Monday, September 10, 2007

part three...

Whatever his Aunt and Uncle were saying made no sense to Harry. It all sounded absurd. How could they possibly care for Harry? After all the things they had done to him? And who on earth was this new friend of Aunt Petunia? This woman who cared about Harry so much? And which night were they talking about?
This thought kept Harry awake for the whole night. By the time it was morning, Harry had decided that he will talk to his Aunt and Uncle about it. But as Harry went down, there was someone sitting in the sitting room.
“Harry” said Aunt Petunia, a little nervous. “Harry, my friend is here, to meet you. she is from the ministry you know, of you people. She says she can help you.”
Harry went closer to see who this “helper” was, and as soon as he saw her face, rage filled his entire body. There was no mistaking that ugly, fat toadlike face. Delores Jane Umbridge was sitting in front of him. Was the most absurdly girlish expression on her face. She looked at Harry with pitty on her face.
“Harry, my dear” she said, “how are you?”
“Alive” said Harry, with hatred in his voice, “in spite of all that you did to me at Hogwarts.”
“Harry what are you talking about?” said Aunt Petunia.
Harry told her all, as fast as he could. After he finished, Umbridge giggled again. She then said, “Harry, oh Harry! If you had listened to me then only, you wouldn’t be in so much trouble. Now with Dumbledore dead, you have to come and take refuge in the ministry. He who must not be named will definitely find and kill you. if you have to survive, you have to be with us.”
“She is right Harry” said Aunt Petunia. “All this trouble, what for? First your silly mother and then you”
“My mother was not silly” yelled Harry. “She was your sister. How can you hate her so much?”
“I don’t hate my sister. I – I am jealous. Yes, I said it. Ever since she started going to that school, she became everyone’s favorite. Lily do this, Lily do that, Lily, Lily, Lily. I was nothing. Nothing. And then she married that crazy boy. She was silly. That man was mad, completely insane. Fight a dark wizard and all that. It was because of your father that your mother died. He wanted to act brave. Took my sister’s life. And now I won’t let you do the same thing. I won’t let you do all that your father did.”
“you don’t know anything” said Harry. “Voldemort wanted to kill me. They died because of me. And now, he will not stop as long as he doesn’t kills me. It’s all in the prophecy.”
“It’s all a lie. Another of Dumbledore’s lie” said Umbridge. “Harry you will be safe with the ministry. And you can make others feel safe too.”
“You want me to advertise for the ministry again?” shouted Harry. “You mad old hag. Get lost.”
“I will not go like this Harry” she said. “I have told the minister that I will get you on our side somehow. And for that I will do anything.” And she raised her wand and shouted “IMPERIO”
The curse struck Harry and Harry fought to resist the curse. But before he could do anything, something happened, and the curse was lifted. He then saw Aunt Petunia had hit Umbridge with a flower vase. “How dare she?” she said. “How dare she do that? And I thought she wanted to help you.”
“Aunt petunia, why did you do that?” said harry. “She – she might be dead.”
“Harry, it’s time I tell you something. why don’t you sit down. It might take some time.”
“And what about Umbridge?”
“Ah – why don’t you do something to her, you know, your usual stuff”
And Harry pointed his want at Umbridge and said “SWIRLVIO”. It was a spell he had recently read in a book. It made Umbridge’s whole body swirl and shrink. Within minutes, she became a mix-breed of a toad, a pig, and her usual self.

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