After Halloween, time seemed to fly.
Umbridge all but disappeared for a while. Students rarely saw her in other professors' classes. In fact, apart from History of Magic, she never appeared in a classroom at all.
They only ran into her occasionally in the corridors.
Everyone thought this was one of the few pleasant stretches of the term.
There was one exception: Susan Bones.
Umbridge kept harassing her.
More precisely, Umbridge kept trying to obtain "evidence." But Dumbledore had personally told Susan to stall, so Susan kept avoiding her.
Then came Umbridge's History of Magic class on November 6.
Umbridge droned on from the textbook as usual. Her voice was even more monotonous than Professor Binns's, as though she were the ghost who had been dead for years.
The students went about their own business as usual. Hufflepuff took the class with Gryffindor.
Harry was studying a book on Defense Against the Dark Arts with great concentration. He had discovered a new use for Mr. Strange: during Umbridge's lessons, Mr. Strange could teach him other subjects in real time.
Harry was making up for lost time in Defence Against the Dark Arts this term. He had been through far too much in the first half of the year.
Ron was reading a book of Wizard's Chess games—one of the few things that interested him.
Susan was leafing through a Herbology book. While she was absorbed in it, Umbridge came to her desk.
"Miss Bones, pay attention in class. Tell me, what was I just talking about?"
"Um..."
Susan had no idea, of course.
"Come to my office after class. I think we need to have a proper talk." Umbridge took Susan's book.
Everyone looked at Susan sympathetically. None of them liked Umbridge.
After class, in Umbridge's office.
Umbridge looked