Glamour

Revelation

"I can respect that," Draco nodded approvingly. "Though as much as I appreciate you backing off, be aware we don't need some Gryffindor to protect us. But at least you aren't listening to everything the Weasel tells you anymore."

"Don't call him that." Harry scowled, "Just because I've been thinking for myself doesn't mean you can call him names in front of me."

"Whatever." Draco sniffed. "Just because I'm agreeing to this truce with you, doesn't mean I will put up with the blood-traitor."

"Why do you call him that?" Harry asked offended. He knew it wasn't the worst thing Draco could call him, but the term wasn't one anyone had explained to him. He just knew it was a slur.

"Because he is one" Draco replied "His..."

Any further reply was cut off by the return of Filtch who came in grumbling at their lack of progress. Harry found himself sent down to the ground floor toilets with a mop. While the boys toilets did not suffer from Myrtle related flooding every few days, they were also the closest toilets to the grounds so often ended up caked in mud and grime.

Two hours later, Harry left the mop at the caretakers closet and made his way back towards the common room. Just as he reached the base of the Gryffindor tower, a small Hem Hem stopped him in his tracks.

"Mr Potter, I see that you still think you are above the rules." Umbridge said in a sweet voice. "Tell me why you think you can be out beyond curfew."

"I am just returning to the tower after detention." Harry replied quietly hoping that he could get away without too much trouble.

"Mr Potter, I thought you had learnt your lesson. Now will you tell me what mischief you have been up to?"

"You can ask Filtch. He just let me out of detention." Harry said, pushing down on the anger that threatened to rise in his chest.

"No, I think not." Umbridge said quietly. "Too much has happened at this school this year, and many of the staff are reporting how differently you are acting. I think that it cannot be coincidence."

"I was just trying to improve my study habits." Harry said confused. The staff had noticed? He guessed it wasn't impossible, his grades had been getting better so some of the teachers at least must have realised.

"Do not lie to me." Umbridge stepped closer, looking at Harry suspiciously. "You are up to something Mr Potter. I will find out and then you will be expelled."

"Professor please, I..."

"I think a hundred points from Gryffindor might help temper your ways, or at least encourage your housemates to keep you in line." Umbridge said sweetly. "Then I think another week of detention, just to get the message to sink in again."

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but a smirk from Umbridge caused him to close it again without a sound. She would only take delight in punishing him further. He nodded and turned to head up to the common room, barely acknowledging the portrait as he entered.

"Oy, Harry mate, where you been?"

"Detention Ron," Harry said wearily sinking down onto the sofa. The prospect of another week of slicing his hand open was making his stomach churn.

"Curfew was an hour ago. Don't tell me you were out all that time." Ron snorted in disbeleif.

"It was Filtch." Harry said giving Ron a stare. They all knew how the cantankerous caretaker could be. That should be explanation enough. "Then Umbridge caught me on the way back"

"What did that hag do?" Ron asked

"Took a hundred points and gave me a week of detention."

"For being late to curfew?" Ron snorted in disbelief. "That's bullshit, she must have caught you doing something."

"You know she hates me. She doesn't need any more excuse than that."

"You aren't telling me something." Ron said, warily, "What did she catch you doing? Were the twins pranking again?"

"Nothing" Harry snapped, "I was just entering the Gryffindor staircase when she bumped into me..."

"Or you don't want to tell me." Ron accused. "Wait, is this connected to that stupid gay joke from the other day. Don't tell me she caught you with your tongue down some guys throat?"
"Why does Harry have his tongue down a guys throat?" Seamus asked from behind them, "Oy Potter, you a poof as well as a liar?"

"No, Ron is just pissed that Umbridge took points from me for no reason." Harry growled.

"Bullshit," Seamus snorted, "She is a crap teacher, but she wouldn't take points unless you deserved it."

"Yeah she would, she has it out for me."

"Well if you are not a poof, then what are you?" Ron snarled, "Don't tell me this is you getting chummy with the Slytherin's. I've noticed you defending them these past few weeks. You going dark?"

"Of course he is." Seamus laughed, "He killed Cedric last term. He is as dark as they come."

Harry stood and strode to the spiral staircase, to the safety of his bed. He couldn't listen to any more of their accusations. What was the point of trying to be a better person, when it just brought you nothing but trouble. Pulling the drapes closed, he collapsed on his bed, scrunching his eyes closed against their painful burning.