Destined | The Order of the Phoenix : Book 5

Sucking Up to the Toad

Kiana

"Oh, come on, we were joking yesterday," Hermione frowned.

I ignored their presence and walked down the corridor. Filch was putting up another rule of Umbridge. I rolled my eyes but decided to see what it was.

--- 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:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
HIGH INQUISITOR

"Does this mean they're going to shut down the Gobstones Club," a second year asked his friend.

"I reckon you'll be okay without Gobstones," I said, making the second year jump.

I then faced Christian.

"I don't think we're going to be as lucky, though, do you," I asked Christian as the second years hurried away.

I was reading the notice through again. The happiness that had filled me since Saturday was gone. My insides were pulsing with rage.

"This isn't a coincidence," I said, my hands forming fists. "She knows."

"She can't," said Christian 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."

And I had thought they believed Potter, thought they even admired Potter . . .

"Zacharias Smith!" said Ron at once, punching a fist into his hand. "Or I thought that Michael Corner had a really shifty look too -"

"I wonder if Hermione's seen this yet," Christian said, looking around at the door to the girls' dormitories.

"Let's go and tell her," said Ron.

He bounded forward, pulled open the door, and set off up the spiral staircase. He was on the sixth stair when it happened. There was a loud, wailing, klaxonlike sound and the steps melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide. There was a brief moment when Ron tried to keep running, arms working madly like windmills, then he toppled over backward and shot down the newly created slide, coming to rest on his back at Harry's feet.

"Er I don't think we're allowed in the girls' dormitories," said Harry, pulling Ron to his feet and trying not to laugh.

"Boys aren't allowed up," I said.

Two fourth-year girls came zooming gleefully down the stone slide.

"Oooh, who tried to get upstairs," they giggled happily, leaping to their feet and ogling Harry, Christian, Jake and Ron.