Harry Potter: Archmage of Another World

"Kingsley, stop him!" Fudge stammered, cowering behind Kingsley while tremblingly pointing at Augustus. He couldn't forget that this young man was once hailed as Hogwarts' youngest champion—someone who had single-handedly taken down nearly a hundred Dementors and even slain a dragon. "What are you trying to do? Resisting arrest? That's an additional charge! Augustus, put down your wand!"

Augustus gently waved his silver wand in the direction of Marietta. The large, purple words "Snitch" began to fade from her face. After stowing his wand back into his robes, he calmly sat down, a mild smile curving his lips. "For any lady, this kind of treatment is excessive. Of course, it was nothing but a small effort on my part."

Marietta stared at her reflection in the headmaster's office mirror, carefully inspecting her face. The once hideous spots had completely vanished, leaving her feeling refreshed. Despite her betrayal, Augustus had still chosen to help her. The thought filled her with guilt.

"Ahem." Fudge cleared his throat awkwardly, clearly not expecting Augustus to lift the curse on the witness. He quickly shifted his tone, addressing Marietta with forced warmth. "Well, young lady, now that your concerns have been resolved, why don't you tell us everything you know? Rest assured, no one can harm you while I'm here. Just speak up and tell us everything."

Harry shot Fudge a disdainful glance. The promises of a politician were even less trustworthy than the vows of lovers, he thought.

Marietta remained silent, her head bowed.

Fudge, visibly irritated, was about to lash out when Umbridge interjected, "No need to worry, Minister. I can continue on her behalf."

"You may recall, Minister, that back in October I reported Potter meeting with a group of students at the Hog's Head—"

"Do you have any evidence of this?" Professor McGonagall interrupted.

"I have Willy Widdershins' testimony, Minerva. He happened to be in the pub at the time. Although he was heavily bandaged, his hearing was completely intact," Umbridge said smugly.

"Oh, so that's why he was let off for causing that sewage explosion in the public toilets!" McGonagall remarked sharply. "Our judicial system never ceases to amaze me!"

"Shameful corruption!" bellowed a portrait of a red-nosed, stout wizard hanging behind Dumbledore's desk. "In my day, the Ministry would never have dealt with scoundrels. Never!"

"Thank you, Phineas. That will suffice," Dumbledore said calmly.

"In any case, we have both witnesses and evidence," Fudge said, glaring at Augustus as though he were the most vile criminal. "I don't see how you can argue your way out of this!"

"Miss Edgecombe," Umbridge said, catching on to Fudge's intentions. She turned to Marietta and demanded, "Tell us how long these gatherings have been going on. Just nod or shake your head. Surely they've been happening regularly for the past six months?"

Harry felt his stomach drop. It was over. They now had irrefutable proof.

"Just nod or shake your head, dear," Umbridge coaxed. "Go on now."

Everyone in the room watched Marietta's eyes, the only visible part of her face beneath her raised robes and curly bangs. Her clear, watery eyes rested briefly on Augustus, and then—to Harry's astonishment—she gently shook her head.

Umbridge glanced at Fudge and then back at Marietta.

"Don't mind Augustus. He can't harm you. Just tell the truth! Look at me and tell us the truth!" Umbridge commanded.

Marietta turned to Umbridge, her expression resolute, and shook her head again.

"What do you mean by shaking your head, dear?" Umbridge asked, exasperated.

"I believe her meaning is quite clear," McGonagall said sternly. "There have been no secret meetings over the past six months. Isn't that right, Miss Edgecombe?"

Marietta nodded.

"But there was a meeting tonight!" Umbridge shrieked. "A meeting, Miss Edgecombe! You told me so yourself—it happened in the Room of Requirement! Why do you keep shaking your head, you silly girl?"

"Well, generally when people shake their heads," McGonagall said icily, "they mean 'no.' Unless Miss Edgecombe is employing some form of non-verbal communication that is incomprehensible to humans—"

Umbridge grabbed Marietta by the shoulders and spun her around to face her. She began shaking the girl roughly. In an instant, Augustus stood up again, as did Dumbledore, his wand raised. Kingsley rushed forward, and Umbridge stepped back, releasing Marietta as if burned, waving her hands in the air.

"I wonder, Dolores, who gave you the authority to manhandle a student in such a brutish manner?" Augustus said, his tone calm but his expression for the first time tinged with anger. "In any case, there's no need for this young lady to remain here any longer. Send her back."

Umbridge looked at Fudge, who gave a slight nod. With evident reluctance, she escorted Marietta out of the room. Forcing the girl to speak any further would reflect poorly on both the Ministry and the Minister himself. Best to let it go, Fudge reasoned.

"Dolores," Fudge said, adopting a decisive air. "Tonight's meeting—we're sure there was one—"

"Indeed," Umbridge said, regaining her composure. "Through surveillance with the recording crystal, Montague and I personally went to the eighth floor to catch the participants red-handed. However, it seems they were warned in advance. By the time we arrived, they were scattering in all directions. No matter; I have their names."

To Harry's horror, she pulled out the list that had been pinned to the Room of Requirement's wall and handed it to Fudge.

"Brilliant, Dolores," Fudge said with a broad smile as he examined the list. "Brilliant! Let's see—Good heavens!"

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