Into The Light (Golden Trio Era) {2}

Toad Face in Potions

The bell to resume classes rang and they reluctantly headed toward the dungeons for Potions with Professor Snape. Just at the bottom of the stairs they were met by Draco Malfoy's voice sounding out more loudly than necessary. He was also waving about an official looking parchment.  "Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue playing straightaway, I went to ask her first thing this morning.Well, it was pretty much automatic, I mean, she knows my father really well, he's always popping in and out of the Ministry... It'll be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are allowed to keep playing, won't it?" "Don't rise," Hermione whispered imploringly to them,who were glaring at Malfoy, waiting for him to say something bad enough for us to jump him for. "It's what he wants..."   "I mean," said Malfoy, his voice growing louder when he spotted the foursome, "if it's a question of influence with the Ministry, I don't think they've got much chance... From what my father says, they've been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years... And as for that Black... My father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has her carted off to St. Mungo's.... they say she's delusional, isn't she? Maybe if we're lucky she'll get shoved into Azkaban like her Blood Traitor father."

Something collided hard with Mikayla's shoulder, almost knocking her sideways. A split second later she realised that Neville had just charged past her, heading straight for Draco. "Neville, no!" Harry called, leaping forward. He seized the back of Neville's robes, Neville struggled frantically, his fists flailing, trying desperately to get at Draco who looked, for a moment, extremely shocked. "Help me!" Harry begged Ron as he managed to get an arm around Neville's neck. He drug him backward, away from the Slytherins, Crabbe and Goyle were now flexing their arms, closing in front of Draco, ready for the fight. Ron hurried forward and seized Neville's arms. Together, he and Harry succeeded in dragging Neville back into the Gryffindor line. "It's okay, Neville." Mikayla said soothingly, stepping in front of him so he couldn't see Draco. "He's just an idiot, Neville. He's not worth it... It's okay..." Neville's face was scarlet; the pressure Harry was exerting on his throat rendered him quite incomprehensible, but odd words spluttered from his mouth. "Not... funny... don't... Mungo's... show... him..." Mikayla nodded understandingly, "Malfoy isn't worth it. Plus, I can make him regret it without him knowing it was me." Mikayla whispered, Neville looked at her stunned before he relaxed.

The classroom door flew open and Snape observed as they all filed in and got to their seats. Most of the class was whispering about Draco, but Snape didn't seem to notice or care. "You will notice," said Snape in his low, sneering voice, "that we have a guest with us today." He gestured to the corner where a large ball of pink sat, smiling at them all with her clipboard rested on the knee of one crossed leg. "I think I'm rooting for Snape for once," Mikayla whispered to Ron, who looked uneasy being in a classroom with both of them at the same time.  "We are continuing with our Strengthening Solutions today, you will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson, if correctly made they should have matured well over the weekend- instructions" he waved his wand toward the board. "-on the board. Carry on."  

After the first half hour of Umbridge making notes, she began to asked Snape a few questions. Harry found this intriguing enough to stop paying attention to what he was doing, Hermione had to stop him a few times.   "Salamander blood, Harry!" Hermione warned, grabbing his wrist to prevent him adding the wrong ingredient again."Not pomegranate juice!"  "Right," said Harry dismissively, putting down the bottle and continuing to watch the corner. Umbridge had just gotten to her feet. "Ha," he breathed as she approached Snape, who was observing Dean Thomas.   "Well, the class seems fairly advanced for their level," she said briskly to Snape's back. "Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus." Snape straightened up slowly and turned to look at her, somewhat appalled."Now... how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" she asked, her quill poised over her clipboard."  "Fourteen years," Snape replied. "You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?" Professor Umbridge asked, a small smile on her lips. "Yes," said Snape quietly. "But you were unsuccessful?" Snape's lip curled. "Obviously." Harry's cauldron began to fume furiously and Mikayla rushed to throw some salt and fluxweed to hopefully help it along.  Professor Umbridge scribbled something on her clipboard. "And you have applied regularly for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?"   "Yes," said Snape quietly, his lips drawn thin. He was angry. "Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?" asked Umbridge. "I suggest you ask him," said Snape jerkily. "Oh I shall," said Professor Umbridge with a sickly sweet smile.   "I suppose this is relevant?" Snape asked, irked. "Oh yes," said Professor Umbridge. "Yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers'- er- backgrounds..." She made another mark then turned away to hover over Pansy Parkinson and ask her a few questions. Snape turned furiously and his eyes locked with Harry's. He walked swiftly over to Harry's cauldron to inspect it. It was a close shade of turquoise the that of Hermione and Mikayla's. His lip curled when he saw nothing to ridicule. "Passing, barely." He hissed, then marched off to another student.
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"You and Umbridge have got something in common," Harry told the girls when they spotted them in Defence Against the Dark Arts. "She obviously reckons Trelawney's an old fraud too... Looks like she's put her on probation." "Good afternoon, class." "Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they all droned. "Wands away, please..." But no one had even bothered to take out their wand in the first place. "Please turn to page thirty-four of Defensive Magical Theory and read the third chapter, entitled 'The Case for Non-Offensive Responses to Magical Attack.' There will be-" "- no need to talk," Mikayla whispered, knowing her class rules like the back of her hand.