𝐌𝐀𝐃 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 → 𝒸. 𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓁𝑒𝓎

⤷ 10| THE HOGWARTS HIGH INQUISITOR

So she tried to keep her mouth shut and focused herself on Quidditch and homework. This was going to be her last chance to win the Quidditch Cup and she'd be damned if she let that chance go.

"Oh my god," Alicia breathed. It was Monday morning and she was reading the newspaper. "No freaking way."

"Give here," June said, taking it and her eyes widened as she saw a large photograph of Dolores Umbridge, smiling widely and blinking slowly at them from beneath the headline.

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED
FIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR

"High Inquisitor?" Angelina repeated, as she was glancing over June's shoulder. "What does that mean?"

"Probably nothing good," June said, flicking through the pages to read the article.

"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 going-on at Hogwarts for some time,' said Junior Assisstant to the Ministry, 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 of.'

This is not the first time in recent weeks that the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, has used new laws to effect improvements at the wizarding school. As recently as 30th August, Educational Decree Number 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 succes —"

"She's been a WHAT?" Fred said loudly.

"Wait, there's more," June said grimly.

"'— an immediate succes, totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts and providing the Ministry with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.'

It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalized with the passing of 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,' 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 had received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts.

'I feel much easier in my mind now that I know 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 interest at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and are glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.'