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𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 all of the Gryffindors were turning against Harry Potter. Lots of people, including Seamus Finnagin, believed the Daily Prophets' rubbish and thought that Harry was being an attention seeker who was lying about Voldemort's return.

Which of course, was stupid. As much as Marina hated Potter's guts, she wasn't heartless and cold...most of the time. Marina knew Harry had really saw Voldemort come back last term. Plus, why would he lie for anyway? What would he receive in return if he was lying about an evil wizards (that killed his parents) return?

On another bad note, Marina's nightmares weren't stopping. She was now thinking that Fenir Greyback wouldn't just attack her, but the rest of her siblings as well.

Trying to start their first day of fifth year well, Marina, Lavender, and Pavarti sat down at the Gryffindor table for breakfast. As the three were chatting, Angelina Johnson joined the table.

"Hey Marina, Harry." Angelina smiled.

"Morning. George told me you made Quidditch captain." Marina replied.

"You got captain? Brilliant!" Harry shrieked.

"Brilliant!" Marina mimicked. Making Harry playfully kick her foot lightly.

"Yeah, well, we need a new Keeper now Oliver's left. Tryouts are on Friday at five o'clock and I want the whole team there, all right? Then we can see how the new person'll fit in." Angelina explained.

"See you around Angelina." Marina said.

After receiving their schedules by McGonagall, Marina and her friends left the table for their first class.

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𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐘 potions, Care of Magical Creatures, double History of Magic ended quickly. This year already seemed like Marina wasn't liking Magical Creatures class as much as the last. After the classes ended, they had all lead up to one last double class, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Something Marina wasn't looking forward to.

When they entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom the three girls found Professor Umbridge already seated at the teacher's desk, wearing the fluffy pink cardigan of the night before and the black velvet bow on top of her head. Marina couldn't help but snigger at the woman's alikeness to a fat toad.

Since each desk only seated two, Marina sat down at a desk with Ron.

"You like the fat toad so far?" Marina whispered as she sat with one knee up.

"Nah. She's bloody hurting my eyes with that cardigan." sniggered Ron, giving Marina a fist bump.

The class was quiet as it entered the room; Professor Umbridge was, as yet, an unknown quantity and nobody knew yet how strict a disciplinarian she was likely to be.

"Well, good afternoon!" she said when finally the whole class had sat down.

A few people mumbled "Good afternoon," in reply.

"Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge. "That won't do, now, will it? I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!"

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they chanted back at her.

"There, now," said Professor Umbridge sweetly. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please."

"Is she mad?" Ron whispered.

"Petty little shit isn't she?" Marina spat.

Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, extracted her own wand, which was an unusually short one, and tapped the blackboard sharply with it; words appeared on the board at once:

Defense Against the Dark Arts A Return to Basic Principles

"Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" stated Professor Umbridge, turning to face the class with her hands clasped neatly in front of her. "The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year. Copy the following please."

"Basically, I'm a Ministry lover who thinks that teenagers shouldn't know the truth, has no experience with teaching or children, and still believes that Voldy is gone forever despite the death eaters at the World Cup last year!" mimicked Marina. Making Ron cackle into his sleeve.

Course aims:

1. Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.

2. Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic
can legally be used.

3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical
use.

For a couple of minutes the room was full of the sound of scratching quills on parchment. When everyone had copied down Professor Umbridge's three course aims she said, "Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

There was a dull murmur of assent throughout the class.

"I think we'll try that again," said Professor Umbridge. "When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply 'Yes, Professor Umbridge,' or 'No, Professor Umbridge.' So, has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

"Yes, Professor Umbridge," rang through the room.

"Good," said Professor Umbridge. "I should like you to turn to page five and read chapter one, 'Basics for Beginners.' There will be no need to talk."

Professor Umbridge left the blackboard and settled herself in the chair behind the teacher's desk, observing them all with those pouchy toad's eyes.

Marina opened the book and started to read.

It was desperately dull, quite as bad as listening to Sir Cadogan.

Marina looked to Harry, (who undoubtedly looked quite handsome while reading. But she wasn't going to admit that) who wiggled his eyebrows to her, making Marina kick his leg.

After looking at Hermione, who both hadn't even opened their books.

She looked to Lavender and Ron, who both seemed to be reading, but bored out of their minds. And Pavarti seemed to be doodling more than reading.

"Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?" she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her.

"Not about the chapter, no," said Hermione.

"Well, we're reading just now," said Professor Umbridge, showing her small, pointed teeth. "If you have other queries we can deal with them at the end of class."

"I've got a query about your course aims," said Hermione. Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows.

"And your name is –?"

"Hermione Granger," said Hermione.

"Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully," said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness.

"Well, I don't," said Hermione bluntly. "There's nothing written up there about using defensive spells."

There was a short silence in which many members of the class turned their heads to frown at the three course aims still written on the blackboard.

"Using defensive spells?" Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?"

"We're not going to use magic?" Ron ejaculated loudly.

"Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class, Mr. –?"

"Weasley," said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air.

Professor Umbridge, smiling still more widely, turned her back on him.

Harry and Hermione immediately raised their hands too. Professor Umbridge's pouchy eyes lingered on Harry for a moment before she addressed Hermione.

"Yes, Miss Granger? You wanted to ask something else?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells?"

"Are you a Ministry-trained educational expert, Miss Granger?" asked Professor Umbridge in her falsely sweet voice.

"No, but –"

"Well then, I'm afraid you are not qualified to decide what the 'whole point' of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devi- sed our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way –"

"What use is that?" said Harry loudly. "If we're going to be attacked it won't be in a –"

"Hand, Mr. Potter!" sang Professor Umbridge.

Harry thrust his fist in the air. Professor Umbridge promptly turned away from him again, but now several other people had their hands up too.

"And your name is?" Professor Umbridge said to Dean.

"Dean Thomas."

"Well, Mr. Thomas?"

"Well, it's like Harry said, isn't it?" said Dean. "If we're going to be attacked, it won't be risk-free –"

"I repeat," said Professor Umbridge, smiling in a very irritating fashion at Dean, "do you expect to be attacked during my classes?"

"No, but –"

Professor Umbridge talked over him. "I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run in this school," she said, an unconvincing smile stretching her wide mouth, "but you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class, very irres- ponsible indeed – not to mention," she gave a nasty little laugh, "extremely dangerous half-breeds."

Half-breed. Marina hadn't heard those words in eleven years. She was angry. How dare Umbridge say that? Marina's birth mother was 1/2 Veela! And she nor Marina, who was 1/4 Veela, wasn't dangerous at all!

Marina then raised her hand. Umbridge looked to her.

"Yes?"

"So your saying that all half-breeds are dangerous? Because I don't think you would be saying that to Professor Flitwick, whose mother is a goblin, would you?" Marina blurted.

"What is your name Miss?"

"Marina. Marina Weasley...obviously." Marina spat with a venom-like tone.

"I don't think we need to discuss the unhuman-like ways of half-breeds Miss.Weasley."

Ron then gave her a "It's going to be alright" look. Her brother always knew what to do...in none-educational situations.

"If you mean Professor Lupin when you're speaking about half-breeds," piped up Dean Thomas angrily, "he was the best professor we ever –"

"Hand, Mr. Thomas! As I was saying – you have been introduced to spells that have been complex, inappropriate to your age
group, and potentially lethal. You have been frightened into believing that you are likely to meet Dark attacks every other day –"

"No we haven't," Hermione said, "we just –"

"Your hand is not up, Miss Granger!"

Hermione put up her hand; Professor Umbridge turned away from her.

"It is my understanding that my predecessor not only performed illegal curses in front of you, he actually performed them on you –"

"Well, he turned out to be a maniac, didn't he?" said Dean Thomas hotly. "Mind you, we still learned loads –"

"Your hand is not up, Mr. Thomas!" trilled Professor Umbridge.

"Now, it is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be more than sufficient to get you through your examination, which, after all, is what school is all about. And your name is?" she added, staring at Parvati, whose hand had just shot up.

"Parvati Patil, and isn't there a practical bit in our Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.? Aren't we supposed to show that we can actually do the countercurses and things?"

"That's my girl!" Marina mumbled.

"As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells under carefully controlled examination conditions," said Professor Umbridge dismissively.

Marina then felt fire erupt in her veins, this Umbridge woman was worse than Moody and Quirrell combined.

"Without ever practicing them before?" said Parvati incredulously. "Are you telling us that the first time we'll get to do the spells will be during our exam?"

"I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard enough –"

"And what good's theory going to be in the real world?" said Harry loudly, his fist in the air again.

Professor Umbridge looked up.

"This is school, Mr. Potter, not the real world," she said softly.

"So we're not supposed to be prepared for what's waiting out there?"

"There is nothing waiting out there, Mr. Potter."
"Oh yeah?" said Harry.

"Go off Potter!" Marina whispered.

"Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves?" inquired Professor Umbridge in a horribly honeyed voice.

"Hmm, let's think..." said Harry in a mock thoughtful voice, "maybe Lord Voldemort?"

Ron gasped; Lavender uttered a little scream; Neville slipped sideways off his stool. Professor Umbridge, however, did not flinch. She was staring at Harry with a grimly satisfied expression on her face.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter."

The classroom was silent and still. Everyone, including Marina, was staring at either Umbridge or Harry.

"Now, let me make a few things quite plain."

Professor Umbridge stood up and leaned toward them, her stubby- fingered hands splayed on her desk.

"You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead –"

"He wasn't dead," said Harry angrily, "but yeah, he's returned!"

"Mr.-Potter-you-have-already-lost-your-House-ten-points-do-not- makematters-worse-for-yourself," said Professor Umbridge in one breath without looking at him. "As I was saying, you have been informed that a certain Dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."

"It is NOT a lie!" said Harry. "I saw him, I fought him!"

"Detention, Mr. Potter!" said Professor Umbridge triumphantly. "Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, 'Basics for Beginners.'"

Professor Umbridge then turned around, but before she could sit at her desk. A large paper plane (made by courtesy of Marina, your welcome) flew over to Umbridge and was thrown at the Professor's bum. The class was then full shock and giggles.

"Your my bloody favorite sibling." breathed Ron quietly, who gave her a high five under the table.

"Who is responsible for such nonsense?" shrieked Umbridge.

"It's Weasley the female one Professor!" Pansy Parkinson blurted.

Umbridge gave a malicious smile to Marina.

"Vai a quel paese (go to hell)." Marina smiled.

Ron gasped, since he had understand Marina had said in her mother language, Italian. Marina had always taught Ron basic Italian sentences in the summertime.

"Detention Miss.Weasley. Five o'clock in my office. Along with Mr.Potter." Umbridge giggled.

Marina groaned. "Can't I don't it with Filch? He doesn't wear too many pink shades, so he won't burn my eyes off."

"That won't be necessary dear."

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𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐄 walked in corridor as it was now lunch time, and Marina could only assume that Professor McGonagall had heard of her actions in DADA.

"Miss.Weasley, your one of my fav— best students I've had in my entire profession. I don't want one professor who you don't admire to ruin your school year." McGonagall explained.

"I'm not Min. She just said something that peed me off." Marina sighed.

"May I ask what?"

Marina gulped. "Half-breed. She said they were dangerous creatures."

McGonagall frowned. "Well I will speak with Dumbledore. But need to be careful. Misbehavior in Dolores Umbridge's class could cost you much more than House points and a detention."

"What do you talking –?"

"Marina, your not brainless, use your common sense," snapped Professor McGonagall, with an abrupt return to her usual manner. "You know where she comes from, you must know to whom she is reporting."
.
"Umbridge has given you detention tomorrow evening."

"Tomorrow evening!" Marina repeated, horrified. "But, Professor, couldn't you –?"

"No, I couldn't," said Professor McGonagall flatly. "But –"

"She is your teacher and has every right to give you detention. You will go to her room at five o'clock tomorrow for the first one. Just remember: Tread carefully around Dolores Umbridge."

"Didn't you listen to Dolores Umbridge's speech at the start-of-term feast, Weasley?"

"Of course," said Marina. "She said progress will be prohibited or... well, it meant that... that the Ministry of Magic is trying to interfere at Hogwarts."

Professor McGonagall eyed her for a moment, then sniffed, walked around her desk, and held open the door for her.

"I care for you very much Miss.Weasley. And remember what I said. Don't cross Dolores Umbridge."