The morning sunlight.
Could not dispel the thick smell of gunpowder in the Academic Affairs Office either.
Sirius Black sat behind his desk.
Six tottering mountains of parchment were piled in front of him.
The office door was shoved open.
Dolores Umbridge walked in on short, chunky heels.
Her pink cardigan stood out glaringly against the drab stone walls.
"Hem, hem."
She forced two affected coughs from her throat.
"Director Black, your assistant was running down the corridor in a most disorderly fashion."
Sirius did not even look up.
He gripped a bright red quill.
And roughly slashed a large cross across a start-of-term budget report.
"If you think running breaks the rules."
Sirius's voice was low and laced with annoyance.
"You can go issue tickets to those portraits."
The muscles in Umbridge's face instantly tightened.
"I am making this request in my capacity as Hogwarts Academic Affairs Office Deputy Director."
She walked up to the desk.
Her short, thick fingers pressed hard against the outermost stack of parchment.
"I believe it is necessary for me to take over some of the management's core duties."
Sirius stopped moving.
He slowly raised his head.
A dangerous light danced in his gray eyes.
"What would you like to take over, Madam Deputy Director?"
"These documents."
Umbridge tapped the reports with her pink-polished fingers.
"The injury assessments for the students' practical combat lessons."
"And the detailed transaction records for club funding."
Sirius sneered aloud.
He slammed his quill down hard on the desk.
"These are the Academic Affairs Office's most highly classified documents."
"You aren't even qualified to apply to audit the proceedings."
Umbridge straightened her neck without giving an inch.
"Confidentiality does not apply to the deputy director!"
Her voice grew shrill and piercing.
"Cornelius has granted me the authority to investigate