Chapter 1231 "Wise" Leader
Fudge has been in a particularly good mood lately, and he spends half a day each day at the Department of Magical Arts to humbly accept the sincere gratitude of the public.
An elderly wizard, over a hundred years old, gripped his hand tightly, his voice trembling. "Minister Fudge, thank you... thank you for avenging my son..."
The old wizard's eyes were filled with tears. "You must...you must not let those damned bastards get away with it."
Fudge addressed the crowd, solemnly promising, "The situation is indeed dangerous, with Vincent Wayne missing and the escaped Death Eater remnants, but rest assured, as long as you believe in us and support us, the Ministry of Magic... under my leadership, is invincible!"
He stood ramrod straight, and his face wore a carefully crafted smile that conveyed both humility and barely suppressed pride.
With a "click," the scene was captured forever.
The headline of that day's Daily Prophet read: Wise Leader! Minister Fudge Pledges to Fight Evil Forces with All His Might!
Hogwarts, 5th floor
Owl Court Club Activity Room.
Hermione watched the news with a blank expression. After several days of relentless bombardment, she had become numb.
A leader who is so "wise" as to be immersed in the lies he has woven and the glory he has stolen is truly "brilliant".
"Thump, thump—" The sickening sound of heels hitting the floor echoed from outside the hallway.
Hermione turned around and, sure enough, there was Professor Toad's "radiant" big face.
Umbridge clapped her little hands vigorously. "Classmates, stop for a moment, I have an announcement to make."
On the ring, Harry and Ron, who were working hard and sweating profusely, seemed not to hear her voice and continued to practice their fighting skills.
The students' reactions were mostly the same; at most, they would glance at her and then turn their heads away.
Umbridge trembled. She took a deep breath and flashed her signature insincere, cloying smile. "From today onwards, the Court of Owls Club will cease all activities!"
The students finally began to focus their attention on her.
There's a limit to how disgusting people can be. In order to get everyone to listen to her, she actually lied and claimed that the club would stop all activities.
Umbridge thoroughly enjoyed the spotlight. She adjusted her pink bow tie and spoke slowly and deliberately in a high-pitched voice, "The Ministry of Magic believes that students should focus on their studies. We hope everyone will make good use of their time outside of class, rather than—"
She glanced haughtily at the ring, "Use it for crude and useless Muggle fighting."
The students were full of questions.
The weather has only cooled down a little, and Professor Toad is already causing trouble again?
“And another thing,” Umbridge said slowly as she walked toward Neville and snatched the Gwent cards from his hand, “this boring activity is of no help to you. I will ask the Ministry of Magic to put it on the school’s list of prohibited items.”
The event is over, and they won't even let us play cards anymore?
The card player was furious!
Umbridge's mouth stretched even wider, seemingly thoroughly enjoying their "fiery" gazes.
“I have a question,” Hermione stood up. “Professor Umbridge, is this really a decision by the Ministry of Magic?”
Umbridge, somewhat carried away, raised her chin high. "Of course, let me give you a little more good news. The Ministry of Magic will be thoroughly cleaning up the school's bad atmosphere in the near future. There are too many shady things at Hogwarts right now."
The students were disgusted by her again.
How can someone be so lacking in self-awareness? She is clearly the most chaotic and corrupt person at Hogwarts.
"Oh?" Dumbledore's voice suddenly rang out from behind Umbridge.
"Dolores, why wasn't I informed of such an important decision?"
Umbridge's smile vanished instantly. She whirled around, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes. "Professor Dumbledore, this is impossible. I looked for you just now, but you weren't here."
“I see.” Dumbledore nodded. “However, the club’s original purpose was to help students effectively relieve the heavy academic pressure; it was originally a place for relaxation and entertainment.”
Dumbledore slowly stepped forward, lightly took the Gwent cards she had stolen, and returned them to Neville. "I respect the Ministry's decision, but in return, I hope the Ministry will also respect the school's rules."
Umbridge stared blankly at her empty little hands, her face instantly turning a deep purplish-red, like expired ham. "Professor Dumbledore, do you mean you're unwilling to cooperate with the Ministry of Magic?"
"I do not--"
"Good heavens!" Her voice was so high-pitched that it drowned out Dumbledore's. "Minister Fudge trusted you so much, and yet you disagree with his decision."
Dumbledore's lips twitched slightly.
“Look at this room!” Umbridge pointed to Harry and Ron on the ring. “We are wizards. We don’t need to make up for the lack of magic like Muggles do with ‘the bite of an unevolved beast’.”
Her discriminatory and derogatory metaphors angered many people, especially Hermione.
"I do not think so."
Umbridge looked in the direction of the sound, and her expression instantly turned ferocious.
Hermione raised her hand in a waving motion. "Professor Umbridge, don't you remember this?"
"I remember, of course I remember," Umbridge thought, her face inexplicably throbbing with pain at the thought of her wand being snatched away by hand.
She clenched her fists in exasperation. "This is the Ministry of Magic's decision."
"But that's not reasonable."
"I said, this is the Ministry of Magic's decision!"
Hermione understood; the idea that students should focus on their studies was just an instruction from the Minister.
“Alright.” Dumbledore smiled and stood between the two. “Whether or not to suspend club activities, I will discuss it with Connelly later.”
He gave Hermione an approving look. "Dolores, I know you're a very dedicated and responsible person. If you're truly committed to the good of the school, I'll definitely give you my full support."
Umbridge seemed to have picked up on something, and she gave a fake smile. "Everything I do is for the good of the school, of course. The Ministry of Magic appointed me as the education commissioner so that I could clean up the bad atmosphere in the school."
Dumbledore smiled but remained silent.
He knew that Fudge had always wanted to interfere in Hogwarts affairs, and ideally, kick him out of the school.
He could turn a blind eye to the unpleasant things that happened before, but this time, he could no longer pretend not to see the forced interference with the students' extracurricular time.
It's easy to lose your way when you're immersed in a false glory woven from lies.
……
……
