Chapter 984: Exposed and Informer

"It's very beautiful." Fan Lin nodded.

The performance of D.A. was definitely beyond his imagination. There was absolutely no problem with the talent of these little wizards to be selected by Hogwarts, the top school. It's just that the current environment is too peaceful, which makes everyone have no motivation to practice.

Blood wizards have a respected status in the magic world and are backed by their families, so they don't have to worry about anything. It can be said that most wizards are completely isolated from Muggles.

And wizards from the Muggle world only need some small means tacitly approved by the Ministry of Magic to live well. Of course, this is considered to be an idea. Most wizards are still closed and bound by the rules of the Ministry of Magic.

But when the turmoil came, it is undeniable that the potential of wizards did not completely die in the subtle influence. At least through the training of D.A., everyone gave him the feeling that this was the case.

For example, Neville, he couldn't even use the most basic spell of Expelliarmus before, and now, Fan Lin has been observing that Neville just lacks some confidence. In theory, he is more serious than anyone else, or maybe he just lacks a little luck.

This surprised Fanlin. Neville always had the conditions for courage. Perhaps he just didn't realize that he could break through and become braver.

Compared with Fanlin's surprise, D.A. training was also a different experience for Harry.

He never thought that one day, he could teach many people what he had mastered, or what he thought was very basic, like a professor.

He was already so strong?

Harry scratched his head. Should he be a little arrogant?

But looking at Fanlin, forget it...

"Very good!" Fanlin paused, "In fact, everyone has made obvious progress. You were very bad when you first came. Whether you are willing to admit it or not, you can say that you were just a group of Muggles with some magic at the beginning. Even in front of stronger Muggles, except for your body, the effect of magic is minimal."

"But now, do you think you have changed?"

"I think I may have become stronger..." Neville was the first to speak, and everyone's eyes were immediately focused on Neville, which made Neville look a little nervous.

"I mean, I..."

"Bang!"

The door to the Room of Requirement suddenly opened and closed.

Harry looked around to see who had come in, but no one was there. A moment later, before he could react, everyone at the door fell silent.

Then, Vanlin noticed someone pulling hard at his robe near his knees. He looked down and was surprised to find Dobby, the house-elf, staring at him from under the eight woolen hats he usually wore.

"Oh, hello, Dobby," Vanlin said with some surprise, "How-what happened?"

The house-elf's eyes widened and he kept shaking. All the members of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Club came closer to Vanlin and fell silent, all looking at Dobby. The few who successfully summoned their guardians turned their guardians into a silver mist and disappeared, making the whole room look even darker than before.

"Master Fanlin," the elf, who was shaking from head to toe, squeaked, "and Mr. Harry Potter, Dobby is here to warn you, but all house elves are warned not to tell." He rushed his head towards the wall.

Harry had long been experienced with Dobby's self-punishing behavior, and tried to catch him, but Dobby was only bounced back by the stone wall under the cushion of the eight hats he wore.

Hermione and some other girls screamed in fear and sympathy.

"What happened, Dobby?" Harry grabbed the elf's thin arm tightly and kept him away from anything he might use to hurt himself.

"Don't care about other people's orders, you must remember, Dobby, I am your master." Fanlin repeated helplessly, although he had a bad premonition in his heart.

"Ah, it's a bother, she she..." Dobby used the hand that could move freely to make a fist and hit his nose hard. Harry immediately grabbed his hand tightly.

"Who is she, Dobby?" But Harry knew immediately, because only "she" could make Dobby so scared. The elf looked up speechlessly and tilted his head slightly.

"Umbridge?" Harry asked in horror. Dobby nodded and tried to hit Harry's knee with his head. Harry stretched out his arms to grab him.

"What's wrong with her, Dobby? She didn't find here - find us - and find the Defense Against the Dark Arts Club?"

Farlin got the answer from the elf's frustrated face. Dobby's hand was firmly grasped by Harry, but he still tried to kick himself and fell to the ground.

"Is she coming here?" Harry asked breathlessly. Dobby uttered a scream and then slapped his feet hard on the floor. Harry stood up and looked at the frightened, motionless people and the elf who was whipping himself.

"What are you waiting for?" Harry shouted, "Go!" They rushed to the exit together, scrambling to the door, and then rushed out.

Fanlin could listen to the sound of them running hard down the corridor and hoped that they would have the good sense not to try to successfully get back to their dormitories. It's nine o'clock in ten minutes. If they take refuge in the library or the Owl Room, both of which are relatively close...

"Harry, come on!" Hermione screamed, struggling out among the crowd. Harry picked up Dobby, who was still trying to seriously injure himself, and carried him to the end of the queue with him in his arms.

"Hey, listen, Dobby - that's an order - go back to the kitchen with the other elves, and if she asks you if you came to warn me, tell her no!" said Harry, "and I forbid you to hurt yourself. ”

Harry added, setting Dobby down as he was the last to pass the threshold and swing the door shut behind him.

"Thank you, Harry Potter," Dobby said squeakingly before running away. Harry looked around and found that the other people were moving very quickly, so that he could only barely catch a glimpse of their hurried backs before disappearing at both ends of the corridor.

Fan Lin was slowly hanging behind everyone, and was discovered by Umbridge. This was not a surprising thing. It can be said that if you teach in Hogwarts, it will be a matter of time before you are discovered. Because he came early and came late, in fact, Fanlin should be glad that Dobby came quickly enough and did not block all of them in the Room of Requirement.

Fanlin was not sure whether Umbridge had the ability to break into the Room of Requirement, of course, provided that he did not intervene.

Now Fanlin is eager to leave here. There is no point in Hogwarts anymore. It can be said that staying here is a waste of time. However, for the members of D.A, being discovered is definitely a disaster.

He followed Harry and started running to the right. There was a boys' bathroom in front of him. If the two of them could get there in time, they could pretend that they had been there all along. At least, this was Harry's idea, but …

"Aha" Something suddenly caught Harry's ankle, causing him to fall heavily to the ground and slide forward six feet before stopping.

Someone was laughing behind him. He turned around and saw Malfoy hiding in an alcove behind an ugly dragon-shaped vase.

"Tumbler, Potter," said Malfoy. "Hello, Professor—Professor! I've caught one, oh no, an unexpected bonus!"

Malfoy turned around wildly. Fan Lin just turned the corner and stepped back without even coming.

Umbridge came running hurriedly from the corner of Yuanchai, panting, with a satisfied smile on her face. "It's him!" she said excitedly as soon as she saw Harry on the ground. "You're so great, Malfoy! So great! Oh, well done, fifty points for Slytherin! I'll give them both Take it away and stand up, Potter!"

Harry stood up and looked at the two men in front of him.

In fact, Fanlin has never seen Umbridge so happy. Maybe it was when he fired Sybil, but because Dumbledore was there, the effect was not very good, but catching him and Harry would be enough. It's completely different. Everyone knows that Harry is from Dumbledore's school, and Fanlin is even more so. It can be said that this is the most valuable thing that Umbridge can gain in school.

However, Umbridge's appearance here still made Fanlin feel a little relieved, at least there would be no problem on Hermione's side.

She grabbed both their arms wickedly and turned to Malfoy with a wide smile.

"Look around here and see if you can catch anyone else, Draco," Umbridge said. "Tell the others to look around the library and look for anyone out of breath." By the way, check the bathroom. Miss Parkinson will check the girls' bathroom - you can leave now - and you two," she said in her sweetest and most dangerous tone after Malfoy left, "Potter , Al, come with me to the principal's office."

"So, you are already planning to take action?" Fan Lin said, looking at Umbridge.

"I think you will like it, don't you?" Umbridge laughed strangely, as if it was squeezed out of her throat.

They arrived in front of the stone monster in a few minutes.

Harry wondered along the way how many more had been caught. He thought that Mrs. Ron Weasley would definitely kill him, and he also thought about how Hermione would feel if she was expelled from school before she took the ordinary level wizard test. And this was Seamus' first time at the party, and Neville had always been well behaved in the past.

"Hissing cockroach candy!" Umbridge chanted, and the stone monster jumped aside. The wall behind it suddenly cracked, revealing a stone staircase. They climbed up the stone staircase and came to the rubbish. bright door. There was a griffin-shaped knocker on the door, but Umbridge didn't care whether there was a knock on the door or not. She grabbed Harry and Fan Lin tightly and broke in directly.

The whole office was full of people, and Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, his slender fingertips pressed together, his expression very peaceful. Professor McGonagall stood beside him stiffly, with an extremely nervous expression.

Minister of Magic Fudge was walking back and forth in front of the fire on tiptoes, obviously very satisfied with this situation. Kingsley and a man Lin had never seen before, with a serious expression and short, stiff hair, stood on both sides of the door like guards; and Percy Weasley, who had freckles on his face and wore glasses. He was walking excitedly around the wall, holding a quill and a large roll of parchment, obviously ready to take notes.

The portraits of past principals on the wall did not pretend to be napping tonight, but were all alert and serious in observing what was going on.

When Fanlin and Harry came in, the figures in some portraits quickly moved to adjacent frames, whispering anxiously to their neighbors. Harry struggled to free himself from Wimbridge's hand as the door closed behind them.

Fudge stared at them with a look of evil satisfaction on his face. "Okay," he said. "Okay, okay, okay."

Harry responded with the most contemptuous look he could muster. His heart beat angrily in his chest, but his thoughts were unusually calm and clear.

Fudge's eating appearance is really ugly.

Fanlin had some bad thoughts, or maybe Fudge already thought he had control of the situation?

Fan Lin moved his neck gently to relieve the stiffness.

He looked up at Dumbledore, but there was no joy on the principal's face. Perhaps to Dumbledore, this was just a joke.

The signs of Voldemort's activities are becoming more and more obvious, and the Ministry of Magic can't stand it any longer.

"They are returning to Gryffindor Tower," said Umbridge. There was a vile excitement in her voice, the same callous tone that Harry had heard her use in her voice at the sight of Professor Trauni's tragic disappearance on the porch.

"Malfoy's son trapped him, and I blocked the other one."

"Really? Really?" Fudge said appreciatively. "I have to remember to tell Lucius about this. Well, Potter, I suppose you should know why you are here?"

Harry was ready to answer provocatively "Yes", but when he looked at Dumbledore, his mouth was already open, and the word almost came out of his mouth. Dumbledore wasn't looking directly at Harry - his gaze was fixed just a little behind Harry's shoulder - but as Harry stared at him, his head swayed slightly in inch-long increments.

Harry immediately changed his mind mid-sentence. "Oh-I don't know."

"Say it again?" Fudge asked.

"I don't know," Harry replied firmly.

"You 'really' don't know why you're here now?"

"No, I don't know," said Harry. Fudge looked at Harry and Wenbridge suspiciously. Harry took advantage of him not paying attention and glanced at Dumbledore secretly. Dumbledore nodded slightly to the carpet and blinked quietly.

"So you don't know," Fudge said in an obviously sarcastic tone, "why you were brought here by Professor Wenbridge? Do you know if you have violated any school rules?"

"Violate school rules?" Fan Lin said, "Of course not, neither did it make it to the curfew time, nor did anything unpleasant happen, or in other words, you can no longer walk freely with Hogwarts, dear Minister Fudge?"

"Don't argue, I just need you to answer yes or no!" Fudge said condescendingly.

"However, I think this is not the Wizengamot or the International Wizarding Tribunal. I think no matter who it is, even a Muggle, has the right to argue, Mr. Minister." Fan Lin broke away from Umbridge. palm.

"I am the Minister of Magic!" Fudge said with his eyes widened. "Don't think you can get away with anything or cover up for others. No one can excuse you, I promise."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Minister. I'm just being wronged for no reason or trying to incriminate you? I don't think you can do it."

"I'm asking you a question. You should be at least respectful. Now, I ask you, are you sure you haven't violated school rules?"

"Of course, sir." Fan Lin said.

"Or a decree from the Ministry of Magic?" Fudge corrected angrily.

"I don't think so." Harry added gently. His heart was still beating fast. It was worth telling these lies to see Fudge's blood pressure rise, but he still didn't know how he and Fanlin could escape this. If someone went to inform Umbridge about the Defense Against the Dark Arts, then as the leader, he and Fanlin should pack their bags and leave Hogwarts now.

"So, this is new news to you? Isn't it?" Fudge's voice became slurred with anger, "Did you know that an illegal student club has been discovered in the school?"

"Oh, is it true!" An expression of disbelief and surprise appeared on Fanlin's innocent face. "I'm sorry, Minister, I'm not sure..."

"Don't play dumb, Al! Minister, I think..." Umbridge said in a silky voice beside them, "the inquiry might go easier if I go and bring the informer."

"Yes, yes, that's right," said Fudge, nodding and giving Dumbledore a malicious look as Umbridge left the room.

"He doesn't look like a good wizard at all, does he?"

"That's not necessarily the case, Fudge." Dumbledore tilted his head and said solemnly. During those few minutes of waiting, no one looked at each other. Then, Fan Lin heard the door behind him open. Umbridge grabbed Qiu's curly-haired friend Marida and passed him quickly. And Marida was now burying her face in her hands.

"It's true!" Fan Lin silently shook his head. Through the contract, Fan Lin knew that someone was rebelling, but a curse or something was naturally a punishment. However, under the influence of Veritaserum, even Dumbledore could There is no way to avoid revealing secrets.

"Don't be afraid, dear, don't be frightened," Umbridge said softly, and patted Marida on the back, "It's okay, you did the right thing, the minister is very satisfied with your performance, he You will tell your mother what a good girl you are."

"Marida's mother, Minister," she added, looking at Fudge questioningly, "is Ms. Albron of the Hearth Network Office, the Department of Magical Transport. She is the one who assists us in monitoring the Hearths at Hogwarts. You know her. "

"Great, great," Fudge said cheerfully. "Like mother, like daughter, isn't it? Well, honey, come here, don't be shy, and let us hear what you have to tell us-"

Just as Marida raised her face, Fudge jumped back in fear and almost fell into the fireplace. Cursing, he stamped out the smoldering flames at the edge of his cloak.

Marida wailed and pulled the collar of her robe from her neck to under her eyes, but before that, everyone had seen her terrifying appearance. Her nose and cheeks were covered with long strings of dense hair. Dense purple pustules formed the word "informant".

The corners of his eyes were a little open, and the bloodshot streaks appeared extremely clear.

Harry glanced at Fan Lin in horror, but thinking of the words on Marida's face, Harry quickly turned his head away.

There still have to be necessary disciplinary measures, right?

"Never mind the spots now, dear," said Umbridge impatiently, "take your robes away from your face and tell the Minister about it."

But Marida just screamed again and shook her head wildly.

"Oh, good, you stupid girl! Then I'll tell him," snapped Umbridge. She raised her sick smile and said, "Well, Minister, Miss Marida came to my office shortly after dinner today and said that she had something to tell me. She said that if I go to a secret room on the seventh floor tonight - A secret room called the Room of Need - I will find something that will benefit me. I asked her for further details, and she admitted that there was a gathering of some kind there, but unfortunately, at this time, the curse." She impatiently pointed at Marida's covered face, "It started to take effect. When this girl caught a glimpse of her face in my mirror, she was in so much pain that she couldn't tell me anything more."

Go on your own initiative? Fanlin looked at Marida in disbelief. They didn't seem to have done anything to Marida, but...

"Okay, now" Fudge looked at Marida with what he thought was a kind and kind expression, "My dear, it was very brave to report this matter to Professor Umbridge. You did the right thing. . Now can you tell me, what happened at that party? What was its purpose? Who were there?"

But Marida didn't speak. She just shook her head again and opened her eyes wide with fear.

"Did we get an ominous bargaining chip?" Fudge gestured to Marida's face and asked impatiently, "Can she speak freely?"

"I don't know either." Umbridge reluctantly admitted. At this time, Harry was filled with pride in the ability of Verlin's curse. "But it doesn't matter if she doesn't tell. I can learn the truth from here. Minister, do you remember that I mentioned in the last report I gave you in October that Fanlin Al secretly met many students at the Pig Head Bar Meet--"

"What evidence do you have about this?" Professor McGonagall interrupted. "I have the testimony of the client. He was in the Pig's Head Bar at the time. Although his body was covered with bandages, his vision was not damaged at all. Using isolation magic to prevent others from eavesdropping is a good thing in itself. Things, but this is not a problem for the people from the Ministry of Magic, the lip readers!”

Umbridge said smugly, "He read every word they said and rushed to school immediately to report to me——"

"Oh, so that's why he wasn't sent to the bathroom where the sales were returned," Professor McGonagall said, raising her eyebrows. "The inside of our judicial system is really intriguing!"

"Blatant bribery!" yelled a fat, red-nosed wizard in a painting on the wall behind Dumbledore. "The Ministry of Magic has never reduced crime in the slightest in my time, ever!"

"Thank you, Ford, that will be reduced," Dumbledore said gently.

"The purpose of Potter's meeting with his classmates," Wembridge continued, "is to persuade them to join an illegal club. The purpose of this club is to learn something that the Ministry of Magic ruled was too young at school. Not suitable for learning magic and spells.”

"I think you will find that you said something wrong, Dorothy!" Dumbledore stared at her through his old half-moon glasses and over his crooked nose.

Harry stared at Dumbledore. He didn't know how Dumbledore could convince Fudge not to punish him. If what Umbridge said was true, someone really lip-read their conversation in the Hog's Head... Then they absolutely cannot escape the trigger.

Fan Lin frowned slightly. The infiltration of the Ministry of Magic was more serious than he thought. It was a coincidence.

There are so many coincidences in the world.

"Oh!" Fudge started walking around again as if he had a ball on his feet, "Yes, let's hear the latest version of the nonsense that wants to save Potter from trouble. Tell it, Dun Not bad, let's go on - was Willy lying? Really? Or did Potter and Al just happen to each have an identical twin brother who showed up at the Hog's Head that day? Or was it just the most common explanation, because time can tell Going back in time, so a dead man comes back to life, or a pair of invisible dementors appear?"

Percy Weasley smiled sincerely.

"Oh, that's great, Minister, that's so well said!"

Harry really wanted to kick him, but he was surprised to find that Dumbledore was also smiling softly.

"Connelly, I don't deny that, and I'm not sure at the same time, whether they were actually in the Hog's Head pub that day and recruiting classmates to join the Defense Against the Dark Arts group there. I just want to point out that Dorothy blamed the party at that time. It's illegal and just plain wrong. If you remember, the Ministry of Magic's ban on all student gatherings came just two days after they ended the gathering in Hogsmuade, so they were We didn’t break any rules when we were at the Pig’s Head Bar.”

Percy looked like he'd been punched hard in the face, and Fudge stood there, mouth agape.

Umbridge was the first to recover, "Headmaster, you are right," she smiled sweetly, "But now that Education Act No. 4 has been promulgated for nearly six months, if the first party is not illegal Yes, then their recent rallies are obviously illegal!"

"Well," Dumbledore said, looking at her politely from his folded fingers, "If they really continue to gather after the law comes into effect, it will definitely be illegal, but do you have any idea that they will continue to gather after that?" Evidence to continue the rally?”

As Dumbledore spoke, Harry heard a rustle behind him, and it was evidently Armando's mumbling. He could have sworn that he felt something gently brush against him, like a gust of air or the wings of a bird, and he looked down, but there was nothing there.

"Fox?" Fan Lin was a little unsure, but obviously, Fox had just passed by them, and Dumbledore was prepared.

"Evidence?" Umbridge repeated this sentence with a scary toad-like smile, "Were you not listening just now, Dumbledore? Then why do you think Miss Marida is here?"

"Oh, so can she tell us about any gatherings of value during the past six months?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "I assume she only reported that there was a gathering tonight?"

"Miss Marida," said Wenbridge, "dear, tell us again, how long have you been going on with this party? You can just nod or shake your head. I'm pretty sure it won't make the spots on your face worse." .Have such gatherings been held regularly in the past six months?”

Harry felt his stomach sinking like a lead weight. This would be ironclad evidence that even Dumbledore could not escape.

"My dear, just nod or shake your head." Umbridge gently coaxed Marida, "Hurry up, this won't make the curse work again."

Fan Lin raised his head and glanced. He was the only one who knew the effect of this curse. Anyone who disclosed information in any way would be severely punished.

Everyone in the room was staring at Marida's face, but between the pulled-up gown and her curly hair, only her eyes could be seen. Perhaps because of the fire, her eyes looked strangely blank.

Then Harry yelped in surprise as Marida shook her head. Umbridge glanced quickly at Fudge, then at Marida.

"The Imperius Curse?" Fan Lin turned to look at Dumbledore. Dumbledore's deep eyes were like a whirlpool, sucking Marida tightly, but...

Fox is the media?

Fan Lin suddenly realized that in this office, everything could be a help to Dumbledore, whether it was Principal Armando's whisper or Fawkes who was skipping his hand.

This is Dumbledore, he can forcefully change anyone's will at any time...

"I don't think you understand my question, do you, dear? I'm asking if you've had any gatherings like tonight's in the past six months? Yes?"

Marida shook her head again.

"What do you mean by shaking your head, dear?" Umbridge asked in a testy tone.

"I think what she means is very clear," Professor McGonagall said seriously, "There have been no secret gatherings in the past six months, right, Miss Marida?"

Marida nodded a little dullly.

"But there is indeed a party tonight!" Umbridge said angrily, "Miss Marida, you told me there was a party at the House of Need! And the two people in front of you are the sponsors, aren't they? ?They organized a party like this - why do you keep shaking your head, little girl?"

"Well, usually when a person shakes their head," Professor McGonagall said coldly, "what they mean is, 'no', unless Miss Marida is using a signal that humans can't interpret yet -"

Umbridge grabbed Marida hard, turned her around to face her, and shook her hard. In an instant, Dumbledore stood up and raised his wand. Fanlin noticed that Armando's portrait seemed to have moved a step forward, and Umbridge jumped back away from Marida and struck hard in the air. She shook her hands desperately, as if they were burned by something.

"Dorothy, I will not allow you to treat my students so roughly!" Dumbledore looked angry for the first time.

"You need to calm down, Ms. Umbridge," Dumbledore said in his low, slow voice. "You don't want to get yourself into trouble now, do you?"

"No," Umbridge said breathlessly, and she glanced sideways at Dumbledore, who was standing tall and tall, "I mean, yes - you're right - Albus, I - —I just lost control!" (To be continued)