Everyone stared at the shivering Gilderoy Lockhart for a few moments in shock before Dumbledore reacted.
"Fawkes!"
The majestic phoenix appeared right atop his shoulder and before anyone could react, he flashed away, taking Dumbledore with him. Gilderoy Lockhart who had been clutching on to the old wizard firmly toppled over as he passed out.
"To the Great Hall, everyone!" Amelia Bones barked at her aurors as they rushed away, leaving Harry's group with the remaining professors.
"Harry!" Daphne cried out when he suddenly jerked, magical exhaustion combined with the aftereffects of the Cruciatus kicking in full-notch, and McGonagall swerved around, her eyes wide. Everyone rushed over as Susan and Daphne gently lowered him to the floor where he lay with his head in the former's lap, shaking uncontrollably.
"Damn… t-that s-sucks so bad…" he coughed.
"Don't speak, you idiot," the redhead chided just as the professors arrived. McGonagall swished her wand and an ethereal cat emerged, floating over Harry for a second before rushing through the wall.
"Be still, Potter. Poppy would be arriving at any moment," McGonagall said with as firm a voice she could muster. Meanwhile, Flitwick went over to check on Neville and the others.
"At least they're not grievously injured," the half-goblin remarked, casting basic healing spells on the trio, stabilizing them well. The rest was for the resident Hogwarts healer to take care of.
Meanwhile, Hagrid met Dumbledore near the Entrance Hall courtesy of Fawkes, a pair of roosters in either hand.
"Come, Hagrid. We should make haste," Dumbledore instructed as he began walking cautiously, with Hagrid following behind. "I know I don't need to tell you what to do, Hagrid. But still, it's a Basilisk we are going to encounter. No matter what happens, do not look up."
"Aye, Professor Dumbledore."
They were quickly joined by Amelia Bones and her aurors. Dumbledore instructed them to fall in line as he led the way toward the Great Hall where, according to Gilderoy Lockhart, the basilisk had last been seen. He was surprised to note that the creature had arrived in the Great Hall so soon after being instructed to attack and he could not help but wonder whether this was premeditated. The Great Hall was usually the most crowded part of the castle and there was no better way to commit mass murder than to unleash a basilisk in there during meal times.
They reached the closed doors of the Great Hall and Dumbledore turned towards his familiar.
"You know what to do, Fawkes," he said firmly. The phoenix chirped and flamed away with the roosters while they all stood, listening. Suddenly, they jerked as furious hisses emerged from behind the door, multiple thuds and slams sounding until a mighty crash ended the entire cacophony of noises. Mere seconds later, Fawkes flamed back and trilled majestically, earning a relieved smile from the headmaster.
Dumbledore pushed the door open and the sight that greeted them sent a chill down their spines. The basilisk was massive, easily exceeding the fifty feet mark. The house tables were crushed under its corpse, and slowly, the entourage entered the Great Hall and walked inside.
"Merlin…" Amelia Bones whispered, horrified.
"I believe now we know who killed Mr. Weasley and Miss Clearwater," Dumbledore said softly. "A basilisk's gaze is the personification of the killing curse which was derived from the very same creature thousands of years ago. Gazing into one's eyes directly results in instant death. It is possible that if the contact is indirect, then the stone curse or the petrification curse might be triggered."
"Possible explanations for the attack on young Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood," Amelia Bones nodded slowly. "That still leaves us with the attack on Miss Chang."
"A case of broom tampering," Dumbledore said sorrowfully. "And who was behind these attacks today, Director Bones?"
"That Ravenclaw girl."
Amelia Bones' eyes opened wide in realization. "Susan and the others have had their suspicions on the girl for a long time, and she had been the one accusing Mr. Potter of the attack since Day 1."
"And today, she attacked them to the point of injuring multiple students, putting Mr. Potter under the Cruciatus, and almost committing mass murder inside this castle walls with this basilisk."
"But why?" Amelia whispered, staring at the carcass of the basilisk with its eyes gouged out, its mouth open and displaying its massive fangs dripping with the most potent venom known to wizardkind.
Dumbledore knew exactly why, having seen those crimson orbs, but he chose to remain silent. They did not need to know about Tom, not without concrete evidence.
"I fear only one person holds the answer, and she has fled the castle."
"Kingsley," Amelia took charge immediately. "Mobilize the force to search for Marietta Edgecombe. I want the girl brought in ASAP!"
"Director," Kingsley nodded respectfully. Dumbledore exchanged a nod with the dark-skinned auror and watched him stride out of the Great Hall with his team.
"The Creatures department needs to be informed of this," Amelia continued. "They will carry out their procedures while we get done with ours. I'm sure they'll try to claim some of this for themselves but the law clearly states the rights to this carcass belong to you, and as such, to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore's lips were set in a thin line as he gazed at the basilisk and he let out a small sigh.
"Little do I need it for any purpose, but I believe the castle could do with some galleons to upgrade a few fixtures here and there," he remarked, earning a nod from the woman. "Everyone should remain away from here until this matter is resolved."
They walked out of the massive double doors and Dumbledore waved his wand intricately. The doors banged shut and glowed an ethereal blue as the Great Hall was sealed.
"As much as I wish to spend some time with Susan right now, I must be taking my leave. The investigation is in no way complete, Headmaster. The aurors will be arriving tomorrow to take statements from everyone involved in this fiasco tonight. I'll be discussing these events with Fudge and the Department of Education. Hopefully the students would not have to leave Hogwarts and it should remain open."
Dumbledore nodded and watched the woman as she made her way to the Entrance Hall. Turning toward his sole companion, he sighed.
"We somehow prevented a huge catastrophe today, Hagrid," he said softly. "I could've never imagined there was a basilisk hiding inside the castle, and I have a feeling this is not the first time it has been unleashed from its lair."
Hagrid stared at the man in confusion for a few seconds and his eyes widened when Dumbledore gazed at him meaningfully.
"Truly?" He whispered, earning a nod.
"The circumstances, how the attacks took place, and who was behind it… everything makes sense, Hagrid."
"So it was him?"
"There is no mistaking those eyes, Hagrid. I believe we now know what truly caused the death of Myrtle Warren. It was Tom, after all, who framed you. And once again, innocents have suffered because of him."
"Merlin's beard!"
"No one is to know, Hagrid," Dumbledore said firmly. "We cannot have rumors flying about that he is alive if we lack any concrete evidence. No one would believe it."
"Aye, Professor Dumbledore."
Dumbledore nodded and turned around to walk away. "The casualties today were limited only because of the valiant efforts of a few students who fought with everything they had. I believe Mr. Potter and his friends deserve to be recognized for their contribution today. It's high time the Special Award for Services to the School is bestowed upon those who have earned it."
Hagrid smiled and nodded as they parted ways, with Dumbledore leaving for the infirmary where he believed the students must have been taken.
The day's events had had a profound change on the outlook he had concerning one Harry Potter. He had not explicitly revealed his feelings to anyone, choosing to deliberate on the matters on his own, but he firmly believed now that he had been in the wrong. Contrary to his former belief, Harry Potter was capable of taking a curse meant for another. He had that sacrificial bone inside him and he knew when to put others before his benefits. It elated him to be proven wrong today. Harry Potter knew how to recognize the greater good and how to go about it.
He arrived in the infirmary a few minutes later and saw Poppy hard at work with her assistants. Five of the beds had curtains drawn around them and he grimaced at the sight of two that were side by side. Hogwarts had lost two promising young souls today and he knew that even though the culprit had been found, there would be pressure.
Neville, Hannah, and Tracey lay on their respective beds, sleeping soundly while Daphne and Susan sat on either side of Harry's bed. He was conscious but constantly shivering after suffering under the Cruciatus Curse.
"You shouldn't have done that," Daphne whispered, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she gently brushed his sweat-slicked hair from his forehead. On the other side of the bed, Susan held his hand firmly in hers, their fingers laced together as she rubbed the back of his palm comfortingly, trying to convey as much strength as she could.
"It w-was on ins…tinct," Harry rasped, trying to smile reassuringly but all he could make out was a grimace of pain. "J-just c-couldn't… let that c-curse h-hit you t-two…"
Susan squeezed his hand gently, tears in her eyes. "But look at the state you're in," she whispered. "It was the Cruciatus Curse, Harry…"
The redhead trailed off, unable to articulate the horror of the curse. The state Harry was in even after Madam Pomfrey had administered whatever treatment she could on him made her heart clench painfully.
"I k-know you would've d-done the s-same f-for me," he rasped softly, his eyes gazing at the two girls who stared back at him tearfully. "I-I'm s-sorry for h-hurting you t-two like t-that."
"Now's not the time to talk about it, you dolt," Daphne murmured, gently caressing his forehead as she wiped the sweat off. She gasped when he shivered violently once again as the aftershocks rippled through his body. Her head shot up and she looked for the matron. "Madam Pomfrey! Please! Can't you do something to help him?" The blonde asked tearfully, her eyes desperate.
Madam Pomfrey sighed as she walked over just as another voice cut in somberly.
"I'm afraid there is little anyone can do about it, Miss Greengrass," Dumbledore said softly, his grandfatherly gaze darting from one to the other. He could tangibly feel their pain and desperation to alleviate their friend's suffering. Alas, there was no magic in existence that could reverse the effects of the Cruciatus. He could not help but glance over to where young Mr. Longbottom was lying, fast asleep, and he sighed. That curse was truly vile.
Turning back toward the students, Dumbledore smiled reassuringly. "There is no magic that could help Mr. Potter here. Only time and proper rest can. The effects should start disappearing in the early hours of the morning, right, Poppy?"
Madam Pomfrey nodded reassuringly at the two girls before her sympathetic gaze fell on the young man suffering in the bed. "The first few hours after the first are the most painful. I know it would be tough but do try to not think too much, Potter. Keeping your eyes closed and your mind free of any thoughts would help. Remember that the Cruciatus Curse impacts your nerves so you need to give them as much rest as possible."
"M-Meditation should h-help then," Harry rasped.
"It certainly would, but only if you can do it while lying down. You cannot put any unnecessary strain on your body. It would worsen the aftershocks."
Harry nodded shakily, glancing over at the headmaster who gave him a polite nod.
"W-What about t-the b-basilisk?"
"You do not need to worry about anything right now, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said softly. "You have done more than enough today. Leave the rest on us now. Still, to answer your question, the basilisk has been taken care of."
"T-That's g-good," Harry whispered.
The sound of rushing footsteps made them turn toward the entrance and Dumbledore sighed when he saw the tear-stricken visage of one Molly Weasley who was being firmly supported by her husband Arthur and her three sons who had been called to meet their parents. The family slowly arrived inside the infirmary; their eyes affixed on the beds which had curtains drawn around them. Dumbledore caught Madam Pomfrey's eyes and nodded meaningfully. With a flourish of his wand, he cast a silencing and privacy ward around Harry's bed before he turned around and walked over.
Meanwhile, Daphne and Susan did not miss how the youngest Weasley son had been glaring hatefully at Harry and their ire had been rising massively at the mere sight of that glare. Only their consideration for the family's sorrow held them back from not tearing into the prat.
"Don't k-kill the p-poor sod with y-your eyes," Harry shakily chuckled as the privacy ward took effect, making the girls turn back to him. "L-Let them grieve. T-They lost f-family today."
Lips pursed, the two girls nodded and took his hands each, squeezing comfortably.
"You meditate now," Daphne whispered. "We'll take care of you. Right?"
Susan gazed at Daphne and nodded firmly.
"Right."
Harry merely sighed and closed his eyes, knowing that arguing was futile.
-Break-
A malevolent streak of black creased through the night sky, indistinguishable from its backdrop to the naked eye. Dark trees and creature colonies went past underneath as it soared overhead, initially firm but slowly staggering as it began losing altitude until a collision with a massive tree stopped it in its tracks.
Grunts and cries forced their way out of the figure that kept falling through the branches, breaking several but ricocheting off the thicker ones, its descent slowing with every resistance until it fell on the forest floor with a thud.
The figure was none other than Marietta Edgecombe who leaned against the tree trunk, violently coughing up blood. Her hands firmly grabbed her throat where that cutting curse had hit her. In her haste to leave Hogwarts, she had firmly held her hand on the injury, resolving to treat herself once she got out of the wards. To her sheer shock, she realized she could not cast any spell. Her magical exhaustion coupled with her injury hit her full force and all she could do was somehow manage to keep flying, trying to establish as much distance between herself and Hogwarts as possible in her state.
She did not know how she had been exhausted so much that she could not cast any spell while she flew. Stopping was not an option and now she could not do anything even if she wanted to, for her snapped wand lay on the floor. It must have broken during her fall after she collided with the tree.
Things had started spiraling downwards a while ago.
Marietta Edgecombe was a bitch in every sense of the word and she loved to bully people she considered to be beneath herself. Luna Lovegood had been easy prey. It was during one of those bullying sessions that found her chasing the poor girl around the seventh floor of the castle where she knew there would barely be anyone to intrude upon her fun. She would not be doing anything severe. Just a few hexes would have been enough.
To her surprise though, she found the silly idiot nowhere. She had kept looking for the girl for over ten minutes but found no sign of her. Fed up, she had left. Unbeknownst to her, Luna had been searching for a place to hide and somehow, she found the perfect place. The room was cluttered with all sorts of contraptions, furniture, broomsticks, discarded cauldrons, and apparatus, and Merlin knew what else. Fascinated, the girl had begun exploring this interesting place she found herself in, and that was where she found a certain tiara with a blue gem in the center.
She quickly recognized it as the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw. The woman's picture had a place of prominence in the Ravenclaw Common Room and although most of the students overlooked it, she perfectly remembered her diadem. There was no mistaking it. She quickly retrieved it, staring at those shadowy hands protruding out of the diadem in wonder, urging her to put it on. But it would have been disrespectful to the venerable founder, and Luna had resisted.
Only a few hours later, she had been forced to give the diadem up to Marietta, and that was when the girl's downfall began.
The diadem was sentient, unbeknownst to Marietta, and it knew how to appeal to whoever it was dealing with. It had been easy to ensnare Marietta and once the girl put it on, it knew how to get what it wanted. All that was needed was for the girl to pour her heart and soul out and feed her emotions into what she did not know was the soul jar belonging to the vilest wizard of the last century.
The soul jar, or the Horcrux, as it was called, fed her motivations, using her to further its own goals. It could not take over the body but it could certainly manipulate the owner of said body by influencing the mind, and that was what the Horcrux did. It amplified every negative emotion the girl held for anyone and enabled her to do whatever she wanted.
The girl fed her hatred, her discontent, and her anger into the diadem and it obliged, urging her in the right direction and enabling her. If only it could dictate her actions as well, then the situation would not have deteriorated as much.
Marietta vomited even more blood, desperately clutching onto her throat as the wound kept pouring relentlessly. Blood loss had been incrementally affecting her and all she could do was fall back helplessly against the trunk, her head falling listlessly as she choked on the crimson fluid that covered her entire body shortly. There was nothing she could do, and neither could the diadem help her. Albeit sentient, it was a mere object incapable of having a physical impact on anyone if it didn't have a host.
Marietta gurgled on the blood as she was choked and mere seconds later, she slumped over, dead.
Her hood fell over, revealing the diadem perched on top of her head. Everything remained hidden under the thick fog that permeated the surroundings, atypical of the Forbidden Forest at night.
Suddenly, a twig snapped in the distance, followed by another. Sinister chittering grew louder as massive shapes emerged from the forest shadows.
Aragog's descendants had caught the scent of fresh blood and death.
The towering acromantulas advanced noiselessly on their eight hairy legs. Soulless black eyes glittered as they surrounded the body, pincers clicking with hunger. The largest Acromantula crouched beside the corpse, its spidery mandibles flexing as it inhaled the coppery scent.
With surprising tenderness, it delicately plucked the diadem from Marietta's head, turning it over curiously. The shadowy hands of the Horcrux seemed to caress the acromantula's rough exterior as the creature chittered softly, mesmerized. It carefully tucked the diadem into a crevice in its abdomen for safekeeping.
Thick ropes of silk shot from the acromantula's spinnerets, binding the corpse tightly. It hefted Marietta's cocooned body, holding it suspended in front of its dripping fangs for the briefest of moments.
The beast turned and scuttled back into the forest depths, disappearing between the gnarled trunks with its prize. The rest of the colony followed in a silent parade, their spindly legs leaving grotesque trails on the forest floor.
Eventually, they arrived at the heart of their lair—a massive, hollowed-out web-shrouded cavern where another massive beast awaited. Aragog gently laid the cocoon in the center amidst the cracked bones and decaying remains of past victims.
Suddenly, it reared, abandoning all pretense of tenderness. Its pincers sliced through the sticky silk binding in one brutal stroke. Marietta's body was rent asunder, spraying gore across the cavern floor as the spiders descended, mandibles clashing in a frenzied cacophony of consumption.
Within moments, Marietta's corporeal form was entirely devoured, doing little to quench the hunger of Aragog's famished brood. The form was small for a colony as large as theirs. Chittering, the acromantula dispersed, venturing out on another hunt, leaving Aragog with its mate in the lair.
Another chittering sounded as the massive spider fished out the diadem from the crevice and bestowed it upon its mate, laying it down on the webbed floor. The diadem sat innocently until appendages began brushing across its tarnished surface. The night had granted them a gruesome bounty.
-Break-
The Ministry was deserted at this hour of the night when Amelia Bones called on the Minister for Magic and the officials from the Department of Education for an emergency meeting.
Cornelius Fudge sat at the head of the table, flanked by his undersecretary Dolores Umbridge on one side and the head of the Department of Education, Griselda Marchbanks, on the other. Various senior officials from the same department sat with their boss as Amelia walked in, her face set in a severe frown.
"What is this all about, Amelia? Have you looked at the time?" Fudge asked, his voice carrying with it a hint of his irritation.
Amelia leveled the Minister with an unimpressed look, her eyebrow raised and her lips pursed. Fudge frowned.
"Believe me, Minister. The last thing I'd want is to disturb your beauty sleep, but I'm sure you would like to hear about the events that unfolded at Hogwarts today."
"Wasn't the school declared to be closed? Don't tell me something more happened!" Griselda Marchbanks remarked forebodingly.
"I've been telling you to dismiss Dumbledore from his position for a while now. How many students dying will it take for you to act?"
Amelia urged the temptation to curse the Minister's undersecretary and merely settled on a firm glare.
"Allow the people truly in charge to make decisions, Undersecretary. Your input is neither warranted, nor asked for," Madam Marchbanks replied coldly. Umbridge glared at the older woman who raised an unimpressed eyebrow. Turning toward Amelia once again, she continued, "Albus Dumbledore's dismissal is neither in our power, nor is it even up for debate. He is the best we have at our disposal and if even he can lapse, one can only imagine how someone else would fare. We'd have a mass murder of students on our hands in such situations."
"Believe me, it could've been a real possibility today," Amelia frowned.
"What do you mean!?"
"I believe it would be for the best if you could see for yourselves," the woman replied and tapped a rune on the table, summoning the large pensieve for them to view the memory. She nodded once she deposited the memory and everyone dipped their heads inside.
They gasped as they emerged, their eyes wide in disbelief while Amelia awaited them in silence.
"That girl is Marietta Edgecombe. She is the daughter of Madam Edgecombe who works in the Floo department. I'm sure you all noticed a few peculiarities about her behavior. A very powerful witch only in her third year with an immense knowledge of dark magic to successfully cast the Fiendfyre. If that was not enough, she spoke Parseltongue to command that basilisk to, as evident, kill everyone it could."
"How can this be!?" Fudge blustered. "Start a search for this girl right this instant!"
"Now, Cornelius," Umbridge simpered. "We should not discount the fact that this could be an impostor. I've known the girl and her mother for years and I don't believe that was truly her."
"Why would someone impersonate her of all people?"
"We don't know that, do we?" Umbridge smiled thinly at Madam Marchbanks. "Someone could have easily used the Polyjuice Potion to frame the poor girl. Hasn't she been very vocal against a particular student?"
"If you missed it, Dolores, Mr. Potter fought Miss Edgecombe alongside his friends, including my niece, and took the Cruciatus meant for them. I would be very careful with my words here if I were you," Amelia said dangerously.
Umbridge gulped slightly under that glare but barreled on without any hesitation whatsoever. "And he seemed to have been doing just fine in that fight of theirs. For a second-year student, he did a more than admirable job against someone flinging dark magic that could've easily injured a grown-up wizard. Something seems fishy, doesn't it?"
Amelia made to retort but she was interrupted when a knock sounded on the door. She flicked her wand swiftly, letting the person in.
"Madam Bones," Kingsley Shacklebolt greeted respectfully, nodding toward the Minister as well.
"Auror Shacklebolt. Any progress on tracking the girl?"
Kingsley grimaced.
"About that… I don't believe we will ever find her now."
"What do you mean, auror?" Umbridge asked, her eyes wide.
"We tracked the blood trail she left and it led to the Forbidden Forest. She must have collided with a large tree as we found a huge pool of blood underneath."
"Must've been the cutting curse Potter hit her with," Amelia mused.
"But that's not all," Kingsley sighed. "We also found evidence of at least a dozen acromantulas around the area. The blood trail stopped right there."
A grave silence enveloped the meeting room as everyone stared at the auror, digesting the news.
"So what you're saying is that she was taken away by the acromantula?" Amelia asked firmly.
"The blood trail kept getting stronger until we reached the tree, which suggests she kept losing blood at a rapid pace," Kingsley replied. "Her inability to heal herself coupled with the high-level of dark magic she had been casting during that fight would imply she was both physically and magically too exhausted to try to escape. Being taken away by the acromantula who were in the vicinity is the only possible explanation."
"I see," Amelia mused thoughtfully. "And based on all the evidence we have, Harry Potter is innocent of everything that has been happening at Hogwarts."
"Where's the proof?" Umbridge barked.
Amelia glared at the woman. "Mind your tone, Dolores. And the proof is the testimony of Harry Potter under Veritaserum witnessed by multiple people in qualifying positions of power, including myself, Auror Shacklebolt, and Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore. This attack by Miss Edgecombe on him and his friends took place right after they left after that testimony."
"The boy submitted to Veritaserum!?" Fudge asked in abject shock.
"Those who have nothing to hide do not fear the Veritaserum, Minister. It was the quickest way to prove his innocence and I was the one to suggest it. We wouldn't want to waste time targeting someone innocent if we can help it, right?"
"Absolutely," Fudge nodded rapidly. "Good on the lad to accept it."
Amelia scoffed to herself at Fudge's posturing. Not too long ago, the man had been happy with the wretched idea his allies had proposed to do something just for the sake of being seen doing something. It was quite a turn for the man in such a short while.
"The aurors will be investigating the matter more thoroughly, Minister," Amelia continued. "But considering the events that have transpired today and the evidence we have gathered, there are indications that it was Miss Edgecombe herself who had been behind all the attacks throughout the year."
"Surely not, Amelia," Fudge's eyes were wide in disbelief.
"Do you truly think it's out of the realms of possibility after watching that memory, Minister?" Amelia asked with a raised eyebrow. "It's very much a possibility that the students were attacked by that basilisk Miss Edgecombe was somehow controlling, which is another matter my aurors would be looking into. No one knew there was a basilisk residing within Hogwarts' walls and its origins are still unknown."
A shudder coursed through everyone at the reminder of that massive beast. It looked to be centuries old and they all had passed through Hogwarts' walls. To think that they could've been subjected to its gaze anytime sent a chill down their spines.
"A similar event occurred roughly fifty years ago, if I'm not mistaken," Griselda Marchbanks remarked, earning herself the attention of everyone present. "A girl by the name of Myrtle Warren died mysteriously in the girls' bathroom on the second floor."
"Moaning Myrtle," Amelia said, remembering the tales of the ghost who would throw a tantrum at random intervals, becoming a nuisance to the point where no one ventured into that bathroom.
"The very same," Madam Marchbanks nodded. "It used to be a talking point during our meetings back then, although it was forgotten as years passed. I cannot help but associate the similarities in that attack and what happened to Mr. Weasley and Miss Clearwater today."
"Both were found dead without any mark or injury on them, as if struck by the killing curse. Exactly how Myrtle had been found in that bathroom."
"You believe the same basilisk was behind the two events?"
"I do," the old woman nodded. "Back then, Hagrid was declared guilty and the monster that everyone had been talking about was revealed to be an acromantula, that he had been keeping as a pet. It seems it was a basilisk all along. After all, an acromantula cannot kill without any tangible evidence of an attack."
"And in order to be seen doing something, the authorities back then decided to be done with it and pinned the blame on an innocent," Amelia said derisively. Her eyes were affixed on Umbridge who puffed up angrily.
"Do you have something to say, Amelia?"
"Nothing, just wondering how things haven't changed all that much."
"What do you mean by that!?"
"I'm sure everyone here knows perfectly well what I mean by that," Amelia scoffed, eyeing the Minister who seemed to be expertly averting his gaze from the woman and everyone else. "Fortunately for him, Mr. Potter agreed to testify even though he is innocent of any wrongdoing, or else he might as well have become another Hagrid if Madam Marchbanks' theory is correct."
Fudge kept his eyes firmly trained on the table while Umbridge glared at her.
"I'll keep you abreast of any developments, Minister. In light of recent events, I believe it would be prudent to let Hogwarts remain open. Your administration doesn't need to be seen doing something anymore, after all."
Without saying another word, she turned around and walked out of the meeting room with Kingsley following suit, all the while expertly ignoring the glaring Undersecretary who seemed to be drilling a hole through her back.
TBC.
Check out the link on my profile for early access and more of my work. Chapters 25, 26, and 27 are already up.
Thanks for reading.