The Potter boy, of course, escaped the Dementors. She was surprised he had managed it, especially that he had been able to cast a patronus, but that gave her the perfect excuse to have him arrested. Now he could be safely put out of the Minister's way so he could get on with his real job. The plan would have worked as well, if it had not been for that stupid squib, Dumbledore and the fools who served with her on the Wizengamot. She could see clearly now that a committee was not necessarily the best way to proceed. Occasionally, for the greater good, it was necessary to circumvent some of the due processes. Clearly, this boy – a mere boy – encouraged by Dumbledore, was a problem. He had obviously not been brought up to respect his elders and betters.

The Minister was very upset after the trial had ended. Clearly, he had only wanted to act for the best. Didn't everybody? He kept muttering about Dumbledore.

'Did you hear him? "Ministry has no authority... Ministry does not have the power…no right to confiscate" Pompous fool. He needs watching, you know'

Dolores agreed, as she always did. 'Of course, Minister. I have often thought, even though it is not my place, of course, that Hogwarts should be – shall we say – returned to the fold. Perhaps, if you thought me suitable, I could act on your behalf?'

'Dolores, you are a true treasure. Please, we've worked together long enough, you can call me Cornelius, you know' Dolores simpered, surprising herself. 'The school needs a new DADA teacher, and as Minister I have the right to appoint one if a suitable candidate cannot be found. Can you, er, do you know anything about teaching?'

'Min... I mean, Cornelius, teaching is simply a matter of passing on answers. I'm sure I will be able to do that.'

'Indeed, I am sure you can Dolores. Keep me posted, won't you? If you can find any room for improvement up there, anything to, as you so rightly say, "return the school to the fold", let me know. After all, the Ministry is responsible for setting educational standards. Yes, it might do Dumbledore good to accept some outside help. Oh, and keep an eye on that Potter boy for me, will you? I still think he's not quite right, but try to help him see though this fantasy. It will help him in the long run. Voldemort returned indeed! I'd know if he had. I'm the Minister!'

In truth, even Dolores could not argue that her mission had been a great success. Despite all the help from the Minister, it pleased her that he had accepted every one of her recommendations; she had been unable to bring the school under control. Of course, that Potter boy and his gang had been against her from the start, as she had expected. Did they not realise that it was not necessary to perform a spell to know it? Of course not. But, they were young and unwise. No, what did astound her was the open contempt she met from the teachers, of all people. Even McGonagall, who was older than her. Even when she was made headmaster, they had no respect for their betters. Then, to cap it all, she had been tricked by a stupid girl, and assaulted by a bunch of half-breeds.

Her return from St. Mungo's was obviously only just in time. The Ministry was in uproar. Voldemort had returned, and had attacked the Ministry. Cornelius was under severe pressure, and it was her duty to help him. Of course, she blamed the Auror department. Highly qualified, highly trained and no use to anybody. Why had they not noticed the greatest dark wizard of all had returned? Why had it taken a young boy to point out the blindingly obvious? She immediately set about drafting a document to be sent to all wizarding households suggesting simple defensive strategies, and ensured it was published in all wizarding presses. The Ministry needed to protect its own.

Despite all the failings of others, Cornelius had to carry the can. She was saddened by this, but she remembered her father saying

"A man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous." (7)

So, Dolores Umbridge made ready to serve her new Minister, which she would do with the same sense of duty as she did the last.

Rufus Scrimgeour was a very different leader to Cornelius. He was a far more determined man, and Dolores felt slighted that her advice was no longer sought as often as before. Perhaps his role a Head of the Aurors Department did not help their relationship. However, she did her duty by him as best she could. She only wished that Dumbledore would do the same. At ever turn, he seemed determined to oppose the Minister. This was a time when surely there were greater issues at stake. If only they would work together, but it seemed impossible.

Voldemort then launched an attack on Hogwarts in which Dumbledore himself had been killed. Of course, Dolores thought, if only he had worked with the Minister, then proper protection could have been given to the school. But no, Dumbledore had always been a strange one. She attended his funeral, as a senior Ministry figure it was only proper to do so. Appearances had to be maintained.

-o0o-

The sudden resignation of Scrimgeour in the summer of 1997 caught her by surprise. Normally, there were suggestions, a rise in meetings, but this time nothing. It was as if Scrimgeour had simply ceased to exist. His replacement, Pius Thicknesse, was obviously known to Dolores as he was formerly Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She had always thought of him as a rather bookish man, a typical career lawyer, and upon their first formal meeting this was confirmed. Not only was he bookish, he looked almost vacant, his eyes never quite meeting hers. However, he certainly had ideas, definitely a new broom sweeping clean. A lot of the old faces disappeared to be replaced by others. Dolores was not quite sure about some of them. The old decencies seemed to be lacking. There was less protocol around, and some of them seemed to hold her in very little regard indeed. She assumed this was the way it was with young people now. She was therefore surprised to be called to the Minister's office one day, to be told she was starting a new job. The Minister himself briefed her.

'Miss Umbridge' he said, in that rather off way of his 'research has come to light which holds very grave consequences for the wizarding community. It had now been proven that it is impossible for Muggles to have any magical ability inherent'

Dolores was taken aback. 'But Minister, I remember very clearly there were Muggle children at Hogwarts. Why, I believe some even work in the Ministry itself'

'Yes, that is true. But do you know how they came to acquire that power? They stole it, stole it, from pure blood wizards such as ourselves. This research has conclusively shown that squibs are pureblood wizards who have had their powers stolen from them.'

Dolores clutched her hand to her heart. 'Minister, no...surely?'

'Yes, Miss Umbridge, I can guarantee every word I have spoken is true. The Muggle is a strange and devious creature. They have no powers, yet have power over us, all of us. Even here, in the Ministry, as you say. There are Muggles out there now, corrupting our work, stealing our powers. I want you to stop them. I want you to force these Muggles out of our society. I am entrusting this task to you, not only because you come from strong wizarding stock – you are of Selwyn line I believe? – but because you have a strong sense of loyalty to the Ministry. I know you will do your duty.'

Dolores clutched at the desk for support, her head swam. This was her moment, this was the destiny she had been fated for. The Minister had come to her, the Ministry needed her and the wizarding world had come to her for survival. She would not let them down.

"The value of life is not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them; a man may live long yet very little." (8)

She threw herself in to her new as the head of the Muggle-born Registration Commission, legislation being enacted in record time. As the Muggles presented themselves for interrogation, she could see exactly what the Minister meant about them being "strange and devious". They crept in to the room like rats, their eyes darting furtively, their excuses becoming more and more risible. She sickened of them, these liars and thieves. They were no better than those half-breeds who had attacked her at Hogwarts. She wearied of their begging and pleading. The idea of using Dementors to quiet them came easily to her. No innocent person, no true wizard, had anything to fear from them. She felt nothing in their presence, proof she was pure and had nothing to hide.

Dolores felt empowered in a way she had never felt before. Finally she was receiving the recognition she deserved, reward for her unstinting loyalty to the Ministry. Why, even out on the streets she was being recognized. She laughed at the memory of that loathsome street vendor, no doubt plying his trade illegally. She had no time for him, her role concerned itself with much bigger matters, but he had been more than grateful to hand over that pretty little locket. It even had an "S" on it. She felt proud now of her Selwyn ancestry, even the Minister had commented.

-o0o-

In a little over a year, it had ended. Voldemort had been defeated at a second Hogwarts battle, and once again the Ministry was turned upside down. Thickness had gone. The new old faces disappeared, people were arrested, and some had died. The Muggle Registration legislation was abandoned. The research was faked; there was no proof of any magic powers being stolen. Dolores was shaken to her core.

Somebody had lied to the Minister himself. Somebody had forced him to enact legislation based on falsehood, and she had carried it out. All for a lie. People had been arrested, families torn apart, souls ripped from bodies under her instruction. But, what could she do? She had carried out her orders, she had done her duty. It just showed that all these qualifications meant nothing. It was only people like her, acting diligently, who could be trusted.

Kingsley Shacklebolt was appointed a temporary replacement for Thicknesse, and soon confirmed as his permanent replacement. She had seen Ministers come and go, and this was no different. That was what happened in politics. Only people like her, the true servants of the Ministry carried on.

She entered the Minister's room exactly on time. He had called her here, she assumed to discuss her new position. She wondered why there were two Aurors in the room with him, and hoped they would leave before personnel matters were discussed.

'Minister, I am Dolores Umbridge. I would like to welcome you to your new post, and hope that we will work well together in the future'. She held out her hand. Kingsley did not take it.

'Dolores Jane Umbridge, allegations of corruption, theft, improper treatment and abuse of position have been made against you. These allegations will be investigated, and if substantiated, you will be tried before the Wizangemot. You will have the right to defend your self, or appoint others to defend you, and call witnesses. In the interim, you are suspended from office with immediate effect. You will hand in your wand and Ministry pass. You will remain at your place of residence. You will not attempt to leave the country. These Aurors will escort you from the premises. You will be allowed to take personal possessions with you. Do you have anything to say?'

She slumped in to a chair, her brain unable to comprehend. She must hold on to something concrete.

'Minister, I did my duty'

"I will not surrender responsibility for my life and my actions."
-- John Enoch Powell

Quotations

1 Jenny Holzer, American conceptual artist (b. 1950)

2 Henri F. Amiel, Swiss writer (1821-1881)

3 Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. president (1872-1933)

4 Booker T. Washington, American educator (1856-1915)

5 Hamilton Wright Mabee, American essayist (1846-1916)

6 Edward Everett Hale, American clergyman and writer (1822-1909)

7 Niccolo Machiavelli, Florentine dramatist, political analyst and adviser (1469-1527)

8 Michel de Montaigne, French essayist (1533-1592)