The handsome Harry Potter led the Army of Salvation through their final training, though none of the members were aware of it. When everyone
The handsome Harry Potter led the Army of Salvation through their final training, though none of the members were aware of it.
When everyone laughed and squeezed into the Vanishing Cabinet, only to return to Regulus Black's office, what they found waiting were three captured companions, the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, the great toad.
"Minister, just as I said, they really are training an army."
Dolores Umbridge pointed excitedly at the children. This was fact, this was evidence, this was crime.
"An army? What on earth are you talking about?"
One student clearly didn't understand why Umbridge was so agitated. Wasn't it just spell practice?"You don't teach us spells, and now you won't even let us practice on our own?"
Ron Weasley stood up in annoyance and demanded an explanation.
"I'll tell you where you're wrong. The Ministry of Magic has decreed that you don't need spell training. You went ahead and did it anyway. That's a mistake, a violation of the law, and equivalent to a crime."
Dolores Umbridge delighted in seeing the shocked expressions on the children's faces.
Once again, she had trampled on their understanding, shattered their confidence, made them doubt themselves, made them deny themselves.
"That rule is unreasonable."
George Weasley's wand trembled in his hand. The freshly practiced Bone-Breaker spell might find a good target in this giant toad.
"Rules are rules. If you can't even follow them, how could you ever be useful to society?"
Dolores Umbridge savored their desperate protests. The more they argued, the more it proved they lacked conviction.
Once she had countered every argument, that would be the moment of their deepest despair. They would resign themselves, ready to be crushed.
But tonight was not about crushing children. Minister Fudge had a far greater target in mind—Dumbledore.
"Enough talk. Take them all, we're going to the Headmaster's office."
Minister Fudge gave the order, and the Aurors immediately began escorting the students away.
"Percy! What are you doing here? I'm your brother!"
Ron Weasley suddenly realized that one of the people escorting him was his own elder brother, Percy Weasley.
"I work at the Ministry now. I've even become the Minister's secretary. If you all would cause less trouble, I'd be very grateful."
Percy, disappointed that three of those arrested were his own brothers, raised his hand and smacked each one on the head in turn.
"Hey! Can Ministry people just go around hitting others?"
Fred shouted angrily.
"The one hitting you is your brother."
Percy both loved and hated his younger brothers. They were truly exasperating.
Dolores Umbridge hadn't expected there to be a Weasley at Fudge's side, and gave Percy a longer look.
"Percy Weasley is a fine young man. Regulus recommended him to me. He knows how to advance and retreat, he handles matters well, and he's much more capable than his father Arthur. In the future, he could easily take Arthur's position."
Regulus Black had nothing to do with tonight's incident, which made this even better news. Percy Weasley, unlike the rest of his family, adapted well to political life. And rumor had it that the Weasley girl was now involved with Regulus. Clearly, Regulus valued the Weasley family highly.
Fudge had no idea that Regulus had already promised Fred and George support for a Weasley joke shop, nor that he had personally taken Ron into the Muggle chess world.
Now, with Percy as his secretary and Ginny supposedly in Regulus's circle, Regulus Black's favor toward the Weasley family was more than obvious.
Oh, and he had even snatched Fleur Delacour, the woman who was meant to be Bill Weasley's future bride. But the future doesn't always count for much.
Behind them, the three youngest Weasleys muttered under their breath:
"Traitor! Traitor! Traitor! Traitor! Traitor! Traitor…"
Percy's skin was already thick enough. He ignored their muttering entirely, and whenever someone raised their voice, he smacked them again, leaving them with no fight left, only resentment.
"Dumbledore! Look what I found at Hogwarts. These students violated Ministry decrees by secretly practicing spells. Don't tell me you knew nothing about this!"
Minister Fudge intended to use the students' futures as leverage, forcing Dumbledore to compromise and support him. Umbridge's claim of "Dumbledore's Army" was just convenient phrasing.
"Yes, I was aware of their training."
Dumbledore gave Harry a quick wink before waiting for Fudge's next move.
"Since you admit it, all the better. I demand that the leader of these students be taken to the Ministry for custody. That way, the others won't dare break the rules again."
Fudge's real goal was finally revealed. He remained obsessed with the matter of Harry and Voldemort's connection. In his paranoia, he wanted to bury any talk of Voldemort's return and also lock away Harry Potter, this dangerous "uncertain factor."
He needed an excuse—any excuse—to take Harry Potter away.
Now he had it. Harry had supposedly formed Dumbledore's Army and committed serious violations of Ministry law.
"This has nothing to do with the children. It was entirely my idea. And no, I don't plan on vacationing in Azkaban."
Dumbledore knew that if he let Fudge continue, Harry truly would be taken away. He decided to act, to take all the blame in a way Fudge could not refute.
Suddenly, his phoenix Fawkes burst through the window. In a flash of fire, Dumbledore and Fawkes disappeared together.
Cornelius Fudge was dumbstruck. What was this? Did Dumbledore really flee in fear of punishment? By running like that…
He turned toward the students. Their faces mirrored his shock.
By escaping, Dumbledore had shouldered all the blame himself. Fudge could no longer accuse the students, nor could he use this chance to seize Harry.
Dumbledore's way of taking the blame—so sudden, so unguarded—left everyone stunned.
"Dumbledore is powerful. He just escaped, just like that."
Fudge muttered to himself, then left the Headmaster's office disappointed. As for the arrested students? Who cared. Let them go.
"Cause less trouble. Take care of yourselves."
Percy patted his brothers' shoulders as he left.
"Hogwarts cannot go without a Headmaster. So, who will take the position now?"
Regulus Black thought it. Harry Potter thought it. Even Dolores Umbridge thought it.
[Decree No. 101: The Ministry of Magic appoints Dolores Umbridge as Headmistress of Hogwarts.]
The latest decree was nailed at the very top of the crowded notice board. Its position was highest, yet least secure. Each time Filch swung his hammer, the tall ladder swayed, threatening to send him tumbling down.
The higher you stand, the harder you fall.
Still, Umbridge reveled in the moment, looking down from her lofty position, self-satisfied.
Especially when she spoke, with every student forced to stand and listen at her command. Compared to the old days when they sat about lazily, this was much better. Discipline only needed time to take root; the children would grow used to it.
Far away, over Azkaban, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared. Floating in midair, it raised its wand and directed it toward the prison's tallest tower.
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