So, yeah. Just yeah. At 18, good. I promised not to make every chapter turn into an instructional manual, even if it did serve a purpose in the last chapter. I'm just going to start writing…
For anyone curious, I'm using two different maps and wiki to place these classrooms. So sorry if things sound wrong, I'm just going with what works.
Notes: (X) is pov change and or time jump
Warnings: It's shounen-ai, yaoi, slash, gay, whatever. Tom's after Harry. Harry's after Tom. And Sirius and Remus are probably the only ones with a somewhat normal relationship. (Yes, I rewrite these notes/warnings for each chapter.)
Chapter, 18: Mind Games
"Does anyone know if we have to serve any of those detentions Umbridge mentioned," Harry asked as they started up the steps. He'd already racked up more detentions in the last two days than he had in his first month last year, and none of them were from Snape. He seriously needed to find the dimensional door he'd accidentally stepped through causing him to live in this alternate universe. My universe doesn't include a really hot Slytherin I can stare at though. Or Draco's friendship. It seemed he would need more time to think over his choices before trying to escape back to his reality.
"Snape said he'd take care of it," Draco said.
"For you probably," Ron snorted. "Can't imagine he'd get Harry out of one. Probably told her to add a few extras just in case."
"Probably," Harry agreed. "I forgot to thank you for getting Snape," Harry said.
"I don't like that woman. Besides, he'd kill me if I didn't at least try to help you."
"I thought I had it bad," Ron said. "I'm starting to think I'm lucky just getting thrown into a wall and threatened at random hours of the night."
"You are," Draco said, his voice taking on an edge.
"That new student," Harry said, hoping to direct the conversation away from dangerous territory. Ron and Draco both gave him curious looks. Okay, he wasn't fooling anyone. Even if Aderes was a Hermione fan, it didn't hurt to ask about him. He was merely doing his job as her best friend to make sure she wasn't making a mistake. "He won't hurt Hermione, right?"
"Depends on what you mean," Draco said. "But I wouldn't think so, he likes Hermione."
Ron groaned at that, and Draco's smirk returned.
They entered the Entrance Corridor and made a direct line for the Great Hall. Harry could smell the food before they even got into the doorway, his mouth watering. The three of them stopped, each one glancing from one side of the room where the Gryffindor table was to the other side of the room where the Slytherin table was.
"Should we sit in between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw and call it even," Draco asked.
Harry raised an eyebrow at that while Ron started laughing. It was nice to know that Draco's humor extended beyond insults. There was no rule that anyone had to sit at their sorted house's table. The issue was the Slytherin were gits, and they'd endure an entire lunch of insults and jabs if they sat there. The Gryffindors would glare at them, possibly call out a few insults, and then pretend they no longer existed unless they brought attention to themselves.
"What are the three of you doing," Hermione asked. The three of them had spent so long mentally debating that Hermione and Aderes had caught up with them. "Why are you just standing here?"
"We weren't sure which table to sit at," Harry admitted.
"For the love of Merlin," Hermione sighed. "No one cares." She walked towards the Gryffindor table and sat down where Harry had enjoyed his feast alone the night before. Aderes looked at them shrugging and sat down next to her.
He fell for her fast, Harry thought. Not that he could talk. Not only had he handed over all his free will to a crazy shadow, he'd decided he wanted Aderes as a boyfriend based on looks. Am I that shallow? No, he decided. That was only a part of it. He'd fallen for a fake object because he was desperate for something to care about him and it'd started off being nice to him. It'd been the same with Draco. He hadn't realized the Slytherin was decent looking until he'd started being nice. Sadly, Aderes had been, was, a shallow crush brought on by looks. Could he even consider just wanting to snog someone a crush? He'd never had to think about these kinds of things.
The three of them joined the other two, making sure to keep a slight distance between them. There was no point in them invading Aderes's and Hermione's personal space, and Harry didn't want to listen about some theory involving numbers and stars. It seemed Aderes was not only good looking; he was also a brilliant student. As long as he kept that scary look locked up, he was a good match for Hermione.
Draco nudged him, and he turned away from Hermione and Aderes. "Yeah?"
"Just let them be."
"I am," Harry said. He grabbed a sandwich and started chewing on it. "You're in Arithmancy?"
"I can't stand the sound of Trelawney's voice," Draco said.
"You learn to tune her out," Ron said as if learning how to tune out a teacher was something to be proud of. Draco rolled his eyes at him while grabbing a handful of carrots.
"You eat healthy, don't you?" He had no idea why that surprised him, but it did.
"That a problem," Draco asked.
"It's weird," Ron said. "Why would you eat vegetables if no one is making you?"
Draco stared at Ron a moment. "Because I like the taste of vegetables," Draco said. "Not everyone is obsessed with junk food."
Ron looked at his plate, his face flushing. He'd piled a tower of crisps onto it next to a piece of fried fish, and three sausages.
"I would get sick trying to eat that," Draco said, using the baby carrot in his hand to motion to the food in Ron's plate.
"Well, that's because you've got a weak stomach! Your mum should have prepared you better."
Draco arched his eyebrow. "My mum doesn't cook. Our house-elf does." Ron opened his mouth, seemed to think better of it and closed it. "I can eat anything, but all that grease would make me tired."
"Yeah, I guess eating a lot of that kind of food does make you tired." Harry hadn't really thought about his food choices based on how his body reacted to them. The only time he avoided certain foods was if they made him sick. Or if a pudding was too sweet. "I don't like really sweet things. I like puddings, but if it makes my teeth crawl, it's not worth it."
"Okay, both of you stop," Ron groaned, raising both hands up at them, his arms resting on the table. "Either fight or drop the small talk!" When neither of them said anything, Ron glared at them. "Did you both forget all three of us love Quidditch?"
"That doesn't mean we have to talk about Quidditch," Harry said. Not that he minded. Quidditch was one of the few escapes he got from his messed-up life. They would have plenty of time to talk about it when the Quidditch season started. For now, Harry just wanted to get to know Draco.
"We like the same teams," Ron said. "It's common ground!"
"Because talking about food isn't," Draco asked.
"It's boring," Ron said, his voice rising.
"For him," Draco whispered, then louder. "Fine Weasley. Let's talk about that cauldron full of mud you claimed was The Draught of Peace."
"At least mine didn't go up in flames," he countered.
"Crabbe and Goyle can't read and it's not my job to teach them." He grabbed a ham and cheese sandwich.
Harry snuck a look towards Aderes and Hermione. They were both laughing about something. Would this be the new normal for them? Ron, Draco, and him talking while Hermione and Aderes remained in their own little group? There wasn't much sense in worrying about it. Hermione always did whatever she wanted, and he had a feeling Aderes took that sentiment even further.
He chewed on his sandwich, unable to focus on anyone's conversation. 'I have Divination next,' he said, taking another bite of his food. 'So, I shouldn't need any help.' If he predicted his own death and a few others' deaths along the way, he'd pass with flying colors.
He finished his sandwich, not quite hearing the conversation Draco and Ron were having. The words 'stupid' and 'vines' were repeated often enough, but the rest escaped him. He started on a second sandwich, waiting for the shadow to reply.
After he'd finished eating his third sandwich, and the shadow had yet to answer him, he grabbed his bag, the other two teens looking at him. "What? It's a long walk to the Divination tower." That and he felt ignored. He didn't care so much that Ron and Draco had hit it off or that Hermione was spending her time with Aderes. The shadow's lack of response bothered him. They weren't bickering, at least he didn't think so and the bond wasn't completely shut, so he knew the shadow could hear him.
Great. So, despite the two real people in front of him, Harry wanted the necklace with the magical incarnate shadow because why not? The object had fooled Harry, and he'd allowed it, wanted it even. There was a certain amount of freedom falling for a magical object. As long as the bond wasn't completely open, he could stare and daydream about whoever he wanted. He didn't really have to share it with anyone. It protected him and helped him with his studies. The only problem was, even if he told the thing how he felt, it wouldn't understand. It would never be able to truly return his feelings. He wasn't even sure it was capable of pretending to have any kind of feelings of love for someone. It had anger down, that was for sure, so maybe.
But how could he think of being with anyone else after History of Magic? After all those times, he'd drifted off in the shadow's embrace. He lifted his hand to his neck, making sure the necklace was still there. It was, but that just made him more uneasy. He should have answered by now.
"Doesn't mean we should cut our lunch short for it," Ron said. "Why is the Arithmancy class so close?"
"Because Professor Vector doesn't need to hide her face," Draco smirked.
"Can't argue with that," Ron sighed. "Let's get this over with." He grabbed his own bag and turned to Hermione and Aderes. "We'll see you later!" The two turned, giving Ron a funny look before returning to their conversation. "Merlin, you think it's going to be like this all year?"
"Probably," Harry said.
"I get the feeling they won't be letting me join in their conversation. I'll walk with you until we reach the staircase," Draco said. He slipped his bag's strap over his shoulder.
The three left the Great Hall together.
"She's not going to help us anymore," Ron said the second they were out of the Great Hall.
"Aw, will poor Weasley have to fend for himself," Draco asked tauntingly.
"Belt it Malfoy. This is the worst possible time for her to stop sharing her notes!"
"We have been taking advantage of her," Harry said quietly.
Ron's mouth fell open. "The only reason you don't care is because that stupid thing is helping you," Ron spat. "What would you do if he wasn't?"
"Fail," Harry said, shrugging. "Well, I have no problems with Defense." They passed the staff office and started towards the staircase on the left. If it hadn't been raining, they could have gone through the courtyard, but Harry didn't want to risk getting a cold and Ron didn't protest when they walked past the door leading outside.
"At least you're honest, Potter," Draco laughed.
"How do you stay on top of your studies," Harry asked. He kept forgetting that Draco archived high marks in his classes.
"I was born brilliant."
Harry rolled his eyes at that. "Humor me, for those of us who weren't born with the talents of the gods."
"Read every book on your book list until you can see it in your dreams," Draco said. "And practice every spell, potion, wand movement, all of it, until it's in your muscle memory."
"That'll take way too long," Ron whined.
"You don't get anywhere without effort, Weasley."
"Says the guy who's had everything handed to him since birth," Ron growled.
"Not everything," Draco said. They stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "You have no idea what I've gone through to get where I'm at and what I have to do to get to where I'm going." He looked older than his fifteen years and tired.
"You aren't alone now," Harry said. The shadow had made sure Draco and him would become friends and Harry wouldn't abandon him. Whatever the shadow had planned, whatever they needed to do to kill Voldemort, they would. "You can fill us in in Defense class."
Draco shrugged and went up the stairs. The two Gryffindors watched him until he was out of sight before heading back into the hall to start back on their lengthy journey to the Divination tower.
"You think it's bad," Ron asked.
"Yeah."
"He got serious all of a sudden." They crossed the enclosed bridge leading to the North towers and entered the other side of the school. "He's changed."
"He has," Harry agreed. "I guess all of us have. I ran into him during your mum's funeral. He looked exhausted."
Ron frowned at that. "Why was he at my mum's funeral?"
"His cousin died," Harry said.
"Oh."
Harry winced when he entered the Divination room. There were so many incenses lit the air itself looked visible and shimmered. The scents overlapped each other, some sweet, others musty. He was glad to see he wasn't the only one having problems. Ron was staggering to the nearest chair. Harry followed.
"Ah, welcome back," Professor Trelawney said. She set two Dream Oracle books onto their table before moving to the next one.
Why hasn't he said anything? 'Are we fighting?' Scowling he pulled the necklace out from beneath his shirt. The pendant was warm like it originally had been, all the bumps and cracks gone. When he examined the dark pool though he could tell it was empty.
"What's up," Ron asked quietly.
"He's ignoring me," Harry said. He slipped the necklace back into his shirt. "I haven't heard from him since Potions."
"Is that normal?"
"I don't know, I guess." The shadow had left plenty of times during his stay at number twelve. Sometimes disappearing for the entire day. When he did that, he usually let Harry know though. "He might need to rest." He'd forgotten about that.
Other students began filing into the classroom. Professor Trelawney greeted everyone as they entered. When they were all seated, she smiled. "We will begin today with reading the introduction to The Dream Oracle. Once you've read it, I'd like you to pair up and decipher your partner's dream. You may begin."
He closed his eyes and opened the book, wishing he'd ditched the class. He could always lie to Ron about what he'd been dreaming about lately. He hadn't even told Sirius about his weird dreams. The only one who knew was the shadow, and that was due to the bond.
"Okay, who's going first," Ron asked. The introduction had only been five pages long. He flipped to the dream index at the back of the book.
"You can," Harry said. He opened the book to the dream index section and pulled out his quill. "Anything fun?"
"If you can call being chased by a spider fun," Ron said.
"No." Though he had a feeling it was much worse for Ron than it would have been him. Ron was scared of spiders. Harry only had issues with the ones bigger than he was. He wrote down the words 'Spider chasing him.' "Did it catch you?"
"No, I eventually ran into McGonagall and hid behind her. She hit it with a broom."
Harry shook his head. It must be nice to have normal dreams. "Okay, so it says… you're being immature and need to stop. And that you're probably going to get hurt by some life situation."
"Pretty sure I already dealt with that."
Harry shrugged and wrote the interpretation on his paper.
"My turn. What did you dream about?"
"Well…"
He was running down that horrible dimly lit hall, tugging at a door he knew wouldn't open. A figure walking towards him. Walking towards him and trying to grab at him. He struggled more, the door not budging, the figure getting closer. The figure was going to hurt him, kill him if it got the chance, he could feel it. And yet a small part of him said he was wrong. That the figure wanted something else.
He blinked, the classroom coming back into focus, sweat forming on the back of his neck. There was no way he could tell Ron about that.
"You look really pale…"
"I dreamt that someone stabbed me," he said.
Ron gave him a strange look but said nothing. "Says you're going to be betrayed."
"Great, because I can afford another one of those," Harry muttered.
By the time class was over, Harry wondered if he could find a way to get Dumbledore to let him drop Divination. It was easy to lie about his dreams, Ron and he did it all the time. Everyone in the class, but a select few probably did. It was the flashbacks to his recurring dream that made him want to never come back.
Just one more class, he reminded himself. All he had to do was make it through double Defense and he could go back to the dorm so he could reread his History of Magic notes. With any luck, they would make him forget about the dreams. Crap, I have detention with Professor McGonagall. Perhaps her choice of punishment would drive the dream from his mind then. At the least, he might forget that the shadow was ignoring him for some unknown reason.
They just made it into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom when the last warning bell sounded.
"Someone really needs to think about the location of our classes when they do the scheduling," Ron gasped. They'd run up the last set of stairs and down the hall, neither of them wanting to add another detention to their week.
Harry spotted Hermione first and frowned. Aderes was next to her and Draco next to him. The three had not been kind enough to save them a seat. Ron gave him a questioningly look until he saw what Harry was staring at. Shrugging, he motioned to a pair of seats next to Neville in the back of the room.
"You think it's because we want to borrow her notes," Ron asked. He sat down in the far seat, leaving Harry sitting directly next to Neville.
"Hey," Neville said.
"Hey Neville," Harry answered before turning to Ron. "No, I think she's amazed with Aderes and Draco is friends with Aderes, so everyone is just going to surround Aderes, but us," he said glaring at the back of Aderes's head. He was hardly one to talk. He was among the people who wanted to be around Aderes, he just refused to do so. He didn't need some overly smart pretty boy. He had his shadow if it wasn't out looking for someone else to hold the necklace. He couldn't blame it if it were either because he wanted to ditch himself too. He was a walking billboard of targets, trouble, and nightmares and came included with a neon arrow pointed at him with the words 'give me detention' above his head.
"Well, aren't you and Draco friends," Ron asked.
"I think so." Harry thought of Draco as his friend whether the feeling was mutual, he didn't know. "There's a chance he's—" He stopped, the door to the classroom slamming shut. The talking in the room went silent as a giant blob of pink walked towards the front of the class, a sickly sweet perfume following her. It instantly reminded Harry of all the flowers at Mrs. Weasley's funeral and the woman he'd been sitting next to.
"Well, good afternoon!" she said in a loud sweet voice, her hands clasped in front of her chest, and one of the biggest fake smiles a person could wear plastered onto her face. She scanned the room, no doubt waiting for someone to say something in reply to her words. No one took the bait. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as the silence dragged on. She gave a strange short high-pitched laugh. "Now that simply won't do class. No, I believe the correct response is 'Good Afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' We shall try it again. Good afternoon, class!"
The class answered in uninterested, partial replies of 'good afternoon.'
"Yeah it was," Ron said under his breath. Harry snickered.
"See! That wasn't too difficult, now was it," she asked sweetly. Again, no one answered. "Wands away and quills out, please."
"Think we could push the curse to work a little faster," Ron asked.
"Maybe," Harry grinned. "Hermione might know the source." If she didn't, the shadow might, and if he didn't, he might be able to get it out of Dumbledore.
Neville was looking at them with mild horror.
Umbridge turned her back to the class, which Harry thought was very brave of her, and started writing the goals for the year onto the board.
'Is it bad I kind of want the Death Eater who was impersonating our Defense teacher last year back? He was at least interesting.'
Someone in the class laughed. Some of the students started looking around, no doubt trying to find out who had laughed. Umbridge too turned and stared at them. She let out another one of those choked, high-pitched laughs. "And what is it that one of you find so funny?"
'Keep your thoughts to yourself right now!'
Harry blinked. 'Sorry, I didn't know that I wasn't.' He frowned, looking around the room. 'Are you trying to attack Umbridge again?'
'I'm merely gathering information.'
'Is that why you haven't responded since Potions? You've been watching her?'
'She hardly deserves a fraction of my attention let alone a full lunch and class period,' he chuckled.
'So, why haven't you been answering me?'
Umbridge turned back to the board and went back to writing the goals.
A minute ticked by, Harry still waiting for a reply. 'Hey!'
'What!?'
'Do you share a mental bond with anyone else?'
'…. No. Just you.'
'Good.'
"Now then! If you would all just take out your copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard." She held a copy of the book up like she was worried some of the students might not know what book she was talking about.
Students began muttering and going through their bags. Harry heard more than a few books getting dropped onto the desktops loudly.
'I'd rather be back in Divination getting my death predicted another ten times,' he mentally groaned.
'You aren't going to use me to distract yourself from class.'
'I've yet to fail a class for not knowing its goals. Besides, can you even call this a class? What exactly is she teaching us? How to write? I learned that years ago.'
Harry heard a soft snicker and grinned.
"Now that everyone is prepared, please turn to page five in your book and read chapter one, 'Basics for Beginners.' There will be no talking."
'She realizes we're Gryffindor right,' Harry asked. 'I don't think any of us have ever been quiet except when we fall asleep in History of Magic.'
'Stop! She's going to notice me!'
Harry raised an eyebrow at that. How could he make Umbridge see the shadow when even he couldn't right now? Even if he was visible, she was sitting at her desk with a smug look on her face, clearly in her own world believing a room full of Gryffindor and Slytherin were going to remain silent for its entirety. Reality was going to be hard on her when she realized teaching was never that easy.
'Just humor me for the next minute.'
'I was humoring you.'
'What has gotten into you?' He was mentally laughing.
'I'm bored… and I like your laugh.' He couldn't believe he'd just admitted that. Well, maybe provoking the shadow would result in him lashing out in some weird way and it could accidentally hit Umbridge.
He sighed when the shadow offered no response and flipped open the book. You knew it couldn't return your feelings. It had probably broken trying to figure out what Harry was talking about and how to respond. He wanted to pull the pendant out, but near Umbridge was the last place to risk it.
He read the first sentence in the chapter, his eyes glazing over. This was worse than History of Magic. He reread the first sentence five more times before giving up. The harder he tried to make the words sink in, the less he understood what the sentence was trying to explain. His attention span drifted along with his eyes, first to Ron who seemed to have slipped into a coma, then Neville, who looked like he was about to get into a fistfight with the book. The other students' faces he could see wore similar expressions. Crabbe and Goyle to his delight both had turned an beautiful shade of purple, as if the book was sucking out their souls.
Movement in the corner of his eye made him turn. Hermione had her arm up, patiently waiting for Umbridge to acknowledge her.
If Umbridge thinks Hermione is going to give up she's stupider than I thought. He nudged Ron and motioned to Hermione with his head.
"What? She's always asking questions."
"Still more interesting than the book."
"No kidding."
Umbridge seemed intent on ignoring Hermione, but Harry's whispers to Ron had caused others to notice. Soon there was a murmur of conversation. Harry swore he heard someone say they were taking bets on who would crack first.
"I believe I instructed all of you that there would be no talking," she said.
"But a student has a question, surely as our teacher, it is your job to answer our questions." Harry thought the voice might have been Aderes's.
"There will be no speaking unless your hand is raised, and you are called on," she said. "What is your question, dear?"
"I'm rather confused," Hermione said.
Ron's mouth dropped open, and he leaned forward.
"About which part," Umbridge asked.
"There's nothing in the goal list about actually casting defense spells."
Harry looked at the board at the same time as everyone else. There was a rush of whispers.
"I said silence," Umbridge said, her voice rising slightly. "If you've any questions about the class as a whole, save them for after class."
"But surely—"
"Dear, what is your name," Umbridge asked.
"Hermione Granger," she said.
"Miss Granger. There isn't a single reason for any students to use defensive spells in the classroom. Why you'll never need those."
"Wait, were not going to be using magic at all," Ron shouted.
The students were all talking now.
"Students raise their hands," Umbridge said, a hint of anger creeping into her voice.
Ron's hand went up as did a number of other students in the room, including Hermione's again.
Hermione can't be the only one who caught this.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells. We have O.W.L.S. this year! How do you expect us to pass them without practice?"
"The Ministry has—"
"The Ministry has no authorization over the curriculum taught at Hogwarts." This time Harry was positive it was Aderes speaking.
Umbridge's eyes bulged, and she stormed towards the new student. "What is your name," she demanded.
"Aderes Keaira. Yes, that Keaira," he said when Umbridge stopped in her tracks.
"Oh," Ron said. "No wonder that guy is so smart."
"Who is he," Harry asked.
"He's William Keaira's son. His father is the head of the Unspeakables at the Ministry. Unspeakables don't answer to Fudge."
"Oh, wow." Harry hadn't known there was a department in the Ministry that didn't have to listen to Minister of Magic. "So, what are Unspeakables?"
"They're these super-secret people who work in the Department of mysteries."
Well, that explained everything Ron. Thanks.
"Have all Hogwarts' parents been notified of this change? Was it agreed upon?"
"Okay, I kind of like this guy," Ron said, grinning.
"T, theory should be more than enough," Umbridge shouted.
"Are you telling me the Ministry, who I remind you is not supposed to interfere with any schooling and turn education into a political matter. They decided to implement a new form of teaching without testing it out first, and to introduce it to all years at the same time? Shouldn't this have been tested? At the least, implemented only in the first year and then continued forward rather than risk students failing their O.W.L.S. and N.E.W.T.S? Or did it simply not occur to Fudge the implications of forcing all Hogwarts students to be lab rats for a year? I cannot wait to write my father."
"Nonsense! The Ministry of Magic simply wants what is perfect for the students at this school!"
"Have you even reached qualified teaching status," Aderes asked, sounding bored.
"Are you accusing me of being a fraud," Umbridge shrieked.
"Theory won't do us any good in the real world," Harry said loudly enough for Umbridge to hear. He wasn't going to let Aderes have all the fun.
"This is a school," Umbridge raged.
"That is supposed to prepare students!"
"There is nothing to prepare for!"
'Calm down!'
Harry barely heard the words. How could the Ministry think to do this, now of all times? Even if Voldemort hadn't risen, just last year there'd been a Death Eater in their school. Before that they'd had Dementors running through the school. A giant forest surrounded the school, filled with killer spiders and other things Harry didn't want to know about!
"Mr. Potter, sit down!"
'Harry.'
"No!" Cedric's dead body flashed in front of his eyes. "You're going to get us all killed!"
"No one is out to kill children!"
"Lord Voldemort doesn't care how old you are! I couldn't even talk yet and he entered my house and tried to kill me! Cedric was our age now and Voldemort killed him!"
"Ten points from Gryffindor! The Dark Wizard is dead!"
"He's alive and everyone knows it! The Ministry is just too much of a coward to admit it!"
"Harry," Ron said.
'Harry! Focus!'
"That is a lie—"
"It is NOT a lie! I saw him regain his powers! I fought him!" How could this woman so blatantly lie about everything going on around them? How could she take from them, the one class that could keep them alive? Was Fudge actually one of Voldemort's followers? A new rush of rage filled him at the thought of that.
"Detention Mr. Potter," Umbridge shouted as she moved back to her desk, her eyes mere pinpoints as she glared at Harry. "That is a complete lie and if anyone comes around telling you that some kind of dark wizard is back in power, come to me and I will tell you otherwise. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any kind of dark wizard!"
"So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord, did he," he asked, his eyes flaring. He clenched both of his fist. He wanted this woman, no he wanted the Ministry, dead.
'Harry, what are you—'
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident," she replied just as venomously.
"Voldemort killed him, and you know it," he hissed in Parseltongue.
Professor Umbridge went silent, her face paling. The other students began grabbing their things and shuffling out of the room.
"Mr. Potter, come here," she said in a deathly calm voice. Harry gladly kicked the chair he'd been sitting in aside and walked towards her. Ron jumped and moved out of Harry's way.
'If you hurt her, you'll be in Azkaban!' He grabbed Harry's arm.
'Let go!'
A book went flying across the room and slammed into the blackboard. Harry blinked, some of his rage fading. Umbridge screamed and dived to the floor, the book falling harmlessly to the floor.
"You think you can attack teachers, Mr. Potter," she demanded from the safety beneath her desk.
Hermione grabbed Harry's other hand, Draco his shoulder. Ron started towards them.
"What in the world… do you under-taught students believe you can actually take me on?" There was an insane look in her eye. "I will not stand for this! You are students under my teaching and the Ministry of Magic-"
"Do you really think we care about the Ministry anymore," Harry asked, still speaking in Parseltongue.
Umbridge grabbed her wand and pointed it at Harry.
"Harry snap out of it," Hermione tried.
'As much as I'm enjoying the spectacle, you can't do this.' Harry froze as the shadow's arms wrapped around him and the bond opened. There was a rush of calm and Harry felt his body sag against the shadow, his knees buckling. Draco held him up and Harry saw someone push past him.
"To think I have to spare your life today," he growled.
Harry thought he saw a brilliant light. It was gone just as fast. Or maybe he was. He felt like he was falling.
(TBC)
Ah the joys of an angry Harry. Don't hate me because Umbridge was only mentally harmed in this chapter. The shadow did it for Harry's sake. There's plenty to happen as the story goes on.