Chapter 10: Professions & Questions

"This is such Tauros crap," I said between gritted teeth. "She can't do this. It's not right."

"Gotta love the Ministry," Calem grimaced, "gettin' into everyone's business." Calem turned to me and smiled, "so you ready for another class."

"Yeah," I grumbled, "maybe Umbridge will try to correct the way that we teach our class."

Walking to our classroom, Calem and I walked slowly in an attempt to keep an eye on the boys.

"How are they doing," Calem asked.

"They're doing good, they're sleeping through the night for the most part."

"That's good." He paused, looking at me. "Serena, I have a question."

"Ask away."

"There's that trip into town that the students have and...I was wondering if you wanted to go with me, if you're not busy of course."

I smirked, "are you asking me on a date?"

Calem smirked back, "if that's what you want to call it."

I smiled and shrugged, "sure I'll go with you. But I would have to find a baby sitter for those three."

Calem smiled as the Lake Trio circled us. "I'm sure someone wouldn't mind watching them," he replied, opening the classroom door for me.

"I know I wouldn't have a problem finding someone. Most of the girls love those three."

"That's true," Calem laughed, opening the classroom door.

The class began to arrive soon after we arrived. "Alright guys," I said as the class started walking in, "I want you to give your homework to Professor Mercier as you walk in and then release your Pokémon."

The students did as they were told, and as they were sitting down, I saw a small pink blur in my peripheral vision. "Ah, Professor Umbridge," I turned to her and smiled, "glad you could join us."

Umbridge tried to hide her disgusted face when she saw the Pokémon out. "Why are they out?"

"Because," Calem said simply, "it's easier to form a bond with your Pokémon while they're out."

"And may I ask why they need to have a bond with these creatures?"

"'Cause that's part of their grade in this class," I interjected. Umbridge scribbled something on a clipboard.

Shaking my head, I looked at the class. "Well, today we're going to be going over professions that deal with Pokémon. You've already seen two: trainers and coordinators. And today we're going to go over some others. Calem, if you could."

Calem grinned and nodded, "I'm, personally, a Pokémon trainer. It's pretty self-explanatory: you travel around various regions, usually battling gym leaders, earning badges so that you can eventually challenge the Elite Four. Coordinators are another common profession. These people compete with their Pokémon in contests against each other in order to obtain ribbons to compete in the Grand Festival."

"There's also what we would call a Pokémon Ranger," Calem continued. "They protect both Pokémon and humans and are usually the ones that you call if there's a problem. They deal with everything from undercover missions to simple rescue missions. They enter into the Ranger Academy, usually at a fairly young age, or at least by your standards, and then at ten, we're able to pick our partner."

I smiled and stepped forward. "There are also breeders and researchers. Breeders find ways to take care of Pokémon, as well as finding the best breeding patterns among Pokémon that will have the best outcome. Researchers do various things, from researching the origins of Pokémon to studying evolutionary patterns. Most researchers focus in one area and devote their lives to researching their chosen topic."

"While there are more options to choose from," I continued, "these are the fields that you will start off in." I glanced around the room, taking in everyone's expressions. Some seemed to be more interested the prospect of being a breeder, researcher, or Pokémon ranger than others. "So, I'm going to pass around sheets of paper that have one of the following fields," turning around and grabbing a piece of chalk, I wrote Trainer, Coordinator, Breeder, Researcher, and Ranger on the board, "at the top of the paper. If you could write your name on the sheet that has the field you want to focus on, then we can get an idea of who you would need to work with."

Calem took out five sheets of parchment and wrote the respective titles on the tops of the paper before handing them to four different students. Once all of the papers were passed around to everyone, I took them off of Draco's desk.

Calem looked around grinning, "that's all we had for today guys. Tonight we want you to look over the moves that your Pokémon have now and what they can learn, as well as any evolutions they have, if any. See ya next time guys!"

The familiar sound of shuffling papers and the scraping of chairs against the cold, stone floors followed the dismissal and we watched as the students, as well as Umbridge, shuffled out of the room, all except Hermione.

"What can I do for you Hermione," Calem questioned.

"I was wondering why you gave me Beldum…"

I smiled, "you don't like Beldum?"

"It's not that…it's-"

"You're wondering why all the other girl's seemed to get more normal looking Pokémon?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed, causing Calem to laugh. "You're a smart girl, Hermione, I'm sure you were able to figure something out about your Beldum."

"Well," Hermione began, "Beldum seems to know more than the other Pokémon."

Calem nodded. "Beldum is a very intelligent Pokémon."

I smiled at the younger girl, "an intelligent Pokémon for an intelligent young woman."

Hermione gave a small smile, "thank you Professors."

She waved as she walked out of the classroom. I glanced at Calem and my sons, "this is going to be an interesting year." I grabbed all of the papers and started walking toward the door.

The next day, Calem and I were walking around the school grounds when Calem saw a large crowd up ahead.

"What in the hell is going on," Calem said, seeing a large group of students in the courtyard. We tried to maneuver our way to the front of the crowd. When we finally managed to see what was happening, Filch was placing large suitcases in front of Trelawney, which she then proceded to trip on as she took a small step toward Umbridge

"Six-sixteen years I-I've lived and taught. Hogwarts is my home," Trelawney said, on the verge of tears, "Y-you can't do this."

"Actually I can," Umbridge said in mock sincerity, holding up a folded piece of parchment. I scoffed, probably one of her damned educational decrees.

McGonagall pushed her way through the students and ran to Trelawney's side, trying to comfort her. Calem and I followed suit, Calem placing a hand on Trelawney's shoulder while I put myself between Umbridge and Trelawney. If anyone was gonna get the first crack at punching this botch square in the face, it was gonna be me.

"Something you would like to say dear," Umbridge asked McGonagall sweetly.

"Oh there are several things I would like to say," McGonagall snapped before turning back to Trelawney.

"I have no problem with speaking my mind, you conniving, evil, toad-faced bitch," I snapped, taking a step forward. There was a sharp intake of breath from all of the students, as well as McGonagall, that surrounded the courtyard.

"E-excuse me," Umbridge stammered out.

"You heard me you fuc-"

"That's enough Serena," Calem said quickly, cutting me off and moving so that he stood beside me. He turned to Umbridge with an emotionless face, "though don't think for a second, Umbridge, that I'm defending you. I'm merely protecting the innocence of the children's ears. You deserve to be thrown into the distortion world and have Giratina play with you."

Before Umbridge could respond, the doors of the castle flew open and Dumbledore swiftly walked over to Umbridge.

"Professor McGonagall," he began, "might I ask you to escort Sybill back inside."

Calem and I stepped out of their way as McGonagall began to lead Trelawney back inside the castle, but not before Trelawney could thank Dumbledore profusely for allowing her to stay.

"Dumbledore," Umbridge snapped, "may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree Number 23, as enacted by the Minister-"

"You have the authority to dismiss my teachers," Dumbledore said, cutting her off. "You do not, however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains with the Headmaster."

"For now," Umbridge said sweetly, but there was an underlying threat in that statement. Calem and I looked at each other. If she managed to become the Headmistress for any reason, then we would have to fight for our right to stay here. It shouldn't be too hard though, only Calem and I were skilled enough to control the Pokémon that the students had and, while I have no doubt that they could be just as good, if not better, they were still learning.

"Don't you all have studying to do," Dumbledore snapped, walking back inside the castle. Harry started to run after him, only to lose Dumbledore in the crowd.