Chapter 8

Educational Decree 24

(Opening song. Danger Danger by FZMZ feat. icy.)

(Next morning)

Professor Umbridge was not inspecting their History of Magic lesson, which was just as dull as the previous Monday, nor was she in Snape's dungeon when they arrived for double Potions, where Harry's moonstone essay was handed back to him with a large, spiky black 'D' scrawled in an upper corner.

"Great," thought Harry, looking at the grade. "Just what I needed after Binn's class."

"I have awarded you the grades you would have received if you presented this work in your OWL," said Snape with a smirk, as he swept among them, passing back their homework. "This should give you a realistic idea of what to expect in the examination."

Snape reached the front of the class and turned on his heel to face them.

"The general standard of this homework was abysmal. Most of you would have failed had this been your examination. I expect to see a great deal more effort for this week's essay on the various varieties of venom antidotes, or I shall have to start handing out detentions to those dunces who get a D."

He smirked as Malfoy snickered and said in a carrying whisper, "Some people got a D? Ha!"

Harry realized Hermione was looking sideways to see what grade he had received; he slid his moonstone essay back into his bag as quickly as possible, feeling that he would rather keep that information private.

"I'd also like to announce that a first-year student will be joining our class for the rest of the year. I deemed it necessary, given his…. advanced understanding for someone his age," added Snapem now back to his usual drool tone. "Mr. Lovecraft, come to the front please."

Malfoy's expression turned to disgust as he saw Yuno strolled into the classroom. Harry saw Yuno flash a smug smirk at Malfoy, which Malfoy returned with his usual "He can't be serious," he said in a carrying whisper to Crabbe.

"Here is your assignment," said Snape, narrowing his eyes at Yuno. "I'm rather impressed someone your age and... background was able to comprehend such advanced topics."

"Thanks, Professor, I always found I had a knack for potions," chirped Yuno. As he went to take his seat, Harry saw Yuno subtly flash his grade in front of Hermione, showing a dark-colored "O" on the corner of the page. Hermione gripped the table and shot a dagger-like glare at Yuno.

"That little-," growled Hermione through gritted teeth.

Harry pinched his brow at Hermione's reaction. "And the icing that tops it all off," he thought. "This is all she's going to talk about during lunch."

Harry turned his attention to Snape's assignment for today's class, determined not to give him an excuse to fail him this lesson. Harry read and reread every line of instructions on the blackboard at least three times before acting on them. His Strengthening Solution was not precisely the clear turquoise shade of Hermione's. Still, it was at least blue rather than pink, like Neville's, and he delivered a flask to Snape's desk at the end of the lesson with a feeling of mingled defiance and relief. When the lesson finally ended, Hermione stormed out ahead of Harry and Ron into the chilly corridor.

"That conceited… insolent…insufferable little….urgh!" Hermoine spat as she stormed up the steps out of the dungeon as they made their way across the Entrance Hall towards lunch."Did you see him flash his grade in front of my face!?"

Harry sighed, "Hermione, I'd be pretty happy with your grade regardless."

"Well, I'm not!" said Hermione, turning to both of them. "I mean, all right, I didn't expect the top grade, not if he's marking to OWL standard, but who does that first-year think he is!?"

"This is the same first year that summoned a horror without a wand, so-OW!" Ron yelped as Hermione hit him on the shoulder. She glared at him, daring him to finish the sentence.

"Guys don't fight," Harry said as they sat down together at the Gryffindor table.

Fred and George looked over Hermione. "Everything all right?" George asked her, watching as she angrily stabbed some potatoes on her plate with her fork.

"She's mad cause Yuno got a better grade than her in class," Ron said

The twins nodded knowingly and chuckled together.

"The firstie's getting put in the big kid classes and getting better grades than you-" Fred started saying, shaking his head. "Maybe some extra studying might help," George finished.

Hermione shot daggers at Fred and George as she stabbed another potato more violently with her fork.

George chuckled at her intense expression. "You know, if you stab the potatoes anymore violently, you're going to break the plate," he teased

Hermoine gritted her teeth, they could hear the plate start to crack a bit. The twins shared a look that seemed to telepathically communicate 'Uh oh'

Fred chuckled nervously, "Ehh, Hermione, you might want to stop that…"

George nodded with a nervous chuckle of his own, "The poor potatoes haven't done anything to you!"

Hermione continued to glare at them before eating the small potato. The twins instinctively slid a bit back from her.

"You lot had an inspection lesson yet?" Harry asked the twins, trying to change the subject

"Just now, before lunch," said George. "Charms."

"What was it like?" Harry asked.

Fred shrugged.

"Not that bad. Umbridge just lurked in the corner, making notes on a clipboard. You know what Flitwick's like, he treated her like a guest, and didn't seem to bother him at all. She didn't say much. Asked Alicia a couple of questions about what the classes are normally like, Alicia told her they were really good, and that was it."

"I can't see old Flitwick getting marked down," said George, "he usually gets everyone through their exams all right."

"Who've you got this afternoon?" Fred asked Harry.

"Trelawney -"

"A troll if ever I saw one."

"- and finally, Umbridge herself."

"Well, be a good boy and keep your temper with Umbridge today," said George. "Angelina'll do her nut if you miss any more Quidditch practices."

But Harry did not have to wait for Defense Against the Dark Arts to meet Professor Umbridge. He was pulling out his dream diary in a seat at the very back of the shadowy Divination room when Ron elbowed him in the ribs and, looking round, he saw Professor Umbridge emerging through the trapdoor in the floor. The class, which had been talking cheerily, fell silent at once. The abrupt fall in the noise level made Professor Trelawney, who had been wafting about handing out copies of The Dream Oracle.

"Good afternoon, Professor Trelawney," said Professor Umbridge with her wide smile. "You received my note, I trust? Giving the time and date of your inspection?"

Professor Trelawney nodded curtly and, looking very disgruntled, turned her back on Professor Umbridge and continued to give out books. Still smiling, Professor Umbridge grasped the back of the nearest armchair and pulled it to the front of the class so that it was a few inches behind Professor Trelawneys seat.

"We shall be continuing our study of prophetic dreams today," she said in a brave attempt at her usual mystic tones, though her voice shook slightly. "Divide into pairs, please, and interpret each other's latest night-time visions with the aid of the Oracle."

Think of a dream, quick," he told Ron, "in case the old toad comes our way."

"I did it last time," Ron protested, "it's your turn, you tell me one."

"Oh, I dunno…" said Harry desperately, who could not remember dreaming anything at all over the last few days.

"Let's say I dreamed I was… drowning Snape in my cauldron. Yeah, that'll do…" Ron chortled as he opened his Dream Oracle.

"Okay, we've got to add your age to the date you had the dream, the number of letters in the subject… would that be 'drowning' or 'cauldron' or 'Snape'?"

"It doesn't matter, pick any of them," said Harry, glancing to see Trelawney talking with Neville Longbottom about his diary

"Now," Umbridge's voice cut through the conversation as she looked up at Trelawney, "you've been in this post how long, exactly?"

Professor Trelawney turned and scowled at her, arms crossed and shoulders hunched.

"Nearly sixteen years," she said in a resentful tone.

"Quite a period," said Professor Umbridge, making a note on her clipboard. "So it was Professor Dumbledore who appointed you?"

"That's right," said Professor Trelawney shortly.

Professor Umbridge made another note.

"And you are a great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney?"

"Yes," said Professor Trelawney, holding her head a little higher.

Another note on the clipboard.

"But I think - correct me if I am mistaken - that you are the first in your family since Cassandra to be possessed of Second Sight?"

"These things often skip - er - three generations," said Professor Trelawney.

Professor Umbridge's toadlike smile widened. "Of course," she said sweetly, making yet another note. "Well, if you could just predict something for me, then?" And she looked up enquiringly, still smiling.

Professor Trelawney stiffened as though unable to believe her ears. "I don't understand you," she said, clutching convulsively at the shawl around her scrawny neck.

"I'd like you to predict me," said Professor Umbridge very clearly.

"I - but - but… wait!" said Professor Trelawney suddenly, in an attempt at her usual ethereal voice, though the mystical effect was ruined somewhat by the way it was shaking with anger.

Professor Trelawney pointed a shaking finger at Professor Umbridge who continued to smile blandly at her, eyebrows raised.

"I am afraid… I am afraid that you are in grave danger!" Professor Trelawney said

There was a pause. Professor Umbridge surveyed Professor Trelawney. "Right," she said softly, scribbling on her clipboard once more. "Well, if that's the best you can do…"

She turned away, leaving Professor Trelawney standing rooted to the spot, her chest heaving.

The bell rang signaling the end of class. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine gathered together as they headed to Umbridge's class.

"Trelawney may be a fraud, but she didn't have to put her on the spot like that," Ron said, adjusting his bag of textbooks.

"It's infuriating," Harry said. "She just holds that smug smirk on her face."

"She makes Snape seem likable." Ron snorted.

Before Harry could reply, they heard a voice ask. "You guys talking about the toad?

The trio spun around and were met with the sight of a tall and massive frame. At first, Harry thought it was Hagrid for a second, but then he saw it was a student, no older than them. He had sunbaked caramel skin and short jet black curls, which sat on top of his head. He was unusually athletic for a regular student at Hogwarts, his bicep muscle subtly peaking through from under his robes.

"Yeah," Harry answered warily. "We just had Divinations. She was inspecting our class, and unfortunately, we have her next for that poor excuse of a D.A.D.A class,"

"Ouch! Sorry to hear that, bro," said Galin. "Had her this morning, she's a close second to who can put you to sleep faster."

Hermoine's eyebrow raised at the way the newcomer was speaking, "You're not from England, are you?" she asked.

"Nope, just transferred here from the States," he said while his hand extended forward. "Names Galin"

"Harry," Harry greeted him as the two shook hands, wincing a bit at the tight grip. " And these are my friends, Ron and Hermione."

Galin flashed them a grin. "Pleasure, especially to this beauty right here," he said, giving a wink towards Hermione.

Hermione's cheeks instantly became crimson. "Oh, uh...well, thank you," she suttered. Ron brow furrowed when he saw Hermoine's reaction and he couldn't help but puff out his chest as if trying to make himself appeared just as large.

SMACK

"OW! ARRRIIII!" Galin yelped suddenly in pain after the new Gryffindor girl came up from behind him and smacked him in the back with a textbook. She had snow-white hair that was pulled back in a ponytail, emerald green, and a faint lightning-shaped scar on her cheek.

"Ignore him, he's a huge flirt," she said, giving Galin an annoyed glance as she stood beside him. "I'm Arianna, this idiot's sister."

The trio's eyes widen. They had seen her in a couple of her classes, but they never knew she had a brother who also transferred with her.

"Oh yeah, right? Heard you just transferred here yesterday," Harry said ("Why is it always the hardcover books she hits me with?" Galin said, rubbing the spot as Harry spoke)

"Yep, just got here yesterday afternoon," she replied. " We were supposed to get here later within the semester, but I guess Umbridge being announced High Inquisitor must have pushed us up the date."

"I see, how are you adjusting so far?" Hermione asked.

"Fairly well," she said with a slight frown, "though I'm disappointed there's not going to be a dueling club."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry

"Yesterday, Professor McGonagall said something about some sort of rule that was effectively going to disband the dueling club," Arianna explained as she and Galin matched pace with the golden trio.

"Speaking of which," Galin chimed in, "I think that's it." He pointed to a large sign on the notice board. There in big bold letters read:

BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS

All student organizations, societies, teams, groups, and clubs are henceforth disbanded. An organization, society, team, group, or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No student organization, society, team, group, or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or belong to, an organization, society, team, group, or club. that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.

Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor

"How the hell is this even going to be enforced? Is she gonna start barging into the common rooms now, demanding students separate, and how is lunch even gonna work?" Galin asked, raising an eyebrow while looking up at the sign.

"Don't be giving her ideas, mate," said Ron, shaking his head

Harry clenched his fist, his knuckles becoming white with his building rage. "She can't be serious! If this includes Quitich I'll-"

"Harry, don't! I get it, but it's only going to get you detention again!" Hermione cut him off, looking down at his scarred hand.

Harry gritted his teeth, knowing she was right. The last thing he needed was to be put into detention again. Arianna noticed this and raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued a bit.

"Speaking about detention, we're gonna get it if we're late for her class," said Ron, looking at the time.

"Right, let's go," Harry agreed, still seething with anger. He turned to Galin, trying to hide his anger. ""Nice meeting you by the way, even if that ruined the moment,"

"Don't sweat about it man, I'd be pissed too. See ya, Ari," Galin replied as he turned to go to his class and waved goodbye.

The trio and Arianna took their leave, pace quickening as class was about to start. With a little less than twenty seconds left, they managed to enter the classroom. They were greeted by Umbridge humming to herself as she wrote on the chalkboard. Arianna, who was behind the trio, glanced at Yuno, who was seated in the back reading through his book and pretending to take notes. He looked up and gave a nod. She nodded back and took her seat at the very front of the class on the opposite side of the classroom.

"Wands away" she instructed them all with a smile, and those people who had been hopeful enough to take them out sadly returned them to their bags. "As we finished Chapter One last lesson, I would like you all to turn to page nineteen today and commence 'Chapter Two, Common Defensive Theories and their Derivation'. There will be no need to talk."

Harry looked through the classroom and saw Yuno, who was seated in the back. "Bloody hell, what did he do to get back in here!?" Harry whispered to Ron

"I dunno, maybe he threatened her or something?"

"Or maybe, he sucked up to her as he does to all the other teachers" Hermoine grumbled shooting an ice cold at Yuno, who gave a cheerful wave in return. Harry swore he could have heard the wood of her desk snap a bit as she gripped her desk with one hand, her eye twitching a bit.

While the trio stared back at Yuno, Umbridge was near Arianna's desk. When she walked by, Arianna's scar began to act up and she slightly grimaced at the pain.

"So she has a dark magical item on her," Arianna thought to herself. "If that doesn't yell 'I love Tom Riddle' I don't know what does"

Still smiling her wide, self-satisfied smile, she sat down at her desk. The class gave an audible sigh as it turned, as one, to page nineteen. Harry wondered dully whether there were enough chapters in the book to keep them reading through all this year's lessons and was on the point of checking the contents page when he noticed that Hermione had her hand in the air again.

Professor Umbridge had noticed, too, and what was more, she seemed to have worked out a strategy for just such an eventuality. Instead of trying to pretend she had not noticed Hermione, she got to her feet and walked around the front row of desks until they were face to face, then she bent down and whispered so that the rest of the class could not hear, "What is it this time, Miss Granger?"

"I've already read Chapter Two," said Hermione.

"Well then, proceed to Chapter Three-"

"I've read that too. I've read the whole book." Hermione cut her off

Professor Umbridge blinked but recovered her poise almost instantly. "Well, then, you should be able to tell me what Slinkhard says about counter-jinxes in Chapter Fifteen."

"He says that counter-jinxes are improperly named," said Hermione promptly. "He says - 'jinx' is just a name people give their jinxes when they want to make them sound more acceptable."

Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows, and Harry knew she was impressed, against her will.

"But I disagree," Hermione continued.

Professor Umbridge's eyebrows rose a little higher, and her gaze became distinctly colder.

"You disagree?" she repeated.

"Yes, I do," said Hermione, who, unlike Umbridge, was not whispering, but speaking in a clear, carrying voice that had by now attracted the attention of the rest of the class. "Mr. Slinkhard doesn't like jinxes, does he? But, I think they can be very useful when they're used defensively."

"Oh, you do, do you?" said Professor Umbridge, forgetting to whisper and straightening up. "Well, I'm afraid it is Mr. Slinkhard's opinion, and not yours, that matters within this classroom, Miss Granger."

Suddenly, the doors flew open and Professor McGonagall stepped through, her brow furrowed

"My opinion also matters while you are here at Hogwarts, Dolores!" she snapped.

Professor Umbridge lost her smile, and her eyes narrowed at Professor McGonagall as she strode towards her desk. "And what is the meaning of this interruption, Minerva?"

"Is it true?" asked Professor McGonagall. "You used a blood quill for Mr. Potter's punishment last week?"

Arianna raised an eyebrow at this, her interest piqued by the magical item's name.

"I'm sorry, Professor, but I deemed it a necessary punishment for spreading such misinformation," said Professor Umbridge, her eyelids blinking rapidly by sudden accusation.

"Such practices are not accepted in any educational institution, let alone Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall, stepping closer to Umbridge, staring down at her.

"Excuse me, Professor, but what exactly are you insinuating?" asked Professor Umbridge, raising her chin as if to match the taller woman's height.

"I'm merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices." Professor McGonagall said matter-of-factually.

"So silly of me, but it seems you are questioning my authority in my own classroom, Minerva," Professor Umbridge accused, he brow furrowing.

"Not at all, Dolores," said Professor McGonagall, her voice rising slightly, "merely your medieval methods."

Professor Umbridge's eyes widen in disbelief. "I…am..sorry dear, but to question my practices is to question the ministry and by extension, the minister himself"

"The practices of the-"

"Enough! I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty," declared Professor Umbridge.

McGonagall took a step back in utter disgust at Umbridge's words. "Disloyalty.." she huffed in a mocking manner.

Yuno looked at the two professors verbally sparring and smirked. "Let's fan the flames a bit more," he thought as a subtle green glow appeared in his hand. He focused on Umbridge and narrowed his eyes in concentration. He then balled his hand into a fist and cast the spell.

A brick came rocketing from one of the walls and hit Professor Umbridge right in the face, the force driving her head straight back and off her feet, and landed with the back of her head hitting off the stone floor. There was a collective gasp and a few yelps added in the student's shock.

"Bullseye!" Yuno mentally cheered to himself while trying to act surprised

Umbridge instinctively grabbed her face, putting pressure on her now broken nose. McGonagall's eyes widen to the size of dinner plates by the surprise assault.

"Dolores, are you-"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" shrieked Professor Umbridge, her nose crooked from the strike of the brick. She stood up and slapped McGongall's hand away, her gaze immediately falling onto Harry.

"POTTER!"

Harry looked at her in disbelief."What did I do!?"

"YOU DARE ATTACK ME!?" she yelled, her eyes bulging out of her head.

"That's ridiculous, he doesn't even have his wand in his hand," Dean Thomas said, pointing to Harry's pack that had Harry's wand in it, neatly tucked into his top opening.

"Twenty-five points from-"

"Dolores, it's true. Potter doesn't even have his wand in his hand, and he's too young to be doing that sort of wandless magic." Professor McGonagall cut her off, clearly making her argument mute. "Although whoever did do this will be punished to the highest extremes," she finished as she eyed the rest of the classroom.

Umbridge heaved in anger. The blood vessels in her head popped, and the blood from her nose now dripped onto her pink dress.

She turned her attention to the class, a crazed look in her eyes as blood gushed from her nostrils. "Things at Hogwarts are much worse than I feared! Students that DARE…ATTACK… A MEMBER OF THE MINISTRY! IT'S BARBARIC!"

Umbridge scanned the room looking for any signs of guilt or pride on their face. Her eyes were bulging and rapid like a hawk scanning for prey, and breathing through her mouth in loud huffs. She took a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of calmness.

"By the power invested in me by the Minister of Magic himself, you have all forced me to take much more drastic actions!"

Every student in the class looked on wide-eyed, staring at Umbridge as she fumed with rage. The students then looked at each other with concerned looks and hushed whispers. There was a long silence until the bell rang, and without a word, students began to pack up and leave, their pace more akin to running, than a walk. Harry, Ron, and Hermione huddled in a group together in the hallway.

"Bloody hell," said Ron, not knowing what else to say.

"Whoever did that is out of their damn mind. To strike a Professor, let alone Umbridge, is borderline psychotic," Hermione added in.

"Well…seems like quite the coincidence that happened when our favorite student showed up," Harry said sarcastically. Ron and Hermione followed Harry's gaze as Yuno walked down the hallway in front of them.

"Yeah, there's no doubt it was him," Ron said.

"Didn't he read that Umbridge became High Inquisitor two days ago? That little stunt will drive her to go on a crazed power trip!" Hermione exclaimed in a hushed yell.

Harry furrowed his brow a bit. Yuno didn't make any sense to him. Top of his house, best grades in school, why would be so stupid to attack Umbridge when he knows that she has power over the school now? Was he trying to… Harry's eyes widened as the pieces fell into place when he thought of the conversation he had with Sirius about Umbridge.

"I think I know why he's trying to stir her up," Harry said as he stopped suddenly.

Ron and Hermione stopped and turned to him, their interest piqued.

"Why's that, Harry?" Hermione asked warily.

Harry took a deep breath and looked at both of them with a serious, grim expression "I think he's trying to remove Dumbledore as headmaster. And he's using Umbridge to do it."