DISCLAIMER: See Ch. 1.

A/N: First of all, you guys know about HP Super-sleuths and chapter 13? It just might help here! Oh, and if you DO figure it out, PLEASE DON'T GIVE IT AWAY!

Also, it seems like every time I edit this chapter, I put in MORE UMBRIDGE-BASHING!

Oh, and by the way, the title of this chapter is meant to sound like the name of a court case (unlike that of Chapter 10, which was a fight).

CHAPTER 13: POTTER VERSUS UMBRIDGE

Nullum cauit exemplo nefas. No wickedness has lacked a precedent. –Seneca, Phaedra (554)

The next couple of days passed in a kind of haze for Harry. He mainly kept to himself, and read up on his studies. His Auror tutoring had also begun, and Professor Snape was getting Harry caught up on all the various Potions that he otherwise failed during his fifth year. He would make each potion himself, then take a quiz after he did each one. Snape merely dropped his scare tactics; otherwise, he was about as strict as Professor McGonagall. Harry could now understand Snape's love for "the subtle science and exact art of potion making." Snape was such an expert that he had won awards and degrees for his work.

"Sir," Harry said one day as he was packing up, "Everybody says you want the Dark Arts job so badly. Why is that?"

Snape sighed. "Rumors," he said simply, "Something you're all too familiar with. I merely apply every year because I know that whatever pathetic candidate Dumbledore will select next, I would certainly be much better than them. My applications are merely a last resort. Dumbledore knows this, and also seems to think I do it to provide him with something to reject." He smirked.

Harry got the joke. After cleaning up entirely, he bade his professor farewell and went back up to his room. No sooner than he had put his books away than an owl swooped in with a letter from the Ministry in its beak. He thanked the owl, and opened it as the owl flew out the window. It was a notice informing him that Umbridge's trial would be on Monday. It seemed that the burns she acquired from the fighting (Harry smirked at reading this) had to be healed to a certain point before she could appear in court. The gist of the letter was that Harry was being called forth as a witness.

He went downstairs and Luna came up to him. "I got a letter from the Ministry. Did you get one too?" she said in her dazed-looking state.

"Yeah, I did. Who will be taking us?"

"Oh, some of the teachers, like Snape and McGonagall. By the way, have you even paid attention to what they're saying about you in the newspaper?"

"Should I?" he asked carefully.

She shrugged. "Just wondering," she said innocently. She then walked off to her father, who was showing some of the things he tried on the printing press he inherited from Sirius.

Harry looked at a couple of newspapers tossed in a pile in the corner. One of them had his face on the front page from when he was fighting his way through the crowd of reporters, and above was the headline "Harry Potter Mourns Innocent Godfather." Phrases jumped out at him: "Harry Potter, 15, attended memorial service yesterday for godfather and parents' best friend;" "while he spent the last year or so telling truths to things no one believed, he was silent in his grief today;" "once again, Wizarding Britain's most famous teenager has had parental figures ripped away from him." 'They'd better not make me out to be some sort of crybaby,' Harry thought. Half of that issue was filled with related stories: The Marauders, the truth behind Sirius' life, and current speculation of the whereabouts of Peter Pettigrew, a.k.a. Wormtail.

"Harry?" It was Cho again. She had a sympathetic look in her eyes.

"'Lo," he responded dully.

After gently taking the newspaper out of his hands, she took his hands in hers. He gazed into his eyes, those emerald eyes that had seen so much and too much. She swept into his arms hugging him with that sweet embrace, and rested her head on his shoulder. Harry could smell the gentle scent of spring breeze from the shampoo that she used.

"Harry, you've been through so much, and you still have more to go through," she murmured into his ear. "I hope you get through all of it all right. You deserve so much more than what you're going through right now."

"Cho?"

"Mm?"

"You don't think you're putting yourself in danger by being with me, do you?"

She thought about this for a moment. "It's not a problem for me, Harry. I learn from the past. 'Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.'"

"Didn't Michiavelli say that?"

"Something to that effect."

"I just don't want to lose you, Cho." There was something like sadness in his voice now.

"Rest assured, Harry, we will get through this together," she whispered. "I know you're much more than a face and a name, Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived. Just now, even for a moment, just be Harry, as one of my friends."

"It's no problem, Cho. I am truly lucky to have someone as smart and trusting as you for a friend."

~*~*~*~

As the weekend passed, the two of them spent time more time together, although platonically and not romantically. He played a few games of chess with her, as was nearly as good as her. He learned some more about her life; both her parents were wizarding immigrants from China who moved to England a few years before Cho was born. Her father was an ambassador, while her mother was a talented painter, using the artistic abilities that had run in the family for generations. It turned out that Cho's favorite motif was the swan- her Patronus form.

On Sunday night, Harry and five friends who fought with him went over their defense for the case with Dumbledore. It had actually been the first time since the incident with Snape that Harry and Ron had actually talked to each other. Harry was informed that the Dursleys would also be there. He still remembered that they wanted to see Umbridge get what she deserved, and personally, he couldn't blame them. It was arranged with Lupin as to prepare the Dursleys.

The next morning was a bright day with scudding clouds. Harry was ready to go out the door when Cho pulled him aside into an empty room. "Good luck, Harry," she said. As if on cue, the two of them kissed each other so affectionately that both of them had thoughts about going further before they both realized this wasn't the proper time for that. Harry would meet the others after he Lupin got the Dursleys. Even as the Portkey dragged him along to 4, Privet Drive, he couldn't shake the tingling sensation on his lips from where Cho had kissed him.

The Dursleys were somewhat surprised by the duo's arrival, to say the least. After trying to explain in simplest words how a Portkey works, they seemed to calm down. Unless Harry's imagination was deceiving him, they seemed to be more tolerant of magic lately. In the end, he supposed it was the Order's threat that was preventing them from saying or doing anything offensive.

Harry and Dudley waited aside while Lupin talked to his aunt and uncle. Dudley also seemed much smarter than normal lately; he took the hint that Harry didn't want to be embarrassed by him or his parents. Suddenly, Dudley shushed Harry and pointed to the room where the three adults were. They could hear what they were saying.

"Mr. Dursley, I can assure you that the guards are very well trained. Believe me, Ms. Umbridge is certainly in no condition to pull anything funny. You should have seen what Harry did to her the other day after she tried kidnapping one of his friends." Harry couldn't help but smirk at that.

"Look, I'm not accusing you of lying, but I've had one too many experiences where one of you assures me everything is fine then it goes from bad to worse," Uncle Vernon tried to explain as calmly as possible. "That's why I'll have this loaded pistol in my jacket set on safety in case something goes awry. Just for the protection of me and my family, and I can promise you my aim is fine." The cousins exchanged wide-eyed glances at the mention of the gun.

Lupin paused, and then continued. "Um, exactly what's gone wrong, per se?"

Aunt Petunia answered this one, sounding somewhat hysterical. "WHAT has gone wrong? Hm, let's see. Dudley's tail that belongs on a pig, food exploding, flying cars, inflating relatives, fireplaces that destroy half the lounge, tongues the size of pythons, and renegade dem- dem- the soul-sucking things!" Dudley couldn't help but wince and shudder, since half the things mentioned happened to him.

"Good point. Then again, this place is in the center of the Ministry building, in one of the courtrooms, and its security could rival Muggle security, I'm sure. Look, I want to see this woman suffer too, so if you want to go, then we'd better get going. Oh, and try to conceal it better, it kind of sticks out from that angle," Lupin added hastily.

Harry and Dudley joined them, and Lupin held out a pencil box. Harry touched it, and motioned for them to do the same. When all five had placed their finger on it, Lupin counted off. "One, two, three!" The familiar jerk, and they were howling through a whirl of color and sound. Vernon and Petunia were screaming, while Dudley seemed too shocked to say anything. When they stopped, Uncle Vernon was sprawled out on the floor, and therefore cushioned Aunt Petunia's fall. Dudley wobbled dangerously, and muttered, "That was awesome..." This earned uncertain looks from Harry and Lupin, and reproachful looks from his parents. "Well, it was," he shrugged. In order to avoid any unnecessary fighting, Lupin said "Courtroom Ten is down this way," and led them to the trial. "Oh, and this should go without saying: Don't touch anything."

It was a mob scene at the door. Harry turned to his mentor and asked, "What's going on here, Remus?"

"The trial is big news, Harry, especially after your 'battle' with her a week ago?"

"Exactly what did you do to this woman?" Dudley asked, astonished.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure myself, but I think I burned her badly. I'll go into details later."

Dudley looked shocked, but decided to wait for later. That was another thing that Harry didn't understand: The Dursleys seemed to be changing into better people, morally and such. The trio of terrible relatives he knew went something like this: Vernon was a wealthy man who lived business, judged people mainly based on how expensive their cars were, and whose idea of a productive morning was yelling at least five different people; Petunia was a housewife who spent most of her time spying on neighbors and spoiling her son; and Dudley was a spoiled, bullying, manipulative child who got toys only so they didn't last even one-tenth their expected lifespan. Now, his aunt and uncle seemed almost civil, even without the Order's influence, and even Dudley looked like he had been raised properly, both physically and in terms of manners. His fat had either been burned off or converted to muscle, although he just seemed to be wide the same way Harry was tall and thin. Most incredibly of all, they seemed to gracefully accept the existence of magic and wizards, and the fact that Harry was one of them. Even now, they seemed more comfortable around wizards, in the middle of their government building, no less! Maybe it was Lupin's calm personality that had something to do with their change of attitude; he just wasn't sure.

They made their way to the door, which was being guarded by Aurors on either side. "I'm a witness for Umbridge's trial," Harry informed them.

"Do you have any proof?" one of them asked.

Harry revealed his scar. "Is this enough proof?" he asked politely and innocently.

Both Aurors' eyes widened, and the reporters fell silent at once. "More than enough proof, Mr. Potter," the other one blurted out. "Please go right in."

"Thank you." Lupin and the Dursleys were right behind him. The level of muttering increased and cameras went off more frequently as the unlikely entourage found their way to some vacant spots in the benches, right behind Harry's friends. They seemed surprised to see Harry's MUGGLE relatives there, acting so calmly and accepting of magic. "Um, Harry," Ron asked, "No offense, but what are they doing here?"

"Oh, they just wanted to see Umbridge get what she deserves, especially after last year's dementor attack," he replied in an air not unlike Luna's.

Ron simply raised an eyebrow, and went back to talking with Hermione. Dudley nudged Harry and whispered, "What's with that chair?"

"The defendant sits in it with the chains wrapped around their arms, but please don't say anything during the trial, I'll explain anything afterwards," Harry whispered back. He turned to his other two relatives. "Try not to say anything unless called upon, either. We ARE in a courtroom. Also, don't worry, nothing here is scary enough to give you nightmares." They nodded in agreement.

Just then, Madam Bones cleared her throat, and everyone went silent as though their voices had been switched off. True to his word, Dudley remained silent about who the important people were. "Bring her in," she commanded in her booming voice. Just then, two young and rather inexperienced-looking Aurors other than the ones guarding the door were dragging a squat, toad-faced witch with disheveled mousy hair and a look of utmost loathing on her face: Dolores Jane Umbridge, former Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, former High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, and one of Harry's most hated people in the world.

There was some booing and hissing from the crowd, but the Wizengamot seemed to ignore it. Some people were snickering at the welts and burns still on her face and hands from Harry's attack. Harry also couldn't help but hear the threats of some really angry parents.

"You EVER come near my kid again and I will take that quill and shove it up-"

"-I hope they lock you in there for LIFE and throw away the key, you spawn of a-"

"-I hope someone steps on you one day, you FAT UGLY TOAD!"

It took about five minutes, but the Aurors were able to get the crowd to quiet down. Harry and his friends smirked the whole time while listening to the threats.

Aunt Petunia smothered a gasp, Uncle Vernon's eyes bulged, and Dudley's jaw dropped when they saw the chains wrap themselves around Umbridge's arms.

Fudge, who was sitting next to Bones, began: "Criminal Hearing of the tenth of July, against Dolores Jane Umbridge, former Senior Undersecretary to the Ministry. Ms. Umbridge, you have been accused of the following charges. You forced students in your detentions to use a forbidden Dark object, a Blood Quill in this case. You are accused of sending those two dementors on Harry James Potter last summer without authorization on the night of August 2, 1995. You are accused of attempting to use the Cruciatus Curse on a student at Hogwarts a month ago. You are accused of attacking Professors Rubeus Hagrid and Minerva McGonagall during the night of the O.W.L. Astronomy Exam."

"Interrogators: Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic; and Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Court Scribe: Joseph Cornwall, who will be taking the place of Percy Weasley, who had urgent business to attend to."

Unless it was a trick of light fooling Harry's eyes, he could have sworn that Umbridge and Cornwall had made some sort of eye contact which indicated that some unspoken language went between them. However, he just shrugged it off as nervousness.

Fudge cleared his throat. "We have about twenty witnesses, all students, who were forced to use the Blood Quill in detentions. Provided by Professor Dumbledore and his fellow teachers, we have a box containing the names of these students, as well as pictures of their hands after they were done with their detentions. I'll call them up one at a time to explain what they were forced to write and why. Our first witness is Harry Potter."

There were gasps, mutters, and camera flashes as Harry went down the steps and proceeded towards the bench.

"Mr. Potter, how many times were you given detention with Ms. Umbridge?"

"Four separate times. Three of them were a week long each, while one of them was an extra day. Each night, she kept me there well past midnight, with that bloody quill of hers cutting my hand open." A few people snickered at his pun.

"And what were the infractions?"

"The first time, it was because I told her that Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. Then it was because I told her that Professer Quirrell was possessed by Voldemort. Then she gave me another night of detention after I told her that Draco Malfoy got attacked by Hagrid's hippogriff because he insulted the hippogriff; if he had paid attention to Hagrid, that wouldn't have happened. The last time she did it was because of that interview I gave in The Quibbler, describing the night of Voldemort's return."

"Do you still have the scars on your hand?"

"No; fortunately, Dumbledore's phoenix familiar, Fawkes, was able to get rid of the scars. Phoenix tears have healing powers. Of course, a picture was taken of my hand before Fawkes healed it."

Dumbledore took out the picture, and enlarged it for all to see. There were more gasps and more camera flashes as everybody saw "I must not tell lies." Dumbledore then returned the picture to its normal size and put it away.

Dumbledore then spoke, "Will all witnesses please come down and wait to testify." As they all descended the steps to follow Dumbledore's summons (and each of them shot a nasty glare at Umbridge as they walked past), Madame Bones spoke up again.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Please stay here, as we have more questions for you. Before we call forth the other witnesses, do you have anything else to say?"

"Yes, I do," Harry answered. "I think there's something seriously wrong with Ms.- Umbridge," he spat out the name so poisonously it could have burned a whole through the floor, "because you should have seen her while I was in detention with her. She just kept watching me with that sadistic look on her face. I've seen Voldemort have that same look on his face whenever he used the Cruciatus Curse on me."

The faces of at least half the people in the crowd, including Harry's classmates and teachers, glared at Umbridge. She, on the other hand, looked scandalized. "Don't you think that's a bit of an unfair comparison, Potter?" she simpered.

Harry glared at her. "If that's unfair, it's only because his face looks like a snake's while yours looks like a toad's." Some snickers and a few laughs rang throughout the dungeon at this. He turned back to the Wizengamot. "But do you want to know what the truly outrageous thing was? I wasn't lying in any of those situations. She just refused to believe me."

"With good reason, too," she interjected, "because you're a nasty, attention-seeking liar who's possibly insane!"

"No, but you must have other mental problems if you believe all that Rita Skeeter bilge she wrote during the Triwizard Tournament," he retaliated, "and being the former Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, I thought you'd ignore that garbage, considering all the times she's made up to make the Ministry look bad."

"You never know what you're doing, you reckless juvenile brat!" Umbridge shrieked while her eyes bulged, struggling against her restraints as though she wanted to launch herself out of the chained chair and throttle Harry. "I have foresight, unlike YOU!"

Harry turned to her and gave her such a poisonous glare that half the people in the room almost swore his eyes were glowing. "If you had the tiniest amount of foresight, you wouldn't even be in this situation."

That shut her up for good. Harry smirked. 'Chalk one up for me,' he thought. Facing the Wizengamot again, he finished, "She obviously has some psychological problems, like making me her stress relief outlet. When her plan to get me attacked, then unjustly expelled from school last year backfired, she took on herself just to make my life at school a living hell. She prevented me from learning anything useful in Defense Against the Dark Arts, accused me of being a liar in front of everybody, aggravated my professors and classmates, tried to slander me at every conceivable opportunity, turned most of the student body against me, tortured me with that illegal quill, unjustly banned me from Quidditch, attacked my owl, impounded my Firebolt, exiled me from Hogsmeade after the Quibbler interview, forced me to stop contacting my godfather who was innocent all along, usurped Professor Dumbledore's position as Headmaster, practically turned the entire school upside-down just to suit her, and nearly tortured me using one of the most illegal curses known to wizards. And all that time, that, that slimy, two- faced, evil, sadistic, slippery monster who calls herself a decent person was gloating with that God-awful, toadlike smile on her face. She was gloating because she had the opportunity to make me suffer, all because I tried to warn the wizarding community that Voldemort rose again. She was doing all this stuff behind my back which would have left me dead or worse, and she accuses me of being a liar? I don't think so." He paused for effect as everybody gave Umbridge scorching looks, took a deep breath, and then added, "I'm sorry, but after ten months of having to deal with her, it helps to get all this out."

"Quite understandable, Mr. Potter," Madame Bones assured him. "We were also wondering, concerning the struggle in Diagon Alley: Exactly how did you shoot that fire at Ms. Umbridge in Diagon Alley the other day?"

"I don't know; I'm still trying to figure out how I did that."

"One other question, Mr. Potter: Could you please demonstrate your Patronus to us?" Madame Bones seemed to be asking this more out of curiosity than for the sake of the trial, but Harry didn't mind. With a small smile and a nod, Harry said, "Expecto Patronum!"

The familiar silver stag galloped out of the end of Harry's wand, much to the amazement of everyone else. It cantered around before veering off to one side and at Umbridge, picking up the pace as it did so. It charged right at the short woman, and she braced herself as though expecting it to gore her. At the last moment, it dissolved back into mist, and Umbridge was still shaking with fear as though sure it would harm or kill her. There was a little more excited muttering in the audience as they saw the once-powerful woman cowering in fear. (1)

"Thank you, Mr. Potter," said Dumbledore, amused at his pupil scaring Umbridge. "Here, have a seat while you wait." With a wave of his wand, a cozy chintz armchair appeared behind Harry. "Thank you."

One by one, all the other students testified against her, and after each student spoke about what she did, Dumbledore showed the picture as evidence, and with each picture, Umbridge's popularity dropped more and more. When they were all done, Dumbledore thanked them for testifying and allowed them to return to their seats.

Fudge turned to Umbridge (who by now had recovered from the supposed Patronus attack) and said, "Do you have anything to say in your defense, Ms. Umbridge?"

She looked up at the Wizengamot and said, "These children needed firm discipline, and I provided that."

Madame Bones shook her head and said, "Those in favor of conviction on the charge of using an unauthorized Dark object in student detentions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, resulting in bodily harm to those students?"

All of the Wizengamot raised their hands.

"Those opposed?"

No one raised his or her hand. "Very well. Ms. Umbridge is found guilty of the first charge, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in Azkaban. On to the next charge."

Fudge then said, "I call forward Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood." Harry's five friends came and sat down in chairs that were conjured up for them.

"All six of you were in Umbridge's office when admitted to sending the dementors to attack Mr. Harry James Potter on the night of August 2, 1995?" Fudge asked them.

"Yes, sir," they all said in unison.

"And did all six of you hear Ms. Umbridge threaten to use the Cruciatus Curse on Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, sir."

Fudge turned back to Umbridge. "What do you say to these charges?"

Umbridge looked furious now. "The boy needed to be dealt with. He tells lies and makes the Ministry look bad, and he gets rewarded for it. I was acting in the best interests of the Ministry, for your sake, Minister, as I've always done," she said in voice as though she were betrayed.

Fudge's face darkened like a thundercloud. "You may have been helpful to us in the past, Ms. Umbridge, but you threw that all away with your atrocities over the course of the past year."

Madame Bones backed him up. "Sending dementors and using illegal curses are never in the best interests of the Ministry, they never were, and they never will be. Although in favor of convicting Ms. Umbridge on the charge of illegally sending dementors to attack Mr. Potter?"

Every single hand was raised.

"And to the charge of threatening to use the Cruciatus Curse on a student?"

Again, every single hand was raised.

Madam Bones continued, "Ms. Umbridge is found guilty of both charges, which carry a sentence of five years each. Onto the final charge."

Fudge said, "I call Minerva McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid forward." Professor McGonagall and Hagrid came to the bench. They described what happened where Umbridge and her toadies (2) tried to bring in Hagrid and stunned McGonagall when she tried to help him.

"That woman hated me just because I was half-giant and was always looking for an excuse to get rid of me," Hagrid explained to the Wizengamot. "Somebody was slipping those nifflers into her office, and she thought I was responsible for them."

"Were you?" Madame Bones asked him.

"No, I certainly wasn't," Hagrid responded a little indignantly.

Madam Bones turned the half-dozen teenagers in their seats. "Were you able to see or hear what happened at Hagrid's hut?"

"Yes," they all responded at once. "My fellow fifth years and I were able to see and hear what was going on from the Astronomy Tower."

"I'm a year behind them, but I was also able to witness was happening from Gryffindor Tower," Ginny added.

"Everybody in Ravenclaw Tower was also able to see what was happening at that area of the school grounds," Luna stated.

"Madame Bones," said Lee Jordan, rising from his seat, "I admit that was me slipping those nifflers into her office. That was for making me use that quill." He then turned to Harry's teachers and said, "Also, I'm sorry I caused that trouble, and you know I had no intention of having her attack you, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid." Both teachers nodded.

Umbridge looked shocked. "You little brat! How on earth did you get them past my brand-new door?"

Lee smirked with a devilish sort of grin. "Oh, whoever said I got them past your door? I was levitating them through your office window, genius!" There was a bout of laughter at that, and even the Wizengamot looked somewhat amused.

"Yes, well," Madame Bones went on after most of the hubbub subsided, "How many in favor of convicting Ms. Umbridge on the charge of attacking other teachers?"

The Wizengamot members raised their hands in unison. "Very well," Madame Bones said, "Ms. Umbridge is found guilty of those charges, which carry a minimum sentence of five years for each teacher she attacked.

Facing Umbridge again, Madame Bones declared, "Ms. Dolores Jane Umbridge, you are hereby convicted of all charges and will be remanded to Azkaban for the next twenty-five years. Case dismissed."

Cheers exploded from every corner of the room. Their faces were so savagely triumphant that Harry was vividly reminded of when he saw the memory from Dumbledore's Pensieve of the Lestranges being taken away after torturing Neville's parents into insanity. Harry went back up the steps when he noticed Snape slipping through an archway in the back at the top of the steps. Weaving through the rejoicing witnesses, he was just at the archway when he heard somebody screaming. He whipped his head around to see what was going on.

It seemed like Umbridge didn't feel like going quietly. She was struggling against the two Aurors who were dragging her away. "No! You can't do this to me, Potter!" she shrieked. "Nobody does anything like this to me! NOBODY!"

What happened next shouldn't have happened, and it couldn't have happened. But somehow, it did anyway.

With seemingly superhuman might, she threw the Aurors trying to restrain her as though they were rag dolls. Before they flew against the walls, she snagged one of the wands they had.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Uncle Vernon roared, taking out his concealed pistol and firing two shots at Umbridge.

The toad-faced witch easily deflected them with her stolen wand. Then she cried, "Accio!" The gun flew into her hand; she knew how to use them. People were already screaming when she single-handedly threw both Aurors; now the panic seemed to double. She smoothly pointed the gun straight at Harry. "I finally got the better of you, Potter! So much for your career as an Auror! Send my regards to your godfather!"

BLAM!

Everybody stopped moving and screaming all at once. Harry felt something hit him just beneath the ribs; he could feel the blood oozing out. Before he could look down at the awful sight, he was falling, falling backwards through the archway.

'Damn her! She hit me!'

He was definitely feeling dizzy now. He could have sworn he saw someone familiar, though upside down. He fainted before he even hit the ground, but before that happened, one thought ran through his mind.

'Sirius? Is that you?'

~*~*~*~

Lupin felt completely winded. "Harry! NO!"

It was like seeing Sirius die all over again: Hit in the chest, a look of surprise, and falling out of sight. The werewolf saw Harry collapse, and he turned back to see Umbridge, laughing insanely in her high- pitched voice that could shatter glass. She caught sight of Lupin and decided to taunt him. "What's the matter? Missing your pupil, you werewolf freak?"

Bile rose in Lupin's throat and anger coursed throughout his body like poison. His calm and good-mannered personality seemed to melt like wax in an oven. With a savage scream of fury, he exploded. "AT LEAST I'M NOT COLD-BLOODED LIKE YOU, YOU BITCH! EXPELLIARMUS!" (3)

Both wand and gun flew out of her hands and back to their owners. Lupin flew down the stairs, blasted her with a barrage of curses (a mix of both spells and swearwords), and turned Harry's attacker into a living green glob in a matter of minutes before Dumbledore intervened.

"Remus," he said as calmly as possible, given the current situation, "Please calm down." Lupin noticed the crowd's reaction to the onslaught, and they were all fearfully staring wide-eyed at him as though he had transformed under the full moon. "Harry is being taken to St. Mungo's as we speak. Please escort Harry's relatives back to their home."

Lupin tried to protest, with that wild look still in his eyes. "Do it," Dumbledore commanded, with an edge in his voice so sharp it could have cut through steel. Sulking, he did as he was told.

After the Aurors had magicked Umbridge from the courtroom, Dumbledore walked over to Harry's friends, now accompanied by Cho, with tears streaming down her face. After helping them fend off reporters, he told them to follow him to the outside of the building, where they would catch a ride on the Knight Bus. Ron's face was ghostly white. "Will we be able to see him at St. Mungo's?" he asked his hero.

"Unfortunately, not right away. We won't be able to see him until they heal him."

"The nerve of her!" Ginny fumed. Her face looked as though it would burst into flames from all the anger. "I should hit her with my Bat- Bogey Hex for this!" They all gave her a wide berth at the mention of "Bat- Bogey."

Hermione's eyes were already bloodshot and her breathing was ragged and uneven, while Luna did her best to remain silent.

"The Daily Prophet's gonna have another field day," Neville muttered.

"That reminds me," Cho said, wiping away her tears and turning to Luna, "I suppose the Quibbler will have its say in what happened?"

"Oh yes," said Luna, somewhat angrier than usual. "Daddy was in the crowd. He was planning on including Umbridge's trial in the next monthly issue, but after what just happened to Harry, he'll want to get out enough copies of a special edition. If we all work real hard together-" and she stared pointedly at her companions "-we could get it out by tomorrow morning the same time as the Prophet." Luna was rarely anything other than calm, but she looked so sinister with this kind of anger that for the rest of the trip back to Grimmauld Place, no one dared argue with her.

(End of Chapter 13.)

A/N: I KNOW the whole thing with the gun seemed reckless and unrealistic to you, but as cruel as it may seem to Harry, this event was necessary for something later on.

(1) There's a little joke in here: The name Dolores Umbridge comes from "dolor," meaning pain or sadness, and "umbra," meaning shadow or offense. Here, Harry's Patronus, casting light and based on happiness, counters Umbridge's powers of spreading misery and darkness.

(2) In the medieval ages in Europe, the toad was a symbol of evil, and I think that Rowling just may have had that in mind when she created Umbridge.

(3) Some swearing is allowed in this story, and then again, this is a minor curse word at that.

Also, to answer your inquires now about the Aurors' experience (or seemingly lack thereof), go back to the paragraph where Umbridge is being led into the courtroom and look at the description of them...

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