The next morning, I found that Lucius and Narcissa were in my office. I had attended their wedding. They grinned when they saw me.
"So it's true, they finally got rid of Dumbledore," Lucius stated.
I smiled. "So it seems," I replied, not telling him that Dumbledore will be back. I was asked, by McGonagall, that I was to win over those who were pro-Voldemort (though I was already there), and those in the Ministry. And so I did.
"We just wanted to see if it's true," he said.
"Tea?" I asked them. "Coffee?"
Narcissa smiled. Yet another Black that liked me. "I would love some," she said.
I raised my eyebrows at Lucius. "I'm afraid I'm busy, you two have a good talk," he said, smiling, before he walked to the fireplace, and flood to wherever he was going.
"Harley, it's been such a long time, what have you been doing?" she asked me.
"I've been working for the Ministry in New Zealand, it's not as civilised as the Ministry of England, but I believe it's much more worked out," I told her. "My job varies, since I do, of course, have many talents." I brought the cup to my lips, and winked.
She laughed a little. "I've had a son," she told me. "He comes here, a fifth year. Lucius wanted him at Dumstrang, but that's just too far."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not sure why he would want to send him there, this school has always been a first-rate school," I said.
"Exactly," she said. "Dumstrang has always had many failures."
"We don't want your son to be a failure, do we?" I asked her. I looked over the paperwork on my desk. "Hm, it seems I've got a busy schedule today," I sighed, then shrugged.
Narcissa and I had a long talk, and it was interrupted when Umbridge walked in.
"Excuse me," I said coolly. "Knock if you ever wish to come in here again."
Narcissa stood. "I shall take my leave," she said, with a nod to me. "I've held your work up long enough, dare I say, I've left mine too long as well."
I smiled. "It was a pleasure talking to you yet again," I said to her, before she took the floo. I turned to Umbridge. "What was it that you needed?"
She told me something about forming an Inquisatorial Squad.
"I'm afraid I can't have students docking points on each other," I told her. "But I will, granted, give them more rights if that be as you wish."
"Why can't they dock points?" she asked.
I rolled my eyes. "Students aren't mature enough to be given that right," I answered.
Later, I decided to go for a walk, and I heard, “But now?”
“Well, now —”
“— what with Dumbledore gone —”
“— we reckon a bit of mayhem —”
“— is exactly what our dear new Head deserves."
"I'm sorry, but who deserves mayhem?" I asked the group, raising an eyebrow.
None of them turned, "Umbridge, the new Head, idiot."
I laughed lightly. "Umbridge isn't the new head," I told them. "And if I'm going to be talking to you, I wish for you to be looking at me."
They turned, the twins asked, rather snarkily, "then who's the new Head?"
"I am," I told them. "It's a long story that I'm not bothering to explain. But I'm the Headmistress, and please, don't cause absolute mayhem, though, I would like to be amused. Who told you that Umbridge was the head?"
"Filtch," they all answered.
I nodded. "Now, I have a feeling that something is going to explode, twins, get down to whatever you plan on exploding, and remember, I know nothing." I winked at them, and they both grinned, before going off.
My prediction of explosions happened, and I was sitting in the Great Hall. I didn't move as I heard them, but smirked behind my cup. The other Professor's looked over at me, but saw my smirk.
"Oh, you set this up?" McGonagall asked quietly.
"Oh, Minerva, I haven't a clue to what you're talking about," I replied slyly, glancing at her, and she gave a rare smile. "But I swear, this wasn't me."
At dinner, I stood in front of the school, and smiled down at them all when they looked up. "I love feeling so tall," was how I greeted them, some of them laughed lightly. "Well, I'm the new Headmistress for Hogwarts, long story short, Umbridge isn't, because I'm just that amazing and such. You can call me Professor Peverell, or Professor Crazy-Lady-Running-This-School-We're-Currently-In-And-We're-All-Going-To-Die." Once again, a little more laughter.
"I would like to day to all the teachers here, that it's a pleasure seeing all of you again, or meeting you," I added to Professor Umbridge. "And, Professor Umbridge will be in charge of controlling those crackers, I'm afraid I don't have enough knowledge, you see, I'm even younger than Professor Snape."
"Of course," she replied with a false cheerful tone.
"Very good then," I said, feeling smug. "Okay, I think I've done a good enough introduction. Back to the office with me!" I proclaimed. "Severus, you're in charge," I informed, before walking back. Behind me, I told the stone gargoyle to not let people in.
I walked into a class. “There may well be a new Minister of Magic by the time Potter is ready to join!” shouted McGonagall.
“Aha!” shrieked Umbridge, pointing a stubby finger at McGonagall. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Of course! That’s what you want, isn’t it, Minerva McGonagall? You want Cornelius Fudge replaced by Albus Dumbledore! You think you’ll be where I am, don’t you, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister and headmistress to boot!”
"Sometimes, I wonder how good my timing is," I muttered. "Potter, I don't think you should be witnessing the, um, banter of two Professors. Especially banter of this magnitude. Now, please, this little meeting is over, I believe you should leave," I said, opening the door wider for him to leave. He left rather quickly, and I closed the door.
"Both of you were in front of a student," I pointed out coolly when it was completely shut. "It would be appreciated if you both keep your arguments to yourself when there are students. I expect beter of my Professor's, if either of you argue in students presense, even with other teachers, you will find yourselves sacked. And, Dolores, keep your conspiracies to yourself."
"He would never allow it," Umbridge sneered at me.
I tilted my head at her, before throwing floo powder into the fireplace beside me, and summoning Fudge. "Fudge, two of those favours that you owe me, here's a pre-warning, if your Senior Undersecretary acts out against me, yet again, I will have her fired, and you will also have her fired, and she is never to be rehired, even after you are gone."
His eyes widened. "Uh, is there anyway I couldn't do that?" he asked.
"No," I replied curtly.
He sighed. "Dolores, you heard her," he said pathetically. Dolores's eyes widened, and I smirked.
"Good, thank you, Minister, you may leave," I dismissed him, and he left. "I have a lot of power, Dolores, and I'm not afraid to use it."
