Chapter 787: Education Decree Number Twenty-Three
Chapter 787: Education Decree Number Twenty-Three
Ivan pushed through the crowded hall and quickly saw Professor Trelawney standing in the center of the entrance hall.
At that moment, she was holding a wand in one hand and some divination tools in the other, her eyes brimming with tears, her hair disheveled, and her glasses askew, making her look utterly disheveled.
Umbridge stood at the entrance of the entrance hall, tossing two old trunks in front of Trelawney.
"You... you can't!" Professor Trelawney looked at Umbridge, her face contorted with agitation as she screamed, tears streaming down her face behind her large glasses. "You can't fire me! I've been here for sixteen years! Hogwarts is... my home!"
"It was your home... but it won't be anymore!" Umbridge said arrogantly, a smug smile spreading across her toad-like face as she watched Trelawney collapse onto a trunk, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Leave now, Trelawney. Your presence here is embarrassing us. The Ministry of Magic has signed the order to fire you, and I expect you to leave this castle immediately."
Seeing Trelawney hesitating and unwilling to leave, Umbridge grew impatient and reached out to grab Trelawney's sleeve, trying to drag her out of the hall.
The young wizards watching the scene all showed signs of sympathy on their faces.
The professors present also began to look at Umbridge with increasing disapproval...
While not many people liked Trelawney's constant ramblings and predictions of doom, seeing one of their own being forcibly removed from the castle evoked a sense of shared distress.
Ivan looked around, searching for Dumbledore's white-bearded figure. With professors being fired, Dumbledore, as the headmaster, shouldn't be absent.
However, Ivan scanned the crowd but couldn't find the elderly wizard.
His brow furrowed, he took a few steps back, intending to find a dark corner to perform a Boggart transformation. He didn't want to see Trelawney being expelled from Hogwarts because of him.
Just then, a voice rang out.
"Wait... Trelawney shouldn't leave Hogwarts!"
Trelawney paused her steps as she was about to step out of the entrance hall. Umbridge turned around, displeased, to see who was interrupting her, and then saw Professor Mcgonagall pushing her way through the crowd with a serious expression.
She walked straight to Professor Trelawney, gently patting her back and pulling out a large handkerchief from her robe. She sighed and said, "There, Sybill... calm down... blow your nose... things aren't as bad as you think..."
"Is that so, Professor Mcgonagall?" Umbridge sneered. "I need to remind you that according to the dismissal order signed by myself and the Minister of Magic, Education Decree Number Twenty-Three! As the Hogwarts High Inquisitor, I have the authority to inspect, place on probation, and fire any teacher who does not meet the Ministry of Magic's standards!"
"That's true, according to the rules, Trelawney is no longer a professor of the school..." Professor Mcgonagall raised an eyebrow and replied.
"Then you should understand..." Umbridge was about to continue, but Mcgonagall cut her off.
"You have the Ministry of Magic's authorization to fire professors, but you don't have the right to expel her from the castle, do you?"
Professor Mcgonagall glanced back at the still sobbing Trelawney and stated firmly, "Trelawney may no longer have her teaching position, but she can still be a guest of the headmaster and has the right to remain in this castle!"
Umbridge's face turned pale, and she asked, word by word, "Is this Dumbledore's decision? Then why isn't he here to see me?"
"When the headmaster is absent, I am the acting headmaster, fully responsible for the internal affairs of Hogwarts!" Professor Mcgonagall stood in front of Trelawney, her response firm.
"Acting headmaster? I doubt the Ministry of Magic has approved that", Umbridge glared at Mcgonagall.
"According to the rules, appointing an acting headmaster only requires the headmaster's consent!" Professor Mcgonagall countered.
"Very well, very well! Just wait, the Ministry of Magic won't let you get away with this!" Umbridge ground out through clenched teeth, then, as if remembering something, she continued with a satisfied tone.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I've been looking for him many times, but he's never here. This is a serious dereliction of duty. I’m sure the proposal to impeach him is already on Minister Fudge's desk..."
Umbridge's threats didn’t faze Professor Mcgonagall. She responded calmly, "That's a future concern. At least for now, you don't have the authority to expel Trelawney!"
Umbridge glared at Mcgonagall, then turned and stormed off in a huff.
The Great Hall erupted into enthusiastic applause. The young wizards gathered there looked at Professor Mcgonagall with admiration and reverence, grateful to see Umbridge put in her place.
For days, Umbridge had been causing chaos in the school, infuriating everyone. They had been seething with anger, and now seeing her get what she deserved was a welcome relief!
Ivan also clapped enthusiastically. Umbridge was even more incompetent than he had imagined. In just over two months, she had already lost the support of the Ministry of Magic.
Even the professors were growing tired of Umbridge, which meant some of his plans could now be put into action.
But before that, he needed to visit the Headmaster's Office to confirm a few things!
Umbridge and the Ministry of Magic were of no real concern to Ivan. It would be easy to take down Fudge, but what truly mattered to him were the movements of Dumbledore and Voldemort.
After dealing with Umbridge, Professor Mcgonagall waved her wand to levitate the trunks, then led the still sobbing Trelawney up the stairs.
The crowd in the Great Hall quickly dispersed, and as the young wizards made their way back to the common rooms, they chatted excitedly about the confrontation between Mcgonagall and Umbridge.
"Professor Mcgonagall was amazing just now. Someone really needed to put Umbridge in her place!" Ron said, recalling her frustrated and helpless expression with delight.
Harry nodded in agreement. Professor Mcgonagall had certainly given them a sense of satisfaction.
Hermione, however, was not as optimistic. She was thinking about Umbridge's parting words and the Ministry of Magic's intention to impeach Dumbledore, hoping to drive him out of Hogwarts.
If the Ministry of Magic succeeded in this, they would face the worst possible scenario.
This thought made Hermione worry, and she wanted to discuss a plan with Ivan. But when she turned around, she realized that Ivan, who had been with them, was nowhere to be seen...
...
Meanwhile, at the top of the castle, in front of the Headmaster's Office, Ivan was trying different passwords with the stone gargoyle.
"Fizzing Whizbees~"
"Cockroach Clusters~"
"Runny Nose! Dregs? Twist?"
...
As he said "Pumpkin Juice", the gargoyle suddenly trembled, slowly rising to reveal an entrance.
Ivan strode inside. The Headmaster's Office was empty, with no sign of Fawkes. The desk was cluttered with dusty files and envelopes, indicating it hadn't been tended to in a while.
Ivan scanned the room, pausing briefly on two items before turning to the portraits of the former headmasters hanging on the wall. He asked, "Good afternoon, headmasters. Do you know where the current Headmaster Dumbledore has gone? I have important matters to discuss with him..."
Ivan's voice echoed in the enclosed office. The dozens of portraits turned to look at him curiously but remained silent, except for a kind portrait of a lady who spoke up.
"We don't know where Headmaster Dumbledore is. He has returned a few times this term, but he always leaves quickly..."
(End of Chapter)
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