Raised By Wolfstar: Slytherin Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Chapter Eighteen: Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four

Harry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he had done all term. He and the others spent much of Sunday catching up with all their homework again, and although this could hardly be called fun, the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather than sitting hunched over tables in the common room, they took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech tree on the edge of the lake. Theodore, who of course was up to date with all her work, was just reading Daily Prophet articles on a picnic blanket with Colin.

The knowledge that they were doing something to resist Umbridge and the Ministry, and that he was a key part of the rebellion, gave Harry a feeling of immense satisfaction. He kept reliving Saturday's meeting in his mind: all those people, coming to him to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts...and the looks on their faces as they had heard some of the things he had done...and Cho praising his performance in the Triwizard Tournament...The knowledge that all those people did not think him a lying weirdo, but someone to be admired, buoyed him up so much that he was still cheerful on Monday morning, despite the imminent prospect of some of his least favorite classes.

He and Allison headed upstairs from their dormitory together, discussing Terence's idea that they were to work on a new move during that night's Quidditch practice, and not until they were halfway across the lantern lit common room did they notice the addition to the room that had already attracted the attention of a small group of people.

A large sign had been affixed to the Slytherin notice board, so large that it covered everything else on there—the lists of second-hand spellbooks for sale, the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training schedule, the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog cards for others, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends, and the lost-and-found notices. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature.

"—by order of—

The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An Organization, 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 Organization, 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 Organization, 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:

high inquisitor"

Harry and Allison read the notice over the heads of some anxious-looking first years.

'Do we have to re-form our Exploding Snap club?' one of them asked her friend.

'You'll probably be fine with Exploding Snap, I don't think you're the targeted group,' Allison said darkly, making the first year jump. 'I think we may be in trouble though, Harry?' she asked Harry as the first years hurried away.

Harry was reading the notice through again. The happiness that had filled him since Saturday was gone. His insides were pulsing with rage.

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

'How could she?' questioned Allison.

'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...'