The.three.of.them.ran.for.it..At.the.door.of.the.boys..dormitory.Harry.looked.back..Umbridge.s.hand.was.still.making.snatching.movements.amongst.the.flames,.as.though.she.knew.exactly.where.Siriuss.hair.had.been.moments.before.and.was.determined.to.seize.it..
—.CHAPTER.EIGHTEEN.—.
Dumbledore.s.Army
.Umbridge.has.been.reading.your.mail,.Harry..There.s.no.other.explanation...
.You.think.Umbridge.attacked.Hedwig?..he.said,.outraged..
.I.m.almost.certain.of.it,..said.Hermione.grimly...Watch.your.frog,.it.s.escaping...
Harry.pointed.his.wand.at.the.bullfrog.that.had.been.hopping.hopefully.towards.the.other.side.of.the.table.‐..Accio!..‐.and.it.zoomed.gloomily.back.into.his.hand..
Charms.was.always.one.of.the.best.lessons.in.which.to.enjoy.a.private.chat;.there.was.generally.so.much.movement.and.activity.that.the.danger.of.being.overheard.was.very.slight..Today,.with.the.room.full.of.croaking.bullfrogs.and.cawing.ravens,.and.with.a.heavy.downpour.of.rain.clattering.and.pounding.against.the.classroom.windows,.Harry,.Ron.and.Hermione.s.whispered.discussion.about.how.Umbridge.had.nearly.caught.Sirius.went.quite.unnoticed..
.I.ve.been.suspecting.this.ever.since.Filch.accused.you.of.ordering.Dungbombs,
.because.it.seemed.such.a.stupid.lie,..Hermione.whispered...I.mean,.once.your.letter.had.been.read.it.would.have.been.quite.clear.you.weren.t.ordering.them,.so.you.wouldn.t.have.been.in.trouble.at.all.‐.it.s.a.bit.of.a.feeble.joke,.isn.t.it?.But.then.1.thought,.what.if.somebody.just.wanted.an.excuse.to.read.your.mail?.Well.then,.it.would.be.a.perfect.way.for.Umbridge.to.manage.it.‐.tip.off.Filch,.let.him.do.the.dirty.work.and.confiscate.the.letter,.then.either.find.a.way.of.stealing.it.from.him.or.else.demand.to.see.it.‐.1.don.t.think.Filch.would.object,.when.s.he.ever.stuck.up.for.a.student.s.rights?.Harry,.you.re.squashing.your.frog...
r.
Harry.looked.down;.he.was.indeed.squeezing.his.bullfrog.so.tightly.its.eyes.were.popping;.he.replaced.it.hastily.upon.the.desk..
.It.was.a.very,.very.close.call.last.night,..said.Hermione...I.just.wonder.if.Umbridge.knows.how.close.it.was..Silencio...
The.bullfrog.on.which.she.was.practising.her.Silencing.Charm.was.struck.dumb.mid‐croak.and.glared.at.her.reproachfully..
.If.she.d.caught.Snuffles.‐..
Harry.finished.the.sentence.for.her..
.‐.He.d.probably.be.back.in.Azkaban.this.morning...He.waved.his.wand.without.really.concentrating;.his.bullfrog.swelled.like.a.green.balloon.and.emitted.a.high‐
pitched.whistle..
.Silencio!..said.Hermione.hastily,.pointing.her.wand.at.Harry.s.frog,.which.deflated.silently.before.them...Well,.he.mustn.t.do.it.again,.that.s.all..I.just.don.t.know.how.we.re.going.to.let.him.know..We.can.t.send.him.an.owl...
.I.don.t.reckon.he.ll.risk.it.again,..said.Ron...He.s.not.stupid,.he.knows.she.nearly.got.him..Silencio...
The.large.and.ugly.raven.in.front.of.him.let.out.a.derisive.caw..
.Silencio..SILENCIO!.
The.raven.cawed.more.loudly..
.Its.the.way.you.re.moving.your.wand,..said.Hermione,.watching.Ron.critically,