"Do not try to resist Potter unless you want to be expelled."
Draco Malfoy strode over with Goyle and Crabbe. He tapped his wand on his palm and gloated over Harry Potter, who had just been called out of the library by Filch. The corners of his mouth curled up in pleasure. "Your story has been completely exposed, Potter. You are finished. Don't try to escape like the two brothers from the Weasley family. You can't escape."
Malfoy motioned for Potter to look around. Members of the investigation team were fully mobilized and were surrounding this side from all directions to prevent Potter from slipping away from under their noses.
"What exposure?"
Hermione turned her head to look at Harry beside her, and found that Harry's face did not change much, but he raised his eyebrows slightly, as if thinking about Malfoy's words. So, Hermione looked at Malfoy again, trying to get some useful information out of him.
"Don't talk to me, Mudblood." Malfoy raised his chin haughtily.
"Don't!"
Ron had drawn his wand, but Hermione pushed it aside.
"Very wise." Malfoy pointed his nose at Harry and the other two. "Potter, times have changed."
"Who knows?" Harry glanced at Malfoy with contempt and answered Hermione's question, "Maybe the toad just wants to find an excuse to drive me away. This is not the first time!"
"Excuses? No, no, not excuses. You know what you did." Malfoy led the way with Goyle and Crabbe.
Filch held the whip, his eyes flashing with malice, and urged: "Go quickly, don't keep Madam waiting too long."
Under the gaze of many students, the members of the Investigative Team and Filch escorted Harry towards Umbridge's office, leaving only whispers.
Hermione and Ron looked at each other and quickly followed.
In fact, not only Hermione and Ron, but also many members of the Anti-Toad League followed, ready to disrupt Umbridge and rescue Harry.
As for the members of the investigation team, they were not taken seriously at all.
After Filch knocked on the door and led them into Umbridge's office, Harry finally learned of his "crime".
"You were seen conspiring with the Weislai brothers."
Umbridge put down the work in her hands, looked up from behind her desk, and looked at Harry with a smirk on her face, very happy that she had finally caught Harry Potter's handle.
"Even if you are a professor and want to slander me, please provide evidence."
Harry looked at Umbridge's disgusting face fearlessly and sneered, "I've been reviewing the exam content in the library recently, and most of the students can testify for me. Or is it that it's popular in the Ministry of Magic to slander others casually now?"
The smirk on Umbridge's face disappeared, and her eyes were fixed on Harry Potter like a toad staring at a fly.
"Don't try to make excuses. They saw and heard your conspiracy with those two little bastards." Filch clenched the whip tightly.
Recently, he had also been troubled by Fred and George. Not only did he have to deal with those annoying joke props, but he also had to guard against sneak attacks from students. In Filch's eyes, Potter, who colluded with the two little beasts to make trouble, undoubtedly needed to be hung up and beaten severely.
"You guys have been making up time lately?" Harry scoffed. "It's really unprofessional to slander others like this."
"We saw it with our own eyes about half an hour ago." Malfoy said confidently: "I dare say I was not mistaken. In the end, he went into the library."
"We saw it, too," Goyle and Crabbe quickly echoed.
"You are so unprofessional. I was reviewing in the library half an hour ago." Harry couldn't help but sneered. "If you don't believe me, you can ask others. All the students in the library can vouch for me."
"Yes, I can testify that we have been staying in the library." Hermione pushed the door open and broke into Umbridge's office and said to Umbridge.
"Not only us, Madam Pince and other students can testify for Harry." Ron also walked into the office and glared at Malfoy.
"If you want to slander me, please come up with a better excuse." Harry ignored Umbridge's dissatisfaction. Hermione and Ron broke in without her permission, which obviously annoyed the toad.
"Slander, just you." Malfoy looked a little annoyed, he didn't expect Potter to quibble, and there was even the so-called evidence of the entire library, but he did see Potter interacting with the Weiss twins not long ago, although he didn't see him enter the library because he lost Potter in the end, but... he definitely didn't recognize the wrong person.
"So, you would rather believe the unfounded slander of the three of them than the testimony of numerous other witnesses?" Harry looked at Umbridge with a strange expression. He knew that at this moment there were many people outside who were eavesdropping on the conversation in the office with retractable ears.
"I think they are more honest and trustworthy than you." Umbridge put on her fake smile again, "Potter, you'd better tell the truth and don't force me to use other methods."
"Even if you use truth serum on me, it won't work. This incident never happened. How do you want me to explain it?" Harry looked at Umbridge as if she were an idiot, and said sarcastically, "Or do you think I should tell you some lies? If you want to hear it, I don't mind telling you what you want to hear."
"Then I have no choice. This is no longer a matter of school discipline, but a matter of the safety of the Ministry of Magic..."
"I don't know how you have the nerve to say such things. I'm ashamed of you." Harry interrupted with disgust, "The Ministry of Magic has lost a lot of credibility, and you are at least half responsible for it."
"Harry..."
Not only Hermione, but everyone else present was stunned by Harry's audacity.
However, they quickly came to their senses and looked at Umbridge with anticipation, hoping that Harry Potter would be punished more cruelly.
"... Someone is trying to fight against the Ministry of Magic. This is a very bad thing." Umbridge seemed not to hear what Harry said. She took a sip of tea slowly and looked up and down at the boy in front of her. She seemed very satisfied with the stubborn Harry: "But the safety of the Ministry of Magic..."
"If you want to find Fred and George, I suggest you ask Anderson. He must know where they are. After all, they are the best of friends." Harry interrupted Umbridge ruthlessly again and continued to sarcastically: "Why don't you ask Anderson? Don't you dare, or are you afraid?"
"You don't need to sow discord," Umbridge narrowed her eyes and said angrily, "As far as I know, Anderson hasn't done anything excessive. He spends most of his time studying books in the library. That guy only has a few months left before graduating from school. He is much more obedient than you."
Umbridge said something that even she herself did not believe, but it was undeniable that, at least on the surface, Albert was very well-behaved, too well-behaved, and was simply the epitome of a good student.
Although Umbridge always suspected that Albert was behind the scenes, she had no evidence, and Fudge didn't want her to cause trouble for Albert.
In addition, there are various signs that Albert is a genius with excellent character and academic performance. He is obsessed with studying magic, often publishes various academic papers in magazines, and discusses academic research results with other famous wizards. Even when Umbridge took back the library card that Dumbledore gave to Albert, which allowed him to use the restricted area at any time, Albert did not react much. He simply returned the card and there was no trace of any flaws at all.
"You don't even believe this!" Harry couldn't help laughing.
Albert is content
Harry thought this was the funniest joke he had ever heard this century.
It's amazing that Umbridge could even say that.
Fred and George frequently make trouble for Umbridge, and it must be Albert who is supporting them in all aspects.
Although they have no evidence, sometimes no evidence is needed at all.
In fact, many people have thought of this, but they just assume that they don’t know it.
Albert probably just didn't want to get into any big trouble before graduation, so he only helped Fred and George secretly.
"Okay Potter, don't try to change the subject. If you won't talk, maybe I'll have to use another method," Umbridge said softly. "The Cruciatus Curse should be able to make you talk."
"Are you crazy? Once you use the Unforgivable Curse on someone, you will be imprisoned in Azkaban for life." Ron widened his eyes in disbelief, as if the toad in front of him was an absolute lunatic.
Hermione shouted quickly, "Fudge wouldn't want you to break the law."
"Don't worry, she doesn't dare to use the Cruciatus Curse. Don't forget the old liar's prophecy. If she really dares to use it, I guarantee that she will spend the rest of her life in Azkaban." Harry was still very calm and completely ignored Umbridge's threat of the Cruciatus Curse. "Several of Trelawney's prophecies have come true."
"Harry..." Hermione said almost in a pleading tone, but she found that Harry seemed to be deliberately provoking Umbridge.
"Very good, very good!" Umbridge's face twitched, and she swayed from side to side nervously. "Do you really think I dare not, Potter?"
"Of course you wouldn't."
"As long as Cornelius doesn't know, he won't be unhappy." Umbridge said firmly. "Even if he knew, I'm sure the Minister would understand that I had no choice."
"Like you let those two Dementors attack me?" Harry sneered. "Fudge must be very happy afterwards!"
"Yes, Cornelius was very happy to try you. It's a pity that you escaped." Umbridge shook the wand in her hand and asked, "Do you really think I dare not use the Cruciatus Curse on you?"
Malfoy and his two followers, who were originally a little disappointed, couldn't help but light up their eyes and looked at Umbridge with anticipation. They were eager to see Harry receive the most cruel punishment.
"Can you use it? With your pathetic level of magic, can you really use the Cruciatus Curse?" Harry curled his lips in disdain.
"Harry..." Hermione let out a helpless cry.
"Didn't the prophecy say that Fudge would be ousted soon?" Harry continued to look at Umbridge as if she were an idiot. "When Cornelius Fudge is no longer the Minister of Magic, do you think the new Minister will choose to understand you? No, they will distance themselves from the matter as soon as possible and send you, who dared to use the Cruciatus Curse on students, to Azkaban to calm everyone's anger."
"So, Hermione, you don't have to worry at all, she wouldn't dare." Harry's words shocked everyone again.
"Very good, very good, you forced me to do it, Cruciatus Curse." Umbridge used the Cruciatus Curse on Harry in public.
Harry just groaned softly, struggled painfully for a moment, and then endured Umbridge's Cruciatus Curse without even much expression of pain on his face.
"Enough, enough, are you crazy?" Hermione screamed.
"We'll tell you whatever you want to ask." Ron's face turned pale and his whole body was trembling, as if it was him, not Harry, who was being tortured by the Cruciatus Curse.
"Your level of Cruciatus Curse is really rubbish, it's like tickling someone. Voldemort's Cruciatus Curse is much more powerful than yours." Harry's face did not show much pain, but rather sarcasm and ridicule. He knew that Umbridge was finished. Using the Cruciatus Curse on students in public was enough to put Umbridge in Azkaban prison for life.
"Don't force me to use the Cruciatus Curse on you again." Umbridge looked at Potter, this stubborn guy, raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at her wand, as if she had doubts about the power of her spell.
The members of the investigation team looked at Umbridge with suspicion, as if they suspected that their new headmistress's pathetic magical level was not enough to use the Cruciatus Curse properly.
Otherwise, how could Potter have no reaction on his face after being subjected to the Cruciatus Curse, as if the spell Umbridge had just used was not an Unforgivable Curse at all.
"You say it!" Umbridge looked at Ron, trying to hide the embarrassment of her low magical level.
"They're not in Hogsmeade. They've been lying to everyone the whole time, hiding their whereabouts," Ron whispered. "They're hiding in the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid now."
"Forbidden Forest?" Umbridge was not satisfied with the answer.
"There is a secret base deep in the Forbidden Forest. They make joke props there and then bring them to Hogwarts to sell to students to rebel against you. They told me this because they are not afraid of being exposed. There is a bunch of giant eight-eyed spiders guarding the secret entrance to the secret base. Only Hagrid can pass through it because those giant spiders are pets that Hagrid has raised since they were young."
"Shut up Ron." Harry glared at Ron in mock annoyance.
"Secret base?" muttered Umbridge.
She had heard similar news from Harry. The last time the Aurors entered the Forbidden Forest, they also encountered those giant spiders. It was said that those giant spiders were very troublesome.
"That's the secret base of the Order of the Phoenix. Members of the Order of the Phoenix can use Apparition directly, and only they know how to get in. And Harry was indeed reviewing in the library just now." Ron took a deep breath under Harry's glare and said, "I feel that Fred and George told me this because they are not afraid of leaking the secret at all, because the secret base cannot be entered without permission. I bet they told me because they knew they would encounter this situation."
"You don't know the location of the secret base?"
"We are not members of the Order of the Phoenix, so how could we possibly know the location of the secret base?" Harry said sarcastically, "So don't even think about it. You can't even do anything to those giant spiders."
"Where is Dumbledore's secret weapon hidden?" Umbridge continued to ask.
"Shut up Ron."
"You're the one who should shut up." Umbridge used the Cruciatus Curse on Harry again, making Harry grit his teeth in pain.
"Stop it, stop it now." Ron pushed Umbridge's wand away from Harry.
"continue."
Umbridge was quite satisfied with the result.
"I don't know. They just said there's a secret weapon hidden there that can give you and Fudge the retribution you deserve." Ron said confusedly.
"Secret weapon?" Umbridge raised her eyebrows. They once suspected that the prophecy of Fudge's resignation was caused by Dumbledore, and now it seemed to be confirmed.
"I don't know. Fred and George only said that they would bring it to school and use it to take revenge on you and drive you away. They didn't reveal anything else important." Ron explained.
"Take me to find the weapon." Umbridge stood up. She had to stop Dumbledore's conspiracy. If Fudge was really ousted by Dumbledore, her situation would become very bad.
"It seems that there is indeed something wrong with your ears. There is no way we can know the location of the secret base." Harry laughed at Umbridge unscrupulously. "In two months at the latest, Fred and George will use it to send you to Azkaban. Maybe then you can get along well with those Dementors in Azkaban with Fudge."
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