.Did.you.want.to.ask.something.about.the.chapter,.dear?..she.asked.Hermione,.as.though.she.had.only.just.noticed.her..
.Not.about.the.chapter,.no,..said.Hermione..
.Well,.we.re.reading.just.now,..said.Professor.Umbridge,.showing.her.small.pointed.teeth...If.you.have.other.queries.we.can.deal.with.them.at.the.end.of.class...
.I.ve.got.a.query.about.your.course.aims,..said.Hermione..
Professor.Umbridge.raised.her.eyebrows..
.And.your.name.is?..
.Hermione.Granger,..said.Hermione..
.Well,.Miss.Granger,.I.think.the.course.aims.are.perfectly.clear.if.you.read.them.through.carefully..said.Professor.Umbridge.in.a.voice.of.determined.sweetness..
.Well,.I.don.t,..said.Hermione.bluntly..There.s.nothing.written.up.there.about.using.defensive.spells...
There.was.a.short.silence.in.which.many.members.of.the.class.turned.their.heads.to.frown.at.the.three.course.aims.still.writtenon.the.blackboard..
.Using.defensive.spells?..Professor.Umbridge.repeated.with.a.little.laugh...Why,.I.can.t.imagine.any.situation.arising.in.my.classroom.that.would.require.you.to.use.a.defensive.spell,.Miss.Granger..You.surely.aren.t.expecting.to.be.attacked.during.class?..
.We.re.not.going.to.use.magic?..Ron.exclaimed.loudly..
.Students.raise.their.hands.when.they.wish.to.speak.in.my.class,.Mr‐?..
.Weasley,..said.Ron,.thrusting.his.hand.into.the.air..
Professor.Umbridge,.smiling.still.more.widely,.turned.her.back.on.him..Harry.and.Hermione.immediately.raised.their.hands.too..Professor.Umbridge.s.pouchy.eyes.lingered.on.Harry.for.a.moment.before.she.addressed.Hermione..
.Yes,.Miss.Granger?.You.wanted.to.ask.something.else?..
.Yes,..said.Hermione...Surely.the.whole.point.of.Defence.Against.the.Dark.Arts.is.to.practise.defensive.spells?..
.Are.you.a.Ministry‐trained.educational.expert,.Miss.Granger?..asked.Professor.Umbridge,.in.her.falsely.sweet.voice..
.No,.but.‐..
.Well.then,.I.m.afraid.you.are.not.qualified.to.decide.what.the..whole.point..of.any.class.is..Wizards.much.older.and.cleverer.than.you.have.devised.our.new.
programme.of.study..You.will.be.learning.about.defensive.spells.in.a.secure,
.risk‐free.way.‐..
.What.use.is.that?..said.Harry.loudly...If.we.re.going.to.be.attacked,.it.won.t.be.in.a.‐..
.Hand,.Mr.Potter!..sang.Professor.Umbridge..
Harry.thrust.his.fist.in.the.air..Again,.Professor.Umbridge.promptly.turned.away.from.him,.but.now.several.other.people.had.their.hands.up,.too..
.And.your.name.is?..Professor.Umbridge.said.to.Dean..
.Dean.Thomas...
.Well,.Mr.Thomas?..
.Well,.it.s.like.Harry.said,.isn.t.it?..said.Dean...If.we.re.going.to.be.attacked,.it.won.t.be.risk.free...
.I.repeat,..said.Professor.Umbridge,.smiling.in.a.very.irritating.fashion.at.Dean,
.
.do.you.expect.to.be.attacked.during.my.classes?..
.No,.but.‐..
Professor.Umbridge.talked.over.him...I.do.not.wish.to.criticise.the.way.things.have.been.run.in.this.school,..she.said,.an.unconvincing.smile.stretching.her.wide.mouth,..but.you.have.been.exposed.to.some.very.irresponsible.wizards.in.this.class,.very.irresponsible.indeed.‐.not.to.mention,..she.gave.a.nasty.little.laugh,