A Half-Victory
"Lalala, I can't hear you, lalala," Daphne said as she walked through the Great Hall with her hands covering her ears, Hermione following right behind her. A few Ravenclaw students barely gave them a glance before going back to their dinner, as if this had already become a normal sight.
"That's enough! Can you stop doing that? Just because you're ignoring your feelings doesn't mean they don't exist!" Hermione shouted, already completely fed up.
She had spent the entire week trying to get Daphne to finally admit that she was in love with Viktor and looking for some way to bring the two of them together.
But after getting absolutely nowhere, Hermione finally got tired of being subtle and decided to become more... direct. Maybe too direct.
And that had led them to the current situation.
Harry and Draco, who were sitting there watching the exchange, could barely hold back their laughter, something that seemed to make Hermione glare at them.
"Are you two planning to help at all?" she asked irritably, since she had already marked them as her assistants, but they hadn't actually done anything to give her a hand.
"Sorry, we're guys. We don't understand girls' hearts," Harry said immediately, playing dumb.
Meanwhile, Draco simply avoided her gaze guiltily.
"Daphne, for Merlin's sake, you're acting like a little girl," Hermione complained before going after her friend again, who continued covering her ears so she wouldn't have to listen.
But while they were distracted by Daphne's nonsense, several students seemed to be leaving the Great Hall with expressions of interest and confusion.
Harry finally noticed it and turned toward the exit. Draco, Hermione, and Daphne noticed it as well.
Unable to resist their curiosity, they joined the students leaving the Great Hall and headed toward the entrance hall, which was packed with most of the students in the castle.
Many had even abandoned their freshly served dinners in the Great Hall to join the curious crowd.
Some looked shocked and others downright terrified as they stared toward the center of the entrance hall, where Professor Trelawney could be seen holding an empty bottle of sherry in one hand and her wand in the other, waving it around in several directions.
Meanwhile, several suitcases could be seen at her feet, looking as though they had been thrown down the stairs.
Standing in front of her was none other than Dolores Umbridge, completely calm as she ignored the woman's outburst.
"No... this can't be happening. I refuse to accept it."
"Surely you must have expected this to happen?" Umbridge's high-pitched, childish voice asked with a hint of cruelty.
"Ever since that inspection of your class, you should have realized that you are unfit to be a professor in this castle and that this would result in your immediate dismissal," Umbridge said with complete calm, as if her words were law.
"It can't be!" Professor Trelawney wailed, tears streaming down behind her huge round glasses. "Y-you can't fire me. I've... I've been here for sixteen years. Hogwarts is my home," she cried as she collapsed onto her luggage.
"It was an hour ago, until the Minister signed your dismissal order," Umbridge corrected her with a smile as she showed her the letter signed by the Ministry, the pleasure on her face making her toad-like features spread even wider.
Umbridge even seemed to be savoring the sight of her in that state. Trelawney whimpered and rocked back and forth on top of her trunk, still unable to process her dismissal or the idea of a life away from the castle.
Harry watched the entire scene with a serious expression. Beside him, his friends were also frowning at the behavior of that disgusting woman sent by the Ministry.
At that moment, someone began making their way through the students until they reached the center of the commotion.
It was Professor McGonagall, who quickly went to Professor Trelawney's side while pulling out a green handkerchief.
"Here, Sybill, calm down. It's not that bad. You won't have to leave Hogwarts," she said immediately as she tried to calm the Divination professor.
Umbridge frowned at once and replied with obvious mockery.
"Oh, won't she, Professor McGonagall? And may I ask who gave you the authority to make such a statement?" she asked smugly.
"I did," a deep voice suddenly answered from behind Umbridge.
She turned around in surprise at the fact that someone had appeared behind her without her noticing.
In fact, all the students seemed equally surprised, only realizing he was there the moment he opened his mouth.
It was none other than Headmaster Sirius Black.
The moment he made his presence known, Sirius became the most noticeable figure in the hall. He remained completely calm, though the cold way he looked at Umbridge made the contempt he felt for her more than clear.
Umbridge took a step back, surprised by the Headmaster's sudden appearance, though she quickly managed to compose herself.
Meanwhile, Sirius's gaze moved over Professor Trelawney, who was still sobbing and trembling, and then toward Professor McGonagall, who was holding her in an attempt to calm her down.
"You, Headmaster Black?" Umbridge asked with an unpleasant smile. "I'm afraid you haven't properly understood the situation. I have here the dismissal order signed by myself, by the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, and by Minister Cornelius Fudge himself."
"According to Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three, the High Inquisitor and the inspector have the authority to evaluate, place on probation, and dismiss any professor who fails to meet the requirements for teaching in this castle. And according to my evaluations, Professor Trelawney is simply not up to standard, which is why she has been dismissed immediately so as not to negatively affect the students' education," Umbridge finished.
At the sound of Dumbledore's name, many of the students looked surprised. McGonagall and Trelawney looked even more shocked.
"Dumbledore?" McGonagall asked in surprise.
Though this didn't seem to surprise Sirius at all, who continued looking at Umbridge calmly.
"That new power has gone straight to that tiny head of yours," Sirius said, making no effort whatsoever to hide his open contempt for Umbridge, who struggled to keep her smile from breaking.
"It's true that you can dismiss my professors," Sirius acknowledged calmly. "But the Ministry doesn't decide who is allowed to remain on these grounds. That decision belongs to me and the Board of Governors."
"And I'm fairly certain our chairman will support my decision. Though, if you'd like, you can always go argue about it with Edward Greengrass... if you actually dare stand in front of him."
At Sirius's words, Umbridge's smile finally broke as she stared at him. She knew perfectly well that the chairman was Edward Greengrass, who was allied with that man.
"Professor McGonagall, could I ask you to escort Sybill back into the castle?" Sirius said, turning toward her, and she immediately nodded.
"Come on, Sybill. Get up," McGonagall said with a hint of pride, looking toward Sirius before helping Professor Trelawney to her feet.
The latter's eyes were wide as she stared at Sirius as if he were her savior, tears still running down her cheeks.
"Thank you... thank you so much, Headmaster Black. I always knew you would go far," Trelawney assured him through her tears.
Sirius smiled slightly. He couldn't remember Sybill ever predicting anything like that, but he decided not to ruin the moment for her.
Professor Sprout also stepped forward to help support Trelawney by the other arm, while Professor Flitwick took care of enchanting the suitcases so they floated on their own toward the stairs.
Sirius turned his attention back to Umbridge, who remained standing in exactly the same place, her eyes fixed on him.
"I hope that new authority came with a promotion and a raise. Because if they were using me the same way, I'd take everything I could get and run," Sirius said with disdain.
"What exactly are you implying?" Umbridge asked, a trace of hatred in her voice.
"I think Mrs. Greengrass made it perfectly clear to you last time. Just make sure you're aiming at the right person, whether it's a professor... or a student," Sirius said, ending the conversation right there before turning away, with absolutely no interest in continuing to talk to that gargoyle.
Seeing that the whole spectacle was over, the students also began to leave.
Sirius walked a few steps before stopping.
"Oh, and the next Divination professor will arrive in the next few days. He needs to take care of a few things in the Forbidden Forest first." He paused briefly. "I think you'll find him charming."
And with that final jab, Sirius calmly continued on his way.