Unseen University for extra magic

Classes

Umbridge began the lesson with her usual "Wands away." A few overly optimistic students put their wands back in their bags and took out their textbooks. Morgana and I, who shared a desk this time, had our copies of Dark Arts Defense already open in front of us, prepared for the painfully dull lesson we were about to have.

"As we finished chapter one last lesson," said Umbridge, "I would like you all to turn to page nineteen today and commence chapter two, 'Common Defensive Theories and Their Derivation.' There will be no need to talk."

I had finished chapter one last week and had continued onto chapter two in an attempt to keep myself occupied. Now, I flipped to chapter three and started skimming over the pages of the textbook. Every once in a while, I'd add a doodle of a stick figure putting a hex on toad-Umbridge to the margins.

"Granger's at it again," muttered Evie under her breath.

I looked up from my doodle and saw that, sure enough, two desks in front of me, Hermione Granger had her hand raised in the air and her gaze fixed on Umbridge. Umbridge was trying to ignore her, but as more and more students stopped doing their work and started to watch, Umbridge had little choice but to ask, "What is it this time, Miss Granger?"

"I've already read chapter two," said Granger.

I rolled my eyes. Morgana and I had all finished chapter two as well, but we weren't going to brag about it. Common sense said to move on to chapter three.

"Well then, proceed to chapter three," said Umbridge with a toothy smile.

"I've read that too," said Granger. "I've read the whole book."

Evie scoffed. "Overachiever."

I had never seen a surprised toad until I saw Umbridge's blank face. She quickly recovered, however, and said, "Well, then, you should be able to tell me what Slinkhard says about counter-jinxes in chapter fifteen."

"He says that counter-jinxes are improperly named," said Granger without missing a beat. "He says 'counter-jinx' is just a name people give their jinxes when they want to make them sound more acceptable."

Umbridge was impressed against her will.

"But I disagree," said Granger.

Umbridge's expression grew colder, and in a low voice, she asked, "You disagree?"

"Yes, I do," said Hermione loudly. "Mr. Slinkhard doesn't like jinxes, does he? But I think they can be very useful when they're used defensively."

"Oh, you do, do you?" said Professor Umbridge. "Well, I'm afraid it is Mr. Slinkhard's opinion, and not yours, that matters within this classroom, Miss Granger."

Granger opened her mouth to argue. "But—"

"That is enough," said Professor Umbridge, rising from her seat and moving to the window.

"Seriously?"

No one was surprised when Harry Potter's voice filled the classroom.

"Don't you get involved," hissed Granger.

I agreed with Granger. No one liked Umbridge's lessons, but that didn't mean we had to argue with her every single class period. Why couldn't Potter—and Granger, for that matter—put their heads down and pretend to do work like the rest of us for just one class.

"For disrupting my class with pointless interruptions," said Umbridge smoothly. "I am here to teach you using a Ministry approved method that does not include inviting students to give their opinions on matters about which they understand very little. Your previous teachers in this subject may have allowed you more license, but as none of them—with the possible exception of Professor Quirrell, who did at least appear to have restricted himself to age-appropriate subjects—would have passed a Ministry inspection—"