Christmas

Hagrid had not disappointed them; he had somehow acquired a herd of Thestrals.

Though "had not disappointed them" felt like a rather strange phrase under the circumstances, Hermione could not think of anything more suitable for the moment. She kept one hand hidden behind her back, her fingertips lightly touching her robes. Inside the pocket of her robes, she was channeling almost all her magic into sending out the situation she was currently facing.

At a time like this, she needed some guidance.

Yet she still maintained a calm exterior. At least when Hagrid asked questions, she could still raise her hand and answer with ease.

Then she felt the notebook vibrate. Shielded by Harry and Ron's bodies, she hurriedly pulled it out and glanced at the reply on the page.

Jon's response was very simple, only a few words.

"Wait and see? At a time like this, whose changes am I supposed to watch?"

She was about to write back to Jon when she heard coughing.

"Hem, hem."

Professor Umbridge had arrived.

She stood a few feet from Hermione, still wearing her green hat and green cloak, with a clipboard in hand.

Hagrid, who had never heard Umbridge's fake cough before, looked worriedly at one of the Thestrals beside him, apparently thinking it had made the sound.

"Hem, hem."

"Oh, hello!"

Hagrid smiled, having discovered the source of the strange noise.

"Did you get the note I sent to your cabin this morning?"

Umbridge spoke as slowly and loudly as she had the last time she had addressed Hagrid, as though he were a foreigner with a mental deficiency.

"Saying I was coming to observe your lesson."

"Oh, I got it," Hagrid said heartily. "Glad you found the place! Look—I don't know—can you see them? We're studying Thestrals today—"