"Let's go see Umbridge get what she deserves!" Ron called excitedly as we headed towards Transfiguration.
"He's been waiting all week for this." Harry rolled his eyes. The class filled the room quickly and quietly as was always the case with McGonagall's classes. Professor McGonagall marched into the room without giving the slightest indication that she knew Professor Umbridge was there.
"That will do." McGonagall nodded approvingly as total silence fell over the room. "Mr. Finnigan, kindly hand back the homework. Miss Brown, please take this box of mice… don't be silly, girl, they won't hurt you, and hand one to each student…"
"Hem hem," Professor Umbridge used the same silly throat clearing noise she had used to interrupt Dumbledore on the first night of term. Professor McGonagall ignored her. Seamus handed my essay back to me, I was pleased I'd managed an A.
"Right then, everyone, listen closely… Dean Thomas, if you do that to the mouse again I shall put you in detention… most of you have successfully vanished your snails and even those who were left with a certain amount of shell have the gist of the spell. Today we shall…"
"Hem, hem."
"Yes?" Professor McGonagall turned around.
"I was just wondering, Professor, whether you received my note telling you of the date and time of you inspect…"
"Obviously I received it, or I would have asked you what you are doing in my classroom." Professor McGonagall turned back to her class as sniggers and looks of glee filled the room. "As I was saying, today we shall be practicing the altogether more difficult vanishing of mice. Now, the Vanishing Spell…"
"Hem, hem."
"I wonder," Professor McGonagall said in a cold fury, turning on Professor Umbridge. "How you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking." Professor Umbridge looked as though she had just been slapped in the face. She did not speak, but straightened the parchment on her clipboard and began scribbling furiously. Looking supremely unconcerned, Professor McGonagall addressed the class once more.
"As I was saying, the Vanishing Spell becomes more difficult with the complexity of the animal to be vanished. The snail, as an invertebrate, does not present much of a challenge; the mouse, as, a mammal, offers a much greater one. This is not, therefore magic you can accomplish with your mind on dinner. So you know the incantation, let me see what you can do."
"How can she lecture me about not losing my temper with Umbridge!"Harry hissed at Ron in the road behind me. I could tell from the tone of Harry's voice that he was really quite proud of his head of house.
An hour later, I gently placed my half transfigured mouse into the box Lavender was passing around. The class was exiting McGonagall's classroom rapidly, probably so that they could talk about Umbridge. The five of us hung back, trying to catch what Umbridge was saying to McGonagall.
"How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" Professor Umbridge asked.
"Thirty-nine years this December." McGonagall snapped.
"Very well," Umbridge said making a note. "You will receive the results of your inspection in ten days' time."
"I can hardly wait," Professor McGonagall in s cold, indifferent voice. "Hurry up you five." She hissed as she marched out the door.
"Fred, George and Lee were right, that wasn't so bad." I whispered to Emily as we fell back from the others again. "Maybe Severs will do alright."
"I'm sure he'll have his own choice words for Umbridge. Professor Snape is going to be just fine Alice."
After lunch the fifth year students who still took the Care of Magical Creatures elective made their way down towards the forest where Professor Grubbly-Plank was waiting for us.
"You do not usually teach this class correct?" Umbridge was asking Professor Grubbly-Plank as Emily and I approached.
"Quite correct." Professor Grubbly-Plank answered, hands behind her bank and bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I am a substitute teacher standing in for Professor Hagrid." I bit my lip and glanced over at the Gryffindors to see if Harry, Ron and Hermione had heard. Judging by the sideways glance Harry was sending Draco, I guessed they did.
"Hmm," Umbridge was speaking again, "I wonder the headmaster seems strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter, can you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid's very extended leave of absence?"
"'Fraid I can't." Professor Grubbly-Plank shook her head. "Don't know anything more about it than you do. Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a couple of weeks teaching work, accepted. That's as much as I know. Well shall I get started then?"
"Yes, please do." Umbridge nodded, scribbling on her clipboard. In this class, Professor Umbridge wandered among the students, questioning us on magical creatures. Most students were able to answer well, I was surprised that many kids had actually paid attention in Hagrid's class.
"Overall," Umbridge said as she joined Professor Grubby-Plank's side once more. "How do you, as a temporary member of the staff, an object outsider, I suppose you might say…How do you find Hogwarts? Do you feel you receive enough support from school management?"
"Oh yes, Dumbeldore's excellent." Grubby-Plank said heartily. "No, I'm very happy with the way things are run, very happy indeed."
"And what are you planning on covering with the class this year? Assuming of course that Professor Hagrid does not return?"
"Oh, I'll take them through the creatures that most often come up in OWL." Professor Grubby-Plank assured her. "Not much left to do, they've studied unicorns and nifflers, I thought we'd cover porlocks and Kneazles, make sure they can recognize crups and knarls, you know…"
"Well, you, seem to know what you're doing, at any rate." Professor Umbridge said making a very obvious tick on her clipboard. "Now, I hear there have been some injuries in this class?"
"That was me." Draco's hand shot up in the air immediately, but he send a quick apologetic look towards me. "I was slashed by a hippogriff."
"Only because he was too stupid to listen to what Hagrid told him to do!" Harry shouted from twenty feet away. No. Emily mouthed to me, her right foot slightly extended back. I nodded my head to let her know Harry was on his own this time. Umbridge turned her head slightly in Harry's direction.
"Another night's detention I think." Umbridge declared, scratching on her clipboard again. "Well thank you very much, Professor Grubbly-Plank, I think that's all I need her. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days."
"Jolly good!"" Professor Grubbly-Plank nodded before the pink-clad devil headed off towards the castle.
