Chapter 45
The next morning, new notices littered the school.
— by order of —
The Ministry of Magic
Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.
Signed:
Cornelius Oswald Fudge
The notices had gone up all over the school overnight, but they did not explain how every single person within the castle seemed to know that Dumbledore had overcome two Aurors, the High Inquisitor, the Minister of Magic, and his Junior Assistant to escape.
No matter where Calypso went within the castle next day, the sole topic of conversation was Dumbledore's flight, and though some of the details might have gone awry in the retelling (She overheard one second-year girl assuring another that Fudge was now lying in St. Mungo's with a pumpkin for a head), it was surprising how accurate the rest of their information was.
Everybody seemed aware, for instance, that Potter, Edgecomb, and Calypso were the only students to have witnessed the scene in Dumbledore's office, as Edgecomb was now in the hospital wing, and Calypso was a 'big bad death eater', Potter was besieged with requests to give a firsthand account wherever he went.
Over their lunch break, Umbridge called over all of the students who had helped her capture all of the DA and awarded them 50 points each, plus little silver badges that had 'Inquistatorial Squad' carved onto them. They reminded Calypso heavily of the 'Weasley is our King' badges that Draco made a few weeks ago.
It wasn't if Calypso didn't want to be in the Inquistatorial squad though, it had many benefits such as one herbology morning when they overheard Macmillan, Potter, Granger, and Weasley whispering about Umbridge.
"Oh, I expect she fancied herself sitting up there in the Head's office," said Granger viciously, as they walked up the stone steps into the entrance hall. "Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy old —"
Calypso and Draco scoffed from behind them. "Now, do you really want to finish that sentence, Granger?" asked Draco maliciously.
"Afraid I'm going to have to dock a few points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff," he drawled. "It's only teachers that can dock points from Houses, Malfoy," said Macmillan at once.
"And you're not even a prefect" Weasley added. "But we are"
Calypso raised her eyebrows, "And so am I. What's your point?"
"That prefects can't dock points from each other!"
"I know prefects can't dock points, Weasel King," sneered Draco, "But members of the Inquisitorial Squad —"
"The what?" asked Granger sharply.
"The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger," said Calypso, flashing the silver badge in their faces. "A select group of students who are supportive of the Ministry of Magic, hand-picked by Professor Umbridge. Anyway, members of the Inquisitorial Squad do have the power to dock points. . . . So, Granger, I'll have five from you for being rude about our new headmistress. . . . Macmillan, five for contradicting me. . . . Five because I don't like you, Potter . . . Weasley, your shirt's untucked, so I'll have another five for that. . . . Oh yeah, I forgot, you're a Mudblood, Granger, so ten for that. . . ."
Weasley pulled out his wand, but Granger pushed it away, whispering, "Don't!"
"Wise move, Granger," breathed Calypso. "New Head, new times . . . Be good now, Potty . . . Weasel King . . ."
"Oh yes" nodded Calypso. "We'll take another 10 points for threatening members of the Inquisitorial Squad Weasley. And Granger, release Weasley or that'll be another 10 points"
Potter glared at her, "How about your boyfriend, is he in this stupid squad too?'
Calypso hesitated. She couldn't tell Potter Theo was, but also she couldn't tell him he wasn't for obvious reasons. "I don't know what you're talking about Potter," she said finally. "That's 20 points you lost for Gryffindor"
"What for?!"
"For asking stupid questions"
Crabbe and Goyle snickered as they followed them back into the castle.
Draco was too busy laughing but something caught Calypso's attention. It was a rumbling cabinet. "Draco…?" she whispered. "What's that?"
Draco glanced at the cabinet, "The same one at Borgin and Burkes right? They must for a passageway or something, ignore it"
As they all entered the Great Hall for lunch, there was a loud BOOM!
Everyone dashed towards the entrance to find that somebody had set off what seemed to be an enormous crate of enchanted fireworks. Dragons comprised entirely of green-and-gold sparks were soaring up and down the corridors, emitting loud fiery blasts and bangs as they went. Shocking-pink Catherine wheels five feet in diameter were whizzing lethally through the air like so many flying saucers. Rockets with long tails of brilliant silver stars were ricocheting off the walls. Sparklers were writing swearwords in midair of their own accord. Firecrackers were exploding like mines everywhere Calypso looked, and instead of burning themselves out, fading from sight, or fizzling to a halt, these pyrotechnical miracles seemed to be gaining in energy and momentum the longer he watched.
Filch and Umbridge were standing, apparently transfixed with horror, halfway down the stairs. As Calypso
watched, one of the larger Catherine wheels seemed to decide that what it needed was more room to maneuver; it whirled toward Umbridge and Filch with a sinister wheeeeeeeeee.
Both adults yelled with fright and ducked and it soared straight out of the window behind them and off across the grounds.
Meanwhile, several of the dragons and a large purple bat that was smoking ominously took advantage of the open door at the end of the corridor to escape toward the second floor.
"Hurry, Filch, hurry!" shrieked Umbridge. "They'll be all over the school unless we do something — Stupefy!"
A jet of red light shot out of the end of her wand and hit one of the rockets. Instead of freezing in midair, it exploded with such force that it blasted a hole in a painting of a soppy-looking witch in the middle of a meadow — she ran for it just in time, reappearing seconds later squashed into the painting next door, where a couple of wizards playing cards stood up hastily to make room for her. "Don't Stun them, Filch!" shouted Umbridge angrily, for all the world as though it had been his suggestion.
"Right you are, Headmistress!" wheezed Filch, who was a Squib and could no more have Stunned the fireworks than swallowed them. He dashed to a nearby cupboard, pulled out a broom, and began swatting at the fireworks in midair; within seconds the head of the broom was ablaze.
Calypso laughed, "Wow- I think I'll go have lunch now.."
Daphne nodded, "We'll be able to stop them if we're on a full stomach-" they both ran out of the corridors into the Great Hall where lamb bobotie, vegetable cobbler, pak Choy, and chocolate fridge cake were being served.
"What's this stuff?" Calypso asked, poking at a bit of brown mush in one platter. It was tinged with yellow.
Daphne eyed it, "It looks like the grass outside my window when I forget to feed it..."
Calypso wondered what the fuck Daphne meant by 'feeding' her grass but didn't question it.
The fireworks continued to burn and to spread all over the school that afternoon. Though they caused plenty of disruption, particularly the firecrackers, the other teachers did not seem to mind them very much.
"Dear, dear," said Professor Snape sardonically, as one of the dragons soared around the dungeon, emitting loud bangs and exhaling flame. "Miss Greengrass, would you mind running along to the headmistress and informing her that we have an escaped firework in our classroom?"
The upshot of it all was that Professor Umbridge spent her first afternoon as Headmistress running all over the school answering the summonses of the other teachers, none of whom seemed able to rid their rooms of the fireworks without her. When the final bell rang and the students were heading back to the Slytherin common room with their bags, she saw a disheveled and soot-blackened Umbridge tottering sweaty-faced from Professor Flitwick's classroom.
"Thank you so much, Professor!" said Professor Flitwick in his squeaky little voice. "I could have got rid of the sparklers myself, of course, but I wasn't sure whether I had the authority. . . ."
Beaming, he closed his classroom door in her snarling face.
The next night, Calypso was in charge of teaching Potter more Occulemency since she and Theo were taking turns now since Snape always seemed to be 'busy'.
With her homework piling up over the holidays, spending her evenings with Potter, was the very last thing she wanted to do.
The bright side? They always happened after sunset so her animagus charm never had to interrupt the meetings.
And of course, Potter was late for his lessons. "You're late," she told him coldly. "Do you think I have nothing better to do than to teach you these hopeless lessons?!"
Potter ignored her and she sighed, "So, you better have been practicing, have you?"
"Yes," Potter said, staring at one of the desk legs resolutely.
"Lies" she hissed, "Now on the count of three then," she said lazily. "One — two —"
Snape's office door banged open and Draco sped in. "Professor Snape, sir — oh — sorry —"
"It's fine-" Calypso smirked, "Potter's here for remedial potions"
Draco grinned, "Where's Snape then?"
"Snape isn't here"
"I know that. Do you know where he is?"
"No" shrugged Calypso.
Draco looked gleefully at Potter. "Are you that horrible?"
Potter's face was burning in rage now-"
"Draco" Calypso interrupted. "You were looking for Snape?"
"Right" and he stepped back out, closing the door behind him.
Calypso looked at Potter- "Right then, on three now"
"One- two- three- legilimens!"
In a flash of silver light, she was in Potter's mind again.
More department of mysteries nonsense, his cousin, the Dark Lord- WAIT WHAT?! She pushed harder, staring at the Potter's memory of the Dark Lord torturing someone, Avery- Justin's father…
"Potter!"
Potter was on the floor again. "What?"
"WHY IN THE WORLD IS THE DARK LORD IN YOUR MIND?!" she shrieked.
"Don't know" he said calmly.
"Muffliato" she muttered around the classroom, "Now CRUCIO!"
Potter gasped and his screams echoed around the dungeon classroom. "It was- was just a d-dream! JUST A DREAM!"
Calypso took a deep breath. She would just have to write to her mum to inform the Dark Lord that Potter had access to his thoughts…she lifted the curse.
"Why do you care?" Potter challenged, breathing heavily
Calypso, who's wand was still pointed at Potter, shot an incarcerate at him and stormed out to find Artemis.
Her mail shouldn't be intercepted anyway- the Inquistatorial Squad was in charge of reading the letters and no one would dare read hers, nor would Artemis let them.
Footsteps echoed behind her- "DON'T FOLLOW ME POTTER!" she shrieked, and saw that the mudblood was with him too. "EXPEL-"
"INCENDIO!", Calypso shrieked, a tapestry just to the right of Potter promptly burst in flames.
Granger gasped, "Auguamenti", saving the poor portrait.
Calypso slashed her wand through the air, and Potter clawed at his eyes.
"Harry!" Granger yelped, pulling out her wand to perform the countercurse.
"Oh no you don't- Incarcerate! Good...now, obliviate- and you too Potter, obliviate." she erased their memories from before they went to dinner. "Good. Have fun"
She marched off towards the Owlery, if anyone caught her after curfew, she could just say she was reading letters.
To Bellatrix Lestrange
Lestrange Manor
Hi mum,
I was teaching Potter Occulmency on Snape's orders- he's horrible though. But he's been having these dreams about the Dark Lord torturing Avery. If it's true, could you please inform the Dark Lord? It would do no one good if Potter is able to find out about his plans.
I asked him how he saw the vision, he said it was "just- just a dream!"
Lots of love,
Calypso
"There- now come here" she tied the letter to Artemis and soon, the snowy owl disappeared as a fleck in the distance.
She didn't expect a reply anytime soon, in fact, she hoped her mum wouldn't risk it.
Soon, she realized with a start as the Easter holidays began that there were only 6 weeks till the exams. The holidays weren't nearly as fun as the winter ones and that was saying something.
The whole school was getting in the mood for exams too. A sign, so unlike the usual Educational Decrees that usually littered the Slytherin notice board.
CAREER ADVICE
All fifth years will be required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the first week of the Summer Term, in which they will be given the opportunity to discuss their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below:
"What's the point?" Calypso muttered angrily. "The only people who are even going to survive in the future are death eater and that doesn't really leave much career choice does it?"
"Yeah.." Daphne said thoughtfully, "But after the mudbloods are gone, someone's going to have to keep the world running right?"
"I guess"
On Monday at 3 in the afternoon, she walked into Snape's dungeon for their career meeting or whatever shit they were supposed to talk about.
"Well, Healing sounds nice," said Daphne on the last evening of the holidays. She was immersed in a leaflet that carried the crossed bone and-wand emblem of St. Mungos on its front. "It says here you need at least an E at N.E.W.T. level in Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. My mum's a healer, that would give me a better chance of getting accepted right?"
"I suppose so," said Calypso absently. She was poring over a bright pink-and-orange leaflet that was headed so you think you'd like to work in muggle relations? You don't seem to need many qualifications to liaise with Muggles. . . . All they want is an O.W.L. in Muggle Studies. . . .
' Much more important is your enthusiasm, patience, and a good sense of fun!' "
"You'd need more than a good sense of fun to liaise with mudbloods. Have you seen their guns?" said Daphne darkly. "Good sense of when to kill them more like…"
Calypso picked up another pamphlet on Wizard banking.
' Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel, adventure, and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting CurseBreakers for thrilling opportunities abroad. . . .'"
"It doesn't sound too bad, I don't fancy banking much though"
Daphne shrugged, "You said you want to join the Wizengamont?"
"Yeah but I have to be elected. Nobody's going to vote for any Lestrange ever"
"Oh yeah-", Daphne picked up a new booklet, ' have you got what it takes to train security trolls?'
"Any good?"
"Absolutely not," Daphne said, throwing it down and picking a bright yellow one up about the fungus trade. "I think I'll stick with being a healer. That's what my mum wants me to do…"
"You can't just do what your mum wants you to do!"
Daphne scoffed, "Spoken like someone who's going to listen to whatever her mother says and become a death eater"
Calypso glared at Daphne. "For your information, my mother just wants me to marry some pureblood and stay out of the Dark Lord's way like a 'good girl'."
On Monday after lunch, she walked down to Snape's office. "Hello Professor"
"Did you have a good lunch?", he seemed to be in a remarkably good mood.
"Er- yes?"
"Good. Well, Calypso, this meeting is to talk over any career ideas you might have, and to help you decide which subjects you should continue into sixth and seventh years, have you had any thoughts about what you would like to do after you leave Hogwarts?"
Calypso found his good mood extremely unnerving. "Um...I don't know professor. But what's the point-"
"The point is to not attract attention to yourself," Snape told her. "Now," he said rather loudly, "What about an auror, or a healer? Or perhaps you could study alchemy."
"Er- alchemy?"
"That's right," he said calmly. "You don't earn much unless you invent a brand new component like Nicholas Flamel, but you don't need the money do you?"
"No?"
"I didn't think so. It would've been my career of choice as well but…" he trailed off angrily. "So, since it's not an actual job, unless you get hired by a rich private collectionist, all you would really need is an OWL in potions. And only take those with Outstandings into my class"
Calypso nodded, "Er- why didn't you become an alchemist then?"
Snape eyed her harshly. "That is not what we are discussing. So as I was saying, potions, and you could apply to take the NEWT chemistry class and a NEWT magical theory class as well"
"Like how DADA is right now?"
"Yes. Also, an OWL in transfiguration if you want."
"Oh okay. So how high of a grade do I need in transfiguration?"
"An E in Transfiguration at the bare minimum. Hogwarts also offers a class in Alchemy if there are enough students. I think there would be, as Draco is also opting in a career in alchemy" he said bitterly. "But I would advise you to continue with whatever you like. History of Magic for one might be helpful"
"Oh…"
Wasn't he just talking about how they should blend in, now he was advising her to choose the one subject most people wouldn't- Calypso quickly put up hasty occulmency walls and stared resolutely into Snape's onyx eyes, attempting to read into his mind but it was kept carefully blank?
Finally, she pulled out and stared at his face but his expression was unreadable.
"You would make a good auror as well Miss Calypso" he finally said after a long silence. "Remarkably good occulmency skills- though Potter has set quite a low bar. Well, that concludes our meeting. Any questions?"
"No" Calypso thanked him and walked out of the classroom, wondering why Snape never became an alchemist, to History of Magic.
After the final bell rang, there was quite the commotion in the east wing. She ended up being swept up with the tide to a swamp in the middle of a corridor. In the middle on a little patch of a clean hallway, stood the Weasley twins, evidently cornered by their own prank.
Draco in particular looked extremely pleased with himself, for someone who was covered in stink sap.
"So!" said Umbridge triumphantly, you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"
"Pretty amusing, yeah," said Fred, looking back up at her without the slightest sign of fear.
"You two," Umbridge went on, gazing down at Fred and George, "are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school."
"You know what?" said Fred. "I don't think we are." He turned to his twin. "George," said Fred, "I think we've outgrown ful -time education."
"Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself," said George lightly.
"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?" asked Fred.
"Definitely," said George.
And before Umbridge could say a word, they raised their wands and said together, "Accio Brooms!"
Calypso heard a loud crash somewhere in the distance. Looking to her left she ducked just in time — Fred and George's broomsticks, one still trailing the heavy chain and iron peg, were hurtling along the corridor toward their owners.
They turned left, streaked down the stairs, and stopped sharply in front of the twins, the chain clattering loudly on the flagged stone floor.
"We won't be seeing you," Fred told Professor Umbridge, swinging his leg over his broomstick.
"Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch," said George, mounting his own.
Fred looked around at the assembled students, and at the silent, watchful crowd. "If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley — Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes," he said in a loud voice. "Our new premises!"
"Where've they get the money" Calypso hissed at Draco.
"Don't know...maybe they stole it"
"What?!"
"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat," added George, pointing at Professor Umbridge.
"STOP THEM!" shrieked Umbridge, but it was too late. As the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad closed in (with Draco shooting stink sap at them), Fred and George kicked off from the floor, shooting fifteen feet into the air, the iron peg swinging dangerously below.
Fred looked across the hall at the poltergeist bobbing on his level above the crowd. "Give her hell from us, Peeves."
"Oh they've really gone all out this time" Calypso whispered to Draco, attempting to clear off a bit of his stink sap.
"I know" he hissed, trying to wipe it off from his face.
And Peeves swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the students below and sped out of the open front doors into the glorious sunset.
