Episode 12. Part 8

Episode 12. Part 8

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- Excellent, Lord! - exclaimed Dolores Umbridge, setting the last checkmark on some list of her own. It was in the Culture and Magical Traditions of Britain class. - I have to say I'm surprised: you're doing surprisingly well in your discipline. The students were able to answer all my questions without a hitch. Their behavior in your class is perfect. And you yourself teach ... interestingly. Even I learned something new for myself from your lecture.

- Thank you, Professor Umbridge. I am very glad to hear it..." bowed Harold, carefully restraining his irritation and desire to vaporize the ministerial staff of Hogwarts, who have been annoying the whole professorial staff in recent weeks.

- I don't doubt it," she grinned coldly at her supposed power over the boy. - But I would like to speak to you separately..."

Harold rolled his eyes: how could he have so carelessly ruined his relationship with the Pink Toad?! And it wasn't worth much, just to protect Professor Flitwick as a half goblin. Dolores had tried to pick on the work of that one, saying that he was too playful in his perception of knowledge, too short for a teacher, too... She didn't like that Felius was a half-goblin, and she wanted him out of existence, notwithstanding several decades of successful teaching at Hogwarts and extremely positive reviews about him, and merits before the school, magic Britain and just before the magical world. After all, it was because of him that domestic magic was the strongest path of wizards in Britain!

Potter had defended the half-goblin's rights, but now he had to defend his own rights, which was problematic given that Umbridge had leverage on him: the knowledge that he had killed his own aunt and her husband. Yes, and the vaila spouse didn't add to his advantage. And the minister trusted her more than he trusted Lord Potter.

Toad was trying to manipulate him and, judging by his excellent grades as a professor and his invitation, he was in for another attempt to squeeze something useful out of him in her disgustingly rosy nature. He didn't want to go, but he had to. So, as soon as the bell rang from the lesson and he said goodbye to the students until the next one, he had to leave the classroom to enter the pink abode of cuteness a few minutes later. Dolores didn't stall on the topic of conversation and, offering him tea, concealing the presence of truth serum in it, asked:

- Harold, are you aware that there are now two secret student clubs at Hogwarts?

- Potter pretended to be completely uninterested in it, but that didn't go over well with Umbridge. "Well, well, don't lie to me. I know that one of these clubs is headed by you personally. As a ministerial employee and a confidant of the minister himself, I would like to know your purpose for setting up the club and the reasons for the meetings. I'm sure you know why Cornelius sent me to Hogwarts. And I would hate to upset him with premature conclusions about you and your club. - Dolores was blatantly blackmailing, continuing to smile sweetly and speak ingratiatingly, as if she were working for an audience or trying to explain to a small child why you shouldn't poke your fingers in the socket. Potter saw no reason to hide the truth.

Demonstrating his third sip of disgustingly sweet tea, he replied, "It's just an interest club. It was spontaneous and never had any particular purpose for existence. Some friends of mine just suggested we form a club, and then each of us dragged all our friends into the club. We socialized, became friends, and realized that we had fun and enjoyed spending time together. Besides, it was good for learning, because each of us was only good at certain subjects, while the rest of us needed more detailed explanations, which the professors just didn't have time for.

We pulled each other up, and still do to this day, in our studies. I'm sure you've already charted the grades of everyone suspected of being a member of my club, so the results are clear to you," Harold shrugged, hiding a chuckle as Dolores was not happy with his answer. The presence of truth serum in the tea told her that he wasn't lying. And she didn't need to know at all that it was quite easy to fool the potion. It was enough to tell the truth by answering questions whose meaning was substituted for a similar one. Or to answer half-truths, allowing her interlocutor to guess what was hidden and deceive her. - I know you're worried that there are several children of powerful people in my club, and you fear that now or in the future we may become a force capable of overthrowing the existing political system. Except that while we know about politics, we're more interested in knowledge.

- Well, I'm glad your club had no political overtones," Dolores curled her lips, thinking she was smiling sweetly, almost unable to hide her disappointment. - However, I do know that your cousin is a member of the second club, as well as Neville Longbottom, old idiot Dumbledore's new favorite. What can you tell me about that?

- You want to know the reason for the second club? - Harold asked bluntly.

Umbridge nodded without hesitation.

Potter mentally smiled at the revenge plotting and calmly said, "I suppose that reason is you. Bare theory without practice in Defense Against the Dark Arts is fine. But the PSB exams, as I know, require the practical application of knowledge, which you forbid. There's not enough theory to pass the exam. And the prospect of having to repeat a year is reason enough for teenagers to declare war on the ministry. I hope you understand that. You're driving students into Dumbledore's corner with your school program, because teenagers don't care about politics and all they care about right now is having fun, flirting with the opposite sex and wanting to pass all their exams as soon as possible and to be done with school at last. - Harold, as the phrase goes, "chopped off the shoulder", telling Umbridge everything he knew about the club, founded, in fact, by Ronald Weasley. He did not forget to mention that each of the club members joined this very club, pursuing personal interests. He also admitted that the club is patronized by Dumbledore himself. But he noted that there was no cohesion among the members, so they could never become a force or an army. And, of course, he let him know how to find the Wandering Class.

In fact, Potter framed his cousin. Set him up badly, both to Umbridge and to the Minister. But his games of Harold got to him. After all, it was Dudley who was the older brother. He, too, was emancipated and had all the rights of an adult wizard. Get in the shit - let him handle it like an adult. And Harold washed his hands of it and wouldn't have to cover for his scheming anymore.

He was, however, still gloomy when he left Umbridge, just knowing that because of Fudge's paranoia he would have to stop meeting with the Pied Piper: he only lacked the problems with the Ministry. And Toad apparently swore to arrange those problems for him...

Dolores Jane Umbridge herself for the first time in her life thought that maybe she was wrong, and by her laws and regulations she really drove not only children but the magical races to the side of the Ministry's enemies. Even though she hated both of them, she still understood: no matter how stupid they were, and in their rage, they were power... But a pity: such thoughts didn't stay in her mind for long...

***

- Too bad, but Umbridge got back at me beautifully. Because of the banning of all school circles and clubs, and the banning of gatherings of more than three people, we should also stop meeting," Harold exhaled in the Slytherin Mystery Room, laying his head on Daphne's lap again. The Pied Pipers had just sorted out their homework and finished their combat training, sitting down on the couches and armchairs to discuss the latest developments at Hogwarts, Britain, and in the world. This was the moment Harold chose for the announcement.

- But Potter, we're used to them..." Macmillan wailed sadly: what can I say, they were all expecting something like this. The country was too sharply divided into the spheres of Dumbledore, Fudge, and Voldemort's influence. And they belonged to no one and were between them all at once...

- And we haven't figured out how to help Neville yet..." the girls reminded him with a chorus.

Potter sighed again, trying to explain directly the circumstances in which he found himself: "Guys. I've got this situation: I've publicly opposed Dumbledore, and at the same time I've managed to show Fudge that I don't agree with his policies on everything. I still support the Ministry, and the Ministry supports me, but they are already looking at me looking for an excuse to expose me for something compromising. Stealing will come back to haunt me, I'm sure, as will my spouse, and... another dark moment in my life. - He never admitted to his friends that he personally burned his aunt and her husband and Dudley's ancestral home. - And the only allies I have are the Lords and the magical races, who aren't exactly in favor themselves these days. Most wizards in Britain are either for Dumbledore or for Fudge, you see?

Our plan was that I had to remain a hero of our magical society at all costs. So I can't be given any reason to compromise myself. I can no longer engage in illegal activities. It is temporary, but necessary.

- The rat-catchers listened to the leader and, as frustrating as it was for them, they really understood all the reasons why their regular meetings would have to be suspended. Of course, they could have met without Harry. But there was no room in which they could be sure of safety, for only a serpentine man could get into the Chamber of Secrets. It was a fact, because they hissed the enchanted stone serpents a secret "open up" every meeting, but they remained deaf to their pleas.

Harold smiled contentedly that his friends had sensed his predicament. But the wicked look on Daphne's face, which had been on display for some time, was still there. "But I have an idea how to turn the situation in a way that benefits myself, the Lords, the magical races and, in general, magical Britain. But more importantly, in a way that benefits us, because it could save Neville. And for that, I need help. Your help. And I want to ask you: would you like to play adult games by becoming my team?

- But we are your team, aren't we? - Zabini scowled resentfully. He liked to forget that all the rat-catchers were dependent on the leader of their club to varying degrees.

- Yes, Potter, tell us your plan..." Malfoy hurried on impatiently and anticipatively.

The ploy promised to be a grandiose one, though it threatened to have irreversible consequences if it failed, not only for the Pied Pipers but for their families as well. Was the risk worth it? They believed it was worth it... Magic anticipated...

***

- He is searching. He seeks the truth. His snake will bite the redheaded defender of truth. His snake will break through, but it will not get the truth, it will not quench his thirst. The redheaded wizard will die today. - A frightened Neville, once he had heard the prophecy and made sure that the divination teacher could not repeat it, rushed at full speed to Dumbledore, worried about the fate of Arthur Weasley. Ronald had told him that his father was on night duty guarding the prophecy. Neville had the brains to figure out who, what Sybill Trelloni was prophesying about.

And how glad he was to hear the prophecy when Albus returned to Hogwarts and told him that Mr. Weasley had been saved. Yes they had, but only because of a timely message. Molly Weasley was on duty in Mungo, the Weasley children had been sent to bed. Dumbledore, sparkling blue eyes from behind his half-moon glasses, was telling Neville about the right thing to do and the importance of protecting the prophecy...

Dudley couldn't sleep.

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