Ginger.Newts...He.d.just.lost,.hadn.t.he?.Of.course.he.wanted.to.provoke.you!
.But.what.on.earth.he.can.have.said.that.justified.what.you.two.—..
.He.insulted.my.parents,..snarled.George...And.Harry.s.mother...
.But.instead.of.leaving.it.to.Madam.Hooch.to.sort.out,.you.two.decided.to.give.an.exhibition.of.Muggle.duelling,.did.you?..bellowed.Professor.McGonagall.
.
.Have.you.any.idea.what.you.ve.‐?..
.Hem,.hem..
Harry.and.George.both.wheeled.round..Dolores.Umbridge.was.standing.in.the.doorway.wrapped.in.a.green.tweed.cloak.that.greatly.enhanced.her.resemblance.to.a.giant.tad,.and.was.smiling.in.the.horrible,.sickly,.ominous.way.that.Harry.had.come.to.associate.with.imminent.misery..
.May.I.help,.Professor.McGonagall?..asked.Professor.Umbridge.in.her.most.poisonously.sweet.voice..
Blood.rushed.into.Professor.McGonagall.s.face..
.Help?..she.repeated,.in.a.constricted.voice...What.do.you.mean,.help?..
Professor.Umbridge.moved.forwards.into.the.office,.still.smiling.her.sickly.smile..
.Why,.I.thought.you.might.be.grateful.for.a.little.extra.authority..
Harry.would.not.have.been.surprised.to.see.sparks.fly.from.Professor.McGonagall.s.nostrils..
.You.thought.wrong,..she.said,.turning.her.back.on.Umbridge..
.Now,.you.two.had.better.listen.closely..I.do.not.care.what.provocation.Malfoy.offered.you,.I.do.not.care.if.he.insulted.every.family.member.you.possess,.your.behaviour.was.disgusting.and.I.am.giving.each.of.you.a.week.s.worth.of.detentions!.Do.not.look.at.me.like.that,.Potter,.you.deserve.it!.And.if.either.of.you.ever.‐..
.Hem,.hem...
Professor.McGonagall.closed.her.eyes.as.though.praying.for.patience.as.she.turned.her.face.towards.Professor.Umbridge.again..
.Yes?.
.I.think.they.deserve.rather.more.than.detentions,..said.Umbridge,.smiling.still.more.broadly..
Professor.McGonagall.s.eyes.flew.open..
.But.unfortunately..she.said,.with.an.attempt.at.a.reciprocal.smile.that.made.her.look.as.though.she.had.lockjaw,..it.is.what.I.think.that.counts,.as.they.are.in.my.House,.Dolores...
.Well,.actually,.Minerva,..simpered.Professor.Umbridge,..I.think.you.ll.find.that.what.I.think.does.count..Now,.where.is.it?.Cornelius.just.sent.it….I.mean,..she.gave.a.false.little.laugh.as.she.rummaged.in.her.handbag,..the.Minister.just.sent.it….ah.yes…..
She.had.pulled.out.a.piece.of.parchment.which.she.now.unfurled,.clearing.her.throat.fussily.before.starting.to.read.what.it.said..
.Hem,.hem…..Educational.Decree.Number.Twenty‐five....
.Not.another.one!..exclaimed.Professor.McGonagall.violently..
.Well,.yes,..said.Umbridge,.still.smiling...As.a.matter.of.fact,.Minerva,.it.was.you.who.made.me.see.that.we.needed.a.further.amendment….you.remember.how.you.overrode.me,.when.I.was.unwilling.to.allow.the.Gryffindor.Quidditch.team.to.re‐form?.How.you.took.the.case.to.Dumbledore,.who.insisted.that.the.team.be.allowed.to.play?.Well,.now,.I.couldn.t.have.that..I.contacted.the.Minister.at.once,
.and.he.quite.agreed.with.me.that.the.High.Inquisitor.has.to.have.the.power.to.strip.pupils.of.privileges,.or.she.‐.that.is.to.say,.I.‐.would.have.less.authority.than.common.teachers!.And.you.see.now,.don.t.you,.Minerva,.how.right.I.was.in.attempting.to.stop.the.Gryffindor.team.re‐forming?.Dreadful.tempers….anyway,