UMBRIDGE AS HIGH INQUISITOR??

Walking inside the Common Room, Cassiopeia felt eyes on her. And she glared at them, making students look away.

She sat on the couch, grabbing the nearest book. That's when she heard Blaise sit beside her, followed by her brother.

"Why would you defend that Potter guy?" asked Blaise, "Do you like him?"

Cassiopeia slammed the book shut, giving him a deadly glare. "That's none of your business, Blaise."

Draco scoffed, "She was told to befriend them," her brother said, in a low voice that only them could hear.

"Why?"

Cassiopeia rolled her eyes before standing up. Half of her said she defended the boy, so she could earn the trust of his friends, and half of her said that It's because he was right.

This was the ongoing debate in her mind since summer. Was it because she liked Harry or was it because she wanted to gain his trust, so he would tell all his plans, so she could tell her father?

She walked up to her dorm room, getting ready for bed. Cassiopeia had this strong horrible feeling in her chest that this year would not be so great.

°°°

Cassiopeia browsed through the library books, trying to find one that might interest her. As she walked through the next aisle, she saw Harry. He was seated in the far corner, alone, looking out the window, he was holding a quill, and he seemed to be writing something.

Cassiopeia placed her book down next to him, he looked up.

"Mind if I sit here?" She asked, he shook his head, and she sat down, she turned the page of her book and she continued to read where she left off last night.

They were both silent, it was a comfortable one though.

"May I borrow your ink? I forgot mine," Cassiopeia said. Harry nodded, making Cassiopeia furrow her eyebrows. He is usually not that quiet.

As he grabbed the ink with his left hand, Cassiopeia got a glimpse of his hand that looked like it was burnt. Harry placed the ink down the table and as he was about to draw his hand back, Cassiopeia grabbed it.

"What in the bloody hell happened to your hand?" she asked, as she held it.

Harry retracted his hand, hiding it. "Nothing, I'm fine."

"No, no you're not fine," she shook her head. "Give me your hand."

"No," Harry said hiding his hand under his robe.

"Harry Potter, give me your hand right now." She said sternly, he shook his head. "Now."

He sighed in defeat, he showed her his hand, and she lets out a small gasp. Cassiopeia took it, rubbing her thumb along the smudged words.

"Did she do this?" She whispered, looking back at him with concern written all over her face. Harry looked at her, and she sighed. "What did she make you write?"

"'I must not tell lies,'" he replied. "It's not a big of a deal--"

"What makes you think that?" She questioned, "this is literally a huge deal, and you have to tell an adult--!"

"It isn't simple, Cassiopeia! I can't just run to an adult and tell them she did this!" Harry cuts her off, he sighed. "You don't understand, Cassiopeia."

He turned away, and Cassiopeia placed her hand on his cheek, turning his head to make him look into her eyes. "Believe me, I understand."

With a soft smile, she took her hand away, and she leaned back to her chair. "Hey, pain only makes you stronger."

Harry nodded, feeling his cheeks go red. Cassiopeia noticed and she smirked.

"You're turning red," she pointed out, teasing him.

Harry looked away, "I'm not."

She chuckled, shaking her head as she scooted closer to the boy, she placed her chin on his arm. And she saw Harry looking away, flustered.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" She asked, Harry did not reply, and she laughed and She moved away. "Never knew I would make the boy who lived blush,"

Harry rolled his green eyes, "Never knew a Malfoy would be comforting me,"

She and Harry break into laughter, and that was the first time Harry laughed in a long time. He was glad she was there, and he knew even when he is alone, she will always be there for him.

°°°

The next morning came along, Cassiopeia ate her pancakes as she skimmed through her sketches and drawings. Draco was beside her, admiring her drawings as he asks questions about them.

It was a long time since her brother showed interest with what she did. As Cassiopeia was finished her food, she could hear voices outside the Great Hall.

Students started to get up from their seats, curious. So, Cassiopeia stood up and followed. She stopped beside Harry, bumping into his shoulder.

"...and once brought to my attention I felt it my duty to speak out," said McGonagall. She and Umbridge were arguing. 

"Speak out? I'm afraid I don't understand..." the toad-face lifted a brow.

"Come now, you must admit such behaviour is irregular to say the least," McGonagall continued, "Furthermore--"

McGonagall was cut off by Umbridge. "Pardon me Professor, but what exactly are you insinuating...?"

"I am 'insinuating' nothing..." McGonagall is clearly uncomfortable with the public nature of the conversation. "... I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to prescribed disciplinary practices..."

"So silly of me, but it sounds as though you're questioning my authority in my own classroom..." Umbridge took a deliberate step-up the stairs, "Minerva."

"Not at all..." McGonagall took a step up as well, "Dolores.  Merely your medieval methods."

Umbridge looks at McGonagall with sadness and pity. "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 can't stand for is disloyalty,"

'Disloyalty--?" questioned McGonagall. 
The trio reacts. Umbridge looks out at the students.

"Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action."

An iron spike is hammered into stone attaching a notice to the wall:

EDUCATIONAL DECREE NO. 23
Dolores Jane umbridge has been appointed to the post of Hogwarts High Inquisitor.

Filch cracks his neck, grimly satisfied...steps back as students move in to read the lone notice on the huge expanse of empty wall.

Cassiopeia furrowed her eyebrows as she turned the pages of the Daily Prophet.

"--Having already revolutionised the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dolores Umbridge will, as High Inquisitor, now have powers to address the seriously slipping standards at Hogwarts School--" said Fudge.

Cassiopeia turned to the next page to see her father holding a brandy by the fire in their Manor.  "As a parent, I believe the Ministry is doing what's best for all our sakes..." he stops, acting like he has emotions. "For the sake of the children."

Now that, got into her nerves. Cassiopeia muttered and mumbled curses as she crumpled the Daily Prophet.

"Dream Interpretation---" Professor Trelawney stared airily into the ether.  "A most important means of Divination. For the inner eye sees sights to which the outer world is blind..."

Trelawney walks into a table, knocking a thick book to the floor. As she bends to retrieve it she comes across a pink slipper, she follows it up to myopically to find Umbridge's face--jumps back in fright.

"Oh! What are you doing here?" asked Trelawney, surprised.

"Oh don't mind me, dear..." Umbridge begins searching through her bag. "You see--Professor Trelawney, isn't it?--in addition to my teaching duties, the Ministry has asked me to act as an informal observer here at Hogwarts..."

Trelawney blinked at her and Umbridge gave her a grin. "Nothing whatsoever to worry about of course. Please, do go on. I'm just a fly on a wall..."

"I would gladly do the honour to kill that fly on the wall," Cassiopeia muttered to herself.

Trelawney nodded, turning back to the students. "Yes. Well--

"Just one question dear. You've been in this post how long exactly?" asked Umbridge.

"Nearly sixteen years," replied the bushy haired Professor.

"Quite a period... And it was Dumbledore who appointed you?"

"He did,"

Umbridge writes something on a clipboard, nodding. Trelawney can't help trying to peek but Umbridge pulls it away....nods for her to continue. Trelawney again starts to speak--double checks Umbridge--finally begins.

"Just one more thing," said Umbridge, Cassiopeia inwardly groaned. "If it isn't too much bother, would you please... predict something for me?"

Trelawney freezes, and Cassiopeia cringes, shifting uncomfortably. "S-Sorry?"

"Predict something. Surely you're not surprised I ask. You would have foreseen it--no?"

Cassiopeia looked at Umbridge, offended. That toad thinks it's easy for seers to predict something on the spot.

"The--the Inner Eye does not See upon command!" Trelawney said, eyebrows furrowed.

"Come now, one teensy little prophecy... No?" Umbridge pauses, waiting for reply, she gave a fake pout to Trelawney. "Hmm... Pity."

Umbridge raises her pen to make a note and Trelawney panics. "I... I think I do see something...something dark..." she raises a shaking finger, "You are in grave danger!"

Umbridge raises a bland eyebrow...and makes a note. "Lovely."

°°°

Snape glowers from the front of his classroom, his eyes tracking back and forth.

"...you applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Post, is that correct? Umbridge, clipboard in hand, serenely paces around Snape.

Cassiopeia watches, frowns with growing concern.

"Yes," replies Snape, with his usual monotone voice.

"But you were unsuccessful...?"

"Obviously," Snape drawled. As Umbridge left, Ron laughs making Snape smack the back of his head with a book.

Finally, the tiring day had finally ended. Cassiopeia was putting all her things inside her bag as students walk out the Potions classroom. As Cassiopeia placed her bag over her shoulder, Snape stood behind her.

"Miss Malfoy," he spoke.

She rolled her eyes, turning around, her lips were in a straight line. "Yes, Professor?"

"Come with me, Dumbledore wants to speak with you," Snape did not wait for her reply, instead he walked out of the room, and Cassiopeia groaned. She followed him to an eagle statue, Snape muttered a password, and it started to turn.

Snape turns to her, she stood there, lifting a brow.

"Now hurry up, will you," Snape called out.

"Alright! Hold on!" She huffed, she took a step, and it led her up.

The staircase stopped, and Cassiopeia walked inside Dumbledore's office. Many books are on the shelves, paintings and floating candles.

She walked around, since she did not see Dumbledore yet. She walked towards the bookshelf, a book that she caught interest in.

"That book is my personal favourite," Dumbledore said, making Cassiopeia jump. She places the book back to the shelf.

"Professor..." she started, Dumbledore gave her a warm smile.

Dumbledore walked back to his desk, sitting down. He motioned towards the chair and Cassiopeia sat down, placing her bag next to her.

Just then, Snape walked in, standing next to Dumbledore as the two adults stared at Cassiopeia. She was weirded out.

"What exactly am I doing here?" She asked, lifting a brow.

Dumbledore took a breath in, "Professor Trelawney mentioned that you are very skilled in Divination,"

She nodded, "Indeed I am,"

"She knows you are a seer," the old man tilted his head, "And you do too,"

"Yes," the girl nodded, "It's quite obvious, you have to be blind not to notice that."

Dumbledore smiled at her, "I've got a question, Miss Malfoy, would you do whatever it takes to do the right thing?"

"Of course," the girl replied.

"Even if it means..." Dumbledore lets out a heavy sigh, "Betraying your family?"

Cassiopeia paused, not sure. Would she? It is the right thing to do anyway. She gave Dumbledore a shrug, "I would, as long as I'm not alone anymore."

Dumbledore looked at Snape who shook his head, Dumbledore ignored that, looking back at the girl.

"I have a mission for you,"