How did Umbridge know?

[slgazit]

No: HPFGUIDX 112938

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Cathy Drolet" <cldrolet at s...>
wrote:

> I'm not going to be able to help you at all with this question, but
to add a similar situation. In PoA, the Gryffindors are partying
because they beat Ravenclaw at Quidditch, putting them, I think, into
the final when at one time they thought they would be out of it. 
Professor McGonagall showed up and ended the party and insisted they
all go to bed.  After Ron is attacked by Sirius, and everyone gets up
again , Fred Weasley even suggesting that the party is carrying on,
and McGonagall shows up again, quite indignant and telling Percy she
expected better of him.  How did SHE know?

Okay, this is just my speculation. However, I hazard a guess that one
of the portraits in each common room (perhaps the password checker)
has the responsibility to snoop on the students' behaviour for their
head of house and report immediately if something out of the ordinary
is going on. Note that when an emergency arises in the bedrooms (e.g.
Harry's snake dream episode), McGonnagal has to be called by a
student. Presumably there are no portraits there?

Salit