...
Harry and about fifteen other students were in the DA Cathedral the next night, Thursday. They'd made a few changes to their chosen headquarters, mostly in furniture and wall adornments.
A few more shelves and sofas had been placed near the dining tables and benches. Four large desks with drawers had been pushed together near the entrance. A wide area was still left open for blue sparring mats and the dueling platform along the far back wall remained the same as well as their pseudo-infirmary area.
Harry was sitting at the desks with Susan, going over her plan for the conversation with her aunt. They'd decided to tell her over Christmas break.
"You said you can practice magic in Bones manor?"
"Yes, it's well off the ministry alert systems."
"I think you should start by showing her your patronus."
"I've never told my Aunt I can do advanced magic, Harry."
"I know, that's why I'm suggesting it," Harry said reassuringly, smiling at her. "You're the captain of the second squad for a reason, Susan. You know more spells than some aurors and you're whip smart to boot. Show your aunt some of what you can do and I don't doubt she'll sit back and listen to you."
"Thanks Harry," Susan said, blushing heavily.
All of the girls of the DA had learned quickly that Harry was everyone's older brother. Nearly every one of them had gone through some sort of crush-phase and Susan was no exception. There was just a sort of pull to be around him. His words had a way of making you feel so much bigger than you felt the moment before.
They, and everyone else, were distracted by the slamming open of the main portrait hole closest to Gryffindor tower.
Every hand went to their wands but lowered a second later.
Colin barged in, hand clamped tight around his little brother's wrist. Dennis wasn't a member of the DA but he did stay at the castle over the summer so no one took offense to his presence.
It didn't take them long to figure out that something was wrong.
"Colin?" Harry asked cautiously.
"That- That- that hag!" the normally docile fifteen year old screamed.
He was spitting mad. Focusing, Harry could see bursts of pale yellow magic lashing off of Colin. Colin pulled his little brother into view.
"Look at his hand!"
They looked at his face first; the youngest Creevey brother had tear stained cheeks and puffy eyes. His hand was definitely the cause of it. Little blood droplets were oozing angrily out of his hand. The words 'I must respect my betters' were scratched deeply there.
Every member of the DA gasped and shuffled closer.
"Nanette," Harry called out after looking around the room. The fourth year was the only healer in their midst at the moment. She had a natural inclination for the magic despite her young age and knew more than her fair share of spells.
"Detention!" Colin spat. "She calls this detention? She told him he could finish his lines tomorrow! Tomorrow!"
"Colin," Harry said strongly, reaching out and placing a steadying hand on the younger mans shoulder. "You need to calm down. You're scaring Dennis."
Colin met Harry's eyes, anger burning in them, but slowly took in deep breaths.
"Focus on your mediations," Harry urged softly, knowing how hard it could be to control ones magic when it was lashing about as the blonde boy's was.
Slowly, Colin's strangling grip on his little brothers wrist eased slightly.
"Now you need to let his wrist go so Nanette can check him over."
"Hi Dennis," Nanette said softly to the blonde boy in her year. "This won't hurt a bit, okay?"
"What did this?" Harry asked Colin while the brunette ran diagnostic charms and sterilized it.
"Some bloody quill of hers."
"That's the work of a blood quill, Potter," Lilian Moon spoke up. "They're a level five restricted item; dark magic, technically. Blood magic."
"Dark magic?" Colin yelled loudly.
"Colin," Harry snapped.
"Dark magic Harry," the red-faced boy said. "Dark magic. On my little brother."
"I know, and if you think I won't have this dealt with by breakfast, you're mad," Harry assured him. "Look at me, Colin."
He waited until the watery blue eyes met his own.
"Dennis is one of us. I am just as angry as you are but right now, there's no one here that deserves your anger. Tomorrow, Colin, I will make Umbridge regret ever stepping foot in this castle," he looked around. "Level five restrictions, Lilian? Elaborate."
"Blood quills specifically are only for use in official ministry proceedings or within Gringotts," Lilian explained without pause. "They are classified as a class 3 dark artifact with ministry level five restrictions and are thus banned from public use. They are most certainly not allowed to be used on a minor."
"Hermione, get in the journals. Tag it urgent, update everyone on the situation. Eddie, get with Lilian and figure exactly which laws she broke. Lisa, go through the Hogwarts charters and figure out which ones of those she broke."
With searching green eyes, he scanned the upper loft level. "Luna!" he shouted.
A blonde head popped up from where she'd been laying on the floor under a study table.
"Get a letter to Rita Skeeter from me; use Hedwig. Keep the tone professional but threatening. She's still an illegal animagus so we've still got something on her. I want an article heavy on the anti-Fudge sentiment, capitalizing on he and Umbridge supporting child abuse. What she writes about me is up to her but it needs to be a separate article and not front page."
Harry looked around the room for a moment, picking people out.
"Fay, I need you to portkey to Firewall and find Teresa and Mike Creevey, tell them what's going on, tell them I'm handing it, and tell them I need them to sign the forms I send over. Anita, go get Madam Hooch. Susan, I know you've some way of instantly contacting your aunt; here's the first exercise of trust. Make sure she's here with an auror contingent in time for breakfast. Colin, I need your camera."
Everyone nodded, immediately beginning to do as they'd been told.
"A-Auror contingent?" Colin asked Harry, jaw dropping just a little bit. Of course he expected Harry to do something but he didn't quite expect him to bring in the aurors.
"She doesn't know what she just started," Harry said firmly. "I told you, I'd make her regret it. I'm just working on not tipping too much of my hand. Camera?"
"I've got it in my trunk," Colin said, pulling his pendant out from under his robes and detaching a pill sized trunk charm.
"Dobby," Harry called while Colin retrieved his camera.
The little elf appeared within seconds.
"Master Harry Potter sir called Dobby?"
"Ello," he greeted politely. "Do you think you could get Dennis here a mug of hot chocolate? All the works, if you would."
"Right away Harry Potter sir."
Harry turned to Dennis who looked much calmer though he still hadn't said a word.
"Are you okay, Dennis?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm alright Harry," he answered in a small voice.
Harry shot the boy a soft smile. He knew the boy had gotten detention standing up for him; Jimmy Peakes had told him about it. The toad said something about Hogwarts declining because of the machinations of Dumbledore and Harry Potter and Dennis hadn't taken it too well.
"What's the prognosis, Nanette?"
"In line with what Lilian described; short exposure to a powerful dark artifact. There's some latent magic still infused in the wound. I can use some essence of dittany or murtlap to encourage skin growth but I can't close the wound without drawing the magic out and that's beyond most trained healers."
"Why?" Harry asked intently.
"Why what?" the small fourth year asked.
"Why is it beyond most healers?"
"To draw latent magic out of a wound you have to both possess some level of magical sensitivity and you have to be able to overpower the magic of the caster or, in this case, artifact. That's harder to do when he technically willingly used the artifact and when the artifact is this strong."
"Dennis, can I see your hand?" Harry asked gently, crouching down to kneel in front of the desk chair Dennis had been pushed into.
"Uh sure," he said before hesitantly giving Harry his hand.
Drawing up his magic and focusing through his eyes, Harry carefully observed the wound. It was back to angrily oozing blood but he could see a different glowing reddish color within the wound and enflamed along the edges. It wasn't pure black like he expected. Instead, it was a deep pulsating red that flared darker at the edges.
"I think we'll be able to heal you up just fine, Dennis," Harry assured the fourth year with a smile. "No worries about any nasty scarring. But we need to wait for Madam Hooch and we need to let your brother take some pictures first."
Calculating emerald eyes zeroed in on the Slytherin that came through the entrance behind the dueling platform.
"Blaise," he called.
"Harry," he greeted cooly. "You alright, Dennis?"
"Harry says he can heal up my hand."
Blaise's face darkened.
"A blood quill in Hogwarts; never thought I'd see the day."
"Blaise, you know the proper spells to officiate and certify memories and photographs to legal quality?"
"Of course," the boy sniffed. "Do you have the appropriate ministry-regulation memory vials?"
"Yep."
Blaise nodded.
"Dennis, Madam Hooch is going to take a look at your hand and help Blaise officiate the pictures. They're gonna show you how to copy the memory of your detention and bottle it up."
"You can do that?" he asked with wide eyes.
"Sure, you've seen the pensieve before right?"
"Oh yeah."
Harry nodded, standing up.
"When I come back, we'll heal up your hand and you can watch Umbridge get hers at breakfast. Deal?"
"Deal!" Dennis agreed.
"Harry…" Nanette said slowly. "Do you really think you'll be able to heal his hand?"
"I can see the magic so I'm pretty sure I can remove it."
"Do you know what you're going to do with it once you remove it?"
"Erm…" Harry faltered. "I hadn't thought that far ahead yet."
"I thought not," she rolled her eyes. "I've got a focus stone somewhere you can funnel it into. Then we can destroy it."
"Why not just skip the step?"
"Because then there'd be a bit of dark magic floating around which is much harder to destroy."
"Right," Harry shook his head. "I've got to go, I'll be back as soon as possible."
The last thing he heard before portkeying away was Dobby's squeaking voice. "Dobby has brought hot chocolate and whipped cream for all of Harry Potter's friends."
…
He landed in the receiving room of Firewall Castle.
Wasting no time, he headed for the fireplace and used the floo to go directly to a private customer lobby within Gringotts. Affluent patrons were allowed to floo directly in the bank, explaining why you rarely saw the lords and ladies on the lobby floor.
"Lord Gryffindor," a goblin he didn't recognize greeted as he righted himself. "Riptuck has been expecting you."
"He has?"
"Right this way, please," the being directed, neglecting to answer his question.
Harry followed him into the office with a shrug, familiar with the cryptic and evasive nature of the wizarding world's bankers.
"Greetings, Lord Gryffindor," Riptuck greeted him with a toothy grin. "I have the documents you requested."
"I didn't request any documents…"
"You wished to file a declaration with the Ministry claiming the Creevey family as protected under House Potter, correct?"
"Well, yes, actually," Harry agreed, confused. "But how did you know that?"
"You filed the declaration five days ago through Gringotts."
"I did not, I'm here to file it right now."
"But you wish you had filed it five days ago?"
"Well, I mean yes, I guess."
"For a fee, Gringotts can file them with the ministry, certified, five days ago."
"Are you saying you'll date it wrong?"
"Of course not," Riptuck snarled, as if offended at the thought of fudging documents. "Gringotts provides an internal service that allows us to file the necessary forms five days ago."
"Can you please explain what you mean?" Harry asked, beginning to massage his temple.
"We can send the signed documents back in time five days and have them filed and certified."
"Time travel?"
"On a scale."
"You can send stuff back in time?"
"Parchment and wax."
"So you could warn someone about an attack five days before it happens?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Laws, Lord Gryffindor. Time is not subject to the whims of anyone."
"But-"
"Paradoxes."
"But why can't you-"
"The paradoxes."
"Saying paradoxes isn't a proper explanation," Harry said with a frustrated expression.
"Paradoxes!"
"That's not-" he stopped himself. "Can we get back to the documents?"
"Here they are," he handed him an unsigned sheaf of parchments. "Have the parents sign them then you sign them and press your seal here."
"May I summon my house-elf?"
Riptuck waved his hand in a 'do as you will' manner.
"Dobby."
The excitable elf popped into the office and looked around with widening, tennis-ball sized eyes. He bowed low to both Riptuck and Harry before pulling on his ears nervously. Harry handed him the sheaf of parchments.
"Can you take these to Teresa and Mike Creevey on the island and have them sign them?"
"Yes Dobby can," he agreed proudly, popping out.
Riptuck didn't comment, content to shuffle parchments around his desk. In less than three minutes Dobby had proudly returned with the signed forms and left after an exuberant farewell. With little fanfare, Harry signed them and pressed the Potter ring into the appropriate place.
Riptuck sent the declaration along with a courier then, with little adieu, he reached into his desk and pulled out an identical certified copy.
"Notarized five days ago…" Harry looked at the dry signature he'd signed less than a minute ago with a spooked expression. "Time travel sure is odd."
"Which is why wizards shouldn't attempt it."
"You can say that again," Harry snorted. "They'll give a time turner out to any thirteen year old Hogwarts students."
Riptuck looked mildly startled by and interested in that statement but brushed it off.
"If that is all, Lord Gryffindor?"
"Yes, everything I need, thank you," Harry said, standing. "Have a good night."
And then he was led back to the floo room where he left the bank before portkeying to Hogwarts.
…
When he came back, Madam Hooch was standing angrily over Dennis' shoulder. Colin's camera was sitting on the desk on top of a file of new pictures, officiated by Hooch and Blaise. Numerous DA members had flooded in while Harry was gone and Dennis looked slightly surprised by how many people had shown up to buzz angrily.
"In all my years," Hooch said when Harry approached. "Words cannot express- I cannot even think of Minerva's reaction."
"We'll be seeing it tomorrow at breakfast," he told her. "The entire Creevey family is under the protection of House Potter — even Umbridge's political clout won't protect her."
"But were they at the time of her…transgression?" she asked sharply, amber eyes narrowed. She knew that Umbridge would get away with it if not.
"Yes, they were," he answered calmly, handing the document to Hermione.
Hermione's look told him quite clearly that she expected an explanation about just how he arranged these certifications to have been filed five days ago. For the moment though, she burst into the flurry of activity that had become the research areas.
"Susan," Harry called out, spotting the redheaded girl. "Did you reach your aunt?"
"She's worried, intrigued, asked me six times if I was truly sure it was necessary, and she made me swear three times there's no immediate danger but, yes, she'll be here at breakfast with a squad."
"Nanette, you got that stone?"
"It's here," she said, walking away from Hannah, Terry, and Su Li. They were all designated healers. She handed Harry an uneven opaque rock that felt, to Harry, magically hollow.
"Thanks," he said, looking at it with interest before approaching Dennis. "How's that hand?"
"It's really not so bad now," the blonde told him. "Hannah cast a nifty numbing charm and it only stings a little."
"Hannah's gonna have to remove that numbing charm for me to fix it," he said, pulling up a chair close to Colin.
All of the healers in the room stepped a bit closer, as well as the other members in general. Colin and Madam Hooch were watching especially keenly as Harry took Dennis' hand.
Focusing intently on his magic, Harry called up enough of it to make it feel as if his entire body was conducting a current.
"Blimey, look at that aura on him," Morag whispered.
His entire body was oozing magic, a constant glow of bright killing-curse green about a centimeter from his skin. Harry ignored the sounds of awe and surprise coming from his friends.
Focusing his magic on his hand and the points where it made contact with Dennis' hand, Harry began pushing his magic.
"Harry what's that?" Dennis asked, hand jerking.
Harry's grip tightened on his wrist. "Please don't move, my magic's pushing yours away from the wound. And please try to stay calm, I don't want it fighting mine."
Dennis nodded and just watched as the bright, thrumming green of Harry's magic grew and began lashing out in inch long tendrils that licked his skin warmly. Harry began focusing on the dark red magic lining and clinging to the angry gouges. With concentration, he directed his magic to force it away from the injury.
Immediately, he could tell why Nanette had described it as being difficult. Even though the injury was very small, the focus and magic he expended was great. It was almost like the dark magic had bonded to the wound on a cellular level.
The air surrounding him felt charged; everyone watching felt equal parts amazed and shocked. The initial aura that Harry had displayed had dimmed before flaring exponentially. That's when they had realized that whatever they had seen was nowhere near full power.
"That tingles," Dennis said, watching with wide eyes. He was trying not to squirm. "A lot, it really tickles."
"Dark magic being leeched out of the skin tickles," Harry said jokingly. "Noted."
It was quiet after that while he siphoned the angry red magic; they could all see it lashing and swirling controlled only by Harry's own magic. He wandlessly directed it into the stone before slumping back into his chair and letting his magic recede back into his skin. Dennis' whole hand flared up with a strong tingling for a moment before setting back to normal. The scratches were still there and rather deep but the edges were a light pink rather than an angry red.
"Now that I can heal right up," Hannah said brightly, flicking her wand into her hand via holster.
Colin gave Harry a grateful look while overseeing the healing of his brother's hand. Every member there gave Harry an appraising or impressed look but they brushed it off after that. It didn't really change how they looked at him, only improving their already high opinions.
"That was quite impressive, Harry," Hermione complimented.
"You alright mate?" Ron asked. "Looking a bit winded."
"Feel a bit winded," he admitted. "Like I've held the patronus for five minutes. Not that bad though, my reserves are well above three quarters full."
"Well above three quarters?" he heard one of the Patil twins whisper quietly. "I'd be magically exhausted."
"Very few people can do what you just did, Potter," Madam Hooch said as she leaned against the large desk. "And even fewer who do it so instinctually. You'd make a good healer."
"I'm not all that great with healing spells, ma'am," he denied. "I'm more of a point and shoot kind of guy."
"I think there's a great many things you can do that you don't realize you can," she said, striking eyes assessing him before she glanced over to Blaise. "I'm going to assure the documentation is sound with Mr. Zabini."
Harry watched her go and shook his head.
"Do you have a plan for tomorrow morning, Harry?" Hermione asked him as she conjured a chair. "And how did you know to formally protect the Creevey family?"
"Believe it or not, yes I do," he answered. "And I didn't until tonight. Apparently Gringotts can send parchment back in time a few days to cut back on the time it takes to file things."
"That's quite odd. I've never read about anything like that."
"He wouldn't explain much, just kept shouting about the paradoxes. All mighty convenient anyhow."
"I reckon we can do with a bit of convenience," Ron said. "Jumped through enough hoops."
"We've got a few more to jump through before the end of this," Harry said with a sigh. "Starting tomorrow morning."
"Have you studied the formal language for this sort of thing, Harry?"
"Yes, Mione, I did my reading. I've got a whole three-pronged verbal attack planned," he said somewhat sarcastically. "And the lovely Lisa who I see approaching is going to tell me what laws and bylaws to throw at that hag."
"What about the other professors?" Hermione asked. "How are you going to keep them out of it?"
"The only one I'm worried about is Snape but I'm counting on Madam Bones to show up on good time."
"If we're lucky." Hermione said darkly. "Could be just like the Ministry debacle again."
"I've learned Harry Potter has more than his share of luck," Lisa said as she set down a roll of parchment. "Here's what Eddie, Lilian, and I found."
"Normally bad luck," Hermione muttered.
Harry took the notes with a grateful nod, ignoring her pessimism.
"Thanks."
"Get some rest, Harry," Hannah Abbott called as she followed Dennis and Colin from the portrait hole. "You'll probably need it."
"Yeah, you look exhausted."
"No rest for the wicked!" he called out before trailing off quietly. "Just a few more things to do first…"
…
The morning approached quickly.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dennis, Colin, Lavender, and Marie Janice were pooled in the corner of the common room closest to the portrait hole. Harry was sitting stock-still on a conjured stool while Lavender powdered and spelled his hair.
"Normally this is an anti-humidifying spell," Lavender said as she jabbed the back of his head forcefully.
"Ow," he said pointedly.
"It's supposed to make normal hair go completely limp," she continued, ignoring him.
"Seems to be working a bit on your hair, Harry," Marie commented. "Not quite laying flat but…"
"It's bringing out the natural wave," Hermione finished.
"Bloody hell, are you three finished with him yet?" Ron queried.
"Oh be quiet, Ronald," the smartest witch in Hogwarts scolded as she brushed past him and towards the Creevey brothers. "Do those new robes fit alright, you two?"
Dennis nodded nervously while Colin just shifted his shoulders and agreed. They were both wearing elegantly cut black robes with a crimson silk lining. The Potter crests were placed over their hearts and right shoulders in glimmering gold thread.
"I feel like mine are a bit much," Harry grumbled.
"They're high fashion, Harry," Marie assured him.
"They're tight and hot," the young Lord complained as he picked at the extravagant crimson fabric.
The hooded cape was a material slightly lighter than velvet and the robe underneath was just as brightly hued. The silk was draped and pinned with elaborate gold clasps that produced a flowing effect. Underneath he wore a sleeveless umber brown Renaissance doublet with detailed gold patterns and formal breeches.
"It's form fitting, Harry," Hermione, who had chosen his robes, told him firmly. "Cast a cooling charm if you're that hot; the over robe and cape are necessary."
"I don't even see the Potter crest anywhere."
"It's embroidered in the hem of your cape, on the buttons, your lord's ring, and your cufflinks," she informed him. "And you're wearing the Potter colors, crimson and gold."
"Oh."
"Now, Dennis, all you have to do is stand between Colin and Harry," Hermione reminded the younger boys. "He'll do all the talking; you don't need to show anyone the marks on your hand."
"Cause there really aren't any now," he said as he showed it off.
"I know, Nanette healed it right up," she nodded.
"She's amazing," the younger boy said with a slightly goofy smile.
"Yes she's quite good isn't she?" Hermione responded to Dennis with a kind smile. "We need to get to the Great Hall before Amelia shows up with the aurors."
"You're right, you're right," Harry agreed, securing the strap on the silky cape. He certainly looked the part a lord.
The Golden Trio and the Creevey brothers left the portrait hole and began descending the first set of stairs. All of them noticed Harry's immediate countenance change. First his expression slackened, completely neutral, before they began to feel controlled amounts of magic and a growing look of cold anger on his face.
"Harry?" Hermione asked nervously, adjusting the folder of evidence and the copies she'd made of them.
"Yes, Mione?" he asked in a completely calm tone.
"What're you doing?" she asked slowly.
"What do you mean?" he asked knowingly as his magic built to noticeable levels.
There was no visible aura but they could all feel it, heavy and oppressive. It felt like the weight of the ocean waiting to press down on them.
"You're making my hair stand on end," Ron said, looking at the ginger hair on his arms.
"Well I'm rather angry."
"You said there wasn't anyone who deserved my anger last night," Colin said.
"There's about to be," Harry said before cocking his head. "Madam Bones is here; she's on her way to the gates."
"How many aurors?"
"Six."
Ron pulled out a shrunken version of the Death Eater map that he'd taken to carrying, watching the edge of the Hogwarts wards and waiting for the head of the DMLE and her aurors to appear.
"None of their dots are black," he reported, relieved.
"Good."
Ron and Hermione were both in their Hogwarts robes but underneath they wore their armor in case of emergency. The bookworm's hair was tied up neatly and both of their expressions cleared with determination. Colin regained his angry expression and Dennis grew slightly more anxious looking.
The few students milling at the base of the grand staircase quickly scurried into the open lesser door of the Great Hall when they saw the approaching group. Harry, by contrast, waved his hand and forced both of the twenty foot doors open completely. He didn't break stride and neither Colin nor Hermione nor Ron did either. Dennis was forced to keep up by his older brother.
The entire hall quieted and the students looked shocked. So too did the teachers, though Snape and Dumbledore both had risen.
"Mr. Potter, what is the meaning of this?" the headmaster asked fiercely.
Harry had refused all requests and orders to come to his office and, since it was only the fourth day of term, Dumbledore had yet to get creative about securing his interrogation.
"This rather doesn't concern you, Headmaster Dumbledore," Harry said strongly. "I'm afraid it concerns Madam Umbridge and I."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to object but Umbridge gave a dainty "hem hem."
"Why don't we let the boy speak, Headmaster?"
Snape snarled, upper lip curling, but Harry ignored him entirely. He knew Umbridge was playing the devil's advocate to give him the chance to incriminate himself. She probably hoped he would land himself in detention with her.
"Perhaps, Madam Undersecretary, you can explain your detention practices to me?"
"My detention practices?" she gasped churlishly, face twisting into a sugary smile. "I don't see how that's any concern of yours, Mr. Potter."
"Lord," he corrected coldly.
"Excuse me?"
"Lord Potter," he corrected again, eyes glinting. "If you insist on lying while addressing those above your station, you should do so with appropriate appellations. I repeat again, Madam Undersecretary, would you care to explain your detention practices?"
The pink-clad woman had lost her smile, though she kept her composure well.
Dumbledore and Snape, however, did not. The Headmaster had leaned forward intently, eyes immediately searching for the ring upon Harry's finger. When he found it, there was a brief flash of cold anger on his face before it was wiped away.
"Harry, perhaps we could take this into my office?" the bearded headmaster interjected.
"Perhaps not," he growled. He was vaguely aware of seven people entering the Great Hall behind him.
"Amelia," Umbridge greeted loudly and nervously. "What ever are you doing here?"
"I requested the presence of Madam Bones," Harry answered, turning sideway and nodding politely to Susan's intimidating aunt. "I thought she might also be interested in why you thought to use a blood quill on a fourteen year old boy?"
There were murmurs from some of the students who knew what a blood quill was. The noises were even louder from the teachers table. A cloud of anger over took McGonagall's face as she turned to Dumbledore.
"Albus, what is the meaning of this?" she asked in a thick Scottish brogue. Harry added a point to her name since she immediately believed him and understood that the implement had been used on Dennis, one of her cubs.
"Madam Bones I assure you that your presence is quite unnecessary," Umbridge jumped in, looking harried. "Our dear Mr. Potter is quite fond of the dramatics. In fact, I fail to see how another students detention even concerns him at all."
The sudden wave of Harry's magic could not be missed. He'd reigned it in before they had entered the hall but it seemed his restraint had ended.
"I beg your pardon," he questioned with cold, false politeness. "But did you just accuse the Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter of dramatizing the use of a level 5 dark artifact on a minor? Further, did you just insinuate that I lack the right to defend and maintain one of my wards?"
Umbridge's countenance shifted again, paling.
"Or were you, in truth, unaware of the fact that Dennis Creevey was my ward? And if you had known, would that have stayed your barbaric hand?" Harry stalked forward, magic rippling. "Would it? Would you have tried torturing a pureblood with this medieval instrument, or is it only those unaware of its illegality that you would dare try it with?"
"Dolores, are you going to respond to Lord Potter's inquests?" Amelia Bones asked, hardly veiling her glare at the Minister's vile toady. "And Lord Potter, do you have any proof of your accusations?"
"Hermione," Harry gestured.
Hermione took one of the file copies and handed it to Madam Bones.
"Inside you have Dennis' magically certified affidavit, notarized photographs of the injury witnessed by a member of the staff," Hermione reached into her pocket and dug around for a moment before withdrawing a silk pouch. She took out a memory vial and handed it to the Director of the DMLE. "And this is a sealed and certified memory of Dennis' detention with Madam Umbridge."
"You are aware that pensieve memories are inadmissible in court-"
"Unless certified by will under threat of death by three or more pureblood nobles," Hermione finished.
Plainly put, that meant three purebloods had to swear that the memory was verifiably true and if they lie or if the memory proves to be untrue, they die. It's the ultimate statement of validity and trust.
"To that extent, the memory has been witnessed and certified by myself, Heir Longbottom, Heir Bones, and Heir Abbott," Harry finished.
"And who notarized these documents?" Amelia Bones asked, checking them and the seal on the memory.
"They were notarized last night by the goblins of Gringotts."
"This is simply preposterous-" Umbridge tried.
"Quiet!" Harry shouted as he spun back around, robes flapping angrily. "Further defamation to my moral character will more than satisfy the requisites for an honor duel. You punished a ward of House Potter with a dark instrument. That is a violation of no less than six of our laws and a further eleven clauses of the Hogwarts charter."
Dumbledore stood now.
"Harry, my boy."
"I would prefer if you did not address me so familiarly, Headmaster," Harry interrupted immediately.
"Such arrogance, Potter, the likes of which I have never seen even from your father," Snape belittled.
"And keep your pet on his leash," Harry added, glaring. "There is little need for the input of a marked Death Eater in this matter. Unless he wishes to recommend better methods of torture to Madam Umbridge."
"Why you little-"
"Severus," Dumbledore said sharply.
More than a few gasps had rung out amongst the study body at the revelation of Snape's former loyalties and Dumbledore's lack of immediate denial. Harry marked that as a win — anything to throw off Dumbledore for the moment. The man hadn't even been given the chance to get a word in.
"You're going to need to come with me, Dolores."
"What?" Umbridge gasped. "Amelia this is quite- I am here on the authority of the Minister himself," she clomped her heels for accent much like a donkey might.
"So now you're telling me that the Minister sanctioned the use of a blood quill on the students of Hogwarts?" Harry pressed.
"No, no! Of course Cornelius didn't sanction the blood quill!" she recanted immediately.
"So you aren't denying that there is a blood quill?" Amelia asked before Harry could.
The approach of the monocled woman told Harry to step to the side. As much as he wished to continue his tirade against the woman, furious as he was, letting the law handle it would be best.
"I- well I never!" she gasped, pushing back from her chair.
Toady as she was, Umbridge wasn't slow enough to miss the two aurors approaching from either end of the teachers table.
"I am the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic," she continued, panicking as she noted their drawn wands.
"You were," Harry corrected. "House Potter will be prosecuting to the full extent of the law and you would be a fool to believe the Minister will keep you on under the heat I'm going to throw at him. You thought you could come here and deny students a proper defensive education? More so, you thought to punish them with dark artifacts that could have been permanently scarring? There's a war on, woman, and you weren't even apt for this position in the first place. Don't think the A you barely achieved on your Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL isn't public record. You didn't even sit your DADA NEWT, did you?"
Turned out he wasn't done with his tirade.
"Reach for your wand, I dare you," he growled, more magic rippling through the air as he noticed her jerky movement.
The entire student body could feel it, magically sensitive or not. Umbridge's hand moved away from her pocket instinctually before she could try to tell herself this was just an arrogant little boy in front of her.
"I can't help but wonder if you're a follower of the Dark Lord himself; muggleborn discrimination is a practice that he quite agrees with," he mused seriously, holding her eyes coldly. "No less than a week and you're enacting his dogma, torturing innocents."
"Lord Potter, that is enough!" Dumbledore said loudly, managing to make the title sound patronizing.
"And you! Not even a week into term and you've already failed to protect the students who need protecting the most!" he accused. "The Sorting Hat was right. Great job, the lot of you. At least Madam Hooch managed to do her job."
"I believe you've made your point, Lord Potter," Amelia interjected before gesturing towards two of her aurors. "Beckhard, secure Ms. Umbridge — we'll be taking her in for questioning."
"This is an outrage! I will not be treated like some common criminal," with every word, her face puffed up with more indignation until she seemed ready to blow a literal or figurative house down. "On the word of a lying little boy, no less."
She puffed herself up.
"I myself have never believed Potter's story. We all know that boy is going dark!" she shouted. "Look at the dark magic rolling off of him. Why, I bet he killed Cedric Diggory himself!"
No one even had a proper response for that. When the response did come, it was from the Hufflepuff table.
A bright flash of dangerous yellow light shot up to the ceiling; the source was Megan Jones. Hannah Abbott had pushed the girls wand arm up but Megan was on her feet, wand at the ready.
"Don't you dare say his name, you vile fucking bitch!" she screamed angrily.
Megan was halfway through a percussion hex that simulates a punch to the solar plexus when Ernie intervened. He snapped off an intentionally weak silent disarming charm that pulled her wand from her fingers and into his hand. Hannah was up as well, arms wrapping around the straining Megan.
"Say his name again, I fucking dare you!" she continued, spitting mad. "Pull your head out of Fudge's arse; I want you to see my fist coming you rotten toad!"
Hannah was trying to pull Megan back but the girl was furious; she was already furious for the sake of the younger Creevey brother and the reminder of Cedric's brutal murder had sent her overboard. She would have used her wand to subdue her but she couldn't manage it while wresting with Megan.
"Open your mouth," Megan dared with a homicidal gleam in her brown eyes. "Do it. I'll make what you did to Dennis look tame. I'll rip that knob-knocking tongue out of your fat, slaggish mouth and feed it to you, you minging cunt!"
Quite a few jaws dropped widely. A few of the older years covered the ears of the first years. Hannah winced at the very colorful language and wrestled her back.
"Pink isn't even your color!" Megan screeched. Somehow, Umbridge looked more offended by that than she did by any of the other vitriolic insults.
Finally, Hannah managed to get her wand out safely. Megan had been struggling hard enough to snap the healer's light-colored almond wood wand if she wasn't careful. After a moment, the girl went placid as the calming spell took effect.
"Quite the grasp on the English language, that one," one of the aurors muttered to his partner.
Harry flared his magic again and silenced whatever shite Umbridge would try to spew next. Megan's light brown eyes were still brimming with visible rage and intently focused on Umbridge despite her lax body. Even with her noodle-like limbs, she still looked surprisingly threatening. The aurors appeared to be quite taken aback and a couple of wands were focused on Megan. The other four were on Madam Umbridge.
"I will do far worse, Umbridge," he warned. "The requirements for an honor duel have been met. You've dug your own hole; don't make it your grave."
"This has gone on long enough," Amelia barked. "Subdue her."
There was a tense pause while the four aurors tried to communicate. Umbridge was looking left and right with beady eyes as if contemplating her escape. While three of the aurors wordlessly argued, one snapped to attention and really took the initiative. A blast of red light erupted from Beckhard's wand and barreled into the red-faced woman.
"I could tell she was going to struggle, ma'am," he said with a straight-face.
"We'll write it up as resisting arrest," she said almost offhandedly, seemingly forgetting the audience for a moment. "She'll need to sleep that one off in the holding cells."
"Madam Bones this is unprecedented," Dumbledore tried to butt in as the aurors began floating the woman down the aisle.
"I quite agree, Headmaster," Amelia responded severely. "I assure you that my department will do their best to get to the bottom of it."
"We can discuss this further in my office."
"I'm afraid there's nothing further to discuss," she cut him off in her same business-like tone. "Clearly, you weren't privy to any of this and I have all of the relevant evidence in my hand. Aurors Clancy and Rote will search Madam Umbridge's office and Aurors Teague and Marcel will search her quarters."
"I would like to have a copy of that, Madam Bones."
"I'm quite sure you would, Headmaster, but as this is an open investigation I must decline."
From what must have been a Gryffindor first or second year, the entire room clearly heard:
"Oh snap, buuuurn."
And that was it.
The students, who had been watching very quietly in fear of being sent away from the spectacle, were laughing. Even some of the Slytherins cracked and laughed, the DA snakes especially. None of their peers would think anything of them laughing at Dumbledore being put in his place.
"Will you need to speak to my ward, Madam Bones? I would like to make it clear," he spoke loudly, meeting Dumbledore's eyes. "That neither of my wards should be spoken to about any matters outside of schoolwork without my presence."
"I think the affidavit covers everything we needed to know," she declined before turning to look at the slightly less nervous looking Dennis. "Are you quite alright, young man?"
"Yes ma'am, Madam Hooch and Harry fixed me right up," he held out his healed but still slightly pinkish hand.
She nodded brusquely before turning to the Hufflepuff table and picking out her ginger haired niece with ease.
The look she gave Susan made one thing very clear; she wanted answers and she wanted them with immediacy. So much for telling her auntie over Christmas break.
"Perhaps you'd like to join us on a walk?" Harry asked Madam Bones with a subtle nod to Susan.
"Quite so," Amelia agreed.
"I'm going to put our copies away, Harry," Hermione said, gesturing to the pictures of Dennis' hand.
"And I'll be sticking around here to keep an eye on Dennis," Ron said with a nod.
"I know you want to eat breakfast, Ron."
"That may have been a factor," Ron agreed with a shrug before heading for a seat slightly closer to the younger years than normal.
Snape looked spitting mad and Dumbledore looked like he desperately wanted to demand more information. The strict glare of Madam Bones put an end to that.
"I would recommend canceling classes for the day in light of this excitement," she said in a tone that made it sound like much more than a suggestion. "I believe I would like to capitalize on the chance to visit with my niece."
With that, she turned and left the hall. Susan stood to follow after sharing a look with Hannah, who was still keeping her arms around Megan.
"What's it mean when someone has a knob-knocking tongue?" first year Ravenclaw Kelly Donnelly asked quietly; her voice still carried.
"Shh," her year mate Mark hissed. "I'll write my cousin Jamie, he'll know."
...