"Ahem… well, that is, if I were to help them using the methods you just mentioned, would they accept it?" Kasenhis asked.
The three of them exchanged looks. "Uh, Professor, your talents really belong in alchemy. Human relationships and social maneuvering are a bit… over-tuned for you."
"Emmmmm…"
It was obvious that aside from Ron, who was still grading assignments, the other three all felt the heavy resentment radiating off Kasenhis. They immediately reduced their presence and slipped out of the office.
The Weasley twins' plan to take a leave of absence was temporarily put on hold, since he still needed to find time to discuss it with Professor McGonagall and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
Honestly, compared to the others, Professor McGonagall would be easy enough to deal with. Mr. Weasley was also negotiable. But Mrs. Weasley was probably the true final boss.
Just as he was leaning back in his office chair, pondering what path the Weasley twins should take, Ron slowly put down the stack of half-graded homework and walked over.
"Logically speaking, they shouldn't be coming to you for help," Ron said, puzzled.
Kasenhis tossed Ron an Oron orange. "Which kind of help are you talking about?"
"Um… financially. If they really wanted to ask you for help, they should've asked whether you had any quick-paying jobs, or at least whether they could get enough free time to—Professor, don't tell me they asked you for help because they wanted you to help them take a leave of absence?" Ron said, chewing on the orange as realization dawned on him.
"Mm…" Kasenhis didn't answer, falling into a long silence instead.
"I actually understand it really well. I had the same thought just now, but I didn't dare say it out loud, since Harry and the others were there."
"We all love our parents. They're probably the same as me. After all, aside from Percy, no one looks down on them just because our parents are poor…"
"But the fact that they're poor is… uh… a fact. We all know they absolutely can't come up with that kind of money. So when George and Fred know full well that they don't have the money and still go ask them for it, it's kind of like… forcing them to admit that they're broke. That's really humiliating."
"So I didn't say anything while they were here. I mean, how is that any different from a public execution?"
"Am I right?" Ron finished speaking just as he finished eating his orange.
Kasenhis nodded. "That's exactly it."
"Including their plan to take a leave of absence?" Ron asked.
"Including that," Kasenhis said helplessly, nodding.
"Professor, they really handed you a nightmare of a problem," Ron said with a bitter look at Kasenhis. "Everyone else is manageable. It's just my mum."
"I know," Kasenhis said, rubbing his face with both hands. "If they really make up their minds to go out and try their luck, I was honestly considering just slapping some charge on them and ordering them to take a leave of absence. That way I wouldn't even have to communicate with Mrs. Weasley."
"…"
The air fell into a long, drawn-out silence. The two of them seemed to realize something at the same time.
"...This actually seems like…"
"...It really could work!"
The two spoke in perfect sync.
"Then what about the charge? I heard that a couple of days ago they managed to pin down that pink toad, Umbridge, in the Alchemy classroom. How about using that?" Ron suggested.
Kasenhis shook his head. "Absolutely not. Wouldn't that just make it look like we're afraid of the Ministry of Magic? I've got class tomorrow. How about we charge them with entering the classroom with their dirty shoes?"
"...…Heh heh...…"
"Alright, we'll put the charge issue aside for now and discuss it later. Let's first take a look at your broom," Kasenhis said, decisively putting the Weasley twins' 'charges' on hold and turning his attention to Ron's problem.
Unfortunately, right while the two of them were discussing things in the office, Umbridge was sitting in the Hogwarts Quidditch stands, watching the players in training.
Seeing those players soaring freely through the sky, flying with such unrestrained joy, filled her with a strange physical discomfort.
Especially since, in just a few short days at Hogwarts, she had already suffered humiliation that surpassed every insult she had endured in the first half of her life combined…
Very quickly, a plan that was reasonable, lawful, and perfectly capable of disgusting Hogwarts on behalf of the Ministry of Magic took shape in her mind.
She acted the moment the thought occurred to her. Pulling out her broom, she flew off into the distance, and only after leaving Hogwarts' grounds did she Apparate back to the Ministry of Magic.
Buzz!
"Minister! Incredible news!" Umbridge burst recklessly into Fudge's office, only to meet his displeased gaze. She jolted, hurried back out, knocked properly, and then came in again.
"Mm. Go on, what is it?" Fudge said.
"I've come up with a way to trip up Hogwarts perfectly, and they'll have no choice but to swallow it," Umbridge said excitedly.
"Well? Spit it out," Fudge sighed.
"We can ban witches and wizards under eighteen from using flying brooms," Umbridge said.
"And then a few years from now, you'll discover that in international Quidditch competitions, England will get beaten by every other country like a child. You really know how to come up with ideas," Fudge said, half angry and half amused.
"Uh… then, Minister, we…" Umbridge suddenly sounded a lot less confident.
"Do it. Why not do it? Why wouldn't we do it? It's the British wizarding world that wronged me first… not me wronging them… not me wronging them…"
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