Chapter 5- Detention

Dinner in the Great Hall that night was not a pleasant experience for Harry. The news about his shouting match had spread throughout the school like wildfire. He heard whispers all around him, as he sat eating between Ron and Hermione. The funny thing was, none of the whisperers seemed to care if he heard what they were saying about him. On the contrary they seemed to want him to hear as though he would get angry and start shouting, so that they could hear his story firsthand

"He says he saw Cedric Diggory get murdered"

"He reckons, he duelled with You-Know-Who"

"Come off it…"

"Who does he think he's kidding"

"What i don't get " Harry said setting his knife and fork down (his hands shaking too much to hold them) "Is why the believed Dumbledore months ago"

"That's the thing, i'm not sure they did" Said Hermione grimly "Let's get out of here" slamming down her cutlery and standing up. Ron looked longingly at his half eaten apple pie, but followed suit. People stared and whispered as they made their way out of the Great Hall.

"What do you mean, you're not sure they believed Dumbledore?" Harry asked when they reached the first floor landing

"Look, you don't understand what it was like after it happened" said Hermione "You arrived back from the maze, clutching Cedric's body… none of us saw what happened… we just had Dumbledore's word for it, that you know who had come and and killed Cedric

"Which is the truth!" Harry exclaimed loudly

"I know it is Harry, so will you stop biting my head off?" said Hermione wearily "It's just that before the truth could sink in, everyone went home for the holidays and spent two months reading about how you and Dumbledore are both nutcases"

Ron pounded on the open windows as they made their way back to the common room with Hermione chewing on her lip looking deep in thought. Harry felt as though his first day had lasted a week, the dull pain about his right eye done nothing more but fuel the horrendous day he already had. He glanced out at the rain splattered window towards Hagrid's hut. Still no lights were on,

"Mimbulus Mimbletonia" The Fat Lady portrait swung open and before she could say anything, they scrambled through. The common room was completely empty as they made their way towards the fireplace and took their three favourite seats, Crookshanks jumped on Harry's lap and culled up like a ginger cushion, purring loudly as Harry began to scratch the top of his head. He gazed into the flames feeling drained and exhausted.

"How can Dumbledore let this happen?" Hermione suddenly cried, making Harry and Ron jump. Crookshanks jumped off Harry's lap looking disgruntled, she pounded the arms of her chair in fury, so that bits of stuffing flew out "How can he let that horrible woman teach us! And in our O.W.L year, too"

"Well it's not like we've ever had a great Defence against the Darks Arts teacher have we?" Harry said "Well you know what it's like, Hagrid said no one wants the job, they say it's jinxed."

"Yes but to employ someone who doesn't want to teach magic! What is he playing at" Hermione screeched

"And she's trying to get people to spy for her" Ron said darkly "remember when said said she wanted us to tell her if we hear anything about You-Know-Who coming back"

"Of course she's here to spy on all of us, that's obvious, why else would Fudge have wanted her to come?" Hermione snapped. Ron opened his mouth to retaliate and an ensuing argument bound to break out.

"I'm gonna take a walk, clear my head you know" Harry said standing up and straightening his robes

"I'll come wit-"

"NO! I mean i just want to be alone for a while" Harry quickly cut Hermione off "Sorry, i just gotta-" he didn't bother finishing his sentence and made his way back out of the portrait hole. Ron and Hermione, sending concerned looks his way, as the portrait closed behind him. He made his way down the vacant corridor as the torches on the walls roared to life. Dinner was close to finishing but Harry knew he had time to get back to the common room before the hall emptied out. He made his way down the marble staircase glancing at the portraits who gave a hearty greeting to him.

"Hello Harry Potter" A familiar dreamy voice

"Huh- oh hey Luna," Harry said, turning to face the girl who was sitting down in the middle of the corridor. Harry had been so deep in thought that he hadn't noticed the small girl. He made his way over and sat beside her, stretching his legs out and giving a yawn

"Shouldn't you be at dinner?" Harry questioned

"I am quite hungry, but i have seemed to lost all my possessions, apparently people have been hiding them," said Luna

"That's awful! Do you want some help? I'm not doing anything at the moment." Harry replied his anger rising at the thought of the stange girl being bullied

"That's quite alright" Said Luna twirling her butterbeer cork necklace between her fingers "It's all in good fun and i quite enjoy looking for them, it's like a game of some sorts, its like i have friends"

"You do have friends Luna, I'm your friend!" Harry smiled at the girl feeling a unique sense of protectiveness over her. He had once found her strange and somewhat even annoying, but finding her alone in the hallway being picked on reminded him of his younger self

"Really? How lovely" Her dreamy voice disappearing. She began to hum an odd tune and began to sway gently, brushing Harry's shoulder every now and then

"I best get going, want to beat the rush before anyone can see me" Harry said standing up

"It was quite nice talking to you, Harry" Luna said following his example and before he could reply she turned around and began to skip down the corridor. Harry shook his head with a smile on his face, his small conversation with Luna had been the best part of his awful day and he even began to hum the same tune now that the song was stuck in his head. Harry checked his watch and saw dinner only had around five minutes left, he passed by peeves who began to sing:

"Oh, most think he's barking, the potty wee lad, But some are more kindly and thinks hes just sad, but Peevesy knows better and says he's just mad"

"Would you shut up Peeves!" Harry shouted as he turned the corner colliding into a small figure, who yelped as they fell on their backside

"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" The young girl scampered, collecting her things.

"No, no it's my fault I should have been looking where I was going" Harry said helping the young girl pick up her things. She had dark brown hair and blue eyes. She was young maybe a second year and her eyes widened as she looked at him

"Your Harry Potter!" she said her face turning a deep red as she began to stutter "My sister Daphne has told me all about you"

"Oh, that must make you Astoria, am I getting that right?" Harry said, handing over her stuff. The girl nodded shyly. "It's nice to meet you"

"It's nice to meet you too," she said shyly "Tracey is quite fond of you and Daphne has had the biggest crus-"

"Potter!" a grating voice came from behind. Harry turned and saw professor Snape had exited the great hall and had obviously seen the two talking. "I'm sure Miss Greengrass has more important things than to listen you whine about your earlier class with Professor Umbridge"

"Actually sir, i was telling her all about Goyles potion, you know how it shattered everywhere and set his robes on fire, but he's hardly to blame. After all there's no such thing as a bad student only a…well you know the rest" Harry said smirking quoting Daphne from earlier

"Watch your tongue Potter, you still have one more year with me and I promise if you continue with your cheek I'll make it your worst one yet... Come along Greengrass" Snape turned his cloak billowing as he stormed down the corridor

"Bye Harry" Astoria said jogging to keep up with Snape

Harry sighed and turned making his way up the marble staircase and down the empty corridor. He gave the portrait the password and entered into the common room. Ron was sitting in the same spot he had been in previously.

"You and Hermione sort things out?" Harry asked

"Of course not, we got into a huge argument about Fred and George then she began to rant about making hats for the house elves and then she stormed off upstairs when i disagreed" Ron said glumly

"Sounds like I dodged a bullet," Harry said. People began to enter, obviously having finished dinner.

"There's no point continuing this without Hermione here… do you know what moonstones have to do with this? " Ron said

Harry shook his head, the pain above his right temple getting worse. He thought of the long essay on giant wars noticing how the sharp stabbing pain got worse. Knowing perfectly well he would come to regret not finishing his homework in the morning

"I'm going to bed" He passed Seamus on the way to the door leading to the dormitories, but did not look at him. Harry had a fleeting impression that Seamus had opened his mouth to say something, but Harry sped past him opening the door to the dormitories without having to endure any provocation

—-

The following day dawned just as leaden and rainy as the previous one. Hagrid was still absent from the staff table at breakfast.

"But on the plus side, no Snape today" said Ron bracingly

Hermione yawned widely and poured herself a cup of coffee. She looked mildly pleased about something, when Ron questioned she replied

"The hats are all gone, seemed the house elves wanted them after all" She said smugly

"I wouldn't count on it!" Ron said cuttingly "They might not count as clothes. They didn't look anything like hats to me, more like woolly bladders." Hermione didn't speak to him all morning. Double Charms was succeeded by Double Transfiguration. Professor Flitwick and Professor Mcgonagoll both spent the first fifthteen minutes of their lesson lecturing the class on the importance of O.W.L.S.

"What you must remember" said Professor Flitwick squeakily "Is that these future examinations are very important for any future career you are interested in. If you have not given any thought of what you want to do in the future, now is the time to do so. And in the meantime we will all be working extra hard!" They then spent the rest of Charms practising the summoning charm which Harry had mastered when training for the Triwizard tournament. He then finished the lesson by assigning the biggest piece of Charms homework they have ever had. It was the same, if not worse in Transfiguration.

"You cannot pass an O.W.L" said Professor Mcgonagoll grimly "Without serious application, practice and study. I see no reason why everybody in this class should not achieve an O.W.L in Transfiguration as long as they put in the work." Neville made a sad disbelieving sound "Yes, even you Mr Longbottom, there's nothing wrong with your work except lack of confidence. So…today we will be practising the vanishing spell. These are easier than the conjuring spell, which you would not usually learn till around N.E.W.T level, but they are still among one of the most difficult spells you will have to perform in your O.W.L" The class had had found the spell horribly difficult to perform, Harry and Hermione were the only ones able to perform the spell and therefore were not given homework.

Harry and Ron had spent their lunch hour in the library looking up the uses of moonstones in potion making. Still angry about Rons slur on her woolly hat, Hermione had not joined them. By the time they had reached care for magical creatures, Harry's head was aching again. The day had become cool and breezy, and as they walked down the sloping lawn towards Hagrid's cabin on the edge of the forbidden forest. As Harry and Ron reached Professor Grubbly-Plank, a loud shout of laughter came behind them; turning they saw Draco Malfoy striding towards them, surrounded by his gang of Slytherin cronies. He had clearly said something highly amusing, because Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson and the rest of his group continued to snigger heartily as they gathered around the trestle table, and judging by the way they kept looking at Harry, he was able to guess he was the subject of their group without to much trouble.

"Everyone here?! Barked Professor Grubbly-Plank "Let's crack on then. Who can tell me what these things are called?" she indicated towards the twigs in front of her. Hermione's hand instantly shot up into the air. Behind her back, Malfoy did a bucked tooth imitation of her jumping up and down in eagerness to answer a question. Pansy Parkinson gave a shriek of laughter that almost instantly turned into a scream as the twigs came to life

"So, does anyone know what these are called?" Said the professor "Yes Mrs Granger?"

"Bow truckles" said Hermione "they usually live in wand trees"

"Five points for gryffindor. Now can anyone tell me what they eat?"

"Woodlice" said Hermione promptly "but fairy eggs if they can find them"

"Good girl, take another five points" she went on informing the class about the tiny creatures and set them a task to sketch the creatures and have each part labelled. The class surged forwards around the trestle table, Harry deliberately moving towards Professor Grubbly-Plank

"Where's Hagrid" Harry asked while everyone was choosing Bowtruckles

"Never you mind" Professor Grubbly-Plank said repressively, her attitude the same as it was last year when Hagrid had failed to turn up. Smirking all over his face, Draco leaned over the table taking the largest Bowtruckle

"Maybe" said Malfoy in an undertone so that only Harry could hear him "the stupid great oafs got himself, badly injured."

"Maybe you will, if you don't shut up" Harry said his teeth clenched

"Maybe, hes been messing with things that are to big for him, if you get my drift"

"Kind of like what you're doing right now" Draco sneered and walked away. Harry made his way around the table to Ron and Hermione who were squatting, trying to persuade the bowtruckle to stand still, so they could draw it. Harry squatted down with them and pulled out his quill and parchment, he related what Draco said in a whisper.

"Dumbledore would know if something had happened to Hagrid" Hermione said at once "it's just playing into Malfoy's hand to look worried; it tells him, we don't exactly know what is going on. We've got to ignore him Harry, here hold the Bowtruckle for the moment so I can draw his face…"

"Yes" came the drawl voice of Malfoy. "Father was talking to the minister just a couple of days ago, you know, and it sounds like the ministry's really determined to crack down on sub-standing teaching, in this place. So even if the overgrown moron does show up again, he'll probably be sent packing right away."

"OUCH!" Harry had gripped the Bowtruckle so hard it almost snapped in half, and it had just taken a great retaliatory swipe at his hand with its sharp fingers, leaving two deep cuts there as his Bowtruckle had made a dash for the forbidden forest. Crabbe and Goyle laughed as if they were two apes shaking the bars of their cage. Harry rolled up his bloodsoaked picture of the bowtruckle and left when the bell rang

"You've got to ignore him Harry, he's a prefect now and can make your life difficult" said Hermione

"Wow, don't know what a difficult life is like," Harry replied as he walked past the greenhouse as the fourth years began to spill out, including Ginny.

"Hi," she said brightly as she passed. A couple seconds later Luna emerged, trailing behind the rest of the class, a smudge of earth on her nose, and her hair tied up in a knot above her head. Many of his classmates turned to watch as Luna made her way up to him

"I believe He Who Must Not Be Named is back and I believe you fought him and escaped from him."

"Thank you Luna, that means alot to me" Harry said beaming at the young girl who had orange radishes for earrings, a fact Lavender and Parvati seemed to find highly amusing. Luna gave them a withering look and then began to skip away. Ernie Macmillian had stepped up to him.

"I want you to know" He said loudly "I personally believe you, one hundred percent. My family has always stood firm behind Dumbledore and so do i."

"Er- thank you very much Ernie" Harry replied. Lavender's smile was completely wiped off her face and Seamus looked half confused-half defiant.

Professor Sprout, gave them the same lecture as the two previous professors, informing them about the importance of O.W.L.s. Harry wished all the teachers would stop doing this; he was getting a nervous and twisted sensation into his stomach, everytime he thought about the amount of homework he had, the sensation only grew worse when Professor Sprout assigned them another long essay at the end of class. As Harry was starving and had to go to his detention, he darted towards the great hall, not even bothering to put his bag in his dormitory. He had barely reached the hall before he heard a loud and angry voice yell

"Oi, Potter!"

"What now" Harry mumbled to himself turning around and seeing Angleina Johnson storming towards him

"I'll tell you what now" she said marching up to him and poking him in the chest "How come you worked yourself into detention on friday""

"What, why frid…oh keeper tryouts" said Harry

"Oh, now he remembers" snarled Angelina "Didn't i tell you i wanted the whole team to be there, didn't i tell you i booked the pitch and now you've decided your not going to be there"

"I didn't decide not to be there" Harry said through gritted teeth "I got in trouble for telling the truth about You-Know-Who."

"Then you can go back, and ask her to let you have friday off" she said storming away

"You know what?" Harry said to Ron and Hermione as they entered the great hall "I think we better check with Puddle united whether Oliver Woods has been killed or not because Angelina seems to be challenging his spirit."

"What are the odds, that Umbridge lets you off friday" said Ron

"Less than zero" Replied Harry glumly "Better try though hadn't i" tipping lamb chops onto his plate "i hope she doesn't keep me too long, with the amount of homework we have im likely to get a brain haemorrhage"

When it was five to five Harry bade the others goodbye and began to make his way to professor Umbridge's office, When he knocked on her door she called, "come in" in a sugary voice. He entered cautiously, looking around. The office he had once recognised from his previous teachers, was now completely unrecognisable. The surfaces had all been draped in lacey cloths and covers. There were several vases full of dried flowers, each one residing in its own doily, and on one of the walls was a collection of ornamental plates, each decorated with technicoloured kittens wearing a different bow around its neck. Harry stared at them transfixed, until Professor Umbridge spoke again

"Good evening, Mr Potter" Harry started and looked around. She was wearing a luridly flowered set of robes that blended only too well with the tablecloth on the desk behind her.

"Evening, Professor Umbridge" Harry said stiffly

"Well, sit down" she said pointing towards the chair opposite her with a blank piece of parchment awaiting him

"Er- Professor Umbridge. Before we start, i wanted to ask you for a favour" asked Harry causing Professor Umbridge's eyes to bulge and narrow

"Oh, yes?"

"Quidditch tryouts are on friday for the new keeper and i was wondering whether i might be able to miss detention on friday and do it another night… instead" Harry already had the answer to his question by time the he finished his question

"Oh, no," said Umbridge, smiling incredibly widely " oh, no, no, no this is your punishment for spreading nasty, attention-seeking lies. You will come here at 5 o'clock tomorrow, and the next day and Friday too, and you will do your detention as planned. I think it's a good thing you're missing something you so wish to do, it really ought to reinforce the lesson I am trying to teach you." Harry felt his blood surge to his head and heard a thumping noise in his ears. So he told 'evil attention-seeking lies' did he? She was watching him with her head tilted slightly to one side, still smiling widely, as though she knew exactly what he was thinking and was waiting to see whether he would start shouting again. With massive effort Harry dropped his school bag and took a seat.

"There," Said Umbridge sweetly, "We're getting better at controlling our temper already, aren't we? Now you are going to be doing some lines today, Mr Potter. No, not with your quill," she added as Harry bent down to open his bag. "You're going to be using a rather special one of mine. Here you are." She handed him a long thin, black quill with an unusually sharp edge

"I want you to write, i must not tell lies " she told him softly

"How many times?" Harry asked, with a credible imitation of politeness

"Oh, as long as it takes for the message to sink in," Said Umbridge sweetly, "Off you go." She moved over to her desk, sat down and bent over a stack of parchment that looked like essays for marking. Harry raised the sharp black quill and realised what he was missing

"You haven't given me any ink" Harry said

"Oh, you wont need ink" said Professor Umbridge with a hint of a laugh in her girlish voice. Harry placed the point of the quill on the paper and wrote:

I must not tell lies

He let out a gasp of pain. The words had appeared on the parchment in what happened to be in shining red ink. At the same time, the words had appeared on the back of Harry's hand, cut into his skin as though traced there by a scalpel - yet even as he stared at the shining words the skin began to heal, leaving the place redder than before but still smooth. Harry looked at Umbridge who was watching him with a toad-like smile on her ugly face

"Yes?"

"Nothing," Harry said quietly. He placed the quill on the paper and continued to write, feeling the searing pain on the back of his hand. Tears sprang to his eyes from the intensity until it healed and he was forced to do it over and over and over but he refused to let them spill. Darkness fell outside Umbridge's window. He didn't even check his watch, he knew she was watching him for any signs of weakness and he was not going to show any, not even if he had to sit here all night, cutting open his own hand with this quill…

"Come here" she said after what felt like hours. He stood up, his hand stinging painfully. When he looked down at it, he saw the skin had healed but the skin was raw red

"Hand," she said. He extended it. She took it in her own. Harry repressed a shudder as her big sausage fingers made contact with him. "Tut, tut, i don't seem to have made much of an impression yet," she said " well we'll just have to try again tomorrow. You may go"

Harry left her office without a word. The school was deserted and it was surely past midnight. He had walked slowly up the corridor, then, when he turned the corner, and was sure she would not hear him, did he slide down the wall of the empty corridor and finally let his tears fall…