SCARLETT: THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Chapter 22: Fired

Things were getting bad. I was starting OWL review and Umbridge was still not letting us use practical defence in classes. In fact, it got so bad that Fred and George left school on their confiscated brooms, ordering Peeves, the poltergiest to give Umbitch hell.

Trewlaney was sacked by Umbitch, but is staying in the castle thanks to Dumbledore;
Flashback
Just as I began to write the last part of my homework, I heard a horrible scream come from the room next to me that made me jump in my seat and send ink flying onto the table.

"What was that?" Hermione asked with wide eyes.

Without answering, we both jumped out of our seats and ran into the Entrance Hall along with some of the other students that has heard this pathetic cry. When we got there, the first thing I saw was the crouching figure of Professor Trelawney crying on the floor of the Entrance Hall and Umbridge standing above her looking like she had just won a prize.

What has she done now?

"What's going on?" Hermione said to me.

"Your guess is as good as mine," I breathed.

Within seconds of hearing Professor Trelawney's wails, nearly the entire school had managed to gather around the Entrance Hall to get a good look of what was going on. I was even surprised to see Harry and Snape coming from Occlumency lessons to find out what Umbridge had done to this poor, helpless woman that was crying on the ground with two suitcases by her side.

"This can't be h-happening," Professor Trelawney cried. "I don't believe it."

"You can't honestly tell me that you didn't see this coming," Umbridge scoffed. "Then again, I guess that you really can't See anything anyway. Your horrible performance as a teacher and a Seer has forced me to do this."

"I can't l-leave Hogwarts," she sobbed. "This is my h-home, I've lived here for s-sixteen years!"

"You aren't welcome here anymore," Umbridge said coldly. "You have been sacked and I suggest you leave now before I am forced to make you leave on my terms."

Everyone in the area was completely silent, all staring in shock at the scene in front of them. Sure, I never thought that Professor Trelawney was a good teacher, but this isn't something that I would wish on anyone. Umbridge had no right to treat anyone in this manner, but I was so stunned by everything that I found myself speechless along with the rest of the crowd. The only person that seemed to be able to react was Professor McGonagall who was quickly making her way through the crowd towards Trelawney and Umbridge. When she arrived at the scene, she immediately went to Trelawney's aid and helped to stand her upright and attempted to calm her nerves.

"Everything is going to be fine Sybill," McGonagall said soothingly. "Let's just get your things and go back upstairs."

The slight twitch in Umbridge's face made me realize how angry that small comment that McGonagall had made - the smile wasn't fooling anyone anymore. Then again it wasn't exactly a secret that the two women loathed one another.

"I'm sorry Minerva," Umbridge said in a sickly sweet voice. "I don't believe that you have the authority to say such a thing to her. I am the High Inquisitor at this school and - "

"I'm sorry Dolores," a booming voice came from the other side of the room. "But I do believe that Minerva is acting on my orders."

Everyone's attention turned to the Dumbledore who was gazing out at the scene like it was the most normal thing in the world. Although it had a been a good while since I had seen him, he didn't seem to have changed very much in appearance. His beard was just as long and white as ever and his half-moon spectacles were perched on his crooked nose as he gazed around at us all. He had a pleasant smile across his face, but the only thing that seemed to be missing was usual gleam that he had in his eyes. Even from this distance, I could see that they had darkened over time with all of the added stress and work that he was given.

"Your orders?" Umbridge scoffed. "I have ordered this woman from the building due to her inability to teach - I have every right to do this and - "

"I am well aware of your rights Dolores," Dumbledore said without his smile faltering. "You have the power to sack my teachers, but you don't have any right to send them away. As far as I am concerned, Sybill is as welcome here now as she was the day that I hired her."

"Is that so?" Umbridge said coldly. "And what do you think is going to happen when I appoint a new Divination teacher? There will be no room for her once she is replaced."

"I don't think that should be an issue," Dumbledore said. "I've already appointed a new Divination teacher and I do believe that he wouldn't find himself all that comfortable in her lodgings."

If I had ever thought that Trelawney's eyes looked large, it was nothing compared to what they were now. I wasn't sure if she was more shocked of the fact that she was allowed to stay on the grounds or that Dumbledore had already replaced her.

"What do you mean that you appointed another teacher?" Umbridge said with a slight snarl. "Under Education Decree Number -"

"The Ministry may only appoint a teacher for the position if I am unable to find a suitable candidate," Dumbledore stated. "I don't believe that would be necessary at this point - and I do believe that now is as good of a time as any to introduce our new staff member."

Everyone was still speechless and the room was completely silent until we suddenly heard the sound of what seemed to be horse hoofs hitting the ground, but I was probably mistaken. It wasn't until a moment later that I realized that I was right, but it wasn't exactly a horse that was making the noise.

"I would like to introduce Firenze," Dumbledore said. "I believe that he is well fit for the job.

I don't think that Umbridge could have looked any more disgusted with the centaur than she did right now. I had always heard that she wasn't fond of any sort of half-breed creature and right now that was more evident than ever.

"I am honored to have this position," Firenze said while looking around at all of us. "And I would like to thank Dumbledore for offering me this job."

End of Flashback

Two days after Trelawney was sacked, we had the privilege of going to one of Firenze's first classes. It was actually a bit confusing at first because we were no longer going to be having Divination in the North Tower because Firenze was not able to climb up the ladder to get there. So, instead of going to our usual place, our class met a room just across from the Entrance Hall. However, we weren't prepared at all for what we had walked into.

Instead of the usual decoration of desks and chairs that the classrooms normally had, we were surrounded by various trees and earth on the ground that made it appear as though we were in the Forbidden Forest. When I saw Firenze standing in the middle of all of this, I realized that he must have done this so that he would feel more at home while he had to teach here.

I still wasn't able to find this subject fascinating at all and was counting down the time to when we were allowed to leave. The only thing that I found interesting or slightly amusing at all in that class was the disappointed faces of Lavender and Parvati who were basically being told that everything that they had grown to love in this class was all wrong. It was days like this that I wished that I would have walked out of the class when Hermione did so I could have taken another class instead.

*
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Something bad happens next...I hope you're ready...

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