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

Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year.
    ‘You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centred, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please.’
    She rapped the blackboard again; the first message vanished and was replaced by the ‘Course Aims’.
     
    1. Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.
    2. Learning to recognise situations in which defensive magic can legally be used.
    3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use.
     
    For a couple of minutes the room was full of the sound of scratching quills on parchment. When everyone had copied down Professor Umbridge’s three course aims she asked, ‘Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?’
    There was a dull murmur of assent throughout the class.
    ‘I think we’ll try that again,’ said Professor Umbridge. ‘When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply, “Yes, Professor Umbridge”, or “No, Professor Umbridge”. So: has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?’
    ‘Yes, Professor Umbridge,’ rang through the room.
    ‘Good,’ said Professor Umbridge. ‘I should like you to turn to page five and read “Chapter One, Basics for Beginners”. There will be no need to talk.’
    Professor Umbridge left the blackboard and settled herself in the chair behind the teacher’s desk, observing them all with those pouchy toad’s eyes. Harry turned to page five of his copy of Defensive Magical Theory and started to read.
    It was desperately dull, quite as bad as listening to Professor Binns. He felt his concentration sliding away from him; he had soon read the same line half a dozen times without taking in more than the first few words. Several silent minutes passed. Next to him, Ron was absent-mindedly turning his quill over and over in his fingers, staring at the same spot on the page. Harry looked right and received a surprise to shake him out of his torpor. Hermione had not even opened her copy of Defensive Magical Theory . She was staring fixedly at Professor Umbridge with her hand in the air.
    Harry could not remember Hermione ever neglecting to read when instructed to, or indeed resisting the temptation to open any book that came under her nose. He looked at her enquiringly, but she merely shook her head slightly to indicate that she was not about to answer questions, and continued to stare at Professor Umbridge, who was looking just as resolutely in another direction.
    After several more minutes had passed, however, Harry was not the only one watching Hermione. The chapter they had been instructed to read was so tedious that more and more people were choosing to watch Hermione’s mute attempt to catch Professor Umbridge’s eye rather than struggle on with ‘Basics for Beginners’.
    When more than half the class were staring at Hermione rather than at their books, Professor Umbridge seemed to decide that she could ignore the situation no longer.
    ‘Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?’ she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her.
    ‘Not about the chapter, no,’ said Hermione.
    ‘Well, we’re reading just now,’ said Professor Umbridge, showing her small pointed teeth. ‘If you have other queries we can deal with them at the end of class.’
    ‘I’ve got a query about your course aims,’ said Hermione.
    Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows.
    ‘And your name is?’
    ‘Hermione Granger,’ said Hermione.
    ‘Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully,’ said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness.
    ‘Well, I don’t,’ said Hermione bluntly. ‘There’s nothing written up there about using defensive spells.’
    There was a short silence in which many members of the class turned their heads to frown at the three course aims still written on the blackboard.
    ‘ Using defensive spells?’ Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. ‘Why, I can’t imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren’t expecting to be attacked during class?’
    ‘We’re not going to use magic?’ Ron exclaimed loudly.
    ‘Students