Author's Note: It's been a while. This particular chapter took a bit to write, mainly because of the fact that I'm finally past the events in Take no Umbridge I. That means I can't lean on what was already produced. I've got the next three chapters outlined though, and I expect that you'll see more of it soon ... unless the muse moves to another story, which it might. In particular, Honor to Serve is just lacking one more scene for it's next chapter. You might also see a couple new works that my muse has tempted me with rather than getting to work on an existing story.
Once again, I'd like to thank the irreplaceable Jim Trigg for his work catching my mistakes on CaerAzkaban.
Chapter Fourteen: Fallout
Minerva McGonagall would have preferred not to have to organize covering for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor who had left suddenly, but the news of what Dolores Umbridge had done at Hogwarts had gotten out on the heels of the prank that had driven her into temporary insanity. That insanity diagnosis was enough to end her employment by Hogwarts and clear the way for a much more deserving, if on the young side, replacement.
The Headmaster was busy dealing with the fallout at the ministry. Minister Fudge had been beside himself when Umbridge had broken down, and with each new revelation of her plans, it had entangled the Minister more. The latest little gem had to do with his moving of Harry Potter's trial. That had even entangled the new Chief Warlock, who had resigned resulting in Dumbledore coming back in as Chief Warlock pro tem.
Minerva tapped her glass, whose clear tone rang throughout the Great Hall. Then she cast the amplification spell, and placed her wand at her throat. "Attention everyone," she said, almost unnecessarily as the students had apparently been expecting her to say something. Still she paused for the requisite time that it normally took everyone to calm down and direct their attention forward.
"As you may know, Professor Umbridge was committed to Saint Mungo's with a case of temporary insanity, due to the Immaculate Conception Prank," Minerva tried to put a tone of disapproval in the statement. She got it, but it wasn't as good as she though she could. She didn't actually disapprove. "Unfortunately she will not be returning to Hogwarts tomorrow, or next term."
A loud round of applause and cheers started, that seemed to be especially strong from the girls. Minerva could understand. She'd had that despicable spell cast on her once in her youth. The offending male had spent the next two hours as a literal punching bag. She let the cheers die out.
"Since Professor Dumbledore is away at the Wizengamont, it has fallen to me to arrange for substitutes for the remaining two weeks of the term. Seventh years, Professor Snape will be conducting the NEWT class, and thus it will be moved to his class room at the regular time. Sixth years, you shall report to my class room, also at the regular time. Fifth years, you will continue to use your current class room, and Harry Potter will be conducting a lecture series on his encounters with You-Know-Who; fourth years should also attend that series at that time. Third years, Professor Hagrid will be handling a review of dangerous creatures at his regular class room. Second years, Slytherin and Hufflepuff will be meeting in the Charms class room with Professor Flitwick, and regrettably Gryffindor and Ravenclaw will be spending their time in the Divination classroom under Professor Trelawney and High Inquisitor Longbottom. Finally, First Years, shall continue with the series of practical exercises that had been organized under Harry Potter at the same time as usual.
"Professor Dumbledore has hired a replacement for Professor Umbridge, but wishes to announce the hiring at a later time.
"One final note, as we are giving Mister Potter authority over three years' classes, we are also bestowing on him the right to give and take points, as well as give detentions, for those years. That is all."
Minerva ended her spell, and tapped her dish to signal the house elves to send up dessert. Her own dessert appeared, a decadent chocolate cheesecake with a cherry glaze that she only ordered when she thought she deserved a reward. After arranging that schedule, and convincing Harry Potter to start just a bit early, she felt she deserved it, though ending up having Trelawney taking part of second year ... well it was not her ideal choice. Divination was a subject that she personally didn't see the need to be taught at Hogwarts, and thought that Professor Trelawney was a bit of a flake. Still, it was only a couple weeks, and perhaps the early exposure to the professor would dissuade some from taking the class.
Albus Dumbledore had hoped to return to Hogwarts after only a brief session, but one revelation after another kept dropping about Dolores Umbridge. The session had started at six in the morning on Monday, and it was already approaching four in the morning on Tuesday. There had been two brief recesses for meals, but even they had ended early when one department or another brought new information to the Wizengamot.
"Chief Warlock, the Warden of Azkaban wishes to address the chamber," the herald said.
"Warden, what information do you have to bring before the Wizengamot," Dumbledore asked.
"Chief Warlock, members of the Wizengamot, two dementors were borrowed from the guard of Azkaban, under the orders of then Senior Undersecretary Umbridge. They have since returned, and I have been able to determine that they were under orders to seek out one Harry Potter in his muggle neighborhood, and attempt to kiss him!"
The Wizengamot broke out into disorder again, as every member clamored for attention. Dumbledore gavelled for order for what seemed like the millionth time. "The members are reminded that the Warden has the floor, and that requests to speak must be acknowledged by the chair," Dumbledore said. "Madam Bones."
"Warden, these Dementors attacked Mister Potter this Summer. How is it that they just now returned."
"It seems that former Senior Undersecretary was keeping the Dementors for future use. When she was stripped of her title, control reverted to Azkaban."
Dumbledore rubbed his temples before concluding, "It seems that we shall have to add another count misuse of government resources, as well as possession of dark creatures and attempted murder to Umbridge's charges. I believe that brings it to two hundred seventy-six charges for her trial thus far. And can someone please tell me who added and what is jaywalking?"
Harry Potter had decided to spend the rest of the term sleeping in the Gryffindor dorm. Once the winter term began, he'd be officially in his own quarters in the underground complex around the Chamber of Secrets. There were down sides to this decision, and their names were Ron, Seamus, and Dean.
Actually, Ron was only really a problem when he got it into his head that Harry was somehow turning his sister into a scarlet woman. The last time Ginny had heard that, she'd actually turned Ron into a scarlet woman; a rather devilish one, complete with horns and a tail. He'd asked her not to do that again. Ron did not make a good scarlet woman. It had lasted a good two hours.
Seamus was apparently reviewing his conquests, or previewing them, Harry wasn't sure, and really didn't want to know. Harry fumbled for his wand. He really should have remembered to silence those curtains before he took off his glasses.
And then there was Dean who slept naked and had no problem wandering around the dorm that way. Sometimes he'd even get up late at night and go to the window, to sketch the midnight view. Harry had long ago lost count as to how many times he'd woken up to Dean standing by that window with only his sketchbook and pen in hand.
Harry had no problem with Neville. Neville usually went to bed first, and got up the same. "Silenco" Harry cast at Seamus's bed, before sliding his wand under his pillow. Something had him on edge tonight. Every little sound, every little bit of movement he could see was nearly causing him to jump. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and then another.
Sometime afterwards, his mind slipped into a dream. As a teenage boy it was probably not surprising that the dream was heavily sex driven, featuring girls he'd recently seen scantily clad. This one started with him entering the great hall in between the chasers and reserve chaser of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. They were dressed in the halter tops and short skirts that they'd worn for the prank. Even Hermione joined them, only she was dressed in a short skirt version of her Yule Ball dress.
If he'd been awake, he wouldn't have allowed himself to fantasize about some of them. After all, two of them were dating the Weasley twins, and the third was Ginny. But the unconscientious mind of teenage boy tended to latch on to images like that. Like most of his erotic dreams, they began detailed, and trailed off a bit as his body imagined the contact.
This time as he walked with the scantily clad group of girls, the Chasers, Ginny, and Hermione, the corridor changed from the familiar corridor to a different one, lit darkly. He didn't know where it was. The chasers disappeared from his side, and suddenly Ginny and Hermione were dressed in their school robes instead of being scantily clad.
Harry tried to place the new corridor. At first he couldn't. Then he realized exactly where he'd seen a corridor like that. He was in the Ministry of Magic, heading towards his trial, only this time he had the two smartest girls he knew at his side. He could feel something tugging him down the hall, past the court room door, but he resisted. He stepped into the court room instead of following the pressure to go down the hall.
Something tried to push him out of the court room, but he stayed. He strode to the center of the court room, all the arguments he'd found about since his day in court coming to his mind. There was Fudge sitting at the head of the court room. Over to his left was Hermione, now dressed just like Rumpole. To his right was Ginny, holding the brief case that he'd been looking at in a catalogue earlier in the week.
Harry found his seat, only this time there was a table in front of it, and there were seats for both of his friends. He was barely seated and the charge about secrecy said when Hermione shouted out "Objection!"
"You object to the charge, Granger?" Minister Fudge said.
"You can't break a secret to someone who already knows it," Hermione said. "Dudley Dursley lives with Harry and has known that Harry is magical since before Harry started kindergarten. That's when they were both five, in case you didn't know."
"I see, well, to continue, violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. Do you have an objection to that Granger?"
"Only proof that it was reasonable," Hermione said. She had the same expression on her face as she had right after she'd punched Malfoy. Harry had made a point to memorize that expression.
"I doubt there is anyway that the casting of a patronus could be reasonable," the sickeningly sweet voice of Umbridge said.
"According to prior case law, in particular 490 WR 386, Katz v. Ministry, the use of a patronus is always reasonable when in the presence of creatures from which it repels" Then Ginny passed the brief case down to Hermione who popped it open. Hermione's hair somehow brushed against his nose. "Like perhaps the creatures you ordered to Little Whinging that night according to this request filed with the Warden of Azkaban, Madam Umbridge?"
Harry found himself looking deeply into the brief case which seemed to have a long corridor inside it. He started to feel like he was going to fall into the dark corridor, even as he heard Fudge shout, "Aurors! Arrest her!"
Then Harry felt pressure against his cheek and something like sand paper moving across it. He turned towards the pressure and opened his eyes. His sleep ended as he found himself looking right into Hermione's cat's eyes.
"Hermione has got to find a way to keep you in her dorm at night," Harry said, unintentionally echoing a comment he'd made back in his third year.