Bonded chapter 84

Chapter 84 -

Harry let out a small sigh as he sat down in Defence Against the Dark Arts. It was truly a shame that his favourite subject seemed to be more or less constantly spoiled by the people in charge of teaching it. Quirrell had Voldemort possessing him, and Lockhart was a scam artist masquerading as a hero. Lupin and Moody were both competent, though Harry didn't really like Lupin as a person, and Moody wasn't exactly the most stable spell in an arsenal. Now, he had Umbridge to deal with. He wasn't sure how competent she was in the subject, but he doubted that she'd be a good teacher at all.

The reception since coming back to Hogwarts was better than he anticipated. Very few people believed the Ministry's bullshit about him being a liar. The vast majority of people in Gryffindor believed him at least. Many of whom were happy to express their support for him. Looking around the class, Harry noted that Theo Nott was looking at him with a blank expression. Harry gave him a questioning look in return. Theo flicked his wand, and a small rolled-up ball of paper shot towards Harry, who caught it with ease. He opened the ball and read the contents.

My father and uncle were both right bastards.

You don't have to worry about me, I'm not your enemy. I enjoy living.

Harry let out an amused snort as he tapped his wand to the note, burning it to ashes. He looked back at Nott and gave him a small nod. Nott nodded back and then returned back to his book. Harry smirked and did the same. The book that they had been assigned was abysmal in every way possible, so Harry had simply purchased a much better book and charmed it to look like the assigned one.

"Good morning, class." Umbridge's voice cut through the atmosphere like a dementor's aura, removing any chance of joy or even mild amusement. Harry looked up and saw her walking down the steps from her office and stopping at the front of the classroom in front of her desk. "So good to see you all again," She said happily. "There are few things an educator enjoys as much as enthusiastic, attentive students." She said, evidently not noticing that most of her students already looked bored out of their minds. She flicked her wand at the blackboard. "O.W.L. Ordinary Wizarding Level exams," She recited the words that appeared on the board. "Also known as OWLs, these are important exams that you, as fifth years, will be expected to take near the end of the year. The exams could very well make or break your futures." She said with her signature giggle. "Study hard and you will be rewarded, fail to do so and the consequences could be...severe." She finished, looking far too pleased by the idea. "Now, class, open your books and start reading from chapter one." She instructed before turning around and sitting at her desk.

Most of the students went to start reading, at least until they noticed Hermione, who was sat at her desk with her hand up. Her book lay closed in front of her. Umbridge had obviously noticed Hermione but was pretending not to, something that became increasingly hard to do so as ever other student eventually stopped reading and all started looking between Hermione and Umbridge. When it became clear that the problem wasn't going away, Umbridge looked up and blinked, acting like she had only just noticed Hermione's hand was up.

"Yes, my dear?" She asked sweetly.

"Excuse me, Professor, I have a question," Hermione said with a small huff as she lowered her hand. "I had already read the entire book, and I-"

"Well, then you can try reading it once more to make sure it really sinks in," Umbridge suggested, cutting her off with a wide smile. "Now, if that's all, I believe you should-"

"Actually, that's not what I was going to say." Hermione cut in. "I read the entire book, and I noticed that there's literally nothing in there about using defensive spells. It just seems to be all about legislation, negotiation and verbal de-escalation."

"Using spells?" Umbridge laughed loudly, sounding as if she had just been told a hilarious joke. "I don't see why you would ever need to use spells in my classroom."

"We're not going to be using magic?!" Ron blurted out incredulously.

"Students will raise their hands if they wish to speak in my classroom," Umbridge said sharply, dropping her pleasant teacher act for a moment before bringing it back up in full force with another giggle and smile. "It is the view of those in the Ministry of Magic, witches and wizards far more experienced in the ways of the world than you all are, that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient for you all to pass your exams."

"Are you trying to say that the first time we'll ever be performing the spells will be in the exams?" Hermione asked with disbelief after raising her hand. "Isn't there a practical portion of the exam?"

"As I stated before," Umbridge took in a deep breath. "A theoretical approach will be more than sufficient for you to pass your exams."

"That may help us with our exams, but what about after?" Dean Thomas asked. "What if we need to perform the spells after school?"

"Exactly," Ron agreed, reluctantly raising his hand. "There is nothing here that'll help us with what's out there."

"There is nothing out there," Umbridge laughed. "Who could you possibly imagine wants to harm children such as yourself?"

"Professor Umbrige," Harry raised his hand. Umbridge's face dropped for a moment as she stared at him, before she smiled again.

"Yes, Mr Potter?" She asked sweetly.

"Are you aware of a man named Fenrir Greyback? An individual who had tormented, attacked and killed many, many British citizens?" Harry asked. "He has also, in fact, turned many children much younger than us into werewolves and is a wanted man in several countries."

"Yes, Mr Potter," Umbridge replied. "I am aware of that, but that is one werewolf. I-"

"Actually, he has a pack of other werewolves that, last I heard, is comprised of over two dozen members." Harry cut her off. "Not to mention that it was reported last year that over twenty children have been listed missing and last seen near Knockturn Alley, which is quite close to one of our main shopping centres, Diagon Alley. Not to mention that there are plenty of thieves, robbers, murderers and so on."

"Mr Potter, what is your point?" She asked impatiently.

"You asked who would possibly want to harm us," Harry reminded her with a small shrug. "I just listed a few. That's not even mentioning the Death Eaters and their pal, Voldemort."

"He is not back!" Umbridge said firmly. "There is no evidence to support that statement."

"The bodies that I brought back were just props then, I suppose?" Harry asked dryly. "Besides, how would you know when the Minister and the Ministry of Magic -"

"Mr Potter-"

"Are actively preventing any investigations into the matter." Harry continued.

"The Ministry is doing no such thing," Umbridge denied, a cross look on her face.

"You fired Auror Tonks because she insisted on investigating," Harry countered.

"Auror Tonks was fired because she was deemed to be a trouble-maker, one who shouldn't have been hired in the first place," Umbridge replied immediately. A sour expression appeared on Umbridge's face, as if the very thought of Tonks offended her. "She was hardly qualified to be a member of the Ministry of Magic."

"She's a lot more qualified than you," Harry snorted, glaring at Umbridge. "She'd know better than to give us this rubbish," He said, gesturing to the book. "This is a magical school. We're here to learn magic."

"You'll learn exactly what you are told to learn, Mr Potter!" She slammed her hands on her desk and stood up to her full, unimpressive height.

"Yeah, great, I need to learn the law when someone shoots a blood boiling curse or a liver exploder at me instead of knowing how to defend against the damn spell?" Harry asked with disbelief.

"The book will teach you how to de-escalate the situation!" Umbridge defended.

"And every person intending to harm me is going to give me the chance to do that, are they? That's a really ineffective unwritten rule because if they followed rules in the first place, then they wouldn't be attacking me! Is this really the highest standard of the Ministry of Magic? A woman who doesn't want us to learn any spells? We all might as well go to muggle schools instead. Are you simply not capable of performing the spells we need to know? Are you a sub-par witch or just a squib?"

"Enough!" Umbridge shrieked. "Detention, Potter! Tonight! In my office! Now, get out of my classroom, you filthy liar!"

"Gladly," Harry huffed, getting up, leaving the book on the desk. "By the way, you're a grown woman. Stop wearing all pink, it's not your colour." He added before walking out. 'Venom, there's a high possibility we need to kill that woman.'

'Such a shame,' Venom purred with delight.

(.)

"I'm here for my detention," Harry announced in a bored tone as he entered Umbridge's office. He stopped and frowned as he took a long look around. The bloody woman had literally painted the walls pink, there was liking a colour and then there was obsession. There were dozens of plates stuck to the walls with moving pictures of cats on them, cats which recoiled and hissed upon feeling his presence. Umbridge evidently didn't notice as she was sitting behind her desk, sipping tea. She put the cup down and gave him that creepy smile of hers.

"Mr Potter, take a seat," She said, gesturing to a desk and chair that she had set up a short distance away. Harry gave her a look that made it quite clear he didn't like her and went to sit at the desk, where he found a quill and a piece of parchment. "You're going to write lines for me, Mr Potter."

"What exactly am I supposed to write?" Harry sighed deeply.

"How about 'I will not tell lies'?" Umbridge's smile got bigger.

"I don't recall telling any lies," Harry replied before looking down at the quill. "You didn't give me any ink."

"You won't need any ink, it's a rather special quill of mine." She smiled even deeper. Looking like a toad who was about to catch a juicy fly. After taking a small moment to wonder if one of her parents was genuinely a toad, he began writing, only to feel a stinging sensation on his hand as the words he wrote with the quill started appearing on his hand. It healed almost instantly, a nice benefit of naturally good healing, amped up by Venom. Still, he felt his anger increase as he realised that this woman was trying to torture him by making him write in blood. "Is there a problem, Mr Potter?" She asked with a smug smile.

"Give me a sec," He said, standing up with the quill and walking over to her.

"Mr Potter, what are you...aaaaarrrgghhhh?!" She screamed as Harry slammed the top of the quill deep into her hand.

"You want blood, bitch?" Harry asked with an evil grin. "You'll get it." He said before yanking the thing out and walking out of the room, ignoring the pained Umbridge.

'We could have done much more,' Venom said, sounding disappointed.

'Not without Dumbledore and the aurors breathing down our necks,' Harry mentally replied. 'Let's take this quill to McGonagall, we can deal with Umbridge as soon as we establish some distance from her and create an alibi.'

(.)

The next couple of days passed with a high amount of drama. Umbridge wanted Harry prosecuted and arrested for assaulting her, but he simply claimed that he was worried for his safety and didn't believe that he could safely leave the room. After all, he doubted a woman who was willing to torture him would allow him to leave without inflicting bodily harm upon him at the very least.

Professor McGonagall had gone on the war path, handling the matter personally and speaking directly to the school board itself while also making sure Dumbledore did the same. Harry also may or may not have 'accidentally' leaked the story to Luna and Tonks. Both of whom were more than happy to write about the entire thing in detail, after the latter had been forcibly restrained from coming down the school and hexing Umbridge into oblivion. It was funny, watching Umbridge's face become nearly purple with rage as she read the newspaper in the morning and saw that the event had been written and spread out for all to see. She had at first tried to ban the students from reading the papers, but it was quickly pointed out that she didn't have the right or authority to do that.

Harry had also now left Defence Against the Dark Arts in the same way that he had left potions and was now being taught by a private tutor, one who coincidentally happened to be Andromeda as well. The woman wasn't just talented in potions, she had also received an 'Outstanding' grade on not just her 'OWL' exam, but also her 'NEWT' one, which occurred in a student's final year. Not to mention that she was a daughter of the House of Black, she knew plenty about the dark arts before she was legally old enough to drink.

Umbridge had been slammed with a similar deal to Snape in that she wasn't allowed to approach him or talk to him, and that Harry was no longer allowed to have lessons with her. Harry doubted that the woman would stick to it for long; she seemed the stubborn sort. But it didn't matter; Harry wasn't going to allow her to stay around for long.

About a week after the incident, Hedwig flew around the castle before heading into the forbidden forest. She knew that at the moment, her beloved Harry was currently in class with the older human he referred to as 'McGonagall', meanwhile, her target was left alone. Before getting a symbiote, Hedwig felt pretty protective of Harry. She loved him as much as one could love another species, but since becoming Carnage, her feelings were amplified greatly. When it was explained that this woman had tried to harm her beloved human, she was more than happy to go with his plan for revenge.

Now, his human had witnesses to his location, and her target was alone in her office; it was time to strike. She spotted a rock that was the size of the man that had gifted her to Harry, 'Hagrid' was his name. She transformed from a beautiful snowy owl into Carnage. She grabbed the rock with her talons, lifted it as if it weighed nothing and flew straight into the air. Once she was high up, she flew to the castle and spotted her target.

The pink monstrosity was in that office of hers, pacing back and forth, muttering under her breath. A grin appeared on Carnage's face; she didn't care why her target did what it did; she only cared for its destruction. Once she was near enough, she tossed the rock hard enough that it shot towards the castle like a bullet from a gun. Carnage managed to get a couple of feet higher in the air so she could see the toad-like woman's reaction, and it was glorious. She watched as the woman paused in her pacing. Carnage smiled as the imbecile's eyes widened, her mouth opening in horror. Umbridge barely let out a shriek before the rock ripped through the castle's walls, smashing into her and her desk and slamming both into the wall behind. The cat plates around the walls fell to the floor, smashing into hundreds of pieces. The pink walls were splattered with red blood as Umbridge had burst, not unlike when a water balloon smashes into something. Blood, brain and broken bones were scattered all around the room along with what was left of her organs. A horrifying sound escaped from Carnage.

Laughter.