Canada sat back in his chair and watched the door. He was inwardly shaking his head at his brothers antics; god, why did America always have to go and do crazy things like this? Who in their right mind would follow Russia?!
His brother suddenly re-entered the room, his face full of anxiety. Canada leaned forward, his brows drawing up in concern. Just because his brother was an idiot didn't mean he didn't love him.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "Russia isn't going to declare war on you for following him, is he?"
"No" America shook his head wildly. "But he is definitely planning World War III. There's no doubt about it!"
"Um...did he tell you that?" Canada asked. "Oh are you just assuming?"
"Trust me, Mattie" America replied. "I saw his face. It had 'I'm planning World War III and there's nothing you can do to stop me' written all over it."
"Oh god..." Canada shook his head. "Seriously, stop this. Before you seriously screw things up and we do end up in another war."
"If I don't look into this and stop Russia the world will pay the price! He's the evil villain and I'm the hero! It makes sense!"
Canada closed his eyes. God, there was no reasoning with his brother, was there?
"We need back up" America continued, his eyes widening and growing more and more comical as he spoke.
"Whoa, whoa, wait" Canada held up a hand to stop him. "We? I am not getting involved in this!"
"...You know who we need?" America said, as if he hadn't heard his brother speak. "We need England! Where is he anyway? He just randomly disappeared and no ones heard from him since...oh my god. You don't think Russia got him, do you?" His eyes widened with panic.
Canada's shoulders slumped. "Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me...?"
Another detention with Umbridge.
Harry grit his teeth, struggling to simultaneously block out the sound of Umbridge's sickly-sweet voice and the piercing pain in his hand.
That one line repeated itself of the parchment, over and over again.
I must not tell lies.
I must not tell lies.
I must not tell lies.
He glanced up at Umbridge; she was scribbling on a piece of paper, a pleased smile stretched across her face. Harry felt his face grow hot with anger; the woman was one of the most sadistic bitches he had ever met in his life.
"I hope you're learning your lesson" she said, lifting up her head and smiling at him. "It's the entire point of these detentions, you know. You need to learn how to treat figures of authority with the respect they deserve."
'You don't deserve any respect' Harry thought, though he didn't dare to say this out loud.
Umbridge stood up and wondered over. She glanced over his shoulder, taking in the words written on the page and the droplets of blood scattered across it.
"I think that's enough for today" she said, putting her hand on his arm. "You may leave."
A seering pain flashed through his head, situated in the area where his scar was. Harry let out a yelp. Umbridge raised one eyebrow.
"Something to say, Mr. Potter?" she asked. Harry shook his head, trying to hide his alarm.
"No" he said. "I'll...I'll be going now."
He hurriedly stood up and made his way to the door.
"Mr. Potter?" Umbridge called after him. Harry turned around. "If there's something wrong...you know you can talk to me. That's why I'm hear."
Harry resisted the urge to shudder and simply turned his back from her, not wanting to look at that sadistic pleasure in her eyes any longer. He left the room.
When Harry told Hermione and Ron what happened, both were alarmed.
"Merlin" breathed Ron, apprehention filling his voice. "You don't think it's like Quirrel, do you?"
"I hope not" Harry said, shaking his head. "That would be horrible."
"Oh Harry" Hermione shook her head. "You need to tell Dumbledore about this!"
"Why would I tell Dumbledore?" Harry demanded. "He's never bothered enough to tell me anything; why should I tell him about this?"
"Harry!" Hermione said, disapprovingly. "It's for your own good! Don't put yourself at risk, just because your angry at Dumbledore -"
"It's not that, Hermione!" Harry cried, cutting her off. "Look, if it happens again, I'll tell him alright? But...for now, maybe I'll just speak to Sirius about it. I'll send him a letter through Hedwig -"
"Oh don't do that!" Hermione looked alarmed. "Remember what Moody told us while we were staying at the Headquarters? About the Owls being intercepted?"
"I'll be careful" Harry promised her. "I just need to tell him some stuff...not just about Umbridge but also about Professor Kirkland -"
"Oh Harry!" Hermione cried, her voice filled with exasperation. "Not this again!"
"Look, I'll probably feel better about the guy if I hear Sirius' opnion, alright?" Harry said, a hint of annoyance slipping into his tone.
"Harry -"
"Oh, alright!" Harry flung his arms into the air. "I won't tell him then!"
Hermione and Ron shared a look.
"What?" Harry demanded.
"Uh..." Ron looked for a good topic to talk about; then his face lit up. "Hey, mate, did I tell you that I'm the new Gryffindor Keeper?"
Harry stared at him, wondering when Ron had decided to try out for the position of Keeper. Ron saw his look, and his smile faded.
"I told you the other day, in the corridor, remember?" he said, bitterly. "I guess with all this Umbridge and Kirkland stuff, you must have forgotten." In a lower voice, he added. "Especially the Kirkland stuff."
Harry felt guilt rolling in his stomach. "Ron" he said. "That's great, I knew you could do it -"
"Yeah" Ron said, without enthusiasm. "Listen, I'm going to do to bed, alright?"
He turned away and walked away. Hermione shot Harry a long, approaching look; Harry looked away, feeling guilt knawing through him and the weight of the Umbridge situation - and everything else - weighing down upon him.
Snape knew he was in trouble as soon as he felt the sharp, burning pain in his arm that signalled that the Dark Lord was requesting his presence.
As he always did when this happened, he hurriedly left the Hogwarts grounds and apparated to the Dark Lord's headquarters. He felt apprehention coursing through him; he'd heard no mention of a meeting taking place anytime soon, so what was the reason for the summoning?
Voldemort's face was completely blank when Snape reached him. His malificient red eyes boared through him, and Snape had to force himself not to look away.
"Why" Voldemort snarled", his expression suddenly changing to one of anger. "Was I not informed about the new Professor at Hogwarts?"
"Are you talking about Arthur Kirkland?" Snape questioned. "Or Dolorus Umbridge?"
"You know who I am talking about" Voldemort hissed. "Why was I not told about Kirkland by you? You are my spy within Hogwarts - so why was it Lucius who, through his sons letters, found out and informed me...and not you?"
"My apologies, Master" Snape said, bowing his head. "I didn't know it was necessary."
Snape knew it was coming before it actually occurred; however he still couldn't ready himself for that familiar cry of "Cruicio!" and that agonizing pain that followed soon after.
Once it was over, the Potions Master lay on the floor, breathing heavily. Voldemort stared down at him, eyeing him with disgust.
"You do not withhold information from me!" he spat. "Useless fool..."
"I am sorry, Master" Snape repeated his apology, struggling to overcome the burning pain in his veins. "Forgive me."
"Fool" spat Voldemort. He glowered at Snape for a moment. "You will bring him to me!"
Snape swallowed, forcing his expression to stay neutral so as not to give away the unease he was feeling. "You want me to bring Kirkland to you...Master?"
"That is what I said!" snapped Voldemort. "This new Professor appears out of the blue at Hogwarts...no one has ever heard of him before; he holds no ties in the Wizarding World. And yet Dumbledore trusts him enough to teach those useless brats of his. I want to...meet this man."
Snape swallowed heavily; he knew exactly what Voldemort meant by 'meet.'
"I will bring him in, Master" Snape promised. After all, what else could he say? Voldemort dismissed him and, as he walked out, he wondered how the hell he was going to give the Dark Lord what he wanted. It wasn't as if he could just hand Kirkland over to him on a silver platter.
When he asked Dumbledore what to do, the elderly Wizard's response shocked him.
"Why, just do the obvious thing" he replied, stroking his silvery beard and smiling, as his blue eyes twinkled in that annoying way.
"And what's that?" Snape asked, his voice filled with exasperation.
"Take him to Voldemort."
AN:
Please review and tell me what you think. I'm not sure if I managed Voldemort's part well; I've always been terrible at writing him. I did try though, and some feedback on how I could improve on his character in the future would be great.
There will be more of England's character in the next chapter...and also, for those of you who asked if America would be coming to Hogwarts, the answer if yes. I'm not sure when though.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and favourited my story. You guys are all amazing :D