Extraordinary (Sign it Series; BOOK 2)

Chapter 38

[TW: Talking of suppressing mental illnesses due to a stigmata against them]

The four first years froze in their spots and stared at Umbridge, who said, "What are four Gryffindor first years doing magic in the corridor?"

"We weren't doing magic," Polly lied, though her voice crack might have hinted that she was lying. "We were just going back to the Common Room."

The other three nodded assent.

Umbridge didn't seem to buy it, and she looked around at the quartet. Allie and Polly had their wands tightly clutched in their right hands, and Simon had his in his left hand, but he held it loosely. Maddy's was still away in her pocket.

"Then why are you three holding wands?"

"Security," Simon replied, "Makes us feel safe."

"This school is safe, Mr. Lomen," Umbridge replied sharply. "There is nothing any of you need to worry about. Put your wands away." The three went to put their wands in their pockets when Professor Umbridge held out her hand, "Mr. Lomen, pass me yours."

Simon looked at Maddy for support, who gave him a curt nod, and he stepped forward to hand her the wand, before scurrying backwards.

She muttered something under her breath, and the wand lit up. Umbridge gave an unsatisfied humph and handed it back to Simon who took it rather quickly and pocketed it.

What was that? Maddy asked, her eyes not leaving Professor Umbridge.

Allie asked the question to Professor Umbridge who replied, "It is not a spell you need to learn as first years as it's not Ministry approved, Miss Summers."

Allie nodded quickly, and didn't respond.

"Now, for your punishment."

We didn't do anything! pleaded Maddy.

Umbridge didn't look at her, or bother to ask what she meant. "I can't punish the half-breed, as much as I would like too, but I can punish the rest of you."

"We didn't break any rules," insisted Simon, "We were just walking. Honest."

"How about my office at six tomorrow?"

They can't get detention without me. Maddy signed. When Umbridge ignored her, and the others weren't paying attention to her, she stepped forward and clapped loudly in Umbridge's face, which made the toad-like woman stumble backwards. She repeated the statement, and glared at Simon, who hesitated before saying it out loud.

"Someone will be punished."

I'll sign my own detention sheet, Maddy signed. The three who knew what she was saying eyes widened, and Simon went to respond but Maddy gave him another look. That should work, right? If I give consent to one detention?

Professor Umbridge, confused, asked Simon what Maddy said, as he was closest to her, but he shut down, and didn't reply, even after Maddy signed for him to tell her.

He stood like a fish out of water, opening his mouth to speak, and shutting it again.

Maddy turned to Polly, who was next to her, who, albeit reluctantly, gave Umbridge the jist of what Maddy had said. (Allie and Polly, though proficient in BSL due to communicating with Maddy, had trouble translating word for word, due to them understanding bits and pieces and filling in the blanks.)

Umbridge lit up at the idea, "So, the four of you, detention, six o'clock tomorrow."

Maddy winced as she remembered she had Quidditch practice, but she wasn't about to let her friends take the downfall. The expedition had been her idea in the first place.