Into The Light (Golden Trio Era) {2}

High Inquistor

They were all waiting tentatively for Hermione to power through the Daily Prophet this morning and tell them if there was anything about Dumbledore as Percy had mentioned. Through her discovery happened quite sooner than imagined; she gasped loudly just as the delivery owl leaped from the table, frightening her into knocking over a glass of pumpkin juice all over Mikayla.  She flattened the paper on the table while Mikayla attempted to clean the mess.  "Tergeo" Mikayla said, her wand pointing at her soaked robes then the table, siphoning the pumpkin juice from them. Hermione readied herself and traced her finger under the words that caused the sudden gasp. 

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"

In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 'The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some time,' said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. 'He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve.' "This is not the first time in recent weeks Fudge has used new laws to effect improvements at the Wizarding school. As recently as August 30th Educational Decree Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person.  "'That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts,' said Weasley last night. 'Dumbledore couldn't find anyone, so the Minister put in Umbridge and of course, she's been an immediate success an immediate success, totally revolutionising the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.' It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalised with the passing of Educational Decree Twenty-three, which creates the new position of 'Hogwarts High Inquisitor.' 'This is an exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the "falling standards" at Hogwarts,' said Weasley. ' The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post, and we are delighted to say that she has accepted.'"The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts." 'I feel much easier in my mind now that I know that Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,' said Mr. Lucius Malfoy, 41, speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night. 'Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and will be glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.' "Among those 'eccentric decisions' are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the hiring of werewolf Remus Lupin, half giant Rubeus Hagrid, and delusional ex-Auror 'Mad-Eye' Moody. "Rumours abound, of course, that Albus Dumbledore, once Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, is no longer up to the task of managing the prestigious school of Hogwarts. " 'I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is a first step toward ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in whom we can all repose confidence,'said a Ministry insider last night. "Wizengamot elders Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden have resigned in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts. " 'Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of Cornelius Fudge's office,' said Madam Marchbanks. 'This is a further disgusting attempt to discredit Albus Dumbledore.' (For a full account of Madam Marchbanks' alleged links to subversive goblin groups, turn to page 17)."

Hermione looked up from the paper at the others, Mikayla's face was twisted into a grimace.   "So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge! Fudge passed this 'Educational Decree' and forced her on us! And now he's given her power to inspect other teachers!" Hermione was breathing very fast. "I can't believe this. It's outrageous..."  "I know it is," Harry said to Mikayla's right. His hand was gripping the table so tightly Mikayla could read the outline of the cut marks they shared. Ron began to smile.  "What?" The others asked him together, look at him like he was insane.  "Oh, I can't wait to see McGonagall inspected,"  Ron beamed. "Umbridge won't know what's hit her."  "Well, come on," said Hermione, jumping up, "we'd better get going if she's inspecting Binn's class we don't want to be late..." Thankfully Umbridge had not inspected History of Magic today. Mikayla didn't really feel like getting into another argument and therefore slicing her hand open again. It dragged on as usual until they forced themselves down into the dungeons for Potions. Immediately they were all handed back our Moonstone essays.  "I have awarded you the grades you would have received if you presented this work in your O.W.L.," He gave a smirk as he swept across the floor, handing out pitiful and passing papers. "This should give you a realistic idea of what to expect in your examination."  "What did you get?" Mikayla bumped Harry as Hermione hovered over her paper. He held it up to show a large A for Acceptable. There was a blob of ink at the start of the A where she assumed Snape was hesitant to write it. Mikayla and Hermione received an E. Mikayla gave Harry a small thumbs up and he mouthed a 'Thank you." for helping him out.

"The general standard of this homework was abysmal. Most of you would have failed had this been your examination. I expect to see a great deal more effort for this week's essay on the various varieties of venom antidotes, or I shall have to start handing out detentions to those dunces who get D's."  Snape smirked again as Malfoy sniggered and said in an audible whisper, "Some people got D's? Ha!" Mikayla caught his eye as he looked over at their table. That Potions class was probably the hardest Harry's work, he most likely wanted to prove to Snape that he was capable if he put in the effort. His Strengthening Solution was almost the exact shade of Turquoise as Mikayla and Hermione's. He put a flask of it on Professor Snape's desk with pride and a look of mild relief.   "Well, that wasn't as bad as last week, was it?" said Hermione as they tried to get to lunch from the dungeon as quickly as possible. "And the homework didn't go too badly either, did it?" Mikayla gave a shrug. "I mean, all right, I didn't expect the top grade, not if he's marking to O.W.L. standard, but a pass is quite encouraging at this stage, wouldn't you say?" Mikayla made a bit of a gesture for her to stop talking.  "Of course, a lot can happen between now and the exam, we've got plenty of time to improve, but the grades we're getting now are a sort of baseline, aren't they? Something we can build on..."

They sat down at the Gryffindor table in our usual seating arrangements.  "Obviously, I'd have been thrilled if I'd gotten an O-"  "Hermione," Ron interrupted sharply, "if you want to know what grades we got, ask."  "I don't- I didn't mean- well, if you want to tell me-"  "I got a P," he said sourly. "Happy?"  "Well, that's nothing to be ashamed of," said Fred, who had just sat down in time to hear the information and possibly torture his brother about it. George and Lee Jordan had come with him as well. "Nothing wrong with a good healthy P."  "But," Hermione started slowly, trying to catch on. "doesn't P stand for..."  "'Poor,' yes," said Lee. "Still, better than D, isn't it?" Hermione nodded and Rob looked a little less distraught at his grade.  "So top grade's O for 'Outstanding," and then there's A-"  "No, E," George corrected her, "E for 'Exceeds Expectations.' And I've always thought Fred and I should've got E in everything, because we exceeded expectations just by turning up for exams." Mikayla choked on a bit of food in a laugh. It seemed Hermione was the only one who wasn't amused at his comment. "So after E, it's A for 'Acceptable,' and that's the last pass grade, isn't it?"  "Yep," said Fred with a mouth full of bread.  "Then you get a P for 'Poor'"- Ron raised both his arms in mock celebration- "and D for 'Dreadful.'"  And then T," reminded George.  "T?" asked Hermione, looking appalled. "Even lower than a D? What on earth does that stand for?"  "'Troll'" said George with a grin. Harry gave an unsteady laugh and Mikayla could see he was already worrying about the O.W.L.s.  "You lot had an inspected lesson yet?" Fred asked them.  "No," Mikayla answered, swallowing her food. "have you?"  "Just now, before lunch," said George. "Charms."  "What was it like?" Hermione asked at once.  Fred shrugged. "Not that bad. Umbridge just lurked in the corner making notes of a clipboard. "You know what Flitwick's like, he treated her like a guest, didn't seem to bother him at all. She didn't say much. Asked Alicia a couple questions about what the classes are normally like, Alicia told her they were really good, that was it."  "I can't see old Flitwick getting marked down," said George, "he usually gets everyone through their exams alright."  "Who've got this afternoon?" Fred asked Harry.  "Trelawney-"  "A T is ever I saw one-"  "- and Umbridge herself."  "Well, be a good boy and keep your temper with Umbridge today," said George. "Alicia'll do her nut if you miss anymore Quidditch practices."

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