Chapter 428: A Turn of Events
Chapter 428: A Turn of Events (Please subscribe, favorite, and vote!)
As the students who had escaped from the Room of Requirement gradually returned safely to their House Common Rooms, Umbridge in the Headmaster's Office was in a state of frenzy.
"Are they all asleep? Was it because of a Potion or Magic?" Umbridge asked anxiously. She looked as if she would have grabbed Malfoy by the collar and shaken him if not for the presence of the Malfoy family.
"No, really, it wasn't", Malfoy replied, looking frightened. He had never seen Umbridge treat him like this before. "Professor Snape has confirmed it. They haven't been poisoned or cursed. They are all healthy, just asleep."
"So you plan to accuse me based on the false testimony of a young girl you've coerced? I think it's rather inappropriate to accuse me of attempting to overthrow the Ministry of Magic based on the testimony of a single witness. Not to mention, her parents are entirely under your control, so her testimony is highly suspect", Dumbledore said from behind his desk, his tone as calm as if he were recommending Cockroach Clusters. However, Harry could detect a hint of relief and confusion in Dumbledore's voice.
"We—this—" Umbridge began to stammer, her chest heaving as if she were a toad in a puddle.
"But Harry still organized an illegal extracurricular group", Fudge interjected, interrupting Umbridge's incoherent rage. "From what I know, Potter met with many students at the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade in October—"
"Potter's meeting with these students", Umbridge perked up, "was to persuade them to join an illegal group. The group's goal was to learn certain Spells and Curses that the Ministry of Magic has ruled unsuitable for students—"
"I believe you are mistaken on that point, Dolores", Dumbledore said softly, his half-moon glasses perched on his crooked nose as he looked over them at Umbridge. "After all, the Ministry of Magic's decree banning all student clubs was not enacted until two days after Harry's Hogsmeade meeting. Therefore, he did not violate any rules at the Hog's Head."
The representatives from the Ministry of Magic were taken aback, realizing they had overlooked an important detail. However, Umbridge quickly regained her composure. "All of that aside, Headmaster, we have been enforcing Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four for nearly six months. While the first meeting may not have been illegal, all subsequent meetings certainly were."
"Where is your evidence? We cannot convict someone based on mere speculation", Dumbledore said, his fingers steepled as he regarded her with a polite and interested expression, which Umbridge interpreted as mocking.
At that moment, Harry heard a rustling behind him and even thought he heard Kingsley muttering something. However, the noise quickly disappeared, as if it had been a mere illusion.
"Didn't Miss Ackerley tell us?" Umbridge turned to Marietta, who was huddled in the corner. "Good girl, you did the right thing, so don't feel ashamed. Now, tell us, have these meetings been held regularly over the past six months?"
Under Harry's tense gaze, Marietta shook her head. Harry noticed that her eyes looked strange, as if she were still half-asleep and very confused.
Umbridge repeatedly questioned her, but Marietta continued to shake her head. Finally, when Umbridge became angry, Professor Mcgonagall could no longer contain her fury. She interrupted Umbridge, "Please do not intimidate the student. I believe her meaning is clear: there were no secret meetings over the past six months. Is that correct, Miss Ackerley?"
Marietta nodded under Umbridge's glare, which seemed to want to devour her. Umbridge, livid, said, "There was one meeting, Miss Ackerley, you told me! Potter was the leader, he organized the meeting, Potter—why are you shaking your head, girl?" She grabbed Marietta and forcefully turned her to face her, shaking her violently.
"Enough." Fudge saw the anger on Dumbledore and Professor Mcgonagall's faces and quickly pulled Umbridge back. "Calm down. You shouldn't treat students this way."
Umbridge obediently stepped back, but as she moved to Fudge's side, a flash of resentment crossed her eyes.
"However, one thing is undeniable: Harry did organize an illegal gathering tonight", Fudge, a seasoned politician, said. Realizing he couldn't bring down Dumbledore with accusations of conspiring against the Ministry of Magic, he decided to shift his focus to Harry, hoping to find a weak point in the Chosen One that Dumbledore had endorsed.
"You should know that Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four clearly states that any student found to have formed or joined any organization, association, team, or club without the Senior Inquisitor's approval will be immediately expelled", Fudge said smugly. "So we should expel Harry to warn others not to defy the order."
At this point, Harry felt a wave of relief. If only he would be expelled and no one else would be implicated, that would be a small price to pay. He thought that even if he were expelled, Sirius Black would still take him in, and he could try to study on his own and perhaps even apply to university.
"No, I don't think so", Dumbledore replied. "The decree states that students who form or join any organization, association, team, or club will be expelled immediately. However, the evidence only shows that Harry gathered a group of people tonight, which could very well be just a meeting. I don't think it's appropriate to expel him for this. Otherwise, any group of students chatting after dinner could be expelled."
Fudge's face turned a deep shade of red. Everyone now knew what had happened tonight, but due to Umbridge's failure at a crucial moment, his plan lacked sufficient evidence. He could only watch as Dumbledore pressed him further.
"Alright, I think everyone was a bit too tense tonight, leading to a lot of misunderstandings. Now that everything has been clarified, you can all go about your business. There's no need to waste time here", Dumbledore stood up, as if to see them off.
"You—!" Fudge was furious, his finger trembling as he pointed at Dumbledore. But he remembered that Dumbledore was one of the most powerful wizards in the world, so he remained frozen, not daring to act.
Just as Harry thought everything was over, a knocking sound came from the window. The thud thud thud was very noticeable in the quiet office, and everyone turned to look.
Outside the window was an owl carrying a letter. Umbridge's face lit up with a sickly smile. "They've replied, Dumbledore. Open the window and let the owl in."
Professor Mcgonagall, standing by the window, frowned but opened it at Dumbledore's nod, taking the letter from the owl's leg.
The letter was a standard parchment envelope. However, what was strange was that the wax seal bore the Hogwarts crest, even though the owl had clearly flown a long distance to get there.
"What is this?" Professor Mcgonagall asked, looking at Professor Dumbledore, but he ignored her and opened the envelope. After reading the contents, Dumbledore's blue eyes seemed to burn with a flame as he stared at Fudge.
"Cornelius, I always thought we were on the same side. But I didn't expect your obsession with your position to make you so easily swayed by certain ambitious individuals, losing your judgment in the process."
Seeing Dumbledore's sudden anger, Harry felt utterly confused. He didn't understand why a letter could make Headmaster Dumbledore so furious and was now very curious about what the letter contained.
(End of Chapter)
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