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'But if he was supposed to be back by now：' said Hermione in a small； anxious voice。
'Madame Maxime was with him； we've been in touch with her and she says they got separated on the journey home … but there's nothing to suggest he's hurt or … well； nothing to suggest he's not perfectly OK。'
Unconvinced； Harry； Ron and Hermione exchanged worried looks。
'Listen； don't go asking too many questions about Hagrid；' said Sirius hastily； 'it'll just draw even more attention to the fact that he's not back and I know Dumbledore doesn't want that。 Hagrid's tough； he'll be OK。' And when they did not appear cheered by this； Sirius added； 'When's your next Hogsmeade weekend； anyway？ I was thinking； we got away with the dog disguise at the station； didn't we？ I thought I could …'
'NO！' said Harry and Hermione together； very loudly。
'Sirius； didn't you see the Daily Prophet？' said Hermione anxiously。
'Oh； that；' said Sirius； grinning； 'they're always guessing where I am； they haven't really got a clue …'
'Yeah； but we think this time they have；' said Harry。 'Something Malfoy said on the train made us think he knew it was you； and his father was on the platform； Sirius … you know； Lucius Malfoy … so don't e up here； whatever you do。 If Malfoy recognises you again …'
'All right； all right； I've got the point；' said Sirius。 He looked most displeased。 'Just an idea； thought you might like to get together。'
'I would； I just don't want you chucked back in Azkaban！' said Harry。
There was a pause in which Sirius looked out of the fire at Harry； a crease between his sunken eyes。
'You're less like your father than I thought；' he said finally； a definite coolness in his voice。 The risk would've been what made it fun for James。'
'Look …'
'Well； I'd better get going； I can hear Kreacher ing down the stairs；' said Sirius； but Harry was sure he was lying。 I'll write to tell you a time I can make it back into the fire； then； shall I？ If you can stand to risk it？'
There was a tiny pop； and the place where Sirius's head had been was flickering flame once more。
… CHAPTER FIFTEEN …
The Hogwarts High Inquisitor
They had expected to have to b Hermione's Daily Prophet carefully next morning to find the article Percy had mentioned in his letter。 However； the departing delivery owl had barely cleared the top of the milk jug when Hermione let out a huge gasp and flattened the newspaper to reveal a large photograph of Dolores Umbridge； smiling widely and blinking slowly at them from beneath the headline。
MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED
FIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR
'Umbridge … 〃High Inquisitor〃？' said Harry darkly； his half…eaten piece of toast slipping from his fingers。 'What does that mean？' Hermione read aloud：
'In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry。
'〃The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings…on at Hogwarts for some time；〃 said junior Assistant to the Minister； Percy Weasley。 〃He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents； who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve of。〃
'This is not the first time in recent weeks that the Minister； Cornelius Fudge； has used new laws to effect improvements at the
wizarding school。 As recently as 30ih August； Educational Decree Number Twenty…two was passed； to ensure that； in the event of the current Headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post； the Ministry should select an appropriate person。 '〃That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts；〃 said Weasley last night。 〃Dumbledore couldn't find anyone so the Minister put in Umbridge； and of course； she's been an immediate success …〃'
'She's been a WHAT？' said Harry loudly。 'Wait； there's more；' said Hermione grimly。
'〃… an immediate success； totally revolutionising the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on…the…ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts。〃
'It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalised with the passing of Educational Decree Number Twenty…three； which creates the new position of Hogwarts High Inquisitor。
'〃This is an exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the falling standards at Hogwarts；〃 said Weasley。 〃The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are ing up to scratch。 Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post and we are delighted to say that she has accepted。〃
'The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts。
〃T feel much easier in my mind now that I know Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation；〃 said Mr Lucius Malfoy； 4I； speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night。 〃Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and are glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation。〃
'Among those eccentric decisions are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper； which have included the employment of werewolf Remus Lupin； half…giant Rubeus Hagrid and delusional ex…Auror； 〃Mad…Eye〃 Moody。
'Rumours abound； of course； that Albus Dumbledore； once Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot； is no longer up to the task of managing the prestigious school of Hogwarts。
'〃I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is a first step towards ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in whom we can all repose our confidence；〃 said a Ministry insider last night。
'Wizengamot elders Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden have resigned in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts。
'〃Hogwarts is a school； not an outpost of Cornelius Fudge's office；〃 said Madam Marchbanks。 〃This is a further； disgusting attempt to discredit Albus Dumbledore。〃
'（For a full account of Madam Marchbanks's alleged links to 。 subversive goblin groups； turn to page seventeen。）'
Hermione finished reading and looked across the table at the other two。
'So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge！ Fudge passed this 〃Educational Decree〃 and forced her on us！ And now he's given her the power to inspect the other teachers！' Hermione was breathing fast and her eyes were very bright。 'I can't believe this。 It's outrageous！'
'I know it is；' said Harry。 He looked down at his right hand； clenched on the table…top； and saw the faint white outline of the words Umbridge had forced him to cut into his skin。
But a grin was unfurling on Ron's face。
'What？' said Harry and Hermione together； staring at him。
'Oh； I can't wait to see McGonagall inspected；' said Ron happily。 'Umbrid