With Professor Umbridge's "Educational Decrees" in full effect tensions began to mount in the hallways and the Great Hall. But her attempted takeover of the school was not easy. Nearly every day, there were whispered stories of how a Gryffindor especially in either Weasley year would question or challenge Professor Umbridge in the classroom or on one of her decrees, then be given a detention.
Violet had a feeling that she knew what those detentions were like. She had witnessed the very beginning of Hermione Granger's detention. She didn't necessarily love the Muggleborn witch, but she didn't hate her enough to wish such a dark object on the girl. She did feel that the Weasley Twins and their brother deserved it.
Speaking of Violet's longtime enemies, it appeared that a truce had come between the Weasleys and the Slytherins. The Weasleys were so focused on irritating the High Inquisitor that they did not execute any attacks on the Slytherins. Professor Umbridge had surpassed both Violet Potter and Draco Malfoy as public enemy number one for Gryffindor. But that reprieve could not last for long.
At lunch just after Violet's Defense against the Dark Arts class with Professor Umbridge, Violet along with others from her class were called back.
"Miss Potter, Mister Malfoy, and Miss Parkinson, would you be so kind to remain behind." She said.
After all the other students had left, Umbridge pulled out her wand, closed the doors and put up privacy charms. Violet and Pansy gave a small smirk of their eyes but then they gave the agent of the Ministry their full attention.
"As you know," Umbridge began, "The Ministry of Magic has given me the position of Hogwarts High Inquisitor." She looked smartly at each of them as she let the thought sink in. "With this authority, I am given carte blanche authority so that we might improve the educational environment at this school. The Ministry of Magic understood that it might be a difficult task since Albus Dumbledore is so entrenched in his position as Headmaster."
With those words, she checked to see their reactions. Draco sneered. Violet's lips thinned in irritation at the mention of the man, and Pansy just showed humor. Feeling she had the people she wanted, she continued.
"What I need are students who are willing to work with the Ministry of Magic and myself as its representative at Hogwarts. I need students who will enforce not only the school's rules, but more importantly, our Educational Decrees."
Violet nodded showing her understanding. She couldn't help but feel excitement over what she was sure Umbridge was about to say. Violet nodded in affirmative, and her two friends who had looked to her did the same.
"I have already asked Cassius Warrington, Graham Montague to serve, but my intelligence tells me that Miss Potter and Mister Malfoy would really be the key individuals to run this."
Violet spoke up right away. "I am ready to do what I must for our school and our Ministry, Professor." And quickly, Draco and Pansy spoke to that effect as well.
Professor Umbridge gave a crooked looking smile. "The Hogwarts Inquisitorial squad will have powers over and above Hogwarts Prefects. They can take House points away –"
Violet tried hard not to smirk as she imagined doing that to a few Weasleys, a Granger or others. That was something as a Hogwarts Prefect they weren't allowed to do.
"I am planning," she continued, "On having Misters Warrington and Montague along with Mister Malfoy, Miss Potter, and Miss Parkinson as members of this squad. I was thinking of asking one more individual."
She took a moment here in silence looking at them expectantly. Violet thought quickly. "If I could be so bold – " she said, and with a nod from Professor Umbridge, she continued. "I would suggest Francine Dorn, a 6th year Hogwarts Prefect."
Professor Umbridge nodded her head. "Not a pureblood," she said, "But a respectable young half-blood who follows directions. She should do nicely."
Then, standing behind her desk, she said, "I will speak to Miss Dorn before supper, and then I will make this announcement during the evening meal tonight. When I do, please stand up. I will grant you each special badges. Violet and Draco, they will go above your Prefect badge."
She nodded in dismissal for all of them, and they each turned to go, but as they did, Umbridge called Violet back, "Miss Potter, could I trouble you for a question privately?"
Violet turned and looked at Pansy. She and Draco mouthed, "We will wait outside for you." Then, they left while Violet remained.
Professor Umbridge sat at her chair behind the desk while Violet approached and stood before her once more. Professor Umbridge opened up a file that had been sitting at her desk.
"Minister Fudge has read both documents that you presented him with, and has begun to follow several of the Ministry members who you named in the document around, and he believes you have given us an exhaustive list of these Order members who also work in the Ministry. Even now, we are building a case against them." She said.
Violet nodded her head, acknowledging that she was receiving this praise.
"Minister Fudge along with Lucius Malfoy have taken your other document and are preparing a case they plan to use at the Wizengamot before Christmas."
Violet tried hard not to grit her teeth or get her hopes up. She was well aware that this did not guarantee that she would have her situation changed.
"I wanted you to know," Umbridge said in an aside. "That I was present on that awful day when the Wizengamot chose politics over what was in the best interests of a child. While you certainly have risen above what your godfather and his associates continue to say publicly, I am concerned for your continued sanity. If you ever hear of anything else that might help the Minister or myself handle Dumbledore or Black, the Minister would certainly be moved to help you with your custody situation."
Violet nodded carefully at the comment, but chose to remain quiet for a moment.
"I will certainly bring that to you if I get my hands on any information," Violet finally replied.
Then, with a wave of her hand, Professor Umbridge made it very clear that Violet was free to go.
"Have a good day, Professor," she said as she turned and slipped out the door.
That evening after the meal, the introduction of the Inquisitorial Squad was met with the kind of reception Violet anticipated.
"Ahem – hem," Professor Umbridge said as she stood up. "I have an announcement."
Suddenly, a large banner lit up in front of the table that said, "Educational Decree Number Ninety-Eight. Those wishing to assist the High Inquisitor Delores Umbridge in her work of making Hogwarts a better Educational Institution may sign up in the High Inquisitor's Office. They shall be interviewed for the positions available."
"As you can see," she continued. "I am creating an Inquisitorial Squad to help me enforce the Educational Decrees that the Ministry has established at our fine institution. To begin that work, I would ask for our first six squad members to come forward."
Violet stood up, followed by Cassius Warrington, Graham Montague, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, and Francine Dorn. The Hall became deathly quiet at the moment. The Gryffindors stared hatefully while the other houses looked on.
Umbridge place a hand on Violet's shoulder as she continued. "These six are the first of those in our Inquisitorial Squad and will serve as overseers for any others who are interested. They have been chosen to help me keep order in the school. Please note that the Inquisitorial Squad will have authority beyond that of a Prefect. They shall also have the authority in their daily meetings with me to bring any punishment from a teacher forward to see if it has value."
That one was hard not to make Violet smirk. In essence, the Weasley Twins had better watch out. Violet could no longer be punished by Dumbledore or McGonagall when she did something to them.
Then, Umbridge walked around and starting with Violet pinned a new pin on each of them, indicating their additional status. As the students went down, the Hall remained quiet.
That evening, Violet Draco and Pansy began their first patrol. They were in the library when the Weasley Twins and Ronald Weasley stepped out.
They had their wands on the three of them.
"We had been willing to keep a ceasefire, Potter," the one spat, and the other continued, "But by aligning yourself with that Toad you have made yourself our enemies."
Violet turned to her cohorts to the left and right and with a wicked looking smirk said, "That sounds like a threat. Fifty points from Gryffindor for threatening a member of the Inquisitorial Squad."
Draco who wanted in on the action added, "And twenty-five points from Gryffindor for the fact that the younger Weasley doesn't know how to wash his face."
"How dare you!" They lifted their wands, but Violet showed why she was truly feared. After a year in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, she was even faster and nastier than in the past. With three successive strikes, each Weasley was struck flying back into the wall and dropping their wands. Pansy who had not had the opportunity to test out removal of points said, "And fifty points from each of you for raising a wand against a member of the Inquisitorial Squad."
Then, without further ado, they walked past the Weasley goons to the Library.
In the days that followed things became even tenser in the school. The Inquisitorial Squad grew to thirty young men and women. No Gryffindor signed up, and about two thirds of the group were Slytherin. The ten that were not Slytherin included the likes of Terry Boot from Ravenclaw and Zacharias Smith from Hufflepuff. Neither was very popular across the Houses.
The Gryffindors continually tested the authority of these squads. By the end of two weeks, Umbridge working with Violet Potter who had quickly become her number one had to work out schedules so that strong duelers traveled with the squads on their patrols. Unfortunately for Violet, this meant that she had to patrol with Zacharias Smith. His arrogance and lack of propriety forced her to have to hold off advances from the young man.
It was not unusual for members of the Inquisitorial Squad to be attacked from hidden places. Violet was convinced that the Weasley twins had gotten Warrington with a skin ailment that made his face appear like corn flakes. Even Pansy, one of the better duelers in the squad had been attacked in an altercation with Hermione Granger who forced her to grow antlers.
Violet at the High Inquisitor's insistence was forced to strike back. If the Weasley Twins were found in the Halls and looking at all suspicious, points were deducted. Violet in particular was quite effective in confiscating several awful pranking items. And while Umbridge encouraged heavy handed enforcement, Violet with the control granted to her by Umbridge was able to circumvent that at times by providing incentives to either stay out of trouble or rat out trouble-makers.
Violet offered carte blanche to people such as Romilda Vane who discovered that telling on the Weasley Twins granted her immunity as she chased the boys. Violet also approached Ravenclaw prefects and other influential students, promising that she would not allow them to be punished as long as they worked with her. With Zacharias Smith's help, she had some relative help from Hufflepuff.
Not everything was going well on Violet's side. In the middle of November, she received her first howler in two years from her godfather. He all but commanded her to drop her position on the Inquisitorial Staff. The move had garnered her further sympathy from Umbridge. Violet refused her godfather's command and wrote a very carefully worded letter to that point. However, Violet was certain that her return at the holidays would have some difficult conversations with her godfather, Dumbledore and the assembled Weasleys.
In the week before the Holidays, Umbridge started to ramp up the pressure on Violet and the Inquisitorial Squad. In one of their Squad meetings, she prevailed upon them.
"I know that the Gryffindors, led by the Weasleys and that Mudblood Granger," she said, "Are organizing something that is being whispered as Dumbledore's Army. It is in direct conflict with Educational Decree number 24. I want you to find where those meetings are taking place and I want you to bring them down."
Violet was especially motivated when she heard, "I plan to expel the leaders of this group."
When Violet laid down the night before leaving on the Hogwarts Express to go back to Grimmauld Place, she knew that she would have to walk very carefully. Her godfather and Dumbledore did not appear to be pleased with her. The Weasley boys were not pleased with her. Granger – who thankfully would not be present – was angry. They would be trying desperately to get her to change her allegiance.
