Educational Decree Number 24

Harry had just put down his book on nude witches, reading it only to annoy Madam Pince, when the door to the library swung open and in stormed Professor McGonagall.

"POTTER!"

"You called?" Harry asked dryly.

"I have just had it from Professor Umbridge that you refuse to attend her lessons – and all your others, come to mention it"

"That's right"

"Would you care to explain yourself?" the Deputy Headmistress's face was a mixture of emotions. In reply, Harry reached into his pocket and produced a piece of crumpled parchment. The witch took it from him, unfolded it and then started to read it.

All Student Organisations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. An Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No Student Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

"Now just you look here, Mr Potter…" but she was cut off by Hermione speaking up for the first time.

"Professor, Hogwarts is a school which is, by definition, an organisation. More so, it is a regular meeting of more than three students and a most regular meeting. Ah, I see Professor Umbridge has arrived" she added as the pink wearing woman came stumbling through the door.

"I have you all now!" she said.

"Actually you do not" Hermione said. "You passed Decree Number Twenty Four. The second line of which states 'An Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students' which we have just said to Professor McGonagall is what Hogwarts is. Now, you can certainly force us to go to class in your capacity as a Hogwarts Professor, but that would then put us in violation of said decree"

"And just what do you call this then?" Umbridge said, gesturing towards the few dozen students. "I believe this is a meeting"

"True" Harry smirked, but Educational Decree Number Twenty Four mentions only those gatherings of three or more students on a regular basis. This is our first meeting of our group and so first meetings, having not held such a gathering before, can not be called regular. I am sure the High Inquisitor knows and understands this. As such, we intend to continue this until said decree is repealed. Now, the High Inquisitor may very well send for Aurors to take the students into custody, but that would then make them liable to prosecution for arresting those students only obeying the letter of Educational Decree Number Twenty Four"

"Forget it" spluttered Umbridge.

"Professor McGonagall?" Hermione looked at the Deputy and Head of House.

"Yes?"

"I should not want there to be any misunderstanding, but am I right to infer that Madam Umbridge proclaimed that the decree in which we are having issue upon is repealed? I should not want to get into trouble for following an unclear instruction after all…"

"Why you li-" Umbridge suddenly clutched her chest and fell to the ground. She spasmed around for a few moments and then went still.

"You will be glad to know" McGonagall said with a slight smile, "That Professor Umbridge is dead from a previously unknown condition. In other words, I believe you broke her" and Harry looked at Hermione who simply shrugged before getting up and, hand in hand, skipped over Umbridge's body singing.

"Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch! Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead…"