11. Formulating a Plan.
The professors of Hogwarts School sat around a wide table, grim expressions evident on all of their faces. They had been working almost tirelessly since the arrival of the strangers to find a way to send them back, although they had to juggle their teaching duties as well. As a result, they had not progressed nearly as far as they had originally hoped for, although technically they had only been researching the phenomenon for one school week.
Everyone was working hard to find a counter spell, feeling extremely conscious of the fact that if they failed, three people would be trapped in a universe in which they could not truly fit in. They had very little knowledge of magic, yet they also would not fit completely into the world of Muggles due to the fact that their knowledge of the wizarding world existed. Not to mention the fact that, according to what they had revealed to Dumbledore and Snape on the evening of their arrival, they also came from a future, alternate version of their universe.
Definitely not the sort of situation that anyone would want to be found in.
The only professor who actually opposed Dumbledore's regime of helping the strangers get back to their own time was of course Professor Umbridge, who had steadfastly refused to do any research, although she insisted upon attending every single staff meeting. She did not seem to notice the fact that she was clearly not welcome; the most important thing to her seemed to be to report back to the Ministry on happenings at the school. Apparently, Fudge was still suffering from paranoia on the consolidation of his power as Minister of Magic.
It was with all of this in mind that they had convened in an empty classroom; the last place that the students could expect to come looking for them. This way, they were less likely to be found, even by the most irritating attempts to find them. A few professors had, of course, been excused from this meeting due to the fact that they had to avoid arousing suspicion of the students as much as possible, and this role was alternated from meeting to meeting. This way, the teachers who were suddenly called away seemed to be sporadic and random enough in nature to convince the students that it was simply an education matter. Although it was possible that Potter and his friends would soon begin to suspect something; they were usually the first ones to sniff out a conspiracy, after all.
These thoughts were interrupted as Dumbledore strode into the room breezily, his demeanour definitely not showing the extent of his worry on the situation as he sat down in a comfortable armchair. All others present at the table looked towards him expectantly, the only exception being Umbridge who looked alternately amused by the entire fiasco, or worried for her superior's safety. She was just as paranoid as he was, and this was not something that was welcomed within the professor's community at Hogwarts. A school could not function in an environment where trust was eliminated, and she appeared to trust no one who obeyed Dumbledore.
The headmaster fixed those around the table with an apologetic smile, his blue eyes not quite reflecting the full amount of mirth that his mouth portrayed. "I'm sorry for my late arrival," he said simply, "I had some matters to attend to."
"That is quite alright, Headmaster," Umbridge answered, speaking above the general murmur of the room. "Although perhaps next time it would be a good idea to be on time for your own meetings? You can hardly expect us to wait here when there is so much to do."
"How would you know?" McGonagall snapped. "You haven't been doing anything."
"I have more duties than you would think," Umbridge replied enigmatically; an expression of mischievousness and smugness settling upon her face. It did not suit her at all, rather it made her appear to be more like the toad that she resembled; one that had just caught and eaten a particularly juicy bug.
"Like what?"
"That is Ministry business, Professor McGonagall," she replied smoothly.
"I believe," Dumbledore interjected before the conversation could get out of hand, "that we are straying from the topic."
McGonagall scowled at Umbridge, who drew herself up imperiously. "Of course, Headmaster. Do go on," she smirked.
Dumbledore's mouth twitched slightly, although he remained largely unruffled by her intended barb. "As you all know by now," he began, "our situation is dire. Or rather, the situation of the three Enterprise officers is dire. Our spells cannot, of course, reverse the Dark Magic that brought them here and apparition is out of the question.
"Yet it is possible indeed that we can devise a new spell which can counteract the effects of the one used by Voldemort. I do not expect this to be an easy task; in fact I suspect that it will be quite the opposite. We may even find that it is impossible and that Voldemort's transference to their universe was simply a happy mistake. However, I do not believe in coincidence, as you surely all know after many years of working with me," he said wryly.
"Hem hem."
Eyes narrowed around the table and a few people began to shuffle restlessly. It was clear what was coming, and not one of them liked the fact that Umbridge just didn't learn.
"Yes, Professor?" Dumbledore, by contrast, exhibited only signs of perfect patience, his customarily placid expression fixed firmly in place. Yet what lay behind that exterior was anyone's guess.
"I do not see why," Umbridge simpered, "you are giving such obvious details of the counter spell attempt, if you say that so little time is to spare. Surely, it would be more pragmatic to..." she gave a mock shrug, "get on with it?"
"It would, yes," Dumbledore conceded, "but not everyone has been present at these meetings. In my opinion, it is prudent to explain what the problem is, beyond a doubt, before you can fix it. Would you agree?"
"Under normal circumstances, yes," Umbridge replied, nodding her swollen head slowly. "But you yourself have said that these circumstances are not normal."
"It is not your place," Snape said with deadly quietness in his voice, "to question the Headmaster's methods."
"Oh, so silly of me," Umbridge tittered. Several people accidentally broke their quills in annoyance, "but that is my job, or have you already forgotten our first staff meeting?"
"Of course I haven't forgotten," Snape snapped. "But you are hardly an appropriate authority to question the motives of..." his lip curled in obvious contempt, "wiser wizards."
Umbridge bristled. "I have every right; the Minister has sent me here. That gives me the authority. If Dumbledore is building a secret army, the Ministry should know about it."
"A secret army hardly has anything to do with our current efforts," Snape said.
"Perhaps that is what you want the Ministry to think." She sounded utterly deluded. "How do we know that these 'strangers' of which you speak are not simply an experiment?"
Snape raised a cool eyebrow and sneered. "That is preposterous."
"Is it really?" Umbridge asked, slightly shrilly. "It is certainly no secret that Dumbledore has power at his disposal."
"Excuse me, Dolores," Dumbledore interrupted politely, "but I am present in the room. You need not discuss me so impersonally; if you have a question for me, it would be better to ask me directly."
Umbridge immediately turned her beady eyes to him, Snape momentarily forgotten. "I was discussing the matter with your Potions Master."
"Yes, I can see," Dumbledore replied. "However, it would be more effective to discuss it with me. You will gain a much more direct path to the truth."
"Very well," she huffed, actually getting a notebook out of her bag. The quill which accompanied it hovered obediently over the paper.
"What are you doing?" McGonagall challenged. "This is hardly a trial!"
"The Minister will want to see this," Umbridge explained slowly, as though talking to someone very stupid. She turned back to the wizened wizard, who sat complacently at the head of the table. "Now, Headmaster," she said with false sweetness, "the whole truth, please."
"To what are you referring, Dolores?"
"Your plans for control, of course."
Dumbledore gave a small, nonchalant shrug. "I have no such plans."
"There is no need to try to deceive me, Headmaster. The truth will out."
"I am telling you the truth now," Dumbledore said calmly.
Umbridge sighed in frustration. "You admit that you have recently 'received' visitors to Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
The quill scribbled furiously and several professors at the table eyed it in unmistakable annoyance. "You also admit to proclaiming the rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
"Voldemort has returned, yes," Dumbledore said simply, ignoring as always the uncomfortable atmosphere which accompanied the name of the Dark Wizard.
"Is there a point to this inane questioning?" Snape asked in irritation.
Umbridge shot him a look but her voice was still sweet, almost sickly so. "You are not involved, Professor." She smirked. "At least, not yet."
She turned back to Dumbledore. "Then surely, if he has returned, we would see some evidence of him." She looked around briefly, as though expecting it to suddenly appear within the room. No one else moved however, although some contented themselves with giving her an angry look when their eyes met hers.
"As I have just explained," Dumbledore said mildly, his patience apparently endless, "he has been transported into another world."
The quill scribbled this down. "How very convenient for you," Umbridge smirked. "Where," she said with a sarcastic tenor to her voice that was now undeniable, "would you say that is, exactly?"
"From what I gather," Dumbledore replied, surveying her over his half moon spectacles, "it is in another dimension."
"I suspect that it is also in the future?" Umbridge scoffed.
"As a matter of fact, it is."
"I see," she smirked, her elated grin widening as the quick quotes quill scribbled it down.
"You know all of this, of course," Dumbledore announced.
"It needs to be written down officially," Umbridge replied. "This is the perfect alibi, wouldn't you agree?"
"Alibi for what?" McGonagall asked angrily.
"With He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named apparently stranded in outer space and three strangers appearing at Hogwarts, a covert search for Dark Magic would be justified."
"I assure you, Dolores, that we are conducting no such search."
"I hardly expect you to confess directly, Headmaster," she simpered.
"Then what is the purpose of this time-wasting questionnaire?" Snape snapped.
"It is much more important than a questionnaire, Professor," Umbridge said, puffing herself up imperiously. "This is an investigation into Dark activities within Hogwarts."
"Professor Dumbledore just stated that there are no such activities," Snape dismissed.
"As I said earlier, I hardly expect a direct confession."
Dumbledore shifted slightly in his seat. "Dolores...I do not wish to seem rude but I am afraid that time is not a luxury at the moment."
Umbridge considered for a moment, trying to decide if this was true or if Dumbledore was simply trying to evade her questioning. "Very well," she finally conceded. "Do you not agree that the excuse of trying to return the three strangers to their own 'universe' would be sufficient cover for illegal activity?"
Dumbledore smiled at her. "It would be indeed, but I would not do such a thing."
"That is for the Minister to decide," Umbridge sniffed. "Although it will not exactly be a difficult decision, given the type of company you keep." She threw a significant glance at Snape.
He scowled at her. "As you yourself said earlier, I am not involved."
"I said that you were not involved yet," she emphasised, mouth convulsing upwards in glee. "You are the perfect agent for this plan, are you not?"
"I have no idea what you mean," Snape said coolly.
She tittered derisively. "You are a notorious expert on the Dark Arts," she simpered, her voice growing harder as she continued. "It would not be difficult for you to help Dumbledore in creating new Unforgivables."
"So this is what the Ministry calls 'Intelligence'," Snape said contemptuously. "Your suspicions have less subtlety than a giant."
"Severus," Dumbledore admonished gently, a smile lurking around his eyes. "That is enough." Snape scowled but obediently refrained from further insults.
Umbridge gave a small 'hem hem', her voice slightly uncertain. "It is my opinion, and the Minister's as well, that this entire fiasco has been dreamt up."
Dumbledore inclined his head. "I know that it sounds slightly impossible," he admitted, "but it is nevertheless the truth."
Umbridge was beginning to look frustrated. "You will make the sentence no easier upon yourself if you continue to deny your illegal actions, Headmaster."
"There is nothing for me to deny, Dolores," Dumbledore said quietly.
"Surely," she persisted, "if the threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was so great, you would have had this new development published."
"Don't you realise that that is impossible?" Snape hissed. Umbridge simply blinked back at him.
Dumbledore intervened smoothly, recognising the increasing state of agitation among much of his staff. "Severus is right, Dolores. We could not risk publishing it."
"What is the problem?" She simpered. "Surely it is good news for the wizarding community that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has apparently vanished?" She smirked. "Although I dare say that he was never here in the first instance."
"If we publish the arrival of the three Enterprise officers," Dumbledore explained patiently, "there would be uproar among the Death Eater community. Those who truly supported Voldemort would no doubt try to capture the officers in an attempt to restore their Master to his former position."
The quill continued to scribble. "I see," was all Umbridge said. "Why so desperate to bring him back? Assuming, of course, that he was here in the first place."
"We must return the three officers to their universe, Dolores."
"That would entail returning He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Umbridge pointed out.
"Yes," Dumbledore said regretfully.
More scribbling was heard. Nearly everyone in the room was frowning now, with the exception of Umbridge. "That would mean returning him to power?"
"He would be restored, yes."
"Then you would willingly bring a known Dark Wizard back to our world," she said incredulously, "in favour of getting three officers back to theirs?"
"Yes. They cannot simply remain here."
Her eyebrows lifted at that. "Why not?" When she failed to receive an immediate answer, she ploughed on. "You would be condemning our world to further war, all for three people."
"Regretfully, that would appear to be a side effect," Dumbledore replied carefully. "Yet we already know that it would happen. If you will recall, the renowned prophecy of Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort speaks of a final battle."
"You would risk the lives of many on a mere prophecy?" She asked in disbelief. "Forgive me for saying so," she said, sounding not the least bit sorry, "but that would seem quite foolish."
"Prophecies have proved to be very accurate in the past," Dumbledore said calmly.
"You could of course simply leave the three officers in our world, and everyone would be the better for it," she pressed.
"The future cannot be changed."
Umbridge smirked. "Do you see now how unbelievable this situation is? Even if we consider your story to be true, which of course it absolutely is not – such a thing would be impossible – it would hardly be ethical to sacrifice the future of thousands for the simple happiness of three." She smiled toadishly around the room. "That will be all," she said triumphantly as she took in everyone's grim expressions. "Thank you." She swept out of the room.
"That woman is intolerable!" Snape immediately complained, glaring at the closed door.
"She's right though," one of the teachers said. "We'd be sentencing thousands, possibly millions, to death under He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Headmaster, are you sure that we're right?" McGonagall asked.
Dumbledore nodded. "The prophecy is to be fulfilled. There is no other choice."
"Surely you can't believe that," Snape said.
Dumbledore looked at him. "I have faith in our prophet," he said, giving a significant glance to Snape. "It is accurate. The future cannot be changed." Without further comment, he returned to the matter at hand.
Throughout the entire meeting, it could not be denied that the minds of many of the professors were not entirely devoted to the task at hand. While they were content to obey Dumbledore and trust his judgement for the moment, they seemed to be conflicted on the ethics of it. Dumbledore must have realised this, because he gave them all reassuring glances every now and then, as though to reinforce the fact that they were right and Umbridge was wrong.
Yet a few left that meeting wondering if this was the case.