Chapter 21: Harry Is Sensible About The Blood Quill
"The old hag!" Ron said in a revolted whisper as they came to a halt in front of the Fat Lady, who was dozing peacefully with her head against her frame. "She's sick! Go to McGonagall, say something!" Harry was about to reply that he wasn't going to give Umbridge the satisfaction, but Ron wasn't finished. "Over the summer, when we were clearing out – you-know-where – we found a quill that Moody said did the same thing as what's happened to you! It's a Dark artefact! Umbridge could end up in Azkaban!"
Harry took that in before nodding. "If she was just here to spy on us for Fudge, that would be one thing. What's next, her using the Cruciatus Curse on people in detention?"
Banging on the Fat Lady's frame to wake her up, they gave the password and headed to the dormitory to check the Marauder's Map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. Right, where's McGonagall? Her classroom. We'd better go now, there's only twenty minutes till curfew."
A few minutes later, Harry and Ron walked into the Transfiguration classroom, where Professor McGonagall was marking homework. She looked up as they came in. "Mister Weasley, Mister Potter, what is it that requires my attention at this hour?" "It's Harry's detentions with Umbridge, professor." Ron said quickly. "Look at his hand!" Harry showed the back of his hand to her, and Professor McGonagall's expression became thunderous. The last time Harry had seen her like this, she had been shouting at Malfoy and his cronies when they dressed up as Dementors to try and scare him during a Quidditch match in his third year. "Mister Weasley," she said sharply, "Return to the common room. Mister Potter, you and I are going to the Headmaster."
As Professor McGonagall walked, she seemed to become crosser and crosser. When they reached the gargoyle that marked the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office, she snapped "Sugar Quills" with such fury that that the gargoyle jumped aside so fast it looked instant. McGonagall charged up the stairs behind the gargoyle and didn't even bother to knock on the office door when she got to it. "Albus," she snarled, "that… woman… has a Blood Quill! And she has forced Mister Potter to use it, for hours at a time!" Now Professor Dumbledore was furious. Harry guessed this is what he had been like when he found out Mundungus Fletcher had run out on guarding him over the summer. He wouldn't have been surprised if sparks had shot out of Dumbledore's fingers and set the desk on fire.
Professor Dumbledore rose from behind his desk and strode to the fireplace, throwing something into the flames. Whatever it was, it wasn't Floo powder, because the flames turned purple instead of green. "Hogwarts," he said to the fire, "this is Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. A staff member is in possession of a Dark artefact, and has used it on a student. The staff member is Professor Dolores Umbridge. Engage disciplinary measure Mute Prometheus, authorisation Dumbledore-Twelve-Ice Mice, and notify the Director for Magical Law Enforcement." A loud and deep bell chimed, and the fire returned to normal. "Amelia will no doubt be on her way, Minerva." Professor Dumbledore said. "Would you please see that Dolores enters her care as soon as she arrives." McGonagall nodded and left. Harry was staring in wonderment at what had just happened. "Professor," he asked, "what was that?!" Dumbledore sighed. "Something I hoped that I would never had to use, Harry. Like all places of employment, Hogwarts issues contracts to its staff. Even though Madam Umbridge was appointed by the Ministry, she still had to sign a contract, or the magic of the castle itself would have prevented her from teaching. She evidently did not read the contract in sufficient detail, or simply forgot, that it states that no staff member may cause lasting physical harm to a student. The detentions she had you serve come under lasting harm. I am sorry, but you will bear another scar, in the form of the lines she had you write. Madam Pomfrey will be able to fade it, but not remove it completely."
Harry's mind was whirling. "Then why didn't the castle get rid of her after the first detention, sir?" "That is the sole failing in the contracts, Harry. The castle itself is aware of any violations, but it cannot do anything about them without the express permission of the Headmaster or their Deputy. And since neither I nor Professor McGonagall was aware of Madam Umbridge's treatment of you until just now, no action could be taken. To forestall what I think will be your next question; Mute Prometheus disarms its target, prevents them from speaking, and chains them to the nearest wall. Now, I think it is high time you went to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey will no doubt have something a lot stronger than Murtlap essence for you."
The next day, Professor Dumbledore announced at breakfast that Umbridge had been arrested for possessing and using a Dark artefact. Cheers filled the Hall, but none came from Slytherin.