True Reflections: Scars Saga 3

Retribution

Chapter 14

Retribution

6 March 1996

"Did you get to read through all of the Prophet this morning?" I asked McGonagall. "There was a small blurb that slipped through about..."

"Ahhh!" There was a loud scream out in the Entrance Hall that cut me off.

"What was that?"

A moment later we saw Professor Trelawney scuttle by the doors. Not far behind her came a flying trunk. There was a collective gasp from everyone present, including myself and McGonagall. Students began leaping to their feet and rushing out into the hall. McGonagall and I followed, trying to reign the crown in. We had little success as Umbridge came trotting down the stairs with an almost gleeful smile on her face.

"Nooo!!" Professor Trelawney cried. "No! this can't be happening. I refuse to believe it."

"Oh? Do you mean to say that you couldn't foresee this happening? Well that's the very reason why this is happening," Umbridge said mockingly. "Your appalling and fraudulent act is over."

I felt sick to my stomach. I wasn't a fan of Trelawney, but no one deserved to be treated with such blatant disrespect...except perhaps Umbridge herself.

"Bu—but Hogwarts is my h—home." Trelawney sat on one of her trunks and wept.

"It was your home, until an hour ago when the Minister signed your release order. Now, I must kindly ask you to leave. You are making quite the scene."

Umbridge wasn't doing anything "kindly." It was plain to see her gloating look, as though she wasn't trying to hide it at all. McGonagall and I had both had enough and we stepped forward together.

"Must we do this here, Delores?" I heard McGonagall ask as she placed herself between Trelawney and Umbridge.

Meanwhile, I went down on my knees and tried to console the weeping woman. I awkwardly placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me with eyes that looked to be four times larger than the average person's.

"There now, it will be all right, Tr...Syball." I conjured a handkerchief and used it to wipe away her tears like I used to do for Jonathan and Harry.

"You'll see... There's no need for this. You'll be just fine. You're a part of the Hogwarts family and we take care of our own."

"Sixteen years I've lived and t—taught here. Where am I to go now?"

As I sat before her, I saw the fear flash through her eyes. The same panic and fear began to rise within me as well. I knew it could just as easily be me sitting in her spot with Umbridge holding my release orders.

"I..."

Before I could say anymore, the front doors suddenly burst open. Dumbledore strode in from the grounds looking mightily fierce. He was, at the moment, not a man you wished to cross. He glanced briefly at me and Trelawney before his eyes moved to McGonagall and then Umbridge.

"Professors McGonagall and Porter, might I ask you to kindly escort Sybill back to her rooms?"

"Of course," McGonagall said as she came over to us. Together we helped Trelawney back to her feet.