Ever since she had been ambushed on the Quidditch Pitch and inexplicably knocked unconscious, Umbridge had been furious enough already.
She had originally planned to ease her irritation by announcing Potter's lifetime ban to McGonagall and enjoying the other woman's angry, unwilling, resentful expression. Instead, McGonagall's claim that Potter had already been banned only made her even angrier.
Professor McGonagall's attitude toward the matter suggested that she had probably guessed Umbridge would punish Potter and strip him of his right to play in Quidditch Matches. Knowing she could not change the final outcome, had she deliberately acted that way just to disgust her?
McGonagall was no fool. Umbridge was not surprised that she could have thought of that.
But would she really do such a thing? It did not seem like her character.
Umbridge found the whole matter suspicious. She even suspected McGonagall had made that remark on the spur of the moment just to disgust her.
No matter what, it could not change the fact that Potter would be permanently banned.
She was sure Potter's expression would be spectacular when he heard this "good news."
As Umbridge prepared to return to the Defence Against the Dark Arts office, she suddenly caught the smell of something burning in the corridor. And that burnt smell... seemed to be coming from her office.
Outside the Defence Against the Dark Arts office, the caretaker Filch was holding a ring of keys, trying to unlock the door so he could rush in and put out the fire already burning inside, preventing it from causing a serious disaster at the school.
Floating behind Filch was Peeves, his face full of malicious delight as he clutched his stomach and laughed at Filch for being unable to open a single door.
"It's burning! Filch's backside is on