Chapter 303 Ponlock and the Cane

Even from this distance, Anthony could tell that Umbridge was irritated. She moved her head and didn't say anything else. She just kept writing on her writing board.

"Okay, don't worry about her." Professor Kettleburn said to the students angrily, "Come closer and take a look at this Panglock. It's rare for you to encounter this kind of creature so close in the wild. , because it usually hides when it sees people... Hey, you!" He scolded a Slytherin boy, "If you don't want to be bitten, don't poke it with your fingers. ”

The boy retracted his hand angrily, looking unhappy. He was a bit stronger than the students around him. Anthony vaguely remembered that he seemed to be a member of the Slytherin Quidditch team, but he could not remember the other person's name.

"What does it eat, Professor Kettleburn?" Katie asked.

Professor Kettleburn said: "Grass. Depending on the Panglocks in different areas and different herds, they may have their own preferences. Generally speaking..."

"Alfalfa," Hagrid said to Anthony, "but they don't like to eat alfalfa flowers."

Anthony nodded and said, "Let's go, Hagrid."

"Oh, okay." Hagrid glanced in Umbridge's direction again in confusion before looking away, "Is she also here for the Care of Magical Creatures class?"

"What?" Anthony hesitated, "Well, maybe, who knows. I mean, I heard that she didn't take this course during school."

"She missed too much." Hagrid said with certainty, pushing aside the intertwined dead branches in front of him, bending down and walking in the woods, "This way, Henry, this is closer..."

At this moment, Yaya suddenly stopped. Immediately afterwards, both Anthony and Hagrid heard people's exclamations, coming from the Care of Magical Creatures classroom.

"What happened?" Anthony asked, already turning around and starting to run in that direction. Hagrid strode beside him, followed by Fang.

"I don't know, someone may be injured... The students formed a circle..." Hagrid used his height to look around and told Anthony, "In the middle stood Umbridge and Professor Kettleburn. Everyone is very angry.”

Anthony could already hear Umbridge shrieking, "You're going to pay for this!"

"Yes, yes, I know. I'm on probation again," Professor Kettleburn told her loudly, "and you've paid the price. I warned you what would happen if you didn't shut up. "He waved his cane and made a motion to drive Umbridge away, "Go!"

Umbridge's hand squeezed the writing board tightly and she gritted her teeth and said, "No, you will be expelled."

"And you will go to hell." Professor Kettleburn said disdainfully, "How are you going to expel me? With those Regulations for the Regulation of Dangerous Magical Creatures, or some "Course Standards"?"

"For attacking the Senior Inquisitor," Umbridge said.

The word "senior investigator" seemed to give her some strength, and her voice became sibilant again. She quickly listed on the writing board: "Deliberately obstructing the investigation of the Senior Inquisitor... showing inappropriate magical animals to students... Well, let me think about it..." She glanced at the Slytherin boy and lowered his head. What else did I remember, "I don't care about the aggression of magical animals..."

"Professor Kettleburn!" Anthony said, walking quickly from the woods, "I heard some movement here, came over to see if there is anything I can help with - Oh, Ms. Umbridge, good afternoon." He smiled at Umbridge and looked at Panglock again. Ponlock was trying hard to shrink himself into the shadow corner of the cage, only showing two eyes full of distrust.

Umbridge raised her eyebrows and replied: "Good afternoon, Professor Anthony."

At this time, Hagrid also emerged from the woods, holding Fang in his hand, and squeezed through the students. Yaya was panting, and the white mist almost buried its head. Several students looked at its sharp teeth in awe.

Umbridge glanced at the big dog, her smile becoming even more uncomfortable.

"Everything looks okay," Anthony said to Hagrid. "No one seems to be hurt."

The student behind him whispered, "Except for Umbridge getting a cane slap on the arm."

Another student said, "Wouldn't that be better?"

Anthony was sure Umbridge heard it too. Still wearing a fake smile, she glanced coldly in their direction, turned her head and asked the Slytherin boy: "What do you think of Professor Kettleburn's class?"

"How is it?" the boy repeated.

"What do you think of the arrangement of this course?" Umbridge asked in a persuasive way, "If you knew about Pyrrhoc before... practical activities like this." Professor Kettleburn said ) is only relevant, do you think this will help your study?”

The tall boy looked at her with his mouth open. Anthony could almost hear the sound of his brain trying to work, like rusty gears creaking.

"Say 'yes,' Blackie," said an impatient voice. "That's the answer she wants."

Umbridge pretended not to hear: "Or, to put it another way, do you think Care of Magical Creatures courses are dangerous?"

Blake finally realized who was asking him the question and what kind of answer the questioner expected.

"Dangerous, extremely dangerous," he added, "I nearly had my finger bitten off."

"Oh, that's too bad," Umbridge said with satisfaction, continuing to write on the clipboard.

Hagrid said in shock, "Ponlock is not dangerous at all!"

Even though Hagrid's credibility in this regard has been repeatedly lowered, Anthony couldn't help but think that he might be telling the truth. Judging from Ponlock's reaction, it might think that humans are the most dangerous.

Umbridge seemed to have not heard Hagrid's words at all, and was only busy writing on the clipboard.

"What exactly are you here to investigate?" Katie asked, "Can we continue with the class?"

"I'm here to make sure you're getting a proper education, dear." Umbridge said kindly, "Before you become a qualified wizard, you need to be carefully cared for..."

"The first lesson to becoming a qualified wizard is not to touch things you don't understand." Professor Kettleburn said bluntly, "Try to get close to the Whomping Willow, I promise it won't be more gentle than Ponlock."

Umbridge said unmoved: "Specifically, the reason I'm here, Miss, is because we care about your education. We are willing to do everything we can to ensure that the next generation of wizards are receiving the education they should receive, rather than-" She paused meaningfully, "Let the learning progress be interrupted by all kinds of trivial matters, such as the troll in the underground classroom, or Quidditch with all kinds of problems."