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“Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devised our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way . . . ”

In Chapter 12, Harry, Ron, and Hermione attend their first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of their fifth year, taught by Ministry of Magic employee Dolores Umbridge. Traditionally, Defense Against the Dark Arts has been a contentious subject at Hogwarts, but not because Dumbledore or other faculty members have ever questioned its practicality. Rather, Defense Against the Dark Arts has seen a steady stream of corrupt or misleading instructors, and Hogwarts students’ education in Defense has been undeniably disjointed thus far. Dolores Umbridge, in conjunction with her boss, Cornelius Fudge, has decided that the best way for her students to learn about Defense Against the Dark Arts is to quietly sit in class, wands tucked away, and read the textbook to themselves. She refuses to allow her students to acquire any practical knowledge whatsoever and does not teach them any Defensive spells.

In response to Umbridge’s refusal to teach, Hermione suggests that Harry lead a student-run Defense Against the Dark Arts course. Harry is dubious at first but ultimately agrees, knowing firsthand how useful knowing proper Defense spells can be. All interested students sign their names to a piece of parchment and agree to meet in secret. Soon after, Umbridge posts an Educational Decree banning all student groups from meeting, but it doesn’t stop the group (now known as the D.A., or Dumbledore’s Army) from continuing to meet and practice. Dumbledore, unlike Umbridge, understands that educating oneself is a time-consuming and complicated process that involves practice and lots of trial and error. Even though Harry and his friends are already swamped with schoolwork and suffering the pressure of their O.W.L. exams, they still realize the seriousness of arming themselves against the Dark Arts, taking a proactive and dangerous stance against Umbridge’s irrationality.

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