.how.he.s.been.working.to.destabilise.me?..
.Yes,.sir,.I.ve.got.it,.yes!..said.Percy,.scanning.his.notes.joyfully..
.Very.well,.then,..said.Fudge,.now.radiant.with.glee,..duplicate.your.notes,
.Weasley,.and.send.a.copy.to.the.Daily.Prophet.at.once..If.we.send.a.fast.owl.we.should.make.the.morning.edition!..Percy.dashed.from.the.room,.slamming.the.door.behind.him,.and.Fudge.turned.back.to.Dumbledore...You.will.now.be.escorted.back.to.the.Ministry,.where.you.will.be.formally.charged,.then.sent.to.Azkaban.to.await.trial!..
.Ah,..said.Dumbledore.gently,..yes..Yes,.I.thought.we.might.hit.that.little.snag...
.Snag?..said.Fudge,.his.voice.still.vibrating.with.joy...I.see.no.snag,.Dumbledore!..
.Well,..said.Dumbledore.apologetically,..I.m.afraid.I.do...
.Oh,.really?..
.Well.‐.it.s.just.that.you.seem.to.be.labouring.under.the.delusion.that.I.am.going.to.‐.what.is.the.phrase?.‐.come.quietly..I.am.afraid.I.am.not.going.to.come.quietly.at.all,.Cornelius..I.have.absolutely.no.intention.of.being.sent.to.Azkaban..I.could.break.out,.of.course.‐.but.what.a.waste.of.time,.and.frankly,.I.can.think.of.a.whole.host.of.things.I.would.rather.be.doing...
Umbridge.s.face.was.growing.steadily.redder;.she.looked.as.though.she.was.being.filled.with.boiling.water..Fudge.stared.at.Dumbledore.with.a.very.silly.expression.on.his.face,.as.though.he.
I.
had.just.been.stunned.by.a.sudden.blow.and.could.not.quite.believe.it.had.happened..He.made.a.small.choking.noise,.then.looked.round.at.Kingsley.and.the.man.with.short.grey.hair,.who.alone.of.everyone.in.the.room.had.remained.
entirely.silent.so.far..The.latter.gave.Fudge.a.reassuring.nod.and.moved.forwards.a.little,.away.from.the.wall..Harry.saw.his.hand.drift,.almost.casually,
.towards.his.pocket..
.Don.t.be.silly,.Dawlish,..said.Dumbledore.kindly...I.m.sure.you.are.an.excellent.Auror.‐.I.seem.to.remember.that.you.achieved..Outstanding..in.all.your.NEWTs.—.but.if.you.attempt.to.—.er.—.bring.me.in.by.force,.I.will.have.to.hurt.you...
The.man.called.Dawlish.blinked.rather.foolishly..He.looked.towards.Fudge.again,.but.this.time.seemed.to.be.hoping.for.a.clue.as.to.what.to.do.next..
.So,..sneered.Fudge,.recovering.himself,..you.intend.to.take.on.Dawlish,
.Shacklebolt,.Dolores.and.myself.single‐handed,.do.you,.Dumbledore?..
.Merlin.s.beard,.no,..said.Dumbledore,.smiling,..not.unless.you.are.foolish.enough.to.force.me.to...
.He.will.not.be.single‐handed!..said.Professor.McGonagall.loudly,.plunging.her.hand.inside.her.robes..
.Oh.yes.he.will,.Minerva!..said.Dumbledore.sharply...Hogwarts.needs.you!..
.Enough.of.this.rubbish!..said.Fudge,.pulling.out.his.own.wand...Dawlish!
.Shacklebolt!.Take.him!..
A.streak.of.silver.light.flashed.around.the.room;.there.was.a.bang.like.a.gunshot.and.the.floor.trembled;.a.hand.grabbed.the.scruff.of.Harry.s.neck.and.forced.him.down.on.the.floor.as.a.second.silver.flash.went.off;.several.of.the.portraits.yelled,
.Fawkes.screeched.and.a.cloud.of.dust.filled.the.air..Coughing.in.the.dust,.Harry.saw.a.dark.figure.fall.to.the.ground.with.a.crash.in.front.of.him;.there.was.a.shriek.and.a.thud.and.somebody.cried,..No!.;.then.there.was.the.sound.of.breaking.glass,.frantically.scuffling.footsteps,.a.groan….and.silence..