Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Original A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Five

Hogwarts Governors

Sirius had enjoyed his Christmas; it was always a time of the year that he loved even when he was younger. But Christmas was over and now it was time for him to bunker down and work on his plan against Umbridge. On Boxing Day, Sirius had sat down and read the guidelines that Scrimgeour had given him, finding one or two of the things it said to be useful to what he was trying to do. He then gathered up the sensory orbs he had been using for the last month or so, ever since he had been put on probation. He checked to see if the labels he put on them were correct and then placed them in a holder in a box. After that, Sirius went over what he was planning on saying, making sure that he would come off in the right way.

"Sirius?" Emmeline inquired later that evening.

"Hm?" Sirius said looking up at her, he had been thinking about something and was surprised by the fact that someone was in the room.

"I didn't mean to interrupt you," she said.

"Yes you did," Sirius said, smiling at her, "why else would you come in here calling my name?"

"Fine, I did mean to interrupt you," she rolled her eyes, "I was just wondering what you were up to all day, and I'll tell you I'm not the only one that's wondering that."

"Oh, I'm just planning a prank on Umbridge … or I should say my revenge," Sirius said.

"Sirius," Emmeline sighed, "do you think it's wise to do something against her? She'll probably take whatever you do out on Harry …"

"Oh, it's not that kind of prank," Sirius assured her. "It's not about humiliating her with curses and in front of everyone. She'd bounce back from that and come back with her own form of torture to counter me. No, I'm not going to do that."

"What are you going to do then?" Emmeline asked him, looking at the box he had on the dresser.

"I'm going to go after her using her own rule book, at her own game and show her that she can't win," Sirius smirked, his expression darkening. "Humiliating her in her own forum."

"Can you do that?" Emmeline asked, still not sure what he meant.

"I think so, though my plan does depend on other people not being complete idiots, so there's a chance it might not work," Sirius admitted, something he hated thinking about as he didn't want the toad to get away with what she's done, and whatever it is she's going to do next.

"Are you going to tell me more about this prank of yours?" Emmeline asked.

"Only that I'm meeting the Hogwarts Board of Governors tomorrow morning," Sirius answered. "And while you think on that, why don't we go downstairs so that I can be a better host than I have been of late."

O

The next morning Sirius stood in front of a table where the Hogwarts Governors all sat, looking at him with grim faces. He got the feeling they didn't appreciated that he had asked for a meeting with them, but he had gone through the proper channels to get this meeting. Besides, it wasn't like this was an unscheduled meeting for them, they gathered on the last Wednesday of every month to discuss matters.

"Mr. Black, please informed us of the reason you asked to see us," said the man that sat in the middle of the table, he seemed to be the appointed leader of the Governors, and there was a plaque in front of him that read Quentin Trimble.

"Governor Trimble, as I am sure you, and your colleagues, are aware of, I was appointed the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor this year, and that the High Inquisitor has placed me on probation," Sirius said.

"Yes, we are aware of that," Trimble said. "Are you here to persuade us to overrule the High Inquisitor's assessment, because if you are I must inform you that is not something that we will take upon ourselves lightly. You might find yourself very disappointed."

"I'm afraid that is exactly the reason why I have come before you today," Sirius said, "and yes, I do understand that it will not be easy for me, but you are the only option left for me to explore at this time. You are the only one that the High Inquisitor is answerable to after all."

"You could always go to the Minister," Sirius thought he heard one of the other Governors grumble, but he couldn't tell which one it was. He was heartened by the words nonetheless as it looked like he might have at last one person that would be on his side.

"Very well," Trimble said, waving out his hand, "present your case."

"First I would like to summit the fact that Dolores Umbridge has a personal vendetta against me, and has placed me on probation base on that, and not my ability to teach Defense Against the Dart Arts."

"That is a serious accusation Mr. Black," Trimble said, "one which we will not allow unless you have proof on that matter."

"I have brought with me sensory orbs of my lessons that the High Inquisitor has overseen …" Sirius started.

"You recorded your lessons with Umbridge," one of the other Governors leaned forward; she didn't look pleased by this information. "One might think you were trying to trap our High Inquisitor … provoke her perhaps to make things more favorable for you."

She needed no provocation from me to act like the horrible toad she is, Sirius thought to himself before he answered, "Actually, I recorded all of my lessons from the beginning of the term. I had found while training young Aurors in their first years out of Hogwarts that it was best to keep extra sensors around to see if they do more than they ought in class. It was also helpful for me to review how my students perform their spell-work so I would know how to better help them at the next lesson."

"Have you brought those sensory orbs with you as well?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, Madam, I did not think I would need those sensory orbs as well," Sirius sighed.

"If you have proven we should look more into your case, we will need to see those orbs as well," Trimble said and the woman who had brought that up nodded her head before leaning back in her chair, seeming to be somewhat appeased by this. "You may continue Mr. Black."

"Thank you," Sirius said, this situation reminded him a lot of whenever he had to testify against a criminal in court at the Ministry and he had no problem knowing how he should behave. "If I may, I would like to show you the first lesson of mine that the High Inquisitor had attended, before I was placed under probation, as it will show proof of Umbridge's personal disapproval of me."

Trimble looked at the other Governors, before he said, "You may proceed."

Sirius touch the sensory orb and the first lesson he taught with the toad in it popped into view; the lesson that took place, Umbridge interruptions and Sirius's replies. Once he was finished with that he looked at the board of Governors waiting for their response.

"Mr. Black, you are aware that you came off just as poorly as Madam Umbridge did?" Trimble asked.

"Yes sir, but I saw no point in trying to hind the fact that I don't like Madam Umbridge any more than she likes me," Sirius said.

"What is this mission that she mentioned?" Trimble wanted to know. "I assume that is part of the rest you have deemed to show us this recording."

"Well, as I pointed out at that time, it's not something that is officially in my records as an Auror," Sirius said.

"Then how did she know the details about this matter?"

"She was present, and an essential reason, for Minister Fudge to suspend me from the Auror's office, which I had then decided it was in my best interest for me to leave the department all together," Sirius said, trying to control his expression and his voice, but this still wasn't easy for him to talk about.

The Governors turned to each other after he finished saying that and they had a quick discussion before they turned their attention back to Sirius. "Very well Mr. Black, we will review your case, as you seem to have a genuine grievance. Please leave your sensory orbs and make sure to send us the ones of your classes at the beginning of the term. You may leave for now, we will owl you when we have made our decision." Trimble said, and when Sirius didn't moved asked, "do you have any farther question."

"Sorry sir, it's just that I've recently come aware of the fact that the High Inquisitor would be able to fire me after I return to Hogwarts from the holidays," Sirius said. "I was wondering …"

"We will inform Madam Umbridge of your grievance against her and that she is not allowed to dismiss you until after we have come to our decision," Trimble said.

"Thank you sir," Sirius said nodding towards them before he turned and left, knowing that he wasn't wanted in that room anymore.

O

"So let me get this straight … you're big idea of getting Umbridge back for making yours and our lives miserable, was to go to the board to make sure you can't get fired?" George asked slowly.

"Yep," Sirius said, they were all sitting in the kitchen, after having had a nice lunch as Sirius told them about what he did today. He wasn't too surprised that most of the younger people in the room didn't seem to think that was such a big deal.

"You're not going to curse her so she turns all warty?" Fred asked and Sirius shook his head.

"You're not going to make it so every time she says Hem Hem her ears grow?" George asked and again Sirius shook his head, though he gave George a questioning look. "It was going to be our next prank on her."

"Still is," Fred added.

"Fredrick Weasley if I hear of such a curse being done you will wish you were born without ears!" Molly shouted.

"Wow Mum, that's a good one," Fred smiled at her, and gave her a thumbs up. She just glared at him and sighed, "Fine, we won't use that curse on her."

"We'll just have to think of something else to do," George whispered so his mum couldn't hear them.

"Still what kind of Marauder are you, if you're not planning some kind of prank for your revenge," Fred asked him.

"I think it's a good idea for him to go after her in something like this," Ron said. "He's gone after what she likes most … power … and he's going to take it away from her."

"What I don't understand is why are you going to the Hogwarts Governors? Do you really think they can reverse Umbridge's decision?" Hermione asked. "I got the impression that they haven't fought much against Fudge and Umbridge and what they want to do."

"Yes, I am a bit worried about them to tell the truth," Sirius sighed. "I can't say this is a fool proof plan."

"But if it works, you'll be able to stay at Hogwarts," Harry said, he was all for that. He would like to have Umbridge suffer some kind of public humiliation but Sirius being at Hogwarts was more important than that. "She won't ever be able to put you on probation again."

"At the very least," Sirius said and the others looked at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Fred asked him but Sirius shook his head.

"It means he's planning for things to get more dramatic than that," Remus said.

"And his grin means he's not going to tell us what that drama is, until it's happening," James added.

"Ah, my friends, you know me so well." Sirius chuckled.