Between Delacour, the High Council, and Bones, Dumbledore's testimony went on for another hour. Nothing earth shattering came out of it, just more proof as far as Harry was concerned that Fudge wanted to go through life with blinders on if he could. The man should never have been made Minister, because while he loved the title and the prestige that came along with the job, he clearly couldn't handle the responsibilities and he wasn't able to make the hard decisions when needed and those decisions he did make were usually the wrong ones. The kind meant to enhance his public image rather than do what was right for the magical world.
The next witnesses were the Weasleys and Snape and their testimony went fairly quickly since the only thing they were questioned about was the incident in the Hospital Wing. Harry couldn't help smiling as Ginny gave her testimony. Her barking wasn't all that different from her normal voice as far as he was concerned. He just hoped she learned her lesson and would leave him alone.
After another brief recess, the next witness called was Delores Umbridge.
"Madam Umbridge," Everyone could hear the contempt in Delacour's voice as he addressed the toadlike woman. "According to Educational Decree number twenty-two which was passed August 30, 1995, the Minister appointed you as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher when Headmaster Dumbledore was unable to find a suitable candidate. Can you tell us why he felt the need to interfere in the running of a school that had been turning out fine witches and wizards for over a thousand years? And more importantly, can you detail what masteries and qualifications you had that made you uniquely qualified to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts?"
Simpering like a schoolgirl and smiling what she no doubt thought was a pleasant smile, but it actually made everyone who saw it a bit nauseous, Umbridge said, "The Minister felt it was high time that the Department of Magical Education and the Ministry take a firmer grip of the reins of Hogwarts. The teachers who had been teaching there in the last few years were an unmitigated disaster. I mean Dumbledore hired a werewolf… Can you think of anyone who should have less contact with children and be less likely to teach impressionable minds well?"
"Actually madam," Delacour felt compelled to interrupt. "It is a well recorded fact that that the students who took their OWL's and NEWTs the year Professor Remus Lupin, the werewolf as you call him, taught were among the highest for the school in the last fifty years."
"The Minister's point exactly. We should have far more qualified teachers teaching these impressionable minds." Umbridge hurried on. "It isn't right that a werewolf could outdo a regular pureblood wizard in a teaching position."
"Given that claim madam, then I presume you hold a Mastery in Defence against the Dark Arts?" Delacour inquired with a smile. "Which was why Minister Fudge who really had no idea what was required for the position chose you."
When Umbridge remained silent, he went on. "Surely madam, you must have demonstrated your competence at teaching and at Defence Against the Dark Arts in particular to have gained this position. Or were you perhaps appointed for some other reason…? Like to make sure that the truth about the Dark Lord's return never made it beyond the school. In other words to silence Lord Potter and the Headmaster as well as silence anyone else who might speak out against the Ministry?"
"I had an Acceptable in my NEWT level Defence Against the Dark Arts class." Umbridge told him stiffly. "That more than makes me qualified to teach the class."
"I would have thought to teach at such a prestigious institution like Hogwarts, you should have at least an O Level if not years of experience." Delcaour commented. "Do you perhaps have years of experience in defending the magical world from the Dark Arts? I see nowhere in your records that you served at any time as an Auror. Did you perhaps gain this experience elsewhere, like out of the country perhaps?"
Umbridge remained silent.
"Enough of this dancing around, madam." Delacour was growing tired of playing with the toad. "Why were you and not someone from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement appointed to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts?"
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