Chapter Thirty-Four

Dolores Diggs a Hole

Already things at Hogwarts weren't looking great. Seamus Finnigan whom Harry had shared a dorm with for four years and had previously been on relatively good terms with if not close enough to be called friends now thought he was a nutter. The Irish boy and the rest of Harry's dorm mates had been one of the few people at Hogwarts not to believe he was the Heir of Slytherin in second year but now he turned around and told him he was a liar because his mother said so.

Harry probably didn't help by retorting that she would know all about that reminding Seamus that his mother had "forgot" to explain magic to his father until after Seamus began showing signs of magic. But in his defence he had been called a nutter first so what did the Irish boy expect him to just take it lying down. He was after all a Gryffindor – at least mostly – what Gryffindor took abuse lying down.

Harry hadn't been as bothered that Lavender Brown thought he was a liar. Harry didn't know the blonde girl well but what he did Harry didn't like. She seemed very shallow. Only caring about hair, make up and clothes.

But what Harry hated the most about the girl the most was the fact she bullied those who she deemed less beautiful, important or rich than her. Hermione, for example, who was all brains and cared little about her looks although Harry knew she was pretty when she tried. Harry knew that Ron definitely thought so.

All in all it didn't surprise Harry that Lavender Brown thought he was mad or making it up for attention. That's what she would probably do in his situation. Lavender Brown was definitely shallow enough to do so.

It really annoyed him how people thought he was making up the Dark Lord returning to get attention. Honestly didn't they think he got enough attention with being the bloody Boy Who Lived without saying his parent's murder was back. Did they think that Harry somehow tortured himself and killed Cedric?

Knowing the lack of logic that the Wizarding World commonly showed Harry would think so. Already back a day and he was running into trouble with his classmates. Harry really hated being the fucking boy who lived.

Then there was Angelina Johnson who immediately demanded that he be present for Quidditch practice. Harry agreed but recommended that she get a substitute which lead to questions about why he wouldn't be there. Needless to say she wasn't impressed that Harry might not be present at Hogwarts for the whole school year but it had nothing to do with him.

History of Magic was boring as ever so it was a brilliant first lesson for the fifth year Gryffindors and Slytherins to share. The Slytherins naturally making comments on Harry's sanity which the majority of the Gryffindors didn't exactly seem to be in disagreement with even if they didn't like the slights on their house. Honestly hadn't Gryffindor ever heard of house loyalty at least the Slytherins stuck together through thick and thin!?

All in all it was shaping up to be a huge mistake returning to Hogwarts. Harry wished he had stayed at home. He had Sirius, Remus and Arabella. That was all he needed. He was sure that Sirius and Remus would be able to teach him all he knew anyway!

Then at break Harry had a very awkward run in with Cho Chang. It was only just over two months ago that Harry had watched the Ravenclaw's boyfriend murdered before his eyes. Harry had known that she would seek him out eventually to ask what had happened to her boyfriend but not on the first day of school.

At least the sixth year didn't appear to believe that Harry was a liar or had killed the other boy. However, Harry had no wish to recount what had happened that night although he was aware that she like the elder Diggory couple deserved to know what had happened to her boyfriend and first love. Harry could only hope that she would understand that he couldn't speak about it now but when he was ready he'd tell her everything that happened on that horrific night.

Then there was Potions which was very strange after all Harry had seen Snape constantly over the summer. Snape had warned Harry that his new knowledge of Harry and his home life wasn't going to change how he treated him because that would be seen as suspicious. Honestly Harry hadn't expected anything else from Snape and it least Potions was continuing as it had always done when everything else had changed so drastically in such a short period of time.

Then there was Divination which was as good as it always was meaning it was absolutely horrendous with Trelawney already predicting his death a total of five times which was actually a fairly normal day. In Divination they were told that they had to keep a dream diary of all the pointless things in the world to do as though any of them were really Seers including their teacher. Harry had got an idea of what dreams he could fill his dream diary with and see what the usually batty woman would do with them when she was greeted with a teenager's sexual fantasies.

Harry had thought then that the batty Professor Trelawney was his absolute worst professor. Before it had been either her or Snape. Now, however, Harry and Snape had mostly resolved their differences.

That was until Harry had stepped into the Defence classroom and was introduced to the pink monstrosity that was Dolores Jane Umbridge. Immediately she belittled the class treating them like bloody five year olds. After that the witch with a capital B had set them to work on reading a textbook that wasn't very good to anyone who actually knew anything about Defence Against the Dark arts something which Umbridge had clearly not passed bloody first year in despite the Ministry appointing her Defence professor.

Then the stupid witch tried to instigate a fight. Harry knew if he had responded to the fight Umbridge would have given him a ridiculous punishment. Harry was sure if she thought she could get away with it she would expel him.

It took all of Harry's Slytherin side not to say anything in response to the Ministry bitch's claims. He had to remind himself several times that the Ministry would be eating their shite by the time it got to his trials. Yet still somehow he ended up in detention for being too slow to pack away his stuff clearly she was picking on him for telling bloody the truth and refusing to bow down to the Ministry's horrific corruption!

Dinner was about as pleasant as last night with the whispers and looks that he was being given. Harry rolled his eyes at their antics. Honestly if Harry really had been insane then he would have gone on a rampage at what they were doing.

Harry was pleased when Hermione decided that enough was enough and decided to exit the Great Hall. Ron looked unhappy at having to leave his dinner behind but reluctantly agreed to go along with the other two. Harry couldn't wait to escape from the whispers and stares of his ignorant .classmates.

'Come on lets go to the kitchen,' Harry said.

Ron nodded quickly in agreement happier now that he was going to get dinner. Hermione seemed content to speak in the kitchen. Harry had only seen Hermione Granger this furious on a few occasions.

They reached the kitchens quickly as they could. Harry was glad they hadn't met anyone on the way because he knew exactly what they thought of him. Harry knew that they would all be in the Great Hall having dinner.

As soon as they entered the kitchens they were greeted by a hyper manic little elf. Harry grinned at the elf feeling lighter than he had at the sight of the elf. Dobby had always supported him no matter what even if he had tried to condemn him to life with the Dursleys Harry thought his mood automatically souring.

'MISTER HARRY POTTER,' squealed the little elf. 'Has come to visit Dobby,' Dobby said eyes filling with tears. 'And he has brought his friends.'

'Err yeah,' Harry said awkwardly. 'Can we get something to eat, Dobby?'

Dobby broke into another grin as elves with platters ladened with food gathered around them. The little creatures appeared to love serving them. Harry once again wondered if Hermione was doing more harm than good although he did agree that the elves like Dumbledore needed protection from abusive people like Lucius Malfoy but forcing them out of work wouldn't help anyone.

Ron took a plate of chicken breasts drizzled in lemon sauce and dove in with all the grace of a giant in a wand shop. Hermione wore a grimace at Ron's lack manners placing a piece of salmon, a healthy helping of mash and peas cutting it and eating. Harry, on the other hand, wasn't very hungry but had a feeling if he didn't eat something he'd never deal with Umbridge's detention which could last who knew long so Harry poured a goblet of pumpkin juice from a silver jug and ladled out a large bowl of chicken stew.

'I don't think I'm going to survive a year of this,' Harry muttered.

'Does that mean you're going to leave school?' Hermione asked.

'What, you can't,' Ron said.

'You'll find I can,' Harry said sharply. 'But I'll stay until Dumbledore's trial as I said I would,' Harry promised.

'I hope you stay,' Hermione said.

'If things continue as they have I cannot stay,' Harry said quietly.

Hermione nodded, 'what will you do about your education?'

'Either I'll hire private tutors or I'll apply for studying abroad,' Harry replied. 'I'll figure that out when and if I leave Hogwarts.'

Harry didn't say that after his first day it was looking more and more like a when rather than an if. Unless things drastically improved amongst his teachers and peers. And somehow if Umbridge's treatment of him was any indicator it was not going to get better.

Twenty minutes later Harry left Ron and Hermione in the kitchen where Ron was helping himself to his third cookie. Harry made it up to Umbridge's office already knowing that it was going to be hellish. Checking his watch Harry was exactly on time when he knocked on the door but it took Umbridge a minute to respond.

'Come in,' Umbridge called in a sickly sweet voice.

Harry couldn't help the grimace that appeared on his face as he surveyed the office he had found himself in. Looking around at the ugly plates with moving cats wearing different coloured bows. This woman was reminding him more and more of Aunt Petunia which was not a pleasant comparison.

'Good evening, Mr Potter,' smiled Umbridge sweetly.

'Evening Professor,' Harry responded coolly.

'Well sit down,' Umbridge said when Harry did not move.

Harry saw the piece of parchment that was clearly meant for him. Harry was surprised that it was something as simple as lines. This was a punishment more like Flitwick or McGonagall would give him when Harry was expecting something far more horrible like scrubbing toilets for Filch or

'Now you are going to do being doing lines for me, Mr Potter. No not with your quill,' Umbridge said quickly. 'You're going to be using a rather special one of mine. Here you are.'

Umbridge handed Harry a long black quill with an unusually sharp point. Harry frowned at the implement. Harry couldn't say why but he disliked the quill. There was something wrong with it that set Harry's teeth on edge.

And why should Umbridge want him to use her quill unless there was some gain to it. It was like when his Uncle would hold a plate of food in front of him and then take it from him just to torture his starving nephew. Umbridge was even wearing that same vindictive look that Harry remembered so vividly from his childhood.

'I want you to write I must not tell lies,' Umbridge said softly.

Harry gritted his teeth. Only many years of living with the Dursleys allowed Harry to not respond to the unveiled insult. This would only make the Ministry look worse in the end when it was proved that she was using her position of power to punish Harry.

Just like the Dursleys Harry could not help but think. This didn't exactly help Harry's feelings considering how much he hated and feared the Dursleys. And whilst he did not fear Umbridge Harry had a feeling that under all the pink the bitch could be very dangerous if pushed.

'How many times?' Harry said getting his temper under control.

'Oh, as long as it takes for the message to sink in,' Umbridge simpered.

'You haven't given me any ink,' Harry said not trying to hide his scorn.

'Oh you won't need ink,' Umbridge said.

As Umbridge spoke Harry could hear the whisper of a laugh in the woman's voice. That sound made the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stand on end. It was the same sadistic laugh Dudley wore whenever he played Harry Hunting.

Harry placed the point of the quill onto the parchment and began to write: I Must Not Tell Lies. The words appeared on the parchment in what appeared to be bright red ink. However, Harry knew that it was not ink but –

Blood!

Only through many years of not letting his pain show through was Harry able to hide his pain. Much like Vernon Umbridge's beady black eyes showed great displeasure at this. Harry knew that the only control he would have in this detention would be his ability to not show pain. To not give the bitch the satisfaction of letting him show he was in pain.

Harry reminded himself time and time again that he had suffered far, far worse pain than having his hand sliced open at the hands of his uncle. That he had been tortured just months ago. That this was nothing in comparison to his twelfth birthday.

Darkness began to descend and still Harry wrote without a word as though this was a completely normal punishment. Maybe it was for the Umbitch. Harry imagined other children – younger and more innocent than he – going through the same thing for any reason that the sadistic witch could think of.

No!

Harry would suffer but he would not allow his friends to do the same. Soon as he got out of here he would go to Snape's office. Snape still felt guilty for not seeing his abuse for what it was and leaving Lily's son with the Dursleys when he of all people knew what Petunia Evans was like so he would help Harry contact Scalby.

After that Bones would be summoned and Umbridge arrested. Harry was sure that Scalby would be more than able to place the blame on the Minister. Imply that Fudge had sent Umbridge to try and shut him up before the trial happened.

'Come here,' Umbridge said after what seemed like hours.

Harry got up forcing himself not to shake or let any sign of weakness show. Harry's hand was still stinging painfully and he felt slightly light headed with the blood loss. Looking down Harry saw that the cut was healed but his hand was still a raw red.

'Hand,' ordered Umbridge.

Harry stuck his hand in her toad like face without saying a word as the bitch inspected his hand. Immediately Harry felt a sense of queasiness at the woman touching him. Harry had to remind himself that the woman was not Vernon. She wanted to torture not rape him but it didn't help any and Harry was barely able to restrain himself from flinching back from the memories and new pain.

What god had he pissed off in a former life?

Voldemort

Dumbledore

Vernon

And now Umbridge

How many people would try to make his life living hell? What had he ever done to deserve this Harry thought bitterly? Why was his life so fucked up? Why did the few bright spots always seem to be drowned out by the darkness in his life?

Umbridge tutted at Harry, 'I don't seem to have made much of an impression yet. Well, we'll just have to try again tomorrow evening, won't we? You may go?'

Harry left her office without a word. The school was quite deserted and it was surely passed midnight. Surely it was against the school rules to keep a student in detention past curfew. Then again thinking of the night in the Forbidden Forest maybe not.

Harry walked quite calmly down the corridor and then around the corner. Only when Harry was around the corner and quite sure Umbridge could not hear him did he break into a run. Running away from the pain and the memories down into the dungeons.

Harry knocked on Snape's door with his uninjured hand hoping against hope that his once most hated professor would answer the door despite it being so late. Harry held his raw hand carefully which was still stinging painfully. Harry hoped that as soon as evidence was taken he would be able to get it healed.

A few minutes later Snape's door was wrenched open thankfully still in his black robes so Harry had not woke the man up. Harry really shouldn't have been surprised at Snape's temper but in his pain, blood loss and bad memories Harry could not help but flinch back at Snape's look of rage. The flinch seemed to cool Snape's temper instantly.

'Potter,' Snape said.

'Professor,' Harry said still trying to control his breathing after his run.

'What happened?' demanded Snape.

'Umbridge,' Harry said holding out his hand.

'What happened?' asked Snape once again.

'Umbridge made me write I Must Not Tell Lies,' Harry said bitterly, 'with a quill that didn't need ink but wrote with my blood.'

'Blood magic,' hissed Snape. 'Dark Magic. Come in.'

'How many times did she make you use the quill?' asked Snape.

'Dunno,' Harry muttered. 'Eleven pieces of parchment.'

Snape groaned, 'I want you to be checked out by a Healer.'

'I want my lawyer here first,' Harry said stubbornly.

'I am going to call a healer first, Potter' Snape said in a tone that made it clear Harry was not to argue. 'Then you can call your lawyer.'

Harry scowled, 'fine. But not Pomfrey.'

Snape bowed his head understanding exactly why this would be the case. After all the revelations it was fast becoming clear that they could no longer tell who they could trust. However, no Death Eaters or Order members could be called either.

'No Order members or Death Eaters,' Harry said.

'There is one,' Snape said after a second.

Snape didn't look happy about calling this one in but why would this be Harry could not say. Scowling Snape made the Floo call but said as little in it as possible. Harry thought there was more to it than wanting to protect Harry.

Ten minutes later a tall woman who must be in her sixties but still had a mane of black hair and a hooked nose exactly like Snape's. Harry gaped realising that this woman must be related to Snape. Not that that should be a surprise as Snape couldn't have just sprung into being as his hateful teacher but Harry hadn't thought Snape had anyone.

'My student has had an unidentified Dark object used on him,' Snape said.

'And he didn't go to Poppy, why?' asked the Snapish woman.

'I don't want Dumbledore to find out,' Harry said bitterly.

The woman raised an eyebrow just like Snape would, 'alright, let's have a look.'

The woman twirled her wand enunciating some complicated strings of Latin that Harry couldn't pronounce never mind understand. Harry wished once more that like so many of the other wizarding schools Hogwarts still offered a Latin course. However, the Latin teacher was never replaced in 1954 and had not been taught had Hogwarts since.

'So what does it say?' asked Harry after the woman had finished.

'Blood magic,' hissed the woman.

'I had gathered that much myself,' Harry snapped.

What Harry did not say was that he had no idea of this himself until Snape had told him. From the look the Snape woman was giving him she had seen right through him. Once again Harry was forcibly reminded of Professor Snape.

'What I want to know am I fit and able to call my lawyer so I can press charges immediately!?' demanded Harry.

'I trust there is no permanent damage,' Snape said.

The woman shook her head, 'none, although I would suggest bathing your hand in murtlap essence as soon as your lawyer can photograph your hand. Thankfully it was just the once. Had it been for anymore you would have likely been permanently scarred. I just hope whomever was responsible is brought to justice before anyone else can suffer Duke Potter's fate.'

'You know who I am then?' Harry asked.

'Yes, you look so very much like your mother,' smiled the older woman.

Harry blinked, 'you knew her then?'

'Yes, she was after all my son's best friend,' the woman smiled at Snape.

'What was she like?' Harry asked quickly.

'Weren't you going to call your lawyer?' Snape's mother reminded him.

'Right,' Harry said.

Harry Floo called Scalby's home residence knowing that at this time of night he would be there. Scalby appeared looking like he had been asleep just a few seconds ago. Yet despite being dressed in fine night blue nightdress looked completely alert and professional.

'I should have known it would be you,' Scalby shook his head. 'Is Headmaster Dumbledore giving you trouble?'

'No,' Harry said. 'Dolores Umbridge was appointed the Defence professor and gave me a detention for "not vacating the classroom in a timely manner". She gave me lines with a "special" quill of hers which took blood from the back of my hand.'

Scalby hissed, 'blood magic. Where are you?'

'Professor Snape's office,' Harry replied. 'He made me see a Healer before calling you.'

'Good,' Scalby said. 'I'm coming through. Just let me get dressed and explain to my husband where I'm going.'

Twenty minutes later a fully dressed Dimitri Scalby stood before Harry looking tired and angry at the whole situation. Harry could understand as he had kids older than Harry. If a teacher and Ministry employee thought she could do this to one child she could do it to others.

'I just hope we get this bitch out of Hogwarts before she does it to anyone else,' Harry said vehemently.

Scalby nodded in agreement, 'Healer, Professor Snape are you willing to testify against her?'

'Of course,' the female Snape said.

'Naturally,' agreed Snape.

'Then we must report this to Madam Bones,' Scalby said. 'This will be just another nail in the cauldron for the Fudge government. Despite what the general public think of you they will not want a child abuser in their school.'

'And everyone loves a martyr,' muttered Snape.

Snape nodded, 'no longer would you be the attention seeking brat trying to destabilise the world. You would instead be an abused child. Many would pity-'

'I don't want anyone's pity,' Harry spat out.

'Yet you'd have it,' Scalby said calmly. 'Whether you want it or not. Whether you see yourself as one or not. You. Are. A. Child. Umbridge had no right to do what she did to you. When the public gets wind of it they will be furious. It would be to your advantage to use their fury to further your goals.'

'And suddenly I'm reminded you are a Slytherin,' Harry said amused.

Scalby grinned almost feral, 'you say that like it's a bad thing.'