Dawn Rivera

The Hogwarts High Inquisitor

We expected to have to comb Hermione and I's Daily Prophets carefully next morning to find the article Percy mentioned in his letter. However, the departing delivery owl has barely cleared the top of the milk jug when Hermione and I let out huge gasps and flatten the newspapers to reveal a large photograph of Dolores Umbridge, smiling widely and blinking slowly at us from beneath the headline.

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED
FIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR

"Umbridge - 'High Inquisitor'?" says Danny darkly, his half-eaten piece of toast slipping from his fingers. "What does that mean?"

Hermione reads aloud:

"In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legalisation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"'The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings on for some time,' said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. 'He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve of.'," I read.

"This is not the first time in recent weeks that the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, has used new laws to effect improvements at the wizarding school," reads Hermione. "As recently as 30th August, Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current Headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person."

"'That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts," said Weasley last night. 'Dumbledore couldn't find anyone so the Minister put in Umbridge, and of course, she's been an immediate success -" I read.

"She's been a WHAT?" says Harry loudly.

"Wait, there's more," says Hermione grimly.

" - an immediate success," I continue, "totally revolutionising the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts."

"It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalised with the passing of Educational Decree Number Twenty-three, which creates the new position of Hogwarts High-Inquisitor," says Hermione.

"'This exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the falling standards at Hogwarts,' says Weasley. 'The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post and we are delighted to say that she has accepted.'," I read.

Hermione goes on, "The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of Hogwarts."

"'I feel much easier in my mind now that I know Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,' says Mr Lucius Malfoy, 41, speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night. 'Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and are glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation,'" I read.

"Among those eccentric decisions are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the employment of werewolf Remus Lupin, half-giant Rubeus Hagrid and delusional ex-Auror, 'Mad-Eye' Moody," says Hermione.