American Teen [George Weasley Love Story]

Umbitch takes the reigns

Dumbledore's Gone. According to Harry, he just disappeared after the ministry threatened to send him to Azkaban. Poof. Of course, he left all of us to deal with the aftermath. Sure, it was that or go to jail. But now we were completely at the mercy of the most horrific creature to walk this Earth: Umbridge. And she's finally got what she always wanted. Complete control of Hogwarts.

She keeps making all these rules-it's exhausting. One of them happens to be that girls and boys must remain 8 inches apart. I should mention that by this time I have stopped being afraid of that bitch and given up trying to follow the rules. So when she walks past George and I sitting on a bench talking one day and she said in her obnoxiously high voice '8 inches!', I grab George's tie and pull him close, slamming his lips against mine. We immediately get blasted apart by Umbridge, who looks furious at my blatant disrespect. I meet her gaze with a sly smile. We get detention that evening. It's the same lines as always. It breaks open my scar and cuts deeper into my flesh.

Detentions are served every day in the Great Hall. It's almost always lines with the blood quill unless you do something really bad. My potion is a huge success. I should start actually selling it. I'd make lots of money. But I can't because I see the poor faces of everyone in pain and I just give them as much as they need. It's getting more complicated since the Inquisitorial Squad, a bunch of asshole Slytherins, keep sticking their nose in everyone's business. So we have to get creative.

Typically one or both of the twins would keep watch while I was either distributing or making the potion. They were in charge of distracting any Inquisitorial squad members if they came close to the first floor girls bathroom. And they were very good at their job. They were able to test every single new product.

It was obvious that Umbridge knew someone found a way around her little blood quill. I mean, the scars were barely noticeable on everyone except for Harry and I, who suffered the worst. People who got my potion can barely see their's. She started pulling people in for questioning, but no one knew I actually made it. I got called in almost immediately though; it must have come out that I distribute something that helps.

"Miss Hughes. I trust you know why I called you in today." Umbridge said with that stupid fake smile spread wide across her face. I can see the satisfaction in her eyes.

"Actually, Professor, I don't. You didn't tell me anything, and I was unaware I have been doing anything wrong." I smiled back just as 'sweetly'.

"So you know nothing about a potion that heals the scars caused by my punishment?"

I hold out my hand. The scars had broken a few days ago during my detention. "Ma'am. I think it's obvious that I don't know anything about it. After all, my scar never even remotely healed and now it's opened up again. See? No healing at all. There's still dried blood around it."

She scowled. Despite the twin's protests, I never used the potion on myself after my trials. It didn't make my scar go away anyways. And I knew this day would come. "But I heard you are rather brilliant at potions. If anyone at the school knows how to brew a potion to counteract such a spell, it would be you. Even Professor Snape has sung your praises."

"Thank you for the compliments, Professor. I do find potions satisfying and interesting. But I think you'll find that, due to my passion for potions, I brew everything under the watchful eye of Professor Snape. That way I don't lose my opportunity by breaking the rules. And there are plenty of incredibly intelligent people at this school." I can see it in her eyes that I'm killing her. She knows for certain I brew it. But she has no proof, and I'm refuting everything she says.

"Would you like something to drink? Tea?" She has already begun pouring the water. I'm assuming she laced it with something.

"Actually, I don't like tea. I know, it's weird. But I guess since I grew up in America I never really developed a taste for it." The thing is, I've actually gotten used to it by now. I still don't drink it as much as people here do, but it's grown on me. Umbridge doesn't know that though. And I can see it in her eyes I have broken her.

"I KNOW IT WAS YOU WHO BREWED THE POTION THAT HEALS THE SCARS." Yup. I broke her. She regained her collected voice and said, "I have students saying you are the one who gives it to them. I'm sure it is you."

"Ma'am, I'll admit I distribute it. Honestly, I don't brew it. I wasn't even told what it does." There was no point in lying. Based on the smell in the room, she put veritaserum in that cup. I've gotten really good at determining various potions based on my senses.

"You know what? I don't think this will be necessary." She throws one of the teacups away. I knew then it must have been laced with veritaserum. Her tone throws me off though. I thought I had stopped her, but it looks like she's desperate enough to find another way to get me to talk. "The Cruciatus curse should make you talk. I've heard you have some experience with that."

I swallow hard. She couldn't. That's illegal. I mean, the blood quill is too. But this is illegal illegal. This isn't white person doing drugs. This is straight up first degree murder and treason. I'm reminded of the pain I felt a few years ago, when this curse was first used on me.

When she utters the enchantment, it's barely more than a whisper. I make up for her volume by screaming at the top of my lungs. I don't try to stop myself. I know it's pointless. The pain is too unbearable to resist some, any release. There's an intense pressure building in my body. I can feel it compressing my lungs and filling my head. It hurts. It's like a knife has stabbed every nerve on my body. It's like I'm being taken through a shredder. She stops and lets me catch my breath.

"Anything to tell me dear?"

I gather up all the anger I feel for her and reply, "No. Guess I've built up some tolerance" My sass seems to make her even worse.

This continues for a long time. I never spill. I disappear into a special place I go when the pain is too much. I recede into a hole in the cave. I let myself drift away. I'm still conscious in terms of I know what's going on. But I let the fog cover my mind. The words and the lights seem to lessen in intensity. I have no idea if I told her anything. But based on the fact that she doesn't release me until 3 am makes me think I didn't. I'm also sure that after enduring the cruciatus curse for that long that I passed out at some point. It's hard to differentiate sometimes.

By the time I get back to the dorm, I see all my friends are waiting for me. George looks like he's going to be sick. It's probably common knowledge that I got brought in for questioning. I don't even look at them. Or maybe I do. "We should probably move the potion" I say in a dreamy voice. I don't know if I'll be able to make it back out of the cave this time. It's very hard to do and requires a willpower that I don't think I have. And with my mother gone, I'm finding it difficult to have reasons to "escape". I walk up to my dorm, ignoring the people calling my name.