Chapter 4 - 'Your aunt is writing history!'

The first week at Hogwarts came to an end, and Cassie sighed with relief when the last hour on Friday ended. A whole weekend to relax and to think before having to worry about any class again.
Saturday came and went, she talked for a long time with Terry, who she started to appreciate more and more (especially on the occasions that she didn't bring up any of her family relatives) and she practiced some spells with Hera and Faith. She wrote a long letter to her mother but she didn't tell anything about Mordred - as Jane had ordered her - and though she didn't like to lie to her mother, she knew it was for the best. And Jane had pointed out that she wasn't lying, she just 'forgot' to mention a few things.
But on Sunday, everything changed once more.

~*~

"Can I have that?" Hera asked, but didn't wait for Cassie to answer and immediately snatched the Daily Prophet from under her nose. She smiled apologetically, "It's not like you were going to read it or anything."
"It's OK," Cassie said, truth be told, she hadn't read a single Daily Prophet yet. Hera kept her up to date anyway, and it wasn't like anything important was happening, or something that she should know about. Mostly it was about Harry Potter being crazy and Dumbledore making a mess of it all. And after she had heard about that two or three times, she found the story getting old. She had seen Harry Potter every now and then; which was logical as he was in the same school as she was. But other than pure fascination (hey, he had been the one to defeat He Who Must Not Been Named fourteen years ago, no article could cover that up), she hadn't found him very interesting at all.
And even if she had; what was she supposed to do with it? He was a fifth year. He surely wasn't waiting for some first year to come running after him all the time. Terry had looked at him with disgust. "Aunt Dolores says he's trouble," she had said, wrinkling her nose. "That he's just after getting attention from everyone."
"I would start a personal fan club for him just to annoy that aunt of yours," Faith had said darkly.
And professor Dumbledore... well, she had seen him in the corridors every now and then, but nothing more. He looked friendly and he probably was, according to Jane and her mother he was one of the nicest people they had ever known. But you wouldn't want him as your enemy; he was very powerful. 'Something I will never be,' she thought bitterly. Her spells still didn't work the way she wanted them too. However, potions had gone really well. She was already finished with her homework, and much to the surprise of her other classmates, she had enjoyed doing it.
And Herbology had been fairly easy as well. At least two subjects that she could pass this year.
"Hey!" Hera's surprised outburst brought Cassie back to the present.
"Your aunt is in the Daily Prophet, Terry." Hera said excitedly. Terry's face immediately darkened and she whispered to Cassie; "this can't be good."
"Listen to this: Ministry seeks educational reform. Dolores Umbridge appointed first ever High Inquisitor. Your aunt is writing history!"
Terry looked suspiciously at the staff table, where professor Umbridge had obviously been waiting for her niece to read the Daily Prophet, as she grinned proudly when she caught Terry's glance.
"What are they talking about?" Faith asked after a few minutes of silence. Hera looked up from the article, not looking as excited as she had done a few minutes ago. She cleared her throat and read aloud: "As recently as 30th August, Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current Headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person. They now say that Dumbledore couldn't find anyone to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts so the Ministry appointed Umbridge."
"I already wondered how Umbridge ever got to be a teacher," Faith muttered. Terry shot her a death glare. Cassie smiled, obviously Terry found that only she was allowed to say anything bad about her aunt.
"It is the last function that the Ministry has now formalized with the passing of Educational Decree number Twenty-three, which creates the new position of Hogwarts High Inquisitor," Hera continued, ignoring Faith's comment. "'This is an exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the falling standards at Hogwarts,' said Weasley. 'The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure they are coming up to scratch.' That's the basic idea. The rest is just repeating everything what they have written the past few weeks."
"Well," Cassie said hesitantly, as she saw the gloomy face of Terry, "the Ministry must trust her if they think she is up for such a job."
"And that is what worries me," Terry mumbled so softly that only Cassie could hear.
"Does have a ring to it, doesn't it?" Hera said cheerfully, "Dolores Umbridge - The High Inquisitor."
Faith snorted.

~*~

Terry immediately left for the common room after breakfast and went to her room, refusing to leave it for the entire day, not willing to face the comments of the other students. But they didn't seem very disturbed by the news of Umbridge becoming a High Inquisitor. All of them were inspired by the other articles of the Daily Prophet and were in the opinion that Hogwarts needed some improvement.
And who could deliver it better than the Ministry of Magic itself?
However, others argued how Umbridge could possible make things any better, while she was the worst teacher they had ever had, but they were greatly outnumbered.
Yes, Umbridge was awful, and yes, Moody had been better, but the Ministry wouldn't appoint her as High Inquisitor if they didn't think it was necessary. "And I shall quote from the article," Todd had said (and Cassie had once again wondered how the voice of a boy could possibly be that high), "Among those eccentric decisions are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the employment of werewolf Remus Lupin, half-giant Rubeus Hagrid and delusional ex-Auror, "Mad-Eye" Moody. The Ministry's just trying to make this place safe for the students. They have the best interests at heart."
But it didn't matter how many times Cassie told Terry this; she kept thinking that her life was over. "Just you wait," she said, "in a few weeks they'll realize what this really means."
"But they don't realize it now, do they?" Cassie said, shrugging. "Besides, what are you going to do about it? It isn't going to change by staying in your room all day."
"I know what I'm going to do," Terry suddenly said grimly, "I'm going to write my grandmother! She'll know what to do!"
"You do that," Cassie said, sighing relieved, "but afterwards you'll come outside with me and forget that you have ever read that stupid article."

~*~

"... thousands of Goblins have tried to start several revolutions throughout the years, some violent, some peaceful," Professor Binns said. It was their last hour on Monday and Umbridge was sitting in the back of the classroom. She looked around, her eyes narrowed, trying to see if any of the students were not paying attention. And though it was hard for them all to do so; they had agreed to do their best whenever Umbridge decided to inspect one of the teachers.
They all knew that the Ministry wanted the best for Hogwarts and more of that stuff, but they just didn't want to be responsible (or better said, feel responsible) for the suspension of a teacher.
So that was why they were listening intently to everything Binns had to say, every now and then writing something down if they found any of the information useful (because they had already figured out that copying everything he said was simply impossible). "They were all for the same reasons; equal rights."
Cassie raised her hand.
"Yes, miss Avery?"
"Did they get what they wanted, sir?" Cassie asked.
"No," professor Binns said. "And I was coming to that. In our community, it is very hard to define what is a beast and what not. Muggles have it easy; they think they are the only ones on earth that can think rationally. But with wizards, it works differently. Mermaids, goblins, werewolves and a lot more Magical Creatures, can think rationally as well."
Umbridge coughed.
"Is there anything you would like to add, professor Umbridge?" Binns said, in his usual monotone voice.
"Thank you, professor," Umbridge said, smiling sweetly. She got up from her chair and looked to the students, who had all turned around to face her. "You must not forget to mention, that once they turn into a wolf, werewolves are unable to think anything remotely rational. That is why most at the Ministry define them as beasts."
"Yes," Binns said slowly, pausing for a moment as if he would like to add something, but than changed his mind. "As I was saying. There are other creatures that can think just as well as we do. But where must we draw the line?"
Binns continued for a while, and when the hour ended, he nodded politely towards Umbridge before leaving.
"I wonder what she's going to tell the Ministry about him," Hera said softly.
"I already know," Faith answered, "she's going to recommend him. He's just as boring as she is."
"Hey," Terry said insulted. But later on she told Cassie that she didn't think that Faith was far from the truth.

~*~

When yet another week was drawing to its close, Cassie still hadn't got any word from Mordred, and as far as she knew; Jane hadn't either. And otherwise she hadn't told her, but Jane would never do a thing like that. (at least, she hoped she wouldn't)
"Today I would like to tell you more about the Whomping Willow," Professor Sprout said, when everyone had settled down, "it was planted here several years ago. I understand that some First Years have tried to come near it..."
Faith, Hera and Terry exchanged glances and Cassie turned a bright shade of red. A couple of days ago, the four of them didn't have anything to do, so they decided to explore the Hogwarts grounds. Some fifth years had told them about the Whomping Willow; that it was a dangerous three that tried to murder everyone that came near it. Cassie had been skeptical about it; because why would anyone ever plant a murderous tree on the grounds of a school? Or anywhere else, for that matter?
"If you're so sure," Kevin - Faith's brother who was in his second year at Hogwarts - had said, "why don't you prove it to us? I dare you to walk up to that tree and touch it. If you come back without having been attacked or badly wounded, I'll give you five galleons."
Cassie had accepted, still not believing any of the horror tales that other classmates told her, about people who's eyes had been poked out or had been eaten alive by the tree.
She had convinced Terry, Faith and Hera to come with her and see for themselves. "There's nothing wrong with it," she'd assured them, "I've heard about a lot of things in my life, but whomping willows just isn't one of them!"
But they never made it to the tree. When they were just a few feet away, it went completely insane. They were lucky that they were still far enough to run away without the willow being able to reach them. But; the point had been proven. There was indeed a murderous willow on the grounds of Hogwarts, something that Cassie still didn't get. Maybe Dumbledore hadn't lost his touch after all this years, maybe he never had 'his touch' at all! What mad man would ever allow such a... thing to grow near a school!
But all the elder students told them that it was their own fault and that they had warned them.
The adventure, of course, didn't go without a cost: Terry still had a large bruise on her forehead and Hera's arm was sprained, something that made Cassie feel extremely guilty.
"I've heard that those foolish students have already received their punishment..."
Faith grumbled. Professor Umbridge had given them a week of detention and they had spent their last few days copying books about Herbology in the library.
"... But still I would like to pay some attention to it, to prevent it from ever happening again. Our next few lessons, will be about moving plants and trees and the danger about them. And I hope that it will be enough for all of you to never come near such a thing as our Whomping Willow again!"
"What I want to know is," whispered Hera softly, "why they had planted it there in the first place. But I bet you my pocket money on it, that she won't cover that."
"I don't care why it's there," Terry said, shuddering at the thought of it, "I just want it gone!"

~*~

On Saturday morning, it was clear that the summer had ended and the fall had started again; it had been raining ever since Friday evening and it still didn't look like it was going to stop any time soon.
Cassie was the only one in the Great Hall that morning, except for some teachers. It was just seven o'clock when she got there to eat breakfast. Rain always got her worked up and the sound of the rain ticking against the windows drove her mad.
Professor Flitwick greeted her excitedly when she walked into the Great Hall. "Hello, miss Avery, isn't it such a lovely day?"
Those words had made her want to strangle him, rainy days were never lovely days. And anyone who thought otherwise was a complete idiot. But strangling him wouldn't do her any good - she had lost enough housepoints on the whole Willow-adventure already. And she didn't want Ravenclaw to loose the Housecup because of her.
So she forced a smile; "it just couldn't be better, professor."
"Now, about what happened last week," he said, his high voice annoying her on such an early hour.
She rolled her eyes, how many other teachers were going to give her a lecture? Professor Snape had nearly lynched her when he had (as he had called it) 'saved' them from the menacing tree, saying how she could possibly have come up with such a stupid idea, while everyone had told her it was dangerous. Umbridge had thought it her job to yell at them once more because Terry was her niece and she needed to have a good example in her life ("And your mother sure as hell isn't going to give you one," she had growled). Not to mention professor Sprout with her entire lesson in moving plants and trees (the stories that Cassie had heard were enough to give her nightmares for the rest of her life)
"Umbridge said that she feared that you might have a bad influence on her niece, Terry Umbridge."
She sighed heavily and wanted to reply, but Flitwick swiftly continued; "Don't worry, miss Avery! I don't agree with her. But I would just like to warn you, professor Umbridge isn't someone you want to have against you. So next time, be careful with what you do when you are around her or her niece and stay out of trouble."
Cassie nodded and when Flitwick turned around to go to the staff table, an owl swooped in and a letter dropped in the middle of her plate. She grinned as she opened it; it was from Mordred.

~*~

Something about his letter worried her, it alarmed her that something with it was wrong.

'... As I had explained in our last letter, your mother and I met each other in a dangerous time. Love is a strange thing, and indeed it was in this case, as your mother and I were supposed to be enemies, but faith had decided otherwise.'

How come they were supposed to be enemies? Had he done something wrong? Hadn't they met in the time of He Who Must Not Be Named?

'I will not go into this any further. Especially not this early.
'As for how I am doing - right now everything is better than it has been for a very long while. I am married to a beautiful woman named Hannah, whom you will meet if you were to visit me during the holidays. I am sure you will like her. I do not have any other children, for several reasons, but they are of no real importance to you.
'I love my job and I am pretty good at it too. I hope one day, you and your sister will follow in my footsteps, but you will learn more of this over time.'

Another thing that disturbed her. Why couldn't he just say what his profession was? If it truly was that wonderful... but maybe he just wanted to keep it secret for a while. Maybe he was a spy or something and it would've been fatal for him if the letter had landed in the wrong hands.
Yeah. He probably was a spy and the best spy in entire Great Britain - no, in the entire world! And all the evil wizards and witches feared him. He was like... James Bond with a broomstick instead of the car. (Cassie's mother had a lot of Muggles among her friends, so Cassie knew a great deal about the way Muggles lived their lives and was highly fascinated by movies.)

'I don't expect you not to tell anyone that I have sought contact with you, but don't tell to many people. You can tell the closest of your friends and even your mother when you think the time is right, because I do not wish for you to lie against your mother over me. But don't tell anyone else. Let's keep it our little secret for a while.
'I love you

'Your father, Mordred Avery.'

Our little secret, it sounded appealing to her. She grinned as she lay on her bed, rereading the letter for the thousandth time and closed her eyes when she had finished. She could see Mordred, flying on his broomstick somewhere in a far-off-country, chasing an ugly looking, evil wizard around who was trying to take over the world.
And with this image, she fell asleep.

~*~

A/N: I'm a bit late with updating (once again), so I won't say when the next chapter will be ready. It might take a while, because in two weeks, School Examinations start (or as they call it here the SE's), and I will also be very busy with a project of school. But since I've got a week off (just one more day of school and than I'm finally free for nine days), I might be able to finish the fifth chapter pretty soon. But I won't make any promises.