The Inquisitors

Hogwarts brimmed with joy and merriment as the student body returned, following the new year. Edelweiss, sore from practicing Ataru, felt suspicious of the sudden mood. She had been forced to deal with the suspicion of Dumbledore's followers and painful, wary looks from Sirius and the Weasleys. No doubt her markings created a further gap between them. But when she opened herself up to the Force within Hogwarts, she realized what the happy mood was all about. They had time away from the looming oppression of Professor Umbridge and her silly rules. The defense club was rearing to get back into action. Members from all four houses had approached her on the train back to Hogwarts, all wondering the same thing:

"When's the next session? What are we learning next?"

Hermione's quick thinking concerning the Patronus Charm and teaching it had paid dividends. Edelweiss was frustrated events played out so, yet she now understood that it played out for her benefit. Most who attended her sessions possessed rigidly moral beliefs. They were the kind who looked up to Albus Dumbledore, admiring him and even engaging in hero worship. She would need time to cultivate those feelings for herself. Yet she had already stepped onto the path of the Sith Lord, so perhaps it would never come about.

If they will not love me, then they shall fear me. That was how Darth Gladiolus would reign over the mercurial public of magical Britain. Through fear.

The Great Hall rippled with noise as the student body sat for the first breakfast of the spring term. Edelweiss glanced about the hall, taking note of several absences among the Slytherins. She spotted her four little snakes. They sat together with pursed expressions; Edelweiss knew then that something was afoot.

Something foul had wormed its way into the heart of Hogwarts, and it was not her.

"Hem hem!"

The hall froze. Conversation died. All turned to face the Head Table. The professors stared at Umbridge, who had risen to her feet with a proud smile. Almost two dozen students stood before the table, all bearing strange, new badges with shining I's front and center. Most were Slytherins—Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson stood proudly at the center—but there were a few Ravenclaws and even a Hufflepuff present. No Gryffindors were among their number; a fact that could be explained in several ways.

Edelweiss frowned at the sight. She set down her fork and knife.

"Due to events during the prior term, it has come to the attention of the Ministry of Magic that behavioral standards are not being upheld as they should here at Hogwarts," began Umbridge. "After a long discussion with the Head of the Department of Magical Education, it was agreed upon that Hogwarts would host a new body, whose sole purpose is to correct student behavior; a body chosen through a careful examination of their previous record and known affiliations."

"Sounds like she picked a bunch of Slytherins 'cause they hate us," grumbled Ron. Hermione silenced him with an elbow.

"These students form the foundation of a new era for Hogwarts. One where those of respected backgrounds are entrusted with the vital, yet often thankless task of maintaining order and dignity among their peers. This first group of Inquisitors has agreed to step up and take on this duty, regardless of any price they might pay."

Edelweiss reached out with the Force, brushing her probes against each of these Inquisitors. Beyond the Hufflepuff and a few Slytherins, all present were in it for the power. Umbridge had just assembled her own little army within Hogwarts, and Dumbledore had been powerless to stop her. A glance at the Headmaster revealed he maintained his composure well, even as his authority was openly flaunted and undermined.

Umbridge then sat down. The Great Hall watched silently as the Inquisitors went to their house tables. The Hufflepuffs made a point of giving their peer among this new group extra space—too much, by whatever standard dictated their internal workings. She suspected they would shun the Inquisitor among their number. And this did not go unnoticed. Edelweiss felt a wave of regret ripple from the Hufflepuff Inquisitor.

A shame it was not the same at the other tables. The Ravenclaws regarded their own with cool curiosity, appearing to adopt a policy of watch and wait for now. Edelweiss could not fault Ravenclaws for taking that position, even if the moral cowardice infuriated her. Did they actually think these "Inquisitors" would be of benefit to Hogwarts? Maybe they did. Or maybe they were too accustomed to their neutrality as events played out in the castle around them. Perhaps they were afraid of rocking the boat.

The Slytherins, naturally, welcomed back their number with smirks and handshakes. Malfoy grinned as though he were the Heir of Slytherin and not the Dark Lord. Hatred bloomed within Edelweiss; she clenched her hands tightly under the Gryffindor table. It was necessary now that she plotted how she would bring about Umbridge's fall.

Her decision to wait and allow the Minister's puppet to acquire power before casting her down could not be done passively. Edelweiss needed to accelerate events in her favor. By her hand. Else, she risked having to take action openly like butchering Umbridge.

In the days that followed the establishment of the Inquisitors, Slytherin swiftly jumped into the lead for the House Cup. Edelweiss had forgotten about the inter-house competition between her Sith studies and her defense group. The Cup had also been irrelevant the prior year. But coming down to the Great Hall for breakfast and seeing only one of the four great hourglasses opposite the Head Table be filled with colored gems was an unpleasant shock. Worse, those three had black—negatives instead of being set to zero.

She glanced across the Great Hall and met Malfoy's gaze. He smirked at her and flashed his Inquisitor badge. The dark side churned within her. It took tremendous willpower to restrain her writhing fury, but she managed it. Not yet. Not yet. She could not reveal her powers to magical Britain yet. Too much had already slipped out, though thankfully the little the Prophet had run about her changes—and they were oddly reluctant on that front—failed to suggest she was anything beyond a silly, attention-seeking girl.

Woe to them all. They maintained their delusion. She would laugh over how they all failed to see what was before them were it not for the fact she banked upon their ignorance. The longer none realized what Edelweiss Potter was becoming and what she would soon be, the better. The cloak of secrecy allowed her to act more freely, regardless of the consequences.

Hermione sat down with a loud huff, her school bag filled to breaking with thick tomes. Edelweiss glanced between her friend and the bag as the bushy-haired girl filled a plate with meat and fruit.

"Care to explain what has you frustrated?"

"As if you care," snarled Hermione. She stuffed her mouth full of diced melon. "You've made it clear you only care about yourself and whatever forwards your desires."

Edelweiss considered the accusation. She felt some anger over the fact Hermione was not completely wrong about Edelweiss prioritizing the acquisition of power. Her ambitions drove her choices. And yet magical Britain would benefit from how Darth Gladiolus would destroy the complacent order. Her backward society required the destruction of Dumbledore and Voldemort, along with the worlds they represented, if they were to advance. The end product was beyond her ability to perceive the future through the Force.

If she were frank, the task of reconstruction was best left to minds like Hermione Granger or Theodore Nott. Perhaps to both of them. She needed to ensure the partisan divide that plunged Britain into civil war twice in a half-century could be circumvented.

"And if I asked what kind of society we should raise up once the old men of this age are dead and gone, how would you respond?"

Hermione paused mid-chew to stare at Edelweiss. After several seconds, she blinked, and then frowned, and finally swallowed before asking, "Pardon? Did you just ask what kind of society I would want?"

"I believe that is what I asked."

Oddly, Hermione paused to think. Edelweiss almost expected to hear something akin to "something more like muggle Britain, naturally" seconds after she posed her question, but that would perpetuate the troubles of the recent past. Voldemort accrued followers because of how Dumbledore approached his position on the Wizengamot. It didn't help that he advocated policies that pushed Britain closer to the muggle world than even the most progressive members were comfortable with. Chief among those issues was muggleborns and their growing influence. The very idea of muggleborn influence over magical society had led those purebloods to fabricate "old" beliefs about blood purity.

Ironic, how Dumbledore created Voldemort, and the latter perpetuated the influence of the former.

"I would seek justice, first and foremost," began Hermione with a tense expression. "Justice for everyone who suffered in both wars. For non-humans not allowed to practice magic like witches and wizards."

"You will find opposition from many, including from some of the races you wish to uplift," warned Edelweiss as she picked out a few choice links of sausage. "The goblins, for one, will take your interest as an insult."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "If they don't wish to use wands—"

"I doubt that is the issue, but I've never been one for History of Magic."

Hermione sighed, frustration brimming within her. "I guess I might be jumping the gun, but you make it sound like I'm forcing my ideals onto them."

"That is how some would view your pursuit of 'justice', Hermione. You must remember how annoyed others were with that S.P.E.W. business last year."

Miraculously, Hermione was able to swallow down her initial response to criticism. Instead of exploding, she pursed her lips tightly for several long seconds. She breathed in and out, loud enough that Edelweiss knew it was deliberate, and eventually Hermione sighed and muttered, "I still think the treatment of house elves is abhorrent. And to think that they're happy with their servitude!"

"I don't like it either, Hermione, but some things cannot be forced without violence. Sometimes you only need people to fear what you might do if they cross you."

Edelweiss hoped she did not sound like a hypocrite, but she spoke the truth. Dumbledore achieved much because people were afraid of his power, and of the potential violence he could unleash. Yes, that was all based upon a handful of duels, but a few showings were enough to have almost the entire population cowed—and to have a good chunk of that population all but worshiping the ground he walked.

"Had those words come from just about anyone else, Edie, they would've been convincing. But you? You're holding that group together purely through the power you wield. The Slytherins told Ron and I about how you ensured their continued loyalty, which included how you convinced them to come to the Hog's Head in the first place."

"Threats are only theoretical if never acted upon."

Hermione glowered.

Edelweiss sighed and shoved another bite into her mouth. "You understand what I mean. As long as they believe I shall fulfill my threats, then they will go along with my wishes."

"That's—! That's no better, Edie!" She glanced up and down the table before leaning forward to hiss, "That's how Voldemort behaves!"

Edelweiss bit down on her tongue. She could not tell Hermione the truth that she would become a dark lord as well. She pursed her lips in an offended manner before looking away, glowering at the hourglasses with their mounds of black stones.

"Something should be done about that," she said as if she cared. "It's pathetic how the Slytherins need to put the other three houses in the negatives." Edelweiss turned back to Hermione. "I expect better from them. After all, they are the house of cunning."

"And what would you know about cunning, Potter?"

Edelweiss peered over a shoulder. Draco and his companions stood behind her. Even Parkinson was present. She was grateful none of the four Slytherins pulled into her orbit were present. She knew they would be watching from the Slytherin table, wondering what she would do. Let them watch.

Let them all watch.

"A great deal more than you, Malfoy." She waited for his mouth to open before carrying on. "I confess myself disappointed. I expected this state of the House Cup rankings from my house, were they given full reign over Hogwarts. But Slytherin? I would have thought you'd want the other houses to hope they could claim the Cup up until the end when you squashed them utterly." Edelweiss shook her head. "I expected too much, clearly. You're cut from the same cloth as your miser father."

"Don't you dare talk about my father!" snarled Malfoy. His face has gone red and splotchy, grey eyes burning with indignation. Edelweiss could feel his hatred, and oh was it delicious. "You know—"

"I know he snuck a magical artifact into Hogwarts during our second year. The very one responsible for the Chamber of Secrets fiasco. And he did it while you were in the castle. I wonder if he ever had sleepless nights, knowing you were in the same castle as an active basilisk."

Malfoy's face paled immediately. His jaw clenched, almost as tightly as his white-knuckled fists.

"Did he ever tell you what became of Dobby? One of your family's house elves?"

"How do you know that name?" snarled Malfoy.

Edelweiss blinked and then tilted her head. "How about you tell me what you know about how your family lost the elf—and then I will tell you how I learned about him."

Malfoy stared at her with a touch of confusion. "Father said he was disobedient. Had ideas beyond his station."

"I guess that is one way to phrase being tossed onto your arse by an abused servant, freed by the action of a twelve-year-old girl."

And then she smiled sweetly, to rub it in.

Malfoy's face went bright red.

"Still, that was not when my paths with the elf began," continued Edelweiss. "He thought that since your father was going to release a monster into Hogwarts and I was too valuable to die he'd try to maim me. You do remember the rogue bludger, yes?"

He nodded stiffly.

"That was his doing as well. Now go on, Malfoy. You certainly have better things to do than to try and trouble me before the watching student body."

He glanced around, sneered at her, and then stormed off while pretending he still had dignity. Edelweiss glanced toward the Gryffindor hourglass. Nothing happened.

She turned away, a pleased smile stretching her lips cruelly. Edelweiss finished her breakfast. As she went to leave the Great Hall, she glanced at the Head Table. Umbridge glowered hatefully at her.

Edelweiss saluted the wretched creature teaching Defense and then left before she could cause any more trouble. That could wait for another time.

The stale air of the Chamber of Secrets sparked and then glowed as dark streaks of indigo lightning flew from Edelweiss's fingertips. She stared with a wide grin as her power became wrath incarnate. The air screeched as Force lightning rent it apart. She maintained the blast for several long seconds, and then stopped the flow abruptly.

"Good work, apprentice," cooed Lady Bastila. Her entire body hovered over the holocron this day. She wore a set of Sith robes that were plain in cut, yet were clearly made from the finest of materials. They reminded Edelweiss of the garb she had worn during her strange projection into the Department of Mysteries. "You have proven yourself adept in the use of Force lightning."

Edelweiss growled, low in her throat. "Adept is not good enough, master. I should be able to wield Force lightning like any of the great Sith Lords of old. Did not Lord Revan destroy a thousand with a single blast?"

"He did, but that was used upon an overloaded Republic troop carrier. He slew many thanks to the foolish arrogance of the Jedi. His feat was as much their doing as it was his." When Edelweiss looked at her master, she was met with a sly smirk. "Should you wish to achieve the power you seek, you will need to live for a very long time."

"Are you saying there is a connection between the length of one's life and how powerful they are in the Force?"

"Only that one grows into their power." Lady Bastila paused, rubbing a thoughtful hand beneath her pointed chin. "I am familiar with a way to bolster your power as you would like, but I… I would not trust this method. It may drive you to madness."

Edelweiss glowered and crossed her arms. She had gotten the droid in Ziost Hangar to reproduce a tunic akin to the one she wore during her projection. It made her training in the Chamber chilly—and it also revealed the slight swell of her arm muscles and the complementary Sith markings. It rode up her neck, blending with the dark markings that covered everything between her jaw and collar.

"I would like to hear of this method before I make a judgment, master."

Lady Bastila nodded. "This was a power best used by Darth Nihilus, one of the puppets who followed Darth Traya following a schism within Revan's Sith Empire. He was the Devourer, the Lord of Hunger. His might was enough to consume all life on the world of Katarr, where most of the remaining Jedi had gone to meet in secret."

"…and he was able to wield their power in the Force?"

"Some, but not all. The Force can be used to absorb energy, but one cannot hold onto it forever. Darth Nihilus could only do as he did because of how his body was destroyed and repaired in the wake of Revan's victory over the Mandalorians at Malachor V."

Edelweiss sighed through her nose, for her jaw was clenched tightly. She drew the dark side to her, concentrating on her anger and frustration over all her master had just told her. Once it was condensed enough around her, she lashed out a hand toward the garish statue of Salazar Slytherin. Her magic responded in tandem with the Force. She watched as a blast of pure energy shot forth. It was a bright, terrible green like her eyes, yet it lacked the strange breathy quality of the Killing Curse. Many would mistake one for the other, but she knew they were not the same.

"Impressive," remarked Lady Bastila. "I have never seen the Force used in that manner. It almost reminded me of Force lightning, yet different."

"That was magic and the dark side working together." She glanced at her master with a sardonic smile. "Maybe you are right that I should not worry myself with mastering Force lightning, for I can do so much more."

And if her voice twisted into a dark snarl, neither woman commented upon it. Edelweiss returned to her practice, seeking mastery over the dark side Force powers her master taught her. All the while, she considered how they might interact with her magic.

"Set the next date for the Twelfth of January," Edelweiss whispered to Hermione within the safety of their dormitory. They had traded galleons so that Hermione held the master now. "We'll start a quarter after seven and go until ten minutes before curfew."

"I didn't design these to communicate an end time, Edie."

"An oversight on your part. We know better for next time."

"Next time?" asked Hermione warily.

Edelweiss shrugged, even as she juggled whether or not to take her words back. "You never know if we might need to establish a secret ring within a hostile society again. I'd rather not need to, but the skill would be useful nonetheless."

Hermione gave Edelweiss a worried look before glancing around their dorm room. Parvati and Lavender were on the far side, gossiping over the most recent issue of Witch Weekly. Fay Dunbar was not present. She was likely with the sixth years.

"That would mean your war effort would go south, Edie."

"One never knows with war, Hermione. I am confident I have the strength and power to achieve victory, but I am not so arrogant as to think my victory is already assured."

"You should not be claiming that—" Hermione suddenly stopped and turned toward the door. "Did you hear that?"

Edelweiss's mouth opened, ready to question Hermione's sanity when she heard it. Raised voices rose from the common room. A lot of raised voices, which was a bizarre occurrence for several minutes after ten on any night that did not follow a Quidditch game. Edelweiss leaped to her feet and stormed down to the common room, holly wand in her right hand and the dark side's influence buzzing in her left.

She came to a bizarre scene. Professor McGonagall stood in the center of the common room, dressed in a nightgown with tartan slung over her shoulder. She was swearing up a storm, her thick Scottish brogue turning her words to gibberish. Across from her was Umbridge with three of her Inquisitors. Edelweiss was almost grateful it was the Hufflepuff and two Ravenclaws. But she was too outraged by interlopers to care that they were not Slytherins.

"What is going on?" she demanded, wand low by her side. Everyone turned to face her as she pushed toward the professors and the Inquisitors. "Professor McGonagall. Why are there students from other houses in the Gryffindor common room?"

There was a wave of agreement behind her, along with several insults levied toward Umbridge and her toadies. Edelweiss only had eyes for the professors and struggled to not smirk maliciously at how Umbridge glowered at the whole of Gryffindor House.

"Miss Potter. That is what I am trying to determine," said Professor McGonagall. "I came here to find Mister Collins, along with Miss Vince and Miss Taney, had barged their way past the Fat Lady with Professor Umbridge in tow. They have failed to explain why they are here, instead of in one of our offices."

Edelweiss turned to Umbridge with a raised eyebrow.

"I know there are students in this house that are engaged in behavior that violates several ministry-approved measures—"

"Which ones?" asked Edelweiss. "The one about 'appropriate gender relations'? Or maybe you're speaking about the ban on 'toys and tools of mischief-making'. Best of luck getting those banned, Professor. Filch and the Headmaster have been fruitless in their effort to stop the tide of Zonko's products that flow in and out of Hogwarts."

"Not those, Miss Potter," said Umbridge, sounding on the verge of exploding. She felt like she was a lot closer, and Edelweiss sensed there was a wand in her hand now. "The policy concerning student groups."

"Ah. I have heard nothing, but I have been busy."

"With what?"

"Can't say, I'm afraid." She turned to Professor McGonagall. "You can ask about, but you won't find anyone who'll confess to violating any of the Ministry's silly rules." She glanced at Umbridge again. "Good night, Professors."

And before either could react, she returned to her dormitory. More shouting arose, but nobody came after her. Surprisingly, Hermione had remained behind. Unsurprisingly, she was attempting to wear a line in the floor pacing. "What was going on?" she asked.

"A reminder of how important secrecy is," replied Edelweiss. She turned away slightly before opening and closing her left hand, a rapid string of Force lightning jumping from forefinger to palm. "And an overstep on Umbridge's part." She turned back to Hermione. "One I doubt she will dare repeat. She knows her Inquisitors are not welcome in Gryffindor Tower."

Gryffindors arrived in the Great Hall the next morning to discover the forty meager points they had miraculously recovered in the wake of the Inquisitors had already been blown away. In fact, there were nearly two hundred black marbles in their hourglass, a representation of how deep the pit dug for them was. Edelweiss stared at it, burning the sight into her mind. It would help fuel her when the time came. And unfortunately, that time was still in the distance. Still out of hand, which frustrated her to no end. Why couldn't the Force allow her to act as she wished? Must she continue giving ground to Professor Umbridge?

Her gaze swept across her housemates. Several hid right hands, gauze or white cloth stained faintly brown held over whatever they failed to keep out of sight. The dark side revealed to her that the strange dark stain upon that quill Umbridge possessed had touched them all, and nothing had been done.

"Proud of your work, Potter?" She turned to find Malfoy standing behind her, his swagger returned. "Professor Umbridge made it very clear all the points she took from Gryffindor was because of your defiance last night."

"Is that so?" she drawled. She stared into his eyes, watching as he grew nervous and then almost frightened. Fury bubbled in her veins. The dark side swelled within her, and that power seeped into him. Edelweiss was merely its conduit. With the softest of voices, she whispered, "Every night, right before you go to sleep, Malfoy, you will see shifting shadows of things you do not know and cannot see haunting you. They will whisper and sneer, mock and ridicule; and all you will receive is no sleep."

"You're… You're mad, Potter!" Malfoy snarled, trying to regain his confidence. His gaze drifted past her and she felt courage swell within him. Edelweiss sensed Professor Umbridge behind her. She did not turn. Not yet.

"Best you think of better insults, Malfoy. Run along now."

Umbridge snatched Edelweiss by the arm before she could try and sit at the Gryffindor table.

"Miss Potter—"

"Professor Umbridge," barked Professor McGonagall from the High Table. "There are rules about how the staff can handle students. I am afraid, on your behalf, that the Minister has yet to grant you the authority to treat students as you wish. If there is a problem with Miss Potter, perhaps we could discuss it in private… and in my office."

Edelweiss restrained a smirk as Professor Umbridge huffed. She released her grasp, shot Edelweiss a foul glower, and waddled her way back to the High Table. Umbridge sat beside McGonagall. They began hissing at each other, voices magically lowered to prevent students from eavesdropping.

"You're playing with fire," said Hermione from her spot at the Gryffindor table.

Edelweiss sat across from her. "Perhaps I am." She glanced toward the High Table, where the professors continued to argue. "It's nice to have McGonagall's support for once. Maybe that business around Yule woke her up to the troubles within Hogwarts."

She peered toward the Slytherin table. Malfoy was there, holding court. He caught her gaze and sneered. She winked and smiled in return. He flinched away. She hoped his reaction reflected his feelings about the Sith markings on her face. She sensed… fear. It was not much. She could not trust that it would last.

But it was a start.

Edelweiss slipped into the Come-and-Go room two minutes before her defense group was set to begin their session on January Twelfth. The room buzzed with mixed excitement. Many shared stories of recent encounters with the Inquisitors. From what she sensed, none of the stories were pleasant. Not even what Zabini appeared to be telling a concerned Susan Bones and worried Hannah Abbott.

She glanced around and discovered her four Slytherins were apart. Tracy Davis stood with Lavender and Parvati, sharing the gossip that never made its way out of Slytherin. Daphne Greengrass showed a spell—a family spell, as Edelweiss learned with the Force—to a group of Ravenclaws.

"Edie, there you are!" said Ron, looking rather frazzled. His hair was as puffy as Hermione's when she was in a foul mood. "I swear they're going to kill each other!"

Edelweiss nearly asked who he meant when her eyes fell upon Hermione and Nott. They stood separate from the rest, arguing fiercely over something no doubt important. Nott's hands moved about while Hermione was stiffer than a statue.

"Let me deal with it," she grumbled, heading toward the pair bound to give her an unwanted headache. She considered tossing around Force lightning after this session. Her practice saber lingered in her trunk, which was probably for the best. Her mood soured, and the thought of striking down her problems and not worry about cleaning up the blood sounded very, very nice.

"—cannot think I will put up with—!"

"You'll have to deal with a lot of trouble you'd rather avoid if you go into the Ministry, Granger!" snarled Theodore Nott. "Policy is set by precedent and the Minister, and they serve at the bequeath of the Wizengamot. Thus, they can have their power stripped from them by the Wizengamot."

"Then how are the common people supposed to affect change?" asked Hermione.

"They usually don't. The old families and those most capable do that. They are the ones who guide our society. You would be best off acting as Lily Potter did by marrying into one of those influential families!"

"Please do not disrespect my mother so," drawled Edelweiss. She smirked at how Hermione and Nott alike jumped, turning to face her. She glanced between them. "Care to explain why you two look like you're a moment away from hexing each other into a night in the Hospital Wing?"

They exchanged a look that reeked of mistrust before Hermione declared, "We had a difference of opinion concerning how the Ministry currently operates and how it should."

Nott rolled his eyes. "Granger here thinks the Ministry should operate more like the muggle government, while I tried to explain why the Ministry operates as it does."

Edelweiss glanced between them, as though she were expected to pass judgment over their absurd case. "You two can continue your conversation another time. It's a quarter after seven and curfew is at nine tonight."

And with that, she turned to face the chamber. Edelweiss tapped her throat with her wand, murmured, "Soronus," and then boomed, "Attention!" She smiled at the wave of swears and curses that met her pronouncement. Several visibly jumped, while others flinched and gasped. She whispered, "Quietus," and stepped forward, moving into the center of the gathered crowd.

"Welcome back from the hols. I assume everyone has grown accustomed to the indignity forced upon Hogwarts by the Ministry, yes?" There was a wave of nods and murmurs. None went against her words, which drew a smile to her lips. "Last term, we spent our time on spells of various uses for both offense and defense. Today, I believe it is time to begin practicing fighting. And yes, I did say fighting instead of dueling. Do not expect honor or fairness from those like these 'Inquisitors.' They only know power, and believe themselves the only ones worthy of wielding it."

"You speak like you plan to fight in the halls of Hogwarts," said Zacharias Smith, her eternal critic. "It won't come—"

"I have no wish to exchange spell fire within these halls." Edelweiss paused to take in the gaze of everyone around her. She could feel their uncertainty, their doubt, their fear; those emotions were the source of her power. She did not think any her equal, and thus all unworthy. "However, I will not delude myself and think we will be so lucky. Umbridge will not stop until she has this castle in her flabby fist. These Inquisitors are the next step toward control of Hogwarts."

"You think she'll have Dumbledore removed?" asked one of the Ravenclaws with Greengrass.

"If she could lock him away in Azkaban, she would do it."

Worry rippled through those gathered. Edelweiss nearly scoffed and rolled her eyes at their reactions. What did they think Umbridge was at Hogwarts for? She recalled those foolish detentions she had suffered. The way the Ministry encroached on life within the castle. Had her time studying the ways of the Sith Lords of old awoken her to the reality of the world around her? Or were all about her merely ignorant?

"Today, you will pair off with someone from another house. You'll cast simple spells—first-year hexes and jinxes, shield charms, disarming charms. We will intensify your spell repertoire as the month progresses. There will be a session, eventually, where I will teach new spells."

Edelweiss smiled when people began splitting into pairs without her having to command them into action. It took longer than usual and that was solely because those present tended toward pairing with their friends. She nearly had to step in twice, but those situations resolved themselves before she needed to act.

She took up a spot away from the central space, left barren as people stared down the one across from them. After a few seconds, she cleared her throat and said, "Go ahead. Staring casting."

They can be mad at me all they wish, but I am training them for war. I shall ascend to my full powers around the time we sit our OWLs, but I would prefer they know how to secure their persons from harm than rely upon me to do it for them.

She spent the next ten minutes walking the perimeter of the chamber, monitoring the dueling occurring before her and attempting to not grimace. Most were very capable with the shield charm. A few like the Weasley Twins had realized stepping aside from a poorly aimed spell saved energy. The issue, though, was how few of them truly needed to shield. Had more moved like the Twins or Susan Bones, the number shouting "Protego!" would have fallen to almost none. She found their accuracy to be pathetic. It sickened her.

What had she been doing these past couple months? Yes, they had maybe a dozen sessions before this day, but most had at least three years of magical training under their belt, let alone those in their fifty or sixth year. There were even seventh-years who performed poorly.

Edelweiss found her wand in her hand suddenly. She paused, took in a deep breath to center herself, and thrust it toward the chamber while growling, "Finite Incantatem!"

The chamber stilled as spells sputtered out and failed. Everyone turned to her, even as she stormed into the chamber's center. Her tongue worked against her lips and teeth, a reflection of the frustration bubbling within her.

"A pathetic showing!" she shouted. Several flinched, including Colin Creevey. Edelweiss blinked, wondering how she could have missed him. Another time. "Had everyone dodged instead of shielding, I doubt more than four of you would have required a shield charm!"

She spun on a dime, whispering, "Tarantella," as she aimed her wand at Cho Chang's glowering friend. The girl in question tried to raise a shield as the jinx shot her way struck. She had been too slow. Her legs went into an uncontrollable jig. Edelweiss lowered her wand as her gaze once more traveled across all those gathered around her.

"If you are unprepared, you cannot raise a shield in time. She could have stepped aside and allowed my spell to soar past, instead of being caught flat-footed." There was a murmur of discomforted whispering. "The goal of today's session is to accomplish one of two things: either improve your accuracy or your ability to dodge a curse."

Edelweiss reorganized them into two offset lines. She had one person step forward from each line. She turned to her left, where a nervous Neville Longbottom stood. His wand looked different from the one he had used before Christmas. "Your side will be casting stinging hexes. Do your best to hit the person across from you." She turned to the other side, where a plain-faced Ravenclaw stood patiently. "You are to dodge. Watch his wrist; that shall tell you where his spell shall go.

"Begin."

Neville's hand shook slightly before he stumbled over the incantation. A sickly white light sprung from the wand, shocking him more than the Ravenclaw. She lunged forward, crashing to the ground. She grimaced and her wand clattered away.

Edelweiss grimaced. Perhaps she should have shown what she expected first. Neville's spell could have been sidestepped, though his shaky hand meant his spell was not as predictable as it otherwise would be.

"Again," she said. Her gaze went to Neville. "And cast with confidence. You would have had her, were your hand stable and voice solid."

For a long moment, she thought her words wouldn't reach him. And then Neville surprised her, nodding stoically. He straightened as he turned to face the Ravenclaw. Edelweiss felt the girl's panic. She bit on her tongue to hold back her initial comment before saying, "Breathe. Be patient, yet alert. React immediately and trust your gut."

The Ravenclaw nodded. She held her reclaimed wand loosely in one hand while her legs spread slightly. Her eyes narrowed slightly, waiting and watchful.

"Tarantella!" shouted Neville. He jabbed his wand forward as he cast. The jinx shot across the distance faster than even Edelweiss expected. The Ravenclaw girl was too slow. She danced her way to the ground and giggled as her legs twitched and waved in the air.

Neville grinned brightly. He glanced at Edelweiss. When she made no effort to stop him, he crossed over to the girl. He lifted the jinx, and they turned to Edelweiss.

"Each of you to the end of the other line. We'll go until you two come back to the front of your original line."

Edelweiss stood back and watched as pair after pair went both times. The caster had the advantage, she noticed, though Quidditch players were fantastic at dodging. A few raised shields instead of dodging. Cursing them in the back stopped that behavior after the third attempt. She had them go through this drill for a reason. Cheating the drill would not help them.

Eventually, they came to Neville and that Ravenclaw girl—"Lisa Turpin," Hermione hissed midway through—again. They glanced at Edelweiss, yet she saw both of them had the vigor and will to go again. She peered up and down the lines; most looked ready to go again, if not casting a jinx, then to try and dodge again.

"Anyone too tired to continue, you are free to go," said Edelweiss. "Anyone who wishes to continue, you can run through the drill one more time."

Remarkably, only a few left. Edelweiss noted that among them was Cho Chang's friend. The one she cursed earlier.

I shall remember you, Edgecombe.

Sessions came and went as January passed. They were almost to February when their year became frenzied over OWL preparations. That was when an odd rumor began to circulate through Hogwarts. Edelweiss thought nothing of the rumor when she first heard about it. Tea? With Umbridge? They had to be barking mad. Only the most pathetic toady looking to get an in at the Ministry would dare waste their time so.

And then one of the sixth years in the defense club, one of the few still in Potions, grumbled, "And the Toad has Snape brewing something up. Won't be ready for a while, though he seems frustrated by how much she wants and how little aid she'll give him."

Edelweiss glanced at them curiously but did nothing.

"Any clue what it is?" their friend asked.

"Something that takes a while to brew. A month, I'd guess. And it's something she really wants."

Edelweiss went away from them, thinking over what she had heard. There were plenty of potions that took a long time to brew. Polyjuice took a month, though part of that had been the process of properly gathering the ingredients. But what could take that long? What would Professor Umbridge actually—

It dawned on her with sickening dread. Veritaserum. Snape had given three drops to the Death Eater who posed as Mad-Eye Moody and it was enough for him to spill all of his secrets. She remained furious Fudge had the man Kissed before a proper confession could be taken, but the past was written in stone. Edelweiss could only focus upon the present and the future, malleable against that which had come before.

At the end of that day's session, she approached the sixth years she had eavesdropped on. They froze when Edelweiss appeared before them.

"I need you to investigate something for me," she began, her gaze focused on the one still taking Potions. "Snape might be brewing up Veritaserum. I need confirmation of whether or not he is."

"That can't be legal!" she said while her friend gaped.

"Umbridge cares naught for what is and is not illegal. She acts as she believes is right and within the confines of whatever system she resides in. If she has the chance, she will move along without thought to the pain she inflicts." Edelweiss sighed. "I would be shocked if she wasn't using it—or perhaps the rumor refers to calming draughts, meant to dull the senses."

"I… I'll see what I can find out," the Potions student promised. "But that's it. I can't guarantee—"

"Do what you can. That is all I am asking of you."

The nod she received was wary and hesitant. But Edelweiss could tell, thanks to the Force, that her will would be done.

For now, she had to determine what to do now that she suspected how Umbridge would attempt to bring her down. An idea crawled into Edelweiss's mind. She glanced about the Come-and-Go Room and spotted Edgecombe glowering at her. Perfect. She would work wonders for Edelweiss's purpose, once the time was ripe.