The Hogwarts High Inquisitor

The next day, the Owl post arrives with some interesting new news from the Daily Prophet. First, Professor Dolores Umbridge is now “Hogwarts High Inquisitor.” This article proclaims her success as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts as well as her new task of making sure the Hogwarts professors are performing well in their duties as teachers. The article also hints about Professor Umbridge’s power to keep watch over Dumbledore’s decisions as headmaster of Hogwarts.

Harry attends History of Magic and Potions but doesn’t see Professor Umbridge until Divination with Professor Trelawney. Because of Professor Umbridge’s intense scrutiny and insistence on an immediate prediction, Professor Trelawney is nervous enough to foul up her teaching and her abilities. When Professor Trelawney finally mutters about imminent danger, Dolores Umbridge mocks Trelawney and scribbles notes down on a clipboard. 

In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione gets fairly brazen by telling Professor Umbridge that she has completed the entire book. Even when challenged with the hardest of questions, Hermione gets all of the answers correct. Umbridge is incensed; therefore, she takes points away from Gryffindor House for Hermione being too brazen and outspoken. When Professor Umbridge tries to commend Professor Quirrell as a Defense Agains the Dark Arts teacher, Harry boldly retorts that, unfortunately, that particular professor had Voldemort attached to the back of his head. 

Harry, of course, receives more detentions with Umbridge as a result of this outburst. This infuriates both Angelina Johnson (who is upset at Harry for missing more Quidditch practice) and Professor McGonagall (who is upset at Harry causing problems with a Ministry of Magic official).

In Professor McGonagall’s Transfiguration class, Professor Umbridge observes the quality of Minerva’s teaching. Professor McGonagall is utterly disgusted at Professor Umbridge’s presence but maintains a semblance of decency to keep her job (and her head). 

Then in Care of Magical Creatures class, it is obvious that Professor Umbridge is trying to find out why Hagrid isn’t teaching this year. When Professor Grubbly-Plank can’t answer Umbridge’s questions about Hagrid, she begins questioning the students. The Slytherin students, of course, use the opportunity to make Hagrid look bad.

The back of Harry’s hand is hurting worse than ever before after his next detention with Umbridge, but he still refuses to tell anyone but his friends what is happening to him. Hermione is disgusted with Harry for not telling Dumbledore (or any other professor). She is also disgusted that she doesn’t have a good Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with the O.W.L.s tests looming.

Hermione ends up suggesting that Harry Potter himself teach them Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione believes that Harry is the only person who has any real experience in the subject. Harry gets upset at both Harry and Ron (insisting that it was all “luck”) but admits that he will think about the proposition.

Harry Potter wakes up the next day with his scar hurting yet again.