Chapter 11

"Hey, is it just me or does Morgan look like she's been up all night?" asked Harry as he watched Morgan sluggishly work with Neville on their potion.

"Well, she does seem a little tired," said Hermione absently as she concentrated on mixing their potion.

Just then orange smoke issued out of Neville's cauldron and engulfed the pair. Harry could hear them coughing behind the smoke, which was starting to smell like bad eggs.

Snape was on them in seconds. He vanished their potion and gave both of them extra homework on how to properly make the Draught of Insomnia. As soon as Snape was gone, Morgan began apologizing to Neville for getting both of them in trouble. Apparantly she had mistaken the lionfish spine with the gillyweed, which was a mistake anyone in their right mind couldn't possibly have made.

"Okay, maybe she did stay up all night. I mean, even Neville wouldn't have made that mistake. But I can't understand how she could have gotten so little sleep. She was in bed all night, I checked!" said Hermione as she watched Morgan packed her bag grimly.

"Maybe she snuck out of bed when you were asleep," said Ron.

Hermione huffed. "Well serves her right if she did. I already warned her about wandering the school at night."

"She's been wandering around after hours?" asked Harry. "What's she doing?"

Ron shrugged. "Maybe snogging some bloke from another House?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "She's only been here a week. Do you honestly think she has a boyfriend? She barely speaks to any of us and we're in her House!"

"All right, fine. What do you reckon she's been doing, Miss Know-It-All?" retorted Ron.

"I don't know but if this continues I'm going to have to tell McGonagall."

They packed their bags and left Snape's dungeon, heading up the stairs. Hermione left them on the seventh floor as she headed for her Arithmancy classroom while the rest of the Gryffindors continued on to the North Tower for Divinations. Harry and Ron noticed Morgan lagging behind as they climbed the stairs to Trelawney's classroom.

Harry nudged Ron in the ribs and the two of them slowed down until Morgan was right behind them. They reached the ladder and Harry let Morgan go first. As she stepped past him, Harry finally got a good look at her face and was surprised to see the dark bags under her eyes. Her hair was a disheveled mess and she seemed paler than a ghost.

"I reckon she's sick," said Harry as he and Ron sat down at their usual table. Morgan was sitting with Neville at the table in front of them. "She looks like she's half dead on her feet."

"Blimey, you'd think she'd go to the Hospital Wing if she was sick."

Professor Trelawney went around the room, passing out copies of The Dream Oracle and was about to explain today's lesson when Umbridge climbed up the trapdoor. She gave a girlish 'Hem, hem,' that startled Trelawney. She had to do a double-take at the sight of Umbridge in her usual pink cardigan and black bow.

" Professor Trelawney, I trust you received my note of the date and time of your inspection?"

Trelawney nodded stiffly and turned to address the class. "Today we will be interpreting your latest dreams. Divide into pairs and use The Dream Oracle to help you." She proceeded to join Lavender and Parvati at their table due to the fact that Umbridge had settled herself near Trelawney's winged armchair.

"Right so what was your latest dream, Harry?" asked Ron.

Harry, who was watching Umbridge as she rose to walk around the room, didn't hear him. Ron had to prod Harry in the arm several times to get his attention.

"What, Ron?"

"What was your latest dream?" Ron asked again, opening The Dream Oracle.

"Er, I don't remember. Just say I bought a pair of socks for you."

"Uh huh… okay so it says we gotta consider your age, the subject, and how many nights ago you dreamed this," said Ron. He began making a chart as Harry watched Umbridge speaking with Neville while Morgan hid behind her copy of The Dream Oracle. Harry half-suspected she was asleep since her head was down but when Umbridge turned to her to ask a question, she looked up and replied automatically. Whatever her reply was, it had wiped the smile that Umbridge had been wearing ever since she entered the classroom off her ugly, toad face. Umbridge made a small note on her clipboard and moved towards Trelawney.

"Now, how long have you been teaching this subject here at Hogwarts?" asked Umbridge.

"Nearly sixteen years," said Trelawney with some pride in her voice.

"And you are the only one in your family, except your great-great-grandmother, Cassandra, who possesses the second sight, correct?"

"Yes. The gift can skip many generations before reappearing again in another Seer," said Trelawney.

"I see. Well, in that case could you please predict something for me?" asked Umbridge, her toad-like smile returned.

"Excuse me?" exclaimed Professor Trelawney. "The inner eye does not see when commanded to!"

"Oh, pity. Not even a tiny prediction?"

Trelawney hesitated, seeming unsure.

"Very well than," said Umbridge making a note on her clipboard.

"What! I do see something!" exclaimed Trelawney in her almost-usual dreamy voice. "Yes! I see it! A great beast is in your future! You are in grave danger!"

"Uh huh." It was obvious Umbridge didn't believe Trelawney as she headed for the trapdoor. "You will receive the results of your evaluation soon, but I suspect you already know what it will say."

After Umbridge was gone, Trelawney rounded on Harry and Ron, who happened to be the closest pair at the moment, and snapped, "Let's see your dream diary." For the rest of the class, she interpreted every one of Harry's dreams as meaning he was about to die or he was in mortal peril, which given the fact that Voldemort was back, wasn't a surprise, though how buying sweets could possibly mean he was about to die was beyond Harry.

Morgan wished vainly that Potter had a mute button as she quickly stuffed her quill and parchment into her bag before hurrying out of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Today's lesson was just as boring as the last one, with them reading out of a stupid textbook, but Potter just had to open his mouth and land himself in detention again.

Morgan groaned out loud as she trudged down the grand staircase, heading for the Great Hall for dinner. She hadn't slept in the past 24 hours – she'd barely made it back to Hogwarts in time for History of Magic – and now she was going to have to spend the next week's nights keeping watch over Harry as he served detention with that evil woman. Of course she couldn't blame him since he didn't know she was his body guard, but it made Morgan feel a little better knowing that he wasn't exactly having a party with Umbridge while Morgan sat outside waiting for him to finish his detention. And then there was the fact that she really needed to talk to Dumbledore about the King's Cross incident, but it looks like at this rate, she was in for another all-nighter.

By the time Morgan had finished loading her plate, Hermione, Ron, and Harry had joined her at the Gryffindor table. Hermione sat next to her, still scolding Harry for losing his temper in front of Umbridge.

"You really need to stop losing your temper every time Umbridge mentions You Know Who. You'll only get into more trouble. If you keep this out, Umbridge might expel you!"

"Umbridge can't expel Harry," said Ron. "She doesn't have the power to do that."

"Oh, you two must be blind if you can't see what she's up to. She's trying to gain control of Hogwarts; Fudge appointing her the Hogwarts High Inquisitor is only the first step. Soon, she'll be running Hogwarts as Headmistress."

"She can't be Headmistress. There's no way she can replace Dumbledore," said Harry.

"Well, Dumbledore won't exactly be in a position to argue if he gets chucked into Azkaban. Don't you remember? Mr. Weasley told us over the summer that Dumbledore keeps trying to spread the news about You Know Who, but he's only getting into more trouble with Fudge. I bet the Minister is looking for any reason he can find to remove Dumbledore from power and throw him in Azkaban."

"How do you know all this Hermione?" asked Ron, chewing on his mash potatoes.

"I listen, Ron, and I pay attention. Her speech at the Welcoming Feast told everyone exactly what she's doing here. Anyone who listened would have known."

"So that would be only you then, Hermione."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed.

Morgan checked the time and was dismayed to see that she had only a half hour before Harry was to serve her detention with Umbridge. She quickly took one last bite of her dinner before shooting out of her seat and grabbing her bag.

"Morgan, where are you going?"

"Homework!" she called as she rushed out of the Great Hall. She had just cleared the double doors when she almost ran right into Professor McGonagall.

She quickly side-stepped her, muttering an apology.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, Miss Risika?"

"Just back to Gryffindor Tower to do some homework, Professor. Sorry about that," said Morgan hurrying to the stairs.

"All right, just remember you have detention tonight."

"Wait, what?!" Morgan skidded to a halt. "Detention?!"

"Don't tell me you forgot, Miss Risika? It's tonight at seven."

"But – but Professor!"

"No excuses."

Morgan ran back to McGonagall and spoke with a low voice. "Potter has detention tonight with Umbridge," she hissed. "How do you expect me to keep an eye on him if I'm on a different floor?"

"Potter has detention? Again?" exclaimed McGonagall.

"He mouthed off again in class and landed himself in detention every night this week."

McGonagall sighed. "That boy…"

"So you see, I can't do detention tonight or any other night for the rest of this week," said Morgan.

McGonagall shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Miss Risika. I can't let you off simply because you have other obligations. You will serve detention alongside Potter tonight." Morgan could only gape as McGonagall scribbled a note addressed to Umbridge on a small piece of parchment and instructed Morgan to give it to Umbridge when she goes to serve her detention.

Morgan was cursing both women as she stalked up to Gryffindor Tower. She was going to get no sleep for the rest of this week, had to finish a giant pile of homework, and she had to spend tonight getting her hand carved open by that evil bitch. What the bloody hell!

Morgan had barely enough time to take a hot shower before she had to leave for detention with Umbridge.

She ended up arriving first. She entered the overly-decorated pink office and approached Umbridge, who was seated behind her desk with a surprised look on her face. She handed McGonagall's note over without saying anything and watched as a toad-like smile appeared on Umbridge's face.

"Tut tut, Miss Risika, is it? It says here you are serving detention because you attacked Mr. Malfoy with a Stinging Hex last Saturday," she said in a cheery tone.

Morgan remained silent, refusing to answer.

"Now now, just like in class, if I ask you a question you should reply with a 'Yes, Professor Umbridge; or a 'No, Professor Umbridge'."

"Technically you didn't ask a question, Professor, so I'm not obligated to respond," said Morgan coldly.

Umbridge's smile grew wider. "I can see you have a temper like Mr. Potter. You seem to have a little more control of yours but all the same." Umbridge waved her unusually short wand and a small table and chair appeared beside the one that had been set out for Harry. She handed Morgan a quill and parchment and instructed her to write 'I must not tell lies'.

"Sorry Professor but I don't see a reason why I should be writing 'I must not tell lies.'" More like 'I must not Hex Malfoy'…

"Oh, well you see I also happened to hear of this incident from Mr. Malfoy himself. He specifically told me you tried to convince Professor Snape that he had been lying about that horrible hex you cast on him. Now we can't have that now can we, Miss Risika?"

Morgan scowled as she turned to sit down in her seat.

"I didn't hear your response, Miss Risika."

"No, Professor Umbridge," said Morgan with her back to the horrible woman.

Morgan began to write but as soon as she finished her first line, she felt invisible daggers carve those words into the back of her hand. She steeled herself to not even flinch as she continued writing 'I must not tell lies' in her own blood.

She was on her tenth line when Harry came in. He stopped, shocked to see her there.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter. As you can see, we have another student here serving detention. You know what to do. There will be no need to talk." Harry cast a curious look at Morgan before sitting down and picking up his quill.

The hours slowly ticked by and Morgan's hand was throbbing. She glanced at Harry's hand and noted that his hand wasn't healing like Morgan's was. Blood was dripping down the back of his hand as he forcefully continued to write.

This is torture, not detention.

Morgan toyed with the idea of pulling out the dagger Matthew had sent her and carving a few choice words into the back of Umbridge's hand; that woman needed a taste of her own medicine and Morgan would gladly give it to her. Maybe Morgan should skip the hand-carving and just go straight for the woman's jugular…

Suddenly, Morgan's right hand twitched wildly, causing the quill to jerk downwards. Morgan hissed as a deep slice appeared on the back of her hand. She bit her lip to hold back her gasp of pain. The wound seemed to trigger another spasm from her right hand. It began shaking uncontrollably. Morgan quickly cast an illusion around her as she tried to hold down her right hand with her left one. She pinned it down, using her body to hold it to the table but the hand was thrashing around wildly. Morgan could feel the demon in her struggling for control.

Not now! Not now!

Morgan panicked as she tried to force her demon back into her subconscious. Why did the demon have to decide to awaken right now, when she was in front of other people?

Her hand was frantically trying to wiggle out from under Morgan. A black aura encompassed her hand, shaping it into claws, which were shredding Morgan's uniform as it struggled to get free. She could feel the claws ripping through cloth and flesh as her hand thrashed about. Pain seared across her back but Morgan bit back the pain. She could only pray that the demon would give up soon as she tried to stay silent. Illusions only obscured what others saw, not what they heard.

It seemed like an eternity later when the demon gave a final jerk, ripping the sleeve completely off Morgan's left arm, and receded into her unconscious. Morgan was sweating as she rested her head on the table, panting as softly as she could.

Damn it, why not?

Morgan slowly sat up and realized her hand had not only shredded her uniform, but also the parchment she was supposed to be writing on. She was also dismayed to see that she had snapped the quill in half.

Now how am I going to explain this to Umbridge?

Morgan was afraid if she continued with this detention the demon might leap out again. Morgan tried to figure out how to get out of there without Umbridge realizing what had been happening for the past five minutes. She pulled out her wand and tried to repair the parchment.

"Reparo. Reparo," she whispered, but the spell didn't work.

Morgan cursed as she stared at the still ruined parchment and wondered how she was going to fix it with Sorcery. Her first week at Hogwarts taught Morgan that there were a lot of spells the wizards had developed that no amount of Sorcery magic could match. Repairing shredded parchment was one of them.

She decided to pull out a fresh sheet of parchment and start over. She stuffed the ruined parchment into her bag and pulled out her own quill and dagger. She took a deep breath and made a small gash in her left palm. When her demon didn't react again, she exhaled in relief. Blood was dripping down her hand and onto the table. Morgan quickly dipped her quill in her own blood and started rewriting 'I must not tell lies' over and over again until she filled the page. By then, her hand was numb and Morgan quickly used her shredded sleeve as a makeshift bandage. The only thing left to do was carve those words into the back of her hand… for real this time.

Morgan braced herself as she levitated the dagger with her mind. She had to push past the initial pain to stop herself from losing concentration and dropping the dagger into her hand. Five excruciating minutes later, her right hand was dripping with blood and had the words 'I must not tell lies' etched deeply in her flesh.

She silently prayed that this would work as she dropped the illusion around her table and stood up. She handed the parchment to Umbridge and apologized for snapping the quill in half. Umbridge smiled as she scanned the parchment and asked Morgan to show her her hand.

Umbridge seemed delighted at how deep the wounds were and Morgan grimaced at the fact that she voluntarily etched those words into her hands just to satisfy this woman.

"I'm glad you finally got the message, Miss Risika. You're free to go. Potter, let me see your hand."

Morgan left the room as quickly as she could, wrapping her right hand with what remained of her uniform. She was halfway up the stairs when she realized she was supposed to wait for Harry.

Damn bodyguard duties. Morgan was too shaken to think straight. All she wanted to do was rush up to her room, tend to her bleeding hands, and contact Isis as soon as possible. That demon attack really scared Morgan. What if next time, she loses control completely and attacks everyone in the Great Hall?

A few minutes later, Harry stepped out of Umbridge's office. He looked up and called out with surprise in his voice, "Morgan?" He rushed to catch up to her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine… just fine." Morgan started climbing as fast as she could. She didn't care if she left him behind. She just needed to get back to her room. Right now!

"Hey, don't let the old toad get to you," said Harry, who was surprisingly managing to keep up with Morgan's fast pace. He cast her a worried look. "Are you sure you're okay. You look really pale."

"I said I'm fine, all right!" snapped Morgan. She turned sharply and pushed aside a tapestry that hid a secret passage way that would get her to Gryffindor Tower faster. She practically shouted the password at the Fat Lady as she rushed inside the Gryffindor common room. The common room was deserted since it was well past midnight.

Morgan stormed across the room, heading straight for the spiral staircase when Harry grabbed her by the wrist. "Morgan, wait – "

Morgan hissed at the pain and jerked her arm away from him. It was then that she realized she'd let the illusion over her uniform drop while she had rushed back to the common room. In the light of the fireplace, Harry could see that her uniform was completely torn and her entire left sleeve was gone. He could also see her bandaged hands, which was still bleeding profusely.

Harry's eyes widen in shock. "Morgan, what happened to you?"

"It's nothing. I'm going to bed."

"Wait! Morgan!"

Morgan ran as fast as she could to the girl's dormitory. She rushed into her room and locked herself in the bathroom where she crumpled to the ground, shaking.

It was too much, just too much. Her demon, her body guard duties and her school work… all the stress was driving her crazy. She felt like she was falling apart.

A soft, hesitant knock sounded from the bathroom door.

"Morgan? Are you okay in there?" asked Hermione.

"Yes. I'm fine." No. I'm losing my mind in here!

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go to sleep, Hermione. I'm just going to shower and then I'll go to bed too."

"Okay…"

Morgan waited for the sound of Hermione's bed to creak, telling her she did in fact go back to bed instead of listening behind the door. She got up and undressed then took a long, hot shower. The hot water was soothing and Morgan could feel some of her earlier panic being washed away. She undid her make-shift bandage and cleaned the wounds. She muttered a quick spell and watched as green light emitted from the wounds as they slowly closed up. The spell worked so well there wasn't even a scar.

When she finished showering, she decided that she was too tired to attempt to scry Isis. I'll contact her tomorrow, thought Morgan as she fell into bed. She was asleep before her head even hit her pillow.