Goyle.gave.a.stupid.grin..Malfoy.hastened.to.answer.the.question..
That.was.me,..he.said...1.was.slashed.by.a.Hippogriff...
.A.Hippogriff?..said.Professor.Umbridge,.now.scribbling.frantically..
.Only.because.he.was.too.stupid.to.listen.to.what.Hagrid.told.him.to.do,..said.Harry.angrily..
Both.Ron.and.Hermione.groaned..Professor.Umbridge.turned.her.head.slowly.in.Harry.s.direction..
.Another.nights.detention,.I.think,..she.said.softly...Well,.thank.you.very.much,
.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank,.I.think.that.s.all.I.need.here..You.will.be.receiving.the.results.of.your.inspection.within.ten.days...
.Jolly.good,..said.Professor.Grubbly‐Plank,.and.Professor.Umbridge.set.off.back.across.the.lawn.to.the.castle..
*.
It.was.nearly.midnight.when.Harry.left.Umbridge.s.office.that.night,.his.hand.now.bleeding.so.severely.that.it.was.staining.the.scarf.he.had.wrapped.around.it.
.He.expected.the.common.room.to.be.empty.when.he.returned,.but.Ron.and.Hermione.had.sat.up.waiting.for.him..He.was.pleased.to.see.them,.especially.as.Hermione.was.disposed.to.be.sympathetic.rather.than.critical..
.Here,..she.said.anxiously,.pushing.a.small.bowl.of.yellow.liquid.towards.him,
.
.soak.your.hand.in.that,.it.s.a.solution.of.strained.and.pickled.Murtlap.tentacles,
.it.should.help...
Harry.placed.his.bleeding,.aching.hand.into.the.bowl.and.experienced.a.wonderful.feeling.of.relief..Crookshanks.curled.around.his.legs,.purring.loudly,
.then.leapt.into.his.lap.and.settled.down..
.Thanks,..he.said.gratefully,.scratching.behind.Crookshanks.s.ears.with.his.left.hand..
.I.still.reckon.you.should.complain.about.this,..said.Ron.in.a.low.voice..
.No,..said.Harry.flatly..
.McGonagall.would.go.nuts.if.she.knew.—..
.Yeah,.she.probably.would,..said.Harry.dully...And.how.long.do.you.reckon.it.d.take.Umbridge.to.pass.another.decree.saying.anyone.who.complains.about.the.High.Inquisitor.gets.sacked.immediately?..
Ron.opened.his.mouth.to.retort.but.nothing.came.out.and,.after.a.moment,.he.closed.it.again,.defeated..
.She.s.an.awful.woman,..said.Hermione.in.a.small.voice...Awful..You.know,.1.was.just.saying.to.Ron.when.you.came.in….we.ve.got.to.do.something.about.her...
.I.suggested.poison,..said.Ron.grimly..
.No….I.mean,.something.about.what.a.dreadful.teacher.she.is,.and.how.we.re.not.going.to.learn.any.Defence.from.her.at.all,..said.Hermione..
.Well,.what.can.we.do.about.that?..said.Ron,.yawning...S.too.late,.isn.t.it?.She.s.got.the.job,.she.s.here.to.stay..Fudge.ll.make.sure.of.that...
.Well,..said.Hermione.tentatively...You.know,.I.was.thinking.today…..she.shot.a.slightly.nervous.look.at.Harry.and.then.plunged.on,..I.was.thinking.that.‐.maybe.the.time.s.come.when.we.should.just.‐.just.do.it.ourselves...
.Do.what.ourselves?..said.Harry.suspiciously,.still.floating.his.hand.in.the.essence.of.Murtlap.tentacles..
.Well.‐.learn.Defence.Against.the.Dark.Arts.ourselves,..said.Hermione..
.Come.off.it,..groaned.Ron...You.want.us.to.do.extra.work?.D.you.realise.Harry.and.I.are.behind.on.homework.again.and.it.s.only.the.second.week?..