Chapter 304: Meaning

"But, Quidditch..." The tall Slytherin man named Blackie spoke menacingly. It seemed like someone kicked him from behind. The ferocious expression on his face turned into some kind of confusion, and he closed his mouth unwillingly.

Umbridge said softly: "Yes, Quidditch. I heard that Mr. Flint was seriously injured? Honey, you don't know how sad the Ministry of Magic was when it heard the news! We feel It is necessary to do something..."

"Flint?" Blige repeated stupidly.

Katie snorted and said sarcastically: "Yes, the Ministry of Magic should introduce a law to prohibit people from jumping off brooms. This is too important, so after all this time, we still need a senior investigator. Share the worries for Mrs. Huo Qi."

"Miss Bell!" Anthony stopped her.

But Umbridge had turned to Katie, grinning broadly and contentedly. Anthony realized at once that she was waiting for someone to contradict her.

"Miss Bell, right?" Umbridge said in a high-pitched voice like a little girl, "What do you think?"

Katie glanced at Anthony and continued to say regardless: "Nothing, I'm just a little surprised... Let me think about it, how long ago was that? One year ago, or two years ago? God, I still I thought you were at least referring to Davis!"

Umbridge looked even more satisfied: "Thank you for reminding me of what happened to Mr. Davis. The Ministry of Magic is very sad that such a terrible thing happened... Of course, it is precisely because we take this matter particularly seriously that I Not to be confused with 'Quidditch' - Dark Magic Damage, my God, you have no idea how shocked we were when we heard this news. Unfortunately, some people seem to be trying to sweep it under the rug. It was an ordinary Quidditch incident." She said softly to Katie, who was staring at her. "I believe you are a smart and good girl. You must realize that you have been deceived right away, right?"

Professor Kettleburn answered Umbridge before Katie could.

"Don't talk crazy here." He said firmly, "This is my class, and you shouldn't waste my class time like this. I told you to leave."

Umbridge didn't even look at him, but said to the students (mainly Slytherin): "Remember, I am your friend. I came to Hogwarts to make this school a better place." Better. Some people may not adapt to this change, but the wrong branches must be pruned so that the big tree of education can grow more prosperously. Principal Dumbledore - please don't get me wrong, he is certainly a person. A powerful wizard - but we have to note with regret that he also has things he is not good at..."

"I've said enough!" cried Professor Kettleburn, raising his cane again. Umbridge glanced at the cane with some fear, but she immediately smiled again, stared into Professor Kettleburn's eyes, and hovered the quill above the writing board.

The students turned their heads, looking between Professor Kettleburn and Umbridge. Anthony could feel a certain silent anticipation and excitement surging beneath the tense atmosphere.

Suddenly there was a crunching sound in the clearing. Ponlock huddled in the corner, chewing on its nails.

Anthony took a breath and said to Hagrid: "It seems that get out of class is about to end, isn't it?"

"Huh?" Hagrid said confused, "What time is it now?"

There was a soft rustling sound. Umbridge put away her pen nonchalantly and nodded to Professor Kettleburn with a smile: "You will receive the results of your investigation next Monday."

She held the writing board to her chest, looked around the students, and opened her mouth with a bigger smile. Anthony remembered Harry and Ron's comments ("like toads trying to eat people") and quickly tried to maintain it. Keeping her face calm and not smiling inappropriately, Umbridge said: "I wish you all a good day."

She turned around and walked towards the castle.

Professor Kettleburn was so angry that his chest heaved violently. He stared at Umbridge's pink back, took a deep breath, and exhaled it for a long time, then slammed the cane on the ground and turned away impatiently.

"Ponlock," he said stiffly, staring at Ponlock, "is the guardian of horses and builds his nest on the straw stack."

The sound of Ponlock's crunching nails disappeared. Anthony also turned to look at it, and it began to cover its face with its paws again.

However, except for him, almost no one was looking at Ponlock. Even Hagrid didn't care about Professor Kettleburn's class, just watching Umbridge walk away.

"What does she mean, Henry?" he asked blankly. "What was she talking about?"

Anthony sighed: "Nothing, Hagrid. She was saying that Ponlock should eat pork."

Ponlock was still covering his face, as if he never wanted to put his front paws down again.

"That makes no sense," Hagrid said.

"That's right." Professor Kettleburn said angrily. "I'm going to talk to Albus. If he makes up his mind to let this damn inquisitor dictate things in the school, I'm going to go there. She’s got Salamanders and Thorns in her office.”

"Professor—" Anthony said, glancing in the student's direction.

Several heads had turned back, staring at Panglock absently, obviously listening to their chat. While Professor Kettleburn looked over, several people studied Panglock more diligently, counting its fingers ("Four," Anthony said amusedly) or discussing its distribution locations ("Dorset, England"). County and the South of Ireland," said Professor Kettleburn angrily, "I did").

"Okay, there's nothing to see there." Professor Kettleburn reminded the whispering students, who were still looking at the castle gate where Umbridge disappeared, "We have already told you that this is Ponlock, and it is very ugly. Trust humans, they get restless in crowded environments. Okay, get closer now, but don’t get too close. ”

Anthony also approached curiously. Hagrid stood not far away, Fang scratching its ears with his hind legs.

"You can observe its front paws and take a look at these fingers. Panglock uses them to dig the soil. Did you notice the remaining soil in the nails? It is covering its face, so you go around here... ...Yes, come here, squat down and look from here - see? That's its nose, Ponlock relies on it..."

Just then, the bell rang for the end of get out of class. Professor Kettleburn paused suddenly. The students were staring at him.

"Well, the homework after class is to write a paper about the living habits of Panglock, no less than eleven inches." Professor Kettleburn said angrily, "Give it to me before the next class. get out of class is over!" He said Watching the students leave, he turned to Anthony and Hagrid and complained, "The last time I didn't finish what I wanted to talk about in class was fifty years ago! If it hadn't been for that Umbridge who kept interrupting I……"

…

After appeasing Professor Kettleburn, Hagrid no longer wanted to show Anthony the zoo under construction. Under the explanations of Anthony and Professor Kettleburn, he finally understood that Umbridge was accusing Dumbledore of harboring dark magic users (Anthony's tone was very smooth), implying that Dumbledore hired many unqualified professors. Maybe not very good at running a school.

"This is a slander! An insult!" Hagrid said angrily on the way back. "Dumbledore is the best headmaster Hogwarts has ever had!" His voice was so loud that it startled several animals living near the Forbidden Forest. bird.

"I know, I know," said Anthony. "Don't be angry, Hagrid."

"The best, Henry, the greatest." Hagrid said firmly, "Dumbledore is a great man. I can't tolerate anyone speaking ill of him in front of me. When everyone believes in Riddle, only He believed in my innocence and helped me stay at Hogwarts..."

"You're exaggerating, Hagrid." A voice came from behind them, "My face must be red."

Anthony and Hagrid were startled. They turned their heads and saw Dumbledore walking from the direction of Hogsmeade, his long beard and loose hair swaying in the wind. Even in this dim weather, his pointed wizard hat painted with silver leaves still seemed to shine.

"Professor Dumbledore!" both Anthony and Hagrid said.

"Good afternoon," Dumbledore said with a smile, walking up to them. "Now that I've heard the compliments, I guess I'm not so unlucky today."

"Unlucky?" Anthony asked.

"Today's weather is not the best, and a button on my favorite wizard's robe is missing. The pig's head bar has sold out of mead again." Dumbledore said, "As a substitute, the bar The boss gave me a glass of gin instead of the honey lemonade I asked for. Now, don't let me complain. I hope you're having a good day."

"We're not lucky either," said Hagrid.

"Very lucky," Anthony said.

Dumbledore's eyes shone with interest: "Oh, what's going on?"

"Umbridge, that -" Hagrid held back a word, "I'm sorry, Professor Dumbledore. Umbridge, that investigator, talks nonsense everywhere. She not only disturbed Professor Kettleburn's lecture, but also What do you mean you don’t want to be the principal——"

He waved his hand like a leaf fan in the air, his voice became louder and louder with anger, and he told Dumbledore everything. Dumbledore kept listening with a smile, looking up at Hagrid with his head half raised, nodding encouragingly from time to time, as if Hagrid was not talking about Umbridge's provocation, but giving an interesting speech.

After Hagrid finished speaking, Dumbledore turned to Anthony.

"What about you, Henry? I'm glad to know that at least one of us is lucky."

Anthony shrugged: "Ms. Umbridge forgot that I had Muggle Studies in the morning and didn't investigate me for the time being."