THEY HAD EXPECTED TO have to comb Hermione's Daily Prophet carefully next morning to find the article Percy had mentioned in his letter. However, the departing delivery owl had barely cleared the top of the milk jug when Hermione let out a huge gasp and flattened the newspaper to reveal 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?" said Harry darkly, his half-eaten piece of toast slipping from his fingers. "What does that mean?"
Hermione read aloud:
"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 goings-on at Hogwarts for some time,' said Junior Assistant to the Minister, 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 success--'
Astra scoffed.
"She's been a WHAT?" said Harry loudly.
"Wait, there's more," said Hermione grimly.
"--an immediate success, totally revolutionising the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.
It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalised 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 have 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 interests 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.
Rumours 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. )
Hermione finished reading and looked across the table at the other four.
"So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge! Fudge passed this 'Educational Decree' and forced her on us! And now he's given her the power to inspect the other teachers!" Hermione was breathing fast and her eyes were very bright. "I can't believe this. It's outrageous!"
Astra turned to Luna, both silently agreeing that they would need to make a follow-up article with the Quibbler.
"I know it is," said Harry, and Astra could tell he was looking at his scar, making her unconsciously rub hers as well.
But a grin was unfurling on Ron's face.
"What?"
"Oh, I can't wait to see McGonagall inspected," said Ron happily. "Umbridge won't know what's hit her."
Astra had to agree.
"Well, come on," said Hermione, jumping up, "we'd better get going, if she's inspecting Binns's class we don't want to be late..."
The group once again split up, Harry, Ron, and Hermione heading to Binns, while Astra and Luna went the other way, changing directions as Luna headed to her first class and Astra to Arithmancy.
Astra was glad to see that Umbridge was not in her first class, nor in Snape's dungeon when she arrived for double Potions. However, she couldn't say that she was completely happy in that lessons, for a spiky, black 'E' was scrawled on her moonstone essay.
Really, she wouldn't be too upset if it were another class, for she always got good grades, except for the fact that this was Snape's class, and Snape hated her.
"I have awarded you the grades you would have received if you presented this work in your OWL," said Snape with a smirk, as he swept among them, passing back their homework. "This should give you a realistic idea of what to expect in the examination."
Snape reached the front of the class and turned on his heel to face them.
"The general standard of this homework was abysmal. Most of you would have failed had this been your examination. I expect to see a great deal more effort for this week's essay on the various varieties of venom antidotes, or I shall have to start handing out detentions to those dunces who get a 'D'."
He smirked as Malfoy sniggered and said in a carrying whisper, "Some people got a 'D'? Ha!"
She quickly flipped through her paper, noticing that there was no other marks or additions to her paper other than the good, but not deserving grade.
She raised her hand.
Snape smirked, presumably excited to hear Astra's complaints. "Yes, Miss Black?" he drawled.
"Professor Snivellus," she said clearly and firmly, as she always did when pronouncing his 'nickname', "I believe you made a mistake when grading my paper."
Snape looked more ecstatic than Astra had ever seen him (though his face didn't really change, so that was pretty much just an assumption). "I assure you that there was no mistake -"
"No, there must have been," Astra insisted, "because if there was something on my test that would have forced you to give me anything but an 'O', then there would have been marks on it, telling me what to improve on." She stood up and snatched Malfoy's paper, "See? Draco has a few corrections, and he received an 'O'."
She returned to her seat. "I received an 'E', yet you didn't write anything on my parchment." Snape looked like he was going to interrupt, but Astra continued as Malfoy scowled and Hermione beamed in support, "If you have alterations, I would gladly accept them, but otherwise, I would believe that it is blatant favoritism, which is something that you agreed against in your contract as a professor."
Snape blanched.
"Of course, you've shown other cases of favoritism and discrimination, but none affecting grades yet, which I take very seriously."
Snape scowled. He walked up to take Astra's paper, furiously looking it over, most likely looking for some sort of mistake.
Of course, Astra had checked her page twice with extra checking from Lily; there would be no mistake.
A similar stare-down was taking place to her first day of potions, and once again Astra won.
She took great pleasure in seeing the Potions professor scribble over the grade, making a circular motion with his quill, practically announcing to the class that Astra had gotten a perfect grade.
"Thank you very much, Professor Snivellus," Astra said in a sickeningly polite tone (one she usually reserved for Fudge), and took her seat again.
Snape began the lesson hastily.
***
To their great disappointment, they didn't need to wait for Defense Against the Dark Arts to see Professor Umbridge, for she was standing in the corner of the Divination room when they arrived.
"Good afternoon, Professor Trelawney," said Professor Umbridge with her wide smile. "You received my note, I trust? Giving the time and date of your inspection?"
Professor Trelawney nodded curtly and, looking very disgruntled, turned her back on Professor Umbridge and continued to give out books. Still smiling, Professor Umbridge grasped the back of the nearest armchair and pulled it to the front of the class so that it was a few inches behind Professor Trelawney's seat. She then sat down, took her clipboard from her flowery bag and looked up expectantly, waiting for the class to begin.
Professor Trelawney pulled her shawls tight about her with slightly trembling hands and surveyed the class through her hugely magnifying lenses.
"We shall be continuing our study of prophetic dreams today," she said in a brave attempt at her usual mystic tones, though her voice shook slightly. "Divide into pairs, please, and interpret each others latest night-time visions with the aid of the Oracle."
She made as though to sweep back to her seat, saw Professor Umbridge sitting right beside it, and immediately veered left towards Parvati and Lavender, who were already deep in discussion about Parvati's most recent dream.
Astra once again moved across the room to Neville, taking out her copy of The Dream Oracle.
"Well, would you like to go first?"
Neville looked quite nervous, seeing as Umbridge was closer to them than most of the others, so Astra took initiative.
She opened her dream diary, full of false dreams for hers only consisted of her past visions or future fears, something she didn't want to talk about. "I dreamed of the owlery," she said vaguely.
Neville nodded and looked through his book, "Well, owls stand for wisdom, um... what were you doing in the owlery?"
"Flying. As an owl. It's comforting -"
"Miss Black," came the sugary voice that Astra hated, "Why would being an owl be comforting?"
"Well, Professor Umbridge," she resisted the urge to use her nickname, "I happen to be an owl animagus, though I'm sure you know that." Umbridge's smile faltered for a moment. "And flying is very comforting to me, as is the owlery."
Neville looked up shakily, "Y-yeah, so flying stands for, uh, new achievements..."
"So, using wisdom to gain new achievements?"
Neville looked relieved, "Yeah! That's it!"
Umbridge looked frustrated that they were doing their work, and moved on. Neville let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the focus wasn't on them, Astra listened in on the conversation, occasionally nodding at Neville's dream (a very twisted version of his boggart's ridikulus form as well as something to do with a large bowl of cereal)
"Now," said Umbridge, looking up at Trelawney, "you've been in this post how long, exactly?"
Professor Trelawney scowled at her, arms crossed and shoulders hunched as though wishing to protect herself as much as possible from the indignity of the inspection. After a slight pause in which she seemed to decide that the question was not so offensive that she could reasonably ignore it, she said in a deeply resentful tone, "Nearly sixteen years."
"Quite a period," said Professor Umbridge, making a note on her clipboard. "So it was Professor Dumbledore who appointed you?"
"That's right," said Professor Trelawney shortly.
Professor Umbridge made another note.
"And you are a great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney?"
"Yes," said Professor Trelawney, holding her head a little higher.
Another note on the clipboard.
"But I think-- correct me if I am mistaken--that you are the first in your family since Cassandra to be possessed of Second Sight?"
"These things often skip--er--three generations," said Professor Trelawney.
Professor Umbridge's toadlike smile widened.
"Of course," she said sweetly, making yet another note. "Well, if you could just predict something for me, then?" And she looked up enquiringly, still smiling.
Astra nearly scoffed.
Professor Trelawney stiffened as though unable to believe her ears. "I don't understand you," she said, clutching convulsively at the shawl around her scrawny neck.
"I'd like you to make a prediction for me," said Professor Umbridge very clearly.
Most of the class were staring transfixed at Professor Trelawney as she drew herself up to her lull height, her beads and bangles clinking.
"The Inner Eye does not See upon command!" she said in scandalized tones. Astra breathed a sigh of relief.
"I see," said Professor Umbridge softly, making yet another note on her clipboard.
"I--but--but . . . wait!" said Professor Trelawney suddenly, in an attempt at her usual ethereal voice, though the mystical effect was ruined somewhat by the way it was shaking with anger. "I . . . I think I do see something . . . something that concerns you . . . why, I sense something . . . something dark . . . some grave peril . . . "
Astra's momentary relief was gone.
Professor Trelawney pointed a shaking finger at Professor Umbridge who continued to smile blandly at her, eyebrows raised.
"I am afraid . . . I am afraid that you are in grave danger!" Professor Trelawney finished dramatically.
There was a pause. Professor Umbridge surveyed Professor Trelawney.
"Right,' she said softly, scribbling on her clipboard once more. "Well, if that's really the best you can do . . . "
She turned away, leaving Professor Trelawney standing rooted to the spot, her chest heaving.
"Well?" she said, snapping her long fingers under Harry's nose, uncharacteristically brisk. "Let me see the start you've made on your dream diary, please."
And so, Trelawney interpreted Harry's dreams at the top of her voice (all of which, even the ones that involved eating porridge, apparently foretold a gruesome and early death). All the while, Professor Umbridge stood a few feet away, making notes on that clipboard, and when the bell rang she descended the silver ladder first and was waiting for them all when they reached their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson ten minutes later.
A/N: just got out of testing and....
I honestly don't know how I feel
but anyway... let me just say the next few chapters will be going crazy as Astra will full on go all out against Umbridge.
It's going to be fun.