Chapter 20

The Queen of Hell

That night, I headed off to detention feeling scared and horrible. I wondered what that old toad was going to do to me. I knew she already didn't like me partly for being Harry's cousin and partly for being a so-called 'Know It All'. I hated her. That woman, in my mind was known as the 'Queen of Hell' I met George on my way there. We didn't say too much. Just that we were ready for torture.

Umbridge instructed us to sit down in a desk. We obeyed her reluctantly. She gave both of us one of those dreaded night-black quills that write with your own blood. I took a deep breath.

"I want you to write, 'I must not make out in empty classrooms," I heard George snort from behind me. This was just great. It was just the best thing to have etched into your skin.

I picked up the quill and wrote in tiny writing, I must not make out in empty classrooms.

Blood spewed out of my hand and I felt a searing pain. Easy Karina, I told myself. It's only momentary pain. Refrain from whipping that foul rat in the head. I fought back tears as I wrote.

I must not make out in empty classrooms

I must not make out in empty classrooms

I must not make out in empty classrooms

My hand seared in pain as the cut split open more. I glanced back at George and saw he was wincing in pain but trying not to show it as he wrote on. "This sucks," he mouthed, catching my eye. I nodded and turned around. I picked up the quill again and wrote once more.

I must not make out in empty classrooms

I must not make out in empty classrooms

I must not make out in empty classrooms

I didn't dare look up for the next few hours. I don't know what Umbridge would have done if I stopped writing. I tried not to show any more signs of pain. That bitch was not going to get the satisfaction I knew that she wanted. I was sure it was about 9:00 by the time Umbridge called us up to her desk. That old toad carefully examined our wrists.

"I think the message has gone through," she smiled.

We left Umbridge's office.

"You okay?" asked George.

"Yeah," I said. I looked down at my ripped skin. It was bleeding heavily. It was even worse then George's.

"You are not alright," he said. With his free hand, George grabbed my arm.

"Follow me," he whispered.

I had no clue where we were heading when I found myself in the library.

"What are we doing in here?" I asked.

"You'll see," George said. He led me over to a table in the back of the library. There was Hermione sitting there with two massive bowls of a white substance in front of her.

"Hey you two!" she greeted us, shutting her textbook, "put your hand in one of the bowls. It'll help alleviate the pain," I stuck my hand in the nearest bowl. Immediately, I felt the pain slowly disappearing.

"Hermione, you are a saint," I sighed.

"Thank you so much," George thanked her.

"No problem,"

"That was hell," George exclaimed.

"What did she make you write?"

"I must not make out in empty classrooms" George snorted, "the greatest thing to have etched into your skin,"

"I can't believe that bitch!" Hermione exclaimed, "You should totally tell Dumbledore! Harry won't…"

"Dumbledore has got enough on his mind," I replied, remembering something Harry had said. It was about something about the Order of Phoenix. It turned out that Dumbledore had just started the Order up all again to defeat Voldemort, although not many people knew about it. It was illegal to have those kinds of things without the ministry's consent. The problem with the Ministry of Magic right now is that they don't believe that Voldemort is back. Cornelius Fudge, the minister for magic, doesn't want to believe it so he's decided to convince the entire wizarding world that it's all a lie.

"But she just can't do that to you guys!" Hermione protested.

"I'm not going to tell him anything," I said, making it final. Hermione didn't go on with that anymore.

"So what are you planning to do for the holidays?" George asked me.

"I really don't know…going home? Visit friends? Possibly go skiing..."
"Skiing?"

"Muggle sport," I sighed, "its pretty fun. What about you Hermione?"

"Same thing. Mum and Dad want to take me skiing,"

"Where?"

"Sunshine Valley,"

"I go there!" I exclaimed, "I've been there every year since I was 7 years old!"

"Really?"

"Yeah,"