A Home At Hogwarts

Part Fourteen

Dolores stood from her seat and moved to stand by the podium.

"Thank you, headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. And how lovely to see all your bright... happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends. The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school... progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved... perfect, what can be perfected... and prune practices that ought to be prohibited." She released a high-pitched chuckle and returned to her seat.

"Thank you, Professor Umbridge. That really was most illuminating." You droned out the rest of his usual speech and ate as her words ran through your mind. Why was the ministry interfering with Hogwarts?

After the announcements and meal were done, everyone was headed back to their dorms. You spotted Harry and tried to get his attention, but he rushed off. You sighed and slowed your pace.

"What's wrong?" Draco leaned to get in your line of sight.

"Oh, I just wanted to chat with Harry. The papers have been saying such awful things about him. I wanted to make sure he was alright." Draco scoffed.

"What's it matter? I'm sure he's just doing it all for attention." You stopped in your tracks.

"Draco, we've talked about this. I know your father doesn't like him, but you aren't your father. Harry has been there for me when no one else was. We understand each other. Don't disrespect him in front of me again, or I'll return to not speaking with you." You rolled your eyes and walked off. Draco tried to call out to yo,  but you ignored him.

Classes started as usual. You all sat in the Dark Arts room waiting for Umbrage to arrive.

"Harry." You tapped his shoulder as you sat behind him. He turned to you and hummed. You both gave small smiles to each other.

"I heard about the trial. Is everything alright? And the papers too. I can't even -" You were interrupted by Umbrage entering.

"Good morning, children. Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations. O-W-Ls. More commonly known as OWLs. Study hard, and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, and the consequences may be severe. Your previous instruction in this subject has been... disturbingly uneven. But you'll be pleased to know, from now on you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic." Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes?"

"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells?"

"Using spells? Well, I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom." She chuckled.

"We're not gonna use magic?" Ron spoke this time.

"You'll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way."

"What use is that? If we're attacked, it won't be risk-free." Harry blurted out. Umbridge turned and glared at him.

"Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class. It is the view of the Ministry... that theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations. Which, after all, is what school is all about."

"And how's theory supposed to prepare us for what's out there?"

"There is nothing out there, dear. Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourself?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe Lord Voldemort." The class erupted into whispers as the professor looked around the class.

"Now, let me make this quite plain. You have been told... that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."

"It's not a lie. I saw him. I fought him."

"Detention! Mr. Potter."

"Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord?" You tensed at the mention of his name.

"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident." Your fists clenched.

"It was murder! Voldemort killed him!"

"Enough! Enough. See me later, Mr. Potter. My office." She gave her shrill chuckle and continued on with class.

The rest of the day was rather uneventful. You tried to speak with Harry, but every time, he'd be just out of reach, or someone else would grab your attention.

A couple of days later, during meal time, there was a commotion in the corridor. Dolores and Minerva stood on the stairs.

"Pardon me, professor, but what exactly are you insinuating?"

"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices." She took a step up to even their standing

"So silly of me, but it sounds... as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom... Minerva." She took a step up the stairs to be higher than Miverva.

"Not at all, Dolores, merely your medieval methods." She took another step up, and Umbridge looked eghast.

"I am sorry, dear. But to question my practices is to question the Ministry... and by extension, the minister himself. I am a tolerant woman... but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty."

"Disloyalty." Minerva looked as if she'd been hit with the Crutiatus curse. She took a step back.

"Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action."

Dolores Umbridge started causing a ruckus more and more often. Walking the halls and putting an end to anything fun. With her new role as Inquisitor, no one could stop her either. Dumbledore hadn't done anything about it.

~~~

A croud of students gathered at the main entrance. You joined to see what was happening. Upon closer inspection, you saw Dolores and Tralawney. Your professor for divination was surrounded by suitcases, and her eyes were full of tears.

"Sixteen years I've lived and taught here. Hogwarts is my home. You can't do this!" The professor seemed at the brink of breakdown

"Actually, I can." She held up the paper. Minerva rushed over to comfort her. You knew that they didnt always get along as Minerva didnt believe in divination. But in this moment noen of that mattered. She was just a witch comforting a fellow witch in her hour of need.

"Something you'd like to say?" She had a very smug look on her face.

"Oh, there are several things I would like to say. There -" She was interrupted by Dumbledore.

"Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?"

"Sybil, dear. This way." Minerva placed a comforting hand on her back.

"Thank you." She tried to feverishly wipe away her tears.

"Dumbledore, may I remind you that under the terms... of Educational Decree Number -" He cut her off.

"You have the right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains with the headmaster."

"For now." She got a smug look on her face.

"Don't you all have studying to do?" He quickly turned and left with Harry chasing behind him.

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