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Chapter 945: Breaking into Umbridge's Office
🕑 Added 2023-11-30 21:18:08 +0000 UTCEvan didn’t have a deep understanding of witchcraft, but he had done some related research before.
Regarding that quill, the function of witchcraft above was to transform somebody's blood and use it as ink, torturing him to the extreme. Although he was unfamiliar with witchcraft, he knew a few similar Dark magic. As long as he studied carefully, he should be able to decipher the witchcraft within this quill…
That was what he believed, and if he really couldn't, he could seek help from Rawya, the girl they encountered at the Egyptian Gringotts Bank. She was highly skilled in witchcraft, and her family had a long history with it.
Of course, that was only the first step. Resolving the magic on a quill would not prove much, and it would not help drive Umbridge away. However, it could at least prevent others from being tortured, suffering similar injuries in the future. If it could be countered, it could also completely put an end to Umbridge's idea of carrying out such cruel punishments.
Against such a witch, being too decent and having a bottom line was actually the biggest obstacle and also the biggest weakness.
It must be acknowledged that the Imperius Curse, poisoning, cursing, imprisoning and the like might be simpler and more effective.
But Evan definitely could not do those things. He didn’t want to lower himself to the level of an evil Dark wizard.
Dumbledore and the professors at school would definitely not agree, and he would end up in Azkaban in no time.
Furthermore, Evan was certain that such extreme methods would definitely be discovered.
However, he was considering whether he should abandon his previous ideas and take some slightly more radical approaches.
Now that the confrontation had begun, he might as well go all the way...
For example, his current attempt to break into Umbridge's office was a good start. In addition to finding the cursed black quill, he could also check Umbridge's personal letters and various documents to see if there was anything of value that might prove her guilt.
She had done so many bad things, it was impossible that there was no evidence left.
If he really found something, then everything would become much simpler!
Evan arrived at Umbridge's office and gently waved his wand, and the door opened with a sound.
He made sure beforehand that Umbridge was not in her office. She was probably inspecting Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class, and in the second period, she would be teaching third-year students the Defense Against the Dark Arts. She wouldn't be back for a while.
Evan walked in, and apart from the ugly cats frolicking inside the plates on the walls, the office was quiet.
He closed the door gently and immediately frowned.
"Oh, no!" Evan pointed his wand directly at those plates, and all the cats on them stopped moving.
It was a surveillance magic, and if someone broke into the office, Umbridge would be immediately alerted by the cats.
In addition, there seemed to be many defensive spells hidden in this room. That woman was very cautious.
Evan yielded to the fact that he had never seen anyone so cautious. However, these were relatively basic magic spells that could be easily countered without much difficulty. He waved his wand and inspected Umbridge's desk, opening the drawers one by one.
Everything flew out, forming a circle in the air, swiftly passing in front of him.
Parchment after parchment flew into Evan's hands. He quickly glanced at them and let them fly back into the air.
Among them, he saw the letter Umbridge had written to Fudge last night, Fudge's reply, and the part that hadn't gone out. In it, she roughly categorized Hogwarts students into several groups.
Fudge had only one goal, which was to remove Dumbledore from the school by any means necessary.
His advice to Umbridge was to use her authority as High Inquisitor to quickly get rid of a professor, challenge Dumbledore's authority, make him lose credibility within the school, and prevent students from practicing any magic related to dueling.
Furthermore, he emphasized the need for close attention to Evan and Harry and monitoring their actions closely.
In response to Umbridge's request, the latest "Educational Decree Twenty-four” was being finalized as quickly as possible and was expected to be passed next week. (Translator’s Note: in the original book, Cornelius Fudge created the Decree Twenty-five to give supreme authority over all punishments to the Hogwarts High Inquisitor, while the Decree Twenty-four, created by Dolores Umbridge, forbade the playing of music during study hours.)
The core of this Educational Decree was that the High Inquisitor would henceforth have supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions and removals of privileges as might have been placed by other staff members.
Then Umbridge would be able to bring out her quill again, with no one being able to oppose her.
In addition, Evan saw a suggestion from Filch to Umbridge. The castle's caretaker seemed to have sided with Umbridge immediately and provided a keenly worded management suggestion that included various forms of punishment for students, including the restoration of corporal punishment and wand penalties.
What caught Evan's attention the most, though, was a letter from Lucius Malfoy to Umbridge.
In the letter, he asked her to take care of Draco at school and promised to provide necessary support and assistance for her reform efforts.
Umbridge was already making contact with Lucius, but she was certainly not a Death Eater.
However, this didn't make a difference. It was not because she wasn't evil enough, but because she didn't have the opportunity....
Finally, Evan found the black quill and replaced it.
While Evan was rummaging through Umbridge's office, she herself was sitting in Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class.
Because of what happened last night, she listed Professor McGonagall's class as the first to be inspected.
The atmosphere in the classroom was tense, and the students glanced back from time to time, but Professor McGonagall didn't give the slightest indication that she knew Professor Umbridge was there.
"This is your first Transfiguration class of the semester. After entering fifth year, you will be facing your O.W.L. exams. The importance of this exam doesn't need to be emphasized again. What I want to tell you is that you cannot pass an O.W.L. without serious study, practice, and application," said Professor McGonagall grimly, "I see..."
“Hem, hem,” said Professor Umbridge, employing the same silly little cough she had used to interrupt Dumbledore on the first night of term. Professor McGonagall ignored her.
"I see no reason why everybody in this class should not achieve an O.W.L. in Transfiguration as long as they put in the work."
“Hem, hem,” said Professor Umbridge.
Professor McGonagall didn't even look at her, but stared at Neville, who didn't have much confidence.
"Yes, you too, Longbottom," she said. "There's nothing wrong with your work except lack of confidence, so..."
“Hem, hem.” Umbridge stood up.
"Yes?" said Professor McGonagall, turning round, her eyebrows so close together they seemed to form one long, severe line.
