Chapter eighteen: Dolores freaking Umbridge

The weeks started to blend together. Alicia was constantly busy with her work. Either she was teaching, grading papers, reading up on theory herself, actually taking care of magical creatures, keeping Hagrid's house from collapsing into dust, sweettalking Umbridge or trying to get Harry to talk to her. So many people were asking things from her, most days it felt like she couldn't breathe.

Those little moments when she was actually free were often also sacrificed to the Order. In other words; Remus would come over so they could practice duelling. After a full Saturday of duelling she often felt so tired, she had to send Remus home without cuddling or having sex. Remus was not giving her a hard time for that, but she felt bad nonetheless.

But all the stress so far was nothing compared to one Tuesday morning when she walked into the staff room and heard professors murmur. They told her that Dolores was going to attend classes to 'inspect the education'. Alicia could feel whatever courage she had left leave her.

After lunch she hurried to her classroom to prepare everything. It was Harry's class who would come next, and she had a feeling Dolores would attend that one. Ever since the start of the year she kept an eye on Harry. Of course she thought he was the source of all the trouble at her work; the lunatic who spread the idea that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned. One day in class Alicia had seen Harry pull his hand away quickly, but not before she had seen a new scar on the back of his hand. She had her suspicions about the source of that.

With that thought swimming around in her head the door opened and the students filed in. She put on her best fake smile and welcomed them warmly. In the stream of black robes was the bright pink one as well, walking directly up to Alicia at the front of the class. Her walk, her stance, her mannerisms were particularly female. However Alicia couldn't stop picturing her more like a toad pretending to be a woman. It was mostly her puffy eyes and foul personality that gave her that mental picture.

'Good afternoon Professor Doreen,' she greeted warmly. Alicia bowed her head a little. Alicia would never be considered tall, but Dolores was shorter.

'Good afternoon Professor Umbridge. It is time for my inspection then?' she said, hoping she sounded calm. She was dying inside.

Dolores waved a little with the clipboard she was carrying. 'Oh yes, I do a full round. However you shouldn't worry yourself dear. I hear you have improved well.'

Not quite a compliment but it's a start. She gave her another smile. Dolores her attention went past Alicia's legs. 'Is that creature part of the class?'

Alicia looked back to see Charles. His ears were back against his skull and he was on the brink of snarling. She placed a hand on his head and he immediately calmed down. 'This is my partner. Wherever I go, Charles goes. Would you mind if I start the class now?'

'Oh yes by all means,' Dolores said as she placed herself in a corner.

'Good afternoon class. Today I brought you some bowtruckles. We are going to study them with care. Bowtruckles are not to be messed with. Take your distance as you study their behaviour,' Alicia announced. She took out a couple of small cages to divide around the class. As she walked around she instructed them some more and told them what the assignment was about. Dolores had not interrupted her which seemed like a good sign.

Once the students were busy, Dolores moved around the room to ask questions about magical beasts. Most students seemed able to answer these questions.

After being satisfied by their answers, the pink witch came back up to Alicia. 'So you are the substitute for Rubeus Hagrid. I wonder…the Headmaster seems strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter. Can you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid's very extended leave of absence?'

Of course she could. He was on a mission for the Order. 'I'm afraid I can't help. I don't know anything more than you do. I got an owl from Dumbledore to ask me to fill in for a couple of weeks, and after some contact I agreed to go.'

'You haven't been in contact with Professor Hagrid then?' she asked, her voice even more high-pitched than per usual. Alicia just shook her head.

Alicia noticed that Harry was looking anxious. She realised it was not just her, but also Hagrid who was being tested today.

'Hmm. Pity. Overall, how do you, as a temporary member of staff – an objective outsider, I suppose you might say – how do you find Hogwarts? Do you feel enough support from the others? You being quite the young teacher and all?'

She bit her lip and considered the answer for a moment. 'I've felt very welcome indeed. But as far as support goes…oh well. I mustn't complain. I just wish I had more time to prepare, I suppose.'

It was a fine line. She didn't want to get anyone in trouble, yet she couldn't sound too loyal to Dumbledore. In all reality, she wasn't completely loyal to him. She questioned a lot of his decisions and did in fact feel unready for the job.

Dolores gave a little incredulous sound, but went on. 'And what are you planning to cover with this class this year? Assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid does not return?'

Alicia didn't like how eager she sounded to have that happen. 'Oh I'll prepare them for their O.W.L.S. of course. We've studied fire crabs and nifflers. Next up are bowtruckles and unicorns. There will be some outdoor classes later in the month, to show them the beasts I can't bring to class.'

'Like centaurs?' she said with a smile as she wrote something on her clipboard.

Alicia flinched. 'N-no. We don't cover centaurs. Even though the ministry classifies them as beasts, they are sentient beings.' Hot sweat trickled down her neck. She was getting on dangerous territory here, and she hated to sound like the opposite of who she was.

Dolores huffed, not noticing the other woman's discomfort. 'All half-breeds are beasts in my book. Centaurs, merpeople…and most of all werewolves. Tell me, professor, what do you think about them? Should they keep the rights they have now, or should we legislate more against them?'

Without thinking, Alicia's gaze went up to find Harry. He looked as shocked as she felt, but couldn't show. Her hands were shaking. In an attempt to hide them, she clasped them behind her back. Then she forced herself to look at the other woman, who was really starting to fuel a deep hatred within Alicia.

'All half-breeds are beasts. I agree,' is all she could manage to say without vomiting. It was almost comical how opposite she was to her true self. Friends with Hagrid the half-giant, a welcomed guest among the centaurs, an equal to the merpeople and in love with a werewolf. Alicia used those thoughts to keep her from blowing her cover. Look at you, fooling this self-proclaimed clever witch. Look at you, fooling the ministry.

The little secretive smile Dolores gave her said enough. Then she turned back to the class. In particular to Malfoy and Goyle. She asked them about the incident with Buckbeak two years ago. Harry tried to defend Hagrid but got himself detention in the process. Alicia just tried not to topple over, or cry, or run away.

'Well thank you Professor Doreen, I think that's all I need here. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days,' Dolores said softly.

'Wonderful,' Alicia croaked as the woman in pink left her classroom.

'Alicia! You are not concentrating.'

'Alright, alright. Hit me again.'

'Are you su-'

'Just do it Remus!'

'Flipendo!'

Even though she had said she was ready and was expecting it, Alicia couldn't make a shield strong enough to protect herself. She was launched backwards into the wall, where the back of her head hit the stone painfully.

Within seconds, Remus was next to her, looking at her with concern. 'You need to tell me when to stop.'

She sighed and was about to say something snarky in return, but then she looked into his eyes. He looked tired, but not as tired as she felt and probably looked. Her vision was starting to blur.

'I can't handle it anymore Moony,' she whispered.

'What do you mean? The duelling? The teaching?' he asked. A hand rested on her shoulder.

She looked away. 'Everything. It's all so much.'

'Oh darling,' he whispered as he pulled her towards his chest. She rested her face against his chest and listened to his heart. Her tears started to soak his sweater. 'I'm so sorry you have to go through all this.'

'I am lying. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm lying or maybe I changed my opinion. The things I'm certain of…the people I love…are far away. Out of reach when I need them,' Alicia continued, almost robotically. She hadn't confessed any of this since her first day back at Hogwarts. 'You can only come when it's safe. Sirius is deterring in that terrible house. Hagrid is off I don't know where. And my old friends here at school,' she took a moment to sniff away the tears, 'are now my students. And they also think I'm a bigoted tyrant.'

There was a low howl to their right. Charles had lifted his head and was looking at her with sorrow. 'And Charles is bound in this form. He is not supposed to be trapped like that. He should be free, and with the others. Where he belongs.'

Another fit of tears hit her as she realised what she really wanted to say. I should be free, where I belong. In Romania, where I was happy. 'I came back for you, not for all of this. Remus can't we just…' she looked down, stopping herself in time.

'You want us to run away? To go to Romania, you me and Charles?' Remus asked. There was no contempt, no sarcastic tone. He didn't hate her for thinking it and nearly asking it. He sighed. 'You know, I am thinking more and more about it. Maybe even I can help out in that camp. I bet if there is any place in the world where they could accept a werewolf, it's there.' He laughed softly. 'I bet it's as beautiful as you describe it to me all the time. How bright the stars are at night and how fresh the morning air feels to your lungs. How stunning the valleys look and how breath-taking the dragons are in their natural habitat. You paint a pretty picture Alicia. Even to someone that doesn't share your love for those creatures.'

As he fell silent, she pushed herself back to look at him. He had a distant look in his eyes.

'More and more I wonder…why aren't we there? Why am I not making sure that you are safe?' He stopped and stared her down. 'But that is the dilemma. I want to make sure you are safe. You and everyone else. We cannot live in a world where Voldemort rules. We would both be hunted down and killed. And not just us. Everyone I know, everyone that has been kind to me…'

Alicia sighed and rubbed her eyes. 'I know. There is enough to fight for.'

Remus took her hands away from her face so she could look at him. 'Yes. There is. But that doesn't mean I don't see us being happy in Romania. I would give everything to see you with a huge smile on your face, jumping on Charles' back and flying all around. Alicia, I wish we could be that. And maybe, one day, we will.'

She tried to smile. 'Let's hope so.'

He gave her a look she knew well by now. He looked at her like this right before he was either going to tell her that he loved her, or before he kissed her. It was a look of adoration.

This time it was a kiss. He cupped her face with his hands and kissed her tenderly. The sensation of his lips on hers did great wonders against her anxiety. Whenever he kissed her, it was like he transported her to a world without pain or sorrow. For a moment, there was just him and her.

He drew back slowly and opened his eyes. She still had hers closed, revelling in the tingling feeling on her lips.

Slowly, her eyes opened too and she stared into his mesmerizing green eyes. Her hand went to his cheek, where she caressed him. For a moment she considered telling him what Dolores Umbridge had made her say today about werewolves, but then she realised that his handsome soft features would contort in anger and disgust. Alicia didn't want that. She didn't need the reminders of her troublesome day right now. All she needed was him.

'Remus?' she whispered, her lips still close to his.

'Hmm?' he replied, a slightly coy tone to his sound.

Her lips travelled past his cheek to his ear, where she whispered: 'Will you stay tonight?'

He was silent for a moment. She drew her head back a little to look at him. He was wearing his infamous smirk on his lips. 'I would love to,' he replied in a deep voice.

Finally they took the time to test out the bathtub together. Dressed in a bathrobe and nothing else, Alicia felt the temperature and added more foam. Remus walked in, completely naked, and jumped in at once.

'MerLIn's BEarD IT'S HOT!'

Currently, a very perplexed Remus was sitting in the middle of a foam cloud with little fluffs of the stuff on his nose and in his hair. The sight of this made Alicia fill with love.

'No shit Sherlock,' she giggled. With an attempt at being graceful, she undid the knot around her waist and dropped the bathrobe to the ground. Remus watched her closely. He had already forgotten his discomfort.

Gliding into the water was the best feeling Alicia had experienced in a long while. The water was not too hot anymore. It wrapped around her like a warm hug. She dipped her head underwater for a moment before emerging again. It felt like her troubles were washed away.

'That feels good,' she announced to the bathroom.

'So it does,' Remus replied. Alicia had closed her eyes and was leaning back, her head resting. She could feel Remus move around in the water as it sloshed in all directions. Then his body was next to hers, an arm crossed over her chest, hand resting on her shoulder.

She looked up. He was smiling down at her with a content look. 'You are such a favourite. I never got a bathtub, never mind one as luxurious as this one.'

Alicia laughed. The sound bounced off the walls and echoed back. 'I guess Hogwarts likes me. Or maybe it knew what I needed.' She booped his nose with a very foamy finger. A little stayed on his nose.

They drew closer together, lying in each other's arms as they enjoyed the well-deserved bath. It was quiet for about ten minutes before Remus spoke again. 'I could get used to this. Doing normal couple things with my girlfriend.'

'Me too,' she whispered with a smile.

'Who knows? Hagrid could come back any day now. Maybe you could be back with us soon. We will make Sirius regret he wanted us in the house. The noise we will make…' Remus joked.

She chuckled. 'You mean, the noise you make? I don't make noises.'

At that, he raised an eyebrow challengingly. 'Oh really?'

At that moment she did make a noise, a high-pitched little shriek cut short. Remus had decided to reach out between her legs and give her pussy a good squeeze.

'Remus!' she said, scandalized.

His hand had not let go. 'Yes baby?'

She wondered why she was protesting. This was one of the hottest things he had ever done. 'You cheeky son of a bitch,' she said as she leaned in to kiss him. He was waiting for her, kissing her happily and greedy. She opened her mouth and his tongue was not the only thing slipping in. Right as his tongue entered her mouth, his finger entered her vagina. She moaned in the kiss as he fingered her underwater.

A second finger was added to the mix, thrusting in faster and faster. She could feel her body respond. Her nipples hardened. Remus noticed this. He stopped kissing her so he could lean down and lick her nipples while still fingering her. Alicia moaned louder, knowing no one was going to hear her anyway. This was her tower! She could moan and scream as loud as she wanted.

Alicia pushed him back, so he was sitting upright.

'Two can play this game,' she told him. Her legs straddled him and her hand disappeared under the clouds of foam to grasp his cock. She found it already hard. The moment she touched him he whimpered softly.

'Alicia I've missed you,' he breathed as he looked up at her with big eyes. Right here in the bath, both of them naked, wet and covered in scars, she felt more like his equal than she ever did before. In the beginning there was the obvious power dynamic of a teacher and a student. Later when they got back together they were two long lost lovers. However everyone at the Black family home had reminded her she was still younger than Remus. Now, even though she was still younger, she didn't feel like it. She finally felt completely in balance with Remus, and it was wonderful.

She was pumping his cock good and quick under the bubbles. He moaned happily, laying his head back on the edge. His eyes were closed and his mouth open. This of course, was the perfect opportunity. She leaned over him and kissed him roughly and unexpected. He made a little surprised sound, but soon came back to his senses. He groaned, getting more and more frustrated. He reached for her hand and stopped her. Instead, he placed his hands on her hips and made her sit down on him. The water worked perfectly as lube as she felt his cock slide in her.

'Fuck yes! This is a whole new sensation,' Alicia said with a smile. The water made the movement of her hips awkward, but she could still feel the friction between the both of them.

'You can say that again,' he growled, his teeth clenched in concentration. It wasn't as easy in the water to get them in a rhythm, but still they managed. Alicia felt herself moving up and down, the down-part a lot rougher as he made her slam down on him. A series of dirty words left her mouth as she leaned a bit more forward and felt him even better, getting excited inside of her.

'Not good enough,' Remus groaned. He wrapped one arm around her and made her lie down in the water. He got on top of her and dragged her hips up to meet his. He fucked her again, and once more it was a whole new sensation. The warm water floating into her pussy was also a nice extra. Remus thrusted in her as quickly as he could, but it was clear it wasn't enough to make him climax.

'How about,' Alicia said with a kiss to his cheek, 'we continue this in the shower?'

That got him excited and out of the bathtub in record time. Alicia giggled as he offered a hand to help her step out. They walked over to the shower cabin, a reasonably sized square with stone walls and glass doors.

'This castle really wanted you to have the perfect bathroom for sex, didn't it?' Remus remarked with a smile. Alicia laughed as she followed him in the cabin. She had hardly turned on the shower head before she felt his arms wrap around her from behind.

'Nessie?' he asked, his lips pressed against her shoulder.

'Yes Moony?'

'Can I fuck you against the wall?'

'Yes please, Mr. Lupin,' she replied. He kissed her neck before starting to push her slowly forward, until her hands were pressed against the stone wall. Warm water ran down her body, as she stood there, leaning over, ready to be taken. She looked over her shoulder to watch him pump himself to get his cock all hard again. It didn't take long. He grabbed her hips and shoved himself into her pussy from behind.

Another loud moan escaped her throat. She felt so exposed, so naughty. Remus was thrusting, holding onto one hip and the other hand on her shoulder. She contorted her body so that he could hit her deep.

'Harder…faster….' She begged. He chuckled and did as she asked. Being fucked like this was a whole new level of horny.

'Alicia…I…' Remus had trouble talking while he thrusted so quick and hard that he was panting. He slapped her ass twice and then screamed out her name as he climaxed. His nails dug in her skin and it was enough to make her come too. Both of them were heavily panting, their sounds getting drained by the falling water.

'Damn,' Remus exclaimed.

Alicia turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. 'Damn indeed.' They laughed and kissed.

'I can tell you one thing Remus,' Alicia said as she looked up in his eyes.

'And what is that Alicia dear?'

'You are a great stress reliever.'