Ophelia || Harry Potter

Chapter 77

It was the next day and to say there was a spy near our meeting would be correct

I was eating breakfast with my friends as we suddenly heard banding on the walls. We instantly knew this must be a proclamation or announcement since it was the exact noise from when she became High Inquisitor

The lot of us go out of the great hall to see a notice. Since I was at the front, I read it out to them;

"BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS. All student organisations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded. An organisation, society, team, group or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No student organisation, society, team, group or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organisation, society, team, group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor"

"What?!" Hermione gasped

"Does this mean they're going to shut down the Gobstones Club?" A worried second year Gryffindor asked their friend

"I reckon you'll be OK with Gobstones" Ron said darkly, making the second year jump "I don't think we're going to be as lucky, though, do you?" he asked Harry as the second years hurried away. Harry was reading the notice through again

"This isn't a coincidence" he said, his hands forming fists "She knows"

"She can't" said Ron at once

"There were people listening in that pub. And let's face it, we don't know how many of the people who turned up we can trust...any of them could have run off and told Umbridge..."

"Zacharias Smith!" said Ron at once, punching a fist into his hand "Or - I thought that Michael Corner had a really shifty look, too-" He then paused taking a deep breath but his anger rose "Someone must have blabbed to her!" Ron said angrily

"They can't have done" said Hermione in a low voice

"You're so naive" said Ron, "you think just because you're all honourable and trustworthy-"

"No, they can't have done, because I put a jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed" said Hermione grimly "Believe me, if anyone's run off and told Umbridge, we'll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it"

I smirked at Ron who was slightly embarrassed until he composed himself again

"What'll happen to them?" said Ron eagerly

"Well, put it this way" said Hermione "it'll make Eloise Midgeon's acne look like a couple of cute freckles"

"Perhaps it wasn't a student" I suggest turning to face them "Perhaps someone in the pub told Umbridge"

"Maybe" Hermione shrugs "We'll find out soon enough I guess"

We all walked back to the great hall sitting down and continuing with our breakfast

"Hedwig was hurt this morning" Harry randomly said

"She was?" I gasp feeling sympathetic for the bird "What happened?"

"I'm not sure but whatever it was, she was protecting the letter it seems"

"Who was it from?" Ginny asks

"Well, I've been messaging Sirius to see what information he can pass to us" Harry admits giving me a small glance to see my reaction

"Good idea" I smile which seemingly makes him relax