Chapter 13 – Career Counselling

I couldn't sleep a wink last night. As soon as I saw the sky turned light blue, I gave up my attempts to fall asleep and got ready for the day. It was too early to go down for breakfast. So, I decided to sit in the common and room and read a book, I've been trying to read for a long time. After some time, people started making their way down to the great hall. I decided to wait for at least one of my friends to show up. H showed up first.

"So, what happened last night?" H asked after we greeted each other.

"Blaise caught me but he let me go." I told her.

"Really? What happened after that?"

"H, I think we should wait for the guys, I'm sure Harry has a lot to say to us." I couldn't bring myself to tell her it was Marietta Edgecombe who sold us out.

"But do you know how Umbridge got to know?" She asked me anxiously.

"I do. But I'm sure Harry will know more. So, let's just wait."

She nodded. We decided to wait in the common room and get the full story from Harry before everyone hounds him for answers. After what felt like eternity, Ron and Harry came down.

They took seats next to us. And Ron asked, "Fine Harry tell us what happened."

Harry told us that Dumbledore took the blame in himself since the group was called Dumbledore's Army. I was never comfortable with the name. I'm not comfortable with using someone's name when the said person doesn't even know what his name is being used for. He also told them last night was the first meeting. Because of this, there's a possibility that none of the students will be pulled in for questioning.

"But who was the one who told on us?" Hermione asked. She was on the edge of her seat.

"Marietta Edgecombe." Harry said bitterly. He, then, went on to tell us that the word 'sneak' appeared across her face and nothing the toad could make that go away. The three of us were in awe of H's jinxing abilities. Shacklebolt had discreetly erased Edgecombe's memory, so she was not able to answer anything in front of Minister Fudge.

Then he got to the part when Dumbledore left Hogwarts. My heart sank. With Dumbledore gone, we've literally handed the school into the Ministry's hands. Was this all worth it? Now, Hogwarts is going to be worse than before.


On the way to the Great Hall, the notice board were filled with the new decree. I paled when I read that the toad is the new headmistress of the school. Everyone was talking about this. Everyone was wondering what caused Dumbledore to flee. I heard a lot of the students make their own versions of the incident last night. Mostly, everyone wanted to know what happened with Harry last night. We were talking to Ernie Macmillan and Susan Bones. He told us that the Head's office wouldn't open up for the toad. We were dissing the toad when we heard a familiar 'tsk tsk' behind us.

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you." Draco drawled.

"Ya? What are you going to do about it?" Ron asked.

"Five points from Gryffindor for talking back to me." Draco said proudly.

"You can't dock off points." Ernie told him.

"Well, the new headmistress has given only a trusted few this privilege, namely, the Inquisitorial Squad. Five points from Hufflepuff as well." Draco said. He took points off from all of us for just existing. When he turned to walk away from us, I took out my wand to hex him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Shepherd." He winked at me and walked away.

Filch told Harry that the toad wanted to see him. Ron, H and I went to the great hall because the twins warned us that something was about to happen and they didn't want us to be blamed for it. When we were eating, we heard a loud 'BOOM!' A lot of the students ran out of the great hall to see what was going on. There were fireworks going off on all directions. Huge, giant fireworks! Fred and George really out did themselves. The rest of the day, the teachers spent calling the toad to get rid of the fireworks in the classrooms. It was really happy to a very dishevelled Umbridge. When I saw Fred and George in the common room, I went and hugged them. Even Hermione complimented them. The twins looked immensely surprised and satisfied at the same time.


One evening after his Occlumency session with Snape, Harry claimed that he didn't have to go for these sessions anymore. When Hermione asked him about this he sounded a bit agitated. There's something going on. There's something he is not telling us. I'll have to find him when he is alone.

I found the opportunity soon. Ron was off to Quidditch practice and Hermione was studying in the library. Harry was reading his favourite 'Quidditch through the Ages'.

"Harry, we need to talk." I said.

He shut the book and asked, "About what."

"About the Occlumency classes, I know something's up. Tell me what's wrong."

"Nat, I told you since I know the basics now, I can do it myself." Harry was on the borderline of snapping at me.

Instinctively, I got closer to him and put my hand on his, "You can tell me what's bothering you. I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to." I looked into his green eyes as I said it.

He huffed, "How do you know? You seem to know every time something is bothering me."

"I don't know. I guess it's a gift or something." I bragged.

He rolled his eyes at me, "When I was in the dungeons, Malfoy came in and informed Snape that Montague had been found. So, Snape dismissed me and left. I found his pensieve. I couldn't resist temptation and peeked in." He explained he saw a memory of his father and friends bullying Snape when they were in school. "I want to talk to Sirius about this."

"Harry, I think you're seeing too much into this. They were just being mindless teenagers. I'm sure they all grew out of it. So, this is why Snape won't see you again."

"I don't know, Nat. I really need to talk to Sirius."

"I'm sure we can find a way. Just don't do anything harsh." I've no idea how to pull this off.

"And also that day Cho and I got into an argument about Edgecombe. I can't believe she actually defended her."

"Well, she is her friend and she is going to be by her side." Why did I say this? Harry looked at me strangely. "What I mean is everyone is going to pick a side eventually. And it's not necessary they will pick our side. We can't keep picking fights with everyone who is not our side. A lot them are going to think about what's good for their family and loved ones."

"So, they are just going to screw people over then?" Harry said angrily.

"A lot of them will. We just have to be careful. We can't trust just anybody. But H, Ron and I will always be there for you." Then something came into my mind. "Have the dreams stopped?"

"No." He told about his latest dream in which he entered some circular room in the Department of Mysteries. He said he also went into another room where he felt like he finally found what he has been looking for but he woke up before finding out what it was.

I didn't know what to say. What do I say? "I know, you think these dreams are helping but I think you should try to not see them."

"I can't stop them, Nat."

Well, you could have if you hadn't already decided not to try.


"A little birdie told us you've been wanting to talk to Sirius." One of the twins asked Harry while we were having lunch some days after Harry and I chatted. I never told them anything.

"Ginny told you?" Harry asked doubtfully.

Oh! Looks like I'm not the only one he's been talking to. I felt like Harry took me to the Astronomy tower and then pushed me off from there.

They discussed the details of the plan. The twins were planning something even bigger this time. I'm so looking forward for this. H kept telling Harry that he didn't have to do this. Well, he is taking a big risk. I don't recall anytime when Harry has not done what he wants to do, eventually. Well, the twins guaranteed him twenty minutes, so it'll be enough.


Something is bothering me. The fifth years have career counselling with the Heads of the houses. I went to meet with Prof. McGonagall, I noticed that even the toad was in the room. H and Harry were already done with their session.

"Please seat down, Ms. Shepherd. Have you thought about what you want to do after you leave Hogwarts?"

"Umm…I'm not sure what I want to do." I told her nervously.

There was a snort behind me. The toad was amused by my answer. "Why am I not surprised by your answer?"

"Dolores, that's no way to talk to a student." Prof. McGonagall sounded outraged but she looked bored. She must have said it quite a few times then.

"Well, she is not capable of being anything. She'll just ride on her family's name for the rest of her life."

She really shouldn't have said that. I can begin to feel my anger increase.

This time Mc Gonagall chose to ignore her, "Ms. Shepherd you're averaging on 'Exceeding Expectations in all of the subjects you've picked."

"Didn't you get my note on her grades in DADA? She is barely up to 'Acceptable' standard." The toad interrupted.

"Ms. Shepherd do you have an interest towards a particular profession? Something in Healing perhaps." Prof. McGonagall asked me kindly. She knew I was nervous.

Again, the toad snorted, "If she is a healer, I'm sure no one will ever set foot in St. Mungo's again."

That set me off. I took out my wand quickly and cast a body bind curse on her. She was shocked. Prof. McGonagall looked amused.

"Listen and listen carefully. The family name that you're mocking now, I can use it to remove you from every position you hold. Do not test me. Don't you dare mock the Shepherd name, it holds more power than the Umbridge name does. If Hogwarts gets any more teachers like you, I'm sure Hogwarts will shut down, so do everyone a favour and go back to being that 'Under-whatever you are to the Minister'. I may not find success in my life but that's all right as long as I'm not like you."

"Don't make me spill the beans on how you crawled your way up. Once, Harry is done with Voldemort, I'm coming for you. You're not even that important that I deal with you now. I'm going to make it my personal mission to remove you from the Hogwarts and the Ministry. I'm going to make sure you're exile from the United Kingdom. You're not the only one who knows powerful people. You'll be surprised by the stunts I can pull on you. It's just that there are more important things to be done." I continued.

I thought of leaving the room but I had an idea, "By the way, I'm the one who hexed you both the times. I hexed you because you made me angry. You see, I don't like teachers like you. In fact, you're not a teacher. You're just a person who thinks she can do anything she wants. That's not how life works. You better behave from now or I'll get the Wizengamot to remove Fudge as the Minister."

I removed the spell on her.

"How dare you!" She took her wand out and pointed it at me.

Prof. McGonagall chose this moment to interfere, "You might not want to do that."

"And why not?" She asked defiantly.

"If you don't want this incident to be retold to anybody in the staff room, you will not harm Ms. Shepherd." I smiled at Prof. McGonagall. "Besides, Ms. Shepherd has only done what everyone has been itching to do since day one." She told her coldly.

She looked a bit tensed. I guess my warning really got to her. "This is not getting out of this room.

"Oh but professor, it is you who told me, 'I must not tell lies'. Perhaps you need to revisit your own lesson, should I go and fetch your 'special quills'?"

She paled a bit. "I'm the headmistress. You can't talk to me like this, dear."

"Oh, if you really are the headmistress, then why would the headmistress' office open for you?" It's 'cause the ancient wards around this place know you are not the true headmistress." I told her in a sickly sweet voice. I turned to Prof. McGonagall, "Shall we continue?"

"Sure."

"Professor, I don't really know what I want to do. But the subjects I've chosen are needed for a lot of professions. So, I'm assuming I've a lot of options. And also I've a lot to time to decide." i told her confidently.

She smiled at me, "Yes. As long as you maintain 'Exceeds Expectations' in all subjects, you do. But Prof. Snape insists on taking only students with 'Outstanding' grade to N.E.W.T classes. So, you have to put in a bit more effort if you want to take up potions as well."

Filch came in without knocking and said, "Headmistress, Something terrible has happened."

"What is it, Filch?"

"The Weasley twins, they turned a corridor into a swamp, Headmistress. Please give me the chance to whip them." He was salivating with excitement.

"The papers are in my office. Go get them." She ordered him and went out of the room.

Prof. McGonagall followed them out.

'This is so going to be interesting.' I told myself and followed them. At the Entrance Hall, I saw Fred and George surrounded by the Inquisitorial Squad.

"You think, it's amusing to turn a corridor into a swamp." The toad said angrily.

"It's pretty amusing, isn't it?" Fred said. He was wearing his Gryffindor Quidditch t-shirt, so I could see his name.

Just then Filch came and said he got the papers. The toad turned towards them, "Now, you will know what happens to wrongdoers in my school." She smiled slyly at them.

"I don't think, we are." He turned towards George and said, "George, I think, we've outgrown full time education."

"Yeah, I've been feeling the same way."

In sync both of the said, "Accio brooms." The brooms flew towards them with a chain and iron peg hanging off of them. They got on the brooms and taunted the toad a bit more.

"If you want to buy a Portable Swamp, come to number 93, Diagon Alley, Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes." Fred announced.

"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear to use our products to get rid of this old bat." George said.

"STOP THEM!" The toad shrieked. As the Inquisitorial Squad closed in they were fifteen feet above the ground.

"Give her hell from us, Peeves." George said.

Peeves actually seemed to listen to them. He saluted Fred and George as they flew off into the sunset. The other students stood there applauding them. Today is not the toad's day. She had gone red in rage. That's when Peeves decided to pelt the toad with his bat. The students laughed at the sight.


Please read and review! Thank you for reading, reviewing, following or marking the story as your favourite so far! :-)

I made a mistake! it's the Inquisitorial Squad and i mentioned it as the Inquisitor Squad earlier but I changed it with the previous chapter!

Enjoy! Neepa :-)