A/N: English is my second language, so I'm doing the best I can with the checking of the word processor. This chapter wasn't beta.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Scrimgeour was not a happy man. First his perfectly cooked breakfast was wasted when he lost all his appetite with the arrival of 'The Daily Prophet'. The headline and the first article had soured his mood completely.
MINISTRY'S UNDERSECRETARY TORTURED BOY-WHO-LIVED
By Rita Skeeter
In another bold and surprising statement, Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, Chosen One, The-One-Who-Conquered, Hero of the Wizarding World, declared himself disappointed with the Ministry of Magic. Upon this reporter insistence, Mr. Potter talked about the year Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge taught Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School, still under the Fudge administration.
It seems that Madame Umbridge chose to reinforce the Ministry policies through a dark object – namely a Blood Quill – which she used to torture students under her care.
The bold and courageous attitude of Mr. Potter in trying to inform the Wizarding World of the return of You-Know-Who gained him weeks worth of detentions using the Dark Quill.
Miss Emma Granger, an intimate friend of The-Boy-Who-Lived, pointed out that he still carries the scar from his tortures and this reporter could personally verify the evil inscription of "I must not tell lies" imbibed on the back of Mr. Potter's right hand.
Scrimgeour stopped reading there since Skeeter started with her diabrites against the government. But the worse was that there were various corroborative testimonies that put his Undersecretary in a very bad light.
He couldn't even sit down at his desk after arriving in his office before his Personal Assistant came in to warn him about the dozens of Howlers arriving and that an Auror from the DMLE would like a word about the news.
Even with a powerful Protego on, the Minister and his Assistant could still hear the mumble of the Howlers.
Then Chief Auror Shackelbolt entered his office to talk about the many angry and unhappy parents wishing to complain about Dolores Umbridge.
All the fuss almost made him wish that Voldemort was still alive so people would be too afraid to be out and about complaining to him. Almost.
And finally something happened that made him really wish for another Dark Lord to fight: Augusta Longbottom invaded his office with a terrified and nervous Percy Weasley following close behind.
"And what you think you're doing, Rufus? How dare you try to invade a wizard and witch privacy like that? Don't believe for a second that I, and others, won't fight you on this!"
"What?" Scrimgeour was completely lost.
"Sir, it was about this issue that the Undersecretary Umbridge wished to see you yesterday," Percy whispered.
Scrimgeour cringed inside. That couldn't be good.
"Re-instate the magical core test?! Didn't it cause enough troubles a century ago? And your Undersecretary hadn't caused enough problems already with her perchance for dark objects?" Augusta Longbottom said in her most strict tone while throwing a newspaper over the Minister's desk.
He saw the magazine title, 'The Quibbler', and the headline:
HARRY POTTER READY TO DEFEND THE WIZARDING WORLD AGAINST THE MINISTRY DICTATORSHIP.
Scrimgeour groaned and let his head hit the desk. This was his worst morning ever!
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Dolores Umbridge was almost skipping when she left the floo into the Ministry Atrium. She was ready to present her new Educational Decree to the Minister and even more eager to access the NEWTs results so she could redistribute the students as she saw fit. The Centaurs Liaison Office should have a new employee as soon as she was able to put her hands on a Miss Granger's file.
'But what to do with The-Boy-Who-Annoyed?' Umbridge was thinking when her walk was interrupted by a couple of Aurors stopping in front of her.
Dolores had to look up, way up, to face Kingsley Shackelbolt and she was not happy about it. He might be a good Auror but, like so many others, he failed to see the bigger picture.
"Auror Shackelbolt…" But she was interrupted before being able to start put up any air.
"Madame Umbridge, you need to accompany us to the DMLE office."
"What happened now?" She asked annoyed. Dolores had too much to do to go around fixing other people's mistakes.
"There are a series of accusations that we must investigate. We need interrogate you, Madame."
"What?! What preposterous thing this is?" Her indignant speech was cut short by the swarm of reporters that run through the Atrium to surround them with a glee Rita Skeeter up in front with her electric green quill bouncing by her side.
"Ex-Minister Fudge gave you the order to use the Blood Quill at the students in Hogwarts?" Skeeter threw the question while still approaching Umbridge and the Aurors.
"The order was against all students or just The-Boy-Who-Lived?" Another young woman shot her question.
"The tentative of re-instatement of the magical core test is a sanctioned retaliation against Mr. Potter and his friends?" This time it was a young man who asked the question.
"Ah… No… What? Cornelius didn't know… You don't have the right…" Dolores Umbridge felt lost, turning to one to the other, torn between trying to run and asking for the Aurors' protection.
"Madame Umbridge can't answer you questions at this time," Shackelbolt interrupted.
Umbridge could even start to like the man if he hadn't completed with: "She's expected at the DMLE for interrogation."
"The DMLE is investigating and is expecting to make arrests?" The young man asked again.
"What I can say is that the DMLE is taking all the accusations seriously and will look into them. All the appropriate actions will be taken. Excuse us. This way, Madame," and Shackelbolt took hold of Umbridge arm and direct her toward the elevator, follow by the other Auror.
The group of reporters milled around a bit but when Percy Weasley was seen coming from the Apparition point, they all run after him, trying to get a quote or even an interview.
As soon as Percy saw the reporters coming after him he started to run, trying to escape. But it was no use since all of them got caught inside one of the elevators and Percy had to try and fend off all the questions and even photos while descending toward the Minister's office floor.
The elevator's door was barely open when Percy ran out of it and all the way to the office, being finally able to close the room's door at the face of the reporters.
Rufus Scrimgeour left his room to find out what all the fuss was about to see his Personal Assistant resting against the office door, panting with a scared look in his face.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"Sir… reporters… Umbridge…" It was all what Weasley was able to stutter between breaths.
"For Merlin's sake!" Scrimgeour exclaimed but he was interrupted by the knocks on the door and the high voices asking questions from the other side.
"Put a Silence spell on the door, Weasley!" Scrimgeour commanded. "And let's try to do something to get us out of this mess!"
Percy cast the spell and both man sat on their desks and tried to concentrate but the some thought was on both of their heads: 'There was anything they could do to salvage the situation?'
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
After the release of the day's edition of The Daily Prophet and The Quibbler, the sitting room of the Burrow became the focal point of the British Wizarding World.
Reporters came calling via floo, or sending owls, asking for interviews and not only by Harry Potter. They want to know about Umbridge's tenure as DADA teacher at Hogwarts as much as anything else anyone could say about Ministry personnel.
While all the confusion took over the Wizarding world in general and the Burrow living room specially, Harry Potter, possible the very one responsible for all the commotion, was happily flying around over the backyard of the Weasley home. Ron and Ginny were also on brooms, training for their Quidditch positions as Keeper and Chaser a bit lukewarmly. Both of them wanted to talk to Harry about different things but the black-haired boy keep evading any attempt of a serious conversation.
But Harry's calm morning flight came to an end when Hermione left the house and started to shout for him with her hands on her hips:
"Harry! Come on, come down! I finished the research you asked! Haarriieee!"
The young man smiled and turned the front of his broom down, approaching the sole in a quick dive. Hermione squeaked and jumped back while Harry maneuvered his broom with absolute control to land near his friend.
"Calm down, Hermione. I'm here. So, you had any luck?"
"You shouldn't do this kind of stunt, Harry! One day you will hurt yourself!"
"Come on, Hermione. I know what I'm doing. And if I do hurt myself someday, that's because I shouldn't be flying anymore. Say, how's the research?" Harry dismissed his friend's fears and asked eagerly for the results of his plan.
Hermione huffed, squeezed her hands and did a half turn, as if she would go back inside without answering Harry. But she never could really control her need to impart the knowledge she acquired through any research.
"Yes! There are plenty of options, some quite nasty, in a matter of fact. We should choose carefully. But even the worst ones would never survive long under a Wizengamot discussion."
"Good! We don't need much, just something to scare the Ministry people some. Let them jump all over Umbridge for us," Harry smiled a bit evilly.
Ron and Ginny finally caught up with them just in time to hear Harry's last statement.
"Will you finally tell us what this all about?" Ron asked a bit peeved to be left out of all the mischief.
"If Madam Longbottom arrived, I can tell everybody about my idea," Harry answered and started to walk toward the house with his Firebolt held over one shoulder.
"By Merlin! This boy is getting too much like Dumbledore!" Ginny exclaimed and stalked after Harry.
Ron and Hermione exchange a long look and just walked back to the Burrow holding hands.
"Will you tell me what's going on?" Ron asked in a whisper.
"I really don't know, Ron. Harry asked me to research some old laws, decrees and practices of the Wizarding world that have been abandoned or banned by the Ministry. But he didn't tell me what he wants with the information."
"Ginny is right. He's becoming too much like Dumbledore with his obscure tips and information in parts."
"If he steps too far, you can punch him and I'll wear him down with a lecture," Hermione said half-joking, kissing his boyfriend lightly in the lips.
Ron smiled and agreed, shaking his head.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
When the group was all in the living room of the Burrow, Harry asked Hermione:
"Please, put up some Secrecy and Protective wards and don't forget the anti-Animagus one."
"Anti-Animagus, Harry?" Ron asked puzzled.
"We don't want anyone bugging in into this conversation, Ron," Hermione answered while casting.
"Oh…"
"What?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"We will explain, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, sitting down, waiting for Hermione to finish.
"Ready, Harry," Hermione informed, going to seat next to her boyfriend.
"Right," Harry coughed to clear his throat. He looked around the group. He was encircled by all the Weasleys, excepted, as always, Percy, plus Amos Diggory and Remus Lupin for the Order of the Phoenix. None Hogwarts teacher or Aurors were present. Mrs. Longbottom, Neville, Susan Bones, Luna and her father had just arrived to complete the group. The young man gulped but forged ahead with his Gryffindor courage.
"I asked you all to be here to explain about the news and my idea to how to fight against the closed Death Eaters at the Ministry."
"I thought all of them were caught," Mrs. Weasley said preoccupied.
"Well, all the marked ones we could find, Mrs. Weasley, but there are those we don't know about, but, more worrisome, those who believe in Voldemort's creeds but were never marked," Harry answered.
"And I would put Umbridge on the top of that list," Hermione said.
"I don't want people to think about the news on the Prophet and the Quibbler as a way for me to get revenge," Harry continued.
"Not that you're not entailed to it," Remus murmured.
"Yeah," Harry blushed. "But it's not what I want. I really want to help change things. What's the use for us to go to all the trouble to destroy Voldemort when people like Umbridge are around to help create another one?"
"So, what's the plan, mate?" Ron asked, tired of the political talk after almost everybody had the time to cringe after the dark wizard's name.
"Let's make them see who's making the real trouble for the Wizarding world," Hermione answered.
"How?" Came the question from the middle of the group.
"We will present an idea of our own to resurrect some law or ritual of old that the Ministry doesn't want to see in play," Harry said. "When they bulk, we can try to negotiate, all the time reporting what they are trying to hide."
"Don't seem too complicate," Bill commented.
"So, why has it been done before," Fred asked.
"If could do so much good?" George completed.
"Because it wasn't of the interest of those capable of pulling this off," Harry answered.
"Or maybe there was other things they thought more important, Harry," Hermione said in a warning tone.
"I'm not downplaying what they had done, Hermione. I'm just saying they really didn't want to change anything. Change can be hard and painful, so people mostly try to stay the same, correct a thing here or there."
"What's in the past can't be undone, so let's focus in the present and the future," Remus stated.
"What else you want of me, Mr. Potter?" Mrs. Longbottom asked.
"Thanks for shaking up the Minister, Madam," Harry said. "And I think you would be a good person to present our 'returning law'".
"Which is…?" Arthur Weasley asked a bit suspicious.
"The need to do a yearly checks of Ministry employees through Veritaserum before Aurors and at least three members of the Wizengamot," Harry stated.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"From where you find that?!" Came the disconcerted questions.
"Our super known-it-all Hermione…"
"Harry!"
"You're a superhero, Hermione! Accept it!" Harry joked. "But she did a good research and listed most of the laws, decrees and rituals we could try to present again. Some don't interest anybody; others would be too much into Umbridge league, so we pick something that could do some real good but that the Minister or a lot of the Ministry's employees don't want to see working."
"Veritaserum, Harry? A bit extreme, don't you think?" Mr. Weasley asked weakly.
"Not really, sir. We did write a very complete propose with boundaries for its use and the kind of questions that could be asked, if, by any freak accident, we get it passed and approved. But I don't think Scrimgeour will let it go this far. He will get rid of Umbridge first. My idea it to try and fight any other stupid bigot ideas the same, for as long as we can, or, at least, we make real head way in the Ministry," Harry finished.
The silence filled the room and people started to look at each other and murmur about all they had heard. Harry just sat back and watched.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Harry entered Courtroom 10 where the Wizengamot would convey and felt a shiver run through his spine. It was the same room where he was judged in the summer prior of his fifth year at Hogwarts.
'Maybe it's fitting that we should fight the Ministry here, again," Harry thought while following dutifully after Mrs. Longbottom.
They sat at one side of the stands and could see Scrimgeour and Percy Weasley at the other side, deep in conversation. Harry quickly found Dolores Umbridge in the middle of the Wizengamot members and Amos Diggory just a few seats away. The soft murmur of conversation continued until the Minister thump the judge's hammer, asking for silence.
"We are here to revise new laws and decrees presented to the Ministry of Magic for approval or banishment, in accordance with the British Wizarding world bylaws," Percy stated pompously, as always. "As for the first order of business…"
But the young Assistance was interrupted by the shrill voice of Dolores Umbridge asking in a fake whispered shout: "What he is doing here?!" And the witch extended her arm to point toward Harry.
The rest of the room turned to look at what the witch was pointing at and it was possible to hear the suffering sighs coming from Percy Weasley and Rufus Scrimgeour.
"Mr. Potter," Percy tried to make his voice sound with authority. "What you think you're doing in the middle of a Wizengamot's proceedings?"
"Watching and learning, Perce," Harry answered calmly and with a smile.
"This is not a classroom, Potter!" Umbridge screamed.
"You should know, Umbridge, nobody would just submit to be tortured with a Blood Quill here," Harry said sarcastic.
"Mr. Potter! You should respect all the members of the Wizengamot!" Percy complained. "And you do not have the right to be here!"
"Wrong, again, Perce," Harry kept smiling, seeing how much it unnerved the others. "As Head of two Ancient and Noble families, I have all the right to watch any Wizengamot proceedings and present my opinions, suggestions or claims."
"How did it you find that out?" Scrimgeour let escape with a sour face at the same time that whispers run through the Wizengamot members: "Head of two families?!"
"Madame Longbottom here was kind enough to offer to tutor me on the duties and rights of a Head of House," Harry had an evil grin on his face. "She believes that to maintain the important traditions of the Wizarding world you should teach the youngsters about it, not hide those so old coots could just manipulate away to their hearts content."
"Mr. Potter," Scrimgeour tried again to keep in control. "There's a reason why young men, like you, are not invited to the Wizengamot meetings. And you seem to be demonstrating it quite well."
"Like I said, if you're a not taught and showed how to do it, what will happen when you need to do it? But I shouldn't be surprise with your view, Minister, considering the type of people you surround yourself with."
"Potter!" Umbridge stood up and shouted but she was quickly pulled back to her seat and another member of the Wizengamot stood up to ask a question.
"How come you're Head of two families, Potter?"
"And how can I teach this young man anything when the people who should serve as example behave so poorly?" Mrs. Longbottom asked aghast. "Address the young man correctly, Benchwear! Mr. Potter is Head of his family and heir of the Blacks."
"Blacks?!" Again the whispers ran through the room.
"But there are no more Blacks…" A voice sounded in the middle of the group.
"That's why I'm now the heir," Harry answered as if talking to a child.
"How can you be Black's heir, Potter?!" Benchwear was not bending over the old woman or this young intruder.
"The last scion of the Blacks was my godfather and made me his presumed heir. When he died without children, he left me everything. Someday my second son will be able to claim the Head of the Black family," Harry answered seriously. "My first born will be Head of the Potter family."
"But the last scion of the Blacks was a convicted murderer, Sirius Black!" Another voice shouted out.
"Wrong!" Harry stood up aggrieved with the entire discussion and situation. "My godfather, Sirius Black, was imprisoned without a trial or even a hearing. He was never accused or condemned! But not even this miscarriage of justice from the Wizengamot would interfere with the will of a Head of House. Your own laws guarantee it."
"What!?"
"Never judged?!"
"What was Bagnold and Fudge playing at?"
"Scrimgeour! You were at the DMLE at the time! Didn't you know about it?"
"Can you prove it, son?"
"Oh my, another Pureblood family lost…"
"What if there are others in Azkaban?!"
The cacophony of exclamations and questions filled the room and Scrimgeour saw himself hounded by the others wizards and witches shouting angry and nervous questions.
Percy gripped nervously to the proclamations of the meeting, not knowing what to do.
Dolores Umbridge tried to leave her seating but the confusion was too much to permit her to move through the muddle.
By the sidelines, Kingsley Shackelbolt, Tonks and Auror Towler watched the proceedings while fighting the urge to laugh. They tried to keep Umbridge under arrest but as a Wizengamot member they needed more than just the testimonies of students. But if whatever Harry was doing worked, the witch might be kicked of the Wizarding tribunal and then she would be at their hands. Without the protection of the administrative board, she could be taken in custody. But all the confusion installed now was quite a fun show to watch, so the Aurors were just enjoying their time.
"That's enough!" Scrimgeour finally shout while shooting red stars from his wand, making the crowd around him to disperse rather quickly.
"We are not here to discuss past mistakes from older administrations! We have our plans to follow and discuss! If anyone wants to discuss anything different, then make a claim and wait for the next Wizengamot meeting!" Rufus rearranged his robes, took a deep breath and turned to Percy.
"Mr. Weasley, please continue with the proclamations!" Then he sat down.
Took at least five more minutes for the rest of the Wizengamot members to calm down and go back to their seats but finally the meeting were under order and ready to proceed. Scrimgeour and Percy had arranged the order of the proclamations to show the easy issues first. They thought that issues that would be easily approved or reject would open the way for more controversial subjects. That's way the first order of business was the last Educational Decree created by Dolores Umbridge. Scrimgeour believed it would be rejected quite quickly, opening some space to discuss his idea of control over young people just out of Hogwarts.
"As for the first order of business," Percy started again. "Educational Decree number 30 which pertained the evaluation of NEWTs results and the better placements of young students to help the betterment of the Wizarding world."
Scrimgeour and Umbridge kept their eyes on Potter during Percy's reading, just expecting the young man to jump up and interrupt or complain about the decree. When the reading was finished and Potter didn't move, Scrimgeour started to frown, worried about what the young man might be planning, while Umbridge started to smile her evil smirk, believing the boy wouldn't be able to stop her.
The murmurs between the Wizengamot members started right way but soon enough someone stood up to comment the decree out loud.
"I think that with correct directions, this could be a good idea."
Everybody turned to the man who had spoken.
"What you mean, Mr. Greengrass," Scrimgeour asked.
"Well, the Pureblood families," he hesitated a moment and rephrased. "The old families have traditions and the members usually follow the same professions for generations. But the… newcomers in our world, the… Muggleborn doesn't usually know what they will do after Hogwarts. If the Ministry could direct them, they can be of use, especially in jobs that are hard to fill in."
"Exactly my idea!" Umbridge exclaimed.
"I don't know…" Amos Diggory said with a pensive expression. "My son was never interested in work for the Ministry, especially for the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He dreamed about playing professional Quidditch."
"This is hardly relevant now, isn't it," Umbridge intervened with disgust. "He is dead, after all."
Diggory' expression closed, with his eyes pressed almost closed and his mouth disappearing in a thin line. Most of the Wizengamot held their breaths before the uncalled and callous statement and Scrimgeour even groaned.
"Madame Umbridge," another Wizengamot member said with an uncomfortable tone in his voice. "I don't think this comment was appropriate."
"Let's stop walking on eggs here," Umbridge dismissed the rebuke. "We have a society to put on the correct tracks and what happen yesterday should not influence us!"
The silence in the courtroom was getting heavy. Harry was working hard to keep his temper quiet and his mouth shout and Mrs. Longbottom was shifting in her seat, quite disturbed by the other witch's words.
"Well…" Percy tried to bring the room to order, even if he was feeling quite uncomfortable with the conversation. "Maybe if we could proceed to vote…"
"Just a moment," Amos Diggory stood up.
Umbridge made a face in disgust because of the interruption and Greengrass decided to sit since he thought he had done enough. As a good Slytherin he didn't want to expose himself more than necessary.
"In conjunction with the Educational Decree number 30 I think we should institute means to re-evaluate and control those employed," Diggory completed his comment.
Surprised faces filled the room. Nobody thought Diggory would agree and even less help Dolores Umbridge's plans.
"That sounds good," Scrimgeour said. But he was also wondering what was going on. He never thought Potter would permit something like that to pass or even people who worked close to him would condone to Umbridge's ideas. Rufus could smell a trap somewhere in the way; he just didn't figure it out yet.
"Since the Educational Decree number 30, as the descriptions distribute to us states, will allow the access to NEWTs results and the direct evaluation of wizards and witches," Amos continued. "I think is just appropriate that a safeguard be built in it. Let's say, interview under Veritaserum in the presence of Aurors and Wizengamot members to all those involved in these proceedings."
"What?!" Scrimgeour exclaimed.
"That's…"
"The idea…"
"Veritaserum…"
"Why…"
The surprised, incredulous and unhappy cries were heard all over the room. Some members of the Wizengamot even stood up to protest and discuss between themselves. Harry and Mrs. Longbottom kept in their places but a disturbing smile was gracing their faces now.
"I think it's a wonderful idea!" Umbridge exclaimed, grinning madly with all the opportunities that interviews of Potter and his cohorts under a truth serum would open up for her.
"You must be joking," Percy exclaimed!
"Why ever would I?" Diggory answered. "Any test to check for the magical core of a witch or wizard is invasion enough. I don't see how an interview would be more so."
"That's right!" Umbridge was getting quite enthusiastic to the idea. "We could be certain that no one had dark tendencies or had committed any crime that went undetected."
"Sir, how that would safeguard Madame Umbridge's project?" Percy asked still surprised. He was quite adamant to follow the Ministry's directives but he didn't have anything against Muggleborn. He thought that Umbridge's project was just a way to try and control anyone who didn't agree with her and the new suggestion just seems to give the witch even more power.
"Don't you see, Weasley," Umbridge boot up again. "It will give us the opportunity to check for the loyalty of all working at the Ministry!"
"I was thinking more on the lines of how all involved in the process would have the best intentions and interests regarding the Wizarding world," Amos Diggory corrected the witch.
"Whatever…" Dolores Umbridge was too busy thinking of all she would like to ask from Harry-Bloody-Potter under Veritaserum.
"Wait," Scrimgeour couldn't shake the impression that something in the other wizard's phrase was the trap he was thinking about early. "You said 'all involved in the process'?"
"Of course," Diggory answered calmly.
"What you mean exactly?" Scrimgeour insisted.
"That before being able to interview anyone under Veritaserum this wizard, or witch, should submit himself, or herself, to the same procedure. As it happens inside the DMLE, of course."
"Huh?" Was the most common question that filled the courtroom.
"If I may?" Shackelbolt advanced to the front of the Wizengamot.
Scrimgeour was still trying to understand where this maneuver would take them, so he gestured so the Chief Auror could address the Wizengamot.
"After an Auror finishes his training, he needs to stay on duty for a year before he might be allowed to participate in interview or interrogations. And before he can even start to be present in one of this he has to undergo an interview himself, under Veritaserum, to guarantee his loyalties toward the Ministry of Magic. These interviews used to happen at least once a year but that procedure was slowly discontinued and we haven't done it in over two years. I would mind to go back to this procedure."
"Ah," a member of the Wizengamot raised his hand, like a school boy, to ask a question. "This Veritaserum interview used to happen all around the Ministry, didn't it?
"Yes, sir," Shackelbolt answered with a smile. "Ministry Bagnold stopped them during Voldemort's first raising, stating that they couldn't risk Ministry's secrets getting out."
There was a collective gasp because of the dark lord's name and them a scared comprehension downed the Wizengamot.
"Oh, this could be bad…" Everybody was able to hear the comment even if they couldn't pinpoint the one making it.
"But we were talking about interrogating Mudbloods!" Umbridge exclaimed, afraid to where all this was going.
Scrimgeour groaned out loud when he heard his Undersecretary's comment.
Harry sited straight in his chair, his expression forbidding and his hand on his wand.
Everyone around Umbridge took a deliberately step back, trying to put as much distance from the witch as they could.
"What?!" Umbridge asked.
"Madame Umbridge," Percy tried. "This kind of term is not becoming of a Wizengamot member.
Umbridge's face was distorted while she was thinking, trying to remember what she said to cause such discomfort in the room. When it finally downed her, he started to get red, darkening the color to the point it appeared she would ignite in fire.
"I… What I mean…" She spluttered but was quickly interrupted by Amos Diggory.
"We all know what you meant, Madame Umbridge. So, I would like for us to continue I vote the Educational Decree number 30 together with my proposal of Ministry Behavior Procedures as stated in the text I'm distributing now," Diggory tapped his wand over a scroll in his hands and suddenly every Wizengamot member had a copy in front of them.
"We can not approve this!" Umbridge tried after just a glance over the text in front of her.
"I think we should have more time to evaluate this," Benchwear said getting paler while reading the text.
"Let's separate the proposals!" Umbridge tried again.
"It's not possible. They you create the bylaws, Madame Umbridge, makes impossible to go one without clear procedures and it's where my proposal get in." Diggory answered calmly.
"But my other Educational Decrees followed the same structure. I made the procedures after stating them," the witch said.
"And we all know how well that went," a firm voice sounded in the middle of the Wizengamot.
Scrimgeour was running a hand over his face, feeling a very bad headache creeping in. This was suppose to be a simple 'yes' or 'no' vote and should have open the way for his proposals. Now they had a stonewalled meeting and a lot of Wizengamot members afraid. This wouldn't go well at all for all his plans.
"Sir…?" Came the trembling question from Weasley.
"Let's try to discuss this calmly and rationally," Rufus tried.
"What you mean?!" Greengrass stood up with the proposal text in his hands. "This gives the Aurors the right to interrogate even us, from the Wizengamot!"
"What?!"
"No!"
"That's not possible!" Came the different cries all over the room.
"All right! I liked that!" It was possible to hear Shackelbolt comment.
Scrimgeour let his head fell into his hands. This was shaping up to be the worst week of his life. Ever.
"Let's go, Mr. Potter," Mrs. Longbottom said standing up. "Nothing else would be accomplished here today. And Amos will inform us of anything of importance."
"Of course," Harry smiled evilly toward Umbridge before following Mrs. Longbottom. "Would you prefer to stop for tea in the Alley, madam, or go home?"
"Let's go to Longbottom mansion, Mr. Potter. Neville and your friends should be there and I think they will love to hear about today's 'lesson'."
"I would say it was quite enlightening, madam." Harry answered, still with the evil smile in his face and he let out a laugh when they passed by the Aurors and Tonks winked at him.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
TBC…
A/N 2: I must confess that this story ran wild on me and went places I never dreamed for it. So, I'm still trying to think/decide where to go from here. If anyone has any suggestion, please fill free to review or send a PM.
