enchanted • draco malfoy

Year 5: Detention With Umbridge

Felicity's POV

I walked into Gryffindor Tower, arm in arm with Mione. It was dead quiet in the Common Room, before I heard, "My mum didn't want me to come back this year." I instantly recognized the voice the be Seamus', though who he was talking to, I was unsure, until we rounded the corner. "Why not?" Harry asked, brow furrowed in confusion. I quickly unlinked elbows with Hermione and approached the two boys cautiously. Dean was standing off toward the side and gave me a helpless look.

"Let me see," Seamus said sarcastically, " Because of you. "Seamus," I interrupted sharply, moving to stand next to Harry. He plowed on without acknowledging me. "The Daily Prophet's been saying a lot of things about you and Dumbledore," he informed Harry, who was now looking angry. "What, your mum believes them?" he demanded. Seamus shrugged. "Nobody was there the night Cedric died," he fired back. Harry took a step forward, saying, "I guess you should read the Prophet, then, like your stupid mother, it'll tell you everything you need to know."

My eyes widened as I pulled on his arm. "Harry-" I murmured before Seamus cut me off. "Don't you talk about my mother," he seethed. "I'll have a go at anyone that calls me a liar," Harry snapped. A new voice interrupted. "What's going on?" Ron asked warily. "He's mad, is what's going on," Seamus replied, "Do you two believe the rubbish he's come out with about You-Know-Who?" His gaze flickered between Ron and me questioningly. Ron's brow furrowed. "Yeah," he said, "We do." There was a pause before I spoke up. "Has anyone else got a problem with Harry?" No one answered. "Good," I said. I dragged Harry to the guys' staircase and gave him a little shove. "Sleep it off and ignore him," I muttered. He didn't answer as he stomped up the stairs.

I turned back to Seamus, trying to contain my frustration. "You can't even begin to comprehend what he's been through," I said, quietly but firmly. Seamus looked at a loss for words. I decided not to wait for his response and headed to my dorm room.

~*~

The next day, the first class we had was Defense with the Slytherins. And of course, Professor Dolores Umbridge was teaching. She stormed in, completely incinerating the Patil twins' levitating paper crane. "Good morning, children," she greeted pleasantly. Something in her expression set me on edge.

She strolled to the chalkboard and waved her wand, words appearing as she did. "Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations," she announced, "O-W-Ls. More commonly known as OWLs." I looked around, noting Hermione's equally confused expression. Did she think we were unaware of what OWLs are? "Study hard and you will be rewarded," she continued, "Fail to do so, and the consequences may be severe."

She flourished her wand again, and stack of textbooks began dispersing themselves among every desk of the room. "Your previous instruction in this subject has been disturbingly uneven." I examined the cover of our textbook and almost did a double take. This was the kind of book I'd use if I were five years old and learning magic, not in my fifth year. "But you'll be pleased to know, from now on, you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic," Umbridge finished, looking pleased. Hermione, who was leafing through the textbook furiously, raised a tentative hand.

"Yes?" Umbridge asked, seeming slightly displeased. "There's nothing in here about using defensive spells," Mione stated, though it sounded like a question. Our professor looked taken aback. "Well, I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom," she said, her brow furrowed and head tilted. "We're not gonna use magic?" Ron asked, baffled. "You'll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way," Umbridge replied, answering the question with a non-answer.

"What use is that?" I demanded. Harry chimed in, "If we're attacked, it won't be 'risk-free'." Her composure slipped as Umbridge snapped, "Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class." She took a deep breath and plastered on another smile. "It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations. Which, after all, is what school is all about." She seemed satisfied with her answer.