Into The Light (Golden Trio Era) {2}

Trelawney Sacked

Mikayla was playing Wizard Chess with Avery in the library when she heard screams, the pair looked at each other worried before another scream sounded. Everyone in the library jumped up as rushed towards the screams coming from the courtyard near the Entrance Hall. Mikayla pushed her way through students until she was in front of the surrounding circle of Professor Trelawney. Her hair messier than unusual, a half empty bottle of sherry clutched in her hand and suitcases surrounded her. McGonagall looked like she was going to be sick, she never approved of Trelawney as a teacher but considered her a friend, and the hatred towards Umbridge was being amplified by the second. The toad-like woman had a sickening smirk of her face, Mikayla looked around, this was Umbridge's way of firing a teacher, embarrass them in front of the whole student body! Mikayla moves along the edge of the front making her way closer to Trelawney.

"No!" Trelawney shrieked. "NO! This cannot be happening... it cannot... I refuse to accept it." "You didn't realise this was coming?" said Umbridge with a high girlish voice. Mikayla was in disbelief at the enjoyment Umbridge was getting out of sacking Trelawney. "Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrow's weather, you must surely have realised that your pitiful performance during my inspections, and lack of any improvement, and had to bring in Miss Black to help you teach your class, would make it inevitable you would be sacked?" A chill went down Mikayla's back, as she felt eyes shift her way, her heart sunk. "You c-can't!" Trelawney begged her, but Umbridge showed no remorse. "you c-can't sack me! I've b-been here sixteen years! H-Hogwarts is m-my h-home!" "It was your home," Umbridge smiled. Trelawney sunk against one of her suitcases, sobbing uncontrollably. "until an hour ago, when the Minister of Magic countersigned the order for your dismissal. Now kindly remove yourself from this property. You are embarrassing us." She finished.

Mikayla continued to watch, her mouth hung wide open. Professor McGonagall tore away from the crowd finally and consoled Trelawney. Umbridge looked at McGonagall in wonderment, "something you'd like to say dear?" Umbridge questioned, "oh there are several things I'd like to say." McGonagall's voice shook as she spoke, "There, there, Sibyll... Calm down... Blow your nose on this... It's not as bad as you think, now... You are not going to have to leave Hogwarts..." "Oh really, Professor McGonagall?" Umbridge stepped toward her in a challenging manner, "And your authority for that statement is... ?"  "That would be mine." A booming voice spoke from outside the enclosed scene. Dumbledore appeared between the two enormous oak doors, the students nearest scattered away. He strolled in casually, each step a purposeful defiance of Umbridge. "Yours, Professor Dumbledore?" she laughed. "I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here"- she reached for a roll of parchment that she just so conveniently had in her robes- "an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister of Magic. Under the terms of Educational Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the power to inspect, place upon probation, and sack any teacher she- that is to say, I- feel is not performing up to the standard required by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her." Dumbledore just smiled, unphased by her words. He looked down at what remained of Trelawney, sobbing and falling apart on the ground. "You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge. As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the castle. I am afraid," he said ever so pleasantly, "that the power to do that still resides with the headmaster, and it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts."

At this point, Trelawney gave a drunkenly mad laugh, "No- no, I'll g-go, Dumbledore! I sh-shall l-leave Hogwarts and s-seek my fortune elsewhere-"  "No," Dumbledore refused, "It is my wish that you remain, Sibyll." He then turned to Professor McGonagall while keeping unnervingly calm and collected. "Might I ask you to escort Sibyll back upstairs, Professor McGonagall?" "Of course," nodded McGonagall. "Up you get, Sibyll..." Professor Sprout made her way out of the crowd as well and grabbed onto Trelawney's other arm, helping her up. They walked her past Umbridge and back up the stairs without saying anything more. A moment passed then Flitwick went after them as well, waving his wand and saying "Locomotor trunks!" as he went. Trelawney's trunks rose and floated up the stairs after them, with Flitwick following.

"And what," Umbridge started in a whisper dripping with rage that still somehow made it to everyone's ears throughout the courtyard, "are you going to do with her once I appoint a new Divination teacher who needs her lodgings?" "Oh, that won't be a problem," Dumbledore clapped his hands together contently. "You see, I have already found us a new Divination teacher, and he will prefer lodgings on the ground floor." "You've found- ?" Umbridge inhaled sharply. "You've found? Might I remind you, Dumbledore, that under Educational Decree Twenty-two-" "- the Ministry has the right to appoint a suitable candidate if- and only if- the headmaster is unable to find one," he smiled ever so slightly, "And I am happy to say that on this occasion I have succeeded. May I introduce you?" He spun to face the open front doors. There was a faint clicking of hooves on the stone floor that grew louder as they neared the entrance. "Riding horseback into the castle? Now that's quite an entrance," Hermione stood on her toes and whispered to Harry. He looked back at Mikayla, amused. People began to quickly back up from the entrance, tripping over others. There was an excited but shocked murmur among those closest to the doors.

Once the students parted away from him, Mikayla got a good look at the new teacher: blonde hair so pale it was almost white, blue eyes, and the body of both horse and man. "Wait isn't that-" Mikayla began, squinting skeptically. "This is Firenze," Dumbledore said pleasantly, "I think you'll find him suitable." Harry looked back at Mikayla, nodding furiously as to answer her unfinished question. Mikayla smiled at the disgust on Umbridge's face at the sight of the half breed on the castle grounds. Mikayla moved towards the new teacher, Firenze smiled as Mikayla reached out her hands and shook his hands. "Nice to see you again Firenze." She spoke naturally, "Miss Black, it was foreseen that we would cross paths again." Mikayla smiled nodded. "Don't you all have studying to do?" Dumbledore announced to the students as he rushed back into the school. Mikayla spotted Harry trying to catch up with Dumbledore calling for him but being ignored.