Chapter Nineteen: The Sacking of Deloris Umbridge:
Remus Lupin walked up to Hogwarts, glad he was allowed to visit here even if he was a werewolf. He was here to see Harry and wanted to surprise him with a visit. Well there was that and the fact that Severus said he had an improvement on the Wolfsbane that now could be made into chews. Severus had come up with something new he said improving on what Fred and George had "accidentally" come across in their last year at Hogwarts when they had taken on themselves to make the Wolfsbane. If Severus had come across something to improve it then Remus most definitely was interested. He caught Harry just as he was heading out of the great hall and Harry grinned seeing him here.
"Came to see me then?" Harry asked. "Or you just miss school?"
"Well professor Snape has made some improvements on the Wolfsbane Harry." Remus said, "I hope it does not turn my hair green."
"No it will turn it pink." Came the silkily reply right behind Harry.
"Must you do that sir?" Harry asked as Severus stood behind him waiting for the teen to turn.
"Yes, you have classes Potter."
"I have an hour sir, may I talk with Remus sir?" Harry asked turning to face him innocently.
"Of course, the golden boy must be kept happy." Severus said silkily. "After all our little prince did save the Wizarding world."
"Not without help, and if I am a prince I can do whatever I want right?" Harry said cheekily.
"Not if you wish to lose points." Severus countered.
"Sorry sir." Harry said trying to look serious.
Remus laughed and went off with Harry while Severus glowered and went to his next class, it was his seventh year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs and he was grateful for that though that did mean later he would have to deal with first year Gryffindor and Slytherin. Oh the two houses had started to get along but Gryffindor knew how to rile up his little snakes and Merlin it annoyed him to no end! Finally an hour before dinner his classes were over and he collapsed into a chair and rubbed his temples. Someone put a cup in front of him and he looked up and saw a smiling Remus Lupin. Severus sniffed and smiled, a nice strong cup of mint tea just the thing he needed.
"Thought you could use that." Remus said cocking his head. "Let me guess first year Gryffindor and Slytherin?"
"Yes, why does the headmaster torture us so?" Severus said sipping the lightly sweetened mint tea. "Has he forgotten that Gryffindor and Slytherin strive to see how much they can annoy each other?"
"Surely it is not that bad?" Remus asked. "After the war and all?"
"These first years have not yet learned to work together!" Severus snarled.
"Ah well they have seven years."
"If they make it that long, I might need some fresh eleven year old brat's blood."
"Nice Severus, real nice." Remus smirked.
"Oh here, this is for your next change." Severus said tossing Remus a small bag.
"Better flavor?" Remus asked.
"No you said you still have some pain, if this works as I think it should you should now change painlessly." Severus replied.
"Ah I do like that." Remus said smiling. "Thank you Severus, you are a great friend."
"Hnn."
"Oh I am going to Hogsmeade later, around seven, you wish to come?" Remus asked, "it could be fun promise."
"You finally teach Sirius how to be a good little mutt?" Severus asked.
"Severus he is a good wizard, alright so I like him better as a dog too some days, but do come, this is going to be fun."
"Very well Remus, it better be worth my time." Severus replied.
"It will, I promise you that."
He left and Severus finished his tea and walked up to the staffroom to annoy, er talk to McGonagall who he knew would be here. He saw with annoyance she had taken his favorite chair and had won this round as she had annoyed him before he could annoy her! Why could life not be fair for him all the time? He took a seat and summoned a cup of tea and smirked when McGonagall glared at him. He took up the very magazine she was going for and he began to read. Score one for Severus Snape potions master and head of Slytherin.
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At twenty to seven Severus headed to Hogsmeade wrapped in a warm cloak. He entered the Three Broomsticks to see the toad that was Deloris Umbridge here tormenting poor Remus. She had silver out and was advancing toward Remus who looked very fearful. Severus was not pleased at all to see her tormenting the poor werewolf. He walked up and stood tall glaring down at Umbridge who turned to see first a mass of black then looking up the angry pale face of Severus Snape.
"Leave my werewolf alone Deloris!" Severus Snarled.
"Your werewolf?" Umbridge asked.
"Are you really that dense?" Severus said nearly smirking at her gasp of rage, "you gave him to me or did you forget there were witnesses?"
"Clearly she did." Came the voice of Lucius Malfoy. "Leave Remus Lupin alone you old hag!"
"Hag Mr. Malfoy?" Umbridge said sweetly turning to face him. "Better than the former lap dog of Voldemort."
"How dare you!" Lucius snarled turning pink in rage and going for his wand in his cane, Severus held up his hand and looked at Umbridge as if for the first time. "Let me at her Severus."
"No, you cannot attack the mentally challenged, it would be unsporting." Severus said and ignoring her look of rage he turned to Remus. "So why are we here?"
"Oh I think Dora can fill you in." Remus said.
Severus turned and saw Dora walk into the bar, over her normally bright muggle style clothing she had on heavy brown Auror robes with gray-green dragon skin armor. With her were Kingsley and Dawlish clad much the same as she was. With them was the minister of magic Scrimgeour he gave Severus a nod and smile and walked up to Umbridge who smiled up at him sweetly. This was going to be good to finally get rid of her as with Remus and others help he could finally get rid of her.
"Minister what do we owe this visit to?" Umbridge asked him sweetly.
"To see you put in prison where you belong!" Scrimgeour replied.
"For what exactly?"
"For setting Grayback on me and nearly getting me to kill Draco Malfoy." Remus said glaring at her. "If I had I would be dead now that is what you wanted isn't it?"
"You have no proof." Umbridge said icily.
"You see you slipped up," came the voice of Sirius Black, "I went back to that house and Padfoot was able to find something you left behind." He threw a bag on the table of gold. "Normally that would not be enough but you have a certain style all your own, one of the feathers of a blood quill tied to you was found in the bag."
"You tried to get my son killed." Lucius snarled, "my only child you hag!"
"Shacklebolt, Dawlish get her out of here." Scrimgeour said coldly. "Oh and as there are new changes to the laws you have the right to a lawyer, you will need it at your trial."
Umbridge was led out and Severus was glad to see her go, he saw Narcissa by her husband then. She had remained quiet and he knew she was very, very upset. When she got really upset she got very quiet and he could feel her anger from where he stood. Lucius put an arm around her shoulder and comforted her as best he could. Scrimgeour walked up to Remus who looked at the floor in submission he was shocked when the minister of magic extended his hand and at first Remus was scared to take it. Then he did and looked up to see the minister smiling.
"I hope you forgive me for my past prejudices Mr. Lupin." Scrimgeour said.
"You had every right minister, I am a monster sir, a dark creature." Remus replied.
"No you are not, you have a disease, it is not your fault and you have shown that you can live a normal life and not give into the monster."
"I did, when I killed Grayback."
"Well most people I know would, I am sure Mrs. Malfoy would have done far worse." Scrimgeour said.
"I would have." Narcissa replied.
"Well there have been new laws made and I signed them today." Scrimgeour said, "they are as such as long as a werewolf is willing to take the Wolfsbane and undergo blood tests to prove they are taking it, wear a muzzle at the change while in a safe location and have a tracing tag they are free to get any job that they want, marry and even take part in the ministry."
"That, that is extremely far sir." Remus stammered.
"Which means you and the Auror Tonks should think about when you want to get married." Scrimgeour said smiling. "Well I must get back to work, good day to all of you."
Scrimgeour left and Tonks ran to Remus and nearly knocked him over with a hug and kiss. Severus looked over at Narcissa and Lucius expecting them to be upset at this, but was surprised that they were not. It seemed that yet again when it came to the werewolf these two did not have the prejudice that so many had. Yet when a muggle born came around them they could not abide them. They knew Severus was half blood but that did not phase them, just muggle born. Then it clicked, one of the Malfoys had been or was a werewolf themselves! It was not Lucius or Narcissa could Arbaxas have been one?
"I need to talk to you." Severus said to Narcissa and Lucius.
"Yes well I don't blame you Severus." Lucius said studying his cane. "Can we go somewhere private?"
"Can we have a private room?" Severus asked Rosmerta.
She led them to a private room and Lucius sat by his wife who looked strained. Remus sat with Tonks who was wondering what was going to happen now. What secret did her aunt and uncle have? Once Rosmerta brought the drinks and left them alone Lucius began his tale, one he hoped he never had to tell, one he had hoped died with his father. This was going to be the hardest thing he had to say ever and he hoped that those here would understand.
"When my father graduated from Hogwarts he went on a trip." Lucius began, "he went to Transylvania to see where the vampires started out. He was coming back and it was the night of the full moon when he was bit by a werewolf. He knew his life was over if it was found out yet when he came home he could not hide this from his grandfather who had raised him. Instead of casting him out he made a room where my father could go to change. He was betrothed and my mother did not turn away from him, she married him and had me though she died in childbirth."
"So your father was a werewolf?" Severus said now understanding why the elder Malfoy did not mind a half-blood poor wizard boy in his home. "What about Draco or you?"
"The werewolf curse is not passed on, not that way." Narcissa said. "Though there are a few traits and if a wizard or witch born of a werewolf parent becomes an Animagmus he will always be a wolf."
"I found out about my father's curse when I was ten and I hated him for it." Lucius said quietly. "For years I hated him and he tried so hard to be a good father. A year before he died I did reconcile with him, he never did know I became a death eater."
"Draco like his father has a few traits, he can handle silver of course as only a full werewolf cannot." Narcissa said, "however Draco was not faking his injury in his third year, madam Pomfrey had a hard time healing him up."
"Stupid bird." Lucius said, "if I saw him now…"
"He is my Hippogriff and not a stupid bird!" Sirius snapped. "Your son was stupid to insult him!"
"So you are hypocritical with the pureblood act." Severus said evenly to Lucius.
"I am not, I still a pureblood and see the pureblood as the best, though a halfblood like yourself is not bad at all."
"Without new blood the Wizarding world would fail." Severus replied. "It is why there are muggle born we are so few as it is, besides many so called muggle born are the grandchildren of squibs."
"Point taken but do not expect me to like them."
"My father is muggle born." Dora said glaring at Lucius.
"Well enough talk, I have to get back to school." Severus said.
"Why don't you come to dinner, all of you?" Narcissa asked. "Lucius will be happy to have you over."
Lucius kept quiet, he knew not to argue with his wife, he did not want to suffer some very painful hexes. He left shortly after Severus with his wife and Remus looked over at Sirius and saw a small smile on his face. He knew his dear friend well and knew that he was planning on pranking Lucius Malfoy. Let the fun began!
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So there is a bit of my own back story on Lucius and why Draco was still injured in his third year. Lucius is a proud sometimes cruel man but he is trying here to change and be a good man. He will have his times but people can change and he is going from unmerciful bastard to caring good man any would like to look up to. Having his father bit and knowing the back story on the Malfoys this really was the only way I could have the Malfoys change their views without it seeming false and improbable.
Please do review!