Chapter 11: The Mysterious Jinxed Chalk

Tom had spent the whole morning running around the Hogwarts grounds looking for the prettiest flowers he could find, which he had arranged into a bouquet that he now clutched tightly in his hand. He'd tucked in his shirt and combed back his hair. But now the hard part was upon him, and he wasn't sure if he had the courage.

"There she is," said James as he glanced across the courtyard to where Lily had come out to read in the sunshine as she so often did. "Now's your chance."

"Okay," said Tom as he proceeded to stand in place.

James sighed. "You don't need to be so nervous, she's going to say, 'yes.'"

"You don't know that."

"The two of you have been flirting constantly for a year now, she obviously likes you."

"What if she's just being nice?"

James rolled his eyes. "Well, if she is, it's better you find out now."

Tom sagged. "But, I'm not ready to find out that she just likes me as a friend."

James covered his face with his hands. "Tom, she likes you, I promise. It's past time for you to do this. You have to be brave now."

"That's easy for you to say, you're the Gryffindor."

"Slytherins are allowed to be brave sometimes, too."

Tom sighed. "Do you really think she's going to say, 'yes?'"

"I'm positive." James grabbed Tom's shoulders and turned him toward Lily, who was still reading silently to herself. "Don't think about it, just go. Start moving your feet. I'll be right over here." He gave Tom a little shove to get him going.

Tom continued walking, using the momentum from James's initial push, and began to cross the courtyard. He was still conflicted about this, his nerves getting the better of him, but before he knew it he'd gone too far. Lily glanced up at him as he approached, and it was officially too late to turn back.

"Oh, hello, Tom," Lily said as she smiled up at him. "You look very nice."

"These are for you," Tom said as he held out the flowers, too nervous to come up with a proper greeting.

Lily initially seemed a bit surprised to suddenly have flowers in her face, but then her smile widened and she took the flowers from Tom. She smelled them and clutched them to her chest. "They're beautiful. You picked these for me?"

Tom nodded. "I wanted to ask you something."

"You should sit down," Lily said as she moved over to make room for him. Tom sat.

"So, there's a Hogsmeade visit coming up," Tom said.

"Yes, there is," Lily agreed. "I always love a trip to Hogsmeade."

"So do I," said Tom. "I don't know if you've already made plans for the trip…"

"I haven't made any specific plans."

"Oh. Good." Tom cleared his throat. "Well, then, I was wondering if you might like to go to the Three Broomsticks with me."

Lily smiled. "Are you asking me on a date, Tom?"

Tom forced himself to look Lily in the eyes as he said, "Yes."

"I'd love to," Lily said, her eyes sparkling.

"Really?" Tom blurted out before he could stop himself.

Lily laughed. "Yes, really. I'm glad you asked me."

A wide grin spread across Tom's face. "Me too. I can meet you in the courtyard and we can walk over together?"

Lily nodded. "I'd like that very much."

"Great, I'll see you then."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Tom tried to keep his cool as he walked away, but as he approached James he was unable to suppress the massive grin that spread across his face.

James's smile echoed his own. "I told you she'd say yes!" he said as he wrapped Tom in a tight hug.

Tom could hardly believe it, but she'd said yes. He was going on an official date with Lily Snape.

It took Harry a minute to acclimate to his surroundings as the memory came to an end. This was the first memory he'd watched since moving the journal to its new home in the Room of Requirement, and the transition from the memory to his own head was disorienting at the best of times. All this aside, the study that Hogwarts had created for him turned out to be the perfect spot to view Tom's memories. He wasn't worried about anyone happening across him, seemingly staring unresponsively at a blank journal page. He could take his time to process the things he'd just seen in peace. And, best of all, he didn't have to worry about Umbridge getting her hands on it during a 'random' room search.

Harry got up off the couch and returned the journal to the desk drawer, where it would be safe until it was ready to present the next memory. It seemed that things between Tom and his mother were growing beyond crushes, and were leading to an actual date. The whole scenario hadn't stopped feeling strange, but it was nice to see how happy they both were. In fact, his father was just as happy as they were. It was all too confusing and things just weren't adding up. Harry hoped some of the gaps would start to be filled in soon.

Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean all crowded in the doorway to their dormitory, watching as Umbridge looked through all of their belongings. Professor McGonagall had delayed the room searches for as long as she could, but hadn't been able to hold them off forever. As violating as it felt to have Umbridge poking around in his personal space, Harry could at least take comfort in the fact that Tom's journal was safely hidden away, and his locket was safely tucked into Harry's pocket where he always kept it. He was confident that he didn't have anything else that Umbridge would be interested in.

"Do you truly need this many licorice wands, Mr. Finnigan?" Umbridge asked as she went through Seamus's side table drawer.

Seamus shrugged. "It's important to have a good candy stash, Professor," he said simply.

Umbridge made a disgusted face but said nothing as she slid the drawer shut. Then it was Harry's turn. Umbridge opened his trunk and immediately began rooting through it with a complete lack of respect for Harry's belongings. He wasn't exactly a neat freak, but his things had never been in such a mess. Spare clothes covered the floor, parchment scattered everywhere as Umbridge tossed it to the side, and his broomstick maintenance kit landed upside down on his bed, spilling its contents. It would take him ages to get it all organized again, but he forced himself to remain silent.

Once Umbridge had removed almost everything Harry owned from his trunk, she suddenly paused. "Well, well. What's this here?" she said with a smirk on her face. Harry's heart skipped a beat as he tried and failed to think of what she could possibly have found in there that would have elicited that reaction. "Care to explain this?" She held up a piece of chalk.

Harry's brow wrinkled. "It looks like chalk, Professor," he said. "But it's not mine, I don't have any chalk."

"Obviously, you do," said Umbridge. "But this isn't any ordinary chalk, is it, Mr. Potter?"

"I'm afraid I don't follow, Professor."

Umbridge seemed slightly annoyed that Harry didn't seem to have connected the dots, but she continued, "This is a bit of jinxed chalk, isn't it, Mr. Potter?"

"I don't-" Harry started, but he cut himself off as he suddenly realized, his eyes growing wide. The first prank. Fred and George had jinxed the chalk in detention to write out insults toward Umbridge instead of the ordinances. And Harry was being framed as the perpetrator. "That isn't mine. It wasn't me." But he knew his protests were pointless. Umbridge knew the chalk wasn't his, because she had planted it there herself.

"Oh really?" Umbridge said, her grin widening. "Well, it certainly seems like yours. I found it right here in your trunk. Is there something you would like to own up to?"

Harry knew he was going to get the blame no matter what he said, but he refused to make this easy for her. "I don't know what you're talking about," he insisted.

Umbridge shook her head in mock disappointment. "I had hoped that, after all of your detentions, you would have learned better than to lie to me, Mr. Potter."

"That's not mine," Harry said again.

Umbridge sighed. "Very well. That's another detention for you, Mr. Potter. It's clear that I'm going to have to keep a much closer eye on you." And with that, she stormed out of the room, stepping directly onto Harry's clothes as she went. She stopped briefly once she was back out to the dormitory stairs, turning back to say, "I'll see you later in detention, Mr. Potter," before heading to the next room on her list.

"I believe you, Harry," Neville said once Umbridge was out of earshot.

"Thank you, Neville," Harry said half heartedly as he wandered into the room and tossed a few of his things back into his trunk. He suddenly felt utterly defeated.

"That snake," Ron muttered. "She's really got it out for you, mate."

"I can't believe she touched my licorice wands," Seamus said with a grimace. He then turned to Harry. "Oh, and, I can't believe she was planting stuff on you like that."

"You should tell someone, Harry," Dean said. "It's one thing to take the Ministry's position that you've been lying about the dementor attacks and to give you detention for that, but this? This is different."

"Dean's right," Neville insisted. "She's going out of her way to frame you for things you didn't do. She can't have a good reason for doing that."

Harry sighed. He knew they were right, that this was completely different from the detentions Umbridge had given him in the past. This time she was weaving lies of her own just to get to him, and he still had no idea why she hated him so much. All he knew was that her hatred had the potential to turn dangerous, and it was quickly moving in that direction.

"Okay," Harry said finally. "I'll speak to my uncle."

Once again, Harry found himself outside his uncle's office. Uncle Severus looked up in surprise as he entered, but indicated that his nephew could take a seat.

"Is everything alright?" Uncle Severus asked.

Harry took a deep breath. "Um…," he said, not really knowing how to start. "I'm really sorry to bother you. I'm probably making a big deal out of nothing." He wasn't sure why he suddenly had a strong urge to downplay everything that was going on. "I'm sorry, Uncle, I shouldn't be bothering you with this, forget I said anything." Harry began to stand up, feeling like it was stupid of him to come here.

"Sit," Uncle Severus urged. Harry hesitated before lowering himself back into the chair. "Tell me what happened."

Harry sighed. "When Umbridge was searching my room, she found jinxed chalk in my trunk, but it wasn't mine. She knew it wasn't mine, she planted it there herself just so she could give me another detention. And I know I've had plenty of other detentions, but she's never tried to frame me for anything before. I guess I just feel like she's going out of her way to target me, and I don't understand why. I don't know what to do."

Uncle Severus's nostrils flared. "She's getting quite cocky with that Ministry given power of hers," he muttered.

"I guess detention's really all that's come of it so far," Harry said, still not sure why he was making excuses. "It just… feels like she's escalating things, and I don't know why she hates me so much. I don't know what she wants from me."

"These detentions…," Uncle Severus said, his voice contemplative. "She's just having you write lines, yes?"

"Yeah, it's just lines," Harry said with a nod. "With her special quills she has us use."

Uncle Severus froze. "What 'special quills' might those be?"

"Um…" Harry was suddenly uncomfortable. "She bewitched them to… shock you if you get off track."

Uncle Severus exhaled sharply through his nose. "She's been shocking you?"

"Not recently," Harry said quickly. "I've gotten pretty good at avoiding it. Lots of practice."

"Where's the detention hall?" Uncle Severus asked, his face set in a deep scowl.

Harry hesitated. "It's… You know that unused classroom on the second floor?"

Suddenly, Uncle Severus was up and storming out of the room. Harry, surprised, got up and went after him. His uncle was moving so quickly that it was difficult for him to keep up.

"Uncle? Where are you going?" Harry asked, but his uncle didn't answer. He hurried after Uncle Severus as he stormed up out of the dungeons, up to the grand staircase, students staring after them as they walked by, and up to the second floor.

Uncle Severus walked right up to the previously unused classroom that was now the new detention hall, and violently pushed open the door, which made an audible thud as it swung into the room and hit the wall. Detention was in session, Umbridge at her desk and a handful of students hunched over bits of parchment as they wrote out the ordinances over and over. Everyone looked up at Uncle Severus and Harry as they made their dramatic entrance, however.

"Umbridge," Uncle Severus said angrily as he made his way over to her.

Umbridge was aghast. "Severus, what on Earth do you think you're doing?" She stood and walked to the middle of the room to meet him.

Harry followed his uncle into the room, noticing Dennis Creevey sitting at a desk in the front row. Dennis was the younger brother of Colin Creevey, a Gryffindor in Ginny's year and a fellow member of Dumbledore's Army. Dennis had wanted so badly to join as well, but none of them wanted to put someone as young as Dennis at risk. Although, it seemed that he still wasn't safe from Umbridge and her detentions.

"It has come to my attention that you have been using some very unorthodox methods with these detention quills of yours," Uncle Severus snapped.

Umbridge stared daggers at Harry. "Is that so? I presume Mr. Potter here is the one who's given you these notions? The boy is known for his lies, they've gotten him numerous detentions here."

"Don't try that with me," Uncle Severus warned.

"Oh, calm down, Severus," Umbridge said with a wave of her hand. "As it happens, I do use some accountability measures with my quills to keep students on track, though I'm sure Mr. Potter has exaggerated the severity." Harry just scowled at her. "Or perhaps Mr. Potter has lived such a sheltered life that he doesn't know what real pain is. Maybe I ought to show you what a real shock feels like, boy." Harry flinched as Umbridge angled her wand toward him. Uncle Severus quickly stepped in front of him, causing Umbridge to laugh. "Relax, I'm teasing. The quills really aren't a big deal, and they won't do anything at all as long as the student is doing what they're supposed to do."

Just then, Harry noticed that Dennis had stopped writing, distracted by what was going on in front of him. "Dennis," he whispered. He mimed writing with his hand, trying to remind the boy to keep going, but it was too late.

"Ouch!" Dennis blurted out as his quill emitted a quick shock. Harry winced in sympathy before turning to Umbridge.

"Professor Umbridge, could I finish out Dennis's detention on his behalf?" Harry asked quickly.

"Harry, no-," Dennis protested.

Harry interrupted him. "Please. This distraction is my fault."

Umbridge considered for a moment. "Very well. But I'll expect you to complete a full hour, Mr. Potter."

Harry nodded. "Thank you, Professor."

Umbridge grinned. "You see, Severus? The boy is thanking me for the opportunity to use my quills."

"Harry…," Dennis said, about to try and refuse again.

"I'll be fine," Harry assured him. "I'm used to it. I won't get hurt, I promise. Go."

Dennis seemed conflicted, but he eventually dropped his quill and left.

"It has been a while since you've felt the quill's effects," Umbridge said contemplatively. "Perhaps I ought to modify yours to have a lower tolerance for resting between lines."

"If you like," Harry said stiffly.

Umbridge smiled. "Exactly. This is my detention, I'll do as I like. Potter gets it." Harry took a deep breath. "Well, have a seat, Potter. Get on with it."

Harry sat in Dennis's now vacant seat and grabbed his quill, only for his uncle to immediately snatch it out of his hand.

"How do I trigger the shock?" Uncle Severus asked.

"Uncle, you don't have to-"

"How do I trigger it?" Uncle Severus asked again, more forcefully this time.

Harry sighed. "Either wait long enough or write something other than the ordinances."

Uncle Severus bent over Harry's desk, then pulled the parchment toward himself and dipped the quill in the ink. He barely got a couple words in before he flinched and let out an almost inaudible grunt before dropping the quill back onto the desk. Fury set into his eyes as he stared back up at Umbridge. Harry made to pick the quill back up, but Uncle Severus snatched it back up, this time snapping it in half and throwing the pieces on the floor.

Umbridge's mouth widened in shock. "How dare you-"

"Quills down, everyone. Now," Uncle Severus demanded, now raising his voice to address the room. Everyone paused, unsure of what to do.

"You do not have the authority-"

"Quills down," Uncle Severus said again.

"Do it," Harry interjected, knowing that they couldn't afford to hesitate with those quills in their hands. Everyone's quills hit their desks.

"Go to your common rooms," said Uncle Severus.

Umbridge's face was reddening. "Very well," she said through clenched teeth. "It seems we're ending early tonight so I can deal with your rogue Potions teacher." She didn't need to tell the students twice. Everyone quickly got up and filed out of the room.

"You too, Harry," said Uncle Severus.

"But, Uncle-"

Uncle Severus's expression softened. "Go and check on Mr. Creevey."

Harry nodded silently and left the room. The door slammed shut behind him, and he heard the click of the lock.

"Your uncle has literally never been this cool," Ron said the next night at dinner. Unsurprisingly, the story of the Potions Master interrupting detention the evening before had spread around the school like wildfire, and had practically been all anyone could talk about that day. Uncle Severus had never been in such good graces with his students. He was practically being hailed as a hero.

"Yeah, it was insane to watch," Harry admitted. "I don't know what I expected him to do when I went to talk with him, but it wasn't that." A confrontation like that seemed incredibly out of character for his introverted uncle. He could hardly believe that it had happened.

"It's about time he stuck up for you," Hermione said with a smile. Harry's smile echoed hers. He had to admit that it had felt really good to have his uncle in his corner like that.

"Pardon the interruption," Dumbledore suddenly said from his podium at the end of the Great Hall. It wasn't uncommon for the headmaster to interrupt dinner with the occasional announcement, but Harry couldn't have predicted what happened next. "Professor Umbridge has an important announcement to make." He nodded to Umbridge and moved out of her way.

"No," Harry said as Umbridge walked up to the podium.

"It has come to my attention that not only students, but certain members of staff are questioning my methods," she began. "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I'd feared. I would therefore like to announce that I will be conducting teacher audits, to evaluate the institution's educators and ensure that they are living up to Ministry standards." Groans broke out among the students, but Umbridge ignored them. "No need to do anything special, I merely want to observe a typical day in everyone's classes. I'm looking forward to working together with the staff to ensure that we are all on the same page."

Umbridge left the podium and Dumbledore took her place. "Thank you, Professor. We look forward to the opportunity to improve. I am sure you will find that the teachers at Hogwarts are some of the best in the world."

Harry looked up to his uncle, who was staring angrily at Umbridge, and couldn't help feeling like the Potions Master's anger should be directed at him instead.