Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four

Harry remains in a good mood until he sees an announcement posted “by order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts” that all student clubs are disbanded and must reapply for official status.

Harry believes that this means Professor Umbridge has found out about their meeting at the Hogs Head. He remembers a few shady-looking characters in there who may have been watching the proceedings and listening.

One thing Hermione does know is that none of the people who signed the sheet of parchment told Umbridge anything. The jinx that Hermione put on the parchment would show immediately if anyone had told. Despite the threat from Umbridge, Harry is committed to meeting with the group of loyal students.

Unfortunately, Umbridge’s new decree also affects Quidditch. The Gryffindor Quidditch team is not only disbanded but also not granted permission to reform. Angelina Johnson is beside herself with anger, expecially because the Slytherin Quidditch team is granted permission to reform. 

During History of Magic class, an injured Hedwig appears at the window. Upset, Harry rushes Hedwig down to the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Professor Grubbly-Plank. Professor Grubbly-Plank admits that Hedwig has been attacked by something or someone. 

Before Hedwig is taken away to be healed, Harry looks at the letter tied to Hedwig’s leg. It is a message from Sirius to meet him near the fire of the Gryffindor Common Room at the same place and time as the last time. Harry remembers Professor McGonagall’s warning that the owls at Hogwarts are being watched and thinks this is a clear indicator that Professor McGonagall is telling the truth about that.

Outside Potions Class, Malfoy insults Harry by saying that Harry is crazy and should be committed to St. Mungo’s hospital. Neville Longbottom will not stand for this kind of insult and therefore uses violence against Malfoy. Snape, of course, takes points away from Gryffindor as a result. Ironically, even Snape is disgusted with Professor Umbridge, who tries to tell Snape how to run his classroom.

In Divination class, the students learn that Professor Trelawney has been put on probation. In Defense Against the Dark Arts, as usual the class simply reads the textbook with no practical practice.

Later that night, Harry becomes distracted by Fred and George Weasley exhibiting the results of their sweets that make you sick (and then make you better) to get out of class. As the Gryffindor Common Room clears out with students going to bed, Sirius Black’s head appears in the fire again. Harry tries to tell Sirius all about the plans for him to teach the students Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Sirius already knows all about it. There were definitely people listening in at the Hogs Head, including Mundungus Fletcher (a member of the Order of the Phoenix). 

Against his better judgement, Sirius also passes on a message from Mrs. Weasley to Ron absolutely forbidding him to participate in Harry’s Defense Against the Dark Arts group. Sirius, of course, adores the idea of the group. Suddenly, Sirius disappears and the hand of Professor Umbridge begins groping the fire. Harry and his friends make a run for it, knowing that the floo network is now being watched as well.