Ignoring whatever his brothers were shouting from below, Percy kept his wand pressed firmly against Umbridge's chest, his eyes narrowed as he glared at her viciously.
"So don't try to use the Ministry of Magic to pressure me again, Madam Deputy Minister. You should look at reality—how many people actually care about the Ministry of Magic led by you and that fool Fudge?"
"You, how dare you!" Umbridge's shrill voice screamed, echoing throughout the Great Hall.
Percy scoffed, looking at her with disdain. "Of course I dare. Why wouldn't I dare to say it?"
"Not only that, but I will say it." Percy gripped Umbridge's collar tighter, hauling her directly in front of him. The goblet and plate in front of Umbridge at the Staff Table were knocked over in the process.
"From today, from this moment on, you stay away from my younger brothers and sister."
Percy pressed the tip of his wand harder against Umbridge's chest. The sizzling sound of burning flesh accompanied Umbridge's screams.
"If my sister or any of my brothers ever encounter something like this again, even if it means being thrown into Azkaban, I will send you back to Merlin's embrace."
Releasing his grip, Percy threw Umbridge back into her seat. He took a deep breath, put away his wand, and bowed to the other Professors at the Staff Table.
"My apologies, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Snape, Professor Sprout, for interrupting everyone's meal."
"It is quite alright, Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall replied, shaking her head with a faint smile. "Hogwarts always welcomes its graduates back."
"My honor." Percy smiled gently, turned, and walked down from the Staff Table to join his sister and brothers.
"Percy, why did you resign? You didn't have to. I mean, working at the Ministry of Magic is your dream. You don't have to give it up for me, and I wasn't really hurt, was I?"
Ron stood up anxiously, gesturing to himself to show that he hadn't suffered any injuries at all.
"Amanda helped Harry and me. It's so hard to get into the Ministry of Magic; you really didn't have to..."
"Oh, come off it, Ron," Percy said, waving his hand dismissively. "No matter how hard it is to get into the Ministry of Magic, it's not more important than family."
"Besides, my dream is to join the Ministry of Magic and make life better for people in the Wizarding World, but the current Ministry of Magic clearly won't allow me to realize my ambitions."
As he spoke, he glanced back at the Ravenclaw Table. "When the day comes that the Ministry of Magic allows me to realize my ambitions, I will take the exams and join the Ministry of Magic again."
Percy lifted his chin slightly, that air of pride and arrogance returning to him. "It's just an exam. Your brother will have absolutely no problem with it."
"Merlin's exam papers... this is the real Percy now."
"Who was that Percy just now?"
"Do you know, Fred?"
"I don't know. Do you know, George?"
"I don't know either."
The Twins chatted and laughed in unison. Ron blushed at their teasing, and after sitting down, he felt his sister pat his shoulder.
Percy sat down opposite Ron with a smile and gave each of The Twins a light tap. "Don't tease your brother."
Being surrounded by family, being protected by family—this feeling... it's wonderful.
At the same time, sitting at the Ravenclaw Table, Amanda's eyes flickered as she looked toward where Percy was. She leaned slightly toward Hermione, her voice as cold as the still water at the bottom of a frozen lake in midwinter.
"Percy's abilities are quite trustworthy and worth choosing. Once Hermione successfully becomes Minister for Magic, she could choose Percy as a key assistant."
"Mhm, I think so too." Hermione nodded and reached out to ruffle the top of Amanda's fluffy hair. As for this senior whose grades were absolutely perfect—with nothing but excellence to his name—she would certainly be "coveting" him once she became Minister for Magic.
As it turns out, Fudge and Umbridge not only failed to appreciate him, but they actually "drove him away." If those two don't fall, then who will? It would be a true injustice if they didn't fall.
Harry rested his chin in his hand, watching the scene at the table happily. He had always loved the family atmosphere of the Weasley family. However, before he could appreciate it for even two seconds, the doors of the Great Hall were slammed open again with a loud bang.
This time, the explosion was even louder than when Percy had pushed the doors open. Hearing the blast that vibrated against her eardrums, Amanda silently moved her jaw to relax them.
Fortunately, the doors of the Hogwarts Great Hall had special magical protection. This thought crossed her mind; otherwise, with just these two impacts, doors of average quality without magical protection would have been completely destroyed.
"Sirius..." Harry murmured, watching the man storm in, wand in hand. Sirius turned his head and offered a forced smile toward Harry, then turned to the other side to nod at Amanda and Hermione before casting a spell directly at the Staff Table without any warning.
Bang!
Professor Snape drew his wand and blocked Sirius's spell, his hollow face looking somewhat grim.
"If your brain hasn't been filled with Troll bogies, Mr. Black, you should understand that a dangerous spell like the Severing Charm, which can cause excessive injury, should not be used."
Catching the hidden warning in Professor Snape's words, Sirius still couldn't resist a snarky retort. "Thanks for the reminder, Snivellus."
Listening to the two of them trading insults and verbal barbs, Professor McGonagall's disapproving gaze lingered on both of them.
Professor Snape sat up straight, as if he hadn't felt the gaze of his former Professor directed at him.
Sirius curled his lips into a smile, waved his wand at Umbridge again, and fired an Expelliarmus followed immediately by a Stupefy.
After what had happened with Percy and Sirius's previous spell, Umbridge had learned to be vigilant. She frantically drew her wand and cast a rather substandard Shield Charm in front of herself.
The consequence of this substandard Shield Charm was that while she blocked Sirius's Expelliarmus, she was sent flying by his Stupefy, crashing heavily against the wall behind her.
Sirius strode up to the Staff Table, hauled Umbridge up, and cast a spell at her face. "Rennervate."
With a long gasp, Umbridge's eyes snapped open, and the first thing she saw was Sirius holding her up.
This feeling of being held by the collar... why did she feel like she was getting used to it? Umbridge thought, her mind still somewhat dazed.
"Thinking of using Dark Arts items against my godson, eh? Thinking my godson has no one to back him up?"
"Thinking my godson is easy to bully?"
"I'm not dead yet!" Sirius roared, causing Umbridge's face to pale even further.
She didn't understand. She didn't understand why everyone could come and question her like this, and why everyone could attack her without hesitation.
She was the Deputy Minister for Magic; why did no one have even a shred of awe or respect for her or the Ministry of Magic?
"Stay away from my godson and his friends, do you hear me?"
Sirius stared grimly at Umbridge, whom he was holding in his hand. "Otherwise, I'll let you taste what real suffering is. I've been to Azkaban, Umbridge, and I wouldn't mind going back for my godson."
After saying this, he threw Umbridge back onto the ground, turned, and walked down from the Staff Table to Harry's side at the Gryffindor Table.
His expression softening, Sirius reached out and gently stroked Harry's hair. "Harry, sometimes you can't be too well-behaved. Against people like that," he said, glancing at Umbridge, who was struggling to climb up from the floor behind the Staff Table—clearly, none of the other Professors wanted to help her—"sometimes you just have to take direct action."
"Don't always be so hesitant. Your father had an impulsive nature, and your mother wasn't the type to swallow her pride either. Have a bit more drive."
Sirius patted Harry on the back with a smile and winked mischievously. "Don't worry about causing trouble; you still have me, your godfather."
Harry was a good boy who would never do anything truly bad; even if he did cause trouble, it would likely only be something harmless.
In fact, due to habits formed from childhood, he was always hesitant before doing anything, which was why Sirius was encouraging him to be more spontaneous and not be afraid of making mistakes.
Young people should be a bit impulsive, shouldn't they? Wasn't the whole point of him being a godfather to back up his godson?
"Well, I can already guess what Sirius is saying to Harry."
Hermione rested her chin on her hands and looked wistfully toward the Gryffindor Table. What Sirius would say to Harry was nothing more than telling him not to worry so much and to be more spontaneous.
She could only hope that while Harry unleashed his nature, he would also maintain his ability to think rationally and not be impulsive. Otherwise, if he started acting recklessly, that would be...
Hermione sighed.
Hearing Hermione's sigh, Amanda felt an urge to laugh for some reason. She instinctively turned her head away to hide a smile from Hermione. Once she regained control of her facial muscles, she turned back and patted Hermione's shoulder.
"It's okay," her voice still carrying traces of laughter that hadn't quite faded. "As for the task of rational thinking, don't you still have me and Hermione?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow, gave a non-committal "Mhm," and then reached out to pinch Amanda's cheek. "If you want to laugh, just laugh. Sneaking a laugh, honestly."
Did she really think Hermione hadn't seen her turn away to laugh in secret? Hermione's attention was always partially focused on Amanda whenever she was around. So, she had seen the whole process: Amanda turning her head, her shoulders shaking slightly, and then turning back as if nothing happened, speaking in that slightly amused tone.
"Oh..." Amanda replied softly, a brilliant smile blooming on her lips once again.
In one dinner, the doors of the Hogwarts Great Hall were battered twice, Umbridge was thoroughly dealt with twice, and the Young Wizards got to watch the show twice.
All the Young Wizards were incredibly satisfied with this dinner, especially the parts involving Umbridge; they even ate two extra pieces of steak watching it. It was just so exciting and so satisfying—if only they could have this twice every dinner.
Anyway, Umbridge wanted to use Dark Arts items to hurt them, so this could be considered her getting what she deserved.
However, what the Young Wizards didn't expect was that the matter hadn't completely ended there.
Just as all the Young Wizards were starting to eat dessert and ice cream, preparing to finish the dinner, the doors of the Hogwarts Great Hall were slammed open with a bang once again.
"Dolores Umbridge!" A woman's roar shook the entire Great Hall, and the Weasley family children all shivered in unison.
Amanda couldn't help but cast her gaze toward the entrance of the Great Hall. With the decibel level of Mrs. Weasley's roar, if she had added the Sonorus charm, it might have had a miraculous effect...
"You bitch, you actually wanted to hurt my children!"
As she spoke, she drew her wand, and the tip was glowing with a light that was clearly not an Expelliarmus or a Stupefy.
Seeing that Umbridge was likely about to be blown to pieces, Mr. Weasley, who was also angry, hurriedly reached out to hold his wife's hand.
"Molly, Molly, calm down. Leave it to me, okay? Leave it to me."
Mr. Weasley looked at his wife, feeling a bit embarrassed. His wife was indeed as formidable as ever, but this wasn't fighting Death Eaters.
Mrs. Weasley took a deep breath, nodded, put away her wand, glared fiercely at Umbridge—giving her a look that said she was dead if she ever did that again—and walked toward the Gryffindor Table.
"Percy, why are you here too?"
Seeing Percy sitting next to Ron, Mrs. Weasley was clearly stunned. Wasn't he working overtime today?
"My younger brother was being bullied, so as his older brother, of course I had to be here, Mum." Percy stood up with a smile and hugged Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, you really have grown up." Mrs. Weasley patted his back and said with emotion.
"Ron, I'm so glad to see you're okay." After letting go of Percy, Mrs. Weasley gripped Ron's shoulders with both hands and looked him over carefully, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Don't worry, Mum. Harry and I wore the protective badge Amanda gave us in advance that day, so we're both fine. The damage was all reflected back onto Umbridge herself."
"Mhm, we'll have to find that girl later and thank her properly. But your father has also prepared a gift of thanks for her."
"Dad prepared a gift of thanks for Amanda?" Ron was stunned for a moment, looking at his mother in confusion. What could they possibly give Amanda that she didn't already have?
Given Amanda's current wealth and strength, was there really anything she couldn't buy or create herself?
"Arthur! You too!" Umbridge scrambled backward in a panic. Knowing full well she couldn't beat Mr. Weasley, she actually tried to hide behind Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall frowned in disgust, stood up from the Staff Table, and walked aside to stand.
Mr. Weasley glanced at Amanda at the Ravenclaw Table, then turned back to look at Umbridge. "That's right, Dolores. You bullied my son, so of course I had to come."
Amanda, at the Ravenclaw Table, blinked as she watched Mr. Weasley confronting Umbridge. Why had he specifically looked at her just now?
Could it be that he had done something related to her? Amanda's brain instinctively began to function, pulling up various pieces of information to analyze the possible connections between herself and Mr. Weasley.
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