CHAPTER FIVE

In which Delores Umbridge plays both Fudge and Dumbledore

Hermione rubbed the back of her left hand, then her right, scowling at the scars left there. A year later, and she still couldn't get rid of them. I'll get her, the girl thought mutinously. See if I don't. She was one of the select few in the school to receive the honor of continuous detentions given by Delores Umbridge the previous year. The woman had been put into place by Tom Riddle, under the guise of 'controlling' the school for the Minister of Magic. While she was there, she was to prevent little pockets of rebellion from cropping up around the school, as well as teach those who had targeted Harry Potter for harassment and abuse.

Hermione was the first victim; Umbridge had overheard the girl talking with some of the other students and trying to entreat them to join her in forcing the Ministry from the school. Additionally, she had heard the girl bullying Potter; nagging at him and harassing him to 'be the Savior everyone believed him to be'. So, with the help of Draco Malfoy, she 'caught' Granger bullying Potter, and assigned her several detentions. That night, the first of many, the girl was made to write I will not bully students until it was carved into the back of her right hand.

The next set of detentions came about when the muggleborn was caught by Severus Snape, gathered in an unused classroom with several other students and plotting a variety of ways to force Umbridge, and by extension the Ministry, from the school. Those detentions carved I will not incite civil unrest in her left hand. Others, such as Seamus Finnigan, Susan Bones, the Patil twins, Marietta Edgecombe, and Justin Finch-Fletchley were also submitted to writing lines concerning their efforts to rally the school to rise up against the Ministry.

Still others, such as Zacharias Smith, Colin Creevey, Terry Boot, and Anthony Goldstein were made to write lines saying I will not slander students. Umbridge took her job very seriously, following the Dark Lord's orders to protect Harry Potter at all costs.

"Cornelius, dear," she simpered girlishly, cringing inside as she had to play the role in which she was cast, "would you be a dear and go down to the Daily Prophet? I've been given a Cease and Desist letter from the law wizards that must be delivered as soon as possible."

"Why can't you deliver it, Delores?" Fudge barked angrily. "After all, you are the undersecretary, are you not? Besides, I have far too many important things on my plate to play errand boy."

"But Corny, dear, how would it look if a toady of the Ministry were to deliver such an important document? Besides, it'll get your picture taken for the next edition, and you know that any publicity is good publicity." Fudge cringed at the nickname his undersecretary had given him, but sighed heavily, knowing her words were true.

"Very well," he replied churlishly, snatching the missive from the woman's hand. "Hold down the fort whilst I'm gone, will you?"

"Of course, Cornelius, dear. You can count on me." She watched with a malicious smirk as the Minister made his way to the lifts. You're nearly out of your position as Minister, she thought happily, waving cheerily as Fudge entered the lift and rose to the Atrium, where he'd floo to the Leaky Cauldron to enter Diagon Alley. Once he was out of sight, Umbridge quickly penned a note and sent it to Malfoy Manor by owl.

Cornelius Fudge, soon to be ex-Minister of Magic, clutched his lime green bowler hat in his hands, staring, aghast, at Lucius Malfoy, who had met him there. In the blond's hands was the writ, demanding the closure of the newspaper and the immediate resignation of Cornelius, himself. Surrounding them were reporters from all over the wizarding world, scribbling word-for-word everything that was said, as well as everything that was happening.

"Be it known by all presents," Malfoy read in his booming baritone, "that as of this day, September 15, 1995, the Daily Prophet will close its doors permanently and compensate Mr. Harry James Potter with the sum of two million galleons, by order of Alan Shore, Chief Attorney of the International Magical Office of Law, pursuant to Law Decree 151a, which states that no public entity shall be permitted to continue to publish or disseminate libelous content or statements that in any besmirch or destroy a person's or entity's reputation. Additionally, no public figure shall be permitted to spread slanderous statements that would besmirch or destroy a person's or entity's reputation.

"Should evidence be found that these crimes against a person or entity are being perpetrated, said public entity or public figure will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Punishments may be up to and including forfeiture of all monies and properties to the offended party; forfeiture of licenses and contracts to the International Magical Office for Law; immediate dismissal of the public figure or figures violating Law Decree 151a; and/or a prison term in Azkaban of no less than five years. Evidence has been submitted to the International Magical Office for Law, persuant to Law Decree 151a, and guilt has been assigned to both the Daily Prophet and Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge." Malfoy rolled up the scroll and placed it in a robe pocket, then pulled another scroll from a different pocket.

"It is the judgment of both the International Magical Office for Law and the Wizengamot that on this day, September 15, 1995, Cornelius Fudge be stripped of his title as Minister of Magic, and that he shall spend five years in Azkaban for his crimes against Mr. Harry James Potter. Additionally, he shall forfeit the sum of one million galleons to Mr. Harry James Potter, for the pain and suffering caused by his persistent destruction of Mr. Potter's reputation, both by slander and libel. Former Minister Fudge has twenty four hours to heed judgment; if he should fail to honor his obligations, seizure of all assets and monies will be enforced."

Fudge stood stock-still, white a sheet, as he valiantly tried to absorb the overabundance of information with which he'd just been buried. Reporters screamed questions at him as flashbulbs went off, and it wasn't until Gawain Robards and Nymphadora Tonks grabbed his arms and led him away that he then came to life, kicking and screaming, trying to tell his story to anyone who would listen. "It wasn't me!" he shrieked like a child. "It was Dumbledore! He was the one to give me all the information I needed to keep Potter under control! It was Dumbledore!"

My Lord,

Cornelius has been arrested for his abuse of Harry Potter. As he was being arrested, he'd screamed out that it was the headmaster who had fed him the lies to print in the newspaper. The position is now open for one of ours to take Fudge's place. I am proud to have been instrumental in bringing that despot down, and I hope that I may continue to serve you in whatever capacity you would have need of me.

Your servant

Delores Umbridge

Delores,

Thank you for moving quickly on this. I knew that Albus Dumbledore was most likely the one pulling the strings behind the Minister for a great many years. It was unfortunate that we'd had to suffer under his interference for so long, but now we are free.

Thank you, also, for punishing those in the school that would harm Harry, be it with words or physical action. It is just unfortunate that Albus had you ejected from the school at the end of fifth year. Your mission to protect Harry could have continued, unabated.

I wish for you to take a new position that will be created, just for you. Because you were so instrumental in gaining the upper hand for the Dark, I wish to have you as assistant Minister to Lucius Malfoy. You will, fortunately, discard that disgusting glamour you'd created for yourself. It was quite effective; no one suspected a thing. Now, however, the new face of the Ministry must appear strong and capable, and the persona you'd created would only continue to drag us down.

You are, perhaps, the greatest spy I'd ever had, and I am very proud of the work you've done, and the way you'd succeeded at your tasks. Continue to serve me as you have been, and you will be greatly rewarded when everything is as it should be.

Lord Voldemort

Harry Potter,

I was so happy to be put into the school; to show you that someone in the Ministry was on your side. As I hope you are aware, I was put into the school by the ex-Minister of Magic to make you suffer. However, with the orders from my Lord ringing in my ears, I turned my attentions to those in the school that would harm you, either by words or actions. I punished Miss Granger the most; she seemed to really have it in for you, and I used those feelings to cause her a great deal of pain.

She was the one to spearhead the campaigns to try and wrest the school from the Ministry's control, and she was willing to use you as the scapegoat. She was planning to cast doubt on you, and use lies to make everyone believe that you were turning your back on them.

I also caught her bullying you on several occasions, thanks to Mr. Malfoy, and I punished her for that, as well. I've been made aware of your horrendous treatment at the hands of your mother's sister, and I wish to offer my sympathies to you. I, myself, have never suffered such abhorrent treatment as a child; however, once I had donned the glamours I wore in the Ministry, I began to understand what true abuse was. The names I was called; the sniggering comments that were designed to cut me to the quick; the rare physical attacks all garnered within me an understanding for your plight.

So, when the Dark Lord approached me to 'help' him in dealing some just punishments to your detractors and abusers within the school, I jumped at the chance. In protecting you, I was able to vent a bit of the anger and sorrow I felt at the abuse heaped upon me. Just know that you've always had an ally in the Ministry.

Sincerely

Delores Umbridge

Hey Delores,

I know what you'd sacrificed to become that reprehensible person you were to portray to the wizarding world, and I'm grateful for the help and understanding. Those chats we had, under the guise of 'detentions', were enlivening, and some of the best times I'd had during fifth year. You taught me a lot about the wizarding world, and showed me a lot of your true self.

Thank you for taking my enemies to task. It broke my heart when I found out that Granger wasn't really my friend, and I have you to thank for opening my eyes. I saw the scars on the backs of her hands, and the scars on the others, as well, and that was what clued me in on the fact that she was never my friend.

Tom told me that he was the one to have you convince Fudge to put you in the defense position at school. That you were there, not only for my protection, but to encourage Fudge to step up his continued slander of me. Apparently, Mr. Malfoy had some plans in the works, and was joining with the law department in the Ministry to get Fudge kicked to the curb. I've received confirmation that it was a success, and that Lucius is to be the new Minister. Finally, someone who understands the political machine, and is capable of working it like a master.

Congratulations, by the way, for your prestigious promotion. Lucius told me about it after the closure of the Prophet, and I can think of no one more deserving of the office than you. Maybe now the Dark will finally rise to be the power it was supposed to be from the beginning.

I'm being called to the headmaster's office for another one of our little 'chats'. Wish me luck.

HJP