Chapter 57
Umbrage at Umbridge
Note from J.M. Jackson: Sorry for not publishing a chapter last week, it seems like life really wants to keep me busy lately, and wants to keep me down. As I mentioned previously, my partner and I lost our beloved cat, Alfie. We had to take another one of our cats to the vets, this time because of her foot, which wasn't healthy and needed to be amputated. Thankfully, Patch is fine now, but it has been keeping me busy. This week, to make up for it, I'm putting up two chapters. Please do enjoy them. As always, reviews, comments and likes are always welcome.
As Lily sat in the DADA classroom, she looked at Hermione as they had their books out. Both were curious as to how the lesson would actually go, but Lily was already annoyed with the fact that Umbridge was there. Why had the new Minister put her here? She missed Fudge immensely; she knew he wouldn't have done something like this.
As Umbridge walked into the room, she smiled as she looked around, a look that disturbed Lily greatly. "Good afternoon, class," she said sweetly. The class barely responded, so she shook her head. "Tut, tut," she said, with her smile still sickly sweet. "That won't do. When I say good afternoon, I want you to reply, 'Good Afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' Manners are important, after all," she said. "Good afternoon, class."
"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," the class droned back, unenthusiastically.
"See, was that so difficult?" Umbridge asked. "Wands away, and quills out please," she added. Lily, Ron, and Hermione shared a glance; they knew this meant it was going to be a bad lesson.
Umbridge began to drone on about how the class would follow a ministry approved curriculum, all theory centred, and no practical. Their first task was to read the first chapter of Defensive Magical Theory.
The class began to read in silence. Lily felt like it was a class of History of Magic, one of the most boring classes she had ever taken, thanks to Professor Binns. She took a breath, and then noticed that Hermione had raised her hand, but hadn't even opened her book. Lily was certain that Umbridge was ignoring her, until the entire class was looking at her.
When Hermione asked about the course aims, Lily felt a surge of anger inside of her when Umbridge turned around and answered her question about using defensive spells during the lessons for training.
"Using defensive spells?" Umbridge laughed as she spoke, which made Lily even angrier. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell Miss Granger. You aren't expecting to be attacked during class, are you?"
"Wouldn't surprise me," Lily scoffed loudly, causing the class to face her.
"Students raise their hands if they wish to speak, Mr Potter," Umbridge said.
"It's Miss, actually, and if you're dumb enough to not know that, then you're dumb enough to not be good enough to know the math actually supports being attacked in class!" Lily exclaimed.
"MR. POTTER!" Umbridge exclaimed.
"Are you deaf? It's Miss Potter!" Ron exclaimed angrily.
"Let's do the math. Fifty percent of the teachers have tried to kill me. Quirrell tried to kill me, because Voldemort had taken possession of his body…"
"MR. POTTER!"
"Lockhart removed the bones in my arm, and I'm certain he would have done more through his ineptitude, and Moody turned out to be a Death Eater in disguise. So I figure there's a hundred percent chance you'll attack me by June, about a fifty percent chance you'll try to kill me, and given you're transphobic and working for a complete moron, a twenty five percent chance you'll try to use an unforgiveable curse," Lily ploughed on angrily, her voice rising. "How's my math Hermione, did I get it right?"
"Yeah, the math adds up," Hermione confirmed, with a smirk.
"THAT WILL DO!" Umbridge shouted. She cleared her throat and looked at the class, glaring at Lily first.
"She's just explaining the math," Lavender said calmly.
"Hand, Miss Brown! You have been frightened into believing that you are likely to be attacked every other day. If you study the theory, then under carefully monitored conditions, you will be able to perform the spells," Umbridge said coldly.
Lily's temper was out of control for her now, and she lost it.
"So we're not supposed to be prepared for what's waiting out there, are we?" Lily demanded.
"There's nothing waiting out there. Who do you think wants to attack children like yourselves?" Umbridge asked.
"Let me think; how about Lord Voldemort?" Lily snapped. There were gasps, and winces, all around at Lily stating his name. Umbridge, however, did neither.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr Potter," Umbridge said.
"So you're deaf, stupid, transphobic and evil, are you?" Hermione demanded.
"Miserable old hag!" Ron snapped angrily. Lily felt a surge of affection for her friends, who were standing up beside her.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor," Umbridge said calmly. "Let me make something clear: You have been told that a certain Dark Wizard has returned from the dead, but that is a lie."
"It's not a lie! I saw him, and I fought him!" Lily snapped back, standing up.
"Detention, my office, tomorrow, five o'clock," Umbridge told her. "I repeat, this is a lie. The ministry of magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark Wizard. If you are worried, by all means, come and see me outside of class hours, especially if someone is alarming you with lies about reborn Dark Wizards. I am here to help you. Now, kindly resume reading."
Lily could see how some of the class looked half-scared, and half fascinated, and some were looking at Umbridge angrily.
"According to you and the bloody ministry, Cornelius Fudge just dropped dead of his own accord, did he?" Lily demanded. "He was a damned good man, and miserable, evil, lying witches like you will not sully his good name!"
"Cornelius Fudge's death was a tragic accident," Umbridge said.
"It was murder," Lily snarled. She threw her book into her bag. "And you can go to hell, you and the ministry. I'm not staying here with you for another second!"
Lily turned and went to leave, with Ron, Hermione, Lavender, Parvati, Dean, Neville, and Sally-Anne Perks following her.
"Class is not finished!" Umbridge snapped, but Lily ignored her, leading the way out, with the rest of Gryffindor following her, leaving the room and heading down the corridor.
As the class reached the end of the corridor, Minerva came around the corner, narrowing her eyes as she saw the sight. "Lily, what's going on?" Minerva asked.
"A walkout," Lily replied calmly.
"Professor McGonagall, Umbridge was an utter cow!" Lavender said.
"Follow me, all of you," Minerva said, leading the way to an empty classroom. As everyone walked in the class, and sat down, Minerva looked at them.
"Miss Granger, you first," Minerva said. Hermione explained everything that happened, from Umbridge deliberately mis-gendering Lily to her course aims, leading to Lily's math and Umbridge's insistence that Lily was lying. Minerva sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as Hermione finished her explanation.
"I see," she said, as she looked at the room, seeing that every single Gryffindor from the class was there. She felt a small wave of pride, knowing everyone was standing up for Lily, her niece, but she didn't show any sign of that. "You realise, of course, that Professor Umbridge is going to retaliate to this, don't you?"
"I refuse to be in a classroom with that hag anymore," Lily replied. Minerva sighed again.
"Wait here, all of you. I need to confer with Professor Dumbledore," Minerva said, standing up. She stepped out of the classroom, and sent a magical signal to Dumbledore, waiting for him. As she did, she saw Umbridge come around the corner.
"Professor Umbridge, I assume you are looking for your class?" Minerva asked, narrowing her eyes.
"By your question, I assume you know where they are," Umbridge replied.
"I do, but your class is done for today. How dare you disrespect Hogwarts students," Minerva snapped.
"I think you'll find that it was the students who disrespected my classroom, led by Mr. Potter," Umbridge said.
"First, Dolores, it's Miss Potter, and if you can't grasp that simple fact, then I will personally teach my house Defence Against the Dark Arts. It's called basic respect, something anyone should know," Minerva said angrily, as Dumbledore came around the corner.
"Minerva, Dolores," Dumbledore greeted. "Forgive me, I did hear what you were saying. If I might make a suggestion?"
"Of course," Minerva said.
"I think we should remember that these are children, not adults, and right now, many of them will be dealing with, shall we say, emotional changes as they grow older. It is easy for them to let such emotions run away with them, and we should try to encourage them to temper those emotions with wisdom," Dumbledore said, with his usual smile.
"And how would you suggest we do that, Professor Dumbledore?" Umbridge asked, with a sickly smile.
"To begin with, Dolores, I would suggest not calling students by the wrong pronouns. Miss Potter is a young woman who has a great many emotions due to her transition and the potions she is currently taking. Were you not once a young woman struggling during your youth, Dolores?" Dumbledore asked.
"Albus, you know Miss Potter is rightly angered by how she has been treated," Minerva exclaimed. Dumbledore held up a hand, which Minerva knew was his way of asking her for patience.
"Dolores, if you are to succeed as a teacher here, you must understand that there is a strong bond between the students, and when one is affected, others, too, shall follow suit. Unless you wish for a riot throughout the school, I counsel patience, wisdom, and perhaps some tolerance, even if you do not fully feel this within you. Your own thoughts and feelings are your own, of course, and you are free to ignore me, but I merely say this as way of assisting you with your lesson plans," Dumbledore said. "For today, I shall speak with the students, but perhaps, for their next lesson, you could consider what I have said?"
"I promise you, I'll consider it very carefully, headmaster," Umbridge said, with a smile that Minerva knew was fake. She held her tongue, however. "Thank you for your kind words of wisdom. I have given Mr… Miss Potter detention, however, for a week, beginning next week, and I expect her to attend."
Minerva wanted to say something, but Dumbledore simply smiled at her, and nodded.
"I shall explain to her the importance of attending the detention, and of course, the importance of keeping order within the school, Dolores. I assure you, Miss Potter shall be there," Dumbledore assured her. Minerva privately doubted it, but she would never question Dumbledore.
"Then I shall see the students in their next class. Good day, Professors," Umbridge said, smiling as she walked off. When she was gone, Minerva faced Dumbledore.
"Albus, you don't expect Lily to actually listen and go to detention, do you?" Minerva asked, burying a sigh.
"I will ask her to do so, as a favour to myself. I understand Miss Potter's anger; I assure you Minerva, I am not as calm as you might think. However, we must remember the importance of biding our time, and not acting rashly. We do have an entire school to run, and if we are unable to maintain control, then the ministry will have an excuse to make more changes, some which will be intolerable to any of us," Dumbledore said. Minerva hated when he was right, especially when he had that damned smile of his!
"Let's go and speak to them then," Minerva said. Dumbledore nodded and led the way into the class.
Lily was fuming, even though she had understood Dumbledore's reasons. The only reason she had agreed to go to the detention and attend the DADA classes was because he had asked her as a favour and explained how the ministry was looking for ways to completely take over Hogwarts.
Lily understood why that couldn't be allowed to happen, although a part of her wondered if her anti-depression medication was making her feel angrier. When she returned to the common room that evening, she immediately wrote a letter to Lana, asking for her medical advice.
When she was done, she made her way outside of the castle, sitting on the grass, alone, looking up at the night sky, at the stars twinkling above her. She closed her eyes, listening to the gentle breeze of the wind, the rustling of the grass, and the chirps of the birds. She smiled at the feeling of peace, and when she could smell the sweet scent of roses, she knew it was Ginny come to see her.
"I take it you heard?" Lily asked softly. Ginny sat behind Lily and wrapped her arms around her.
"The whole school heard," Ginny replied, kissing her neck softly. "Right now, there's three main groups: those who want to just go on strike against Umbridge, which Fred and George are helping by selling their trick sweets at a discount, some like Malfoy who think Umbridge is gonna be the next headmistress, and some who don't know what to think, and just want to get on with their work."
"Malfoy would be leading the charge with Umbridge, naturally," Lily scoffed bitterly.
"Lily, forget him. Forget everything for the moment. I know why you're angry," Ginny said soothingly. Lily turned around, facing Ginny.
"Oh?" Lily asked. Ginny nodded.
"Let's face it; Malfoy isn't being anything other than what we expect him to be, the students being divided isn't new either, like last year with the Goblet, and having a teacher against us isn't new either. The thing that angers you most is the fact that you still blame yourself for what happened last year at the graveyard, both Fudge's death, and Voldemort's return," Ginny pointed out, holding Lily's hand. Lily looked down, and sighed, nodding. Ginny always knew how to read her; it was why they made a great couple.
"I… I guess so," Lily agreed. "I know what you're gonna say, Ginny, but it was my fault. If I had fought harder, if I had done… I don't know, something, anything, then Voldemort wouldn't be back, and Cornelius would still be alive! What if I'd caught Pettigrew and not let him escape? Voldemort wouldn't be back without him!"
"Lily, you don't know that. There were plenty of others serving him. All it would have taken was one person, just one person, to join him. Malfoy's dad, maybe, or any of a hundred death eaters still out there. And you did fight, you survived Voldemort four times now! First as a baby, then in your first year, then second year, and last year! You've done what no one else other than Professor Dumbledore could have done, and even then, you've done more by surviving the killing curse! Voldemort hasn't come out of hiding yet because he's scared of you," Ginny told her.
"I doubt that," Lily replied, shaking her head.
"I don't," Ginny countered. "You messed up his return several times, and he knows you're stronger than anyone knows."
"I'm only strong because of my friends, and because of you," Lily pointed out. Ginny put her finger to Lily's lips and shook her head.
"No, you're not. You're strong because of your heart. You care so much for others that if gives you everything to fight for, and Voldemort doesn't have that. He fights for himself, for power, because he thinks he should be in charge, because he thinks he knows how the world should be run. But he'd take away everyone's freedom and kill anyone who stood up to him. You would never do that, which is what makes you better, and stronger," Ginny insisted. "Lily Potter, I love you so much. I have seen you at the best and worst of times, and not once have you ever surrendered to the darkness. You are so much stronger than you think, and I will never let you think otherwise."
Ginny pulled Lily into a hug, holding her as Lily broke down in tears. Sitting there, the two of them, Ginny didn't say anything; she didn't need to. Lily already knew how she felt, and as they stayed there, Ginny simply held her, comforting her, reminding Lily of how she would never be alone.
