" She asked.
"I think someone has." Was all Juniper managed to say, utterly confused.
"Don't worry," said Ren, patting her hand on the shoulder. "It'll wear off."
"Memory spells don't wear off." Corrected Juniper. Ren's froze for a split second, her face becoming blank.
"Oh yeah, that's right." She said abruptly. "So are you ready for our first DADA class of the year? We have a new teacher this year."
"But Hogwarts always gets a new DADA teacher." Said Juniper. "The job is cursed."
"Yeah, that's what I meant." Said Ren.
"But you made it sound like it was the first time."
"Well..." Ren paused. "This is the first year the Ministry has chosen the DADA teacher."
"Umbridge," Juniper said, more to herself.
"Yeah," said Ren. Juniper raised the Harry Potter book which was limply resting by her side, still open. She flipped to the beginning to the chapter where there was a picture of a mean looking lady staring back at her, wand raised. She followed Ren into the class room, and sat down. Juniper rested her backpack, which had somehow transferred itself to her shoulders, next to her desk. A stout women in a pink cardigan was seated at the front. Obviously, with the toad like stature, it was Professor Umbridge.
"Good Afternoon class." She said sweetly. The class mumbled a greeting. Umbridge made them say hello again as Juniper expected, except there where still those who mumbled. After doing this about five times, Umbridge said she'd let them practice later. Odd, in the book it only took a second try. Juniper reminded herself as she flipped through the pages. But then again, she had met Harry in the hall so this class was after his. That would explain the different outcome. She thought, biting a nail. Umbridge tapped the board and words saying Defense Against the Dark Arts. A Return to Basics. " Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" Umbridge said. The class didn't answer. She then went on to say that many past teachers had not followed ministry approved curriculums, and that they where all below O.W.L standards, and so on. Juniper wasn't paying much attention. She'd read that part in the book already. In fact she was staring at the same speech on the page.
"Hey, what book are you reading?" Whispered Ren, leaning over to see the page Juniper was reading.
"Nothing," hissed Juniper, shutting the book and covering the title with her hand.
"Oh come on, I want to see."
"No you don't. It's a very boring book."
"Eh-hem," came a small cough. Both Ren and Juniper looked up. Umbridge was standing over them. "Maybe it's best I take that book away, so you girls won't have distractions." She said, her voice like syrup.
"No!" Juniper almost shouted. Umbridge stood there unwavering. "I mean," Juniper stumbled. "No, it's fine, I'll just put it away." But as Juniper picked it up to put the book in her backpack, Umbridge snatched it out of her hands.
"It's better if I just take it." Umbridge said. "You can have it after class." She walked back to her desk and laid it beside her. Leaving Juniper with her clenched fists lying on the desk where her book was originally mouthing the words 'no' several times. Ren leaned over.
"Sorry about that." She whispered, giving Juniper, a of pure regret etched across her face. Juniper just gave her a peeved look out of the corner of her eye. Umbridge then tapped the board and a list replaced the original message. "Wands away and quills out." Umbridge said.
"I haven't got a quill." Juniper whispered.
"You can use mine. I got extras." Said Ren, handing her a second quill.
"You will copy down these course aims." Said Umbridge.
"I haven't got parchment either." Juniper murmured. Ren, with a slightly annoyed look gave her a section of parchment as well. It only took a couple minutes for the class to finish. Juniper didn't do a very good job, but she didn't care either, mostly she pretended to write. Her Harry Potter book was lying right next to Umbridge's elbow. All Lizz could do was pray Umbridge never actually looked at it. Mostly because it was the fifth book and she was the villain… sort of. More of a semi-villain.
"Very good, now everyone take out your copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard, and turn to page five, chapter 1, Basics for Beginners." Everyone, except Juniper pulled out their book.
"Why haven't you got your book out?" whispered Ren.
"I forgot it." Said Juniper. Realizing she didn't have any of the books required for any class at any time. "Can I look on yours." Ren rolled her eyes.
"I bet it's in your bag." She said.
" I'm serious. No, it's not."
"Look in the bag." Ren said between gritted teeth. Obviously loosing her patience. Juniper stuck her hand into her backpack beside her desk. She pulled out the first book that she touched.
"See, not in my..." Juniper stopped. Defensive Magical Theory was right there in her hand. "That's not possible."
"What did I tell you." Said Ren. Juniper opened the book to the correct page. Just then someone's hand shot up.
"Yes," Umbridge said.
"I just want to know, why do we have to start at the basics?" asked one of the students. Umbridge gave them a wide smile and in a voice the same sweetness as honey said,
"Because your past teachers didn't follow approved curriculums, so I have to start from the beginning and bring you up to standard."
"Then why aren't," started the another student.
"Hand," inquired Umbridge. The student raised his hand again.
"Yes," Umbridge nodded.
"Then why are we not practicing spells?"
"Because I imagine there will be no reason for you to use a defensive spell in my class." She said.
"Then how the heck are we supposed to hex people?" came a loud voice in the back.
"Hand!" Umbridge said. Everybody turned in their seats to see who had spoken. It was the dark haired boy, Byron. Byron raised his hand. "Yes mister..." Umbridge started.
"Byron," said Byron.
"Yes Mr. Byron." Said Umbridge, her smile becoming forced.
"Then how are we supposed to hex people?" Byron repeated.
"Well, Mr. Byron, when you understand the Theory of the, hex as you call it, then you will be able to perform it." She answered. The class resumed reading. Juniper looked down at the book. As she began to read, big black letters began to scratch themselves across the page. Making it impossible to read. They read,
Look up.
Juniper stared at them for a few moments, not knowing what to make of them. Then she slowly looked up. Umbridge was sitting at her desk but she was leafing through the pages of the Harry Potter book. A grim look of loathing was crossing her toad like face.
Juniper was about to say something when there was a sudden noise of a book being slammed shut. Everyone jumped, including Umbridge. She quickly shut the Harry Potter book, pushed it aside and looked up. Seeing who it was, she began to smile again. "What is it Mr. Byron." she said, her voice becoming so sweet it could make your teeth hurt. Everybody turned to face Byron again. Byron was sitting with his arms folded across his chest, giving Umbridge a level stare.
"Because," he paused, "I want to learn how to defend myself. Not read some crappy book about it." He said frankly. The class looked around at each other, some nodded in agreement. Umbridges' smile lessened. But she kept the sweet quality in her voice.
"I have told, once you understand the theory, then you will understand the spell."
"Don't give me that junk about theory," Byron said, rolling his eyes like he had been telling her this for the past hour. "You and I both know that if Voldemort appeared right in front us, we'd all get our butts kicked!" When Byron said Voldemort, everybody except Juniper and Umbridge gasped.
"Mr. Byron, I kindly ask you to please not say that name." Said Umbridge, her voice becoming coated with searing hot caramelized sugar.
"Oh, that's right, you guys are very touchy about that name calling him you-know-who or He-who-must-not-be-named and stuff." Byron said in a mocking sarcastic tone. "It's just stupid." Juniper didn't like were this was going.
"Mr. Byron," Umbridge started tartly.
"Maybe I should just call him Tom Riddle, so we stay on the same page without the theatrics." He said.
"Mr.Byron" But Byron had cupped his hands around his mouth and was shouting to the ceiling.
"Hey! Voldie! Is it okay if I call you Tom Riddle? You know, nothing personel." people in the class shifted uncomfortably. Juniper glanced at Ren. Her mouth hung open, stunned with fright.
"Well guys, your buddy Lord Voldemort and his gang of Death Eaters will be coming to smite me anytime now." The class gave another gasp and some people fell off their chairs. "On the other hand," continued Byron, propping his feet on his desk, lacing his fingers behind his head and leaning back, keeping his eyes level with Umbridge. "It would give us a chance to ask what his big problem is."
"Mr. Byron!" Umbridge shouted, loosing any trace of sweetness. Junipers' features darkened. Does he know that he's terrorizing everybody? Does he even know what Voldemort means to them? She thought angrily. Another part of her said, Why would he, he thinks of it as a joke. Resentment for Byron rose inside her.
"Did you guys all know that Lord Voldie has a pet snake named Nagini?" Byron continied.
"Mr.Byron!"
"He keeps it for intelligent conversation."
"Byron!" Umbridge was now making her way up to his desk. She had dropped the Mr now. Juniper was giving him a death glare. Byron glanced quickly at Umbridge, then at Lizz, then at Umbridges' desk. Looking around the class he said.
"It's not like Voldemort has anybody else to talk too." There were some yelps.
"Byron!"
Byron looked at one side of the class with a mischievous smile.
"Voldemort!" He shouted one more time. Members of the class screamed while the other side fainted. Byron's eyes met Junipers' burning hazel ones for a moment. His face became serious.
"Byron!" Umbridge shreiked in his face, as she slammed her wide palms on his desk with a smack. Byron flinched. "That is enough! You now have detention with me for the rest of the term and a visit to your head of house!" There was heated silence between the two. Then Byron thumped his feet back on the ground and stood up. Under Umbridges' glare he packed his books, along with an oddly black thin one. He took one more glance at Juniper, who was still glaring at him, and then at Umbridge's desk, and left.
The dead silence remained as Umbridge started to walk back to her desk. It was only broken when Umbridge said in voice shaking with rage. "Fifty points from Hufflepuff." Then people began to wake up their friends who had fainted. juniper had to shake Ren to get her out of her state of shock. "Does he do that often." Juniper quietly asked.
"Not like that. I've never seen him talk back like that." Ren said.
"You call that talking back? People nearly died of fright!" said Juniper.
"You didn't seem that scared." Ren replied quietly.
"And as for you," came Umbridges voice from above. Juniper and Ren looked up. Umbridge was standing directly over them again. "And as for you young lady," She pointed at Juniper. "Detention for a week. And another ten points from Hufflepuff"
"Wh-what!" Spluttered Juniper. "Why?"
"For writing in your book," she said gesturing the Look up, across the page, "And this." Umbridge held up the Harry Potter book. Junipers' mouth gaped at Umbridge as she turned away muttering whst sounded like "You'll be meeting your celebrity there too." Juniper looked back down at the writing, but they erased themselves and a new message was scratching itself in.
See you in detention.
Juniper felt weightless again, she looked up just in time to see Umbridge, the students and the room spin in a Kaleidoscope of colors, but this time with out her tapping a book.
A/N: And we have another cliffhanger ending with the world spinning! Just FYI, I know Voldemort doesn't keep Nagini for intelligent conversation. So you don't need to tell me that. Keep reading and REVIEW!