Chapter nine
Things get worse
Over the next couple months, everything took a turn for the worst. The day after Spyro and Cynder had confronted Umbridge, the Minister for Magic had decreed that the toad be given powers to create new rules that had to be obeyed! And by some massive coincidence, a good number of these decrees seemed to act mainly on Spyro and Cynder!
For example, one day, Spyro and Cynder were flying through the corridors, in quite a hurry because they were needed with Professor Binns to recreate a dragon battle for a History of Magic class, and as they zoomed past Umbridge, she glared at them before walking off with a smug smirk on her face. The very next day, Filch, the school caretaker was seen hanging up Educational Decree Number 27, which stated that "flying is forbidden in the corridors", this sent Cynder a bit crazy, as Umbridge had already grounded the broomsticks, so this was clearly targeted directly at the local dragons, and because of this stupid decree, all the ghosts had to act out their walking movements whenever they were in the corridors.
"Fine," Cynder confessed, "that may have not been one of our best ideas," but Spyro smiled,
"don't worry Cynder, lets beat her at her own game!" causing Cynder to grin like the Cheshire cat, she had already come up with a belter of a revenge plan. So, the very next day, as Umbridge patrolled the corridors, she was left open-mouthed to see Spyro and Cynder strutting past her like they owned the place! To add insult to injury, Cynder span around to face Umbridge with a massive grin as she continued walking backwards, though it looked like she should have been moving forwards! The dragoness then span on the spot three times before walking forwards again around the corner and out of sight. Once they were out of sight, Spyro whispered to Cynder, "what was that?!" he couldn't stop himself from chuckling at it,
"I don't really care," Cynder confessed, that grin never faltering, "I just feel like a smooth criminal".
Another incident that happened took place a few weeks later. Spyro, Cynder and Sparx were in the paved courtyard with a small group who were watching in awe as Fred and George passed a magical sparkler between themselves whilst getting it to insane tricks! Suddenly, out of nowhere, Umbridge broke up the crowd and put out the sparkler with a flick of her wand. She once again glared at the dragons before transferring her gaze towards the Weasley twins! The very next day featured not one, but two new decrees: Educational Decree Number 30 stated that "all Weasley products were banned", and Educational Decree Number 31 stated that "all four-legged creatures were to be kept on a lead at all times"!
When Umbridge patrolled the corridors the next day, she was happy to see Spyro and Cynder without leads, she must have thought she had finally found a reason to get rid of them,
"Halt reptiles!" she squeaked in her annoying high pitch voice, "may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree Number 31, all four-legged creatures…"
"Must be kept on a lead at all times, yes we know!" Spyro interrupted, "not that we've had a choice this past year and a bit", he then moved a good distance from Cynder to reveal the cursed chain binding the two.
"Nice try, Umbridge," Cynder chuckled, "now if you don't mind, we have a class to assist."
The final straw came to the friends when they were assisting Professor Trelawney in one of her Divination classes when Umbridge burst into the room with a pink clipboard, before politely asking the professor if she could observe the lesson. Throughout the lesson, Umbridge would interrupt and ask stupid questions such as, "you've been in this post how long exactly?" but the thing that flustered the professor most was when she asked the Professor to predict something for her! Cynder knew a bit about visions of the future, as did Spyro, and they don't get called on by demand, they just happen! "One, teensy, little prophesy?" she begged like a 5-year-old, but with Trelawney completely flummoxed, Umbridge tutted, "pity" before starting to write something on her clipboard whilst walking out of the door, causing Cynder to secretly vow that she would get that old toad back for upsetting the teachers and torturing the students, for by now, Elora had also been subjected to the Black Quill!
"No, wait! WAIT!" Trelawney desperately called after Umbridge, "no, I-I think I do see something! Yes! I do! Something dark! You are in grave danger!" and Cynder couldn't help but feel like this was just confirming her future to punish the pink toad.
"lovely" Umbridge stated with her horrid smile before walking out of the classroom, still writing on her clipboard.
The next day, pandemonium had erupted in the main courtyard. And as Harry pushed through the crowd, he saw that the rumours were true. There stood Professor Trelawney, crying her eyes out, with Filch carrying suitcases towards her. He could also see Spyro and Cynder standing defiantly between Trelawney and the caretaker, who just shoved past them and dropped the final suitcase at the professor's feet.
"This is wrong, and you know it Filch!" Cynder shouted at the caretaker as he shuffled back towards the castle. And out of the great doors strutted the pink toad herself. Umbridge walked right up to the distraught teacher,
"Six-sixteen years I-I've taught here" Trelawney pleaded, "Hogwarts is my home"
"Umbridge, you can't do this!" Spyro exclaimed in fury, but all Umbridge did was smile as she produced a letter from her cloak,
"Actually, I can." This sent Trelawney into such a sad state that she collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Cynder gently wrapped her wing over the professor's shoulders in an attempt to comfort her, and she was soon joined by Professor McGonagall who helped Trelawney to her feet and hugged her.
"Something you would like to say dears?" Umbridge asked in a tone that would make one think that she was talking to a 5-year-old!
"Oh, there are several things I would like to say!" McGonagall retorted,
"Same here!" Cynder blurted, "but I don't think I want any of the children here hearing them!" making Harry believe that Cynder had a whole list of swear words to call Umbridge. All of a sudden the grand doors leading to the great hall burst open to reveal the one and only, Albus Dumbledor. The headmaster marched towards the group with a look that even made Cynder gasp, Dumbledore was angry! He was clearly better at controlling it than either of the dragons though, for as he got to the group, he said calmly to McGonagall,
"Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybill back inside?" and with great thanks coming from Trelawney, McGonagall helped the professor back into the school building. Umbridge was not amused.
"Dumbledore," Umbridge exclaimed in disbelief, "may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree Number 23, as enacted by the minister…"
"You have the right to dismiss my teachers," Dumbledore finished, "you do not, however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds! That power remains with the headmaster" Harry could see that at this moment, Umbridge was forcing herself to smile, he could also see that Sparx was cowering behind Dumbledore, which made Harry think that they had gotten Sparx to alert Dumbledore of this happening.
"for now…" Umbridge retaliated a bit late, but it still convinced Harry that she wasn't beaten yet.
That evening, Hermione invited Spyro and Cynder to join the gang in the Gryffindor common room, but they were to come in through a window for their own safety. As they arrived, the dragons could already hear Hermione ranting about Umbridge,
"The foul, evil gargoyle!" she exclaimed in disgust as the dragons flew through the open window and into the common room. The common room was a circular room which was full of squashy armchairs, tables, and a bulletin board. It was decorated in several shades of red, and seemed to be comfortable, except the atmosphere was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. "we're not learning how to defend ourselves,"
"nope" Cynder agreed,
"We're not learning how to pass our O. ",
"If O. are those exams we've heard so much about, then you're right." Spyro nodded,
"she's taking over the entire school!" Hermione finished, only for the sound of the radio to fill in the space, and everyone in the common room knew that the voice speaking was the minister for magic,
"…and furthermore, we have convincing evidence that these disappearances are the work of notorious mass-murderer, Sirius Black"
"Harry!" everyone jumped out of their skins at the sudden sound from the fireplace. They all looked around to see the flames of the fire taking the shape of Sirius's face!
"Sirius?!" Harry gasped in relief and confusion, "what are you doing here?"
"Answering your letter" Sirius responded as the group gathered by the fire, "you said you were worried about Umbridge, what's she doing? Training you to kill half-breeds?"
"It's worse than that Mr. Black" Spyro pointed out,
"Yeah, she isn't letting them use magic at all!" Cynder explained, causing Sirius to tut,
"I'm not surprised, latest intelligence is that Fudge doesn't want you trained in combat." This took everyone by surprise,
"Combat?" Ron asked in confusion, "what does he think? That we're forming some sort of wizard army?"
"that's exactly what he thinks," Sirius confessed, "that Dumbledore is assembling his own forces to take on the ministry."
"Woah!" Sparx gasped as he flitted around the group's heads, "he seems to be getting more and more paranoid by the minute!"
"Yes," Sirius nodded, "now, the others won't like me telling you this Harry, but things aren't going at all well with The Order. Fudge is blocking the truth at every turn, and these disappearances are just how it started before. And Cynder, those creatures you warned us about, the mossy ones…"
"Grublins?!" Cynder blurted in shock, worrying what was coming next,
"Yes, they have been spotted in the countryside's in groups ranging from 10 to 15 at a time." The dragon's blood went cold, this could mean only one thing! "that's right," Sirius could guess what they were thinking, "Voldemort is on the move"
"Well, what can we do?" Harry asked, but at that moment, a door banged open nearby, causing the dragons to jump!
"someone's coming" Sirius stated, "I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but for now at least, it looks like you're on your own." And as they watched, the flamed died down to a burning ember, with Sirius' face disappearing with the flames. At that moment, thunder crashed and lightning flashed, illuminating the room for a split second. Hermione gazed out of the window at the storm moving in to cover Hogwarts,
"He really is out there, isn't he?" she asked in awe,
"Yup," Cynder nodded,
"And with Malefor, he is more powerful than he has ever been" Spyro concluded, it seemed grim.
"we've got to be able to defend ourselves," Hermione stated defiantly, "and if Umbridge refuses to teach us how, then we need someone who will" and as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky, everyone turned to face the only person in the room who could prepare people for what's out there… Harry!