Take Three
Umbridge gaped at the new entrance to the Great Hall. A large plaque – eerily reminiscent of the numerous Ministry Decree plaques – was affixed to the top of the entrance. She squinted, reading it out slowly, "Minimum height: 160 centimetres."
Umbridge frowned. How tall was she again? She glanced around as though someone would tell her the answers – ah, there! A helpful tape measure was pinned to the wall beside the entrance. She strode over and yanked the tape down.
"159.9 centimetres," announced the tape measure in a monotone.
Gritting her teeth, Umbridge stretched out her arms, and true enough she barely touched the top of the wall in front of her. When she caught the – the delinquents who dared to barricade the entrance to the Great Hall with a low wall that required a minimum height to clamber over, they would pay.
She was so focused on the tedious task of hoisting her bulk up the wall with her spindly arms, jumping up and down uselessly, that she was completely oblivious to the sudden increase in number of passers-by.
Ron easily flipped himself over the wall, turning around and gallantly offering Hermione – who was above the height limit anyway – a helping hand.
Harry, right behind them, stopped to lift a nearby First Year onto the wall first.
The Creevey brothers grinned at the wall, before turning to each other. "Wingardium Leviosa!" squeaked Dennis.
His brother easily floated to the top. "Very good Dennis!" cried Colin. " Your turn now, Wingardium Leviosa!"
Lee Jordan shrugged and pulled out an item from his pocket. "Collapsible step-ladders, a new product from Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Makes it easier to position pranks in higher places, but I suppose it works here too," he confessed in a low voice to Angelina and Alicia, mindful of the jumping Umbridge nearby.
Justin coughed, rubbing his hands together slowly. He then dug his fingers into the crevices in the wall – which apparently had been placed there just for this purpose – and effortlessly pulled himself up. It was a good thing that his parents had insisted that he learn rock climbing. He had no wish to do something as undignified as what Umbridge was doing.
Terry shrugged, flicking his wand and uttering a nifty little spell that twisted gravity all around him, allowing him to casually stroll up the wall and down the other side.
Professor Snape took one look at the obstacle, promptly turned around and made for his rooms. The House Elves delivered meals for the professors upon request, after all.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick blinked in surprise at the obstruction, then turned to stare incredulously at the bouncing Umbridge. Without another word, Professor McGonagall waved her wand once, conjuring up a miniature staircase for the two of them. Once on the other side, she smirked uncharacteristically, and promptly vanished the staircase just as hurried footsteps on the other side indicated that Umbridge had caught sight of it.
It was long after lunch had ended that Argus Filch found Umbridge, still unable to enter despite everyone else having found a method to do so. He hastily rushed off to find her a ladder, her shrill shrieks ringing down the corridor.
There was just one problem. All the ladders in the castle had mysteriously disappeared.
From the shadows, Seamus gave Dean a high-five, both grinning broadly.