The Pink Inquisition
Everyone hated her. The pink ministry pug with a chihuahua's temper that was plain awful to everyone and couldn't be a worse defence against the dark arts teacher. Seriously, the books had pink spines and kittens on the covers.
After an extensive argument about wether or not one should practice defence spells in class, Harriet had officially managed to land on her bad side. Hogwarts enemy no. 1.
She was only partially responsible for her 'Monster Book of Monsters’‚ chasing the teacher around the school days later.
Another thing that had happened was that Professor Umbridge had begun to make examples of students for minor issues like not doing homework and publicly punished them in front of the entire school.
"It's like the Spanish inquisition!" fumed Hermione.
"The what?" Ron asked.
"The Spanish inquisition," Harriet explained, "they burned people in the streets in front of everybody."
"It's not really spanish if it's just the toad," commented Pansy.
Trevor croaked indignantly from where he was being held by Neville.
"Sorry Trevor," Pansy amended quickly, shooting the toad an apologetic look.
"Let's just call her the pink inquisitor." grumbled Seamus. He had been chewed out for placing his wand on the table. Apparently it was 'threatening the teacher'.
"In that case, I really hope the pink inquisition is over soon." Dean Thomas huffed, shoving his wand into his bag with more force than necessary. He had been given a telling off in front of the entire school about appropriate haircuts and sense of dress. „I can deal with racists and dress codes, but, for the sake of the school, she should be banned."
Hermione nodded empathetically, having had to take out her new box-braids.
"On a darker note," Ron said suddenly, "I think that someone might be continuing Dumbledore's quest."
Everyone stopped and turned to look at him.
"How?" Pansy asked.
"Who?" Draco demanded.
"Wait - what?!" exclaimed Hermione.
Harriet said nothing and motioned for him to continue in a way that said ‚for those who didn't notice'.
Ron shrugged.
"He had a lot of followers, I have a suspicion as to who, the same reason everyone joined his cause and I think we all know what Dumbledore's cause was." He answered all their questions.
"Still," Theo spoke up, "It would be nice to get a recap all the same."
"Ok," Ron said, "I'll explain everything."
His stomach growled.
"After lunch," he added.
"Let's go eat then," Neville said.
Lunch was a fast event. Everyone wanted answers. The rest of their lunch break was spent in an empty classroom with sound proofing charms over the door and the windows.
"So," Ron said, sitting down on the teachers desk, "What do you want to know?"
"What was Dumbledore's plan?" Harriet asked from a seat in the front row.
"Wizarding supremacy." Ron said, "He believed we were above the Muggles and anything else."
"And you don't think that?" Hermione cocked her head to one side.
Ron shook his head. "No. There was something else too, but I'm not sure what."
"Who were his main followers?" Draco pulled out a piece of parchment and scribbled down the names Ron listed.
"What were his moves?" questioned Blaise from where he was slouching on the windowsill.
"He wanted to gain power in the ministry and among the students here." Ron chuckled ruefully and shook his head. "I know he had some inside people in the ministry and he had several members of the student body working for him. He planned to make a 'work for me or die' speech at the start of next year. By then he would have enough power to do so."
"Who worked for him here?" Seamus asked.
"Me, obviously." Ron told them,"Then there were Marcus Flint, Penelope Clearwater, Cho Chang. A few others too."
"Hold up!" Harriet interrupted him, "Cho Chang who is dating Cedric Diggory, Penelope Clearwater who is dating your brother Percy, and Marcus Flint who is dating Oliver Wood." She glanced around. "Is everyone else seeing a pattern here?"
"They're all with members of our circle." Pansy sat down looking pale.
"Not just that." Harriet looked around waiting for someone to get the point.
Draco gasped. Blaise's jaw dropped. Hermione's eyes went wide.
"They're in a perfect position to blackmail us, threaten us or take out someone important or with a ministry connection." Neville pieced it together.
"Exactly." Harriet nodded. "They can take out people who are important to us and people we need."
"Merlins socks." whispered Ron.
"That asshole really thought things through." Dean said sitting down.
It was silent in the classroom. You could have heard a pin drop. Outside, raindrops started to fall.
The bell broke the silence like glass. Everyone jumped out of their skins.
"We meet again after class." Harriet said, getting up and dusting off her skirt unnecessarily.
"Agreed," Pansy said, "keep your eyes open and if you hear anything, remember it and tell us later."
With that everyone ran to their next class.
"Did Dumbledore condone using love potions by any chance?" Draco asked Ron on the way to Transfiguration.
"Yeah..." Ron replied slowly, "Why?"
„We're investigating something later on." Draco decided after two seconds of silence.