Chapter 944: High Inquisitor (Patreon)

They had expected to have to comb The Daily Prophet carefully next morning to find the article Percy had mentioned last night in his letter.

However, the departing delivery owl had barely cleared the top of the milk jug when Hermione let out a huge gasp.

She flattened the newspaper to reveal a large photograph of Dolores Umbridge, smiling widely and blinking slowly at them from beneath the headline:

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM

DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER

“HIGH INQUISITOR”

“‘High Inquisitor’?" Everyone looked at the photo in shock.

They had never heard of such a title and didn't know what a High Inquisitor was supposed to do.

But the unfamiliarity alone sounded terrifying...

Hermione picked up the newspaper and read aloud:

“In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

“‘The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some time,’ said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. ‘He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve.’

“This is not the first time in recent months Minister Cornelius Fudge has used new laws to effect improvements at the Wizarding school. As recently as August 30th Educational Decree Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person.

“‘That’s how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts,’ said Weasley last night. ‘Dumbledore couldn’t find anyone, so the Minister put in Umbridge and of course, she’s been an immediate success —’"

“She’s been a WHAT?” said Harry loudly, looking at her incredulously.

“Wait, there’s more,” said Hermione grimly.

"‘— an immediate success, totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what’s really happening at Hogwarts, giving the Ministry an objective and fair understanding of the actual situation at Hogwarts.’”

‘But we have to admit that there is currently significant resistance within the school.

“From the headmaster down to the professors, none of them supported the Ministry's reforms. They even attempted to obstruct them. When Umbridge disciplined a student for breaking school rules, the student's Head of House even stormed into her office and made a scene.

“Furthermore, the "Educational Decree Twenty-One" that was passed three months ago aimed to limit the headmaster's increasingly inflated and unchecked powers and enhance the role of the school board, but it did not achieve satisfactory results.

“The current headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, seems to believe that he can bypass the Ministry and the school board in managing the school. He breaks conventions and directly appoints a fourteen-year-old student as the Head Boy.

“In this situation, the Ministry had to take special action. It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalized with the passing of Educational Decree Twenty-three, which creates the new position of ‘Hogwarts High Inquisitor.’

“‘This is an exciting new phase in the Minister’s plan to get to grips with what some are calling the “falling standards” at Hogwarts,’ said Weasley. ‘The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post, and we are delighted to say that she has accepted.’

“It is worth mentioning that the Ministry’s new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts.

“‘I feel much easier in my mind now that I know that Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,’ said Mr. Lucius Malfoy, 41, speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night. ‘Many of us with our children’s best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore’s eccentric decisions in the last few years and will be glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.’

“Among those ‘eccentric decisions’ are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the hiring of werewolf Remus Lupin, half giant Rubeus Hagrid, and delusional ex-Auror ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody.

“Rumors abound, of course, that Albus Dumbledore, once Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, is no longer up to the task of managing the prestigious school of Hogwarts.

“‘I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is a first step toward ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in whom we can all repose confidence,’ said a Ministry insider last night. "This is a responsibility to the Ministry and all the parents of the students."

“Of course, there are some voices of opposition to this move. Wizengamot elders Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden, both close friends of Dumbledore, have resigned in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts.

“‘Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of Cornelius Fudge’s office,’ said Madam Marchbanks. ‘This is a further disgusting attempt to discredit Albus Dumbledore.’ (For a full account of Madam Marchbanks’ alleged links to subversive goblin groups, turn to page 17).

Hermione finished reading and looked across the table at the other three.

“So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge! Fudge passed this ‘Educational Decree’ and forced her on us! And now he’s given her the power to inspect other teachers and interfere with the school's management!” Hermione was breathing fast and her eyes were very bright. “I can’t believe this. It’s outrageous!"

"It truly is outrageous, and that's why that woman is so confident," said Evan. "Clearly, her power has increased, and she can disregard the opinions of Professor McGonagall and even Dumbledore, freely punishing students."

"Oh, honestly, I can’t wait to see McGonagall inspected,” said Ron happily, as if thinking of something amusing, "Trust me, Umbridge won’t know what’s hit her.”

“Well, come on,” said Hermione, jumping up, “we’d better get going, if she’s inspecting Professor McGonagall’s class we don’t want to be late."

Evan waved his hand, reminding them that he had no classes for the first two periods of the morning as a fourth-year. Divination was scheduled for the third and fourth periods.

After giving instructions to Colin, he walked towards Umbridge's office.

He thought about this last night. Since there was no immediate way to get rid of Umbridge, the least they could do was render her quill useless.