"Harry! If Umbridge, that old toad, ever does anything excessive to you, you must tell me. I won't let her get away with it. I'll make sure
"Harry! If Umbridge, that old toad, ever does anything excessive to you, you must tell me. I won't let her get away with it. I'll make sure she pays the price."
Regulus Black spoke with grave seriousness. Protecting his brother's godson was, to him, a matter of course.
"Regulus! What do you mean by excessive? Are you talking about her making me do lines?"
Handsome Harry Potter didn't quite understand what Regulus Black meant. Clearly, there was something more behind his words. Even just copying lines was already too much—Dolores Umbridge's punishments were practically medieval in nature.
"No matter what, I'll stand by your side. Don't bottle things up. Only by speaking out can problems be solved."
Regulus's tone made it sound as though Harry was hiding something, as if he had secretly suffered some humiliation at the hands of that old toad.
What was going on? Handsome Harry Potter was utterly confused. Dolores Umbridge, that pink old toad, was his servant now, nothing but useless trash without even a thought of resistance. What grievance could she possibly inflict on him?
But seeing Regulus hesitate as if unwilling to speak directly, it was obvious he wouldn't say it outright. Hadn't he just hinted at it instead of asking directly?
"I'll tell you! Harry Potter got spanked in the headmistress's office! Pants down, no less. And the headmistress rubbed his backside for a long time afterwards until it turned red. It was a popular medieval punishment, you know!"
Peeves cackled nearby, spinning nonsense to two girls. After all, Harry had spent the entire night in the headmistress's office before returning to his dorm. And spanking was indeed a punishment widely used in medieval schools, often pants down—hard to deny.
But rubbing his backside for a long time? What nonsense was that! Peeves wasn't even allowed inside the headmistress's office.
"Peeves!"
Handsome Harry Potter exploded. Whether he was Harry Potter or Voldemort, being slandered with such a rumor was unbearable. Anyone who could endure it might as well join the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
"Whoa! I didn't mean to see it. The headmistress's door wasn't closed. I really didn't mean to see it!"
Peeves shouted his excuse, then darted through a wall.
The nearby girls immediately scampered off, giggling, to avoid Harry's wrath.
"Don't run! You know Peeves only spouts lies and nonsense. Hey! Come back and let me explain!"
The louder Harry shouted, the faster they ran. Their laughter only grew louder as they fled, clearly unable to contain themselves.
"Harry, we all know Peeves is talking nonsense. Don't take it too seriously. It'll die down after a while."
Regulus Black patted his shoulder earnestly, wearing a look of sincere belief.
But why did that "I believe you" expression feel so irritating? It wasn't that his expression was wrong—it was the timing. It looked as though he actually believed the rumor.
"Go to class, Harry. Calm down."
Regulus still had lessons to attend, so he took his leave.
Calm down? He was already calm! If he weren't, Avada Kedavra would have been flying in every direction by now.
Handsome Harry Potter forced himself to remain calm for a long while before finally stepping into class at the last moment.
"Harry Potter, you were nearly late. I shouldn't need to remind you of the school rules—tardiness earns detention. See that it doesn't happen again."
This class, unfortunately, was Defense Against the Dark Arts with Dolores Umbridge. Harry had followed his instincts to the classroom, completely forgetting who taught it. The moment he stepped inside, he was scolded. Normally, he wouldn't have cared, but after hearing that rumor, handsome Harry found it difficult to keep his composure.
His classmates whispered all around him. To Harry, it was obvious they had already heard the rumor and were gossiping about him.
It was over. There was no way he could explain this away.
Dejected, Harry slumped into his seat, pulled out his book, and pretended to read.
What was wrong with him?
Dolores Umbridge was baffled, unsure how she had offended him this time.
Ever since becoming a Death Eater, she had followed his instructions to the letter, never daring to be careless.
She had even sacrificed her own home, allowing him to use her fireplace to leave the school.
Yet after replaying the earlier scene in her mind countless times, she still couldn't figure out what she had done wrong.
As far as she was concerned, this was simply how she taught, how she spoke. Harry had never once asked her to treat him differently. In fact, he had insisted that she treat him the same as everyone else.
Unable to understand where she had offended him, Dolores finished the class nervously.
As for Harry's vacant stare at his book, she assumed it meant he was concentrating.
It must be because lately she had only punished Harry, Dolores thought. That was why the rumor had started.
Expression blank, Harry brooded. He had asked Umbridge to stage these punishments so others would get used to him being called to the headmistress's office. But he hadn't expected things to spiral into this.
Damn Peeves! There was no way a ghost could have come up with that story. But Peeves loved spreading rumors he overheard. The question was, who had started this one? Legilimency didn't work on Peeves, which made it impossible to trace the source.
Handsome Harry Potter spent the whole day absent-minded. If not for Ron Weasley dragging him along, he wouldn't even have managed his daily tasks.
"Damn Peeves! That meddling bastard!"
As Ron pulled him to the bathroom, Harry suddenly cursed aloud.
"Hiss! Ah… bloody hell! I peed on my hand! Harry, can you pull up my pants for me?"
Startled by Harry's sudden outburst, Ron lost control and ended up wetting his hand.
Harry frowned. Not only was Ron's hand wet, but the front of his pants was soaked as well. Help him pull up his trousers? No chance.
"I just remembered I've got something to do. See you later!"
The moment Harry snapped out of it, the first thing he did was abandon his best friend.
"What's wrong with helping me pull them up? My hands are dirty, that's why I asked. Is that so wrong?"
Ron stood there, disappointed, completely oblivious to his soaked trousers.
"Damn it! I'll just wash my hands first."
Ron shuffled toward the sink a few meters away, trousers still around his ankles.
"Umbridge! You've heard the rumors outside, haven't you? We can't let this continue. The only solution is to widen the scope of punishments. That way, more students will be called in, and my frequent visits to your office won't draw attention."
Harry met with Dolores Umbridge in the headmistress's office to discuss countermeasures. If the rumors kept spreading, it would soon turn into a tragic love story of the headmistress falling for the Savior.
It wouldn't be long before gossip claimed they planned to marry after his graduation, maybe even to hold a grand wedding at Hogwarts with every student in attendance.
"Of course, I'll do as you command, Master. If you want it, I'll gladly make it happen."
Dolores Umbridge tried to act cute, though with her fat frame and large face, she looked even more like a toad than ever. Hogwarts' food was simply too good.
"You know what? I just saw Harry Potter propose to our headmistress! They agreed to marry right after he graduates, and the wedding will be held right here at Hogwarts. Every single student, from first year to seventh, will be invited. Can you imagine how grand that will be? So romantic!"
Peeves, wearing a dreamy expression, was outside the headmistress's office peddling fresh rumors to a group of passing Gryffindors.
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