smoking.ominously.took.advantage.of.the.open.door.at.the.end.of.the.corridor.to.escape.towards.the.second.floor..
.Hurry,.Filch,.hurry!..shrieked.Umbridge,..they.ll.be.all.over.the.school.unless.we.do.something.‐.Stupefy].
A.jet.of.red.light.shot.out.of.the.end.of.her.wand.and.hit.one.of.the.rockets.
.Instead.of.freezing.in.midair,.it.exploded.with.such.force.that.it.blasted.a.hole.in.a.painting.of.a.soppy‐looking.witch.in.the.middle.of.a.meadow;.she.ran.for.it.just.in.time,.reappearing.seconds.later.squashed.into.the.next.painting,.where.a.couple.of.wizards.playing.cards.stood.up.hastily.to.make.room.for.her..
.Don.t.Stun.them,.Filch!..shouted.Umbridge.angrily,.for.all.the.world.as.though.it.had.been.his.incantation..
.Right.you.are,.Headmistress!..wheezed.Filch,.who.as.a.Squib.could.no.more.have.Stunned.the.fireworks.than.swallowed.them..He.dashed.to.a.nearby.cupboard,.pulled.out.a.broom.and.began.swatting.at.the.fireworks.in.midair;
.within.seconds.the.head.of.the.broom.was.ablaze..
Harry.had.seen.enough;.laughing,.he.ducked.down.low,.ran.to.a.door.he.knew.was.concealed.behind.a.tapestry.a.little.way.along.the.corridor.and.slipped.through.it.to.find.Fred.and.eorge.hiding.just.behind.it,.listening.to.Umbridge.and.Filch.s.yells.and.quaking.with.suppressed.mirth..
.Impressive,..Harry.said.quietly,.grinning...Very.impressive….you.ll.put.Dr.Filibuster.out.of.business,.no.problem…..
.Cheers,..whispered.George,.wiping.tears.of.laughter.from.his.face...Oh,.I.hope.she.tries.Vanishing.them.next….they.multiply.by.ten.every.time.you.try...
The.fireworks.continued.to.burn.and.to.spread.all.over.the.school.that.afternoon.
.Though.they.caused.plenty.of.disruption,.particularly.the.firecrackers,.the.other.teachers.didn.t.seem.to.mind.them.very.much..
.Dear,.dear,..said.Professor.McGonagall.sardonically,.as.one.of.the.dragons.soared.around.her.classroom,.emitting.loud.bangs.and.exhaling.flame...Miss.Brown,.would.you.mind.running.along.to.the.Headmistress.and.informing.her.that.we.have.an.escaped.firework.in.our.classroom?..
The.upshot.of.it.all.was.that.Professor.Umbridge.spent.her.first.afternoon.as.Headmistress.running.all.over.the.school.answerin.the.summonses.of.the.other.teachers,.none.of.whom.seemed.able.to.rid.their.rooms.of.the.fireworks.without.her..When.the.final.bell.rang.and.they.were.heading.back.to.Gryffindor.Tower.with.their.bags,.Harry.saw,.with.immense.satisfaction,.a.dishevelled.and.soot‐
blackened.Umbridge.tottering.sweaty‐faced.from.Professor.Flitwick.s.classroom..
Thank.you.so.much,.Professor!..said.Professor.Flitwick.in.his.squeaky.little.voice.
.
.I.could.have.got.rid.of.the.sparklers.myself,.of.course,.but.I.wasn.t.sure.whether.or.not.I.had.the.authority...
Beaming,.he.closed.his.classroom.door.in.her.snarling.face..
Fred.and.George.were.heroes.that.night.in.the.Gryffindor.common.room..Even.Hermione.fought.her.way.through.the.excited.crowd.to.congratulate.them..
They.were.wonderful.fireworks,..she.said.admiringly..
Thanks,..said.George,.looking.both.surprised.and.pleased...Weasleys..Wildfire.Whiz‐bangs..Only.thing.is,.we.used.our.whole.stock;.we.re.going.to.have.to.start.again.from.scratch.now...