Umbridge Picks the Wrong Fight

By the time Kyle sat down in the seat Kanna had saved for him, a sumptuous lunch had just appeared on his plate.

"How did it go?" Kanna asked.

"Just as we suspected, Umbridge ... or the Ministry of Magic, is after the professors," Kyle said. "But there's one thing I didn't expect."

"What?"

"About Professor Trelawney," Kyle placed a slice of toast on his plate, "I think she really does have a knack Prophecy prophecy."

"Who, Professor Trelawney?" Cedric asked in surprise, then shook his head. "As far as I know, apart from those who want to get all the certificates, no one else chooses to take Divination Class after sixth grade. It's pointless; you don't learn anything in her class."

"Yes, you're right," Kyle said with a smile. "Perhaps she was just lucky."

By the afternoon, Kyle had to admit that he might have underestimated Umbridge's courage.

The first period in the afternoon was Transfiguration Class. When Kyle walked into the classroom, he saw Umbridge sitting in a corner with her writing board in her hand.

However, when Professor McGonagall entered the classroom, she acted as if she hadn't seen her at all, simply walking past her.

"Looks like Umbridge's really messed up this time," Qiu, who was in class with them, said in a low voice, gloating. "Professor McGonagall is not someone to be trifled with."

"Yes," Kyle couldn't help but laugh.

Professor McGonagall strode to the podium, then turned around, and the entire classroom fell silent instantly.

"Alright, let's begin the lesson," Professor McGonagall said. "After a month of study, almost all of you have mastered the basics of Human Transfiguration, so we're going to increase the difficulty a bit more..."

"Cough, cough." A coughing sound came from the back of the classroom, and Umbridge stood up, looking like she wanted to say something.

But Professor McGonagall acted as if she didn't see her and completely ignored her.

"So-called advanced Human Transfiguration refers to the ability to possess corresponding physical attributes in addition to physical appearance. For example, in the Second Task of last year's Triwizard Tournament, the Durmstrang Champion transformed his upper body into a shark in the Black Lake, which was a successful Human Transfiguration..."

"Cough, cough." Umbridge let out another silly little cough.

Interrupted again, Professor McGonagall turned around, finally losing her temper. "What is it? What are you trying to say?"

"I just want to ask, isn't it a bit too early to have them learn Human Transfiguration right now?" Umbridge said. "As far as I know, this kind of Human Transfiguration is very dangerous."

"I obviously have a different opinion from you," Professor McGonagall said. "They are the best sixth-graders. It would be really dangerous if they had to learn how to turn a teapot into a rabbit at this age."

"Besides, my advanced course has always been like this. Didn't you know that before?"

Umbridge looked as if he had been slapped, his face turning red and then pale.

When she was at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall was already teaching Transfiguration... but clearly, her grades weren't good enough to qualify for the advanced classes.

Therefore, Professor McGonagall's words just now were practically a mockery of her poor grades in front of everyone.

A low chuckle came from inside the classroom.

Umbridge's face darkened further.

"Cough, cough." She coughed again.

But before she could say anything, Professor McGonagall spoke first, "Enough. If you want to know about my class, please don't interrupt me again and again."

"Also, I don't allow anyone to talk during class!"

Professor McGonagall showed no mercy, Umbridge felt as if she had been slapped across the other side of her face. She trembled with rage and furiously scribbled on the whiteboard.

Although Kyle couldn't see what she wrote, he was certain it wasn't anything nice; her cross-marking gesture was far too obvious.

But Professor McGonagall appeared indifferent, showing no concern whatsoever.

And in the following classes, Umbridge didn't make things difficult for herself anymore?

Umbridge stood up with a stern face and walked toward the podium only after Professor McGonagall announced the end of class and the students filed out of the classroom.

Kyle loosened his grip, and the book and quill pen in his hand fell to the ground, forcing him to stop and pick them up.

Kanna also turned back from the front to help.

"How long have you been at Hogwarts?" Umbridge asked.

Professor McGonagall slammed her book shut and said curtly, "It will be thirty-nine years this December."

"Oh...almost forty years..." Kanna exclaimed in surprise, "Has Professor McGonagall been at the school that long?"

"Of course, don't forget that many professors took her Transfiguration Class, such as Professor Snape, and..." Kyle pointed to Umbridge, indicating that she was also included.

As they were speaking, Umbridge, who had just jotted something down on the whiteboard, looked up again and asked:

"By the way, I've heard that many students have been injured in this course. Have you considered that perhaps there's a problem with your teaching methods?"

Professor McGonagall's eyebrows almost met, and she spoke in an extremely cold voice:

"I don't think I need anyone else to teach me how to take Transfiguration Class."

"Furthermore, if you are referring to Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Finnigan, I must tell you that even a simple Wand-Lighting Charm is not entirely safe for them."

"Oh?" Umbridge said. "Have you considered that for the students' safety, we could prevent them from using wands? Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

"I remember you fell down the stairs yesterday when you were running off campus," Professor McGonagall countered. "Why didn't you stay in your office the whole time?"

Umbridge didn't speak, but instead made a few notes on the whiteboard with a livid expression.

"Very good," she said. "You will receive the results of your investigation within ten days."

"I can't wait," Professor McGonagall said coldly, glancing at Umbridge who was rubbing the back of his hand, and then asked in a tone that seemed to be one of concern:

How is your hand?

"It's just a small matter." Umbridge was a little taken aback, mistaking Professor McGonagall's gesture for goodwill.

"Perhaps I encountered something enchanted while cleaning the office."

She said, "I'm not surprised at all. There wasn't a single normal person in that office before. They even had Moody, who was mentally unstable, and Werewolf..."

Umbridge said with disgust, "I threw everything away, including all the unreasonable systems in the school."

"Is that so?" Professor McGonagall gave him a meaningful look, but said nothing and strode toward the door.

She waved her wand, and a piece of parchment flew from the ground into Kyle's hand.

"So this is it, thank you, Professor McGonagall," Kyle said. "I couldn't find it earlier."

Kanna lowered her head somewhat awkwardly.

After all, the parchment was right there in the most conspicuous place by the door... How could Kyle so casually say that he hadn't found it...?

"Hurry up, don't be late for the next class," Professor McGonagall said before leaving the classroom.

Whether it was Kanna's imagination or not, she thought she saw Professor McGonagall smile just now.