Chapter Nineteen: Caught in the Act
It was getting late as Hermione was pacing the Headmaster's study. She, along with Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and the real Alastor Moody were waiting for Ron to return. Ron had borrowed an invisibility cloak from Moody and had gone to spy on Umbridge while she had Harry Potter in detention. Ron and Hermione had not made it to the Great Hall for dinner; instead they had met Dumbledore on the way and together had come up with the plan for Ron to spy on Umbridge using an invisibility cloak.
The clock on Dumbledore's desk chimed as ten o'clock arrived.
Hermione was about to speak when the door opened all by itself before Ron's head and body were unveiled as he removed the invisibility cloak. He was pale and looked like he was going to be sick as he managed to fall into a chair.
'What happened, laddie?' asked Moody.
'Lines, she made him write lines … with a blood quill,' replied Ron, shakily.
'That's sick and completely illegal; she has to go, Albus!' exclaimed Professor McGonagall.
'I agree, Minerva, but we need to catch her in the act,' replied Dumbledore.
'Do you have any Aurors in the Order?' asked Ron.
'We do, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks, why?' replied Moody.
'Well, what we do is that we hide both of them in her office using a cloak or a Disillusionment Charm, along with the four Heads of House, they catch her in the act of making him write the lines, she gets brought here and the Headmaster fires her, and then makes Moody the new DADA teacher, and if the Ministry has a problem with that, remind them of what their supposed "suitable candidate" did,' said Ron.
There was silence in the room until Moody said, 'You ever thought of a career as an Auror, laddie?'
'Yeah, why?' replied Ron.
'You should consider it, you have a mind for strategizing that most seasoned Aurors can only dream of,' said Moody.
'Er, thanks,' said Ron, as his ears went red.
Hermione beamed at him and knew that Ron was not used to praise, and certainly not from somebody he idolised. She took his hand and gave it a squeeze before they both bid the professors and Moody goodnight.
The following evening, Dumbledore was back in his study, and he was pacing. He was reminded of Hermione Granger doing the exact same thing yesterday evening. Deciding that pacing about in his study was a waste of time, he sat down behind his desk once more. This turned out to be excellent timing as there was a knock on the door.
'Enter,' he called.
The door opened and in walked the Heads of House, Aurors Shacklebolt and Tonks with Umbridge in tow, and a confused Harry Potter.
'It seems your hunch was right, Headmaster,' said Kingsley, 'Madam Umbridge was harming Mr Potter by making him write lines with a blood quill.'
Dumbledore did not look at Harry directly, but saw his jaw drop.
'Oh, it was obvious, really, from the moment she entered my school she had not just the Ministry's agenda to enforce but her own. The unforgivable way she interrupted me during the start of term feast showed me that she was arrogant and thought herself more important than school protocol, so I had a feeling that she would have the same disregard for the law,' said Dumbledore.
Umbridge opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again, thinking better of it.
'You are fired, Dolores,' said Dumbledore, angrily, 'Aurors, please take this filth out of my school at once.'
Harry watched as the two Aurors escorted Umbridge out of Dumbledore's study.
'Minerva, would you mind taking Mr Potter to the Hospital Wing, I imagine Madam Pomfrey will be able to give him something for the scars on the back of his hand, and make sure she writes a full report on them, after all, we would not want the Ministry to cover this up, would we?' said Dumbledore.
'Come along, Potter,' said Professor McGonagall, in a crisp tone before chivvying him out and to the Hospital Wing.
Ten minutes later and Aurors Shacklebolt and Tonks had taken Umbridge to the holding cells. Unfortunately, Cornelius Fudge and Amelia Bones were having a discussion with Rufus Scrimegeour, the Head Auror, about Merlin knows what.
'What are you doing with Dolores?' asked a shocked Cornelius Fudge.
'We and the four Heads of House caught Madam Umbridge red-handed forcing a minor to write lines with a dark, illegal object – namely a blood quill,' replied Kingsley.
Fudge went pale.
'No, Minister, it's all a lie!' screeched Umbridge.
'We were Disillusioned in her office as she told her victim to start writing "I must not tell lies", the poor bugger has got it etched into his skin and the Matron at Hogwarts will be writing a full report, and Dumbledore sacked her on the spot,' said Tonks.
'I see,' said Madam Bones, 'in that case she should be locked up until she stands trial, wouldn't you agree, Minister?'
'I, er, yes, I do, I must speak with Dumbledore about finding a replacement …' replied Fudge.
'No need for that, the Headmaster has already found someone,' said Kingsley.
Fudge blinked and said, 'Who?'
'Alastor Moody,' said Tonks, proudly.
Fudge turned red and left for his office.
Back in Dumbledore's study, the Headmaster was talking to Moody.
'Please, Alastor, do try not to jinx your pupils into jelly, and remember that we never use Transfiguration as a punishment.'
'Pity, a good, sharp shock would do the Malfoy boy some good,' Moody growled, 'especially if he's anything like his father.'
'I believe your impostor turned him into a ferret, just try not to make too much mess,' replied Dumbledore.
Moody grunted and said, 'It'll be worth it to see that little shit piss himself.'
Before Dumbledore could retort, the sound of a Floo call interrupted them. Dumbledore turned to face his fireplace to see the face of the Minister himself glaring at him.
'Good evening to you, Cornelius, how are you?' greeted Dumbledore.
'Spare me the polite nonsense, and tell me on what authority you have on dismissing Dolores Umbridge and hiring Alastor Moody?' he yelled.
Dumbledore told the minister what had happened and that Umbridge was caught red-handed, he also told the minister that he had every right and all the authority he needed to hire a competent and fully qualified teacher in Moody to teach Defence, and considering that he, Fudge, chose Umbridge for the job he had no grounds to criticise the Headmaster on his hiring policy.
'Furthermore, Cornelius,' Dumbledore continued, 'I am not going to allow any further interference at this school, you have no authority here, and I will not allow any more of your foolish and dangerous underlings like Dolores Umbridge into my school to disrupt the education of my students, now, goodnight!'
Dumbledore ended the call and turned back to Moody and said, 'Do you know; that felt good.'
Moody chuckled before bidding his old friend goodnight and made for the office he had chosen.