Read My Mind

Old Man With Mistakes

"Chinese education values theory very much, Professor Umbridge. I think it builds a solid foundation for better interpreting magic from a broader perspective." Ria Lectus had no trouble talking in a fake, diplomatic manner. She had seen it plenty from Lucius Malfoy, but also, there was a saying in Chinese that, "Talk to the lived in the living's language, speak to the dead in their dead tongue."

It is not the most pleasant task, but she can make do.

Ria was confused and frankly slightly angry about Dumbledore's inaction. Why was he not doing anything to get rid of Umbridge? Why was he keeping Harry in the dark?

She went to talk to Dumbledore one night.

"Headmaster Dumbledore."

"Ria, always pleasant to see you, I hope you are doing well." He offered her chocolate, as it alleviates the headaches from being mentally drained by Legilimency.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, can I be direct, if I may, against my Asian education." She asked.

"Of course."

"Where do you see an end of this?"

"I'm afraid you would have to be more specific."

"An end to Umbridge's...tyranny."

"Indeed. Tyranny indeed, that's a good word choice."

"You are not answering my question."

"Ria, I'm afraid this is only a start." Dumbledore sighed. "You have met with Cornelius Fudge before, what do you think of him as an administrator?"

"I think he doesn't quite think of himself as an administrator, he wants to be a ruler."

"Precisely." Dumbledore rested his case. "Dolores Umbridge is just a start, if it's not her, it would be others. If there will be others, perhaps it's better to be her."

Ria swallowed her words and nodded. At least Umbridge was stupid. She was stupid enough to make everyone hate her. The best form of control does not come with authoritative command but subtle manipulation. If there were another person, more charismatic, more persuasive, and more adept in hiding, they could easily turn the whole school of children to their sides and think Harry is nothing but an attention seeker.

"But...she used that quill on them." Ria's heart still hurts when she thinks about the wound on Harry, George, and Fred's hands, and the young little boy Michael...and so many more.

"That is truly horrendous, but not enough for us to get rid of her completely, Ria. Fudge could just easily say it's an honest mistake, or a careless choice of method, and send another person."

Ria sighed, and there was a long silence.

"But perhaps you could help with this." Dumbledore said. "What do you think about the idea of having a new class in Hogwarts? How does the title Cross-cultural Comparison and Analysis of Magic sound?"

"That sounded like a mouthful," but Ria smiled.

Dumbledore wanted her to be a teacher one day. No, more than that, he wanted her to be an instructor at Hogwarts, a professor that could protect her students.

But before that, she had to keep her head down and not attract too much attention.

"But what about the...orb?"

"What about it?"

"Sir, I don't understand why you wouldn't tell Harry about it. What's the benefit of keeping him in the dark?"