One of Those Days

Twenty-Three - No Better Protector

Seven Slytherin.

Thirty-four Gryffindor.

Twenty-one Ravenclaw.

Thirteen Hufflepuff.

A grand total of seventy-five students. That was the number of children who had been forced to use the Black Quill. The very thought that this many students had been hurt in such a way made Severus' blood boil. He wanted to blast something apart, preferably Umbridge. Legal or illegal, at this point, he didn't care.

With the initial danger passed, the prefects were sent off to alert their Heads of Houses. Draco had proven to be an enormous asset in all this. Severus never thought he would ever forgive Draco for his rash actions, but after this nonsense and after the way the young man worked with the other Prefects, Severus was actually thankful for him. If it weren't for that ridiculous spell placed on them in the first place, Severus might not have found this plague. He could only imagine the problems it would've caused.

If the woman had used the quill just one more time on Harry...

With the rage coursing through his veins, Severus marched to the fireplace, bent on giving Dumbledore a piece of mind. It was his fault for letting the hag into this school. It was his fault for letting her have so much power. And Dumbledore was going to get rid of her once and for all, if Severus had anything to say about it.

And he had a lot to say about it.

Severus flung Floo powder into the grate of the fireplace, shouting, "Headmaster's Office." A moment later, he stepped out of the fire, his eyes burning with fury. Dumbledore smiled from behind his desk, just as Severus stepped forward.

"Ah, Severus, how nice of you to join us," said Dumbledore, in that merry tone that made Severus want to hex the old man out of his wits. "Maybe you can explain what is going. Dolores has mentioned something about an overuse of the Floo within the past hour."

Severus slowly turned his head. There she was, standing in the middle of the room, wearing that nasty pink cardigan. Her back was erect, as if she were trying to seem taller than she actually was. Her cheeks went pink as she caught sight of Severus.

And Severus saw red.

He moved faster than he ever had in his life. He advanced on her, whipping out his wand before she could react and sticking it an inch away from her nose; her eyes were wide and slightly cross eyed as she stared at the wand. Dumbledore bolted to his feet, shock played across his face.

"Severus!"

"Give me one good reason," hissed Severus, his voice barely above a whisper. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't hex your eyes right out of your skull and feed them to the Thestrals!"

"H–ho–how dare you!" cried Umbridge, thoroughly indignant, but the fear still evident in her bright eyes.

"Severus, control yourself!" said Dumbledore, admonishing him in a serious tone. Severus didn't move; his glared at the horrid woman, his eyes boring into hers.

"I will not," whispered Severus.

"Probation!" squeaked Umbridge, her voice cracking. "You're on probation! If you do not remove your wand at once, you are fired!"

Severus' eyes widened darkly. The woman cowered against the wall he had her pinned against.

"Go ahead."

"Severus, I think an explanation is in order," said Dumbledore, now sounding even more alarmed. "Quickly."

But Severus didn't care. He continued to stare at the woman who had caused so much pain. Voldemort was different. He'd always had that element of a Dark Lord. In the days Severus had joined those ranks, Voldemort had been a man of power. When he spoke, no one questioned that power.