.unfounded.accusations.levelled….but.no,.there.is.nothing.wrong,.certainly.not!..
She.took.a.great.shuddering.breath.and.looked.away.from.Parvati,.angry.tears.spilling.from.under.her.glasses..
.I.say.nothing,..she.choked,..of.sixteen.years.of.devoted.service….it.has.passed,
.apparently,.unnoticed….but.I.shall.not.be.insulted,.no,.I.shall.not!..
.But,.Professor,.who.s.insulting.you?..asked.Parvati.timidly..
The.Establishment!..said.Professor.Trelawney,.in.a.deep,.dramatic,.wavering.voice...Yes,.those.with.eyes.too.clouded.by.the.mundane.to.See.as.I.See,.to.Know.as.I.Know….of.course,.we.Seers.have.always.been.feared,.always.persecuted….it.is.‐.alas.‐our.fate...
She.gulped,.dabbed.at.her.wet.cheeks.with.the.end.of.her.shawl,.then.she.pulled.a.small.embroidered.handkerchief.from.her.sleeve,.and.blew.her.nose.very.hard.with.a.sound.like.Peeves.blowing.a.raspberry..
Ron.sniggered..Lavender.shot.him.a.disgusted.look..
.Professor,..said.Parvati,..do.you.mean….is.it.something.Professor.Umbridge.‐?..
.Do.not.speak.to.me.about.that.woman!..cried.Professor.Trelawney,.leaping.to.her.feet,.her.beads.rattling.and.her.spectacles.flashing...Kindly.continue.with.your.work!..
And.she.spent.the.rest.of.the.lesson.striding.among.them,.tears.still.leaking.from.behind.her.glasses,.muttering.what.sounded.like.threats.under.her.breath..
.….may.well.choose.to.leave….the.indignity.of.it….on.probation….we.shall.see…
.how.she.dares…..
.You.and.Umbridge.have.got.something.in.common,..Harry.told.Hermione.quietly.when.they.met.again.in.Defence.Against.the.Dark.Arts...She.obviously.reckons.Trelawney.s.an.old.fraud,.too….looks.like.she.s.put.her.on.probation...
Umbridge.entered.the.room.as.he.spoke,.wearing.her.black.velvet.bow.and.an.expression.of.great.smugness..
.Good.afternoon,.class...
.Good.afternoon,.Professor.Umbridge,..they.chanted.dully..
.Wands.away,.please...
But.there.was.no.answering.flurry.of.movement.this.time;.nobody.had.bothered.to.take.out.their.wands..
.Please.turn.to.page.thirty‐four.of.Defensive.Magical.Theory.and.read.the.third.chapter,.entitled..The.Case.for.Non‐Offensive.Responses.to.Magical.Attack..
.There.will.be.‐..
.‐.no.need.to.talk,..Harry,.Ron.and.Hermione.said.together,.under.their.breaths..
*.
.No.Quidditch.practice,..said.Angelina.in.hollow.tones.when.Harry,.Ron.and.Hermione.entered.the.common.room.after.dinner.that.night..
.But.I.kept.my.temper!..said.Harry,.horrified...I.didn.t.say.anything.to.her,
.Angelina,.I.swear,.I.‐..
.I.know,.I.know,..said.Angelina.miserably...She.just.said.she.needed.a.bit.of.time.to.consider...
.Consider.what?..said.Ron.angrily...She.s.given.the.Slytherins.permission,.why.not.us?..
But.Harry.could.imagine.how.much.Umbridge.was.enjoying.holding.the.threat.of.no.Gryffindor.Quidditch.team.over.their.heads.and.ould.easily.understand.why.she.would.not.want.to.relinquish.that.weapon.over.them.too.soon..
.Well,..said.Hermione,..look.on.the.bright.side.‐.at.least.now.you.ll.have.time.to.do.Snape.s.essay!..