CHAPTER 25

HIGH INQUISITOR

"You have got to be kidding me."

"What," Blaise said as he pulled his bag over his shoulder, walking towards Theo who was staring at the daily prophet. "Shit!"

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL

DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"

Blaise yanked the newspaper from his friend's hand and skimmed through the article. If Umbridge had been willing to cut into students' hands as punishment, who knew what she was willing to do now that she had even more power.

"Can't wait to see how it goes between her and Snape." Draco said with a smirk, sitting on Theo's other side.

Daphne leaned in from across them, "And McGonagall."

The people around them gave hums in agreement but Blaise looked up to the Gryffindor table. Lyra was there, staring at the paper with Dougherty and Dunbar on both her sides. Dougherty had her eyes on the girl's hand, which made Blaise assume she had finally told them.

But that wasn't what kept his gaze. Lyra was practically fuming, ready to rip the newspaper in her hands.

Theo must have realized where he was looking because he turned to look at Blaise and whispered, "Did she take it?"

"Mhmm." Blaise said, his eyes still on the girl.

"Did she tell you how she got them?" Theo asked, leaning back in his chair, his book bag forgotten next to the foot of the table.

Blaise froze, one thing he knew for sure from last night was how much Lyra didn't want people to know about what had happened. But she had told her friends and Theo wouldn't say anything. "Detention with Umbridge. She's making them write lines with their blood and cut into their skin."

Theo choked on the fruit he had been eating, "Please tell me that was a joke."

When Blaise didn't say anything Theo continued, appalled, "And now she's going to be able to check in our other classes? Why is it that every year here keeps getting worse."

"Pretty sure a murder is worse than Ministry involvement, Nott."

"You know what I meant Zabini."

For the first time, Blaise was not paying attention in History of Magic. He was too busy staring at the still fuming Lyra Knight. Finally he said 'to hell with it' and ripped a corner off his notes.

Please don't do anything dumb.

Today Lyra was sitting in front him, so passing the note was easier than it had been last time. He saw her turn to look at her friends before carefully opening the note, her shoulders shook once in what Blaise assumed was huff or a scoff.

This is becoming a thing for us isn't it, Zabini? Also, since when do you say please?

Zabini rolled his eyes at the note. This girl really knew how to push him.

Don't change the subject. And I say please, when I really don't want you to get yourself into bigger trouble, dumbass. I don't want to stay up past midnight again for you.

This time her shoulders shook with laughter.

You're fun to mess with, Zabini. Don't worry, I won't do anything TOO stupid.

That was not comforting in the slightest, Knight.

The last note was just a pink lipstick stain, shaped in a kiss. He assumed she did it to remove the access by pressing her lips to a folded paper, something he had seen his mother do before. Still, when Lyra did it he felt his chest tighten uncomfortably. He threw the piece of paper at her head in a ball and Lyra gave him the middle finger.

Thankfully, it didn't seem like they would have to deal with Umbridge's inspections at all that day. She had taken some of the older students and Divination. It wasn't until her class that they had to deal with her. Still, Blasie worried about Lyra's, and even Potter and Granger's possible reaction in class.

And he was very right to be, because Granger was a know-it-all that needed to prove something and started a fight the second they began reading. Then Potter got involved when Hermione got points taken. The Gryffindors in the class broke out in anger. Theo had brought candies that day to class, passing them out to the Slytherins in the back row. "Refreshments for the show."

Blaise rolled his eyes but still took Berttie Bott's Beans.

"What for?" Lyra roared.

Dunbar began pulling her arm down, and Granger said, "Don't you get involved. You neither." She pointed at Harry after when he opened his mouth.

Umbridge began another boring explanation about her teaching methods and of course Potter yelled, "Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher. There was just the minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head."

The silence that followed had Blaise squirming in his seat.

"I think another week's detention would do you some good, Mr. Potter."

"No, no, don't!" Dunbar whispered but it was too late, Lyra was standing again.

"What for? Telling the truth?"

"Ms. Knight, I believe another week for you as well. It seems you still haven't learned, you must respect."

A hushed whisper fell across the class as the Gryffindor Knight flinched at the professor's words and dropped back into her seat.

Blaise had seen Lyra with a broken leg, in fights with people two sizes bigger than her. He had seen the girl stare down Slytherin's years older than her and get stupefied across halls. But he had never seen her flinch or completely back down, he didn't think anyone in the classroom had. It was a bigger shock than anything that had come out of her mouth so far.

What happened to nothing too stupid?

He hoped it would make her smile. Or at least stop her from giving those hopeless, sad eyes.

Guess now I have a reason to meet you at midnight.

Blaise choked on a grass flavored bean at the note and Lyra turned to look at him, sending the smallest smile. But still, a smile.

"Oh my god." Theo said from beside him, he was staring down at the note.

Shit. He had forgotten to check if his peers had been looking, still it seemed that Theo had been the only one.

"You like her." He whispered, eyes wide if not a bit amused.

"What? No! I wouldn't touch a- a filthy blood tra-"

Theo waved him off, "Oh, cut the bullshit. You can't lie to me for shit, mate."

"I don't! I don't like her."

"Yeah, whatever. Just be careful, that girl could kick all of our asses if she wanted to."

"I know." Blaise pretended not to see the side-eyes Theo sent him. 

The next morning was both upsetting and hilarious to Blaise. Lyra had a linen back around her hand. He assumed that the salve had been finished from the first week of detention, he'd have to get her another one.

The amusing part was the look on Lyra's and Potter's face when Johnson stormed up to them. The girl had yelled at them for two minutes before Professor McGonagall arrived and still took points from the two Gryffindors. Lyra's face was sour for the rest of the day.

The next few days went by smoother than the weeks before. Potter earned himself one more detention after defending Hagrid from Malfoy, Lyra kept her mouth shut thanks to Dunbar's hand.

Blaise got her a new salve by the end of her second week and they continued to exchange notes in their boring classes. Lyra would always try to get him to stop paying attention in History of Magic, much to his annoyance.

Still, it was a good distraction for the stress of OWLs from him. ANd he was sure it was good for Lyra too, seeing as her anger and stress seemed to be getting the best of her when it came to Umbridge. He was glad to just manage to get her to smile some days.

("You're whipped." Theo said one day after Blasie smiled when Lyra laughed at one of his notes.

"No idea what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't")

Still there was one day where nothing he sent removed the icy glare from her face.

By Order Of

THE HIGH INQUISITOR of HOGWARTS

All Student Organisations, Societies, Teams, Groups and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An Organisation, Society, Team, Group or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No Student Organisation, Society, Team, Group or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organisation, Society, Team, Group or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.

Signed:

Dolores Jane Umbridge

"I'm asking her about the Slytherin quidditch team today," Draco said, from beside Blaise as he read the notice.

When Draco had walked ahead of them, Theo whispered, "Gryffindor might not get to play. Thanks to your girl, mostly."

Blaise glared at him. "She isn't my girl. And I wouldn't know."

"Mhmm. Whatever you say, Zabini."

"Also, why are you being so calm about this. You hated Lyra last year."

Theo turned back to him, "Because you smile more. And you use her first name. I might seem it, but I'm not my parents, Blaise. As long as she makes you happy, I don't care if she's a troll, mate."

Theo thumped him on the back and walked ahead, but Blaise stayed behind, slightly rooted to the spot.

Merlin, he liked Lyra Knight.

No shit, you wanker.

Shut Up! 

It seemed that the entirety of the Gryffindor house was on edge that day. All whispering among themselves along with a couple of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Lyra wasn't the only one sporting an angry glare, quite a few Gryffindors did actually. It worried Blaise to no end that Knight had actually gone and done something dumb along with the rest of the lion house. It did not go much better after Draco decided to begin his taunts.

"Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue playing straight away, I went to ask her first thing this morning. Well, it was pretty much automatic, I mean, she knows my father really well, he's always popping in and out of the Ministry... it'll be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are allowed to keep playing, won't it?"

Blaise could see Dunbar and Granger muttering for Weasley, Potter, and Lyra to keep their cool.

"I mean," said Malfoy, raising his voice a little more, his grey eyes glittering malevolently in the Gryffindors' direction, "If it's a question of influence with the Ministry, I don't think they've got much chance... from what my father says, they've been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years... Liam Dougherty as well, he's shown great support for Dumbledore and Potter." Lyra began to step forward, but Dunbar grabbed at her shoulder.

"As for Potter... My father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St. Mungo's... Apparently they've got a special ward for people whose brains have been addled by magic." Blaise kept still and quiet as Malfoy made a grotesque face, his mouth sagging open and his eyes rolling. Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy began laughing, Theo just gave a weak smile.

Because Blaise was looking and Lyra he saw when Longbottom began walking forward, an angry glint in his eyes that Blaise had never seen on the boy. He was charging at Malfoy and the Gryffindor's behind him yelled, "Neville, no!"

Potter advanced and seized the back of Longbottom's robes, he struggled frantically, his fists flailing, trying desperately to get at Malfoy who looked extremely shocked at the 'weak Gryffindor's reaction.

Soon Weasley was grabbing at his arms, pulling him back and Lyra stood between the fighting Gryffindors and Slytherin, pushing the boys back to avoid any confrontation. When the boys were far enough back, Lyra turned back towards them. Her fists ready, then Dunbar dove in front, grabbing at the girls tight fists.

"Don't! You've had enough detentions. You'll get yourself into bigger trouble."

Lyra managed to relax herself in order to realize her friend was right and released her hands, returning to the Gryffindors, Potter and Weasley were still holding Longbottom down.

Snape arrived at that moment, "Fighting, Potter, Weasley, Longbottom, Knight? Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will be detention. Inside, all of you."

Longbottom only glared but didn't respond, Potter and Weasley looked confused, but Lyra just looked tense and angry. And to make matters worse, Umbridge was waiting in the classroom.

*****

two chapter in a day, yay!