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XXIII. PROFESSOR UMBRIDGE
Winnie and Fred talked all night. She didn't talk about her dream; it was too disturbing. Fred cheered her up with ideas for his and George's joke-shop they were planning. As the light started to flow through the curtains, and hit the hardwood floor, Winnie had fallen back asleep with her head in Fred's lap. George was the first to see them, and under different circumstances — he most definitely would've given Fred a hard time for it. As the adults started waking up, he covered her ears so she wouldn't wake up.
"You got her back to sleep." Sirius noticed, his voice quiet. Fred offered him a tired smile.
"When she was little, the only thing to get her back to sleep was to play with her hair." Sirius noticed Fred's hand messing with her short blonde hair.
"Why don't you take her back to her room, and then go get some sleep. You look proper exhausted." Molly suggested, and Fred nodded, picking Winnie's sleeping body up, and carrying her bridal style to her room. She shifted slightly, but didn't wake.
Sirius and Molly shared a knowing look.
***
The train ride to Hogwarts was boring for Winnifred, as she had been chosen for a Ravenclaw prefect this year, and had to sit with the other prefects. When the train arrived to her favorite place, she met Sabrina and Prim in the halls. Harry had been cleared of all charges, and therefore was not expelled.
"A bloody prefect? Sabrina, she's too good to sit with us now." Prim joked, pulling her cousin into a hug.
"What happened to your hand, Win?" Sabrina asked as they made their way to the Ravenclaw table.
"Oh, I had a run in with a niffler. Quite rude if you ask me." Winnie lied. She didn't want Sabrina to ask about her boggart, so she made a different story. She looked over to where Prim was sitting, who had blue hair, and a frown on her face. She sat where she usually did, only now, Cedric was no longer there. The two had grown to become best friends. Winnifred realized she'd been too caught up in her own grief to see it.
After the feast, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was introduced; Dolores Umbridge. She was squat and toad-like, wearing pink from head to toe. Umbridge interrupted Dumbledore while he was saying Hagrid was on leave. No one had ever interrupted Dumbledore before. Who did she think she was? Her speech was sickening, and Winnie rolled her eyes at her squeaky voice.
"Win, the Ministry is interfering. This can't be good." Sabrina whispered. "I know..." Winnifred mumbled sadly.
People stared at Winnifred as she walked towards the Ravenclaw common room. If it wasn't because they thought she had something to do with Cedric's murder, it was out of pity.
"Bet he never saw it coming. Trusted her and look what she did." She heard someone say quietly. Sabrina looked back, glaring, and then put her hand on Winnie's shoulder. Winnie wanted to spend a lot of time with Sabrina, as this was her last year. She was hoping to go into Wizarding Law at the Ministry, as she thought it was rubbish right now. It would have been Cedric's last year, too. Winnie took a deep breath as she entered the common room.
Luna pulled her into a tight hug, and Dove smiled at her, waving. Cho gave her a slight smile, while others looked at her like she had three heads. She ignored the stares, and headed for her bed.
***
Professor Umbridge didn't want them practicing magic at all. She'd given them books for beginners, and gave an annoying giggle. Hermione raised her hand.
"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells..."
"Using defensive spells? Well, I can't imagine why you would feel the need to use such spells in my classroom."
"Maybe because it's called Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Prim said, rolling her eyes. Umbridge glared at the Hufflepuff.
"What good is practicing it magic free if we get attacked?" Harry asked.
"Who do you imagine would want to attack children like yourselves?" She asked. Winnie had never met a Professor she hated so badly — and one of her professors was Snape.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe Lord Voldemort!" Harry exclaimed, rising out of his chair. The lady in pink was growing red in the face.
"Now let me make this quite clear. You have been told that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie." Winnie balled her fists.
"So according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead on his own accord?" Harry snapped. Winnifred winced.
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident!"
"He was murdered!" Winnie yelled, standing up, with her hands still touching her desk.
"You foul toad, how dare you talk about Cedric!" Prim yelled.
"That's it!" Umbridge screamed. "Potter, Black, Tonks, detention. Miss Black, need I remind you that your fellow classmates already find you...suspicious?" Prim's hair turned red in anger.
"And Miss Tonks, do control your...abilities."
After class, Winnie stormed to the Great Hall. If she were a Metamorphmagus like Prim, she would be completely red.
"Wins, what's the matter?" Fred asked, standing next to George and Poppy.
"That toad gave us detention! Just for telling the truth! What kind of teacher won't teach? If that weren't bad enough, she thinks I had a hand in Cedric's death, too." Winnie fumed.
"I've got about a dozen products I want to use on her right now. None of them seem violent enough, however. " Fred said with with his jaw clenched.
"Reckon we can slip something into the tea she's always drinking." George said.
"There is no one in the world I would rather punch more." Poppy shook her head.
"It's good to see you again, by the way." Poppy said.
"You too, Poppy. I heard you started dating Angelina Johnson this summer." Winnie smiled.
"Yeah, we're really happy." Poppy smiled.
"I'm happy for you two. I offer you just a few words of advice. Don't be afraid to tell her you love her. You might never get the chance." Winnie said.
