Chapter 10: Seeds Of Dissent
In the weeks following Umbridge's installation as High Inquisitor, Hogwarts was becoming more and more unbearable.
Not only did the Ministry flunky use her new position to constantly meddle in the school's everyday affairs, she also took the opportunity to enact several 'ministry educational edicts' which supposedly improved school standards but were in reality, nothing more a then a means to tightly control Hogwarts.
Nothing was sacred to Umbridge.
Students and faculty were tightly monitored during and after classes. But none more closely then Seras and Harry as the High Inquisitor seemed to have it most for them.
Practices and expression of ideas that went against the norm were strictly discouraged. This included the restriction and control of information from unapproved sources.
Anything deemed 'uneducational' which ranged from sweets, toys and even music were banned.
But probably the most restricting rule she had enacted was that there were to be no social and extracirricular activities outside of school hours without prior approval from Umbridge. Naturally, that also included the Quidditch teams and school clubs as well as any sort of romantic relationships.
The only club that has been sanctioned by Umbridge thus far was the Inquisitorial Squad comprising of handpicked, mostly Slytherin students coming from pureblood families who were tasked with the enforcement of the new rules and regulations.
However, these were just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Nobody knew the full scope of Umbridge's powers as High Inquisitor till one fateful day.
...
"You can't do this to me!" Sybil Trewalney cried as she confronted Dolores Umbridge in front of a large crowd of students on the school courtyard standing protectively besides her belongings which had been brought out. "I've been teaching here for nearly twenty years and Hogwarts has been my home! I have no other place to go!"
"Where you live is not my problem." Umbridge simpered. "My only concern is the education these children are receiving here and it has become painfully clear that they are learning absolutely nothing from your classes. And in order for a more suitable instructor take over, it is my sad duty to release your from your service to this school."
McGonagall and Seras then could be seen making their ways towards the source of the disturbance.
"What in Merlin's name is going on out here?" The Deputy Headmistress demanded as her eyes raked over the scene in front of her. "Sybil. Why are all your belongings out here?"
"She has been released from her duties as an instructor of Divination." Umbridge answered for the distraught woman. "After thorough investigation, I have determined that she has not been doing an acceptable job thus her dismissal from her post and from the castle."
Seras gives the toady woman an even look. Even she knew that the Divination instructor's teaching skills was less then satisfactory. But for Umbridge to sack her outright like this... "I didn't realize your new post authorized yo to do that." She said to Umbridge which made her smile wider.
"I have many responsibilities as High Inquisitor and that includes investigating the instructors here and if necessary, dismissing them if they are... Unqualified for the job." Umbridge said staring right at Seras who stares right back, undaunted. "I have every right to make her leave Hogwarts."
"I'm afraid that I have to disagree with you on that.." A new voice cuts in. Like the Red Sea the student body parts to give way to Dumbledore who looked decidedly unamused. "You may have gotten the authorization to dismiss members of the faculty, but the decision to evict them from this castle is still mine to make in my capacity as Headmaster. Hogwarts ALWAYS helps those in need and Professor Trewalney is still welcome to stay for as long as required." He said before nodding at his Deputy who leads Trewalney away from the scene.
"You are dangerously close to usurping the Ministry's authority here at Hogwarts Headmaster." Umbridge informs him with a dangerous edge to her voice.
"You are possibly correct." Dumbledore allowed. "But until I am released from my duties as Headmaster which you DON'T have the authority to do so..." Some snickers can be heard as Dumbledore points this out which makes Umbridge frown. "... My decision stands."
Umbridge was quiet for a few moments, her features tight with barely restrained anger at Dumbledore's intervention. "Fine. I will drop this issue for now." She said before giving a warning. "But be warned Dumbledore because this is not over. We are watching you closely and the Ministry will brook no interference from you or any subversive elements of this school. And you should find a new instructor for Divination or the Ministry will find one for you."
"Of course Dolores. I ALWAYS do things to the full letter of the law." Dumbledore said, watching the unpleasant woman give Prof. Victoria one last glare before storming off. At seeing that the incident seemed to be order, the students started to disperse as well.
"As much as I hate to agree with her, Umbridge is right Headmaster." Seras said as she steps up besides Dumbledore. "This is not over by a longshot and it will NEVER be over as long as she's hanging around."
"Perhaps Professor Victoria but I am determined NOT to turn over ANY sort of control of the school to the Ministry without a fight." Dumbledore said. "Our more pressing concern at the moment is to find a qualified Divination Professor before she does."
Seras mulls over this before snapping her fingers suddenly. "I've got it."
"Got what?" Dumbledore asks.
"I know where we can get a temporary Divination professor." Seras said before hesitating. "The thing is..."
"Go on." Dumbledore prompts.
"Well... Do you think Umbridge will flip out if we get a centaur as a Divination Instructor?" Seras asks. Dumbledore's only answer was a wide smile.
...
Albus follows Seras's suggestion and hires the centaur who the vampiress met before named Firenze. And as expected, Umbridge DID react rather badly at the appointment of a centaur as the new Divination instructor. But there was nothing she can do about it as there was an immediate need and centaurs were known for their abilities as seers plus the fact that the new instructor was only working for board and lodgings.
And the fact that Firenze proved himself to be a skilled and popular instructor helped cement his position as a faculty member.
But this only prompts the vindicative Undersecretary to tighten the proverbial noose on the collective necks of the Hogwarts populace even further. And this is the problem which Harry and his friends as well as a group of invited students tackle during their next weekend trip to Hogsmead.
The group opts to get together away from prying eyes in the one of the private rooms in the Hog's Head Inn which was run by the Headmaster's own brother. And looking around the considerable turnout, the Boy-Who-Lived could tell that a gathering like this out in the public would attract unwanted attention from Umbridge and her handpicked team of enforcers.
Gryffindor had the largest turnout which naturally included the Golden Trio themselves as well as Neville, the remaining members of the Weasley Clan, the Gryffindor Chasers, the Creevey brothers, Lee, Seamus, Dean, Parvati and Lavander.
The Ravenclaws were represented by Roger, Cho, Padma, Luna, Anthony, Marietta and Terry.
The Hufflepuffs present were Justin, Susan, Hannah, Zacharias and Ernie.
But the most surprising turnout came from Slytherin considering that the Inquisitorial Squad consisted of members of their house. The Greengrass sisters, Blaise and Tracey looked uncomfortable in the presence of students from other houses but Harry figured that they wouldn't be here if they agreed with Umbridge's policies.
"What are these slimy snakes doing here? Who invited them?" Ron snarled.
"I did Ron." Harry revealed. "This problem we're facing is not between houses anymore. It involves everyone now."
"But you can't trust them!" Ron insisted vehemently.
"And we DON'T trust YOU. How can we? You've stereotyped us as a house of bigots and murderers. Not everyone there is like that." Tracey spoke out venomously, tired of Ron's attitude. "But Potter is right. This isn't about individual houses anymore. It's about Hogwarts."
"Let's get one thing perfectly clear Weasley." The elder Greengrass, Daphne stated coldly. "We will NEVER be friends. But we attend the same institution that you do. No matter what that hag Umbridge says, her 'Educational Edicts' and Inquisitional Squad are a joke. An eyesore that keeps us ALL suppressed and ignorant of reality. And true Slytherins will not stand for it."
"Our society has already suffered a setback with the integration of mudbloods, halfbloods and squibs." Blaise opined while looking utterly remorseless with his words, causing many of the room's occupants to glare at him."But to inject it with even more incompetence, ignorance and idiocy in the guise of maintaining 'tradition' is even more unacceptable."
"Good to hear that we're all at least on the same page. And that is exactly the reason why I called organized this get together today." Harry said, relieved that the Slytherins statements had somehow eased everyone's concerns for the meantime. "So let's get things started. We have a lot of things to sort out and not a lot of time to do it."
Author's Notes: New chappie for you guys. Thanks for waiting :)