The first class after lunch that day was the Defense Against the Dark Arts class that no one wanted to attend. Because since Umbridge started teaching, this originally most anticipated course has turned into a complete "reading and writing class."
Which student would enjoy reading and copying a thick theoretical book day after day
"...Umbridge won't cause trouble for us anymore? What did Maka tell you? What else did he say?"
In the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Hermione and others were sitting together as usual, taking advantage of the time before Umbridge arrived to lower their voices and talk softly.
"Time was tight at the time, so he and I didn't have time to say a few more words." Faced with Hermione's eager inquiry, Harry could only shake his head, "That's all Maka said about Umbridge. That’s all.”
"Oh - I really don't know what will happen in a while," Hermione said with some worry, "I really want to know what Maka did. If I can figure it out in advance, I won't be unprepared now."
"... Do you think that the old woman won't be able to come?" Ron said with some expectation, "If I were Maka, I would definitely make that pink toad suffer more!"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Hermione glared at him dissatisfiedly and said, "Maka is not you, and you won't be so reckless! Although Umbridge really couldn't be more annoying, she is an investigator sent by the Ministry of Magic after all. Officer, if something happens to her in school, the Ministry of Magic will definitely intervene."
"Didn't they already intervene?" Ron muttered. "You all saw it at noon. There was a whole team of Aurors in the hall!"
Yes, the first notice on the bulletin board said before that the Ministry of Magic would launch a detailed investigation into Dumbledore's death, and those responsible for the first wave of investigations were the Auror investigation teams that had just been sent.
Because the matter was so important, even though Professor McGonagall didn't want to agree, she still asked the Aurors to carry out the investigation on campus after some warnings.
While they were chatting quietly, the sweet school bell suddenly rang, and a neatly dressed Umbridge walked into the classroom on time following the bell.
But what is different from usual is that today Umbridge looks... how should I say? Somewhat "too serious".
"Good afternoon, classmates."
She stood behind the podium, said hello to everyone with a dull expression, and started teaching this class in the most ordinary way.
"Good afternoon—Professor Umbridge—"
As usual, the students responded feebly and in long tones.
"Please turn to page 34 of "Magical Defense Theory" and read Chapter 3 of the textbook - 'Key Points of Responding to Magical Attacks in Non-Offensive Methods'. Please do not talk casually while reading."
As soon as she finished saying this, Umbridge sat down on the chair and stared at the cover of her textbook in a daze.
"What's wrong with her?" Ron stared at Umbridge for a while, and then asked Hermione and Harry with a puzzled look on his face.
"..." Hermione's expression looked a little complicated. She hesitated for a moment, and then said in a very soft voice, "If I guess correctly... do you still remember what Professor Moody taught before?"
"You mean-" Ron recalled briefly, and then his eyes widened in surprise.
"Speak softly!" Hermione hurriedly waved her hand and looked around again. Seeing that no one noticed their conversation, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Except for the 'Imperius Curse', I can't think of anything else." There is no other way to make her look like this..."
"But-" Ron said a little hard to accept, "Is that the Unforgivable Curse?"
Ron, who was born and raised in the magical world since childhood, has the traditional thinking of wizards. It is understandable that he would be so resistant to the three unforgivable curses.
After all, his parents, elders and social environment have always influenced him since he was a child.
Voldemort and his Death Eaters spread fear by relying on their "dare to use liberally" the three unforgivable curses. The concept that "the use of evil black magic is unforgivable" has become deeply ingrained in the hearts of wizards from beginning to end.
This is like telling a Muggle believer that "the god you believe in is actually just an ordinary ancient wizard." It is not absolutely impossible to convince him, but it must be a very difficult thing.
In fact, among the magics revealed by Maka, there are quite a few magics that tend to be dark, and of course Ron has seen them before.
But this time the impact on him was the strongest, because he also knew this curse.
"Don't be stupid, let me tell you, isn't it just right to use it against Umbridge?" Harry said disapprovingly, "Look at what she has done - investigating professors, restricting our actions, and even All student activity groups were also cancelled, making the entire Hogwarts a mess!"
"Let me tell you—" Harry paused and said, "That woman is probably one of the Death Eaters!"
"Although it's best not to make casual judgments without evidence, I think Harry is right this time," Hermione nodded. "At a time like this, an investigator who has no achievements and can only make trouble is sent in. There is definitely a problem—Maka said before school started that there is a problem in the Ministry of Magic."
"This time, since Maka will do this, he must have grasped some clear clues."
The class time was still going on, and although Umbridge had already stated "no talking" before, as time passed, many of the students couldn't help but secretly chat.
When they discovered that Umbridge had no reaction, the classroom began to become lively.
Well, of course, it's just a little noisy. After all, Umbridge was still sitting behind the desk in front, and no one would do anything too excessive.
But until the end of the class, Umbridge did not respond to the buzz in the classroom, let alone receive a corresponding punishment.
When everyone finally waited until the bell rang, Umbridge finally stood up.
Perhaps it was because she had left a too harsh impression on her classmates in the past. When she suddenly stood up, the classroom fell silent again.
"That's it for today's class, get out of class is over."
After picking up the textbook and saying this with a serious face, she immediately turned around and left the classroom. There was no sloppiness in the whole process. To say it was calm, perhaps it would be more appropriate to describe it as "sluggish".
"...It's so scary." Ron looked at Umbridge's retreating back and felt his scalp numb. "It looks like a magic puppet being controlled by someone!"
"Is there such a thing?" Harry asked curiously, "Is it similar to a Muggle puppet?"
"What is that?" Ron came back to his senses and asked with a surprised look on his face.
…
After dinner that day, Hermione, Ron and Harry returned to the common room together.
"Harry! Training continues tonight! Move quickly, I need approval for the use of the Quidditch pitch!"
As soon as they got through the doorway behind the portrait, before the fat woman even had time to close the doorway, Angelina's excited voice immediately reached their ears.
"Huh? What?"
Harry, who was still immersed in the conversation on the way here, didn't react for a moment.
"Training! Quidditch training!" Angelina repeated again and again, "Umbridge approved the reorganization of our Gryffindor team! It's easy, without any obstacles!"
"oh-"
Harry was stunned for a moment, and was about to cheer, but there was a complicated expression on his face.
"Hey! What's wrong with you? Are you unhappy?" Angelina had already come to him and patted Harry on the shoulder hard, "You can train! Get ready!"
"Uh... Well, of course," Harry forced a smile, but the smile was obviously a little stiff, "Of course I'm happy! This couldn't be better!"
Yes, of course he is happy. But while she was happy, Umbridge's appearance during class quietly emerged in her mind.
When he thought that Maka might have used only one spell, his life had changed dramatically, and this feeling inevitably made him feel a great sense of disobedience.
After personally experiencing the difference before and after, Harry couldn't help but understand the true horror of the so-called Unforgivable Curse.
"Don't be like this, Harry." Hermione's keenness allowed her to vaguely detect some of Harry's thoughts, "At this time, we should think on the bright side - at least Maka will not abuse magic, otherwise the world around us will surely be ruined. It’s already a mess!”
"... It's 'at least you must have to stay up all night to do your homework.'" Although Ron's expression was not good, he still started to console him, "Don't forget that Snape also left you a punishment homework. "
"Ah—" Harry patted his cheek sharply, "Well... thank you."
Under the guidance of his two close friends, Harry couldn't help but cheer up and sent them a smile.
"...If that's the case, Ron, I'll leave my homework to you!" He gave a thumbs up, grinning and showing his neat teeth, "If you can't do all of it, you can do some of it!"
"What are you muttering about?" Angelina on the side looked at the three whispering people with strange eyes and said, "Harry, run quickly! You must seize every second to start training!"
At Angelina's urging, Harry hurried back to the dormitory to get his broomstick and protective gear. Then, under the eyes of Hermione and Ron, he followed the other Gryffindor players out of the room. door opening.
"You're not allowed to help him with his homework, do you hear?" Hermione turned her head and said seriously.
"Who will do it for him?" Ron immediately rolled his eyes.