"Amanda, your wizard robe."
Amanda, who was buried in a book at her desk, turned around at the sound of Cho Chang's voice and took the wizard robe from her hands, which she had brought from the washroom.
"Thank you, Senior Cho Chang."
Amanda nodded politely in thanks. After the Hogwarts Young Wizards changed out of their wizard robes, the House-elves would wash and dry them that night and hang them in the Dormitory washrooms.
"Hermione, yours."
"Thank you, Senior Cho Chang."
Amanda folded her wizard robe and placed it on her bed, then straightened up and instinctively looked toward Cho Chang.
She was briskly folding her own and Marietta Eckmore's wizard robes.
Just as Amanda was about to look away, her eyes lingered on Marietta Eckmore's wizard robe for two seconds.
A reflection had just flashed there. A protective badge? Had Senior Marietta forgotten to take it off and put it on today's wizard robe in advance?
Making a judgment in her mind, Amanda turned back to continue reading, but before she could even sit down at her desk—
Boom! A loud explosion from outside the Dormitory instantly put her on high alert.
Reaching into her wizard robe pocket to pull out her wand, Amanda reached the Dormitory door in a few quick steps and opened it. Hermione and Cho Chang followed closely behind, their own wands drawn.
People from the other girls' dormitories also stepped out, wands gripped tightly, peering down the stairs.
With the current situation so tense and Voldemort resurrected, who knew if that loud bang meant Death Eaters or even Voldemort himself had infiltrated Hogwarts?
It was better to be safe than sorry.
"Stay here."
Amanda spoke with a calm expression, turning and walking straight down the stairs without hesitation.
Bold because of her skill, Amanda was confident she could handle whoever was causing the commotion, even if Voldemort himself showed up.
But the truth was, when Amanda reached the Ravenclaw Common Room below, she saw a common room that was completely empty.
Forget Death Eaters and Voldemort; there wasn't even a cat.
"Come down, everyone. The common room is empty."
Amanda called out toward the stairs in a flat voice, and the sound of footsteps immediately echoed from the boys' and girls' Dormitory stairs as they hurried down.
She walked quickly to the common room door and opened it. As soon as she did, Amanda's fair cheeks were immediately illuminated a bright crimson by red fireworks.
"What's going on?" Hermione and Cho Chang walked up behind Amanda, looking at the red fireworks outside from either side of her, murmuring softly.
"Red fireworks..."
Amanda lowered her eyes slightly. At the mention of red fireworks, the first thing she thought of was last year's Triwizard Tournament. In the final maze, a champion releasing red fireworks meant they were in danger and were withdrawing from the competition.
So, these red fireworks... "In all probability, someone is in danger and only had time to release red fireworks before they could do anything else."
Amanda spoke with absolute certainty. Behind her, Hermione tightened her grip on her wand.
"Danger? Could Death Eaters or Voldemort have infiltrated the school?"
"No," Amanda shook her head. "There is currently no one inside Hogwarts who can provide them with assistance."
"Without someone on the inside to help them, they would have to fight their way into Hogwarts."
The defensive spells layered on Hogwarts Castle weren't just for show.
Without help from an insider, those protective spells could prevent any possibility of a stealthy infiltration. To enter Hogwarts without permission, one would have to fight their way in.
So the danger came from within. What was there inside Hogwarts now that could threaten a Young Wizard?
Without a doubt, "Umbridge." Amanda spoke softly, her voice already turning cold.
Standing behind her, Cho Chang's heart suddenly tightened for no apparent reason. "Marietta Eckmore! Marietta Eckmore hasn't come back yet!"
If she had only gone to the Library to return books and borrow new ones, Marietta Eckmore should have been back at Ravenclaw Tower by now.
Yet, she was nowhere to be seen.
Amanda's breathing stopped for two seconds. She turned to Hermione and spoke rapidly, "Hermione, go find Headmaster Dumbledore. If Headmaster Dumbledore isn't there, find any Professor."
Glancing down to ensure Hermione was wearing her protective badge, Amanda then turned to reassure Cho Chang. "Senior Cho Chang, the two of us will go to Umbridge's office."
"Alright." Hermione nodded vigorously and sprinted toward the stairs.
Cho Chang also nodded, her lips pressed thin as she prepared to run toward the stairs, but Amanda caught her arm.
"Too slow."
In the next instant, the two of them were suddenly airborne, flying to the stairs and descending rapidly.
Meanwhile, Umbridge had already brought Marietta Eckmore back to her office. Looking at the unconscious Marietta Eckmore, Umbridge had almost completely lost her mind.
She was only focused on getting dirt on Amanda from Marietta Eckmore's mouth, completely forgetting the consequences she might face for doing so.
"Rennervate!" Tossing Marietta Eckmore's wand aside, Umbridge tapped her wand tip lightly against Marietta Eckmore's chest.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Marietta Eckmore struggled to open her eyes. The moment she saw Umbridge beside her, she regained her senses and began to think of a strategy.
Her body felt heavy as lead, and her head throbbed painfully. She could feel at least two Binding Curses on her. After assessing the situation, Marietta Eckmore felt the probability of her breaking free and counter-killing Umbridge was roughly zero.
Really... how could she have forgotten to take the protective badge off and put it on this wizard robe yesterday?
Just one moment of negligence, and she had fallen.
Walking quickly to her desk, Umbridge pulled open a drawer, took out the remaining half-bottle of Veritaserum, and walked toward Marietta Eckmore.
"Miss Edgecombe, I'm doing this to uphold the Ministry of Magic's regulations. I'm sure you can understand, right?"
Turning her head to look at the disgusting smile on Umbridge's face, Marietta Eckmore gritted her teeth fiercely. "I understand jack shit, you pink toad."
Her red fireworks would definitely catch Amanda's attention. With Amanda's ability to connect the dots, she would surely realize a student was in danger.
Combined with the fact that Cho Chang would realize she hadn't returned, they would definitely think of Umbridge and come looking for her.
She just had to hold out until they arrived. Having an entire half-bottle of Veritaserum forcibly poured down her throat, Marietta Eckmore glared at Umbridge.
"Now then, Miss Edgecombe, I'll ask, and you'll answer."
Feeding her half a bottle of Veritaserum directly was many times the standard dose. Umbridge didn't believe this wouldn't pry open a young Witch's mouth.
Landing on the floor where Umbridge's office was located with Cho Chang, the two of them rushed to the door as fast as they could.
With a flick of her hand, the door to Umbridge's office, along with part of the surrounding wall, flew backward with a thunderous crash.
Amanda pulled back her hand and burst into the office, seeing Marietta Eckmore floating in the air and Umbridge standing beside her.
At this moment, the corners of Marietta Eckmore's mouth were covered in blood. Having been fed half a bottle of Veritaserum, she knew she couldn't possibly resist its effects, especially an overdose.
So she simply clenched her teeth shut, not giving herself even a chance to speak. The excessive force even caused her gums to bleed.
"Marietta Eckmore!" Cho Chang cried out, rushing forward and holding her, her face pale.
Amanda looked at Umbridge with a dark expression. Before the woman could say a single word, she was blasted back against the wall behind her.
Temporarily ignoring Umbridge and ensuring she wouldn't be getting up anytime soon, Amanda quickly moved to Marietta Eckmore's side.
Seeing Cho Chang, Marietta Eckmore finally relaxed. Swallowing the blood in her mouth, she gave a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, my body just... hurts a bit. And I was fed half a bottle of Veritaserum."
"Cough, cough. Cho, you can ask me questions now. I guarantee they'll all be the truth."
"You idiot, who wants to ask you questions now?" Cho Chang's hand trembled as she waved her wand, casting one diagnostic spell after another on Marietta Eckmore.
The more the two girls saw the results, the darker their expressions became.
"Four Stunning Spells," Amanda glanced sideways at Umbridge, who was still slumped in the corner, "and an overdose of Veritaserum."
"Even if Merlin himself came today, Dolores Umbridge must die here!"
Taking a deep breath to suppress the rage in her heart, Amanda's usually expressionless face was now filled with anger. She pulled out her wand and applied professional-level healing spells to Marietta Eckmore.
Marietta Eckmore's breathing instantly became steady, and the pain in her body and head lessened.
"This Umbridge... she asked me for dirt on Amanda. When I didn't speak, she tried to attack me."
While Amanda applied healing spells to her, Marietta Eckmore recounted what had just happened as concisely as possible.
"I was winning, but Filch... he suddenly appeared behind me."
Hearing this, a flash of murderous intent and ruthlessness crossed Amanda's eyes, and her hands moved even faster with the healing spells.
"I turned to deal with him, and Umbridge... took the opportunity to ambush me."
Holding Marietta Eckmore tightly to support her body, Cho Chang closed her eyes hard. "Umbridge, Filch..."
The usually gentle girl was now filled with resentment. Once Amanda put away her wand and indicated Marietta Eckmore was no longer in immediate danger, she unhesitatingly picked Marietta Eckmore up and turned her wand toward Umbridge, who was slumped against the wall.
"Diffindo!"
"Ah!" A shrill scream rang out as over a dozen deep, bone-deep gashes appeared on Umbridge's body.
"Diffindo! Diffindo! Diffindo!"
Cho Chang roared in anger, the magic of her spells growing stronger each time. Umbridge's wails grew louder, and the four Deans who had just arrived at the office door rushed in.
Hermione followed closely behind them, telling Amanda breathlessly, "Headmaster Dumbledore isn't here."
"Okay," Amanda replied. Professor Flitwick cried out in alarm at the sight of Cho Chang.
"Miss Chang! Please calm down, what is going on?" He spoke up to stop Cho Chang, not out of concern for Umbridge, but because he didn't want his student to end up in Azkaban because of someone like her.
"Professor Flitwick, this is what happened..." Amanda recounted what had happened to Marietta Eckmore in a cold voice.
The four Deans immediately looked fiercely at Umbridge, who was slumped on the floor, bleeding everywhere.
Professor Snape stepped forward quickly and cast several diagnostic spells on Marietta Eckmore, nodding after seeing her condition had significantly improved.
Fortunately, there was someone here who knew professional healing magic. He glanced at Amanda, and the moment he saw her face, Professor Snape understood: there was absolutely no way Umbridge was leaving this room alive today.
"Miss Chang, take Miss Edgecombe to the Hospital Wing. She needs Potions and rest."
Professor Snape spoke rapidly, completely abandoning his usual drawl. He turned, his black robes billowing as he walked toward the door. The scene that followed was likely unsuitable for students, and with an injured person involved, it was better to take them to the Hospital Wing first.
Thinking of Marietta Eckmore in her arms, Cho Chang didn't care about getting revenge on Umbridge anymore. Compared to her, her lover was more important.
She followed Professor Snape quickly. Only after the two seniors left the office did Amanda turn to Hermione.
"Hermione, tell the seventh-year students of Ravenclaw House to gather at the common room entrance. For the other three houses, seventh-years can join if they wish."
"Alright!" Without even asking what Amanda intended to do, Hermione turned and ran out. The three remaining Professors didn't even have time to speak.
"I was wrong," Amanda mused, fingering her wand. "I actually tried to take it slow with you and an idiot like Fudge, using schemes."
With a light flick of her wand, Umbridge floated in front of Amanda. She looked at the pale woman, whose body was soaked in blood.
Amanda's expression surged with murderous intent. At this moment, there was no longer a hint of mechanical coldness on her face.
"Now I've changed my mind. Since you flipped the table first, I'll flip it too!"
Raising her wand directly at Umbridge's heart, Professor Flitwick, who had stayed behind intentionally, tried to advise her.
"Miss Lin, you don't need to throw away your life for someone like this."
"Miss Lin," Professor McGonagall spoke, her lips pressed tight. "You can leave this to us. We will definitely give Miss Edgecombe justice. The Ministry of Magic will pay the price."
"Of course they will," Amanda looked back at the three Professors, her gaze so chilling it made their spines tingle. "Tonight, everyone in the Ministry of Magic from Fudge's faction must die."
"And I have absolutely no interest in going to Azkaban," the tip of Amanda's wand, pointed at Umbridge's heart, grew brighter and brighter. "If we're flipping the table, we might as well be thorough. I'm going to turn the whole world upside down."
Bang! Boom!
A cloud of dust filled the air. Professor McGonagall's and Professor Sprout's hair blew wildly. When the dust settled, only Amanda remained standing.
Umbridge had been completely blown to pieces, with not a single fragment left behind.
Exchanging a look, Professor McGonagall looked at Amanda, her eyes full of worry and pride.
"Miss Lin, we'll go with you."
"No," Amanda turned and shook her head. Though she was indeed furious, she still maintained the logic to think. "It's not appropriate for Hogwarts Professors to get involved. It would drag Hogwarts into this."
"Going with everyone from the seventh year is enough." Enough to uproot the Ministry of Magic and wipe out everyone in Fudge's faction.
"I'll have to trouble the three Professors to keep everyone else calm at school. If Headmaster Dumbledore returns, please ask him to go to the Ministry of Magic as soon as possible."
Amanda gripped her wand tightly. If her assumption was correct, their move on the Ministry tonight would very likely draw out the Death Eaters and Voldemort.
After all, Voldemort wanted something from the Ministry. What better opportunity than this?
At the same time, this was why she only sought out the seventh-year seniors. They had enough ability to protect themselves, and with the protective badges she gave them, she could ensure they would be safe no matter who they faced.
Of course, she would explain everything when she saw them, including the possible appearance of Voldemort and the Death Eaters. If any seniors were unwilling to go, she would completely understand and would never force them.
Taking the seniors along was merely to show that the Wizarding World's public opinion was on their side and to build as much momentum as possible. Whether that momentum existed or not, it would be fine either way.
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