chapter ten : the Hogwarts High Inquisitor
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Dear Charlie,
I'm sorry for only writing now. The past week has been rather busy although it was only the first week. The new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor is Dolores Umbridge, a woman who works at the Ministry. She's not pleasant at all but I'm sure we'll managed. We always do.
I'm fine and so are the others. I can tell Ron is itching to get back on his broom and so is Harry. It's my goal to win the Quidditch Cup three times in a row (because honestly, that would be great). Are you coming to watch one of the games?
Anyway, I'm hope you and the others are doing well. Tell them I said hi.
Love,
June
Juniper placed her quill back on her desk and let the letter dry. It was Saturday evening and she had just returned from a good Quidditch practice.
June glanced outside, watched the stars for a moment, before making up her mind. She took her wand and strode out of her dormitory, down the stairs, through the common room and portrait hole. She made her way up towards the Astronomy Tower and sat down on her usual spot to watch the stars. Her heart ached as she glanced at Draco's empty spot but figured out he didn't want to be there.
She gazed at the stars, finding Regulus rather quick, and fixed her eyes on it. Somehow it made her feel closer to her father.
"Hi, dad," she said softly. "It's me, your favorite daughter." June's lips curled up. "I'm sorry I only come now. That Umbridge woman is being a real pain in my ass and only one week has passed." She paused, her eyes wandering towards Draco's empty spot. "Draco is . . . a bit lost," June continued quietly. "It was to be expected, really. With Voldemort's return and all of that." June pursed her lips. "But I miss him dad." Tears were forming in her eyes. "I really miss him and I hope he comes back to me soon."
When no answer came, June pulled her knees up and buried her head into them, crying about Draco and the pain Umbridge had brought upon her. June didn't cry much in front of others, not wanting to worry them.
But here she was, all alone, with the stars as her company.
Or so she thought.
A pair of grey eyes were watching her. The sadness and guild were clear in them. A tear slipped from the right eye but was quickly rubbed off. The eyes stared at the black haired girl for what had been the thousandth time this week. He had been looking at her, but she didn't know. He didn't want her to know. He didn't want her to know that maybe, just maybe he had made a mistake.
Or perhaps he didn't want to know it himself.
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In the following days, things only started to get worse. June, who had always loved Defence Against the Dark Arts, was now hating it and she hated that she hated it because it wasn't the subject that she hated, but the professor and she knew she couldn't do anything about it.
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.'
Among those eccentric decisions are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the employment of werewolf Remus Lupin, half-giant Rubeus Hagrid and delusional ex-Auror, 'Mad-Eye' Moody.
Rumors 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 towards ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in whom we can all repose our 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's alleged links to subversive goblin groups, turn to page seventeen.)"
Juniper finished reading and looked up at Alicia, Angelina, Fred, George and Lee.
"So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge!" Alicia exclaimed. "Fudge passed this 'Educational Degree' and forced her on us! And now he's given her the power to inspect the other teachers!"
"I can't believe this," Angelina breathed. "This is outrageous!"
"I know it is," June said, glancing at her right hand.
Fred placed his hand on hers. "Well, I can't wait to see McGonagall inspected," he said, grinning.
"There's a chance they won't inspect McGonagall when we're having her," June pointed out.
"We better get to Charms," Alicia said, glancing at her watch. "Maybe we'll get inspected there."
"Maybe, I rather not, though," June said, standing up and taking her bag. "It's bad we have to see Umbridge once a week, I don't want to make that twice."
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side.
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Juniper sighed in relief when Charms was finally over. Umbridge had been inspecting Flitwick and June had tensed up ever time that woman came to close to her.
The six of them were making their way back for lunch and sat down next to Hermione, Harry and Ron.
"I got a P," Ron was telling Hermione, ladling soup into his bowl. "Happy?"
"Well, that's nothing to be ashame of," Fred said. "Nothing wrong with a good healthy P."
"But," Hermione began, "doesn't P stand for —"
"Poor, yeah," Lee said. "Still, better than D, isn't it? Dreadful?"
June noticed Harry tensing up slightly and she gave him a questioning look but he ignored her.
"So top grade's O for Outstanding," Hermione was saying, "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 expextations just by turning up for the exams."
They all laughed except Hermione, who ploughed on, "So, after E it's A for Acceptable, and that's the last pass grade, isn't it?"
"Yes," June said, nodding.
"Then you get P for Poor —" Ron raised both his hands in mock celebration "— and D for Dreadful."
"And then T," George reminded him.
"T?" Hermione asked, looking appalled. "Even lower than a D? What on earth does T stand for?"
"Troll," George said promptly.
June smiled and shook her head as she filled her plate.
"You lot had an inspected lesson yet?" Angelina asked Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"No," Hermione said at once. "Have you?"
"Just now, before lunch," Alicia said. "Charms."
"What was it like?" Harry and Hermione asked together.
Angelina shrugged. "Not that bad. Umbridge just lurked in the corner making notes on 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 of 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," George said, "he usually gets everyone through their exams all right."
"Who've you got this afternoon?" June asked Harry.
"Trelawney and Umbridge herself," Harry told her.
"Do me a favor and keep your temper with Umbridge today," June said. "I need you at Quidditch practices."
Somehow June didn't believe he'd actually keep his temper.
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Juniper was not suprised but disappointed when Harry told her that evening he'd gotten another week's detention.
"I don't care what she said, Harry," June said. "I am counting on you to be my Seeker, cousin. I need you. And now, you won't be there because you're in detention!"
"I'm so—"
"I don't want to hear it!" June snapped. "Just keep your mouth shut! If you're not doing it for yourself, then do it for me! Your own bloody cousin, captain and Head Girl!"
With that, June turned around and stormed away. She was getting more frustrated just by thinking about Umbridge. Her feet guided her towards the Astronomy Tower and when she finally climbed all the stairs, some of her anger had disappeared.
With a sigh, she let herself sink onto the floor.
She didn't leave until it was almost midnight and she knew Harry was about to get out of detention soon. June made her way towards the common room and upon arriving, she saw that Hermione and Ron were still up.
"You waiting for Harry?" June asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Yes, but would you stay, too, please?" Hermione said, making June raise her eyebrow. "I want to ask something to the two of you."
"All right," Juniper said, falling down onto the couch.
When Harry climbed through the portrait hole, Hermione had already pushed a small bowl of yellow liquid towards him. "Here, soak your hand in that, it's a solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles, it should help."
"Thanks," Harry said, as he placed his bleeding hand into the bowl.
"She's an awful woman," Hermione said in a small voice. "Awful. You know . . . we've got to do something about her."
"I suggest poison," Ron said at once.
"No . . . I mean, something about what a dreadful teacher she is, and how we're not going to learn any Defence from her at all," Hermione said.
"Well, what can we do about that?" Ron said, yawning. "'S too late, isn't it? She's got the job, she's here to stay. Fudge'll make sure of that."
"Well," Hermione said tentatively. "You know, I was thinking today . . ." she shot a slightly nervous look at Harry and June and then plunged on, "I was thinking that — maybe the time's come when we should just — just do it ourselves."
"Do what ourselves?" Harry asked, but June already knew where she was going to.
"You mean learn Defence Against the Dark Arts ourselves?" she questioned Hermione.
"Come off it," Ron groaned. "You want us to do extra work? D'you realize that Harry and I are behind homework again and it's only the second week?"
"But this is much more important than homework!" Hermione said.
Harry, Ron and Juniper goggled at her.
"I didn't think there was anything in the universe more important than homework!" Ron said.
"Don't be silly, of course there is," Hermione said. "It's about preparing ourselves, like Harry and June said in Umbridge's first lesson, for what's waiting for us out there. It's about making sure we really can defend ourselves. If we don't learn anything for a whole year —"
"We can't do much by ourselves," Ron said in a defeated voice. "I mean, all right, we can go and look jinxes up in the library and try and practice them, I suppose —"
"No, I agree, we've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books," Hermione said. "We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use the spells and correct us if we're going wrong."
"If you're talking about Lupin . . ." Harry began.
"No, no, I'm not talking about Lupin," Hermione said. "He's too busy with the Order and, anyway, the most we could see him is during Hogsmeade weekends and that's not nearly often enough."
"Who, then?" Harry asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" June questioned him. "She's talking about us, Harry!"
There was a moment's silence. A light night breeze rattled the windowspanes behind Ron, and the fire guttered.
"About us what?" Harry asked.
"About us teaching them Defence Against the Dark Arts," June told him.
Ron frowned slightly. "That's an idea."
"But I'm not — we're not teachers," Harry protested. "We can't —"
"Harry, you're the best in our year at Defence Against the Dark Arts and June's probably the best in the entire school," Hermione said.
June smiled. "Probably."
"Me?" Harry said. "No I'm not, you've beaten me in every test —"
"Actually, I haven't," Hermione said coolly. "You beat me in our third year — the only year we both sat the test and had a teacher who actually knew the subject. But I'm not talking about test results, Harry. Think what you've done!"
"How d'you mean?"
"Let's think," Ron said. "First year — you saved the Philosopher's Stone from You-Know-Who."
"But that was luck," Harry said, "it wasn't skill —"
"Second year," Ron interrupted, "you killed the Basilisk and destroyed Riddle."
"Yeah, but if Fawkes hadn't turned up, I —"
"Third year," Ron said, louder still, "you managed to produce a full corporal patronus and last year, you fought off You-Know-Who again —"
"Listen to me!" Harry said, almost angrily. "Just listen to me, all right? It sounds great when you say it like that, but all that stuff was luck — I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I didn't plan any of it, I just did whatever I could think of, and I nearly always had help —"
"And that's why I'm here, Harry," June said, not unkindly. "I do know most of the time what I'm doing and I do know a thing or two of curses and jinxes. Kingsley trained me for a while after all."
When Harry was about to protest, June raised her hands. "Just think about it, okay?"
Harry sighed. "Okay."
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Published 01.04.2021
I hope you enjoyed it & tell me what you think of it!
No I'm not going to fool you today into believing that I'm going to stop writing this story lol. I couldn't even if I wanted it.
Anyway HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRED & GEORGE!!