Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 19

"I'll see you at History of Magic." I quickly pulled my hair into a pony and grabbed my bag.

"You'll miss breakfast."

"I like to swallow my poison before my cereal Mi."I ran down the steps.

Apologies were always like that for me. I guess I best get this out of the way and quickly too. I still feel Nessie was cursed…I just don't feel as surely as I did yesterday that it was this girl. Admittedly her hair was not exactly the most incriminating of evidence. Anyway, I was a big girl; I would clean up my own messes.

I hovered in the basement. I knew this is where the Puffs common room was located…just how do I go about getting in.

"You know you're a complete miscreant if you can't help sneaking out to the kitchens for breakfast even though it's being served right at this moment."

I turned around, looking for the face to match the voice.

I saw him, leaning on a wooden barrel to my left.

"Or a total introvert."

Jack Corner laughed, it was a pleasant sound. "You are no introvert."

"And what makes you so sure about that?"

He didn't know me, not really. His smile fell quickly. Shit…of course. He was his best friend.

"I need to speak to Alya Bellamy."

"Ally?"She was here for a night and she already had a nickname. "I think I saw her leave for Charms with the others."

"OK, thanks."

I rushed passed him.

"Oh and Ky."I turned around, expecting some quip about not beating her up but instead received a warm smile, "Have a good first day."

I nodded at him and rushed off. I reached the Charms corridor in under a minute. I spotted the bed of dark hair quickly…a pang at the realisation that the colouring was very similar to my own…maybe Mi was right.

"Bellamy."

She stopped mid laugh and turned towards me. Ernie McMillan and that boy with three names, Justin something something, stopped recounting whatever story that was causing the two girls to laugh so loudly. Hannah looked at me, her face impassive. Bellamy's smile quickly faded and she took a step back.

I walked forward with purpose, knowing I wouldn't get any privacy from the others even if I had to ask. Puffs and their loyalty.

"I apologise for yesterday. I lost control of my magic. A mistake I am sorry that you had to bare the repercussions for."

She hovered behind Justin awkwardly which was dumb on her part considering he was definitely smaller of the two boys. Her scared face dropped and she smiled and stepped forward, her hand extended.

I shook it, "It is our mistakes that make us human, is it not? Plus Grandmere always said, to err human but forgive divine."

"My brother says the same thing."

She smiled, "A smart man your brother."

I nodded, "Well…I'm late for my morning nap."

Ernie laughed, "How you Gryffs always end up with the best timetable, I don't know."

"Says the guy who has almost the whole afternoon free."I shouted over my shoulder as I walked off, the effects of the poison not as bad as I thought they would be.

"It's just me! Please don't send me flying."

I sent a glare at Teddy as he walked into the storage cupboard. I could hear the hustle and bustle and smell the sweat of the students just outside the door. He walked towards the earwigs,

"Take the one's at the back, their fresher."

He smirked at me, his hair and eyes dark in the shadows of the cupboard, "Are we such good friends now that we give advice?"

"Well apparently we're such good friends that we duel our friends to protect the other."

He laughed, "Firstly, that wasn't a duel, you can hardly count Davis as a worthy adversary and secondly, Davis is not my friend."

"You went with her to the Ball last year."

"You went with Malfoy, you didn't seem too chummy with him five minutes ago."

"I honestly didn't see him there."

"Yes, the sap just happened to fall down his shirt as he was doing his re-enactment of Granger at her cauldron."

"Was that what he was doing? I had no idea."

"Oh come on, even you must admit that her frantic hand moving and psychotic eyes when brewing is quite funny…and charming. Not to mention the rapid moving of her plump lips as she recites the instructions and the sweat that coats her neck…"

I snapped my fingers in front of his face, "Would you mind not fantasizing about Mi right now. Save it for the night time."

He smirked again, "Oh….I do. It seems my subconscious is much more creative than I gave it credit for. Last night I was in your dormitory, and you got detention and those other two girls, the Indian and the Flower, they weren't there…well actually they were there, just in the shower…together. Well Granger-"

"Why was I in detention? Why couldn't I be the one making out with a chick in the shower."

"Don't worry. You show up, even kiss a girl. Actually to be more specific you walk in on us-"

I heard a throat clearing and we snapped our heads to the entrance, it was Malfoy.

"You're taking an awful long time to fetch earwigs Nott."

Nott laughed but didn't reply as he winked at me on his way out. I smiled and shook my head; I summoned the dittany and walked out.

I walked past the flailing students to my own cauldron and continued. Something nudged my hand and I looked down to see a bear made of parchment. It was pushing its little paws at me to get my attention. I turned and looked at Nott who winked at me, whilst he stirred his cauldron.

I picked the bear up and looked at its tummy where there was writing,

Kitten

Since we're at that stage of our friendship that we give advice, here is a little heads up. Umbridge is a BITCH. And not the nice kind too…she might actually be the only female teacher that won't make a show in any of my dreams. We had her for the first and she's probably going to do about a thousand things to piss you off in the hour, so try to calm your pretty head down and don't throw her flying out the door. Or do. Just tell me when so I can come watch.

Bear

P.S: Please buy Granger a green bra for her birthday, it's hard to see the black she usually wears even with the help of the sweat clinging to her right now.

I laughed and grabbed a parchment and started writing,

I'll buy Mi a green bra when you buy Malfoy a red thong. The sparkling kind.

I animated it into a little lion cub and it pawed across the floor to Teddy. I sat back on my stool, busy with the potion when my eyes met black ones leaking with disapproval. He heaved a sigh and went back to his torturing of Neville.

Minutes later I handed him the vial of Draught of Peace, even my vial had a sheening silver mist at the surface, not flowing out though, I managed to brew it to the perfect density as to prevent that. I smiled and he took it, I knew it was the most accurate one in class today. And I had finished it a good few minutes before everybody else.

"Kindly follow the instructions that I write on the board Miss Thornton. I don't make that announcement for my own amusement, no matter how fun it sounds. I spoke nothing of mistletoe leave sap and it leaves quite a pungent smell, something that is quite nauseating for some and detracts from the peace that the potion was supposed to achieve."

He continued writing in his parchment, "But Sensei-"

He looked up, "It is Professor Snape. You may leave."

He stood up and started his rounds. I marched to my bench and grabbed my bag, not having to clean up as I did so as I brewed. I glared at Malfoy, who had heard the whole conversation at his seat in the front, I wanted to slap the smirk off his face. I felt the prickle of anger so I quickly left the room, not wanting a repeat of yesterday. I reached the Great Hall, having finished early, I was alone at my seat.

"Skiving already? At least wait for the snack boxes to be in production, at least then you will have an excuse."

Fred sat down on my left and George at my right. I was already half done with my pie,

"Eat any faster and you won't need our puking pastilles. What's the rush?"

"I missed supper and breakfast. And I didn't skive, I finished early. What are you boys skipping?"

George looked at me affronted, "How dare you make such assumptions!" He laughed and continued, "History of Magic. What did the new Puff do to insult you so?"

I shrugged, "Nothing. Just was in a bad mood, lost control of my magic for a bit and unfortunately she-"

"You mean she didn't do anything to you?" I looked at George quizzically,

"No."

Fred poked his head in, "She didn't call Hermione the m-word"

"Or say Harry was deranged."

"Or say something about Dumbledore."

"Or make out with your boyfriend."

Fred laughed at George, "You'd know if she kissed me mate."

"Oh please, Ky would make out with me before she would you."

I laughed, "No, she really didn't do anything. Why?"

Their faces evolved into matching looks of horror when they finally veered into the right lane from their side track,

"Oh fuck."

They said in unison, as the great hall echoed with a loud bang. It came from the Hufflepuff table, more specifically the centre. Where Alya Bellamy sat, covered from head to toe in shepherd's pie, her eyes wide with shock. She shot up and sprinted for the door, wailing the whole way. I saw Harry walk in just as she left; he looked at me in accusation.

"I thought you were going to apologize, not embarrass her more!"

"What? I didn't do that, they did?"

"They who?"

The twins had disappeared and I turned back to my pie, "Never mind. You finished early as well?"

My tone was slightly one of shock, but can you blame me, Harry's talents didn't lie with potions. He glared back at me, stabbing his steak and kidney pie.

"No. I was kicked out. Not everyone is Snape's favourite little student that their allowed to leave early every lesson."

I looked at Potter, sensing that he was having one of his bitch fits. He was prone to them over the holidays but quietened down a bit recently, seems he stirred up more than a potion in class.

"Firstly, I don't leave class early because I'm Sev's little anything." That thought riled me up further, thinking about how weird Sev was acting lately. "It's because I am a good brewer. Don't take out your inadequacies on me."

"Inadequacies? You think I'm an inadequate potion maker?"

"I think that is the very definition of what I just said."

He swallowed roughly, "Oh please. There is nothing to be proud of at being able to brew potions well, especially if idiots like Snape can make a profession of it."

I stabbed my fork in my pie, "Are you insinuating that potions aren't a true magic!"

"I think that is the very definition of what I just said."He said with a cocky grin.

"Well you should be more ashamed then Potter, because you can't even manage something as unmagical as potions. I honestly don't see what Voldemort sees in you."

He looked shocked at me. Well he started it. How dare he? I wouldn't say anything like that about Defence. I didn't stay to hear his retort as I stood up and stormed off, angrier than I had been when I had got there earlier.

"-he had the audacity to insinuate that potions are an inferior magic. Just because it doesn't need a wand doesn't mean it's lesser. It's like saying Arithmancy is not a magical science."

Professor Vector shot me a glare. With my luck he probably heard the last half of the sentence only.

Mi looked at me once she finished the equation. "I know! He's been in a horrible mood. I understand Snape ticked him off, but it's as if everything and everyone ticks him of. He snapped at Ron and I at lunch and I am really tired of being on the receiving end of his temper tantrums. We have to speak to him."

"Well I won't be partaking in that intervention."We handed in our parchment, Professor Vector taking mines with a very unkind tug. We made our way to defence. "Oh and apparently this Umbridge is an absolute bitch."

"KY!" Mi looked around furiously, "She's a teacher."

"Teacher's can be bitches too, it's not just for the non academics."

We sat down at our seats; Harry was mumbling something to Mi that sounded like an apology. He looked at me, and then turned back to the front. Ohhhhhhh!

The toad walked in and spared him my wrath. I couldn't help imagining her sitting with her knees up and bum to the floor, toad style as she began croaking.

"Miss Thornton."

Mi was looking at me wide-eyed.

"Miss Umbridge."

"It is Professor Umbridge."She smiled that fake smile of hers.

"Is that so? Then it is Professor Thornton."

The few that caught on that I was insinuating that they would give anybody a professorship these days gasped and Mi kicked me hard under the table.

She smiled that non-smile at me again, "OK Professor Thornton. Why don't you come forward and instruct the class."

I stood up, the toad didn't know who she was dealing with. I stood in front of the class, trying not to make eye contact with Ron who would surely make me laugh. I took out my wand,

"Ah uh ah-"She said as she shook her head. "If you had paid attention earlier instead of daydreaming you would know there will be no using wands in this class."

I shrugged and placed my aspen wand back in the fondina. "OK class. I guess this would be a lesson on wandless magic. Please bring forth your most furious memory, that always seemed to help me when I'm-"

She interrupted with that annoying little ahem of hers.

"Sorry Miss Umbridge-"

"It's not Miss."

"It cannot possibly be Mrs."

The class burst out laughing at that. She called them to attention quickly, but she lacked the finesse that Minnie did it with.

She smiled at me, "You are just like your grandfather aren't you?"

I cocked my eyebrow at that, it was not meant as a compliment. "Thank you. I would say you are just like yours but I don't insult the dead."

She smiled back at me, ignoring the sniggers. "Leave." She handed me a pink slip and I took it with a huge smile.

A week's worth of detention. Well wasn't she sweet. "Why thank you Miss Umbridge."

I grabbed my bag and winked at Mi who was glaring at me. Fine, I flipped the switch but I stand by my motto. Treat a friend as a friend, a foe as a foe and a bitch like a bitch.

I walked out of the class and bumped straight into a mop of red.

"Oh sorry…oh it's you."

"Good seeing you too Ginny." I picked up my bag that she had knocked to the floor. Her face was flushed from running.

"Why are you out of class? Don't you lot have defence now?"

"I left."

"You got kicked out didn't you?"

"It's not my fault. She's a bitch."

Ginny shrugged, "I heard. Still, she is a teacher."

"You sound just like Mi."

"Actually all sane people sound like this, you should try it sometime."She smirked and walked off. I made my way to Minnie's office, I knocked once and entered.

She looked up from her parchment, "Bane?"Her curious expression fell from her face upon noticing the pink slip in my hand.

"This is really ridiculous Bane, it's the first week and you have more detentions than classes."

"It's not my fault Minnie, that Umbridge is a-"

"Teacher. She is a teacher."

"Is she really?"

Minnie raised her sharp eyebrows at me, "Do you think that your grandfather would let someone who has no certification to educate his pupils."

"Of course not. Which makes me think Nonno had nothing to do with her hiring?"

Minnie sighed and leaned back in her chair, "You are to be careful Ky. I had hoped that you would have grown up considering the situation we now find ourselves in. It seems that is not the case. You need to-"

She stopped, a familiar angry voice floating in from outside. She sighed and stood up and went to the door, moments later Potter sat down next to me. Seems I wasn't the only one that couldn't hold their tongue. Minnie lectured us both; he ignorantly tried to make her see reason. He didn't know Minnie; she had a tat for every tit you gave her.

She held the door open for us and we walked out.

"That woman is an absolute nightmare."

"A bitch Potter, call them what they are."

His green eyes looked at me in amusement, "I don't like that term for woman. You shouldn't either."

"That's saying Umbridge is a woman. I'm pretty sure she is some evolution of a toad. I should ask Luna, she probably knows what Umbridge is."

He chuckled next to me.

"Don't laugh at my jokes. They are not meant for your unworthy ears."

He gave me a crooked grin, which unfortunately was one of those highly endearing things that he did with his lips. Of course it wasn't my favourite thing. I continued staring at the captivating feature. He licked his lips and I didn't realise that I had been biting down on my own. The corridor felt very hot suddenly, quite the contrast to the thunderous rain that was falling outside.

"Harry…?"

We whipped around to find Cho Chang, standing behind us. She smiled at me and I nodded. Harry cleared his throat and I walked down the corridor, not missing the fact that he had taken a step back when he had seen her.

A/N: I enjoyed writing that Umbridge scene, she is one of those characters that have no redeemable characteristics whatsoever, even Voldemort was hot when he was younger. Please review.

Kalina