DISCLAIMER: I do not own Negima or Harry Potter. Negima is the property of Ken Akamatsu, and Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling.
Italics text = character thinking to themselves.
Underline+Italics = character communicating with telepathy
Bold text = shouting
Bold+Italcs = Casting Spell/Ability
Chapter Sixteen
The Grand Inquisitor of Hogwarts
As the weeks passed, the Hogwarts got used to the Ala Alba's oddities and personalities, and most of all they just about finished those 78 hours worth of study and practice.
Fortunately for Harry and the others that were already at that level, Negi didn't ask them to learn something new, but to improve their current "Sagitta Magica" and increase the number of projectiles if possible.
Thus, at the beginning of October, Harry and his friends could all fire 17 projectiles, Harry and Hermione even 23. But unlike with the lower number that had both power and precision, some of Harry's lightning arrows lacked control and missed awfully, almost hitting Ron.
Negi had told him that for his spells he needed a clear mind, but all the rumors that he and Dumbledore were insane obviously didn't help. So Asuna began to participate at their private training.
And it was private because the other students were nowhere near their level of training or power, so it would have seemed suspicious.
On the third of October, Sunday at supper, all the students were asked to be present in the Great Hall at seven o'clock. Apparently, Dumbledore had something to announce:
"From today onwards, there will be another addition to our staff. Miss Dolores Umbridge has been assigned by the Ministry of Magic to verify and correct the teaching standards at Hogwarts. As the Grand Inquisitor, she will have the authority to assist at classes, issue a probing period to the teachers she would decide not living up to the standards, and ultimately suspend them. Also…" but he was interrupted by a small cough from Umbridge who stood up and gave the impression she wanted to hold a speech herself. The Headmaster stared at her for two seconds and then stood down, waiting for the woman before him to enlighten them.
"From its conception, Hogwarts….." she began in a childlike voice but in a monotonous tone, that made the students lose attention in less then a minute. The only people that were actually listening to what she was saying were the teachers, Hermione, Negi, Eva, Chao, Chachamaru and Chisame. Needless to say, they didn't actually like what they heard, but realized they should know their enemy.
When Umbridge finally finished talking with a "progress for progress' sake must be discouraged", Dumbledore started a polite round of applause, followed by some of the other teachers and Negi, but no one took their example, either they were surprised by the sudden end of the speech like the students were, or because of their pride like the Ala Alba.
"Thank you, Miss Umbridge, that explained everything" Dumbledore said with a somewhat forced smile.
"It did?" Asuna asked Chisame.
"Yeah. Here's the short version of it: She's here as payback for Negi taking the post she wanted" the net idol said between her teeth.
After she finished, Umbridge sat down in her seat that was between McGonagall and Eva. Hard to say which one of the two was more annoyed. But it became clear when Umbridge turned to Evangeline and started talking to her like to a child; in her child-like voice no less. She clearly was either blind or didn't check the staff list before coming there. Either way, it was clear she was beyond ignorant at the low temperature Eva emanated from annoyance. Trying to calm down, she took a sip from her favorite drink: Blood-berry Tea
"Oh, how sweet, drinking tea like adults. What a mature little girl. I'm quite a tea drinker myself, but I've never seen this kind before. What is it made from?" Umbridge asked in her horrible voice.
Before Eva answered, Negi glared at Dumbledore and noticed he was expecting Eva's answer with a wide grin on his face. Negi on the other hand wasn't expecting this to end well.
"Blood" Eva said coldly, taking another sip.
Umbridge blinked twice and said: "I don't think I heard you right, can you say that again dear?"
"I said it's made of blood" the vampire repeated after finishing her drink and pouring another cup from a thermos.
"Don't say creepy things like that!" Dolores demanded with her smile gone and in a low voice. "I don't think a little girl like you knows this, but the only ones that drink blood are…"
"Vampires, yes" Eva cut her off and took another sip before adding "You actually have no idea who you're talking to, now do you?"
"Th-then…you're a…a…." Umbridge said with a pale face in a horrified whisper.
"Yes, I am a vampire. A Shinso to be precise" Eva said with a fanged grin. "My name is Evangeline A.K. McDowell". As she noticed she was about to scream, Eva pointed a finger towards Umbridge' neck and stole her voice with a Silencio!"
"Don't start making a scene. Everyone in this hall already knows. Some supervisor she turns out to be if she doesn't even investigate who is part of the staff before she arrives." Eva said the last part telepathically to Negi, Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"I know, she was Fudge's right hand before coming here." Dumbledore told them the same way.
"Want me to deal with her? I'll make it look like suicide." the Dark Evangel proposed.
"Tempting, but we don't need anymore deaths around here. Our public image is more then shaky as it is" came the old wizard's reply.
"Well, let me know if you change your mind. It doesn't have to be on the grounds." Eva finished with an evil grin to which the Headmaster replied with a smile while Negi and McGonagall sighted.
The next day, Umbridge was in front of Negi's classroom with the determination to fail him on the first day and get rid of that vampire. She had found out that Negi reduced the number of classes he should have from six (4 for the Defense Against the Dark Arts and 2 for Elemental Magic) to two (one of each) and took it as a way to play hooky. Therefore, she thought that she could easily fail him for irresponsibility.
When the door opened and Negi asked them to enter, she went in first and the froze when she saw the complicated looking Resort. She had absolutely no idea what it was, but from the designs of the magic circles and the energy it emanated, even a monkey would realize it was something powerful.
"Grand Inquisitor, if you may" Negi said while stepping into the warp circle and disappearing.
"Where did he go?" Umbridge said confused.
"Inside" Yue answered and without further explanations she followed her teacher.
Umbridge just stood there and stared, and the students lost their patience and went inside the Resort one after another. After she saw that, she decided it was safe and followed their example, only to drop her jaw to the floor when she saw the "inside".
Looking around, she saw Negi and the others on a terrace and headed their way.
"Very well, since you are finally here, we shall begin the class." Negi said with an eager look.
"Finally?" she asked confused.
"One hour outside means a day in here. You did bring your sleeping attire as I requested, didn't you?" the young mage asked worried.
"Yes, I did." Umbridge said realizing she had just lost all of her charges on Negi.
"Very well, today we'll start with Elemental Magic. We'll test how well you can use the "Sagitta Magica" spell." Negi said in his usual voice to towards the students.
"The what?" Umbridge asked confused.
""Sagitta Magica" is Latin for Magic Arrow." Evangeline said after she appeared out of nowhere in front of them.
"Form a line and then how many arrows you will cast and what element" the chibi-vampire said while summoning a few dozen ice orbs and ice statues and placing them by the side.
As most of the students were hesitant, Harry went first followed by Ron, Hermione and Neville. Ron and Hermione cast 17 arrows of wind, respectively fire, and Harry cast 23 arrows of lightning. Nothing surprising so far. But when Neville cast 13 arrows of sand perfectly, most of the students (except those from Slytherin) applauded and even Eva congratulated him And that was a rare thing indeed.
"If I may inquire, why are they applauding? Out of the four, he cast the fewest" Umbridge whispered to Yue who was the closest.
"He should normally be able to only cast 11. It seems he also studied outside the class."
"But what about the other three?" Umbridge asked with suspicion.
"They have a lot more battle experience then the others" Yue answered. It wasn't actually a lie, they did have more experience.
"But what does battle experience have to do with Elemental Magic? Shouldn't they be learning the basics first? In the Ministry's opinion, offensive magic should wait until after graduation." Umbridge said in a louder voice.
"That would be impossible." Eva said coldly.
"What would some kids need offensive magic for?"
"To protect ourselves." Harry stated the obvious.
"From who? Who could possibly attack some children like yourselves?" she said in her creepy voice.
"I don't know. Let's see…maybe Lord Voldemort?" Harry said in an ironic voice. His patience was running thinner.