Bones to Bones

Bones to Bones

Chapter 2: Hufflepuff Disease

Susan hated the Sorting Feast; there was just no other way to say it. There were so many people, and there was so much noise and hustle and bustle. Though she had never admitted it to anyone, Susan just plain didn't like crowds. She'd made a habit of avoiding the busiest times in the Great Hall for regular meals, but there were some things that she just couldn't avoid, like the Sorting Feast. She supposed that it was because she had never really been around people. With her father's condition, her family had never been very social, and so large groups always set her nerves on edge. Still though, she had to admit there was a certain excitement in watching the new students get sorted into their Houses. She wondered what the new Hufflepuffs would be like.

Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,

And taught them all she knew.

Susan couldn't help but sigh as she heard the words. When Justin looked at her a bit oddly, she replied, "I know what the Hat is saying, but you just know how the Slytherins are going to make us sound like the remains of yesterday's shepherd's pie."

"Hey, it's better than sounding like last weeks haggis, isn't it?" Justin answered with a twinkle in his eye. "Besides, you are the one who always says that just because the others don't understand us doesn't mean we are all duffers."

"I know, I know, but even I get tired of all the jokes," Susan sighed. "I guess I'm just a bit on edge tonight." A noise up front drew Susan's attention from this line of thought though, as the first student walked up to put on the Sorting Hat. Soon, with the sorting of Rose Zeller, the ancient tradition was brought to an end for another year, and another fine feast appeared before the students. All thoughts of the Hat's song were soon forgotten, as food was eaten, and friendships were renewed.

Some time later, Susan decided she'd had enough for the night, though it looked like Ernie and Justin were intent on stuffing themselves to the gills, so she took the opportunity to look around at the tables. Out of curiosity, she looked towards the Gryffindor table, and yes, there he was. Harry Potter. He definitely looked the worse for wear. The expression in his eyes seemed somehow distant and haunted. She couldn't be surprised though. She didn't know what he had seen last year in the maze, but she knew that it must have been terrible. Could he have really seen You Know Who? It was hard to say, but from the look on his face, Susan wasn't inclined to doubt it.

She then looked up to the staff table, as Professor Dumbledore was beginning his usual welcome speech. The same announcements as always. Don't go into the Forest, as if she would want to. Go read Filch's list. Susan would read lots of things, but that one didn't happen to be on the agenda. Then came the announcement of the new teachers. Now, that was something interesting. Susan looked up, a bit unsure seeing Professor Grubbly-Plank. There wasn't much doubt that she was a better teacher than Hagrid, but there was something about Hagrid's presence at the castle that was terribly comforting, something missing this year.

"We are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

So that was the woman that her aunt had gone to the trouble to warn her about. She certainly wasn't going to have to worry about having hormonally imbalanced teenage boys following her around, that much was certain. Still though, that couldn't be enough reason for her aunt's warning.

"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance."

Susan winced. This was sounding like a prime example of bureaucratic doubletalk.

"...because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time..."

"Up is down, left is right..." Susan whispered to Justin.

"Oh, so you think she sounds like Big Brother? Or in this case, Big Sister," he replied, chuckling.

"I can tell why Aunt Amelia isn't too fond of her. She sounds like the kind of Ministry papershuffler whose main goal is to keep real work from being done. Still though, she doesn't seem to have rated a warning by Floo. I imagine Auntie Em will have more to say in her letter."

At long last the food and the speeches were all done, and everyone started down to their common rooms. Ernie and Hannah herded the new Hufflepuffs along the way, with Susan and Justin trailing behind, speculating on what the new school year would bring. When they got to the common room, they found a couple of comfortable chairs in the corner, and continued the conversation, while the prefects sorted out the new students, and told them where to go.

"Susan, lets get settled in upstairs," Hannah said, walking up to them. "We'll come back down in a bit, ok guys?"

"So, how is life as a mighty Prefect?" Susan asked, as they climbed the stairs.

"Oh, hush. It's going to be a lot of work, I can tell already."

As fifth-year students, they had a special treat that was unique to Hufflepuff. As part of her focus on fostering friendship and loyalty, Helga Hufflepuff had arranged for the older students to have two person rooms, as opposed to the larger dormitories that the younger Hufflepuffs and all the students in the other houses lived in. Walking in though, they were presented with something that they didn't expect. Laying on both of their beds were long black hooded robes with yellow trim.

"Susan... are these what I think they are?"

Susan couldn't respond for a time, shocked beyond belief at the sight on her bed. She'd expected the one on Hannah's bed. It went with being a prefect. However, she'd hardly hoped that she might have one as well. "y...yes, the Hufflepuff Council," she finally stammered.

Hannah looked at a small card sitting on top of her robes. "Yeah, I have it because I'm a prefect. I should have expected it. What does yours say though?"

Susan picked up the card on hers and read it. This time though, she couldn't find her voice, so she just handed it to Hannah, whose eyes widened as she read the card. "Of course, what else could it be?" The two girls embraced in a hug, tears of shock and joy and pride threatening to burst forth from the both of them.

After a few moments, the girls decided to head downstairs to see what the boys were up to. They had barely gotten down to the common room though when they saw one of the first years, hunched over in a corner crying. Hannah sighed and looked at Susan. "What do you think is wrong?"

"Hufflepuff disease."

"Yeah, that's what I figure too. Let's go talk to her."

Susan was about to protest that Hannah was better at that sort of thing, but she wasn't given a chance as Hannah led her over to the sobbing child. "Hi there, what's wrong?"

The girl looked up at Susan and Hannah, and turned away, having seen the prefects badge on Hannah's robes. "Nothing."

"You can tell me, I won't hurt you. What's your name? I'm Hannah, and this is Susan."

"R..Rose.... Rose Zeller."

"What's wrong Rose?" Hannah pressed gently.

Rose refused to look at Hannah, but finally answered. "My Mum has always called me her bright little girl. She always praised me how smart I am. Now I get sorted into Hufflepuff!" she sobbed.

Susan winced. Hufflepuff disease. That was what they called people who were sorted into the house and were miserable about it. The ones who had only heard the stereotypes often had the "disease." Susan sat there, quiet, unsure what to say, as Hannah comforted Rose. Finally, Rose stopped sobbing, and Hannah led her gently to her room, an arm around the younger girl's shoulder.

About five minutes later, Hannah reappeared, her eyes flashing in annoyance. "Thanks for the help."

"Hey, sorry, you know I'm no good with that sort of thing."

"You take more pride in being a Hufflepuff than anyone here, even Ernie. You can help people like Rose. You can't just spend your life hiding up in our room reading. You need to get out and meet people, and sometimes help them."

"Ok, ok. I got it," Susan said in a placating voice.

"I've heard that before. You had better know that I'm not going to let you sit in the room and read for the next ten months. I will conjure up wild horses and drag you out if I have to."

"Oh, by the way, my mum told me she'd teach you that spell."

"Huh?" Hannah said, nonplussed.

"My mum said that she'd teach you that wild horses spell to get me out of the room."

"Your mother is a Muggle, right?" asked Hannah, in mounting confusion.

"Yes."

"Then how is she going to teach me a spell?"

"I'm only the messenger."

Shaking her head, Hannah finally replied. "Fine, whatever. Let's just get some sleep."

The next morning, Susan woke up early to beat the rush in the Great Hall for breakfast. She was just finishing off her first piece of toast, when Agatha came swooping in. Agatha was used to Susan's habits, so she knew that she needed to beat the other owls in, or else she'd have to fly through half the school to find her owner.

Susan eagerly untied the letter from Agatha's leg, and slipped her an owl treat she from her pocket. Agatha accepted the treat, and headed for the Owlery for a rest. Susan looked around to be sure no one would peek over her shoulder, and then read the letter.

Susan,

I trust that your trip to Hogwarts was pleasant and uneventful. I apologize for the brevity of my message before, but the way things are at the office right now, I have to be cautious.

Your new Defense teacher is, to be blunt, a creature of Cornelius Fudge. Her primary skill over the years has been to keep close to Fudge, and be useful to him. That is, if you don't count manipulation, backstabbing and bureaucratic infighting. None of those things qualify her to teach though, much less teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm not sure how Fudge managed to get her placed there, but it is clear that he is trying to wrest control of the school from Dumbledore. She is a very dangerous woman, and will not hesitate to run over anything, or anyone one who gets in her way. I don't imagine that she would show any more compunction over doing it to a student than she has to the careers she's wrecked here at the Ministry.

I don't want you to get too worried about it though. Just behave in class, and don't give her any reason to do anything to you, and you will be fine. Take care of yourself, and I hope you have a good year. I hope to hear from you soon with the observations we talked about.

Love,

Aunt Amelia

"Wow." Saying that Aunt Amelia didn't like this Umbridge woman was a major understatement. Susan rolled up the letter, and placed it in her pack. She'd pass the warning on to the others later as well, but the Great Hall was getting crowded, so a nice bit of reading in the Library sounded like an excellent plan, until Transfiguration started.

That afternoon, she heard yet another lecture on how important the O.W.L's would be from Professor O'Riordan in Muggle Studies, the third one that day. It certainly sounded like most of her book time this year was going to be spent on textbooks, and not something more congenial. As she walked down the hallway after class, trying not to worry about the tests, Susan's thoughts though were interrupted by a familiar, unpleasant voice.

"Oh, look here, a brand new Huffleduff! What's wrong? Too stupid to be sorted into a real house?"

Susan turned the corner, and there was Malfoy harassing a first year. When Susan looked closer, she realized it was the girl from the night before, Rose. Draco was about to launch yet another verbal barrage at the miserable girl when Susan stepped between them.

"Rose, just go back down to the common room, I'll take care of this, ok?" Rose looked fearfully at her blond tormentor, but turned and ran off in the direction of the Hufflepuff common room.

"What do you think you're doing Bones? Interfering in my duties as a prefect?" Draco sneered.

"I didn't realize that part of your duties was to torment scared little girls."

"The little fool wasn't looking where she was going and bumped into me!"

"So you decided to make fun of her and terrify her? Frankly, I think touching you would be punishment enough for anyone."

Malfoy paled, but before he could make a comment, Professor Snape swooped around the corner. "What is going on here?" he asked in his nasal voice.

"Bones here was interfering with my duties as a prefect!"

"Well then Miss Bones. We can't have that now, can we? I need to have some cauldrons cleaned out before class tomorrow. Why don't you come by tonight for a little detention?" Snape said in a silky voice.

Knowing that any sort of protest would be worthless, Susan merely answered, "Yes, Professor." Professor Snape and Malfoy turned and left, but not before Malfoy shot Susan a tight, triumphant smile.

Seething, Susan stomped off to the common room, to try to get some work done before she had to go spend a lovely evening in the Potions dungeon. She had barely stepped into the room though, before Hannah waved her hand that Susan should join her and the boys.

"Did you hear what happened?"

"No, what now?"

"Harry Potter got into it with the new Defense teacher! Called her a liar in class even," Hannah answered.

"What was it all about?" Susan asked.

"I guess that Professor Umbridge was saying something about not using spells in Defense this year..." Justin began.

"What? Not using spells?" Susan interjected.

"Yeah, well, let me finish the story, ok? Anyway, somehow it got around to Harry saying that he dueled You Know Who last year when Cedric was killed, and that it was You Know Who that killed Cedric."

"That's what Dumbledore sort of hinted at last year," Susan replied. "Wait a second, did you say dueled?"

"Yeah, at least that's the rumor. Anyway, get this, this Umbridge woman told the Gryffindor class that Harry was lying and that Cedric was killed by accident!" Hannah jumped in. "I guess that she sent Harry away after that, and he'll get a nasty detention."

"Well, he should know better than to contradict a teacher like that," Ernie added.

"I'm not so sure about that Ernie. Are you sure that Professor Umbridge said that Cedric died in an accident?"

"That's the rumor."

"That doesn't add up, not at all," Susan said, chewing on her lip.

"What do you mean?" Hannah asked.

"Auntie Em said that Cedric was hit with the Killing Curse." Susan paused, looking at the shocked faces around her. "That's not really the sort of thing that happens by accident you know. So, either Madam Defrog is lying, or Auntie Em is. I think I know who I trust in this."

"Your aunt said that it was the Killing Curse?" Ernie asked, still pale.

"Yes, she told me that, and that they were sure it wasn't Harry who cast it."

"You are sure?" Ernie pressed.

"Of course I'm sure Ernie. I wouldn't have said it otherwise."

Ernie stood silently a bit, and finally turned to Justin. "You know, we've been pretty suspicious of Harry over the years. The heir of Slytherin stuff, and then when he was chosen as the second champion last year."

"Yeah, and every time we've been proven wrong," Justin answered.

"Not this time, this time we stand with him. He's earned that much from us," Ernie said, and everyone nodded in agreement. "Fine, that's settled then."

"Oh no! I've got to go," Susan then burst out. "I need to eat before I serve my detention!"

"Detention? You? Why?" Hannah said, incredulous.

"Long story, I'll tell you later." Susan said, as she zoomed off to the Great Hall.

The detention turned out to be as foul as one might have feared. Susan wasn't quite sure what the residue was in the cauldrons, but it stank, and it took serious work to get it out. Worst of all, it was resistant to every form of magical cleaning that Susan knew, and so she ended up having to scrub them all by hand. After three long hours of scrubbing, she was finally able to return to her bedroom.

"Are you ok?" Hannah asked, as Susan flopped onto her bed.

"I'm fine, just really, really tired."

"Did you get the detention for helping Rose earlier?"

"How did you find out about that?"

"Rose told me you helped her out. She thinks you are quite the hero you know. So, was that the detention?"

"Yeah, while I was arguing with the ferret, Snape showed up," Susan replied.

"I'm glad to hear what it was. If you have to get a detention, at least you got it for a good reason. I'd like to talk about it, but I have patrol duty tonight."

"Have fun."

"Yeah, right. I'll see you later then."

"I'll be asleep by then, good night, Hannah."

"Good night, Susan."

After Hannah left, Susan decided that she would get her letter ready, so that she could send it out with Agatha first thing in the morning. So, she sat down at her small, cramped desk and began to write.

Auntie Em,

The trip was just fine. We got into a bit of an argument with Draco Malfoy, but he seems to take a special joy in harassing us. I don't know what it is about him, if he's not digging into Harry and his friends, he's after us.

Speaking of Harry, the strangest thing happened today. I still haven't heard all the story, but it sounds like this Umbridge woman may be after him. I guess that somehow she provoked him into telling a little bit of his story, and basically called him a liar, and said that what happened to Cedric was an accident. I guess he's in lots of trouble now after he called her a liar in response. I haven't heard the whole story, as I've been busy, but if I get a clearer idea of what happened, I'll let you know.

How are Mum and Dad doing? Dad seemed a bit worse than usual when I left yesterday. Oh, one last bit of news. I've been chosen for the Council. I'm sure you can guess how happy I am about that.

Well, it's been a very long day, and I'm tired, so I think I'll go to bed, and send this with Agatha in the morning.

Love,

Susan