Harry.fully.intended.to.respond.with.a.defiant..yes.:.his.mouth.had.opened.and.the.word.was.half‐formed.when.he.caught.sight.of.Dumbledore.s.face.
.Dumbledore.was.not.looking.directly.at.Harry.‐.his.eyes.were.fixed.on.a.point.just.over.his.shoulder.‐.but.as.Harry.stared.at.him,.he.shook.his.head.a.fraction.of.an.inch.to.each.side..
Harry.changed.direction.mid‐word..
.Ye—no...
.I.beg.your.pardon?..said.Fudge..
.No,..said.Harry,.firmly..
.You.don.t.know.why.you.are.here?..
.No,.I.don.t,..said.Harry..
Fudge.looked.incredulously.from.Harry.to.Professor.Umbridge..Harry.took.advantage.of.his.momentary.inattention.to.steal.another.quick.look.at.Dumbledore,.who.gave.the.carpet.the.tiniest.of.nods.and.the.shadow.of.a.wink..
.So.you.have.no.idea,..said.Fudge,.in.a.voice.positively.sagging.with.sarcasm,
.
.why.Professor.Umbridge.has.brought.you.to.this.office?.You.are.not.aware.that.you.have.broken.any.school.rules?..
.School.rules?..said.Harry...No...
.Or.Ministry.Decrees?..amended.Fudge.angrily..
.Not.that.I.m.aware.of,..said.Harry.blandly..
His.heart.was.still.hammering.very.fast..It.was.almost.worth.telling.these.lies.to.watch.Fudges.blood.pressure.rising,.but.he.could.not.see.how.on.earth.he.would.get.away.with.them;.if.somebody.had.tipped.off.Umbridge.about.the.DA.then.he,.the.leader,.might.as.well.be.packing.his.trunk.right.now..
.So,.it.s.news.to.you,.is.it,..said.Fudge,.his.voice.now.thick.with.anger,..that.an.illegal.student.organisation.has.been.discovered.within.this.school?..
.Yes,.it.is,..said.Harry,.hoisting.an.unconvincing.look.of.innocent.surprise.on.to.his.face..
.I.think,.Minister,..said.Umbridge.silkily.from.beside.him,..we.might.make.better.progress.if.I.fetch.our.informant...
.Yes,.yes,.do,..said.Fudge,.nodding,.and.he.glanced.maliciously.at.Dumbledore.as.Umbridge.left.the.room..There.s.nothing.like.a.good.witness,.is.there,
.Dumbledore?..
.Nothing.at.all,.Cornelius,..said.Dumbledore.gravely,.inclining.his.head..
There.was.a.wait.of.several.minutes,.in.which.nobody.looked.at.each.other,.then.Harry.heard.the.door.open.behind.him..Umbridge.moved.past.him.into.the.room,.gripping.by.the.shoulder.Cho.s.curly‐haired.friend,.Marietta,.who.was.hiding.her.face.in.her.hands..
.Don.t.be.scared,.dear,.don.t.be.frightened,..said.Professor.Umbridge.softly,
.patting.her.on.the.back,..it.s.quite.all.right,.now..You.have.done.the.right.thing.
.The.Minister.is.very.pleased.with.you..He.ll.be.telling.your.mother.what.a.good.girl.you.ve.been..
Marietta.s.mother,.Minister,..she.added,.looking.up.at.Fudge,..is.Madam.Edgecombe.from.the.Department.of.Magical.Transportation,.Floo.Network.office.‐.she.s.been.helping.us.police.the.Hogwarts.fires,.you.know...
.Jolly.good,.jolly.good!..said.Fudge.heartily...Like.mother,.like.daughter,.eh?
.Well,.come.on,.now,.dear,.look.up,.don.t.be.shy,.let.s.hear.what.you.ve.got.to.‐
.galloping.gargoyles!..
As.Marietta.raised.her.head,.Fudge.leapt.backwards.in.shock,.nearly.landing.himself.in.the.fire..He.cursed,.and.stamped.on.the.hem.of.his.cloak.which.had.started.to.smoke..Marietta.gave.a.wail.and.pulled.the.neck.of.her.robes.right.up.to.her.eyes,.but.not.before.everyone.had.seen.that.her.face.was.horribly.disfigured.by.a.series.of.close‐set.purple.pustules.that.had.spread.across.her.nose.and.cheeks.to.form.the.word..SNEAK...