At breakfast the next morning Harry felt refreshed. He had had a good night's sleep, free of nightmares and was even hungry. He ate and joked with his friends, still glancing awkward looks to Seamus who seemed still very mad at him. Harry could not blame him but after discussing it with Hermione, he found that he better let things rest. She was buried in the morning edition of the Daily Prophet, Harry could only see her hand trying to grab a scone once in a while.
"What do we have this morning ?" Harry asked Ron.
Ron groaned in response and showed him the timetable. They had Philosophy first thing, and Harry had a strange feeling he was not going to enjoy that. Umbridge did not strike him as friendly at all.
When they had finished breakfast, the trio got up and walked towards the class. They took seats in middle row and waited for Umbridge to come in. The toad like woman came out of her office, a false smile on her face.
"Good morning children" She said with a sweet voice. The class fell silent. "That will not do. Not at all! When I greet you, I expect an answer. You will answer me with "Good Morning Professor Umbridge". Again, Good morning children!"
"Good morning Professor Umbridge" the class said dully. Harry had a bad feeling about all this. He had to remain calm anyway. Osborn had warned him about his temper. He took a deep breath and tried to treat the class as History of Magic.
Umbridge raised her wand and books came flying, settling themselves on the tables, one in front of each students. The title read "Recent History of the Wizarding World".
Umbridge cleared her voice "Huh huh" and the class fell silent once again.
"I understand many of you do not know what my class subject is. I will attempt to make myself clear. Raise your hand if you have any questions. We will be focusing on the more recent even that have taken place in our world. This study of History will allow us to understand more about our own world. It is the view of the Ministry that Hogwarts students are often misguided about certain matters and this class is a way to teach you how to become a responsible and sensible adult when you leave the school. You are of course entitled your own opinions but the Ministry is under the impression that you are maybe basing your opinion on legend more than on facts. Open your books to page 10 and begin reading the Introduction to the chapter entitled "The last great war""
They all began shuffling through the pages of the books. Harry opened his and found himself staring at a drawing of himself as a baby. The dark hair and the lightning bolt shaped scar left little to the imagination. Below the picture was a sentence. "The boy-who-lived by a lucky turn of events". Harry's insides began to twist. Hermione must have read it too because she was whispering "Stay calm Harry". She was not the only one, soon the class was whispering loudly.
"There is no need to talk" Umbridge said with her sweetheart voice and the class fell silent immediately.
Harry began reading the Introduction.
The last great war against the last known Dark Wizard lasted for 11 years and claimed many lives. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named claimed his last two victims on October 31 1981. He had gathered followers all over the country, many of them under the Imperius Curse. (See later in the chapter the chilling testimony of Lucius Malfoy, victim of this Curse).
Harry's blood began to boil and his fists were clenched. Hermione put a reassuring hand on his arm and Harry breathed deeply once again.
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named views on Pure-Blood superiority were flawed but not unfounded. As many studies showed, Muggleborns are often far less powerful than wizards coming from Pure-blood lines. However, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's actions against Muggle were despicable. The Ministry pulled many ressources into the Aurors office to capture and imprisoned those who had followed His ways and crimes. The Ministry's efforts were finally rewarded when, on October 31st , He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named finally met his downfall at Godric's Hollow. Most experts agree that He suffered from previous injuries at the hand of Ministry Aurors and simply died of exhaustion. In the Aftermath of his demise, many believed that baby Harry Potter was the one responsible for His death after surviving the Killing Curse. This allegations got Mr Potter to be known as The-Boy-Who-Lived. There was no witness at the scene and it is more than probable that the signature lightning-bolt scar everybody came to know, was only an injury that the baby suffered during the attack on his house. (See more under The-Boy-Who-Was-Lucky). Harry Potter became a symbol of that war, but experts all agree that his survival was only a lucky accident and that people should stop believing the boy capable of any special prowesses. The Ministry's actions during the War insured the success and complete destruction of the last Dark Lord. After His death, many speculated that He was to return, we must treat such allegations as what they are, pure rumors.
As he finished the last sentence, Harry could see all eyes on him. And Umbridge was smiling at him.
"Do you feel quite well dear? You are white as a sheet?" She said this time with a trace of laughter in her voice.
Dean raised his hand. "Yes dear?" Umbridge said nodding.
"Professor, how can they say that. Every one knows what happened that night. Harry survived the Killing Curse."
Umbridge laugher sweetly.
"Oh but you see dear. That was exactly what I was talking about earlier. Your judgment is based only on rumors. Mr Potter's survival is only a matter of luck."
At Harry's surprise, Seamus spoke up.
"But the Potter's were targeted by Voldemort. He wanted to kill Harry as a baby."
Umbridge laughed again. That woman was really getting on Harry's nerves.
"Oh no my dear. The death of James and Lily Potter was only a matter of chance. We can all speculate that James Potter argued with the wrong person or that Lily Potter's blood status was to blame. She was after all a muggleborn. Their young death was of course tragic, but in no way did it change the course of the war. They were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Harry's temper broke at this instance.
"You are lying." He said between his teeth.
Umbridge's false smile vanished. "You will be quiet Mr Potter. Your so called "survival" is nothing but legend. As is your allegations concerning He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named return. What would your parent say if they heard you clinging to celebrity as you do. They would be ashamed" she hissed.
Harry raised his wand. "You take that back" He yelled. Ron and Hermione were desperately trying to lower his arm.
Umbridge then smiled with all her teeth. "Detention Mister Potter. My office. 7 o'clock. And you will please leave the room this instant."
Harry gladly took his bag and stormed out of the room. He sat on the floor, his face between his knees, trying to regain control of himself.
"Potter ? What are you doing out of class ?" A voice said. Harry raised his head and realized that Osborn was standing there, staring at him.
A/N: I know that it's a smaller chapter but I thought it was a good way to finish this chapter. I hope I got Umbridge's voice right. I'd love to know what you think of the story so far. So Read and Review please. And I'll see you very soon.