The summer vacation finally grants me some spare time to continue this story… Apologize for the disappearance.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the related characters. The Harry Potter series is created by JK Rowling. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story… As always…

For reading convenience, the bold parts are excerpts from the original version.

Chapter 3

Harry was so glad, so impressed in fact by Professor McGonagall's decision that he choked on his food when Hermione, barely a second after getting her Daily Prophet on Monday morning, let out a huge gasp and flattened the newspaper to reveal a large photograph of Dolores Umbridge, smiling widely and blinking slowly at them from beneath the headline:

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM

DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"

"I know it!" yelled Harry, "I know she was about to get it!"

Ron and Hermione, to whom Harry had elaborated about the events during his detention, looked a little disappointed.

"McGonagall's trick didn't exactly do its job, did it?" said Ron moodily, "What does probation do, anyway?"

"Dunno," muttered Harry, hating Umbridge, "In any case, she will be preparing for revenge against McGonagall, after what she had done to protect me… What does it say, anyway?"

Hermione read aloud:

…

"You lot had an inspected lesson yet?" Fred asked them.

"No," said Hermione at once, "have you?"

"Just now, before lunch," said George. "Charms."

"What was it like?" Harry and Hermione asked together.

Fred shrugged.

"Not that bad. Umbridge just lurked in the corner making notes on a clipboard. You know what Flitwick's like, he treated her like a guest, didn't seem to bother him at all. She didn't say much. Asked Alicia a couple of questions about what the classes are normally like, Alicia

told her they were really good, that was it."

"I can't see old Flitwick getting marked down," said George, "he usually gets everyone through their exams all right."

As Fred and George walked away, Hemione stood up.

"What's up?" asked Ron, mouth full of food.

"Don't you forget about our plans, Ron!"

"What plans?" said Harry, staring at them curiously.

Ron frowned for a moment, then let out a gasp of comprehension, "Oh, yes! We forgot to tell you, Harry.

"Hermione and I had a discussion when you were dragged off by Umbridge. Remember when she said she wanted us to come and tell her if we hear anyone saying You-Know-Who's back? Well, we had some ideas about that," Ron could barely hide his evil grin, and, for that instant, he was almost identical to Fred and Geroge.

"We went back to the common room immediately and told the other Gryffindors," continued Ron, "Said we would queue up outside Umbridge's office next Monday and discuss with her about You-Know-Who. They agreed at once, and now it's time to go and drive her mad. Again!"

"We don't think it's a good idea for you to go, Harry," said Hermione pityingly, "You know Umbridge, and this time she'd probably not let McGonagall know anything at all. We don't want to harm you, so it's best if we go. Ron and I told all of them the gist of what to say, don't worry."

Harry gaped at them. He didn't know what to say.

"Well, that's… Some idea you've got…"

Ron and Hermione beamed.

…

After some argument, they agreed to take Harry along with them, though Hermione absolutely forbade him to go inside and quarrel with Umbridge. Therefore, Harry, deeply sorry that he could not be at the front of the battle, borrowed a pair of Extendable Ears from Fred and George, who were also going, so as to keep up with the proceedings.

When they arrived at the corridor of Umbridge's office, they found a crowd of Gryffindors talking quietly but excitedly at a corner. Harry saw, with delight, that many of his classmates were in the group, as well as a few older students - for example, the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"You're quite sure she's in today?" asked Ginny nervously.

"Yes!" said Hermione, turning to Harry, "Because her beloved Fudge always sends her letters on Monday. She must be sticking her nose to her desk reading and kissing them. Put on the cloak now, Harry."

Harry obediently put on the Invisibility Cloak as Ron asked, "How do you know?"

"I did some investigation, Ron."

"But it's only the second week!"

Hermione, exasperated, leaned closer to Ron and muttered, "The Order."

They saw Umbridge materialize at the other end of the corridor. Her mouth fell in shock and bewilderment when she noticed the crowd of people standing near her office.

"Please, Professor," Hermione leapt forward before Umbridge could speak, "We want to speak to you."

"Yes?"

"You said we could go and consult you about the news of You-Know-Who," said Hermione, forcing her way into Umbridge's office, "Well, here we are."

Umbridge made to stop her progress, but the rest of the crowd squeezed her inside as they followed Hermione. The door closed. Harry, still under the Invisibility Cloak, inserted one end of the Extendable Ears in his own and waited. Ron's voice came from the other side of the door.

"Good - what is it - noon, Professor Umbridge," he was saying, "We are very interested in the issue about You-Know-Who, obviously because of what happened last lesson."

"I repeat, the Ministry guarantees -"

"We are aware of it!" interjected Hermione, "But we are also confused why the Ministry should simply ignore and proclaim, instead of clarifying, that the other story is not trustworthy. We wonder whether you and the Ministry are able to present us with a proper explanation for this matter. Of course," a slight pause at this while Hermione took out something, "I got my parchment and quill ready to take notes and I assure you that I will take up the highly honourable responsibility of announcing your statement here to the school."

Harry could imagine Umbridge swelling again, and, with some satisfaction, heard her begin in a difficult voice, "Apparently, the Potter version of events claims no witness except for Potter himself. It was he who stated that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was back, and while we unearth no evidence to support his theory, we felt appropriate to assume that it is, at present, false. Therefore, we give out the message that this dark wizard has not returned."

"However," said Hermione smoothly, "It is better if we view this problem from the other perspective. Consider the proposition that 'You-Know-Who is back'. The only existing evidence regarding this proposition is Harry's testimony, which is supportive of the proposition. While no evidence exists to oppose the proposition, we assume that it is, at present, true."

There was a long silence. Harry couldn't help but marvel at Hermione's excellent logic. Though, when it came to sarcasm and things like that, Ron was to be counted upon.

"But, thanks to Harry, you have these potential pieces of evidence that, with a tiny bit of investigation, might be useful for your argument," said Ron, "We would dearly like to know whether the Ministry's made any effort into the case."

"It is not for you to decide what the Ministry of Magic does or does not do, Mr. Weasley!" said Professor Umbridge, in the exact same tone that Fudge had had when addressing Professor Dumbledore back at the hearing.

"Of course it isn't," said Ron, in a spectacular imitation of Dumbledore's tone, "We simply want to discuss with you, that's all. We are not ordering you to do anything."

Umbridge, it seemed, hesitated at this.

"Yes?" asked Hermione eagerly, "I'm ready to take notes, Professor Umbridge. There's no need to wait for me now."

"Well - no…" said Professor Umbridge in a slightly defeated sort of voice, "The Ministry has much more important business to attend to than doing as Potter suggested."

"Lack … of … response … to … external … doubts," muttered Hermione, loud enough for Umbridge to hear every word. Harry pictured Hermione taking notes with the utmost attentiveness, unable to suppress his smirk.

"That - that is an outrageous accusation! We are responsible for a lot of other -" Umbridge spluttered, but Ron talked over her, "Of course you are," he said, still modelling Dumbledore, "But isn't the safety and stability of the wizarding community the primary concern of the Ministry? And isn't You-Know-Who the one threat to the said safety and stability?"

"No, he isn't," said Umbridge, seizing gratefully on what Harry was quite sure was a bait designed by Ron, "There surely are other things that might threaten to destabilize the wizarding community, for example," and Harry caught the merest trace of triumph in her voice, "Unfounded statements and attention-seeking stories."

"Precisely!" exclaimed Ron, "I thought the Ministry wasn't aware of that."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know," Ron continued in a mock thoughtful voice, "I thought that the Ministry was not at all disturbed by its baseless announcement regarding last June and its snide remarks in the Daily Prophet?"

"What? I didn't -"

"I thought that the Ministry was one hundred per cent confident when it released the news that You-Know-Who did not exist, even without any thorough investigation?"

"What is this -"

"I thought that the Ministry felt no heavy psychological burden against smearing ink on the profile of Harry and Professor Dumbledore?"

"You -"

"I thought that the Ministry knew nothing of the seed of potential catastrophe that it is now planting into everyone's heart?"

"What are you saying?" interrupted Professor Umbridge in fury, her voice rising, "WHAT ARE YOU BARKING ABOUT?"

"Just some thoughts," said Ron casually, "This is a discussion, Professor, so I suggest you heed your behaviours."

Harry, quite impressed by Ron, noticed the sound of Hermione's quill skidding over the parchment, clearly distinguishable in the silence that succeeded Ron's speech, and heard her murmur audibly, "Contradiction … between … sentences … Ambiguous … clarification … Media … interference… Unfounded … accusations … Deems … calls … of … truth … as … social … disruption … forces … Lack … of … freedom … of … speech … Quite amazing, Professor -"

Her last words reverberated many times in the office. Umbridge made no reply.

"Yes, Professor?" piped up Hermione again, "Anything else?"

No reply. Harry had the unpleasant feeling that Umbridge was building herself up for a storm, and, sure enough, out of the Extendable Ears came the final, guttural roar -

"You!" she shrieked, and Harry heard the sound of breaking glass and things being thrown across the room, "You! All of you! Weasley, Granger, and whatever little freaks you are! You will pay - I tell you! YOU WILL PAY! You … supporting Potter … How dare you! How dare -"

"Pay with what?" and Harry, with mounting excitement, heard the long-lost voice of Fred and/or George, "I sincerely doubt your words or those of the Ministry are worth any more than one Sickle, wouldn't you?"

"Of course. You can hand us a basket, and we'll put the money in," said the voice of the other Weasley twin, "No problem. If that's what you want."

"Who are you?" Umbridge growled in rage, "I said, WHO ARE YOU?"

"Is that important?" jeered Fred and/or George.

"What good is it telling you our names, hey?" said the other, "Have you shout at us? We don't want to appear like we look too attractive to lunatics or anything."

There came a great thud of something hitting the floor.

"I ASK YOU WHO YOU ARE!" screamed Umbridge.

"AND WE HEAR YOU VERY CLEARLY!" the twins, this time in unison, screamed back at her.

"We are not deaf."

"Nor blind."

"Though in some way, your Ministry is."

"Or it's not, because it took some effort to squash the rumours, didn't they?"

"Took some time to spread the truth, didn't they?"

"But you heard what Harry said," and Harry was amazed to hear that his words during Monday's lesson had become known to Fred and George, "There are none so blind as those who will not see."

"By the way, that's my bag you're smashing," said (Harry was somehow certain this time) Fred, "I should ask for compensation."