Year 5 (pt.1)
Michael was out for a walk near his house and he thought something about the calmness irked Michael in a way he couldn't understand. As he kept walking, he saw something out of the corner of his eye and stopped. He looked in the direction he noticed movement and saw a giant figure emerge from the shadows, the man looked at Michael and said,
“Are you Michael Butcher?” Michael nodded at him “I am Fenrir Greyback, I was sent by Lord Voldemort to kill you and I intend to do so. However, I'll let you choose how violent your death is.” Michael gave Fenrir a grin.
“Death can have me when it earns me,” Michael said raising his fist, Fenrir smiled and ran as fast as he could at Michael. He tried to punch him but Michael dodged it and slammed Fenrir into the ground. The two fought using every advantage they could but Michael would block Fenrir's punches with his metal arm and Fenrir would cut Michael with his claws. Michael knew Fenrir wouldn't stop attacking him until one of them was dead and Michael didn't want it to be him so he grabbed Fenrir from behind and twisted his head. A loud crunching sound rang out across the air and Fenrir went limp in Michael’s arms.
In shock, Michael laid Fenrir down on the ground. As he looked down at him, realizing what he had done and this breathing grew heavy. His mind was racing and as it caught up to him and he laid down to try and collect himself. After a while, he was more aware than ever that he had just killed a man. A living, breathing person. Michael had killed plenty of nonhuman creatures but never a person. It never dawned on him that he would have to kill one except whatever Voldemort might be. Michael’s hands started shaking as he sat up and stared at the dead body of Fenrir. He could hear someone approaching from behind him,
“It's getting late son, you need to come home soon,” Blodwic said. Michael couldn't look away from Fenrir's body. “I- I killed him Dad. I killed Fenrir,” Michael said with tears forming in his eyes, Blodwic sat down next to Michael
“Can I tell you something I haven't told even your mom?” Blodwic said looking up at the stars. Michael looked confusingly at his father and nodded “You being born was the memory I use when I summon my patronus. Michael, your mom thinks it's when I married her but she doesn't come close to when I got to hold you for the first time. I am glad this weird dude didn't get to take that memory away from me.” Michael looked away from Fenrir's body and at his father, who was smiling at him. “I'll sit here for as long as you need Michael but if you wanna be alone I'll go home” Michael quietly said “I'm ready to go home now Dad” With that, Blodwic stood up and held out his hand for Michael to grab and pull him up and they went home.
~
Michael got on the Hogwarts Express and sat in an empty car like he does every year and just like every year, Hermione was the first to join him in the car, followed by Ginny and Luna. Michael greeted them and they talked about what they did over the summer despite knowing most of it because they have been sending letters multiple times a week. There was a comfort in the air that they were all grateful for. Despite this there was a slight emptiness because they all missed Viktor, however nobody dared to bring it up.
Michael had been a little more quiet than usual so Hermione asked “Mike, you've been extra quiet… what's on your mind right now?” Michael was lost for words for a moment before saying “I killed Fenrir Greyback, this guy that tried to attack me.” Everyone in the car stared at him in disbelief “You killed Fenrir Greyback the werewolf?” Hermione eventually said breaking the silence “He came at me near my home and it was either him or me so I had to kill him.” The car was silent for a while more trying to take in this information until Ginny said “I'm glad you didn't let him kill you Michael.” and Michael nodded at her and smiled. After a while more, they carried on to talk about things they did over the summer and eventually the train arrived at Hogsmeade.
When the group exited the station, they had to ride on what looked like horse-drawn carriages. Despite the horses not looking very horse-like, Michael was excited “I haven't ridden a horse drawn carriage in years!” he said excitedly which confused Hermione and Ginny “There's no horses Mike” Hermione said with concern in her voice regarding Michael's well being. “You're not going mad, I can see them too,” Luna said. Michael looked back at her “You're just as sane as I am, Michael” she said trying to comfort Michael. This however, didn't make him feel any better about his mental state. As they rode to Hogwarts, Luna started telling them about how the Minister of Magic is a vampire and how her father was going to write about it in the next copy of The Quibbler. Thai made Michael laugh but before he could explain they stopped and they had to get out and go to the great hall. .
~
Dumbledore gave the usual speech that he gives, shocking all the first years and after they were sorted into their houses, he announced something new.
“We also like to welcome our new defense against the dark arts Professor Dolores Umbridge, well I’m sure you'll all join me in wishing the Professor good luck this year. As usual, our caretaker Mr. Finch has asked me to remind you-” Dumbledore got cut off by Umbridge as she stood up from her seat. Michael recognized her immediately, “Fuck.” he muttered under his breath. Cedric looked back at Michael “Something the matter Michael?” He leaned in and told Cedric “She works for the Ministry of Magic which means shes got a huge stick up her ass and probably won’t like me very much because of my dad” This got a laugh out of Cedric and he was going to say something but Umbridge started talking “Thank you, headmaster, for those kind words of welcome.” She turned to the students with a sickly sweet smile, “How lovely to see your bright happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure were all going to be very good friends.” Michael heard Ginny's brothers from another table say ‘That's unlikely’ which made him laugh while Umbridge kept talking “The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school” she nodded at Dumbledore who begrudgingly nods back at her “however progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved. Perfect what can be perfected and prune practices that ought to be prohibited.” Umbridge finished her speech and Michael didn't know whether to smash her head in with a rock or smash her to bits with his sword.
~
Michael's first day with Umbridge went as terrible as he imagined it would. Umbridge started by telling all of them about the OWL exams they would have to be taking this year. She started handing out their new defense against the dark arts textbooks which were titled ‘Dark Arts Defense Basics for Beginners'. Michael was sitting next to Hermione as she said “There's nothing in here about using defensive spells” To which Umbridge responded by laughing at her and said “Using spells. I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom” and then she went on to explain that they would be learning in a risk-free environment before Michael raised his voice and said,
“Does this school look risk-free to you? We learn from mistakes which we can't make in a risk-free environment.” Umbridge, who wasn't looking at who was talking, said, “Students will raise their hand when they speak in my classroom.” Michael began to get angry and said “Which one do you want me to raise?” Umbridge quickly turned around to see Michael’s metal arm and he smiled while saying, “I don't think your risk free environment would have helped me take down the dragon that took my arm.” Umbridge glared at him before cheerily saying “It is the view of the ministry that a theoretical knowledge would be sufficient to get you through your examinations. Which after all, is what school is here to teach you.”
“And how is theory supposed to prepare us for what's out there?” Harry Potter chimed in, which made Michael even more angry for some reason. “There is nothing out there dear. Who do you imagine would attack children?” Umbridge said. Harry looked angrily at her, “Oh I don't know, maybe Lord Voldemort?” Michael had heard enough of them bickering so he piped up, “OH would you shut up about fucking Voldemort? YOU killed Viktor! Not some dude who supposedly gave you that scar! But knowing you, you probably fell in the shower as a kid!”
The whole class started laughing at Michael’s statement but Harry wasn't pleased and turned to look at Michael “Viktor was killed by Voldemort and you shouldn't even be that mad. If he hadn't died, you wouldn't have won the tournament, Butcher boy.” With this, Michael angrily stood up along with Harry and before Umbridge could invervine Michael picked Harry up off the floor and whispered in his ear “I've killed people. You want me to add you to the list?” Harry laughed at him and replied “You don’t scare me, Michael.”
With nothing but anger flowing through his veins, Michael slammed Harry into his desk so hard that Harry broke his glasses. While still holding Harry's head on the desk, he leaned in closer and said “Never say anything like that again or I'll kill you.” Michael let go of Harry and moved back to his desk.
“MICHAEL BUTCHER! THAT IS ENOUGH!” Umbridge screamed. “Detention!” Michael almost knew he was going to be the first student of hers to get detention and he won't lie, it wasn’t a bad reason to get it. Hermione was clearly less than impressed by this but he also noticed a hollowness about her that seemed to come on when Viktor was mentioned.
~
A few days passed and it was time for Michael to serve his detention. Hermione berated him about how he didn’t have to speak up and there was no reason he should have gotten a detention this early in the year or at all for that matter. With that shame holding over his head, Michael walked into Umbridge's office to see the usually dimly lit room had been changed. It was covered in pink and cat themed items from head to toe. Michael was looking around the office as Umbridge saw him and cleared her throat which got his attention quickly. “I’m here for detention,” Michael said, still staring around her office.
“Of course, you can sit down Mr. Butcher. There's a few things I wanted to talk to you about today” she said, sitting down at her desk and motioning for Michael to do the same. Michael sighed and sat in the chair across from hers “You have caused me a lot of trouble Mr. Butcher with the way you do your magic. Now is that arm up to code?” she said, grabbing Michael's metal arm. Michael pulled it away from her,
“Don't call me Mr. Butcher, Dolores,” Michael said angrily and with a glare while trying to stand up from his chair to leave. However as he did so, Umbridge flicked her wand and his chair moved forward making him fall back into it.
“I am a tolerant woman MR. Butcher, but the ONE thing I will not tolerate is students thinking they are better than their teacher. You have no power here BUTCHER! I do.” She said before clearing her throat again. “I know your father, Bloodwic wou-” Michael slammed his hand on her desk,
“YOU DON'T GET TO BRING MY FATHER INTO THIS” Michael yelled which intrigued Umbridge. She made a face that Michael knew he was going to regret.
“So you don't like me talking about Bloodwic, do you Mr. Butcher? Hmmm… Well were going to write him a letter.” She slid a piece of paper and a quill across the table. “Your going to write the phrase ‘I respect Umbridge and her teachings’ until the message is cleared up in your head.” She said in a sweetly snarky way. Michael started writing almost immediately. After a moment he felt a tickling sensation on his hand. The writing was digging into Michael's hand but he didn't even notice the pain and kept on writing. This surprised Umbridge and after a bit she started talking again “Your a lot like your father, Mr. Butcher. Both of you two are pathetic excuses for wizards and so is your mother. But she can at least be considered a witch while your father Bloodwic should be called a muggle with the level of spells his dimwitted brain has.” Michael looked up at Umbridge before calming saying,
“Can I get some more paper please? I ran out of room on this page for your lesson to work” Umbridge went pale as she saw that Michael had scribbled all over the paper and his hand was covered in blood. Michael continued “What's magic going to do if I rip off your jaw? You can’t cast a spell if you can't talk, can you Dolores?” Michael stood up from the chair and Umbridge flinched. Helaughed at her before leaving the room and as he does, Umbridge had grabbed the paper that Michael had scribbled over to see that he had wrote ‘FUCK YOU UMBRIDGE’ on the back of the paper she laughed slightly to herself.
~
Michael continued out of her classroom and down the hall before deciding to get a real look at his hand. It was dripping with blood and he knew he wasn’t going to be able to wrap this up alone. He took his robe and wrapped up his hand for the time being while he looked for Hermione, Ginny, or Luna. He started in the library and after a lot of searching he came across Ginny and Luna who were leaving some abandoned classroom together.
“Hey, I need some help.” Michael said and showed them his hand. They quickly helped him and he told them what he had been doing. Ginny and Luna were more than concerned. “She said all that to you?” Ginny said in disbelief. Luna was trying to wrap his hand without hurting him but Michael kept reassuring her that it doesn’t hurt. “Yea, I am not sure if I should tell Hermione all the details but I do need to explain why my hand is all bandaged up.” He said.
“I think you should tell her all of it.” Luna said, speaking up. “She would rather you not lie to her.” Michael thought about it and agreed. The three of them were about to part ways when Luna said, “Oh Michael, I think that will scar. So keep washing it and make sure it's clean. I don’t think it will show up as much if you keep it clean.” Michael nodded and headed off to his dorm.
~
Hermione and Michael were in the library when Hermione pulled out this jar that looked to be filled with some dead animal.
“This is strained and pickled murtlap tentacles. Put it on your hand and it should help heal better.” she said while handing it to him. As Michael put away the jar, Harry and Ron came and sat with them. Michael gave Hermione an annoyed look but she just rolled her eyes. They apparently came for homework help but they quickly got off track.
“I just wish we could learn proper defense spells. I know quite a few but there are so many other students that could benefit from learning them.” Hermione complained.
“What if we taught some students defense spells?” Harry said. “What is stopping us from doing that?”
“Umbridge wouldn’t let us teach each other spells, much less others.” Ron said to Harry as if he was stupid. “Ok, but it isn’t a horrible idea.” Harry shot back.
Michael and Hermione looked at eachother. Perhaps this isn’t the worst idea. What spells could be taught? What ones are important?
“I can teach them. I know a few advanced spells.” Harry piped up. “I suppose this isn’t a bad idea. We need to fine out the plans however.” Michael said and then Hermione chimed in “I can ask around and find trustworthy people who would like to join us. They just can’t be telling others about this otherwise Umbridge will shut it down and we will all get in trouble.”