When Aria and friends arrived at breakfast the next morning, there was a general buzz of horror at another Educational Decree. The four Quidditch captains were having a hurried, whispered conversation near the front doors. Adrian Pucey waved his hands wildly. Aria thought he might accidently whack Cho.
Wandering over to the newest decree, Aria read the following words:
EDUCATIONAL DECREE NO. 9
ALL EXTRA-CURRICULARS AND CLUBS ARE UNDER REVIEW MUST RECEIVE PERMISSION FROM THE HIGH INQUISITOR TO CONTINUE.
No wonder the Quidditch captains were all in a tizzy. Practices had only just gotten under way and now the entire season might get cancelled if Umbridge didn't allow the teams to play? Aria wondered if Umbridge would try to keep Slytherin from playing, only because Harry was now the team's Seeker.
He had told her and the other 5th years about the Floo problem last night once he had returned to the dorm. Draco had drafted a letter to his father asking about it and was going to send it after breakfast.
As the students consumed their tea, bacon, eggs, cereals, and other assortment of breakfast materials, the morning mail arrived, owls hooting as they swooped down over the heads of the students, dropping letters and packages into people's laps or into their pumpkin juice. Aria spotted the familiar white plumage of Hedwig as she came into the Great Hall, but something was . . . wrong.
"Hedwig!" Harry cried, all but catching his familiar as Hedwig fell into his lap. Hedwig gave a tired hoot.
"What's wrong with her wing?" Daphne asked. "It looks broken."
"I can't believe she even flew on that!" Tracey cried, horrified.
Hedwig looked like she had gotten into a fight. There was blood on her talons and one of her wings did look wonky. Harry held Hedwig close while Aria poured a saucer of water and held it up to the bird, allowing her to drink greedily. Harry petted Hedwig's head, his entire body shaking as he stared at his familiar.
"We should get Grubbly-Plank to look at her," Blaise stated. "With Hagrid gone, she's the only one who'll know how to help Hedwig."
"Keep her warm," Theo instructed. Harry pulled off his school robe and carefully wrapped Hedwig in it.
"It's okay," he whispered to her as he and Aria rose, Aria hastily wrapping up several pieces of toast and bacon for themselves. "We'll get you fixed up, Hedwig." A letter fell out of Harry's lap, unseen when Hedwig first landed. Aria scooped it up, pausing when she saw that its seal was already broken.
"I think someone's tried to read your mail," she said. Everyone within hearing at the Slytherin and Ravenclaw table paused to stare in horror. Reading other people's mail was a crime in the wizarding world, just like in the Muggle world. Harry grabbed the letter, clearly in Sirius' handwriting, the envelope stuffed with parchment and Muggle white-lined paper.
"Did you protect my mail, girl?" Harry asked Hedwig. She gave a tired hoot and one nod of her head.
"What a smart bird you are," Harry cooed. "So brave. Should've had you Sorted into Gryffindor." Aria tucked the letter into her bag as they left the Slytherin table, making their way towards the doors of the Great Hall.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Bourne, where do you think you're going?"
Umbridge had come down from the Head Table while the two of them had been distracted by Hedwig and the open letter. Aria glanced at the Head Table, not seeing any of the Heads of House.
"Professor Grubbly-Planks," Harry answered, "something's attacked my familiar, Hedwig."
Or somebody, Aria thought darkly.
"There is no need for that, I am sure," Umbridge said. "Besides, we are in the middle of breakfast and you've already disrupted everyone. Perhaps I should look after your bird until your most responsible to look after her yourself."
Harry stepped out of reach as Umbridge reached for Hedwig.
"Don't touch Hedwig!" he snapped.
"Detention, Mr. Potter!" Umbridge cried. "Has no one taught you manners before? Give me your bird."
"That's his familiar," a Ravenclaw cried. "You can't just take his familiar away from him."
"Don't be silly," Umbridge simpered. "Postal owls can't be familiars." Aria blocked her as she attempted to grab Hedwig again.
"Professor Umbridge."
Aria breathed a sigh of relief as Flitwick suddenly appeared beside Umbridge, startling her. "Please, desist at attempting to take Mr. Potter's familiar from him. He is acting as any good wixen would, protecting his familiar, as it appears his familiar has done for him. As someone very concerned for the traditions of the wizarding world, it's appalling that you feel that you can reject some of the most sacred such as the bond between a wixen and their familiar. Recall the story of Morgana le Fay and when a Dark Wizard attempted to kill her familiar. It did not end well for the Dark Wizard." Flitwick turned to Aria and Harry.
"I shall escort you to Professor Grubbly-Plank," he said. "Come along now." Harry, still cuddling Hedwig close, hurried after the small professor and Aria struggled to keep up, the little man much quicker than he looked. It was probably one of the reasons he had been a champion dueler.
Professor Grubbly-Plank was out at the paddocks feeding the unicorns. The unicorns immediately trotted over to greet Aria as Harry and Flitwick handed over Hedwig and the Care professor took a gentle look at the snowy owl. Aria picked up a few apples from where a stack was nearby and held them out to the unicorns who happily took the treats and nuzzled her hand.
"Your familiar's got a fractured wing, Mr. Potter," Grubbly-Plank stated after a moment. "And a few scratches. You said she still managed to fly to you?" Harry nodded. "Your familiar bond strengthened her, I assume. Quite a strong bond you must have then." She patted Hedwig on the head. "I'll take good care of her, Mr. Potter. She's going to need some time to rest.
Harry's body slumped in relief.
"Thank you, Professor," he said. Aria and the two professors ignored how his voice wobbled, but Hedwig could not. She stretched her head up until Harry leaned forward and she rubbed her head against his cheek, clucking away like she was actually speaking to him, like she could feel his distress for her. As his familiar, Aria mused, she probably could to some extent.
"Let's get you both to class," Flitwick said, ushering Harry and Aria away from the paddocks. The unicorns neighed sadly seeing Aria go and she waved good-bye. She would have to be sure to come visit them while they were in the paddock. According to the students who took Care of Magical Creatures, they were a mated pair and one of them had been injured and Grubbly-Plank was nursing it back to health so once the hurt unicorn was healed, they would be let back into the Forbidden Forest.
She wondered how the little foal she had met in first year was doing. It'd probably be pretty big now. She was pretty sure that unicorns grew at the same rate as horses.
Aria had hoped to avoid Umbridge until DADA, but the woman decided that today was the day that she was going to hike up to the North Tower to sit on the fifth year Divination class between Slytherins and Gryffindors. Fay and Sophie greeted Umbridge brightly, as two of only a handful of students who thought Umbridge brought the sun.
They were just beginning a unit on ceromancy, a basic form of scrying that wasn't as complicated as scrying itself. Hot wax from a candle was to be dripped into blessed cold water that was in a scrying bowl. The shapes of the wax could then be interpreted to mean different things. The goal was to move onto scrying by Yule so that they could spend a good portion honing their skills in the ancient craft before OWLs. NEWTs apparently had a more in-depth study of scrying involving more than just water.
Trelawney began the lesson with a brief introduction to what blessed water was. Aria was discovering that, the farther along into divination one got, the more spiritual it seemed to become. She had been christened as a child, and when her mother had been alive, they had attended Christmas and Easter services at Blessed English Martyrs, Cokesworth which was a part of the Church of England. And her mother had been buried using the traditional funeral liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer, but otherwise, her family was not a spiritual family. Yet the more she had to learn about the spiritual aspect of the wizarding world, the more at home she felt with her magic. The more her magic seemed to sing at the subject.
"The blessed water was blessed by one of the priestly Unspeakables from the Ministry of Magic," Trelawney explained as she poured water into the small scrying bowls in front of each student. "There are special rituals to bless water, none of which you will learn here. If you were to become and Unspeakable, there is a chance you would learn such things. But it is beyond the scope of this class."
Aria peered at the innocent looking water. It didn't look particularly special, but if she hovered her hand over the liquid, she could feel something . . . different . . . about it.
"The candles do not have to be blessed or anything beyond a normal candle," Trelawney continued, floating thin candles over to each student. The candles were made of wax that were inside thin glass tubes to be help the wax pool better. "However, if you desire to attempt to commune with spirits, it's best to use blessed candles. And depending on the situation you are looking into; you may want a special candle. If you're looking to see how a marriage may choose to burn a wedding candle."
"Hem, hem."
Trelawney glanced at Umbridge.
"I'm sorry, my dead," the professor said, "did you want to participate in seeing into the great beyond too?"
Aria bit her lip to keep from laughing. Lavender looked scandalized at the idea that Umbridge might have any sort of gifting towards Seeing. Umbridge's smile turned hard as she shook her head.
"I do not," she replied. "I just wanted to know why you are discussing spiritual matters with the students?"
"Why shouldn't I?" Trelawney questioned back. "It is an essential element to divination, especially as the students become more advanced in their studies. Divination, after all, was once used exclusively to commune with the gods and the spirits of the forest."
Normally, Aria might roll her eyes whenever Trelawney began speaking the Children of the Forest or the Green Man, the Great Hunt, or whatever suited for whatever dire prophecy she was handing out to a student that day.
"I simply thought that the subject of the spiritual would have been a part of History of Magic," Umbridge said, "instead of divination."
"Oh, my dear!" Trelawney cried, her beaded skirts swishing as she rounded the room in a flourish. "Divination is an inter-disciplinary art! Of course, I expect our esteemed Professor Binns to be teaching our young minds about their spiritual past—,"
The students shared looks of disbelief. Professor Binns? Teaching something other than one of the dozens of goblin wars that the United Kingdom and Ireland had fought in? Unlikely!
"—but one cannot learn about advanced divination without also learning of some spiritual elements." Trelawney turned back to the class. "Right, students, if you would light you candles." Aria, with a gentle whisper, had her candle lit within seconds. The candlelight was swallowed by the sunlight coming through the windows of the tower, but the flames were still pretty.
Umbridge made a judgmental hum and wrote something on her clipboard.
"Once your candle has a layer of liquid wax, you may pour the wax into the water," Trelawney continued, ignoring Umbridge. Aria waited for more liquid wax to form before pouring the wax into the water. There were pleasant sparks of silver as the wax met the water and she grinned.
"The sparks are pretty," she commented as she began studying the forms the wax was taking.
"What sparks?" Harry asked. Aria glanced at him and he poured wax into his little scrying bowl. She noticed sparks come out of his bowl, but he did not seem to notice. She huffed.
Trelawney suddenly appeared at her side.
"Sparks did you say, Miss Bourne?" she questioned, peering at Aria with eyes made large like a bug by her glasses. Aria nodded. "Why don't you touch the wax then? See what you can See."
Aria, feeling everyone's eyes on her, straightened her shoulders and reached out to the wax in her scrying bowl. The moment her fingertip brushed against the hard, but warm, wax, a jolt shot through her arm before a deep sense of peace settled over her. Deep in her soul the thought that Umbridge's stay at Hogwarts would not be long settled with certainty. She could not help the grin that split across her face.
"Something has settled in you hasn't it?" Trelawney asked. "A notion perhaps?"
"A feeling, I guess," Aria replied.
"A good start to ceromancy," Trelawney declared.
Umbridge made another noise of disbelief and wrote something on her clipboard.
The rest of the class passed in peace though Umbridge followed Trelawney around the room that at one point Aria suspected Trelawney was just doing laps around the classroom to annoy Umbridge. Since the tables were set on levels, that meant Umbridge had to go up and down steps and by the time the clock showed that class was nearly over, her voice was pink from exertion, and Aria half hoped she would not have the energy to leave the North Tower or that she would be so tired she'd miss a step and tumble down the stairs.
With 5 minutes left of class, Umbridge cleared her throat again.
"Professor Trelawney," Umbridge said, "I'm wondering if . . . well . . . I've heard so much about the natural talent of Miss Bourne that I was hoping I could see her do a demonstration."
Trelawney glanced between Aria and Umbridge. Aria's heart skipped a beat. A demonstration? That was the last thing she wanted to do. Who knew what strange and wild vision she would be forced to suffer watching. She doubted she'd be lucky enough to just have a plain tarot card reading for the woman. It would be her luck that Umbridge's reading would force her into some kind of vision as terrifying as Draco's or Cedric's.
"Such demonstrations have proven to be rather traumatic for Miss Bourne," Trelawney stated. "I would not want to force one on her simply to sate your curiosity."
Umbridge wrote something down on her clipboard.
The clock struck the end of class. Students immediately hurried to gather their things. Umbridge frowned at them as they converged on the ladder leading out the tower, nearly bowling over each other in their haste to escape.
"I swear that woman is creepier and creepier the more I spend time with her," Lavender cried from behind Aria. "She gives me the shivers."
"Don't worry," Aria said, "she won't be at Hogwarts for long."
"How do you know that?" Harry asked. Aria smiled impishly at him.
"Let's just say . . . I got a sense in class."
Her friends looked confused for a few seconds before understanding dawned on them and they were laughing the whole way back to the main part of the castle.
The Ministry of Magic was unusually slow that afternoon. Percy was glad for a little break, so he ordered some tea to be brought to his desk. Even as a junior undersecretary, acting as just the only undersecretary at the moment, came with some small perks such as access to the ministry house elves who were there to ensure wizards and witches of certain authority were fed and watered throughout the day.
As he sipped at his tea, he made a few notes on a scrap piece of parchment about dinner. Oliver was home at the moment and both of them would be home at a decent time which meant that they could have dinner together. While they utilized take-out a lot, sometimes venturing into the Muggle world for food, Percy had inherited the ability to cook from his mother and enjoyed being in the kitchen when he was in charge of the kitchen.
Maybe he could stop by the butcher's and get some pork? Or maybe some beef steaks? Definitely potatoes as a side. Should he mash them or roast them?
"Ah, Mr. Weasley, just the man I wished to see."
Percy's head shot up as Lucius Malfoy approached his desk, discreetly raising a Silencing Charm to keep whatever conversation they were about to have private.
"Mr. Malfoy," Percy greeted. "What can I do for you today? The minister is way at the moment."
"I wish to discuss the problem at Hogwarts," Lucius said.
"You'll have to be more specific than that," Percy replied.
"The immediate pink problem," Lucius stated. "I've had letters from my son about some . . . Educational Decrees? Which apparently the ministry has the authority to create? As someone who has read the Hogwarts Charter that was news to me."
"Ah, that," Percy replied, reaching over to a pile of parchment, and pulling out the latest Educational Decree request from the woman. "Umbridge sends the wording to the minister, and he signs off on it. Though I'm not sure if she's actually waiting for the signature before forcing the decrees on Hogwarts." He handed the parchment over to Lucius, absolutely unrepentant at showing it to the man first before the minister. "What concerns me more is that my owl looked a bit worse for wear after it delivered my sister and brother's most recent letter to me. I believe someone attempted to waylay my owl to look at the mail and . . . well . . . as you can see from what Umbridge is requesting the minister sign off on . . ."
Lucius' face grew pink and his mouth turned down into a deep frown.
"She wants the authority to read all the mail?" he cried. "What a preposterous notion! Does she have a warrant for that? Doubtful, Madam Bones wouldn't suffer such a fool."
"Well . . ." Percy steepled. "Your father suffers such a fool. He's been in and out of Minister Fudge's office and seems quite pleased with what Umbridge is accomplishing."
"And he told you this himself?"
"Your father is under the impression that I'm either witless and Fudge keeps me around because I can file things properly and take orders, or he thinks that my argument with my family means that I agree with whatever it is he is up to."
Lucius sighed, carefully creating a copy of it and handing the original to Percy.
"The Board will take great pleasure in seeing this," he stated.
"Are the rumors true?" Percy asked. "Is Lady Longbottom returning to her spot on the Board?"
"That is correct," Lucius replied. "But you didn't hear it from me."
Percy nodded, glad that the woman was healed enough to resume a normal course of life. The newspaper kept everyone up to date about the Longbottoms, as much as possible at least, since the sanitorium in Switzerland was very good at keeping noisy reporters away, and Rita Skeeter was still considered A Missing Person. Though Percy wasn't sure the auror department was working that hard to locate her.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Weasley," Lucius said, tucking his copy of Umbridge's letter into his coat pocket. "As usual, this conversation did not happen."
"Certainly," Percy stated. He stood, shaking the man's hand. It was at that moment he spotted his own father passing by with several of his own colleagues. Arthur took one look at Lucius before turning his face away, but he was not fast enough for Percy who saw the disappointment and anger on his father's face. It was well known to everyone that Arthur and Lucius didn't get along. Would Arthur tell Molly about what he saw? Would they tell Dumbledore? What would Dumbledore tell them about Percy if they did? Would he spin some yarn about Percy being dragged to the dark side? If it were Abraxas Malfoy he were talking to, Percy could see that, but he sensed Lucius had his own agenda in cozying up with Percy (if that was what he was even doing).
"Your father is many things," Lucius said after a minute. "But it is quite sickening how much he loves his children. A Weasley trait I'm led to believe. The Prewetts were always more judgmental."
Percy frowned at Lucius.
"I applaud your independence in standing firm against your family's worship of Dumbledore," Lucius said. "Perhaps . . . when one problem has been taken care of, we can discuss the other problem?"
"I don't know if there's much that can be done about the other problem," Percy said. Lucius shrugged, dropped the Silencing Charm, and left. Percy sank back into his seat, thinking over what the Malfoy heir had said.
When the man first approached Percy for information he could bring to the Board of Governors, Percy had been suspicious. Not only was he certain the Malfoys were involved with the Dark Lord somehow, but he was not sure of Lucius' true view in regard to the relationship between Aria and Draco. Percy thought it was quite cute and that, if the relationship somehow did manage to be more than just a teenage fling, that Aria and Draco would do well together as a couple. It was believed by many that Lucius Malfoy was just a mellower version of Abraxas. Still a blood supremacist, still a hater of Muggleborns and loyal Death Eater even if Lucius had managed to get off by claiming the Imperious Curse and Abraxas wasn't marked.
Lucius Malfoy, Percy had come to realize, was not to be trifled with in his own right. He was definitely a man Percy could see being as ruthless as Abraxas, but he had the feeling that Lucius was much smarter and more cunning than his father. Where Abraxas went about life believing he was correct and expecting people to just do what he said, Lucius went about life knowing that there would be people who disagreed with him, and he was going to convince people to do what he said no matter what. If that meant playing nice with some people and threatening others, well, that was just life now, wasn't it?
Quite frankly, Percy like Lucius' way much better. He didn't feel like he was walking on eggshells around the man like he did whenever Abraxas was around. One wrong thing said, and the Malfoy lord might turn his ire against him, and he didn't want that.
Another letter with Umbridge's familiar handwriting popped up on his desk from the mail room. Percy sighed and wondered if he could get away with pretending he had never received it. After a minute of contemplation, he grabbed the letter opener and broke the seal, pulling out Umbridge's updates from Hogwarts.
His brain froze. Or at least . . . it seemed to freeze. What was he reading? Was this . . . was this real? Surely this was a joke. It had to be. There was no way Umbridge had made the executive decision to cut off the Floo connection at Hogwarts except for the Floo in the Defense office. What if there was a medical emergency in one of the common rooms? Or Madam Pomfrey had to get someone to St. Mungo's? What if there was a family emergency?
Hurriedly making a copy, Percy folded into an interdepartmental memo and sent it flying off for Lucius Malfoy who was, at this point, too far away for him to chase after, but probably still within the ministry itself. There was no way the Board of Governors wouldn't step in with this sort of nonsense happening!
The early evening was a quiet time at Grimmauld Place. It was the hour or two between when Sirius got home (if he wasn't working late) and dinner, and the three men who called the place home were taking a moment to lie on the couch together, Remus squeezed between the two others, his head on Sirius' chest while Kenneth draped over him.
A charm signaling someone had Flooed into the receiving room sounded, causing a collective groan from the pile of bodies.
Kreacher popped into the living room.
"The man who married Narcissa is here," Kreacher stated. Sirius snorted, having completely forgotten that Kreacher had held out hope that Regulus (his favorite child) and Narcissa (his second favorite) would marry in the Black tradition and had been quite upset that they had not.
"Let Mr. Malfoy in," Sirius said, making no move to leave his comfortable spot on the couch. Remus whine as Kenneth shifted himself to at least be sitting up on the end of the couch.
"It's just Lucius," Remus said, "no need to be so formal."
Lucius Malfoy swept into the living room, cloak billowing behind him, cane clicking against the wood floor. He raised an unimpressed eyebrow at Sirius and Remus before glancing at Kenneth.
"How'd you get the password to the Floo?" Sirius asked.
"Lady Longbottom was kind enough to give it," Lucius replied. "At our emergency Governors meeting."
"Why're you here then and now at Hogwarts?" Sirius asked.
"I am here, because the Board of Governors is executing our authority in firing and hiring if the headmaster is unable to find a suitable candidate for a position," Lucius replied. "The last time the Board exercised this right was in 1843 when we first had to hire the first Muggle Studies professor and the headmistress at that time refused to hire one."
"I definitely don't remember that being in Hogwarts, A History," Remus muttered.
"And the Board, knowing that our first choice is in Switzerland taking care of family matters, had decided to offer the Defense Against the Dark Arts position – just for this year – back to Lupin."
Remus' eyes widened as he gaped in surprise at Lucius.
"Did you fire him?" Kenneth asked.
"He resigned," Lucius corrected. "I would like it noted in my favor that I have no issue with a werewolf teaching at Hogwarts. I just have issue with this particular werewolf." He glared at Lupin.
"Snape's Knight in Shining Armor you are," Sirius almost sneered.
"Have you apologized to him?"
Sirius went silent.
"That's what I thought. Anyway, we as the Board are going to Hogwarts within the next half hour to inform the headmaster and Umbridge of our decision and I wondered if Lupin would like to be there when we inform her that a werewolf will be taking over her position."
Remus' eyes lit up.
"Yes!" he cried. "Yes, yes! Let me go put on proper robes." He dashed off and Sirius sighed, looking over at Kenneth.
"Looks like it'll just be me and you for more of the year," he said.
"As Lupin is still Steward of House Potter, I'm sure you'll still see him," Lucius said with a roll of his eyes.
"Someone better send me a copy of the memory," Sirius ordered as Remus came skidding back into the living room, his light grey robes giving the illusion of silver moonlight. Sirius grinned. He had seen that while shopping in Geneva during one of the times he was out and about from the sanatorium and had bought it because he thought Remus would look glorious in it, and he was not disappointed.
"I'll be sure to come by on weekends," Remus said, kissing Sirius and Kenneth on the cheek. "But getting to be there when Umbridge is fired is too good a moment to pass up."
"Keep watch over our pups," Sirius said, returning the kiss. "Don't let Harry hide away and don't let Aria do weird experiments."
"Don't let Aria elope with Draco," Kenneth added, kissing Remus.
"I'll be sure to at least check the broom cupboards," Remus assured him as Lucius sputtered in the background. "I'm sure though that they've found hideaways to have private moments."
"Good thing we had that sex talk," Kenneth teased. Lucius' face went pink.
"What did you just say?" he cried.
"Sex?" Kenneth questioned. "Why? What do you call it?"
"Physical relations," Lucius enunciated. "Like proper people do." Kenneth and Remus looked over at Sirius who had buried his face in a one of the pillows on the couch to hide his laughter.
"Merlin, you were serious when you said your parents called it 'physical relations'," Remus cried.
"I can be serious," Sirius said. "You always act surprised."
Lucius gave one last scandalized look at Kenneth before stalking out of the living room, Remus at his heels.
The newest Educational Decree had gone up sometime between Umbridge's observation of the 5th year Slytherin-Gryffindor Divination class and dinner.
"How does she intend to waylay dozens of postal owls and familiars?" Tracey wondered in a quiet voice. Everyone was talking about it at dinner, but no one wanted to talk too loudly in case Umbridge heard them from the Head Table. Nearly every professor, including Dumbledore, looked like they had sucked on a lemon or had caught a whiff of something foul while Umbridge went about her merry way eating her dinner. Today she not only wore a pink dress with a large bow around the neck, but she had paired with a small pink hat.
"Probably the same way she tried to waylay Hedwig," Harry muttered darkly. "How are we going to get word out to Sirius or Madam Bones about all this if our owls are being searched?"
"There's no way she can actually search our mail," Daphne said. "This is a school, not Azkaban."
"Starting to feel like a prison," Aria muttered, scooping mushy peas onto her plate before serving herself a thick slice of fried haddock. "What's next? Banning Hogsmeade?"
"Don't even joke about that," Hermione admonished. She, Ron, and Neville had decided to join the Slytherins for dinner which had made Umbridge twitch when she had first entered the Great Hall. There was probably going to be an educational decree about it soon. "I think the students would riot. As would the residents of Hogsmeade. They depend upon our patronage."
"Let's talk about something more pleasant," Tracey begged. "Neville, how's your parents and godfather doing?"
"Dad's last letter was only good news," Neville eagerly shared. "Grandmother's out of St. Mungo's and has taken residence at the Dowager House. It's still on the property of Luddenden Hall, but she gets a little more privacy and Dad's ensured she's got a companion. Her last letter to me said that she's slowly returning to her usual routine and has taken back her post on the Board of Governors."
"And your mum?"
"Is coming back to herself every day. It's slow going. My dad's Occlumency ability is what saved him, along with whatever witchcraft Aria performed—,"
Aria bowed as much as she could without faceplanting into her peas.
"—and Mum's rudimentary ability at Occlumency, that dad taught her during the war, helped too. I think there's still gaps though. She wasn't as well practiced in the craft, according to Dad, and reversing Oblivations is no easy task. Sometimes, it's not reversable, even on master Occlumencers."
Aria glanced at Harry whose shoulders had slumped a little at Neville's talking. Had he been hoping to somehow restore her memory or Professor Snape's memory that Dumbledore Obliviated?
"And Uncle Barty's doing fine," Neville continued. "He's being seeing a Mind Healer particularly and getting use to being surrounded by people again. Loud noises and crowded rooms are a struggle because he's been locked away on his own with only Barty Crouch Sr. and a house elf for company. But Dad and Uncle Fortescue thinks that we should all be able to spend Yule at Luddenden Hall, especially if Mum's recovery stays on the same track that it's on. She'll have to return to the sanitorium after the holidays, but we're hopeful that we'll be able to spend this Yule together. As a proper family."
Ron patted Neville on the shoulder.
"Real happy for you," he said around a mouth of chips.
"And I think you're going to get even happier," Blaise commented. "The Board of Governors've just arrived and they don't look pleased."
All heads in the Great Hall turned towards the doors at the entrance of the governors. Lucius Malfoy led the procession, regal as always in his ermine lined cloak, his walking stick tapping against the stones. Just behind him walked Lady Longbottom, head high as always, but with a certain lighter spring to her step that Aria did not recall being there before. The woman glanced at the Gryffindor table and a look of worry passed over her face before her gaze swept the Great Hall and landed on Neville at the Slytherin table. He waved and Lady Longbottom's face softened.
"Grandmother's apologized profusely for her inactions against Uncle Algie while I was growing up," Neville whispered to his friends while the Board marched up the center aisle. "She's quite old fashioned, but Uncle Algie used some strong compulsion charms on her."
"Is that Remus with her?" Harry asked. "Remus!" A grin split his face as Remus glanced over at them with his usual soft smile. Excited whispers filled the Great Hall and several students called out their own greetings to "Professor Lupin".
"Welcome, Governors," Dumbledore greeted, rising to his feet. "What a lovely surprise."
"It'd be less of a surprise if we had been able to Floo directly to your office instead of having to use the public Floo at the Three Broomsticks," Lucius answered. "But we're not here for pleasantries. We are here to exercise the right given to us in the Hogwarts' Charter, Article 32, paragraph 450, in regard to the hiring and firing of professors should the Head of School be unable to procure a suitable candidate or refuses to . . . dismiss an unsuitable candidate."
Dumbledore paused for a moment, as if unsure how he wanted to proceed. Aria could only see whatever this right the Governors was exercising as a good thing, and the headmaster had to see that too, but it must be awfully strange to be on the same side as Lucius Malfoy.
"And which professor will be leaving us today?" Dumbledore settled on asking instead. "Or should we convene in my office?"
"We could have convened in your office if we had managed to Floo into your office," one of the governors stated angrily. "We'd prefer to do it here so that the students can see that someone at least takes their education and safety seriously."
"Hem, hem," Umbridge interrupted. "Perhaps you'll want to speak to me then, Mr. Malfoy. As High Inquisitor, it is my responsibility to hire and fire underperforming or questionable staff."
"And who are you?" Lady Longbottom demanded, though there was no way the dowager didn't know who Umbridge was.
"I am the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts," Umbridge replied. "Appointed by—,"
"Did we add a new position while I was away?" Lady Longbottom asked the board. "I wasn't gone that long, was I?"
"We have added no new positions here at Hogwarts," someone else replied and Dumbledore nodded along.
"I was appointed by Minister Fudge!" Umbridge cried, clearly angry but knowing better than to get too angry with a Dowager Lady. "To ensure the proper running of Hogwarts."
"So, we've been replaced?" Lady Longbottom questioned.
"Of course not, Lady Longbottom," Umbridge replied, "I am only—,"
"Oh good. I'm glad we've got that straightened out. Now, as we were saying, Headmaster, the Governors will be exercising our right to dismiss a professor and hire a replacement. Which has not been utilized since 1843 when the headmistress refused to hire a Muggle Studies professor."
That was an interesting piece of history, Aria thought, watching the action like it was an overtime match between Arsenal and Liverpool.
"I don't remember that being mentioned in Hogwarts, A History," Hermione muttered.
Neville was grinning so brightly there was no way his cheeks weren't hurting.
"As it is, Madam Umbridge," Mr. Malfoy cut in, voice silky and full of warning and glee mixed together. "You are the reason we are here. We, the Board of Governors, are removing you from your post as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor effective immediately."
A collective gasp filled the Great Hall from the students. Aria grabbed hold of Daphne's arm. Was this real? Or was this too good to be true?
"Excuse me?" Umbridge questioned with a little laugh. "There must be some mistake, Mr. Malfoy. Minister Fudge had personally appointed me to this position."
"I believe it is you who are mistaken, Madam Umbridge," Lucius said. "Headmaster Dumbledore may have allowed Minister Fudge to choose the Defense professor this year, only out of the goodness of his heart and willingness to show the ministry and the wizarding world that he and Hogwarts have nothing to hide. The Ministry itself, however, has no official oversight to Hogwarts. You are here, in other words, because the headmaster and the governors have allowed it. But we say no more." He banged his walking stick on the floor. It echoed through the silent hall.
"We have fielded many letters from concerned parents and students," a man from the governors added. "Concerns about the quality of the texts you were using, concerns about your educational decrees, and such. We were content to allow Headmaster Dumbledore to handle it, but then we discovered that you had blocked the Floos?"
"And intended to search the students' mail?" a woman added.
Umbridge no longer smiled. She was not yet scowling at anyone, but perhaps she was too polite to scowl at the Board of Governors.
"Therefore," Lady Longbottom picked up, "you are dismissed from your post and will be replaced with a more competent professor."
Umbridge looked like she had sucked a lemon.
"Professor Remus Lupin has agreed to return for the rest of the school year," Lucius stated, gesturing to Remus. "He had the highest scores—,"
A large cheer interrupted the man, startling him and the rest of the Board as Aria, Harry, and Neville led the charge to swarm Remus, students jumping up and down and shouting loudly in excitement at the return of their favorite professor.
"You can't be serious!" Umbridge was heard, shouting over the din of mostly cheering students. There were a few students who remained back, fear or disgust warring on their faces. "He's a werewolf!"
"We are aware," Lady Longbottom replied with only a slight grimace. "But Alastair Moody was unavailable to return and Professor Lupin did bring Hogwarts the highest OWL and NEWT scores in over twenty years, so we conceded to choosing him as the most qualified candidate."
"He is not fit to be around children!" Umbridge cried.
"And you are?" Cedric cried from the mosh pit of students. "You used Blood Quills on students!"
The gasp from the Board and several professors killed the cheering. Students still gathered tightly around Remus. Harry had climbed onto the man's back and was hanging off him like a little kid.
"What was that, Mr. Diggory?" Lucius asked.
"A Blood Quill," Cedric stated. "She used it on me during one of detentions. And Harry."
"I would never!" Umbridge cried with a giggle.
"That's a serious accusation, Mr. Diggory," Lucius continued, ignoring Umbridge. "Did you or Mr. Potter or any student go to a professor? School has been in session now just over a month."
"I went to Professor Snape," Cedric stated. "That's when we discovered the Floo was blocked. The next morning, Harry's familiar was attacked—,"
Multiple gasps from the Board of Governors filled the air.
"And then we got the educational decree that all the post would be searched."
"An attempt was made to contact the DMLE," Snape stated seriously. "By Floo and owl. As I have not yet heard from Madam Bones, I assume that . . . perhaps the owl was waylaid."
Multiple heads turned towards Umbridge who was looking less than pleased. Aria almost thought the woman was starting to get nervous. What was a Blood Quill anyway and why hadn't Harry told her about it? She glanced at him and caught his eye only for a few seconds before he hurried to look away.
"Madam Umbridge," Lucius said, voice tight and somewhat threatening. "The Board of Governors will escort you to your quarters. There you will pack your things, you will hand over any and all Blood Quills in your possession, and we will escort you off campus."
"Mr. Malfoy!" Umbridge cried, horrified. "You cannot remove me. I am in the middle of a ministry investigation!"
"If such a time came that the ministry had to investigate Hogwarts, a mere undersecretary would not be sent to conduct it," Lady Longbottom stated firmly. "Nor would you be the only one here. Aurors, a Governor, a great many others would be involved. So, cease your posturing and your bemoaning. Once you have vacated the premises you may complain to Cornelius, but we will say the exact same thing to him."
Neville sidled up to his grandmother's side and the woman patted his head with a sad smile.
"But to replace me with . . ." Umbridge scowled at Remus. "A monster?"
"He's not a monster!" students cried.
"He doesn't use a Blood Quill in detention!"
"He lets us use magic in the classroom!"
"He's one of the best teachers I've ever had!"
"If he's a monster," Aria cried, her voice rising above everyone else's. "What does that make you, Madam Umbridge?"
Something frightening went across Umbridge's face. Aria snapped her mouth shut seeing it, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that, if Umbridge had not been her enemy before, the woman was now. Others around them recognized this too. Students stepped away from Umbridge as if afraid that she would look at them the same way that she now looked at Aria. Even Remus slid Harry off his back and pulled Aria to his side.
"It may be difficult for your small, simple-minded brain to comprehend, Miss Bourne," Umbridge said, "but I am trying to ensure the traditions and values of the wizarding world are upheld and past down to the deserving next generation. It is how we survive."
"Then perhaps you should teach those traditions, Madam Umbridge," Aria said, forcing her voice not to shake. "Instead of refusing to pass them onto people you deem less deserving."
"You wish to learn our traditions? Very well, here is one." Umbridge stepped closer to Aria. Snape swooped down to put himself between the woman and child.
"The traditional cure for lycanthropy," Umbridge stated, "was to put the werewolf down like the rabid dog it is." She gave one last, triumphant, vicious grin, and allowed the Board of Governors to escort her out of the Great Hall.