Hi everyone! So 'Guardianship' reached 500 followers this week! Argh! It's a little daunting knowing that 500+ people are reading my writing, but also very exciting and I am very happy you are all here! This chapter shows has Harry's apology to Jane, a lot more book themes (from chapters 14/15) which I really wanted to include together, and Umbridge becoming High Inquisitor! I have adapted it around my own story, so please don't get angry at things happening earlier/later/on different days, etc.
Enjoy and please review :)
After talking for a little too long, they had to sprint to their classes (with Hermione scolding them the whole way). Ginny waved as she ran towards the Charms corridor, while Harry, Hermione and Ron just about teared through Hogwarts to get to Professor McGonagall's class on time. They met their classmates outside, and doubled over to regain the ability to breathe.
Professor McGonagall was strict during the two-hour class, more strict than she was usually. She was adamantly aware that some of the students had witnessed her confrontation with Professor Umbridge, and more importantly it looked like she had been beaten. She seemed, therefore, determined to prove herself in control during this lesson. This ended up with points being taken from each house, and a detention for one Slytherin boy who decided this was the best time to try the muggle invention of the 'paper airplane', but with parchment.
Potions went equally well. Clearly the class before them had had difficulties, because Severus was in a foul mood. When the students arrived at the door, they all cowered, listening to their potions master rant at someone about the responsibility they held during practical lessons. Shortly after, two third year boys ran out of the room, snivelling. They brewed a blood replenishing potion in adamant silence, and the rest of the class exited.
"Everything ok Severus?" Harry stayed behind after the lesson; he wanted to make sure his guardian wasn't going to blow up the lab while he went to lunch.
Severus huffed, checking the colour of the vialed potions lined up on his desk, "Stupid boys. They wanted to impress the girls and then they get cocky. Almost caused an explosion. Guaranteed that wouldn't impress anyone." He eyed his ward, "You seemed to be getting on better with your friends."
"I apologised to them this morning. I was going to try and find Jane at lunch." Harry shuffled in his place. He still found Severus' critical eye uncomfortable, even after dealing with it since the summer.
"That is very good to hear. Run along then, have lunch and find Jane. What lessons do you have this afternoon?" Severus was marking notes with letters on placing them against the vials. Harry couldn't see.
"I have single Care of Magical Creatures and then single Herbology." Harry told him.
Severus repressed a shudder, "I still do not agree with you taking a subject such as Care of Magical Creatures, or Divination, or Muggle Studies. I do wish you had chosen Arithmancy instead."
"I am hopeless at Arithmancy." Harry complained, "I took one look at Hermione's homework and turned right off it, she couldn't even begin to explain it to me. I can agree with you on Divination, that's useless, but I enjoy the other two."
"Why don't you drop Divination then? You only need two extra subjects for the OWL's." Severus reminded him, now writing notes on a piece of parchment on his desk.
Harry bobbed his head from side to side, "Well… I've taken it for the past two years, I didn't really think of dropping it. I suppose it would give me more time to focus on my other work and free up some periods for me. I certainly don't need it in the future. I'll think about it."
"You are allowed to drop a subject at the start of fifth year, but you have to let your Head of House know by the first week of October," Severus warned, "So if you wish to drop it then you have to let Professor McGonagall know soon."
"Great, thanks Severus. I'll talk to you later." He paused near to the door, and turned back, "Please don't yell at any more students, those two third years were on the verge of tears when they left."
Severus muttered, "There would have been a lot more than tears if they caused an explosion in my laboratory."
Harry rolled his eyes, and left, closing the door behind him. He ignored the stares of the Slytherin's hanging around the dungeons. They clearly knew where he had been, and who he had been talking to, but they made no move to question him on it. There had been no particular backlash about Severus' guardianship over him, aside from the steely looks sent his way. He was used to them.
However, the prophet was still printing lies about him, and the backlash concerning Voldemort's return had not stopped an inch. They targeted him and Dumbledore both equally, and were quite creative with both of their names. They seemed to come up with a different anagram or pun every time the paper was released.
Harry had scarcely seen Dumbledore since term had resumed. He was absent often during the holidays, but Harry had assumed that was temporary before the summer ended, and school was back in session. Severus just said the Headmaster was busy, but Harry almost thought he was avoiding him.
Arriving in the Great Hall, Harry saw his friends were in their usual place and then sought out Jane. He quickly realised that it would be suicidal for him to approach the Slytherin table, since Malfoy and his cronies were sat only a few metres from Jane, and so made his way to his own seat.
"Hey." He said, grabbing two sandwiches from a silver platter.
"Did you stay behind to talk to Professor Snape, Harry? Hermione and Ron said they just came from potions." Ginny sat opposite him, eating her way through a bowl of fresh fruit and yogurt.
Harry nodded, waiting until he had finished his mouthful before responding, "I did. I wanted to check he wasn't going to create an accident in anger. First and second lesson he had some third years almost cause an explosion trying to be impressive." Everyone flinched, knowing what those kinds of accidents did to Professor Snape's temper. "Also, keep your eye on Jane. I need to apologise to her and I don't want her to leave before I get the chance. She's about half way down Slytherin, couldn't go over because of Malfoy."
They made small talk for a while, mostly about quidditch, since they had practice that evening. Ron had recently been made keeper of the Gryffindor team, and he beamed while talking about it. Angelina, the captain, had privately told Harry that some of the other possible additions to the team were better flyers, but she wasn't convinced by their dedication. One of them whined about everything, and another had openly stated she had other clubs to prioritise. Angelina hoped that, coming from a very quidditch talented family, Ron would improve with time.
"Oh, Harry, Harry! Jane's getting up. She's with Graham, you're safe, go!" Hermione shoved his arm hard, practically making him fall from the bench. He stumbled up, grabbing his bag and making a beeline for Jane and her friends.
"Hey!" Harry called after her.
Jane turned around, and her expression was guarded. She neither looked happy or unhappy. Her friends narrowed their eyes at him, crossing their arms and shuffling closer to Jane, as if to try and protect her, should Harry start anything.
"Hello Harry." Jane said, "Haven't seen you in a while. How are you?" She was being polite, formal even.
"I was an idiot." Harry blurted out suddenly, completely counter-acting the formalities. Jane and her friends reeled back slightly, clearly not having expected this kind of outburst, "I should have known that you wouldn't call me a 'mascot', or anything else, for that matter. I shouldn't have got upset with you. I'm really sorry." He ran a hand through his hair, his words trailing off. He hadn't actually stopped to plan what he would say.
A quirky smile pulled at Jane's lips, "Really?"
Harry sighed, "Yes, I really am."
Jane crossed her arms, and her smile was now teasing, "Well… I suppose…" Harry looked at her pleadingly, lips pouted, and she grinned, "Ok, I forgive you Harry, just don't do it again. You did upset me, but I've missed studying with you."
Harry grinned, and suddenly swept Jane up into a hug. She let out a squeal of surprise, and her friends looked between themselves, raising their eyebrows, "Thanks Jane, I really am sorry. I've missed studying with you too."
"Well, I should think so." Jane cleared her throat, as she stumbled backwards into her friends. She finding her found her footing and straightened her hair, "Now, go, it's almost next lesson. We need to go too. So, um, we should study, again, sometime… You know what I mean."
"Yeah I know, see you soon." Harry laughed, and waved as they started to walk away. One of Jane's female friends clutched her arm tightly as they walked off, looking back at Harry. They giggled, and disappeared around the corner.
"That looked cosy." Harry jumped, clutching his chest, and Hermione grinned. Ron stood just behind her.
"Yeah, sure did mate." Ron agreed, looking less pleased, "Something going on there?"
They made their way to the castle exit, walking down the path to Hagrid's hut, for their next lesson.
"Not at all." Harry discouraged, shaking his head, "I… You know, just missed hanging out with her. She's cool. We have fun."
"We thought so." Hermione nodded with confidence, "We thought you still liked Cho, after all. You do, don't you? You haven't gone off her since summer, and, you know, everything that's happened?"
"I'm not sure." Harry shrugged, kicking a stone down the path. It got stuck under a root, and Harry let his eyes focus on it until they had passed it. Hermione had narrowed her eyes at him, unconvinced.
"What do you mean, you aren't sure?" She probed.
"Look, I…" Harry started to argue, and then sighed, "I'm just not sure I like Cho anymore. I still… Well… Oh, let's just leave it. Did anyone have any more thoughts on Umbridge and McGonagall earlier? She mentioned disciplinary methods. Her exact words were 'disciplinary practices', which means punishments, not classroom. Maybe she does know about the quill."
Hermione and Ron shook their heads, and Harry got the feeling they were less interested in this topic than the one concerning his love life. Biting his tongue about their constant interference (something Severus suggested he try to avoid, for his own independence's sake), they walked down to the woodland.
Two hours later, after learning about the basics of porlocks in Care of Magical Creatures (a small, shagged haired, large nosed creature that guarded horses) and then a theory lesson on the Mandrake in Herbology, Harry was ready to sleep. He couldn't, of course, and groggily changed into his quidditch gear.
Quidditch practice had not gone well in the first few weeks of the term. Slytherin were determined to throw them off their game, and so far, it was working. They had turned up to every practice, making fun of Ron, his broom, and his ability. Ron had been gifted the new broom, a Cleansweep, by his parents when he became a prefect, but it hadn't improved his skill much. Harry hated to criticise his friend, but Ron was better at playing Quidditch for fun, and not under pressure. The Slytherin's insulted the other team members too, but focused mainly on Ron, and made for a tiring practice.
At the start of the training session, Angelina once again warned them that 'some people' were waiting in the stands to watch them play. Everyone groaned, resting their heads on their broomsticks.
"Can't we get them banned?" Fred asked.
"Yeah! Throw them off the pitch!" George added.
"They could be stealing strategies!" Alicia argued.
Angelina sighed, rubbing her gloved hand over her face, "Everyone, I know this is frustrating. We've never had this kind of interruption during practice before; please just think of it as another form of training. Let's go."
It was the usual team of Slytherin's in the stands; Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson and a few other sidekicks who had probably followed them out of boredom. They shrieked and screamed and howled with laughter every time someone missed a goal or dropped the quaffle, which was usually Ron (he had gone bright red, to the ears, within the first three minutes of play). Harry was half tempted to throw the quaffle right at Malfoy's face.
After practising with the others for a short while, Angelina released the snitch for Harry and the bludgers for the twins, and they carried on with their respective positions. It was more real, that way, but they always started off passing the quaffle between them, just to inspire teamwork. The whistle blew several times, interrupting the game, and Harry got increasingly annoyed. This had happened last time as well. As everyone easily predicted, Angelina was scolding Ron about dropping the quaffle too many times, or moving into the wrong position, or not focusing enough. Harry tried to ignore the guilt in his stomach at calling Ron a good player, to his face, and thinking something different in his mind. Ron wasn't exactly bad, but he needed to improve a lot before they started playing against the other houses.
The Slytherin's were chanting now, calling the Gryffindor team losers, and eventually they ended their practice early. They trudged back to the changing rooms, feeling defeated. Harry had caught the snitch in good time, so Angelina praised him for that, but even she seemed beaten down.
"How was quidditch?" Hermione asked hesitantly, seeing their faces as they arrived back in the tower.
After the first practice had gone quite catastrophically, Ron and Hermione had got into a heated argument. Quite pleasantly, Hermione had said something that Ron took the wrong way, and he had become very angry and snapped at her. The next few times she asked were alright, but Hermione still seemed keen not to offend. Ron had a foul temper.
"Still lousy." Ron said simply, flopping down into an armchair. The other team members muttered quick goodnights and made their way up to their dormitories. Hermione pursed her lips as the mud from the quidditch field coated the chair. She quickly cast 'scourgify' on those still in the common room, and the carpet, and Ron's armchair, before Harry could even take a seat.
After a minute in the common room, Ron and Harry went to take their quidditch gear off, and came back down wearing t-shirts. There were only a few other people in the room, but they still spoke quietly. They discussed the arrest of an Order member at the Ministry of Magic, whether Sirius would get in contact with Harry soon (Harry said no, the other two argued yes), and a little more about how much they hated Professor Umbridge's regime of theoretical learning and absolute ignorance.
Hermione sat knitting socks, which the boys tried to ignore. Harry and Ron did not agree with her attempts to free the houses elves by hiding items of clothes for them to find. Ron said that making them find the clothes accidently, while cleaning, would lead them to think it was their own fault. House elves liked to work, they liked the purpose, and Hogwarts was kind to elves. Harry had invited Hermione down to the kitchens to see how happy they were to work, but Hermione had refused, and carried on. She didn't seem to understand that they were bound to the school, and freeing them would leave them homeless, and unhappy.
They carried on chatting about meaningless topics for a while, both the boys sleepy from their exercise on the quidditch pitch. There was no major news from the Order, and nothing particularly interesting happening at school.
"Has your mother heard anything from Percy, Ron?" Hermione asked, waving her wand to change the knitting needle's directions.
Ron shook his head, "Not since his letter to me."
Percy had written Ron a letter a week or so ago, congratulating him on the role of Prefect. Percy said he had hoped Ron would follow in his footsteps, and not those of the twins. However, he had written mostly about politics. He had been particularly damning of Harry, requesting Ron stay away from the 'boy-who-lied', calling him violent, even. Harry had felt particularly betrayed. Percy had also mentioned that if Ron felt he needed advice, he should go see Professor Umbridge. Percy had described her as a 'delightful' woman. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had all gagged.
Ron had sent the letter to his mother for inspection. Molly Weasley, and Arthur as well, had been appalled at Percy's behaviour. Harry had been a surrogate son to them, part of the family, and had been included and protected as such. For Percy to speak of Harry this way was no different than to speak of any of his siblings that way, not in Mrs Weasley's mind.
"The letter said to look out for an article in the Prophet coming out on the 20th, that's tomorrow, isn't it?" Hermione said, remembering the letter as well as she remembered anything she ever read, "What do you think it will be?"
"I don't know. He sounded exciting by it, so it must be boring." Ron muttered, "Probably a new law."
Harry snorted.
HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP
The next morning, the owl post arrived at breakfast time, and the trio wished it had only been any old law that Percy was excited about. The headlines made them all gape, and shocked whispers had gone up around the Great Hall. Ginny stared over their shoulders, equally horrified.
'Ministry Seeks Educational Reform. Dolores Umbridge Appointed First Ever High Inquisitor.'
There was a large rectangular photo underneath the caption, with Professor Umbridge and Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, shaking hands. Percy Weasley stood in the background with Fudge's other assistants, clapping and looking pleased as punch.
"You have got to be kidding me." Hermione hissed, ripping the paper open to read the full article, "We knew the Ministry was interfering, but this? She's got actual power now! Much more than a regular teacher, almost as much as Dumbledore. She could change whatever she likes within Hogwarts and say it is for the interests of the Ministry!"
Harry stared up at the teachers table, where every teacher but one looked incredibly unhappy. Dolores Umbridge smiled out the crowd, looking very smug. Harry's heart clenched. He despised the woman. Then again, he obviously wasn't the only one. Many people around the Great Hall were staring at her, jaws clenched and eyes burning. She acted as if she didn't see them. She smiled, but Harry had no doubt it was at the space above their heads.
Hermione read aloud, "'The minister has been growing uneasy about the goings-on at Hogwarts for some time…' 'concerns voiced by anxious parents'… Ron, this is an interview with your brother!"
Ron snatched the paper from Hermione's hands, staring in horror at the picture of Percy Weasley, "That arrogant, pompous, idiotic, unbelievable –"
"Ah, you are reading our dear brother's interview, then." Fred said, as he and George sat down opposite them. Ron looked up at them with narrowed eyes.
Hermione stole the paper back, and began to read snippets, "I can't believe this… Listen to this, 'Umbridge has been an immediate success', 'totally revolutionising the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts', 'falling standards at Hogwarts!', 'Albus Dumbledore no longer up to the task of managing Hogwarts'! This is ridiculous!"
Harry took the paper, "Here… 'The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post and we are delighted to say that she has accepted!'… I can't believe this!"
"You know what this means though…" George said in a low whispered, and both the twins grinned.
"What? How, in any aspect, could you be happy about this?" Hermione hissed, rustling the side of the paper that was still in Harry's hands.
"Because…" Fred and George said together, looking at each other happily, "It means she'll have to inspect McGonagall."
There was a pause between the six of them, and Ron was the first to snigger, "Oh Merlin, can you imagine? Umbridge trying to inspect, or Merlin forbid, criticize, McGonagall's teaching? Their teaching styles are completely different. Umbridge is everything McGonagall hates, and vice versa. That's going to be great."
"It would be great if this wasn't happening at all." Ginny said grimly, "But, I suppose this is a close second... Or third. I am sure something else could go in-between. "
"Dumbledore made it clear during the summer," Harry whispered covertly, "He wasn't choosing to hire Umbridge. He couldn't find anyone willing to take the job, so the Ministry forced him to take her. He's been losing power for months."
Everyone fidgeted in their places.
"Who do you think she will inspect first?" Ginny supposed, eyeing the head table, "I've got Divination this morning. Trelawney seems like a likely target to pick on first, you know, make her way up to Snape and McGonagall."
"That's true." The twins said in unison. They promptly got up and left the fifth years alone, sitting with their friend, Lee Jordan, and other seventh years.
Ginny scoffed, "Education degree number twenty three. This isn't going to be the last 'educational degree' I bet that much." She leaned forward, "In Defence class yesterday, this Slytherin boy was sucking up to her, like really, practically simpering. Umbridge was loving every minute of it, and starting telling him all about these plans that Minister was hoping to put in place. "
"Like what?" Hermione said in horror, holding one of her textbooks close to her chest.
"Things like, well, making sure the behaviour of students is kept in line, making sure no gossip or lies are spread," Ginny's eyes looked apologetically at Harry, "Making sure all clubs are authorised, making sure uniform is correct, simple things, nothing as far as inspecting teachers. Though it all makes sense now she's been given this much authority…"
"Well, with only a day before the article came out, she clearly didn't see the harm in letting a little information run loose." Harry grumbled, still holding the paper.
The twins passed them again, "Pst, guys, someone just heard that Umbridge is going to be in Arithmancy this morning. No one has that class now right? No? You're safe then!" They slipped past.
"We don't know if that is true, could just be a rumour." Ron commented.
"True, but I think we should all check our bags and books." Ginny added, cringing, "Imagine if we got caught slacking during an inspection… I don't want a week's worth of detention with that woman. Who knows what she would do."