.You.read.the.sign,.it.mentions.teams.too!.So.listen,.Harry….I.am.saying.this.for.the.last.time….please,.please.don.t.lose.your.temper.with.Umbridge.again.or.she.might.not.let.us.play.any.more!..
.OK,.OK,..said.Harry,.for.Angelina.looked.as.though.she.was.on.the.verge.of.tears...Don.t.worry,.I.ll.behave.myself…..
.Bet.Umbridge.is.in.History.of.Magic,..said.Ron.grimly,.as.they.set.off.for.Binns.s.lesson...She.hasn.t.inspected.Binns.yet….bet.you.anything.she.s.there…..
But.he.was.wrong;.the.only.teacher.present.when.they.entered.was.Professor.Binns,.floating.an.inch.or.so.above.his.chair.as.usual.and.preparing.to.continue.his.monotonous.drone.on.giant.wars..Harry.did.not.even.attempt.to.follow.what.
he.was.saying.today;.he.doodled.idly.on.his.parchment.ignoring.Hermiones.frequent.glares.and.nudges,.until.a.particularly.painful.poke.in.the.ribs.made.him.look.up.angrily..
.What?.
She.pointed.at.the.window..Harry.looked.round..Hedwig.was.perched.on.the.narrow.window.ledge,.gazing.through.the.thick.glass.at.him,.a.letter.tied.to.her.leg..Harry.could.not.understand.it;.they.had.just.had.breakfast,.why.on.earth.hadn.t.she.delivered.the.letter.then,.as.usual?.Many.of.his.classmates.were.pointing.out.Hedwig.to.each.other,.too..
.Oh,.I.ve.always.loved.that.owl,.she.s.so.beautiful,..Harry.heard.Lavender.sigh.to.Parvati..
He.glanced.round.at.Professor.Binns.who.continued.to.read.his.notes,.serenely.unaware.that.the.class.s.attention.was.even.less.focused.upon.him.than.usual.
.Harry.slipped.quietly.off.his.chair,.crouched.down.and.hurried.along.the.row.to.the.window,.where.he.slid.the.catch.and.opened.it.very.slowly..
He.had.expected.Hedwig.to.hold.out.her.leg.so.that.he.could.remove.the.letter.and.then.fly.off.to.the.Owlery.but.the.moment.thewindow.was.open.wide.enough.she.hopped.inside,.hooting.dolefully..He.closed.the.window.with.an.anxious.glance.at.Professor.Binns,.crouched.low.again.and.sped.back.to.his.seat.with.Hedwig.on.his.shoulder..He.regained.his.seat,.transferred.Hedwig.to.his.lap.and.made.to.remove.the.letter.tied.to.her.leg..
Only.then.did.he.realise.that.Hedwig.s.feathers.were.oddly.ruffled;.some.were.bent.the.wrong.way,.and.she.was.holding.one.of.her.wings.at.an.odd.angle..
.She.s.hurt!..Harry.whispered,.bending.his.head.low.over.her..Hermione.and.Ron.leaned.in.closer;.Hermione.even.put.down.her.quill...Look.‐.there.s.something.wrong.with.her.wing.‐..
Hedwig.was.quivering;.when.Harry.made.to.touch.the.wing.she.gave.a.little.jump,.all.her.feathers.on.end.as.though.she.was.inflating.herself,.and.gazed.at.him.reproachfully..
.Professor.Binns,..said.Harry.loudly,.and.everyone.in.the.class.turned.to.look.at.him...I.m.not.feeling.well...
Professor.Binns.raised.his.eyes.from.his.notes,.looking.amazed,.as.always,.to.find.the.room.in.front.of.him.full.of.people..
.Not.feeling.well?..he.repeated.hazily..
.Not.at.all.well,..said.Harry.firmly.getting.to.his.feet.with.Hedwig.concealed.behind.his.back...1.think.I.need.to.go.to.the.hospital.wing...