kbinnz - Harry's New Home

He bit his lip, hard enough to draw blood, as he started writing a third line. He really hoped his da might have a potion or balm that would help soothe his hand when he was finished. He'd almost rather have gotten the cane тАУ as much as it hurt, the bum just wasn't as sensitive as the thin skin on the back of the hand! He wondered if he was allowed to ask for something to heal himself after a punishment, or whether he'd just have to wait for his hand to get better on its own.

He guessed he'd better at least ask his da. Snape would get grumpy if he thought Harry was keeping things from him, though he couldn't imagine his da would be pleased with Umbridge either. Hadn't he told Harry that тАУ

Harry sat bolt upright. His da had told him that no one, not even another teacher, had the right to hit him. Well, Umbridge wasn't exactly hitting him, but she was making him do something that hurt an awful lot. Wasn't that almost the same thing? And if it was, then did that mean that Harry could refuse?

He thought hard. His da hadn't interfered when Umbitch had punished him for losing his homework, but that had just been a regular essay. And when Sirius told the story of how he and Harry's dad тАУ his first dad тАУ had gotten thrashed for flying their brooms into the Forbidden Forest, hadn't his da said that if Harry ever got into trouble, then he knew he was supposed to come to him and talk about it?

Harry swallowed hard and made his decision. Maybe his da would be mad at him, but he still thought it was better to talk to him first, before Umbitch made him carve words into his own skin. If she was telling the truth and she was allowed to do it, then maybe he could still get his da to take over his detention. Or even Professor McGonagall. He was pretty sure she didn't use this quill in her detentions. After all, the twins, who'd had plenty of detentions with her, didn't have words scarred into the backs of their hands.

He stood up, still clutching the quill in his hand. "Professor, I'm not going to do any more," he announced bravely, though his wavering voice made it clear that he wasn't feeling very brave.

Umbridge's eyes narrowed. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm not going to write any more lines with this quill," Harry repeated stubbornly. "Not until I talk to my da, and he says I have to."

Umbridge snorted. "Do you truly imagine he'll rescue you, you little fool? You'll just be right back here, only you'll be writing your lines while sitting on a striped backside!"

Harry glared at her. "No, I won't!"

"Sit down and do as you're told, brat!" Umbridge's brittle calm was cracking as she rose to her feet.

"I won't!" Harry started to back away. The teacher was short and fat, but she was still bigger than he was.

"Obey me!" she said shrilly, grabbing for him.

Harry, his reflexes honed by Harry-hunting and Quidditch-seeking, easily evaded her grip and bolted for the door. He made it into the hallway before she managed to grab a fistful of his robe and jerked him to a halt.

Umbridge struggled to hang onto him with one hand while trying to get out her wand with the other. "Get back in here!" she shrieked at him.

"NO!" Harry wiggled and squirmed, reaching up to undo his robe in the hopes of leaving it тАУ and her тАУ behind.

"What on earth --?" A new voice caused the combatants to halt in surprise, and both Harry and Umbridge turned to find a startled Davidella Jones staring at them.

"Aha! Miss Jones, kindly help me restrain Mr Potter," Umbridge recovered herself first and finally managed to drag out her wand. "He was trying to leave detention early. Let's see if being stuck to your chair teaches you not to try such things in future, Mr Potter," she smirked at him. "And perhaps a heating charm on the seat will help sear the lesson into your memory."

Harry's heart raced. He had little doubt that once back in the classroom, he wouldn't leave it again without burns on his bum and scars on his hand. "No!" he snarled, backing away. A flick of his wrist and his own wand was in his hand.

Umbridge raised her eyebrows. "Threatening a professor, Potter? And in front of a prefect, no less? You are in need of discipline."

Jones was looking from one to the other in confusion. On the one hand, Umbridge was a teacher and therefore to be obeyed. On the other hand, Harry wasn't really the troublemaking sort. There had to be some reason for him to be acting so out of character.

"What's going on, Harry?" she asked, her own wand out but still pointing to the floor.

"There is no need to talk to him, Miss Jones! Kindly do as you are told and place him in a body-bind so that I can continue his detention!" When Jones still hesitated, uncertain as to what to do, Umbridge huffed, "You people are useless!"

Jones' eyes narrowed. "Excuse me, Professor? Which 'you people' would you be meaning?"

Umbridge swept the girl with a disdainful glance. "You island people. You should have stayed there under your coconut trees and stuck to your hoo doo and all that nonsense, rather than coming here and taking spots at Hogwarts away from real British witches and wizards."

Uh oh. Even Harry was appalled. "I was born in Brighton," Jones said evenly, but now her wand was up and pointing at Umbridge.

"Then you should understand enough English to do as you're told," the professor snapped back. "Restrain Potter, you stupid тАУ ack!" Whatever epithet Umbridge had been planning to use was swallowed as Jones' temper finally exploded and a ruby bolt shot out of her wand.

Umbridge managed to get up enough of a Protego that the bolt was deflected into the nearby wall where it caused a minor explosion and sent stone chips rattling to the floor. An instant later, both Jones and Harry were locked in a duel with Umbridge, spells flying thick and fast across the corridor.

Umbridge was, despite her faculty role, hardly a good duelist, but she did have the advantage of experience on her side. Moreover, Jones was struggling to reach Harry, so as to better protect the firstie from some of the nastier hexes Umbridge was sending his way.

Jones made it to Harry's side as he blocked a painful Furnunculus, then she cast a powerful shield over both of them.

"I'll see you deported for this!" Umbridge yelled at her. "Right back to wherever you came from."

"I was born in Brighton, you racist cow!" Jones snarled. Behind her, Harry marveled at how well she maintained her shield, despite being more annoyed than he had ever seen her.

Just then, a loud shout of "Stupefy!" rang out, and a bolt of magic slammed into Umbridge from behind, throwing her against the far wall. As the short witch collapsed to the ground, Jones and Harry were startled to find Percy hurrying down the hall towards them.

"Are you all right?" he asked worriedly, reaching out to enfold Jones in a hug while catching Harry by the shoulder with his free hand. "What happened?"

"Wow, Percy!" Harry stared at the unconscious woman with awe. "You hexed a professor!"

"Wow indeed," Jones said admiringly. "That was some stunner, big fella."

"Well, erm," Percy colored. "I was looking for you тАУ to patrol!" he added hastily, recalling Harry's presence. "When I turned the corner and saw that woman trying to hex you, what else was I to do?"

"I'm thinking you might be having a bit of trouble landing that Ministry job you were hoping for," Jones observed, nudging Umbridge with her toe тАУ none too gently. "The little toad is the Minister's lackey, after all."

Percy huffed. "As if I'd work for someone stupid enough to hire that," he nodded contemptuously at Umbridge. "I was thinking that I might be better suited to working with the goblins anyway. I can owl Bill about it."

"Goblins, hmm?" Jones asked, taking Percy by the tie and drawing him close. "It takes a dangerous kind of man to work with goblinsтАж" She gave him a kiss. "Did you know I like dangerous?"