Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 730: Chapter 679: Gunther’s Old Manor

From Chris’s mouth, Kael also learned what happened this morning.

The process wasn’t complicated. Umbridge took the Beaters to Hampshire early, preparing to find some material for today’s headline of the Daily Prophet.

She was very familiar with this kind of thing now, so the people she brought were also experienced veterans who worked well together.

When they arrived, the Beaters skillfully spread out, looking for useful clues, but by coincidence, they really ran into the Death Eaters on a mission.

When the Beaters returned from their patrol, they witnessed an incomparably horrifying scene.

Umbridge, who was always arrogant, was rolling on the ground in pain, struggling and begging for mercy, and next to her was Bellatrix, holding a wand and laughing maniacally.

Almost instinctively, a Beater with a camera captured the scene, but for the sake of the Ministry of Magic’s reputation, the newspaper chose not to use this photo, opting for another one instead.

”So, Umbridge just walked right into it?” Kael asked incredulously.

”Sort of...” Chris said. ”The You-Know-Who hasn’t shown up. He’s clearly hiding something. Normally, the Death Eaters wouldn’t do such boring things without being threatened.

”But Umbridge is an exception. Everyone knows she’s a staunch opponent of the Death Eaters, and both her attitude and words surpass those of Barty Crouch from back in the day.

”And Bellatrix, as one of You-Know-Who’s most fanatical and loyal followers, naturally wanted to eliminate such a threat when she encountered her.”

”Couldn’t she just use the Killing Curse?” Kael glanced at the photo on the newspaper. ”Why use the Crucio Curse? That curse doesn’t kill.”

”I think she probably wanted to get some useful information from Umbridge,” Chris thought for a moment. ”Like the Ministry of Magic’s plans or the location of the Order of Phoenix headquarters. It’s one of her usual methods.”

”Did she take Umbridge for a member of the Order of Phoenix?”

Chris gave Kael a strange look, seemingly surprised he would ask such a question.

”Do you think...” he said, ”there’s anyone more like a member of the Order of Phoenix than Umbridge now?”

”Uh, it really seems so.” Kael muttered.

Judging by recent performances, Umbridge does indeed appear more like a standard member of the Order of Phoenix than anyone else, even genuine members like Sirius or Moody.

Especially with Dumbledore’s recent appearance in the newspaper, which just proves this point.

”Umbridge would probably be delighted,” Kael whispered. ”Overnight, she’s become an important figure in the Order of Phoenix, fulfilling her newspaper pledge... to fight the Death Eaters to the end, irreconcilably...”

Chris shook his head and said nothing.

Half an hour later, Kael left the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and returned to his office.

What surprised him was Fudge’s calm demeanor. He didn’t seem the least bit flustered by Bellatrix’s appearance and actions.

Of course, he was surprised but quickly returned to normal, as if he had truly accepted the news of Voldemort’s rebirth.

Since Voldemort has been resurrected, what happened today was naturally not so strange anymore.

By noon, at Fudge’s request, Kael accompanied him to St Mungo’s to visit Umbridge.

As soon as they arrived on the fifth floor of St Mungo’s, Kael heard Umbridge’s shrill voice echoing down the corridor.

”I want out... I want to see the Minister!”

”It’s not safe here. That madwoman could come around anytime...”

”You can’t stop me, I’m the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, move aside!”

Hearing the last sentence, Fudge’s expression changed slightly... If Umbridge was the Senior Undersecretary, then what was he?

For some unknown reason, the screaming abruptly ceased.

A healer ran out of the room, drenched in sweat, immediately spotting Fudge standing in the corridor.

”Sorry Minister, I didn’t know you were here.” He hurriedly explained, ”Umbridge’s shouting was too loud. To avoid disturbing others’ rest, we had to find a way to temporarily put her to sleep.”

”Oh, no problem, it’s quite understandable.” Fudge wasn’t blaming the healer at all. He said with a smile, ”One shouldn’t shout in a place like this. Your actions were perfectly appropriate.”

Hearing this, the healer finally sighed in relief.

”It seems our trip was in vain.” Fudge looked at Kael, speaking meaningfully, ”I think we should let her rest a bit longer for her recovery.”

”Indeed, Minister,” Kael replied, since Fudge said so, he naturally wouldn’t argue.

However, one must admit Umbridge is quite formidable; even having just been tortured by the Crucio Curse, she could still scream, not something everyone can do.

Take Sirius, for example. After he was hit by the Crucio Curse, he was weak for several days. Kael didn’t think Bellatrix’s Crucio Curse would be inferior to any others.

Due to this, Fudge merely wandered around the fifth floor of St Mungo’s without even entering the ward, and then directly returned to the Ministry of Magic.

After that, Kael resumed his previous idle state, with nothing to do but play automatic Wizard Chess in the office.