Elizabeth Kane and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 25

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

𝕬 𝖋𝖊𝖜 𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖐𝖘 after Harry had told Hermione and I about Rookwood, there was a bit of a commotion. I was eating dinner when I heard a scream from the Entrance Hall. I leapt to my feet and rushed out of the Great Hall. Many other students followed after me and started to fill the Entrance hall, filling in every available space except for in front of the Doors.

Professor Trelawney was standing in the middle of the circle, two suitcases at her feet. One of them was upside down and I realized that they had been thrown down the stairs. I felt hate boil in me. She had a wand in one hand, a sherry bottle in the other. Her hair was sticking out in every direction. She had screamed again, a terrified sound.

I saw Professor McGonagall on the other side of the entrance hall. Harry appeared next to me.

"No! NO! This cannot be happening. . . It cannot. . . I refuse to accept it!" Professor Trelawney screamed.

"You didn't realize this was coming?" A sweet voice said, sounding extremely amused. I clenched my fists. "Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrow's weather, you must surely have realized that your pitiful performance during my inspections, and lack of any improvement, would make it inevitable that you would be sacked?"

"You c-can't you c-can't sack me! I've b-been here sixteen years! H-Hogwarts is m-my h-home!" She howled.

"It was your home." Professor Umbridge said and it was the smile that appeared over her face that made me move, striding towards Professor Trelawney. Whispers broke out amongst the students.

"Come on Professor." I said, smiling down at her in kindness. "Let's help you back up to your room now, shall we?"

"And what are you doing Miss Kane?" Professor Umbridge asked in an amused voice.

I turned to face her and said. "I'm helping Professor Trelawney back to her room."

"Ah, but she's been sacked." Professor Umbridge said.

I kept my head high, taking out my wand and lifting her trunks with my wand. "Perhaps," I said lightly. "But you have zero authority to remove her so forcefully from the grounds."

I heard footsteps behind me and heard Professor McGonagall's voice saying, "There, there Sibyll. . . calm down. . . Blow your nose on this. . . It's not as bad as you think, now. . ."

"I'm sorry to inform you of such your large ego Miss Kane, but you actually have no authority to tell me what to do." Professor Umbridge said, getting laughter from the Slytherins.

"Perhaps not." A voice said behind me, "But I certainly do."

I turned to see Professor Dumbledore, standing in front of the doors that were the entrance to he castle.

"You, Professor Dumbledore? I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister of Magic. Under these terms of Educational Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the power to inspect, place upon probation, and sack any teacher she- that is to say, I- feel is not performing up to the standard required by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her."

I lowered the trunks with my wand. I turned my back on her to comfort Professor Trelawney. Professor McGonagall was looking very angry. It was my surprise that she was the one who had come over to comfort Professor Trelawney- they'd never liked each other.

"See, Professor?" I asked. "Everything's going to be okay. I can already foresee that you'll be teaching again by next year."

I wasn't actually entirely sure about this fact but it seemed to cheer her up a bit more.