Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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Harry and Ron sat at their desk as they watched  McGonagall began class by having Seamus and Lavender to hand out their homework and a box of mice to everyone. 

"Now then, everyone listen closely, most of you have now successfully vanished your snails and even though who were left with a certain among of shell have the gist of the spell. Today we shall be--" 

"Hem, hem," Harry and Ron turned to see Umbridge walking into the class, clipboard in hand as she rushed over to the front of the desk. 

"Yes?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I was just wondering, Professor, whether you received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspec--" 

"Obviously I received it, or I would have asked you what you are doing in my classroom" McGonagall said then turning her attention back to the class as Umbridge was making her way to the corner of the room, "As I was saying, today we shall be practicing vanishment of mice. Now, the Vanishing Spell--" 

"Hem, Hem." 

"I wonder," McGonagall growled in a cold fury, " how you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking." 

As McGonagall was going back to her lecture, Umbridge began scribbling furiously like she was possessed. Harry had a hard time paying attention to the whole thing as his mind began to wander. 

What was Hermione doing with Dumbledore? 

What is it that Dumbledore needed from her? 

Why would he prefer seeing Hermione over him? 

Harry knew that Dumbledore probably had his reasoning to see Hermione, but he was just upset that Dumbledore was trying to avoid him all year. It was driving him up a wall. He tried to focus on vanishing the mouse but kept wondering what was going on with Hermione. 

Hermione felt frozen in her seat. This was what she've been trying to figure out all summer and now it's finally happening. Dumbledore stood up from his desk as he walked around to the front of his desk. 

"Hermione as you may know, Voldemort has expressed he is your cousin when you were in the graveyard. I sadly must inform you that this is true. But I think it would be better for Elka to explain the situation." Dumbledore stated before turning his attention towards Elka. She still had a look like she wanted to jump out of her seat and strangle him. Slowly, Elka took a deep breath as she tilted her head to look at Hermione. 

"I'm sure I don't exactly have to go into full detail about it really but... there it is." 

"ELKA!" 

"DUMBLEDORE!" 

"She needs to know. I understand--" Dumbledore started until Elka cut in. 

"Do you? Do you really? How would you feel having to know day after day you're related to one of the most vile and vicious man, who ever live? The man, who's responsible for more deaths than I can count on all my fingers? Not only that, but also related to a heartless, bloodthirsty woman that enjoys the torment of destroying muggles little by little? And after years and years of our family's vow of silence to keep it a secret they were even part of our family?" she asked Dumbledore, jumping from her seat. 

"Calm yourself, Elka. It is now our duty to inform Hermione with as much information as--" Dumbledore started when their attention shifted towards Dumbledore's fireplace where Kingsley came storming into the room with a cloak over his head. 

"I beg your pardon, Dumbledore, but we've got trouble." he warned them. 

"Hermione, I'm sorry but this meeting is at a close. I must insist you hurry back to class. Hopefully we can talk later," Dumbledore ordered her. She nodded her head before standing up, waving a goodbye to her Grandma and then rushing out of the door. 

Hermione hurried towards Care of Magical Creatures class. She had just made it in time before the bell rung and Professor Grubbly-Plank began her lecture. While Umbridge proceeded to ask Grubbly-Plank questions, Hermione whispered everything to Harry and Ron as carefully as she could. 

"So you didn't really have a talk then?" Harry asked Hermione as they were trying to care for their bowtruckles. 

"He wanted to but then Kingsley came barging in, claiming there's trouble. Dumbledore than escorted me out and said hopefully we might get another chance." Hermione explained to them. 

"Do you think it might have something to do with Old Toad-Face having to dismiss class early?" Ron asked, pointing directly towards Umbridge. 

"Maybe, they both do work at the Ministry." Hermione agreed with Ron before her attention shifted to see Umbridge turning her attention towards Goyle. 

"Now, I hear there have been injuries in this class?" she asked. 

"That was me," Malfoy answered instead, "I was slashed by a hippogriff." 

"A hippogriff?" Umbridge mumbled as she scribbled on her clipboard. 

"Oh, Malfoy!" A voice rang from across the class, "Don't forget to mention how you weren't paying attention in class, which is why you were injured in the first place." 

The trio turned to see it was Jordan, who was covered in bowtruckles, which climbed all over her like she was a tree herself. Malfoy's face turned a shade of scarlet as he glared right at Jordan, who smiled a smug grin and waved at him. 

"Miss Grimm, would you like to illustrate to us the story?" Umbridge said with a firm voice. 

"Certainly," Jordan said without any hesitation, "You see while Hagrid was teaching us how to properly walk up towards a Hippogriff, he made it very, very clear never to insult one. But of course, Malfoy and his gang were more interested in talking with each other then focusing on the lecture at hand. So when it came time to pet the hippogriffs, Malfoy decided to call it a very mean name, which in turn caused the Hippogriff to attack. Which I put that mildly, because it merely scratched Malfoy's arm. But again, Malfoy, being the drama queen that he is, kind of milked it so it may seem like it was more than a scratch." 

Umbridge just looked at Jordan like she wanted to strangle her but she merely mumbled a 'thank you' then turned back to Grubbly-Plank. It was then, the Trio officially made it clear... Jordan was in fact one of their favorites... even if she was a Slytherin.