Cortney sat at a table in the common room while Harry sat on the couch by the fire. Both of them had their hands covered with their sleeves. Ron and Hermione went over to Harry as Seamus, Dean, and Neville went over to Cortney. Neville came over with that plant of his in his arms. She had that same book open, she was reading it more. 

" Did you do the charms homework? " Dean asked Seamus. 

" Yes, do you need to see it? " Dean asked.

" Please, show me it later," Seamus said as they all sat down at the table. Neville looked down her hands.

" What's wrong with your hand? " Neville asked.

" Nothing," Cortney answered showing him the unhurt hand.

" Other one," he said. Seamus rolled up her sleeve revealing the ugly words.

" You should Dumbledore or someone," Seamus advised as he looked at the words.

" No, I've already asked him to help me something, I don't want to be a pest," Cortney said pulling her hand back. Hermione stormed over, grabbed Cortney's wrist, and dragged her to the couch. She was able to grab her book, the three boys followed. Hermione rolled Cortney's sleeves up, Cortney looked down at Harry's harmed hand.

" The woman's touting you," said Ron. " If the parents knew about this-"

" Yeah well, I haven't gotten any of those have I, Ron? " Harry asked harshly.

" Harry, Cortney, you've got to report this," Hermione began. "It perfectly simple-"

" No! It's not Hermione, whatever it is it's not simple, you don't understand," Harry said.

" Then help us," Hermione said. Harry stood up and walked out of the Cortney.

" What about you Cortney? " Dean asked as Cortney sat down in Harry's spot.

"As I said I'm already asking a lot from Dumbledore and I don't want to be a pest," Cortney said.

" At least write to your parents," Hermione urged.

" What will my parents say back home? I don't want to worry them and have them travel all this way. They are needed back home for Tristen and Mikey," Cortney explained. ( Dean knows, Cortney told him about the adoption on the train here).

" Why don't you write to your other ones? " Seamus asked as he took her hand and rubbed it. Cortney looked up at Neville, his face had many mixed emotions.

" I guess I can," Cortney said slowly. " But how will they know it's me, and what are they going to do ? Scream at their cell walls ? I don't even think they remember me".

" You need to try," Ron said. 

" Okay," Cortney said. She got up to leave.

" Where are you going? " Seamus asked still having a hold of her hand.

" Clean my hand, I have detention again with her, " Cortney answered. " And I was going to try to talk to Dumbledore about something". Cortney slipped her hand out of his and left.

" You know, she has a lot of secrets I feel like," Dean muttered.

" Yeah, nobody knows why," Hermione said.

" Could one of you possibly find out what she is up to? " Ron asked.

" We'll try our best, you try too," said Neville. The other two nodded their heads in agreement. Down the hallway, Cortney made it to the entrance of Dumbledore's office. She said the password and hoped on to the moving stairs. She knocked on the wooden door.

" Come in," instructed a voice.

" Cortney opened the door and Dumbledore was walking back and forth. " Hello, Ms. Lestrange".

" Hello Headmaster Dumbledore," Cortney greeted.

" I know what you are going to ask, Madam Pince told me you checked out a book with Legilimency and Occulmency," said Dumbledore

" Is it bad. that I want to know these subjects? " Cortney asked.

" It's completely normal for you to try to strive to be like your parents a little, I know Mr. Potter takes after his dad a lot," Dumbledore. " Try to use this for good".

" So I can learn it? " Cortney asked.

" Yes, " Dumbledore answered. Snape walked in on the conversation. " I asked Professor Snape to teach you. He said he would". Cortney looked at the head of her house.

" Our lessons shall take place late on Tuesday nights, starting tomorrow," Snape announced. " Are you ready for this type of magic Ms. Lestrange? "

" Yes," Cortney answered. " Thank you Professor Snape and Headmaster Dumbledore," Cortney said.

" Off to bed now Ms. Lestrange," Dumbledore said kindly. Cortney nodded at them and walked out of the office and down to her dorm.

" Where have you been? " Pansy asked.

" In the library," Cortney lied.

" Somebody is trying to have a fresh academic year," Millicent said.

" Well OWLs are this year, and I really want to do really well," Cortney said.

" What do you think about going into Cort? " Daphne said.

" Either a journalist or a Transfiguration teacher," Cortney announced.

" I want to work at a nail salon," said Kierra.

" I can see it," Tracey said. " You always are doing yours or somebody's nails". The girls spent a good amount of their time discussing future jobs before going to bed.

**************

A few days passed, Cortney served another painful lesson from Umbridge and had a lesson with Snape. She was now in the Great Hall, she sat with her cousin.

" Pardon me Professor but what exactly are you implying? " Umbridge asked. All the students got up, they wanted to observe what was happening. Right outside the Great Hall was Professor McGonagall and Umbridge. They seemed to be having a heated conversation.

" I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students you perform described disciplinary practices," McGonagall said.

" So silly of me,  but it sounds as though you're questioning my authority, in my own classroom Minerva," Umbridge said.

" Not at all Dolores. Merely your medieval method," McGonagall argued.

" I am sorry dear. But to question my practices is to question the Ministry, and by the extension the Minister," Umbridge said. " I am a tolerant woman. But the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty".

" Disloyalty," Professor McGonagall said in disbelief. Umbridge took a step up and faced the crowd.

" Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action," announced Umbridge. McGonagall and most of the students walked away.

" It's not questioning the Ministry Professor Umbridge," Cortney began. " It's called checks and balances".

" Detention Ms. Lestrange ! " Professor Umbridge shouted. Cortney rolled her eyes and stormed back into the Great Hall.

"  I have never heard you go against a teacher like this," Draco said.

" She just enlightens me with anger," Cortney said as they sat down. " She may work for the Ministry, but now she is a teacher at a school full of children. Her practices shouldn't be practiced".

" Maybe you should be a politician instead," Goyle suggested.

" I'd rather not serve another detention with her," Cortney groaned as she slammed her head into the table.

" It can be stopped, by not speaking out like this," Crabbe said.

" Just leave Potter to it," Draco said. " Or the Golden Trio all together".

" There must be some other way. I am determined to find one".

" This is why you are a Slytherin," Blaise huffed. Cortney gave a smile.