➵ Choice ➵ {DM and HP)

➵ Chapter 10 ➵

My heart sinks and I slowly retreat from the pushing crowd back to George. 

"Great, just we need," I say, as the rest of our little group join us. 

"Does anyone know what she can do now?" Harry asks, as we begin to make our way to the entrance. 

"No, but I don't really want to find out," Ron says seriously. 

We find out the very next day at breakfast. 

I was just reaching for some jam for my toast when Quinn shoves a newspaper under my nose. 

"What—" I start but she interrupts me. 

"Just read it."

I put down my food and take the newspaper I now recognize as the Daily Prophet. On the front is plastered a giant photo of Umbridge's squashed face and in big, curly font is written, 

DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED HIGH INQUISITOR AT HOGWARTS SCHOOL 

My eyes travel to the words written under the hideous photo and read, 

The Ministry has now passed Educational Decree Number 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. 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. She says....

I stop reading, closing the newspaper with a loud snap and dropping my head down to the table. 

"That woman will be the death of us," Quinn says grimly, and I nod, still looking at my feet. 

"So you saw it too," I see Benjamin's shoes slide in next to mine. "It's pretty bad, I can already predict how this is going to end."

I sit up and look at him and he continues, "She's definitely a power hungry person, I mean, just look at her right now."

We turn towards the teachers table to see Umbridge sitting primly, stirring a cup of tea and watching the students like a hawk. 

"See the way she watches everyone? Like a lion? That's someone who wants control, who wants power. So, because she's power hungry, that means she won't just be happy with this made up positing of High Inquisitor, she'll want more. I reckon she'll even try for Headmistress."

I turn to look at Benjamin, "You got that all from the way she watches people?"

He shrugs, grabbing a blueberry muffin, "I don't know, people like her are easy to read."

"Wow looks like Benjamin may actually be smart," Quinn coos, reaching around me to ruffle his curly hair. 

He moves away from her rolling his eyes, "I've always been smart, you're just too dumb to notice."

This starts a whole conversation about IQs and I lean forward, blocking them out. I look around the Great Hall and my eyes rest on the gryffindor table, where everyone is discussing between themselves, papers clutched in their hands. I see Hermione, Harry and Ron all leaning over a paper, reading it carefully. 

Harry must have finished, because he falls back into his chair, his expression dark and troubled. He looks up and we meet gazes, and I raise the paper in my hand slightly and he nods. He leans on his hand and shakes his head slightly, his expression hopeless, and I nod, understanding. I give a supportive lift of my fist and this earns a small smile, making me do the same.