Chapter Text
Umbridge was watching her class, containing the Gryffindor and Slytherin fifth years, as they read her "Ministry Approved" textbook. She was confident in the knowledge that now; there was no way that they were going to rise up against the Ministry. That was everyone's (who was truly loyal to the Ministry at any rate) worst fear, an army of students being commanded by that doddering old fool, Dumbledore.
She took a particular pleasure in watching young Mr. Potter read through the book and write some notes down in a notebook with a scowl on his face. Nothing seemed to brighten her day more then to see the horrible little liar get taken down several pegs.
"Ahh...now this is how we should be teaching these children, strict obedience and respect for their superiors is the key to a healthy society." she thought with a large smirk on her toad like lips.
If she had moved a little closer towards the young, raven haired lad she would have had the chance to read what the boy was writing, and unfortunately for her, she didn't know that it was the beginning of the end.
After the bell had rung to signal that it was the end of class, Harry, Hermione, and Ron had wandered down to the Great Hall for lunch. Harry was still writing into his little black notebook as they walked and that, in itself, got Hermione's attention.
"Harry, what are you writing?" she said trying to peer into the small book. It wasn't often that she would see Harry write in that book, normally it was just one or two lines and she never was quick enough to get a good look.
Harry looked sideways at her, closed the notebook and smiled. "Something that will completely eradicate that sorry excuse for fiction she insists that we read."
Slightly taken aback by his tone and word choice, she stared at Harry in confusion and then frowned.
"Harry, while it’s true that the book preaches non-practical use of magic, it is still reasonably sound, the Ministry would have checked out all the facts. The Department of Magical Education wouldn't let the book past them without it having at the very least 95% truth to it." she said, her tone careful as she still remembered what had happened over the summer holidays.
Harry smirked "One word, Lockhart." and with that he turned away from the Great Hall's staircase and traveled onto the direction in which the library was located. Hermione wanted to follow him, but Ron held her back.
"Leave him be, when he gets this way, you know it will be good." he said with a wicked grin on his face.
“What are you talking about? He's never been this way! Every time he plans or thinks he knows what’s really going on, it turns out he's wrong. Name one time that he was right, and I was wrong." said Hermione waspishly.
"One word, Lockhart" said Ron with that same evil grin, as he took an embarrassed Hermione by the hand and led her to the Great Hall.
Thankfully it was only a half-day of classes leading into the weekend because Harry didn't fully reappear to them until dinner the next night. They even went to the library after lunch to find him and try as they might, it was to no avail. Madam Pince had shuffled them both out, with a strange smile on her face, telling them both, that Harry didn't want to be disturbed. It was no secret that even she held some contempt for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Especially after what she said about disposing of half of the books in the school library.
“ With the Ministry approved curriculum, there won ’ t be a need for most of these books. So, after I get confirmation from the Minister, we ’ ll need to make a few changes to what constitutes as appropriate reading material for the students. ” Umbridge said to Madam Pince one afternoon.
Madam Pince looked appalled. “ B-But some of these books have been here since the first very year the school has been opened! We have many people from all over the world come here to visit our library. We have rare …”
“Yes, but this is an institution of learning for children, not for adults who cannot bother to find their own copies. The Ministry feels that… adult visitors to the school distracts the students from their work and we are merely trying to ensure that they are not disturbed.” smiled Umbridge, snapping her purse shut. “So, I suggest we prepare to increase the Restricted Section space, at least until we can find somewhere to store the books, then we can properly decide what to do with them.”
“ Those books are not for the Ministry to do what they will, they belong to the school, the students and the faculty! ” argued Madam Pince.
“I understand how you feel,” Umbridge said, a smile stretched across her lips as she patted Madam Pince on the shoulder. “But it is in the children’s best interest that we remove harmful materials that could bring about serious injury to the other students, especially if one were to…lose his temper.”
Since that day, Madam Pince had enlisted the help of the rest of the staff, Snape included (surprisingly), began to place protective spells all around the library. No one would be able to remove books from the library without her express permission and no one could alter the layout of the room, students couldn’t even move reading chairs around as they were firmly fixed in place.
-=-==-=-=-=-
When Harry finally arrived in the Great Hall for dinner Saturday, he wasn't alone. A tall, stern looking man came walking up behind him, with a book under his arm.
Harry went to go and sit beside Ron and Hermione and watched wearing a rare smile, as the man continued his way up to the Head table.
"Delores Umbridge, how nice to see you again." said the man with an indifferent look upon his face but his tone reflected that it was anything but nice.
Umbridge gulped, her face pale. " Hello, R-Rivers. It’s a p-pleasure to see you too.”
"Do you have any idea, why I am here this evening?" said Rivers still looking indifferent but ripping open an envelope from inside his cloak and reading it as he stood there.
She shook her head quickly. He saw her response, slowly shook his head as he clicked his tongue disapprovingly. He put the letter back into his pocket and pulled out the book, it was a copy of the Defense class textbook.
"Recognize this?" when she nodded quickly, he continued. "I received a message from a very concerned student that you were not only refusing to provide instructions in practical magic, but you were also teaching, outdated, unproven and harmful material in class."
"What do you mean? Outdated, unproven and harmful? That book was certified by the International Department of Magical Education!" she said indignantly.
"True, it WAS certified by my department. In 1921. Since then, the 'Theory of Glympdons Conjurtor' alone has caused many people who have tried to defend themselves with its so-called “aid” to suffer lifelong injuries. And that is the fundamental theroy of the entire book! None of the other theories in it or any better. In fact, some of them are several times worse."
He then waved his wand over his head and every last copy of the Defense Against the Dark Art textbook was summoned to him. Then, in a flash of green smoke, they were gone.
"I'm going to be very kind and give you two weeks to get a better book for the students to learn from. If you don't have a better textbook, that teaches them BOTH theory AND practical, I will find a teacher that will.” said Rivers firmly.
“The Ministry has deemed that the teaching of practical defense is not needed. There is no one out in the real world trying to harm…” said Professor Umbridge with a weak girlish giggle.
“So explain to me the fiasco at the Quidditch World Cup.” said Rivers plainly. “Explain to me, what those wizards and witches were doing to those muggles as well as to several poor unfortunate souls that got caught in the crossfire. Explain to me where all that fire came from. Explain to me who sent that Dark Mark into the air. Now that I think about it, have you caught Sirius Black? How many people did he kill in one single blast? How easy was it for him to stroll out of Azkaban? Have Grindylows, Kelpies, Kappas, and other creatures of the like stopped being a threat? Do you have any sort of answers for me? Don’t worry, I’ll wait.”
Umbridge stared, her mouth shut so tight as she began to breathe heavily through her nose.
“No? Well, then it would seem to me that practicals are an incredibly important part of Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. Even more so for the students about to take the O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts, as practicals are half their grade. So, we’d better rectify the situation now before you completely ruin the futures of every single student with your rapidly noticeable incompetence.”
“Oh yes, and I almost forgot, in regards to finding another textbook or textbooks for your classes you have to run the books by me first. No ignoring me and authorizing them to the Minister. I can make damn sure that the people higher up on the food chain than him find out about your little stunts. And I’m not just talking about the ones you’ve done here thus far." He then turned on his heel and walked towards the door. He stopped when he reached where Harry sat.
"Thanks for letting us know, Merlin knows what kind of damage she could have done to all your futures." Harry smiled in response. “I’ll be back in a week Umbridge.” he said calling over his shoulder as he continued towards the door. “That should be plenty of time.”
When Rivers left, Hermione pulled on Harry’s arm. “She’ll get you back for that, you know that right?”
“Yup, but what’s another few nights of detention? I’m sort of getting used to it.” said Harry pulling a plate of chicken towards him.
“You should not be getting used to it!” Hermione hissed worriedly.
“It’s done, Hermione, and frankly, I don’t regret it. This way, the others have a better shot of getting a good grade in Defense now with that book gone.” said Harry.
Ron looked up at the Head, flinching a little. “Yikes, mate, if looks could kill, you’d be flobberworm food. She’s glaring at you hard.”
“Let her, it’s not going to change the fact that she now has to switch up her books, and what she doesn’t know is, Rivers is also looking into all the Educational Decrees as well.” Harry sneered. “He says that the Minister can’t do that, in order to have this many new rules, this fast, they have to be approved by the International branch of Magical Education. And clearly, he didn’t know about them till I brought them up.”
“But how did you know to contact him?” asked Neville leaning over to talk to the trio.
“When I was at the Ministry for my hearing, I saw a board with the names of International Officials as well as more local, then I saw in the Daily Prophet last week that he was here to look over something with the Minister.”
“Lucky you were almost expelled then.” smirked Fred.
=-=--==-=-
After dinner Umbridge hurried to her office slammed the door behind her. She couldn't believe it, this was happening, how did Potter get in contact with him? The mail ingoing and outgoing should be checked! That owl of his must not have gone to the Owlery like it’s supposed to. That wretched bird, she’ll have to see about taking the owl away from him next. It took a bit to be able to hold Potter and the Weasley’s brooms for as long as they had so far, but it shouldn’t be much more trouble in taking custody of his owl.
She wasn't going to let this slide, though she did not know how she was going to get even with Potter. That wretched, lying beast…
A knocking came upon her door and then, that very same "beast" entered her office. Umbridge was momentarily confused, but then she remembered that she had given him a week long detention just last week and this was the last one.
Tonight she was going to do something different.
Harry knew picking a fight with Umbridge while he still had detention was a bad idea, but he needed to oust the textbook soon, before she ruined everyone in fifth and seventh's years chances of getting respectable and realistic grades in the class.
He made to sit down where he usually sat, but she grabbed his arm and gave him a fearsome smile. He had seen that kind of look in his Uncle Vernon's eyes and he knew that he was not going to go to bed tonight without physical conflict. But she wouldn't be that stupid to do something like that in a school. Especially not with Dumbledore's office a few floors away.
She walked over to a small picture of Filch's ragged cat, Mr. Norris and nodded at it. The mangy old cat cried out, turned and hurried off. After a few moments of confused silence, Filch came into the room, grinning ear to ear and his smile grew bigger when he saw Harry looking between the two of them.
"Not going to do the normal lines then, I take it?" said Harry, looking at Filch with curiosity, yet edging slightly away from the two of them. The smiles on their faces were not pleasant and it gave him a familial, uneasy feeling.
"Not in the slightest Mr. Potter. My little reminder doesn't seem to help you not to tell lies." she said, with that large sneer on her toad like face.
"Actually, it does, that’s why I sent Mr. River's that owl." he smirked, wiping the grin off the Umbridge’s face, but it swiftly came back in full force. She nodded towards Filch, who then brought out a....
"What's the whip for?" said Harry getting a little nervous now, but his voice didn't reveal it. Both of them just smiled and Filch moved forward, slowly. Harry tried to wrench his arm out of Umbridge’s grip, but he could not free his arm. Whatever they were going to do, there was no escaping it.
Three hours later, he finally reached the seventh floor. He had to double over and get his breath to slow down quite a few times. His entire torso was on fire and his legs couldn't seem to carry him anymore.
After Filch and Umbridge both took the whip and other paraphernalia to him for the past three hours he had to hurry down to the school laundry room and wrap his flayed chest, legs and back with one and a half sheets. It almost looked as if he gained the twenty pounds that Madame Pomfrey had always wanted him to.
As he climbed the stairs to get to Gryffindor Tower, he tried to remember what had happened, but some of the parts were starting to get muddled and he felt himself getting colder and colder. He was getting very dizzy, and he wasn't able to keep his eyes to stay focused on the corridor ahead of him. He had some healing potions in his trunk just for emergencies, now the only problem was getting to them, he was getting very tired…
Then a voice came from behind him, Harry slowly turned around and saw McGonagall come up the stairs. "Didn't you hear me Potter? I asked you what you were doing out so late, it’s about five minutes after curfew." she said sternly.
He was too tired to give her a complete answer, and his world was beginning to spin completely out of control, his grip on the railing was going from tight to completely lax. Harry opened his mouth to answer "Long detention" when his body couldn't stand on it’s own anymore and he started to fall backwards over the railing of the moving staircase.
Professor McGonagall gave a loud scream and made a grab for him as he tumbled over. She managed to grab his foot and magicked him back onto the stairs.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING BOY?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH....." she stopped short. She kneeled down quickly laid his head on her lap and felt his forehead; he was burning up with fever. She noticed the sheets under his robes and lifted the layers.
“POTTER!” she screamed.
The teachers, and ghosts who were patrolling the surrounding nearby corridors, came running up from all different directions and the Gryffindor students were already had already started running out of the tower when they heard the first scream. Students were standing above and teachers below the sobbing Transfigurations Professor and unconscious teen. Dumbledore came hurrying to where the throng of people stood, merged his way through the crowd and saw Harry laying in his Head of House's lap, his face pale.
"Minerva?" said Flitwick cautiously. She looked wildly around; this action scared her poor Gryffindors to no end, as some thought she had gone mad. Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, or Neville couldn't get to the front of line no matter how hard they tried.
They couldn't see that it was Harry that she was crying about.
McGonagall was looking for Snape and when he came to the front, she pulled him done roughly to his knees and lifted the sheets, so little that only he could see. He was so taken aback that he lost his balance and landed backwards into Dumbledore's knees.
"What is it? What is wrong?" he asked Snape. However, the Potions Master did not respond to him. He then scrambled back and started whipping out potions and administering them to the fevered boy. Once he deemed Harry was in a safe enough condition to be moved, they whisked him off to the Hospital Wing. It was there that the Weasely's and Hermione saw that the injured student was Harry, and they stared as Harry was carried away from them.
Harry's fever didn't break till a week later, the entire school (oddly enough, including a few of the Slytherins) were happy to see the young man come down to the Great Hall. But they were horrified to see that he had to lean on a cane and was followed by a harassed looking Madam Pomfrey.
"You should have stayed in bed Potter! You're still very weak from losing all that blood!"
"I feel fine; I was losing the feeling in my legs from all the laying around. This gets me the exercise that I need and besides," he added with a look towards the Gryffindor table. "I want to see Hermione and Ron. You never let them in to see me that I know of."
He hobbled over to Ron and Hermione and they both rushed to him and took him in their arms. Harry gritted his teeth, as they had clutched at him too quickly and too tightly, but he allowed them to hold onto him as tight as they wanted. They exchanged no words but just held onto each other, and then Fred, George and Ginny came over and enshrouded Harry even further. After five minutes of just standing there hugging, they helped Harry to the table and began loading a plate for him.
"Mr. Potter, I have a question for you." said Professor Dumbledore, who had happened to stand behind Harry. Harry looked up at him, for the first time that year their eyes met. Harry couldn't help but smile. Dumbledore sighed with relief, not sensing any redness in his eyes or hatred in his mind.
"Do you remember who had left you in that state that forced you to go to the Hospital Wing?"
Everyone in the Hall leaned forward, some wanted to just hear a juicy bit of gossip, most were just concerned there was a violent nut loose in the school again, but a few were eager to duel out some intense judgment to the person responsible. Even Malfoy fingered his wand in anticipation. He disliked Potter, really disliked him to be honest, but he really didn't HATE him. Not enough to actually wish him that kind of harm to happen to him. Maybe a bloody nose or black eye, broken limb, suspension, expulsion but not something life threatening.
Umbridge and Filch looked pale and nervous; nobody noticed this, with the exception of Professor Snape. He made a mental note to tell Dumbledore his suspicions.
Harry shook his head. “I don't remember sir, I can only remember leaving the Great Hall to go to detention. After that, nothing." It was the truth, he couldn't remember even being saved from certain death by McGonagall.
"Whom did you serve detention with that night?" asked Dumbledore quickly.
"Umbridge"
Students and teachers whipped around swiftly and stared. Umbridge composed herself quickly and stated. "He never made it to my detention that night. As a matter of fact, you owe me another one for not showing up, you now have to serve two more nights." she reverted back to her smug self. The students and staff stared at her in shock, but the dam finally broke after a moment.
"NO, HE MOST CERTAINLY WILL NOT!" screamed the staff. None more louder than Professor McGonagall.
DUMBLEDORE, DON'T LET HER!! HE WAS INJURED!” shouted several of the students.
IT WAS NO FAULT OF HIS OWN!"
“KIND OF SUSPICIOUS ISN’T IT? SHE GETS TOLD OFF BY THAT BLOKE THAT HARRY BROUGHT TO THE GREAT HALL AND THEN HE GETS LIKE THIS!”
Harry looked around dazed, unsure of what was going on. Dumbledore nodded gravely.
"I will not allow her to do so. Harry won't be serving detention for quite some time. I will also say that you, Harry, are not to attend classes until you are well." said Dumbledore reassuring both the students and most of the staff.
"I'm fine, sir." said Harry tiredly.
"You save that particular statement for the periods of time that you are most gravely injured it seems." said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, but with a sad smile upon his lips. "More of a reason for us who care deeply for you to have you, as they say in the Muggle world. 'sit this one out.' "
Many of the students and staff, nodded in agreement. Filch continued to shake fearfully, but Umbridge was furious.
Just then, an owl came fluttering down to her and deposited a note, she opened it with her pink, kitten shaped letter opener and read it. She tried vainly to hide her smile, she had him now! She had them both!