'Tell Me Pretty Lies,' by moongirlel

Chapter 85: Inquisitorial Badge of Honour

[Doin' Time - Lana Del Rey]

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Wed. 11th October 1995 - 7:19am...

Pulling my red curls back into a high ponytail, I stood in front of my dormitory mirror.

Tossing on my robes, I pick up the new, additional piece of my uniform — The Inquisitorial Squad's badge.

Professor Umbridge had offered us each our own badge last week, to show our support for her and the group she's created.

Is it strange for me to think, I feel wanted in the squad?

And that I feel comfortable now, wearing the badge?

I still intended to play it safe around her. To stick to the plan me and my friends have agreed on before jumping to any conclusions.

But the temptation of power can whisper a lot to a person who feels constantly helpless.

Being in the Inquisitorial Squad allowed me to have privileges close to a Prefect; as enacted by the Minister of Magic.

I already knew me and my friends had played into the Ministry's hands. There was no backing down from our plan now, no matter how much we all regretted our decisions.

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9:53am...

"Your futures are all full of possibilities!" Professor Trelawney announced to us. "Tragedy and hopelessness for some... success and happiness for the others."

The whole class sat in silence, faces of boredom overriding all our emotions. After years of Trelawney blabbering nonsense, even someone who's intrigued by the subject would find it to become quite tiresome.

Me. I use to enjoy this class.

I lean on the palm of my hand, exhaling.

Draco mirrored my actions next to me, followed by Pansy and Daphne at their own seats.

Draco blew out air, quietly tapping his hand against the clothed table. His rings tapping against it, his fingers lightly grazing mine.

I glance over to him, finding him to already be admiring me. His eyes shift, softening for a moment.

"I love you." He mouthed to me.

"—and for the Minister, Professor, I must inspect Divination." Umbridge's voice echoed up the stairs.

She barged into the room, clicking a cat themed pen continuously. "Ah. Professor, how lovely to see you here."

"I'm sorry?" Trelawney mumbled, rubbing her hands together.

"What's the toad up to?" Blaise asked, leaning forwards to whisper between me and Draco.

Theodore did the same.

"No idea. Knowing her she's probably doing some unnecessary inspection." Draco chuckled.

"She's been doing a lot of those lately." Theodore comments.

"Professor, please, continue your lesson as though I am not here." Umbridge told her.

Trelawney gathered her thoughts. She passed around Tarot cards, a deck per table. "P-please open the decks, my dears."

We do as she says.

Umbridge clicked her pen, again. She clopped around the room, her heels digging into the wooden floorboards. She paused, leaning forwards to stare at a statue of a three-headed dog. "Professor?"

"Y-yes?" Trelawney turned to her.

"Tell me a little about your career, at Hogwarts." Her face screwed up, and she took another lap of the room.

"I teach Divination... I-I see beyond the 3D, and channel the power and energy of the 4D into the mind..." Trelawney waved her hands above her head, gesturing towards the sky as she pulled at air. "...the spirits speak to me in—"

"Hallucinations." Umbridge blurts out.

Some students chuckled at the statement. My Slytherin friends included, except Kage.

Trelawney hummed in confusion. "Well... I don't think —"

"Professor Dumbledore informed me; you make up their prophecies." Umbridge scribbled down some notes. She sighed heavily, "Such a shame I don't have much proof of this, and how reliable it is for the school's education system and growth of the students. Do any of your students actually believe in said theories?"

No one answered her, not even Trelawney. She stood still, with her mouth agape.

"I see." She squeaked, "You could offer me some more knowledge. Could you... predict something for me?"

"I'm sorry— predict? Something for you, now?" Trelawney asked, glancing around the room.

Uncertainty filled the air.

Umbridge neatly folds her arms at her chest. "Yes. That is what I'm asking. Why, is there something wrong with the spirits... that you can't call to them for a few minutes? Surely, they haven't taken a holiday."

Trelawney shakes her head, "I-I... I- uh—"

"Very well." Umbridge nods. She spun around, and leaving the classroom.

"No! No, wait! Wait— yes! I see it now!" Trelawney shrieked suddenly, reaching out towards her. "I do see something. My dear... you— you... are in grave danger."

"...lovely."

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