Chapter 2 Search and Seizure
They headed down the hallway to Umbridge's office, picking up more students along the way. Umbridge's office was not heavily protected. Who would want to go there, after all? Harry thought, sourly. A simple Alohamora let them in. The pink decor and the pictures of cats were no more appealing than they ever had been.
"Well, look what we've got here." Neville said. "A box of quills." He held up a box of the evil-looking black quills that they all knew so well.
"Smash them." Was the shout.
"No." Harry said. "I think we should set the Minister some lines." Everyone thought that a fine idea.
Hermione looked over Umbridge's obsessively neat desk and picked up a small book labelled "Punishments". She flipped through it. It was all there in Umbridge's own handwriting. The Blood Quills and many other acts of disproportionate cruelty. She put the book in her pocket. By what mad arrogance, she wondered, would this woman do these things and keep careful detailed record of them?
The container of Floo powder was right by the fireplace. Harry had time to think about how little he knew of the things that the leader of an army, even a small one, should know, then decided that he was just going to have to make it up as he went along. "All right. I'll go through and talk to Fudge's secretary and find out where he is. The rest of you can follow with the prisoners as soon as we know."
He picked up a handful of the Floo powder. "Fred. What's the code for the Minister's office?"
"Minister of Magic's private office. Mind you speak clearly, Harry. You don't want to wind up in Knockturn Alley, now." There were a few low chuckles. Harry supposed he was never going to live that first time down. He threw the Floo powder into the fireplace and spoke the code, and the next instant he was there. There was an elaborate desk with no one sitting at it. The name plate said Dolores Gollapot, Principle Administrative Assistant to the Minister.
Harry took several steps toward the desk, which saved him from being knocked over as Hermione, Fred and George, Professor McGonagall and a dozen more of the DA came through behind him, wands at the ready.
"Harry." Hermione said reprovingly. "You don't have to do this all by yourself. We are Dumbledore's Army, you know."
"Ah, right." Harry said, embarrassed.
"Fred, George, Luna, cover the door." Hermione said, briskly. "Deal with anyone who comes in."
The evident owner of the desk came out of the inner office at the sound of voices, and immediately took on a look of outrage. "Excuse me. This is the private office for the Minister, and you do *not* have an appointment."
Professor McGonagall was the first to answer. "Miss Gollapot, we have most urgent business with the Minister and we do not give a fig for his schedule. Where is he?"
Gollapot drew herself up and said "The Minister is not available."
Professor McGonagall took two long strides forward and put her wand in the face of the other woman. "You will tell us where the Minister is this very moment or it will go very hard with you."
Gollapot's face went from starchy to terrified in a moment. Harry thought he had seen Professor McGonagall be intimidating. Now he knew what she was really capable of.
"Wizengamot sitting. He's ... he's just down the hall in the chamber." She stuttered.
"Go sit at your desk." Professor McGonagall replied. "Stay there." The woman bolted back to her desk and sat behind it, shivering like a kicked dog.
