Hey everyone,
You know, I usually shoot myself in the foot when it comes to these stories. I write them in such a way that all of the big bads and people like that are taken out early on in the story and that leaves me without much conflict later on down the line. And funnily enough, I am going to be doing the same in this chapter and yet it doesn't really bother me. I really just want to get rid of Umbridge and focus on other stuff.
Don't you,

Venquine1990

Chapter 19
Influencing Decisions

15th of September 1995
Great Hall, Hogwarts
Harry's POV

"The day has finally come. Now that all years and Houses has sat at least one class with both of our DADA teachers, it is time to decide which you want to learn from for the rest of the year. Because of this and to make sure that the deciding can happen orderly and without much to any outside influence, classes have been cancelled for the rest of the afternoon. Now because there are only so few students in Sixth and Seventh Year who kept DADA in their schedule, they will go first.
Both years will go one at a time, but for both Years it will be all Houses going at the same time. Once the Sixth and Seventh Years have made their decision, the Fifth Years will follow. This will continue until all First Years have made their decisions. Now the method through which you will convey your decision. At the bottom of the staircases that leads to each of the DADA classrooms of Professor Umbridge and Master Yen Sid, two people are waiting.
One of them will provide you with a small strip on which you can write down your name. The other will hold the box. Once you have put your name down, you are to put your name in this box. As you can see Professors Sprout and Flitwick are currently not with us; they will be the members holding the boxes in which you will submit your name. Once you have submitted your name, you will be free for the rest of the day.

However, understand that once lunch is done, the other staff will be patrolling the hallways to ensure that the rules will be upheld." While Dumbledore's tone is very stern at the end, there is still a genuine smile on his face and he sits back down after he is done talking. Personally I can barely wait for lunch to be over and I turn to the twins as I say: "Please make sure that you submit your name as quickly as possible." The two laugh, but they nod at me nonetheless.
"Why are you so impatient, Harry?" Katie asks and I answer: "The quicker I can make it official that I chose the Master, the quicker I might get Umbridge off my back." The others nod at this, most of their smiles getting replaced with grimaces as we all remember the last week. While it was brilliant to tell my friends about my meeting with Lupin and how we met in Hagrid's Hut and while this kept my mood up for the better part of the week, Umbridge seemed to disagree with this.

I know she doesn't know about the experiment and so her actions just confuse me. Several times over the last week, she took a Snape-like approach to trying to get me into trouble. Either that or she would hear me talk about something, more often than not school related, and would suddenly show up and ask me a question that obviously has some kind of connection to the Ministry. A few times I would give her a neutral answer, other times the GA's would help me out.
Yet it seems to annoy her more when Lea, Isa and the others do this than if I were to give her a neutral answer and yesterday was especially bad as I actually spotted her following me for the better half of the late afternoon with help of the Marauder's Map. And both during dinner last night, breakfast this morning and even now, I can feel her intense gaze on me. I really don't get why the woman is so focused on me and think:
"Could it be because she is too afraid to take on Dumbledore directly and that she constantly forgets that this whole feud is between Dumbledore and the Ministry? Why won't she just accept that I have nothing to do with this whole thing? I haven't even addressed anything Voldemort related for the past two weeks!" I wonder about this and silently decide that I am going to ask Braig or maybe Even and Aeleus to keep an eye on her.

Lunch passes and once the twins are sure that every other Seventh Year is done eating, they instantly stand up. The others in their year notice this and take it as a signal, all of them standing up as well. I notice the Headmaster nodding in pleasant agreement and Angelina and Fred start to lead their year mates out of the Hall, the Head Boy and Girl bringing up the rear. I feel very glad that the group in only a dozen students big as that means they'll be nice and quick.
What's even better is, after Alicia and Lee return to indicate that the Seventh Years are done, only four students in Sixth – actually one student in each House and with Katie as the Gryffindor Sixth Year – get up to leave to submit their decisions. By now a lot of students have gone to sit with their year mates and friends and all conversations seem to be about only one topic; Umbridge's class or that of Master Yen Sid.

I use the opportunity this gives me to listening in on their conversations and sating my curiosity on what they have decided and why in order to distract myself. And while those who sit on my left and are therefore closer to the Head Table are more careful and are whispering very softly, I can still hear most of them talking about how they are absolutely picking the Master's Class. And for the most part the same is being said on my right.
I try to keep my smile to a minimum at hearing this, not just to keep the other students from realizing that I am listening in, but also because I can still feel Umbridge trying to stare a hole in the back of my head. Then suddenly Ron looks up and says: "You know what, I just realized something." We all turn to him and he says: "Trelawney has been gone from the school for almost two weeks now and the Headmaster has yet to make an announcement about this.
And no one seems to care." Parvati hears this and glares at him, but he rolls his eyes and says: "No one who doesn't already know why, Parvati." The girl crosses her arms and pouts, yet at the same time I realize that my best friend is right. Braig just took over the class and no one has commented on this or mentioned it in Umbridge's presence. And unlike with Hagrid at the start of the year, the woman doesn't even seem to notice this.

"Well, it is pretty widely known around the school that Trelawney hardly leaves her tower and Braig has moved his classes to the Fourth Floor. I'm sure some students just think that Trelawney has taken a temporary leave of absence or something and that she is trying to improve her skills as a teacher." Hermione suggests and Ron retorts: "Either that or some others already realized what Trelawney was really doing and believe that she has fled before she can get caught.
Or that she got caught. Hey, don't look at me like that. You can't tell me that you wouldn't spread rumors like that about other staff members if they did what Trelawney did." He argues with Parvati who has gone back to glaring at him, Lavender joining in. And while the two are reluctant and pouting even more, they back off. At the same time I can't help but move closer to Hermione and whisper: "I can't believe you share a dorm with them. Deep respect, Hermione."

The girl snickers and then I notice Katie walking back into the hall. Dumbledore notices the same and stands up as he asks: "Miss Bell, are all Sixth Year done with submitting their choices?" The girl nods and says: "Yes Headmaster, the Sixth Year Prefect for Ravenclaw took the other three to the library for Transfigurations homework. I finished it last night, so I decided to be the one to inform the rest of you." The Headmaster beams at her as she returns to her seat near the rest of us.
"Wonderful, now onto the next step. From now on, each year will be allowed to submit their vote, one House at a time. After some debating, the Heads of House, Professor Umbridge, Master Yen Sid and I decided that we will go in alphabetical order in regards to Houses. So from now on the order will be Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and then Slytherin Fifth years, followed by the same order for Fourth, Third, Second and First Years."

The man sits back down and as he does, I stand up. My friends and I, Lily, Sophie, Parvati, Lavender and Seamus – who is still pretty hostile, even though he's kept it to just glaring at me whenever he gets the chance – all stand up as well. And while Seamus, Sophie and Lily take the rear, Seamus out of annoyance with me and the other two as they are the most timid, Neville joins them and Parvati, Dean and Lavender come to walk between them and Ron, Hermione and I.
I keep my pace calm and firm as I head out of the Great Hall as I am determined not to give Umbridge anymore reason to focus on me anymore than she already is. And while I don't like to admit it, her stare in the back of my head is really starting to get to me. I still make sure to keep a calm, steady pace for about two floors and once I feel sure that I am far enough away and that there will probably not be any students who could spy on me for her, I start speeding up.

I head straight for the hallway leading to the Master's classroom and only subconsciously notice Seamus sneering at me as he heads for Umbridge's. I really don't get why the boy is making the same mistake as Umbridge is and a small part of me wonders if the woman has been meeting with him and feeding his head with lies about me. But at the same time I just don't care as I spot Professor Flitwick standing at the end of the corridor.
The man grins widely at seeing us and only when I stop in front of him, I notice that Lily has followed Seamus. I turn to Sophie at this and she mutters: "She's scared. Her mum works closely with Umbridge and she's afraid that picking the Master's class might make Umbridge retaliate by making her mum's work harder or something." Flitwick grimaces at this, but I smile and say: "Chivalry and loyalty are Gryffindor traits. Lily's doing right by her family, nothing wrong with that."

Sophie looks at me shocked for a moment and then smiles with relief clearly visible. But because I hardly interacted with the two over the last few years and because they've mostly kept to themselves since we got Sorted, I really don't feel like caring. I just take the small slip of parchment and self-inking quill from Professor Flitwick and move over to the small stand that is next to him. I write down my name and move over to the woman at the bottom of the stairs.
The woman has a very strict looking face and has her soft wheat brown hair combed to frame her whole head, her fringe just long enough she can tuck it behind her ears. Yet the smile on her face and the look in her rust colored eyes is very friendly and I feel like smiling back at her as I put the slip into the box that is in her hands. Yet as I do, the smile on my face fades as a sense of unease suddenly overtakes me while I stare down at the box.

"Something the matter, Mister Potter?" The woman asks and I mutter: "Could you – could you check to see if my name is still in there?" The woman stares at me for a moment, but then opens the lid. And after a moment her eyes widen and she says: "What in magic's name? It's gone. The box is enchanted to make sure all slips end up with the name facing up when they land, but yours is missing. Just a moment, miss. I need to check this before I can let you submit your name as well."
Hermione's eyes are wide as she has come to stand next to me, her own slip in hand. The woman pulls out her wand and waves it with the tip aimed at the box in several complex ways and forms before she curses under her breath. She puts her wand away and puts her hand into the box. After a moment of her moving her arm, she exclaims:

"Aha, three hairs. Yours, Mister Potter. And they are the source of the Switching spell that Miss Umbridge seems to have cast upon this box. I do wonder when she did so, but I can assure you, she will not get away with this. Young man, please go to the other staircase and retrieve Mister Potter's name from the other box. Tell my colleague and Professor Sprout that I send you in case they start asking questions." Dean is startled, but he nods and dashes off.
While all this happens, I can't help but think: "What is her problem? Why can't she just leave me be?" And suddenly a theory pops into my mind while we wait. I move closer to Hermione and whisper: "Do you think Umbridge is this obsessed with me, because she heard that I can't summon the Keyblade and that makes her think me an easier target?" The girl's eyes widen for a moment and she whispers back: "I really wouldn't put it past her, Harry."
As she says this, the girl grabs my hand with her own and gives it a reassuring squeeze. I smile at her for this as she and the others have really worked hard to offer me comfort and reassurance when they felt I needed it, but they have also gotten better at just leaving me to my own accord when I felt the need to be alone. And while I know that Hermione has gotten into the habit of asking me where I go since Third, I am very glad that she is trying to break that habit.

Dean returns and Seamus and Lily are with him. "What the hell, Potter? Can't you just try to not make everything about you? Why are you so adamant –!" The Irish tries to yell at me, but the woman obviously doesn't know about Master Yen Sid's rule of not interrupting others as she snarls: "I don't know what kind of delusional world you're living in, Mister, but accusing Mister Potter without first learning about all the facts is very poor form."
The boy looks startled and the woman turns back to Lily, her whole demeanor changing and calming down as she gently asks: "Now you, dear. You seem like the kind of person most people would call a wall-flower. Tell me, have you witnessed Miss Umbridge approach Mister Potter outside of class at any point in the last two weeks?" Lily does look really timid, but she nods regardless and almost whispers: "Several times this week, Madam."
I notice that the woman is suppressing her annoyance over learning this to keep her calm demeanor and I commend her over this as she continues: "I see. And at any of these occasions, was Miss Umbridge close enough that she could get some of Mister Potter's hair? Did you see any of that, by chance?" The girl shakes her head and her voice is a little more clear and her stance a little stronger as she says:

"No Madam, Harry is always facing Umbridge when she encounters him and they are always at least three steps apart, even when either of them leaves." The woman nods and says: "Well then, outside of her breaching her contract by trying to influence Mister Potter's choice of teacher against his own will and judgment, that is also a count of invasion of privacy I will be able to charge her with. Professor Flitwick, would you be so kind as to fetch a few of the GA's for me?"
The diminutive man gives a solemn nod, the look on his face proving he is very much not amused about all of this and he heads off. "Young man, did you manage to take Mister Potter's slip out of the other box? If so, I would like you to give it back to Mister Potter. If not, I'd like to ask you to go back and retrieve it for me." Dean nods and thankfully hands me the slip that is in his hand. "What about the box? And the spell."

Hermione asks and the woman answers: "I am going to leave it on, at least until we get to the Great Hall. No use taking it off when I can use its existence as evidence against that woman." This makes all three of us grin and we follow after her, the rest of my House mates following behind. We head back to the Great Hall and as we walk, the woman mutters: "This is exactly why the ICW decided to interfere. Those two really can't help themselves. Too bad for them."
"You know, it's really likely that the Minister and Umbridge believed that the ICW is just going to keep their influence to that one meeting and the small change that was made to the contract. They might not have suspected that you would be here for the voting." Ron suggests and the woman rolls her eyes as she says: "The contract was our idea. Why would she think that we wouldn't want to get involved in seeing it get results like this?"
Ron shrugs and asks: "Hubris?" The woman answers: "Very likely." She turns her head and says: "You are very perceptive, young man. Your skill in guessing or figuring out why others do what they do is a very useful skill to have. I recommend you train it whenever and wherever possible." Ron's ears turn red at the compliment, yet a large goofy grin also adorns his face. "So what's going to happen to Professor Umbridge?" Seamus asks.

"Well for one, due to her having cast that spell on the two boxes, she directly intervened with the students and their rights to decide for themselves. This is in violation of the contract that she signed – and I myself was there the day she signed, even though I was on Guard Duty at the time, so I know she read the whole contract and that she knows the consequences. She will be without access of her magic for the next 24 hours once I make the declaration official.
She also has that charge of invasion of privacy against her, so I will more than likely be taking her into custody and moving her to the ICW Headquarters once all students have submitted their names. Now it is very likely that she will be in prison or in a holding cell for at least a week, but I will simply ask Dumbledore to give all students who picked Umbridge a week off." Seamus' eyes widen and he grins at the end of the woman's explanation.

By now we've reached the Great Hall and while the Hufflepuffs make an attempt to get up when they see me, they falter and as they see the woman standing next to me. And as she comes to stand at the entrance, I spot Even, Isa and Lea joining us along with Professor Flitwick, Sprout and another man who holds a similar box to the one the woman is holding. "Miss Lewis, is there a problem?" The Headmaster asks and Miss Lewis answers:
"Yes Headmaster, there is. One of your staff is in direct violation of the contract you and three of your colleagues signed this summer. Tell me, Miss Umbridge, what is the meaning of this Switching Spell that I found on my box?" And the woman taps the box, which she holds above her head, with her wand. Letters form above the box and spell the words Spell: Switching. Target: twin Box/Harry Potter's name slip. Caster: Dolores Umbridge. Time: 06.45 AM.

The woman whitens and Miss Lewis lowers the box again before she continues: "That was an Identification spell. Your own magic just betrayed you and now, as punishment for your breach of contract, you will be without it for 24 hours." Miss Lewis snaps her fingers at the end of her statement and instantly Umbridge gasps and reaches for her chest with an arm. Yet while I'm slightly horrified at the pain and horror on her face, Miss Lewis continues:
"And we're not quite done, are we Miss. Umbridge? After all, your spell needed something that physically belonged to Mr. Potter. Yet while there are three hairs stuck to the bottom of this box, none of the students who saw you interact with Mister Potter this week saw you anywhere close enough to reach for his hair. Meaning you have very clearly done so while Mr. Potter was asleep and unable to defend his rights of privacy."

"YOU DARE ACCUSE ME OF THAT? THEN WHAT OF THOSE GUARDIAN ANGELS? THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THE EXACT SAME THING FOR TWO WEEKS NOW! THEY AND THEIR MASTER ARE JUST AS GUILTY! IF YOU'RE ARRESTING ME, YOU SHOULD ARREST THEM AS WELL!" Yet while Miss Lewis turns to Isa and the others, Madam Pomfrey coughs and says: "Nice try, Miss Umbridge, but a waste of time, really."
We all turn to her and she pulls a small stack of parchment from her apron as she says: "On the second of September this year, as you and the rest of Hogwarts were very clearly able to see, Mister Potter signed a contract that states that the Guardian Angels and Master Yen Sid are to help me help Mister Potter regain his former health. And because both the contract and my own medical records state that Mister Potter suffers from traumatic events back in June, their actions are justified.
And finally, the GA's are not staying in any dorm other than their own chambers, even though they do have the permission of Fred and George Weasley and Lee Jordan. And before you object, Professor McGonagall, Mister Potter and I myself have determined that it is easier for Mister Potter to rest undisturbed if he is sleeping in a room with less other occupants. The only other occupant in the room at night is Hedwig, Mister Potter's owl.

She is to alert the GA's in case Mister Potter suffers from another night time terror. Only then will they enter the Seventh Years boys' dormitory. Again, with full consent of all three other occupants." Miss Lewis nods at this and says: "And because all three occupants are off age, there is no other consent necessary. So unlike the GA's, Miss Umbridge, you do not have anyone's consent on getting in. You aren't just guilty of breach of contract, but of invasion of privacy."
Yet while all this is going on, I can't help but wonder something. "The only time I slept in the Fifth year boys dormitory was last week Thursday and that was because Moody was there that night and I didn't think I could get past his magical eye. So why did he let Umbridge in like that? And if not for this Switching fiasco, what else would she have tried to use my hair for?" And suddenly a horrifying thought overtakes me.

I turn to Miss Lewis and the other man, who has come to stand beside her, and ask: "You're both with the ICW and allowed to arrest people, right?" The two nod and I continue asking: "Does that mean you're legally allowed to accept someone if they press charges against another person?" The two look at me and each other and then the man answers: "That entirely depends on the person, Mister Potter, but yes. We are legally allowed to do so."
I turn from them to the Staff Table and while the woman's hate filled glare fills me with a sense of dread and fear, it also fuels my belief that I am right and I declare: "Then I would like to press a charge against Miss Umbridge. Considering the foul hatred that she is almost emulating my way with her glare right now, I very much suspect that she sent two Dementors to me this summer, in an attempt to take my life."

The two turn to the woman, only mild shock showing on their faces and Umbridge responds. She jumps out of her seat and while this doesn't make much of a difference due to her short stature, she pulls her wand from her robe and screams: "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Even reacts instantly and pushes me behind him, his shield already summoned and in front of him. But in the few seconds it takes him to do this, I realize that nothing has happened. And then it hits me.
"She already lost her magic due to the breach of contract." I whisper and those around me breath a sigh of relief. Yet then I notice Isa, whose hair seems to get wilder and whose eyes are slowly turning golden yellow. Lea puts a strong hand on his shoulder and says: "Contain yourself, Isa." Isa snarls and retorts: "She aimed that Killing Curse at Harry. Why should I contain myself?" And Lea's smirk cools down the last of my own fears as he says:

"Because now we can demand that little Miss Umbridge joins our Demonstration tomorrow." This really confuses and befuddles me, but Isa seems to calm down at the prospect and I turn my head as I notice Master Yen Sid grinning widely at the idea. Miss Lewis and her partner seem to spot the same as Miss Lewis says: "Very well, we will allow it. But after this demonstration Miss Umbridge will come with us, is that clear?"
Lea and Isa nod and then Even says: "And now to ensure that she won't try anything in the mean time." He snaps his own fingers and instantly afterwards a huge block of ice encases Umbridge. The ice is crystal clear and incredibly thick and goes all the way up to half of Umbridge's neck. The woman screams in fright and horror, but this is mostly ignored. She stops after a minute and turns the same hate-filled glare at, to me, the wrong person.

"YOU DARE TO LET YOUR SET OF FREAKS OUT ON ME? YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS WITH ALL YOU ARE AND ALL YOU HAVE, YOU MUDBLOOD-CREATED MUTANT! THE MINISTER WILL HEAR OF THIS AND THEN ALL OF YOU WILL GET WHAT'S COMING TO YOU! YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND UP TO ME! I AM DOLORES JANE UMBRIDGE! I AM THE FUTURE QUEEN OF THIS WORLD!"
But while I feel my rage building at the woman's audacity to try and blame the Master on her own faults and wrongdoings, the man just waves his hand her way and says: "Stop." And just like with me back during our first class, the woman's entire body freezes. Master Yen Sid turns to Snape and asks: "Professor, do you perhaps know if there is a dungeon available where we can store this woman until the morning?"
Snape sneers and says: "I do believe that there are a few that are far enough away from my own rooms and the Slytherin Common room that she won't disturb us.""Wonderful, if that last bit had not been the case, I would have simply asked the House Elves to keep her elsewhere. Thank you, Professor Snape. Miss Lewis, Mister Jennings, you have my solemn vow that Dolores Umbridge will be in your custody by this time tomorrow."

The two nod at him and then Miss Lewis seems to turn to the Hall at large. "Students of Hogwarts! We of the ICW owe you our apology. We were aware that Dolores Umbridge was suffering from a horrible case of sheer arrogance due to her position as the Minister's Assistant. But we were unaware that she would willingly cast an Unforgiveable in the middle of the Great Hall and with that risk endangering several of you.
The goal of the contract and us appointing Master Yen Sid and his Guardian Angels was to ensure your safety and the prospect of you being able to study with as little outside influence or sense of danger and threat as we could manage. If we had been aware of Dolores Umbridge's true nature, we would have simply arrested her and appointed the Master by himself.

From now on, we will strive to earn your forgiveness and to ensure that our goals are met." My eyes are wide at hearing the woman talk as I can barely believe that she would blame herself for Umbridge being this nasty. Then another voice rings out and yells: "WHAT ARE YOU APOLOGIZING FOR? THIS IS ALL POTTER'S FAULT!" But at this Mister Jennings turns on the voice and snarls: "It most certainly is not!
The only way you could possibly blame Mister Potter for this is the fact that Miss Umbridge has an unhealthy obsession with him, which remains to be her fault, not his. And if you even so much as dare to insinuate that this wouldn't have happened if Potter wasn't allowed at Hogwarts, then you should check your own hubris, young man, lest you end up like Umbridge and in ICW custody. Have I made myself clear!"

And while I feel annoyed to notice that the student yelling is Ernie MacMillan, who I remember had been the one student in my year and in Hufflepuff to claim that I was Heir of Slytherin and the one who attacked and Petrified his friend – even though he also apologized for this later on in the year – I just sigh with my eyes closed and turn to where Isa and Lea are standing, the latter of the two instantly taking me into his arms.
"I don't know about you, but I'm getting bloody sick of this whole scapegoating Harry thing." I hear him tell Isa, who coldly retorts: "You'd think that, because the lad is in Harry's year, he would remember Neville's speech during the Master's class." At this a lot of those around me scoff and Lea growls under his breath: "He should have kept that memorized." But this time it's Isa that calms Lea down as he reminds him of the Demonstration.

Get ready!
Yep, already, more or less, got rid of Umbridge. She is going to be remaining in the school for a wee bit longer, but it will only be for one more chapter, maybe one and a half. I have plans for the Demonstration, but also for what will happen right as it ends. To be honest I don't really know if that will be part of next chapter or not, so the length of the Demonstration will depend on if Umbridge stays for one chapter or two.
We'll see,

Venquine1990