Toad Upside Down

To everyone's surprise, Professor Umbridge's lectures were not like those of other professors.

After seeing that the students had almost finished copying, Professor Umbridge returned to the podium.

"Does every student have a copy of Wilbert Slinka's ' Defensive Magical Theory '?" she asked.

"Yes, Professor Umbridge," the students answered sparsely.

Umbridge frowned, and she said with obvious displeasure, "I should have reminded you that you need to behave like students—do you really think you're qualified students? I don't need to teach you how to answer that, do I?"

"Yes, Professor Umbridge," the students answered reluctantly but in unison.

He's a professor after all; a higher rank can have a lot of influence.

"Pfft," Professor Umbridge shook his head with a sigh, "I'm serious, you really are the worst students I've ever seen..."

Harry frowned.

He felt that Professor Umbridge wasn't there to teach, but rather to cause trouble—to cause trouble for all of them.

"Very good," Professor Umbridge said. "I want you to turn to page five and read 'Chapter One, Introduction to Basic Principles'—and please be careful not to whisper to each other while you read."

After speaking, Professor Umbridge left the blackboard and sat down in a chair behind the podium, staring at everyone with his two droopy, clam-like eyes.

Harry flipped to page five of his book, * Defensive Magical Theory *, but didn't read any further; he just stared at it blankly.

A few minutes passed, and the classroom was completely silent.

Beside him, Ron absentmindedly twirled his Quill between his fingers, staring blankly at the same spot in the book.

"I never imagined I would find Professor Binns ' lectures so lively and interesting," Ron said in a very deep voice. "Merlin's sleeve, if Defense Against the Dark Arts were an elective, I definitely wouldn't have chosen it."

"Haven't you noticed something's off with Hermione?" Harry asked in a low voice as well. "Look at her. Normally, she'd be happily reading, but look at her now!"

Ron looked in Hermione's direction and saw that she was raising one hand high.

Looking at Professor Umbridge, she seemed more interested in the view outside the window than in observing what her students were doing.

In other words, she didn't even notice Hermione.

A few minutes later, the students finally stopped looking at their books and started looking at Hermione.

They all wanted to know what Hermione was trying to do.

Professor Umbridge certainly noticed this as well, and she certainly couldn't ignore the situation.

"Darling, do you have any questions about this chapter?" she asked Hermione, as if she had just noticed that Hermione had been raising her hand.

"No, it's not about this chapter," Hermione said, shaking her head with a determined look.

"Oh, we're reading now," said Professor Umbridge, revealing his small, sharp teeth. "If you have any other questions, we can talk about them after class."

"I have a question about your course objectives," Hermione said.

Professor Umbridge raised his eyebrows.

"May I have your name?"

"Hermione, Hermione Granger," Hermione said.

"Well, Miss Granger, I think the course objectives are written very clearly, as long as you read them carefully from beginning to end," Professor Umbridge said in an unwavering tone, her affected voice truly nauseating.

"But I don't think so," Hermione said bluntly. "There's not a single word about using defensive spells."

After a brief silence, many students in the class turned their heads to carefully look at the three course objectives still written on the blackboard.

"Use defensive spells?" Professor Umbridge chuckled softly, repeating, "Well, I can't imagine a situation in my class where you would need to use defensive spells, Miss Granger— I know you're a know-it-all, but you don't really think you'll be attacked during class, do you?"

Harry burst out laughing.

Hearing Harry's laughter, Ron stopped pretending and joined in the laughter.

Laughter is contagious, and everyone around started laughing. They were already getting impatient with Professor Umbridge. "Nonsense, utter nonsense," Harry said to Ron in English, making sure everyone could hear.

He was genuinely getting fed up with Umbridge —to be honest, it was the time when Voldemort was returning, and the brief peace of the entire British wizarding world was about to be broken. The most important thing to do was to quickly strengthen the students' Defense Against the Dark Arts.

And what about Umbridge?

Predictably, this idiot had no intention of teaching them properly.

How can you possibly teach Defense Against the Dark Arts while surrounded by bugs like that?

What if students are injured or even lose their lives when facing Dark Wizard because of missed Defense Against the Dark Arts?

This can't go on! We have to kick her out.

Hogwarts will not tolerate such a troublesome professor!

Professor Umbridge's toad-like face immediately fell away.

A burst of laughter erupted in the classroom, especially from the Slytherin students, who laughed the loudest.

The Ravenclaw students were more restrained, but their laughter was still quite loud.

"Mr. Potter, right?" She stood up and asked Harry sternly, "What were you just saying?"

"Excuse me, Professor, didn't you hear me?"

Harry reached out and picked at his ear. If Snape were outside, he would have noticed that Harry's expression and actions were exactly like his deadbeat father's.

"Yes," Professor Umbridge smiled.

"Oh, I say the professor is right." Harry gave a thumbs up. "At a grade level where students desperately need to learn various practical spells, you're saying that defensive spells don't need to be learned in this class?"

"Are you an educational expert specially trained by the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Potter?" Professor Umbridge asked with a forced smile.

"Oh, of course not." Harry shrugged.

"Very well, I suppose you're not qualified to judge the 'overall goal' of any course. Our latest learning program was designed and formulated by wizards who are much older and wiser than you. You will learn defensive spells in a safe and risk-free way."

"Yes, just like Harry said, isn't it?" Ron suddenly interrupted her, "If we're attacked, there's no way we won't be at risk! You should know that the Dark Lord is back!"

Professor Umbridge's toad-like eyes blazed with fury.

"In my class, students must raise their hands before speaking. You are Yi Yi."

"Weasley." Ron rolled his eyes, without even saying his full name.

"Ha, Arthur Weasley's son?" Professor Umbridge chuckled, giving Ron a particularly irritating smile. "I'll say it again: the whole thing about the Dark Lord is a complete fabrication by Dumbledore! He's trying to seize the Minister for Magic and is using you to manipulate public opinion!"

"But the Dark Lord really did return." Hermione seemed to be suppressing her anger, her eyes glaring at Umbridge. "Even if he hadn't returned, I don't think we should waste our time on this useless theoretical knowledge. We should be practicing real Defense Against the Dark Arts!"

"Miss Granger!" Professor Umbridge said sternly, "In the classroom, I am the professor! I do not allow anyone to question my plans! Besides, I am an expert in education. What do you underage wizards know about teaching? Do you really think defensive spells are necessary in my class?"

"Why not?" Harry pulled out his wand.

"What do you mean?" Professor Umbridge suddenly had a Grim feeling.

"Oh," Harry said, scratching the back of his head. "It's not that people don't believe you, Professor, but you've been claiming we don't need defensive spells. Could it be that you simply don't know them?"

"You just don't need to use it in class!" Professor Umbridge said coldly. "Do you really think you'll be attacked in class?"

Harry didn't answer Professor Umbridge's question, but instead turned to his classmates. "Guys, do you think Professor Umbridge is right?"

"That's right!" Draco shouted, feigning toughness. "We can't be attacked in the classroom!"

"But the professor might not be!" Pansy Parkinson shouted back.

"You—" Professor Umbridge was furious. She took a few steps back, trembling as she reached into her pocket for her wand.

With his other hand trembling, he pointed at the students. "You want to attack the professor?"

"Oh dear," Harry said sarcastically, "we're not attacking 'the Professor' today, we're attacking you—E"

Pelliarmus (Disarming Charm)!

Professor Umbridge's wand spun and flew out.

"What are you all going to do?!"

Professor Umbridge was truly panicked. If he had been somewhat calm just moments before, he was now genuinely flustered.

"I'm warning you—this is a classroom! How dare you lay a hand on the professor! Get back to class right now!"

"No, no, no, Professor," Harry said, pushing back his chair and standing up. "Today, it's not you teaching us, it's us teaching you—letting you know exactly how Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts should be conducted."

Professor Umbridge certainly knew that Harry was a troublemaker; she had heard Fudge say this even before she arrived at Hogwarts to take up her post, and that she should pay special attention to this Savior Star.

But she didn't expect that Harry would become hostile during her first class.

"I am a professor at Hogwarts, Hogwarts—"

Professor Umbridge turned around abruptly and ran away.

However, as soon as he reached the door, he heard Harry chant a spell.

"Impedimenta (Impedimenta)!"

Thump!

Professor Umbridge fell to the floor.

"Alright, does anyone want to see this pink clam hanging up like that?" Harry turned around and asked his classmates with a grin.

When Harry heard those words, he felt like he'd heard them somewhere before.

Huh? That sounds familiar, but I've forgotten.

"Hang her up! Hang her up!" Draco, never one to shy away from a good spectacle, stood on the table. "Hang her up! Harry! How can Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor with such incompetence teach us anything?!"

"Levicorpus!"

Professor Umbridge struggled, truly resembling a toad being hung up, his arms flailing like a toad's forelegs.

Fortunately, she was wearing pants today, so there was no risk of her exposing herself—of course, if this clam were to expose herself, everyone would really be afraid of it being an eyesore.

"Toad! Slippery!" Pansy clapped her hands and shouted, "Toad, disgusting!"

As expected of Slytherin classmate, he really knows how to use swear words.

They have a whole set of little rhymes.

"You... you put me down!" Umbridge was still struggling, kicking her legs back and forth.

"Longbottom!" Draco suddenly turned and called out, "Hey, chubby, haven't you noticed how familiar our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor looks right now?"

"Does it look familiar?" Neville asked, puzzled.

"Doesn't it look like your Trevor?" Draco asked with a wicked grin. "Look at the way it's stomping its legs, good heavens, how did you even think of raising a toad? Or perhaps, you actually quite like Professor Umbridge?"

"You're the one who likes Professor Umbridge!" Neville retorted without hesitation. "If you keep talking nonsense..."

"I'll fight you to the death!"

At this moment, Anne also stepped forward with some concern.

She reached out and tugged at Harry's sleeve, whispering, "Harry, isn't this a bit inappropriate to do this to a professor at school?"

"Not good?" Harry glanced at Umbridge, who was still struggling. "I don't think it's bad."

"Langlock!"

Hermione also took out her wand and cast a spell at Umbridge was still screaming.

The whole world fell silent.

Not only Umbridge, but all the other students in the classroom also quieted down.

They all looked at Hermione, none of them expecting that this well-behaved Academic Bully would actually... would cast Charms on a professor.

"What are you looking at?" Hermione asked Ron sternly.

"No, I just—" Ron thought for a better adjective, "I never expected you to use that spell on the professor—oh my god—"

"Harry has already done it, and as his friend, I can't just stand by," Hermione said, glancing at Umbridge with a hint of delight. "Besides, I've wanted to use this spell for a long time!"

Professor McGonagall, who was far away in the Gryffindor Head of House's office, suddenly had a flash of inspiration and sneezed.

She always felt as if something important had left her.