Reflections - Mattheo Riddle

You think I'm lucky?

"Yes, I do," said Kirra, who, unlike Umbridge, was not whispering, but speaking in a clear, carrying voice that had by now attracted the rest of the class's attention. "Mr. Slinkhard doesn't like jinxes, does he? But I think they can be very useful when they're used defensively."

"Oh, you do, do you?" said Professor Umbridge, forgetting to whisper and straightening up. "Well, I'm afraid it is Mr. Slinkhard's opinion, and not yours, that matters within this classroom, Miss Potter."

"But —" Kirra began.

"That is enough," said Professor Umbridge. She walked back to the front of the class and stood before them, all the jauntiness she had shown at the beginning of the lesson gone. "Miss Potter, I am going to take five points from Hufflepuff House."

There was an outbreak of muttering at this.

"What for?" said Alexandra angrily.

"Don't get involved Lex," Kirra whispered urgently to her, not wanting her to get into trouble too.

"For disrupting my class with pointless interruptions," said Professor Umbridge smoothly. "I am here to teach you using a Ministry-approved method that does not include inviting students to give their opinions on matters about which they understand very little. Your previous teachers in this subject may have allowed you more license, but as none of them — with the possible exception of Professor Quirrell, who did at least appear to have restricted himself to age-appropriate subjects — would have passed a Ministry inspection —"

"Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher," said Harry loudly, "there was just that minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head."

This pronouncement was followed by one of the loudest silences Kirra had ever heard. Then —

"I think another week's detentions would do you some good, Mr. Potter," said Umbridge sleekly. Kirra's head snapped over to look at her brother, worry filling her chest.

"Professor it was my fault do-"

"Stop it now." Mattheo snapped lowly so only she could hear.

"B-"

"Enough love."

/*

When they entered Transfiguration, Professor Umbridge and her clipboard were sitting in a corner and the sight of her drove just about drove Kirra insane.

"Excellent," whispered Jasper, 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 Kirra's essay; Kirra took it, thanking the boy and saw, to her relief, that she had managed an O.

"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," said Professor Umbridge.

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