The Boy Who Hated Living

I Have To Live With That

Danny was confused, he didn't know where he was, he was going down some sort of hallway, it looked like he was in the Ministry. He was close to the floor, almost like he was sliding across it, and he was headed straight for a door. The door was at the other end of the hallway, then he saw strange flashes of images, a light, a glass ball, Voldemort, and then he woke up.

He quickly sat up when his eyes flew open, Ron was awake and he looked a bit worried but one look from Danny said he didn't want to talk about it. Danny laid back down and didn't sleep for the rest of the night, partially because he had an episode after Ron fell asleep. It didn't last that long but it hurt like hell, he hated this, episodes and nightmares were not a good mix.

The next morning he had Defense Against the Dark Arts, one of the Patil twins had used magic to make a paper bird fly. People kept trying to catch it or hit it and when it flew above the Patil twins again it caught fire and landed on the desk. Death wasn't the one that did it, Umbridge lowered her wand and smiled like she hadn't set it on fire.

"Good morning children." Everyone turned to her since she was in the back and she walked toward the front of the room as she spoke. "Ordinary wizarding level examinations, O.W.L's, more commonly known as OWLs, study hard and you will be rewarded, fail to do so and the consequences may be severe."

She flicked her wand and the books on her desk floated toward them and one landed in front of each student. "Your previous instruction on this subject has been disturbingly uneven, but you'll be pleased to know from now on you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry approved, course of defensive magic."

Hermione raised her hand and Umbridge looked at her, "Yes?"

"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells."

Umbridge looked amused, "Using spells?" She laughed, "Well I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."

Ron spoke, "We're not going to use magic?"

"You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk free way."

Danny spoke, "And if we get attacked it won't be risk free."

Umbridge turned away from him, "Students will raise theirs when they speak in my class."

Danny and Ron glanced at each other before Death spoke, "I really don't like her."

Umbridge turned to them, "It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge would be sufficient to get you through your examinations which, after all, is what school is all about."

Danny spoke, "And what use is theory going to be against what's out there?"

"There is nothing out there dear, who do imagine wants to attack children like yourself?"

Danny pretended to think for a second, "Let's see, maybe Voldemort."

Many of the students started whispering and Umbridge seemed to be losing her composure just a bit. "Now let me make this quite plain, you have been told that a certain dark wizard is at large once again, this is a lie."

Danny glared at her, "A lie my ass I fought the bastard!"

Umbridge turned away from him, "Detention Mr. Phantom."

"So what, you think Cedric died just because he wanted to?"

Umbridge looked at him, "Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident."

"It was murder and Voldemort killed him!"

"Enough!" The room went deathly quiet, "Enough, see me later, Mr. Phantom, my office." She then giggled like she often did, both Danny and Death wanted to wipe that falsely innocent smile off her face. Later that day Danny knocked on the door to her office and he heard her inside, "Come in."