Marauders in Time

Dolores Umbridge

News of Gryffindor's Seeker and two Beaters being given a lifelong ban spread like wildfire the next day, earning a lot of jeers and laughs from the Slytherin house. Despite every house having some form of animosity towards Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students couldn't deny that it was also an advantage for them. Because this meant the strongest Quidditch team and reigning champions were severely weakened, allowing the other teams to catch up. 

"This doesn't feel good," Sirius commented as they finished their first lesson of the day, Herbology, and left the greenhouses to more taunts from Slytherin students, particularly Malfoy.

"I wanna teach him a lesson," Sirius glared at him as they walked towards their next class.

"We have plenty of time to do that when we are not currently feeling at a loss," Remus said, keeping his head low.

"I just hate that he makes it feel like we are the losers here," Sirius spat.

"We are the losers," Peter said.

"But we beat them! Its only coz we have 3 players out-"

"And they are probably 3 of the best players in the team," Remus said gloomingly.

"Don't worry guys," James said. "I'll bring us back don't worry."

Sirius cocked an eyebrow, "Are you definitely in then?"

"No but Angelina said I will get to trial tonight. Apparently very few people are trialing. After seeing what happened to Ron, they don't want to be thrown in the deep end as well."

Harry told them that his and the twins' brooms were padlocked in Umbridge's room. As they entered the class for Defence Against the Dark Arts, James could faintly see Harry's Firebolt in Umbridge's office as she exited and closed the door. Her sly grin causing Sirius to scowl and mumble to himself as he moved to sit next to Ron. James went and sat next to Harry, who was eyeing Umbridge like a vicious predator. It was a look of pure hatred.

"Good morning students," she greeted them with the same high-pitched voice as she always did, only this time it almost pierced the Gryffindors' ears.

"Wands away please," she said. "There will be no need to talk."

James could see Harry putting his wand in his bag but he kept his under his sleeve of his robes. He would need it for what he was planning to do. After what Umbridge had done to Harry the previous night, there was no way she would get away with it. The class went on with Umbridge not suspecting a thing, although she smiled cockily at James and Harry, both of whom returned a look of pure hate. When she was not looking and was on the other side of the class, James let his wand slide down his sleeve and into his left hand. With his right hand still pretending to write with the quill, he directed his wand to the side where the torches were lighting the room. Upon muttering an incantation, the torch tipped and the fire dropped to the floor, lighting the far side of the room up.

"ARGHHH!" A few students screamed; some jumped off their seats while one boy fell off his.

"Wha-" Umbridge turned and saw the fire and immediately ran to put it out.

As everyone started to dash out of the classroom, James followed. He tried to help the boy who fell over on his feet, scurrying out the class as the fire spread to fill the entire left side.

"What on Earth was that?" Hermione asked frightenedly. "Should we go help her?"

"Are you crazy?" Ron and Sirius asked. "Let her suffer."

There was another scream from inside. Hermione twitched as though torn between staying outside and helping her. Some students, however, did go inside to help. Remus turned to face James and asked, "Was that you?"