Chapter 363: An Intact Soul

Disclaimer:

Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

I own nothing but the original characters I create.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

Chapter 363: An Intact Soul

December 1

It's been a few days since Harry tried to clear things up with Ginny, and she hasn't spoken to him even once. She's completely avoided looking at him during meals in the Great Hall.

His sister, Lyra, has also tried to do the same but hasn't been able to completely ignore him. She still tries to be a good friend and stay by her side.

At least he received some good news. That same morning, an owl arrived with a letter from his parents. Victoria seemed to be doing better, and according to his mother, she was getting along with Holly. Not that it was much of a surprise, since that ball of sunshine could probably become friends with anyone.

Neville was also doing much better now. All the harassment and mean comments had completely stopped. Not only because he had earned the respect of most of the students, but also because everyone's attention was now more focused on the ball that was happening in only twenty-four days.

"Seriously? He invited you?!" Lavender still couldn't believe what her friend had told her.

"When did he do that? It couldn't have been this morning," Parvati added. "I mean, we've been together the whole time."

Hermione made a troubled face and looked around as if trying to make sure no one was listening. "Could you lower your voices? I don't want more people to know. And… he invited me on Saturday…"

"That was three days ago!" Lavender was shocked that someone could hold a secret for that long.

Trying his best to ignore their conversation....or the side glances he was receiving from the other side of the table, Harry focused on his breakfast.

At least until he heard people gasping loudly and murmuring all around him.

Harry lifted his eyes from his plate and looked around the hall to see what the commotion was about. He quickly noticed that everyone was glancing toward the professors' table, and when he finally looked, he almost gasped himself.

Dolores Umbridge was making her way to the table under the shocked gazes of not only the students but also the other professors. Apparently, she had failed to give them a heads-up about her recovery.

'That can't be right...' Harry thought.

Dumbledore had spoken to the healers who treated her in person. They had said there was no chance of recovery, as her mind was completely broken. And then she was placed in the permanent mental ward.

"She's back?!" Lyra exclaimed.

"Wow, I thought her condition was more severe…" Parvati said.

"I know. I heard she was going to spend a very long time in the hospital after her mental breakdown," Lavender added.

"She looks different though… right?" Hermione noticed that something was off in the way she carried herself.

Harry had noticed this too.

Unlike her usual arrogant and confident demeanor, the current Umbridge looked very taciturn, almost as if she were tired or distracted.

Without saying a word, she went to her chair and sat down between a very confused Professor McGonagall and an equally shocked Professor Babbling, the Ancient Runes professor.

The thing was, only a few truly knew how critical her condition had been. Otherwise, they would have been more than just surprised by her return.

Harry was one of those people, and he found the situation very suspicious.

Once breakfast concluded, the students had some free time before classes. Harry used this time to sneak into the Room of Requirement.

"The way her eyes looked… it's too similar. I have to make sure." Harry walked deeper into the room before stopping.

He looked ahead of him and took a moment to focus.

"Speak to me… Dolores Jane Umbridge." It was a good thing he made sure to learn her middle name in case he had to do this. He wasn't sure if it would work without the full name.

A few seconds passed after he activated his ability to call upon the souls of the dead. This was a sure way to check if someone was truly dead, and he had to be sure when his enemy was someone capable of manipulating death at will.

Green smoke manifested before him and began to take shape.

In less than a minute, a perfect manifestation of Madam Umbridge was standing before him, looking very confused.

"Mmm?... She actually manifested intact." It was not much of a surprise to find out that she was dead.

The moment he saw the way she moved and looked, he had made an immediate connection to Augustus Rookwood.

The Umbridge that returned was no doubt a puppet, but there was a big difference in this case.

"What?... Where am I?..." Umbridge looked very confused, as if she had just woken from a long dream.

But the moment she spotted him, her expression quickly changed. "Potter?!"

"As I thought… there's something different. Your soul remains untouched." This was different from what had happened when he tried to summon Rookwood and Parkinson's souls.

Harry had first thought it had something to do with whatever Voldemort had done to them to turn their bodies into empty husks. But perhaps the reason was something else.

"If that's not the cause, then… it must be a result of the method used to kill them," Harry muttered.

"What are you mumbling about, Potter?! What did you do to me?"

Umbridge screamed at him, looking down at her semi-transparent limbs.

Harry smiled. 'He made a mistake.'

Of course, Voldemort had no way to know that Harry could speak with the dead, so he had no reason to damage the soul of a loyal follower. He must have given her a quick, merciful death before turning her body into something more useful.

"And he left me with a source of information," Harry said.

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