Petty and Vindictive:
Once Hermione Granger had been summoned to the office of the false Hogwarts Headmistress, Dolores Umbridge, she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Hermione knew precisely what kind of woman Umbridge was. Normally, she did not use words like these to describe anyone. Hermione felt like she should be better.
But still, Umbridge was a nasty bitch.
Hermione entered the office and found herself face to face with the terrible toad decked out in pink. And she noticed about four Aurors standing, two by two, on either side of Umbridge's desk.
"You wished to see me, Professor," Hermione said.
She barely could choke out the word without feeling bile rise against her throat.
"Miss Granger," Umbridge said. "I want to speak to you about the illegal meetings you have been conducting this year at school."
"Professor, with all due respect, Professor Dumbledore was behind those meetings," Hermione said.
"Yes, your former Headmaster admitted as much," Umbridge said. "Although, I know that at least yourself and Mr. Potter are very much involved. And once I determined who caused Miss Edgecombe's affliction, one of you will be in deep trouble. Rest assure, I have sent the parchment to the Ministry which your names were all over your analysis. Some of our best wizards are looking over. We'll know who is behind the jinx."
Hermione tried to affix her expression with a stoic gaze. Could the Ministry trace it back to her? Hermione realized that in preparing a method to unmask potential traitors, she might have created even more problems in the process. And as Hermione grew to realize, that jinx did not stop Edgecombe from running her mouth.
Really, Hermione was kicking herself for that lapse of judgement.
"But, I'm not referring to that," Umbridge said. "You like reciting information which you read. Do you think you can refresh my memory of the contents of Education Decree Number Twenty-Four?"
Hermione recalled the decree.
"All Student Organisations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. An Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No Student Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled."
"Very good, Miss Granger," Umbridge said. "Five points to Gryffindor."
Getting points from this woman honestly made Hermione feel like she needed a shower.
"Could you tell me the most important aspect of this decree?" Umbridge asked her. "Exactly how student organizations, societies, teams, groups, or clubs are determined."
"There are regular meetings of three or more students," Hermione said.
No, Hermione understood instantly where Umbridge was going with this one.
"I must say, yourself, Mr. Potter, and…Mr. Weasley do meet together quite regularly," Umbridge said. In fact, you meet together and talk every day."
"But, we're not a group or an organization or a team," Hermione protested. "We're a group of friends."
"Mmm, perhaps, but you are commonly referred to as the Golden Trio," Umbridge said. "You are known as a group within the halls of Hogwarts. Every single other student I have spoken to has informed me that you three and your exploits are well known."
"We've been friends since my first year," Hermione said.
"Yes, since you, being the foolish little girl you are, decided to go after a mountain troll," Umbridge said. "And Weasley and Potter saved you. How noble of them. You've been together as a group ever since."
"Friends," Hermione said. "We're friends."
"Regular meetings of three or more students are considered a group," Umbridge said. "I had no idea how this escaped my notice until now, but you, Potter, and Weasley have been in disobedience Education Decree Number Twenty-Four since it has been put out."
Hermione realized technically by the letter of the law, Umbridge was right. But, she was wrong in how awful it was.
"And by all accounts, you seem to be the ringleader of this Golden Trio," Umbridge said. "Therefore, it should have been up to seek permission for your meetings to continue. But, you didn't, did you, Miss Granger."
Hermione looked a bit nervous. Especially with these four Aurors. And none of them were in the Order. There was no Kingsley, no Tonks, there to save her skin.
"Answer the question, Miss Granger," Umbridge prodded her.
"I…it's my fault that I didn't ask," Hermione said. "But, we're friends. It shouldn't be a problem. We're not doing anything wrong."
"You've done plenty wrong," Umbridge said. "You think you're special because you can magic. But to me you're nothing but a filthy little Mudblood who was lucky enough to be friends with a famous wizard like Harry Potter. Without Potter, no one would even know who you are."
"It's not true!" Hermione yelled. "It's not…"
Hermione's wand flew out of her hand before she could do anything. And then one of the Aurors roughly slammed her against the wall and restrained her.
"I've heard many stories about you, Miss Granger," Umbridge said. "And while I know why Harry Potter has a nasty temper, yours is no better. I heard about how two years ago, you ruthlessly and violently assaulted Draco Malfoy without being provoked."
"I just slapped him and he was being awful to Hagrid," Hermione said fuming.
"Malfoy claims he was terrified for his life when that wild beast attack him and Hagrid just brushed it off," Umbridge said. "But, Hagrid will be merely an ugly footnote in this school's history when I'm done with him."
"You're pathetic," Hermione said.
"I have power that you don't, Miss Granger," Umbridge said. "While I can't act as harshly against Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter, due to their ties to the world of magic, you don't have the same luxury. Your parents won't even know you're missing for several months now. And they won't be able to find you when they do."
"You can't do this to me," Hermione said. "Harry will…"
"Mr. Potter will have his own issues to worry about for spreading disiniformation about You-Know-Who," Umbridge said. "His nasty conspiracy theories will be silenced."
"Voldemort is back," Hermione said. "He's back."
"A group of Ministry of Magic approved fact-checkers have determined that particular wizard died on October 31st, 1981," Umbridge said. "But, your word wouldn't matter anyway. I tire of the Golden Trio spreading disinformation. But, you're the easiest to get rid of and silence completely. Easier than the Weasleys, Potter, or that Lovegood nuisance. Her father flew underneath our notice for too long, but he will not discredit the Ministry with his lies either."
Hermione feared for Harry, for Ron, for Ginny, for Luna, for everyone.
"You took an oath to protect wizardkind," Hermione said trying to appeal the Aurors.
"And those who spread lies are a threat to wizardkind," the head Auror said harshly. "We're doing our job."
"Dumbledore's insurrection against the Ministry ends," Umbridge said. "Perhaps I can still save some of your deplorable children from a bad end. But, there is no saving you, Miss Granger. The order of expulsion is on my desk. You will be escorted from the school grounds."
Umbridge took Hermione's wand and broke it in front of her face.
"Don't think you're smarter than me, Miss Granger," Umbridge said. "Take her to the Ministry for processing. And then in three days, she'll be sent away."
Away to where? Processed for what? None of these things sounded good.
"Yes, Madam Umbridge."
Hermione had been struck silent. Honestly, she expected to be silenced long before that.
Umbridge was vile, petty, and vindictive. And Hermione realized one awful truth as she had been taken away. Unable to warn her friends and others what was to come.
And unfortunately, life was no fairytale. Sometimes really awful people like Dolores Umbridge won.
That was the last thought Hermione had before she faded to black. What she would wake up to, Hermione had no idea.
If she did at all.
End.