The Three Educational Decrees

"Hem, hem," Umbridge cleared her throat. "Your attention please, students?"

In an instant, all eyes were upon her. Professor McGonagall, who was sitting at Umbridge's side, was looking downright murderous, but the other teachers were looking troubled… including Professor Snape.

"I know many of you might be feeling confused or even anxious right about now," Umbridge said, with obviously fake empathy in her voice. "I know that your previous headmaster's strength was reassuring to some, but let me reiterate that my students are my priority. Now, I also know that some of you might not think that I am up to the task of protecting you from the Dark, but please believe me when I tell you that this… change, is for the best."

She smiled and looked around the room.

"There is no need to worry. As I am also your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher—"

A few audible groans sounded throughout the hall.

"— there are none as qualified as I am to make the best decisions concerning the prophecy of the Dark Lady. As such, I will be instating Educational Decrees Numbers 25, 26 and 27, which will take effect immediately."

She cleared her throat.

"According to the prophecy's wording, Hogwarts will likely produce the Dark Lady from the current student body. It is for this reason that the Ministry has taken steps to flush out this hidden danger before it is too late to stop it..."

Oleandra's heart sank; Umbridge was trying to find out the Dark Lady's true identity by searching for Witches who corresponded to the prophecy's description of her: an abomination against nature, bearing a wand of yew…

"Educational Decree Number 25!" Umbridge shouted. "The High Inquisitor will henceforth possess the authority to remove students suspected of being the Dark Lady from the school and turn them over to Magical Law Enforcement."

The Great Hall exploded with protests, mostly from Slytherin, but Umbridge remained unmoved.

"Educational Decree Number 26," Umbridge continued, undeterred. "No female student shall leave the Great Hall until their wand is inspected by an official wandmaker approved by the Ministry."

Cries of disbelief erupted from all of the girls.

"And finally, Educational Decree Number 27," Umbridge said with finality. "I will be forming the Inquisitorial Squad later in the year; its purpose will be to sniff out seditious behaviour and help me hunt down the Dark Lady, should she somehow escape my notice. And as sad as this makes me, members of my old House Slytherin need not apply."

Once more, the Slytherins cried out in protest. Discrimination against us? That's the worst kind of discrimination there is! This is totally unfair!

Assuming that Umbridge had Fudge's full backing, these measures were some awfully risky political moves for him to be making, as the current Minister for Magic. Many of his backers were old families with deep pockets and influence, which were more often than not Slytherins.

Obviously, Fudge believed that he wouldn't be needing their help to get re-elected any more, as long as he could just nip this Dark Lady problem in the bud, before it grew out of proportion. Why, he'd become the most popular Minister in British history, if only he could prevent the second coming of Voldemort…

"Dolores, this is completely insane!" Professor McGonagall cried in disbelief. "You cannot simply arrest children on suspicion of future crimes, it just isn't right! Dumbledore would never have—"

"Well then, it's a good thing he's no longer here, isn't it?" said Umbridge coldly, her veneer of sweetness slipping away. "Hogwarts needs someone with a firm hand to guide it, especially in these… troubled times."

"I cannot say that I understand the mechanics of prophecy well, or even at all," Professor McGonagall insisted, "but this surely will not end well. What if your actions lead to the birth of this Dark Lady? The prophecy states that she will be made monster by her peers. By singling out a student, you will be creating her yourself!"

"The suspects will be immediately taken off the premises," Umbridge snapped. "I see no problem with this course of action. Now, would you kindly stop undermining my authority in front of the students?"

There was a loud crashing noise, as the Great Hall's oaken double doors suddenly burst open, and in came a dozen Aurors marching into the hall, their badges shining brightly on their chests. Furthermore, they hadn't come alone; they were accompanied by a white-haired old man.

Oleandra's heart sank, as she recognized this man to be Garrick Ollivander himself. If there was one person in this world who knew what her wand was truly made of, it was him…

"Armed with the knowledge that the Dark Lady would be using a wand made of yew wood, I have taken the liberty of requisitioning the sales records of Britain's most prominent wandmakers," Umbridge declared. "And from these records, I have identified our suspects..."

Umbridge loudly cleared her throat, and this time, she used magic to enhance her voice.

"Daphne Greengrass, and Ginevra Weasley!" Umbridge shouted triumphantly, her booming voice resonating throughout the confines of the Great Hall. "Ollivander's books clearly indicate that you are the only two female students to have ever purchased yew wood wands at his establishment between the years 1988 and 1995. Therefore, as Headmistress of Hogwarts, it is my right to relinquish you into the custody of the British Auror Bureau, as detailed in Educational Decree Number 25."

The Aurors stepped forward as one. Oleandra recognized one of them as the broken marionette she had found in Hogsmeade; the one the Bone-Breaking Wizard had attacked.

"Will the two students who have been named please step forward," the Auror Dawlish growled. "You are to immediately and peacefully surrender yourselves and your wands."

Things were rapidly spinning out of control.

At this rate, both Oleandra and Daphne were going to be ending up in Azkaban before the day was out. Since there was no way that Oleandra was going to let her twin sister be taken without a fight, why not expedite the process and go out with a bang? But just as Oleandra was about to stand up to her sister's defence, Daphne shook her head and put her hand on her sister's.

"It's okay," she said softly. "There's no way the Dark Lady prophecy refers to Ginny, so it has to be me. Let's face it, I'm a freak, just look at me."

"Don't say that," Oleandra whispered, desperately blinking back tears. "Astoria's the same as you. If anyone's an abomination, it's—"

Oleandra let out a squeak as her sister tightly embraced her for what might have been the final time.

"I know that," Daphne whispered in her ear. "Everyone knows that it's what's on the inside that counts."

Oleandra's heart began aching dully upon hearing her sister's words.

It's what on the inside that counts?

What was inside Oleandra wasn't human; it had never even been close to being human! But then why, if she wasn't human, why did it ache so badly?

"I might seem a little colder than I used to, but as long as I know that you and Astoria are out there, I'll always be your big sister," Daphne said fondly. "You should always remember that I love you all— mum, dad, Astoria and you. I know you'll find a way to hide your wand from Umbridge, so live well for my sake, okay?"

Oleandra nodded wordlessly, and for the first time, she found that she hated herself for her weakness, and that her vow to save Avalon by any means necessary was now stopping her from standing by her sister when she needed it the most.

"And above all else, promise me you'll do everything in your power to protect Astoria while I'm gone," Daphne continued, grabbing Oleandra's hands tightly. "You're the only one strong enough to do it— you have to promise me!"

At that very moment, Oleandra couldn't help but think of the poem of runes. What good was sacrificing everything you cared about for your ambitions, if you would only be left with regrets, when it was all over?

"I promise I'll protect Astoria," Oleandra said shakily. "You know that, Daphne."

Satisfied with her answer, Daphne got up from the Slytherin table and began walking towards the Aurors.

"I'll safeguard her with my very life, if I have to," Oleandra whispered, as soon as Daphne had moved out of earshot. "I swear it upon the name of the Lady of the Lake…"