"It wasn't something to be repeated in front of polite company," Rory said. She was sitting across from McGonagall who looked absolutely exhausted already.
"You said it to Professor Umbridge," McGonagall said.
"That woman certainly does not qualify as polite company," Rory said.
McGonagall sighed. "Miss Lupin, I understand your opinion of her coming into this class was not high-."
"She called my dad an unqualified, dangerous half-breed and when I called her out on it, she doubled down," Rory said. Tears swam in her eyes. "Of course I have a low opinion of her. The lowest possible opinion. She doesn't seem to have a higher opinion to offer my dad after all."
Again, McGonagall sighed. She summoned a tray of biscuits onto her desk.
"Have a biscuit, Miss Lupin," she said.
Rory grabbed one from the tray, but her eyes were cloudy with tears, and she was sobbing before it reached her lips. She dropped it into her lap and cried.
McGonagall opened her mouth to speak, but there was a knock on her door.
"Yes?" she asked.
Rory turned and saw Harry standing there, a note in his hand.
"Not you too," McGonagall groaned.
"Not my fault," Harry said handing her the note. He dropped into the seat beside Rory. "She's mad."
"Have a biscuit, Potter," she said. "I know this is going to be difficult for the two of you in particular. But you must know why she's here and to whom she reports."
"I'm just supposed to let her say all those awful things about my dad? About me?" Rory asked. McGonagall magicked up a box of tissues and Rory grabbed one and started to wipe her face.
"What would Remus tell you to do?" McGonagall asked.
Rory knew the answer. Her dad would tell her to keep her nose down, that she didn't need to fight his battles for him. She needed to get through school and not make a fuss. Especially now.
McGonagall opened the note Harry brought her and frowned.
"Apparently, you're both to have detention every night for the rest of this week starting tomorrow," McGonagall said. "And next week for you as well, Miss Lupin."
"Two weeks of detention?" Rory asked.
"What did you say to her?" McGonagall asked?
"I said I can't repeat it in front of someone I respect as much as you," Rory said.
"She wants us to have a chat together this afternoon at three o'clock, after classes," McGonagall said. "In her office."
"This is madness," Rory said rolling her eyes.
"These are mad times," McGonagall said.
Rory loathed the Defense Against the Dark Arts office. It had once been her father's office, a safe place, a good place. Where she'd learned the Patronus charm alongside Harry, and had tea with her dad every Saturday afternoon.
But now she remembered it as that place where she'd been held hostage. And now it was Umbridge's office. Nothing good was going to come from this.
McGonagall and Umbridge were already waiting for her inside when Rory walked in and could not believe what she saw.
Pink. Pink and cats. That was all there was everywhere. Framed photos of cats lined every spare bit of the wall and everything from the desk to the chairs to the carpet was pink.
Rory looked to McGonagall in her jade robes and she looked as horrified to be there as Rory.
"Sit, Miss Lupin," Umbridge said, her voice like poisoned honey.
Rory sat beside Professor McGonagall.
"I see that Aurora has a bit of a history when it comes to disrespecting her instructors," Umbridge said. "You had a few incidents with Professor Snape last year it seems."
Rory didn't answer. Instead, she started to debate whether or not she hated Snape or Umbridge more. Umbridge was new, but somehow she thought Snape might hate her also, which would easily make Umbridge worse if even Snape thought she was awful. Rory considered that she might prefer Snape have Umbridge's job right now.
In less than 24 hours a teacher emerged who Rory hated more than Snape. What a time to be alive.
"Are you listening to me, Lupin?" Umbridge asked.
Rory looked to her and stared for a few seconds. "No. Because you've already made up your mind about me, so why should I listen to you?"
"Is this what your werewolf father raised you to be like? An insolent, disrespectful child?" Umbridge asked.
"No. He raised me to be respectful and intelligent and to keep my head down when appropriate. Unfortunately, we have varying opinions on what constitutes appropriate," Rory replied.
"Aurora has had some minor behavioral infractions, yes," McGonagall said, "but today I think she simply felt defensive because of the way you spoke about her father. Under normal circumstances, I'm sure she wouldn't have ever said… Whatever it is she said to you."
"Failed to tell your head of house then?" Umbridge asked.
"Didn't seem right to repeat it in front of someone I respect a great deal," Rory said.
Rory could feel how defeated McGonagall was beside her, content to let Rory dig her own grave. Rory didn't care. She was not going to let Umbridge get away with thinking this was okay.
"Two weeks of detention. But I might be willing to knock it down to one if you can find it within yourself to offer up an apology," Umbridge said.
Apologize? Umbridge wanted her to apologize? Where was her dad's apology? Where was Rory's apology? No, Rory would not be apologizing today.
Instead, Rory folded her hands in her lap, leaned forward, and looked Umbridge in the eye.
"Well?" she asked. "I'm waiting."
"Don't hold your breath," Rory replied. "You'll die waiting."
Rory was pretty sure she felt McGonagall's soul leave her body at that moment because she sighed so deeply.
"Then let's make it three weeks," Umbridge said.
"Fine," Rory said. She almost told her to make it four weeks, but McGonagall placed a hand on Rory's shoulder and squeezed tightly enough that she knew if she spoke again, McGonagall was going to transfigure her into a plant.
"Three weeks seem unnecessarily punitive, Dolores," McGonagall said.
"Fine. Twenty-five house points from Gryffindor instead then. You can explain to your classmates why they're starting the year off in the negative," Umbridge said.
Again, Rory went to speak, but McGonagall's grip on her shoulder was so tight now, that her knuckles were white.
"If that will be all, Dolores," McGonagall said.
Umbridge nodded and Rory got to her feet. McGonagall's grip on her shoulder continued all the way out of the office and out into the corridor. McGonagall stared at Rory for a long time before letting out an exasperated sigh.
"You must try harder," she said. Rory started to speak, but McGonagall held up a hand. "It is imperative that you do better. If not for your own sake, then for Remus's. And for Harry's."
"But she-."
"I understand your frustration. I really do, Aurora," McGonagall said. "But you must try harder."
"Six months in Azkaban is a light sentence all things considered," Tonks said. "I mean, I hate going there not as a prisoner, so light is a relative term here, but-."
"Could be twelve years," Sirius said.
Sturgis Podmore was meant to help see the children off to the train station the morning before, but during his watch at the Ministry of Magic by the Department of Mysteries, he was caught attempting to break in. The theory was that he'd been imperiused.
Smartly, Sturgis wasn't talking so it would be six months before he'd be able to confirm the theory.
"But Voldemort is getting bolder," Moody said. "We'll need to be more careful from now on. Tonks, I'm going to have you take over most of the night patrols there."
Tonks sighed. "I know you're only having me do it because you think I'm the most qualified, and I'm flattered, but I just want you to know I'm still going to complain the whole time."
"I would expect nothing less from you," Moody said. Then he looked over to McGonagall. She wasn't slated to attend this evening, but no one complained when she appeared. "I'm assuming you have news regarding Umbridge's appointment. Hope things haven't gone off the rails immediately."
McGonagall sighed. "Her theoretical defense education is not going over well with most students. Particularly our fifth years who are worried about their OWLs. Some took it better than others." Then she let out another sigh and took a drink from her glass of water.
"I know that sigh," Sirius said. "Harry. Getting off to a great start with her then."
"Obviously not," McGonagall said. "He did last all of thirty minutes before she tossed him out of class and gave him a week of detention."
"On the first day of class," Remus said. "I'm almost impressed."
"Well, if you think that's impressive wait until I tell you about Aurora whose encounter with Umbridge was… Much worse," McGonagall said.
"How?" Remus asked, clearly alarmed.
"It is a long story, which I won't trouble the rest of you with," she said, "but all that is to say, is they are both going to be trouble. Especially with Dumbledore keeping his distance. I have impressed upon both of them how serious it is that Umbridge is there, but…"
"They've both been loose cannons all summer," Sirius said. "And they definitely feed off of each other."
"Interestingly, they both upset Umbridge for two entirely separate reasons," McGonagall said. "Again, I won't bore you with the details."
She did not elaborate further, but when the meeting was over, Tonks did not rise from her seat because she wanted to know what happened.
"So what exactly happened?" Remus asked.
"Aurora, 'impressively' earned herself two weeks of detention and lost twenty-five house points," McGonagall said. Remus's jaw dropped.
"What?" Sirius asked. "On the first day?"
"Holy crap," Tonks said. "What did she do?"
"Remus you know how she gets about you. And I admire her passion, but…" McGonagall sighed. "In Aurora's defense, it does sound as though Umbridge was intentionally being nasty to her. She was saying some disparaging things related to you, and then about Aurora. Your daughter said…" McGonagall shook her head. "I don't even want to repeat it. I had to hear it second hand from her classmates and it was… Aurora wouldn't tell me what she said because it wasn't something to be said in polite company."
"Please tell me what she said," Sirius said eagerly.
McGonagall whispered it into Remus's ear and his jaw nearly hit the floor.
"What?" Remus asked. "In front of her whole class?"
"Yes," McGonagall said. "When I met with her and Umbridge later, Umbridge demanded an apology, and Aurora told her that she would die waiting for one."
Tonks snorted. Remus cut a glare at her.
"I'm sorry. I know she's in a lot of trouble, but I've met Dolores Umbridge and it's kind of satisfying to hear that she's getting kind of a hard time," Tonks said.
"Dolores nearly gave her another week of detention, but opted to do the house points instead," McGonagall said. "Nothing the children love more than starting the school year off with negative house points."
"I'm sure she's already very popular considering the things they've been printing about her boyfriend," Tonks said.
"I might write to her, Remus. Perhaps she'll take this more seriously if she hears it from you," McGonagall said. She gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "Goodnight. Good luck."
As soon as McGonagall was out of the room, Sirius looked eagerly to Remus.
"What?" Remus asked.
"Are you not going to tell us what Aurora said to earn two weeks of detention and lose 25 house points?" Sirius asked.
"I don't think I've ever seen McGonagall flinch about anything," Tonks said.
"Tell us, tell us, tell us," Sirius said.
"She told her… 'Your mother should have swallowed you,'" Remus said.
The glass in Molly's hand dropped to the floor and Tonks tried and failed to bite back laughter. Sirius was howling.
"I'm glad you're so amused by this," Remus said.
"I can't believe such a thing came out of her mouth," Molly said. "And to a teacher no less."
There were tears in Sirius's eyes.
"I'm sorry," he wheezed, holding his stomach. "I just… That kid is my hero. I mean. I've said some pretty nasty things to our professors in my day, but that… Iconic."
Remus gave Tonks a look and she knew he was remembering their conversation from two days ago about Sirius waiting to unleash all of the muggle slang Aurora taught him.
"I mean. It's horrible but hilarious," Tonks said. "And she clearly loves you, very, very much to stand up for you so…"
"Savagely," Sirius said.
Another eye roll from Remus.
"I'll have to write to her. To try to get her to… Calm down," he said. "As much as that's possible. McGonagall did say Umbridge seemed to target her immediately."
"She does take things concerning you quite personally," Sirius said.
"She'll have to stop," Remus said. "As hilarious as this seems-."
"I know, I know," Tonks said. "Tell her to save the zingers for Snape."
"I wish I could go back in time and say that to Severus when we were in school," Sirius said nostalgically.
"You can really see the nature versus nurture in practice right here right now," Tonks said.
"Indeed," Remus said.
"Don't act as though you were never the slightest bit obstinate when you were in school," Sirius said. "Aurora just… Takes it to an extreme."
Tonks got to her feet and started to gather her things.
"Leaving so soon?" Sirius asked.
"Afraid so," Tonks said. "I have to do actual work tomorrow believe it or not. There's this cult that's popped up. Super annoying."
"A cult? A cult for what?" Sirius asked.
"Not sure. They call themselves 'The Children of Fate' and mostly they're just a nuisance," Tonks said. "But one second they're a harmless cult and next thing you know, you've got Deatheaters. So I'm spending my whole morning tomorrow doing surveillance."
"Well, good luck. We know stealth is your forte after all," Remus teased.
Tonks rolled her eyes. "Good night."
Everyone was angry when Rory walked into the common room after her meeting with Umbridge. She plopped down on the couch right next to Harry and started angrily going through her bag.
"So… Twenty-five house points," Ron said.
"Yep," Rory admitted. "She's evil."
"You did say something really nasty to her," Hermione said.
"Well imagine if she stood at the front of the classroom and just started nonchalantly calling you a mudblood and meaning it because she thinks of you as being less of a person?" Rory asked. Hermione shrank a bit. "None of us would ever let someone talk to you like that, I'm not going to let her talk about my dad that way."
"But the ministry-."
"I know, Hermione. I know what her being here means," Rory grumbled. But she'd listened to people talk down on werewolves her whole life. She'd watched her dad get treated as though he was less than a person because of something he had no control over. She could not bring herself to stand for it, especially when one of the people instrumental in putting up roadblocks against her father was standing in her classroom.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said.
"I know," Rory replied. "Me too."
"Just think, she's only doing it to get a rise out of you," Ron said. "If you keep fighting with her, you'll only be giving her what she wants."
Rory nodded. That did make sense. And maybe she didn't need to give Umbridge the satisfaction of her anger.
"Guess I should do my homework before dinner since I'll have to go to detention," she said. But then she remembered. "Shit. I was supposed to see Trelawney after dinner." She shoved her things back into her bag. "Guess I'll be back."
She got to her feet.
"I'll go with you," Harry said. Rory didn't argue with him even though he really should work on his own homework instead of going with her. But she selfishly wanted his company.
"She almost gave me another week of detention instead of taking house points until McGonagall talked her out of it," Rory said. "This is insanity. I knew I wasn't going to like her, but I can't believe she basically attacked me the moment she knew who I was."
"You're not the only one she attacked," Harry said.
"Well, that was the whole point of them sending her isn't it?" Rory asked. "To intimidate you and Dumbledore into silence. The only thing I did wrong is have a dad who's a werewolf. She was intentionally malicious just for the sake of being malicious. People are always like that about my dad. Always, always, always. I'm sick to death of it."
Harry grasped her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It can't last. I mean, she can't possibly last here. I mean she's… She's the worst."
"Literally the worst. Almost makes Snape seem warm," Rory said.
"Almost," Harry replied. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it. "I love you."
Every time Harry said "I love you" she felt warm all over. She couldn't feel angry or sad or anything when he said those words to her.
"Promise me it's all going to be okay," she said. "For once, I actually hope that stupid job is jinxed."
"I hope so too," he replied.
After a while, they reached Trelawney's office. Rory raised her hand to open the door, but it flung open. Trelawney smiled at her.
"Knew you were coming," she said.
"Of course," Rory replied. "I just wanted to tell you that, I got detention tonight, and every night for the next two weeks, so I'm going to have to postpone our chat."
Trelawney turned away from Rory and surveyed her classroom.
"You need something," Trelawney said.
"Pardon?" Rory asked.
"Something to help you see," she said. "Your inner eye wants to see all things."
"I don't understand," Rory said.
"Focus," Trelawney said. She looked Rory in the eye again. "You need to focus your eye. Find the right medium for your gift so it doesn't overwhelm you."
The flurry of feelings and pictures that had overwhelmed her yesterday replayed in her head again.
"Thank you, Professor," Rory said.
They left Trelawney's office and headed back toward Gryffindor Tower.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked.
"She said I need a tool. To focus," Rory said.
"What kind of tool?" Harry asked.
"Well there's lots of them aren't there? Tea leaves, crystal balls, mirrors, scrying bowls, tarot cards, oracle cards, throwing bones-."
"Okay, I got it," Harry said. "What tool do you need?"
Rory shrugged. "Guess I'll have to find that out won't I?"
