Chapter 391 - 392: Umbridge’s Smile

"This really isn't right," Hermione said, biting her lip. "Even if a professor had to leave, they would have arranged for a substitute in advance."

Ron took a sip of pumpkin juice and mumbled, "Maybe the professor just... had some sudden emergency? So he had to leave temporarily?"

"At a time like this?"

Harry also looked worried. "Voldemort has only just been defeated, Professor Moody was found just a few days ago, and the second task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin."

"I still don't understand why the Ministry of Magic would do this..." Ron set down his cup, looking puzzled. "If Professor Greengrass really can't come back... er, don't look at me like that. I said if."

Ron looked slightly guilty.

"If the professor can still come back, how dare they do this? And if he can't come back, what's the point of issuing a warrant?"

"Obviously, it's to re-establish the Ministry of Magic's authority!" Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Everyone knows Professor Greengrass is extremely powerful. They're trying to use this incident to restore the Ministry's reputation, although their approach is rather foolish..."

Just then, Professor McGonagall strode into the Great Hall with a stern expression and announced that all duelling classes and Advanced Charms Theory and Practice classes for the week would be temporarily cancelled.

The announcement immediately caused an uproar throughout the Great Hall.

It was not only the Hogwarts students who were dissatisfied. Even some students from the other schools looked confused.

Meanwhile, in a lavish office at the Ministry of Magic, Fudge, dressed in magnificent wizarding robes, was contentedly reading the newspaper.

He lightly tapped the bold headline with his alchemical prosthetic hand and smiled at Dolores Umbridge, who stood opposite him.

"It's time to make it clear to the public that no one is above the law, not even so-called 'heroes.'"

Umbridge wore an equally pleased smile, though it faded slightly a moment later.

"But Minister, many people are questioning..."

"Let them question," Fudge said smugly. "There's no evidence left anyway, and Dumbledore himself said it involved time travel. Ha! Who would have thought things would turn out like this? Who would have thought? It's simply marvellous..."

The day after the Ministry of Magic issued its official announcement, Umbridge appeared in the Hogwarts Great Hall wearing a pink woollen cardigan and her signature bow.

"I have been commissioned by the Ministry of Magic," she announced to the entire school in her cloyingly sweet voice, "to take over Hogwarts's Advanced Charms Theory and Practice classes during Greengrass's absence. At the same time, as the safety consultant for the Triwizard Tournament, I will ensure that every procedure during the competition complies with regulations."

Her very first class immediately caused outrage.

"Put away your wands," Umbridge said from behind the lectern with a false smile. "According to the Ministry of Magic's newly enacted Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three, practical magic classes require strict approval before they may proceed. This term, we will focus on studying the history and theory of Charms."

Draco Malfoy narrowed his eyes and could not help pointing out, "Only theory? Then how are we supposed to prepare for next year's examinations? You know the practical section accounts for seventy per cent of the O.W.L. score."

Umbridge's smile did not change in the slightest.

"My dear, as long as you master the theoretical foundations, you will naturally be able to pass the practical examination. Also, ten points from Slytherin."

"Ten points?" Malfoy stared at her. "Why?"

Then he reacted angrily.

"I was only stating a fact!"

"Contradicting a professor. Another ten points from Slytherin," Umbridge said sweetly.

She then turned and wrote on the blackboard: Chapter One: Standardised Pronunciation of Spells

"Today, we will study standardised spell pronunciation," Umbridge said, pointing her wand at the blackboard. "According to Ministry regulations, all spells must be pronounced in the standard manner. Any dialectal or personalised pronunciation will be considered a violation."

Hermione could not help pointing out, "Wizards from different regions have different pronunciation habits."

Umbridge immediately interrupted her.

"Miss Granger, I don't believe you understand the seriousness of the matter. Non-standard pronunciation can lead to extremely serious magical accidents, something the Ministry of Magic absolutely cannot tolerate. Ten points from Gryffindor. And you will address me as Professor."

After class, the students gathered in the corridor, discussing the lesson heatedly.

"This is a complete waste of time!"

For once, Malfoy agreed with students from the other Houses.

"My father didn't send me to Hogwarts to learn this rubbish."

Hermione flipped through the thick textbook Umbridge had distributed, her brow deeply furrowed.

"Two-thirds of this book is outdated theory, and the rest is basic common knowledge. At this rate, we're definitely going to fail our end-of-year exams."

"She only cares whether everything complies with the rules, not whether what she's teaching is actually useful," Seamus complained in a low voice. "She just reads straight from the book. Even my grandmother would think this material was outdated."

"But I still don't understand how copying out spells is supposed to help with standard pronunciation..."

The group slowly made their way towards the Great Hall.

Along the way, Hermione angrily told Harry and Ron, "She's deliberately interfering with our education! I checked. There is no such thing as Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three!"

Ron lowered his voice.

"You'd better be careful, Hermione. Fred said that last night, a Ravenclaw student was given detention by Umbridge just for practising a spell in the corridor."

What made matters even worse was that Umbridge soon began interfering in other school affairs as well.

"Professor McGonagall," she said with a false smile in the staff room as she approached her, "I believe the Transfiguration curriculum requires some appropriate adjustments. For example, certain aggressive areas of study should be suspended for the time being. They're simply too dangerous."

Professor McGonagall replied coldly, "I'm afraid that is not for you to decide, Madam Umbridge."

"Oh, but I have a new Educational Decree here..." Umbridge said, pulling another roll of parchment from her pink handbag. "And please address me as Professor Umbridge."

After that, Umbridge began extending her so-called reforms to the other professors as well.

"Professor Flitwick," she said, turning to the Charms professor with her usual false smile, "I've noticed some serious safety concerns in your classroom. Students seem to have accidents quite frequently while practising spells."

Professor Flitwick, perched on the tall sofa, replied politely, "Professor Umbridge, minor accidents are inevitable when learning Charms. They are a necessary part of the students' development."

"That is precisely the problem!"

Umbridge raised her voice and pulled another document from her handbag.

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