Chapter 10
Meanwhile, Hermione.
Hermione was still in shock when she boarded the Hogwarts Express to return home. Victor was dead. He and Cedric both had died in the Final Task, and the Daily Prophet reported a young seer had a vision about their impending deaths. There had been time to stop the task, but the Ministry had ignored the seer because he was an apprentice.
Hermione moved in a fog, numb to her emotions or the pitying looks others kept shooting her way. Fortunately, Ron was there to help her. He knew Hermione was upset, and he aided her as best he could. On the train, it was Ron who grabbed them an empty compartment and spent the next few minutes scaring anyone who dared to open the door. Hermione was not some attraction for the students to stare at. The visitors slowed once the train started moving.
The ride was quiet. Ron continued to keep guard on the door while Hermione just stared out the window. The only time she turned away was when Ginny and Neville stopped by. They had come to bid Hermione farewell for the summer. She returned their pleasantries before turning back to the window.
As the train slowed heading into London, Ron let out a sudden, colorful curse. Hermione turned to see him rummaging through his trunk. With a shout of triumph, he pulled something free.
"I almost forgot," Ron said handing her the object. "You should take this."
It was a mirror. Harry's mirror. Hermione took it from Ron and clutched it tight to her chest.
The train lurched to a stop. Outside the compartment, students were running, excited to greet their families. Ron slowly repacked his trunk and waited for the noise in the corridor to die down. Once everyone was distracted by greeting one another, Ron helped Hermione to her parents, waiting outside the platform. They had received the letter about Victor Krum's death only yesterday and were anxious to see their daughter.
The moment she saw her parents, Hermione burst into tears. Mrs. Granger rushed forward and wrapped her daughter in a tight embrace. As her daughter cried, she stroked Hermione's hair and made soft hushing sounds.
While his wife took care of his daughter, Mr. Granger gathered Hermione's belonging from Ron. He nodded to the boy in thanks, then turned to usher his family to the car. Mr. Granger put away Hermione's trunk as his wife situated herself and their daughter in the back seat.
Hermione cried herself out on the way home. Curled up in her mother's arms, with the radio playing its familiar tune, the fat tears turned to hiccups, then the soft, even breath of sleep. All the while Mrs. Granger continued to stroke up and down Hermione's back.
Hermione cried a lot in the following week, though never as hard as she had the first day. Through her tears, the witch explained to her parents all she knew about the events leading to Victor's death.
The third task was a hedge maze. Victor had the point advantage going into the third task, so he entered the maze first, though Cedric Diggory entered shortly thereafter. Because of how high the hedge grew, there was no visibility into the maze so everyone was waiting for the boys to come out.
Then Victor appeared!
He was laid out on his back, the cup dropped into the crook of his elbow. There was blood everywhere. Professors rushed to him and gathered around in a tight circle. Then they took him off the field. Hermione and the rest of the students only found out he was dead later.
Cedric never came out of the maze. The officials rushed in to find him, but it was already too late. He had been killed by something in the maze, they both had.
After her explanation, Hermione broke down crying again. It was a shorter cry, less emotional than before. Telling her parents had helped. Each consecutive bout of tears was less intense, until days later she stopped crying altogether. Just in time for summer school to begin.
The Grangers assured their daughter she did not have to go. It was ok if she felt like staying home, but Hermione needed to go. Needed something normal, something familiar, and school (even summer school) was familiar.
She tried to explain to Harry one day, one of many she spent talking to him through the mirror. To her surprise, Harry agreed. He explained that he found himself diving for the textbooks when he was upset as well.
"It's a distraction." He told her.
"I know," She said with a relieved sigh before changing the subject. "You finished Divination, right?"
"Don't make that face, Hermione," Harry laughed. "You don't have to like the subject. But yes. I am officially a Seer. I had a vision, recognized, and reported it, just before school let out."
"What are you studying now?"
"Shadi says I'll be taking my mastery soon. Really soon."
"Congratulations!" She exclaimed.
"Thanks. I'm a bit nervous."
"If Shadi didn't think you could do it he wouldn't let you take the test. How does one test for an obscure and ancient discipline, anyway?"
"I dunno. It's part of why I'm so nervous."
"Tell me after the test."
"I'll do that." Harry agreed then glanced up. "I'm being called."
"Bye," Hermione said as the mirror returned to reflecting her face.
Summer school passed in a blur. As they ended, Ron invited Hermione to spend the last few weeks of summer with him. The Grangers begrudgingly agreed, worried, but Hermione was doing well. Hermione promised to come home if it became too much, and left with the Weasleys.
The burrow was loud. The Weasleys acted normal around her, which was relieving after her parents coddling. But something was off. Many strangers came to visit and stayed for private meetings with the older Weasleys. People like Mugnus Fleacher, a shady wizard Hermione tried to avoid, or Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Mrs. Weasley refused to let anyone tell the "children" anything. Fred and George were especially put off by that, having already turned seventeen.
Hermione kept a close eye on the newspaper, suspecting whatever was going on would show up any day. Nothing stood out to her. News about the investigation into the Final Task Tragedy was plentiful. How Cedric had been set upon by a wild creature in the Maze, but their theories failed to explain Victor's mysterious injuries.
In no time September first had arrived. The train ride was uneventful, but the Welcoming feast made up for that. It started with the introduction of the new Defense teacher, a Dolores Umbridge. Hermione had heard of Umbridge. She was a ministry employee who helped to draft some of the most distasteful pureblood propaganda to ever come out of the Ministry, most notably the new anti-werewolf bill that came out two years before.
When Umbridge began to speak, Hermione realized why the woman was there, and the girl fumed. Umbridge was a ministry plant brought in to control the school. The ministry had tried to blame the deaths of Cedric and Victor on Hogwarts but had so far failed. This would be yet another attempt.
Hermione left the feast fuming but promised herself she would at least see if Professor Umbridge was any good as a Defense Professor. Surely she would have some credential if the Ministry was to offer her services up as a professor?
Oh, how wrong she was.
Hermione went to the first class of Defense against the Dark Arts with guarded anticipation. At first glance, everything was alright. The horrible woman just wanted them to read from the book (which was stupid, since Hermione had already finished it.), but the part that made Hermione absolutely furious was when they found out Umbridge would teach no spells this year. This was her OWL year, and there were several dozen new spells on the practical portion of the OWL exam she was expected to learn this year.
When her classes were over, Hermione made her way to the library and navigated to the section on Wizarding law. It was a quiet, out of the way nook partially hidden by a book shelf. The nook, with its single table, was often empty until the rest of the tables in the library filled.
Three Ravenclaws and two Slytherin students were already poured over the books when Hermione slipped in. They looked up, and the Slytherins gave Hermione a smile she recognized from her time with Fred and George as 'unholy glee'. Sliding one of the law books toward her, the Slytherin seventh year moved enough to make room for her at the table.
A little suspicious, Hermione took the book and the seat.
The Slytherin rolled his eyes. "I'm not Malfoy."
"And it's my grade too." the other said. "I'm not having her ruin it."
"I need a perfect grade in Defense this year." One of the Ravenclaw boys said without looking up from his book.
The rest of the table made noise of agreement as they returned to their books. Hermione opened the book she had been handed. After a paragraph, she stopped. Reaching into her bag, Hermione pulled out parchment and quill and began to take notes while she read.
Over the next several weeks, Hermione spent all her free time in the library. Every moment she spent in Umbridge's class left her furiously searching for a way to stop her, and soon. But there was no legal reason to remove her from the school.
The realization hit the gathered students hard. There was quite a crowd gathered around the table these days. All of the Ravenclaws and most of the Slytherins had stopped by at least once, and many of the Hufflepuffs were willing to help as well. The students were desperate to see her gone.
Hermione looked at the gathered crowd and thought for a moment before pulling out her parchment.
Dear Wizengamot Official,
I am writing to express my concern over the Ministry's appointment of Dolores Umbridge to the position of Professor…
Neatly filling the page, Hermione hesitated before signing her name, then she pulled out her wand and began duplicating the parchment and passing out the copies.
"Here." She said. "Use this as a template. Write everyone in the Wizengamot. If we send enough letters, they will take us seriously."
One of the Slytherin boys read over the letter.
"This might work." he said in a surprised tone.
"It will." A Ravenclaw replied, pulling out his parchment.
The other students were quick to do the same. Soon the only sound heard in the library nook was the scribbling of quills on parchment, and a fleet of owls left the owlery for the Ministry that night.
Going to breakfast the next morning Hermione discovered Umbridge had found out about her plan. Sometime in the night an "Educational Decree No. 23" had been posted outside the Great Hall. All around the air was buzzing with outrage from students going to eat. Each of them read the new plaque as they walked by.
Educational Decree No. 23
Any complaints to Ministry Personnel must be directed to the Minister of Magic's Staff.
The other students parted as Hermione approached and read the plaque. She stood almost in the middle of the doorway as she read, clearly visible to those already seated in the Great Hall. That included Dolores Umbridge, who was staring the Gryffindor witch down.
Hermione took her time reading over the Decree as the other students looked on. When she was finished she looked up toward the Professor's table. Locking eyes with Umbridge, she quickly turned and headed back up the staircase into the rest of the castle.
Ron looked torn between the retreating figure of his best friend and the Great Hall. Breakfast awaited, but Hermione needed support. If Harry was here they would already be on their way to comfort the girl. With a last remorseful look to the hall, he hurried after his friend.
"Wait up Hermione," Ron called after his friend when he caught up to her several floors above.
She paused and turned to look back at him, allowing him time to draw to a stop beside her.
"Now I know you must be upset," Ron consoled. "That horrid woman-"
"Oh no, Ron!" Hermione interrupted. "Don't you see? I'm getting to her!"
"... what?" he asked.
"It's obvious," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes. "Umbridge is afraid of making the ministry look bad. If it turns out that she -the ministry appointed teacher- isn't any good, it will look very bad on the ministry for hiring her."
Hermione ended her statement by beaming at Ron, who began to smile in return. Then Ron frowned, having found a snag in her plan. "How are you going to continue? She's forbidden you from complaining about her."
"But she hasn't," Hermione said smugly. "That is for complaints to Ministry Personnel but says nothing about complaining elsewhere. Now come on. I have a plan."
Then Hermione turned and hurried away again, this time Ron right beside her with a brilliant smile on his face.
Ron and Hermione disappeared until breakfast the next morning. Ron made a beeline for the table and its food, but Hermione made her way down the Ravenclaw table first. She stopped behind a blond fourth-year student, and they held a conversation in low voices for a few seconds. Only then did Hermione take her spot beside Ron at the Gryffindor table and began to eat her breakfast with gusto.
Students and teachers alike whispered to themselves. They wondered what Hermione was up to, but all were disappointed. Hermione went to all her classes (like normal), she overdid her homework (like normal), and she spent her free time studying in the common room or library (like normal). In Umbridge's class, Hermione kept quiet and wrote as she had already read the horrid book.
The next Hogsmeade trip was a great relief for everyone. The castle had begun to take on a melancholy air from the unhappy students. Any student who could go out did.
But the real treat of the day was when Hermione was spotted talking to Rita Skeeter and Jenna Roche! No one got close enough to he the exchange, probably a ward put up by one of the three witches, but none of the students needed to hear the exchange. They could guess.
Monday morning brought confirmation.
During breakfast, the Great hall went dark, and everyone looked up. A huge flock of owls was streaming in the windows. Some carried the morning paper, but the rest carried letters. To the horror of most, those letters were RED.
Hermione produced a pair of Professor Sprout's earmuffs as the birds flew throughout the room. Ron and Neville also produced pairs and put them on.
The first letter landed on Umbridge's plate, another landed right after it. Then one landed on Hermione's plate as yet more owls made their way to the professor's table. A small pile was growing at Umbridge's place at the table as the woman looked at it with horror.
The whole hall was silent as they watched Hermione put her own earmuffs on. She took her time, careful to check how they laid on her head. Two more howlers had joined the one in front of her. Then, in one swift movement, Hermione swept all three letters up and tore them open.
The Great Hall erupted into screams of incoherent noise. Students and teachers alike clapped their hands over their ears. Umbridge was in a far worse state. More and more letters dropped onto her plate. The screams from Hermione's letters left her with no choice but to cover her ears, but that left her howlers piling up.
Suddenly the pile exploded! Red envelopes flew everywhere as the cries of the first letters, the ones buried under all the other, were added to the din.
The students began to stampede for the doors. Their goal to find a quiet place on the grounds. Ravenclaw students even let their bags, full of precious books, in the exodus. In a more stately manner, the professors also made their way out of the Great Hall, leaving Umbridge alone at the Professor's Table.
Classes were canceled that day as the screaming persisted. Howlers continued to fly in until late afternoon. While the great majority went for Umbridge, some letters went to the other professors for failing to catch on to the woman's scheme.
Many wizards and witches of the Ministry of Magic also found themselves being bombarded with howlers. Their homes invaded by the things. Between Howlers, the members of the Wizengamot tried to floo each other, but many found their fireplaces already full of angry faces.
The Ministry found itself consumed by an ever-growing tidal wave of letters. The small portion of employees who made it to work found it difficult to handle the volume. With wizards and witches stuck at home under their own never-ending flow of mail, it took the better portion of a week to get anything back under control.
The first, and most important order of business for the Wizengamot once they were back in session, was the troubling appointment of Dolores Umbridge to Professor of Defense of the Dark Arts. Was this a teenager acting out against a teacher she hated or was there a legitimate problem? Either way, the Wizengamot needed to be seen doing something.
And they knew what that something should be.
The summons arrived at breakfast. Two huge owls, twice the size of any other bird to fly the hall. Their wings darkened the halls and stirred the air as they flew to settle in front of Hermione and Umbridge.
Hermione took the letter from the owl and offered it a sausage from her plate. While it ate, she read:
Ms. Hermione Granger,
You are hereby summoned to the Wizengamot on 18 December at 4:00 in the afternoon. You will state your case before the Wizengamot at that time. An answer is required to this summons within 13 days of service. Failure to respond will be considered a withdrawal of your case.
Percy Weasley, Junior Assistant to the Minister.
"When did Percy get a promotion?" Hermione asked as she folded the letter.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Says right here, he's Junior Assistant to the Minister now."
Ron exchanged glances with the twins. All three had confused looks.
"I'll ask mum," George said.
Hermione put the letter in her bag and continued eating her breakfast. Up at the Head Table, Umbridge stormed off after reading her own letter. Professor McGonagall looked particularly feline as she watched the other woman go.
As Hermione's Head of House, it was up to Professor McGonagall to prepare the girl to go before the Wizengamot. All the time Hermione spent in the law section of the library meant there was little McGonagall needed to teach her. Instead, the Professor used the meetings to feed her favorite student biscuits and coach her in how to speak to the Wizengamot.
On December 18th, McGonagall escorted Hermione to the Ministry just after lunch. They would be several hours early, but that suited the Professor just fine.
The two witches took the floo. Stepping out Hermione found herself in a busy atrium. The hall was decorated with rich polished wood, but they were off before she could look around.
"This way." Professor McGonagall ordered and began to move.
Hermione hurried after her professor. As they made their way through the Ministry, she noticed how the wizards and witches moved out of the Professor's way and smiled, waved, or even bowed as she passed. She knew her professor was well respected, but knowing and seeing were two different things.
McGonagall finally slowed outside a pair of heavy timber doors. On either side of it lounged an Auror who sprang to attention when they saw her.
"Professor McGonagall!" the one exclaimed.
"Mr. Pierce, Ms. Lane." She said.
"What brings you here today?" asked Auror Lane.
"My student received a summons," McGonagall replied, gesturing to Hermione.
Hermione produced the parchment, folded neatly in her pocket with Harry's mirror just in case. She handed the summons to Auror Pierce. He took and read the letter before handing it back.
"The Wizengamot hasn't started yet, but I can let you be seated." He said, opening the door for them.
Hermione followed her professor inside and stopped. She felt as if she had stepped into a coliseum. Tiers of seating rose steeply from the arena floor she stood on. To one side was a holding pen which Professor McGonagall steered her to.
Hermione tried to settle down for the long wait. It was a little after one, and several hours before the Wizengamot would begin. But she could not settle down. Her stomach rolled as she thought about speaking before all those full seats.
Before she worked herself up a young woman scurried in. She hurried over to McGonagall and said: "The meeting has been rescheduled."
"When" McGonagall demanded.
"Now." The woman said.
Before she could continue a door opened on the tier above, and in walked a pair of wizards in conversation with each other. They walked swiftly to their seats wizards and witches began to filter in from all the chamber's doors. All of them headed straight to their seats with frowns on their faces. A particularly perturbed individual was carrying a tray, his unfinished lunch.
Minister Fudge was one of the last to enter. Beside him walked Percy Weasley and a smirking Dolores Umbridge. She lost her smug expression when she glanced down to see Professor McGonagall and Hermione already seated in their holding pen. With a sour expression, she seated herself beside the Minister.
Hermione leaned forward in her chair to listen to the Wizengamot's opening statement. This was it! She was in a session of the Wizengamot! The Wizards went through a roll call, and Hermione recognized many names from her research over the past year. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione noticed Umbridge's smirk returned.
"Would you please take the floor, Ms. Granger?" Mme. Bones (Head of Magical Law Enforcement) asked.
Focus Hermione thought to herself as she stood and walked to the center of the Arena. She straightened her spine under the full weight of the spectators. Hermione clasped her hands in front of her to prevent them from fidgeting as she waited.
One of the elder Wizards, Mr. Fletcher (Senior Undersecretary of International Magical Cooperation) who asked the first question. "Ms. Granger, why did you feel the need to contact the press with your outrageous accusation."
"I don't feel it was outrageous at all. I contacted the press after I was forbidden from contacting the Wizengamot directly, Mr. Fletcher."
There was a murmur of approval from the audience at Hermione's address, but it was overshadowed by Mme. Bones question "Forbidden Ms. Granger?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "Educational Decree no. 23. Any complaints to Ministry Personnel must be directed to the Minister of Magic's Staff."
Several officials shot looks at the Minister and Umbridge beside him. Hermione saw the man flush, in anger or embarrassment she was unsure. She heard a murmur
"Ho! When did this happen?" Someone said.
"I certainly didn't sign off on it." Said another.
"Her-hem. If I may." came the saccharine voice of Umbridge.
"Dolores Umbridge." Mme. Bones acknowledged. "Can you please explain why such an 'educational decree' was passed?"
"Because they were bothering you."
A quiet murmur spread through the Wizengamot. Hermione heard the confusion, and maybe (hopefully) a bit of anger in their voices, but Umbridge failed to notice.
"Children needn't bother you on such a trivial matter as a disliked teacher." She continued.
"If you were merely disliked we would deal with you," Hermione said, unable to hold her tongue. "No one likes Professor Snape. His social skills need work, but he is a competent teacher. You aren't. You can't teach, and that is why I protest."
Hermione saw Professor McGonagall cover a smirk and felt a tiny sliver of dismay. That comment was getting back to the Potions Professor. Despite the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin, the professors seemed to be friends.
"Mme. Bones," Hermione said after a pause. "If you had your pick for Susan's Defense teacher, who would you pick?"
"Oh, one of my Aurors, surely."
"Exactly. But my professor this year is the Undersecretary to the Minister. How did she get the position?"
The murmur was getting louder. Hermione stood quietly as the volume grew. She was distracted for a moment as the mirror in her pocket began to vibrate. What was Harry calling now for?
"Thank you for your time, Miss Granger. You may return to your seat." Mme. Bones said.
Hermione returned to her seat and the mirror began buzzing again. What was going on?
In her distraction, Hermione missed the next statement, but when she looked back up most of the Wizengamot members had their hands raised. The minister and Umbridge were sitting straight backed in their chairs, faces ashen. What had she missed?
"Very well." Mme. Bones said. "Dolores Umbridge, you are hereby relieved of your post as Professor of Defense against the Dark arts. A list of suitable candidates shall be submitted by no later than noon tomorrow. Our choice for the new Professor will be announced by Friday, and he or she shall begin Monday. "
Hermione slumped forward in her seat and signed. It was done. When she glanced up at Umbridge, the woman looked shocked. The other Wizengamot members were filtering out around them, talking amongst themselves.
The mirror went off again. Hermione snatched it out of her pocket.
"What Harry?" She demanded.
"Are you still at the ministry?"
"Yes wh-"
"Mr. Weasley has been attacked. I need you to get him help." Harry interrupted, words rushed.
Hermione stood, and scurried to where the two Aurors stood in the hall. "Mr. Weasley was attacked. Here in the Ministry."
"Outside your hall of prophecy," Harry said.
"Go," Pierce ordered Lane.
She sprinted away. As she turned the corner a thought popped into Hermione's head.
"How did you know that Harry?"
"I had a vision." He replied. "I wasn't going to let the ministry mess it up this time."
"This time… Harry!" Hermione yelped.
Beside her, Professor McGonagall gasped.
"I'm really, really sorry Hermione, but I have to go. I'm supposed to be at work right now."
"Call back tonight," Hermione demanded.
"I will," Harry promised and left.
For a moment Hermione felt lost. Professor McGonagall placed a hand on her student's shoulder and guided Hermione back to the atrium. She saw Mr. Weasley was already there. He was surrounded by healers, wands waving around him, as he was led to St. Mungo's. Auror Lane was also there, speaking to another man, but excused herself when she saw Hermione to make her way over.
"He's going to be fine." Auror Lane assured her. "Thank you for telling us."
"Miss Granger." A voice purred from beside the.
Rita Skeeter was standing a few feet away. The look on her face told all she knew she had a scoop.
"Miss Granger, can you please tell me how you knew about the attack?"
"A friend of mine is a seer," Hermione said. "He had a vision and called to warn me."
"Surely he could have gone through proper channels?"
Hermione's fists clenched in her skirt. "Apparently not. The last time he had a vision, It was ignored by the ministry."
Professor McGonagall moved Hermione away. They were back in Hogwarts before anyone could ask her another question. But the damage was already done.
The next morning the Daily Prophet headlines screamed about an attack in the ministry, and how they were saved yet again by the young Egyptian seer. The boy, who took it upon himself to find an alternate way to alert the people of Britain. Rita had somehow obtained a copy of his original prophecy. Her article screamed about the return of You-Know-Who.