Harry Potter's title as the Chosen One alone carried little real weight. His impassioned outburst sounded fierce, but it failed to cause any meaningful ripple in the situation.
In other words, his direct confrontation changed nothing about what the Ministry of Magic intended to do to Hogwarts.
In the end, under Dolores Umbridge's warning gaze, Harry Potter could only watch as she led the Ministry wizards out of the Great Hall.
That suffocating frustration, knowing the truth yet being unable to reveal it, made Harry clutch the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead as it began to throb faintly once more…
Still, his words did plant seeds of doubt among many witches and wizards. Yet whenever someone truly sought him out for answers, for reasons no one understood, the Chosen One would hesitate and fall silent.
And so, the matter gradually faded from people's minds…
…
All in all.
Before Dumbledore returned, Dolores Umbridge's appointment as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had become an unavoidable reality. More than that, she also carried the title of High Inquisitor.
A position that stood above all other professors, and even above the Headmaster himself, made the Ministry's intentions painfully clear.
Not to mention the parchments now posted on the walls of the Great Hall, which spoke for themselves…
"Let me see… Educational Decree Number 23. First High Inquisitor of Hogwarts: Dolores Umbridge."
"So there really is a High Inquisitor?"
"Then everything said yesterday was true."
Early the next morning, on the way to the Great Hall, the students immediately noticed the Educational Decree affixed to the walls.
Those who hadn't paid much attention to the previous day's events, as well as those who believed Dumbledore would never allow this to happen, finally realized that the Ministry was serious this time.
After all, Educational Decrees had not appeared for years and were never issued lightly. Yet now they had been rolled out with startling efficiency, placed directly before every professor and student…
"That fast? Looks like they're eager to make it official."
"Laying the groundwork for seizing power."
Hermione understood the purpose of the decree the moment she spotted it from afar.
Pansy let out a cold laugh beside her.
"If it's that witch, this outcome isn't surprising at all."
Seeing Astoria nod in agreement, clearly sharing Pansy's view, Hermione couldn't help growing curious about why they seemed to trust their judgment of the High Inquisitor so completely.
"You two… seem to know that… Undersecretary quite well."
"That woman…"
"A venomous snake hiding in the shadows."
Draco spoke suddenly, his gaze leaving the Educational Decree. Rather than objecting, Pansy and Astoria both nodded emphatically.
"A venomous snake…"
Using such a description for a woman was undoubtedly one of the harshest assessments possible.
What surprised Hermione, though, was that this was the first time she'd ever heard such a… 'high' evaluation come from Draco's mouth.
Noticing Hermione tugging lightly at the corner of his sleeve, clearly eager for an explanation, Draco began to speak without the slightest hint of impatience.
That indulgent gesture made Pansy grind her teeth, while the smile on Astoria's face only grew brighter.
Draco paused for a moment, an inexplicable chill running down his spine, before finally revealing the deeply buried secret of the Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic.
"That witch is ambitious, but she also knows how to endure. From what I've learned, the version of her everyone sees is a hardworking, diligent official. In reality, she rose through the ranks by fawning over her superiors with false loyalty, then ruthlessly stealing her colleagues' achievements and claiming them as her own. That's how she made her way up and secured the position of Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic."
"..."
"Cold-blooded, skilled at hiding her ambition, and willing to use any means necessary. That's the Dolores Umbridge we know."
"..."
Hermione was shaken, not only by the realization that the Ministry was far less idealistic than she had imagined, but also by the sheer influence held by those so-called wizarding aristocrats.
It was obvious that these matters were among the deepest secrets buried in that woman's heart. Yet to her surprise, Draco… no, there were at least three witches and wizards present who knew about them.
As for why none of them had exposed her, Hermione, being clever enough, chose not to ask.
"So don't underestimate that witch. She's more Death Eater than the Death Eaters themselves."
"..."
"Even so, I don't think she'll deliberately come after us. Right now, the Ministry's real enemies aren't us."
As Draco came to a stop, they arrived at a long corridor.
Waiting for them there were Goyle and Crabbe, who had already gathered everyone ahead of time…
…
Potion-making benches.
Stacks of magical books.
Piles of materials used for Transfiguration spells lay in the corners, while specially crafted targets capable of withstanding magical attacks leaned against the walls.
And in the center, a large, multifunctional space suitable for practical combat training…
The moment Draco led everyone into the room, all of his followers, Pansy included, let out an involuntary gasp.
It wasn't just because Draco had managed to find a place like this within Hogwarts. It was also because they were excited by his intentions and what he was planning.
What was he preparing to do?
Looking at the equipment and materials before them, even the usually slow-witted Goyle and Crabbe could figure out why Draco had brought them here…
"This is… the Room of Requirement! I thought everything written about it in books was just a legend. I can't believe it actually exists!"
"The Room of Requirement… so that's it! No wonder you paused for a few seconds before opening the door, just like the books describe."
"No way! Draco, you have to tell me how you found the Room of Requirement."
Hermione's astonished exclamation, followed by her rapid explanation, finally made everyone understand what this suddenly appearing room in the corridor was.
So the place they were standing in was that mysterious and magical Room of Requirement…
Even Pansy, who was always trailing after Draco like a little… childhood companion, had no idea he'd discovered this room.
When had he found it?
Back when he first enrolled, or only in the past few days?
Compared to everyone else's excitement and curiosity, Pansy watched Draco and Astoria with a suspicious gaze, her eyes moving back and forth between the two as if she were trying to uncover something.
A girl's intuition made her uneasy.
Especially Astoria's half-smiling, half-knowing expression, which gave Pansy a sudden urge to challenge her to a wizard's duel.
That troublesome woman definitely knew something…