Chapter 97: To Purge A Toad

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

The Corridors, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Annoyance seemed to be all the day was worth as Severus Snape made his way down a darkened corridor attempting to stifle his rage at the continued intrusion and over reach on the part of the infamously vile, toad-faced Dolores Umbridge. Much of the staff had been in the same frame of mind of wanting the overbearing power tyrant kicked out of Hogwarts especially when her various schemes and rule decrees made it virtually impossible for anyone to function properly without Ministry prying into their public and personal affairs. Dumbledore was less inclined to put the toad in her place on many an occasion and whenever he'd been away on business she'd take it as means of playing Headmaster despite McGonagall being Deputy Headmistress and Snape being tasked with looking after everyone in the Elder wizard's absence. Snape had reached his boiling point due to her constant digs about him not being able to secure the position as Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor. Hermione found herself wanting to hex the toad on more than one occasion given her abrasive manner and digs at both Snape and Harry. Hogwarts was a rather somber and miserable place under the prying eyes of the Ministry Of Magic and the miserable Toad alike. To top it off, Harry was convinced that something was wrong with his Godfather, as Sirius Black had not sent any messages in recent days and Dumbledore himself was keeping his distance from The Golden Trio as of late. Hermione had been just fine with it but it seemed to have something of a severe effect on Harry, whom had begun experiencing vivid and horrific night mares. It was determined that the despot and Harry shared a link that allowed poor Harry to see many atrocities committed via the vile creature and no one knew much about how to deal with it.

Umbridge seemed to be quite annoyed with Harry and his dreams, taking it upon herself to dismiss any and all concerns he might have had regarding the Ministry and Hogwarts' safety with Dumbledore traveling and Toad-face issuing decrees left and right. The difficulty of days only seemed to increase with the incoming exams and stress added to the students and staff via the Ministry Of Magic pressuring the lot of them in a bid to grind them beneath Umbridge's heel. Dumbledore aside from his travels kept a relatively level head about the invasive apparent coupe but the last straw seemed to have been broken following Umbridge attempting to expel Professor Trelawney from the grounds.

Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore put a stop to it, but it only seemed to fuel Umbridge's ambitions to seize ultimate power at the school.

Snape's temper continued to make itself known as he and the rest of the staff all concluded the toad faced witch needed to be expelled from the school just as quickly as she attempted to boot Trelawney. Hermione watched as her husband whom had been a stickler for the rules and almost always against rule-breaking turned a blind eye to the man pranks and traps set for Umbridge as she attempted to intimidate every student and staff member that she came across in the school.

Gryffindors had the worst of it, as she even recruited Slytherin students into her ploy as a means to keep Harry Potter and his friends in line. Draco had been all too happy to play along if only to make Harry Potter miserable.

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The Corridor, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Once again, Harry James Potter awoke in pool of his own sweat as yet another dream from the despot came plaguing his slumber. It wasn't as if he'd fared any better during the day with Snape and Umbridge about the place but late nights were the worst. Unable to sleep, Harry set his sights on his former hobby of finding the Mirror of Erised in a bid to put his mind at ease. He had not dared venture for the mirror while Dumbledore had been about the place, for fear the older wizard would worry for him spending too much time looking at what could have been as opposed to living, but he needed something, anything to take his mind off the horrific images that splattered across his mind via the despot's twisted desires.

Unbeknownst to Harry, Umbridge had decided to prowl the corridors as well making it her business to pry into ever aspect of any student or staff member's life as it were for her field reports back to the Ministry Of Magic. She cornered him and in her vile shrill tone she ordered Harry into her apparent office. Harry had no choice but to follow her as she attempted to intimidate him with her vile teas and creepy cat décor. Harry made a mental note to bring up the fact that the toad-faced woman managed to make sugar look dirty and undesirable whenever in her presence as she scooped some into her cup of tea before issuing standards for the boy to write using her accursed blood quill.

Upon her release of the boy due to the late hour and his oncoming classes, Severus Snape had rounded the corner looking rather irate as a bumbling Harry James Potter crashed into him before tumbling to the floor. Snape eyed Harry intently but in no manner did he berate the younger wizard after noticing the strange words on the back of his hand. Umbridge peeked out from her door as if waiting for Snape to say something about her means of discipline so she would have an excuse to go after him as well. Snape welcomed her to try as he'd been in a foul mood and increasingly so due to the crack down of Umbridge's various idiotic policies and constant prying.

"Potter." spat Snape in annoyance in a bid to keep up appearances despite his initial concern. "Watch where you are going next time."

Harry seemed unnerved in Snape's presence, much to the wicked crone's amusement as she shut the door and ventured back to her desk no doubt to finish off her tea and stare at the creepy cat décor.

No sooner had Umbridge closed the door did Snape swiftly lift Harry off the floor via his arm and escort him away.

Confused and wanting to get as far away from the Potions Professor as possible, Harry attempted to squirm which only increased both Snape's pace and grip.

Before Harry knew it, he found himself dragged into the potions classroom. Snape ordered him into an empty seat and moved briskly across the room as if he'd been searching for something. The boy watched him closely fearing another twisted attack on his person via a teacher only to notice Snape approached him with a salve of some sort.

Looking Harry over, Snape resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Give me your hand Potter." he insisted despite his annoyance.

Harry slowly relinquished his hand still fearful of what Snape would do to him and curious as to why he'd been concerned in the first place. Neither had liked each other from the first day they met and here he was attempting to apply some strange mixture to his blood quill cursed hand.

Snape's grip was surprisingly professional as he examined Harry's hand, muttered a few words that could have only been vulgar swears and applied the salve. Harry was shocked when the pain seemed to immediately melt away.

"This should hold you for a while." said Snape stepping away from Harry and putting up the salve.

Harry watched him venture toward his desk, scribble something on a small piece of parchment and make his way back toward him.

The nervous boy eyed The Potions Professor intently for a few moments before Snape presented the parchment to him.

"A hall pass?" he asked confused and curious at the same time.

"Don't look so surprised Potter." replied Snape seemingly amused. "I've been tasked with looking after you from The Headmaster himself during his absence."

Upon hearing this, Harry seemed to feel a bit at ease. It had been his understanding that Dumbledore would never let anything happen to him. He took the hall pass and made his way out the door unsure if he should thank the dour wizard for his assistance or leave it due to the awkwardness of the overall situation. The boy chose the latter before disappearing out the door on his way to return to Gryffindor Tower. Snape had not cared one way or the other if the boy wished to express gratitude. His rage at the toad-faced witch having the audacity to harm a child, even if that child had been Harry Potter the son of his nemesis and former love interest was difficult to suppress.

Umbridge was going to get hers, one way or another for her twisted games.

In his mind, Snape saw her as no better than his drunken Muggle brute of a father.