Callidora ☆ Fred Weasley

[chapter 195]

By mid-morning, Hogwarts had acquired a new decoration.

Calli encountered the first one outside the Great Hall.

A large notice had been pinned prominently to the wall.

Then another appeared beside the marble staircase.

Another outside the library.

Another near the courtyard.

By lunch, they seemed to be everywhere.

Not merely notice boards.

Walls.

Corridors.

Classroom doors.

Even one particularly ambitious copy beside a suit of armour.

Calli stopped in front of it.

BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS

Any student found in possession of the magazine The Quibbler will be expelled.

Dolores Jane Umbridge

High Inquisitor

Calli read it.

Then beamed.

Fred, walking beside her, stopped.

He looked at the notice.

Then at Calli.

Then back at the notice.

"Why do you look delighted?"

"Because she's an idiot."

Fred's eyebrows rose.

Calli gestured towards the decree.

"She just made sure everyone at Hogwarts is going to read The Quibbler."

Fred considered it.

"How?"

"She's forbidden it."

"So?"

Calli stared at him.

"Fred."

"What?"

"It's like telling you not to prank anyone and expecting you to listen."

Fred's expression cleared.

"Ah."

"Exactly."

He looked at the decree with newfound appreciation.

"That's actually quite clever of her."

"Completely accidentally."

"Obviously."

George appeared behind them.

"What are we admiring?"

"Umbridge's latest contribution to Harry's publicity campaign." Calli said.

George read the decree.

His face lit up.

"Oh, everyone's going to read it."

"Precisely."

Fred looked between them.

"I understood eventually."

"Well done." Calli said, patting his arm.

Fred caught her hand.

"You wound me love." 

"I could still leave you for Luna's father."

"You've threatened me with that twice today."

"He's a brave man."