Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 33

I skip the sorting. No point going really. I walk round, trying to figure out how to make my leg feel better, until Severus appears out of absolutely nowhere. I glare at him as he says, "Do you chose to skip meals often?"
I nod and say, "After my aunt's little experiment with my leg and curses, I really haven't felt hungry."
"I heard about Bella." Severus agrees, "I think that your leg has gotten much worse."
"I think so too. Actually, I know it has. Quite hard to walk round on a freshly cursed leg," I snap, "But hey, now I know Lucius Malfoy is willing to stand and watch as I am attacked. How he will hold my mother back so she cannot get in the way. I am going to bed Severus. Good night."
"Atlas-"

The next morning, I eat light so I can race to Defence Against The Dark Arts. I am still late, but I hope the teacher will give me a little bit of leeway, considering I am using my stick. Slowly, I open the door, to where I see a massive pink blob. I have to blink a bit to realise it is just a woman in an outrageous outfit. She says, "Why are you late to the first lesson of the year? I didn't realise you thought that was okay."
I stare in disbelief at her, and then at my stick, and then back at her. She says, "Well? We use our words in the real world."
I hold back the screaming, and politely say, "Sorry Professor. I use a walking stick due to some difficulty walking with this leg. I am late to a lot of my lessons because I am a slower walker. I try to be on time, but it is hard with a leg like mine."
"I don't remember you having this issue when you would come to work with Lucius Malfoy." She says, in her sickly voice. I reply, "Well, professor, it wasn't until recently that the issues became apparent. It is caused by something that happened a while ago, with some additional factors."
"Come here." She beckons me to the front. I walk, slowly, to her desk, where she says, "Liars are not pretty people, Miss Black."
"I know," I can't help but laughing a little, "I never said they were. I haven't lied."
"Hair, Miss Black."
I grimace as I realise my hair matches her sickly pink outfit. I put it back to normal and she says, "I don't take well to people who lie and mock."
"And I've already done my O.W.L's, so I'll be leaving this class."
"If you leave, you are not welcome back," She snaps. I scoff, "MY PLEASURE."
I storm to McGonigal's office and burst into a first year class. They all look up at me and I say, "Hi miss. I've just come out of Umbridge's class? I'm not going back in. She had a go at me for being late, when I tried my hardest to get there before she started teaching!"
"Hey," McGonigal says, directing me to her desk, "Sit here. You can be my teaching assistant."
The rest of the day goes alright, if you ignore the fact Umbridge scarred Harry, physically.

About a week goes by, and I am walking with McGonigal without my walking stick, when we are stopped by Umbridge.
"Where is your stick?" She snaps. McGonigal steps in and says, "Atlas here doesn't use one permanently. Her leg has good days and bad days. You've luckily caught her on a good day."
"Well," Umbridge says smiling, "Then you will be fit to do detention later on tonight. After dinner, wait by my office. I shall be waiting."
"What for?" I snap. McGonigal says, "Conform to the correct disciplinary options."
"Minerva?"
"Dolores."
"I am a calm woman, but the one thing I will not stand for it disloyalty." Umbridge snaps. McGonigal says, "Atlas will not be doing this detention, and will not be going to your classes. She will assist my lessons."

Over the next few weeks, rules after rules are laid out, until eventually I use my walking still every day just to avoid her wrath. Hermione is almost sobbing, when she says, "She wont let us learn! How can we learn with a woman who is incompetent?"
"Use me! Ask me things, I'll tell you them." I shrug. At that, Hermione bursts into noisy wailing. A swarm of students walk passed and we follow them to the courtyard, where Umbridge is firing Trelawny. I gasp as she sobs, begging Umbridge to let her stay. I hate that pink waste of space. I am about to walk forwards until Hermione grabs me back.
"Don't do it," She whispers. Dumbledore walks forwards, and says, "You have the right to dismiss my teachers. You do not have the authority to banish them from the grounds."

The common room is a mess, with Hermione pacing back and forth. She is ranting until I spot Sirius's face in the fire. I gawp as he says, "Latest intelligence says the ministry don't want you to be trained in combat."
"Why would we need combat?" Ron scoffs. Sirius looks up in horror and says, "Someone is coming. I have to go."
Hermione speaks up, "He really is out there. Isn't he? We need someone who will train us in combat then, and if Umbridge wont teach us, I know who will."