Chapter 13: The Shadow of the Serpent
Genius remembers in a second [Aishang Novel Network biquge.info] to provide you with wonderful novels to read.
"Yo, isn't this the famous Potter? why didn't you say hello when you saw the prefect, so rude. Malfoy maliciously stopped Harry Potter and Ron Weasley as they walked in the hallway.
"Who are you? it's Malfoy, the Slytherin prefect, can you handle me?" Harry shot back, not to be outdone.
"Malfoy, you'd better be cautious, and the little henchmen behind you, Crabbe and Galco, didn't greet me either. Ron exclaimed.
Crabbe and Goyle giggled behind Malfoy.
"Then I'll have to deduct some points from Gryffindor, what do you think?"
"Malfoy, I'm a prefect too! Don't think I don't know, prefects don't have the right to deduct points, only professors can deduct points. Ron snapped.
"I know prefects can't deduct points, Weasley. Malfoy said.
Crabbe and Goyle chuckled. "But the members of the investigative action teamβ"
"What?" asked Harry.
"Investigative team, Potter," Malfoy said, gesturing to a small silver symbol underneath the Superior Badge of his robes, "a select group of students in support of the Ministry of Magic, hand-picked by Professor Umbridge. In short, the members of the Investigation Action Team do have the power to deduct points. So, Potter and Weasley, you personally have to deduct 10 points for disrespecting the members of the Investigation Team. β
Harry drew his wand, but Ron tossed it aside and whispered, "Don't!"
"A smart move, Weasley. Malfoy whispered. "It seems that you are indeed better than Potter, and more suitable to be a prefect. β
He laughed out loud. And Crabbe and Goyle strode away.
"Harry, ignore him. Ron said.
Harry watched indignantly as Malfoy walked away, with an indescribable anger in his heart.
He hissed a "hiss" sound, which creeped Ron to his bones......
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
"Did you hear anything? Jack. Hermione said with a frown.
"It seems to be the foyer. Silver listened to the louder and louder noise, "Looks like it's Umbridge, she told me the other day that she was going to take a heavy action." β
"You really look like a Hogwarts traitor right now. Hermione grinned and pointed to the Einsatzgron logo on Silver's chest.
"I'm not a traitor, Hermione. Silver said, "I'm an undercover agent who bears the burden of humiliation." β
When they came to the foyer. It's already packed. Dinner-eating students crowded out of the auditorium to see what was going on, and many crowded up the marble staircase.
"Get out of the way, I'm Jack Silver, the leader of the Special Operations Group!" Silver shouted.
The crowd quickly gave way to a passage.
"You're acting like a traitor and not an undercover agent right now. Hermione whispered.
"Then you're now one of Ben's traitor's girlfriends, Hermione. Silver said triumphantly.
Professor Trelawney stood in the middle of the foyer, wand in one hand. Holding an empty wine bottle in one hand, he looked completely insane. Her head was all on it. Her glasses were crooked, and one eye seemed much larger than the other, and her countless scarves and shawls hung messily down, making her look like she was in tatters. There were two large boxes next to her, one upside down, as if it had been thrown down the stairs.
"No!" she screamed. "No! This can't be born! It's impossible! I refuse to accept it!"
"You didn't expect that?" said a high-pitched girl-like voice, as if amused.
The person who spoke was naturally Professor Umbridge, the senior investigator of the Ministry of Magic. "Although you can't even predict tomorrow's weather, you should always realize that your poor performance during my lectures and your lack of improvement since then will inevitably lead to your dismissal, right?"
"Y-you can't!" exclaimed Professor Trelawney. Tears welled up from behind the big lenses, "You-you can't fire me!I'm-I've been here for sixteen years!Hogwarts is me--my home!"
"This used to be your home. Professor Umbridge said. Professor Trelawney slumped over a box and wept bitterly, a smug smile appeared on her toad face. "Until an hour ago, the Minister of Magic signed your dismissal order. Now please leave the hall, you embarrass us. β
Umbridge stood there, gloating as Professor Trelawney shivered, whimpering, and swaying back and forth on the box with bouts of grief. Professor McGonagall squeezed her way out of the crowd and walked straight up to Professor Trelawney, patted her vigorously on the back, and pulled a large handkerchief from her robe.
"Alright, alright, Sybil. Be calm and blow your nose. It's not as bad as you think, and you won't leave Hogwarts. β
"Oh, is it, Professor McGonagall?" Umbridge said viciously, taking a few steps forward, "who approved this???"
"Me. A deep voice said.
The oak door opened, and the students by the door hurriedly dodged open, and Dumbledore appeared in the doorway. He stood in the doorframe, against the misty night, with a sense of majesty. He left the door open and strode through the crowd towards Professor Trelawney. She was still sitting on the box. With tears on her face and trembling all over, Professor McGonagall was with her.
"You, Professor Dumbledore?" Umbridge let out a particularly ugly shriek, "I'm afraid you don't know. I still have it here. She pulled a roll of parchment from her robe.
"A dismissal order signed by me and the Minister of Magic. Under Education Order 23, the highest Hogwarts Inquisitor has the authority to inspect, retain and fire any other teacher. In other words, any teacher who I don't think meets the standards of the Ministry of Magic can be fired. Now I don't think Professor Trelawney is qualified, and I've fired her. β
Dumbledore was still smiling. He looked down at Professor Trelawney, who was still sobbing on the box, and said, "Of course you're right, Professor Umbridge. As the Supreme Ombudsman, you have every right to fire my teachers. But I'm afraid you don't have the right to banish them from the castle, I'm afraidβ"
Dumbledore politely bowed and said, "It belongs to the Headmaster, and I want Professor Trelawney to continue to live at Hogwarts." β
Professor Umbridge stood there, glaring at Dumbledore, still smiling kindly.
"What are you going to do with her when I appoint a new divination teacher and need to use her room?" Umbridge whispered, but the voice continued to spread throughout the hall.
"Oh, that's not a problem," said Dumbledore pleasantly, "Hogwarts is large, and there are plenty of rooms for the teachers to rest, not to mention that I must remind you that the power to appoint teachers still belongs to the Headmaster of Hogwarts." β
Dumbledore put away his smile, and his voice became deep and majestic, "Professor Umbridge, please respect Hogwarts......"