But Megan didn't need to wait for Defence Against the Dark Arts to face Umbridge again. She was just pulling out her dream diary when Harry nudged her elbow. Looking up, Megan saw Umbridge enter the classroom. Silence fell instantly. Megan sat up, keeping her eyes on Umbridge. Judging by how much more agitated than usual Trelawney seemed, she had a feeling this wasn't going to be pretty.

"Good afternoon, professor Trelawney," said Umbridge with her wide smile. "I believe you received my note informing you of my inspection?"

Professor Trelawney nodded and turned to Lavender who had been asking her a question. Umbridge sat in a corner behind Trelawney's desk, and pulled out a clipboard which she placed on her lap, waiting.

"Now, er... we shall today be pursuing our study of premonitory dreams," professor Trelawney said, though she was clearly uneasy. "All of you take turns examining the meanings of each other's latest dreams with the help of your Dream Oracle."

She spotted Umbridge beside her desk and turned to Parvati.

"Think up a dream, quick," Megan whispered to Ron. "In case toad woman comes our way. I don't want her to give me detention for not doing my schoolwork properly..."

"I did it last time," Ron said. "Your turn."

Megan rolled her eyes with a groan. But it was only fair, she supposed.

"Oh, I don't know... I dreamed I was drowning in a sea of books, studying for my OWLs." Megan said. "Yeah, that'll do."

Harry grinned and turned to his book.

"Okay, so we add your age, the date you had the dream and the letters in the subject... would that be sea? Or book?"

"Just pick one," Megan said a little impatiently, glancing at Umbridge.

She was standing beside Trelawney, who was interrogating Neville, taking notes as she observed them.

"When did you have this dream?" Harry asked.

"I don't care, whenever you like in the last week or so." she said, as Umbridge and Trelawney slowly came closer.

"Excuse me, you've been in this position how long exactly?"

Trelawney tried not to show how anxious she was, but it was not very efficient.

"Sixteen years," she said.

"And professor Dumbledore appointed you?" Umbridge asked.

"Yes, he did." Trelawney nodded.

"And is it correct that you are the great-great-granddaughter of the renowned Seer Cassandra Trelawney?"

"Indeed, it is." Trelawney said defiantly.

"And you are the first since Cassandra to be granted Second Sight?"

"It often skips generations," Trelawney replied.

"Hm hm... I was wondering if you could predict something for me?"

Megan bit her lip. This was going to get ugly. She didn't particularly enjoy Divination but she had no real grudge with Trelawney.

"The... the Inner Eye does not see upon command," Trelawney stammered faintly.

"I see... pity," Umbridge said, making a note on the clipboard.

"... But wait! I... yes, I think... I see something dark! You are in peril!"

Anyone could tell she had just made that up, Megan thought. And if they could, Umbridge would have definitely told the difference.

"Lovely... well, if that's really the best you can do... you shall receive the results in a few weeks at the latest."

At the sound of the bell, Umbridge left first and was waiting for them in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Megan and the boys filled Hermione in on what had happened in Divination on the way.

"Hm. Well, she was never going to be very pleasant to deal with, and Trelawney is hardly very intimidating," Hermione commented. "Though of course, I can't say I wanted this to happen to her."

"No... I mean, I'm no huge fan of hers, either, but you should have seen her, she look a mouse who knows a cat is nearby sniffing for it..." Megan whispered back.

As they sat down, Umbridge called for attention with that annoying cough of hers.

"Since we have finished the first chapter of Defensive Magical Theory, I would like you to begin chapter two, page nineteen."

There were several sighs as the class turned to page nineteen. Megan was wondering what Umbridge would do if they ran out of chapters before the end of the year, when her attention was caught by Hermione whose hand was raised.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

Everyone looked up from their books.

"I've read Chapter Two already," Hermione said.

"Then proceed to the next one," she said.

"I read that one too. I read the book already. I told you so last time."

"In that case, dear, you might be able to tell me what Mr Slinkhard tells us about counter-jinxes in Chapter Fifteen."

"That they are wrongly named." she said. "That they are just the name people use to make jinxes sound more acceptable."

Professor Umbridge looked displeased, proving Hermione had indeed hit the nail on the head. Not that Megan had expected anything else. When Umbridge didn't say anything, Hermione pushed on.

"But I disagree."

"You do, do you?" Umbridge said, eyebrows raised.

"Yes. I do." Hermione replied. "Because I think that jinxes can be helpful if they are used in a defensive manner."

"Well, I'm afraid that it is Mr Slinkhard's opinion that matters, not yours." Umbridge countered icily. "Enough," she added when Hermione began to argue. "And five points from Gryffindor."

There was a flurry of whispers. Megan thought for a second then...

"What for?" she asked loudly.

Silence fell at once, and all eyes turned to Megan. Umbridge's, however, narrowed.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Megan, don't!" Hermione hissed. "You'll just get into trouble again!"

But Megan just looked coldly at Umbridge.

"Hermione had the right to express her opinion. So why did you take points off her? Teachers usually like us having something to say about what they teach."

"I took five points from Miss Granger because she disrupted my class pointlessly." Umbridge said coolly. "My mission is to educate you using a Ministry-approved method that does not include hearing the students' opinions on a subject they know very little of. Your previous teachers may have been more lenient, but none of them – except perhaps professor Quirrel who at least kept to age-appropriate subjects – would have passed an official Ministry inspection."

"Yeah, he was an all right teacher," Megan agreed. "Too bad he had Voldemort stuck in the back of his head."

There was a stunned silence.

"I think another week of detention will do you good, Potter."