https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1051-This-Person-is-Truly-Despicable/12527847/
Chapter 1052: The Art of Social Embarrassment
Chapter 1052: The Art of Social Embarrassment
The badges of the Anti-Toad Union were instantly popular, especially since they were given out for free to members. Many students who despised Umbridge rushed to the Weasley twins to get their hands on a badge to wear proudly on their chests when they learned that it would cost one Galleon to purchase one.
As for the requirement of signing to receive a badge, it wasn't an issue at all. Most members of the Anti-Toad Union were also part of Dumbledore's Army and had already signed their names once. Moreover, the signature was merely for a discount on purchases for badge holders.
Soon, it became a trend among Hogwarts students to wear such a badge on their chests, making it easier to identify their houses and statuses.
When students saw each other wearing badges of their respective houses, they exchanged meaningful smiles, leaving those without badges completely bewildered.
To fit in with this mysterious group, many started inquiring about where they could get their hands on a house badge.
And so, some students blindly followed the trend and joined the Anti-Toad Union.
The Anti-Toad Union was no longer just a verbal opposition but a genuine anti-Umbridge club, and it swiftly became the largest club in all of Hogwarts.
Students who had initially been worried about potential troubles from joining the club soon discovered its benefits.
Here, they could access secret information, purchase joke items from Fred and George before they were publicly sold, and even get the Wizarding Wireless Network magazine at a relatively low price, including back issues.
Among these items, the calming potions, intelligence-boosting potions, and vitality supplements created by Albert were expensive magical candies that became highly sought after by fifth and seventh-year students.
Many students now liked to pop an intelligence-boosting sweet into their mouths while revising, allowing them to study for their exams with renewed vigor.
Some students even learned about the existence of "Defense Association," a secretive group teaching dark magic defense through this network.
This plethora of hidden information excited most of the new members, giving them a sense of being part of a clandestine organization.
Ever since the formation of the Anti-Toad Union, the atmosphere in the school had livened up.
Albert often saw students huddled in groups of three or four in the corridors, whispering and discussing the various rumors spread by Lee Jordan. Whenever a student without a badge walked by, they would give them suspicious glances, confusing the Slytherins who didn't understand these furtive looks.
Even more amusing was the fact that some Slytherin students had obtained badges bearing the symbol of their house—a serpent—but this did little to alleviate the situation, leading many Slytherins to suspect that the other three houses were plotting against them.
What Albert found most intriguing was the discussion within the Anti-Toad Union about how to keep the almost-recovered Umbridge confined to her bed. Many believed that the toad would be gone by the end of the term, so finding a way to keep her in the hospital and ensure she didn't interfere with their studies became the union's top priority.
"So, have you guys come up with any brilliant ideas yet?" Albert was curious to see what new tricks they had up their sleeves.
"They're planning to cast a Forgetfulness Charm on Umbridge to make her forget she's a professor," Fred replied, "and then... well, we bumped into Lockhart at St. Mungo's over the Christmas holidays, and that guy is completely bonkers now. You know, they're a bit chicken." Fred didn't agree with using the Forgetfulness Charm on Umbridge, and they certainly didn't want to do it themselves.
"That's a terrible idea," George said as he counted the joke items they had sold that day. "I think the most they'll do is use joke items against Umbridge. For that, we're planning to offer them a bigger discount. If they buy a large quantity of joke items from us to use against Umbridge, we'll give them a 20% discount."
"Expecting them to do anything useful is like expecting Peeves to behave," Albert chimed in, not holding much hope for those students unless they truly let go of their inhibitions when it came to dealing with Umbridge. There was another reason for his skepticism; the Anti-Toad Union's task progress was stuck at 51%, indicating that some students weren't genuinely committed to the cause.
"Do you have a better idea?"
"We could talk to Peeves and ask him to follow Umbridge around and cause trouble for her all day," Albert suggested. "Umbridge is almost recovered, and I doubt she'll be discharged before Valentine's Day."
"Now that's a good idea. Let's hope the toad doesn't go crazy from it!" After a moment of silence for the toad, the trio continued, "We're planning to hang the toad in the Great Hall on Valentine's Day as a sort of Cupid, and then we'll feed her a Bowel-Binding Potion."
"Aren't you worried about grossing everyone out?" Albert's expression was priceless.
"We thought about it, and we believe the best way to deal with Umbridge is to make her lose face so she can't stay at the school anymore," George explained. "I don't think she'll have the guts to show her face here after that."
"It's a bit harsh, but... it'll get the job done," Lee Jordan said, clearing his throat as he saw Albert's reaction. "Umbridge has thicker skin than a toad, so we feel we need to take drastic measures."
"If you go through with it, be prepared for Umbridge's revenge. I wouldn't put it past her to secretly get rid of you," Albert said, understanding their reasoning. Umbridge's skin was indeed thick; whether it was turning her pink or hanging her on the Christmas tree as a human-toad hybrid, nothing seemed to drive her away. Any other professor would have resigned by now, but Umbridge stubbornly refused to leave.
"Actually, you could ask the Anti-Toad Union for help. They have rich imaginations, and there's no need to go to such extremes," Albert said, though he was secretly looking forward to seeing what interesting developments would unfold.
"We'll have a few backup plans in place in case Harry's toad plan fails. It'll be useful either way."
"Hasn't Potter given up on that idea yet?"
"No, he wanted to turn Umbridge into a cat at first, but then he thought it might be better to turn her into a toad again. That way, he can claim it's the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's curse," Fred explained.
"You don't seem too optimistic about it."
"Umbridge isn't an idiot. She'll be on her guard," Albert pointed out.
"We'll make sure Harry is more cautious, but toads are inherently stupid," Fred replied.
(End of Chapter)
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