— BY ORDER OF —
The Ministry of Magic
Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.
Signed:
Cornelius Oswald Fudge
minister of magic
"I still can't believe he's gone." Said Hermione putting down her quill in frustration, Harry looked across at her and nodded.
"I know, it's all my fa..."
"It's not your fault, Harry." Eliza interrupted looking annoyed, they were working in the library during their lunch break and the conversation had started to circle.
It had been two weeks since Dumbledore had been suspended and Rigel still didn't believe it. The entire ordeal had been like a nightmare. He was pissed that McGongall was still deputy.
Rigel glanced at his watch and started packing up her things.
"Are you going to career advice from McGonagall?" Asked Ron.
"Yep, I don't know how long it will take so I might not see you until Defence against the Dark Arts."
"You still haven't told us what you want to do when you've finished Hogwarts." Said Hermione, looking up from her Charms essay.
"Haven't I?" Rigel muttered before picking up her bag, leaving the table, and walking out of the library. "Well, I'll give you a hint. Definently not the ministry."
He couldn't believe that Dumbledore was now on the run from the ministry and Umbridge was in charge, the thought of that woman being the Headmistress of Hogwarts made him feel faintly nauseous. At least she was locked out of the Headmaster's office.
As he made his way toward Professor McGonagall's office Rigel had no idea what career choice would suit him. Harry, and Ron, are aurors, Eliza -much to everyone's surprise- wanted to be a healer and Hermione wants to work in the ministry. But Rigel? Maybe he could work at Hogwarts as a transfiguration professor? Or maybe he could find a career in quidditch. Perharps...
Reaching the office Rigel knocked on the door and took a steadying breath.
"Come in." Rigel pushed the door open and walked in; Professor McGonagall nodded at him and indicated the seat across from her.
"Mr. Black, please take a seat." Rigel took a seat. "Now, Mr. Black have you given any thought as to what you'd like to do when you finish Hogwarts?" Professor McGonagall pushed a sheet of parchment and quill across the desk
"Uh, not really," Leo smiled sheepishly. "Nothing's really caught my eye..."
"Understandable." McGongall nodded. "If you'd like, I can recommend a few careers I believe you'd have an aptitude for, Black."
Rigel gave a slow nod before his eyes widened in mild shock as McGongall began to fire off careers that hadn't even been mentioned in the many pamphlets they had been given.
"There's also Magizoology, Quidditch player, Professional Duellist -"
He couldn't imagine a life where he would spend his working day in a stuffy office or working for the Ministry in any capacity. He'd rather wear s ack of dragon dung than work with Fudge.
"What about a professional duellist?" Rigel asked.
"For dueling, I would recommend continuing Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"I ought to tell you now, Black, that I do not accept students into my N.E.W.T. classes unless they have achieved 'Exceeds Expectations' or higher at Ordinary Wizarding Level. I'd say you're averaging 'Outstanding,' so you should have no problems continuing next year. Professor Snape absolutely refuses to take students who get anything other than 'Outstanding' in their O.W.L.s, so you will need to do some work in that class if you plan on taking it next year. Your Charms grade has always been exceptionally high, as has your Defense Against the Dark Arts grade. Well, in any case, all your other classes seem to be in order. Just bring up your Potions grade and you should do fine."
Rigel nodded slowly before rising from his seat when Minnie dismissed him. He thanked her for the advice before striding out of her office, making sure he closed the door behind him. He cast the time spell, frowning when he saw he still had an hour of Defense left.
Maybe his panther limbs could do some stretching.
During dinner, Rigel squeezed into a seat next to Eliza and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"How did it go?" Eliza asked as Rigel piled some stew onto his plate.
"Good, she thought it risky but not a bad choice."
"Are you ever going to tell us what it is?" Harry asked slightly annoyed.
"Perhaps." Said Eliza smiling.
"Fred, you ready?" Asked George sitting opposite and also piling stew onto his plate.
"It's all set, just need to..."
"Ready for what?" Rigel asked.
The twins winked at him. "You'll see little Padfoot."
Rigel groaned. "I'm nearly your height!"
That night, It was just like when Trelawney had been sacked. Students were standing all around the walls in great ring teachers and ghosts were also in the crowd. Prominent among the onlookers were members of the Inquisitorial Squad, who were all looking exceptionally pleased with themselves, and Peeves, who was bobbing overhead, gazed down upon Fred and George, who stood in the middle of the floor with the unmistakable look of two people who had just been cornered.
"So!" said Umbridge triumphantly. "So . . . you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"
"Pretty amusing, yeah," said Fred, looking back up at her without the slightest sign of fear.
Filch elbowed his way closer to Umbridge, almost crying with happiness." I've got the form, Headmistress," he said hoarsely, waving a piece of parchment. "I've got the form and I've got the whips waiting. . . . Oh, let me do it now. . . ."
"Very good, Argus," she said. "You two," she went on, gazing down at Fred and George, "are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school."
"You know what?" said Fred. "I don't think we are."He turned to his twin.
"George," said Fred, "I think we've outgrown full-time education."
"Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself," said George lightly.
"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?" asked Fred.
"Definitely," said George.
And before Umbridge could say a word, they raised their wands and said together, "Accio Brooms!"
There was a loud crash somewhere in the distance. Fred and George's broomsticks one of them were still trailing the heavy chain and iron peg hurtling along the corridor toward their owners. They turned left, streaked down the stairs, and stopped sharply in front of the twins, the chain clattering loudly on the flagged stone floor.
"We won't be seeing you," Fred told Professor Umbridge, swinging his leg over his broomstick.
"Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch," said George, mounting his own. Fred looked around at the assembled students, and at the silent, watchful crowd.
"If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley — Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes," he said in a loud voice. "Our new premises!"
"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat," added George, pointing to Professor Umbridge.
"STOP THEM!" shrieked Umbridge, but it was too late
As the Inquisitorial Squad closed in, Fred and George kicked off from the floor, shooting fifteen feet into the air, the iron peg swinging dangerously below. Fred looked across the hall at the poltergeist bobbing on his level above the crowd.
"Give her hell from us, Peeves."
And Peeves, who has never seen take an order from a student before, swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the students below and sped out of the open front doors into the glorious sunset.