Chapter Twenty Eight: Inspections and Unexpected Revenge:

The winter of Harry's fifth year was one of the coldest many could remember for a long time. Even the aged headmaster had not felt a winter this cold in at least sixty years. The students and staff alike huddled around warm fires and Filch could be seen working with dwarves on sealing up walls and windows that had been letting in the freezing air. Even the centaurs were clad in warm furs under their armor and Hagrid would have a fire burning for the students to gather round for his classes complete with salamanders scampering merrily in the fire. Harry looked forward to potions as he was good at them and it offered a chance to warm up from the cold corridors of the castle.

Umbridge was as horrible as ever, she had taken on the role of High Inquisitor of Hogwarts and everyone in the school loathed her. She had almost got Trelawney fired when she went to her class to investigate her. What had happened had made many in the school happy, Trelawney had made a prediction, not an earth shattering one but one that shook up Umbridge to no end. What Umbridge did not know (nor did the rest of the school) was the hand Severus Snape had in the "prediction". He did not much like Trelawney, he saw her as a fraud but he had wanted to get back at Umbridge as he hated her even more. He had set in motion the prediction stealing into the divination teacher's classroom and "influencing" Trelawney to have a "prediction". Then he had set about to make it happen. He nearly laughed at the look of horror on Umbridge's face when it "came true" he had got her back the only way he felt he could.

Harry was still talking about the "prediction" with Neville and Hermione as they walked down to the dungeons. Ron came up a bit late the tips of his hair still green after he had consumed one of his brother's prank products. Of course he had not known what it was until he had turned completely green and he was as of now plotting Fred and George's demise. He took a seat at the same table he had sat at for the past five years with Harry, Neville and Hermione. Snape was already there and he did not look happy. The reason for that was Umbridge was there, clad in the most hideous pink robes imaginable. Harry could not help but think of a certain muggle stomach medicine whenever he looked at her. Snape gave the instructions for the day and glowered over his students potions. Harry dared not mess up, he knew Snape was not in any mood to deal with that today and so he sat quietly making his potion.

"So this is one of your fifth year classes?" Umbridge said. "And you are having them brew strengthening potions?"

"Yes, they come up on the OWLS." Snape said sharply.

"Interesting, I understand you applied for the defense against the dark arts job?" She asked.

"Yes." Snape replied and Harry knew he wanted nothing more than to blast her off the planet.

"You were unsuccessful?" She asked.

"Obviously." Snape replied his voice cold as death.

"Your students seem to be very successful, the most NEWTS of all potions professors?"

"Yes." Snape replied.

"Impressive, but what do your students think of you?" Umbridge said turning to look at the students.

Harry knew what was going to happen, she would ask him what he thought of Snape. Truthfully Harry did not mind Snape at all, he was a quite stern man with a sharp tongue that was true. However he was a great teacher, he expected a lot of his students and goaded them into doing their best. Umbridge would have read the files from Snape's school days with Harry's father and would expect there to be animosity to say the least between Harry and Snape. Yet Harry had been raised by Remus and Moody after his parents had died and they had taught him respect and understanding. Harry knew his father had been a bully in school and it was his mother who had tamed his father and turned him to the respected and loved man he became. He may have been popular in school but he had not been well liked outside Gryffindor.

"Mr. Potter." Umbridge said coming over when she saw Harry was simmering his potion.

"Yes professor?" Harry asked as innocently as he could.

"What do you think of professor Snape?" She asked. "You can be honest, he cannot take points for the truth."

"The truth ma'am?" Harry said slowly, "I think he is brilliant."

"Really?" She replied looking a bit taken back.

"Yes ma'am, he is the best potions master of our age, I mean we all know he wants to be the defense teacher but well if he was not the potions teacher who could replace him? I have learned so much from him."

"I see, what do you think Mr. Weasley?"

"He is stern ma'am but a great professor." Ron said.

"Well I was not expecting that." Umbridge said walking away.

Harry dared not look up as he felt Snape glaring at him. Snape was once more puzzled by Harry, here was a boy that looked very much like his father, with out glasses it was painful at times for him to look at Harry. When he had seen Harry all those years ago the first time when he wore glasses he had only seen James. Yet the boy was not his father, no he was so much like his mother it pained Snape. The students finished their potions and bottled them for Snape to grade. They cleaned out their cauldrons and put their supplies away and headed out of the classroom. Umbridge had already left but still Snape was not in a good mood. He saw Harry leaving the classroom and called him back.

"Potter a word!" He snapped and the teen turned and came back to stand before Snape's desk.

"Yes sir?" Harry asked.

"Why did you feel the need to defend me?" Snape asked.

"I only stated the truth sir." Harry said looking his professor in the eye. "You are brilliant, the best sir."

"I don't need you to defend me Potter!" Snape snarled.

"I know sir, I know you don't much care to look at me." Harry said slowly. "I am not my father sir, I would never be a bully like he was."

"Oh really?" Snape asked coldly wanting to throw Harry out but restraining himself.

"Yes sir, you know if I acted as he did in school I would not be able to sit ever sir." Harry said. "I know my mum tamed him, uncle Moony told me as much."

"Leave, now." Snape said.

"Yes sir." Harry said pausing at the doorway. "For the record sir that was brilliant what you did for professor Trelawney."

With that Harry was gone as Snape got to his feet startled at that. How had Harry known? Snape knew Harry was very, very powerful but for him to guess that he would do that, well the boy was full of surprises still. Snape sat back down and put a hand to his nose and sighed, he knew teaching Harry would be challenging but he was not aware it would be this challenging! Every time he tried to dislike the boy he did something like this. James Potter must be laughing at him from hell (as someone as cruel as James Potter never could get into heaven Snape was sure of that). Here was Severus Snape actually starting to like the brat-who-lived Harry Potter!

The next few months passed by and Umbridge got crueler and crueler as the weeks went on. Unable to find any reason to fire any of the staff she took out her frustrations on the students. Most notably Harry Potter as she did not like him at all. Harry had to be a saint to put up with here as she tried time and again to goad him. It didn't help that the Quibbler kept printing up each and every offence of hers in detail and even though the Quibbler was banned from Hogwarts the students knew what was going on. Umbridge did not know about Rita Skeeter and her Animagmus form as Skeeter went from spying on Umbridge to spying on Voldemort. She was making a lot of money from her stories in the Quibbler and Umbridge was getting a howler a day. She was starting to show the strain and the students knew it would only be a matter of time before she completely snapped. It happened in one of the defense classes Harry had with Umbridge, for no reason she gave him detention with her and had him do lines, with a highly illegal blood quill.

Harry was embarrassed, angry and did not know who to turn to after his detention. He could not understand how Umbridge could get away with such a cruel act. His had hurt and he did his best to charm it so no-one would know what had happened. However by lunch the next day Kingsley Shacklebolt came to the school with two Aurors and ordered Harry and Umbridge brought to the entrance hall. Harry was understandably nervous, what had he done wrong? Snape watched this with dread in his heart, he knew Harry had done nothing wrong and hoped Kingsley was not here for him. Kingsley had a copy of the Quibbler in hand and in it was an article on the until now secret practice that Umbridge had been using in her detentions. Once more Skeeter had saved Harry though he did not know it.

"Show us your hand Harry." Kingsley said.

"Yes sir." Harry said showing his hand which still had the disillusionment charm on it.

"What is going on?" Moody said slumping up, he looked at Harry's hand and he could see the damage below the charm. "Who did this?"

"Ask professor Umbridge." Kingsley said quietly.

"I have to keep the children in line." Umbridge said in defense.

"Did you use a blood quill knowing that they are classified as dark objects?" Kingsley asked her.

"Well yes but…"

"Deloris Umbridge you are under arrest, you wand now." Kingsley said.

"You cannot arrest me, the minister will not stand for this!" She said shrilly.

"The minister follows the law miss Umbridge, and he will not defend you now." Kingsley said holding out his hand for her wand.

She had no choice and handed it over and was lead out of the school. The students and staff who had gathered were stunned, they had heard rumors but not one student came forward to them about this. Harry stood there stunned by what had happened Moody limped up and steered him up the stairs firmly to the hospital wing. Harry dared not protest, as he thought he was in trouble for not reporting what Umbridge did. Moody took the disillusionment charm off Harry's hand and Poppy scowled at the damage. Ugly red lines ran across the back of his hand and they were starting to turn purple at the edges. They formed words and Poppy was not happy at this, it would take time to heal Harry's hand.

"Umbridge was using a blood quill." Moody growled.

"Thought as much, and it explains why we didn't hear anything from the students." Poppy said.

"Why is that?" Moody asked.

"Blood quills when used make the victim feel shamed, and he would not wish to admit what was happening." Snape said from the doorway. "If any of my house suffered at her hands…"

"Don't ye dare, I cannot get ye out this time, nor can Dumbledore if ye do that." Moody warned Snape. "I want t' hurt her too but it will do no good."

Poppy finished with Harry and let him go to his next classes while the headmaster searched for a replacement for Umbridge. As Remus was still officially "missing" and at any rate could not teach that left one choice and it was one that Snape was going to hate. He went to the headmaster's office and saw Sirius there and he went white with fury. Yet again he was passed over and this, this evil mutt was given the defense job! He had half a mind, no he was going to walk out, to hell with teaching! He was not going to be snubbed again! He was to the door when Dumbledore called him back.

"Severus I know you are upset my boy but I need you as my potions master." Dumbledore said calmly.

"You know I want the defense job headmaster! You insult me to give it to Black!" Snape snarled childishly.

"Severus you know why I will not give you that job, yes you would be wonderful at it." Dumbledore said. "However who would I have replace you as potions teacher? You are the best we have in that role, the most NEWTS per class have come from you my boy."

"I want the defense job, Black is too stupid to teach." Snape said and Sirius looked up at him in shock and got to his feet. "Case in point he would attack me in your office."

"You evil foul horrible greasy bastard!" Sirius snarled at Snape. "I don't want the job but it seems right now I am being asked to take it. Alastor should have it not me!"

"Alastor is where he wants to be Severus." Dumbledore said. "You know you can't always get what you want my dear boy but you get what you need."

"I knew I should not have introduced you to muggle music." Snape muttered darkly.

"Lemon drop?" Dumbledore offered the two men.

"No thank you headmaster." Snape said.

"Thank you!" Sirius said popping one in his mouth. His eyes went huge and he looked as if he swallowed a whole lemon. "Those are tart!"

"But good, have another?" Dumbledore asked him.

"No thank you sir." Sirius said.

"Now behave both of you, any fighting and you will be in trouble." Dumbledore said sternly. "Severus knows exactly what kind don't you my boy?"

"Yes sir, I will not attack Black, but if he attacks me I will leave very little of him save what is needed for the next generation of Blacks."

"I really hate you Snape." Sirius said.

"Good because I feel the same way back." Snape shot back.

He stormed out of the room with Sirius after him in a very foul mood. He waited until that evening to head out and see Lucius and complain about Sirius Black. Narcissa would side with him, she always did which was funny because she was not related to him but to Sirius. She saw Snape as a brother and family more than Sirius was. Students scattered out of his way as he made his way down to his dungeons for his next classes. Fortunately they were first years and he took great delight in scaring them out of their wits. There were perks to the job he had to admit to himself. As scaring first years was high on his to-do list every day.

Umbitch is gone can we all throw a party? Yes let's go get Severus Snape to join in now! Professor Snape… No he will not come, so all kidding aside she did get what she deserved!