Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

Chapter 972: New Educational Decrees and Punishments

Chapter 972: New Educational Decrees and Punishments

“Wait a moment, make your words clear. Which one was Michael Corner?” Ron demanded furiously, panting heavily.

“The dark one,” said Hermione.

“I didn’t like him,” said Ron at once.

“Big surprise,” said Hermione under her breath. “This is exactly why Ginny hasn’t told you these things. She knew you’d take it badly, harping on about it like you are now.”

“What do you mean? Who’s taking anything badly? I’m not going to harp on about anything!” Ron said, dissatisfied.

“You can think whatever you want, never mind. Just go find Lavender,” Hermione said feebly. “Weren’t you supposed to meet at Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop? Don’t keep her waiting for too long.”

“I’m already annoying her, what love!” Ron muttered quietly. “Makes no sense.”

Evan also supported Ginny’s attempt to find a new boyfriend. Although he also wanted to match Harry and Ginny, and helped them become dance partners at the Yule Ball last year, it was obvious that Harry’s mind was not on Ginny at all, and no one else could help with such matters.

Evan couldn’t let Ginny wait for Harry there. Whenever he finally figured out that the girl around him was better than anyone else, it would be unfair to Ginny. After all, it was just dating, not marriage. It was better to let things happen naturally…

If Evan had that much ability, he would also like to match Neville and Luna, Colin and a third-year Hufflepuff girl.

But after a few contacts, the two sides didn’t feel it at all, and no matter how eager others were, it was useless.

Harry was thinking about Cho with all his heart. Because of Cedric, Cho must be very sad now, but he didn’t know what she was thinking. She did seem to have a liking for Evan, but since Evan and Hermione went public with their relationship, she probably felt that she didn’t have much of a chance. In fact, after that, Evan received fewer love letters than before.

But this didn’t mean that Cho would like Harry. Evan thought she might be interested in those tall and big guys.

Listening to Hermione and Ron’s discussion, Harry didn’t join in.

His head was still full of the scene when Cho left, and he did not find this subject quite as interesting as Ron, who was positively quivering with indignation, but it did bring something home to him that until now he had not really registered.

“So that’s why she talks now?” he asked Hermione. “She never used to talk in front of me.”

“Exactly, because she was shy. But it doesn’t matter now!” said Hermione. “Evan and I have to go. I need to buy a new quill. With all the assignments lately, they’re getting used up too quickly. We’ll see you at school later!”

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Overall, the rest of the weekend was more enjoyable.

Evan and Hermione studied the charter, the name of the group, and the content to be taught in the first class. He was going to start from the basics, and let Harry act as his assistant. Harry was strong in Defense Against the Dark Arts and his skills were recognized by everyone.

If Evan left school one day, with Harry and Hermione around, the organization could continue to operate.

Besides that, he also sought out the younger students who couldn’t make it to Hogsmeade and discussed the results of their previous meeting at the Hog’s Head Inn. Once he received their agreement, he had them write their names on the list.

In the end, the confirmed total was around forty people, and Evan felt the number was still too small.

But this wasn’t something to be rushed. People would gradually join once the activities began. He also wanted to get the prefects involved.

While Evan and Hermione were busy with this, Harry, Ron, and Colin were all working on their assignments.

The last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather than sitting hunched over tables in the common room, they took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech tree on the edge of the lake, as many did.

The pleasant atmosphere lasted until Sunday afternoon when Umbridge returned!

Evan didn’t see her in person, and he didn’t know what happened to the curse scar on her face, but he saw a new Educational Decree and a large sign affixed to the Gryffindor notice board.

When he and Hermione returned from checking out the grounds in the Room of Requirement, they saw many people gathered in front of the notice board.

It was a huge new notice, so large that it covered everything else on the notice board, including the lists of secondhand spellbooks for sale, the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training schedule, the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog cards for others, the Weasleys’ new advertisement for testers, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends, and the lost-and-found notices.

The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature.

“Educational Decree Number Twenty-four “:

— 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).

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.

Below was another Educational Decree, Number Twenty-five, it seemed that Umbridge had gone ruthless!

“Educational Decree Number Twenty -five”:

The High Inquisitor will henceforth have supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions, and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions, and removals of privileges as may have been ordered by other staff members.

The signatures under both Educational Decrees were Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, Order of Merlin First Class, etc., etc…

In addition to that, after the implementation of Educational Decree Number Twenty-five, Umbridge’s first punishment decree came into effect, removing Evan from his position as the Head Boy.

“She revoked your position as Head Boy. How could she do that…”

“If this Educational Decree is in effect, then she has the authority to do so. Even the headmaster can’t stop her. In this aspect, she’s above the headmaster. But I don’t care about the position of Head Boy,” said Evan nonchalantly. “If I’m exempted, so be it.”

Although the High Inquisitor had the power to make the final decision on punishments, Dumbledore’s bottom line was certainly the authority to expel students. That was something Fudge and Umbridge couldn’t take away, at least not before he left Hogwarts. So Evan didn’t need to worry too much.

As long as there was no excuse left, Umbridge would not be able to do much to him. This was probably her limit!

As for finding excuses to put Evan in detention, she probably wouldn’t dare to do so after the last incident!

Anyway, removing him from the Head Boy was a meaningless punishment for Evan. If Dumbledore left Hogwarts, he certainly wouldn’t stay here either…

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