Dumbledore’s Army

           ’Umbridgehasbeenreadingyourmail,Harry.There’snootherexplanation.’

           ’YouthinkUmbridgeattackedHedwig?’hesaid,outraged.

           ’I’malmostcertainofit,’saidHermionegrimly.’Watchyourfrog,it’sescaping.’

           Harrypointedhiswandatthebullfrogthathadbeenhoppinghopefullytowardstheothersideofthetable—’Accio!’—anditzoomedgloomilybackintohishand.

           Charmswasalwaysoneofthebestlessonsinwhichtoenjoyaprivatechat;therewasgenerallysomuchmovementandactivitythatthedangerofbeingoverheardwasveryslight.Today,withtheroomfullofcroakingbullfrogsandcawingravens,andwithaheavydownpourofrainclatteringandpoundingagainsttheclassroomwindows,Harry,RonandHermione’swhispereddiscussionabouthowUmbridgehadnearlycaughtSiriuswentquiteunnoticed.

           ’I’vebeensuspectingthiseversinceFilchaccusedyouoforderingDungbombs,becauseitseemedsuchastupidlie,’Hermionewhispered.’Imean,onceyourletterhadbeenreaditwouldhavebeenquiteclearyouweren’torderingthem,soyouwouldn’thavebeenintroubleatall—it’sabitofafeeblejoke,isn’tit?ButthenIthought,whatifsomebodyjustwantedanexcusetoreadyourmail?Wellthen,itwouldbeaperfectwayforUmbridgetomanageit—tipoffFilch,lethimdothedirtyworkandconfiscatetheletter,theneitherfindawayofstealingitfromhimorelsedemandtoseeit—Idon’tthinkFilchwouldobject,when’sheeverstuckupforastudent’srights?Harry,you’resquashingyourfrog.