"𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗘, 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗥, 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧
exactly are you insinuating?" Umbridge.
My brows furrow in confusion as the woman's annoying voice echoes into the Great Hall from the corridor. The fork in my hand stops just before reaching my mouth as I turn to the doors. She's talking to someone, but I'm not sure who.
"I'm merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices." McGonagall.
I place my fork on the table and climb from my seat, exchanging a look with Theo across from me as many students, including the two of us, begin to flood the corridor curiously.
"So silly of me, but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom, Minerva." I push past a Huffelpuff student to see the two women on the stairs, arguing about what must be Umbridge's form of punishment. As far as I'm aware, Potter and I are the only one's who've received it, which means the only people who could have told McGonagall are Draco, Weasley, and Granger. Though, I highly doubt Draco would go to McGonagall rather than Snape, and I've never known Weasley to tattle, so that only leaves Granger.
"Not at all, Dolores, merely your medieval methods," the Gryffindor professor hisses.
Umbridge scowls. "I'm sorry, dear, but to question my practices is to question the ministry and by extension, the minister himself." The feeling of someone's shoulder hitting mine makes my head turn to see Filch watching the two women as well. I hold back my dirty look and take a small step away from him before turning back to the stairs. "I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty."
My brows furrow as McGonagall takes a step back down the stairs in what looks like disbelief and she repeats the word disloyalty aloud. Eleanor's face appears beside me, but neither of us pay much mind to the other as Umbridge turns to all of us students that have flooded the corridor. "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action."
Without another word spoken from either woman, Umbridge turns on her heel and begins sulking away from us. McGonagall sighs and turns to us, trying her very best to keep her composure, it seems. "Everyone, back to the Great Hall."
We're all ushered back into the Great Hall to finish our meal before being let go to head back to class. The walk to my next class is silent, mostly just me wallowing in my own thoughts. Eleanor and Blaise still won't talk to me, and Draco and I don't share this class. A sudden tap on my shoulder makes my head turn to see a very upset looking Eleanor by my side.
"Theo told me what happened with Umbridge last week," she says quietly. Her eyes are trained on the hallway and students in front of us. My lips purse and I sigh. Of course Theo would tell her. It's been a week and a half and she finally decides to talk to me.
"Did he now?"
"I'm sorry that happened to you, Lenora..." A pause and then she turns to me with knit brows. "Why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you tell me?"
I scoff in disbelief. I look at her, studying the concerned look in her eyes. "Why didn't I tell you? Eleanor, you've been ignoring me for the last two weeks because I think Voldemort is back." A few kids turn their attention to us, but I ignore them. "Why would I tell you something when you don't seem to care about anything else I have to say?"
The girl's mouth opens as though she's about to say something, but we're silenced by a light tink! every couple seconds. I turn my head in the direction in front of me, the sound coming from the corridor to our right. Instead of looking back at Eleanor, I immediately head down the hall to find Filch high on a ladder, hammering something into the wall. I furrow my brows trying desperately to read it when the man pulls away, but I'm too short.
"Proclamation. Educational decree number 23: Dolores Jane Umbridge has been appointed to the post of Hogwarts High Inquisitor." Eleanor.
My heart sinks to my stomach so quickly I think I might vomit. The ministry is in denial about Voldemort and whenever a student claims they believe Potter, they ignore it and act out by punishing us. If this gets any worse, I might actually start missing home more than school. Umbridge can't just appoint herself as anything in Hogwarts... Can she?
"I do care about you, Lenora," Eleanor suddenly defends in a low voice. She seems surprised at my lack of belief in her. "I may not believe you, or Potter, but I'm still your best friend. We tell each other these kinds of things."
"Are you, though?" I hold back a scoff, turning to her. My question makes the girl's face fall. "Are you really my best friend if you're not there for me?"
Rolling my eyes, I don't give the girl a chance to speak before my legs carry me quickly away, my face burning with anger. I'm just glad we don't have this class together because I really don't want to see her right now.
Weeks begin to blend together the more they pass, and the more signs get put up, the higher Umbridge grows in power here. It's gotten to the point where Draco and I can't even hold hands in the corridors or even see each other in the dormitories. Not that that would matter, anyhow. He's been growing more distant these past weeks as Umbridge gets closer and closer to taking Dumbledore's place. He's not completely distant, but because of Umbridge, we don't really get to spend much time together and it just be the two of us.
And don't even get me started on my friends; ever since Eleanor spoke to me almost a month and a half ago, things have been worse between us. She doesn't even look at me now, and when she does it's always with a scowl on her face. Blaise is still by her side, believing every word she says about me. And Theo, thank God for him, because lately, he seems to be the only one I can talk to. He seems to have completely broken away from Eleanor and Blaise and sided with me. He hasn't said anything about he and Eleanor breaking up, but things seem rocky between them, so I'm sure it's not impossible.
"Lenora! Lenora, wait up!" Theo.
I stop in my tracks and turn to find Theo running toward me. His movements are fast and he reaches me rather quickly. Stopping, he sucks in deep breaths before pointing behind him. "Why are you pointing?"
"It's Professor Trelawney... And Umbridge." I furrow my brows and the boy just sighs before grabbing my hand and pulling me down the corridor to the courtyard, which is surrounded by students. Trelawney sits in the middle with all of her trunks by her. The clicking of heels captures my attention as I halt, pushing my way past some younger Hufflepuff students for a better view. Umbridge is making her way toward the crazy woman, quite proudly, might I add.
Trelawney takes a step forward, tripping over one of her trunks before slowly moving around it. "Sixteen years I've lived and taught here. Hogwarts is my home. You can't do this..."
Umbridge sends the poor woman a sickly sweet smile and holds up a paper for her to see. "Actually, I can."
Suddenly, McGonagall comes through and rushes to her friend's side, hugging her.
"Something you'd like to say, dear?" Umbridge.
"Oh, there are several things I would like to say." McGonagall.
The two women look as though they're about to go at each other's throat when the doors to the courtyard suddenly creak open and Dumbledore's figure stands before us. As he makes his way toward the three woman, a small flutter in my heart erupts. I never thought I'd say this in my entire life, but I'm actually glad to see him right now.
"Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?" The man instructs. The woman begins crying and thaking Dumbledore profusely for letting her stay. And this makes Umbridge quite upset.
The pink blob of a woman let's out a huff in annoyance and starts, "Dumbledore, may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree Number 23, as enacted by the minister--."
"You have the right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to banish then from the grounds. That power remains with the headmaster."
"For now."
The man's face hardens before turning around and walking back into the castle. "Don't you all have studying to do?"
This gets everyone moving and they hurriedly rush to study. I hope to Merlin she doesn't successfully take Dumbledore's place.
That would be bad for all of us.
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