Sacrifices, Harry Potter Year 5

12. Professor Umbridge

Lilly's POV
I arrived at the door in the morning waiting for Neville and I heard Harry yell loudly as Seamus left, "Does he think he'll turn into a nutter if he stays in a room with me too long?"
Dean tried to explain for Seamus, but couldn't come up with an excuse. He left, Neville and Ron gave him a look saying it was Seamus' problem. I said as I walked in, "Harry, your best bet is to not fuel the fire that started last night, just let it blow out because it will." He rolled his eyes at me. I huffed stalking out with Neville quickly following behind me. We met with Hermione and she asked what was wrong. Ron told her that it was because of Seamus thinking Harry was lying and I said Lavender thinks he was to. Harry was accusing me of having a nice chat with Lavender whether or not he's a lying, attention-seeking prat. I snapped back, "I told her to keep her fat mouth shut, actually. It would be nice if you stopped jumping down Ron, Hermione and my throat, Harry, because if you haven't noticed, we're on your side." Neville grasped my hand. There was a short pause; Harry said sorry and I said, "That's quite alright. Just remember what Dumbledore said, he wants us to band together because this is what happened last time." He nodded and we walked to the Great Hall for breakfast and Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked about Hagrid missing. Angelina was named Quidditch Captain this year and we were having tryouts for Keeper because Wood left last year. She wanted all of us to be there. Then Ron looked at the schedule and he wanted to get out of class using Fred and George's prank candies. Fred and George came up to us and they talked about the Snackboxes and how they wanted to skip their seventh year, but instead they are going to use it for research. Hermione was interested in how the boys were able to get money for everything and Harry quickly steered the conversation to the O.W.L.'s and what we wanted our careers to be. Ron and Harry wanted to be an Auror, Hermionie wanted to do something worthwhile. I said, "I think I'm going to become a teacher..."
They looked at me questioningly, Hermionie said, "Lilly, why aren't you going to be an Auror full time?"
I replied, "I'm already doing that now, I want to make an impact on people's lives. I don't want to be Minister for Magic, though Cornelius wants me to, I want to inspire kids to strive to do things. I don't know, I just don't really want to be a Auror anymore..." They looked at me shocked, Neville didn't know what he wanted to do.

We went to History of Magic and it was very boring. I had my quill take my notes for me. I put my head down staring at Neville and he smiled at me when I caught my eye. I winked and mind messaged him, "I'll let you copy my notes, you don't have to write all of this down..."
He smiled and shook his head.
I asked, "Why not?"
He smiled and said, "Because, I don't need you to help me Lilly, I want to try to get this all on my own."
I smiled and said, "Aww, my Neville is growing up! Anyway, if you need help with anything, let me know, okay?" He nodded and I closed my eyes for a bit until the bell rang.

We went off to Potions and I could hear Ron and Hermione have another argument. This one was about how Ron was interrupting Cho and Harry's conversation. Neville had his arm around my shoulders as we walked, we glanced at them, and I exclaimed, "Those two, ugh, why can't they just get together already!?"
He chuckled saying, "Yeah right! Those two? They can't stop fighting!"
I smiled and said, "It's because Ron likes to tease Hermione instead of coping and accepting his feelings, Hermione refuses to give Ron affection because she won't admit their feelings to him!"
He chuckled and we walked into the dungeon for Potions. We had to make the Draught of Peace. I didn't even look at the board. I grabbed the ingredients I needed and got to work. After I was done, Hermione and I were the only ones who successfully made the potion. Neville was miserable and I said, "It's okay Neville, not everyone is perfect."
I grabbed his hand as we walked he sighed and he said in an annoyed voice, "You are, you get everything right all the time!"
I stopped in my tracks asking, "Woah, what do you mean?"
He sighed, pulling me away saying, "Forget about it..."
I pulled him by his hand out of the busy hall, and said "No Neville, I want to know what you meant."
He said, "You're the perfect student next to Hermione, you get a perfect score on everything! You're just perfect and yeah, sometimes it makes me feel inferior to you!"
I hugged him and while looking into his eyes I said, "I'm sorry... I never thought you felt that way. In all honesty I am trying to help, I just want you to be an amazing student."
He sighed hugging me back saying, "Lilly, I'm not cut out to be amazing..."
I pecked his lips saying, "Yes you are, you're amazing and you know it!"
He smiled and I said, "If anything ever gets to be a bit too overwhelming, let me know... I really am just being myself, I'm not trying to make you look bad..."
He touched my cheek and said, "It know, it's kind of hard to keep up with a girl who is really out of my league..."
I said, "I'm not out of you're league, you're out of mine. You are amazing, brave, kind, talented, and intelligent. Please don't forget that, Neville."
He nodded, I kissed him asking, "Are we okay?"
He nodded pecking my lips. We got there just in time to see Harry storm off, Ron and Hermione wanted to follow him and I said, "Don't, the best thing you can do is to end fighting; Harry has had enough conflict, he doesn't want it between his friends..."
We got to Defence Against the Dark Arts and it was heck. Dean, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were getting into an argument with Umbridge. I finally raised my hand and she called on me. I asked about a part of the chapter and she continued on that. They looked at me questioningly. I whispered, "If I hadn't deterred her, you four would be in detention, so stop asking about it now! The Ministry feels the need to control Hogwarts, unfortunately they wouldn't let me teach this year, Fudge thought it was best that she came..."
Harry wouldn't have any of it, he stood up and yelled, "So, you think that Lilly was almost killed out of her own accord!"
I shouted, "Keep me to put of this, Potter!" Umbridge said it was a tragic accident and Harry got into trouble for pressing the mmatter.
Professor Umbridge called me up to the front and asked me quietly, "Do you believe anything that boy says?"
I said, "Not at all. I am just his friend to help you know what they are doing."
She smiled and said, "I always liked you, but shouldn't you be in Slytherin?"
I rolled my eyes and said, "The stupid Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor when I wanted to be in Slytherin... I was cheated, but it will be okay, I will still make my mark."
She nodded, smiled and said, "You will be very useful to me, Miss Black."
I said, "Thank you, Professor Umbridge." I sat down at my seat with everyone looking at me, no one heard what I said, only Umbridge, and that is the only person who needs to know. Neville wanted to know what I was talking about and I mind messaged him saying I would tell him later. I saw that Professor McGonagall was telling Harry to tread lightly when it comes to Umbridge, she is very powerful and you don't want to mess with her. He had detention with her every night this week starting tomorrow.

Thanks for reading! Vote please! :)
-Lilly :)