When Hermione Fights

A Long Way to Saturday

A Long Way to Saturday

Already the next day had caught up with me, it was Thursday and once again the Daily Prophet was a source of enlightenment. A newspaper article on the title page informed about professor Umbridge's intentions to undertake long overdue reforms in Hogwarts on behalf of the ministry. A decree made her Hogwarts' 'High Inquisitor'.

This croaking toad! Unbelievable. I couldn't even shake my head about that. Did the wizarding world get its ideas from the Muggle world?

Hello? High Inquisitor? Would they introduce the inquisition like in the Muggle Dark Ages? Did the Ministry go mad? Would they burn everybody at the stake that didn't agree with Fudge? Now I did shake my head over the luridness of the article. And so her surveys in the other teachers' classes began, which I found very exhilarating with my inclination towards deadpan humour, but unfortunately nobody asked me about my opinion. The surveys were glorious. Harry and Ron told me about divination, as I had dropped out in Third Year, finding the subject too ambiguous. I needed clear, structured guidelines, not this... I see something in a foggy crystal ball, but unfortunately it can only be described vaguely and imprecisely! Yes, that was not my forte and I knew when I met my limits and in this case they had been met and more.

"That's just unreal, the way the old toad snubbed the crazy insect" Ron recounted without sympathy and I could see Trelawney before my inner eye, with her greatly magnified eyes behind her too large glasses and the dozens of veils and shawls and several bead chains she had wrapped herself in to seem more mysterious. No, she was no match to Umbridge's deviousness.

"Yes, she unsettled her with her ignorant manner, following her from table to table and Trelawney acting all entranced and mysterious didn't go down well. Not that it works on us, either!" Harry grinned maliciously.

"Right you are! And what did happen next?" I enquired curiously, cutting of a bit of the roast, and chewed thoroughly.

"Damn, that was really bloody vile! Umbitch wanted to hear a prophecy and the dragonfly talked the same rubbish as always! It was unbearable!" Ron continued, chuckling nastily.

"I felt embarrassed for her! No kidding, the dragonfly trembled all over, at that moment I felt really sorry for her. And I can't stand Umbitch with her self-righteous manner!" Harry got worked up. Understandably, who didn't dislike the toad?

When lunch was over we hurried to Professor McGonagall's transfiguration class and had the honour to meet Umbridge there as well. Admittedly, I approved of Harry's and Ron's modification of her name. She was a bitch, but good, rule-abiding Hermione would never utter such a word. The balancing act to appear as this Hermione got larger and more difficult everyday. It was thoroughly exhausting.

McGonagall didn't disappoint me and wasn't fazed by the wicked witch. After one disruption too many she barked at the 'High Inquisitor' to let her teach in peace. If she didn't agree with the older witches way of teaching, she would be welcome to take over the lesson. The 'Dolores' that McGonagall burred expertly, was balm for the annoyed students' peace of mind and it resulted in Umbridge retreating to a corner, miffed, and scribbling on her file, however from then on she remained silent.

When we went outside to Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins, suddenly a hand touched mine and gave it a quick squeeze. I looked up, baffled, and saw only Draco's back vanishing from view. Ah, that was sweet of him, as we hadn't yet found time today to talk. I missed him, though it seemed it wasn't the only one feeling that way. It was a nice feeling to know that he felt similar! When we all had gathered together, Professor Grubbly-Plank had to stand up to Umbridge, which she managed pretty well. She didn't lower herself to discredit Hagrid nor Dumbledore, whom I regarded with some mistrust by now.