Once again, the study rushed with unprecedented speed. In early December, the first snow fell, covering everything with a thick white blanket. At the same time, a period of rehabilitation after potions to improve brain and physical activity passed, and Hermione and I leaned on them again, immersing ourselves in training both in magic and physical.

Classes with Lady Greengrass got a new schedule – practice alternated with theory. The second practice session, in which Rowley became the guinea pig, took place just at the beginning of December, and the topic of study was curses on the mind and damage to the brain and nervous system. There were many such curses, from the banal confusion of the mind like Confundus to Cruciatus. Like last time, we did the diagnostics, and Delphine applied the curses to the target. Like last time, the subject passed away, having experienced the full range of mental anguish and other joys of magical life, and like last time, he died before the curse ended.

The time for midterm examinations came quite imperceptibly, and the exams themselves were passed as an ordinary test. It would seem — what’s wrong? Well, all wrong!

There was not much movement from Umbridge. The only thing she was trying to do was put things in order. Not some ephemeral one, but a real one. No witchcraft in the corridors. It used to be like that, too, but now it was also backed up by ministerial law and put on her personnel file. There is no debauchery in the corridors and not only – a week of just warnings, after which everyone should get used to the rule, otherwise — punishment with entry into a personal file. No disorder and untidiness – forced cleaning of uniforms by means of magic is in force, and nobody cares if a suddenly tightened tie on the uniform shocks a slob. Who suffers the most from this? Gryffindor. Why? For most Gryffindors, certain hyperactivity and short temper are the norms. It’s reflected in the manner… the manner of living in general. Simply put, a whole heap of disciplinary bumps is raining down on us, and Ron and Harry are having the worst of it.

The other thing that caused even more worry was the Slytherins, who had fallen silent. And they became quiet globally, along with the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters — there was no movement at all. Calm! And a lull, as you know, happens before a storm.

On the first day of vacation, during which almost no one went anywhere this year, and many students stayed to celebrate Christmas here, probably looking for an excuse to annoy Umbridge, I went to London. Why? Well… I decided to break the well-established tradition of “no presents” a little bit and to get something for Hermione completely out of the blue.

The problem is, gifts are my weak point. I’m not good at picking them out at all, trying to get something practical, necessary. Anyway, I spent the rest of the evening wandering around London and the magical streets, looking for something that would catch my eye.

The sudden realization that Hermione was “sounding the alarm” came from the ring, and I didn’t hesitate to apparate to Hogwarts. It was the moment Tonks had chosen to activate the mirror we occasionally use to communicate, sharing information or opinions about this or that life situation. Speeding through the snow, I pulled out the mirror on the run and seeing Nymphadora’s worried face there, I spoke:

“I’m kind of busy. Did something happen?”

“Ass happened!” shouted Tonks, and in the background, the Reducto whistled familiarly, followed by, judging by all the same sounds, a collapse of something massive and stony. “Sirius is gone, the Order and the Aurors are repulsing some mossy little town. Bombarda Maxima!”

“Stop talking!” came Moody’s voice. “Change in thirty!”

“One second… Max. From the liaison at the Ministry, they say there’s some shit going on. McGonagall is fighting with Umbridge, but she said Potter and a group of students snuck out of the castle, and she didn’t have time to stop him. He kept yelling that Sirius was in danger.”

The puzzle began to form in my head, and I stopped, listening to the ring – the alarm was not from Hogwarts.

“Don’t leave the castle. It’s unknown…”

“In five!”

Tonks turned off the mirror.

“Where the hell did you go?” I shouted into nowhere, returning by short apparation beyond the edge of the anti-apparation charms. It looks like it’s started… the signal is weak, and its essence is precisely in the request, not in danger, but it’s worth hurrying. Save everyone first, and then… And then it could be very bad because the headmaster has one foot in the grave….