"Oh, Potter." Professor McGonagall shook her head regretfully. "Even as deputy headmistress and Head of House, there's nothing I can do. The Ministry of Magic's Senior Investigator has almost the same authority as the Headmaster."
Harry shrugged and didn't say anything, but he didn't really take it to heart.
He did want to deal with Umbridge and kick her out of the school completely—but just as Vivi had said earlier, when it came to Umbridge and the Ministry of Magic, they should avoid overly violent methods. After all, the Ministry still controlled the media; its public credibility hadn't completely collapsed yet.
If they wanted to take over the Ministry of Magic, they had to use methods that could stand in the open.
"It's getting late," Professor McGonagall said. "You should be off to class as well—"
"All right, Professor." Harry said, then left the abandoned classroom.
When he returned to the Gryffindor table, everyone was already packing up to go to class.
Seeing Harry come back, Ron rushed over, and together with Angelina asked, "So? What happened?" "Did Professor McGonagall tell you the Gryffindor Quidditch Team can resume normal practices?"
"One at a time, you two." Harry rubbed his eyes and answered Angelina first. "Don't worry, Angelina, as for the team's regular activities, there definitely won't be a problem. You should go discuss that with Umbridge—As for you, Ron, I've got something to tell you."
As he spoke, he grabbed Ron and dragged him into a corner, lowering his voice. "Professor McGonagall told me that Hogwarts' internal and external communications seem to have been put under Ministry surveillance, probably starting in the past couple of days. I need you to stop actively contacting Percy, so he doesn't get exposed, all right?"
Ron took a couple of deep breaths, then lifted his head and asked, "What if Percy contacts me? I don't think he knows about this. What if Fudge finds out about him?"
"Relax." Harry said quietly. "I'll get Little Sirius to find a way to inform Percy right now, so he doesn't get found out by Fudge."
With that, he pulled out his phone and started calling Little Sirius.
When the call connected, Little Sirius sounded a bit tired, but still asked with a smile, "What's up, Harry?"
"Listen, Little Sirius." Harry said seriously. "Professor McGonagall just told me the Ministry seems to have started monitoring Hogwarts' internal and external communications. I want you to notify Percy Weasley so he doesn't write to Ron on his own and end up exposing anything."
Little Sirius's expression turned serious. He nodded and said, "Don't worry, Harry, I'll get the message to Percy himself—using something as discreet as possible."
With that, he hung up.
Ron still looked worried. He kept standing up and sitting down, completely on edge.
"Relax, Ron." Harry patted Ron's shoulder. "Percy's going to be fine."
"I hope so." Ron forced a small smile.
By the time they rejoined the line, Hermione was already standing with all three of their books piled in her arms.
"You're really strong, huh." Ginny said from beside her.
"Haven't seen you offer to carry a single one." Hermione rolled her eyes.
Ginny chuckled. "You and I aren't headed the same way, Hermione. We've got Herbology. We won't be passing by the History of Magic classroom with you."
Hermione sighed and continued walking forward.
"All right, we're back." Harry walked up and said to Hermione.
"What happened?" Hermione asked, hefting her bag.
Harry recounted what had just happened, and Hermione immediately frowned.
"Ugh, how can the Ministry of Magic be this awful!" she said furiously.
"I think we'd better just stop thinking about the Ministry." Ron said gloomily. "I'd bet anything Umbridge is in History of Magic today. She's never sat in on one of Bin's lectures…I'll bet anything she's there!"
But he was wrong. There was only one teacher in the classroom, Professor Bin.
He was floating an inch above his chair as usual, ready to continue his droning lecture on the Giant Wars.
"Looks like you guessed wrong." Hermione put down her books. "Everyone knows Professor Bin is a Ghost. He's been teaching History of Magic since Hogwarts was founded. No one can sack him. I don't think even Umbridge would do something that idiotic."
"No, the most important thing is…" Harry lifted his head and glanced at Professor Bin. "Professor Bin is a Ghost, he's not Dumbledore's man—in other words, whoever's Headmaster, he's their man."
"Wrong." Ron cut in. "He's not their man, he's their Ghost."
Fair point.
Outside, wind and rain were raging, but the classroom was still warm.
"Guess what." Hermione murmured. "What do you think Umbridge's new decree is supposed to do? She really thinks she's the Headmistress now?"
"I suspect…" Ron speculated. "This might be a preview of her next move. Maybe she wants to replace Dumbledore and become Hogwarts' Headmistress?"
"You really are daydreaming." Hermione rolled her eyes. "How could she possibly become Headmistress of Hogwarts? Do you think the portraits of the former Headmasters would ever approve of her?"
Harry thought about it and had to admit that wasn't a problem.
Even Phineas Black wouldn't like a fussbudget like Umbridge.
He peered out the window at the grounds, shrouded in howling winds and heavy clouds, still mulling over how he ought to deal with Umbridge's Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four.
Professor Bin's chanting voice buzzed in his ears, and Harry gradually started to feel sleepy.
When he opened his eyes again, he realized class was already over.
"Wake up, Harry." Ron nudged him. "We're going to the Great Hall to rest for a bit, then on to Magic Potion Class."
Harry stretched and smacked his lips. "History of Magic went by that fast?"
"I thought it dragged on forever, especially since Hermione wouldn't let me sleep!" Ron complained. "Merlin, is it really that hard to just catch up on a bit of sleep?"
"No, Ron, it's not." Harry patted his shoulder.
"But," Hermione suddenly said, "Umbridge didn't attend Professor Snape's Magic Potion Class last week. She's got to show up this week, right?"
"Not necessarily." Ron said. "She might choose the Sixth-Year or Fourth-Year Magic Potion Class instead."
After resting for a bit in the Great Hall, it was time to head to Magic Potion Class again.
Harry yawned, got to his feet, and followed the crowd down to the underground Potions classroom.
He sat down in his usual spot at the back, pulled out his parchment, Feather Pen, and his Thousand Magical Herbs and Mushrooms textbook.
The students around him were all whispering about Neville's behavior just now, but when Snape shut the dungeon door with a loud echo, the entire class instantly fell silent.
"You will observe," Snape said in his low, mocking voice, "that we have a guest today."
He pointed toward a shadowy corner, and Harry saw Professor Umbridge sitting there with a clipboard on her lap.
The drowsy Harry snapped fully awake.
Professor Snape versus Umbridge? This was going to be good—Harry was dying to see whether the perpetually sharp-tongued Professor Snape would spew venom straight at Umbridge.
The other students were the same, especially Ron, who had already straightened up, eyes locked on Professor Snape.
He might hate Magic Potion Class and dislike Professor Snape, but for such an epic encounter—pink toad versus the old bat of Slytherin—this was going to be fantastic.
(Sorry, typing this on my phone in a hospital bed…)