Chapter 11 What's a High Inquisitor?

The next morning, Alex was picking at her breakfast uninterestedly as she sat between Hermione and Stevie. Her father's comments last night had affected her more than she was willing to let on. She was just worried about him, was that so bad? She didn't think him risking his life just for a visit into Hogsmede was worth it.

Owls flew in and Hermione received her newspaper. However, when she unrolled it, she gasped in shock and dropped the paper on the table.

"Good God!" said Stevie when she saw the front page, "What the hell is it?"

"It's Umbridge!" said Alex, taking up the paper and reading it aloud, "Professor Dolores Umbridge: Hogwarts First and New High Inquisitor!"

"What's a High Inquisitor?" Harry asked but Alex continued reading.

"During the late hours of last evening, Minister Cornelius Fudge made a very important decision. He passed a new educational decree which gives the Ministry much power over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

'The Minister has been worried about the falling standards of Hogwarts,' Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley said last evening, 'That's why he passed Educational Decree Twenty-Two, which allowed Dolores Umbridge to teach at Hogwarts in the first place.'

The Minister declared that if the Headmaster of Hogwarts could not find a suitable teacher for any subject, the Ministry would provide them with one.

'The Defense Against the Dark Arts job at Hogwarts has always been a tough one to staff,' said Weasley with a sad smile, 'But I am confident Miss Umbridge will be staying at that post for a good amount of time. She has already been met with great success and everyone loves her.'"

"Who are they talking to?" said Ron, spraying pumpkin juice all over his plate in his horror.

"It gets worse," said Alex darkly, "But what does the High Inquisitor do, you may ask?

'Miss Umbridge, along with keeping her position as a regular teacher,' says Weasley, 'Will keep tabs on her fellow associates and make sure they are teaching at the highest standards possible.'

Anxious parents have been relieved to hear this wonderful news.

'I'm just glad that Dumbledore is being watched by someone who is an officially-trained, Ministry representative,' Mr. Lucius Malfoy, 41, said at his mansion with his wife at his side when we told him the news, 'He hasn't been very stable lately and I know many parents, like my wife and I, are only looking out for our child's best interest. His teaching choices these last few years haven't been the best.'

What Mr. Malfoy is referring to is the hiring of the dangerous werewolf, Remus Lupin, not-easily-understood half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid, and the unbalanced ex-Auror, Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, just to name a few.

However, it seems not everyone is totally pleased with this decree. One person, who wished to remain anonymous, said that, 'Hogwarts is a school, not a prison! So why is Fudge treating these poor students like they've done something wrong? If you're trying to dissuade people from believing Dumbledore, I'll let you know he has more supporters than Fudge could ever imagine!'

We would like to add that this person was then dragged out of the hall by security and is in the St. Mungo's Insanity Ward."

"Merlin," Hermione whispered, "So that's how we ended up with her!"

"Alex, why are you smiling like that?" Harry asked nervously.

"Oh, I can't wait until Umbridge sits in on McGonagall's lesson!" she said with a bark of laughter, "She'll get what's coming for sure!"

"Well let's go then!" said Ron.

However, Umbridge didn't show up in any of their morning classes. During Potions, they got their essay on moonstone back. Alex smiled modestly at her "O" on the top of her paper and put it away.

"This assignment was a disgrace," Snape was saying as he passed the grades out, "I expected better, even from those who are abysmal in my class."

Harry received his essay and paled slightly, quickly stuffing it into his bag. Alex gave him a sympathetic look and began working on her next potion.

When Alex and Hermione arrived in Arithmancy after lunch, they stopped dead in their tracks. Umbridge was sitting in the far back corner of the classroom, watching them eagerly. The girls took their seats and pulled out their supplies. Once all the students came in, they waited patiently for Professor Nellie to come through the front door like always.

"Where is your professor?" Umbridge asked the small class, "This period was to have started three minutes ago."

"The horror!" Alex muttered to her friends, "Three minutes late! We should send a search party!"

"He'll be here soon," said Ernie quickly, "He might be having some trouble getting up the stairs. I think he might have a breathing problem."

Umbridge nodded and wrote something down on her clipboard. Just then, Professor Nellie came in, wheezing a lot more than usual.

"Terribly sorry children," he said, "Either those stairs are getting longer or I'm getting older."

Everyone laughed quietly and the professor noticed Umbridge. His face was unreadable for a moment but then he put on a smile.

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge!" he said cheerfully, "I see you have decided to join us this lovely day?"

"Did you not get my note that I would be here?" Umbridge asked sweetly.

"A note?" Professor Nellie thought for a moment but shook his head.

"It was placed in your mailbox last evening," said Umbridge said, "Did you not check it?"

"I'm…I'm not sure," he said, looking a little lost, "But no matter! Now, would everyone please take out last night's homework? Trade with someone at your table and let's go over the answers!"

Alex, Hermione, and Draco swapped papers and they checked their work. The entire time, Umbridge was writing on her clipboard. Alex was too focused on trying to figure out if the things she wrote were good or not, that she forgot it was her turn twice. Each time, Hermione would elbow her in the ribs sharply.

Once the bell rang, Umbridge went up to Professor Nellie's desk while the students packed up. It was the quietest it had ever been because everyone wanted to hear what their new High Inquisitor inquired.

"So how long have you been teaching here, Professor Nellie?"

"Twenty years and hopefully counting," he said good-naturedly.

"I see…" she said, obviously not amused by his little joke, "And how did you become appointed here?"

"Well, I was a family friend of Dumbledore's, you see," Professor Nellie wheezed, "And when I heard my predecessor was leaving to spend more time with his fifteen grandchildren, I asked Dumbledore to consider hiring me for the job. I've always enjoyed this subject and I try to make it interesting for the children. I know not many of them share my love on numbers."

"Hmm…" Umbridge said, writing more and more notes, "So Dumbledore was doing you a favor in letting you come here?"

"I'm…I'm sorry?"

"Well, you said he was an old family friend," Umbridge said, her grin widening at Professor Nellie's nervousness, "So I assume you and he were on good terms. It's all right, I can understand if you needed a job and you are obviously teaching these kids well-"

"Are you insinuating," Professor Nellie said in horror, "That I abused a friendship with the Headmaster to get this post? No, it's not like that at all! What I meant was-"

"There's no need to explain yourself, Professor," Umbridge said with a smile, "I think that's all I need. You will be receiving your results in ten days. Good afternoon!"

She left the room in a good mood. Alex was frozen with the reality of what had just happened. She turned and saw Professor Nellie leaving the classroom.

"That little witch!" she said angrily, "She manipulated him!"

She looked around for Hermione, but found she had left already. Knowing Hermione, she probably stormed off in a furious daze while muttering about how horrid Umbridge was. Sighing, Alex left by herself and went down to the grounds for her Care of Magical Creatures lesson.

Grubbly-Plank wasn't a bad teacher, but she wasn't Hagrid. She didn't have the same enthusiasm that Hagrid had when he was talking about a creature. What also annoyed her was the fact people seemed to find her classes more enjoyable. In her opinion, Hagrid was ten times better than her.

When Alex found her housemates, she groaned. Umbridge was sitting on this lesson as well. Alex, Hermione, Ron, and Harry listened as Grubbly-Plank talked about bowtruckles, little wooden creatures that guarded the trees wands were made from. When she let them try and feed them, Umbridge went up to her to ask her a few questions.

"Now, you're just the substitute, am I correct?"

"Yes indeed," Grubbly-Plank said with a nod, "But Hagrid will be returning soon. He's taking a few months leave for personal reasons."

"Do you happen to know what these reasons are?" Umbridge asked a little too eagerly for Alex's liking.

"Personal," was all Grubbly-Plank said.

"Mhmm…well, I'm going to walk amongst the students this time, if that's all right with you of course."

"No problem, none at all."

Umbridge walked around and questioned people about magical creatures. While walking, she happened to notice Alex's group were having a much easier time with their bowtruckle than the others. Unbeknownst to the High Inquisitor, Alex was muttering calming words to her creature while the others could not calm theirs.

"Well, I see this table is good with their creatures," Umbridge said, as though it was against her will, "How is it your table has such an easy time with theirs while the others struggle to keep it down?"

"Hagrid taught us a few things," said Alex, looking straight into Umbridge's little beady eyes, "You could say we learned from the best."

"Well, I have heard there have been injuries in this class. Am I right in saying that?" she said a little louder so all could hear.

"Yes Professor," Parkinson said, putting an arm around an appalled Draco, "Draco here got attacked by a hippogriff."

"A hippogriff you say?" Umbridge said, writing more than ever, "When was this?"

"Two years ago," said Parkinson, seeing that Draco wished to remain mute, "In our third year. And it was our first lesson too."

"Really?" Umbridge said, "And I heard they're supposed to be wild."

"Buckbeak only attacked Malfoy because he didn't listen to Hagrid's directions," said Harry angrily, "He insulted it!"

"Detention, Mr. Potter!" said Umbridge without even looking up, "Thank you Professor Grubbly-Plank. It's nice to see a responsible individual teaching this class. You will receive you results in ten days."

The bell rang and they went to the castle. That evening, both Alex (who was still making up her detentions) and Harry left Umbridge's office with severely bleeding hands. The common room wasn't empty after all. Ron and Hermione were sitting by the fire talking quietly. The two bleeding Gryffindors tried to hide their hands, but their friends saw.

"What the bloody hell happened to you two?" Ron asked, getting up and giving Alex his chair.

"What did you cut yourselves on?" Hermione asked as Alex took out the jar and bowls from a dark corner and placed her hand in the solution. "You need to go to the Hospital Wing right now! Madame Pomfrey can…"

As the blood came away from the hand, the words 'I must respect my superiors' were plainly visible on the back of Alex's hand. Harry's words were also legible now they weren't covered in his own blood.

"Alex…Harry…what is that?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide with fear.

"Do you remember how I had to do lines?" Alex asked and her other two friends nodded, "I had to write 'I must respect my superiors' until the message…sunk in."

Hermione looked at Alex, then Harry, then the words carved into their hands. She swore loudly and dirtily, pacing back and forth. The others watched her with surprise, Ron with a mixture of awe and amazement.

"Hermione," he said after she had finished, "Where did you learn to swear like that?"

"Only from the best, Ronald," she said, looking pointedly at him, "We have to do something! We can't let her take over the school, we need to fight back!"

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Harry asked wearily, "I'm up to my hairline in homework and we can't just go to the library and practice spells from books. Pince will complain and Umbridge will find out."

"No, we're past the point of learning things from books," said Hermione, causing everyone to look at her with raised eyebrows, "What I mean is, we need a teacher, a real one. We need someone who'll actually let us practice the spells, not just read them from a textbook."

"Who then?" Harry asked, "Lupin's too busy with the Order."

"Yeah, and we'll need someone who's here all the time so people can ask questions," said Alex, "And I don't think many of the teachers are up for that now. They're worried about their jobs enough as it is."

"Don't you see?" said Hermione, "I'm talking about you two."

Alex looked at her friend with raised eyebrows. She turned to Harry, who was completely blown away. She had to be joking…right?

"Hermione, we're not teachers!" said Alex with a laugh, "We're not qualified to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts!"

"And do you think Umbridge is?" said Ron, his face thoughtful, "Actually Hermione, I think we've finally agreed on something. You two would be great!"

"You're crazy!" said Harry, shaking his head, "Alex I can understand, she's a prodigy, but Hermione should-"

"Harry, you're the best in our class," said Hermione, "Besides Alex, but still. You passed the test with Lupin, the only teacher we've had who actually knew what he was doing. And look what you've accomplished these last four years!"

"What have I done?" Harry asked, confused.

"Harry," said Ron like he was talking to someone who had a learning problem, "I think the real question is what haven't you done? First year: you saved the Stone from You-Know-Who."

"With your guys' help," said Harry, "I couldn't-"

"Second year," said Ron loudly, "You killed the Basilisk and stopped You-Know-Who once again."

"But without Fawks or the Sorting-"

"Third year," Ron said over Harry, "How many dementors did you fight off again?"

"Look, that was all because-"

"Well what about last year?" Alex said, turning to Harry eagerly, "You fought off Voldemort again! I saw you and you were amazing!"

"LISTEN!" said Harry loudly, "For all those things, I had someone helping me! First year I had you three, second year I had that phoenix and the Sorting Hat, third year I knew I could fight them all off because I had seen myself do it, and last year was just luck! Voldemort could've killed me whenever he pleased!"

But Alex knew Harry would be a great teacher. He was patient…when he wanted to be. And as for her, Alex had always thought about being a teacher. She liked helping others learn with her help. It was extremely satisfying to see someone succeed because of her help.

"Stop smirking!" said Harry angrily, "You all think I'm this great magician, but I'm not! I had help with everything or I just got really lucky…either way I never did it alone…STOP LAUGHING!"

He had risen to his feet, the murtlap tentacles falling to the ground. His eyes were full of fire and Alex stopped smiling at him.

"You don't understand!" he shouted at them, "None of you get what I had to face all those times! None of you had to feel the fear of knowing you're probably not going to make it out alive, that you might never see your friends again! And you make it sound like I'm the clever one because I'm alive, well Cedric's fate could've easily been mine if Voldemort hadn't needed me…and they don't teach us what it's like dueling for your life…you forget everything they ever taught you and you just…just go with your brain or your gut…whichever is the fastest…"

"Harry, that's not what we meant, mate," Ron said quickly, "We weren't talking bad about Cedric at all!"

"And you've conveniently forgotten, Harry," said Alex coldly, "That I was there too. I saw everything…heard everything. And did you think I was totally calm because Voldemort couldn't hurt me? Hell no, I was scared to death! At least you had a chance to fight back, I had to watch the entire scene…unable to do a thing because I wasn't really there. And you know what? That scared the shit out of me."

"Harry," said Hermione, her voice wavering, "W-We need you to teach us so…s-so that we know the truth…so that our safety b-bubbles aren't burst as soon as we need to have our wits about u-us. We…We want to know wh-what it's really like to fight…to f-fight him…V-Voldemort."

Harry's chest was rising and falling fast. Finally, he let out a sigh and fell back into his seat.

"I'll think about it, all right?" he said and they nodded.

Ron and Hermione left quickly, muttering their good-nights. Alex waved her wand and the murtlap essence vanished from the rug and the bowl flew back to her hands. She spilled out her own and bound her hand thickly. She tapped Harry sharply on the arm and he held out his hand.

"Look Alex, I'm-"

"Don't even try to apologize, Harry," said Alex icily as she finished quickly, "Don't make the mistake of thinking that you're the only one who's suffering because of Voldemort's reign of terror. There are plenty of people besides us who've lost family during the first battle. And I don't appreciate being told that I don't understand what you're going through when I've been with you through everything and stood by you all these years. Contrary to whatever voice in your head that's making you act like an asshole, this isn't all about you. Good-night Harry."

She went up to her bed and spent another night in a fitful sleep.

Author's Note: I told you that there would be teenage moodiness! And I apologize for Alex's language in the last few chapters. She curses when she gets angry and can you really blame her for being angry with Harry? Well, that is the end of my chapter updating frenzy. There will be more, don't worry! Next weekend is my fall break so that's two extra days of no school. Hooray! I plan on taking full advantage of this by updating more chapters.

Aileen Autarkeia: Haha, thank you so much for your review! Don't worry, I know you're not rushing me. I wish I could update more but hopefully this mass update will make up for being away for a while. And you are so right about what you said about boys. :P

I don't know whether or not it matters to you all or not, but I am much better than how I was the last time I updated. And I apologize for not being my usual self in my Author's Note and all. But I'm back now and my regular bubbly self! :D So don't forget to let me know what you thought of these chapters because I didn't get as many reviews last time and I miss them so!