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'But；' said Ron； following Hermione along a row of quills in copper pots； 'I thought Ginny fancied Harry！'
Hermione looked at him rather pityingly and shook her head。
'Ginny used to fancy Harry； but she gave up on him months ago。 Not that she doesn't like you； of course；' she added kindly to Harry while she examined a long black and gold quill。
Harry； whose head was still full of Cho's parting wave； 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；' said Hermione。 'Yes； I think I'll have this one：'
She went up to the counter and handed over fifteen Sickles and two Knuts； with Ron still breathing down her neck。
'Ron；' she said severely as she turned and trod on his feet； 'this is exactly why Ginny hasn't told you she's seeing Michael； she knew you'd take it badly。 So don't harp on about it； for heaven's sake。'
'What d'you mean？ Who's taking anything badly？ I'm not going to harp on about anything：' Ron continued to chunter under his breath all the way down the street。
Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry and then said in an undertone； while Ron was still muttering imprecations about Michael Corner； 'And talking about Michael and Ginny： what about Cho and you？'
'What d'you mean？' said Harry quickly。
It was as though boiling water was rising rapidly inside him； a burning sensation that was causing his face to smart in the cold …had he been that obvious？
'Well；' said Hermione； smiling slightly； 'she just couldn't keep her eyes off you； could she？'
Harry had never before appreciated just how beautiful the village of Hogsmeade was。
… CHAPTER SEVENTEEN …
Educational Decree Number Twenty…four
Harry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he had done all term。 He and Ron spent much of Sunday catching up with all their homework again； and although this could hardly be called fun； the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted； so rather than sitting hunched over tables in the mon room they took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech tree on the edge of the lake。 Hermione； who of course was up to date with all her work； brought more wool outside with her and bewitched her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked in midair beside her； producing more hats and scarves。
Knowing they were doing something to resist Umbridge and the Ministry； and that he was a key part of the rebellion； gave Harry a feeling of immense satisfaction。 He kept reliving Saturdays meeting in his mind： all those people； ing to him to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts： and the looks on their faces as they had heard some of the things he had done： and Cho praising his performance in the Triwizard Tournament … knowing all those people did not think him a lying weirdo； but someone to be admired； buoyed him up so much that he was still cheerful on Monday morning； despite the imminent prospect of all his least favourite classes。
He and Ron headed downstairs from their dormitory； discussing Angelinas idea that they were to work on a new move called the Sloth Grip Roll during that night's Quidditch practice； and not until they were halfway across the sunlit mon room did they notice the addition to the room that had already attracted the attention of a small group of people。
A large sign had been affixed to the Gryffindor noticeboard； so large it covered everything else on it … the lists of secondhand spellbooks for sale； the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch； the Quidditch team training timetable； the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog Cards for others； the Weasleys' latest 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。
BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS
All student organisations； societies； teams； groups and dubs are henceforth disbanded。
An organisation； 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）。
No student organisation； society； team； group or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor。
Any student found to have formed； or to belong to； an organisation； society； team； group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled。
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty…four。
Signed： Dolores Jane Umbridge； High Inquisitor
Harry and Ron read the notice over the heads of some anxious…looking second…years。
'Does this mean they're going to shut down the Gobstones Club？' one of them asked his friend。
'I reckon you'll be OK with Gobstones；' Ron said darkly； making the second…year jump。 'I don't think we're going to be as lucky； though； do you？' he asked Harry as the second…years hurried away。
Harry was reading the notice through again。 The happiness that had filled him since Saturday was gone。 His insides were pulsing with rage。
This isn't a coincidence；' he said； his hands forming fists。 'She knows。'
'She can't；' said Ron at once。
There were people listening in that pub。 And let's face it； we don't know how many of the people who turned up we can trust： any of them could have run off and told Umbridge：'
And he had thought they believed him； thought they even admired him：
'Zacharias Smith！' said Ron at once； punching a fist into his hand。 'Or … I thought that Michael Corner had a really shifty look； too …'
'I wonder if Hermione's seen this yet？' Harry said； looking round at the door to the girls' dormitories。
'Let's go and tell her；' said Ron。 He bounded forwards； pulled open the door and set off up the spiral staircase。
He was on the sixth stair when there was a loud； wailing； klaxon…like sound and the steps melted together to make a long； smooth stone slide like a helter…skelter。 There was a brief moment when Ron tried to keep running； arms working madly like windmills； then he toppled over backwards and shot down the newly created slide； ing to rest on his back at Harry's feet。
'Er … I don't think we're allowed in the girls' dormitories；' said Harry； pulling Ron to his feet and trying not to laugh。
Two fourth…year girls came zooming gleefully down the stone slide。
'Oooh； who tried to get upstairs？' they giggled happily； leaping to their feet and ogling Harry and Ron。
'Me；' said Ron； who was still rather dishevelled。 'I didn't realise that would happen。 It's not fair！' he added to Harry； as the girls headed off for the portrait hole； still giggling madly。 'Hermione's allowed in our dormitory； how e we're not allowed …？'
'Well； it's an old…fashioned rule；' said Hermione； who had just slid neatly on to a rug in front of them and was now getting to her feet； 'but it says in Hogwarts： A History； that the founders thought boys were less trustworthy than girls。 Anyway； why were you trying to get in there？'
'To see you … look at this！' said Ron； dragging her over to the noticeboard。
Hermione's eyes slid rapidly down the notice。 Her expression became stony。
'Someone must have blabbed to her！' Ron said angrily。
They can't have done；' said Hermione in a low voice。
'You're so naive；' said Ron； 'you think just because you're all honourable and trustworthy …'
'No； they can't have done； because I put a jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed；' said Hermione grimly。 'Believe me； if anyone's run off and told Umbridge； we'll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it。'
'What'll happen to them？' said Ron eagerly。
'Well； put it this way' said Hermione； 'it'll make Eloise Midgeon's acne look like a couple of cute freckles。 e on； let's get down to breakfast and see what the others think： I wonder whether this has been put up in all the houses？'
It was immediately apparent on entering the Great Hall that Umbridge's sign had not only appeared in Gryffindor Tower。 There was a peculiar intensity about the chatter and an extra measure of movement in the Hall as people scurried up and down their tables conferring on what they had read。 Harry； Ron and Hermione had barely taken their seats when Neville； Dean； Fred； George and Ginny descended upon them。
'Did you see it？'
'D'you reckon she knows？'
'What are we going to do？'
They were all looking at Harry。 He glanced around to make sure there were no teachers near them。
'We're going to do it anyway of course；' he said quietly。
'Knew you'd say that；' said George； beaming and thumping Harry on the arm。
The prefects as well？' said Fred； looking quizzically at Ron and Hermione。
'Of course；' said Hermione coolly。
'Here e Ernie and Hannah Abbott；' said Ron； looking over his shoulder。 'And those Rav