☽☽☽
"YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT SHE'S DOING NOW!" Aurora yelled as she burst into the office. Athena looked up in surprise, halfway through marking some assignments.
"Go on then" she muttered.
"The bitch is inspecting lessons!" Aurora shouted in continued anger, "she's actually standing in lessons and writing things down on a bloody clipboard".
"Why's she doing that?" Athena frowned.
After being back at Hogwarts for two weeks it was no surprise that something else was changing. It seemed that Umbridge loved nothing more than creating random and stupid rules. She was power hungry and seemed to be doing it simply because she could.
There was now a wall outside the great hall dedicated to these rules. Each was framed in a separate wooden box. The stone wall had once been completely sparse but was now full of them. Some of the smaller ones banned products created by Fred and George Weasley, others were more severe such as the one regarding punishments or this new one where Umbridge would be inspecting lessons.
"I assume she's looking for reasons to fire people" Aurora sighed, "us included, so please don't do anything ridiculous"
"Me?" Athena scoffed, "you're the one storming around calling her a bitch to anyone who'll listen, she'll be after your blood first"
"She wouldn't dare" Aurora glared, "she is definitely after Trelawny though from what I've hear, I suspect it'll be the same for Hagrid when he gets back from his giant adventure"
"Sybil?" Athena frowned, "Hagrid? She hadn't even met him yet"
"Rena... she hates half breeds" Aurora pointed out, "seers and half giants aren't any exceptions. You should be glad she doesn't know who your dad really is. You having seer blood would just add more onto her list of reasons to kick you out of the castle"
"I'm not sure she needs anything else" Athena muttered, "I already tried to curse her... and I'm romantically involved with a werewolf, yeah I'm sure she loves me"
"Hmm" Aurora murmured, now staring out of the window. "Apparently she is analysing Flitwick first... doubt she'll be able to find anything on him, he's nearly been here as long as McGonagall has and that's saying something"
"Why does she have to storm in and ruin everything?" Athena asked angrily, "the teachers here do exactly what they're meant to do... except Snape of course but I doubt he's going to be top of the list of teachers to fire"
"I've been thinking about it a lot" Aurora continued, "we should play it safe, in lessons. Don't be too casual, or too strict, ask questions to the students you know will have the answer and um... don't walk too close to the edge of the tower like you always do"
"I'll not fall off" Athena scoffed, "unless she starts asking me stupid questions, maybe then I'll make a jump for it... not as if I'll die"
"Seriously Rena" Aurora rolled her eyes, "I need you here, Hogwarts needs you here"
"She's not going to fire me Rory" she said in a matter of fact tone as she went back to her notes, "the students think I'm a great teacher, she'll have a hard time finding someone to agree with her about my position"
"All she needs is one piece of evidence" Aurora continued.
"She doesn't have anything... not conclusive about my teaching anyway... anything else is bias and I can say she's lying"
"I don't think you realise what I'm getting at" Aurora sighed louder now.
"No I don't" Athena stated coldly as she placed her quill down yet again, "do you think she has a right or a reason to fire me?"
"That's not what I said" Aurora shook her head.
"What are you inferring then?"
"She works for the ministry Rena" Aurora started slowly, "you know how they feel about you... to them you're legally mentally unstable and the only reason you're allowed to work this job is because I'm here... if Umbridge finds anything to prove your mental well-being is deteriorating any more or becoming a problem (such as you trying to curse her) she'll tell the minister and then you might as well kiss this job goodbye"
Athena pondered this idea for a minute. Of course she was right. The minister found it extremely easy to declare her insane before, this time it may have even more pressing consequences. Of course she knew that she was completely sane, more so than most people around her. However it's not as though she could prove this fact. The truth was, the evidence did point against her, especially when they were on a brink of a war that no one believed in.
"You understand what I'm getting at?" Aurora asked, "no offence Rena but the ministry really hate you"
"I get you" Athena muttered quietly, "I'm glad the ministry hate me, I want nothing to do them—"
"Athena I need to know you're going to listen to my advice when she comes into your lessons trying to judge every little thing that you do"
"I'll play it safe" Athena agreed with a nod, "don't worry Rory, I'm not inclined to do anything stupid... although jumping off the tower—"
"Would definitely confirm that you're mentally unstable... it would also show that you're temporarily immortal which we don't need"
"I don't think temporary immortality exists Rory" Athena pointed out.
"You know what I mean" Aurora replied, "I know you never take things as seriously as me but I need you at this school Rena"
"Good because I'm not going anywhere" Athena shrugged simply.
☽☽☽
The inspection took place in one of her sixth year lessons. It was a mixture of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students. At first, Athena thought that the toad might have forgotten to show up. She was staring to relax, watching the students take their seats before she saw the trapdoor open.
Athena's heart sank, of course it would be wishful thinking to believe she wouldn't show up. She took a deep breath before she nodded in her direction, trying to be polite.
Umbridge was wearing a horrible pink dress with a large bow positioned in the middle of her head as though she was an overgrown schoolgirl.
"I assume you got my message that I would be inspecting your lesson today... or should I say tonight?"
Athena looked around at the night sky. Astronomy lessons usually took place at night, otherwise there would be no stars to look at.
The majority of the students turned around the stare at Umbridge as she walked in. The woman had a clipboard clutched in her small hands. She looked around, unimpressed by something as she turned her nose up.
"I did get your message" Athena replied shortly, "is there anything particular you want me to do or should I just teach my lesson as normal?"
"Do you think it's good for the students health to have lessons this late?"
"It's necessary for this subject" Athena replied in a bored tone, "they are always given extra hours the next day to make up for lost sleep. These are sixth year students which means they've chosen to study astronomy at NEWT level and are aware about the times the lessons take place"
"I thought you weren't allowed to teach NEWT level?" Umbridge asked in a condescending manner.
"Aurora takes fifth and seventh year students exclusively. That's because at the end of those school years they take exams. Aurora is better at exam preparation"
"So what do you bring to this position?" Umbridge asked sharply, "what can you provide that your sister does not?"
"This is not a competition between me and Aurora" Athena frowned, "we balance the job well, making it easier to manage and therefore easier to provide thorough feedback to the students who need it, now can I get on with my lesson?"
"Yes of course" Umbridge replied in fake politeness, "don't let me stop you"
"Right" Athena began briskly, "we'll start today with a reminder of our last lesson, looking into the constellation of Canis Major and then move on to out new topic surrounding the movements of Jupiter's moons"
Athena started to pace as she always did, keeping in mind not to walk to close to the edge. In fact, Aurora's words were swimming through her mind. She was second guessing every word she said, every movement she made. All the while Umbridge was staring at her. Athena pondered if the woman could smell fear.
"First of all, can someone tell me what Canis Major is?" Athena asked, "Miss Peter's" she pointed towards the Hufflepuff Alina who had her hand raised.
"It's a constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere, also known as the greater dog" Alina answered perfectly.
"Excellent, two points to Hufflepuff" Athena beamed, "last lesson we studied the stars of this constellation, examining their power and the effect their energy has on the life we live today. Can anyone remind me the same of the brightest star in this constellation? Yes miss Chang"
"The Sirius star" Cho smiled and Athena nodded happily.
"Two points to Ravenclaw" she continued, "yes, the Sirius star is the brightest and therefore brings the most energy to our world—"
"Hem hem" Umbridge interrupted.
Athena paused, looking up in surprise. A lot of the students seemed confused by this interruption. Some of them had been taking notes while others had been trying to find the Sirius star through their telescope.
"Yes?" Athena asked to Umbridge.
"Sorry for the interruption, I was just wondering whether it was appropriate to teach students about the Sirius star. We all know the connections this name has with a certain person, a person you were once friends with, correct?"
Athena almost laughed at the idiocy of it all, her nails digging into her palms behind her back.
"If you're referring to Sirius Black, he has nothing to do with my lesson" Athena replied as calmly as she could, "he, along with many members of the Black family, were named after the stars. The star was not named after him and therefore in this lesson he is irrelevant"
"I am merely concerned that your relationship with Black may seep into your teaching, you don't want to give your students the wrong impression"
"I'm confused what wrong impression you think you're referring to?" Athena frowned, "I'm teaching them about the energy of the Dog Star and the constellation as a whole. I never brought up nor will bring up Sirius Black"
"I'm simply worried as I recall back in 1981 you made quite the statement regarding Black's imprisonment did you not? I remember you yelling in the ministry that he was innocent... my, my didn't you cause quite a scene?"
A lot of the students were now looking between the two women as though witnessing a fight. They looked confused, some suspicious and Athena felt her heart sink to the floor.
"I fail to see the relevance" Athena replied, trying as best she could to imagine what Aurora would say.
Umbridge started scribbling rapidly onto her clipboard as Athena stood stationary, unsure what to say or do in this moment.
"Can I continue with my lesson or are you going to keep asking me irrelevant questions about a man I haven't seen in fourteen years?"
"By all means, keep going" Umbridge let out another fake smile.
Athena continued her lesson with higher nerves than she'd had before. Her usual stride was knocked off course. The woman had known that Umbridge would try and uproot things, play in to the fact that Athena had anger issues however she didn't understand what Sirius had to do with anything.
Part of her was paranoid that Umbridge was trying to accuse her of something. Did she know that Athena was still in league was Sirius. If she did, Athena had no idea how this conclusion had been formed.
She still paced back and forth across the astronomy tower roof, pointing out the stars and talking about the moons of Jupiter. This had once been her favourite topic to teach however with Umbridge there she felt as though she was in an exam, one she was dramatically failing.
Athena set the students off to draw a map of Jupiter's moons and annotate it with the information she'd been giving. At this point, Athena would usually walk around and ask students if they needed help with anything. However as she went to take a step forwards, she noticed Umbridge had beaten her to it.
The woman walked between the Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaw's, asking questions about Athena's teaching.
"Do you feel as though you learn a lot from Professor Sinistra?"
"Have you ever been taught by her sister?"
"Who did you think was more competent?"
"How do you find the lessons?"
"Is Professor Sinistra ever unhinged?"
"Have you ever been concerned about her mental state?"
"Do you think she's suited to this poison"
Athena stood in fear the whole time. Jumping off the astronomy tower was certainly looking like a good option right about now. She stood stationary looking between the students, her heart pounding out of her chest.
Luckily, the answers that the students gave all worked in Athena's favour. She was glad of it. She wouldn't have been able to stand it if they saw what Umbridge saw.
Athena left the lesson feeling as though Umbridge couldn't have any reason to kick her out of this castle or attempt to fire her. However she also got the small inkling that once Umbridge decided to do something, there was very little that could stop her.
☽☽☽
A/n
Words - 2268
Published - 21st July 2021
I have fully forced
myself back into
my Harry Potter phase
Because for the last two months
I was too obsessed with criminal minds
Why I can't be in love
with two things at the
same time is the real question