Emma Potter; Going to War

40:Dolores Jane Umbridge The Second

— BY ORDER OF — 

THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC 

Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight. 

Signed: 

Cornelius Oswald Fudge

MINISTER OF MAGIC

The notices had gone up all over the school overnight, but they did not explain how every single person within the castle seemed to know that Dumbledore had overcome two Aurors, the High Inquisitor, the Minister of Magic, and his Junior Assistant to escape.

 No matter where I went within the castle next day, the sole topic of conversation was Dumbledore's flight, and though some of the details might have gone awry in the retelling (I overheard one second-year girl assuring another that Fudge was now lying in St. Mungo's with a pumpkin for a head), it was surprising how accurate the rest of their information was. 

Everybody seemed aware, for instance, that Me, Harry and Marietta were the only students to have witnessed the scene in Dumbledore's office, and as Marietta was now in the hospital wing, I found myself besieged with requests to give a firsthand account wherever I went.

 "Dumbledore will be back before long," said Ernie Macmillan confidently on the way back from Transfiguration after listening intently to my story. "They couldn't keep him away in our second year and they won't be able to this time. The Fat Friar told me . . ." He dropped his voice conspiratorially, so that I had tole an closer to him to hear, ". . . that Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after they'd searched the castle and grounds for him. Couldn't get past the gargoyle. The Head's office has sealed itself against her." Ernie smirked. "Apparently she had a right little tantrum. . . ." 

"Oh, I expect she really fancied herself sitting up there in the Head's office," I said viciously, as we walked up the stone steps into the entrance hall. "Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy old —"

"Don't finish that sentence!" said Pansy and Draco together. 

I looked at them aghast. 

"Are honestly suggesting--"

"Shut up for a moment" hissed Pansy "we hate her too. But the inquisitorial squad is supposed to deduct points fro anyone who says something like you were about to. God knows what defenses she rigged on these bloody badges--" she pointed to the badge right below her prefect one "--and while I have no problem trying to deduct points from Gryffindor. I'd rather leave my own house out of it.

I turned automatically toward the giant hourglasses set in niches along the wall behind them, which recorded the House points. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been neck and neck in the lead that morning. Even as I watched, stones flew upward, reducing the amounts in the lower bulbs. In fact, the only glass that seemed unchanged was the emerald-filled one of Slytherin. 

I'm glad we'll win but. . .

"Noticed, have you?" said Fred's voice. 

He and George had just come down the marble staircase and joined me in front of the hourglasses. 

"Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break," said George. 

"What do you mean, 'tried'?"I said quickly.