The consequence of scheming
The next day, while breakfast was still on, a group of witches and wizards came through the doors of the Great Hall. One of them, a plump man wearing a bowler hat. Titania recognized the Minister For Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Another was a strict looking dark-haired witch with a monocle. Madam Amelia Bones, Head of the Law Enforcement Department. The third was a plump man with greying hair and a severe expression. Probably Lord Amos Diggory, Head of the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The final wizard was a tall man with long platinum hair. Lord Lucius Malfoy, no guessing there. And the final witch was a blond woman, stylishly clothed, with jewelled spectacles studded with rhinestones. Probably Rita Skeeter.
Titania ceased to eat, along her Slytherin peers and most of the students.
“Dumbledore!” Thundered the Minister, looking quite cross. “This is quite inacceptable! How could you do that?”
Madam Bones put a hand on the shoulder of the incensed Minister, before looking quite severely at the staff table.
“Yesterday, we received a tip from some students. We just came back after investigating it. It was real. As of right now, Albus Dumbledore, you are hereby summoned to the Ministry for interrogation along Minerva McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid. If you will follow us…”
“Now, now… I’m sure it is just a misunderstanding. No need to go to the Ministry. Perhaps my office…?” Tried the Headmaster, his twinkling blue eyes on the group before him.
“Certainly not!” Shot back the woman, frowning heavily. “Either you came with me peacefully, or you came with me bound and unconscious. Your choice.”
“Surely, you could have chosen a better time to do this?” Asked the deputy Headmistress, confused.
The strict witch just levelled her with a glare, and the Head of Gryffindor sighed.
“Very well. Albus, Rubeus, come. We do not want to make a scandal in front of the students, do we?”
Lord Malfoy took a step, standing in front of the Staff table.
“If I may, Madam Bones…?” He asked, looking at the witch. “Thank you,” he said when she nodded. “As representative from the Board of Governors, I am tasked to announce that you are hereby suspended in your functions pending investigation, Dumbledore. You too, McGonagall. And also you, Hagrid. If the claims made by these students are truthful, and they seemed to be, none of you will keep your job in this school. It has been decided that Professor Filius Flitwick will act as interim Headmaster, and Professor Severus Snape will act as Deputy Headmaster. The Department of Education will send interim professors to take over your duties during this time. A potion master will also be sent to supply the Infirmary with everything that is needed.”
There was some uproar starting to be heard from the Gryffindor table. Rita Skeeter smiled jovially, and headed this way, starting to interview students.
Amos Diggory took place on the elevated dais, turning to face the students.
“Listen everyone! I know this situation is upsetting. Your concerns, for those of you who have written us, are heard and investigated. We will be doing our best to assuage them shortly. And for those of you who don’t understand what we are doing here, let me explain it.”
“Surely, you can wait to inform us first of whatever you are doing here, Amos?” The suspended-Headmaster tried to interfere.
“I could. Or I could reassure frightened students. Which is what I will do. And it’s Lord Diggory, for you.”
Clearing his throat while Madam Bones sent a silencing spell at the suspended-Headmaster who opened his mouth to say something in response, Amos Diggory started pacing the dais.
“Yesterday afternoon, a letter came by my office. This letter stated that there was an attack from a Mountain Troll on Samhain Feast. We will be investigating this shortly. It also stated that you were all given a warning at the Start-of-Year Feast regarding a forbidden part of the castle, but with no signs whatsoever to indicate where it was precisely, no alarm, no protection on this floor. This was proven true only moments ago. The letter also claimed the presence of a Cerberus, a XXXX Beast, was behind the first door on this forbidden corridor. This has also been proven true. The beast is actually being removed by a team of specialists-”
“Fluffy! Don’t hurt him!” Shot the half-giant still sitting at the Staff table. “He is the sweetest dog ever!”
Madam Bone threw a death glare to Hagrid, shutting him up instantly.
“As I was saying,” started Diggory, “The beast is currently being removed from the grounds. It will be sent in a preserve for rare and dangerous creatures. The trapdoor he was guarding is also currently being investigated. Lastly, there was a claim about your groundskeeper hatching a dragon. Also true. Some dragon tamers came and took the creature to a preserve. I assure you, the culprits of these dangerous happening in your school will be prosecuted thoroughly. In the next days, a squad of goblins and curse-breakers will investigate the castle. Firstly, to secure the wards. No dark or dangerous creatures should have been allowed inside the school without an alarm alerting the Headmaster and his Deputy. Secondly, to search for the presence of a curse on your Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. For years, this was refused by your Headmaster. For years, you have been suffering because of the fools taking the post. No more. The Department of Education will also review the curriculum, the staffing, and anything related to school matters. There will be changes, here. I can assure you. And Hogwarts will finally conform with the International Confederation of Wizard’s laws. Thank you.”
He stepped down, and strolled off the Great Hall, Lucius Malfoy accompanying him. Rita Skeeter decided to take a stroll between students, her quick-quote quills taking notes of everything she heard. The Minister and Madam Bones were escorting Hagrid, the suspended Headmaster and his Deputy Headmistress out of the castle.
When they disappeared behind the doors, it was pandemonium inside the Great Hall. The students were shouting, asking questions, answering those of the journalist and some were even crying quietly. The Gryffindor Trio that Titania eyed were striding to the Slytherin table.
“Malfoy!” Shouted the ginger one. “I know you did this! You-“
“Of course I did,” interrupted the posh blond boy. “Did you not heard everything that has been said? There were dangerous creatures in here! This Cerberus? It could have mauled any students that happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time. And the dragon? Really? That oaf lives in a wooden hut, and he thought it was a good idea to hatch a fire-breathing creature? Honestly! Any sane wizard would alert the authorities. And I’m not the only one to have done so.”
“You just did this to have Hagrid fired, right Malfoy?” Asked Potter, sneering at the Malfoy heir.
“No, Potter. That is just a bonus. As is the suspension of that fool muggle-loving Headmaster. La cerise sur le gâteau as the French says.”
“You are an egoist filthy little cockroach, Malfoy,” said Hermione. But her eyes were firmly on her sister. “And you cautioned that, Titania?”
Rolling her eyes, the Slytherin witch smiled thinly.
“I did. I actually took the initiative when I heard him talking about a dragon. In a wooden hut. On school’s grounds. And you should have done the same. I also written to our parents. Saying nothing about the troll during the holidays? That was a mistake. I followed your lead, but I regret doing it. It’s not because they are non-magical that they shouldn’t be apprised of the dangers in their daughters’ school.”
“You… You did what? But they will stop us from returning to Hogwarts! How could you…?”
The Gryffindor Granger shot a betrayed look at her twin sister and turned around, fleeing the Slytherins that were snickering.
“You really are a snake, aren’t you Granger?” Sneered Weasley.
“I am. I am cunning, and ambitious. And I value my life. And my sister’s. You two? Ha, you don’t. Maybe you have stopped to belittle her. Maybe you act like you are his friends. But all you are doing is putting her in trouble. Remember, the night when you broke curfew to go to a stupid duel? When you had her face a Cerberus when hiding from Filch? And I didn’t forget the Troll Incident either. So, yes, I am a snake. And I am proud of it. It’s better than being a bullying dumb lion.”
“Traitor,” shot Potter. “You can say whatever you want, the fact is you just betrayed her.”
Arching an eyebrow, the little witch waited for a bit. After a last look of disgust for the first years Slytherins, the two Gryffindors followed after Hermione, trying to comfort her.
“Fascinating!”
Titania turned her head so fast her neck cracked. Putting a hand on it, massaging her vertebrae, she looked at the blond reporter. She seemed to have heard absolutely everything.
“So, young miss. You are the one who alerted the Ministry? That’s very brave! And you convinced your peers to do the same? Absolutely marvellous. Can I quote you, in my article? The public will want to know, after all.”
“Miss Skeeter? I’m Draco Malfoy. Miss Granger -Titania and not the other, Hermione- will be glad to be quoted. She did that to help protect her fellows students, after all. You can add that she made an enthusiastic speech yesterday, in the common room. She managed to convince us with logic and emotion. She was passionate about this. We could not have been doing nothing after this. It really was awe-inspiring.”
“Why, thank you Heir Malfoy! Can I quote you too?”
“Absolutely! And I’m proud of my father, for reaching to the Boards of Governors after my letter. I want to thank them for taking our security at heart.”
“Fantastic. Thank you for you cooperation. The public will be happy to read this!”
And she was gone, interviewing other students until a loud “BANG” interrupted the loud chatter.
“Students!” Came the squeaky voice of Professor Flitwick. “The staff and I will be leaving to have a meeting to discuss the events we witnessed earlier. Prefects, you are tasked with maintaining order in the corridors and your common rooms. Please, try to comport yourselves. The lunch will be served in your common rooms. We will have an announcement ready for tonight. And Miss Skeeter? Surely, you have everything you need, now? Professor Snape will be accompanying you to the gates of the school now. Thank you!”