I sit next to Ginny at breakfast the next morning at breakfast. If I had my way I would still be lying in my warm bed instead of in the Great – Hall wedged between Ginny and Ron.
"You two where brilliant yesterday in class, you should have seen the look she had on her face when you left, Isabelle," says Ron.
"Thanks mate," answers Harry. "You didn't have to stand up for me thought, Isabelle," he continues looking over at me.
"She's not a pleasant woman. And I'm not going to allow her to call me, or anyone I'm friends with a liar, especially if they're not. I think it's time for Umbridge to learn she can't punish people for telling the truth she's so frightened to believe," I state before snatching a grape off Ron's plate.
"You where still bloody brilliant, Isabelle," Ron states, his green eyes on me as I chew.
"Yeah, but now we've got detention with the great buffoon for a week and I've got an extra two days for writing 'Umbridge is a fat toad' on the back of my paper," I complain stealing yet another grape from Ron.
"There just take them," he says picking the rest of his grapes up and placing them on my plate.
"Thank you Ronald," I reply smiling at him.
"I don't think I really had much of a choice, you were going to eat them anyway," Ron says though I'm almost positive he is merely joking.
"Are you alright Isabelle?" Ginny questions, "you don't look so well."
"I'm utterly exhausted. I got back from detention with the awful toad Umbridge at almost ten and before I went to bed I finished Snape's assignment on Moonstone," I reply.
Ron stares at me, his eyes wide in disbelief, "You finished?"
"It's really not that hard. Everything you need to know is in the book," I state. "I can help you write it if you want."
"Please," Ron says.
"Tonight after I get back from detention," I reply before and walking out of the Great – Hall, leaving a plateful of untouched food behind.
"Pardon me Professor what exactly are you insinuating?" questions Umbridge as she stands on the steps next to McGonagall.
I stop, rooted to the spot by pure curiosity. A few others join me, having heard Professor Umbridge from inside the hall.
"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students you conform to proscribed disciplinary practices," replies McGonagall rather coolly.
"What's going on?" Harry whispers coming to stand beside me.
"I told Professor McGonagall about Umbridge's torturous form of detention," I answer quickly, turning my attention back to what is playing out on the stairs as I pop another one of Ron's grape that I had taken with me in my mouth.
"So silly of me but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom, Minerva," Umbridge says moving up a step so that she is at eye level with Professor McGonagall.
"Not at all, Dolores," states McGonagall as she too steps up to the next step, now standing, yet again, a good head taller than Umbridge, "merely your medieval methods."
"I'm sorry dear, but to question my practices is to question the Ministry and by extension the Minister himself. I am a tolerant women, but the one thing I will not stand for it disloyalty." Says Umbridge sternly as if it was a student, not a teacher, with which she is speaking.
After stepping down a rather flustered looking McGonagall answers, "Disloyalty?"
"Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action," Umbridge says turning to address the rather large group of students that have gathered at the base of the stair case.
"What exactly does she mean by 'immediate action?'" questions Ron.
"More rules, and not normal Hogwarts rules…Ministry decrees," I respond as Draco strides towards us.
"Potter," he sneers, wrapping an arm around my waist.
"Malfoy, how about taking your hands off Isabelle?" Harry replies glaring angrily at Draco.
"How about I don't and you pretend I did;" says Draco, "besides I'm merely walking her to Divination." With that we walk past a dumbfound Harry towards the tower in which my least favorite class awaits.
"He's a bit…" Draco says moving his hand about in an odd fashion, clearly unable to find the proper word.
"It's Harry, Draco, what'd you expect?" I question as we climb the stairs up to Professor Trelawney's classroom.
"Not much more," responds Draco.
"Have I ever told you how much I absolutely hate this class?" I ask as we walk past Trelawney towards our usual table.
It is all the way in the back, nearly concealed by one of the odd, scarf like curtains that hang from the towers rather tall windows.
"Only about a dozen times," responds Draco taking his seat across from me.
Unable to tell if he is joking around or if he is being serious I say no more, instead I take out my book. Sitting quietly I watch as people come into the room. Last to file in…Dolores Umbridge.
"What is she doing here?" I question looking across the table at Draco.
"Because I'm supposed to know," he says, not looking over at me.
"Draco, did I do something wrong?" I ask confused by his sudden change in attitude.
"No," he replies bluntly glaring at Umbridge.
"Then what's wrong?" I say reaching out to take his hand in mine.
"Later," Draco says.
Deciding to drop the subject I turn my attention to the front of the class. Though I do not entirely like Divination I do not wish for my mark to fall.
"Today we will be continuing with our unit on dreams," starts Professor Trelawney. "I would like each of you to share last night's dream with your partner."
I roll my eyes before turning my attention back to Draco almost not wanting to talk to him, "I dreamed of a hundred different ways to off the toad," I joke glancing down towards Professor Umbridge who is scribbling furiously on a sheet of paper attached to a clip board.
"Bit violent aren't we?" questions Draco letting out a laugh. Perhaps whatever had come over him before has now passed.
I would continue to think this but there is some glint of something in Draco's blue eyes that makes me wonder what is going on in his mind. Perhaps later he will tell me but I push the matter no further, I care to much for the boy to pester him till the point of him not talking to me anymore.
"Just one question dear, you've been at this post how long exactly?" asks Umbridge before I can respond.
Professor Trelawney looks a bit baffled at being asked such a question but none the less she answers, "Sixteen years."
Instantly my hand shoots in the air, "Professor Umbridge, forgive my asking but why exactly are you here?" I say.
"I have been made High Inquisitor Miss. Black…." Umbridge replies before turning back to Trelawney.
"When?" I demand not going to let her get off with such a blunt answer.
"From the time I arrived," replies Umbridge not turning to look at me.
I cannot bloody believe this. I don't care if she is from the ministry; Umbridge needs to learn her place and I'm not afraid to teach it to her. She will be a broken woman by the time she leaves this school. Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers never make it out of Hogwarts unscathed; Umbridge is no exception.