PS: In this extra chapter, I'd like to extend my special thanks to the readers Dan_3205 and almond_tofu66 for their amazing support through reviews!
Professor Dolores Umbridge's new office was on the third floor.
After driving Professors Alastor Moody and Sybill Trelawney out of Hogwarts, she had successfully "persuaded" Professor McGonagall to convert an empty classroom on the third floor into her new office. Thus, she no longer had to live in that tent by the Quidditch Pitch.
Jon knocked lightly on the door.
A sickeningly sweet voice called from inside, "Come in."
Jon stepped inside and glanced around. Nearly every item in the room was draped with pink covers or tablecloths. Decorative plates adorned the walls, each featuring a brightly colored kitten wearing a bow around its neck.
"Oh, Mr. Patrick!" Dolores Umbridge exclaimed with exaggerated surprise.
Jon hurried forward and handed her the letters.
"Professor Umbridge," he said, "the D.A. members have reviewed all the mail this week, and these particular letters contain certain violations."
"Thank you for your hard work!" Umbridge said gently as she took the letters. "I will remember all your contributions to the Ministry of Magic."
"No... it's our honor, Professor Umbridge!" Jon replied quickly. "Please take a look."
"Very well!"
Umbridge opened the letters one by one and began to read them carefully. Jon stood beside her, occasionally glancing at the kittens on the wall out of the corner of his eye. As she read, Umbridge occasionally let out a cold snort.
When she finished the last letter, Jon spoke softly. "Professor Umbridge, I have a small suggestion..."
"Hmm?" The pink, toad-like woman lifted her head.
"I believe the owners of these rule-breaking letters must be severely punished!" Jon said righteously. "At the very least, they should be confined to detention or something similar."
"Quite right..." Umbridge nodded thoughtfully. "They deserve severe punishment indeed. Christopher, please inform them that I wish to see each one—or should I say, interrogate them personally!"
"Understood... I suggest starting with that Weasley fellow. Isn't he Harry Potter's friend?" Jon reminded her in a low voice.
"Hmm, observant... Go fetch him now!"
"Yes, Professor!"
...
Ron Weasley was carrying his broomstick, on his way to the Quidditch Pitch for practice.
But halfway there, someone stopped him.
"Ron Weasley?" The boy called his name. Ron recognized him—it was that Slytherin, Christopher Patrick.
"What?" Ron asked, his tone filled with distaste but edged with a trace of fear.
"Professor Umbridge wants to see you," Patrick said calmly. "She needs to talk to you."
"Umbridge?" Ron instinctively took a few steps back.
"Come with me," the boy said curtly, grabbing him by the collar.
"Don't yank my hair—I can walk myself!" Ron snapped, irritated.
"No tricks!" Patrick shot back coldly. "Professor Umbridge's patience has its limits."
"I know the way!" Ron muttered angrily and stormed up toward the third floor.
Christopher Patrick watched him disappear into Professor Umbridge's office. Then he lowered his head, examining the item in his hand carefully.
After slipping into an empty classroom, he dropped it into a vial of potion and gave it a shake.
...
Hogwarts' library was always exceptionally quiet—thanks in part to Madam Pince's strict management, and also because very few students ever came here.
Miss Hermione Granger was currently inside, poring over records about Durmstrang.
But the silence was broken by a flurry of hurried footsteps.
"If you keep making that noise, I'll throw you out—and you'll never be allowed back in!" Madam Pince's irritable voice rang out.
"Sorry, Madam Pince..." came a flustered boy's reply.
Hermione frowned. That was Ron Weasley's voice... Ron never came to the library unless something serious had happened.
She immediately stood up.
Ron appeared, panting as if he'd just run a marathon.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked urgently.
"Hagrid... Hagrid... something's happened..." Ron stammered, his voice uneven from exhaustion.
"Hagrid?" Hermione's voice rose instinctively.
But Ron quickly gestured for her to keep quiet.
"Yeah... Hagrid's got a... well, a little pet in the Forbidden Forest, and it got hurt... He told me to come get you—but not to alert anyone..." Ron gasped between breaths.
Hermione instantly understood. She had been suspecting for a while that Hagrid was raising another magical creature in the Forbidden Forest—his bruises and black eyes lately were more than enough proof.
"Should we bring anything?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"No need... Hagrid's already subdued it... but he needs some help," Ron said, looking tense.
"Should we get Harry?" Hermione asked again.
"There's no time!" Ron snapped impatiently. "If we don't hurry, Hagrid could die—or his pet could be discovered, and Umbridge will have him expelled from Hogwarts!"
Seeing Ron's face twisted with such intense fear and anger for the first time, Hermione quickly nodded.
...
The two of them ran out of the castle, across the lawns, and straight toward the Forbidden Forest.
Ron led the way, but the path he took wasn't toward Hagrid's hut—it led in the direction of the Whomping Willow.
They entered the Forbidden Forest together, Ron still walking ahead.
"Where exactly is Hagrid?" Hermione suddenly stopped, her voice carrying a sharp edge.
"We're almost there!" Ron stopped too.
Then—before he could react, Hermione suddenly spun around, wand raised.
"Expelliarmus!"
A sharp incantation rang out.
Ron Weasley's dark gray wand flew from his hand, and Hermione caught it with a Summoning Charm, raising her own wand at him.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron asked, bewildered.
"Stop pretending!" Hermione Granger's voice was steady but filled with suspicion. "You're not Ron!"