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oll from within her robes'… an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister for Magic。 Under the terms of Educational Decree Number Twenty…three； the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the power to inspect； place upon probation and sack any teacher she … that is to say； I … feel is not performing to the standards required by the Ministry of Magic。 I have decided that Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch。 I have dismissed her。'
To Harry's very great surprise； Dumbledore continued to smile。 He looked down at Professor Trelawney； who was still sobbing and choking on her trunk； and said； 'You are quite right； of course； Professor Umbridge。 As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers。 You do not； however； have the authority to send them away from the castle。 I am afraid；' he went on； with a courteous little bow； that the power to do that still resides with the Headmaster； and it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts。'
At this； Professor Trelawney gave a wild little laugh in which a hiccough was barely hidden。
'No … no； I'll g … go； Dumbledore！ I sh … shall … leave Hogwarts and's … seek my fortune elsewhere …'
'No；' said Dumbledore sharply。 'It is my wish that you remain； Sybill。'
He turned to Professor McGonagall。
'Might I ask you to escort Sybill back upstairs； Professor McGonagall？'
'Of course；' said McGonagall。 'Up you get； Sybill：'
Professor Sprout came hurrying forwards out of the crowd and grabbed Professor Trelawney's other arm。 Together； they guided her past Umbridge and up the marble stairs。 Professor Flitwick went scurrying after them； his wand held out before him； he squeaked 'Lootor trunks！' and Professor Trelawney's luggage rose into the air and proceeded up the staircase after her； Professor Flitwick bringing up the rear。
Professor Umbridge was standing stock still； staring at Dumbledore； who continued to smile benignly。
'And what；' she said； in a whisper that carried all around the Entrance Hall； 'are you going to do with her once I appoint a new Divination teacher who needs her lodgings？'
'Oh； that won't be a problem；' said Dumbledore pleasantly。 'You see； I have already found us a new Divination teacher； and he will prefer lodgings on the ground floor。'
'You've found …？' said Umbridge shrilly。 'You've found？ Might I remind you； Dumbledore； that under Educational Decree Number Twenty…two …'
The Ministry has the right to appoint a suitable candidate if …and only if… the Headmaster is unable to find one；' said Dumbledore。 'And I am happy to say that on this occasion I have succeeded。 May I introduce you？'
He turned to face the open front doors； through which night mist was now drifting。 Harry heard hooves。 There was a shocked murmur around the Hall and those nearest the doors hastily moved even further backwards； some of them tripping over in their haste to clear a path for the newer。
Through the mist came a face Harry had seen once before on a dark； dangerous night in the Forbidden Forest： white…blond hair and astonishingly blue eyes； the head and torso of a man joined to the palomino body of a horse。
This is Firenze；' said Dumbledore happily to a thunderstruck Umbridge。 'I think you'll find him suitable。'
… CHAPTER TWENTY…SEVEN …
The Centaur and the Sneak
I'll bet you wish you hadn't given up Divination now； don't you； Hermione？' asked Parvati； smirking。
It was breakfast time； two days after the sacking of Professor Trelawney； and Parvati was curling her eyelashes around her wand and examining the effect in the back of her spoon。 They were to have their first lesson with Firenze that morning。
'Not really' said Hermione indifferently； who was reading the Daily Prophet。 'I've never really liked horses。'
She turned a page of the newspaper and scanned its columns。
'He's not a horse； he's a centaur！' said Lavender； sounding shocked。
'A gorgeous centaur：' sighed Parvati。
'Either way； he's still got four legs；' said Hermione coolly。 'Anyway I thought you two were all upset that Trelawney had gone？'
'We are！' Lavender assured her。 'We went up to her office to see her； we took her some daffodils … not the honking ones that Sprout's got； nice ones。'
'How is she？' asked Harry。
'Not very good； poor thing；' said Lavender sympathetically。 'She was crying and saying she'd rather leave the castle for ever than stay here where Umbridge is； and I don't blame her； Umbridge was horrible to her； wasn't she？'
'I've got a feeling Umbridge has only just started being horrible；' said Hermione darkly。
'Impossible；' said Ron； who was tucking into a large plate of eggs and bacon。 'She can't get any worse than she's been already。'
'You mark my words； she's going to want revenge on Dumbledore for appointing a new teacher without consulting her；' said Hermione； closing the newspaper。 'Especially another part…human。 You saw the look on her face when she saw Firenze。'
After breakfast Hermione departed for her Arithmancy class as Harry and Ron followed Parvati and Lavender into the Entrance Hall； heading for Divination。
Aren't we going up to North Tower？' asked Ron； looking puzzled； as Parvati bypassed the marble staircase。
Parvati looked at him scornfully over her shoulder。
'How d'you expect Firenze to climb that ladder？ We're in classroom eleven now； it was on the noticeboard yesterday。'
Classroom eleven was on the ground floor along the corridor leading off the Entrance Hall from the opposite side to the Great Hall。 Harry knew it was one of those classrooms that were never used regularly； and therefore had the slightly neglected feeling of a cupboard or storeroom。 When he entered it right behind Ron； and found himself in the middle of a forest clearing； he was therefore momentarily stunned。
'What the …？'
The classroom floor had bee springily mossy and trees were growing out of it； their leafy branches fanned across the ceiling and windows； so that the room was full of slanting shafts of soft； dappled； green light。 The students who had already arrived were sitting on the earthy floor with their backs resting against tree trunks or boulders； arms wrapped around their knees or folded tightly across their chests； and all looking rather nervous。 In the middle of the clearing； where there were no trees； stood Firenze。
'Harry Potter；' he said； holding out a hand when Harry entered。
'Er … hi；' said Harry； shaking hands with the centaur； who surveyed him unblinkingly through those astonishingly blue eyes but did not smile。 'Er … good to see you。'
'And you；' said the centaur； inclining his white…blond head。 'It was foretold that we would meet again。'
Harry noticed there was the shadow of a hoof…shaped bruise on Firenze's chest。 As he turned to join the rest of the class on the ground； he saw they were all looking at him in awe； apparently deeply impressed that he was on speaking terms with Firenze； whom they seemed to find intimidating。
When the door was closed and the last student had sat down on a tree stump beside th