Chapter 297 Deduct Ten Points, Deduct Ten Points, Deduct Ten Points, Deduct Ten Points, and Deduct Ten Points

After settling into her room, Umbridge did not disturb her future colleagues for the time being, but news about her still occupied every brief conversation and afternoon tea.

Anthony heard that she had decorated her office into some kind of kaleidoscope of pink paint, bows, lace, and cat portraits, and that she had invited two or three students to tea in the office. The Slytherin went back triumphantly, and Ron started complaining to the almost headless Nick in the corridor.

"She asked me if I thought the professors were favoring Harry!" Ron said in disbelief. "She also asked me if I thought Harry's current reputation was Dumbledore's special promotion! She seemed to think I would be jealous. Li’s fame and all that—what the hell!”

In addition to talking to students, Umbridge would sit in the staff table at lunch and dinner, giving everyone who walked into the hall a false, friendly smile. Anthony heard Fred and George describe her as like a foraging toad, ready to stick out its tongue and sweep away someone at any time. Percy told them to be respectful to the senior prosecutor, but did not contradict them further.

As the holidays came to an end, more and more students returned to Hogwarts, and therefore more and more people noticed the witch who grinned widely and exposed her pointed teeth at everyone.

"What does she do?" the professors heard the students discussing, "Who failed Care of Magical Creatures and what does it have to do with her?"

Anthony asked curiously: "What were Ms. Umbridge's grades like at school?"

"I don't know, I had already graduated by then." Professor Bubaji said, "Minerva?"

Professor McGonagall sighed: "Excellent."

"Including protecting magical creatures?"

"Oh, no." Professor McGonagall said, "I remember she didn't take Care of Magical Creatures... If I'm not mistaken, she has about seven or eight O.W.Ls, and got an E in the N.E.W.T. of Transfiguration. But I don't remember her other grades." Her expression and tone suggested that she probably didn't want to remember them at all.

Professor Boubaji said: "Don't tell me that witch has an O.W.L. in Muggle Studies."

Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows and took a sip of tea: "You can ask her."

"Did I make you angry at some point, Minerva?" Professor Bubbaji asked.

…

The day before school started, it rained and snowed. The ceiling reflecting the weather outside was extremely gloomy, the huge glass windows were covered with water droplets, and the candles floating in the air were dimly lit. Although all the fireplaces were burning brightly, the humid and cold air still poured in from the wide open door, accompanied by the whistling sound of the wind and the greetings of students constantly coming in and out.

Filch had been in a bad temper since the morning, yelling, and it was unclear whether it was because of the increasing number of students returning to school, the increasingly lively school, or the muddy footprints all over the floor.

Harry brought back a box full of snacks, from Honeydukes' latest products to enough potato chips and jerky to feed Hagrid. Filch checked for a long time reluctantly, and finally reluctantly announced that he had not found anything on the list of prohibited items in Hogwarts and let him go.

When Anthony passed by, Harry was standing at the long Gryffindor table, struggling to stuff all the snacks back into the box. Candies kept falling out of the gaps, creating a colorful avalanche.

"Let me help you." Ron volunteered and clamped the box hard. With a bang, several bags of potato chips exploded and scattered everywhere, from the table to the seats, and then stuck to the messy muddy footprints on the ground.

Filch's face trembled with anger: "Dirty! Noisy! Everywhere is a mess——"

Anthony was about to leave as usual and let Filch finish his twenty-one daily complaints about cleaning the castle, but in his peripheral vision, he saw the short figure of Umbridge, slowly walking down the stairs, holding on to her hand Holding a writing pad.

Anthony immediately raised his wand and said: "Whirlwind sweeps away."

A large piece of footprints on the ground disappeared, along with the potato chips stained with muddy water, the parchment paper stuck to the floor, and a few pieces of Chuibao bubble gum whose original color could no longer be seen. The student who was joking lowered his head in surprise, then raised his head and looked around, and finally turned his attention to Anthony.

"No magic in the corridor!" Filch roared, turning around menacingly.

His triumphant look disappeared when he saw Anthony.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Filch." Anthony put the wand back into his pocket, smiled and nodded at him, "I came to see if there is anything I can do to help."

After these few days, he had no doubt that these things could also be used as evidence to prove Dumbledore's negligence - at least they could become some sensational tabloid headlines - "Our children are living in a garbage dump" "Indifferent staff, missing" Principal" and so on. Ever since the Daily Prophet published the news that the Ministry of Magic had sent an inquisitor to Hogwarts (although the word was "cooperation"), these tabloids have swarmed around like flies that smelled the scent, competing to report on the British The unknown "insider story" of the only magic school.

"Oh... good afternoon, Professor..." Filch said, doubt evident on his face. Both he and Anthony knew their relationship was far from close.

Harry and Ron had taken this opportunity to randomly stuff things into the box and force it shut. Without a few bulging bags of potato chips, this task is obviously much easier.

However, whether Umbridge noticed the suddenly clean floor or not, she undoubtedly noticed the direction of the student's gaze.

"What happened, Argus?" she asked kindly, walking over quickly.

Harry looked at her in surprise. Umbridge's eyes paused briefly on his forehead.

Filch said: "Potter and Weasley..."

"Ah, you must be Harry Potter." Umbridge interrupted, just staring at Harry.

There was an indifferent light in her bulging eyes, as if she was quickly calculating how she should face Harry. Finally, she chose a friendlier expression, looked at Harry, and smiled, showing a row of sharp, small teeth: "How was your holiday, Mr. Potter?"

"Very well, thank you," Harry replied, still looking at her warily. Ron's hand squeezed Harry's elbow.

Umbridge cooed: "That's great -"

Anthony said: "I'm glad to hear you say that, Mr. Potter." He pretended that he didn't notice Umbridge glance at him. "If you want, you can go back to your dormitory and have a good rest."

"Okay, Professor," Harry said, struggling to lift the box.

"Wait, Mr. Potter," Umbridge said, pressing her stubby-fingered hand on the box, tilting it, and then dropped it back onto the bench with a thud. Harry's eyebrows furrowed and he looked up at her. People started to cast curious glances this way.

Anthony said: "Ms. Umbridge?"

"What's the matter, Professor Anthony?" Umbridge said, then quickly ignored Anthony and said to Harry, "Mr. Potter, I don't know how happy I am to hear that you had a good holiday. Why are you Why don’t you come to my office for a cup of tea and tell me what interesting things happened during your holiday?”

Harry glanced at Anthony and said, "Um, thank you for the invitation, ma'am. But I feel a little tired now..."

Anthony also said: "Since Mr. Potter said so..."

Umbridge said: "My dear——"

"Excuse me, who are you?" a voice suddenly came.

They turned their heads and saw Hermione standing not far from them, next to the Gryffindor table, looking like she had just arrived. She was crossing her arms and looking directly at Umbridge with her head raised.

"Dolores Umbridge, young lady, you can call me 'ma'am' or 'professor'." Umbridge still had a smile on her face, "I think the headmaster will address you soon. Introduce me, of course, we can also get to know each other in the future. We still have a lot of time.”

"Ms. Umbridge, Harry doesn't want to go." Hermione said crisply. "It's rude to force others to go to your office for tea. Besides, I read the newspaper. You are a senior investigator, not a professor. "

Ron groaned softly.

Umbridge's smile widened: "And you are..."

"Hermione Granger," Hermione said haughtily.

Anthony looked around and found that not only Hermione, but Neville, Dean and Seamus were also nearby, all staring with concern. The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were also looking in this direction.

"Very well, Miss Granger." Umbridge said pleasantly, "Reading newspapers is a good habit. Then, you should have also noticed my responsibilities." She looked at Anthony with meaning, "If you continue to If someone prevents me from talking to students, how can I ensure that my survey results are accurate and true?”

Anthony said: "I'm sorry, Ms. Umbridge, I didn't understand what Mr. Potter's holiday life has to do with teaching at Hogwarts."

"Yes, Professor Anthony, this is exactly why there is a need for senior investigators." Umbridge said condescendingly, and then turned to Harry, "Mr. Potter, do you think the holiday homework is too onerous? Have you considered the holiday as too heavy? All the time was spent finishing the paper?”

"What? No, I didn't," Harry said. "The professors don't leave much homework at all."

Umbridge nodded, lowered her head and started writing on the writing board. Anthony could see her writing: "Students report lack of after-school practice..."

"Students reported a lack of after-class exercises, and professors generally lacked responsibility for the subjects they were responsible for..." someone read it aloud.

Lee Jordan stood behind Umbridge, looking down at the clipboard over her head.

"Oops, I'm sorry." Lee Jordan said when everyone looked at him, "I'm so used to commentary."

Harry said, "No, that's not it! I wrote three papers and practiced Transfiguration!"

"Oh? Have you practiced Transfiguration?" Umbridge asked with interest and started writing.

Lee Jordan read in a louder voice: "Students engage in serious illegal magical activities..."

Harry said angrily, "I didn't!"

Umbridge turned to Lee Jordan: "What's your name?"

"Let me think about it..." Lee Jordan rolled his eyes and said, "Well, it seems to be called Richard, and it seems to be called Leonardo... My memory is really not very good..."

"Very well," said Umbridge. "Ten points from Gryffindor."

The snickering students suddenly closed their mouths, became quiet, and exchanged glances with each other.

Umbridge turned her head with satisfaction and said kindly to Harry: "Oh, you do, Mr. Potter. According to Article 3 of the Reasonable Restraint of Minors Act, minor wizards are not allowed to use magic outside of school. ”

Harry froze suddenly, looking very annoyed.

Hermione said, "But that's not a serious offense! It's classified as a moderate offense in the Offense Scale!" She whispered impatiently to Ron, who was glaring at her, "Don't be stupid, it's just I happened to see it when I was helping Hagrid check the files.”

Umbridge said: "Article 5 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy, the use of magic in a Muggle-inhabited area is a magical activity that is likely to attract the attention of Muggles; Article 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy , this behavior is a serious illegal act.”

"But...but I'm not in a Muggle area!" Harry said, "I'm at Sirius's house!"

"Sirius?" Umbridge asked, "Sirius Black?" She scribbled something on the writing board.

Fred whispered: "Lack of corresponding legal education..."

"What a pity, ten points from Gryffindor." Umbridge grinned, looking like she was enjoying the stares from the students.

"There is no guarantee that students will return safely to their guardian's residence after leaving school..." George read like a mosquito humming.

Harry completely lost his patience: "Sirius is my guardian! He is my godfather! If he hadn't come back, I wouldn't have lived with Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon at all!"

Umbridge tilted her head: "It sounds like you don't like your Muggle relatives, Mr. Potter?"

Harry said angrily, "I'd like to try to like them."

Umbridge suddenly beamed, put down her clipboard, and put her hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry was so surprised that he forgot to be angry, frowned, and seemed to be restraining himself from brushing his hands off his shoulders.

"Honey, I can understand." Umbridge said sweetly, "Poor child, it must be extremely uncomfortable to live with such a person... Thinking that this was arranged by Dumbledore, you must feel even more It’s uncomfortable...I also think he is too arrogant and insists on controlling everything. Sometimes, it is very normal to feel resentment towards him..."

Harry said disgustedly: "I don't resent Professor Dumbledore! Without him, Sirius wouldn't be able to come back!"

"I hope you understand, Mr. Potter." Umbridge said as if Harry were a five-year-old child and she was patiently telling him that the moon is not made of cheese. "It was the Ministry of Magic that announced the release of Sirius... Black, spared him jail time, not the principal."

Ron said: "That's true. But it would be better if they didn't lock Sirius in beforehand."

Umbridge said very kindly: "Ten more points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley."

Hermione stood next to Anthony at some point and begged softly: "Professor Anthony!"

"Don't worry about house points, Miss Granger," said Anthony. "Ms. Umbridge has not deducted any points."

He glanced at the four hourglasses hanging on the wall. Everyone else looked there, and even Umbridge raised her head and stared at the hourglasses.

"Ten points from Gryffindor," she said viciously. The ruby ​​remained motionless.

Everyone was smiling. Lee Jordan and the Weasley twins high-fived each other in celebration, not caring that Umbridge's pale face was gradually turning blue and then whiter again.

Anthony demonstrated: "One point from Gryffindor because Mr. Potter used magic outside of school."

A ruby ​​swooped up. Harry smiled nonchalantly.

"One more point from Gryffindor because Miss Granger correctly remembered the classification of infractions," said Anthony.

when. The ruby ​​fell back again.