Chapter 1088: A Weasley Conspiracy
Chapter 1088: A Weasley Conspiracy
"Madam, please excuse me, but are you certain you're not jesting?"
Gaden Robaz's expression was dubious as he voiced the question on everyone's mind. The entire Auror office was being mobilized to capture two Hogwarts students? Was this some sort of joke?
After the previous fiascoes, everyone was reluctant to carry out Umbridge's orders. They begrudgingly tolerated tasks that involved capturing Dark Wizards, but capturing students? What kind of task was that?
If it weren't for Scrimgeour asking him to lead the team, Gaden Robaz wouldn't have given this troublesome woman the time of day.
"Of course, I'm not joking," Umbridge explained with a fake smile. "According to the latest information I've received, those two students have joined an illegal organization and possess crucial intelligence. This intelligence points to a secret base hidden in the Forbidden Forest, where a weapon capable of overthrowing the Ministry of Magic is kept."
"A weapon capable of overthrowing the Ministry of Magic?"
Gaden Robaz began to wonder if his ears were deceiving him. How were two students connected to something as drastic as overthrowing the Ministry?
Was the Ministry made of biscuits, that it could be so easily toppled?
"Yes, the secret base is located in the Forbidden Forest, guarded by a horde of Acromantulas. If we don't plan to force our way in, it would be best to get the information on how to access the base from those students."
"Forgive me for being blunt, Madam, but this sounds like a joke," Gaden Robaz said, frowning. "Having Acromantulas as guards? Are you sure this so-called secret base isn't Voldemort's lair?"
He hadn't forgotten that not long ago, Aurors from the Ministry had been sent into the Forbidden Forest in search of something, and they had indeed encountered a swarm of Acromantulas. If they hadn't fled fast enough, they might have become a meal for those beasts.
No one wanted to deal with those dangerous creatures in the Forbidden Forest, their territory.
"Whether it's a joke or not, you'll find out after you capture those students," Umbridge said, her face still bearing a hypocritical smile, unperturbed by Gaden Robaz's skepticism.
In fact, Umbridge had noticed the Aurors' aversion to dealing with her, especially after the recent string of mishaps. Having the Ministry's most powerful law enforcement agency turn against her and Fudge was not good news.
"Before that, you'll need to come up with a plan to ensure the operation is foolproof, as we will only have one chance." Umbridge handed the transfer order she had obtained from Fudge to Gaden Robaz and added before leaving, "Oh, and this matter needs to be kept confidential for now. I don't want any news of this to spread before the plan is set in motion."
Watching Umbridge's departing figure, Gaden Robaz looked at the transfer order in his hand with disgust and quickly made his way to Scrimgeour's office.
"Rufus, you should have refused those absurd demands," Gaden Robaz said as he placed the transfer order on the desk of the Auror Office Director. "This is preposterous."
"I know it's absurd, but... we don't have the authority to refuse," Rufus Scrimgeour said, looking up at his deputy. "In our current situation, if we refuse, you know what will happen..."
"But we can't let them get away with this. The Aurors of the Ministry are not their personal henchmen, and we're becoming a laughingstock in the wizarding world," Gaden Robaz argued.
It wasn't that Gaden Robaz had a sudden surge of righteousness, but he truly didn't want to be involved in these messy affairs. He had a hunch that this so-called student capture would turn out to be another disaster.
"I assume you've noticed the changes in the wizarding world as well?" Rufus Scrimgeour changed the subject. "Although we may be reluctant to admit it, we still need to prepare for the worst."
As those at the forefront of the fight against Dark Wizards, the Aurors had access to more detailed and sensitive information than other wizards.
Especially as Scrimgeour's deputy, Gaden Robaz received intelligence that far surpassed that of his peers, so he was well aware that the wizarding world was not as peaceful as it seemed on the surface. But sometimes, knowing things didn't mean you could speak about them freely.
Didn't Fudge know?
Yes, he probably did.
Don't be fooled by Fudge's seemingly foolish actions.
Sometimes, things that appeared extremely foolish weren't a result of the decision-maker's stupidity but because there were certain undisclosed factors at play, and it was more advantageous to present the situation in that light.
"You mean..." Gaden Robaz understood that his superior was referring to Dumbledore's mention of Voldemort's resurrection last summer.
"It's not just you; more and more people in the Ministry are becoming discontent with the current situation," Scrimgeour said calmly as he gazed at the transfer order on his desk.
Or, more accurately, they were discontent with the blunders Fudge had made in the past year! Gaden Robaz suddenly recalled the prophecy about Fudge's impending removal from office this summer and connected it with Umbridge's request to capture the two students and the so-called secret weapon that could overthrow the Ministry. He shared his suspicions with Scrimgeour.
"Perhaps Dumbledore has obtained sufficient leverage to force Fudge out of office, which is why he's panicking," Scrimgeour said, his expression odd. "What do you think the likelihood of this information being true is? And what could this weapon be?"
"The likelihood is high; otherwise, Fudge and his cohorts wouldn't be so anxious," Gaden Robaz analyzed.
"Regardless, we'll follow orders and figure out what this is all about," Rufus Scrimgeour said. He suspected that this could be a diversion, or perhaps Dumbledore truly had vital intelligence about Voldemort's resurrection.
If Voldemort had indeed returned, Fudge would be terrified, as it meant he would be ousted from his position by a multitude of angry wizards.
Unaware of Fudge's willingness, the people would have him ousted from office.
...
The next day, Umbridge's office received a special visitor.
Gaden Robaz, an Auror from the Ministry of Magic, officially presented a comprehensive plan to Umbridge.
"Ma'am, we are ready," Gaden Robaz declared, his hand holding a two-way mirror to ensure immediate communication with the Ministry's Aurors. "The Aurors are prepared to reinforce Hogwarts via Floo Network and seal off the entire castle to ensure those students don't slip away."
"Excellent!"
Umbridge nodded in satisfaction after carefully reviewing the plan. "Then let's begin."
With that, she pushed open the office door and addressed Filch, who was waiting outside. "We can start now. Have the Investigation Squad cooperate with you to round up everyone on the list."
"Yes, ma'am. I'll go immediately," Filch replied, taking the parchment and hurrying toward the staff room to find the members of the Investigation Squad on standby.
And so, Harry, who had just been released from the dungeon, was locked up again. This time, it wasn't just Harry, but also Hermione and Ron who were disarmed and sent to the dungeon.
Before long, the number of people in the castle's dungeon gradually increased.
This was unavoidable.
After all, the students risked facing expulsion by Umbridge if they resisted.
"Has the toad gone mad?"
Ron stared at the familiar faces around him, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Quiet!"
Filch brandished his whip, creating a frightening sound.
"This afternoon, you will be taken to the Great Hall for a trial. If the charges are baseless, you will be acquitted on the spot. If you are found to have seriously violated school rules and Ministry of Magic laws, you may face detention or immediate expulsion," Filch warned.
"A trial? Are you joking?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if the toad charges us with participating in an illegal organization and attempting to overthrow the Ministry of Magic," Harry shrugged, his expression remarkably calm.
He was certain that Umbridge was furious about the previous incident and was now trying to use them to force Fred and George out of hiding.
To be honest, it was a ridiculous and baffling move.
Yet, Umbridge went through with it anyway.
After all, the students locked up in the dungeon were all members of the Anti-Umbridge Coalition.
As for the reason, it wasn't difficult to guess. Whenever something happened, it was convenient to blame the Weasley twins, and a saying had even spread throughout Hogwarts:
"It's all the Weasley twins' conspiracy."
...
"Unbelievable!" Albert murmured, his gaze shifting from the crystal ball to the crystal glowing on his wristband. He reached out to restrain Tom, who was about to sit on the crystal ball, and placed the new ball of yarn next to Tom's head.
The previous ball of yarn that Hermione had been working on had been ruined by Tom's claws, so Albert had asked Dobby to prepare a new one, even sprinkling a small amount of catnip on it to instantly capture Tom's attention.
Glancing at the cat licking the yarn, Albert turned his attention back to the crystal ball, reaching out to wrap it in a cloth and place it in the box specifically for storing crystal balls.
Suddenly, a series of crackling pops filled the dormitory, and a house-elf named Dobby appeared, holding a letter.
"What is it?" Albert turned to the house-elf.
"Dobby has brought a letter for Mister Albert," Dobby said, handing over the envelope.
"Thank you." Albert took the letter.
"It is Dobby's honor," the house-elf bowed slightly before disappearing.
Albert glanced at the sender of the letter and instructed the house-elf, "I may be leaving the school soon, so you should prepare to leave as well. I expect Joke's Shop will need your help."
"Yes, Dobby understands," the house-elf bowed again and vanished.
Albert picked up his wand from the bedside and gently tapped the envelope. The seal, bearing the letter 'P', broke, and inside was a newspaper clipping.
Albert waved his wand again, rearranging the letters on the clipping into a paragraph of text.
After a quick scan, Albert's expression turned odd. The letter simply recorded the gist of Fudge's gathering with his confidants.
Life, at times, is truly wondrous! "We're in trouble!"
Lee Jordan's voice echoed from the corridor outside the dormitory, followed by a loud bang, as if something had collided with the door.
"What are you up to?"
Albert waved his wand, releasing the binding spell on the wooden door, and pulled up Lee Jordan, who had stumbled and fallen.
"There's trouble!" Lee Jordan exclaimed anxiously.
"What kind of trouble?" Albert asked, stepping back into the dormitory.
"Umbridge has gone crazy. She's ordered Filch to arrest people left and right," Lee Jordan panted. "Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Cedric, Angelina, and many members of the DA have been captured. She intends to put them on trial and expel those who violate Ministry laws."
"Oh, it seems the toad is getting desperate, resorting to such underhanded tactics," Albert remarked, somewhat surprised by Umbridge's efficiency.
Seeing Albert's calm demeanor, Lee Jordan took a deep breath and gradually calmed down. "What should we do now?" he asked.
"What else can we do? Go call Fred and George. The toad is doing all this to target them," Albert replied, waving his wand at the corner of the room, causing a briefcase that had been hidden by a Disillusionment Charm to appear.
Lee Jordan walked over and opened the case, calling out to the occupants.
Before long, Fred and George set aside their tasks, emerging from the briefcase with small duffel bags slung over their shoulders.
"Looks like it's finally our turn?" Fred and George looked excited at the prospect.
They loved causing a ruckus! "Umbridge has finally lost it," Albert remarked, giving the eager twins a sidelong glance. "I reckon she'll bring the Aurors from the Ministry to ambush you. Be careful; those Aurors can be tough customers if they're prepared."
"We're not stupid enough to go head-to-head with Aurors," they replied.
Just then, there was another knock on the dormitory door. Alicia and Susan stood outside, their faces somber as they thought about Angelina's capture.
"Umbridge has gone mad, ordering Filch to arrest people left and right. Oh, and she's looking for you, too," they said, both looking at Lee Jordan.
"We're already aware of the situation," Albert said, signaling for them to calm down.
"What do you plan to do now?" Susan asked worriedly.
Everyone knew Umbridge's intentions were less than honorable.
"The toad is trying to flush us out," George reassured them. "Her targets are us, not the others."
"You?"
"Yes, us. Remember the rumors from a few days ago?" Fred and George high-fived each other and continued, "We plan to give that toad a big surprise."
"Don't underestimate your enemy," Albert warned, furrowing his brow.
"We would never underestimate Umbridge," Fred and George said in unison. "Besides, we're more prepared than she is."
The dormitory door was knocked on again, and this time, it was Neville standing outside. He looked nervous as he faced the group with their wands drawn.
"I... I..."
Neville stuttered, intimidated by the array of wands pointed at him.
"Come in. We already know about the situation," Albert said.
The small dormitory was now packed with people, making it feel even more cramped.
Before anyone could say another word, there was a series of crackling pops, and Dobby the house-elf appeared, his face filled with tension and anxiety.
"Okay, I already know about the situation," Albert said.
"No, Mister Albert, Professor McGonagall wants to see you because... because of Harry Potter and the others being captured," Dobby said, looking somewhat uneasy.
"Don't worry," Albert said, raising his hand to calm everyone down. "Umbridge is capturing Potter and the others to force Fred and George out of hiding."
"Isn't that... a bit too outrageous?"
"Sometimes things just are the way they are," Albert said to Fred and George. "You should go out on your brooms later and create as much of a ruckus as possible. While you're at it, teach Umbridge a lesson, then you can leave Hogwarts. Remember to fly towards the Forbidden Forest when you make your escape."
You guys can help too. Go ahead and turn the whole castle upside down if you want.
"Before that, there's no need to panic. Finish up what you're doing and plan your starting points. I'll... give it about half an hour before you make your move. Just be careful, and I'll go find Professor McGonagall now."
Albert signaled for the house-elf to leave the dormitory.
The next moment, with the help of the house-elf, Albert appeared out of thin air in Professor McGonagall's office.
"Mr. Anderson, oh my, you startled me," Professor McGonagall said, placing a hand over her chest as she looked at the suddenly-appeared Albert.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Albert said.
Albert signaled to Dobby, and the house-elf, understanding the hint, disappeared.
"I just received news that Umbridge has captured a large number of students and plans to put them on trial in the Great Hall," Professor McGonagall said. She raised her wand and cast a spell on the office door to ensure no one was eavesdropping before continuing.
"I'm already aware of the situation, and many people have come to tell me about it," Albert reassured her. "It's not as bad as it seems."
"According to my information, Umbridge is doing this to force Fred and George out of hiding. She intends to capture them and interrogate them about the so-called Dumbledore's Army secret base. What's this business about a secret base, anyway?"
Professor McGonagall was certain that this alleged secret base was just another one of their pranks, as Dumbledore's Army didn't actually have a base in the Forbidden Forest.
"Who knows? Maybe Umbridge was fooled by something Harry Potter said offhandedly," Albert shrugged. "She puts too much faith in Veritaserum, not realizing that Snape has been giving her fake potions. They're too afraid of Dumbledore, so they've concocted this imaginary conspiracy."
"So, the so-called secret weapon is also fake?" Professor McGonagall asked helplessly.
Well, she could now be certain that the alleged secret base and weapon were part of these boys' mischief.
"Well, what do you plan to do about it?" Professor McGonagall asked, taking a deep breath. The current situation at Hogwarts was already dire.
"Fred and George will make a grand entrance," Albert replied.
"I heard Umbridge has asked the Aurors from the Ministry for help in capturing them," Professor McGonagall added.
"Those Aurors are useless," Albert said with a smile. "And once the mysterious person shows up, I believe a group of people will demand Fudge's resignation."
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth slightly as she looked at Albert, unsure what to say. But some things weren't as bad as they seemed.
There was a knock on the office door, and a Slytherin student stood outside, informing Professor McGonagall that Umbridge wanted her to attend the trial of the disruptive and law-breaking students in the Great Hall.
(End of Chapter)
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