Chapter8:
in her 4th year, Harriet met a person she thought she might just hate as much as Marge, professor Snape and slightly more than Harper an idiot from Slytherin. Professor Umbrige arrived at hogwars. The women who spread around that the story from the year before about the Voldermort was a lie. Then when Harriet told her that she was lying Umbrige lost her temper.
"detention and take that to your head of house!"
so Harriet had taken the letter Umbrige had given her and set off for professor Flitwicks classroom. He was however right in the middle of a lesson and just said:
"take it to professor McGonigal I'm sure she can sort it out" in his high squeaky voice. So Harriet had gone to the teacher she got on best with and who she knew still kept a close eye on her. When she had knocked on professor McGonigal's office she had found her in.
"ah, Harriet to what do I owe this pleasure" she asked kindly.
"professor Umbrige sent me to professor Flitwick and he sent me to you"
"ah, now I must worn you Harriet do not get on the wrong side of professor Umbrige, she could land you in rather more than detention"
Harriet nodded.
"she gave me this note" Harriet handed over the tight role of parchment.
She heard McGonigal open it with a slight tap from her wand and unroll it.
"is this true Harriet?" professor McGonigal said sternly looking at Harriet.
"is what true professor?"
"that you shouted at Umbrige"
"no I Spock to Umbrige slightly louder than I might normally speak"
"is that so, and were you proclaiming that what Mr Potter said was true?"
"yes, I believe him and so does Luna"
"Harriet you must see that it is up to others to say that"
"I don't think so, I think as many people as possible should stand up to umbrage" Harriet said angrily.
"I can see your point Harriet but I'm not sure it will work like that"
"why not?"
"look Harriet I'm not arguing with you because I know I'd loose but please just do as I advise and don't get on the wrong side of Umbrige again" McGonigal said sounding slightly tired.
"all right I'll try, but when's my detention? She said she gave me a detention"
"oh yes, it is over the first Hogsmead visit because she said she had put so many others in detention, that is the only day left"
Harriet nodded, and then left.
McGonigal looked after her, hopping Harriet would keep to her advise.
then on the first Hogsmead visit of the year when everyone would go out to the village and Luna be going to some meeting of people who wanted to learn how to defend themselves would be meeting in the Hogs Head. Harriet would have loved to go but no. she had this stupid detention with Umbrige.
When she knocked on her door at 9 o'clock was answered by plight.
"come in" in Umbrige's sweetly sickly voice.
"yes will be writing lines today" she continued.
Harriet came into the room, her cane in front of her trying to find were to sit.
"oh you will sit hear" Umbrige said with a little gigle she got up and grabbed Harriet felt goosebumps erupt where Umbrige had touched her.
"sorry professor I don't have a brail machine"
"don't worry I've managed to get one for you" Umbrige replied with another girlish giggle.
Harriet nodded.
"what would you like me to right professor"
"I must not tell lies" Umbrige said sweetly, seating herself back behind her desk.
"how many times?"
"till its sunk in should we say"
then Harriet started.
She had only typed a few letters when she felt a serous pain across her hand. Slowly she brought her other hand over it. And felt the tiniest punctures reading the words 'I must' Harriet shivered and went back to her typing. Every time she pressed a key down she felt stamping pains on her hand.
Finality it lunchtime.
"I'll see you again in half an hour then" Umbrige said softly and we'll see how far you've got.
Harriet left as fast she could without running. Running one hand over the other feeling the punctures that read 'I must not tell lies'. Her hand was not throbbing quite badly and thought it might be slightly wet.
When she reached the dinning hall she was surprised the find Luna already sitting at the table.
"how was the detention?" she asked.
"bad, how was the meeting?"
"oh it was excellent we're going to start having meetings as soon as we find a place" Luna answered sounding happy.
They eat the rest of their lunch in silence then as they got up to luna said:
"are you coming up to do that transfiguration essay? I could do with some help"
"can't sorry Luna, I've got more detention"
"more!"
"yep" Harriet said making her way back to Umbrige's office
it was 8 o'clock before Umbrige finally let Harriet out of her office.
Her her hand was hurting worse than ever and bleeding quite badly. She had not intended to tell Luna but Luna unlike Harriet was not blind she could tell at once that it had been done by Umbrige and said at once:
"don't you think that's cruel" in a slightly vague voice "in fact I'd say its more like evil"
after her detention with Umbrige Harriet was very careful not to get on the wrong side of Umbrige again. She did however wish she knew she was doing something to stand up to her, but she was never able to go to the DA meetings herself. Luna however showed her everything she did not already know.