https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1038-Countering-Toad-s-Gathering/12527811/
Chapter 1039: Hermione, the Target
Chapter 1039: Hermione, the Target
"That old toad has gone mad."
As the students gathered around the notice board, they whispered among themselves upon seeing Umbridge's latest educational decree, pinned up by Filch.
"It's been less than half a year since Umbridge arrived at Hogwarts, and she's already issued nearly a hundred decrees."
"I've never seen anyone this extreme. What is she trying to do, and what is the Ministry up to?"
"They say Umbridge is an old witch with an insatiable desire for control. If she becomes the Headmistress, our lives will be miserable."
"Keep your voice down. Do you want to be invited for tea?"
"She's not here anyway."
"Who says she isn't? Look over there..."
The boy followed his friend's finger and spotted Umbridge standing at the entrance of the hallway, not far away. She wore a hypocritical, fake smile as she gazed at them, causing everyone to shut their mouths for fear of becoming the next juicy fly to be targeted by the toad.
Based on the new decree, everyone knew that Umbridge was about to take action.
"Students must submit to questioning about their suspected involvement in illegal activities?"
Among the crowd, Hermione fixed her eyes on the new decree posted on the notice board, her lips trembling imperceptibly.
Not long ago, DA had held a gathering regarding this very issue.
If Umbridge were to use Veritaserum on DA members to try and obtain information about Dumbledore's Army, what should they do? Even Hermione hadn't thought that the Weasley twins' suggestion was a good idea. It was merely an emergency measure in the absence of any better options.
Unless they could concoct an antidote to Veritaserum, there was no way to counter its effects. But this was no easy task. After examining the potion's recipe, Hermione didn't feel confident in her ability to create an antidote.
Although she had anticipated this situation, Hermione still felt a bit flustered when faced with it. She knew that all she could do now was hope that the DA members wouldn't be targeted by Umbridge.
As Hermione turned to leave, intending to inform Harry and Ron about the latest news, she was stopped by Umbridge, who was standing at the entrance of the hallway.
"Miss Granger, there are claims that you're organizing illegal activities." Umbridge opened her mouth wide, revealing a fake smile, as if she had just swallowed a particularly tasty fly.
To Umbridge, Hermione Granger was indeed a juicy target. After failing to get any information about Dumbledore's Army from the students who had once possessed the 'Guide to Self-Defense', Umbridge, guided by a Slytherin student, shifted her focus to Harry Potter's close friends.
She firmly believed that Harry Potter must know something about Dumbledore's Army, and his close friends were likely to have some information as well.
Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born witch with no notable background, became the first target.
Umbridge's words caused a stir among the surrounding students, who once again started whispering to each other. They clearly despised Umbridge's actions and shot sympathetic glances at Hermione.
"Ugh!"
Someone bent over and vomited.
It was undoubtedly the effect of Skiving Snackboxes.
This action was a blatant provocation towards Umbridge, but the daredevil who enjoyed causing trouble pretended to be genuinely ill and continued vomiting.
"You need to go to the hospital wing."
Before Umbridge could focus her attention on him, the companion of the vomiting student led him away to the hospital wing, not giving Umbridge a chance to create trouble for them.
Umbridge turned her gaze away from the vomiting student and back to Hermione Granger, whose face was somewhat gloomy. Umbridge's initially sour mood began to improve as she believed she had caught a big fish this time.
"Are you referring to the prefects' meeting?" Hermione raised her eyebrows slightly and asked with confusion. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize that the prefects' meeting had become an illegal organization. I thought it was a responsibility bestowed upon us after becoming prefects."
"No, I'm not talking about that!" Umbridge's fake smile widened.
"Then... may I ask which one are you referring to?" Hermione became even more confused, and her reaction caused the onlooking students to believe that Umbridge was deliberately causing trouble.
This wasn't the first time the toad had targeted a Gryffindor student.
Hermione knew she had to buy some time, hoping that others would notice her predicament and come to her aid.
"She's so ugly."
Someone in the crowd muttered.
"Well, she is a toad. It's not surprising if she's a bit ugly."
The students exchanged glances, seemingly trying to locate the source of the voice, and even Umbridge was searching for the owner of the voice.
However, none of them knew who was speaking.
"I heard she's going to become the Headmistress."
"Isn't she rumored to be in a relationship with Fudge?"
"Fudge sure has an exotic taste."
"Maybe he's into that kind of flavor."
The voices continued, one after the other, blatantly disregarding the presence of the person they were talking about. When they finally located the source, it turned out to be a small piece of parchment, enchanted to speak the words written on it.
Umbridge's face turned ugly as she realized she had been played by a piece of paper. The students who had noticed the situation quickly dispersed, not wanting to be associated with the incident, except for an innocent girl.
"I think we need to have a little chat. Let's go to my office first!" Umbridge suggested with a gloomy face, gesturing for Hermione to follow her.
"Oh, alright!"
Hermione reluctantly followed Umbridge.
However, when they reached the corridor outside Umbridge's office, the expected DA reinforcements had not yet arrived. Hermione secretly pulled out her wand from her robe pocket and cast a Trip Jinx on Umbridge's back.
Despite all the lessons she should have learned by now, Umbridge still hadn't learned to be cautious. She never expected Hermione to dare to attack her, and she fell for it immediately.
Just as Umbridge was about to fall forward, Hermione swiftly followed up with a Stunning Spell, causing the falling Umbridge to pass out completely.
When they had practiced the Weasley twins' method of dealing with Umbridge at the Room of Requirement, Hermione never imagined that she would have to use those "techniques" so soon.
"Professor, are you alright, Professor?" Hermione pretended to be startled as she rushed forward to support the falling Umbridge, acting as if the toad had stumbled and fainted again.
"Don't pretend, Granger. You dared to attack a professor."
Led by Malfoy, a group of students from the Inquisitorial Squad appeared from nowhere, pointing their wands at Hermione with victorious smiles on their faces.
"I'd bet Umbridge would be delighted to expel you, a Mudblood."
"Oh, are you sure about that?"
A voice rang out from behind Malfoy's group, and before they could turn around, they were all struck by Stunning Spells and fell to the ground, one after another.
"You're finally here."
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as Harry and several other DA members arrived as reinforcements.
"We just got here and saw this bunch of guys sneaking around behind you." Harry glanced at the group of Malfoy and his cronies who were sprawled out on the ground and said to Hermione, "This is most likely that toad's trick. But your efficiency is even faster than I expected."
"We're in big trouble. That toad will definitely not let this go." Looking at the unconscious Umbridge, Hermione sighed softly, "You're right, sometimes it's not that you want trouble, but trouble comes looking for you."
"You'd better hurry up, Filch is coming this way." Ginny hurried over, her eyes scanning the group on the floor, and said, "I just threw a few Throat Cutting Curses down the corridor to block it off, but I suspect Filch will come around through another secret passage."
"You should be able to cast a Memory Charm, right?" Harry turned to Hermione and reminded her, "It's better to erase their memories, otherwise, we'll definitely have more trouble coming our way."
"Don't hesitate, Hermione. This bunch doesn't deserve your sympathy, and we trust your Memory Charm. I remember after the last meeting, you've been practicing it on rats." Ron encouraged her. He didn't mind if Hermione turned Malfoy and his gang into idiots, but that was obviously impossible. Hermione's skill in spellcasting far surpassed theirs, and she was one of Professor Flitwick's favorite students.
After hesitating for a moment, Hermione raised her wand and cast a Memory Charm on Malfoy and the others, causing them to forget what had happened in the previous few minutes.
Ron immediately had the DA members help the unconscious group up and prepare to carry them to the boys' bathroom.
"Hermione, you should trip and fall too." As they were about to leave, Harry suddenly said, "I mean, you and she should both take some Nosebleed Nougat, and when Filch comes, pretend that you tripped and fell as well."
"That's a good idea. I think just a nosebleed will do."
Hermione agreed with Harry's emergency plan. At this point, there weren't many other options.
She pinched her nose to make it red, then used the Nosebleed Nougat she got from Harry to make it look like she had tripped and was bleeding from the nose.
As for Umbridge, Hermione pried open her mouth and stuffed another small pill down her throat, making her swallow it. As long as she didn't go too far, Hermione didn't mind causing some trouble for Umbridge.
"See you later."
Harry quickly disappeared. When he arrived at the boys' bathroom, Ron was discussing with the others how to punish Malfoy and his gang.
"Give them a Cleansing Draught each," Harry took out a bottle and said to the group, "Remember to put them on the toilet."
"Should we pull down their pants?" Someone was eager to cause trouble.
"Aren't you disgusted?" Ron rolled his eyes.
"No need." Harry shook his head, "Hurry up and then get out of here."
"Do you think they'll poop their pants?" Everyone was excited about causing mischief.
"Who let Malfoy and his gang get so arrogant?"
"How would I know? Maybe they'll wake up soon, and if they don't, then it's just their bad luck. We'd better split up quickly so we don't get caught!" Harry was familiar with the process, having pulled pranks with the Weasley twins numerous times.
When Filch hurried over, he saw Umbridge with a bloody nose and Hermione rubbing her nose, looking innocent.
"What are you up to?" Filch asked suspiciously, looking around.
"Professor Umbridge just tripped and hit her nose, knocking herself out." Hermione said innocently, "I was about to take her to the hospital wing, but then I tripped and fell too. Be careful, it's slippery here, you might fall as well."
Before Hermione could finish her sentence, Filch was tripped and fell to the ground.
"Oh dear, I warned you." Hermione looked at Filch innocently.
Soon, the unconscious Umbridge was taken to the hospital wing by Filch, and Hermione also went to the hospital wing for treatment.
However, this farce was not over yet.
After Umbridge had been embarrassed by Cedric and failed to get any useful information from the other students, she was convinced that Hermione Granger, a close friend of Harry Potter, must know something.
Of course, this was also related to Hermione being a Muggle-born witch.
As long as Dumbledore was still the headmaster, Umbridge would not dare to use Veritaserum on Potter so easily.
As for Albert Anderson, who was also a major suspect, she had given up on him, as he was a hard nut to crack.
It was easier to pick on someone softer.
As soon as Umbridge left the hospital wing, she had someone summon Hermione to her office.
"What would you like to drink, Miss Granger?" Umbridge smiled even more happily, "Tea, coffee, or pumpkin juice?"
She waved her wand lightly, and three cups of drinks appeared in front of Hermione.
"No, thank you." Hermione said calmly.
Umbridge almost commanded, "Choose one."
"Alright then, please give me a cup of milk tea." Hermione shrugged.
Umbridge's expression froze, and she seemed to recall something unpleasant.
Just then, a disgusting stench filled the room, followed by a thick cloud of smoke. Hermione had been holding her breath and took the opportunity to knock out Umbridge, who had just stood up.
"Did it work?" Harry pushed open the door and saw the unconscious Umbridge, "I told you, it's better to modify her memory, otherwise, she'll keep causing trouble for you."
"Alright, you're right." Hermione looked at the unconscious Umbridge and raised her wand to cast a Memory Charm, intending to slightly modify Umbridge's memory and make her think that she had successfully interrogated herself."
"Wait, let Umbridge get the news that there's a suspected secret base of Dumbledore in the Forbidden Forest." Harry reminded her.
With Hermione and Ron's confused looks, Harry explained, "Let Umbridge go bother Aragog in the Forbidden Forest, so she'll stop bothering everyone else."
"Hagrid's giant spider?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Those Acromantulas are the most ferocious monsters!" Ron said with a trembling voice, "I think Harry's right, those giant spiders will eventually become a menace. Let the two nuisances trouble each other."
"I didn't say that, Albert did." Harry shook his head.
"Alright! But will it work?" Hermione agreed and raised her wand.
"She'll believe it eventually." Harry said meaningfully.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
