Little Talks - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

60

"What are scotch eggs made out of anyways?" Blaise asked cutting into the large piece of food, steam piping out of it as he did so.

"Sausage, I believe," Faris shrugged, shoving her pancakes around on her plate.

"How much would you bet that I could fit this whole scotch egg in my mouth?"

Faris grimaced, then remembered the things he had consumed before. "I have no doubt that you can."

He grinned, beginning to shove the scotch egg into his mouth when there was a terrible screeching, a sharp sound like the squawk of a crow. Then the screech turned into wailing, heads turned towards the commotion, the horrible sounds coming from the Entrance Hall.

Blaise quickly shoved the rest of his scotch egg into his mouth before leaping out of his seat to meet the fuss.

"NO!" Professor Trelawney shrieked, her brown eyes wide with fear, so wide they looked like they would pop the frames of her glasses. "No! I refuse to accept it! Absolutely not! You can't do this!"

Faris found her place behind a group of girls, Blaise was struggling to keep the scotch egg in his mouth, saliva running out of his mouth. The group of girls cringed, shuffling through the crowd to find a different spot.

Umbridge gave her a small smile, "Did you not predict this to happen in that crystal ball of yours, Professor?" She chuckled at her own joke, "I assumed you realized the consequences after reviewing your pitiful performance. Clearly, you lack of an improvement or simply don't wish to improve, and that is just not acceptable here at Hogwarts."

"B-but I've been here for sixteen years! You c-can't sack m-me!" She cried "Hogwarts is my home!"

"Correction, it was your home, until just an hour ago the Minister of Magic signed off your dismissal . . . Now, kindly remove yourself from the premises."

Umbridge smirked at the power she held over everyone, satisfied with her job.

Trelawney stared at her in horror, tears streaming down her sallow face, Professor McGonagall pushed her way through the crowd toward the center of the argument. She handed Trelawney her handkerchief, patting her friend and colleague on the back.

"There there, Sybil dear, you won't have to leave Hogwarts-"

"Oh really? And you suddenly have the authority to make that statement?"

"I believe I hold the authority, Professor Umbridge," said a deep voice. Heads turned towards the top of the marble staircase, feet suddenly scrambling to make way for their headmaster. "I'm afraid you don't understand-"

Umbridge pulled a roll of parchment out of her pink coat. "I have here, an order of dismissal signed by myself and the Minister of Magic. Educational Decree number twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the authority to inspect, place upon probation, and sack any teacher I see is not teaching up to standards. And I, as the High Inquisitor, have the right to sack Professor Trelawney as she does not fit the Ministry requirements, I have dismissed her."

Faris peered over at Blaise and the mushy scotch egg in his mouth, breaded sausage dribbling down his chin. Faris snorted, trying to disguise it as a cough to avoid the nasty glares students could throw her way. Blaise failed to chew the mush in his mouth, he looked like a baby trying to eat solids for the first time.

Dumbledore nodded along, stroking his white beard. "You are right about a few things, Professor. You have every right to dismiss my teachers but you do not have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains to be only the Headmaster's power," Dumbledore snarled. "It is my wish that Professor Trelawney continues to live at Hogwarts."