After being given a harsh lesson by Peeves, Dolores Umbridge returned from St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries seeming much more "well-behaved." She no longer dared trouble anyone, nor did she mention what had happened last time. It was as though that lesson had made Umbridge "docile" and harmless, no longer as aggressively overbearing as before.
What left everyone even more dumbfounded, however, was that Umbridge actually had Filch take down the pile of Educational Decrees hanging on the notice board.
Many students could scarcely believe their eyes, much less Umbridge's transformation. Even Hermione began to hesitate over their earlier plan to discredit the toad and came to ask Albert whether they should continue. Harry, on the other hand, remained convinced that everything Umbridge was doing now was merely an act.
"A venomous snake is still a venomous snake even when it hides its fangs. She's just patiently waiting for the chance to bare them again instead of stupidly taking a beating. That's called advancing by retreating—a perfectly understandable response." Albert had never believed that sort of nonsense about laying down one's butcher's knife and instantly becoming enlightened.
"Hermione, don't be fooled by the toad's appearance." Harry raised his hand and looked at the faint scar on its back as he said coldly, "Don't forget that I'm still banned from playing, and don't forget that she still has my Firebolt. Rather than trust her, I'd rather trust Anderson's judgment."
"I'm not... I just find it strange." Hermione stared at the now-empty notice board and fell silent for a moment. "Maybe she's plotting something else."
Several days passed. No new Educational Decrees appeared on the notice board, and Umbridge became very low-key. Aside from teaching students, she hardly did anything else unnecessary.
Hogwarts returned to its usual peace and