AN: Yes, I know, I've been getting complaints about the chapters being too short...and I post one even shorter. I'm sorry...do you forgive me? I promise the next one will be longer.
Nobody had noticed that Alucard had disappeared from the clearing until Seras called for them to follow her back to the castle. Spot happily trotted after her, toy skull still grasped firmly between its pointed teeth. The class followed after, distancing themselves as far away as possible to avoid the brunt of the stench of decay continuing to waft off of the ghast.
Seras had made it precisely six steps into the castle when a shrill voice, more offensive than the ghast's odor, shrieked. "What is THAT?!" The ghast flinched harshly and tucked itself behind Seras, frightened by the aggressive tone. Umbridge had appeared just as the ghast was about to step foot into the castle.
Seras glared at the disturbance, "A ghast." The answer was blunt, and much more caustic than the class had ever imagined coming from the usually bubbly Seras. It was becoming increasingly apparent that threatening a vampire's pet ghast in their presence was nearly a death sentence if even the mild-tempered Seras was bristling so quickly. Seras calmed and continued in a reassuring tone, "Don't worry. It's not dangerous, and it's just spending tonight in the basement with myself and Alucard." The class swore that they could see red eyes peeking from the shadows directly behind Umbridge, though neither Seras nor Umbridge seemed to notice them.
Umbridge, bolder now that Seras didn't look as hostile, "You're telling me that you plan to bring a class 3 dark creature into this school?" Umbridge shrieked. "Ack! It stinks too."
Seras was caught off-guard by the immediate, overly aggressive reprimand from a lady she had never before spoken to. "Uh... yea. I'm not sure what you mean by 'class 3,' but Spot's going to spend the night with us. He's going back to Hellsing tomorrow and I won't force him to spend the night in the forest when there's a perfectly usable room available." Umbridge remained directly in her path. "Please," She asked the toad lady, "our class ran long and it is already nearing curfew. The students need to return to their rooms."
Umbridge stood resolutely as an offensive guard, even as she was forced to wrinkle her nose at the stench. "I am not letting that THING anywhere inside this building," she declared forcefully, then grumbled "Bad enough being in the same building with filthy half-breeds."
Seras ignored the slight, still confused by the outburst. After all, she had already received permissions for this from Dumbledore. She stared at the unreasonable lady and came to a quick conclusion. It really was getting late. Though this was not a problem for her or Spot, the students really would be in trouble if they didn't manage to get in the castle soon. Umbridge certainly didn't look like she was going to yield in the near future.
Well, Seras thought, not much else to do about it, "Miss Umbridge, we really do need to enter, I have already consulted with Dumbledore on this matter. It is really not up for further debate at this time. I can assure you that Spot is completely safe."
"Absolutely not," Umbridge refused.
Seras wasn't fazed, she had expected as much, and simply brushed Umbridge to the side and out of their path. Umbridge had no chance at physically barring Seras from entry and was forced to concede. That didn't mean she had to like it, though, and she spewed verbal protests as the accursed group marched into the castle despite her best efforts.
She could even hear some of the students snickering at her plight. Incorrigible brats, she fumed impotently. As the students filed past the toad, they swore they saw red eyes laughing from the shadows.