The Ministry of Magic didn't respond well to McGonagall's firm stance—or more precisely, Umbridge expressed her great displeasure in the form of heavy assignments in her classes, but the worst was yet to come.
"What the hell are those 'teaching decrees' you mentioned?" asked Barnaby, perplexed.
He was in greenhouse number four with Sprout when she explained the results of the latest staff meeting in the headmaster's office while he helped her prune several plants for their upkeep and to stock some ingredients for Snape's Potions classes.
"Umbridge seems to have realized, after the last event, that her influence over Hogwarts is… nonexistent, yes, that's the word I'd use," said Sprout, cutting straight to the point. "So she's resorted to the Ministry (or vice-versa) to obtain these 'teaching decrees' to suppress and ban any conduct the Ministry disapproves of."
A brief but concise explanation brought Barnaby up to speed on the details.
Barnaby was sure he had misheard. He HAD to have misheard.
"But you said they gave Umbridge the power to fire professors and expel students!" Barnaby raised his voice, more than alarmed by this fact. "I can't be the only one who sees the HUGE mistake it is to allow this. What's more, what is Dumbledore doing agreeing to something like that?!"
This is Hogwarts!
Umbridge was a damned racist egomaniac with an inferiority complex that she tried to cover up with cruelty toward those less capable, insecure, and/or vulnerable, acting as if she were a pure-blood!
And what if she fired his father for some absurd reason?
Because if that really happened, he'd have to help move the cabin, as it was built by the half-giant to live in, despite the many rooms available in the castle.
Outside of there, he didn't have any land or property to move to—at least, not until he finished building his home next to the Scamanders'.
And what if she started expelling Muggle-borns for a wrinkle in their uniforms?
Not only that, they hadn't even solved the issue of not using real spells in Defense Against the Dark Arts!
Damn it, Dumbledore, you only have one bloody job, and you can't even do it right!
Oh, right, Aunt Minerva actually does most of it…
"Be honest with me, Aunt Pomona," said Barnaby, gripping her shoulders seriously. "Dumbledore's had a stroke, overdosed on lemon drops, or something, hasn't he?"
No one in their right mind would agree to these things!
He'd practically handed over half the control of the school!
"It's not as bad as it sounds," Sprout could only grimace in response, clearly unhappy with this development as well. "She can't fire or expel at will, only when those damned decrees come into play…"
Barnaby stared at her blankly for a long minute.
"Tell me they've at least limited the number of decrees," he said, almost clinging to the last thread of hope to escape such an absurd and unreal situation. "Is there a low and clear limit?"
Sprout's increasingly pronounced grimace only resulted in an immense sense of disbelief and absurdity, leaving Barnaby standing stunned in the greenhouse.
For a second, a mere instant, Barnaby considered making Umbridge disappear—it would be too easy—but it would be pointless. The Ministry would just send another toad of a different color, and it would only give them an excuse to make things worse for everyone.
That reminded him he had to tell Neville not to summon Trevor for a while…
When Barnaby left the greenhouse silently with a basket of herbs for Potions, Sprout had to sit down on a stool to keep herself from collapsing as she took a deep breath.
"He didn't take it as badly as I thought," she murmured in relief as she turned around. "You can come out, the worst-case scenario didn't happen."
Flitwick, Sinistra, and Snape became visible, all holding their wands, ready to take certain containment measures that, fortunately, weren't necessary.
"If there was even a slight chance that Barnaby and the headmaster could reconcile, it just went down the drain," said Flitwick, hopping onto a bench as well. "Even if it's the Ministry of Magic flexing its muscle, this is going too far!" he protested energetically. "They should be focusing on preparations against HIS return, not obstructing our work!"
"It's precisely because they aren't doing that, that the Order of the Phoenix had to reconvene," commented Sinistra tiredly, putting away her wand and rubbing her cheek, slightly exasperated. "Still, I don't like Dumbledore labeling Hagrid's son as an 'unstable element.' The headmaster is being far too paranoid, in my opinion."
Snape merely looked thoughtfully in the direction Barnaby had left.
"He knew we were here," he stated without the slightest doubt.
The other three froze suddenly, as if they'd been simultaneously cursed. They exchanged worried and regretful glances with a common thought.
"Sometimes, I really hate Dumbledore's plans!"