The Disgraced of the House of Black - A Multi-Character Fanfiction - Part One

152. Inspections

Much to their disappointment, however, when they came to Potions after History of Magic, Umbridge was nowhere in sight.

Passing back their moonstone essays, Snape said, "I have awarded you the grades you would have received if you presented this work in your O.W.L. This should give you a realistic idea of what to expect in your examination."

He reached Althea last, handing her back her essay with a small O in the top corner.

After staring at it in shock for a moment, she looked up at Snape's face to see him staring at her with begrudging respect before he muttered sourly, "It was a decent essay."

Althea restrained a smile with difficulty as she returned the essay to her bag. Glancing toward Neville, she saw with joy he had a small A in the corner of his paper. He was smiling, looking over Snape's notes curiously.

As Snape reached the front of the room, he resumed, "The general standard of this homework was abysmal. Most of you would have failed had this been your examination. I expect to see a great deal more effort for this week's essay on the various varieties of venom antidotes, or I shall have to start handing out detentions for those dunces who get D's."

"Some people got D's?" Malfoy cackled. "Ha!"

"Now, as only one of you managed a perfect score, I should inform the rest of you, that without significant improvement, it will be a one-student class next year," Snape said, instantly wiping the smile off Draco's face.

"Well, that wasn't as bad as last week, was it?" Hermione said as they left the dungeons. "And the homework didn't go badly either, did it?"

When none of them answered, Hermione resumed, "I mean, all right, I didn't expect the top grade, not if he's marking to O.W.L. standard, but a pass is quite encouraging at this stage, wouldn't you say?"

Harry made a noncommital grunt as they sat down to eat lunch.

"Of course, a lot can happen between now and the exam, we've got plenty of time to improve, but the grades we're getting now are a sort of baseline, aren't they? Something we can build on," Hermione trailed off again. "Obviously, I'd have been thrilled if I'd gotten an O-"

"Hermione, if you want to know what we got, ask," Ron said irritably.

"I don't - I didn't mean," Hermione stuttered in surprise. "Well, if you want to tell me..."

"I got a P," Ron said. "Happy?"

"Well that's nothing to be ashamed of," Fred said, taking a seat next to Althea as George and Lee Jordan sat on the other side of the table. "Nothing wrong with a good, healthy P."

"But," Hermione began in confusion. "Doesn't P stand for..."

"Poor, yeah," Lee said. "Still, better than D, isn't it?"

"I wonder who it was that got the O," Hermione mused.

"Probably Malfoy, isn't it?" Ron said irritably.

"No, he looked angry when Snape made that comment about his N.E.W.T. class next year being a one-person class," Hermione countered with a small frown.

"Any inspected lessons yet?" Althea asked, looking to Fred, George, and Lee.

"Just now, before lunch," George replied. "Charms."

"What was it like?" Harry asked.

"Not that bad," Fred replied with a shrug. "Umbridge just lurked in the corner making notes on a clipboard. You know what Flitwick's like, he treated her like a guest, didn't seem to bother him at all. She didn't say much, just asked a few questions and that was it."

"I can't see old Flitwick getting marked down," George said. "He usually gets everyone through their exams all right."

"Who've you got this afternoon?" Fred asked.

"Trelawney-"

"A T for Troll if I ever saw one," Fred said, causing the table to break out into laughter.

"And Umbridge herself," Harry added, still grinning.

"Well, be a good boy and keep your temper with Umbridge today," George said. "Angelina'll do her nut if you miss any more Quidditch practices."

.

Althea left lunch a little early to meet up with Neville for Divination. The moment he saw her, he rushed over and exclaimed, "Did you see what I got on Snape's essay? I actually passed!"

"Congratulations, Neville," Althea said with a pleased smile.

"It's all thanks to you, you know," he said. "Althea, I really don't know what I'd do without you."

"You would find a way," Althea replied. "But I'm very proud of you."

"Do you think we could start studying for O.W.L.s?" Neville asked. "I mean, I know they're pretty far away, but maybe if we start now, just review stuff once a week or something..."

"That sounds good to me," Althea replied. "Maybe Saturday afternoon we can meet up by the lake and review notes?"

"Okay," Neville said excitedly. After a moment, he added shyly, "Thanks for all of this, Althea. I really appreciate it."

"Of course, Neville," Althea said, wrapping her arms around him.

The moment she had done so, however, a snapping voice cried, "Excuse me!"

Althea instantly broke away from Neville, surprised to see Umbridge striding toward them, looking livid.

"That kind of behaviour is entirely inappropriate!" she cried, looking Althea full in the face.

Her brows furrowed, Althea replied, "We were just-"

"Detention tonight," Umbridge snapped.

Then, without another word, she disappeared up the trapdoor into the Divination classroom. Althea scoffed incredulously, glancing at Neville to see he was looking just as shocked.

"I-" Althea began before she finally exclaimed, "I just hugged you!"

"Two nights of detention!" Umbridge shouted. "Don't make me make it a third!"

Althea fell silent, releasing a harsh breath as she began rubbing her forehead tiredly. Although normally Althea and Neville would go up the ladder, they waited until Harry and Ron had appeared.

"Harry," Althea said quickly in a whisper, pulling him to the side. "Be careful today. Umbridge is inspecting and she's on a roll already with handing out detention."

"What?" Harry said in shock. "What for?"

"She gave me two for hugging Neville," Althea hissed. "So please, don't end up there with me." She began to turn away before she quickly added, "And still don't tell my mother."