.Just.a.little.bit.‐..
An.arrow.flew.through.the.air.and.landed.with.a.menacing.thud.in.the.tree.just.over.her.head..The.air.was.suddenly.full.of.the.sound.of.hooves;.Harry.could.feel.the.Forest.floor.trembling;.Umbridge.gave.a.little.scream.and.pushed.him.in.front.of.her.like.a.shield.‐.
He.wrenched.himself.free.of.her.and.turned..Around.fifty.centaurs.were.emerging.on.every.side,.their.bows.raised.and.loaded,.pointing.at.Harry.Hermione.and.Umbridge..They.backed.slowly.into.the.centre.of.the.clearing,
.Umbridge.uttering.odd.little.whimpers.of.terror..Harry.looked.sideways.at.Hermione..She.was.wearing.a.triumphant.smile..
.Who.are.you?..said.a.voice..
Harry.looked.left..The.chestnut‐bodied.centaur.called.Magorian.was.walking.towards.them.out.of.the.circle:.his.bow,.like.those.of.the.others,.was.raised..On.Harry.s.right,.Umbridge.was.still.whimpering,.her.wand.trembling.violently.as.she.pointed.it.at.the.advancing.centaur..
.I.asked.you.who.are.you,.human,..said.Magorian.roughly..
.I.am.Dolores.Umbridge!..said.Umbridge.in.a.high‐pitched,.terrified.voice.
.
.Senior.Undersecretary.to.the.Minister.for.Magic.and.Headmistress.and.High.Inquisitor.of.Hogwarts!..
.You.are.from.the.Ministry.of.Magic?..said.Magorian,.as.many.of.the.centaurs.in.the.surrounding.circle.shifted.restlessly..
That.s.right!..said.Umbridge,.in.an.even.higher.voice,..so.be.very.careful!.By.the.laws.laid.down.by.the.Department.for.the.Regulation.and.Control.of.Magical.Creatures,.any.attack.by.half‐breeds.such.as.yourselves.on.a.human.‐..
.What.did.you.call.us?..shouted.a.wild‐looking.black.centaur,.whom.Harry.recognised.as.Bane..There.was.a.great.deal.of.angry.muttering.and.tightening.of.bowstrings.around.them..
.Don.t.call.them.that!..Hermione.said.furiously,.but.Umbndge.did.not.appear.to.have.heard.her..Still.pointing.her.shaking.wand.at.Magorian,.she.continued,
.
.Law.Fifteen..B..states.clearly.that..any.attack.by.a.magical.creature.who.is.deemed.to.have.near‐human.intelligence,.and.therefore.considered.responsible.for.its.actions.—...
..Near‐human.intelligence.?..repeated.Magorian,.as.Bane.and.several.others.roared.with.rage.and.pawed.the.ground...We.consider.that.a.great.insult,.human!
.Our.intelligence,.thankfully,.far.outstrips.your.own...
.What.are.you.doing.in.our.Forest?..bellowed.the.hard‐faced.grey.centaur.Harry.and.Hermione.had.seen.on.their.last.trip.into.the.Forest...Why.are.you.here?..
.Your.Forest?..said.Umbridge,.shaking.now.not.only.with.fright.but.also,.it.seemed,.with.indignation...I.would.remind.you.that.you.live.here.only.because.the.Ministry.of.Magic.permits.you.certain.areas.of.land.‐..
An.arrow.flew.so.close.to.her.head.that.it.caught.at.her.mousy.hair.in.passing:
.she.let.out.an.ear‐splitting.scream.and.threw.her.hands.over.her.head,.while.some.of.the.centaurs.bellowed.their.approval.and.others.laughed.raucously..The.sound.of.their.wild,.neighing.laughter.echoing.around.the.dimly.lit.clearing.and.the.sight.of.their.pawing.hooves.was.extremely.unnerving..