Lucinda Evans - still in progress

Chapter 19 - A pink Toad

"Have you heard yet what happened in my DADA class yet?" Mer asks exited.

"No, we haven't. We just saw you," I answer and roll my eyes at her.

"Well, she ordered us to read that stupid book, which you probably have read already. Hermione had also read it entirely and wanted to question Umbridge teachings and the fact that we're not using spells at all. Umbridge became irritated, other Gryffindors joined the discussion and it became one big mess. She was clearly mad, but when your brother mentioned Voldemort she just lost it. Merlin, you should have seen her face. It was hilarious!"

"Harry should better keep a low profile and not become angry all the time," I sigh because I understand why he is frustrated but with those outbursts, he'll get nowhere.

"He just got a detention. It's not that big of a deal," Mer shrugs.

-----

"Everyone here?" Professor Grubbly-Plank barks, once all the everyone has arrived. "Let's crack on then — who can tell me what these things are called?"

"Bowtruckles," Hermione answers. "They're tree-guardians, usually live in wand-trees."

"Five points for Gryffindor," Professor Grubbly-Plank says. "Yes, these are bowtruckles and, as Miss Granger rightly says, they generally live in trees whose wood is of wand quality. Anybody know what they eat?" 

"Wood lice," I answer this time, "But fairy eggs if they can get them."

"Correct. Five points to Slytherin this time. So whenever you need leaves or wood from a tree in which a bowtruckle lodges, it is wise to have a gift of wood lice ready to distract or placate it. They may not look dangerous, but if angered they will gouge out human eyes with their fingers, which, as you can see, are very sharp and not at all desirable near the eyeballs. So if you'd like to gather closer, take a few wood lice and a bowtruckle — I have enough here for one between three — you can study them more closely. I want a sketch from each of you with all body parts labeled by the end of the lesson."

I'm just sketching when I suddenly hear my brother in a rather annoyed way. I turn around and see Draco and a couple of his friends next to him, laughing loudly while Harry is being scrolled at by Hermione.

"If he calls Hagrid a moron one more time..." Harry snarls.

"Harry, don't go picking a row with Malfoy, don't forget, he's a prefect now, he could make life difficult for you..." I hear Hermione try to reason him. But in the mood he's in, I can tell it's an impossible job.

"Wow, I wonder what it'd be like to have a difficult life?" Harry responds sarcastically. 

"Harry, I know your life at the moment isn't exactly a bed of roses but do you really have to be such an arse to your friends?" I ask him which only seems to piss him off even more.

"Keep out of it, Lucinda. You've got no idea what you're talking about," Harry snarls back.

"Wow, can I just tell you that you really reminded me of how Draco treated me?" I say in an icy voice.

"I just wish Hagrid would hurry up and get back, that's all," Harry says in a low voice. "And don't say that Grubbly-Plank woman's a better teacher!" he adds threateningly.

"I wasn't going to," I say calmly. 

"Now that was pretty," I hear Draco say. Is it possible to ever shut his mouth? "Pretty ugly."

"You know Draco, there is this really nice place. It's called go away, and it is located over there," I say in a sweet voice while pointing at the Forbidden Forest. I then turn around and make my way back to the castle for dinner.

-----

"What have I heard? You stood up against Draco?" Mer asks, clearly excited.

"How can you have heard that already. It just happened!" I cry out in frustration. It's impossible to have heard about it already.

"Have you forgotten? My name is Merope Black. It is my business to know what other people do not know. Now tell me all about it," she demands.

"Can't I even eat first?" I plead.

"No."

I sigh, "Fine. Because you asked so nicely." I tell her quickly everything that happened without going to much into detail. 

"Did yu hear the new decree?" Ernie asks, saving me from all the questions Mer is asking me about the incident. 

"What decree?" I ask interested.

"The made that Umbridge woman High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. Can you believe that?"

"Of course I can. I mean, weren't you paying attention when she gave her introduction speech. She almost literally said that the Ministry will interfere in Hogwarts business," I explain after rolling my eyes since it's not difficult to get that he indeed wasn't paying attention since the look on his face says it all.

"I would like to see her try interrupting McGonagall's class," Mer chuckles before taking another spoonful of pudding.

-----

"Hey, where is everybody going?" Mer asks.

It's just our ordinary Thursday morning when suddenly an alarming amount of students intensely whispering and walking from table to table before more and more students stand up and leave the Great Hall.

"Don't know, let's ask. Draco, you know what's going on?"

"It's that Trelawney layabout. She's been finally suspended by Umbridge. I hope she gets rid of that miserable giant soon too."

We stand up too and walk out while following the stream of students. Until we see Filch who carrying trunks, Professor Trelawney is sobbing a few meters away while Umbridge is just looking at her with a satisfied look.

"Y-you can't do this to me. Hogwarts is my home." Trelawney sobs, McGonagall comes and comforts her.

"Actually, I can," Umbridge answers with a sickeningly sweet smile on her face before turning to Professor McGonagall with face kindness, "Something you'd like to say, Minerva?"

"Oh, there are several things I'd like to say," McGonagall says on the moment Dumbledore joins.

"Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?" he instructs and the two teachers go fastly back inside.

"Dumbledore, may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree Number 23, as enacted by the minister-" the pink toad starts but gets interrupted by our Headmaster.

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

"For now." is the only thing Umbridge says in her bittersweet voice.

"Don't you all have studying to do?" Dumbledore before going back inside as well.