Umbridge

Inside the Potions Classroom, all the students sat obediently in their seats.

"Quiet," Snape said coldly, closing the classroom door behind him.

In fact, he didn't need to order everyone to be quiet at all. As soon as the door closed, the whole class fell silent, and all their fidgeting stopped. Generally speaking, Snape's mere presence was enough to silence the entire class.

"Before we begin our lessons today," Snape strode to the podium, looking sternly at them, and said, "I think I need to remind you that you'll be taking an important exam next June, where you'll prove how much you've learned about Potions- making and potion-using. Although there are a few truly slow learners in this class, I expect you all to barely pass the OWL exam, or I'll... be very angry."

The classroom fell silent, and several Gryffindor students unconsciously shrank back. His gaze this time landed on Neville's face, and Neville gasped in fright.

Then, Snape's lips curled into a slight smile as his gaze fell on Skylar Malfoy, his tone softening subtly. "By the way—congratulations to Skylar Malfoy on winning the Wizarding Schools Potions Championship. Unlike some of those low-IQ guys, he's at least proven he's still somewhat useful."

He gently raised his hand, gesturing to Skylar —who simply leaned back lazily in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips, seemingly unsurprised by the praise.

Snape withdrew his gaze and added coldly, "Of course, after this year, many of you will no longer be able to attend my classes. I only select the best students for my NEWT Potions class, which means we will have to say goodbye to some of you."

Snape pouted slightly, his gaze fixed on Harry's face. For some reason, Harry glared back defiantly. This wasn't a wise move, but Harry felt a strange sense of exhilaration, a vicious satisfaction. Ever since his fight with Seamus, he had become fascinated by this thrill of "breaking free from the constraints of conduct or morality."

He had the courage to fight even against Voldemort, so why should he put on a good boy act in front of Snape, Umbridge, and other students who didn't understand him, making himself timid and unhappy?

As it turned out, going against Snape would not end well. Snape asked them to prepare a Draught of Peace in class, which was the most difficult and time-consuming one. The ingredients had to be added to the crucible in a strict order and in the correct quantities, and the mixture had to be stirred a specified number of times, neither too much nor too little.

After stirring clockwise, it's counter-clockwise. When the cauldron boils, the flame temperature must be reduced to a certain standard and maintained for a certain time before the last ingredient can be added. This complicated potion undoubtedly gave Harry, Ron, and the others a big headache, and Snape was waiting for just such an opportunity.

Harry's potion was only slightly less than Snape's expectations, and Snape used the Vanishing Spell to remove it, resulting in a zero on his Potions assignment. Harry's heart darkened further, a suppressed anger burning within him, waiting to be unleashed.

Skylar watched this scene with a thoughtful expression.

Harry's reaction was very strange.

Although Harry had always been a grumpy little brat, he had never been this reckless—wearing his hostility and dissatisfaction with Snape on his sleeve. Didn't he know this would get him into trouble?

Neither he nor Snape were people he could afford to mess with.

History of Magic is widely considered the most tedious course ever designed in the wizarding world. Their Ghost teacher, Professor Binns, speaks in a wheezing, drawn-out tone that can almost certainly put anyone to sleep within ten minutes; if the weather is hot, five minutes will suffice.

Today, Professor Binns is lecturing on the topic of the Giant Wars.

Skylar was quite interested in this topic, after all, he had just formed a Giant army under his command.

A better understanding of the Giant's history would help him comprehend Giant abilities, culture, and way of thinking, allowing him to better utilize this force. However, it was clear that Skylar's idea did not gain the approval of most of the Little Snakes. Everyone, including Draco and Daphne, was still half-asleep and in a daze, and even Goyle and Crabbe were openly fast asleep.

When the students entered the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, Professor Umbridge was already sitting behind the podium, wearing the same fluffy pink cardigan she had worn the night before, and this time with a black velvet bow on her head. Harry once again vividly and strongly thought of a large fly foolishly landing on an even larger toad.

"Good afternoon, students!" she said after everyone was seated.

Several students mumbled "Good afternoon" in response.

"Tsk, tsk," said Professor Umbridge, "That won't do, will it? I want you to answer like this: 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' Please do it again, students, good afternoon!"

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they replied in unison.

"That's right," Umbridge said in a sweet, coquettish voice. "It's not too difficult, is it? Please put away your wand and take out your quill."

Many students exchanged frustrated glances. Following the command "put away your wands" was never a fun class for them, and what happened next proved it right.

Umbridge preached in class that "Defence Against the Dark Arts should return to its basic principles," without using wands or teaching spells, but instead imparting a so-called carefully arranged, theory-centered, Ministry of Magic approved Defense Against the Dark Arts.

After that, she had everyone bring out Will Slinka's "Defensive Magical Theory" and read it quietly, making the students sit there reading for the entire two class periods.

The content of "Defensive Magical Theory" was dry and tedious, filled with long, complex sentences, making it even more boring than Professor Binns's most tedious lectures on the History of Magic. The classroom was silent, as if everyone was numbly propping their heads up with their hands, staring at the pages, and trying their best not to fall asleep.

Many students hadn't turned a page in a long time, but Umbridge didn't seem to care. She sat in the chair behind the podium, looking at each young wizard in the classroom, lost in thought.

Skylar quite enjoyed the atmosphere. The book in his hands wasn't some kind of "Defensive Magical Theory," but rather the most wicked book of Dark Arts. If Umbridge had seen it, she would probably have fainted from anger. However, Skylar had simply used Transfiguration to change the cover. He read it with great interest, enjoying the pleasure of reading.

Others weren't as lucky as him.

Beside Skylar, Draco stared Dazed at the same spot in the book. Goyle and Crabbe had vacant eyes, and drool even dripped from their mouths, as if their souls had left their bodies.

This was a nightmare. Although Professor Binns was a bit long-winded, he allowed students to do other things, such as sleeping or playing games, as long as it didn't interfere with his lecture. Umbridge, however, was clearly different. Students were not allowed to talk, sleep, fidget, or even lie on their desks. They had to sit up straight and pretend to be reading for the entire class.

Hermione had really wanted to raise her hand and ask a question, just like she did in the original story. However, when she caught a glimpse of Skylar engrossed in his book, an uncontrollable competitive spirit arose within her. She steeled herself and began to immerse herself in the book as well.

Harry sighed deeply. He felt himself caught up in the emotions he had during the opening banquet, but this time he was even angrier and more agitated. The effects of last night's fight with Seamus hadn't really dissipated yet, not even now, from Snape's sarcastic remarks in Potions to the dream interpretation that made him drowsy in Divination Class, and now Umbridge.

He felt that the whole day was terrible. It was as if someone had pushed his head underwater, making it hard to breathe. His chest felt suffocated. When he finally managed to finish reading the first page, he felt a suffocating sensation rising in his lungs, and he felt like he was about to explode.

"This is insane—" Harry slammed the book shut, and the classroom fell even quieter. Everyone looked up at Harry. Ron's mouth dropped open, and he tried to reach out and pull Harry back. Hermione were also full of worry.

"Darling, what did you just say?" Umbridge quickly walked over to Harry, her tiny, beady eyes staring at Harry in disbelief at what she had just heard.

"This is ridiculous! Don't you find it laughable?" Harry pushed aside his spellbook and jumped to his feet, taller than Umbridge. "In our Defence Against the Dark Arts class, we don't learn how to use defensive spells, and we can't even touch our wands?"

"Use a defensive spell?" Professor Umbridge chuckled softly, repeating, "Well, I can't imagine a situation where you'd need to use a defensive spell in my class, Mr. Potter. You don't really think you'll be attacked during class, do you?"

"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—"

"Nonsense!" Harry shouted with a sneer. The classroom fell silent at his words, but many students nodded silently, their faces showing agreement. Clearly, they supported Harry's statement.

Umbridge stared at Harry, a vicious, satisfied look on her face.

"Gryffindor loses ten points, Mr. Potter."

The classroom was silent. Everyone was either staring at Umbridge or at Harry.

Harry's anger had been churning inside him all day, and it was about to explode.

"Voldemort has been resurrected, and immense danger lies before us. Yet you, and your Ministry of Magic, are utterly indifferent to this, demanding that we continue studying theoretical knowledge. Are we to rely on theoretical knowledge to persuade Death Eaters when they threaten our lives with their wands?"

Harry stood there, his voice carrying clearly to everyone's ears. The students stared at him in Dazed. Seamus Finnigan looked half frightened and half curious. Even Draco couldn't help but show concern; not because he was worried about Harry, but because he couldn't believe Harry dared to speak like that in front of Umbridge.

"Solitary confinement, Mr. Potter!" Professor Umbridge said smugly. "Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. In my office. I'll say it again, it's nonsense. The Ministry of Magic guarantees you will not encounter any danger from dark wizards... The so-called resurrection of dark wizards is just a rumor fabricated by someone with malicious intent."

Harry continued to argue, his voice rising to the point of roaring.

As a result, Umbridge gave him the most severe punishment: starting tomorrow, Harry would have to go to her office for solitary confinement every night at five o'clock this week.

At this point, Harry had no idea what kind of nightmare he was about to face.