Title: The Seal Of Approval

Author: diddymus

Premise: Set during Order of the Phoenix. AU Hogwarts. Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor, is persuaded to appoint some further Ministry aid at the castle. The House of Malfoy is happy to oblige.

Featuring: Dolores Umbridge, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood.

Chapter One

Narcissa unclasped a bony hand to reach for the painted teacup on the desk. The very sight of the pastel pink walls offended her glassy eyes, so instead she focused down on the black tea leaves floating in her cup. A kitten mewed somewhere in a nearby wall-plate. The lady Malfoy suppressed a sigh.

"So, I hear you've removed that abolition who claimed to teach Divination, Dolores?" She asked, polite and nasal in tone.

Professor Umbridge released a marvellous smile above her own steaming teacup. "Oh yes," she proclaimed, "Yes that Trelawney woman, she had to be let go. We can't afford quite so much nonsense in a Ministry-approved school, now, can we?"

"Of course," Narcissa agreed, a thin-lipped smile passing falsely across her graceful features.

The pink professor returned the acknowledgement happily, oblivious, it seemed, to its fallacy. She adjusted her feathered coat importantly, shaking off minute particles with an almost neurotic hand.

"I must say it is so nice to take tea with... shall we say, more kindred spirits again." Dolores lowered her cup, putting a hand across the table welcomingly to her acquaintance. "These children are awfully tiresome when you have to see them every day."

"I can well imagine," Narcissa added with a nod, perfectly rehearsed. Her orders were absolute, and her behaviour would be faultless to reflect them.

"And the new approaches we have been putting into practice here," Umbridge added proudly, "Well, they are producing some marvellous talent. Your young Draco is simply shining on the new Defensive Magic curriculum."

Narcissa nodded, another small smile forcing itself into being. "With your help, Dolores, I am sure."

"Oh," the professor replied, "Well now..." She blushed, released her small, high-pitched laugh.

It pierced Narcissa's very soul. She began to wonder how her young son had the patience to be in the same room as the woman, let alone excel in her so-called classes.

"My dear Lucius is very proud to see him doing well, you know," Narcissa exclaimed purposefully. "He says it must be down to a real tutor in the subject at last, someone with true talent for teaching."

Umbridge turned a girlish shade of red. "Mr Malfoy?" She asked, almost disbelievingly. "Oh my, I- that is, well... so very marvellous." She ended on a hint of a sigh.

Narcissa smiled to herself beneath her pouted lips. Lucius had been right. The woman was clearly a big fan of praise from the Malfoys.

"You know he was a tutor, for a short while," Narcissa added for interest.

"Really?" Dolores exclaimed. "I'd wager he was masterful in a classroom."

"Indeed," the manicured Malfoy replied, setting down her cup. "Unfortunately his duties at the Ministry prevented the continuation of such a career. One must... make sacrifices, you know."

"Ah yes," the professor replied wistfully, "the Ministry always comes first to Lucius, does it not?"

Narcissa found another smile to produce, oddly threatened by the schoolgirl gleam in the undersecretary's eyes. She reviewed the plan once more in her mind. This was going to be a smooth manipulation, she could just tell.