
In this detention, Harry spends every night that week writing "I must not tell lies" with a quill that cuts into his hand and writes with his blood. Umbridge tells her class that there's no need to perform defensive magic-only to read the “theory” about it-and she gives Harry a week of detention when he insists that Voldemort is back.


Hagrid is gone, the Sorting Hat gives a warning in its song, and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Dolores Umbridge, makes a speech at the feast implying that Fudge, the Minister of Magic, is interfering at Hogwarts. Harry is shocked to see that the horseless carriages are now pulled by strange reptilian horses, though a girl named Luna tells Harry that the creatures have always been there. Back at Hogwarts, things are very different. Ron and Hermione are made prefects, and Harry does his best to celebrate Ron's accomplishment. The rest of Harry's summer is boring, as Harry spends most of his time cleaning. Though Dumbledore steps in and saves Harry from expulsion or worse, Harry can tell that his trial in front of the full Wizengamot (the high court) was designed to put him at a disadvantage.

Weasley and learns that the place and time of his hearing changed, and he's already late. On the morning of Harry's hearing, he goes to the Ministry with Mr. The Blacks thought Voldemort was right in his ideas, and their ancient house-elf, Kreacher, mutters rude slurs to himself. Harry spends the next week helping to clean the house, which belonged to Sirius's parents. They tell him that they're trying to spread the news that Voldemort is back and say that Voldemort is after some sort of weapon. Hermione and Ron insist that Dumbledore swore them to secrecy and they don't know much. There Harry reunites with Hermione and Ron and immediately shouts at them about feeling neglected. Together, they fly to number twelve, Grimmauld Place in London. Three days later, a dozen witches and wizards, including Mad-Eye Moody and Remus Lupin, come to rescue him. When Petunia receives a Howler (an angry, literally explosive letter) with a cryptic message, she insists that Harry has to stay. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia try to kick Harry out as Harry receives a letter calling him to a hearing.

Figg, is a Squib (someone born to a magical family but who can’t use magic), and that Dumbledore has been having people watch him. At the beginning of August, after a month of no meaningful contact from anyone in the Wizarding world, two dementors attack Harry and his cousin Dudley in an alley.
