Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

Dolores Umbridge hated Hogwarts as much as she hated children; perhaps a bit more.

She remembered the last Sorting Ceremony like it was yesterday.

The way Dumbledore had interrupted her… her — the Director of Student Discipline and Order… her — a Minister from the Ministry of Magic… her — a pure blood witch!

Look at him, standing there, Umbridge cursed the old fool within, maintaining a perfect smile on her face. Humph! Come the end of this year, and we will see…

Then her eyes fell on the witch seated next to McGonagall.

Her eyes blazed.

Dolores Umbridge corrected herself; a rare moment for her.

More than the School and the children, she hated this witch the most.

Madam Villanelle — the joke in the name of the High Counselor of Student Welfare and Security.

Umbridge couldn't have cared less about welfare, but Security — now that's something already hers. Almost.

Her influence was growing in the Ministry.

No Millicent Bagnold was holding Villanelle's hands anymore.

Over half the Aurors stationed at Hogwarts now directly reported to Umbridge first and Villanelle second; if she permitted that.

It was a step necessary given what was going to happen this year.

Dumbledore walked up to the front of the High Table and clinked the glass in his hands once the Sorting Ceremony was done.

That clink reminded her of something—someone—a few students.

Umbridge's eyes narrowed. Where was Harry Potter?!

"Congratulations to all newly sorted students!" Dumbledore began, his voice ringing in Umbridge's ears like the buzz of insects. "I hope you all had a safe and wonderful vacation. Before we begin with the supper, which I know is a hard thing to do…"

Dumbledore's comment brought out a few giggles and laughs.

Umbridge felt sickened.

Even her cat wouldn't purr at these jokes.

That's what Hogwarts had become — A Joke! A Joke where students were amusing themselves under false promises and hope! A Joke where people believed the coming of some doom!

Doom? Umbridge sniggered. If she had heard was true, then it wasn't doom, but salvation!

"… I have a wonderful piece of news for you…" Dumbledore continued.

Wait! Is the old fool going to tell the students now? Without the presence of the Minister of Magic?!

Umbridge shot to her feet and cleared her throat.

All eyes fell on her.

She straightened her spine a touch more, letting them see her perfect, pink dress.

 "Perhaps it's not the best time to tell the students of it, Dumbledore?" she told him. And if he was half wise, then he would listen to her. "Shouldn't we wait for the Minister of Magic first…"

A voice cut her off.

"… I am right here, Dolores," the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, said, looking surprised at her.

"…"

Umbridge's mind went blank under the laughs.

Smiling brokenly, she sat down, apologizing to the minister.

Who dared to jinx her?! Umbridge cursed under her breath as McGonagall asked if she was OK. Who dared to…

"… This year…" Dumbledore said, a bit louder than before, "… the Ministry of Magic has deemed it appropriate to restart the old practice of holding an annual magical tournament between Schools — The Triwizard Tournament!"

A loud uproar took control of the Grand Hall.

Umbridge finally let go of the oddity of forgetting the minister's presence and frowned at the noise.

All the noisemakers should be punished!

If she was in Dumbledore's place, she would have instantly remembered the faces of the troubled students. Of course, to better guide them on their academic journey.

Still, she was the Director of Student Discipline and Order…

First, Umbridge memorized the faces of two red-head boys and a few girls.

Then, she was just about to get up to silence the unruly children when Dumbledore's voice shook her ears.

"Silence!"

…

When everything had gone silent, Dumbledore smiled at the students. "The Triwizard Tournament is a matter of prestige, pride, and, believe it or not, paramount magical excellency."

The children again laughed at that.

Umbridge… didn't find it funny.

"… You are warned, though," Dumbledore said, his tone going solemn. "It's not the stage for the weak hearts. The history of the Tournament is laden with the incidents of disappearances… and deaths."

That brought out even more excited hoots from the children.

Umbridge took note of all those who did that.

"… Let me invite, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, to briefly introduce the rules."

Seeing absolute silence, Umbridge loudly clapped as the minister got up and began walking forward.

The students awkwardly followed suit.

She noted all the faces who didn't clap, though.

"… Alright, alright…" Cornelius began, catching his breath. "A detailed notice will be put in all the House Notice Boards, right?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"… so, I will keep it short for you," Cornelius continued. "First, traditionally, the Triwizard Tournament is held between the Champions of three Schools. This, however, is not the purpose of the Tournament anymore.

"There will be two groups in the Tournament. Second to Fourth year students will be in one group and Fifth to Seventh year students in another.

"A total of ten students will be chosen for a group from each School. The selection of students will be carried out using Intra-School Competitions."

Dumbledore suddenly leaned in and whispered something in Cornelius' ear.

"Ah, yes, yes," the minister of magic hummed. "Yes. These Competitions will happen before the winter break so that we can proceed with the Tournament in the 2nd term.

"Second, the Triwizard Tournament will be held every three years."

Umbridge fumed as the students began shouting again, daring to interrupt the minister.

Dumbledore again brought them to silence.

"… It's a necessary step given the circumstances…" Cornelius explained. "Out of each group, two winners will be selected from each School.

"The winners of the first group will be assigned Aurors as tutors, and they will be treated as Aurors-in-training.

"The winners of the second group will be directly inducted into the ministry's MAP — Magical Excellence Program; something we have started to specialize our Aurors."

Dumbledore again leaned in to whisper something.

"Ah, yes, yes." Cornelius corrected. "MEP… There are, of course, cash prizes as well. Anyway, what I really want to say…"

Someone touched Umbridge's shoulder, then.

Who dared to disturb her when the minister was giving a speech?!

She turned her head and found an Auror, one of hers, looking at her meaningfully.

He whispered a few words in her ear and, with every word, a nasty smile began surfacing on her lips.

As silently as she could, Umbridge left her seat and followed the Auror from the backside of the High Table, Madam Villanelle narrowing her eyes at her disappearing figure.

Let her watch… Umbridge smirked. She's got that unruly witch this time!

The Auror took the Director outside the School, to the open ground where, under the Whomping Willow, other Aurors were surrounding three students.

The nasty smile on Umbridge's face became a wild grin.

She towered over the kneeled students, looking each one in the eye, finding the anger on their faces quite amusing.

One of the Aurors passed the Evening Prophet to her, then.

"FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES…" Umbridge read the news, feeling bliss seeping into her bones. "… So… the train isn't good enough for the famous Harry Potter and the nasty crowd he hangs out with…"

Umbridge looked up at the remains of a car still tangled in the tree's branches.

"… Poor Thomas… Just when he was having a good time raiding homes of proper wizards…"

On the ground, the boys exchanged puzzled looks.

An Auror neared her and whispered, "… Arthur, Director. His name is Arthur Weasley."

Umbridge snapped. "That's what I said!"

"…?!"

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