The Conspiracy against Umbridge, Chapter 2
The next morning there was some chaos in the castle. Snape made his way to the second floor.
Apparently the Weasley twins had smuggled some pixies into the castle. There seemed to be a lot of tumult since the pixies attacked almost everything that had 2 or more legs; his happened to be a few students and Argus Filch, the Hogwarts caretaker. The students were quite able to defend themselves, but Filch, barely able to produce magic and could only use his sweeper.
Snape couldn't help smiling, even though he was the person who could get along with Filch.
Since Umbridge was High-Inquisitor Filch seemed to be the happiest person in the castle, only excluding Umbridge herself. There were some old punishments which were restored. Instead of just writing lines or polishing the silver, they were sent on errands in the Forbidden Forest. It wasn't that dangerous, but you did get a lot of scratches and palpitations. And of course there still was the writing lines part, but this became quite painful since you had to write these with your own blood.
Snape, who usually liked long, severe and boring punishments, didn't feel so good about the new ones. Yes, he did give the most boring jobs; sorting ingredients, scraping dirt of the tables and preparing flobberworms, but he never gave them any kind of punishments which could or would hurt the students.
He felt he should do something about it; help the students is some sort of way. He had to stay undetected though, because if Umbridge found out about him, he would be fired, as she already said yesterday.
The Weasley twins were quite mischievous, he thought. The only problem was that everybody knew that they were the cause of most of the mischief. That couldn't happen to him. I should talk to someone, he thought.
He had to know how Minerva felt about Umbridge. Minerva always had an opinion about everyone, but wisely as she was, she never actually insulted someone. Snape thought that the recent events would change that.
He made his way to her office and knocked. "Enter", heard Snape.
Snape thought Minerva was a strange woman as he entered the room. She was a stern professor, but also just. She would always judge a situation in a rational way and would never get emotionally involved.
"Ah, Severus, just the person I wanted to talk to. I was wondering whether I might have a word with you about Dolores Umbridge".
"That's the exact reason why I came to see you. I don't know whether you hear Minerva, but the penalties our students are receiving are extraordinary, in a bad way that is".
"I do agree with you, Severus, but our High-Inquisitor played her part very well. She is supported by the minister himself. I don't know if she threatened to fire you as well, but we are more valuable while we're here, especially since Albus is on the run. I am sure that Dolores will do everything she can in order to get rid of us. And I am not going to let her".
Snape was slightly astonished. Minerva always made her opinion quite clear; it just wasn't like her to rebel. Minerva would always stick to the rules, righteous as she was. But these regulations had changed in the past few months, in such a way that even Minerva couldn't just sit and watch. It would be a first that Minerva actually stood up against someone.
Apparently Snape misjudged her. This was a good thing though, this time.
"Well, that will make this conversation slightly easier, since this exactly was the reason I came to see you'", Snape replied. "I suggest we, how shall I put this, support our students in their actions against the High-Inquisitor?"
"My thoughts exactly" Minerva said. "Let's get cracking".