way to go, tiger | Lorenzo Berkshire

࣪𖤐 Y5 | 6 . Umbridge

AS IT WAS — HARRY STYLES
'In this world, it's just us. you know it's not the same as it was.'

By mid-November, Cassie is recovering from her full moon. She hasn't cried in a week— a pretty solid record for her so far. Cedric remains in her thoughts pretty much twenty-four-seven, but she's not letting it affect her like it did. She's better now. She isn't weak.

And Cedric isn't coming back.

Also, the entrance to the Great Hall is plastered is covered in all sorts of Decrees being enforced by Umbridge. Slowly, she's been taking over the school. In DADA they're learning nothing and students are walking around school with burning red hands. Cassie thinks even having Barty Crouch Jr was a better choice— and he's the reason her brother is dead.

The whole school gather around the courtyard, Professor Trelawney quivering in her spot. Filch hobbles over to the trembling Divination Professor and hands her (lots of) trunks to her. "This is absolutely cruel. She hasn't done anything wrong!" Lavender Brown squeals from behind Cassie. She can't help but agree. Sure, Trelawney is as mad as a hatter but she is one of them. She has worked at Hogwarts for years.

The large metal doors swing open and Umbridge waltzes out of them with her usual creepy grin plastered across her face. She approaches Trelawney with a menacing smile as the crowds of Hogwarts students watch in anticipation.

Harry pushes his way through the crowds and stands in between Cassie and Enzo. "What's going on?" he whisperers, his chest heaving.

"Dunno, apparently Trelawney failed her evaluation." Ron answers instead.

"Six..." Trelawney stutters, almost tumbling over her trunks in the process. "Sixteen years I've... I've lived and taught here. Hogwarts is my home."

Cassie frowns, her eyebrows sinking. As much as Cassie isn't fond of her, she doesn't deserve to be fired. As sane as Divination professors go, she isn't that bad.

Trelawney begins weeping and wiped her soggy eyes with her baggy, scruffy sleeve. "You... you can't do this."

Umbridge gives her a sarcastic sympathetic smile, "Actually, I can." Umbridge lifts a piece of parchment with a ministry logo on the top to prove her point. Cassie's blood boils at her words. Umbridge is honestly the most frustrating person Cassie has ever come across— and she's had to put up with Marcus Flint.

Mcgonagall pushes past Cassie and Harry, rushing to Sybil's side in an instant. She wraps her arms around her comfortingly. Cassie has always admired Mcgonagall. She's always been her favourite professor— simply because of her undying confidence, which is hilarious at times. Plus, she actually cares about her students— which is an area most Professors lack in.

"Something you'd like to say, dear?" Umbridge simpers towards Mcgonagall. She's stupid enough to start a vocal argument with Minerva Mcgonagall. Minnie always wins.

"Oh, there are several things I would like to say!" Minerva spits, a rich scowl on her face. She resumes comforting Trelawney, handing her tissues and rubbing her shoulders. "There there, shh."

Out of nowhere, the same doors Umbridge had previously walked through burst open with a large rattle. Dumbledore struts through the doors and onto the courtyard while everyone stares in awe. As much as Cassie hates him, he bloody knows how to make an entrance. "Professor Mcgonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?" Dumbledore orders. Umbridge doesn't even flinch at his words.

Mcgonagall leads Sybil out of the courtyard— Trelawney thanking Dumbledore about a million times.

"Dumbledore may I remind you that, under the terms of Educational Decree Number twenty-three, as enacted by the Minister—"