EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER TWENTY-FOUR

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Rigek noticed that Harry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he had done all term. He was just hanging down, occasionally correcting their homework or snogging Eliza. He helped Hermione make three dozen fake galleons and charmed them with a protean charm. What made it better was that it was just one more day before could spit out that foul mandrake leaf. 

He, Harry, and Ron headed downstairs from their dormitory together, discussing Angelina's 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 common 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 notice board, so large that it covered everything else on there. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was the MOM seal and a neat and curly signature.

— 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 HighInquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the HighInquisitor.

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.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.

Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge

High Inquisitor

The trio 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 okay 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.

"Nada," said Rigel 

"This isn't a coincidence," he said, his hands forming fists.

"She knows." She can't," Rigel said at once."People were listening in that pub. And let's face it, we don'tknow how many of the people who turned up we can trust. . . . Any of them could have run off and told Umbridge. . . ."

"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 and Eliza are seen this yet?" Harry said, looking around at the door to the girls' dormitories.

"Let's go and tell them," said Ron. He bounded forward, pulled open the door, and set off up the spiral staircase.

He was on the sixth stair when it happened. There was a loud, wailing, klaxon-like sound, and the steps melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide. There was a brief moment when Ron tried to keep running, arms working madly like windmills, then he toppled over backward and shot down the newly created slide, coming to rest on his back at Harry's feet.

"Er — I don't think we're allowed in the girls' dormitories," said Harry, Rigel was pulling Ron to his feet and trying not to laugh.

Two fourth-year girls came zooming gleefully down the stone slide.

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