Professor Umbridge has dissolved all teams and groups. Every team will have to ask her for permission to re-form. Every student undertaking secret group meetings will be expelled. Harry, Ron and Hermione are horrified but decide to continue anyway. An injured Hedwig delivers a letter from Sirius requesting to talk through the fireplace again. Later Malfoy brags that Slytherin has got the Quidditch practice permission at once. Umbridge examines Snape’s lesson. Harry pays attention to Umbridge, so he ruins his potion and has to write an essay as punishment.
Ron and Harry are told by Angelina that they can’t play Quidditch for the moment, because Umbridge needs time to think it over. As the common room is empty at last, Sirius appears in the fire. To their surprise, he already knows about their plan regarding Defence Against the Dark Arts. Mundungus has eavesdropped on them – dressed as a witch. Sirius tells them that Mrs Weasley doesn’t want Ron to take part and that she advises Harry and Hermione against it but he himself is enthusiastic about the idea. They are interrupted when Umbridge’s fingers are groping in the fire.
