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'So we're not supposed to be prepared for what's waiting for us out there？'
There is nothing waiting out there； Mr Potter。'
'Oh； yeah？' said Harry。 His temper； which seemed to have been bubbling just beneath the surface all day； was reaching boiling point。
'Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves？' enquired Professor Umbridge in a horribly honeyed voice。
'Hmm； let's think：' said Harry in a mock thoughtful voice。 'Maybe： Lord Voldemort？
Ron gasped； Lavender Brown uttered a little scream； Neville slipped sideways off his stool。 Professor Umbridge； however； did not flinch。 She was staring at Harry with a grimly satisfied expression on her face。
Ten points from Gryffindor； Mr Potter。'
The classroom was silent and still。 Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Harry。
'Now； let me make a few things quite plain。'
Professor Umbridge stood up and leaned towards them； her stubby…fingered hands splayed on her desk。
'You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead …'
'He wasn't dead；' said Harry angrily； 'but yeah； he's returned！'
'Mr…Potter…you…have…already…lost…your…house…ten…points…do…not…make…matters…worse…for…yourself；' said Professor Umbridge in one breath without looking at him。 'As I was saying； you have been informed that a certain Dark wizard is at large once again。 This is a lie。'
'It is NOT a lie！' said Harry。 'I saw him； I fought him！'
'Detention； Mr Potter！' said Professor Umbridge triumphantly。 Tomorrow evening。 Five o'clock。 My office。 I repeat； this is a lie。 The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard。 If you are still worried； by all means e and see me outside class hours。 If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards； I would like to hear about it。 I am here to help。 I am your friend。 And now； you will kindly continue your reading。 Page five； 〃Basics for Beginners〃。'
Professor Umbridge sat down behind her desk。 Harry； however； stood up。 Everyone was staring at him； Seamus looked half…scared； half…fascinated。
'Harry； no！' Hermione whispered in a warning voice； tugging at his sleeve； but Harry jerked his arm out of her reach。
'So； according to you； Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord； did he？' Harry asked； his voice shaking。
There was a collective intake of breath from the class； for none of them； apart from Ron and Hermione； had ever heard Harry talk about what had happened on the night Cedric had died。 They stared avidly from Harry to Professor Umbridge； who had raised her eyes and was staring at him without a trace of a fake smile on her face。
'Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident；' she said coldly。
'It was murder；' said Harry。 He could feel himself shaking。 He had hardly spoken to anyone about this； least of all thirty eagerly listening classmates。 'Voldemort killed him and you know it。'
Professor Umbridge's face was quite blank。 For a moment； Harry thought she was going to scream at him。 Then she said； in her softest； most sweetly girlish voice； 'e here； Mr Potter； dear。'
He kicked his chair aside； strode around Ron and Hermione and up to the teacher's desk。 He could feel the rest of the class holding its breath。 He felt so angry he did not care what happened next。
Professor Umbridge pulled a small roll of pink parchment out of her handbag； stretched it out on the desk； dipped her quill into a bottle of ink and started scribbling； hunched over so that Harry could not see what she was writing。 Nobody spoke。 After a minute or so she rolled up the parchment and tapped it with her wand； it sealed itself seamlessly so that he could not open it。
Take this to Professor McGonagall； dear；' said Professor Umbridge； holding out the note to him。
He took it from her without saying a word； turned on his heel and left the room； not even looking back at Ron and Hermione； slamming the classroom door shut behind him。 He walked very fast along the corridor； the note to McGonagall clutched tight in his hand； and turning a corner walked slap into Peeves the poltergeist； a wide…mouthed little man floating on his back in midair； juggling several inkwells。
'Why it's Potty Wee Potter！' cackled Peeves； allowing two of the inkwells to fall to the ground where they smashed and spattered the walls with ink； Harry jumped backwards out of the way with a snarl。
'Get out of it； Peeves。'
'Oooh； Crackpot's feeling cranky' said Peeves； pursuing Harry along the corridor； leering as he zoomed along above him。 'What is it this time； my fine Potty friend？ Hearing voices？ Seeing visions？ Speaking in …' Peeves blew a gigantic raspberry '… tongues？'
'I said； leave me ALONE！' Harry shouted； running down the nearest flight of stairs； but Peeves merely slid down the banister on his back beside him。
'Oh； most think he's barking； the potty wee lad； But some are more kindly and think he's just sad； But Peevesy knows better and says that he's mad …
'SHUT UP！'
A door to his left flew open and Professor McGonagall emerged from her office looking grim and slightly harassed。
'What on earth are you shouting about； Potter？' she snapped； as Peeves cackled gleefully and zoomed out of sight。 'Why aren't you in class？'
'I've been sent to see you；' said Harry stiffly。
'Sent？ What do you mean； sent？'
He held out the note from Professor Umbridge。 Professor McGonagall took it from him； frowning； slit it open with a tap of her wand； stretched it out and began to read。 Her eyes zoomed from side to side behind their square spectacles as she read what Umbridge had written； and with each line they became narrower。
'e in here； Potter。'
He followed her inside her study。 The door closed automatically behind him。
'Well？' said Professor McGonagall； rounding on him。 'Is this true？'
'Is what true？' Harry asked； rather more aggressively than he had intended。 'Professor？' he added； in an attempt to sound more polite。
'Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge？'
'Yes；' said Harry。
'You called her a liar？'
'Yes。'
'You told her He Who Must Not Be Named is back？'
'Yes。'
Professor McGonagall sat down behind her desk； watching Harry closely。 Then she said； 'Have a biscuit； Potter。'
'Have … what？'
'Have a biscuit；' she repeated impatiently； indicating a tartan tin lying on top of one of the piles of papers on her desk。 'And sit down。'
There had been a previous occasion when Harry； expecting to be caned by Professor McGonagall； had instead been appointed by her to the Gryffindor Quidditch team。 He sank into a chair opposite her and helped himself to a Ginger Newt； feeling just as confused and wrong…footed as he had done on that occasion。
Professor McGonagall set down Professor Umbridge's note and looked very seriously at Harry。
'Potter； you need to be careful。'
Harry swallowed his mouthful of Ginger Newt and stared at her。 Her tone of voice was not at all what he was used to； it was not brisk； crisp and stern； it was low and