Nightmare (Harry Potter OC Fic)

21. Ministry Infiltration

Obtaining the items on the books list was harder than intended. The couple of Galleons Kei had saved was just enough for their inventory, but finding a new trunk for their final year at Hogwarts was harder. Her owl to Terence had gotten intercepted by Albert Higgs and sent back with a very colourfully worded letter in return. Sirius Black heard of the situation and lent the Hufflepuff his old school trunk, allowing her to add the monogram of her own name where his previously was.

Despite the small problem, Kei was over the moon about beginning seventh year— especially as Head Girl. Tiberius was meant to wait in a compartment for her but ended up sitting in the Prefect compartment as Kei gave her spiel to the new fifth year prefects.

She was quite upset with the tension that went on in the Prefect Carriage as the students came in— particularly between the Gryffindors and Slytherins. The Slytherin Prefects, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, glared harshly at Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, the Gryffindor Prefects. Kei wasn't having it. Nothing was going to ruin her seventh year.

"If there's a problem," she addressed the four of them, "I will happily report to Dumbledore that the Head of House's choices for this year's prefects seems to not possess the qualities needed for good leadership and are bad examples. Is that actually the case here?"

All of the prefects stared at Kei with wide eyes, not knowing what the meaning behind their comment was. All eight prefects shook their heads despite her threat being towards the feuding four. Tiberius hid his smile.

"Perfect," she smiled widely and turned to Asa Fortescue, the Head Boy, "Shall we begin?"

Asa gave Kei a shy smile and cleared his throat, "we're meant to go over the duties of being Prefects, what is expected of today and the next three years, and what privileges you're welcomed to with your new roles. It shouldn't take longer than ten minutes and then you're free to be Prefects."

Kei looked over at the Ravenclaw and waited for him to continue, but that was all he had said.

"Oh– Well, yes. As Asa had mentioned: Your duties. Being Prefects is a reward for perfectly upholding the qualities expected of you as students. As it is a reward, it can be and will be taken from you if you deem yourself unworthy and above others purely because you hold a shiny plaque to your chests," they raised a brow at the students.

The poor fifth years looked terrified of the Head Girl, taking in her words with comprehension and absoluteness. Kei internally smiled, proud to be getting through to them.

She continued, "you all know the rules of Hogwarts, being fifth years. Along with the usual rules, your duties include patrolling the hallways to ensure safety, taking note of good and bad behaviour of your house and others, and reporting any suspicious behaviour and delinquency to either me, Asa, or your Head of House. Today, your job is to patrol the train carts for the first two hours of the ride to Hogwarts and help direct students towards the carriages once the train reaches Hogsmeade Station. Then, later tonight, after the start-of-term feast, you are to show the first years, who belong to your house, where your common room is located and tell them the password to enter."

"Although the work may seem tedious or overbearing, being a Prefect does come with its perks," smiled Asa, trying to lighten the serious tension Kei had created. "Since you are to take note of your fellow students and be wary of the things that happen inside and outside of your houses, the lot of you have been given the ability to deduct and add points from other houses and your own. On top of giving and talking points, you may also write up detention slips but they have to get approved by your Heads. Though you are not allowed to take points from or issue detentions to other Prefects, you are allowed to report them."

At his comment, the Slytherins and Gryffindors glanced at one another with mischief written all over their faces. Kei rolled her eyes at their childishness.

"And lastly, Prefects, obviously, have access to the Prefect bathroom on the fifth floor— left-wing, fourth door," he added.

"Now," Kei clapped her hands, "Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Prefects are meant to report to me—"

"And Slytherin and Hufflepuff report to me," Asa finished.

"Each week, there is a report that needs to be written up about all of the misconducts noted and an estimation of how many points were taken or given," explained Kei. "If we do not receive the reports by the end of each week, you will be given a demerit. After three demerits, you lose your Prefect title. Understood?"

The Prefects nodded.

Asa took out the list of Prefects and called out the Slytherin and Hufflepuff's names before handing it to Kei, who did the same but for the house's she was assigned to. After assigning each set of Prefects to patrol two carriages, Kei nearly dismissed them before she remembered the last assignment.

​​"Oh," they gasped, "before I forget, you are meant to meet back here before getting off the train to get your common room passwords. Prefects make them two times a term, just so you know."

"Any questions?" the Head Boy added after the silence. When no one spoke, he dismissed them for their duties.

"Nice one, Frankie," said Tiberius sarcastically. Asa laughed as Kei glared at the two boys,

"I can't stand you both."

As Tiberius stepped off the carriage, Kei decided to jump off, nearly toppling over him. Her excitement ran high as they were proud to have been appointed Head Girl and successfully given the introductory meeting. Franklin Higgs was the first Hufflepuff Head Girl in nearly a decade as it seemed that only Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were given the title.

The first few carriages had been emptied at the door allowing the flood of students into the castle in front of them.

"If you don't slow down, you're going to slip and fall," Tiberius warned.

"And you'll be there to break my fall, Reese's," grinned Kei.

He rolled his eyes and continued the walk through the stairs and into the Great Hall. Instantly, he stopped causing Kei to slam straight into him. She muttered a few words under her breath and slightly shoved Tiberius.

"Franklin," he spoke, pointing towards the teacher's table.

Following his finger, their eyes saw what caused him to stop. Sitting in the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor's chair was the Head of Improper Use of Magic and Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Dolores Umbridge– their least favourite ministry member.

"Oh no," Kei breathed.

"I know," tsked Tiberius.

Kei groaned and stomped her foot.

"What if we leave?" the Slytherin suddenly said.

"Tib, we can't leave."

"We're seventeen– well, I'm nearly seventeen. You've barely been sixteen for four months, but what if I leave?" he mused.

Kei turned and glared at him, "you can't leave–" Tiberius opened his mouth to protest– "and you're not leaving me!"

Tiberius tried to hide the forming smirk on his face, "well. . . it's not my fault you're not an adult—"

"WE'RE STILL IN SCHOOL," Kei shouted in a whisper.

"So?"

"You can't leave," said Kei definitively.

She narrowed her eyes, challenging him as she tapped the large golden plaque on her chest. Kei's eyes lit up as Tiberius sighed in defeat. He very well knew he couldn't leave, more or less be allowed to, but had hoped they would have humoured him.

They didn't.