Past Present

"On'y thing lef' up there was the furniture," Hagrid said, shaking his shaggy head. "Gone by the time Snape go' there."

"Must have doubled back to the castle while we were all out in the woods, then," Dumbledore said distractedly. "Thank you Poppy. That will do quite nicely," he added, flexing his fingers.

"Great, so all of this for nothing," Ron groused.

"No, not for nothing. Would you rather she had stayed and we had not found out?" Viktor answered, bending his rather stiff fingers experimentally. "Let her drag Harry off into the woods or send him some more sweets? It at least explains one thing."

"Well, do let me in on it then, because I still don't understand it," Ron said peevishly.

"Honestly, Ron. It explains the dreams. Why you and Harry heard singing and we didn't. Fleur was using her Veela-charm and we were picking up on it. Harry and you heard singing. Something attractive. Viktor and I, well, we heard screeching. Her true nature," Hermione explained.

"Of course, it still does not explain why all four of us had the dream in the first place. I can see why she would want to work on Harry, but why the three of us as well?" Viktor said. "Seems like too big a risk. Obviously, it was not going to work on Hermione. And after us knocking heads last year, I thought she had gone off me completely and would not bother to spit on me if I were on fire, much less try to mess with my head. And Ron ... why would she bother with... well, I suppose she could try to lure the both of you off because where one of you goes, the other is almost sure to follow ... but why did Ron never sleepwalk, then?"

"What made you figure it out?" Harry asked.

"The remark Hermione made about needing earplugs for Umbridge. It made me think about the earplugs at the Internationals. And the Veela. And how I compared them to sirens. I kept saying hat if I didn't know better, I would have thought the singing sounded like sirens.You two were the only ones who needed the earplugs. And it suddenly made sense why we could find nothing that seemed to fit in all those books. Veela aren't beasts. Exactly," Viktor responded. "Why didn't I figure it out sooner?"

"None of us did. I didn't know Veela could get into your dreams," Hermione said soothingly.

"But if anyone should know anything about Veela and what they would sound like..." Viktor began.

"Stop that. What's done is done. Did you know they could do that? In your dreams?" Hermione answered.

"Never heard of it before," Viktor admitted.

"Well then. There you are. And she was in on it last year with Crouch. She was sandbagging. She was sandbagging all along, wasn't she?" Hermione mused.

Viktor leveled a long, silent look at Dumbledore. "I believe you owe Harry a conversation. If he wants it."

Dumbledore shifted uncomfortably, but opened his mouth to reply. All of the occupants of the infirmary stiffened when they heard an ominous "Hem, hem." Umbridge stood in the doorway with two wizards, one tall, black and bald, with a single gold hoop in his ear, the second, Umbridge turned to and drew herself up to full height. "Dawlish, here he is."

"Dolores, dear, what are you doing in the infirmary at this time of night?" Dumbledore said pleasantly, as though this sort of thing happened all the time.

"Here to see you on a most grave matter. I regret to inform you that the Ministry has called an emergency meeting, and they quite agree with me..."

"Why, I'd think you would be quite happy that they agree with you, Dolores," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Stop interrupting! We're removing you as Headmaster, effective immediately, due to Ministry Decree ..."

"NO!" all three of the students shouted and would have added more, if not for the warning look and short shake of the head from Viktor. They all looked at him expectantly, but he stayed silent.

"Now, now, don't get yourselves in a tizzy. Why would you be removing me, Dolores?" Dumbledore said in a soothing voice.

"Miss Delacour has come to me with some most interesting allegations. First, there were the unwanted advances toward her ..."

"Ha! Toward her..." Harry exploded.

"Oh, that's rich..." Hermione began sarcastically.

"Be quiet or you will haff to leave," Viktor interrupted softly, with raised eyebrows. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all gaped at him, surprised.

Umbridge cleared her throat and began again, "And then we have the ridiculing of her teaching abilities. Not a firing offense, but cause for concern. Subtle hostility, outright attacks, she's had nothing but trouble since she came here. Why, just tonight, she came to my office sobbing and saying you attacked her, tried to hunt her down out on the grounds, and this was under the influence of Veritaserum. She also says you've tried to poison the rest of the staff against her. And I believe it. Why, Professor Snape was in her empty quarters soon after she left, and it was on your orders, he says." She turned to Viktor, "You two never got along, from what I saw in staff meetings, and frankly, she was afraid of what rumors and wild stories you all might be cooking up about her. She half expected you to assert she was dangerous! She resigned on the spot and vowed never to come back. I've no choice but to remove you, Dumbledore, considering this on top of your past behavior. We're out a perfectly good Defense Against The Dark Arts professor." Here, Viktor let out a soft, derisive snort, but said nothing further. "You'll take over the position next class."

Viktor finally spoke again, "What!?"

"You'll take over the position next class. You're qualified. They need a teacher," Umbridge said, not sounding too convincing.

"I get six weeks to get them in a position to pass their OWLs?" Viktor asked incredulously.

"I suppose you do. Now, what are the lot of you doing down here?" Umbridge asked sharply.

"Lots of headaches and upset stomachs this time of year Dolores," Dumbledore said, not sounding in the least upset.

"I'm taking you to Azkaban," Umbridge said with a glee that Harry hadn't seen for some time.

"Now is that really necessary? I've got so many other things to be doing, and breaking out of Azkaban would simply keep me from them," Dumbledore said.

"Charges of assault, misuse of authority, negligence of duty, and possibly plotting to overthrow the Ministry," Umbridge said with a self-satisfied smirk.

"Ah, well, then, I suppose I had better not get arrested in the first place," Dumbledore said, as though discussing the weather. "Viktor, do take the position, please. I would feel much better knowing you accepted. Hagrid, do see to things in my absence. I think you'll both carry on just fine without me here. And Harry, do listen to your elders and betters, even if sometimes the elder aren't better, and the better aren't elder," Dumbledore said with a small adjustment of his glasses on his crooked nose, drawing himself up to his full height. With a loud pop and a bright flash, Fawkes appeared in the air directly over his head.

"Shacklebolt, Dawlish... take him," Umbridge growled, and the two wizards moved forward, wands raised. Almost languidly, Dumbledore raised his own wand and stunned the two of them. Umbridge began shooting stunning spells at Dumbledore, but he dodged them easily, finally stunning her as well.

"I apologize for stunning Kingsley, but I had to or it would have looked suspicious," Dumbledore said. "I trust you'll know what to do when the time comes, Viktor. Remember what I said, Harry. Now, I've got to go. Wake them after I've gone," Dumbledore added, grasping the feet of Fawkes and disappearing with a pop.

"Nobody move," Viktor said, drawing his wand. "Stay as you are and she won't know any time has passed. Anyone haff anything they need to say right now? Before I wake them?"

"So... are you going to take the job?" Hermione asked.

"If it weren't for the three of you still being here, I would tell her where she could stick her job. Now, I think I haff no choice but to take it," Viktor mumbled, his attention on the three bodies on the floor.

"Umbridge an' her Ministry! Accusin' Dumbledore..." Hagrid began, gritting his teeth.

"Shh, now. Harry, I am sorry. Can I take the spell off now?" Viktor asked, and when no one responded, he did so.

"Well, Umbridge was in a fine temper," Ron observed, as Viktor escorted them back to the dorms.

"Wait until she tries to get into the Headmaster's office," Viktor said, with a half smile. "And it seals itself against her. She's been eyeing it the whole time she's been here. Go to bed now, it's late." He stifled a yawn against the back of his own hand, and Harry observed that there were dark smudges under his eyes, as though he hadn't been sleeping well again.

"But Dumbledore..." Harry began.

"Will be just fine. I bet I know where he's gone, and he will probably get more done there than he would here. Look, Harry, I know it is hard, but try not to worry about him. Umbridge is Headmistress now, but it does not mean we cannot do things the way Dumbledore would like. I am sure this is not the end of the trouble she will try to stir up. Please, Harry, just keep your head down and stay out of her way. She will hate anyone overly loyal to Dumbledore. For now, just try to think of her as that thing sitting in the office calling herself Headmistress. And look on the bright side," Viktor replied, laying a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"What bright side?" Harry snapped.

"If she is Headmistress, she will not haff time to observe class and find out that I am going to teach you all some real Defense Against the Dark Arts. You had all better bring your wands to my first class. No more book," Viktor replied with a sly grin.