Lone Child

Chapter 41: Umbridge? More like Umbitch.

Kat walked into Defense Against the Dark Arts in slight apprehension. When she had gone through her books earlier that morning, she noticed that their DADA book was all theory, not really a spell book, like they'd been in the past. Rome had pointed it out to her when they'd first gotten them, but she'd been too busy worrying about James to really notice.

Umbridge came into the room, wearing a disgustingly pink cardigan. Kat again noticed how much she looked like a toad. "Welcome class. Please take out you books," she said in her sickly sweet voice. Along with their books, students took out their wands. "Oh no, you won't be needing wands for class this year," Umbridge said.

Every student in the room looked at her like she was insane. "If we don't use our wands, how are we supposed to do the spell?" asked Ron Weasley.

"It's part of a Ministry Teaching Method. If you learn the theory you will be able to cast the spell," Umbridge replied.

"Only for Enthusiasts. Precisionists need to actually see the spell done, or they will not be able to do it," Kat spoke.

Umbridge turned on her, glaring. "Ms. Hermione Granger? Ah, yes, I've heard about you. The smartest witch in Hogwarts, and a mudblood to boot," Umbridge sneered.

Kat's eyes widened at being called a mudblood. As Severus Snape's adopted daughter, it was something that hadn't happened since her 3rd year. "You have no right to talk to her like that Professor. She is the child of a very powerful Pureblood," Rome growled, his half werewolf side surfacing.

"Mr. Roman Lupin. A werewolf, like his father, scum of the Earth if you ask me. Should be killed, all of them. Never the less, I suggest you keep you temper in check, or you'll be a cell in Azkaban fast than you can say Lycanthropy," Umbridge threatened.

Ron Weasley, whether he liked either of them or not, had had enough. "You have no right to talk to either of them like that! You're no better than one of Voldemort's Death Eaters!" he yelled, his face red with fury.

"Detention," was Umbridge's one word response.

"She is such a bitch!" Ginny yelled, after returning to her dorm after her first Defense session.

Mel nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she is, but we can't do anything about it. If Fudge hadn't gotten canned for letting his heritage out, then we would have some pull, but it's her husband in office, so nothing can be done, yet anyway. I don't give it long before Voldemort attacks, and this whole thing is blown wide open," Mel commented, digging for her Transfiguration book.

Gin shook her head. "He won't. It'd be a stupid move and he knows it. He's going to wait until we are at our most vulnerable," said Gin.

"You know this how?" Mel asked.

"I had him in my head for 9 months. Trust me, I know how the old bastard thinks, and it isn't pretty," Gin said with a shiver.

"What are you two up to?" James asked, walking into the Gryffindor Common room. As a teaching assistant, he could go in and out of the dorms as he pleased. Triss, if his guess was correct, was visiting with Gin and Mel in the Slytherin dorms.

Fred and George looked up at him like kids with their hand caught in the cookie jar. "We were, ah…"

"Just, ah…"

"Reviewing for our Transfiguration test tomorrow."

"Yeah, what he said…"

James raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Right, so who is the unfortunate victim?" James asked, grinning. Luckily, no one else was in the common room to witness their exchange.

"Umbridge. The woman is such a bitch. She gave Ron a detention that disturbed him so bad he hasn't talked since he got back, and that was two days ago. Neville said he was hiding his hands when he was getting ready for classes this morning," said George, concern in his voice.

"What do you think she did?" James asked, concerned for his fellow classmate.

"We don't know, but we'll make her life a living hell for it," Fred vowed.

James nodded. "Well, good luck. Let me know if you need any help."

"Chris?" James called, looking for Triss. When he'd gone to the Slytherin dorms to find her, Mel and Gin said she'd never been there to start with. He was now in the process of searching the castle. Several minutes earlier he'd sent Jewel down to their rooms to bring him their map, but she had yet to return. Turning a corner, James was nearly pushed over when a body ran full force into his. Looking down he saw Triss's new mass of blond hair.

"Chris?" James asked, using her alias unless someone was around.

"Damon?" she asked, looking up into his brilliant green eyes. "Something has to be done about that damn Umbridge woman. She intercepted me in the hallway and proceeded to give me a lecture about half-breeds and how they should all be destroyed. Oh shit," Triss cried, ducking behind James.

"Ah, Mr. Snape, I was just talking with the future Mrs. Snape about half-breeds and interbreeding. Disgusting, don't you agree?" Umbridge asked, giving a grin that classified her as one thing, evil.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Umbridge, but I'm afraid we don't have the same views. I would also appreciate it if you kept your biased views to yourself, and I discourage you from harassing my fiancé about her heritage," James all but growled.

Umbridge looked stunned. Obviously she'd thought she could play off of his 'pureblood' card. She'd thought wrong. "If you will excuse us." With that, James spun on his heal, an arm around Triss's shoulders, heading for the Headmaster's office.

"Mr. Snape, what brings you and your lovely fiancé here today?" Dumbledore asked formally as James and Triss entered the office. James knew why when he spotted Minister Christopher Umbridge sitting at Dumbledore's desk.

"Minister, Headmaster." James and Triss greeted.

"Is there something you wished to talk about?" Dumbledore asked.

James shook his head. "Nothing that can't be taken care of later Headmaster. Good day," said James, Triss nearly pulling him towards the door.

"One moment Mr. Snape. I think the opinion of another pureblood would be valuable in this conversation," the Minister started.

"I don't think-"

"Nonsense. My wife informs me that there is a half-breed at this school, not using names of course. A law was never made enforcing half-breeds inablityto go to school in the wizarding world. Do you believe half-breeds, such as Werewolves, should be allowed at the school?" Umbridge asked.

'This sounds familiar,' James thought. "Yes sir. I think half-breeds, as you call them, should be allowed to attend school and work with the rest of society," James said, formally.

Umbridge, like his wife, looked stunned. "If you will excuse us," Triss said curtly, pulling James out the door by the sleeve of his robe. Almost before James realized it, he was sitting on the sofa of his and Triss's shared room.

"She has a suicide quill, but it's been modified," Triss said immeadiatly.

"WHAT?!" James demanded. A suicide quill, as most called it, was a quill that a person that wanted to kill himself or herself charmed to do so. As the person wrote his or her suicide letter, his or her wrists were slit. In the late 1700s, a modified quill was made, used on students that were unruly as punishment. The Ministry declared it illegal after a student bled to death after being punished with it.

"It was laying out on her desk next to a paper that said 'I will not yell at professors'. I think she's using it on the students she has for detention," Triss explained.

"That bitch. Those are illegal! Do you know who has had detention with her so far?" James demanded.

Triss thought for a second. "Draco had a detention with her earlier," said Triss, remembering what Gin had told her the day before.

"Alright. Stay here, I'll be back later," said James, giving Triss a chaste kiss before running off in search of Draco.

As it turned out, Draco's detention had been moved to be served with Filch, so James hadn't been able to find out anything. Every other student that had served detention with her had refused to talk about it. Fred and George, as pay back for the student body, pranked the teacher to no end. This resulted in several rules, which none of the students were happy with.

Between working and trying to get Umbridge fired, James didn't have any time. Most likely it was for the best, as any time Evans came within five feet of him, she glared at him as if her were Voldemort himself. This went on until November when Dumbledore informed James and Triss of Evan's impending delivery.

"How's she doing Poppy?" Triss asked, entering the hospital wing. Instead of being a general teaching assistant like James, she was helping Poppy in the hospital wing. Poppy, of course, knew what was going on, so accepted her help readily.

James had had to stay out with Potter, Minerva, Sara, Holly, and Lizzy. Every so often Potter would look up and shoot James a glare for no reason, but James ignored it, content to wait, or talk with the now almost 5 year old twins or Liz.

After sitting outside the wing for several hours, everyone was called in. Lying in the hospital bed was a pink baby boy, being held by his cooing mother. Triss wasn't in the room, probably getting changed, or washing her hands.

"What did you name him?" Lizzy asked, looking at the little boy.

"Harry. Harry James Potter," Lily replied, almost spitefully, glaring at James. James shook his head, tears stinging his eyes, before walking out of the wing, knowing where he wasn't wanted.

Triss had come out in time to hear Evan's pronounce the name of the newest member of the Potter clan, and James storm out of the hall. Walking over to Evan's, Triss spat, "You're a real asshole. He has only even tried to do right by you, and your family, and what do you do? You throw it back in his face! Do you have any idea how lucky we all are that someone adopted him that would love him? You could have very easily created the next Voldemort, only a whole lot more powerful and you wonder why he didn't think he could reveal himself to you?" With that Triss stormed out of the hall in a manner she had learned from James.

It didn't end up being Triss who found James first, it was Kat. On his way down to his room, James ended up bumping into Kat, nearly making her fall backwards down the stairs. "Damon, what's going on?" Kat asked, after James had caught her from her near fall.

"Nothing," said James, his voice hitching slightly. "Why were you coming up from the dungeons?"

"I had to go asked dad something. Are you sure you're okay? Is Chris alright?" Even with still getting use to James and Triss's new names, Kat hadn't made any slip ups, nor had anyone else, surprisingly.

"No everything's fine. Evan's just had her baby. His name is Harry James Potter," said James, nearly pushing through Kat.

Kat, after a talk with her adoptive father, knew of the significance of that name, and vowed to make Evan's life a living hell when she came off maternity leave. 'The nerve of that woman! One of these days she is going to alienate James so much she won't be able to get him back, if she hasn't already.'

Triss entered her and James's room with slight apprehension. Upon entering she found that every piece of glass in the room was shattered. Either that little display in the Infirmary had hit him hard enough to give him a power serge, or he'd done the damage himself. From the blood splattered on what was left of the mirror above their fireplace to the right of the door, Triss figured it was the later.

Casting several repairing charms, Triss, used her wand to twist her hair up and out of the way before entering their bedroom. She was still very surprised her Grandfather had allowed them to share a room, but he probably figured they would end up in the same bed no matter what he did.

'Well, he would have been happy to know, that unless there was a massive thunder storm, James and I would have stayed in our own beds,' Triss thought. Since two nights before the tournament, James hadn't so much as looked at her in more than an affectionate way.

Triss wasn't too sure why, but it was getting on her nerves rather quickly. The most intimate contact that had gone on between them was a few kisses here and there, but those were always rushed, as if James had better things to do.

The room was totally dark. There was a lone candle burning in the side of the room, but it wasn't enough to do much, being small and almost burnt out. Naturally, Triss nearly jumped out of her skin when a familiar pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Spinning on the spot, Triss's blue green eyes met James's glassy green.

"Are you alright?" Triss asked. Examining his face, Triss saw evidence of tears, and this was confirmed when James reached up to brush the stray watermarks away.

James ignored Triss's question. "I'm alone you know."

Now Triss was really confused. "Of course not, you have me, and Dragon-"

James cut him off. "Dragon lied to me, about being family, and while I love you more than the world, you aren't family," James whispered. He was obviously very distressed.

Triss shook her head. "I may not be family, but I am your Soul Bond, and that alone says you'll never be alone. You will always have me, and what ever children we will have in the future," Triss said strongly, pulling James into a tight hug. When she finally released him, James looked at her, surprised.

"I thought you didn't want kids?"

Triss shrugged. "I'll make exceptions…"

From that day on, James was nearly wrapped around Triss's little finger. They were always together, chatting, kissing, and other things not seen by the public. Their friends were happy to see that James no longer moped around, but was very energetic about everything.

By popular demand, James had started up a dueling/DADA class for students. All the students were very behind on their curriculum but James and Triss were more than happy to help the students catch up to what they were supposed to know.

However, after this got to Umbridge, she issued a 'law' that no club be in progress without her knowledge, not that James and Triss paid any attention to the old crone's rules. However, there 'insubordination' ended up getting Dumbledore suspended, and having Umbridge placed as temporary Headmistress.

James and Triss put up with the woman as best they could. Because they weren't really students or teachers, Umbridge didn't have any hold over them, even though she tried. They still tutored the students, as teaching the students how to properly defend themselves wasn't really a 'club' so to speak. As much as James loved pissing Umbridge off by playing loopholes, it was getting tiring.

By O.W.L. time in early April, James still didn't have his powers back, and everyone was worried. It was during the final O.W.L exam, Astronomy that all hell broke loose.

While the students plotted the stars, James watched the ground, having been having very weird feelings over the past few days. He was about to turn to check on the students again, when shadow movement caught his attention. With his average eyesight, he was barely able to make out Triss's form.

Quickly following was the huge form of Umbitch, as everyone had taken to calling her. James watched in total disbelief as Umbridge pulled her wand, and started shooting spells at Triss. She was able to dodge those, but when two others James couldn't quite see started firing as well, Triss started getting hit.

James was still staring as a form he recognized as Evans walking out. He could hear her yelling from the Astronomy tower, and so could the other students, who were watching with growing interest and horror.

It was when James saw Triss and Evans both fall to a blast of red light that he lost it. It was almost as if a damn had broken open, and he felt every fiber of energy he had ever possessed come forward, building protective shields around its self. With a growl, James did the first thing that came to mind, he stepped off the tower. He could hear the screams of the students as he dropped, but when he was about 30 feet from the ground, James used his newly manifested powers, and shifted into a bright, blue flamed phoenix.

He knew every pair of eyes in the school were on him as he swooped at Umbridge, ripping her wand from her over sized frog like hand. He did the same to the two men, neither of them putting up a fight, too shocked at the sight of the phoenix. Landing in front of Triss and Evans, whom had fallen side by side, James shifted back. "YOU!" Umbridge yelled. "I'll have you put in Azkaban for this! Aiding a dangerous animal! And illegally becoming an Animagus!"

James just glared. "I could have you put away just as easily. Using a suicide quill on a student, being the least of what I've heard," James growled. Okay, that was stretching the truth a little, but James honestly couldn't make himself care. "I order you now, leave."

"You can't tell me what to do boy! I am the Headmistress, and you will leave now!" Umbridge yelled, trying to cast Hogwart's wards to remove James from the premises.

Hogwarts, being a very smart and self-aware castle, recognized the blood of the Founders and did nothing, her powers unable to work against 'her' heir. "You have one minute to leave before I take action," James warned.

Umbridge was too stunned to say anything, and even more stunned when she felt the castle's wards slip out of her grasp. A minute passed, no one daring to even breath. "Feel forewarned," James growled. With a small wave, Umbridge felt herself lifted from the ground, unable to move.

Her two escorts had been a little smarter, and had run when they'd had the chance and were now well beyond the gate. With another wave, Umbridge flew off of the grounds, deposited on the other side of the gate that was shut and locked behind her. The only other way to get into the school was through the forest, and anyone who tried that was just plain stupid.

A little shaken, not use to the force behind his newly acquired powers, James waved his hand again, and both Triss and Evans were lifted from the ground on to stretchers. James had the temptation to leave Evans where she was, but he figured that would be bad for his karma, and escorted her to the hospital wing.

In her unconscious state, Triss looked like her normal self, ears and all, but a quick charm from James changed that. He couldn't do anything about her ears, or his own, so opted just to leave it as it was.

In the hospital wing he dropped Evans on a bed, leaving Poppy to her care, before racing down to his and Triss's rooms, staying ahead of the students. A spell or two later, Triss was sitting up.

"That BITCH! I can't believe her! Please tell me you made her spontaneously combust or something?" Triss asked, removing all the charms James had placed on her.

James grinned. The thought of making Umbridge into little more than a pile of ashes had crossed his mind more than once. "I don't think I need to. She'll probably kill herself trying to find her way back into the castle. Because Dumbledore is gone, and I'm a legal heir, I hold the wards. She won't be getting in," James said with a grin.

(A/N: Hello everyone. This chapter is up a little later than I would have liked, but o'well. Looking over it, I'm rather disappointed with it, but I really don't have the time to do anything else, or the inspiration. At the moment, I'm taking Biology 2, without Bio 1, and failing, so I'm trying to get my grade up before report cards (grades go out tomorrow…), I also have finals tomorrow, wish me luck. My sister read this before I posted it, so goodness knows what's in here at the moment. I'm going to read it again, just to make sure there is nothing about alien probes. I want your opinion, has my grammar and spelling gotten better or worse through out the story? It seems to me that they've gotten worse, or I'm just now starting to notice. Thank you for your opinions, and hope everyone will be here for the next chapter.)

Review responses:

SiLvErFaTeD: Thanks.

Japanese-jew: Raises eyebrow. Swtichy switchy? Interesting choice of words, but you got to love it anyway.

Shadowface: I'll try.

Athenakitty: Everyone knows how to confuse Potter. Jim is James Potter. James or Jimmy or Damon is James Cage. Yes, Lily knows, and she will regret it later.

Pheonixelemental: My story is so beaten into my head I couldn't forget it. Occasionally I have to re-read to see how I ended, or check a detail, but I can more or less remember everything.

Michaelrccurtis: Will do.

M'Lady: She'll acknowledge him eventually, but not until after some hurt feelings. Potter didn't attack Snape because Snape didn't really have a choice and got her out. He's angrier with Dumbledore more than anyone else.

Musicstarlover: I know. Harry Potter is probably going to focus in on Hermione or something. I've more or less given up on the series, but I'll read the next book anyway, as it gives me something to do. The movies are good though. I thought the third movie was hilarious. I don't know about the forth one, but you never know. And knowing J.K., it's going to be 10 years before she puts out the 6th book. O'well, I have so many other book I can read.

TheWiseSirIvanTheShadowLord: You're welcome. There will be much more to come. Evans is so mean.

Maxennce: Well, all this stuff is going to tie in to one big, and I hope explosive, scene. I don't want to give it away, so you'll have to wait.

Dragons fury: I think you are mixed up. Sara and Holly are James's younger half sisters, twins which were born in his first year. Lizzy is his cousin, Petunia and Vernon's daughter. James saved her while they were camping after the tournament. At least, I'm pretty sure that's what I wrote…

Jennifer: Thanks. Will do.

A-man: Thanks. Fudge will be back, but I'm not sure about whether he will be minister or not.

Keahi17: Thanks. James Potter is being called Jim because I don't want to get him mixed up with James Cage. Jim, just to give general information, is a shortened version of James.

I lOvE cHeRrIeS yUm: It's a guy thing, he can't help it.

Dark Catalyst: Thanks. It's nice to get compliments on my story. It always brightens up my day.