11 | Rebellious Student Group, Phase One

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The cut on the back of Harry's hand had barely healed and by the following morning, Allison saw that it was bleeding again. The very worst part of this second weeks' worth of detentions was, just as George had predicted, Angelina's reaction. She cornered him just as he arrived at the Gryffindor table for breakfast on Tuesday and shouted so loudly that Professor McGonagall came sweeping down upon the pair of them from the staff table.

She, too, wasn't at all thrilled to hear that Harry had landed himself another detention.

"Potter, you must get a grip on yourself! You are heading for serious trouble! Five points from Gryffindor!"

"But - what? Professor, no!" Harry said, furious at this injustice. "I'm already being punished by her, why do you have to take points as well?"

"Because detentions do not appear to have any effect on you what-soever!" said Professor McGonagall tartly. "No, not another word of complaint, Potter! And as for you, Miss Johnson, you will confine your shouting matches to the Quidditch pitch in future or risk losing the team Captaincy!"

She strode back toward the staff table. Angelina gave Harry a look of deepest disgust and stalked away, upon which Harry flung himself onto the bench beside Ron, fuming.

"She's taken points off Gryffindor because I'm having my hand sliced open every night! How is that fair, how?"

"I know, mate," said Ron sympathetically as Allie tipped bacon onto Harry's plate, "she's bang out of order."

"She should use that energy and talk to Umbridge..." Allison poured herself some juice and handed the jug over to the boys.

Hermione, however, merely rustled the pages of her Daily Prophet and said nothing.

"You think McGonagall was right, do you?" said Harry angrily to the picture of Cornelius Fudge obscuring Hermione's face.

"I wish she hadn't taken points from you, but I think she's right to warn you not to lose your temper with Umbridge," Hermione's voice said, while Fudge gesticulated forcefully from the front page, clearly giving some kind of speech.

Harry did not speak to Hermione all through Charms, but when they entered Transfiguration, he forgot his anger; Professor Umbridge and her clipboard were sitting in a corner.

"Excellent," Ron whispered, as they sat down in their usual seats. "Let's see Umbridge get what she deserves."

Professor McGonagall marched into the room without giving the slightest indication that she knew Professor Umbridge was there.

"That will do," She said, and silence fell immediately. "Mr. Finnigan, kindly come here and hand back the homework - Miss Brown, please take this box of mice - don't be silly, girl, they won't hurt you - and hand one to each student -"

"Hem, hem," said Professor Umbridge, employing the same silly little cough she had used to interrupt Dumbledore on the first night of term. Professor McGonagall ignored her.

Seamus handed back Allie's essay; to her own surprise, she had managed an E, and therefore kept the essay on her desk instead of granting it the company of her miserable Potions essay in her bag.

"Right then, everyone, listen closely - Dean Thomas, if you do that to the mouse again, I shall put you in detention - most of you have now successfully vanished your snails and even those who were left with a certain amount of shell have the gist of the spell. Today we shall be -"

"Hem, hem," Professor Umbridge said.

"Yes?" Professor McGonagall, said turning round, her eyebrows so close together they seemed to form one long, severe line.

WE'LL TAKE ON THE WORLD ; h.j.p.Where stories live. Discover now