The next morning, Hermione informed Harry of some other people who agreed with Seamus. "You know how Lavender is Harry, she believes in Divination."
Harry sighed, "Still doesn't make me feel any better Hermione."
/
At breakfast, Professor McGonagall handed out their time tables.
"Look at today!" groaned Ron. "History of Magic, double Potions, Divination, and double Defense Against the Dark Arts…Binns, Snape, Trelawney, and that Umbridge woman all in one day! Do you think Fred and George would let me have some of their products?"
"You are a prefect Ronald, you can't go skipping class." Hermione hissed.
"But I don't want to take Potions or Defense if that woman's teaching it."
"This is O.W.L.s year, you can't afford to slack off." Hermione replied. "If you want any decent job when you graduate you need to do well in them."
"What are you thinking of doing when you get out a' here mate?" Ron asked Harry.
"Dunno, haven't really thought about it." Harry replied. "What about you?"
"Oh…well" Ron looked away, slightly sheepish.
"What?" Harry urged him.
"Well, it'd be cool to be an Auror," Ron said in an offhand voice.
"Yeah, it would," Harry agreed.
"But they're, like, the elite," Ron said. "You've got to be really good. What about you, Hermione?"
"I don't know," Hermione said. "I think I'd really like to do something worthwhile. Like S.P.E.W."
Ron and Harry shared a look before changing the subject.
/
History of Magic was as boring as ever. Professor Binns had never been very exciting, and he seemed to get worse every year.
Harry ran into Cho Chang in the afternoon and managed to not make a fool of himself. According to Ron though, it was still a bit awkward.
Potions was as awful as ever. Professor Snape still had it out for everyone, especially Harry. He made sure to announce that O.W.L.s were at the end of the year and that their future in potions relied on them doing well in the exam. His temper flared when Snape ridiculed his potion and gave him a zero for the day.
"That was really unfair," Hermione said consolingly, sitting down next to Harry and helping herself to shepherd's pie. "Your potion wasn't nearly as bad as Goyle's, when he put it in his flagon the whole thing shattered and set his robes on fire."
"Yeah, well," Harry growled, glowering at his plate, "since when has Snape ever been fair to me?"
They didn't answer.
"I thought he might be nicer this year." Hermione said. "Since he's in the Order now."
"Poisonous toadstools don't change their spots," Ron replied sagely. "Anyway, I've always thought Dumbledore was cracked trusting Snape, where's the evidence he ever really stopped working for You-Know-Who?"
"Really Ronald? After everything, you think Snape is working for You-Know-Who?" Hermione asked.
Before Ron could reply, Harry snapped, "Oh, shut up, the pair of you,"
Ron and Hermione looked at him, shocked.
"Can't you give it a rest?" he said. "You're always having a go at each other, it's driving me mad." He quickly made his way to Divination.
/
When Ron made it to Divination, Harry was already there, sitting at their table. "Hermione and I have stopped fighting."
"Good" Harry grunted.
"She also says that you shouldn't take your temper out on us."
"What?" He snapped.
Ron quickly held his hands up, "Just passing on the message mate. I mean, it's not our fault that Snape's a git."
Before he could say anything, Professor Trelawney appeared with her usual dramatics. Harry looked around the room to see a several people staring at him from the corner of their eyes. Whispering occasionally to each other. He sighed, this was going to be a long class.
/
As Harry and Ron walked to Defense class, Ron was whining about their homework.
"It's the first day of classes and we already have so much homework. This is unbelievable!" He whined. "This Umbridge woman better not give us any more homework."
"I wouldn't count on it." Harry replied as they entered the classroom.
Once everyone was seated, Professor Umbridge stood from where she sat at her desk and said, "Good afternoon class"
"Good afternoon" A few people mumbled.
"That just won't do, now will it?" She giggled, "When I greet you, I expect a 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' Now, one more time please. Good afternoon class."
"Good afternoon Professor Umbridge" They chanted back.
"There, now," said Professor Umbridge sweetly. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please."
Everyone shared gloomy looks as they returned their wands to their bags and placed their quills, ink, and parchment on their desks.
Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, extracted her own wand, which was an unusually short one, and tapped the blackboard sharply with it; words appeared on the board at once: Defense Against the Dark Arts A Return to Basic Principles.
"Now, I was horrified to learn how fragmented your teaching in this subject has been. The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year."
She looked at the class with her sickly sweet smile. "This being the case, we have a lot of work ahead of us to catch up. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year."
She pointed her wand to the chalkboard, which proceeded to the course aims.
"I trust you all have your textbooks?" She asked.
There were a few mumbled replies and nodding heads.
"I think we'll try that again," said Professor Umbridge. "When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply 'Yes, Professor Umbridge,' or 'No, Professor Umbridge.' So, has everyone got a copy of their textbooks?"
"Yes, Professor Umbridge," rang through the room.
"Good," said Professor Umbridge. "I should like you to turn to page five and read chapter one, 'Basics for Beginners.' There will be no need to talk."
Silently, everyone turned to the correct page as Professor Umbridge lectured. The class was dreadfully boring to Harry; on league with Binns class for sure. He even noticed Hermione ignoring the reading, which came as a surprise to him.
About halfway through the class, Hermione raised her hand. After several minutes, Professor Umbridge called on her. "Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?" she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her.
"Not about the chapter, no," said Hermione.
"Well, we're reading just now," said Professor Umbridge, showing her small, pointed teeth. "If you have other queries we can deal with them at the end of class."
"I've got a query about your course aims," said Hermione.
Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows. "And your name is — ?"
"Hermione Granger," said Hermione.
"Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully," said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness.
"Well, I don't," said Hermione bluntly. "There's nothing written up there about using defensive spells."
"Using defensive spells?" Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?"
"We aren't going to be using magic in this class?" Ron asked.
"If you want to be head, you must raise your hand Mr. –"
"Weasley" Ron replied.
"What's the point of going to a magic school if we don't do magic?" Harry asked.
"Your hand Mr. Potter, I shall not ask again."
Harry rolled his eyes and calmly raised his hand.
Professor Umbridge smiled, "Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"This is Defense Against the Dark Arts is it not?"
The Professor cocked her head, "It is."
"Then wouldn't it make sense to learn how to use defensive spells in this class?"
"Oh you will be learning about defensive spells Mr. Potter; but in a controlled, risk-free environment."
"There is no logic in that." Harry replied. "If we're attacked it won't be in a controlled, risk-free environment."
Her face tensed as her smile widened, "Do you expect to be attacked during my class?"
"No, but –"
Professor Umbridge talked over him. "I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run in this school," she said, an unconvincing smile stretching her wide mouth, "but you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class, very irresponsible indeed — not to mention," she gave a nasty little laugh, "extremely dangerous half-breeds."
"If you mean Professor Lupin," piped up Dean Thomas angrily, "he was the best we ever —"
"Hand, Mr. Thomas! As I was saying — you have been introduced to spells that have been complex, inappropriate to your age group, and potentially lethal. You have been frightened into believing that you are likely to meet Dark attacks every other day —"
"We are in a war, why wouldn't we want to learn how to defend ourselves!" Harry shouted.
"And just who do you think will attack children such as yourselves?"
"Oh I don't know, Voldemort?"
Dean gasped, Lavender Brown shrieked, and Neville fell from his chair. Professor Umbridge, however, did not flinch.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter" She said in a very satisfied matter. "Now, I want to make one thing clear." Her eyes hardened as she looked around the room. "You have all been deceived into believing that a certain dark wizard is back from the dead."
"He never died and they weren't deceived." Harry said angrily. "I saw him return, I fought him!"
"Detention Mr. Potter!" She said shrilly.
The room was silent.
"I expect you in my office tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office." Her body relaxed and her overly-sweet smile returned to her face. "I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, 'Basics for Beginners.' "
Harry made to fight more, but Ron pulled him down and gave him a look before returning his eyes to the book.
/
When class was finally over, Harry stormed out of the room with Hermione and Ron jogging behind him.
"Who does she think she is?" He spat as soon as he was in a clear hallway.
"She's a Professor Harry." Hermione said. "As much as I hate to admit that. She's a horrid woman really."
"Come on mate, she works for the ministry, do you really think she would admit that You-Know-Who is back?" Ron said.
"Exactly Harry, you need to watch yourself around her." Hermione added.
"I shouldn't have to!" Harry exclaimed. "She is spreading lies! Voldemort killed Cedric! What does she think happened to him, just some accident because of the tournament?"
"Harry, please. I know what happened haunts you, but you can't let her get to you." Hermione said.
Harry rolled his eyes and walked faster down the corridor. When he turned the corner, he ran into Peeves, the castle's poltergeist.
"Why, it's Potty Wee Potter!" Peeves shouted in glee.
"Get out of it, Peeves."
"Oooh, Crackpot's feeling cranky," said Peeves, pursuing Harry along the corridor, leering as he zoomed along above him. "What is it this time, my fine Potty friend? Hearing voices? Seeing visions? Speaking in" — Peeves blew a gigantic raspberry — "tongues?"
"Go away Peeves" Ron glared at the round poltergeist.
"No, I think I'll stay!" He shouted and bounced around the trio singing an annoying song of his own making.
"SHUT UP" Harry shouted.
Peeves ignored him, cackling like mad as he continued bouncing around.
Hermione calmly took her wand and a soft chew from her bag and pointed it at Peeves, "Waddiwasi!" The soft chew flew from her hand and straight up Peeves' nose. The poltergeist quickly flew away cursing."
"Nice Hermione" Ron grinned.
"Thanks, I remember Professor Lupin did that to get rid of Peeves before."
"Was that one of Fred and George's candies?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded, "I confiscated it from a first year."
"Confiscated it! Hermione!"
"We are Prefects Ronald, we have rules to follow. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes are banned."
Ron sighed. He looked back at Harry, but saw him walking down the corridor. "Hey Harry, wait up" They ran over to him. "What was that all about mate?"
"What was what all about?"
"The shouting" Hermione said, "It was very unlike you"
"Well maybe I have had it with everyone not believing in me." He replied.
"Come on now mate, you knew going into this that there would be people too afraid to admit You-Know-Who is back." Ron said.
"I KNOW THAT!"
A door to his left flew open and Professor McGonagall emerged from her office looking grim and slightly harassed. "What on earth are you shouting about, Potter?" she snapped.
"We are so sorry Professor. Harry has just been having an off day." Hermione cut in quickly.
She raised an eyebrow and looked at each of her students, "And just what has put Potter in such a mood?"
"Professor Umbridge told everyone that You-Know-Who isn't back and that Harry lied about all of it." Ron said. "Then he called her a liar."
Hermione elbowed him sharply.
"Is that true Mr. Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Is what true?" Harry asked, rather more aggressively than he had intended. "Professor?" he added in an attempt to sound more polite.
"I have heard from several sources that you yelled at Professor Umbridge; and now Mr. Weasley says that you called her a liar as well. Is that true?"
Harry looked at her calmly, "Yes"
Her lips tilted at the edges slightly, "Have a biscuit, Potter" she held out a small silver tin.
"Have – what?"
She held the tin out again. Ron nudged Harry forward to take a cookie from it.
"Uh, thanks Professor."
Professor McGonagall nodded and returned the tin to wherever it had come from. "You need to be more careful Mr. Potter. Professor Umbridge is not someone to cross."
"But you just gave me a biscuit for calling her a liar"
"I did, but you mustn't do it again. Professor Umbridge has the Ministry behind her. I have heard that she has given you detention every evening this week."
"What? Every evening?" Harry gasped.
"Can she do that?" Ron asked.
"She is your teacher, giving her every right to give you a detention."
"But I was only telling the truth" Harry said.
"Do you really think this is about truth or lies? It's about keeping your head down and your temper under control!" Professor McGonagall said.
"Professor Umbridge is going to try and change a lot, isn't she?" Hermione said. "That's what she said in her speech."
"I'm glad that someone was paying attention." Professor McGonagall said. "I think it best you three return to your dormitories. And please stay out of trouble Potter. Dolores Umbridge is not someone you want to mess with." With that, Professor McGonagall closed her door.
Since this chapter is pretty boring, I'll probably have the next chapter up within a few days.