After dinner, Jerry followed Hermione into the Gryffindor Common Room, set down his schoolbag with practiced ease, and began his History of Magic homework. His Slytherin uniform stood out sharply among the Gryffindors.
As a Slytherin student, Jerry was not supposed to be in the Gryffindor Common Room. He used to drop by only occasionally and leave soon after, but since Hermione had become a Prefect, his visits had grown more frequent, and she did nothing to stop him.
"Divination was awful today!" Harry suddenly slapped his quill down beside his ink bottle, sending a few drops flying. "Trelawney cried to us about how badly Umbridge's evaluation had gone. She might even be put on probation."
"Funny enough, Umbridge and Hermione agree on one thing—they both think Professor Trelawney is a complete fraud."
Hermione's quill stopped abruptly. She looked up at Harry, a spark of displeasure in her eyes. "Hey!"
"No wonder. Professor Trelawney told Umbridge to her face that she foresaw bloodshed in her future!" Ron said from the sofa.
"Umbridge rejected our request for Quidditch practice." Angelina's voice rang out, hollow and weak.
"I didn't say anything to Umbridge, Angelina. Really!" Harry stared at her in shock. "I was as quiet as a gnome in Defence Against the Dark Arts today!"
"She said she needed time to 'consider it carefully.'" Angelina's voice sounded as if it came from beneath a sheet of ice. Anger flickered in her vacant eyes.
Ron suddenly sat up, his freckles standing out against his flushed face. "How did those Slytherin bastards get approved? Why can't we?"
"Look on the bright side," Hermione said. "At least you'll have time to finish that essay Snape gave you as punishment, Harry."
"How is that the bright side?" Harry raked his hands through his already messy black