Author's Note: Do you honestly think that if I owned all of this, I would continually lie to my readers and say that I don't?
Chapter 17 Who Do You Think You Are?
Professor Umbridge was wearing a bright pink, tweed cloak and matching hat. She had to back away and look up to see Hagrid's face, her face contorted in a grimace.
"ARE…YOU…HAGRID?" she shouted up at him, slowly and deliberately like she was talking to someone who didn't speak English.
"Uh…yeah, I am," said Hagrid with confusion as Umbridge entered the hut without asking.
"Get off me, you stupid brute!" Umbridge said, thoroughly disgusted as Fang began jumping on her to lick her face, drooling all over her in the process.
Good job Fang, Alex thought with a smile.
"I wanna play! Please play with me!" Fang was saying as he barked and jumped on her.
"Down Fang," said Hagrid, pulling the boarhound away, "Uh…I don' think we've met before…who are yeh exactly?"
"My name is Dolores Umbridge," she said, looking around the cabin searchingly. She was looking for someone, or some people. "I am the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Oh good," said Hagrid with a smile, "Dumbledore managed ta find another one. Well, good luck ta yeh, Professor Umbridge."
"I am also the Hogwarts High Inquisitor." she continued.
"What's tha'?" Hagrid asked, his smile fading.
"You will find out all in good time," said Umbridge sweetly, "I saw footprints leading up to the hut, but none coming away. Who is here with you?"
"No one," said Hagrid, turning his back on the spot where the four students were hiding invisible, "There's no one here but me an' Fang."
"Mmhm," said Umbridge after looking around for a minute to find something that was hidden. Finally, she turned to Hagrid and asked suddenly, "So, where were you these last few months?"
"I'm…wha'?"
"Where…have…you…been?" Umbridge asked slowly, one of her infamous smiles growing across her face that was sweeter than honey but also laced with evil, "A substitute has been teaching your classes and no one seems to be able to tell me why."
"Oh, well," said Hagrid uneasily, "I've been away fer personal reasons."
"And what are these "personal reasons" I've heard so much about?" Umbridge asked.
"I…look, if yeh must know," said Hagrid with a sigh, "An ol' friend o' me dad's died an' I had ta help with the arrangements. The friend was like me ol' dad so I wanted it to be perfect, yeh know?"
Alex had to admit, Hagrid was worthy of an Oscar. He even got his eyes to fill up with tears. But Umbridge didn't show any sympathy as she paced the hut, looking at everything with her nose turned up.
"Well then, Professor Hagrid," said Umbridge, all sweetness gone and only coldness remaining, "I have been inspecting every teacher's classes so I have come to let you know…don't worry about unpacking your belongings. You won't be here long."
Umbridge left the hut while Hagrid looked after her, his face full of confusion. Once the door was closed and there was no sign of Umbridge returning, Alex became visible followed by Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
"Isn't she part o' the Ministry?" Hagrid asked as the boys handed out the hidden mugs.
"Yes," said Hermione, "Hagrid, what do you have planned for us this year?"
"I'm glad yeh asked!" he said with an eager smile, "It'll be real fun, I promise."
Alex looked at her friends with raised eyebrows. The last time he said a class would be fun, Draco had went to the Hospital Wing. She tried to wriggle information out of Hagrid, but he wouldn't budge.
"Hagrid, please!" Alex said exasperatedly, "It can't be dangerous! I know that they may be interesting, but you have to keep things a little on the boring side for Umbridge. Hagrid, if she makes you leave-"
"Relax Alex!" Hagrid said with a laugh, "I've got these creatures tamer than a lapdog. Now you four need ta be gettin' back ta the castle before tha' toad woman searches the castle fer yeh. And Alex," she turned and looked up at him, "Are we still on fer those lessons on Saturday mornin's"
"Of course, Hagrid," said Alex with a tiny smile and they left.
Once they were in the privacy of the common room, Alex began pacing and venting. Finally, she stopped and stared into the flames.
"We have to make sure she had no reason to sack him," said Alex darkly, "I don't care if I have to plan his lessons for him, they're not taking Hagrid away!"
...
Care of Magical Creatures class was on Tuesday and the days before it dragged on. Finally, the day arrived and the fifth year Gryffindors and Slytherins met outside Hagrid's hut. Alex could hear disappointed mutterings from both houses.
"Why can't we just keep Grubbly-Plank?" Lavender mumbled.
"Yeah," said Parvati, "At least her lessons aren't life threatening."
"I'm going to pretend I never heard that," snarled Alex and the girls spun around quickly.
"Oh, we didn't mean it like that!" said Parvati, blushing violently.
But Alex didn't answer because Pansy was leaning all over Draco and complaining loudly for all to hear.
"I hope Professor Umbridge sacks that brute!" she said as she ran her fingers through Draco's light blonde hair, "What do you think Drakey?"
"I think you need to stop calling me that, Pansy," Draco said quietly and he took her hands off his head, fixing his hair as he backed away a little.
"Alex?" She turned and saw Stevie standing beside her. "Should I be scared for this lesson?" Stevie asked nervously.
"Don't worry, just listen to Hagrid and you'll be fine," said Alex reassuringly, "Only those who don't bother to pay attention get hurt."
"Alex is right, Stevie," said Neville with a nod, "The only reason Malfoy got hurt the last time was because he didn't bother to pay attention to Hagrid when he said not to insult the hippogriffs. He called one a brute and got scratched for it. You're going to be just fine, I promise."
Stevie nodded and Hagrid came out of his hut, smiling jovially at them all. However, many students looked at him horrified, and not just at his face. He was holding a dead animal carcass.
"What was that you were saying about me being just fine?" whispered Stevie in horror as Neville looked a little green himself.
"Got a real treat fer yeh today!" he said, "Jus' follow me now, an' stay close. We're going into the forest today. Don' worry," he added, seeing many of the students back away slowly, "It's only 'cause they like the dark."
"What likes the dark?" Maggie asked, her voice full of fright. If Alex wasn't so worried herself, she'd have found the situation funny.
"Yeh'll see!" said Hagrid. Alex was worried, but not because of the stories of werewolves and other monsters. She gave Stevie a pat on the shoulder and ran up to Hagrid, struggling to fall in step beside him.
"Hagrid," she whispered, "Remember the last time I was in here? I don't want the centaurs saying anything they shouldn't in front of these students."
"Relax," said Hagrid, "We're nowhere near their territories. Yeh seem so tense lately, Alex. Yeh feelin' all righ'?"
"Yeah Hagrid," said Alex, "I'm fine. It's just been hard since…that night."
Hagrid nodded knowingly. "So, how's Monty doin'?" he asked and she was glad for a change of subject.
"Well, Professor Grubbly-Plank is still looking after him," said Alex, "I would've taken him to you, but you weren't here. Something…or someone attacked him while he was delivering a letter from London."
Hagrid patted her on the shoulder and Alex's knees buckled a little. They came to a clearing and everyone gathered around in a tight circle. Alex found herself in between Stevie and Draco. Stevie was shaking and Alex gave her a friendly smile.
"Now," said Hagrid, setting down the carcass on the forest floor, "Today we're gonna be learnin' 'bout thestrals. So, who can tell me what they are?"
Hermione and Alex raised their hands and Hagrid pointed to Hermione first.
"They're winged, skeletal horses," Hermione recited quickly, "That are said to be bad luck omens."
"Very good, five points ta Gryffindor," said Hagrid happily, "Now, they're really not bad luck at all. But, not all of yeh will be able to see them. Who can tell me why? Alex?"
"Because," said Alex, swallowing, "Only those who have seen death can see thestrals."
"Excellent!" said Hagrid, beaming, "'Nother five points ta Gryffindor. Thestrals now, they like fresh meat so they'll be comin' faster than-"
"Hem, hem!"
Hagrid looked around at the noise with a frown. Shrugging, he opened his mouth to continue talking but the "Hem, hem!" resounded again. Umbridge made her way through the crowd of students.
"Oh, 'ello!" said Hagrid with a warm smile, "I see yeh found the place easily enough."
"Yes," said Umbridge briskly, "So what are you teaching today?"
"Thestrals," said Hagrid proudly.
"I'm sorry?"
"Uh…THESTRALS!" said Hagrid loudly, "Yeh know, winged horses?"
He waved his arms up and down. Several Slytherins sniggered loudly. Umbridge smiled evilly and began writing on her clipboard, muttering what she wrote aloud for everyone to hear.
"Resorts…to primitive…hand signals…"
"Righ' then," said Hagrid, thrown off a little, "Where was I now?"
"Short term…memory loss…"
"Oh righ'," Hagrid said quickly, "Now the thestrals should be comin' 'round any minute, they'll smell the carcass yeh see."
"Are you aware, Professor Hagrid," Umbridge said loudly, "That thestrals are considered highly dangerous by the Ministry laws?"
"They're really not dangerous," said Hagrid, "It's all 'cause o' the seeing death thing. All righ' they'll bite yeh if yeh annoy them, but really they're wonderful creatures."
"Does not seem to mind…violence against others…"
"Now wait a minute!" said Hagrid, wringing his hands nervously, "A dog'll bite yeh if yeh treat it badly! It's the same with them too!"
But Umbridge didn't answer because Pansy let out a scream of terror.
"LOOK!" she shouted, pointing to the carcass while clinging to Draco's other arm.
Alex looked and saw a thestral ripping some meat off. Stevie tensed next to Alex and Draco's face paled a little. She, however, took a slow step forward and smiled at the creature. The thestral looked up at her.
"Good afternoon, small one," the skeletal horse said and Alex recognized the voice from the thestral who pulled the carriages.
Hey! I can't really talk right now, Alex thought to the thestral, Everyone will think I'm crazier than I really am.
The creature nodded and returned to its meal. Alex stepped back into the group and Hagrid smiled at her happily.
"Now, how many people can see 'em?" Hagrid asked.
Alex raised her hand and looked around. There was she and Harry, obviously, Neville, one Slytherin boy with dark hair, Stevie, whose hand was barely above her head, and Draco. All the Slytherins were looking at Draco with frowns and even Alex cocked her head at him.
"My grandmother," Draco said so only she could hear, "I was at her bed when she passed."
"I'm sorry," Alex whispered back, her voice full of sincerity.
Umbridge began walking around, asking the students questions about the class while the others listened as Hagrid tried to continue teaching. It was hard, however, when Umbridge would interrupt his talking by asking her questions for all to hear.
"So, you can see them, Miss Jackson?" Umbridge asked with false sweetness and Stevie nodded, "Who did you see die?"
Alex thought that a very personal question and apparently so did Stevie because she replied, "I'd rather not say ma'am. It's kinda personal information I wish not to share in front of the entire class. Also, it's kinda rude to be talking while Professor Hagrid is teaching, don't you think so?"
Umbridge looked like she had been slapped in the face but she didn't press the matter. Soon, Hagrid led the class back out of the forest and the bell rang. Alex, Hermione, Harry, and Ron stayed behind, pretending to be looking for Alex's bracelet she had "dropped". In truth, she had slipped it off and hid it up her sleeve. It was the bracelet her secret admirer had given her last Christmas. She hardly ever took it off.
"You will be receiving your results in ten days time," said Umbridge with a fake smile, "Good day, Hagrid."
Umbridge left and Hermione spat at the ground.
"That little toad!" she snarled fiercely, "You know why she did those things? It's because of Hagrid's mother being a giant, that's why! She's got a prejudice against half-breeds and wants Hagrid gone because he is one! Who does she think she is that she can do those things?"
"Apparently," said Alex grimly, "She thinks she has the authority to do that. Come on, class'll be starting soon and we'll be late if we don't hurry."
...
December was cold and it wasn't any better in the dungeons. However, Alex was sweating with the effort of fighting of Snape's attempt to enter her mind. Finally, he stopped and Alex stood, leaning on the desk and panting like she had been running a marathon. She never complained during these lessons. She knew this was vital for her training but it took a lot out of her. And Snape never said if she was doing better or not so she had no idea if she was improving or doing worse.
"Professor," she asked once her breathing was normal, "Am I getting better or worse? It's hard to tell from this end."
"Your mental walls have strengthened considerably," said Snape, his face expressionless, "But we should work on your ability of reading others' minds. Now, I want you to point your wand at me and say Legilimeus."
Alex nodded but her hand shook as she raised her wand. She took several deep breaths, said a silent prayer for forgiveness, and said "L-Legilimeus!"
Nothing happened. Snape was looking at her and she felt uncomfortable. Sighing, he ran his hand through his already greasy hair.
"Let's try something different," he said and Alex noticed his voice wasn't cold at all. It may have even had some sympathy in it. "For this spell, you have to mean it for it to work so…pretend I'm someone who's keeping a secret from you. It's an important secret and you have to know what it is, all right?" Alex nodded and he continued, "So, with that in mind, try the spell again and really mean it."
Alex nodded again. She set her face, raised her wand, and said, "Legilimeus!" with more confidence this time.
A flood of images came into her mind's eye. Snape was teaching a class of first years, he was in the staff room reading the Prophet, he was watching the Great Hall during the Sorting. Then they stopped and she was back in the dungeons, on her hands and knees as she gasped for air. She saw someone kneeling down beside her and looked to see Snape, his face blank as always.
"That was not completely dreadful for a first attempt," he said as Alex rose to her feet, "But I had the control there. I let you enter my mind but only let you see the images I chose. A skilled Legilimest will be able to weed out the images that are unimportant to them and choose only the ones they wish to see. Try it again and take control."
So Alex did it several times that night until she could pick and chose memories out of a pool of meaningless ones. She tried to press further into his mind to find more interesting ones, but he was too strong and always fought her off easily. He never yelled at her for trying, though. In fact, the corners of his mouth twitched just a tad whenever she tried.
"I can see you take this seriously," he said as Alex was getting ready to leave.
"Shouldn't I?" Alex asked, turning to him, "I mean, if Dumbledore wants me to learn this, isn't it important that I know it? So, seeing as it's important, I take it as seriously as I would with anything else."
He snorted and said, "The total opposite of Black."
"My father would feel the same way," said Alex with a frown, "He really is a good person, Professor. That was a very long time ago when he did those things to you. Good night."
She left the dungeon and went to her dormitory. As she pulled on her pajamas, the moonlight caught the vase where her rose was in water. She couldn't help grinning as she ran her finger across one of the petals. Her secret admirer had given that to her last year on Valentine's Day. Alex never really thought about who the mystery guy could be and she didn't care either. She only knew that he really felt something strong for her and that made her very happy indeed.
Sniffling caught her attention and she looked for the source. It was coming from Stevie's bed. Quietly, Alex walked over to the four-poster bed.
"Stevie?" she whispered, "Are you all right?"
The American girl poked her head out and Alex saw her eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"S-Sorry," Stevie stuttered as her lip trembled, "Did I wake you up?"
"No, I only just got in," said Alex quietly, "Something's wrong, you want to talk about it?"
Stevie pulled back the curtain and began telling Alex everything. She said it was five years ago that day when her older sister had died in a car crash with a drunken driver. The driver walked away but her sister never survived.
"That's…That's who I saw die," Stevie said, wiping her eyes on her sleeve, "I was there when…when…"
"Shh," said Alex softly, holding her arms out and Stevie cried into her shoulder, "It's all right, you don't have to say it."
"I-I used to visit her grave every year today," Stevie said through her sobs, "But…But I'm here now and…and I can't j-just leave. She's back h-home."
"In America?" Alex asked and Stevie nodded, another sob escaping her, "I know what you mean. I was the first to see my grandparents' bodies. I think the killer might've even been in the house because I heard the back door slam. But the doctor said they died of a heart attack and there was no sign of an attack or murder. They're back home in Montana."
Stevie looked up and wiped her eyes.
"I'm really sorry," she said, "I had no idea. And Parvati and Lavender say you saw You-Know-Who kill that Cedric Diggory boy?" Alex nodded darkly and Stevie continued, "Look, I know I haven't been here long, but I want you to know you and Harry have my support. I'm willing to believe you more than some man who sits in his office all day and let's that horrible woman teach us, or actually not teach us, defensive magic during our O.W.L year."
"Thanks Stevie," said Alex kindly, "And your support does count. Now try to get some rest."
"Thank you, Alex," said Stevie, "For listening to me. You're one of the first people I've ever told that to."
"Well, I'm honored that you trust me enough," said Alex and they both climbed into their beds and fell asleep.
Author's Note: Hooray, two more chapters up! For all of those readers who liked Stevie when she was introduced, how do you like her know that you've gotten to know her better? How about what she told Alex? And who enjoyed seeing Snape being not so mean towards Alex? I know it was a little OOC and all but I think that Snape would appreciate that she puts her all into everything that she does. Plus, she's one of his best Potions students...even if she's best friends with Harry who he despises with every fiber of his being.
Now some of you may have noticed that there's a one-shot that I posted with these two chapters. Like the A/N says on that one-shot, you really should read these two chapters before reading the one-shot. It will make a heck of a lot more sense if you do. So now that you're obviously read the chapters, check out the one-shot! It's just a little something for those who love Stevie and wanted to see her character developed a little more. :) Told you that this would be a mega update and there are still two more chapters to go! Consider this my gift to all of those who have been patient enough to stick with me this far.