Harry Potter 05 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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Educational Decree Number Twenty-four
    Harry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he had done all term. He and Ron spent much of Sunday catching up with all their homework again, and although this could hardly be called fun, the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather than sitting hunched over tables in the common room they took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech tree on the edge of the lake. Hermione, who of course was up to date with all her work, brought more wool outside with her and bewitched her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked in midair beside her, producing more hats and scarves.
    Knowing they were doing something to resist Umbridge and the Ministry, and that he was a key part of the rebellion, gave Harry a feeling of immense satisfaction. He kept reliving Saturday’s meeting in his mind: all those people, coming to him to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts … and the looks on their faces as they had heard some of the things he had done … and Cho praising his performance in the Triwizard Tournament – knowing all those people did not think him a lying weirdo, but someone to be admired, buoyed him up so much that he was still cheerful on Monday morning, despite the imminent prospect of all his least favourite classes.
    He and Ron headed downstairs from their dormitory, discussing Angelina’s idea that they were to work on a new move called the Sloth Grip Roll during that night’s Quidditch practice, and not until they were halfway across the sunlit common room did they notice the addition to the room that had already attracted the attention of a small group of people.
    A large sign had been affixed to the Gryffindor noticeboard, so large it covered everything else on it – the lists of secondhand spellbooks for sale, the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training timetable, the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog Cards for others, the Weasleys’ latest advertisement for testers, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends and the lost and found notices. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature.
     
    BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS
     
    All student organisations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded.
     
    An organisation, society, team, group or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.
     
    Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).
     
    No student organisation, society, team, group or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.
     
    Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organisation, society, team, group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.
     
    The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.
     
    Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor
     
    Harry and Ron read the notice over the heads of some anxious-looking second-years.
    ‘Does this mean they’re going to shut down the Gobstones Club?’ one of them asked his friend.
    ‘I reckon you’ll be OK with Gobstones,’ Ron said darkly, making the second-year jump. ‘I don’t think we’re going to be as lucky, though, do you?’ he asked Harry as the second-years hurried away.
    Harry was reading the notice through again. The happiness that had filled him since Saturday was gone. His insides were pulsing with rage.
    ‘This isn’t a coincidence,’ he said, his hands forming fists. ‘She knows.’
    ‘She can’t,’ said Ron at once.
    ‘There were people listening in that pub. And let’s face it, we don’t know how many of the people who turned up we can trust … any of them could have run off and told Umbridge …’
    And he had thought they believed him, thought they even admired him …
    ‘Zacharias Smith!’ said Ron at once, punching a fist into his hand. ‘Or – I thought that Michael Corner had a really shifty look, too –’
    ‘I wonder if Hermione’s seen this yet?’ Harry said, looking round at the door to the girls’ dormitories.
    ‘Let’s go and tell her,’ said Ron. He bounded forwards, pulled open the door and set off up the spiral staircase.
    He was on the sixth stair when there was a loud, wailing, klaxon-like sound and the steps melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide like a