Sitting at her pink desk in her meticulously organized office, Dolores Jane Umbridge, the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic and the Education Inspector, felt a mix of confusion and frustration. It had been almost two weeks since she had arrived at Hogwarts to play her role - to reform and uplift the standards of education that were clearly falling. Instead of supporting her and the Ministry in the right manner, the staff had been nothing but non-cooperative.
Clearly to help mould the young minds of the next generation and help reform the consequently lax attitude and inappropriate educational style the fellow colleagues have displayed so far were no concern of theirs. Their attitude even was not welcoming for a person of such a high status in the Ministry of Magic.
When she had raised this issue, she was met with several hostile stares.
"I beg your pardon?" McGonagall stated in a sharp tone that was usually reserved for a certain set of twins. "I am afraid I do not agree with your view on our supposedly lacking style of how we teach the pupils who come to this school."
"If your teaching methods were deemed to be appropriate and effective, Minerva, then I would not have been appointed by the Minister of Magic himself to such a position. Quite frankly I am astounded that something has not been done before!"
"Nothing has been done before because nothing has needed to be done before!" McGonagall spat out as she drew herself up to her full height. Professors Sinistra, Vector, Sprout, Flitwick and Burbage nodded along in agreement with her while Snape shared a warning glance with Dumbledore.
"Come now, Dolores. You have conducted your evaluations. Surely you must have come to a positive conclusion?" asked Slughorn jovially. It would have been different, if she was able to investigate within the walls of the castle and not as an outsider, as was previously planned. Somehow, Horace Slughorn had decided to come back to teach Potions. That had put everything into spin.
"I agree," Dumbledore spoke for the first time. "I have faith in every staff member and their teaching ability."
Yes, Umbridge thought, she had investigated each and everyone of the staff members. She had to admit that most of them had impeccable references and history. Almost all of them had been teaching at Hogwarts for decades, if not years. She was here to keep an eye on those in cahoots with Dumbledore. Lucius Malfoy had assured her of Snape's assistance, but even he had nothing fruitful to say. Other than McGonagall, she had her doubts about the Divination professor and that - that pathetic Gamekeeper turned Professor of Care of Magical Creatures, Rubeus Hagird.
Where Trelawney was concerned, she didn't know what had happened. She had been strict in her evaluation, she had checked into her results and whatever cock-and-bull story she had come up with. But then she had felt that she was not proficient in a subject such as Divination and it was not her place to fire people. She let her be. After all, Trelawney was nothing but an old fraud.
When she demanded that half-breed giants' whereabouts -
"I am afraid that Hagrid has decided to take a well-earned rest. He has been working here for the past fifty years after all. He has also been fulfilling his Gamekeeper duties along with taking up a teaching post. He will be back for the next term," replied Dumbledore.
Vague answer.
However, Dolores Umbridge was very thorough in her work. She had went round among the students, interviewed them, reviewed their results and progress and she had yet to find a slip. Although a young Gryffindor fourth-year had not returned to school. When she dug around, she found that it was the only daughter of the lowly Arthur Weasley. The family must have exhausted their gold, she chuckled to himself, if they couldn't save enough for their child's education, even after taking the aid from Hogwarts' School Fund. She had debated whether or not to inform Cornelius of this, for Arthur Weasley was notoriously close to Dumbledore.
Additionally, the Weasley children had a close friendship with Harry Potter. The youngest son was always seen in his company with that bushy-haired girl. The twins were hopeless cases. The only good apple among the bad bunch was the estranged son.
Harry Potter.
How she longed to punish the little liar!
She had cunningly orchestrated the release of some dementors from Azkaban to attack that wretched Potter boy in Little Whinging. The plan had been set in motion with the expectation that he would get Kissed. Worst case, he break the Ministry's strict laws on underage magic, giving her the perfect opportunity to smear his reputation and discredit him. And yet, to her dismay, nothing had happened. Potter had got away narrowly on technicalities. Cornelius had to endure Madam Bones' lecture on blowing the whole thing out of proportion.
Umbridge's eyes narrowed, and she tapped her fingers impatiently on the surface of her pink desk. How could this have gone so wrong? She had put so much effort into ensuring that the dementors were unleashed undetectable to herself, leaving no trace back to the Ministry. She had revelled in the thought of seeing that insufferable Potter boy pay for his defiance and disrespect towards the Ministry.
But now, she found herself grappling with her failure to achieve the desired outcome. She could feel the seed of doubt creeping into her mind. Did she underestimate Potter's resilience, or was he more cunning than she had given him credit for? The thought was quickly brushed away though, he was merely a spoiled child.
Though she had not missed his snarky retorts he had made against her and the Ministry, in the Club in front of all other students. Potter thought himself to be some sort of leader. Cornelius was right in assuming that Dumbledore was assembling an army. An army of students against the Ministry.
"It is only a club for practicing, not for teaching. Every spell, curse, jinx or charm being taught has been approved," Dumbledore said. "You might be aware of the recent lack in teaching of DADA. Harry and his friends are merely helping the students. If you are looking for any discrepancy, I suggest you ask Severus of his opinion."
Snape had grudgingly accepted of students excelling in his subject and him not having to cover the basics.
The other professors were full of praise for him. She gritted her teeth when she heard Slughorn -
"Talented, very talented boy. A Patronus Charm at his age. He's even skilled in Potions. You should have seen the Draught of Living Death he concocted in my last lesson. Clearly he has inherited his mother's talent," complimented Slughorn.
"You don't say," drawled Snape, raising his eyebrows. "Surprising, considering he barely passed my classes."
Slughorn didn't say anything, but continued, "Of course, it's simply wonderful to see the students participating so enthusiastically in the Club. Albus, I should warn you, that I am thinking of having a party, no a ball this Christmas. We should take advantage of this atmosphere."
Dumbledore only nodded, "You are the expert, Horace. I will leave you to it."
The quill in her hand snapped and Umbridge shook her head. As the clock on the wall ticked away, her mind raced with anger and determination. She couldn't let this setback deter her. Oh no, she would not rest until Potter was put back on the right path. She had considered inviting him for a chat in her office. But no, she had no authority as the Education Inspector to investigate students outside of class hours. Even if Cornelius agreed with her plan of introducing strict Decrees, Dumbledore would intervene. Potter was his favourite.
The Club was nothing but a farce to instill fear among the Wizarding World, by feeding lies of a Dark Lord coming back from the dead. Potter's popularity had gone to his head. Don't even get her started on the Muggle part of the Club. Witches and wizards of upstanding Pureblood families were consorting with Muggle objects and toys. She seethed in anger when she saw students playing Muggle sports.
Potter had polluted the sanctity of one of the esteemed magical schools by introducing such nonsense. Cornelius had already received criticisms from some of the Wizengamot members.
Umbridge had read all the articles about him last year; how he had manipulated his way into the Triwizard Tournament, how he paraded his scar with silly gimmicks like headaches and wanted everyone to worship him. Not to mention, he was a Parselmouth and was friendly with all sorts of dark creatures. She had tried contacting the writer, Rita Skeeter; however it seemed she had vanished since last year. She hadn't even submitted her report on the Third Task.
No matter.
She made a silent vow to herself that Potter's true nature as a disobedient troublemaker would be revealed to all. She would subject him to the full extent of educational decrees and punishments, making an example of him for others who dared to defy her. She would break him, one way or another, and show the world that the Ministry's power was absolute.
She could technically escalate the happenings at Hogwarts to Cornelius and he would definitely disband the club and call a meeting of the Board of Governors. But she wanted something to kill two birds with one stone. She would paint Potter as a dangerous and reckless young wizard, a threat to the harmony of their society. His behaviour was disruptive, disrespectful and subversive. He must be met with swift and severe consequences. At the same time, Dumbledore could be replaced, who was pulling the strings from the shadows.
Perhaps it was time to take matters into her own hands.
Harry didn't see much of Umbridge after the last Club meeting. He wished he could consult with Dumbledore, but he wisely kept away from him; he didn't want to give Umbridge any more ammunition. He didn't know what sort of steps she would take next, but he didn't want to be caught unawares. Which was why he was sending a letter to Madam Bones and subtly hint her about the current situation by asking her whether she had made any progress about the rogue Dementors. He offered his assistance in any way whatsoever.
The sun was high in the sky now and when Harry entered the Owlery the glassless windows dazzled his eyes; thick silvery beams of sunlight crisscrossed the circular room in which hundreds of owls nestled on rafters, a little restless in the early-morning light, some clearly just returned from hunting.
He called for Hedwig, who flew down and settled on his shoulder. He waved his wand to changed her feathers from white to black. Hedwig hooted in disapproval.
"You are too recognisable. I can use other owl, if you don't want to." She quickly nipped his ear.
"Right, this is an important letter. It's for Madam Amelia Bones," he told her, giving her the letter to clasp in her beak, "be careful, OK?"
She blinked her amber eyes once and he took that to mean that she understood. Hedwig took off into the blindingly bright sky. He watched her until she became a tiny black speck and vanished, then switched his gaze to Hagrid's hut, clearly visible from this window, and just as clearly uninhabited, the chimney smokeless, the curtains drawn. Hagrid was the only one remaining who didn't know about Ginny's pregnancy. He snorted as he thought about what his reaction to the news would be.
He climbed down the Owlery and as he making his way back to the castle, he saw the Ravenclaw team finishing from the Quidditch practice. They would be playing Hufflepuff after the opening match.
"Harry," someone called.
He turned to saw Cho walking up to him, clutching her Cleansweep in her hand. When she reached him, both of them stood there silently, waiting for the other to speak.
"Hi," said Harry, taking the first step. His legs automatically started forward, so Cho and him walked together.
"Hi, Harry," she said breathlessly.
"How was practice?"
"Oh, it was fine," she said. "A bit slow, since we have had break last year and I didn't get to practice much."
Harry nodded in response. Cho took the initiative to continue talking.
"We didn't really get to talk much, you have been so busy with things. And... Listen, Harry. I- I wanted to tell you, that you were really brave."
Harry was about to interrupt, when she continued, "For everything, actually. Last year, with - with him dying. You standing up to You-know-Who. I believe you." She gave a hearty sniff.
If she started crying now, he shuddered. He just stood awkwardly.
"And now, you are teaching all this... this stuff," she said thickly. "It just ... makes me think of him. How he'd be alive.."
"Cedric did know. He was really good at it, or he could never have got to the middle of that maze. He was the principal representative for Hogwarts. I was.. only forced for Voldemort's hidden motive."
She hiccoughed at the sound of Voldemort's name, but stared at Harry without flinching.
"When Voldemort wants to kill you, you don't stand a chance."
"You survived when you were just a baby," she said quietly.
"Well, it was my mother. Not me," said Harry heavily. "I am sorry for what happened to Cedric. He really was a wonderful person, who deserved much more, most of all a long, happy and a fulfilling life."
"Yes," she agreed. "I know it must be horrible for you," she said, mopping her misty eyes on her sleeve again. "Me mentioning Cedric, when you saw him die… I suppose you just want to forget about it?"
Harry said nothing.
"You're a r-really good teacher, you know," said Cho. "And all this new Muggle stuff. I never knew. It is sort of liberating to discover and play something new."
"You have to thank Hermione for that. That was her idea," said Harry automatically.
Her face clouded suddenly, which Harry didn't notice, for he was staring straight ahead. He was wondering if he should broach the topic, when she brought it up.
"Erm… there's a Hogsmeade trip next weekend, did you see the notice?"
Right. What he had to say next was proving difficult. For Merlin's sake, this was ridiculous. He was an adult and she was a teenager. There's no reason to feel so awkward about this.
"Listen, Cho," he started. "I uh-"
Cho's face fell. "You don't want to?"
'Because I don't fancy you anymore.' Thank Merlin he didn't say that out loud. That was on Ron's level of tactlessness.
"It's just… well, I've got someone I lo- fancy already," he confessed, forcing himself to look at her.
"But last year, you asked me to the Yule Ball. I saw you ... pining," she said.
"Yes, well, that was last year. You were with -," he cleared his throat. "And I was -"
"I don't believe you! I thought we'd - You are so quick to - "
"Harry!"
Hermione had come running from around a corner. "I have been looking for you everywhere. I was - ," she stopped when she saw Harry with Cho.
"Sorry," she said, when she got the feeling that she had interrupted them.
"I will see you around, Harry," Cho said dramatically. She swung her broom over her shoulder and headed back to the castle. Harry waited until she was a good distance away before letting out a huge sigh of relief.
"What was that?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing. One less headache," answered Harry. "What is it, Hermione?"
"We, Ron and I were at our Prefect meeting, Umbridge was there too. Said she was supervising how discipline and order is maintained."
"Did something happen?" Harry asked, as they both climbed one of the many moving staircases, which led the way to their common room. Hermione was about to reply when they spotted Ron coming from another corridor. He waited until the throngs of students coming out from their lessons passed by.
She raised an eyebrow, to which Ron shook his head. They huddled themselves into a dark corner.
"What is it?" asked Harry impatiently.
"We were just finished with our prefect meeting, when Umbridge cornered Ron - "
"You didn't eat or drink anything she gave you right?" demanded Harry.
Ron rolled his eyes, "No, but she started chatting with me. Started asking about my studies, whether I was taking them seriously. Mentioned Percy too." His ears went red. "Then inquired why Ginny wasn't here."
Harry's heart dropped.
"Don't worry. She didn't press much. I think she is under the impression that - you know... We couldn't affordhereducation," he said in one breath.
"Does it mean something?" whispered Hermione.
"As I was leaving, I heard her talking to Malfoy. It was odd," added Ron.
Harry didn't understand.
"She was talking about you."
When Ron and Hermione arrived in the Great Hall on the following Tuesday, the Hall was decked with decorations for Halloween. A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. Flitwick in one corner was charming them with his wand.
"You are saying that with eklectricity, Muggles power everything!" said Ron.
Hermione couldn't help but smile at the look of amazement on her friend's face. She was explaining how Muggles were dependent on electricity. How they used it to power their houses and their everyday life. When she had brought the string telephone to better teach how Muggles communicate with each other, she wasn't expecting the amount of interest it would generate in others. Many of them saw the advantage of having such a device.
The absolute best had come from Harry, who had announced that soon all Muggles could carry a small telephone in their pockets that could connect them to everyone. Of course, the more advancement in technology, the more complex it would get for the world who had hidden themselves to understand. Hermione had the idea to teach them a bit about Muggle scientific history, how necessity had forced Muggles, devoid of magic, to push their limits and discover something.
She had planned to introduce them to story of how airplane was invented in the next meeting of their club.
"How's this? I can invite you to my house in the holidays," suggested Hermione. "That way you can experience how Muggles live."
Ron's eyes widened at the thought of spending time with her over the holidays.
They sat themselves side by side on the Gryffindor table. Ron started serving himself breakfast.
"Shouldn't we wait for Harry?"
"He will come. You know, how he spends most of the morning. Talking to -" He broke off. "Uh, Hermione, why is Cho Chang staring at you?"
She turned her head to the Ravenclaw table, and the sixth-year was watching her with contempt in her eyes.
"No idea," said Hermione.
She shrugged and went back to her plate. She noticed that Umbridge was missing from the teachers' table. She had heard that as an Education Inspector, she had legally finished her duties. The evaluations were nothing but on the positive side. Though Harry had said that she would likely prolong her presence to find something against.
As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught by the arrival of the parcels. When Hermione's Daily Prophet arrived she smoothed it out, gazed for a moment at the front page and gave a yelp that caused everyone in the vicinity to stare at her.
Ron, in turn, tore his gaze away and looked at her questioningly, "What?"
The Great Hall had erupted into further noise. Ron's face showed confusion as he saw many getting up and gathering themselves in small groups to - he leaned his neck - read the newspaper. Around him, Ron was vaguely aware of the rustling; he was aware as small gasps were heard around the room, as hands covered mouths, as people adjusted to share their papers with their neighbours. But these were the only sounds. Not a soul spoke.
He saw Fred and George making their way towards him, their faces grim.
"Have you seen it?" they asked.
Ron felt a sharp jab and turned to Hermione, her mouth slightly agape and a look of horror on her face. She spread the newspaper on the table in front of them.
The four of them laid their eyes on the the photograph on the front page. It was the image of a young boy gazed back. The boy was not moving, cementing the fact that it was a Muggle photo. The sort of photo taken at Muggle schools for an ID card. The child could not have been more than seven or eight years old. He was skinny and wore a ragged t-shirt that was several sizes too big. The boy's glasses appeared to be broken and were held with a simple sellotape.
The headline screamed -
31ST OCTOBER, 1995
THE BOY WHO LIVED LIES
THE HIDDEN TRUTH
FOURTEEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY
On this day in 1981, fourteen years ago, Harry Potter - just over a year old - put paid to the terrible dark wizard You-Know-Who, whose name still garners much fear and trepidation even after his death. This day was to be forever remembered in the history books as the day when a mere infant survived the unsurvivable - the deathly Killing Curse and came to be known in the Wizarding World as the Boy Who Lived.
But victory came at a price. Lily and James Potter (pictured top left) lost their lives in He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's attack. Harry Potter had become an orphan at just fifteen months of age. Naturally, arrangements had to be made for young Harry Potter and swiftly (the picture beneath the headline, which showed a smiling baby, forehead unscarred beneath a tuft of jet-black hair). Both sets of grandparents on either side were deceased.
Lily and James Potter had of course assigned a guardian. That person too, was, let's say unavailable. We can also exclusively reveal that the convicted mass-murderer Sirius Black was named godfather by Lily and James Potter. Without going into detail, it was this close friend of the Potters who was to be held responsible for their deaths, for Sirius Black was the Secret Keeper. But the Potters were betrayed as Black turned out to be a Death Eater in secret and gave away the Potters' location to his master, who then set out to murder them.
With the Ministry in shambles, Albus Dumbledore took it upon himself and elected to send Harry to live with his mother's Muggle sister and her Muggle family. It was a very logical choice: they were Harry's only living relatives. Not everyone, however, considered Albus Dumbledore's choice 'logical'. There was immediate public outcry at the idea that young Harry would grow up outside of the Wizarding World. Several wizarding families were quick to offer to adopt Harry Potter and raise him as their own. But Dumbledore was adamant - he spun a tale of blood magic for Harry's safety. With the paranoia prevalent at the time, this went undisputed.
However, even after the Wizarding World had put itself back on track, Harry Potter was to remain at the Dursleys; have a sheltered upbringing away from the fame and publicity. Most of all, a normal childhood.
But just how 'normal' was Harry Potter's childhood? For fourteen years, Potter's exact whereabouts were largely kept a mystery 'for the sake of his protection,' as the Ministry told us or rather Dumbledore told us. But was there a more sinister reason behind the secrecy? And how much did Albus Dumbledore know that he was not telling us?
When Harry Potter rejoined the Wizarding World to start his schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry five years ago, he was accompanied by Rubeus Hagrid (half-giant) to Diagon Alley. He looked positively malnourished and was wearing Muggle clothes that must have been three sizes too big. Were the Muggles so poor that they couldn't afford him some fitting clothes?
We want to ask Dumbledore the following questions - Why Muggles? How could Muggles ever understand him? Why not have him stay in the Wizarding World with his own people?
The scarring of Harry James Potter's childhood began Halloween 1981. However, the far more scandalous events began the next day and in the following years. He was left on the doorstep of Petunia Dursley's Surrey home. This brutal and heart-wrenching scene set the stage for an orphan's dark, lonely and abusive years.
Fellow students at Hogwarts noted how Potter had not one single positive word to say about his Muggle family. He never went home for Christmas and Easter, instead choosing to stay in the castle. It was a shame that students were not allowed to stay over during the summer holidays, for if it were possible, Potter's name would be on the top of the list.
Even during the summer, Potter spent most of his time with the Weasley family. It is astonishing how unconcerned the Dursleys felt about their nephew. Potter also had ran away from home, when he was thirteen and had spent the summer in Diagon Alley unsupervised, in the Leaky Cauldron; after blowing up his aunt in a fit of rage.
It is even more disturbing when Harry Potter's guardians were attempting to evade contact with the Wizarding World; or the fact that Albus Dumbledore was likely aware of all this and still stood by his decision to send Harry Potter to live with his Muggle relations every summer holiday.
The Ministry, this time, unhindered by Dumbledore's influence, decided to act and investigate the matter directly at the source.
Continued at page 5
More rustling followed.
Several smaller photos accompanied the continuation of the article on page five. There was the photo of a remarkably average suburban house; a living room mantel covered in photographs of a fat blond boy; a small bedroom that appeared to have a cat flap installed in the door and bars across the window; and finally - a small cot crammed into a cupboard under the stairs.
Ron and Hermione shared a scared look and continued to read.
The Ministry decided to interview some nearby neighbours and members of the Muggle community to try to get a better picture of who the Dursleys were. By most accounts, the Dursley Family seemed perfectly ordinary and respectable. When inquired about Potter, the answers turned strange and frankly alarming.
Some people weren't even aware of Harry Potter living in Number Four, Privet Drive. While some were aware of the reputation that Potter had gathered for himself. It was then discovered that the cover story the Dursleys had been using to explain Potter's disappearances to Hogwarts each year was that he had been sent off to Saint Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys. Potter repeatedly got into trouble at muggle primary school (signs of accidental magic), there was a lot of shouting heard during the summer, bullying too.
When the Dursleys were confronted, the dark truth came out. Potter was unwelcome at the Dursleys. They hated him and his magical heritage. They shunned him, abused him. Treated him like a House-elf. Made to work every single chore, starved and perhaps even beaten.
If that weren't enough, the Muggles had a special place for Potter to live. A cupboard under the stairs (pictured above). Among a collection of Muggle cleaning supplies, there were subtle but unmistakable hints that a child once lived here. A small cot was crammed inside, just big enough for a child to sleep on. That was where a small, lonely orphaned child lived for the first ten years of his life.
The Dursleys have a son themselves, the same age as Potter, Dudley Dursley. While his cousin got two bedrooms, toys, clothes, food, birthday cakes and celebrations; Harry Potter sat in his cupboard.
And now we come to today, fourteen years later.
"Abused and neglected children often feel such a desperate need for approval," commented Elisabeth Marchbanks, Healer at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. "And they are likely to especially push the limits of authority."
That is true, given the incidences of accidental magic at the Dursleys and the rule-breaking penchant showcased by Potter at Hogwarts. Supposedly, Dumbledore encourages him by assigning points and giving him special privileges. Potter has also formed a club consisting of fellow schoolmates, in which he teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts. He has additionally been known to fraternise with all sorts of dark creatures, like giants and werewolves. He possesses the ability of Parseltongue (the most infamous being You-Know-Who himself).
The bad news doesn't stop here, " Such magical children when supressed, well, I don't really need to remind you of Obscurials." (An Obscurial is a young wizard or witch who has developed a dark parasitical magical force, known as an Obscurus, as a result of their magic being suppressed through psychological or physical abuse.)
Was Dumbledore counting on Potter being an Obscurus to manipulate him into his power? Concern has long been raised about the nature of Dumbledore's relationship with Potter, as the Headmaster of Hogwarts takes an unusual interest in his young student during his time at school. This new evidence only serves to add another sinister layer to an already disturbing association.
Are Dumbledore and Potter in cahoots? Are they supposedly plotting the chaos and destruction of the peaceful magical society that has been painstakingly rebuilt on the ruins of the last War?
Now, with Dumbledore harping about the supposed return of a defeated Dark Lord since the controversial end of the past year's Triwizard Tournament (in which an underage Potter participated and won); it is time to thoroughly look after the interests of the magical citizens.
More details to follow soon.
"Quite a read, isn't it?" said a voice behind them.
