*★* WATTPAD FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WATTPAD FEATURED STORY & 2017 WATTYS WINNER!! *★* Preceded by rumors of their prophetic birth, pure-blood twins, Fred and George Weasley, follow in the footsteps of their three older brothers by attending a school for...
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TOILERS OF TROUBLE
"The Minister simply cannot bear another week without a selection, Headmaster," said the short woman in the fuzzy lilac cardigan. With her permanently upturned nose leading the way, she scurried just slightly ahead of Albus Dumbledore as they entered the portrait gallery of moving staircases. "It is as simple as choosing a name. We've given you more than enough of them. And I, for one, am rather —"
"Dolores, is it?"
"That is correct. Dolores Jane Umbridge...Senior Undersecretary to the sitting Minister of Magic, Millicent Bagnold. Are we not well beyond introductions at this point?"
Dumbledore paused to gaze into her bulging eyes, deeply immersed in the motives behind them. In each word she spoke, there was neither a hint of decorum or deference. "Do you see where we are standing?" he remarked. "This stairwell holds some of the most exquisite, most irreplaceable artwork to have been produced in all of Wizendom. Some of which harken back to the days of Merlin. A number were painted by Aurelius Hogwart, himself."
"They're delightful," said Umbridge dismissively, her eyes moving from painting to painting as they descended the nearest staircase. "Your point...?"
An amicable grin broke behind his silvery mustache. "The state and preservation of these portraits is of great concern to me, and to the headmasters who have come and gone from this castle. The appointment for the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will reflect not only my desire to produce a sufficient program of study, but to expedite the mystery at hand."
"The work of a few devious students should hardly impact the ability of any headmaster of this school to fulfill one of his — or her — main duties," she said, without masking her disapproval. "These vandals...should be made aware that if they choose to break school rules, they do so at their own peril. Simply increase the penalty for misbehaving and move along."
"Punishments for such conduct are already in place. I thank you for your concern, but our methods have, and will, keep our students in line."
"Mmm," she noted, dropping her voice. "Clearly not."
Dumbledore halted his steps at the end of their staircase and drew a prolonged breath. "Let me say once and for all, Madam, that I do not believe a student is capable of performing such magic."
"Naturally," said the Undersecretary in a placating tone.
He motioned for his guest to mount the oncoming flight of stone steps. It swiveled them outwards, toward the second floor. "The evidence with which we are left is rather puzzling. There was no reason to destroy them, and especially to employ such a cryptic technique. It was most unfortunate for us to learn, as I'm sure you've been told, that the damage to these paintings is irreversible."
"Yes, they were defiled," she responded, shaking her head. "But they're just paintings."
"No painting at Hogwarts is just a painting, Madam Undersecretary."
