Author's Notes: Dai5ycake – Yes Luna could see the thestrals since her first year. But what I have written for when Dawn sees them for the first time came from the books so Luna in the books doesn't know what they are even though she has seen them since she started at Hogwarts. On Willow and Buffy riding in the boats. Well Willow didn't get the experience before then. And Buffy being one of Willow's best friends decided to go with her even though she got to do it the year before. On whether any first years' rode with them, I will leave that to your imagination.
When it comes to Dawn's detentions, Dawn's hand was healed after every one of the detentions. That's what the salve was for that Dumbledore gave her. Umbridge saw that every time she would arrive and leave no different. So, she assumed that Buffy had done something to interfere with her detentions. On being out after curfew. In the books at least on the first one, Harry was out after midnight it expressly says so. On the letter being addressed to Faith instead of Sirius that was a typo. That chapter was written before I added in the trial for Sirius. In the original chapter the letter was being sent to Faith so that the Ministry wouldn't know where Sirius was. On the D.A. meetings Buffy teaches them. On the name currently they don't change the name. The name was a plot point later in Order of the Phoenix when Umbridge finds out about the meetings.
Chapter 31: High Inquisitor
September 8, 2002
"Professor Potter!" Angelina said as she came into Buffy's office.
"Angelina," Buffy said as she looked up from her desk.
"I'm sure you won't object," Angelina said as she moved in front of Buffy. "But since you are Head of House, I have to officially ask to add Dawn to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I would like to add her as Harry's backup. Since she missed the tryouts, I gave her an unofficial tryout. She blew me away, she's as good as Harry. But the problem is we already have a Seeker. And all the other team positions are full. And usually there is no such thing as a backup."
"No backups?" Buffy asked as Angelina nodded. "Who ever thought that was a good idea? Athletes in muggle sports have extra team members to act as replacements. You have my permission to add Dawn. I suggest you train her in all the positions till one opens up. That way you have your bases covered. Especially after what happened to Katie at your practice, yesterday."
"Thank you, Professor," Angelina said. She left the office and found Dawn in a corridor on her way to her next class. "Dawn!"
Dawn turned and looked toward Angelina fearing the worst that Buffy had said no.
"She said yes, Dawn," Angelina said. "With one stipulation. After what happened to Katie yesterday, I'm to train you in all the positions. Keeper, Chaser, Beater and yes Seeker. That way if anyone is injured or sick and can't play then you will step in so we don't have to forfeit."
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Later that day Dawn burst into the Buffy's suite to find her sister with Willow. "Thank you, Buffy!" she shouted.
Buffy smiled as she stood and walked toward Dawn. She hugged her sister. "You are welcome, Dawnie."
"Congratulations, Dawnie," Willow said as she stood up and hugged Dawn. Buffy had told her about Angelina coming to see her.
"Have you told Harry, Ginny, Ron or Hermione yet?" Buffy asked.
"Harry knew," Dawn said. "He was there when Angelina gave me the tryout yesterday. But I told Ginny, Ron and Hermione as I passed them on my way here."
"I'm proud of you," Buffy said.
"Buffy," Dawn said as she noticed that Sirius head was in the fireplace behind her sister.
Buffy turned and walked over to the fireplace and knelt down. "Sirius."
"I got your letter," Sirius said.
"Letter?" Dawn asked.
"Harry wanted to borrow Joyce to send Sirius a letter. I had some stuff to add so I rewrote it and then sent it off," Buffy said.
"Harry's portion told me about your detention. I wanted to make sure you were all right, Dawn," Sirius said. "I know your new teacher by reputation only. Though I'm sure she's no Death Eater—"
"She's bad enough to be one," Buffy said. "What she was doing to Dawn, that was torture pure and simple, Sirius."
"World is not black and white, Buffy," Sirius said. "You know that. That said I do want you two to be on your guards. Apparently, she loathes part-humans and technically you both could be considered part human."
"Because of the Key and the Slayer," Dawn said.
"Right, Dawn," Sirius said. "Now what are her lessons like? Is she training you to kill half-breeds?"
"No," Dawn said. "We aren't learning really anything in her class. Everything this year is book learning. No practical lessons. So, we're not learning how to cast the spells themselves."
"Dawn's detention was because she spoke out about that," Buffy said. "Well that and trying to defend me to her. Because Umbridge was making it sound like I was lying through my teeth about seeing Voldemort at the last Triwizard task."
"Ah, well, that figures," said Sirius. "From what I gathered Fudge doesn't want students trained in combat."
"Which means they may try and say I can't do the same," Buffy said. "Defense Against the Forces of Darkness is not like other classes. There is a practical part to it. Now mind you I am not going to go out and teach them to actually slay a vampire. But they have the right to know how to defend themselves against the dark creatures that populate the world. Especially when only one wand spell really will work for a vampire."
"My thoughts exactly, Buffy," Sirius said. "I would still be careful though."
"Sirius," Willow said. "Is he afraid the students will form an army against him?"
"Yes, Willow," Sirius said. "It's good to see you by the way. How is everything going?"
"Still getting over things," Willow said.
"It'll take time," Sirius said.
"That's what Buffy keeps saying," Willow said.
"Well, I'd better get going," Sirius said.
"Before you go, Sirius," Dawn said. "I have some news. Buffy and I were out watching Harry's Quidditch practice yesterday. I got to tryout. They didn't really have any spots open because they had official tryouts the day before while I was in detention. But Buffy being Head of Gryffindor House gave Angelina permission to let me on the team. Angelina wanted me as a backup for Harry but Buffy suggested that I be backup for the entire team. I'm to be trained in all the positions so I can take over in case someone is sick or injured."
"Congratulations Dawn," Sirius said. "I'm proud of you. Buffy, keep us apprised. Faith or I'll owl you if either of us needs to talk."
"All right," Buffy said. "Take care."
"You too," Sirius said and he disappeared from the fire.
They heard the portrait hole from the corridor swing open and when they turned around, they saw Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione.
"Buffy," Hermione said as she showed Buffy a copy of the Daily Prophet. On the page that Hermione held up was a large photograph of Dolores Umbridge, smiling widely and blinking slowly from beneath the headline:
MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"
"'High Inquisitor'?" said Buffy darkly. "What does that mean?"
Hermione read aloud:
"In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some time,' said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. 'He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve.'
"This is not the first time in recent weeks Fudge has used new laws to effect improvements at the Wizarding school. As recently as August 30th Educational Decree Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person."
'That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts,' said Weasley last night. 'Dumbledore couldn't find anyone, so the Minister put in Umbridge and of course, she's been an immediate success, totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.'
"It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalized with the passing of Educational Decree Twenty-three, which creates the new position of 'Hogwarts High Inquisitor.'
"'This is an exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the "falling standards" at Hogwarts,' said Weasley. 'The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post, and we are delighted to say that she has accepted.'
"The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts.
"'I feel much easier in my mind now that I know that Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,' said Mr. Lucius Malfoy, 41, speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night. 'Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and will be glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.'
"Among those 'eccentric decisions' are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the hiring of werewolf Remus Lupin, half giant Rubeus Hagrid, delusional ex-Auror 'Mad-Eye' Moody and Slayer Buffy Potter."
"Rumors abound, of course, that Albus Dumbledore, once Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, is no longer up to the task of managing the prestigious school of Hogwarts.
"'I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is a first step toward ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in whom we can all repose confidence,' said a Ministry insider last night.
"Wizengamot elders Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden have resigned in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts.
"'Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of Cornelius Fudge's office,' said Madam Marchbanks. 'This is a further disgusting attempt to discredit Albus Dumbledore.' (For a full account of Madam Marchbanks' alleged links to subversive goblin groups, turn to page 17)."
Hermione finished reading and looked around at everyone.
Buffy grabbed the newspaper from Hermione and threw it into the fire.
"Buffy, you know what this means," Dawn said. "She can fire you if she doesn't believe you're the right person for the job. And since you intended to have practical lessons in self-defense…"
"Dawn's right, Buffy," Hermione agreed. "We know they've been looking for an excuse to discredit you since you were the one to tell Dumbledore that you saw Voldemort come back. This may just be the way they do it. They didn't succeed with Dawn but they might be able to succeed with you if you're not careful."
September 9. 2009
"Good afternoon, Professor Potter," said Umbridge with her wide smile. "You received my note, I trust? Giving the time and date of your inspection?"
"I did," Buffy said, looking very disgruntled. She turned her back on Umbridge. Still smiling, Umbridge grasped the back of Buffy's desk chair and pulled it out from behind the desk in front of the seventh-year class. She then sat down, took her clipboard from her flowery bag, and looked up expectantly, waiting for the class to begin.
Willow glanced at Buffy. She hadn't done this in over a year not since Dawn had been captured by Glory. 'Buffy,' she thought. 'If you need me, I'm here for you.'
Buffy nodded at the telepathic communication and smiled at Willow in appreciation. "I went over the quizzes I gave you all last week to judge where you are when it came to the Slayer," Buffy said. "Only one person I am sad to say got full marks… Ms. Rosenberg. Since this is not a class that will prepare you for your NEWT exams, Ms. Rosenberg, if you wish you can change courses. I will gladly approve it as you don't need this course."
"Why does she not need it?" Umbridge asked.
"Because I personally know Buffy," Willow answered. "Fought by her side for years on the Hellmouth. Thanks, Buffy, but I think I will stay. Maybe I will pick up on something new."
Umbridge looked at Buffy and Willow with a frown as she wrote something on her clipboard.
Buffy spun on Umbridge and yanked the clipboard from the woman's hand. "I hold seats on the Wizengamot, Professor Umbridge. Getting me fired won't be as easy as me lodging complaints against you before the full Wizengamot. I agreed to this little inspection as a curtesy only."
"My authority comes from the majority vote of the Wizengamot, the only dissenting vote would have been yours but sadly you didn't show for the vote, did you?" Umbridge stated looking as though she had just been slapped in the face. While she had indeed been given her authority by the majority of the Wizengamot she also knew since Buffy did hold three seats; those of Potter, Peverell and Gryffindor in the Wizengamot; that Buffy could be a threat to her power as High Inquisitor. While Buffy would not have majority support if she lodged a complaint against her in the Wizengamot they would still have to review it.
"The only reason I did not was because the Ministry yet again failed to notify me," Buffy said. "Believe me I will be having words with the Minister when next I see him." She turned back to the class and smiled. "Open your texts to page twenty-five and read silently, because of our visitor I am delaying our practical lesson for another time."
"Practical lesson?" Umbridge asked.
"Yes, practical," Buffy said. "I don't care about the Minister's fear that Albus is going to overthrow him with an army he raises. My intention here is to give my students the ability to defend themselves and run away. They are not Slayers. With the exception of Willow, they do not have the ability to take on a vampire or a demon. They need to learn how to defend themselves. Let me ask you this Professor. If you were deprived of your wand. How would you get away from a vampire?"
"Without my wand?" Umbridge asked shocked at the question. She had thankfully never had to face a vampire, so she didn't know really what she would do without her wand. "I-I don't know."
"Exactly, they do not know how to defend themselves from the forces of darkness either. That's why this class exists and why I am going to do practical lessons. Would you deprive them of the ability to defend themselves from a vampire attack? They can't learn to do that from a book like they could wand spells. They have to be able to learn self-defense, hand to hand combat. I think you will agree to a witch or wizard that hand to hand combat is ineffective. One could simply cast stupefy and take their wandless opponent out of a fight," Buffy said. "There is no harm here in their learning self-defense."
Umbridge looked at the class, she was torn between doing what the Ministry wanted and what was actually in the best interests for the students. She knew the Ministry's stance on the students learning anything that could be used against the Ministry. But she also knew Buffy was right. That the students didn't have the means to defend themselves from a vampire or a demon. And that had been why the Slayer had been created in the first place. "I will bring this up with the Minister. I cannot promise he will side with you, Professor Potter, but I will bring to his attention your points in my next owl."
Umbridge stood and left the classroom then without the clipboard that was still in Buffy's hand. As the door closed behind her the entire class erupted in applause.
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Dawn burst into Buffy's office later that day and saw that Buffy was doing one of her 'official' sessions with Willow. "Hey, Will. Sorry to interrupt, Buffy," she said. "Harry just got detention with Umbridge."
"For what?" Buffy asked.
"He mentioned Voldemort sharing Quirrell's body during his first year at Hogwarts," Dawn said.
"Okay," Buffy said with a sigh. "Tell him to see Albus after each one for the salve that you used. I will let Albus know."
"Okay," Dawn said as she ran back out of the classroom.
"Where were we?" Buffy said as she turned back toward her friend.
"Talking about Tara," Willow said. "Before we do that though. Do you think this could be in revenge of what happened in your class today?"
"Possibly," Buffy said. "By the way you shouldn't have said you knew me. Now she likely knows you are over age. And potentially could see about getting you expelled."
"I'll worry about that when the time comes," Willow said. "For now, I would rather be here than back in Sunnydale. Don't get me wrong I miss our friends. But…"
"You're afraid of what they'll do when you come home," Buffy said as Willow nodded. "I have talked to Sirius, Faith and Giles via owl and by way of them with Xander and Anya. I've even talked to Oz recently. They all support you. And look forward to when you come home. I know that will not completely ease the fear that you feel. So, give it time, okay?"
"Okay," Willow agreed.
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When Buffy got to the Gryffindor table for dinner, she heard Angelina shouting at Harry. "Angelina," she said. "There is no need to shout."
"But Professor—he's gone and landed himself in detention—"
"I know," Buffy said. "Which, Harry. I'm disappointed in you. You knew what happened with Dawn, the detention she got. Five points from Gryffindor! And once your detention is over, you are grounded for a week. Both literally and figuratively." She turned to look at Angelina. "I apologize, Angelina, you will have to step up on Dawn's Quidditch training. Because Harry is going to be missing a lot of practice for the next two weeks between being grounded and his detention."
"I understand, Professor," Angelina said with a sigh as she stalked away.
"Buffy," Harry said. "Did you have to ground me too?"
"Yes, Harry," Buffy said with a sigh. "I didn't want to. but you have to remember that I am not only your big sister but technically I'm also your parent since I legally adopted you and Dawn. I remember what I was told when Dawn was skipping school just after mom died. That if I didn't make Dawn attend school, I would be found unfit to be Dawn's guardian. The same applies here, Harry. Would you like to go back to our aunt and uncle because I was found unfit?"
"No," Harry answered. He never wanted to see the Dursleys ever again.
"That's why I had to ground you," Buffy said. She noticed that Umbridge was not at the staff table, likely waiting for Harry to come for his detention. She walked up to Dumbledore.
"Salve," she said simply and motioned back toward Harry.
"I figured you would send him to see me when I learned of his detention," Dumbledore said.
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Tattoo Nachtlocal was the Potential's hangout. It had been easy to find her there, with her hot pink hair and her black bangs, her nose ring and metal collar.
She raced across the breezeway of the technoclub and jumped down a level; then she dashed into an exterior door and scaled down the building.
Ja. She was safe, back outside with some of the other club patrons . . . until her robed pursuers pushed her back inside and shut the door.
She fought back, but there were too many. Then one of them pulled a long-curved dagger. She blocked his swing.
She missed the other one.
It went so deep inside her the assassin's wrist was soaked with blood.
Her dead face stared out. Flecks of blood freckled her cheeks and her eyes glazed. Then her mouth opened, and an inhuman voice rumbled out of her:
"From beneath you, it devours . . ."
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Willow screamed.
And woke up.
Her sheets were bunched around her, sweat dripped off her brow, and Buffy's hands were on her shoulders as she tried to rouse her.
"I heard screaming," Willow told Buffy. "And there was a girl . . ." She processed some more of the nightmare, recalled the unnatural voice.
"'From beneath you, it devours.' That's what she said, and then they . . ." Willow took a breath, seeing the death again. "There's more like her, Buffy. Out there somewhere. And they're going to die."
September 10, 2002
Buffy walked through the castle to Dumbledore's office. She rapped on the oak door and a second later it opened to reveal Dumbledore.
"Buffy," he said as he motioned for her to enter.
"Willow had a dream last night," Buffy explained.
"A normal dream you would not come to see me about, you would deal with it in your counseling session," Dumbledore said. "Do you think this could be a premonition like the one she had the day you came to take her to headquarters for the remainder of the summer?"
"It's possible," Buffy said. "Do you think Tara's death may have unlocked this ability in her when her powers were amped up?"
"Possibly," Dumbledore said. "What did she see?"
"A girl who was or will be killed," Buffy said. "It wasn't someone here at the school. She thinks it may have been in Turkey. They did have robes though. So, it could be a wizard or witch possibly. But I'm not entirely sure. They didn't kill the girl with a curse, Willow said, but with a knife. She also said the girl had uttered one line, 'From beneath you, it devours.'"
"Which means it could be related to the Hellmouth," Dumbledore said. "I suggest you let Ms. Lehane know about this."
"I intended to," Buffy said.
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It was nearly midnight when Harry left Umbridge's office that night, his hand bleeding so severely that it was staining the scarf he had wrapped around it. He rushed to Buffy's suite instead of Dumbledore's office. He had to show his sister that Umbridge was using a different quill than she had used with Dawn.
"Simon," Harry said waking the portrait. "Hellmouth."
"Kind of late, Harry," Simon said.
"I had detention, Simon," Harry said. "Just now got out. I have to show Buffy." He held up his hand to show the portrait.
Simon took one look at Harry's hand and his portrait slid open.
Harry slipped into Buffy's suite and rushed into the bedroom. He shook Buffy awake.
"It's late, Harry. Go to bed," Buffy said as she turned over trying to fall back asleep.
"Buffy, you have to see," Harry said as he stuck his hand in front of her face.
Buffy sighed as she sat up in bed and looked at the scarf covered hand stained in Harry's blood. "What the heck!"
"She's using a different quill," Harry said. "Dawn's was red but never left a lasting cut on her hand. But mine it's bleeding, Buffy, the cut hasn't healed. With each line I had to write it got deeper. She must have started using a different quill when Dawn's hand was always healed before the start of the next detention."
"Go to Albus, get that taken care of," Buffy said as she wrote a note for anyone who might see Harry in the corridor after curfew. She handed it to Harry. "I'll go see Umbridge."
Harry nodded as he left.
Willow got out of bed having been woken by Buffy and Harry.
"Go back to sleep, Will," Buffy said as she got out of bed and started getting dressed.
"First Harry is my friend. Second you are my friend and he is your brother," Willow said. "I think it's time she knows what she's dealing with."
Buffy sighed and nodded as they both left the suite moments later. They marched through the castle and came upon Umbridge as she was leaving her office.
"Dolores,"' Buffy said as she glared at the woman. "You are using torture, again. I told you last time that torture is not allowed at Hogwarts as a punishment."
"It is my detention, Buffy," Umbridge said.
"So that gives you the right to cause Harry's hand to bleed?" Willow asked. Umbridge turned to address the redheaded witch but what she saw made her step back in fright. For Willow's eyes were completely black.
Buffy saw Willow's eyes go black and nudged her friend and motioned toward her eyes to let Willow know that she needed to calm down.
Willow sighed and closed her eyes to reign in her emotions. When she opened them her eyes had returned to normal.
"As I was saying," Umbridge said as she regained her composure. "It is my detention. All I was doing was having Harry write lines."
"In his own blood," Buffy said. "I saw the damage to his hand. I am Harry's legal adopted parent. Which means I may be his sister but I'm also basically his mother. And as such it concerns me to see that. All I ask is you stop using those quills."
"As Harry's adopted mother I will take what you said into consideration," Umbridge said. "But as a Hogwarts Professor I ask that you temper your anger with me."
As Buffy and Willow returned to Buffy's suite Willow glanced at her friend. "She threatened you, Buffy. It wasn't said as a threat just a gentle reminder. But you can't deny it was intended as a threat."
"I know," Buffy said. "And I am worried that the next decree that the Ministry passes could give her the authority to fire teachers. That said though she needed to understand who she was dealing with."