Setting foot back at Hogwarts was seeming worse than I imagined. Not only was Cedric's absence truly apparent but I was foolish enough to believe that everyone wouldn't point and whisper behind my back. Seeing their pity was beyond frustrating but that was somehow better than those who didn't believe Harry. Some students even had the nerve to approach me and ask if I even believed that Cedric was murdered by Voldemort.
The Welcoming Feast set the tone since the Sorting Hat's song was rather foreboding than it had been in previous years. What was worse was that the toad-like witch who apparently spoke against Harry during his trial was now our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. Her introduction speech about maintaining the status quo was a threat all in itself.
"You know this means the Ministry is trying to interfere at Hogwarts," I said as I sat with my friends after the feast up in the common room.
"It's not really that surprising is it?" George asked with a shrug.
George was going over some pieces of parchment with Fred and Lee. Since the Weasley's spent their entire summer at Grimmauld place, they needed to catch Lee up with all their new product plans.
"I mean, it'll make it safer won't it?" Alicia asked somewhat naively.
I looked at her with an appraising gaze. It seemed Alicia's family wasn't overly willing to believe Harry and Dumbledore's account of events from the Triwizard Tournament. She met my gaze but bowed her head and remained silent. The topic of Cedric still hadn't come up but this was only day one of our entire school year.
"What about Hermione and Ron becoming the Gryffindor prefects?" Katie asked, looking suspiciously at the parchment that Fred was now tucking away.
"I guess I should be quivering in my bones with Ronnie being chosen as prefect," Fred replied sarcastically.
"Be nice," I retorted, trying to get them to behave against their younger brother.
Fred met my gaze but didn't say anything. I knew neither him nor George would come around to the idea of those two being prefects, especially when I knew the twins had plans to test their joke products this year.
"I guess we better head to bed," Angelina said after yawning and stretching her arms out.
I nodded and followed the rest of the girls up to our dorm. Our trunks were unsurprisingly already up in our rooms.
"Where's Aster, Marnie?" Alicia asked in a calmer voice now than when she was asking about the new professor from the Ministry downstairs.
"They're gone," I replied in a solemn voice.
I heard Alicia gasp and could feel the uneasy gazes from the others staring at my back.
I sighed before turning around.
It had been too hectic of a night for any of them to have realised that Aster disappeared the night Cedric died. I remembered opening my eyes the next morning, despite not knowing if I had actually slept or not. I looked around to see where I was since I hadn't had any memory of making it up to my room the night before. My answer became apparent when I drew back the curtains and saw Mrs. Weasley still asleep on a cot beside me.
I had snuck off to the lavatory without waking Mrs. Weasley or the other girls since it was still very early in the morning. When I returned to the dorm after washing my face and dressing in my robes, I walked over and sat on my bed. I looked out the window and realised it was open, like always. Since the first day Cedric gave Aster to me I made sure to leave the window open in case they ever decided to leave since no one was quite sure how fairies felt as being kept as pets. That was when I realised that Aster hadn't been on my chest like always when I woke up and wasn't on their perch either. I stood and looked out the window and realised they had finally left.
"They were too sad to stay," I replied, despite having no frame of reference.
"I—I'm so sorry Marnie," Alicia said quietly.
I nodded, trying to suppress the tears that always seemed to be just beneath the surface.
Angelina walked up and enveloped me into a hug.
"We're still here for you Marnie, and nothing is going to change that," she stated confidently.
Only a few tears escaped before I stepped away from Angelina and looked at the others with a small smile. It was all I could muster before excusing myself to change in the lavatory. When I came back, I rushed towards my bed and enclosed myself behind the curtains before laying down and staring up at the ceiling. I don't know when I finally fell asleep but I could hear the quiet snores and rhythmic breathing from the other three for quite some time beforehand.
The next morning McGonagall handed all of us our very last school schedules. I saw the professor meet my eyes with a brief look of concern but I turned back towards my friends before she could say anything.
"Looks like we have that new professor first thing," Katie commented, seeing that we all had Defense this morning.
I looked over my schedule and frowned when I remembered I was still taking Care of Magical Creatures. Even worse was that Hagrid wasn't listed as the professor which is what I feared when I saw Professor Grubby-Plank sitting at the staff table at the feast last night.
"I miss Professor Moody," Lee said as we all walked towards the Defense classroom.
"Yea, except for the fact that it wasn't the real Professor Moody," George replied with a grimace.
"And it wasn't that ethical that he performed the Imperious curse on students," Alicia commented.
"Yea, well I'm just happy I learned to deflect it," I replied which surprised most of the others.
The girls looked at me worriedly while the twins smirked, sharing their own sense of morbid accomplishment. Lee looked torn between the two reactions.
We walked into class and took our regular seats we had occupied over the last six years.
"Weird to think that this is our last first day of school," Katie whispered beside me.
I nodded, thinking that I was relieved this was the last first day. I frowned, thinking of the excited eleven-year-old me who waited all her short life to come here above anything else.
"Good morning class," a sickly-sweet voice greeted us from the top of the staircase inside the classroom.
I glowered up at the pink-adorned professor.
A few students mumbled their greeting back while I continued to stare at her in annoyance. I knew the track record for our Defense teachers weren't great. But Lupin had been amazing while the not-Moody did actually teach us pretty advanced skills despite trying to kill Harry at the end of the year. Somehow, I figured this Ministry spy was going to be on par with Quirrell-Voldemort. I could only hope that no one could ever be on Lockhart's level of useless.
"This time with energy… Good morning class!" she sang out again.
Some of the students sighed but most responded cordially to the newest addition of the Hogwarts staff. I only continued to stare at her with disdain.
"Books out and wands away," she continued.
I heard Lee audibly sigh. I remembered last year he always got excited whenever not-Moody told us to put our books away. It seemed we weren't going to get those type of lessons anymore.
"As I introduced myself last night, my name is Professor Umbridge and I will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I have written on the board the three main objectives for this class. Please copy them into your notes. When you have done so, I ask that you all take out your books and read the first chapter on defensive theory," Professor Umbridge ordered before moving to take her seat behind her desk.
I looked up to read what was written on the board and felt my fists clench at the idiocy of the Ministry's techniques.
I rose my hand and continued to stare at the professor intently. She artfully resisted calling on me until I assumed her entire teacup was emptied from her constant sipping.
"And what is your name dear?" she asked delicately.
"Marnie O'Hara," I introduced myself impatiently.
"Is there something unclear about my instructions?" she asked with a thin smile.
"I don't understand how the Ministry constructed such aims that do not include actually defending ourselves against the dark arts," I explained myself blatantly.
I saw Fred look up from his textbook before looking between me and the professor with a frown.
"That is obvious my child, there is simply nothing in this world one would need to protect themselves against," she replied evenly.
My fists clenched tighter in front of me.
"How can you even believe in such nonsense?" I continued but Professor Umbridge stood up to cut me off.
"Everyone in this class will raise their hands and be called upon before speaking," she ordered.
Surprisingly I saw Fred and Angelina raise their hands before I did.
"Yes, what is your name?" Professor Umbridge said, calling upon Fred instead.
"Fred Weasley," he replied.
"Do you have any questions about the textbook?" she asked, trying to lead the conversation away from my initial inquiry.
"Yea, what is the point of reading a book that isn't even going to teach us about defending ourselves?" Fred asked.
"Like I was explaining to Miss. O'Hara, there is nothing dark in this world you need to concern yourself with," she replied more firmly.
"So Cedric Diggory died from what then? He was murdered for Merlin's sake!" Fred shouted back.
"Raise your hand Mr. Weasley!" Professor Umbridge barked.
I smashed my fists down on the desk before standing up.
Professor Umbridge met my gaze looking resentful that I had stirred up this amount of trouble during her first class.
"Mr. Diggory's death was a tragic accident, one that the Ministry is stepping in to avoid," Umbridge continued while keeping my gaze.
"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Voldemort," I seethed.
"It is very unfortunate that you believe your family's lies Miss. O'Hara. I believe I met your father earlier this summer at the Ministry. He proclaims himself to be Harry Potter's guardian does he not? You'll believe anything that boy says, especially since I remember reading Rita Skeeter's articles about your own relationship with Mr. Diggory," Umbridge pressed on with a determined glint in her eyes.
Fred stood up beside me now in his own anger.
"So you would rather us all die like Cedric than admit my family is right?" I asked, feeling my hatred for this woman rising up.
"Everyone in my class will raise their hand before speaking!" she bellowed. "And as apologetic as I am for your loss Miss. O'Hara I will not tolerate this type of behaviour. Come up here to my desk please."
I continued to glare at her before walking down the aisle to the front of the classroom.
"Bring this to Professor McGonagall," she said while handing me a pink piece of rolled parchment.
I nodded without another word, at least thankful to be leaving her horrible class early.
I walked off to Professor McGonagall's chambers beside the Gryffindor common room. I knocked and only waited a moment before she answered the door.
"Is everything alright?" she asked more delicately than I was used to.
"Professor Umbridge wanted me to give this to you," I replied evenly.
McGonagall took the rolled parchment from my hand before unfurling it to read it.
"You were spouting anti-Ministry propaganda in Professor Umbridge's class?" she asked, looking astonished.
"Well, I did tell her Voldemort was back," I replied bluntly.
McGonagall nodded before standing back from the doorway and invited me inside.
"I know you understood what Professor Umbridge was saying at the feast yesterday, so I do not feel there is any sense in warning you about her," McGonagall said.
"No there isn't," I replied with my arms folded over my chest.
McGonagall sighed.
"You and Potter are very similar in responding when something upsets you," McGonagall observed.
"Upset? Cedric was murdered and the Ministry is deliberately covering it up! It's an insult to his memory!" I retorted angrily.
McGonagall pursed her lips before coming to stand in front of me.
"We all remember Cedric Diggory as an honourable and caring student of this school. In time, everyone will come to know the truth. Until then, those of us who believe will carry the truth and his memory," McGonagall replied confidently.
I nodded before McGonagall handed me back the slip of paper.
"You have detention with Professor Umbridge all week, starting tonight," she explained.
I only nodded again before leaving her chambers and deciding to head down to the Great Hall to meet everyone there at lunch.
After lunch all the seventh years walked to Transfiguration together. Fred still seemed angry but no one outright talked about how obvious it seemed Umbridge was going to be an outright pain.
"Now, this year you will all be writing your NEWTs. As expected, this year will be the most demanding of your entire school careers," McGonagall started the class off with her usual direct approach.
Soon after she started her lecture on human transfiguration.
"We're supposed to change our facial appearance by the end of the week?!" Lee exclaimed when McGonagall dismissed the class.
"NEWT level is the only level allowed to perform such spells supposedly," Katie commented as we made our way back towards the Great Hall for supper.
"This year is going to be rather difficult isn't it?" Alicia asked, stating the obvious about our NEWT year.
I followed everyone silently and managed to eat a few bites before I was due to go and serve my first detention with Umbridge.
"I must say I am a bit proud that Marnie beat Fred and George for receiving the first detention of the year," Lee commented as I stood up to leave.
"Yup, a whole week's worth," I replied, not feeling nearly as enthusiastic about it as Lee.
"I would feel the same way if Marnie had actually earned the detention. A whole week for putting that toad in her place, what a joke," Fred replied sounding more frustrated.
I knew he was upset about the whole thing but I also knew there wasn't much any of us could do about it. It was obvious that the Ministry was providing their own Defense teacher to try and silence anyone who supported Harry and Dumbledore.
"It's alright Fred, it's only detention. Wait up for me alright?" I asked more kindly as I put my hand on his shoulder.
He brought one of his hands up to cover mine. "Of course Hare, we'll stay up and tell you about the recruitments for our first trial."
I nodded, knowing that the boys already made consent forms for the trials for their products. I figured Hermione would try and shut down their efforts but I felt it wasn't worth bringing up since nothing was going to stop the twins from perfecting their products.
I retracted my hand from Fred's before patting his head and then moving to leave the Great Hall. I walked back up to the Defense classroom for five o'clock sharp. When I entered into the Defense hallway I was only somewhat surprised to see Harry arriving from the other end.
"I assume you insulted the new teacher as well?" I asked knowingly.
Harry tried for a smile but ended up grimacing back at me.
"Her and the Ministry are pretending Cedric died for nothing… like it was a bloody accident!" Harry started.
I flinched despite myself but moved to stand in front of Harry. I grabbed onto his hand reassuringly.
"We will carry Cedric's memory until everyone else realises what his sacrifice meant," I replied, thinking about what McGonagall said to me earlier.
Harry still looked annoyed but nodded before we walked to the door of Umbridge's office.
Harry knocked before we heard Umbridge call us in from the other side. We opened the door and walked into the ghastly looking office which was adorned from top to bottom in pink. Even more disturbing was her chosen décor. Where Lockhart had once hung pictures of himself covering the walls, Umbridge had chosen pictures and china plates covered in cats.
"Good evening Mr. Potter and Miss. O'Hara. Tonight I will have you writing lines," Umbridge greeted us as she pointed to the desk where two seats were set up.
Harry and I obligingly walked over and took our seats before pulling out some loose parchment.
"Today you will both be using a pair of rather special quills of mine," she explained in her overly sweet voice.
"And what will we be writing professor?" I asked, trying not to show my disdain for her.
"How about… I must not tell lies," she replied with her toothy grin.
I saw as Harry clenched his fists. I felt similar frustration rise up inside me but only nodded and began to write.
"There's no ink professor," Harry added but this only seemed to amuse the professor even more.
"These quills do not require ink to write," she answered pleasantly.
I looked at her knowing she seemed too pleased with herself. But instead of asking any more questions I brought my quill down to the parchment
I mu—
I started to write but instantly felt my left hand pierce with pain.
I lifted my hand from the parchment and surveyed it to see the three letters I had just written were now etched into my skin with blood.
I felt my anger rise up even more but refused to say anything. Instead, I looked over to see Harry looking similarly to me with anger. We met each other's gaze, probably being more upset that the other was experiencing the same pain rather than ourselves.
"Is there anything wrong?" she asked, daring us to speak against her.
We both turned our gaze to her and shook our heads.
"No professor," we replied before we begrudgingly returned our attention to our parchments.
"How many times do we have to write our lines?" Harry asked through gritted teeth.
"As many times as it takes to sink in," she replied cunningly.
By the time Umbridge dismissed us, it was sufficiently dark out outside.
"Are you going to tell Joss or Remus about this?" Harry asked on our way back.
"I don't see a point in worrying them even more than I have already this summer," I replied. "Are you going to tell Sirius?"
"I think the fewer people who know about it the better," Harry replied.
We both nodded, knowing that there were worse things going on that Umbridge's sadistic detention methods.
Once we got to the Gryffindor common room we went our separate ways. I noticed that Hermione and Ron were up waiting for Harry while Fred and George were over waiting for me. I instantly regretted asking them to wait up for me since I knew I couldn't hide my hand for very long.
"Hey Hare," Fred greeted as I sat down beside him.
"How was detention with the toad-woman?" George asked in an amused tone.
"It was a joke. She only made Harry and I write lines," I replied easily.
"That seems quite lax than what I was expecting from her. Maybe I won't hold back as much around her then and really tell her what I think," Fred replied.
"No, please don't!" I stated before realising I was being too obvious.
"Why? What's wrong Hare?" Fred asked looking more concerned.
I reflexively moved my hand but it was enough for both of the twins to notice.
Since Fred was sitting beside me he was closer and grabbed my hand. His thumb unknowingly grabbed onto the cuts on my skin which caused me to wince.
"What the hell happened to you Marnie?" George asked sounding anxious.
"Did she do this to you?!" Fred asked, growing infuriated now.
I looked between both of them and knew I couldn't lie. Plus, Fred was already reading the words etched onto my hands.
"I must not tell lies?" George asked, looking over to where Fred had my arm outstretched.
"That's how this woman is spreading her nonsense propaganda? By having you etch it into your skin? That's just sick!" Fred was seething now.
"You can't tell anybody! Not any of the other teachers or even our parents!" I replied, pulling my hand back defensively.
"What do you mean we can't tell anyone?" Fred retorted angrily.
"Just think, Umbridge is already here to get dirt on Dumbledore and Harry. Plus, our parents are already worried about me enough with how I acted over the summer and they have enough on their plate with other things," I said pointedly, referring to their heavy involvement with the Order.
"Umbridge already as good as threatened my dad when she mentioned him being at Harry's trial. I don't want to give her any more ammunition to go against my father or anyone else. If all I have to do is suffer through a week's worth of detentions for believing the truth about Cedric then so be it," I explained with more resolve.
Both of the twins wrestled with my response but ultimately agreed to my reasoning. Surprisingly, instead Fred leaned over and pulled me into an embrace.
"I just want to protect you," Fred whispered into my ear.
I let him hold me for a few moments, allowing him to put me more at ease. When I pulled back, I worked up the first genuine smile I had felt since June.
"I don't want you risking yourself for my own protection. I can take care of myself you know," I replied earnestly.
Fred smiled. "Doesn't mean I don't have a lot to make up for. Plus, I did promise you when we were eleven."
I continued to look at Fred while I continued to smile. "I forgive you."
I had known for a while now that I hadn't been angry at Fred in a long time, probably even before Cedric died. Fred continued to meet my gaze while now looking uneasy.
"I don't deserve that, but I'll make sure you don't regret it," he replied evenly before grabbing my left hand with the bloodied scars.
He kissed the side of my hand softly where there was still some dried blood. I felt myself become shocked but chose not to say anything. I didn't really know how to respond to Fred's reaction but felt myself smile softly anyways. In that moment I felt too selfish to think that maybe it wasn't the right way for Fred to react because it made me feel more calm than I had felt in ages.