She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…
Marauder's Phase
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT
Threatened
I didn't know which thought to dwell on - the fact that I had a detention with Umbridge on Saturday, or the information that I had learned from Mr. Ollivander.
"So, my wand..." I had whispered, in a voice that I was surprised he had been able to hear. I was glad that nobody else could hear it, though. "It's core is not just ordinary wolf hair, it's werewolf hair?"
Ollivander had nodded, sending my thoughts into disarray. Werewolf? Could this mean anything? As if everything in my life hadn't already had meaning enough, and now my wand meant something too!? Luckily, no one had yet asked me who had made it. I didn't know.
The thought that two more people had a wand that shared the core of my wand plauged my mind as I stepped into Umbridge's office.
It was done up all in pink and with cat decorations and, whilst I love both the colour pink and cats, this was a bit too much.
Umbridge was sitting there, nursing a cup of heart-attack tea, and she proceeded to tell me just what they'd covered in that day's lesson.
Eight times, I had to bite my tongue, to stop myself from screaming at her. She knew my best friend was a werewolf, and yet she was saying all these things to provoke me...she was every bit as bad as she'd seemed in the books. The only good thing was that she and I would both be gone at the end of the year!
She issued me with a detention on Saturday, and I mentally prepared myself for the worst, assuring myself that there was no need to tell my friends especially Sirius, who seemed a little bit distant that entire week, that I may have to slice my own hand open.
***
I was becoming increasingly aware of Sirius' distance over the next week and, to combat the loneliness I felt with his absence, I immersed myself in studying with Remus, which proved to be a refreshing break from the whole ordeal of being Hogwarts Champion. Remus, like Lily, believed me completely when I said I didn't want to do this, and I can't begin to imagine where I would have been without the evenings we spent reading in the library, our heads bent close together and, one time, we fell alseep there.
It made me feel unhappy to know that I'd have to surrender him to my new friend Nymphadora Tonks someday.
Meanwhile, Sirius continued to glare at Regulus whenever the latter came within close proximity of me, but sometimes he had to! Whether it was to ask for a spare quill, hand me back the book I had dropped, or inform me that the sleeve of my robe was on fire during Potions class, Regulus seemed to be finding many excuses to come and see me all the time, and I can't say that I minded. It was nice having a friend who wasn't too close to the situation to judge me on what I had or hadn't done and, to tell you the truth, I enjoyed his company too. Despite being a Death Eater, Regulus was a true friend. I think...
"Gotta go," I said on Saturday evening, standing up in the common room. "I have a detention with Umbridge." I was surprised I hadn't scored myself a sooner one, since I'd continued to defy our new DADA teacher twice more this week.
"Good luck." Peter squeaked, as I left the common room, and trekked the path to Umbridge's office.
I knocked on the door, and she told me to come in. I did so, and noticed straight away THE QUILL.
"What's that?" I asked, looking at it apprehensively. It was mean and sharp-looking. I observed it.
"This is the quill you are going to be writing lines with this evening, Pax." Umbridge said quietly, placing her tea cup down on the saucer. "You are to write I Must Hate Werewolves as many times as it takes for the impact to...sink in..."
"I have to write what?" I said, standing in the doorway, my breath coming out in short, shallow gasps. "Did I hear you correctly, Madam?" I asked through clenched teeth.
"Oh, I think you did," Umbridge replied, smiling with her pointed teeth. "Please take a seat, Pax, and begin writing."
And they say Death Eaters are cruel...
I thought angrily. "And if I don't?" I said out loud, clenching my fists.
"You will sit down and begin writing, Pax," Umbridge said, in a dangerously soft voice.
My whole body was shaking now. "In a quill that cuts into my hand!?" I asked, somewhat shrilly. "I think not, Umbridge!" I knew I was being rude, but I didn't care. Why should I be polite to her!?
"A week's worth of detentions, Pax!" Umbridge said triumphantly. "Now sit down and begin writing, or..." She paused.
I gulped silently. Suddenly, I didn't like the look in her eyes. "Or what?" I asked quietly.
"Or I shall have to resort to different means," She said softly. "What the Ministry does not know will not hurt them..." She added, and I stared at her.
"Do you mean to use the Cruciatus Curse on me!?" I exclaimed. "Well, here's some news for you - I've had it used on me before! It doesn't affect me so much anymore!" Bitch! I added silently.
"But will it affect your friends?" She asked quietly.
I stared at her in unmasked horror. "You wouldn't dare!" I hissed.
Her eyes glittered with strange, cruel triumph. "Oh, wouldn't I?"
"If I tell Dumbledore..." I began, but she cut me off.
"Then your friends will have a whole lot worse to put up with, Pax!"
I stared at her, shaking from head to foot in pent up rage and hatred until finally, I realised that there was no other way around it. "Fine!" I said angrily, and flung myself into the provided chair.
I picked up the Black Quill, and scrawled in my illegible handwriting: I Must Hate Werewolves.
The words cut themselves painfully into the back of my left hand, but I hardly felt it because I was protecting my friends.
I Must Hate Werewolves...
It was cruel, sadistic torture...and the words I wrote were as untrue as a thousand lies.
I wondered how badly my hand would be bleeding by the end of this...
It would have been a lot worse, if not for a good friend...