In fifth year we had career placement meetings with Professor Umbridge and our head of house. Before my meeting I made the mistake of staying up all night to read Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West.
I was rather mouthy when I was a young fifth year. I mouthed off to Umbridge whenever I could. During the meeting I was asked the same question as everyone else: "What do you want to do as a career?"
Before the rational part of my brain (which must have escaped from captivity that day) could answer truthfully, the snarky part of my brain reacted first. "I want to conquer the world with my army of flying monkeys."
Umbridge looked suspiciously at me. "You want to what?" she asked in the sickeningly sweet girlish voice, like she had no idea what I just said.
"To conquer the earth with flying monkeys," I answered grinning. "Just like my role model: Elphaba Thropp."
"Who?" The toad asked again with a girlish giggle. "I don't believe I know who that is. Please enlighten me."
"Elphaba Thropp, Third Thropp descending heiress to Munchkinland. We have so many things in common. We both are witches, we disrespect authority figures, and we love flying monkeys," I replied casually.
"That is not an appropriate career choice." The Toad replied.
"Why not?" I asked suppressing a smile.
"You need a real career. Not one that is fake or one that allows muggles to know of our existence. And ruling the world sounds rather like the ramblings about a certain dark wizard being at large again. Have you been talking to Mr. Potter lately?"
"I'll get you my pretty…well ugly…no toady…and your little kitty plates too Hahaha!"
This led to a detention with Umbridge. Her detentions have to be the worst I've ever had. It also led to another of my fun plans.
