*.
The.second.detention.was.just.as.bad.as.the.previous.one..The.skin.on.the.back.of.Harry.s.hand.became.irritated.more.quickly.now.and.was.soon.red.and.inflamed..Harry.thought.it.unlikely.that.it.would.keep.healing.as.effectively.for.long..Soon.the.cut.would.remain.etched.into.his.hand.and.Umbridge.would,
.perhaps,.be.satisfied..He.let.no.gasp.of.pain.escape.him,.however,.and.from.the.moment.of.entering.the.room.to.the.moment.of.his.dismissal,.again.past.midnight,.he.said.nothing.but..good.evening..and..goodnight...
His.homework.situation,.however,.was.now.desperate,.and.when.he.returned.to.the.Gryffindor.common.room.he.did.not,.though.exhausted,.go.to.bed,.but.opened.his.books.and.began.Snape.s.moonstone.essay..It.was.half.past.two.by.the.time.he.had.finished.it..He.knew.he.had.done.a.poor.job,.but.there.was.no.help.for.it;.unless.he.had.something.to.give.in.he.would.be.in.detention.with.Snape.next..He.then.dashed.off.answers.to.the.questions.Professor.McGonagall.had.set.them,.cobbled.together.something.on.the.proper.handling.of.Bowtruckles.for.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank,.and.staggered.up.to.bed,.where.he.fell.fully.clothed.on.top.of.the.covers.and.fell.asleep.immediately..
X
Thursday.passed.in.a.haze.of.tiredness..Ron.seemed.very.sleepy.too,.though.Harry.could.not.see.why.he.should.be..Harry.s.third.detention.passed.in.the.same.way.as.the.previous.two,.except.that.after.two.hours.the.words../.must.not.tell.lies..did.not.fade.from.the.back.of.Harrys.hand,.but.remained.scratched.there,
.oozing.droplets.of.blood..The.pause.in.the.pointed.quill.s.scratching.made.Professor.Umbridge.look.up..
.Ah,..she.said.softly,.moving.around.her.desk.to.examine.his.hand.herself...Good.
.That.ought.to.serve.as.a.reminder.to.you,.oughtn.t.it?.You.may.leave.for.tonight...
.Do.I.still.have.to.come.back.tomorrow?..said.Harry.picking.up.his.schoolbag.with.his.left.hand.rather.than.his.smarting.right.one..
.Oh.yes,..said.Professor.Umbridge,.smiling.as.widely.as.before...Yes,.I.think.we.can.etch.the.message.a.little.deeper.with.another.evening.s.work...
Harry.had.never.before.considered.the.possibility.that.there.might.be.another.teacher.in.the.world.he.hated.more.than.Snape,.but.as.he.walked.back.towards.Gryffindor.Tower.he.had.to.admit.he.had.found.a.strong.contender..She.s.evil,
.he.thought,.as.he.climbed.a.staircase.to.the.seventh.floor,.she.s.an.evil,.twisted,
.mad.old‐.
.Ron?..
He.had.reached.the.top.of.the.stairs,.turned.right.and.almost.walked.into.Ron,
.who.was.lurking.behind.a.statue.of.Lachlan.the.Lanky,.clutching.his.broomstick.
.He.gave.a.great.leap.of.surprise.when.he.saw.Harry.and.attempted.to.hide.his.new.Cleansweep.Eleven.behind.his.back..
.What.are.you.doing?..
.Er.‐.nothing..What.are.you.doing?..
Harry.frowned.at.him..
.Come.on,.you.can.tell.me!.What.are.you.hiding.here.for?..
.I.m.‐.I.m.hiding.from.Fred.and.George,.if.you.must.know,..said.Ron..They.just.went.past.with.a.bunch.of.first‐years,.I.bet.they.re.testing.stuff.on.them.again..I.mean,.they.can.t.do.it.in.the.common.room.now,.can.they,.not.with.Hermione.there...