CHAPTER FORTY ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── "Stay out of trouble. For me."
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─── Y/N POV ───
As the months passed, and fall grew into winter, Hogwarts started to feel as if it was completely overcome by the Ministry's rule. Dolores Umbridge made sure that she had everything locked down, from the way students interacted with one another to the capability of the teaching staff.
One morning, as Hermione and I walked through the crowded corridor, I noticed Cho Chang standing at the edge of a growing group of students. Her face was pale, and she looked worried.
Furrowing my eyebrows, I advanced toward the girl and asked, "Cho, what's going on?"
"It's Professor Trelawney," she said, pointing toward the center of the crowd. "Look."
I followed her gaze and saw Professor Trelawney standing in the middle of the courtyard, trembling, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
"Sixteen years I've lived and taught here. Hogwarts is my home. Y-you can't do this!" she whimpered.
"Actually, I can." Umbridge said, smiling her devilish smile.
Suddenly, Professor McGonagall stepped forward, her eyes blazing with fury as she moved beside Trelawney.
"Something you'd like to say, Minerva?" Umbridge asked, her fake innocence dripping off her words.
"Oh, there are several things I would like to say." McGonagall said giving Umbridge a look of hatred.
"She can't really do this, can she?" I asked Hermione, crossing my arms.
"I'm not sure." Hermione said, and students started to chatter.
Before anyone could intervene, Dumbledore himself appeared at the scene. His presence alone was enough to silence the crowd.
"Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?" he said, his voice calm but firm.
"Dumbledore, may I remind you that under the terms of the Educational Decree number-" Dumbledore cut Umbridge 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."
Umbridge's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "For now," she said with a smug giggle.
