.None.of.them.had.ever.seen.Hagrid.in.a.real.temper.before..
.Look!..squealed.Parvati,.who.was.leaning.over.the.parapet.and.pointing.to.the.foot.of.the.castle.where.the.front.doors.had.opened.again;.more.light.was.spilling.out.on.to.the.dark.lawn.and.a.single.long.black.shadow.was.now.rippling.across.the.lawn..
.Now,.really!..said.Professor.Tofty.anxiously...Only.sixteen.minutes.left,.you.know!..
But.nobody.paid.him.the.slightest.attention:.they.were.watching.the.person.now.sprinting.towards.the.battle.beside.Hagrid.s.cabin..
.How.dare.you!..the.figure.shouted.as.she.ran...How.dare.you!..
.It.s.McGonagall!..whispered.Hermione..
.Leave.him.alone!.Alone,.I.say!..said.Professor.McGonagall.s.voice.through.the.darkness...On.what.grounds.are.you.attacking.him?.He.has.done.nothing,
.nothing.to.warrant.such.‐..
Hermione,.Parvati.and.Lavender.all.screamed..The.figures.around.the.cabin.had.shot.no.fewer.than.four.Stunners.at.Professor.McGonagall..Halfway.between.cabin.and.castle.the.red.beams.collided.with.her;.for.a.moment.she.looked.luminous.and.glowed.an.eerie.red,.then.she.lifted.right.off.her.feet,.landed.hard.on.her.back,.and.moved.no.more..
.Galloping.gargoyles!..shouted.Professor.Tofty,.who.also.seemed.to.have.forgotten.the.exam.completely...Not.so.much.as.a.warning!.Outrageous.behaviour!..
.COWARDS!..bellowed.Hagrid;.his.voice.carried.clearly.to.the.top.of.the.tower,
.and.several.lights.flickered.back.on.inside.the.castle...RUDDY.COWARDS!
.HAVE.SOME.O..THAT.‐.AN..THAT.‐..
.Oh.my.—..gasped.Hermione..
Hagrid.took.two.massive.swipes.at.his.closest.attackers;.judging.by.their.immediate.collapse,.they.had.been.knocked.cold..Harry.saw.Hagrid.double.over,
.and.thought.he.had.finally.been.overcome.by.a.spell..But,.on.the.contrary,.next.moment.Hagrid.was.standing.again.with.what.appeared.to.be.a.sack.on.his.back.‐.
then.Harry.realised.that.Fang.s.limp.body.was.draped.around.his.shoulders..
.Get.him,.get.him!..screamed.Umbridge,.but.her.remaining.helper.seemed.highly.reluctant.to.go.within.reach.of.Hagrid.s.fists;.indeed,.he.was.backing.away.so.fast.he.tripped.over.one.of.his.unconscious.colleagues.and.fell.over..Hagrid.had.turned.and.begun.to.run.with.Fang.still.hung.around.his.neck..Umbridge.sent.one.last.Stunning.Spell.after.him.but.it.missed;.and.Hagrid,.running.full‐pelt.towards.the.distant.gates,.disappeared.into.the.darkness..
There.was.a.long.minutes.quivering.silence.as.everybody.gazed.open‐mouthed.into.the.grounds..Then.Professor.Tofty.s.voice.said.feebly,..Um….five.minutes.to.go,.everybody...
Though.he.had.only.filled.in.two‐thirds.of.his.chart,.Harry.was.desperate.for.the.exam.to.end..When.it.came.at.last.he,.Ron.and.Hermione.forced.their.telescopes.haphazardly.back.into.their.holders.and.dashed.back.down.the.spiral.staircase.
.None.of.the.students.were.going.to.bed;.they.were.all.talking.loudly.and.excitedly.at.the.foot.of.the.stairs.about.what.they.had.witnessed..
That.evil.woman!..gasped.Hermione,.who.seemed.to.be.having.difficulty.talking.due.to.rage..Trying.to.sneak.up.on.Hagrid.in.the.dead.of.night!..