Chapter 662: The Ministry of Magic is in Action (Edited)

Umbridge acted swiftly, and two nights later, Fudge visited Hogwarts. He was accompanied by a team of Aurors led by Kingsley Shacklebolt, whom Fish had attacked with a group of dogs and cats.

"Could it be that the Ministry of Magic has issued a new educational decree, and you, the Minister, need to tell me in person, Cornelius?" Dumbledore smiled as he poured a cup of black tea, then glanced at the five Aurors standing behind Fudge. "Or is it that you finally believe me enough to bring so many bodyguards?"

Fudge's face froze, and then, with a grim expression, he explained, "I'm busy, Dumbledore. They just finished a task with me, and then they followed me here."

Of course, no sane wizard would believe this explanation, as if Floo Network and Apparition were not working.

But Dumbledore didn't burst Fudge's bubble; instead, he put on an exaggerated understanding face.

"Oh..." He paused and tilted his head slightly. "So, what exactly have you come to see me for, Cornelius?"

Then he looked at the five Aurors behind Fudge and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

"It's not necessary, Dumbledore." Fudge interrupted forcefully. "Tell them to wait outside; I have something I want to discuss with you alone."

"Very well, then I'll have a house-elf come... Dobby!" Dumbledore called a house-elf. "Take these gentlemen..."

"That won't be necessary either!" Fudge interrupted once again.

Dumbledore frowned but ultimately said nothing, allowing Fudge to play his game.

"They all graduated from Hogwarts, they don't need a guide," Fudge said.

"Well, it seems we won't be needing you here for a while, so you can leave," Dumbledore winked at Dobby.

"Dobby is always at your service, Professor Dumbledore," the house-elf bowed deeply and disappeared.

Kingsley and the others bid farewell to Dumbledore and left the headmaster's office.

Outside the headmaster's office, Umbridge had already been waiting by the gargoyle statue.

As soon as she saw Kingsley and the others come out, she said excitedly, "Let's go! Come with me! While the Minister is bothering Dumbledore now, let's quickly uncover his hidden secrets!"

Kingsley followed Umbridge anxiously out of the castle.

He and the other four Aurors had been called by Fudge on short notice, and they had no idea what was going on. Fudge had only told them to cooperate with Umbridge in her investigation of Dumbledore's secrets.

And since Dumbledore hadn't given any hints in the headmaster's office, he wasn't sure if the Ministry had actually found anything on Dumbledore.

"Where are we going?" At that moment, his colleague Williamson asked.

Williamson was a male wizard in a scarlet robe with a ponytail, usually curious and talkative, the opposite of the short, gray-haired, and silent Dawlish.

And Umbridge, presumably out of the desire to take credit and show off, quickly told them what she had discovered two days earlier.

Then Kingsley immediately reassured him... Dumbledore wasn't that foolish, and with his level of magic, he didn't need an invisibility cloak for anything.

'So... Umbridge had been deceived by Dumbledore?'

Thought Kingsley, relishing the idea.

It was true that Umbridge had a good reputation among the higher levels of the Ministry of Magic, but in the eyes of a practical person like an Auror, her reputation wasn't that good, especially not for any Auror after her past actions were revealed.

So, although the other four Aurors sensed that something was wrong, none of them spoke up to warn Umbridge. Instead, they exchanged glances and silently agreed to be cautious later.

Soon, the Aurors, led by Umbridge, arrived near the Whomping Willow.

"By the way, I think this tree was transplanted when I was in school," chatty Williamson added. "They say there was a Slytherin student who accidentally stumbled upon this place and nearly died."

Knowing the truth, Kingsley looked up without bothering.

Umbridge, on the other hand, was startled by Williamson's words and took a few steps back, shrinking as she ordered, "Then do something!"

"Shall we use a defensive spell together and charge through?" suggested an Auror named Savage.

But Umbridge was still somewhat dissatisfied. "Can't we get rid of the cursed tree?"

"We can certainly destroy the tree," Kingsley glanced at her slightly, then turned to her. "But if we find nothing afterward, what will happen if Dumbledore questions us? Can you take the blame?"

If it was about taking credit, Umbridge would be the one, but if it was about taking the blame, that was another story.

Furthermore, she couldn't afford to make any more mistakes now, and if she did, she would probably be thrown into Azkaban by the furious Minister Fudge before the school year ended.

"Well..." Umbridge swallowed, and instead said, "Let's do as you say."

So the five Aurors joined forces to cast all their protective spells and then ran toward the Whomping Willow with defensive magic. Umbridge also followed closely with her stubby legs.

The Whomping Willow, sensing their approach, thrashed its branches at them, but they were deflected by the combined protective spell of the Aurors.

Just as they were about to reach the tree, Umbridge suddenly felt something tugging at her leg and fell to the ground.

The Aurors, who were running ahead, didn't notice her fall and kept on running.

Immediately afterward, the branches of the Whomping Willow accelerated their attacks and lashed out at Umbridge, who had fallen to the ground.

The branches creaked and struck Umbridge's back, making her scream.

"Ahhh~!!!" Umbridge squealed like a pig.

She raised her wand and tried to defend herself, but as if it had intelligence, a branch struck the back of her hand, causing Umbridge to drop the wand in pain. Then another branch was thrown at her, knocking the wand away.

Without her wand, Umbridge could only protect her head with both arms and helplessly roll on the ground.

"Help! Help me!!!" She rolled on the ground, dodging the Whomping Willow's blows while calling for help from the Aurors.

Only then did Kingsley and the others seem to realize that she had fallen and they lifted Umbridge from the ground, dragging her beneath the tree.

"Why don't we take you to the infirmary first?" Kingsley kindly suggested, looking at Umbridge, who was covered in dirt and leaves and in a terrible state.

"No... don't listen to me," Umbridge ordered through gritted teeth, wincing in pain. "You look around, there's something unusual in this place!"

"Alright..." Kingsley nodded and said to the other four, "You go search the area, I'll stay here to protect her."

The entrance to the secret passage under the Whomping Willow was not difficult to find, so the Aurors quickly located it.

"There's a tunnel!" Williamson shouted.

Immediately, despite her pain, Umbridge limped to his side, aided by Kingsley.

"There it is! It's here! There must be evidence of Dumbledore's plot against Minister Fudge hidden here!" she exclaimed excitedly and was the first one to enter.

The five Aurors looked at each other and followed her lead into the tunnel...

After all, it was stressful to be constantly under attack by the Whomping Willow.

But once inside the tunnel, they noticed that Umbridge, who had been the first to take the lead, was now standing in a corner, not moving an inch.

Above the tunnel, the Whomping Willow had stopped attacking but dropped a branch that touched the little invisible cat that had just tripped Umbridge.

"Nya~"

(=?ω?=)

Wrapped in Harry's invisibility cloak, the invisible cat purred softly and then rubbed against the trunk of the Whomping Willow before following Umbridge and the others into the tunnel.