Chapter 12 – Inquisitive Inquisitors Inquire

The second week back at school was a welcome thing indeed for Harry, as it meant the end of his escort duties and the resumption of a much more normal school schedule. Not totally, as it also meant that Harry had to start doing his prefect's rounds and patrols, but wandering about the castle on his own was a much more pleasant task than ferrying first years from one room to another.

It was, in fact, something Harry often did on his own anyway, although under cover of his Invisibility Cloak and under fear of being caught. That, at least, was one benefit of being a prefect, he supposed – he got to see bits of the castle he wanted to explore further and couldn't be told off for doing it.

"We've been put up around the Owlery tonight, Harry," said Daphne at breakfast on the second Friday of term. "I did ask Shafiq if we could swap it for tomorrow but he said no—Diggory wants us there, apparently."

"Really? Why?" asked Harry.

Daphne glanced up and down the table, then leaned over to Harry.

"I heard he put Draco and Pansy there all this week, but Draco's just never turned up. So we're to replace them tonight. Between you and me, I don't think Draco has been carrying out his duties properly and Diggory wants him replaced."

Harry nodded. That made sense – Draco was unlikely to want to actually discharge his duties as a prefect, especially with how the students had started talking about his scars. It didn't surprise Harry at all that he was skipping his assignments. Still, it wasn't Diggory's decision whether he was removed or not – that ultimately rested with Dumbledore if Snape refused to do it.

And as Snape and Dumbledore had allowed Draco to become a prefect in the first place, Harry doubted they would step in for anything less than completely unacceptable behaviour.

"And we're still meant to do the third floor at the weekend?" Harry asked.

Daphne nodded.

"We are. Owlery tonight, third floor this weekend. I could well do without it, you know, but—"

"Hem, hem," coughed Umbridge from her throne at the High Table, the little cough she put on magically enhanced so that it carried throughout the massive space in the Great Hall.

It had little effect. The students kept on talking, some even louder than before.

So Umbridge coughed again.

"Your High Inquisitor has an announcement," she said after her second cough. Gradually the din in the Hall died down and Umbridge continued. "The High Inquisition announces the resumption of official and organised extracurricular activities and groups—in a preliminary state pending a full review of their purposes, activities, and official supervision." Umbridge paused.

That didn't sound especially promising to Harry. 'Pending a full review' sounded ominous indeed, and was no doubt intended to allow Umbridge to display her powers and the full extent of the High Inquisition's authority within the school. And if Umbridge found reason to she would no doubt cancel or otherwise impede the clubs she didn't like.

"The relevant members of staff will have their own announcements to make after I am finished," Umbridge continued, "but they must wait. In accordance with the latest Educational Decree—Educational Decree Number Four—the High Inquisition will start to undertake interviews with randomly selected students to gain a fuller and more detailed picture of life at Hogwarts and, further than this, what deficiencies there may or may not be. The first of these interviews shall take place on Monday and will continue throughout the year."

Umbridge smiled widely.

There is no need to be alarmed as these interviews are solely to inform and educate the Ministry—through the High Inquisition—on the student experience of school life. What we learn in these interviews will go a very long way to helping create and maintain the very best learning environment for our pupils and we look forward to learning how we can help you all further! Remember that the Ministry cares!" said Umbridge. "That is all for now." She sat back down in her throne.

Hooch stood up after her.

"Quidditch try-outs have been organised for next weekend," Hooch said. "This year due to significantly increased demand we have decided to run two House teams for each House—along with a double league. Anyone interested should see the sign-up sheets posted in House Common Rooms by the Quidditch Captains. We had a great go last year at the Triwizard Tournament with a number of winners in the events and following this success the Flying Department has decided to expand the number of recreational flight sports offered this year. So we're happy to announce the start of Flight Club with a taster session this weekend for anyone interested in broom racing, hazard flying, or agility. Of course, anyone who participated in last year's events is welcome to return too. That's all."

Flight Club sounded promising, although Harry couldn't say whether he was up for it and his prefect's duties. Not with the Inquisition lurking around every corner. But the thought of getting back on a hazard course, or taking part in a speed race, was alluring even so…

Hooch sat back down, only for Flitwick to get to his feet to make his own announcement.

"Following on from Madam Hooch's announcement I am very pleased to announce that we have decided to continue with Duelling Club as well!" Flitwick said, and with much more enthusiasm than either Umbridge or Hooch.

"I'd like to welcome anyone who wants to attend to join us in the Duelling Arena which we have repurposed since the Triwizard Tournament last year. Duelling Club is open to all students, including first years, this year even those who have never duelled before." He paused. "Even those who have duelled before, including at the Circuit level! We plan to meet twice weekly, with a weekday and a weekend session. We will of course post more information on the noticeboards! Thank you all."

After Flitwick sat down there were a few other announcements made by other members of staff, but Harry wasn't interested in any of them – not even the new clubs started by former Wandwright's teachers. Outside of Duelling and Flight Clubs Harry didn't think he wanted to add anything else that would drain his precious moments of free time further than it already would be.

By the end of breakfast, though, not even the announcements about clubs and societies could shift attention away from the High Inquisition and its interviews. It was the only thing Harry could hear throughout the Hall.

"I'll bet you five galleons there's nothing random at all about who Umbridge chooses for interviews," said Blaise, glancing over at Harry.

"That's not a bet I'm going to take," Harry said. "She's obviously got an agenda. Still can't figure out what exactly, but..." He shrugged. "We'll see on Monday, I suppose."

"I think probably some of the selections will be random," Tracey said. "Or most, probably. I mean, I think she's just fishing for dirt on teachers and things like that."

"It's all a bit much," said Millicent. "Interviews all through the year?"

"I usually don't agree with Daddy about things like this," Daphne said, "but I really do think this is Ministry overreach. Trying to get us to inform on our teachers..."

"I suppose we'll just have to tell the truth and hope for the best," Harry said. "It's not like there's anything to say really, anyway, is there? The worst teacher was Binns and he's not a teacher anymore."

"Well, it's not like Trelawney's drink problem is a secret," said Blaise.

"And I like his lessons," said Millicent, "but some people do think Mr Hagrid is a bit reckless."

"Professor Dee does say some outrageous things, too," said Daphne.

"And Snape can be horrible when he's in a bad mood, really outrageously nasty sometimes," added Tracey.

Harry grimaced.

"Alright, yeah. All fair points. I can see how that would be, er, not the best look in front of the Ministry." He shrugged. "Nothing we can do about it, is there?"

"No," said Tracey. "Oh, but there was a bit of good news, wasn't there?" she said. "Duelling Club is back on! Do you want to sign up? I know you're going to be really busy this year but I thought, well, after how we did in the Circuit's tournament in the summer it would be good to keep at it...

"I was looking forward to Duelling Club," Harry said. "I'm glad they started it back up. I'm going to try Flight Club too."

"Not Quidditch?" asked Blaise. "You wanted to play Seeker. I'm well up for Duelling Club, though."

"I've got too much going on," Harry said. "Maybe if Snape hadn't made me a prefect..."

"Maybe if you hadn't gone and picked Triple As," Blaise said, "you'd have a bit more time."

"I didn't—" Harry started, but then gave up. "Whatever."

"There's a lot going on this year, though, isn't there?" said Daphne. "So it's not all bad, even though... well..." Daphne shrugged. "I'm not a big fan of the Inquisition, but some of the new clubs sound really fun, don't they? I'm looking forward to Art Club. And we wouldn't have got the chance otherwise..."

Harry supposed that was true, although it wasn't quite enough for him to consider the Inquisition's presence worth the palaver.

"I guess there is that," Blaise said. "If you can get past Umbridge and all her goons. Well, as long as they don't mess with Duelling Club I'm not too bothered—the Inquisition seems more like a headache for Dumbledore and the teachers at the moment."

"We should get going," said Tracey. "We've got History with Professor Flamel and breakfast is nearly over."

Harry checked his watch. Tracey was right, and he didn't want to be late, not with the promise of an actually interesting lesson ahead of them. With luck there would be no Inquisitors sitting in and Professor Flamel could really get going.

Blaise sighed.

"Yeah, alright," he said.

The rest of the group – Harry included – finished up with their breakfast and got up to head to History. The threat of Umbridge and her interviews sat at the back of Harry's mind, but even so, he couldn't help but look forward to getting back in the air again after that summer's flight school.

After a leisurely breakfast on Saturday morning – since he'd traded his Homework Club supervision with Daphne – Harry made his way onto the grounds with his Firebolt in hand, ready for the first session of Flight Club. Or for the taster session, anyway, even though he already knew what it was about. He'd got the taste for hazard flying the previous year even though the Firebolt wasn't quite the best broom for it, and agility sounded promising. Racing would be a bit of wash, Harry thought, given that no one else had a broom in the same league as his and the school brooms were generally poor, but he didn't have to participate in everything.

He could just do bits and pieces. That would be alright and doing it that way meant Harry could dip in and out and structure his activities around his duties.

Flight Club was set to take place at the Quidditch Pitch, which had been put back to normal after the previous year's modifications. A welcome sight, if a little strange given its absence the previous year.

When Harry arrived there were plenty already in attendance, waiting outside of the stands with their brooms in little groups. Some of the people there were competitors in the Triwizard events the previous year, although many weren't. Some were even first years, stood about without brooms of their own, although most were older.

Even Draco had come along, his shiny Nimbus 2001 cradled in his arms – and his new scars bright against the skin of his forehead. Draco stood with a group of Slytherins, people Harry ordinarily would have gone to stand with... so Harry simply nodded towards them and looked for someone else.

The Weasley twins were both there, along with a group of other Gryffindors Harry didn't know at all.

That's an option, I suppose, Harry thought. He'd been at flight school with one of the twins, and the other had attended the Circuit tournament in Austria, so he knew them well enough. Still, the crowd of Gryffindors made for an unappealing mass, so Harry settled for a little nod towards the Weasleys and looked elsewhere for his company.

Oh, thank God, Harry thought when he saw Ernie stood along with Justin and two unfamiliar girls. Harry headed right for them.

"Morning," he said when he arrived. "Didn't think I'd see you here, Justin!"

The slender wizard shrugged.

"You know, I finally persuaded my parents I ought to get a broom—nothing so flash as a Firebolt, mind you, just a Nimbus—and I thought I should learn to use it properly. Ernie convinced me it was proper."

"We tried a bit of Quidditch this summer at mine," Ernie said, "and he was awful at it. So I just thought, you know, a bit more practise might go over well. Never know when you might need good broom handling, do you?"

Harry nodded along. It was a fair point. Many and varied though the travel options in the wizarding world were, Harry didn't think it sensible to go about without halfway decent broom skills.

"Fair enough." He turned towards the two new girls. "Er, we've not met, I don't think—I'm Harry," he said.

The taller of the two girls – almost deathly pale, paler than Draco even – gasped slightly when Harry spoke.

"I know about you, of course," she said, her voice quiet.

"Oh, Vi, that's not how you introduce yourself!" said the other girl, a slightly pudgy girl with red hair and pigtails. "Cordelia Happenstance—of the Gamp's Bottom Happenstances," she said, as if that was supposed to mean something to Harry. She offered Harry her hand.

Unsure of what to do with it, Harry shook it awkwardly, but by the look on Cordelia's face, that was the wrong thing to have done.

Can't be helped, Harry thought. He wasn't about to kiss her hand like some of the wizards he'd seen do. That was just weird.

"And this is Octavia," Cordelia continued. "You'll have to forgive her—she's a bit shy. We're not used to all this, you see. We were both home-schooled before this year, so sometimes it's all a little bit much. Especially for Vi—she really doesn't get out that much."

Octavia – Vi – turned bright red.

Ernie coughed.

"My mum and Cordelia's mum are friends," Ernie said. "So we knew each other already."

That explained why Cordelia was with Ernie and Justin at Flight Club, Harry supposed.

Harry reached for something bland to say.

"I suppose it is all a bit different, coming here from home-schooling," he settled on.

"Oh, yes—very different!" said Octavia. "I'd always wanted to come to Hogwarts, but my... father thought it was a bad idea. So I was home-schooled with tutors."

"We had some of the same tutors, actually," said Cordelia, "so we already knew each other. We had lessons together sometimes. But it is much more exciting here at school! So many more people to see, lots of things to do. And it's lovely not having to be around Mummy and Daddy all of the time, although do you know, I actually miss them already? It's a little strange not being home. Did you feel the same way when you got here the first time?"

"It must be nice knowing some people already," Harry said once he'd processed the torrent of words. "When I got here I didn't know anyone—until the train, anyway." And he'd certainly been glad to get out of Privet Drive. A pleasant enough place, but it was only upon finding Hogwarts and the wizarding world that Harry had realised he really didn't fit into life in the muggle world.

Before either girl could reply, Hooch strode into the waiting mass of students and their brooms with a procession of boxes floating in the air after her. Trailing along after that were her new assistants.

"Alright, listen up you lot! I'll only say this once. The first—and most important—rule of Flight Club is safety first! If you've yet to pass your Flying lessons—and that's every last first year—you can still join, but there's a bit of extra supervision. So first years will be with Mr Frogmore for the duration." She gestured behind her at one of the wizards. "If you could go that way, that would be grand," she said, prompting a chaotic few minutes of awkward shuffling about until the first years were all where they were supposed to be.

"Marvellous," declared Hooch once they were done. "Next—as we've had quite a few new students in other years whose flight status is unconfirmed—anyone without a formal certificate should go and see Miss Featherstone. Chop, chop, now—we haven't got all day."

"That's us!" said Cordelia. "Come on, Vi—best get going." She grasped her tall companion by the wrist and pulled her away from the rest of the group.

Once they were gone, Ernie sighed.

"Delia's lovely, really," he said, "but she doesn't half go on. Sorry if she was a bit much."

"She was alright," Harry said. "Honestly, sometimes it's just not nice having to think of anything much to say. Who was the other one, again? Octavia? Ever met her before?"

"Not until she Sorted Hufflepuff," Ernie said. "But I have heard of her—her father is a confirmed bachelor if you know what I mean, and he's never been linked with anyone, but she exists. So, you know, people talk, don't they?" Ernie shrugged. "Never met her before, though. Whole family's a bit reclusive, at least that's what Mum always says. Mr Octavius never goes to any of her parties and she always invited him."

Harry wasn't quite sure what Ernie meant, but it didn't matter as Hooch was ready to press on.

"For the rest of you we'll be splitting into two groups—people who competed in last year's flight competitions, and people who didn't. We shan't be doing it this way all year, but to start with we want to give a bit of extra attention to those of you who need it—and those who don't can just get up in the air and get on with things." She paused. "New starters to the left, veterans to the right. Come on then, we're wasting time stood around on the ground! This is Flight Club!"

"Well, I suppose that's me," Harry said. "See you later, then."

He moved off to the left along with the other veterans of the Triwizard Tournament. Harry thought – after a quick look around – everyone who'd made it to the competition had come to Flight Club. Even Diggory, whose Head Boy status, along with NEWTs, meant he would have a very tough year ahead of him indeed.

Harry supposed he wanted a good outlet for all that energy and frustration. He could relate, even though all he had was regular prefect duties and OWLs.

Of course, the fact that all of the other Triwizard competitors were there off to one side meant that Harry's plan to avoid Draco was scuppered, but that was life. A minor annoyance, especially next to the fact that Voldemort lived at Draco's house. And also in Draco's father's head. Draco remained with the Slytherins who'd made it through, so Harry headed towards where the Weasleys stood with Chang and a few others. He'd managed to avoid any awkward confrontations with Draco since coming back to school and he didn't intend to ruin the first session of Flight Club with one.

Even if they would eventually have to address what had happened at the end of the Triwizard Tournament.

"Alright?" Harry said once he reached the little group. It was always a little awkward joining a bunch of acquaintances, but he did know the Weasleys fairly well after that summer's outings in Italy and Austria, so it wasn't all bad. And fortunately, Hooch had the veterans up in the air not long after, and Harry got to do some much-needed flying.

No hazard flying, but for the first session, Harry didn't mind that.

At least it was free from Umbridge and her Inquisitorial goons. Harry spent the rest of his morning flying laps, racing, and getting to grips with the agility course Hooch had organised, and by the time Flight Club ended and lunch started, he was glad for it.

At breakfast on Monday morning a black-robed Inquisitor – Harry recognised him from lessons as Inquisitor Arlecchino – came to the Slytherin table.

"I really hope we don't—" Millicent was saying, but she stopped abruptly as Arlecchino stopped at their section of the table, right where Harry was sat. To Harry it felt like everyone at the Slytherin table had gone silent as Arlecchino approached.

"Potter. You've been summoned by the High Inquisitor for an interview."

"Er, right now?" Harry said. He glanced down at his toast. "Or... after breakfast?"

Arlecchino shrugged.

"After breakfast if you're still eating. I can wait."

He stood there, watching, silent.

"I... er... we'll just go now, I suppose," Harry said after glancing around at his friends. Nobody would want to finish up their breakfasts with an Inquisitor stood over them, and they all had lessons to get to. Harry at least had a free period. Harry grabbed the last piece of toast on his plate and stood up. He could eat while he walked.

"See you later," he said to his friends as he left the table with the Inquisitor.

Arlecchino led Harry away from the Great Hall and up through the castle, presumably to wherever Umbridge had an office. Harry stayed quiet; the Inquisitors all reported to Umbridge, and anything he said would no doubt be relayed to the High Inquisitor. No sense in giving up anything voluntarily.

"The High Inquisitor is usually much too busy to deal with little things like these interviews—that's why she has us," Arlecchino said eventually as they ascended the castle stairs. "But given the fuss you've been involved in she made an exception."

My arse she's too busy, Harry thought. Her job was making a nuisance of herself in whatever way she could, and to gather dirt on Dumbledore and the school for whatever purpose the Ministry had in mind. She spent her days sitting in on lessons, asking pointless questions and coughing like an elderly muggle smoker.

That was bad enough, but the whole Inquisition and the bloody Educational Decrees had Voldemort – and Lucius Malfoy's – fingerprints all over. Not content with just meddling in the trial, Umbridge had found her way to Hogwarts. Harry could only hope her goal was to frustrate Lucius Malfoy as much as it was to interfere with the school. Harry would have to be careful with everything he said, as after the Ministry got done with his words, they would inevitably make their way back to Voldemort no matter how Umbridge spun them.

"It's been an eventful couple of years," Harry said eventually, as Arlecchino seemed to be waiting for a response.

"Yes, it has, hasn't it? Kidnapped by Sirius Black, competitor in the Triwizard events, all that bother with the Malfoy lad—"

"I wasn't kidnapped by Sirius Black," Harry said. "I was kidnapped by Professor Quirrell. And Mr Malfoy used the Imperius Curse on me—my duel with Draco was nothing compared with that." Although technically, in the eyes of the law, the matter of assault hadn't received a ruling, Harry had no qualms talking about it.

He doubted Malfoy would dare take the matter to arbitration for defamation.

"My mistake," said Arlecchino. "You are in the papers often enough one can get confused, you know."

By then they'd reached Umbridge's office, which was situated on the same floor as Dumbledore's, although in a different corridor. Some sort of powerplay, no doubt, designed to underline Umbridge's authority as High Inquisitor. Arlecchino rapped on the door with his bone-white fist.

"You may enter," called Umbridge after leaving them wait for a minute or so.

"Inquisitor Arlecchino here with the Potter boy, High Inquisitor," Arlecchino said. "As per your instructions."

"Good, good," Umbridge said. "Mr Potter, please, come inside and take a seat. We have much to discuss, you and I."

Harry stepped inside Umbridge's spacious office, although Arlecchino lingered at the door.

"You may go, Inquisitor," Umbridge said.

Arlecchino shut the door and then left. Harry glanced around the room. It looked like a little girl's rendition of an office space, filled with ghastly artworks depicting kittens and other such cute things, with lots of lace and pink ornaments. It was far past what aunt Petunia would consider tasteful, and Harry thought that even she would balk at some of the little porcelain figures scattered about the office.

"Sit, sit," said Umbridge. "We don't have all morning—you have Charms next, and I wouldn't want you to be late!" she said. She smiled, and it was something approaching warm. Sort of.

Harry took a seat opposite Umbridge's desk.

"Good morning, Mr Potter. May I call you Harry? Would you like a biscuit? Tea? A cake? They're quite good—I baked them myself." Umbridge gestured to a teapot and a platter of little treats on her desk.

Harry eyed the offerings warily. He'd just had breakfast, so he wasn't hungry, but even if he had been he wasn't sure he trusted anything Umbridge had to give. Especially not anything she'd made herself. God only knew what she'd put in them. Veritaserum was the least of his worries.

But for all that they did look delicious.

"No, thank you, High Inquisitor—I had a big breakfast, you see," Harry said.

Umbridge smiled, although it didn't reach her eyes.

"Perhaps next time, then, Harry." She moved the platter away. "Now then, I do suppose you're wondering just why I've called you in her today. You needn't be alarmed—it really is as I've been saying. The entire purpose of the High Inquisition is to make things better for all young wizards and witches in this country, but to do that we need to gather information. You aren't in any trouble at all—nobody is, not yet. But because of your... unique... position and the events which have, through no fault of your own I'm quite sure, befallen you since your arrival at school we—that is to say, I—felt it appropriate to begin my student interviews with you. Does this all make sense, my dear?"

Harry couldn't say he was a fan of Umbridge's over-familiar approach, but he didn't think it wise to object just then. She was after something, and he didn't want to get distracted by matters of etiquette when there was potentially something much more sinister afoot. He pretended to consider her words, although he already knew them for obfuscation. Someone was in trouble – Dumbledore, surely – whatever the outcome of the interviews, and probably whatever teachers got in Umbridge's way, too.

"Yes, High Inquisitor. That makes sense," he said.

"That's wonderful, Harry. I'm told you're quite the clever young man. A Slytherin, too—did you know that I was a Slytherin when I was at school? So that's something we have in common. Isn't that nice?" Umbridge smiled again. "You know, Slytherins go quite far in this world, Harry. I was once Undersecretary to the Minister, until I was asked—personally by Minister Fudge—to become High Inquisitor. Have you ever considered a career in the Ministry? It could be quite rewarding for you. Public service is its own reward of course, but between you and me, the perks are quite nice as well! But, well, we can talk of this another time, can't we?" she said.

Harry fought the urge to grimace. Umbridge was laying it on thick, all unctuous schmooze, overbearing to the point where it certainly wouldn't work... but Harry had to keep it from his face. The implication Umbridge was trying so hard to create was, of course, that if Harry co-operated, good things would happen to him. Things which Umbridge could facilitate. A direct conduit to Minister Fudge's ear, perhaps.

The problem for Umbridge was that Harry wanted absolutely nothing she could give him, or even anything that she could promise to give him. He had enough gold to never need a job as long as he was sensible, and the papers already wrote lies about him, so even a bit of bad publicity wasn't the end of the world.

"How would you describe your experience here at school, Harry?" Umbridge said next. "You were raised by... muggles, yes? Would you say the staff here has done a good job of... acclimating you to your new environment?"

"I—er—" said Harry.

What's she after? Harry wondered.

"I've had a really good time here," Harry said. "It was a bit strange at first—so many new things, new words to learn, everything really—but all the teachers were really helpful." Except for Binns, who wasn't entirely certain what century it was, and Snape, who wasn't very helpful to anyone... and Quirrell, who had been a Death Eater with Voldemort growing out of the back of his head – but that was a special case. Everyone else had been fine.

Flitwick had been great. Helpful with everything at Diagon Alley, enthusiastic as an instructor… no complaints there at all.

Harry thought a bit more on the muggle-raised background angle. It was a similar approach to the one Rita Skeeter had used in some of her articles about him. The suggestion that being raised by muggles was … something. Something detrimental. Or at the very least, slightly embarrassing.

But why?

"And honestly, I don't think I was at any disadvantage coming here from a muggle background," Harry decided to say. "In first year we have Foundational Skills with Madame Helix, and it's really helpful for everyone—even the wizard raised students—because it covers so many different things. So even though it was a bit of an adjustment I've actually been really happy at Hogwarts."

Umbridge scribbled something down onto a piece of parchment in front of her.

"You have done remarkably well for yourself since coming here," Umbridge said after glancing down at a second piece of parchment. "Even after such a difficult start—the business in your first year with the late Quirinus Quirrell—you have exceeded expectations. Indeed, you are a prefect, you were a competitor in the Triwizard Tournament—a winner in several events, even. Your teachers are quite complimentary about you in their reports. Would you say there's a particular professor or other member of staff who has helped you get where you are today?"

"I—er—no, not really," Harry said. "I mean, it's not like I did it all on my own—I had the same teachers as everyone else—but no one in particular..." He shrugged. "What I mean is, I appreciate all of my teachers, but none of them stand out as ever giving me special attention or anything like that."

"No?" said Umbridge. "Not even Professor Flitwick? I understand you spent quite a lot of time with him last year, in preparation for your duelling events, and I am told he was the teacher who introduced you to our society."

What's her angle? Harry thought. She had something in mind, something she was digging for. He'd spent more time with Flitwick than any of the other teachers, that was true, but only because Flitwick had devoted quite a bit of time to the Triwizard duellists over and above his usual duties as Head of House and Master of Charms.

But that was just Flitwick. He was like that.

"Flitwick—Professor Flitwick—is a really good teacher," Harry said carefully, "and he was really helpful last year with the duelling... but he was helpful to everyone who progressed in the competition. But he's like that in lessons too, you know, always knows how to make a topic fun and explains it really well. And he was really helpful when he picked me up and told me about magic—he even explained how the money here works when we went to my vault."

"He escorted you—personally—to Diagon Alley? And your vault?" asked Umbridge. "Where were your guardians?"

Oh, shit, thought Harry. Perhaps he shouldn't have mentioned anything about that. The other muggleborns – muggle raised – students had all gone together to the Alley on a specified day, along with their parents or other guardians. Harry's situation had been ... different. Had Flitwick even been allowed to do that? Harry assumed so, and that the Ministry had known about it, since it was at the height of the Sirius panic, just after he'd escaped Azkaban.

Maybe Umbridge was just fishing for something.

"Er—yes," Harry said. "It was back when Sirius—Sirius Black had just escaped from Azkaban, so when he came to get me my aunt and uncle were, er, they were scared to go into Diagon Alley. You know, because they're muggles and with everything…" Harry shrugged again. It was a decent enough excuse, and one someone like Umbridge would be expecting from muggles anyway.

"So once Professor Flitwick explained everything, we went into London to get my things. It was easier that way. I think the Auror Office knew because they followed my aunt and uncle home." Harry paused. "And it would have been more dangerous for me to go with everyone else, you know, because of the, er, Sirius Black thing."

Harry hated dropping Sirius into it, but it was all true. It was always better to tell a lie with the truth than it was to invent something out of the aether, after all.

"I see," said Umbridge after scribbling something onto her parchment. "You must understand, Harry dear, I am simply trying to ascertain whether or not anything improper has occurred. There are very strict rules when it comes to liaising with muggles and the muggle families of our students and it is ever so important that we adhere to them. But you needn't worry—you aren't in any trouble at all!"

Umbridge smiled again.

"Now, moving on... At the end of your first year at school you were kidnapped by then-Professor Quirrell. In your official statement—delivered through Headmaster Dumbledore in a departure from procedure—you mentioned the presence of Peter Pettigrew. Why was this?"

That hadn't been the question Harry had expected Umbridge to ask about Quirrell and first year – not by a long stretch of his imagination. Harry had expected her to bring up all that stuff, as it was within her remit to ask about unusual circumstances at the school… but that? It hardly seemed relevant. Whether Harry had ever suspected Quirrell of any weirdness, or if… well… Harry wasn't entirely sure what specific questions would be appropriate, but he knew there would have been such questions. But the specific question Umbridge had chosen seemed like it had come out of nowhere.

"Well, when Quirrell kidnapped me, he brought me to a room under the castle and he met up with another wizard. It wasn't Sirius Black—I know what he looks like from all the posters and the photos—and Quirrell called him 'Pettigrew'," Harry said. "I didn't actually—what I mean is, I never actually said it was Peter Pettigrew."

As far as he remembered, that was all the papers' doing – of course, that had been what Dumbledore had wanted.

"The papers said that. I just said what I heard, which was Quirrell calling the other wizard he was working with 'Pettigrew' and 'Wormtail'. I'd never seen him before—not in pictures or anything like that. Honestly I'd only ever read about Peter Pettigrew before, and the books all said he was dead."

"And you are quite sure that what you heard was 'Pettigrew'? Not some other name, perhaps?" asked Umbridge.

Harry shook his head.

"It was definitely 'Pettigrew'. Quirrell called the other wizard 'Wormtail' and 'Pettigrew'," Harry said. "Nothing else."

Umbridge's line of questioning didn't seem at all pertinent to the stated aim of the High Inquisition, but Harry had always known it wasn't really about what the Ministry had claimed. Maybe a bit, but it certainly wasn't the whole reason.

He was just having trouble figuring out what the real reason was.

"I see," said Umbridge. She scratched something else out onto her parchment. "I notice your official statement was emphatic on the absence of Sirius Black—which is very curious, as other credible witnesses placed him in Hogwarts on the evening of the events in question."

Another question that didn't seem at all relevant to the High Inquisition's purpose. This one was something Harry had to tread carefully around, as he would have to outright lie to answer it.

"Because I didn't see Sirius Black that day," Harry said. "I saw Quirrell, who met up with that other wizard. Pettigrew. Wormtail. Whatever. But I never saw Sirius Black—I told the Aurors I found after escaping that. Er, Dawlish and Peakesbury. Sirius Black may well have been in the castle, but I never saw him." Harry paused. "And wasn't he seen all over the place on that same night? I read one article that said he was seen in Cornwall."

"I am merely trying to ascertain the facts as you see them, Harry," said Umbridge with that false little smile. "I am quite aware of the official sequence of events that day." She wrote something else onto her parchment scroll. "In your opinion do you believe that the steps taken to ensure the security of students—your own safety included, even given your unique context—were sufficient? What, if anything, do you believe should or could have been done? Because for a staff member to abduct and injure a student is a very serious matter indeed, and one which cannot be allowed to happen ever again. That it happened even once is a symptom of a serious weakness in school policy."

Not hiring a bloke with Voldemort stuck to the back of his head, Harry thought. But Quirrell had been a teacher prior to his association with Voldemort and had been picked for the Muggle Studies position not long after he'd finished school himself. Presumably he hadn't been working with the down-on-his-luck Dark Lord while at school.

Background checks would have accomplished very little, and anything more thorough after the fact would have been considered far too invasive to be allowed without very good evidence for its necessity.

"I don't think anything else could have been done, really," Harry said. "Everyone thought the threat came from Sirius Black, didn't they? So all the stuff that was being done—the Aurors, the Dark Detectors, teachers' patrols—were looking for the wrong thing. They'd have to have been looking at the teachers, and nobody ever thought that… er… you know."

Umbridge wrote something down onto her parchment.

"How would you describe your relationship to Headmaster Dumbledore?" Umbridge asked.

"Um, I don't—I suppose the same as anyone else's at school," Harry said. "I haven't spent much time with him, to be honest—he's really busy, isn't he? With all the things he does, and he's not a teacher so I never have lessons with him."

"But he did provide the Ministry with your official statement after the kidnapping in your first year," Umbridge said. "So presumably you met with him to discuss this. Was this not the case?"

"Well, I did talk with him about it after it happened," Harry said, "but that's normal, isn't it? He's the headmaster." It was certainly true that Dumbledore hadn't spoken with any of the other students – personally and at length – about prophecies and Dark Lords and anything of that nature. At least, Harry didn't think it was Dumbledore's usual behaviour to do such things.

Not that Harry could say any of that, of course. Still, it was the only thing that made Harry's relationship with the elderly wizard different from any other student's.

"And then of course there was the trial this summer," continued Umbridge. "And the arbitration. You do not mean to suggest that you had little contact with the Headmaster throughout this process?"

"Well, I suppose I've met with him more than students usually do," Harry said carefully. "But it's not like we're, you know, mates or anything. Just with what happened with Mr Malfoy…"

"I see," said Umbridge. "And would you say that Headmaster Dumbledore has discharged his duties successfully? That he is an effective headmaster? Are you happy with his decision to represent you to the Ministry, in the way that he did?"

"Er—well—I don't know," Harry said truthfully. Dumbledore was the only headmaster of a magical school he'd ever actually experienced personally. There was Karkaroff, of course, who didn't seem an especially good headmaster; Giovanna had seemed scared of him rather than respectful. Madame Maxime was meant to be decent enough, but Harry still couldn't make a comparison between her and Dumbledore.

As to the last of Umbridge's questions, well... Harry certainly preferred Dumbledore being the one to deliver barefaced lies to the Ministry than Harry himself. Not that Harry had managed to avoid having to do that anyway, what with the trial, but it had been nice of Dumbledore to intervene the first time.

"Hogwarts seems to be doing well. I like being here," Harry said. "Until this year really the only teacher I didn't like was Binns. And he's gone this year anyway. So, I don't know, I think he's done a good job. And after what happened with Quirrell I was honestly just really happy not to have to, er, you know, go through the whole... all of the... you know, fuss with giving statements and everything like that."

"I wonder if—" Umbridge started to say, but a knock on the door of her office interrupted her. "Yes?" she said. "You may come in."

A large, robust-looking witch entered the office. One of the Inquisitors Harry hadn't met yet.

"High Inquisitor, I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting but there's an urgent matter that needs your attention. This very moment, I'm afraid," said the Inquisitor.

Umbridge glanced towards Harry.

"Can't it wait? I am quite busy."

The Inquisitor shook her head.

"No, High Inquisitor. I don't want to go into detail with a student here, but it's an issue involving the Magizoology assistant. The, ah, the Headmaster has been called and I felt it would be best for the High Inquisition to—"

"Very well," said Umbridge, interrupting. "Harry, we will revisit this another day. Thank you for your co-operation and know that the Ministry is determined to improve your time here at school. You may go—and hopefully next time you'll try one of my little treats! They are quite tasty and I do enjoy sharing them."

Harry nodded and got to his feet to leave. He didn't want to spend any more time than he had to in Umbridge's office. Even though it hadn't been how he'd have wanted to spend his Monday morning, it had at least given Harry some things to think about. Far from being primarily concerned with the running of the school, Umbridge – and by extension the Ministry – seemed quite interested in Harry in particular.

What Harry had been doing, what Harry had been saying, even which teachers Harry had been doing things with and saying things to. No doubt Umbridge would be watching him closely. Was already watching him closely.

Harry didn't doubt that if Umbridge hadn't been interrupted by one of her Inquisitors she would have gone on to discuss the trial and the arbitration. The incident with Draco in the Room of Requirement which had led to the trial. No doubt would have had questions about Lucius Malfoy as well.

The pressing question for Harry was whether – and how closely – Umbridge's goals aligned with Voldemort's. Harry didn't think she was an active participant in the Dark Lord's plans. She'd spent too long asking him questions that Voldemort already knew the answer to for that. No, Umbridge seemed to be a Ministry witch through-and-through, with aims and objectives to match.

Harry left Umbridge and the Inquisitor behind on his way back to the dungeons through the castle. With lessons underway the castle was quiet and he saw no one else on his way. Harry spent the bit of time remaining in his free period in the Slytherin Common Room going over and over Umbridge's interview with him in his head.