Harry.could.not.help.giving.her.a.faint.smile.and.could.have.sworn.he.received.one.in.return..
He.had.thought.that.the.next.time.he.would.see.Umbridge.would.be.in.his.detention.that.evening,.but.he.was.wrong..When.they.walked.down.the.lawns.towards.the.Forest.for.Care.of.Magical.Creatures,.they.found.her.and.her.clipboard.waiting.for.them.beside.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank..
.You.do.not.usually.take.this.class,.is.that.correct?..Harry.heard.her.ask.as.they.arrived.at.the.trestle.table.where.the.group.of.captive.Bowtruckles.were.scrabbling.around.for.woolice.like.so.many.living.twigs..
.Quite.correct,..said.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank,.hands.behind.her.back.and.bouncing.on.the.balls.of.her.feet...I.am.a.substitute.teacher.standing.in.for.Professor.Hagrid...
Harry.exchanged.uneasy.looks.with.Ron.and.Hermione..Malfoy.was.whispering.with.Crabbe.and.Goyle;.he.would.surely.love.this.opportunity.to.tell.tales.on.Hagrid.to.a.member.of.the.Ministry..
.Hmm,..said.Professor.Umbridge,.dropping.her.voice,.though.Harry.could.still.hear.her.quite.clearly...1.wonder.‐.the.Headmaster.seems.strangely.reluctant.to.give.me.any.information.on.the.matter.‐.can.you.tell.me.what.is.causing.Professor.Hagrid.s.very.extended.leave.of.absence?..
Harry.saw.Malfoy.look.up.eagerly.and.watch.Umbridge.and.Grubbly‐Plank.closely..
.Fraid.I.can.t,..said.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank.breezily...Don.t.know.anything.more.about.it.than.you.do..Got.an.owl.from.Dumbledore,.would.I.like.a.couple.of.weeks..teaching.work..I.accepted..That.s.as.much.as.I.know..Well….shall.1.get.started.then?..
.Yes,.please.do,..said.Professor.Umbridge,.scribbling.on.her.clipboard..
Umbridge.took.a.different.tack.in.this.class.and.wandered.amongst.the.students,
.questioning.them.on.magical.creatures..Most.people.were.able.to.answer.well.and.Harry.s.spirits.lifted.somewhat;.at.least.the.class.was.not.letting.Hagrid.down..
.Overall,..said.Professor.Umbridge,.returning.to.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank.s.side.after.a.lengthy.interrogation.of.Dean.Thomas,..how.do.you,.as.a.temporary.member.of.staff‐.an.objective.outsider,.
I.suppose.you.might.say.—.how.do.you.find.Hogwarts?.Do.you.feel.you.receive.enough.support.from.the.school.management?..
.Oh,.yes,.Dumbledore.s.excellent,..said.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank.heartily...Yes,
.I.m.very.happy.with.the.way.things.are.run,.very.happy.indeed...
Looking.politely.incredulous,.Umbridge.made.a.tiny.note.on.her.clipboard.and.went.on,..And.what.are.you.planning.to.cover.with.this.class.this.year.‐
.assuming,.of.course,.that.Professor.Hagrid.does.not.return?..
.Oh,.I.ll.take.them.through.the.creatures.that.most.often.come.up.in.OWL,..said.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank...Not.much.left.to.do.‐.they.ve.studied.unicorns.and.Nifflers,.I.thought.we.d.cover.Porlocks.and.Kneazles,.make.sure.they.can.recognise.Crups.and.Knarls,.you.know…..
.Well,.you.seem.to.know.what.you.re.doing,.at.any.rate,..said.Professor.Umbridge,.making.a.very.obvious.tick.on.her.clipboard..Harry.did.not.like.the.
emphasis.she.put.on..you..and.liked.it.even.less.when.she.put.her.next.question.to.Goyle...Now,.I.hear.there.have.been.injuries.in.this.class?..