( chapter xxviii. I WILL NOT SLANDER )

✦

Hogwarts had changed since the last year, and everyone had noticed. It was hard not to, with the ending of last year in a tragedy that left everyone grieving and wondering why they had been so hyped up about the event before, and now there was a woman in pink who practically ruled the halls. Dolores Umbridge was her name, and she held her head high with pride everywhere she walked with a prime – but grievous – smile on her face as she stared at children.

It was obvious that she held no love for her position at Hogwarts, even more distinguishable her hatred to children. No, Dolores Umbridge much preferred her spot in the Ministry sitting with the council and deciding the fates of criminals – not looking at fickle children who didn't know how to behave. Children that told lies and said that they were attacked by Dementors for no reason over summer, children who played pranks on others because it made them happy, and children that there not entirely witches or wizards.

But Dolores Umbridge did stand children who never spoke, who never questioned her authority but rather helped her overthrow the kingdom of Hogwarts. Those were nice, pliable children who knew their place and how to better themselves – just as she had done in the Ministry. These children did not stand in her path to power while those who had fun and asked questions, wanted to actually learn in class, did. Dolores hated those children and she wanted to shape them into the perfect child.

No, not through kind manipulation, not by gaining a friendship and mentoring them – that was much too painful for Dolores. She wouldn't be able to stand them long enough to do that, but pain, physical punishment...that sounded much nicer. It was easier and taught the children quickly who was in charge and who they should not question, because she had the power at Hogwarts not them. They were fickle students who needed to learn a lesson.

Everyone had learned this in the Great Hall at the Welcoming Feast on the night of return to Hogwarts. It was easy to see how she radiated from having all eyes on her, the power on her, and how she so easily took it from Dumbledore without batting an eyelash – without anyone to tell her off. Dolores lived for it, and she wanted more. Greed did that.

However, the children did not know how terrible the woman could be until they entered her class for the first time. They could imagine it, but no one could think of the atrocities that she would be teaching when, as directed by their schedules, they entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom – a class taught now by Dolores Umbridge.

Even Calypso Black, the girl born from tragedies, did not think it would be so horrible. She knew she had the tendency to be overdramatic, much like her beloved uncle, but this was no acting. This was not playing up what she had heard come from that woman's lips. She was the victim of it, she had heard it with her own ears when no one else was around to hear. The students would believe her, at least some would, because they had witnessed the same thing. The professors might console her but they could do nothing, at hers and the Ministry's mercy.

Her first lesson started off with her entering the classroom with Birdie by her side, seeing as they had the class together. "What do you think she'll be like?" her friend whispered to her.

Shrugging, the two took a seat in the middle of the classroom – where they always sat for DADA. "I don't know, but I don't think it'll be good," Calypso whispered back.

People still poured in, not wanting to be there, not that Calypso could blame them. It was early morning – first lesson of the day – and they had the new DADA professor who they all suspected to be terrible, coming from their own sights of her and the tellings of older students who took her class. But, they comforted themselves with the knowledge that the DADA position was supposedly cursed and she wouldn't be there next year. As all of their other professors who had taken this job.

Faint laughter could be heard, as some – more morning people – were joyous and having conversations with their friends.

"Merlin, I am so glad to have this class with you, Cal," Birdie told her, "Now I don't have to wait until night to do all my work."

Calypso rolled her eyes and elbowed her friend. "You're still gonna do that if you wanna mooch off my work, Birdie. I'm not gonna do something that's against the rules in a classroom with a teach watching."

"You're no fun," Birdie huffed, slumping in her seat, "Where's your Gryffindor courage?"

"Gone for the moment," Calypso replied, "And I have the knowledge to know when something is too stupid to actually do it. More than others, it seems."

"Ouch, is that a hit at me?" the Bishop girl feigned hurt over her words while Calypso rolled her eyes.

"Not you...but others. I mean, have you seen some of the things the Weasley twins do? It's downright idiotic sometimes. Oh! And Harry, that boy I swear is as thick as a brick. He doesn't think before he acts," she explained herself.

Birdie hummed, "Well, I can't disagree with you there."

"I know you can't, because I'm right," Calypso got out just as Umbridge took stage at the front of the class.

Trying to get the other students attention, Umbridge cleared her throat and said, "hem, hem," and when that didn't work, she flushed a bit. Something to which Calypso smiled and tried not to laugh in case the professor took notice of her. "Hem, hem," Umbridge said again, this time louder as to catch their attention.

This time, it worked and Umbridge gave her usual toad smile that sent over twitching as it looked so unsettling. "Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts," she greeted everyone, "I am Professor Umbridge, and this year. Now, I understand that your education in the past has been rather fragmented and disjointed, has it not?"

Then woman paused for a moment, as if expecting an answer, but she didn't receive any. Not letting it sway her, she continued, "Know now that this is about to be rectified. I will be following a pre-approved Ministry-prepared, theory-centered Defense lesson plan. This will prepare you better than your past professors ever did."

The students looked around at each other, even Calypso was giving her own confused look to Birdie. With a flick of Umbridge's wand, words were written on the blackboard at the front of the class. "Copy this down," she commanded the students.

No one did at first, instead whispering to each other.

"Is she serious?"

"No, she can't be. This isn't really what we're going to do every day, is it?"

"How in the bloody world is this going to 'prepare' us?"

"Hem, hem," they heard Umbridge again and immediately the chatter stopped at they looked at her, "I believe that I gave you your instructions, now please do as I say."

Fickle children didn't know how to follow the rules, they couldn't do so much as copy down some words. This was exactly why Dolores Umbridged abhorred them; why did she have to be the one sent here? No, no. She would create amazing Ministry workers for the future, this was all for the Ministry.

Some began to copy the words on the board onto their own parchment and one brave soul dared to raise their hand. As if expecting this already from her students, Umbridge spotted it immediately and called on the person. "Yes?"

"Well," the brave soul started, "I wanted to know how we're going to put this into practice. Are we going to practice these spells next lesson?"

Umbridge chuckled at the dear student, "Of course. Why would we need to practice these spells?"

"In case we have to use them later in life," the brave soul answered, saying it as if it were obvious. Which, in the case of some of the students – and especially to Calypso – it was.

"I can imagine no circumstance why you would need to apply these spells later in life. In any case, I'm sure just knowing the motions will be more than enough," Umbridge said with an edge of finality.

Calypso, however, was not finished. She looked around at the others, heard their own confused whispers that mixed in with her own. So, she raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Black?" Umbridge asked her.

"But what if we want to become an Auror? Aurors need to use these spells, so shouldn't we practice them in class?" Calypso asked her.

"As I said before, Miss Black, you will learn the motions to these spells and that is more than enough to know how to do them if you do decide to become an Auror," she then looked Calypso up and down, "However, in your case, I would think it better to find another path of work."

People snickered at Umbridge's comment about her. Calypso's jaw clenched at that. "Why would that be?"

"An Auror is supposed to be a trusted member of society, dependable to do what is right. Though, with your family history, I do not think it is the best job for you," Umbridge explained carefully, not caring that she was saying these things against Calypso's family.

"You're talking about my uncle, aren't you?" Calypso asked, "The same one who never even got a trial before they locked him up. Did you know that? He was just thrown into Azkaban before any evidence could be reviewed. The Ministry didn't care to know if he was guilty, they just locked him up without a trial. I don't trust Aurors, I don't trust the Ministry – that doesn't mean I will say they shouldn't have their position because of their 'family history', though in most cases they only got their job because of nepotism, am I right?"

"I am going to ask you to stop talking right now," Umbridge's eyes grew dark, "Detention for slandering the Ministry."

"It's not slander – it's the truth, but you don't care about truth, do you?" Calypso continued. She couldn't care less about getting detention – just a few hours of sitting in silence or doing something for Umbridge, whatever. She could deal with that.

"I work for the Ministry, upholders of justice. Of course I care about the truth," Umbridge said.

"The Ministry doesn't give justice; it plays into what the people want. It is easly manipulated by power or status – it doesn't uphold justice," Calypso told her.

"Do you want another detention, Miss Black?" Umbridge hissed at her, "Or two detentions a week for a whole month? If you don't, I suggest you stop talking now."

"Fine. I've said everything I have to," and Calypso took out her parchment and began copying down the words on the board.

Detention didn't matter, she could write a letter explaining everything to her mother later. But that woman...how dare she say all those things about her family? About her uncle? Upholders of justice, Calypso scoffed at the thought of it.

Bu Dolores stared at her, going to the back of the class to watch everyone work. No, fickle children wouldn't bother her. They would be put in their places, and she was sure that Calypso Black would never disrupt her class again after this.

Class passed by quickly and soon the bells rang. Everyone stood up and began to clean their stuff. Some flew out of the classroom, happy to be escaping Umbridge and her toad smile and all of her pristine words that meant nothing. Absolutely nothing. Calypso stood with Birdie and as the two were almost out the door, they heard. "Miss Black, would you stay behind for a moment?"

Knowing that it wasn't a question – if you have a spare moment can we talk? – but a demand. So, groaning and rolling her eyes for Birdie, she turned and walked back into the classroom where Umbridge was standing in her signature poster.

"I do hope you realize that you are in an incredibly delicate position here at Hogwarts," Umbridge began, almost circling around her, "What would people think if they knew the truth?"

Calypso was stricken, frozen in place because Umbridge knew. She had to know the truth – had to know exactly what Calypso Black was, and that meant she had power. "Pardon??" she cleared her voice, not allowing it to shake or show that Umbridge had won, "I don't know when you mean?"

Umbridge chuckled, "Oh, but I believe that you do, dear. A werewolf being taught the same as wizards and witches. People would not be so accepting if they knew you learned among them. Sadly, you would have to leave Hogwarts and never return back to school – any school, for that matter because everyone would know. It would be so sad if anyone found out the truth, wouldn't it?"

"I don't know what you mean." Oh, but Calypso knew all too well. She had thought over it for hours, the what ifs, the terrors...it would all be over. Parents wouldn't allow their kids to learn with a werewolf, and those who were brought up by those parents wouldn't accept her either. She would be forced to leave. She would be expelled.

Or, maybe Umbridge wouldn't tell the others, she would just be expelled quietly. No explanation given, just the big block letters telling her she had to leave Hogwarts forever though she would always know why. She defied.

Umbridge gave her smile that everyone knew, everyone was beginning to know. "Now is not the time to play dumb, dear. Run along and get to your next class, we wouldn't want you to be late, would we?" then the woman clacked her heels and went into her office.

Standing there for a moment longer, Calypso steadied herself and held her head higher before walking out. In times of conflict, when her heart was racing and pounding so loudly, she held her head high. She was a Black, and that name carried much power. Maybe not in authority, but in conduct, and the general conduct for the Blacks was to be prideful and not be shot down. Calypso would not let herself fall into the traps of this woman; she would hold her ground, she was not going to bow down.

But that did not mean she would defy the woman in public, right to her face. No, Calypso knew where she would end up if she did that, and that wasn't something she wanted. She would defy her in another way, she just needed to find what that was first. Into submission – that's what it would look like – but she would start her own revolution. Secretly, in safety.

And Umbridge would never be able to stop her. No one would when she set her mind to something.

✦

Mum,

I know you won't be mad, but I wanted to let you know that I got detention. I thought I should tell you because it's more than a detention. Professor Umbridge knows that I'm a werewolf and threatened to expel me if I "act out" again. Just thought you should know in case something does happen.

Tell dad and ask how he is. I'm expecting updates about Ginger and Snuffles – and that dad writes two letters a month. If he reads this, you better do it you old man or I will kick your ass during Christmas.

I'm also thinking of getting Leo some Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans for Christmas. Has he had any? I think it'll be funny.

Love,
Calypso

✦

LEE JORDAN CAME knocking at the Gryffindor table, making his way to sit down on the bench and wrapping an arm around Birdie's shoulders, the girl pretending as if it meant nothing. He had a large grin on his face with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes as he stared at Calypso. Pointing at the girl, he teased, "I heard that Little Miss Calypso Black got detention. Damn, first class and you already pissed that lady off."

Calypso rolled her eyes at the boy, pointedly ignoring the blush on Birdie's cheeks though she kept it in the back of her mind so that she could poke fun at the girl later that night. "I didn't mean to piss her off, I was just asking a practical question and things got out of hand when she brought my family name into it."

Nodding her head, Birdie hummed in agreement. "I was there, I saw it," she attested for her friend, "Cal was just asking a question we all had, Umbridge said that she didn't need to ask it because it wouldn't matter to her because of her family history, and things got heated."

"And now I have detention," Calypso finished off with a huff, "Merlin, I already hate that woman."

"Don't we all?" Lee asked, taking a bite of his mac and cheese, arm still wrapped around Birdie. It didn't look like he was about to move it either, not that Birdie minded.

To that, Calypso shrugged and ate more of her own food and taking a sip of her drink. Birdie leaned more into Lee and the boy was barely keeping a grin off his face because of it.

"So," Lee took a sip of his drink, "What do you think her detention is like? Nobody's really been talking about it – but I know Harry got one yesterday."

Birdie frowned and looked up at the boy. "He did? What for?"

"What do you think? You-Know-Who's return. He's been going on and on about it and when Umbridge called him a liar, he couldn't keep his temper in check," Lee answered. Calypso opened her mouth to speak but he continued, "Oh, don't start. I know you're gonna say that he's right, but I'm not saying anything about that. I believe him; I remember last year. But he went wild apparently."

"And he should. Umbridge's been saying that he's a liar, saying that everything he saw was a lie and that Cedric died...because of what? Why? Does she think that Harry killed Cedric himself?" Calypso defended the boy, already feeling herself heat up at the topic.

"Can't forget about that judge, Maverick Holloway. That was terrible. But...it did give credit to what Harry's saying," Birdie added before leaning in and whispering, "They did find a Dark Mark on him."

Calypso frowned, almost frightened by the thought of it. "They did?" she asked for confirmation, to which both Birdie and Lee nodded. "Where'd you hear that?"

"The twins. They're creating something so that they can eavesdrop on other people, and used it last year when they were confirming what killed Holloway and Cedric. Said that the judge had a Dark Mark," Birdie whispered.

Calypso leaned back, frown still prominent on her face. She looked at the professors' table to see Umbridge sitting there still in her pink outfit with her grin on her face, though it never left. That woman was a part of the Ministry, so was Maverick Holloway. She could only think that maybe...

"Maddox Dean-Valance was at his funeral," Lee added, bringing her attention back to her friends, "At least, that's what I heard. And Eddie – that idiot – asked her about it but Foster was the one to step him and tell him off. I can't help but think that maybe..."

"We don't know and we shouldn't assume anything," Birdie cut him off from his thoughts, looking at the redheaded girl sitting at the Gryffindor table, crowded by her friends who were trying to keep others from getting near her.

"You saw her when she saw his body! She crawled away from Cedric and started crying over him! That has to raise some red flags for you too," Lee defended himself in a low voice, not wanting anyone else to overhear what they were talking about.

Calypso kicked him under the table, to which he yelped. "Shut up! She lost her boyfriend that day, have some respect," she growled at him.

"I do, I'm just saying that something doesn't add up. There has to be something more than what everyone's been saying," Lee hissed back at her.

"Well, keep it to yourself," Calypso decided, "It's bad enough that people are already creating their own theories about how he died, we don't need to drag Maddox through it all. Just...let it go, okay? It's too soon for all of this."

Huffing, Lee rolled his eyes and looked at Birdie for a second, who nodded in agreement with that Calypso said, before concluding, "Fine. I'll let it go. But I'm just saying..."

"And that's nice," Birdie cut him off with a edge of sharp to her voice that was surrounded by ease, "But it's also not necessary."

"Okay," he brought his hands up surrender for them both to see before bringing them down to his lap and eating again. Calypso tried to ignore the disappointment look on Birdie's face when he didn't return his arm to being over her shoulder.

Deciding to change the conversation, Calypso looked at her friends before saying, "I've heard talk about doing something against Umbridge."

"Yeah, me too. I was passing by Cho and Katie the other day and they said they heard from someone else that she should start teaching ourselves DADA – you know, since Umbridge is obviously shit," Birdie agreed.

Lee nodded in agreement, "Fred was talking to Ron – said that he and Hermione started forming a plan after their class. Thinking about roping Harry in."

"That sounds good," Calypso said honestly, "I mean, we have to do something. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be defenseless if and when something happens."

"Same here," Birdie nodded, "And they should get Harry, he'd be a great help, wouldn't he?"

"I'll look into it further with the twins," Lee decided and the other girls grinned slightly, "But I can't promise any information."

"That's alright, at least we know you're looking into it," Birdie patted his arm for a second before drawing it back to her lap.

A small blush coated Lee's cheek at the touch and Calypso snickered to herself, trying to hide it and definitely going to bring it up later to Birdie. Maybe she'd even tease Lee about it, that would be fun. But they couldn't be together when she found them; they had to separate because then they would be more embarrassed, which was exactly what she wanted.

Her eyes flickered back to the professors' table and saw Umbridge standing up to leave, saying her goodbyes to those around her and walking through the Great Hall as some conversations stopped just to glare at her. It was clear that she wasn't welcome even if she had to stay, and Calypso smiled to herself for only a moment before groaning.

"I think that's my cue to get to detention," she said, looking back at the clock noticing that she had about ten minutes before her time with that witch.

Birdie looked at her with sympathy, "Sorry. Hopefully it'll go easy, just some quiet time as she lesson plans or something."

Lee shook his head, "If it was like that, I doubt people would be keeping quiet about it. I mean, Harry's always been outspoken and he's keeping this to himself."

Calypso sighed but didn't say anything more, instead getting out of the bench and leaving the Great Hall as well. She knew the way to the classroom well, better than any other, because of two years ago when her father taught. She missed his class and thought about it a lot. Merlin, did she wish that her dad still taught DADA.

She got to the classroom, Umbridge's office right beside it, and knocked on the door. "Come on," was heard from behind it. Calypso twisted the knob and walked inside, wanting to give her best face of disgust at the sight of the office.

It was much different than what her dad had. He only had two pictures; one of his parents, who had passed years ago when Calypso was younger, and the other of her when she was about nine. It made her smile whenever she saw those photos, but now the walls were replaced in pink wallpaper and pictures of cats meowing which was too much noise if you asked her.

And there, in the seat that her father used to sit in, was Dolores Umbridge with a grin on her face and a cup of tea in her hand. "Have a seat, dear," though the dear wasn't undearing at all, but undermining. Not wanting to argue, Calypso took the seat.

"Now, I want you to copy down 'I will not slander' on this parchment, using this quill," Umbridge handed her the quill, which she took.

Calypso frowned as she took it, looking up to ask, "I don't have any ink."

"Oh, this is a special quill – you don't need any ink for it," Umbridge grinned again, the lines becoming deeper and more prominent as she did.

"And how many times?"

"However long it takes to sink in," the way she said it sent chills down Calypso's spine. There was something wrong with the statement...as if something wasn't right.

Not wanting to argue anymore, Calypso brought down the quill to the parchment and wrote. 'I WILL NOT SLANDER.' There was a pain on her hand, she gritted her teeth but did not show that there was anything hurting her; she was used to far worse than this.

Bringing her eyes down to look at her hand that was resting on the parchment to keep it still, she noticed the light overlay of the words she had written – and in her handwriting – ghosting the hand before disappearing.

"Seems it isn't sinking in," Umbridge said, looking at her hand, "Keep writing."

Calypso clenched her jaw but wrote the statement again;

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

Her hand burned, positively burned, much like wounds when they have been reopened; something she had too much experience with if she was being honest. She looked at it again and saw the ghosting mark becoming engraved in her skin – sinking in. It didn't go away after a moment and Umbridge grinned again at her. "Keep writing, dear," she commanded.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

Oh, Dolores loved these nights. Fickle children sent her temper spiking, but they would never disrespect her again and she was done with them. The messeage would sink in, they would forever understand their place, and she would be credited in helping them – shaping them...molding them. They would listen to her, they would fear her, and they would never dare go against her or the Ministry again. Yes, this was all for them.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

Blood oozed from the new wound. The marking on her skin was engraved, there on her hand for everyone to see. There would be no way she could hide it. She would come home for Christmas and hug her mother and someone would notice. They would ask questions, they would have fire inside them to burn the witch even though they were all powerless. Someone would notice, but she couldn't have that.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

"I think that's enough, don't you?" Umbridge stopped her from writing the four words again, "The message is clearly sinking in properly. You may go, but be warned that any more lashing out that you have in my class will lead to much worse than this."

Calypso gritted her teeth harshly and bit down on her tongue from saying anything else to the woman that would get her a month's worth of detention, or even expulsion. She stood up, getting to the door with a bloody hand as Umbridge stopped her again.

"Your second detention will be tomorrow night when dinner ends, I do hope you won't be late."

When she finished speaking, Calypso turned the knob and left the room, not speaking a word to her as she left. The woman didn't deserve any breath wasted on her. She clutched her hand so that no one could see it until she got to the Gryffindor tower and went up to her room without stopping.

She rushed to the bathroom, taking out the kit that Pomphrey had given her for after full moons when she still needed to care for new wounds from the attacks. She winced when the liquid to clean the wound touched it, but she continued to wipe until it was clean and the towel she used was red with her own blood – not that it wasn't the first time. She looked at the words properly, a rage inside her.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

She wanted to rush to Dumbledore, tell him everything and plead with him to have the woman removed, but that would be no use. Umbridge was staying, even if she did this to her students. They couldn't get rid of her. She wanted to last out again and hurt the woman, to do something, but she didn't. She couldn't. She was powerless, she had to stay silent.

Like Harry, and like the others who had already gotten themselves a detention with her, she would stay quiet. She couldn't tell anyone, she couldn't raise any red flags because they would be shut down immediately. So, she tended to her wound and wrapped a bandage around her hand.

That was all she could do, so she would.

so it's been a while, hasn't it? i know that the last time i updated this was in september, but i've been working on other fics to finish them before the end of the year and calypso means too much to me to rush any part of her story. yes, it takes me a lot of time to write this and i don't mind, but i have other fics that i've been focusing on and this got pushed to the side a bit. i'm hoping to have more regular updates again in december.

also, if you don't know how maddox or maverick are that's okay. they aren't really important to the story but if you want to know all about them read light me up.

(and i just wanted to say that we officially hit 100,000 words this chapter!!!)