Tuesday February 10
"Good morning children."
"Good morning Headmistress Umbridge," the class echoed back obediently.
"We will be on chapter twenty today, there will be no need to talk," Umbridge said with a sweet smile that nobody was fooled by.
"Yes Headmistress," they said.
Trent unhappily got his book out and put it on his desk. He shared a pouting frown with his desk mate, Sapphire, a nice Gryffindor girl in his year. They both agreed that Umbridge's class was absolutely the worst.
Trent wished that Harry would teach his defense class, he would be able to teach them loads more than mean old Umbridge. He'd whispered that to Sapphire once though and she stuck her tongue out, apparently she didn't like Harry, which was the dumbest thing Trent ever heard. If he could grow up and be anyone he wanted, he would be Harry.
Sometimes, he told the gullible first years that they were cousins. They looked a little bit alike, with their black hair and green eyes. And Trent had even bought glasses just like his, except he wasn't allowed to wear them in the summers because it made his mum mad.
'You don't need glasses, you idiot!' she'd yell.
It was easier if he just didn't wear them, even if he really loved them. His mum had been really stressed out ever since he first got his Hogwarts letter and his dad left them. At first, his mom said it wasn't his fault his dad left, 'he's just a bad egg', she'd say. 'We don't need him'. But this last summer she would drink after work every day and cry and scream and ask Trent why he'd ruined her life.
Trent spent a lot of this last summer with his muggle friends once he realized that his mum didn't want to hear anything about his life. Not even when he tried to tell her about Harry Potter slaying a dragon with a sword. She'd just glared at him and told him that Hogwarts sounded freakish and how magic 'went against the word of the Lord'. It had kind of sounded like she thought he was freakish and went against the 'word of the Lord' (whatever that meant), but he didn't want to start another row with her so he just kept quiet.
He didn't bother trying to tell her how great Hogwarts was, how it felt more like home than their little apartment in the city did anymore. It still felt like home to him, even if home was now filled with belching portraits, swamps, and dragon shaped fireworks that multiplied when you tried vanishing them.
Coming back to Hogwarts this year had been the best thing ever. First off, he got to be Harry's second in a duel, which was probably the scariest thing he'd ever done in his life. Then, Professor Flitwick said that he 'was a natural' in charms in just his second class back. And then, he got to ride Harry Potter's broomstick for quidditch tryouts and even got a spot on the team.
And reserve seeker was just as important as any other spot. That's what Harry told him and that's what Trent told the other kids in his year who laughed at his position.
But then, best of all, when Professor Snape asked why he didn't have any of his summer homework done, Trent quietly explained after class that his parents were muggles. He felt terrible when he admitted that his mum wouldn't even take him to Diagon Alley for new supplies this year, insisting that it was enough that she even let him go to such an unnatural school. Even when he tried to tell him how upset his mum got when he brought up magic, Professor Snape didn't get mad, he gave him an extension on his essay and invited him to have tea with him! And everyone knew that Professor Snape didn't usually like students, so if he was inviting Trent to have tea then clearly Trent had done something to impress him.
They'd spent a whole hour together having tea and biscuits and just talking. Professor Snape was a great listener, always asking questions about what his life was like and listening patiently while he talked. Trent told him about his dad leaving, and all the stress his mum was under, how his mum didn't like him anymore now that he was a wizard, and how sad his house was now.
Trent had left Professor Snape's office with his bag filled with nice secondhand versions of the books he needed for this year, a pocketful of biscuits, and a weight off his chest from getting the chance to share all of that with someone.
If Umbridge was more like Professor Snape, she'd probably be more likable. But she was the worst teacher here, everyone said so. In fact, Harry told him that Umbridge wasn't even a real teacher, that he thought she was just a fraud who didn't know how to even use magic. Which made a lot of sense, seeing as Trent personally saw Umbridge running from a niffler who wanted the rings on her fingers instead of just levitating it away from her.
Trent peeked up at Umbridge, shifting around in the uncomfortable seat awkwardly as he did. He'd never be brave enough to tell her that she was a fraud, but it made him feel better to just think about it.
He sighed and tried to focus on reading the textbook in front of him, but just like his legs didn't want to sit still, neither did his brain. He didn't understand why this class had to be sooo boring. He looked over at Sapphire and saw she was reading and making little notes on what she read, like the good student she was.
He wished he could be a good student like her. But he didn't think defense was ever going to be a class he liked, definitely not while Umbridge taught it anyway. One of the older Slytherin's told him not to worry, that she wouldn't last the year, that Harry would get rid of her like he did all the other defense professors, but Trent didn't want to get his hopes up.
He shifted around uneasily again, thinking about how great it would be to just get to go outside and fly with his team. He couldn't wait for winter to break so they could get back to training and flying.
"Is there a problem Mister Bailey?"
Oops.
Trent glanced up at Umbridge before lowering his eyes back to his desk. "No ma'am."
"Then would you care to explain why you are not sitting quietly as I instructed you to?"
"But I'm not talking!" Trent cried indignantly. "Ma'am," he hastily added at her unimpressed look.
Umbridge's smile was not nice, not like Professor Sprout's kind smile or Professor McGonagall's little one when you did something especially right in her class. Umbridge looked just like a toad getting ready to eat a fly when she smiled, and Trent really didn't want to be the fly in this case.
"You are being disruptive with your constant movements," she said with that nasty smile.
Sometimes Trent thought it was weird that she didn't croak like a toad. She kind of looked like she should.
"And that is just as forbidden as talking."
Trent looked over at Sapphire, who shook her head just a little.
"Yes ma'am," he said quietly.
Umbridge didn't say anything else, but Trent could feel her eyes on him while he tried to read. Her eyes felt like they were drilling a hole right to the middle of his brain, making him want to move around that much more.
"Mister Bailey!" Umbridge smacked her wand on her desk a few minutes later, causing all the students to jump a little in their seats. "I have told you to stop moving!"
"He can't help it," Sapphire said hotly, her blue eyes narrowed and angry. "He's bored! We're all bored!"
Trent shrunk down in his seat a bit. Sapphire was one of his best friends, even if the older kids said Gryffindor's and Slytherin's weren't supposed to be best friends, but Umbridge looked really mad now.
Everyone else looked either shocked or like they were trying not to laugh.
It was pretty obvious which ones were Slytherin's and which were the Gryffindor's.
"Detention Miss Beasley," Umbridge said with an even bigger smile, showing off her weird little pointy teeth. "And you as well Mister Bailey."
"For what?" Trent asked, shocked. "I didn't say anything!"
"Refusal to follow directions," Umbridge said sternly. "Tonight, at seven."
Trent tried really hard to not be angry at Sapphire, even though he kind of thought this was entirely her fault, but he was supposed to meet with Professor Snape tonight, like he had done every month since coming back to Hogwarts, and now he'd have to tell him he'd gotten detention instead.
Trent had never had detention before. He really hoped they didn't send him mum a letter about it, she'd be really mad then.
The rest of the class seemed to pass really slowly as Trent did his best to not move too much, not even inhaling too deeply in case it made his shoulders shift. But he did leap to his feet in relief when the bell finally signaled the end of the hour.
Thank goodness it's Tuesday, he thought happily. He only had defense on Monday's and Tuesday's, which meant that after detention tonight he'd be free of Umbridge for almost a whole week. He was so cheered by this fact that when Sapphire caught up to him to apologize, he decided he wasn't even going to be mad at her.
He did brush off her invite to go play Gobstones with some of the other second years though, he had to go tell Professor Snape that he wasn't going to make it to their meeting tonight. Trent thought this might be an even worse punishment than detention; he hated to think that Professor Snape was going to be disappointed in him or that they wouldn't get their usual time to chat.
Trent's head was low as he scuffed his trainers on the stone floors and waited for the students to filter out of Professor Snape's classroom. He did look up though when he heard Harry talking to his friend Blaise.
"Hi Harry!" he said, waving quickly.
Stupid, he groaned in his head. 'Hi Harry'? You couldn't think of anything cooler to say?
Harry didn't seem to think he sounded stupid though, he just gave him a nice smile. "Hey Trent, what's new?"
Trent tried very, very, hard not to puff up proudly that Harry Potter stopped in the hallway, holding up all his friends, just to talk to him.
"I got detention," Trent scowled.
"With Snape?" Harry raised his brows up high.
"No." Trent kicked the floor a little more. "Umbridge," he muttered.
"Pft," Harry scoffed and patted him on the shoulder. "She's a fuckin prat, isn't she? You'll probably do lines or something. Just let me know if she does or says anything awful, yeah?"
"Yeah," Trent gave him a huge smile. "Thanks Harry."
"No problem, see ya."
Trent was still grinning after Harry when Professor Snape came out in the corridor and cleared his throat. "Can I help you?" he asked, looking down his hooked nose at Trent.
"Professor I'm really sorry, but I'm not going to be able to make it tonight," Trent mumbled, shame washing over him once more, making his cheeks heat up. "I- I got a detention."
"I see." Professor Snape didn't sound mad, so Trent looked up at him. His face was calm, his eyes steady as he stared down in Trent's. "With which teacher?"
"Umbridge, sir," Trent told him. "It's at seven tonight."
"And do you feel as if you earned this detention?"
Trent almost shrugged his shoulders before he remembered that Professor Snape liked answers to be out loud. "I guess so, sir."
"Very well," Professor Snape nodded down at him. "Perhaps we will move our teatime to next Tuesday?"
"Really?" Trent hasn't expected that, he thought he'd have to wait a whole month before they met again. "That would be brill sir, thank you!"
"You may repay me by never saying 'brill' again," Professor Snape said in a voice like he was a bit tired. "Harry is a terrible influence on the youth of today."
"Yes sir," Trent grinned, pretty sure that Professor Snape was just joking. Another thing that made Trent feel like Professor Snape was the best Professor in the school— he didn't make jokes very much, and he never actually made fun of people, but when he did make jokes they were that much more special because they were so rare.
"Run along and finish your homework before your detention," the Professor said. "And kindly remember to bring that list on Tuesday that I requested."
"Yes sir, thank you!" Trent ran off as instructed, his relief not even dimmed by the reminder of the list he was supposed to make. A list that he had tried to write, and was so far completely blank. He hadn't been sure why Professor Snape wanted a list of all his family members, but as far as Trent knew it was only him and his parents. Well, really just his mom, he hadn't seen his Dad since the day he got his letter. All his grandparents died before he was two, and he didn't have any aunts or uncles that he knew of.
And he definitely wasn't going to send him mum an owl double checking, she'd lose her mind.
Trent met up with Sapphire outside Umbridge's classroom door right at 6:55.
"Ready for the most boring detention ever?" she whispered.
Trent just rolled his eyes and knocked on the door. He waited until Umbridge told them to come in before he opened it and stepped inside.
"Sit," Umbridge pointed at two desks side by side immediately without even saying 'hello'.
She really has no manners at all, he thought.
Trent quickly moved to one of the desks, Sapphire moving just a little more slowly behind him. He looked at the desk and felt better to see that there was just a quill and parchment, probably for lines, just like Harry had told him.
"You both will be writing lines for me," Umbridge said with another of her gross smiles. "Miss Beasley, you will be writing 'I will not talk back', and Mister Bailey you will write 'I will sit still'. Do you both understand?"
"Yes Headmistress," they said simultaneously.
"How many times ma'am?" Sapphire asked, her hand raised just like Umbridge liked them to do in class.
"Oh as many times as it takes for the message to sink in I think," Umbridge said.
Which Trent thought probably meant a million times because Umbridge was the worst teacher they'd ever had.
"Ma'am," Trent raised his hand as well after looking down at his desk again. "May I borrow some ink? I didn't know I was supposed to bring any."
"You won't be needing ink," Umbridge said. "Write."
Trent and Sapphire exchanged a confused little glance, but both started their lines.
Trent was starting his second red inked line when his right hand started aching bad. He gasped when he looked at it, it was bleeding! He squinted through his clear lenses and almost gasped again, it wasn't just bleeding for no reason, it was being cut open with the exact words he was writing.
'I will sit still'.
"Problem Mister Bailey?" Umbridge asked once she noticed his quill stopped moving.
Trent's eyes were probably as wide around as dinner plates as he looked from the parchment (was that his blood as ink?!) to his hand to Umbridge.
"N-no ma'am," he stammered. He sneaked a quick look over at Sapphire and saw her face was pale and her not-bleeding hand was shaking.
"Get back to writing then," Umbridge demanded of them.
"Yes ma'am," he muttered. Trent swallowed harshly before he put the black feathered quill back on the parchment. He really, reallyyy, didn't want to do these lines. In fact, he was pretty sure that even the Headmistress of a school wasn't allowed to make him cut his hand and write in his blood as a punishment, but he couldn't start yelling about the injustice of it now. He had to bite his tongue, bide his time. Be subtle, like a Slytherin.
It was hard to remember he was a Slytherin though, especially when he was on his twentieth line and his hand hurt so bad it was making tears pool in his eyes.
Be tough, he coached himself firmly. Just finish this detention then tell someone.
Trent was on the 'sit' part of his thirty-second line when Umbridge finally did a little cough and told them to come up to the desk.
"Hands," she said shortly, holding her own stubby like hands out. Trent slowly placed his bleeding hand in hers and held back a hiss as she twisted it back and forth, almost like she was seeing how deeply he'd been cut. She did the same thing to Sapphire before dropping her hand.
"Well, children, do you believe you have learned your lesson?" she asked in what was probably supposed to sound like a sweet little voice.
"Yes ma'am," Trent said quickly. Sapphire echoed him, but she sounded like she was speaking through a clenched jaw.
Umbridge looked up at Trent, her dark and beady eyes making him want to squirm away just to avoid her gaze. "You deserved this, you know that right?" she said softly. "The both of you."
"Yes ma'am," Trent said again, desperate to get out of the classroom.
"Good boy," Umbridge said.
Trent thought that his skin might have turned in to a million ants the way it was trying to crawl right off him.
"You're dismissed," she said. "Have a good night."
"Good night Headmistress Umbridge," Trent said quickly.
He felt like he wasn't breathing properly until he made it to the corridor. He sprinted away from Umbridge's classroom, as quickly as he could, with Sapphire's echoing footsteps following behind him.
"Are you okay?" Sapphire asked when Trent finally felt far enough away to stop and take slow breaths.
"No!" he cried. "My hand! Your hand! She- I- that's not brill at all!"
"I know." Sapphire's eyes went clouded, like a storm was washing away the sky blue coloring. "I heard some of the other students in my common room talking about her dark quill, but I didn't believe them."
"It can't be allowed, not even for the Headmistress, can it?"
"Oh it's definitely not," Sapphire tossed her light brown hair over the shoulder, only wincing a little when she accidentally used her hurt hand. "One of the Ravenclaw's looked it up, and dark quills are illegal to use on students."
"Good." Trent straightened himself up and stared down at his hand, his hand that would probably forever be a reminder that he had a hard time sitting still. "Then I'm telling someone."
"Oh no you are not!" Sapphire said sternly. "We aren't going to go crying about it, then nothing will happen anyway and we'll just be in more trouble later."
"Not if I tell Harry," Trent said with confidence. "He'll do something. He always does. Everyone says he hates Umbridge, he just pretends to be nice because of politics or something. In fact, Jasmine said that she thinks Harry and Fred are the ones pranking her."
An idea that only elevated Harry and his boyfriend in Trent's opinion.
"Harry Potter is not going to care about our hands," Sapphire rolled her eyes. "He's not a hero Trent, he's mean and rude and scary."
"We'll see," Trent scoffed. He knew loads of people thought Harry was mean and scary, and he was just a little bit, especially when he was dueling and teaching them how to punch properly and throw knives at opponents. But since Harry had never actually been mean to him, Trent thought Harry was probably secretly really nice, like Professor Snape.
"Well leave my name out of it," Sapphire told him. "I don't want to be that toads target when Potter just makes her angrier."
Trent agreed, and they set up a time this week to get their friends together to play gobstones before splitting up and heading to their different common rooms.
Sapphire was funny, and usually smart, and a great friend. But she was also a Gryffindor and thought that 'suffering in silence' was somehow brave.
Trent was a Slytherin, and he knew that self-preservation was important to his house. And it was self-preservation that led him to go to find Harry— if anyone could keep Trent, or any of the other students, from having to cut their hands open as a punishment ever again, it would be Harry Potter.