Chapter 8
-BY ORDER OF-
The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.
An Organization, 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 Organization, 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 Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
High Inquisitor
In the Gryffindor common room Zoey stared open-mouthed at the notice Umbridge put up. "No way," she said. "That little #~***^%$!"Zoey muttered under her breath. Beside her Hermione gave a disapproving sniff.
Zoey walked to her dorm to get her stuff and her fury rose. Now we can't do our secret Defense Club, Zoey thought. Of course it is a secret anyway. Zoey started to formulate a plan.
Later that day, Zoey was discussing the new decree with Valencia. "It doesn't seem fair," Valencia said, "how could she have known?"
"Somehow," Zoey muttered darkly.
"Speaking of Umbridge, "Valencia said, "she was really angry in our class today."
"Why?"
"Someone put one hundred stink beetles in her office. She was raving." Valencia looked over at Zoey, who was blushing slightly.
"I thought I only put 99 stink beetles in, "Zoey chuckled, "Of course two of them were doing this weird dance thing..."
"Okay, too much info!" Valencia said quickly.
Professor McGonagall strode up to them. "Zoey, may I have a word with you?" It wasn't an option.
"See you later," Valencia called as she hurried away.
"Yes Professor?"
"You have detention all week with Professor Umbridge. Something about stink beetles?"
"How did she know?" Zoey asked, surprised.
"I don't know," McGonagall replied. She lowered her voice, "Good job." She slipped a Chocolate Frog into Zoey's hands and strode off.
Great, Zoey thought, detention. Her thoughts brightened when she remembered Professor McGonagall's approval.
At the end of Zoey's detention, her hand felt like it was on fire. A deep cut was etched into the back of her hand. It read I must not be disrespectful.
"I think we made a good impression tonight," Umbridge said. "We'll improve that all week shall we? You may leave."
Zoey hurried out of the room and to the third floor. She leaned against the wall where the Room of Requirement was located. She knew about it from weird coincidence, and Zoey knew it would be a perfect place for their defense club.
An idea struck Zoey. I'll tell Dobby and tell him to tell Harry!
Zoey hurried off to the kitchen, clutching her freely bleeding hand.
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