Chapter 1426: Karma Comes Knocking
Chapter 1426: Karma Comes Knocking
Dolores Umbridge had been in high spirits lately. With the new Minister, Piers Thicknesse, and the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Yaxley, paying great attention to the "Surveillance and Investigation Committee for the Witchcraft and Wizardry Families," the recently established committee had become the most popular department in the Ministry of Magic. She even had Death Eaters under her command, which greatly satisfied Umbridge, who was not yet a Death Eater herself.
Of course, what pleased Umbridge the most were the awe-filled gazes of her colleagues, something she had never experienced during her previous tenure as the Senior Undersecretary.
Perhaps it was time to scheme her way into becoming a Death Eater! In this era, controlled by the mysterious Lord Voldemort, the identity of a Death Eater was extremely important. It meant acceptance into the pure-blood circle and, more importantly, a step closer to higher positions of power.
If Umbridge aspired to become the Minister of Magic one day, being a Death Eater was essential. However, she was also aware of the challenges she faced due to the Muggle blood running through her veins. Unless she did something to please Lord Voldemort, just like Severus Snape had gained his favor, her chances were slim.
The first step towards her goal was to root out the witches and wizards who were secretly resisting the Ministry and the Dark Lord. Umbridge was almost certain that those who had not yet registered with the Ministry were somehow connected to that mudblood, Albert Anderson. Just thinking about him made her seethe with rage as she recalled the inhumane treatment she had endured at Hogwarts. She clenched her teeth and trembled with fury, wishing nothing more than to see him dead.
If she could manage to kill that mudblood, she was sure she would earn the Dark Lord's favor.
Becoming a Death Eater would be the least of her rewards.
As Umbridge stepped out from the fireplace with emerald-green flames, she waved her wand to illuminate the hall, intending to freshen up before retiring for the night. However, her expression instantly turned from contentment to one of shock and terror.
Before Umbridge could even lift her wand, a spell struck her, causing her to lose control and drop her wand. It was caught by a young man standing nearby, a smile spreading across his face.
"Good evening, Deputy Head!"
Following the cheerful greeting was a punch that landed squarely on Umbridge's toad-like face, accompanied by a piercing scream that echoed through the hall.
The force of the blow was considerable, and Umbridge found herself on the floor, clutching her face and rolling around in agony.
However, her plight evoked no sympathy from those present. Several figures had already surrounded her, ready to exact their revenge.
Not long ago, Umbridge had sent their family members to prison.
Now, karma had come knocking on her door.
After a thorough pummeling, a gentle voice called for the beating to stop.
Albert did not feel sorry for Umbridge, but he knew she could still be of use. Besides, killing her now would be too merciful, considering all the despicable things she had done. She deserved a fate far worse than death.
One couldn't blame Umbridge for her overconfidence, though. After committing those atrocious acts, she had realized that her safety was at risk, so she had wisely requested the Aurors from the Ministry to enhance the security measures at her residence. She even used Floo powder for her daily commute to avoid any potential ambushes along the way.
But Umbridge never imagined that retribution would come so swiftly, and that the very person she wanted dead would show up at her doorstep with his companions.
The protective enchantments set up by the Aurors were like thin paper, easily punctured. She also hadn't anticipated that they would have the patience to wait for her at her home.
When Umbridge laid eyes on Albert and the members of the Defense Association, she instantly regretted not residing at the Ministry, especially after offending those two groups.
Muggle-born wizards may not have had the means to retaliate, but pure-blood families were another matter entirely.
As Umbridge lay there, her consciousness fading in and out from the beating, she faintly heard Albert's voice once more.
"Take her away."
Before leaving, they also made sure to strip Umbridge's home of anything valuable. As Albert put it, Umbridge no longer existed in this world, and her possessions would be used to help the witches and wizards she had persecuted.
In this chaotic era, the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Magic could only intimidate the weak and foolish.
Only brute force truly mattered, and Umbridge had failed to grasp this concept. Despite her misdeeds, she hadn't gone into hiding, and now she was paying the price.
The group quickly relocated to a temporary safe house that Albert had prepared earlier, intending to interrogate Umbridge thoroughly.
As a high-ranking official in the Ministry, she undoubtedly possessed valuable information. Albert generously used one of his few remaining Veritaserum potions to extract information about the captured witches and wizards and the whereabouts of her ill-gotten gains.
Indeed, Umbridge had amassed quite a fortune.
She had never hesitated to abuse her position for personal gain, holding multiple jobs simultaneously and drawing multiple salaries. She had also relentlessly sucked the Ministry dry, and the reduced reward money for Sirius Black's capture was a testament to her greed.
"This woman truly deserves whatever comes her way!"
As they listened to Umbridge confess her misdeeds under the influence of the Veritaserum, they diligently recorded the conversation with quills, intending to include it in their memoirs.
"Looks like we don't have to worry about galleons for a while." Fred looked at the keys in his hand and smiled, relieved that they wouldn't have to keep dipping into their pockets, even though most of the money they had spent to cover the losses belonged to Albert.
"What's our next move? When are we attacking the Ministry?" Cedric looked at Albert, seeking his opinion.
"According to Umbridge, this doesn't seem like a trap," George said. "While the Ministry does have defenses at night, they're not particularly strong. If we're willing to take the risk, storming the Ministry to rescue the captured witches and wizards shouldn't be an insurmountable challenge." However, George couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Everything was going a little too smoothly.
"Let's take action tonight. First, notify the members of the Order of the Phoenix."
"I think we should handle this ourselves…"
"We need to share the risk," Albert interrupted, raising his hand. "Besides, the members of the Order know the Ministry far better than we do, which will make things a lot easier for us."
"Alright, even though I think their participation won't make much of a difference either way."
(End of Chapter)
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