Trelawney's plight was indeed worthy of sympathy, but she was only the beginning.
Charms classroom,
As usual, Flitwick stood atop a stack of thick books, enthusiastically explaining the subtle wrist movements of the Cheering Charm to the students below the podium.
Suddenly, the classroom door was gently pushed open. Umbridge entered with several Special Educational Commissioners from the Ministry of Magic in a thoroughly impolite manner, then they sat down in the last row as if no one else were there.
"Please continue, Professor Flitwick. Do not let our observation disrupt this... interesting lesson."
Flitwick nervously adjusted his glasses.
He did not know what had happened to McGonagall and Trelawney, but he knew full well that Umbridge and the others had come for far more than an observation.
"Please watch my hand movements closely, then tell me what is different."
After Flitwick demonstrated, Cho immediately raised her small hand from below the podium.
"Professor, I think your wrist movements are especially relaxed."
He nodded approvingly. "Correct. The casting of a spell varies slightly depending on your current state, so we need to choose the most comfortable posture possible—"
"Please forgive the interruption." Umbridge's voice pierced the joy of the class for the second time.
She rose to her feet without a care. "Hmm, now I can finally see clearly."
Flitwick was completely baffled. "Professor Umbridge, do you have a question?"
Umbridge's eyes flicked toward the students in front of her. "Not a question, exactly. I merely noticed that your... teaching posture seems to have some fundamental problems."
She slowly walked to the front of the podium, her eyes not on Flitwick but on the stack of thick books beneath his feet.
"Considering the... hmm... height difference between yourself and the students, those seated in the back must find it difficult