.Right.then,.everyone,.listen.closely.‐.Dean.Thomas,.if.you.do.that.to.the.mouse.again.I.shall.put.you.in.detention.‐.most.of.you.have.now.successfully.Vanished.your.snails.and.even.those.who.were.left.with.a.certain.amount.of.shell.have.got.th.gist.of.the.spell..Today,.we.shall.be.‐..
.Hem,.hem,..said.Professor.Umbridge..
.Yes?..said.Professor.McGonagall,.turning.round,.her.eyebrows.so.close.together.they.seemed.to.form.one.long,.severe.line..
.1.was.just.wondering,.Professor,.whether.you.received.my.note.telling.you.of.the.date.and.time.of.your.inspec—..
.Obviously.I.received.it,.or.I.would.have.asked.you.what.you.are.doing.in.my.classroom,..said.Professor.McGonagall,.turning.her.back.firmly.on.Professor.Umbridge..Many.of.the.students.exchanged.looks.of.glee...As.1.was.saying:
.today,.we.shall.be.practising.the.altogether.more.difficult.Vanishment.of.mice.
.Now,.the.Vanishing.Spell.‐..
.Hem,.hem..
.I.wonder,..said.Professor.McGonagall.in.cold.fury,.turning.on.Professor.Umbridge,..how.you.expect.to.gain.an.idea.of.my.usual.teaching.methods.if.you.continue.to.interrupt.me?.You.see,.I.do.not.generally.permit.people.to.talk.when.I.am.talking...
Professor.Umbridge.looked.as.though.she.had.just.been.slapped.in.the.face..She.did.not.speak,.but.straightened.the.parchment.on.her.clipboard.and.began.scribbling.furiously..
Looking.supremely.unconcerned,.Professor.McGonagall.addressed.the.class.once.more..
.As.I.was.saying:.the.Vanishing.Spell.becomes.more.difficult.with.the.complexity.of.the.animal.to.be.Vanished..The.snail,.as.an.invertebrate,.does.not.present.much.of.a.challenge;.the.mouse,.as.a.mammal,.offers.a.much.greater.one..This.is.not,.therefore,.magic.you.can.accomplish.with.your.mind.on.your.dinner..So.‐
.you.know.the.incantation,.let.me.see.what.you.can.do…..
.How.she.can.lecture.me.about.not.losing.my.temper.with.Umbridge!..Harry.muttered.to.Ron.under.his.breath,.but.he.was.grinning.‐.his.anger.with.Professor.McGonagall.had.quite.evaporated..
Professor.Umbridge.did.not.follow.Professor.McGonagall.around.the.class.as.she.had.followed.Professor.Trelawney;.perhaps.she.realised.Professor.McGonagall.would.not.permit.it..She.did,.however,.take.many.more.notes.while.sitting.in.her.corner,.and.when.Professor.McGonagall.finally.told.them.all.to.pack.away,.she.rose.with.a.grim.expression.on.her.face..
.Well,.it.s.a.start,..said.Ron,.holding.up.a.long.wriggling.mouse‐tail.and.dropping.it.back.into.the.box.Lavender.was.passing.around..
As.they.filed.out.of.the.classroom,.Harry.saw.Professor.Umbridge.approach.the.teacher.s.desk;.he.nudged.Ron,.who.nudged.Hermione.in.turn,.and.the.three.of.them.deliberately.fell.back.to.eavesdrop..
.How.long.have.you.been.teaching.at.Hogwarts?..Professor.Umbridge.asked..
Thirty‐nine.years.this.December,..said.Professor.McGonagall.brusquely,
.snapping.her.bag.shut..
Professor.Umbridge.made.a.note..
.Very.well,..she.said,..you.will.receive.the.results.of.your.inspection.in.ten.days.
.time...
.I.can.hardly.wait,..said.Professor.McGonagall,.in.a.coldly.indifferent.voice,.and.she.strode.off.towards.the.door...Hurry.up,.you.three,..she.added,.sweeping.Harry,.Ron.and.Hermione.before.her..