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"Dolores Jane Umbridge has been appointed to the post of Hogwarts High Inquisitor."
— The Decree is proclaimed through Hogwarts School[src]

The Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three was one of the Educational Decrees created by Cornelius Fudge. It was passed shortly after the start of the 1995–1996 school year. It created the post of Hogwarts High Inquisitor and appointed Professor Dolores Umbridge to said post.[1]

History[]

Creation[]

The Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three was passed and formally approved by Minister Cornelius Fudge, on the evening of 8 September 1995, supposedly to ensure Hogwarts had satisfactory teaching staff and apparatus, and to weed out any less-than-competent professors. The real reason, however, was just an excuse to give Dolores Umbridge more power over the other teachers, and to eliminate any potential threat against the Ministry of Magic.[1]

Reaction[]

"I feel much easier in my mind now that I know that Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation. Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and will be glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation."
Lucius Malfoy speaks to Daily Prophet interviewers.[src]

A large number of the students' parents endorsed the Ministry of Magic move, the most prominent being Lucius Malfoy.[2] Others were revolted by the creation of said post: Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden, both active members of the Wizengamot, left their posts at the Ministry in protest and were subsequently discredited by the Daily Prophet (which connected them to subversive Goblin groups).[1]

Because of the post's intrusive purpose, many teachers find it offensive as well, as Professors Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape tried their best to ignore Umbridge's interrupting methods, answering her in a haughty and cold manner. Sybill Trelawney, who had a harder time in keeping her emotion, was very offended by Umbridge's inspection, and believed it was an insult from the establishment.

Abolition/Repeal[]

The decree was abolished and excluded from law after Dolores Umbridge's suspension from her post of High Inquisitor and Albus Dumbledore's formal reinstatement to the post of Headmaster, following the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, in the summer of 1996.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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