Chapter 28 of 30
Hogwarts
“No, no and no!’ Piper glared at the trio of males. “Not after last year and especially not after what we heard at your party, with that Umbridge woman.”
“That’s exactly why I have to go! Don’t we want her out of there? And what about my education? Do you just want to throw away the last four years?” Chris asked bewildered and Wyatt looked at him appraisingly, yes, Chris was seconds away from his first shouting match with his mother.
“I’ve been researching, there are good Wizarding schools here in the-“
“I LOVE HOGWARTS! YOU CAN’T DO THAT TO ME!”
“I’M TRYING TO PROTECT YOU!”
“MY FRIENDS ARE THERE!”
“You can still keep in touch with them,” she said firmly.
“It’s not the same!” Chris cried frustrated grabbing his hair and looked at his father desperately.
“Piper,” Leo said calmly, “He’s right. You can’t take him away from all he’s known. We talked about this last year before we went to Hogwarts, and you agreed.”
“That was before he almost got killed!”
“I almost get killed every year! What’s different now?” Chris cried and Leo and Wyatt cringed.
“That didn’t help your argument dude,” Wyatt shook his head trying to pull Chris to one side while Leo pulled Piper to the other. Leo took Piper’s face with both his hands.
“He knows Hogwarts, his friends are there and Dumbledore is there as well as Order Members. Any other school you chose in the US won’t have that protection. And while Voldemort hasn’t been able to come here yet, doesn’t mean he won’t. Piper, I hate this as much as you do, but there is no changing it, Chris is a part of this war and he needs to get trained in Wizarding magic because that is the magic Voldemort uses. We’ll be an orb away and Sirius is in England acting as his official guardian. Things have changed, he is more protected than he was before.”
Piper crossed her arms and glared at Leo not saying anything. Her eyes were wet. She didn’t want to send Chris away but she knew she had to, if she didn’t want him to hate her. If she wanted him to be prepared for what was to come.
“I’ll still have to orb to Magic School once a week to deliver my assignments anyway mom,” Chris pleaded. “You’ll see me, and I promise, I promise that at the first sign of trouble I’ll let Wyatt know through the bond. Please mom, Hogwarts was my first home. I have one here now too, but Hogwarts will always be important to me. Please.”
Piper inhaled deeply and looked at those begging green eyes. He wasn’t shouting anymore. She knew he’d do what she decided but he’d never forgive her. And she really didn’t have the right to take away something that had been so important to him. She nodded and Chris whooped in joy and hugged her. She hugged him back not wanting to let go of her baby but knowing she had to.
“Excuse me, I believe I misunderstood you,” Piper said calmly looking at her oldest sister from across Phoebe’s kitchen’s table. Phoebe and Paige were also gaping at her with the ice cream spoons dangling from their mouths.
“Well, he’s a very interesting man. And it’s not like he’s my charge or anything. And besides, thanks to that little vow you had the Elders take they can’t really recycle me now can they?”
“BUT SNAPE!” Piper cried aghast.
“We talked, and then we met again, and again,” Prue shrugged.
“You do realize he is awful to your nephew?” Piper said icily.
Prue looked at her and simply said, “I do, and if he does it again he knows my pacifist side will go out the window,” then she shrugged and looked up pensively tapping the spoon to her mouth, “Actually, I’m not sure I really ever got in touch with that side I supposedly have as a Whitelighter.”
Phoebe and Paige both stuffed spoonfuls of ice cream in their mouth to muffle their chuckles so Piper, who was still glaring at Prue, wouldn’t kill them.
So, why was it that he had wanted to be back here so badly? Chris wondered as he listened to Umbridge’s deluded speeches. How the hell would they learn to defend themselves without practicing? Chris was already realizing that Defense Against Dark Arts classes would be long ones. He sighed letting his mind wonder as he pretended to read the first chapter of their book. He remembered the shock of his first Potions class. He hadn’t noticed at the feast but up close with Snape there had been no way of not noticing. He, like most of the students, had goggled at Snape.
He couldn’t manage to keep something so, so…he didn’t have words for it, to himself and opened the link with his brother with a mental yell. To say Wyatt hadn’t been pleased at being so rudely awaken when he had classes later in the day was nothing to the shock the poor blond boy had when Chris sent him a mental image of what he was seeing.
“But, how? He…is he sick or something?” Wyatt had asked.
“Don’t know,” Chris had answered mentally and continued to stare bewildered at his Portions teacher whose long hair was flowing elegantly next to his face, with soft curves instead of hanging greasily. Had the man finally been introduced to shampoo?
Of course, the clean hair was the only difference, Snape had been his usually nasty self and seemed particularly annoyed with the fact that Chris had presented him a perfect potion. When hearing about Chris’s difficulty in potions the previous year, Piper had jumped at the chance of helping him with his homework and he had improved a lot, especially after he and Piper had brewed most of the potions during summer to practice and she explained to him why stirring one way or the other made a difference. Snape hadn’t like it one bit and had glared at him, but surprisingly that was the extent of his nastiness.
Then there were all the students that once again where against him because they believed the Daily Prophet. At least this time around he had a good grasp on his Empathy and was able to block out most of the antagonizing feelings, especially since this time around one of his dorm mates was also among those who didn’t believe him. And he had Hermione and Ron by his side which helped a lot. He also had a good grasp on his Invisibility, which he had trained a lot during the summer, and his father James had been oh so jealous about “Imagine the pranks I could have done! Not worrying if my feet would stick out of the cloak!” Chris had smiled at that, he still kept his cloak, it had sentimental value and if he wanted to make Hermione and Ron invisible too he’d need it. He had thought that maybe touching them would be enough, since his clothes and wand had disappeared, but it hadn’t been. His father Leo had theorized that maybe it was because to a certain level his clothes and wand were an extension of himself so they were included in his power. Anyway, becoming invisible to escape the taunts and glares was quite handy, Hermione wasn’t overly fond of it though.
And then they had finally arrived at Defense Against the Dark Arts where at first Umbridge had treated them like five-year-olds, actually, no, he was sure that if he talked to Penny like that he’d be dead in two seconds, and then she proceeded to tell them how this class was going to be all theoretical and to read chapter 1 of the book.
“Yes,” he heard Umbridge ask sweetly and turned around to see Hermione with her hand up. “Did you want to ask something about the chapter dear?”
Well, Chris really didn’t have words to explain what happened next, Hermione, Hermione of all people, started questioning a teacher and the others joined, and Umbridge tried to badmouth Remus and Dean defended him, which made Chris extremely happy and then, when Umbridge started trying to make it look like he and Dumbledore where lying and kept insisting they only needed the theory and Chris just couldn’t help himself, he jumped in too and of course, Voldemort came into the conversation and well, that earned him a detention.
“Maybe yelling at Umbridge might have been a little overboard, but honestly, the woman was dangerous! If people don’t prepare themselves they’ll be slaughtered!”
“Yes, Mr. Potter,” McGonagall said calmly looking at Chris, who had just finished his defense speech, from over her glasses and the note Umbridge had made him bring to her in her office. “And as passionate about the subject as you might be, misbehaving in Dolores Umbridge’s class could cost you much more than house points and a detention.”
“I know, I was informed of it,” Chris mumbled.
“Then you shall present yourself for all of the detentions she’s assigned you. Every evening this week.”
“What! But-“
“No buts Mr. Potter!” McGonagall said sternly. “And,” she continued, “I shall be informing your guardian of your detentions, just as I do with all students. I believe he won’t be as unresponsive as your Aunt has been so far.”
“You what?”
“I always do Mr. Potter,” she said calmly. “Your Aunt just never even takes the letters, I believe Sirius is more acquainted with owl mail, no worries there.”
There were lots of worries there, because Sirius would tell his parents, and then, he’d be in trouble. Because somehow, Chris was sure that giving Umbridge rope did not include yelling at her. Chris gulped.
Chris looked as the words he had obviously just slashed in his hands healed leaving the place where seconds before the words “I must not tell lies” had been carved into his own skin redder than the rest of the skin but smooth once again. He looked up at Umbridge and glared, how dare that woman use a cursed quill to slash his skin as he wrote? He closed his eyes briefly concentrating and then put the quill down and crossed his arms over the desk and on top of the parchment. He silently watched Umbridge who was scribbling on her desk. At the silence she lifted her head and asked sweetly:
“Problems Mr. Potter?”
“No,” he said but didn’t move.
“Then you should continue.”
He didn’t move.
“Mr. Potter,” she said sweetly but Chris could hear the irritation in her voice. “What are you doing?”
“Waiting,” he answered simply.
“If I were you, I’d start you’re lines again before you get into even more trouble,” she said venomously standing up and walking over her desk and to the front of his desk.
“Ah, but you see Professor,” he stressed her title and gave her his own placid smile, “I don’t believe my parents would agree with you there.”
“You’re parents are dead, Mr. Potter,” she answered with a sick smile and with quite some satisfaction that Chris could feel through his empathy.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Chris asked smiling.
“Enough of your lies Mr. Potter! Write your lines,” she said grabbing the quill and extending her hand towards him. Chris didn’t take the offered quill, he just mentally counted down to one, he hadn’t really made it that far before the door to her office exploded in a million splinters and Umbridge raised her hands to cover her face as Chris raised his shield to protect himself from the splinters and then let it fall as Dumbledore, Piper, Leo, Wyatt, Auror Shacklebolt and another Auror Chris never met came bursting through the door. Shacklebolt went straight to Umbridge, who was still disoriented, and plucked the offending quill and her wand from her hands bagging them with a look of disgust.
“What is the meaning of this?” Umbridge shrieked.
“You don’t think I’d allow anyone to hurt my son do you?” Piper asked through gritted teeth raising her hands again but Leo gently brought them down as Shacklebolt whispered a spell that brought the bewildered Umbridge’s hands to her back and bound them together.
“Madam Umbridge, you are under arrest for possession of an illegal object and use of said object on a minor. You have the right -“
“You can’t do that! I am Undersecretary to the Minis-“
“And you’re bound by the same laws as anyone else,” Shacklebolt said firmly. “As a matter of fact, as a member of the government you are held to a higher standard and should be an example to the population and abid by the law even more so than others!” his voice was coldly professional as he continued, “And I would shut up now if I were you because as Mr. Potter has been legally reclaimed by his birth parents he is also an American citizen and I’m pretty sure the last thing your beloved Minister would want is a Diplomatic incident wouldn’t he? As I was saying, you have are under arrest…” the rest they didn’t really hear as Shacklebolt forcibly pushed Umbridge out of the room.
Dumbledore looked at Chris with pride and motioned for the other Auror to come closer to Chris who was currently being inspected by his parents and brother, “This is Auror Tonks and I believe she needs to take your statement Chris.”
“You’re Sirius’s cousin right?” he asked as Wyatt healed his hand that was still irritated from the earlier cut.
“Yes,” she said happily. “Call me Tonks,” she extended her hand and he shook it.
“Are you sure she didn’t do anything else?” Leo asked worried.
“Nope,” Chris shook his head. “And I kept my promise, see? At the first sign of trouble I called Wyatt through the bond.”
“Yes,” Piper said happily and hugged him, then as if remembering something she straightened, “That does not excuse your behavior Mister. I heard you yelled at a teacher.”
“Oh, oh,” Chris thought unhappily.
“Hello class, as you know, your former professor is a little detained, as in; in jail so I’ll be her replacement for the rest of the year! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Siriu- yes, Mr. er,” he looked down at the attendance list, “Thomas.”
“Aren’t you married to Professor Lupin or something like that?”
“Yes, but that has nothing- yes. Mr. Thomas?” he sighed as the boy shot his hand up once again.
“Can’t he come teach us instead?”
“No, he’s busy,” came the curt reply.
“But he was the best we ever had!” Dean Thomas whined and the other students all gave nods and sounds of agreement.
“Well,” Sirius said through gritted teeth, “The best will be acquainted with the couch so he can’t come. If you have any more complaints take them up with Professor Snape, after all, it’s his fault anyway! Now! As I was saying, my name is Sirius Black and I was an Auror, war veteran not to mention the only known man to ever escape Azkaban without any help! That good enough for you?”
Chris couldn’t help it, he buried his head in his arms to try and muffle the laughter coming out of him.
Umbridge had been arrested and Dumbledore had made sure everyone knew by using Rita Sketeer to report it in the Quibbler. Chris had the idea when they were discussing the fact that Fudge would probably try to burry this too. He had remembered Luna telling him at the Yule Ball about her dad’s paper and he had asked her to help, and of course informed the Headmaster of Skeeter’a little secret.
Skeeter, of course, wrote it just as they had told her too, unfortunately, seeing as the story had gone out and Fudge could do nothing about it, another reporter, who had found out about Chris being a Halliwell when Umbridge was escorted to the Ministry, didn’t see any problem in printing it, and the Daily Prophet’s headline was all about how the Boy-Who-Lived was also the Halliwell’s lost son. Apparently, even being a pariah of society, gossip about his life still sold. Suffice to say the pointing and staring increased.
Piper and Leo had given him a stern lecture about respecting his elders, but since it had been Umbridge who he yelled at they left it at that.
Dumbledore had then asked Sirius to take over the Defense job since the board of governors and the Wizengamot had been astounded as to what the Minister’s undersecretary had done to one of the students, voiding the new decree about the Ministry interfering at Hogwarts.
Although Fudge had managed to come out without any criminal charges against him, as Umbridge confessed to be acting alone, the public rage did make him lose his post overnight and Madam Bones was voted Interim Ministry in an emergency vote. The Wizarding world took child abuse seriously, being such a small community they treasured their children. Even Sirius confessed that as nasty as his parents were they were never physical.
Since she was caught in the act, she was given Veritaserum and Umbridge also confessed to having sent the Dementors after Chris too. Her trial had been quite swift and she had been sent to Azkaban.
Madam Bones’ first order of business was to announce the return of Voldemort and what had happened in that graveyard and remove the Dementors from Azkaban. She had also called all the Death Eaters named for questioning, unfortunately they had no solid proof of their participation aside from Chris’s testimony and the Polyjuice defense worked to free them, that didn’t mean Bones didn’t keep a very close eye on them.
“Sirius Black, stop right there Mister!”
Oh, Sirius knew that voice and that tone. He had learned to dread that voice and that tone. He turned around chanting in his head, “I am not a student anymore, I am not a student anymore.”
“Did you or did you not tell your students to “take it up with Snape”?” Minerva McGonagall asked Sirius with pinched lips. Sirius looked around the hall for some help but unfortunately they were alone.
“I might have, maybe,” he said feebly.
“Mr. Black, you are now a teacher and as such must provide an example! You are neither to antagonize Professor Snape nor to encourage students to do so!”
“But they were being annoying!” Sirius whined, “Wanting Moony instead of me!”
“Just because your ego was bruised you might not take it out on Professor Snape, am I clear? Mr. Black!” she warned.
“Yes,” he mumbled like a reprimanded child. She nodded satisfied and turned a glare at him when he muttered, “But they were being mean.”
The door swung open violently and the man glided in at an incredible speed. His black robes flying behind him. He dropped the mask he was carrying on the table and looked at the shocked face of the headmaster who was seated behind it.
“We have a problem,” Severus said firmly.