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CHAPTER NINE. MCGONAGALL VS. UMBRIDGE

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The next few weeks had made Evangeline question whether or not she wanted to return to Hogwarts next year. This was only because Dolores Umbridge was working every nerve in her body, making the girl want to stab the woman to death.

The day after her detention, Vivian had found out about the punishment that her sister faced and was now out to get the woman that always wore pink. She too wanted to make the woman pay.

Things between Evangeline and Hermione had seemingly gone back to normal. Evangeline was back to ignoring her existence and Hermione was back to doing what she usually did, which was unintentionally annoy Evangeline making it difficult to ignore her.

Ronald Weasley had approached her a few days after her detention. He had apologized for making her late to class, which resulted in her getting detention and facing Umbridge's cruel punishment. Evangeline wasn't sure if he was truly sorry or if Hermione, or maybe even Harry, had made him apologize. Either way, she did not accept his apology. Instead, she insulted him and walked away. And though she wouldn't admit it, she didn't really blame him for the detention. Not anymore.

Currently, Evangeline was sat in the Great Hall, flipping through a book. She had a plate of food placed in from of her and would occasionally take bites of it. She was alone, not wanting her sister to sit with her that day. Evangeline felt as though Vivian only did it because she felt bad. She just couldn't understand that Evangeline truly didn't mind eating alone. Meal times were for eating, not talking to friends.

While she ate, an argument coming from outside of the dining hall caused her to stop and close her book. She noticed some other Gryffindors had heard the commotion as well. Evangeline stood, grasping onto her book and walking out of the dining room. On the main staircase stood Professor McGonagall and Professor Umbridge. The two were in a heated argument.

"Pardon me, professor, but what exactly are you insinuating?" Umbridge asked. "I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices," McGonagall said. She must have learned about Umbridge's form of detention. "So silly of me, but it sounds, as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom, Minerva," Professor Umbridge said, taking a step on the stair above her. Evangeline's lips pursed as Umbridge called Professor McGonagall by her first name.

By now, other Gryffindor students had gathered around her, all watching the scene unfold. "Not at all, Dolores," Professor McGonagall replied, also taking a step on the stair above her. "Merely your medieval methods." A small smile made its way onto Evangeline's face and she didn't care if anyone saw it. She had always liked Professor McGonagall. She took nothing from no one and was very admirable in Evangeline's eyes.

A hand suddenly brushed against her own and she quickly pulled hers away, turning to the side to see Ronald Weasley pulling his own hand away and taking a step away from her, looking uncomfortable.

Evangeline gave him a look for standing so close to her before turning back to the scene. "I am sorry, dear. But to question my practices is to question the Ministry, and by extension, the minister himself. I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty," Umbridge said. Evangeline rolled her eyes, looking at the woman distastefully. Professor McGonagall took a step down. "Disloyalty," she repeated. Professor Umbridge turned to face the students crowding around.

"Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action," Umbridge concluded. Evangeline glared at the woman, sensing that things were going to get worse than they already were.

••••

The youngest Caspian girl was right when she thought that Umbridge would make things worse. A decree had been posted informing everyone that Dolores Umbridge had been appointed to High Inquisitor at Hogwarts. The news had ruined the remainder of Evangeline's week.

Professor Umbridge was so smug with her new job and Evangeline wanted nothing more than to wipe the smugness off of her face. The woman in pink had been going around from class to class, reviewing teachers for whatever stupid reason. At the moment, Umbridge was in Evangeline's Potions class. The woman was greatly annoying Professor Snape, that much was obvious.

Evangeline had often found the man to be quite humorous and found his emotionlessness and monotonous voice to be both relatable and amusing. However, she never openly laughed at the things that he said. "You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, is that correct?" Umbridge asked, circling around the man who stared straight ahead. "Yes," came his monotonous reply.

"But you were unsuccessful?" She went on. Snape was quiet for a brief moment, looking as though he were trying not to blow up at her. "Obviously," he replied in the same tone of voice. The students around Evangeline began snickering and even Evangeline found herself cracking a tiny smile. It was only there for a few seconds though. She had been doing that more often, smiling. She didn't know why and she wasn't sure that she liked it.

Ronald Weasley, who was sat across the room from her, had somehow noticed the small smile on her face. A look of surprise took over his own face because he had never seen the Caspian girl smile. However, the smile had disappeared so quickly that he wasn't even entirely sure that it was ever there. Even so, he found his own smile widening a fraction, though he didn't seem to notice. Evangeline felt his stare and looked up at him, giving him a disgusted look and causing his smile to drop. A scowl overtook his face and he looked away from her.

Umbridge, who was satisfied with Snape's answers, left the classroom very pleased with herself. Once she was gone, Snape smacked Ronald in the back of his head with a book. Evangeline covered her mouth to contain her laughter, finding it rather hilarious. The remainder of the Potions class went on as usual.

Once class was over, Evangeline gravitated to her next one, ready to get it over and done with. When classes were over and it was time for dinner, Evangeline found herself sitting at the Slytherin table. It was unusual, to say the least, because she didn't usually come to eat there with her sister. The Slytherins weren't as welcoming to her as the Gryffindors were to Vivian. However, she decided that she would sit at her sister's table for once.

Vivian truly didn't mind sitting with the Gryffindors, not caring what her fellow Slytherins would say about her whenever she did. But Evangeline insisted on making the short journey over to the Slytherin table, just this once. Evangeline was stubborn and Vivian was not in the mood to argue.

"A lot of the fifth years over here actually like Umbridge. It's absurd. Even Malfoy is starting to like her," Vivian was saying, referring to the fifth year Slytherins who were pleased with what Umbridge was doing. Evangeline rolled her eyes, "This is why you shouldn't be friends with him. The dude's got issues." Vivian rolled her eyes and sighed. "He and I are on the outs right now," she admitted. Evangeline almost laughed, "Why?"

"Because, I told him that I didn't like the way he treated people and he said that I was too sensitive. Then I called him a wanker, he called me a brat and then had the audacity to talk bad about you," she said, angrily glaring over at the boy who had been staring at the two sisters. Gemma was sitting next to him, her arm bent at the elbow and resting on his shoulder while she talked his ear off.

"What did he say about me?" Evangeline questioned curiously. "Just that you were a disgrace to the family name and some other bullshit. I think he's still mad that you turned him down when he asked you to the Yule Ball last year," Vivian answered. Evangeline scoffed, "He's upset? If anyone should be upset, it's me. He only asked me to the ball because you and a few other girls said no. He literally admitted to me that I was his like, fifth choice and found nothing wrong with that."

Vivian chuckled and Evangeline went on. "And I think it's so funny how one day, he's trying to be my friend. And then the next, his talking shit about me." Vivian nodded, "That's Draco for you." She rolled her eyes and took a bite of her food. A smile suddenly made its way onto Vivian's face. "They're looking at you," she commented. Evangeline furrowed her eyebrows. "Who?"

"The Golden trio," she snickered, taking another bite. Evangeline rolled her eyes at the annoying nickname for Harry Potter and his two best friends. She turned around and sure enough, Hermione, Harry, and Ronald were looking at her. Evangeline raised an eyebrow at the three who quickly turned away. All except Ron, whose eyes lingered on her before his attention diverted back to his food. Evangeline turned back to face her sister whose grin was too large and very obnoxious.

"Are you hanging out with them now?" Vivian asked and Evangeline rolled her eyes. "No. I'm not hanging out with anyone," she replied. Vivian's smile dropped to a frown. "Boo," she said. "Did you really think that I was friends with them or something?" Evangeline asked. Vivian shrugged, "I was hoping." Evangeline rolled her eyes.

"If you're not friends with them then why are they looking at you?" Vivian asked and Evangeline shrugged. "If I was friends with them, why would they be looking at me?" She countered. Vivian nodded thoughtfully, "Good point." The older girl went back to eating her food.

Evangeline sent another glance over her shoulder at the trio, her eyebrows furrowing again. Neither of the three looked up when they felt her gaze on them. She rolled her eyes and turned back around in her seat, going back to eating her food.

••••

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stay tuned for the next chapter because I'm double updating today!

-N