"That's correct, I'm a substitute teacher, temporarily covering for Hagrid,"Professor Grubbly-Plank replied, hands clasped behind her back as she rocked gently on her toes with the practiced patience of someone accustomed to bureaucratic nonsense.
"Hmm—"Umbridge lowered her voice to what she presumably thought was a conspiratorial whisper, though Orli could still hear every calculated word. "I find it curious—Professor Dumbledore appears reluctant to provide me with any information regarding Hagrid's circumstances. Perhaps you could enlighten me as to what has caused his prolonged absence from his teaching duties?"
Nearby, Malfoy's head snapped up like a hound catching a scent, his eyes gleaming with the anticipation of someone eager to provide damaging testimony.
"I'm afraid I cannot help you there,"Professor Grubbly-Plank said with crisp efficiency. "I know no more than you do. I received an owl from Dumbledore inquiring whether I might teach for several weeks. I accepted. Now, may I begin the lesson?"
"Yes... proceed,"Umbridge said, her tone carrying the distinct flavor of disappointment at being denied fresh ammunition.
This lesson saw Umbridge employ tactics different from her previous classroom invasions. She circulated among the students like a pink predator, interrogating them about magical creatures with the systematic thoroughness of an inquisitor. To Orli's cautious relief, most of their classmates demonstrated solid knowledge, answering her probing questions with competence that even Umbridge couldn't twist into incompetence.
After subjecting Neville to a particularly lengthy interrogation that left him red-faced and stammering, Umbridge drifted back to Professor Grubbly-Plank's side.
"In your professional opinion, how would you assess Hogwarts overall?"Umbridge asked with deceptive casualness. "I imagine that you, as a substitute teacher—an objective outsider—might provide a more... impartial evaluation of the school's administration and standards."
"Oh, absolutely, Dumbledore is exceptional,"Professor Grubbly-Plank said with genuine warmth that made Umbridge's smile twitch slightly. "I'm thoroughly impressed with how the school operates, and everything else besides."
Umbridge made a note with the sharp, stabbing motions of someone recording evidence of treason, then continued her fishing expedition.
"And what curriculum do you intend to cover with this class for the remainder of the year—assuming, naturally, that Professor Hagrid does not return?"
Orli felt her frown deepen at the casual way Umbridge dismissed Hagrid's potential return, as if his absence were already permanent.
"Oh, I'll guide them through the creatures most frequently featured in O.W.L. examinations,"Professor Grubbly-Plank explained matter-of-factly. "There isn't much ground left to cover—last term I taught unicorns, Hagrid covered Nifflers. I believe we still need to study Kappa and ensure they can properly distinguish between Kelpies and Grindylows..."
"Well, at least someone knows what they're doing,"Umbridge said, making an ostentatious checkmark on her clipboard. But then her toad-like eyes swept across the assembled students with predatory interest.
"I understand there have been... incidents... involving student injuries in this class?"
"That was her!"Pansy Parkinson practically shrieked, jabbing her finger toward Orli with the vindictive glee of someone finally given permission to attack. Ever since Professor Snape had resumed his campaign of targeted harassment against Orli at the term's beginning, the Slytherin students had once again felt emboldened to treat her with open contempt.
"Indeed?"Umbridge turned her attention to Orli, examining her from head to toe as if searching for missing appendages or visible scars. "Perhaps you could describe the nature of your injury?"
"It was merely a superficial scratch,"Orli replied with carefully controlled calm. "There isn't even a scar remaining."
"She's lying!"Pansy exploded with theatrical outrage. "She was practically dying! Blood everywhere! We thought she was going to bleed out right there in the pumpkin patch!"
"Is that so, Miss Waters?"Umbridge asked, her voice dripping with sickeningly false concern, like honey laced with poison. "Then are we to conclude that Hagrid lacks the competence to manage dangerous creatures and ensure student safety?"
"Actually, the incident was caused by someone else entirely,"Orli said firmly, refusing to allow Umbridge to weaponize her injury against Hagrid. "Someone deliberately provoked the creature, which resulted in my being hurt."
Her gaze shifted meaningfully toward Malfoy, though she harbored little hope of honesty from that quarter. Predictably, Malfoy turned his head away with studied awkwardness, clearly having no intention of admitting his role in the incident.
"I see,"Umbridge said, her tone suggesting she saw nothing of value for her purposes. Turning back to Professor Grubbly-Plank with obvious frustration at being denied the damning testimony she'd sought, she concluded, "Well then, I believe that concludes today's observation. Professor Grubbly-Plank, you shall receive your evaluation results within ten days."
The promise hung in the air like a threat, and Orli couldn't shake the feeling that Umbridge's inspection was building toward something far more sinister than simple educational assessment.
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