Chapter 4
Class Inspections
The weekend came and Draco and I went out to the Quidditch field for the Slytherin team tryouts. Apparently Crabbe and Goyle wanted to try out for the two beater positions, so they joined us. I had my firebolt over my shoulder, waiting for the tryouts to start. Draco was flying laps on his nimbus two thousand and one to warm up. Slowly small groups of Slytherins showed up, and Montague made everyone line up. Draco flew back down to join us.
"Alright," Montague said as he walked up and down the line. "This year is going to be our year. We didn't get to play last year because of the Tournament, but this year there is nothing standing in our way. Potter, Pucey, Malfoy, and Bletchley step forward please." We did as we were instructed. "Here we have two of our chasers, our seeker, and our keeper. I am obviously the third chaser, so all we need today is to find two new beaters." The group of Slytherins behind us nodded their heads. "I am looking for big, strong beaters for this year," he said as he continued to walk up and down the line.
Slowly he kicked people out of the line for not being big enough for him. Soon there were only three people left in line, Crabbe, Goyle, and someone I didn't know. Montague was eyeing the three of them intently.
"Okay," he said slowly, "here's what we are going to do. I want all three of you to grab a club and your broomsticks." They did as they were told. "Let's get up in the air, and I am going to throw the quaffle at you. I want to see how hard you can hit it and how well you can aim."
The rest of the Slytherin team and I stood back and watched Montague and the three candidates fly up in the air. Montague proceeded to throw the quaffle at each of them in turn. Crabbe and Goyle were not surprisingly strong. Their aim definitely could use some work, but in terms of strength they were the best. Merely ten minutes had passed when the four of them flew back down.
"I've seen all that I needed to," Montague said. "Crabbe, Goyle, welcome to the team." The rest of us clapped and congratulated the two of them. The third candidate threw down his broom and stalked off the field.
"Now, we will be practicing…" Montague began to tell us when our quidditch practices were going to take place and how long they were going to be. "Also, tomorrow is the first practice the Gryffindors will be doing, be there."
"Why?" asked Goyle.
"To mess with their morale," Montague answered with a grin. With that the team dispersed to go eat dinner.
The next day, Saturday, I was eating some oatmeal when Draco thrust the Daily Prophet in front of me. Draco always got a copy of the Daily Prophet in the mornings, he said he liked to keep up with the news.
"Read this," he said. I took the paper and read:
'The Ministry of Magic has received a tip off from a reliable source that Sirius Black, notorious mass murderer, is currently hiding in London. The Ministry warns the wizarding community that Black is very dangerous. He killed thirteen people in 1981, one wizard and twelve muggles. A few years ago he broke out of Azkaban, becoming the first person to do so. If you or someone in your family has seen Sirius Black please contact the Ministry of Magic.'
I looked up from the paper. I hadn't really thought about my godfather in a while and now I felt guilty about it. Sirius hadn't written to me all summer, but I assumed this was because I was at the Malfoy's. Now that I was at school again, he still hadn't sent me a letter. Perhaps it was time I reached out to him instead.
"So?" Draco asked, curiously.
"So what?" I said as I pushed the paper back to him.
"Isn't he your godfather?" Draco said as he folded up the paper.
"Yeah," I said slowly, "but it's not like he's been writing me."
"Are you going to?"
"I might, why?" I started eating my oatmeal again.
"Well, he's a wanted man. Dangerous." Draco said with a shrug.
"He might be wanted, but that doesn't make him guilty." I rolled my eyes at him. I knew that Sirius didn't murder anyone, in fact, it was Pettigrew who managed to frame Sirius for those murderers in 1981. "I'll just let him know that I'm safe. I think he didn't write to me because I was at your place during the summer. He probably thought it wasn't safe to write to me then."
"He was right," Draco said nonchalantly. "If my father found out you were writing to him, he would have had the owls tracked."
"Hmm," was all I said in response.
Later that day Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy and I met up with the rest of the Slytherin quidditch team. As a group we headed down to the quidditch field to mess with the Gryffindors. I knew this meant I was going to see Harry, but I didn't care.
When we got down to the quidditch field we sat down as a group about half way up the stands. We waited for the Gryffindor team to come out of the changing rooms. I decided to bring myself some of my homework to work on while we waited. I was about a quarter of the way done with my Transfiguration homework when the Gryffindor team finally showed up. To my surprise Ron was with the team, he must have somehow managed to get himself on the team.
"What's that Weasley's riding?" Draco called out with a sneer. "Why would anyone put a flying charm on a moldy old log like that?" The group let out a loud laugh. We watched Ron mount his broom and take off.
The Gryffindor's ignored us as they gathered in the middle of the field, airborne, to start some drills. Ron's ears were so red that I could see them burning from the stands. I turned to the group of Slytherins and said, "Weasley is the one we should focus on."
"Why?" Montague asked me.
"He's easy to mess with," I said with a smile. "His confidence will go way down and then he won't be able to perform."
"Hey Johnson, what's with that hairstyle anyway?" Pansy called out. "Why would anyone want to look like they've got worms coming out of their head?" Once again the group broke out in laughter.
Angelina Johnson, the captain of the Gryffindor team, was tall with dark skin, brown eyes, and long black hair. She usually had her hair in small and numerous braids, but occasionally she'd let her hair out. She was really quite pretty and, personally, I didn't see anything wrong with her hairstyle, but the point of being there today was to mess with the team's heads.
The Gryffindors spread out on the field, Harry and Ron were opposite of each other. Johnson threw the quaffle to Fred, who passed to George, who passed to Harry, who passed to Ron and he dropped it. We broke out into screams of laughter, and Ron's face turned into a deep shade of red as he dove to grab the ball before it hit the ground. Ron threw the quaffle to Alicia Spinnet who passed back to Harry, who passed to George
"Hey, Potter, how's your scar feeling?" Draco called out. "Sure you don't need to lie down? It must be what? Whole weeks since you've been in the Hospital Wing, that's a record for you isn't it?"
Fred passed to Johnson who reversed passed to Harry. He barely made the catch before passing it to Ron, who missed it once again. I giggled alongside Pansy. It was amusing to see how easy it was to distract Ron.
"Come on now, Ron." We heard Johnson say to him as he dove for the quaffle once again. "Pay attention."
On his third attempt Ron was able to catch the quaffle. In his enthusiastic response he accidentally threw the ball too hard at Katie Bell and hit her in the face. He zoomed towards her, apologizing, as we howled with laughter. Johnson told Ron to return to position and to be more careful. After a minute Johnson decided to change what they were practicing. Harry, Fred, and George went to get a bludger and the snitch while Ron headed towards the goal hoops to practice blocking.
We watched as Ron struggled to protect all the hoops. Everytime he missed or went in the wrong direction we burst out laughing. His face turned redder and redder as practice went on. Eventually, Johnson lectured Ron on not drifting to one side absentmindedly. We began to chant, "Gryffindor's are losers!" as they continued to practice.
Bell was still bleeding from her nose, which had covered her quidditch robes in scarlet blood. Her face was a pale white and she was slowly drifting towards the ground when Johnson blew her whistle and flew over to her. Fred and George volunteered to take Bell to the Hospital Wing and Johnson told the rest of the team to get cleaned up.
"With the team playing like that, we should be able to destroy them this year!" Montague said with a grin.
"Weasley has never been good under pressure," I said with a sneer. "He's going to be the downfall of their team."
"That gives me an idea," Draco said thoughtfully. "Let's get back to the common room." As a group we all walked back up to the castle and down into the common room.
Once we all settled down in the common room, Draco told us the idea that he had. He wanted to come up with a song about Ron to sing during Gryffindor's first quidditch match. We all decided to try and come up with some lines in between working on homework and going to classes.
I finished working on all of my homework and still had a bit of time before bed. I looked around the common room. There was a group of first years playing exploding snaps. They looked so young, so innocent. Was I ever that innocent? Pansy and Zabini were still working on their Care of Magical Creatures homework, but Draco had just finished his. Crabbe and Goyle were still puzzling over their Potions essay; I had a feeling they wouldn't be passing many O.W.L's.
I pulled out another sheet of parchment and decided to write to Sirius. I wasn't sure what to write, so I figured I would just let him know how the first week of term had gone. When I was finished I folded the parchment up and put it in my bag. First thing in the morning I'd go down to the owlery to send it.
The next morning I woke up early, before anyone else in the dormitory, and headed out to the owlery. As I was walking through the common room I heard someone move behind me. I turned around to see who it was and saw Draco hanging out by one of the tables along the wall. I made a quick decision to see what he was up to. I walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.
"What are you doing up so early?" I asked. Draco looked up at me with heavy set eyes. He looked exhausted.
"Couldn't sleep, you?" He responded as he rubbed his eyes.
"Heading to the owlery," I said as I waved the letter I wrote to Sirius. "Want to come with me?"
"I could use a walk to help wake me up," Draco said as he stood up and stretched his arms. "Who'd you write to?"
"Sirius," I answered as we headed out of the common room.
"I see," Draco said slowly. "Sure it's a good idea?"
"I just wanted to let him know I'm okay," I answered as we went out the Entrance Hall and into the school grounds. "I didn't say anything about what happened this summer with You-Know-Who." I added after Draco gave me a look of concern.
"Alright then," said Draco. We walked the rest of the way to the owlery in silence.
The owlery was a tall circular building. Inside there were hundreds of nests and roosts for the owls to hang out on. When we walked in the owlery we could hear the rustling of feathers as we headed up the winding staircase. I looked around at the brown school owls, trying to decide which one to use. I ended up picking the closest one to me that didn't protest when I went to tie the letter to its leg.
"Shall we go get some breakfast?" I asked, turning to face Draco.
"Yeah, alright." He said as he nodded his head. "Maybe some food will help wake me up."
We headed off to the Great Hall, our stomachs growling the whole way there. Because we were up fairly early, we were some of the first people in the Hall. We walked around to the Slytherin table and sat down. It wasn't long until the room began to fill up and breakfast appeared on the golden platters in front of us. Hungrily, I grabbed biscuits and jam to eat. I was half way through my food when the rest of our friend group showed up.
"You guys were up early," Pansy said with a yawn as she sat down next to Draco.
"Early bird gets the worm," I said with a mouthful of biscuit.
"Chew with your mouth closed," Pansy said disgustingly.
"Whatever," I said after I finished chewing my food. Just then the post arrived, and like always Draco received a copy of the Daily Prophet. He opened up and began to read. After a few minutes he nudged me and showed me the article he was reading.
"Look," he said, "Umbridge is now the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. The Ministry is having her do interviews of all the teachers to make sure they are fit for teaching. My father gave an interview as well." I looked over the article and shrugged.
"I'm not sure why the Ministry is so interested in the school," I said after Draco took back the paper.
"Fudge wants to make sure Dumbledore isn't abusing his power as Headmaster." Pansy said as she looked over the article. "He's a crazy old man."
"I suppose we'll be seeing Umbridge in some of our classes now," I said as I pushed back my plate. There wasn't a single crumb left on it.
We headed off to our first class of the day, Charms. I looked around the room, expecting to see Umbridge but she wasn't there. She didn't show up to our next class either, double Potions. I began to wonder if we would see her at all today.
In Potions, Snape handed back our moonstone essays. When I received my paper I looked in the corner to find an A in black ink. I glanced over at Draco's paper and he also received an A.
"I have awarded you the grades you would have received if you presented this work in your O.W.L," said Snape with a smirk as he continued to pass out our homework. "This should give you a realistic idea of what to expect in your examination." Snape reached the front of the class and turned on his heel to face us. "The general standard of this homework was abysmal. Most of you would have failed had this been your examination. I expect to see a great deal more effort on this week's essay on the various varieties of venom antidotes. Or I shall have to start handing out detentions to those dunces who get D's."
"Some people got D's, aha" Draco said in a carrying whisper. I, along with Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini, chuckled at his words. I glanced over at Harry and saw his face turn slightly redder. He must have not done well on his essay.
Today's potion was the Strengthening solution. Snape had the instructions on the blackboard in the front of the class and let us have at it. By the end of class the room was filled with smoke and almost all the cauldrons were filled with a turquoise liquid. I filled up a flask with my potion and turned it in to Snape.
Lunch was next on the schedule and then Divination and Herbology. Pansy, Zabini, and I were seated in Divination, pulling out our dream diaries, when Professor Umbridge climbed up the ladder and through the trap door into the classroom. Pansy and I glanced at each other, wondering how the class was going to go.
"Good afternoon Professor Trelawney," said Professor Umbridge after the class had quieted down at her arrival. "You received my note I trust, giving the time and date of your inspection." Professor Trelawney nodded and then turned her back to Umbridge to continue handing out The Dream Oracle to the class.
Umbridge, smiling, grabbed the nearest armchair to her and dragged it up to the front of the class right behind Trelawney's desk. She sat down and took out a clipboard from her flowery bag and looked up expectantly for the class to begin. Professor Trelawney pulled her shawl tighter around her with trembling hands and she looked around the classroom.
"We shall be continuing our study of prophetic dreams today," she said in a slightly shaky voice. "Divide into pairs please and interpret each other's latest nighttime visions with the aid of The Dream Oracle."
After a few minutes, Umbridge stood up and followed Trelawney around the room listening to her conversations with students and asking a few questions. Umbridge made notes on her clipboard as the class went by and eventually started asking Trelawney some questions.
"Now you've been in this post for how long?" I heard Umbridge ask. Trelawney had her arms crossed and she scowled at Umbridge.
"Nearly sixteen years," she finally answered reluctantly.
"Quite a period," said Umbridge as she made a note on her clipboard. "So, it was Professor Dumbledore who appointed you?"
"That's right," said Professor Trelawney shortly. Umbridge made another note.
"And you are the great great-granddaughter of the celebrated seer Cassandra Trelawney?"
"Yes," said Professor Trelawney, her head held a little higher.
"But I think, correct me if I am mistaken, that you are the first in your family since Cassandra to be possessed by the second sight?"
"These things often skip three generations," said Trelawney. Umbridge's toad-like smile widened.
"Of course," she said sweetly. "Well, if you could just predict something for me then." My heart sank a little. While I knew Trelawney was capable of making accurate predictions, she wasn't able to control when she did make them. Surely Umbridge wasn't going to get an answer she was going to like.
"I don't understand you," said Professor Trelawney as she clutched her shawl even tighter.
"I'd like you to make a prediction for me," said Umbridge clearly.
"The inner eye does not see upon command," she said in scandalized tones.
"I see," said Professor Umbridge softly, making another note on her clipboard.
"I- but, but wait," said Trelawney suddenly in an attempt at her usual ethereal voice. "I think I do see something. Something that concerns you. Why I sense something, something dark, some grave peril." She pointed a shaking finger at Umbridge. "I am afraid, I am afraid that you are in grave danger." Professor Trelawney finished dramatically.
"Right," said Professor Umbridge softly. "Well, if that's really the best you can do." She turned away, leaving Trelawney standing there.
Professor Trelawney turned towards Harry and Ron and began to interpret Harry's diary out loud. Apparently Harry's dreams all led to a gruesome and disturbing death. I shook my head slightly, feeling bad for her. She was just taking her frustration at Umbridge out on Harry. The end of class came and we all filed out of the classroom.
Pansy, Zabini, and I met up with the rest of our group in the Entrance Hall. We walked down together to Herbology, telling Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle about Umbridge and Trelawney.
"It's not like Trelawney is a bad teacher, she's just…" Pansy said, trying to find the right words.
"She's a bit weird," I said. "But weird doesn't mean bad. She's just not everyone's cup of tea." Pansy and Zabini nodded with agreement.
"I like how she's always predicting your brother's painful death," Pansy giggled as we entered the greenhouse we would be working in that day.
"She does like to get graphic with the details," I nodded.
"You're making me almost wish I took Divination just so I could hear her predictions." Draco chuckled .
Herbology went by fast, another class to review a few of the species we studied in the past. Soon it was time for dinner. We were part way through dinner when I heard some shouting coming from the Gryffindor table. Angelina Johnson was yelling at Harry for getting another week's worth of detention from Umbridge. Professor McGonagall had to step down from the staff table to stop the shouting.
"Sounds like your brother can't behave in his classes," Draco sneered.
"He's an idiot who thinks he can say whatever he wants without consequences." Pansy added as she put a garden salad on her plate.
"Clearly he's getting consequences now," I said, turning my face away from the Gryffindor table.
The next day we only saw Professor Umbridge in our Care of Magical Creatures class. When we arrived at class, just outside the forest boundaries, Professor Umbridge was chatting with Professor Grubbly-Plank.
"You do not usually take this class, is that correct?" I heard Umbridge ask as my group approached the table with bowtruckle who were squabbling amongst each other.
"Quite correct," said Professor Grubbly-Plank, her hands behind her back as she bounced on the balls of her feet. "I am a substitute teacher, standing in for Professor Hagrid."
"You know," Draco whispered to us, "we could use this opportunity to make sure that Hagrid doesn't come back as a teacher."
"How?" Pansy asked, her interest peaked.
"When Professor Umbridge makes her rounds asking us what we think about the class we tell her we really like Professor Grubbly-Plank and that Hagrid was unfit to teach us." Draco said with a small sneer on his face.
"Sounds like a good plan to me," Pansy said, also sneering. Crabbe and Goyle nodded with agreement.
"Yeah," I said, "alright. I think Hagrid is better as just the gamekeeper anyway."
"Hmm," Professor Umbridge lowered her voice, but I could still hear it. "I wonder, the Headmaster seemed strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter. Can you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrids very extended leave of absence?" Both Draco and I looked up towards the two Professors, hoping to hear an answer.
"'Fraid I can't. Don't know anymore about it than you do. Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a couple weeks of teaching work, I accepted, that's as much as I know. Well, shall I get started then?"
"Yes, please do."
During the class Professor Umbridge went around asking students questions about magical creatures. Most people were able to answer well, which helped Hagrid look like a good teacher.
"Over all," said Umbrdige as she returned to Professor Grubbly-Plank's side. "How do you, as a temporary member of staff, an objective outsider I suppose you could say, how do you find Hogwarts? Do you feel you receive enough support from the school management?"
"Oh, yes. Dumbledore is excellent," said Professor Grubbly-Plank heartily. "No, I am very happy with the way things are run. Very happy indeed."
"And what are you planning to cover with this class this year? Assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid does not return."
"Oh, I'll take them through the creatures that most often come up at O.W.L," answered Professor Grubbly-Plank. "There is not much left to do as they have covered unicorns, and nifflers. I thought we would cover porlocks and kneazles. Make sure they can recognized crups and knarls, you know."
"Well, you seem to know what you are doing at any rate," said Professor Umbridge as she made notes on her clipboard. She turned towards my group of friends and asked Goyle a question.
"Now, I hear there have been injuries in this class." Goyle just grinned at her. Draco looked up eagerly and answered.
"That was me," he said, "I was slashed by a hippogriff."
"A hippogriff?" said Umbridge as she scribbled on her clipboard quickly.
"Only because he was too stupid to listen to what Hagrid told him to do," I heard Harry say angrily from behind us. I heard Hermione and Ron both let out a small groan. Umbridge turned slowly to face Harry.
"Another night's detention, I think." she said softly. "Well, thank you very much Professor Grubbly-Plank. I think that is all I need here. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days."
"Jolly good," said Professor Grubbly-Plank. Professor Umbridge then started to walk up the grounds towards the castle.
That was spent in the common room, once again working on the mountains of homework we were assigned by our classes. There was a fire roaring in the fireplace, keeping us warm as we worked. I was writing in my dream diary when Pansy looked up from her work.
"Hey," she said to the group. We all stopped our work to listen to her. "What are we going to do about the practical exam for Defense Against the Dark Arts? Since we won't be doing spells in the classroom."
"I don't see why we can't practice here in the common room," said Draco with a shrug. "So long as we don't create too much havoc in here."
"We won't get in trouble?" Pansy said, sounded a bit worried.
"Why would we? It's not like Umbridge would know if we practiced here, and she didn't say we couldn't practice outside of class. She just won't let us work on the spells in class." I said.
"That's true," Draco said while nodding his head. "We could plan one day out of the week to practice. We won't be able to do much more than that because of quidditch and all the stupid homework we are getting."
"Ok, good." said Pansy, her face looking relieved. "I was worried that without practice we wouldn't pass our O.W.L for the class. My parents would kill me if I failed."
"Same here," said Draco. "Even if they don't care for Defense Against the Dark Arts, they expect top grades in every subject."
"It almost makes me glad I don't have parents with expectations on my school work," I said jokingly. "My aunt and uncle could care less what I do with my life."
"Kind of sucks that you don't have an adult in your life that cares about your accomplishments." Pansy said softly. I thought about my godfather and began to wonder if he was going to write back to me.
"She doesn't need any," Draco said. "She has us to care about her." He gave me a warm smile before turning back to his essay.
"Thanks Draco," I said. I began putting my supplies away. "I think I am going to head to bed. Night everyone."
That night I had dreams of a life where my parents were still around. They met Cedric and loved him, and my mother gave me motherly advice on relationships. My father made sure to tell Cedric to not hurt me or he'd regret it. For a moment, while I slept, I felt like I had a normal life.
AN: Thank you for reading this far! Please leave a review and let me know what you think of the story!