Educational Decree Number Twenty-Nine
Part One
An Educational Decree changes everything in Hogwarts. This is a single story with three different points of view and three main pairings (although this chapter only puts one in evidence), which takes place Harry's sixth year. It shows how Hogwarts would be if Umbridge had stayed there. Enjoy!
Hermione's Story (Chapter One)
"Hermione, come on!" said Parvati Patil, a 6th year Gryffindor. "We're late for lunch."
"I'm coming," I said as I pulled my robes over my head and started brushing my teeth.
Several minutes later, Parvati, Lavender and I were running downstairs as if the Hogwarts Express would depart right then!
"You're acting very strange, Hermione," said Harry some minutes later. We were sitting face to face and Ron was on Harry's left. The lunch was great, but I couldn't eat anything. I was feeling sick.
"I agree," said Ron, his mouth stuffed full of potatoes. "What's up?"
"Nothing, I just feel ill. My stomach is aching and so is my head, and yesterday Umbridge got on my nerves, okay?" I said in a roaring voice. "Please leave me alone!"
"Calm down Hermione... Umbridge doesn't deserve that reaction from you," exclaimed Harry.
However, I wasn't at all distracted because of Umbridge. I was very confused with those letters I've been receiving since last week. Everything was so strange.
"Hermione.... Wake up! Are you sick?"
Harry was calling me, but I could not open my eyes. After a little effort, I opened them and muttered, "Maybe I am. I don't feel very well." I paused for a moment, thinking if I should say what I was going to say and then decided, "I'm not going to Arithmancy. I really must rest."
I had to have time to think. I could not sit in a stupid class that would prevent me from reorganizing my life.
"You? Missing classes?" questioned Ron, disbelievingly. "AHAHAH! Harry, she is totally crazy; Arithmancy is her favourite class!"
"What? Hermione is going to miss a class? She must be sick," said Dean, who was two seats away. He placed his hand on my forehead.
I hated those silly comments. Why could I not miss a class? Couldn't Hermione be sick? I grabbed Dean's fist and roared, "I don't like those comments. See you later."
I got to my feet and hurried through the door before anyone had the chance to call me back.
As I rushed through the halls, I could feel tears falling from my eyes. Without thinking about where I was going, I found myself on the Hogwarts grounds, heading toward Hagrid's hut. However, before I got there, I turned left and sat down, leaning against the trunk of a big oak tree. As it was autumn, red leaves carpeted the ground under the tree. In the crisp breeze, yellow, orange, and brown leaves fell gently around me.
I sighed. "This can't be happening to me," I said aloud to myself.
About one week before, I had been brushing my teeth before bed, when an owl flew into the room from an open window and started pecking at my legs. I removed the piece of parchment it had on its leg and opened it. There, in tiny, beautiful calligraphy, was written:
Dear Hermione:
It's hard for me to say this; I've never imagined that one day I'd fall in love with you, of all people. What makes me sad is that we cannot be together. It would be so hard...
Your Secret Admirer
Ever since that night a week ago, I had received a similar letter every single day, but none of the letters had been signed properly. What scared me most was the fact that I started being curious about that boy. But I couldn't... I couldn't like him.
Something drew my attention away from my thoughts. It was the Giant Squid in the lake. I loved it; it was so huge, but kind. All the students were scared of it, but when they met it, they realized that fear did not make any sense. Why should people fear something that is kind and nice?
Like love; everyone was scared about love, but when they realized it was good, they went crazy and did anything for their beloved. Like what I was doing! Missing classes because of a boy...
"I really don't love him," I thought, correcting myself. "I am simply curious about him. Besides that, I know who he is."
I sat there for half an hour, thinking about my life. Finally, I went back up to the common room. When I reached the Fat Lady's portrait, I shouted the password and entered at a run. I went upstairs and took a roll of parchment out of my drawer and cut off a piece. After biting the end of my quill for several moments, I scribbled a few words. As soon as I was done, I hurried out of the dormitory as fast as I had come in. Running, I headed to the owlry, wondering if I should send the letter or not. When I got there I picked a little, orange owl and tied the letter to its leg.
"Please, deliver this letter to..."
"WHAT'S THIS????"
I spun around. Umbridge had silently walked into the room while I had been tying the letter to the owl.
"Miss Granger, aren't you supposed to be in Professor Vector's class?" asked Umbridge sarcastically.
"Yes, but I didn't feel well, so I didn't go to class," I said defensively.
"If you don't feel well, you should be with Madam Pomfrey."
"I was going to the hospital wing but I came here to send this letter..." I stopped talking at the expression on Umbridge's face.
Umbridge smiled and answered with a cold, honeyed voice, "And, may I ask, who is the person who WOULD receive that letter?"
"This letter is for my parents..."
I was lying; I could not admit the truth to Umbridge.
"Then let me read it!" Umbridge demanded.
"Why? It is personal," I replied, astonished.
"Miss Granger, don't you know that nothing is personal in this school? "Now give me that paper," she shouted.
"Can't students have their privacy?"
After I said this, I leaned very slightly toward the owl and whispered a name out of the corner of my mouth.
"Miss Granger, come with me. And bring that stupid owl with you."
Before Umbridge could grab my arm to drag me out of the tower, I threw the feather-light owl toward the window, hoping it would get away and do its job.
That was one of the happiest moments of my life, the moment when the owl flew out of the tower. Tears of happiness rolled down my face. However, Umbridge was red with rage.
"That's enough, little girl. You'll regret doing this to me."
Ron's Story (Chapter Two)
Finally, that useless class had finished! Why did some people want to know their future? That Trelawney was getting on my nerves... Always predicting death, especially Harry's. This particular class had been very boring; I couldn't stop thinking about Hermione and her behavior that morning. Why was she acting so strange?
"Ron, look!" said Harry suddenly as we were walking in silence through the cold stone corridors, "It's Hermione!"
"What?" I asked. I turned just in time to see Umbridge grabbing my best friend's fist and pulling her.
The teacher was laughing and Hermione was looking sad, but, surprisingly, she was not crying. The scene taking place before our eyes certainly must had something to do with the class Hermione had missed.
"Let's follow them," I suggested to Harry. "I want to know what happened."
Everyone in the corridor was coming from their previous classes. They were watching, each of them probably thinking, "Hermione? Being punished?" They were right; it was very odd. Harry and I started walking faster, in order to hear Umbridge and Hermione talking. However they entered Umbridge's office and no noise came out of there. Harry looked at me and blinked his eyes. Then he took a ball of flesh-coloured string from his pocket and I could see what it was.
"Harry, do you still have that?" I asked, astonished, while he put the extendable ears inside the office from the fissure under the door.
"You'll regret, mudblood," we heard Umbridge saying. "You'll regret disobeying me."
After saying this, I heard a sound of stones rasping and the voices faded. The noise was similar to that of the opening passage to Diagon-Alley behind the Leaky Cauldron. Umbridge had apparently used a secret passageway.
"I guess Hermione won't get out so quickly... Let's go to our class. Hold on!" Harry stopped suddenly. "Don't we have Defense Against Dark Arts now?" he asked.
"Right... Let's go to the classroom; there we can see what happened to Hermione."
We turned back and started walking toward the classroom. On our way, students stopped us to ask us questions about Hermione as if we knew everything about her. We were more confused than them...
However, a very strange thing happened on our way to Umbridge's classroom. We saw Draco Malfoy standing alone on a corner and he seemed worried about something. I couldn't think of any reason for him to be worried. As a matter of fact, his "favourite mudblood" was being punished for some reason that no one knew. He would normally be celebrating.
I nudged Harry. "Harry, look at Malfoy. He's acting strange."
"Probably he doesn't know what to do without his giant monkeys, Crabbe and Goyle." Harry always referred to Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle as giant monkeys.
"Yeah, it must be that."
I really didn't believe it was that but I was too worried about Hermione to think about Malfoy's odd behavior. When we got to the classroom, several students were standing by the door. We got closer and saw Neville was there, standing next to Lavender and Dean, who were holding hands.
"What happened, Neville?" Harry asked.
"Umbridge entered the classroom right now. She came from a secret passageway and told us we won't have class today, but she said we must wait here for a few minutes. She said that she would read us a composition written by Hermione. I don't understand what she meant, though."
"What the..." I started saying puzzled.
I couldn't stop saying what I was going to say because Umbridge walked out of the room with Hermione and started calling the students over.
"Please, come here. I have something to read to you all. Miss Granger sent this letter to... Well that's the best part," simpered Umbridge with a childish giggle; this was the first time I had heard her giggle, although, since that night, she giggled every day when she passed by the students "...so I'm going to say it after I read this. I found this letter some minutes ago with its owner. I saw that the owl that Miss Granger hid from me was in the possession of a student. My finding spells are great."
I noticed that more and more people were gathering around Umbridge and Hermione, including Malfoy, still looking strange without the two great oafs.
"Well, Miss Granger says: "Dear (well I'm saying this after): From some weeks to now I've been feeling something for you. I know you feel the same about me because the letters I've been receiving have been written in your handwriting, which I know very well. Maybe we can meet tomorrow."
Everyone was staring at Umbridge...
"And the person to whom this letter is written is..." Umbridge paused dramatically, her eyes popping excitedly, "Mr. Malfoy."
Harry's Story (Chapter Three)
I could feel my chin falling as my scar gave a sudden painful ache. Recently, it would hurt when my friends were sad or angry or feeling some other strong emotion.
"Please, Mr. Malfoy, come here," said Umbridge.
Slowly, Malfoy approached Hermione. Everyone was watching. Neville was astonished. Parvati and Lavender started giggling, but after a few glares from fellow students, they realized it wasn't proper behavior and stopped.
"I like you very much, Mr. Malfoy, but being in love with this stupid little girl? Is it true Mr. Malfoy? Are you in love with Granger?" said Umbridge with an evil grin.
"Yes," Malfoy replied firmly.
"What?" Pansy let the word escape, a look of revulsion on her face. Pansy Parkinson was Malfoy's girlfriend.
"Shut up Pansy, I am sick of this whole story," Malfoy explained to the stunned crowd. "Why can't I like Hermione? My roommates tease her. My father is always pushing me to hurt Hermione and date Pansy."
Crabbe and Goyle's chins felt so heavily that it seemed they were going to fall over with the weight.
"I'm afraid you two will be punished..."
"Why?" said Hermione indignantly, "Now we can't love a person in this school?" Hermione started crying. "I wish to talk to the Headmistress!"
"Ah, ah... Do you think Professor McGonagall has time to waste with these teenagers' affairs? She is a busy person; I thought you knew that."
"Professor McGonagall is a busy person, but you aren't, right? Don't you have anything more interesting to do than humiliating students? I imagine that your youth wasn't very interesting. Have you ever had a boyfriend, professor? I don't think so," said Malfoy, his face red with rage.
"I am available, Dolores," said McGonagall, who appeared from the middle of the crowd. "I can help you, Hermione."
"I must remind you, Minerva, you have no power to help this girl. The Minister supports me on every decision I take. And since when do professors call their students by their names?" she added sarcastically, with a horrible look on her face.
"That cow will pay, " I heard the Headmistress mutter. "All right, Dolores. What are you going to do?"
Snapping away from the drama taking place before my eyes, I noticed that some professors were there, too. Snape seemed worried, but there was a bit of pride on his face. Flitwick was trying to distract some students in order to get them out of there.
"Today, there won't be Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. You can go, except for Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy, of course."
"Dolores, don't do this to the students," said McGonagall, sternly.
"Have you not heard what they have done, Minerva?"
"Yes, they say they love each other. I don't recall any rule forbidding students from liking others, is there?"
"No, there isn't, but there will be," Dolores replied while moving her wand. Then, a piece of parchment came out of its tip and after fixing it on the wall, she gave Professors Snape, Flitwick, Sprout and McGonagall a copy and said, "Fix this on each of the four common room notice boards!"
On the paper was written something. The title was Educational Decree Number Twenty-nine.
The students who were close enough to read the small print yelled and started commenting about it with their friends. I couldn't wait any longer, so I pulled Ron and got near the board where the parchment was fixed.
By Order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
Students are hereby banned from dating other students.
Any secret meeting between a male and a female student who like each other is considered dating.
Also, it is forbidden for any student to have visible interest with another student, such as hand-holding, kissing, and flirting.
Any student found to hold hands, kiss, or flirt with another student will be severly punished. Any student found to have a girlfriend or boyfriend will be harshly punished.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-nine.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
Hogwarts's High Inquisitor and Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Today there will be no more classes," Umbridge announced to the crowd. "Now, those who are not dating anyone, get out of here. All other students must stay."
Almost everybody started heading in different directions. However, some students, like Hannah Abbot and Ernie Macmillan, who did not want to deny their relationships, stood right there in front of Umbridge. Each student and teacher had a different expression, but all of them showed shock and rage. Even Crabbe and Goyle were angry with Umbridge. "Maybe they like somebody," I thought to myself.
"Let's go," I said to Ron. "We'll wait for Hermione in the common room."
"Ok!" he replied.
We started climbing the stairs that led to the Gryffindor common room. We were with Dean Thomas, Parvati, Lavender and Colin Creevey. Lavender, who was dating Dean Thomas since he and Ginny had broken up, was the first to talk.
"That stupid cow. How can she do this? If I didn't want to be a famous seer, I would leave Hogwarts right now."
"Your right, Lavie," said Dean, who used this nickname since they were going out, "I hate that women. But I love you so much."
While Ron, Parvati, Colin and I continued walking, Dean and Lavender stopped and started making out right in the middle of the corridor. They did not see Filch approaching, with a grin on his face, followed by Mrs Norris.
"The High Inquisitor will be pleased to know that there are more students disrespecting rules," declared Filch, while he grabbed the two teenagers by their fists and separated them. "It's surprising how students like to break 'fresh' laws. By the way, hasn't Professor Umbridge said that those students who were dating should stay in the corridor?" Filch headed back to Umbridge's office, dragging Lavender and Dean with him.
"This is getting too bad," said Parvati. "Tomorrow, every single pair will have been caught..."
We continued walking, only saying "one-word" sentences like "Cow," "Toad," or even "Arrghh!" The sun had already disappeared from the orange sky when we got to the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Burning Phoenix," roared Colin. The Fat Lady's portrait moved away and let the four of us in the common room. It was almost empty. I sat down in a sofa near the fireplace, where Ginny was writing something.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to distract myself by doing some homework, now Neville and I can't date!" she replied, angrily. "This is just stupid."
"Yes, it is. Everyone knows that."
Suddenly, the fire in the fireplace became green in colour and Umbridge's squat form emerged from the flame, and entered the room. Umbridge grabbed Ginny and Neville, and left, clutching their shocked forms, as fast as she had appeared.
"All the people who dated were getting detention," I muttered with a shiver.
Time passed like a bludger, heavy and slow. No one arrived and many people were missing. But some hours later (at least, to me, it seemed like hours), the portrait's hole opened and a string of students came in. Some of them were crying, others shouting angrily.
"She won't stop me from loving someone," said Dean bitterly.
"You're right; we'll fight for our rights," replied Ginny.
I could see a strange thing on their foreheads; it was something red, like blood. When they got closer, everyone could see what it was. Parvati let a scream escape.
On each of their foreheads was written something, maybe with that stupid quill I knew so well from my own punishments in my fifth year. Hermione entered the room crying and ran to the girls' dormitory stairs. But, even though she was running, I caught a glimpse of the words etched on her forehead... "I like Draco Malfoy"...
Part One
An Educational Decree changes everything in Hogwarts. This is a single story with three different points of view and three main pairings (although this chapter only puts one in evidence), which takes place Harry's sixth year. It shows how Hogwarts would be if Umbridge had stayed there. Enjoy!
Hermione's Story (Chapter One)
"Hermione, come on!" said Parvati Patil, a 6th year Gryffindor. "We're late for lunch."
"I'm coming," I said as I pulled my robes over my head and started brushing my teeth.
Several minutes later, Parvati, Lavender and I were running downstairs as if the Hogwarts Express would depart right then!
"You're acting very strange, Hermione," said Harry some minutes later. We were sitting face to face and Ron was on Harry's left. The lunch was great, but I couldn't eat anything. I was feeling sick.
"I agree," said Ron, his mouth stuffed full of potatoes. "What's up?"
"Nothing, I just feel ill. My stomach is aching and so is my head, and yesterday Umbridge got on my nerves, okay?" I said in a roaring voice. "Please leave me alone!"
"Calm down Hermione... Umbridge doesn't deserve that reaction from you," exclaimed Harry.
However, I wasn't at all distracted because of Umbridge. I was very confused with those letters I've been receiving since last week. Everything was so strange.
"Hermione.... Wake up! Are you sick?"
Harry was calling me, but I could not open my eyes. After a little effort, I opened them and muttered, "Maybe I am. I don't feel very well." I paused for a moment, thinking if I should say what I was going to say and then decided, "I'm not going to Arithmancy. I really must rest."
I had to have time to think. I could not sit in a stupid class that would prevent me from reorganizing my life.
"You? Missing classes?" questioned Ron, disbelievingly. "AHAHAH! Harry, she is totally crazy; Arithmancy is her favourite class!"
"What? Hermione is going to miss a class? She must be sick," said Dean, who was two seats away. He placed his hand on my forehead.
I hated those silly comments. Why could I not miss a class? Couldn't Hermione be sick? I grabbed Dean's fist and roared, "I don't like those comments. See you later."
I got to my feet and hurried through the door before anyone had the chance to call me back.
As I rushed through the halls, I could feel tears falling from my eyes. Without thinking about where I was going, I found myself on the Hogwarts grounds, heading toward Hagrid's hut. However, before I got there, I turned left and sat down, leaning against the trunk of a big oak tree. As it was autumn, red leaves carpeted the ground under the tree. In the crisp breeze, yellow, orange, and brown leaves fell gently around me.
I sighed. "This can't be happening to me," I said aloud to myself.
About one week before, I had been brushing my teeth before bed, when an owl flew into the room from an open window and started pecking at my legs. I removed the piece of parchment it had on its leg and opened it. There, in tiny, beautiful calligraphy, was written:
Dear Hermione:
It's hard for me to say this; I've never imagined that one day I'd fall in love with you, of all people. What makes me sad is that we cannot be together. It would be so hard...
Your Secret Admirer
Ever since that night a week ago, I had received a similar letter every single day, but none of the letters had been signed properly. What scared me most was the fact that I started being curious about that boy. But I couldn't... I couldn't like him.
Something drew my attention away from my thoughts. It was the Giant Squid in the lake. I loved it; it was so huge, but kind. All the students were scared of it, but when they met it, they realized that fear did not make any sense. Why should people fear something that is kind and nice?
Like love; everyone was scared about love, but when they realized it was good, they went crazy and did anything for their beloved. Like what I was doing! Missing classes because of a boy...
"I really don't love him," I thought, correcting myself. "I am simply curious about him. Besides that, I know who he is."
I sat there for half an hour, thinking about my life. Finally, I went back up to the common room. When I reached the Fat Lady's portrait, I shouted the password and entered at a run. I went upstairs and took a roll of parchment out of my drawer and cut off a piece. After biting the end of my quill for several moments, I scribbled a few words. As soon as I was done, I hurried out of the dormitory as fast as I had come in. Running, I headed to the owlry, wondering if I should send the letter or not. When I got there I picked a little, orange owl and tied the letter to its leg.
"Please, deliver this letter to..."
"WHAT'S THIS????"
I spun around. Umbridge had silently walked into the room while I had been tying the letter to the owl.
"Miss Granger, aren't you supposed to be in Professor Vector's class?" asked Umbridge sarcastically.
"Yes, but I didn't feel well, so I didn't go to class," I said defensively.
"If you don't feel well, you should be with Madam Pomfrey."
"I was going to the hospital wing but I came here to send this letter..." I stopped talking at the expression on Umbridge's face.
Umbridge smiled and answered with a cold, honeyed voice, "And, may I ask, who is the person who WOULD receive that letter?"
"This letter is for my parents..."
I was lying; I could not admit the truth to Umbridge.
"Then let me read it!" Umbridge demanded.
"Why? It is personal," I replied, astonished.
"Miss Granger, don't you know that nothing is personal in this school? "Now give me that paper," she shouted.
"Can't students have their privacy?"
After I said this, I leaned very slightly toward the owl and whispered a name out of the corner of my mouth.
"Miss Granger, come with me. And bring that stupid owl with you."
Before Umbridge could grab my arm to drag me out of the tower, I threw the feather-light owl toward the window, hoping it would get away and do its job.
That was one of the happiest moments of my life, the moment when the owl flew out of the tower. Tears of happiness rolled down my face. However, Umbridge was red with rage.
"That's enough, little girl. You'll regret doing this to me."
Ron's Story (Chapter Two)
Finally, that useless class had finished! Why did some people want to know their future? That Trelawney was getting on my nerves... Always predicting death, especially Harry's. This particular class had been very boring; I couldn't stop thinking about Hermione and her behavior that morning. Why was she acting so strange?
"Ron, look!" said Harry suddenly as we were walking in silence through the cold stone corridors, "It's Hermione!"
"What?" I asked. I turned just in time to see Umbridge grabbing my best friend's fist and pulling her.
The teacher was laughing and Hermione was looking sad, but, surprisingly, she was not crying. The scene taking place before our eyes certainly must had something to do with the class Hermione had missed.
"Let's follow them," I suggested to Harry. "I want to know what happened."
Everyone in the corridor was coming from their previous classes. They were watching, each of them probably thinking, "Hermione? Being punished?" They were right; it was very odd. Harry and I started walking faster, in order to hear Umbridge and Hermione talking. However they entered Umbridge's office and no noise came out of there. Harry looked at me and blinked his eyes. Then he took a ball of flesh-coloured string from his pocket and I could see what it was.
"Harry, do you still have that?" I asked, astonished, while he put the extendable ears inside the office from the fissure under the door.
"You'll regret, mudblood," we heard Umbridge saying. "You'll regret disobeying me."
After saying this, I heard a sound of stones rasping and the voices faded. The noise was similar to that of the opening passage to Diagon-Alley behind the Leaky Cauldron. Umbridge had apparently used a secret passageway.
"I guess Hermione won't get out so quickly... Let's go to our class. Hold on!" Harry stopped suddenly. "Don't we have Defense Against Dark Arts now?" he asked.
"Right... Let's go to the classroom; there we can see what happened to Hermione."
We turned back and started walking toward the classroom. On our way, students stopped us to ask us questions about Hermione as if we knew everything about her. We were more confused than them...
However, a very strange thing happened on our way to Umbridge's classroom. We saw Draco Malfoy standing alone on a corner and he seemed worried about something. I couldn't think of any reason for him to be worried. As a matter of fact, his "favourite mudblood" was being punished for some reason that no one knew. He would normally be celebrating.
I nudged Harry. "Harry, look at Malfoy. He's acting strange."
"Probably he doesn't know what to do without his giant monkeys, Crabbe and Goyle." Harry always referred to Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle as giant monkeys.
"Yeah, it must be that."
I really didn't believe it was that but I was too worried about Hermione to think about Malfoy's odd behavior. When we got to the classroom, several students were standing by the door. We got closer and saw Neville was there, standing next to Lavender and Dean, who were holding hands.
"What happened, Neville?" Harry asked.
"Umbridge entered the classroom right now. She came from a secret passageway and told us we won't have class today, but she said we must wait here for a few minutes. She said that she would read us a composition written by Hermione. I don't understand what she meant, though."
"What the..." I started saying puzzled.
I couldn't stop saying what I was going to say because Umbridge walked out of the room with Hermione and started calling the students over.
"Please, come here. I have something to read to you all. Miss Granger sent this letter to... Well that's the best part," simpered Umbridge with a childish giggle; this was the first time I had heard her giggle, although, since that night, she giggled every day when she passed by the students "...so I'm going to say it after I read this. I found this letter some minutes ago with its owner. I saw that the owl that Miss Granger hid from me was in the possession of a student. My finding spells are great."
I noticed that more and more people were gathering around Umbridge and Hermione, including Malfoy, still looking strange without the two great oafs.
"Well, Miss Granger says: "Dear (well I'm saying this after): From some weeks to now I've been feeling something for you. I know you feel the same about me because the letters I've been receiving have been written in your handwriting, which I know very well. Maybe we can meet tomorrow."
Everyone was staring at Umbridge...
"And the person to whom this letter is written is..." Umbridge paused dramatically, her eyes popping excitedly, "Mr. Malfoy."
Harry's Story (Chapter Three)
I could feel my chin falling as my scar gave a sudden painful ache. Recently, it would hurt when my friends were sad or angry or feeling some other strong emotion.
"Please, Mr. Malfoy, come here," said Umbridge.
Slowly, Malfoy approached Hermione. Everyone was watching. Neville was astonished. Parvati and Lavender started giggling, but after a few glares from fellow students, they realized it wasn't proper behavior and stopped.
"I like you very much, Mr. Malfoy, but being in love with this stupid little girl? Is it true Mr. Malfoy? Are you in love with Granger?" said Umbridge with an evil grin.
"Yes," Malfoy replied firmly.
"What?" Pansy let the word escape, a look of revulsion on her face. Pansy Parkinson was Malfoy's girlfriend.
"Shut up Pansy, I am sick of this whole story," Malfoy explained to the stunned crowd. "Why can't I like Hermione? My roommates tease her. My father is always pushing me to hurt Hermione and date Pansy."
Crabbe and Goyle's chins felt so heavily that it seemed they were going to fall over with the weight.
"I'm afraid you two will be punished..."
"Why?" said Hermione indignantly, "Now we can't love a person in this school?" Hermione started crying. "I wish to talk to the Headmistress!"
"Ah, ah... Do you think Professor McGonagall has time to waste with these teenagers' affairs? She is a busy person; I thought you knew that."
"Professor McGonagall is a busy person, but you aren't, right? Don't you have anything more interesting to do than humiliating students? I imagine that your youth wasn't very interesting. Have you ever had a boyfriend, professor? I don't think so," said Malfoy, his face red with rage.
"I am available, Dolores," said McGonagall, who appeared from the middle of the crowd. "I can help you, Hermione."
"I must remind you, Minerva, you have no power to help this girl. The Minister supports me on every decision I take. And since when do professors call their students by their names?" she added sarcastically, with a horrible look on her face.
"That cow will pay, " I heard the Headmistress mutter. "All right, Dolores. What are you going to do?"
Snapping away from the drama taking place before my eyes, I noticed that some professors were there, too. Snape seemed worried, but there was a bit of pride on his face. Flitwick was trying to distract some students in order to get them out of there.
"Today, there won't be Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. You can go, except for Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy, of course."
"Dolores, don't do this to the students," said McGonagall, sternly.
"Have you not heard what they have done, Minerva?"
"Yes, they say they love each other. I don't recall any rule forbidding students from liking others, is there?"
"No, there isn't, but there will be," Dolores replied while moving her wand. Then, a piece of parchment came out of its tip and after fixing it on the wall, she gave Professors Snape, Flitwick, Sprout and McGonagall a copy and said, "Fix this on each of the four common room notice boards!"
On the paper was written something. The title was Educational Decree Number Twenty-nine.
The students who were close enough to read the small print yelled and started commenting about it with their friends. I couldn't wait any longer, so I pulled Ron and got near the board where the parchment was fixed.
By Order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
Students are hereby banned from dating other students.
Any secret meeting between a male and a female student who like each other is considered dating.
Also, it is forbidden for any student to have visible interest with another student, such as hand-holding, kissing, and flirting.
Any student found to hold hands, kiss, or flirt with another student will be severly punished. Any student found to have a girlfriend or boyfriend will be harshly punished.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-nine.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
Hogwarts's High Inquisitor and Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Today there will be no more classes," Umbridge announced to the crowd. "Now, those who are not dating anyone, get out of here. All other students must stay."
Almost everybody started heading in different directions. However, some students, like Hannah Abbot and Ernie Macmillan, who did not want to deny their relationships, stood right there in front of Umbridge. Each student and teacher had a different expression, but all of them showed shock and rage. Even Crabbe and Goyle were angry with Umbridge. "Maybe they like somebody," I thought to myself.
"Let's go," I said to Ron. "We'll wait for Hermione in the common room."
"Ok!" he replied.
We started climbing the stairs that led to the Gryffindor common room. We were with Dean Thomas, Parvati, Lavender and Colin Creevey. Lavender, who was dating Dean Thomas since he and Ginny had broken up, was the first to talk.
"That stupid cow. How can she do this? If I didn't want to be a famous seer, I would leave Hogwarts right now."
"Your right, Lavie," said Dean, who used this nickname since they were going out, "I hate that women. But I love you so much."
While Ron, Parvati, Colin and I continued walking, Dean and Lavender stopped and started making out right in the middle of the corridor. They did not see Filch approaching, with a grin on his face, followed by Mrs Norris.
"The High Inquisitor will be pleased to know that there are more students disrespecting rules," declared Filch, while he grabbed the two teenagers by their fists and separated them. "It's surprising how students like to break 'fresh' laws. By the way, hasn't Professor Umbridge said that those students who were dating should stay in the corridor?" Filch headed back to Umbridge's office, dragging Lavender and Dean with him.
"This is getting too bad," said Parvati. "Tomorrow, every single pair will have been caught..."
We continued walking, only saying "one-word" sentences like "Cow," "Toad," or even "Arrghh!" The sun had already disappeared from the orange sky when we got to the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Burning Phoenix," roared Colin. The Fat Lady's portrait moved away and let the four of us in the common room. It was almost empty. I sat down in a sofa near the fireplace, where Ginny was writing something.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to distract myself by doing some homework, now Neville and I can't date!" she replied, angrily. "This is just stupid."
"Yes, it is. Everyone knows that."
Suddenly, the fire in the fireplace became green in colour and Umbridge's squat form emerged from the flame, and entered the room. Umbridge grabbed Ginny and Neville, and left, clutching their shocked forms, as fast as she had appeared.
"All the people who dated were getting detention," I muttered with a shiver.
Time passed like a bludger, heavy and slow. No one arrived and many people were missing. But some hours later (at least, to me, it seemed like hours), the portrait's hole opened and a string of students came in. Some of them were crying, others shouting angrily.
"She won't stop me from loving someone," said Dean bitterly.
"You're right; we'll fight for our rights," replied Ginny.
I could see a strange thing on their foreheads; it was something red, like blood. When they got closer, everyone could see what it was. Parvati let a scream escape.
On each of their foreheads was written something, maybe with that stupid quill I knew so well from my own punishments in my fifth year. Hermione entered the room crying and ran to the girls' dormitory stairs. But, even though she was running, I caught a glimpse of the words etched on her forehead... "I like Draco Malfoy"...
