AN: As always, thanks for all your continued support. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
stars90 - Thanks! Figured I would make the blood quill legal, even if it is abhorrent. It will get addressed in this chapter a bit though.
Guest - The Witcher Clan will eventually get closer to the Potter Clan, but it won't be overnight.
scrappy8 - Yeah, Umbridge is the absolute worst.
Mando-Vet - Don't we all . . .
Diavo - Without a doubt. I'm fairly confident most people hate her way more than they hate Voldemort, and yes, she will definitely get her just desserts.
Chapter 52
Harry continued to sew the required symbols into the midnight black cloak, while occasionally glancing up at his two companions, partially because he was helping to guide them with their work, and partially because he always enjoyed watching either of them at really any time.
Both Ginny and Katie were near him, continuing their attempts to learn shadow magic. Technically, both were capable of using it, but like Harry had been when he first started, their attempts were weak and very limited. In Harry's opinion, Ginny had the best Arcanum, or understanding of darkness, which was helping to fuel her grasp of the element, but she, like he had at the time, had the least amount of knowledge in magical theory, and thus sometimes struggled with the actual spells she was trying to use. Katie was the opposite. Her background was much happier than either Harry's or Ginny's, so she had struggled to finally use the element due to it taking her so much longer to fully grasp the element fundamentally inside her heart, but she had quickly gained on Ginny once she overcame that, thanks to her additional two years of magical education.
Regardless, they were both doing quite well, in Harry's opinion. The fact that either of them was successfully manipulating the element at all was a wonderful accomplishment as it was. Timing of learning was very variable when it came to elemental magic. Harry himself had learned it much younger than most others, or at least most others since the creation of the wand, and he had learned it quite a bit faster than average, but also much slower than some, especially with it being his first element. That was a repercussion of trying to learn it while so young.
Looking into it, some elements like water were still quite widely used, but many elements had fallen out of favor with the creation of the wand, so many who tried to learn elemental magic had incomplete tomes and thus took a long time to master their element, if they ever really did. Many also learned by themselves, like Harry had, which meant speed of understanding was largely dependent on the intelligence, determination, and power of the practitioner. Harry had had access to the knowledge, though his lack of other magical knowledge had hindered him. Without Hades's aid, which included the tattoo, the ring, the book, and Astra, Harry probably still wouldn't have mastered shadow magic at this time, and wouldn't have for quite a while. However, there were plenty of reports of people learning and even mastering elemental magic within a year or two. The fastest on record was a witch named Caroline Yaxley, some eight hundred years ago, who had mastered the earth element in only four months. Granted, she went on to be a Grand Sorcerer, so she clearly had been a prodigy with the elemental arts. It really depended on the practitioner and how many elements they learned, and of course the gods could play a huge part in it.
Albus Dumbledore had become a Grand Sorcerer at the age of 55. He had reportedly started learning his first element at age twenty six, so it had taken him roughly twenty nine years to master all ten elements, making it almost three years per element. However, in that time frame, Dumbledore accomplished a great many other things, including several masteries and apprenticeships, as well as published many different papers on various branches of magic. He was also an active dueling champion during that time, so it was easy to say that he had not been dedicating all of his time to learning the elements. It might have also taken him some time to fully track down ten tomes on the elements, unless he bargained with the deities. It was also well documented that learning the natural opposite of whatever element you know is generally very difficult, which probably factored into that time frame.
Like Caroline Yaxley, Albus Dumbledore was also an absolute genius and magical prodigy, so it was really hard to use him as a baseline for their own progress. Most couldn't expect to learn all the elements at all let alone several of them that quickly, but that didn't mean that people, with the right circumstances, couldn't learn their first element faster than Harry had. In Katie and Ginny's favor was that they were older than Harry had been when he started learning, and more magically advanced. They had access to Harry's tome and the various notes he'd made on the subject. They also had access to him as a proper teacher and access to Astra who was more than happy to help two more embrace her element.
If the two girls were interested, as they advanced, Harry would even help them seek aid from Hades or any of the other darkness gods. He knew both girls were interested in patronage or matronage from a deity. Katie was currently pursuing matronage with Athena. Harry had already prayed to the goddess himself on Katie's behalf. He was hoping that she, along with Alicia and Angelina, who were also pursuing, would all receive the goddess's blessing. Granted, in Ginny and Katie's case, he didn't know if Hades would grant them that. He was picky, and even if he did, would they want to pay whatever price he demanded? He wasn't sure, but with how eager they both were to learn the element of his mageship, he kind of hoped one or both would want to, and he hoped his patron would give them it.
Still, patronage or not, he had high hopes that with the dedication they were showing, and their better situations, combined with his help, that they would be able to master the element within two years, compared to his four, just as he hoped he would master the lightning element within a year or two. Both Katie and Ginny were already starting to get good grasps of augmenting darkness and even generating darkness, and both had managed to get shadow pinning to work. Now they were working on fine tuning all three, and controlling the amount of power that they could draw from the elements.
The Room of Requirement was the perfect place to practice elemental magic with the room easily creating light to counter Ginny's and Katie's actions or give them darkness to aid with their efforts.
Further away from them was Alicia, who had a large pool from which to continue her efforts with water magic, and lastly was Angelina, who was working on her air magic. Truthfully, all of them, save Angelina and Ginny, should have probably been working on the pile of homework they'd been given and hadn't been able to get through because of detention, but with Quidditch practice in the afternoon, and Harry the terrible week they'd had, they'd all agreed they wanted to enjoy their morning instead. After lazing about for a bit, they enjoyed breakfast and all decided to spend the rest of the morning leading up to lunch working on their respective elements or personal projects.
Harry was continuing his last efforts towards magehood, and had already put some work towards the lightning element. Ginny, Katie, Alicia, and Angelina were all continuing their efforts with their respective elements. Hermione was in the library doing her homework, likely thinking about them with disapproval. Ron had seen that no matter which group he joined, they'd be studying, so he'd chosen to accompany Hermione to the library with the hopes she'd help him get through his mountain of homework, which Harry had to admit was probably the smarter and more responsible choice compared to him and his other older friends. Ron would likely get to enjoy the rest of his weekend or at least a fair bit of it . . . Harry did not have high hopes for himself.
"So, Harry, what exactly are you doing to that cloak?" Katie asked, and he glanced up to see that both she and Ginny had stopped their efforts and were now standing over him.
Smiling, they both took a seat in front of him.
"Well, most people think divine objects are just gifted by the gods," Harry said. "That's not true . . . or at least not always true. Some of them take special materials or properties to create the item that is then empowered by the gods. My weapons are all like that. I basically used materials with special properties to create the weapons, which already gave them certain abilities, but it's Hades or Nyx or Thanatos and their blessings that truly give my weapons their power. Some of those materials can only be acquired through contracts with the gods, further cementing divine aid required to make them."
Katie and Ginny both nodded, looking fascinated.
"Shadow cloaks are similar in creation, but opposite in delivery. The weapons I create are empowered by the gods. For this cloak and the other three like it I have worked on or plan to work on, I'm taking a relatively normal black cloak, and I have to sew hundreds of specific symbols and runes. Then, I'll do a ritual with some other items, in this case, hair from a thestral, a shadow hound, a demiguise, and a moon raven, black sand from Erebus, water from the River Lethe, and acromantula silk. The gods or goddesses will take my items, if they deem me worthy, and replace these robes with a set of shadow robes, essentially trading the items and robes for the enchanted robes," Harry explained. "It is one of four items of clothing I must create to be a mage, which are also the last four items I need to become a mage. I'm almost done with these robes, and have already done another three pairs. Once I'm done with this set, I'll do the ritual to get shadow robes. I also need to work on some boots, gloves, and a belt. I plan to do two pairs of boots, two pairs of gloves, and two belts as well. I hope to have all four items and amounts done in the next month or two, but by Christmas at the latest, which will make me a mage in Hades's eyes. Then, I'll pass the ICW Mage's exam through the Ministry, present my items, and that will make me legally an accredited mage."
"Wow," Katie said, impressed. "What do these shadow robes do? I didn't really read up on weapons and clothes, mostly just the elemental magic part."
"Well, it depends," Harry said, with a grin. "The robes can be worn in one of two ways, depending on my need. I can wear them as a method of stealth, and they'll be almost as good if not better than my invisibility cloak, hiding me in darkness, even keeping people's eyes off me if I'm in the shade of a building or in somebody's shadow. They also generate a small bit of darkness meaning I'll always be able to shadow travel while I'm wearing them. Essentially, they work like the shadow cloak spell, the shadow invisibility spell, and a notice-me-not charm all rolled up together in a piece of clothing. They aren't as powerful as my invisibility cloak, but they do help enhance my magic, which my invisibility cloak does not. Of course, on a bright day, my invisibility cloak would be much better, and my invisibility cloak has no discernable way to reveal me, unlike the cloaks."
"What's the second way?" Ginny asked eagerly.
"The second option is where they are essentially battle robes or mage robes," Harry said. "I wear them without the hood up, and they don't conceal me quite as well as if I was trying to be stealthy, but they do provide some protection from spells, and make staring at me seem like I'm moving through mist, almost like they're seeing a mirage of my movements, which makes me harder to fight, and again, they generate darkness either for attack and offense, but also for travel. That is the manner in which I should wear them for all mage functions. I can cause the mirage effect to disappear by will, making them seem like normal robes, if need be, so they'll generally be what I wear after they are done."
"Wow," both girls said, and Harry chuckled, having to agree. He still found the whole process to be very cool and was glad he'd started down it.
Suddenly a brief scream filled the air and they turned to see Alicia having fallen into the pool, Angelina, a ways away, grinning mischievously. Alicia's head came back out of the water, and she glared over at Angelina.
"Was that . . . ?" Harry asked, and Angelina nodded excitedly. "Brilliant!"
Angelina had just used an air blast to knock Alicia into the pool. Alicia climbed out of the pool, and she grinned wickedly.
"I'm really happy for you Lina," Alicia said, "but you're not the only one who can use her element for evil."
Harry's eyes widened as Alicia's body and clothes dried as she pulled the water out into a ball. He could see her straining with the work she was doing, but it was still happening.
"Don't you dare!" Angelina said, unable to shake the wide smile from her face as she tried for a threatening tone.
Alicia, of course, dared, and the ball of water she was holding shot off at Angelina who tried to dodge, but whether Alicia planned for it, or it was just good timing on her losing control of the spell, the ball collapsed and water flew everywhere, soaking Angelina who blinked in surprise.
Before they knew it, they were all laughing as Angelina was hitting herself with a drying charm.
"Alright you lot," Angelina said, finally, her tone happier than Harry had heard since returning to Hogwarts. "We have Quidditch practice, so let's go get some lunch and then we can get out flying a bit early."
"You heard the captain," Harry said with a grin, and they did just that, though that did include another round of disapproving words from Hermione, who never would understand why they cared about a "silly" game. Unfortunately for her, with Alicia, Angelina, Katie, and Ginny having become an integral part of their close circle, she was more outnumbered than ever.
For about an hour before practice, Harry, Angelina, Alicia, Katie, Ginny, and Ron, who of course had joined them for flying and quidditch, enjoyed the beautiful afternoon. It really was a perfect day for Quidditch. They flew around, broke out the quaffles and tossed it around, with Harry acting as an extra chaser, so that they could occasionally shoot shots at Ron, who guarded the posts. It was relaxing, carefree, and fun, and everything he'd hoped getting back on a broom would be.
Finally, it was time for the real practice, so they leisurely made their way to the changing rooms, with Angelina taking an extra lap to look at something, where Fred, George, Jack, Andrew, and Demelza were arriving and starting to change into their quidditch robes. When Angelina came in behind them, she immediately went for the captain's office, while the rest of them interacted with the rest of the team.
Demelza looked relieved to see them all, and Ginny, Katie, and Alicia quickly made their way over to the last reserve chaser to hopefully put her at ease for her first practice.
"All right, Ron?" said George, winking at him.
"Yeah," said Ron, who had become quieter and quieter all the way down to the changing rooms.
"Ready to show us all up, Ickle Prefect?" said Fred, emerging tousle-haired from the neck of his Quidditch robes, a slightly malicious grin on his face.
"Shut up," said Ron, stony-faced, pulling on his own team robes for the first time. They fitted him well considering they had been Oliver Wood's, who was rather broader in the shoulders.
"He really was doing quite well out there earlier," Alicia said kindly, and Ron gave her an appreciative look.
"OK, everyone," said Angelina. "Let's get to it; Alicia and Fred, if you can just bring out the ball crate for us. Oh, and there are a couple of people out there watching but I want you to just ignore them, all right?"
Harry grimaced. Her would-be casual voice made Harry think he might know who the uninvited spectators were, and sure enough, when they left the changing room for the bright sunlight of the pitch it was to a storm of catcalls and jeers from the Slytherin Quidditch team and assorted hangers-on, who were grouped halfway up the empty stands and whose voices echoed loudly around the stadium.
"What's that Weasley's riding?" Malfoy called in his sneering drawl. "Why would anyone put a flying charm on a moldy old log like that?"
Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson guffawed and shrieked with laughter. Ron mounted his broom and kicked off from the ground and Harry followed him, watching his ears turn red from behind.
"Ignore them," he said, accelerating to catch up with Ron, "we'll see who's laughing after we play them . . ."
"Exactly the attitude I want, Harry," said Angelina approvingly soaring around them with the Quaffle under her arm and slowing to hover on the spot in front of her airborne team. "OK, everyone, we're going to start with some passes just to warm up, the whole team please –"
"Hey, Johnson, what's with that hairstyle, anyway?" shrieked Pansy Parkinson from below. "Why would anyone want to look like they've got worms coming out of their head?"
Angelina swept her long braided hair out of her face and continued calmly, "Spread out, then, and let's see what we can do . . ."
Harry reversed away from the others to the far side of the pitch. Ron fell back towards the opposite goal. Angelina raised the Quaffle with one hand and threw it hard to Fred, who passed to George, who passed to Harry, who passed to Ginny, who passed to Ron, who dropped it.
The Slytherins, led by Malfoy, roared and screamed with laughter. Ron, who had pelted towards the ground to catch the Quaffle before it landed, pulled out of the dive untidily, so that he slipped sideways on his broom, and returned to playing height, blushing. Harry saw Fred and George exchange looks, but uncharacteristically neither of them said anything, for which he was grateful.
"Pass it on, Ron," called Angelina, as though nothing had happened.
Ron threw the Quaffle to Alicia, who passed back to Harry, who passed to Demelza, to George . . .
"Hey, Potter, how's your scar feeling?" called Malfoy. "Sure you don't need a lie down? It must be, what, a whole week since you were in the hospital wing, that's a record for you, isn't it?"
George passed to Angelina; she reverse-passed to Harry, who had not been expecting it, but caught it in the very tips of his fingers and passed it quickly to Ron, who lunged for it and missed by inches.
"Come on now, Ron," said Angelina crossly, as he dived for the ground again, chasing the Quaffle. "Pay attention. Ignore them. They're always like this. If you can't handle it now, you'll struggle more leading up to the game when they're much worse."
It would have been hard to say whether Ron's face or the Quaffle was a deeper scarlet when he again returned to playing height. Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherin team were howling with laughter.
On his third attempt, Ron caught the Quaffle; perhaps out of relief he passed it on so enthusiastically that it soared straight though Katie's outstretched hands and hit her hard in the face. Harry grimaced.
"Sorry!" Ron groaned, zooming forwards to see whether he had done any damage.
"Get back in position, she's fine!" barked Angelina. "But as you're passing to a teammate, do try not to knock her off her broom, won't you? We've got Bludgers for that!"
Katie's nose was bleeding. Down below, the Slytherins were stamping their feet and jeering. Fred and George converged on Katie, who was waving them off knowing that Alicia could heal it easily, but Fred pulled a small purple out of his pocket instead.
"Here, take this. It'll clear it up in no time, " he told her, so finally shrugging, she took it.
"All right," called Angelina, "Fred, George, go and get your bats and a Bludger. Ron, get up to the goalposts. Harry, release the Snitch when I say so. We're going to aim for Ron's goal, obviously."
Harry zoomed off after the twins to fetch the Snitch.
"Ron's making a right pig's ear of things, isn't he?" muttered George, as the three of them landed at the crate containing the balls and opened it to extract one of the Bludgers and the Snitch.
"He's just nervous," said Harry, "he was fine when we were practicing with him just an hour ago."
"Yeah, well, I hope he hasn't peaked too soon," said Fred gloomily.
They returned to the air. When Angelina blew her whistle, Harry released the Snitch and Fred and George let fly the Bludger. From that moment on, Harry was barely aware of what the others were doing, his focus on capturing the snitch. Soon, however, too soon, the whistle brought him to a halt again.
"Stop – stop – STOP!" screamed Angelina. "Ron – you're not covering your middle post!"
Harry looked round at Ron, who was hovering in front of the left-hand hoop, leaving the other two completely unprotected.
"Oh . . . sorry . . . "
"You keep shifting around while you're watching the Chasers!" said Angelina. "Either stay in center position until you have to move to defend a hoop, or else circle the hoops, but don't drift vaguely off to one side, that's how you let in the last three goals!"
"Sorry . . ." Ron repeated, his red face shining like a beacon against the bright blue sky.
"And Katie, can't you do something about that nosebleed?"
"It's just getting worse!" said Katie thickly, attempting to stem the flow with her sleeve.
Harry glanced round at Fred, who was looking anxious and checking his pockets. He saw Fred pull out something purple, examine it for a second and then look round at Katie, evidently horror-struck.
"Shit, he gave her the wrong end of one of their Blood Blisterpods," Harry muttered to himself, and signaled Angelina, who looked at him with frustration.
"Katie's nosebleed isn't going to stop," Harry said to her. "The twins gave her the wrong end of their product."
"Shit," she swore angrily, glaring at Fred and George who winced.
"Hey, it's okay," Harry said, trying to be comforting. "Have Fred and George take care of Katie. We still have Jack and Andrew, who need work anyway, and we have Ginny and Demelza. You can still work chaser drills and work with Ron too."
Angelina sighed.
"You're right, that's why we have reserves," she said with a huff, as they both ignored the Slytherins, who had now set up a chant of "Gryffindor are losers, Gryffindor are losers," but there was a certain rigidity about her seat on the broom nevertheless. "Let's do this again. Fred, George, get Katie to the hospital wing," she ordered. "The rest of us will continue."
Fred and George winced at Katie's glare, especially since her face was getting paler and paler, but nodded and the three of them quickly flew down to the ground, with the Slytherins roaring with laughter.
Harry would have loved to say that practice got better after those distractions were gone, but he couldn't. Andrew and Jack really were lousy as beaters, and while he hoped they'd get better, they really were almost more of a nuisance than a help. Ginny and Demelza both melded fairly well with Angelina and Alicia, even if it was clear to see that Demelza was very nervous and disheartened by the Slytherin's actions. Ginny flew well, seeming more angry as it went on, making her do better, compared to Ron who got more and more nervous and kept making more and more mistakes, which meant that even with the chasers doing well, the overall practice wasn't good.
"I think we should call it for the day," Angelina said glumly, after an hour of one of the worst practices Harry had ever been a part of.
Admitting defeat for the day, they trooped back to the changing rooms, and spent the rest of the day unhappily doing homework, trying to shake the memory of the terrible practice. With how well the day had started, it ended up rather miserable.
**HP**
"If there are no motions to be presented, we'll move on to today's schedule," Fudge called out blandly, clearly trying to force his way through before anyone could voice complaints.
"You know damn well there are several discussions to happen today, and there are several motions that are to be presented," Sirius said coldly.
"You will watch your tone when addressing me, Lord Black," Fudge said icily. "The floor is yours."
"I submit a motion to forbid any more educational decrees being passed without an eighty percent approval by this Wizengamot," Sirius said flatly. "No more 'emergency meetings' with just enough members for a quorum."
Fudge's eyes flashed angrily.
"Under what grounds?" he demanded.
"Simply put, Minister," Sirius said coldly. "The runnings of Hogwarts affect all of our children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, wards, and godchildren. You passing two decrees now, specifically when forty percent of the Wizengamot wasn't present to oppose or aid is simply a travesty, especially since I hardly consider those emergency sessions worthy of being emergencies. In addition, I feel that you are deliberately trying to avoid oversight by the Wizengamot with some of your actions, particularly the Decrees you tried to have passed last night."
"We've done nothing wrong," Fudge said.
"Perhaps, but I think the parents at Hogwarts would disagree," Sirius said. "You passed Educational Decree Twenty-Two, and admittedly, I'm still in full support of that decree."
Fudge's eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait - what?" Fudge said.
"What, I still think it is a good idea," Sirius said to many in the room's shock. "Too many years Defense Against the Dark Arts has had subpar teachers because of that blasted curse. However, that decree implies that when the Headmaster fails to find a qualified teacher, the Ministry will step in and appoint a qualified teacher. In what way is Madam Umbridge qualified as the Defense Professor?"
Fudge scowled.
"She volunteered for the post and has been excellent at it," he said frigidly.
"If she was so eager for the post, then why didn't she apply for it before the Ministry's decree?" Sirius queried. "It's also only been a week, so calling her excellent is very premature, and her actions this past week have not been excellent."
"What actions?" Theseus Scamander asked with a frown.
"First has been her persecution of House Potter and their friends," Sirius said.
"There was no persecution," Fudge said angrily. "She was punishing students for disrespect."
"Really? Harry and Angelina Potter, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny Weasley, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass, Hermione Granger, and Marina Witcher all were blatantly disrespectful on the first day of classes . . . when some of them didn't even have classes with her that day?" Sirius asked mockingly.
Fudge shuffled uneasily as most of the Wizengamot turned to him.
"Is this true, Minister?" Augusta Longbottom asked sternly.
"It is," Marchbanks answered for Fudge. "Professor McGonagall was also forced to intervene when Professor Umbridge antagonized Lady Potter in the hallway and refused to use her proper last name. She even called her a liar for trying to claim her new family name."
There were many angry mutters at that. Even the most bigoted of purebloods honored a blood adoption. There were several ancient families that had only survived because of blood adoptions.
"She did the same thing to me at Harry's elemental mastery exam on Thursday night, which she attempted to have canceled because 'she hadn't approved it,' and 'he couldn't possibly pass it,'" Dora added scathingly. "She twice refused to use my last name and Professor Dumbledore had to warn her against the disrespect, and Master Croaker even put emphasis on my last name, but she still refused to show me common courtesy."
"She tried to interfere with an ICW standard exam?" Ignatius Prewett asked, looking scandalized.
"She did," Marchbanks confirmed. "Master Croaker personally made a complaint to my department the next morning about her actions. She was disrespectful to both Lord and Lady Potter, and deliberately tried to have the students invited to watch punished, and attempted multiple times to have Lord Potter's exam canceled."
"Her punishments are also foul," Dora said angrily. "She is forcing students to write lines with a blood quill."
There were some angry or shocked gasps at that.
"That is perfectly legal," Fudge said. "Hogwarts used to use the cane and whip, and many parents have voiced to me that things have gotten too soft!"
There were quite a few murmurs of agreement at that, particularly from the darker and older crowd, and Dora scowled darkly.
"If they were standard lines, I'd swallow the lemon and let it be," Sirius said coldly. "However, what did Professor Umbridge make a muggleborn and a halfblood carve into their skin for a whole week?"
Fudge flushed, and people glanced at him.
"No? You won't say it?" Sirius inquired mockingly. "Fine. I will. She made two of Harry's best friends, one who is Jamie Spinnet's younger sister I might add, and who testified at the trial, carve the words, 'I will respect my betters' into their hands."
There were several angry gasps at that, and Fudge winced.
"So, the Ministry is going to not only allow but participate in that type of bigotry?" John McAvoy said in astonishment. "How long before three quarters of our population is rebelling against us."
"Perhaps she was a bit overzealous," Fudge agreed nervously.
"Overzealous is an understatement," Patrice Shafiq said in disgust. "If those students were forced to carve those messages for hours every night for a whole week, then they could be permanently scarred with a message that wouldn't be uttered in polite society. While they might not have yet, if Lord Black hadn't brought this up, she would have kept doing and eventually those scars would be permanent."
"That's not even the end of it," Sirius said. "She has already told all classes that they will not be doing any practical magic until their exams and that they are not allowed to practice them outside of class. Theory only."
"No magic at all? In a practical application class?" Marcus Macmillan said. "My son claimed the same thing, but I thought he was just exaggerating. Who else has had their school age family members claim the same thing?"
Sirius's grin grew feral as nearly half of the members of the Wizengamot raised their hands.
"In recent years, Hogwarts has had a tendency of teaching dangerous magic, well beyond what students are supposed to know," Fudge said firmly. "Madam Umbridge is attempting to filter this out. Lord Potter has already admitted to teaching several of his classmates unapproved magic."
"What magic is unapproved?" Theseus Scamander asked with narrowed eyes. "Are you claiming he's been teaching Dark Magic?"
"Not that we can tell," Fudge admitted, "but he has taught several of his friends shadow elemental magic, something no fourth or fifth years should know."
"That's not unapproved," Franklin Boot said coldly. "Elemental magic used to be what our ancestors had to learn first! There are still many Ancient and Noble Houses that require their Heirs to learn at least one element. Are you telling this body that you are deliberately stopping defensive magic from being used at Hogwarts simply to stop students from learning more powerful magic than you feel comfortable with them knowing? Learning magic is the whole point of Hogwarts School! Learning more advanced magic is why that school has such an incredible reputation in the Wizarding World, and largely responsible for our own society's impressive reputation!"
There were grunts or exclamations of agreement at that.
"We are not here to discuss Madam Umbridge's actions, nor have we been prosecuting House Potter," Fudge retorted angrily. "We're just holding the boy accountable."
"What are we holding him accountable for in harassing his family and attempting to cancel his mastery exam?" Torson Abbot asked incredulously "As for Madam Umbridge's actions? They are completely within the scope of this discussion. She is the Ministry's representative at Hogwarts, Minister, not your representative. I may have had issues with some of Dumbledore's hires, but the fact remains that the past two years at Hogwarts had some of the best defensive scores in the past twenty years, and I'd hate for this year to have some of the worst scores in the history of the school, all because our representative's actions led to that. If we fail to produce good scores, how long before all of our mandates are ignored completely? How long before people doubt our body's ability to do anything? I can assure you that parents and the students, who are soon to be entering the world as adults, will see it as us deliberately sabotaging their education, and they won't take it well. We have gotten completely off Lord Black's initial motion, but I have no choice but to agree with Lord Black regardless of any further evidence you will present for your side."
"Admittedly, I'm very concerned with her punishments," Ishaan Patil said. "If she's scarring students with a blood quill, specifically muggleborns, halfbloods, House Potter, and House Potter's friends, we're going to find more and more members of our public disgruntled with the Ministry. I worry that our current actions will directly lead to open hostility and hate for our government in the very near future. Many of this body forget that in three short years, Lord Potter can join our body, unless he leaves it to Lady Potter," he nodded at Dora, "and he already clearly holds us in disdain. Hell, his other sister is perfectly capable as well and could join in a year, and between that farce of a trial and now this, I doubt we've done much to make her have much faith in us either, and she grew up in a Pureblood home. I'm not sure there is much we can do to change that, but deliberately angering others within Hogwarts is setting the stage for the next generation of witches and wizards to also hold us in the same poor frame."
"To get back to my original motion, I also submit last night's two Decrees as further proof that we need a nearly full Wizengamot for passing these motions," Sirius said. "The Minister tried to have the Shadow Chronicle banned from Hogwarts, with expulsion being the crime for having a copy found in a student's possession, and he attempted to give Madam Umbridge complete control over whether students could take qualification exams or not."
"Wait, what?!" Marcus Macmillan exclaimed. "You tried to have a newspaper banned from Hogwarts under threat of expulsion?"
"Students should be focusing on their education, not idle gossip," Thaddeus Nott said dismissively.
"I don't necessarily disagree," Tiberius Ogden said, leaning forward in his seat. "However, under that reasoning, we need to ban the Daily Prophet, the Quibbler, and all other tabloids as well. Otherwise, we're showing favoritism to an outside entity."
"The Daily Prophet is a staple of the Wizarding World," Fudge said pompously. "The Shadow Chronicle is nothing."
"Oh, I was already annoyed by the Educational Decrees being passed without the full Wizengamot, but now I'm frankly disgusted," Patrice Shafiq said. "You don't like that the newspaper is objectively telling the people what is going on, which is the point of a newspaper. You can't control it, so you want it banned. While I agree that banning newspapers at the school so that students focus on their studies isn't necessarily a bad idea, expulsion for being found with one is abhorrent. Why are you so determined to expel people from Hogwarts for first offenses? How long before we don't have a workforce because students - children - are being expelled? Were you planning to plant a copy of the newspaper in Harry Potter's trunk or something?" she asked sarcastically, and Sirius wanted to laugh.
Lady Shafiq had become one of Fudge's most ardent critics, almost vicious in her barbs. She was one that Sirius and Dora were about to approach to get into their corner of the Wizengamot. Sirius had been tipped off about the "emergency" meeting and had gotten enough people there to shut the vote down, but just barely. Several of Fudge's "supporters" weren't nearly as willing to support him when others were there to see and talk about what they were aiding.
"How dare you?!" Fudge exploded.
"I dare because that's all I've seen today and even in the past months," she shot back. "First was the lack of an investigation followed by all the slander of Harry Potter . . . someone who was put in a bad situation because we failed. Then there was that farce of a trial, which was also preceded by another lack of an investigation. Now it's clear that Umbridge isn't at Hogwarts to help the standards. She's there to persecute House Potter and his friends and family. You just don't like that people know about it."
"Minister, what was your reasoning for the second decree?" Kane Witcher asked, with narrowed eyes, getting back on track. Sirius knew Kane was very unhappy with Fudge for a multitude of reasons.
"The goal is to reduce spending," Fudge said. "If Madam Umbridge does not feel a student is ready for a qualifying exam, then the funding won't be given for the exam."
"Minister, in what way is Madam Umbridge qualified to decide if someone can take an exam or not?" Marchbanks demanded. "Besides, a student's examination fees are included in their Hogwarts tuition. If they fail the exam, that is at their cost, not ours. If she stops them from taking an exam they have paid for, then Hogwarts must refund the costs, and since it is our representative stopping the exams, we'll be the ones on the hook. This will cost us gold, not save us it."
Fudge grimaced.
"Minister, let's get to the real reason you wanted that decree invoked," Kane said bluntly. "Madam Umbrige tried to stop Harry Potter from taking his Shadow Mastery Exam, but was rebuffed. Harry Potter, his sister, several of his friends, and my niece have dropped out of Madam Umbridge's class in favor of self-study for their NEWTs because she said they wouldn't do any practical magic, and you are trying to prevent them from taking their exams."
"Both the Minister and Madam Umbridge attempted to force my godson into the OWL class, despite him already achieving his OWL, and attempted to force his sister and their friends to take her NEWT class," Sirius said.
Groans echoed throughout the room as Fudge glared at Sirius and Kane.
"Minister, why did you believe this would cut costs?" Carter Ollivander, Garrick's grandson, asked. "It's obvious that the Department of Education wasn't involved," he said, glancing at Marchbanks, "which means I have to believe that Lord Black and Lord Witcher are correct and this is simply yet another attempt to persecute House Potter. Considering there is no valid reason why the Ministry should interfere in an ICW exam, it's rather clear that this is complete persecution."
Fudge could only gape, unable to offer an explanation.
'He's gotten far too used to things sliding in the Wizengamot with simply his approval,' Sirius thought. 'He thought he would be able to just say he had good intentions and everybody would follow suit.'
"All motions to ban Education Decrees from being passed without a full session of the Wizengamot?" Theseus Scamander, trying to move everything along.
Fudge could sputter and turn red as seventy percent of the Wizengamot, including some of his supporters, raised their hands.
"Motion carried," Scamander said.
"I move for Umbridge's immediate dismissal from Hogwarts," Dora said.
Fudge's eyes bulged.
"She is clearly a problem," Torson Abbott agreed, "however it sets a poor precedent to have her removed after only a single week, especially in light of her new title."
"We need to get her in check," Marcus Macmillan said.
"Lord Macmillan, she has already had several faculty members address her disrespect," Dora said firmly. "It has gone nowhere. Also, as stated, she attempted to interfere in my brother's ICW exam."
"Clearly that was her way of getting back at House Potter for the trial," Ethan Parkin said. "However, consistently refusing to accept a blood adoption and not showing the proper decorum to students that she is above is something that must be dealt with immediately. The attempt at exam interference is also abhorrent. I can agree that removing her will draw criticism, but can we let this continue to fester? I think I agree that she needs to be removed and that we also need to hit her with several fines and injunctions for disgracing the Ministry."
"The Blood Quill should also be dealt with, whether she stays or not," Benjamin Kama said. "While I don't disagree that those types of punishments have their place, she cannot use it to write bigoted messages. Either it needs to go or she must be relegated to standard lines."
"It needs to go," Dora said, eyes narrowed.
"I disagree," Lucius Malfoy said, eyes glinting.
Unfortunately, the older crowd seemed to agree with Malfoy and the Blood Quill survived the vote. It was also agreed, narrowly, that she would remain, but that she would now face scrutiny from the Wizengamot, and not Fudge.
"Very well," Theseus Scamander said. "Minister, it is time to reign in Madam Umbridge. You should advise her to teach the class as it should be, with practical magic. If the Education Authority is not satisfied, I will be the first to motion for her dismissal from the post and for her arrest and prosecution for education sabotage and quality of life theft. I will also be the first to ensure you share her fate. I also would like you to advise Madam Umbridge to leave House Potter and his friends alone. I'm tired of hearing about this. Anymore, and despite our need for stability right now, I'll be the first to motion for a vote of no confidence in you."
Fudge could only glare at first, but at the end, his eyes were widening in shock at the thought of being removed from office.
"Well, since we're on the subject of Educational Decrees," Cyrus Greengrass said, "I propose an amendment to Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two."
"What, why?" Fudge demanded, shifting to glare at Cyrus. "It's perfect as is!"
"Well, I disagree," Cyrus said mildly. "It remains to be seen whether Madam Umbridge will be a great teacher or not, since I'm not going to speak on her abilities for good or bad until testing scores are available, unlike some," Fudge turned puce. "However, at the end of this year, her tenure as a Professor is over."
"What makes you think that?" Fudge demanded.
"Because at the end of the school year, Dumbledore has the summer to try and find a qualified candidate," Sirius said calmly. "If he is unable to find a qualified candidate, then the Ministry will once again appoint a Professor."
Fudge's mouth was open in surprise.
"Are you implying that Madam Umbridge intends to stay at Hogwarts?" Cyrus asked curiously. "If so, then I of course admire her newfound dedication to teaching, in such a short time as well, but then we need to discuss her dismissal as Senior Undersecretary and possibly even as High Inquisitor and let her apply for the position. However she won't be able to get the job without this Ministry's aid, so I think the implication is moot."
"What makes you think she can't get the job as is?" Fudge asked snidely. "What makes you think she won't have the Ministry's aid in holding the position, and why do we need to talk about the Senior Undersecretary position?"
"I know she can't get the job as is because as standard applicants for teaching at Hogwarts go, she's not qualified," Cyrus said with a bite in his tone, causing Fudge to turn red. "She won't have the Ministry's aid if she's applying to teach on her own merits because we can't show favoritism towards someone applying for a job outside of our jurisdiction. You do not get a say in the matter, and lastly, we need to talk about the Senior Undersecretary position because while she is, admirably, filling the Defense position at Hogwarts, I assume other members of your staff are handling most, if not all, of her Ministry duties in her absence, correct?"
"What does that have anything to do with anything?" Fudge demanded, clearly trying to contain his rage. "And Dolores is quite qualified to teach and remain in all her positions!"
"It matters because she is, I assume, still being paid as Senior Undersecretary while others are doing that work," Cyrus said coldly, and Fudge's jaw dropped. "She is also currently being paid as a Hogwarts Professor, and she is getting paid as the High Inquisitor, a position you created funding for without a full vote of this body. While she's on a temporary assignment, that in theory, rotates only when the Hogwarts Headmaster can't find a suitable teacher, then she can hold her old position, since it's implied she will return at the end of the school year, and even over school Holidays. If you are implying that she will remain at Hogwarts for the foreseeable and even nonforeseeable future, then we need to discuss promoting someone in your office up to her position. If you are implying that her position not being filled isn't affecting those in your office, then we need to have a discussion about removing that position, or at least removing one or two of the lower positions under Dolores, and promoting one of her subordinates, since that implies you can make do with less. Since you always are looking for budget cuts, this would seem like an easy way to save possibly ten to fifteen thousand galleons a year. Do you disagree? As for her being qualified, I will get to that in a moment. Let's start with the funding issue. Am I wrong in my thought process?"
"No, I see no faults with your logic," Thaddeus Nott surprisingly agreed, to Fudge's horror. "She's being paid for three full time positions, when frankly she is only filling two of those. I agree, we could be saving out on at least one full time position if she is to remain as a Hogwarts Professor, and that funding will come from Hogwarts, not us. Additionally, if she leaves the Ministry to be a Professor, then she must forfeit her position as High Inquisitor, which arguably does not need to be a full time position. The High Inquisitor could realistically drop by the school a few times a week for inspections on classes or to observe events. The position should probably belong to someone in the Education Authority as well. I also agree that if the Minister's Office is able to run without someone filling her position for a whole year and obviously the Minister intends for it to be for longer, then she must not be all that needed. Seems like an easy budgetary decision to me."
"Dolores's position in my office is crucial!" Fudge protested.
"Then why aren't you telling us how eager you will be to have her back at the end of the school year, and already asking for possible volunteers to fill at Hogwarts School in the future, if Albus can't find anyone?" Elphias Doge asked. "I think the Ministry appointment should be a rotating position so that no department is forced to constantly be losing out on manpower every year. Most departments won't be looking forward to that tasking, even if some members in our Ministry might volunteer for it. While Defense is historically the class that Albus struggles to fill, the Decree was intended for any subject that Hogwarts is struggling to find qualified candidates for. Admittedly, with her ability to inspect classes, I had hopes that she'd eventually have Professor Binns removed. While I generally enjoy Albus's quirks, I think the class is ready for a new Professor. He's only been staying there because of budget issues, which we could help with, since we're so concerned with the scores and teachings at Hogwarts."
There were murmurs of agreement to that.
"Which brings us round to my amendment," Cyrus said pleasantly. "I agree that no single department of the Ministry should handle the burden for filling that duty, and while volunteers are welcomed, the fact is that Madam Umbridge is not qualified to teach at Hogwarts compared to standard applicants."
Fudge started to protest and Cyrus raised his hand.
"If you would allow me to finish," he said a bit icily, "I will explain why she is not qualified compared to standard applicants. You are aware of the qualification requirements to teach at Hogwarts, Minister?"
"Of course I am," Fudge responded stiffly.
"Then, for those not aware," Cyrus said with a roll of his eyes, "to teach at Hogwarts for nearly all subjects requires a Mastery in the field the applicant is trying to teach in. However, that is the bare minimum requirement. There is a reason why Hogwarts is considered one of the finest schools of magic in the world. Most Professors at Hogwarts hold multiple masteries and indeed were expected to hold multiple masteries in complementary fields when they applied. Minerva McGonagall, for instance, holds Mastery in Transfiguration and Transmutation, however she also has a mastery in Magical Theory and Application, and Numerical Manipulation and Arithmetic Application. Indeed, there are only five current instructors at Hogwarts School who do not at least possess three or more Masteries," Cyrus said, pausing.
"Which Professors?" Thomas Brown asked, actually looking interested.
"Professor Hooch, who teaches flying and Domestic Magic," Cyrus said. "Professor Hagrid, who is the gamekeeper, and who teaches Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Tolkein, who teaches World Languages, Professor Hawkworth, who teaches Wizarding Studies -"
"My nephew is more than qualified to teach at that school!" Lord Karl Hawkworth protested.
"I didn't say he wasn't qualified," Cyrus said, looking irritated. "Let me finish, please."
"Apologies," Karl muttered.
"Lastly is Professor Umbridge," Cyrus finished. "Most of these Professors fall in the second set of teachers that have historically been at Hogwarts. The non-standard applicants if you will. Hogwarts generally requires two or three Masteries to be a teacher, however certain subjects are exempt: World Languages, Wizarding Studies, Flying, and Domestic Magic. There are no Masteries available in these subjects, and thus proficiency exams of various levels or other equivalents are required, which is why the Professors for those classes for the most part are not really non-standard applicants, since they are qualified for their positions. Beyond that, for one of the other courses, a Professor can hold the position without the required Mastery or Masteries if he or she has had a career in the field that has provided them the experience and understanding of a subject."
Cyrus looked at Fudge sternly.
"The most obvious example for Defensive Magic is a member of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement or a member of the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. By all accounts, Madam Umbridge is not qualified to teach under standard or non-standard applications."
Fudge started to protest again, but Cyrus shook his head.
"However, there is still yet another requirement generally given for non-standard applicants. Now, Minister, would you at least be willing to agree that under standard applications, Dolores Umbridge is not qualified to teach at Hogwarts."
Fudge grimaced, but finally nodded.
"Now, does her position as an Undersecretary and her previous history in the Administration Office give any professional experience in the realm of Defensive Magic?"
Fudge glared but shook his head.
"Very well," Cyrus said curtly. "Now, non-standard applicants must take a proficiency exam to prove that they are capable of teaching the material utilizing their professional or self-developed knowledge and experience. Arguably, someone without a career's experience could take the exam to at least put them in the running for non-standard applicants, though they would lose against others with accolades and a career filled with experience."
Fudge paled slightly.
"Did Madam Umbridge take that exam?" Cyrus asked, and the room grew quiet.
"No," Fudge admitted, "It wasn't needed!"
There were groans throughout the room.
"I disagree," Cyrus said. "When you say she's qualified, Minister, you are only stating your opinion. You are not qualified, yourself, to state her abilities as qualified to teach at Hogwarts. Contrary to public belief, there are people that apply for the Defense position each year. Dumbledore struggles to find qualified teachers to fill the position. He couldn't find a qualified person, and we filled the position with an unqualified teacher, which rather defeats the purpose of the Decree since he could have done that himself. This is why I propose an amendment that we must fill whatever vacancy exists with a qualified applicant. Otherwise, we might as well just tell Albus to hire the best of whoever applies, regardless of their ability."
"Wait, if Albus could have filled the position, then why didn't he?" Lord Conner Fawley asked, confused.
"In the past ten years, there have only been two non-standard applicants to fill the position, outside of Dolores Umbridge," Cyrus said.
"I would assume that would be Lockhart and the werewolf," Elijah Yaxley said snidely.
"You are only partially correct," Cyrus responded. "Lockhart was a non-standard and was only technically not qualified, but we'll get back to him, since he is the reason we are in this situation. No, Remus Lupin, despite his disease, is more than qualified to teach at Hogwarts."
"But he's a werewolf!" Nott said in disgust.
"Regardless, he's also a wizard," Cyrus said. "I'm not going to lie that I'm a bit uncomfortable with him at the school, but I would argue that's because we only hear about werewolves like Fenrir Greyback. Lupin made it a whole year without anyone even realizing he was a werewolf. If it wasn't for Professor Snape, he might still be the Professor there. Lupin holds a Mastery in Offensive and Defensive Sorcery and also a Mastery in Magical Theory and Application. He was qualified to teach, and the scores under his tutelage were very impressive. A survey suggested that he was also very popular in the school, with only some of the wealthiest of each House not liking him . . . and unfortunately, I think we can all admit that has nothing to do with his abilities, but with his station. No, the other non-standard applicant was Professor Patricia Rakepick eight years ago, who had had a good career as a Gringotts Curse Breaker which supplemented her lack of a Mastery. She also passed the proficiency exam."
"He brings up a good point with Lupin," Marcus Macmillan said mildly.
"You can't be serious about allowing that werewolf to return to teach!" Amycus Carrow said angrily.
"Maybe I am," Marcus said with a shrug. "I've met the man. If you didn't tell me, I wouldn't know he was a werewolf. He is educated and likable. I can see why the snootiest of our young didn't like him. His stuff was always rather shabby, but once you learn he's a werewolf, it makes sense. As Cyrus mentioned, nobody at the school knew he was a werewolf until a staff member let it leak. I also remember them as schoolboys and Snape always hated Lupin, so I have no doubts that the leak was because of a petty grudge, and not out of a sense of duty to his students."
"He nearly killed Harry Potter!" Leroy McDonald protested.
"Those were extenuating circumstances though," Theseus Scamander said slowly. "By all accounts, including those of Harry Potter himself, who didn't file a complaint about it, Lupin was trying to protect his students from who he believed was a murderer at the time. If it weren't for his lapse in judgment, and his affliction, he would have likely received an accommodation for his actions."
"Harry Potter didn't file a complaint because he considers that monster family," Lucius said snidely.
"Or because he was capable of handling it," Sirius remarked coldly. "It's well documented now that my godson is a shadow elemental, mastery qualified as of last week. By Christmas, he'll be a certified Mage. Dealing with werewolves is well within his abilities. Indeed, the thing he protested that night was the attack by the dementors, who nearly allowed Pettigrew to get away, not that the Ministry managed to keep hold of him after his capture," Sirius finished darkly, causing multiple winces in the room.
"This discussion has gotten off topic," Cyrus said, bringing everyone's focus back to him. "We were discussing the non-standard applicants. Now, Rakepick was qualified and did an admirable job for her year, if the test scores are anything to go by, before she returned to curse breaking. Lockhart, as we all know, was the problem."
"Did he pass that proficiency exam?" Karl Hawkworth asked suddenly.
"He did not take it," Cyrus said.
"Why not?" Thomas Brown demanded. "If he had, that would have prevented that whole mess."
"Because he was the only non-standard applicant that had any experience in the field to apply that year, and there wasn't a single standard applicant," Cyrus said simply. "Lockhart's awards and accolades were real. The manner of how he got them was what was the con, but he did fool many Ministries as well as the Dark Force Defense League. If Dumbledore had given him the exam, and he failed, he would not have been able to support Defense Against the Dark Arts for the year, which would break our International Certification Requirements. At the time, the Ministry didn't have anything in place to aid the Headmaster, so he did what he could with the only option he was given, outside of those who applied that were clearly not capable, and simply looking for a job for a year. Without that exam, Lockhart was technically qualified to teach at Hogwarts."
"Bloody hell," Benjamin Kama swore.
"That is an apt expletive," Cyrus agreed.
"Dolores is rising to the occasion admirably," Fudge said stiffly. "She would have passed the exam if she took it."
"Then why didn't you have her take it?" Marchbanks asked simply. "You said it wasn't necessary and posted her without it. I have my doubts, based on her own test scores. She certainly possesses a Defense NEWT, but certainly not at a grade worthy of teaching the subject, especially since it's been twenty two years since she was in school. The proficiency exam isn't quite a Mastery Exam, but it's certainly more comprehensive than the NEWT."
"Can we just have her take it as soon as possible?" Emmline Vance offered up lightly. "That would put this whole bed to rest."
"Do we want to open that can of worms?" Franklin Boot asked warily. "If she passes, we're vindicated, sure, even if just barely, but what if she doesn't? NEWTs alone aren't easy, and cover very complicated topics that some people talented in specific fields even struggle with. If she doesn't get a nearly perfect score, we're in trouble."
Everyone grimaced at that, including Fudge, who was looking increasingly more uncomfortable.
"That brings us back to my amendment," Cyrus said. "I propose that we amend Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two in that the Ministry must provide a qualified teacher to take the post for the year. We'll open up for volunteers to start, but if they don't fit the requirements, then we look to see who among our government possesses the requirements and then plan a rotation on which department has to lose manpower for the school year based on the needed subject."
"But then Dolores won't be capable of filling the post for the rest of the year," Clarence Clearwater pointed out.
Fudge's eyes bulged out.
"We'll allow her to stay for the year, pending she keeps in line," Cyrus said. "At the end of the year, however, if we need to fill the post again next year, and Dolores wishes to fill it, then she can volunteer, but must meet the same application requirements that Hogwarts requires. Based on the test scores she produces, she can certainly use it as a supplement to her nonstandard application, but I think we can all agree that someone from the DMLE or the DRCMC would be better to fill the post temporarily. Of course, Dolores can start work on a Mastery while she is there, and take the proficiency exam to prove her abilities, but she still must be put fairly in a pool of other qualified Ministry employees."
"Well, if we're going to hold Dolores to those stringent standards, then what about the rest of the staff at Hogwarts?" Fudge demanded.
"What are you talking about?" Cyrus asked, looking a bit confused. "The rest of the staff are held to the same standards."
"That can't be true," Fudge said. "You said it yourself, several of the professors including Hagrid, the half-giant, don't hold the same qualifications."
Cyrus snorted.
"I would have hoped it would have been obvious, but they still hold the same standards. Professor Hooch obviously used to play professional Quidditch, which is her professional qualification for being the Flying Instructor and the Quidditch Referee. She also has a WOMBAT on Flying Instruction. She also has a Level III WOMBAT to teach Domestic Magic. Professor Tolkein is a certified linguist, and more than capable of teaching the World Languages Course, and of course, Professor Hawkworth has a Level III WOMBAT in Wizarding Studies as well as a Mastery in Magical Law. As for Hagrid, he has extensive experience dealing with magical creatures, and indeed had several letters of recommendation from multiple magizoologists for his work in that field, including Newt Scamander. He also passed the proficiency exam, and I believe is part way through a Mastery in the field of Magical Creatures."
"He passed the proficiency exam?" Ben Kama asked in surprise.
"Of course he did," Sirius said with a snort. "Have you ever talked to Hagrid? He knows his magical creatures. Sure, he loves dangerous creatures a bit too much for most people's liking, mine included, but as a person, he's harmless, and he's been at the school for fifty years. Sure, I think he could use some professional development in teaching, but he is still new to it. If you look at the scores, his interest in dangerous creatures is actually helping the NEWT students in that subject, funnily enough. NEWT students are leaving with more hands-on learning than even Kettleburn gave them, and that man was losing limbs left and right while he was teaching."
There were several chuckles in agreement with Sirius's remarks.
"It seems clear to me that if Hagrid had not been unfairly expelled fifty years ago, he'd already have a Mastery in his subject, and perhaps have applied and earned his position easily based on his own career," Cyrus said. "Over the summer between his exoneration and him gaining the position, he passed his CoMC OWL and NEWT with flying colors and of course passed the required proficiency exam."
"So, that means the only Professor at Hogwarts going against standards . . . is the Ministry directed Professor," Torson Abbott summed up with a groan, which was echoed by many around the room as Fudge glared at Cyrus.
"Why didn't you have Dolores take the proficiency exam?" Amelia asked Fudge.
"I didn't want to give Dumbledore an excuse to try and fight against the Decree," Fudge said. "For all we know, he might have made the exam harder than it needed to be."
"Minister, we are the ones that administer the examination," Griselda said dryly, and Fudge turned bright red.
"So, you were just determined to make sure Dolores was there," Amelia summed up. "Despite what you told all of us when you presented the Decree."
"And now our body has produced the second most unqualified personnel to teach at Hogwarts in the history of the school," Cyrus agreed, and Fudge glared at him. "Technically, the most unqualified, since Lockhart did have awards and accolades in the field of defense, even if they were awarded to a fraud. Though, I would hazard a guess that Madam Umbridge is more competent than that fool . . . or at least I hope so."
"You better hope those exam scores are good at the end of the year," Kane Witcher said with a glare. "My niece hasn't had anything good to say about Dolores Umbridge either, and I hold her opinion in high regard. If the scores are as bad as I think they will be, practically at least, we're going to find that most people aren't going to have any trust in Ministry led programs or actions. I can't say I blame them."
"Moving back to the subject at hand, I believe we should vote on the amendment to Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two," Amelia Bones said, and after a short vote, the Decree was amended, and it was now guaranteed that Dolores Umbridge would not be returning to Hogwarts as a Professor, unless she picked up a set of major qualifications in less than a year.