Chapter 621: You Little—!!
Umbridge sneered coldly.
She looked at Harry and said, "Steal your Firebolt? You little liar. Of course you wouldn't tell the truth.
I need some Veritaserum. Malfoy, go and fetch Professor Snape!"
Malfoy's face lit up with glee as he hurried out.
Harry's heart sank.
He thought of Snape poisoning Darren before, of the words Snape had once used to pressure him. He lowered his head instinctively.
He didn't want Voldemort to know that he was trying to save Black.
Before Malfoy could even go far, he ran straight into Snape.
"Headmistress, were you looking for me?"
Snape raised an eyebrow and glanced at Harry, clearly curious about why he was here.
"Severus," Umbridge said sharply, "give me some Veritaserum. I need Potter to tell me exactly who he was contacting!"
Harry's stomach twisted.
If Snape handed it over, everything would be exposed—the Order of the Phoenix, Sirius, everything.
But to Harry's shock, Snape refused.
"I'm afraid I don't have any prepared," Snape said calmly. "If you need it, it will have to wait until next month."
"What? Next month?!"
Umbridge shrieked.
Snape remained unmoved. He gave a thin smile and said, "I sensed someone entering my office earlier. I need to go and check. Headmistress, take care of yourself."
He paused, then added lightly, "If you wish to poison Potter instead, I can provide something—purely for observation, of course."
Snape bowed politely and turned to leave.
Umbridge trembled with rage.
"He looks down on me! Just you wait—sooner or later—before the school year even started, the Ministry wanted Harry Potter's reputation destroyed.
But they didn't dare act. Only me. Only I sent the Dementors—"
Harry snapped his head up, glaring at her.
"You sent the Dementors?"
"Yes!" Umbridge said proudly. "If I hadn't done that, how could I have come here?"
She tapped her wand against her palm and smiled cruelly.
"I'm sure the Cruciatus Curse will loosen your tongue—"
"No! You can't!"
Hermione suddenly burst into sobs.
Harry turned to look at her in shock. This wasn't like her—crying now, of all times?
But when he looked closer, he realized something was off.
Hermione was covering her face, shoulders shaking, yet not a single tear fell.
Umbridge, however, took it at face value.
She walked up to Hermione with a sickly sweet smile.
"Good girl. It seems Rita Skeeter's article wasn't completely wrong after all.
You really do like the Potter brothers, don't you?
And you like Harry Potter, right?"
"Huh—!"
Pansy Parkinson recoiled in visible disgust and instinctively loosened her grip on Hermione.
Hermione still didn't resist. She sobbed softly.
"Yes… yes. I just don't want you to torture him anymore."
Ginny, Ron, Neville—and even Malfoy—looked stunned.
Only Harry understood.
Hermione had a plan.
Umbridge was delighted.
"Then be a good girl and tell me," she urged eagerly. "Who was Harry Potter contacting just now?
Tell me, and I won't torture him."
Hermione took a shaky breath.
"It was Dumbledore. Harry was contacting Dumbledore."
Umbridge's eyes flew open.
She nearly laughed with excitement.
"Yes—yes! And what were you going to tell him?"
"That the weapon he made for us has been completed," Hermione said, voice trembling just enough. "And that we need him to come back and take it.
With that weapon, he can drive everyone out of the Ministry… and then you won't be able to stay at Hogwarts anymore."
Umbridge's eyes practically shone.
"So good, such a good girl. Then take me to that weapon."
She turned sharply to Harry.
"Potter, you're coming too. And don't even think about lying—if you do, I'll torture your little lover."
Hermione nodded obediently and led the way toward the Forbidden Forest.
Harry stayed silent the entire time.
He had no idea where Hermione was taking Umbridge.
At first, he thought of Grawp—but soon realized they weren't heading along the path Hagrid had once used.
That confused him.
The confusion didn't last long.
A crossbow bolt whistled past, grazing their scalps and nearly piercing Umbridge's head.
Only then did Harry understand.
They had entered centaur territory.
The centaurs were extremely territorial.
Ever since Hagrid had brought Grawp into the forest, they wouldn't even allow Hagrid himself to enter freely anymore.
Now that Umbridge had marched in, they naturally attacked.
Umbridge shrieked and jumped back.
Furious, she screamed, "You filthy beasts! The Ministry of Magic allows you to live in the Forbidden Forest, and you dare attack me, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister?!"
Her threats had no effect.
The centaurs responded by drawing their bows, arrows trained on her.
Umbridge screamed curses and raised her wand to strike back.
That only enraged them further.
They surrounded Umbridge.
Harry and Hermione went pale, terrified that spells or arrows might strike them as well.
Suddenly, hands pressed them down.
They were shielded.
When they looked up, they saw Darren.
His face bore a shallow cut, fresh and red.
He looked a little disheveled, but calm.
He was already pulling Harry and Hermione back—until a centaur blocked his path.
"This cub used magic just now!" one centaur shouted, pointing at Darren. "He attacked us—and he protected these two foals!"
More centaurs gathered around.
Darren said nothing.
Harry and Hermione felt their blood run cold.
Then—
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Heavy footsteps shook the ground.
Darren tightened his grip on them and said quietly, "Don't worry. It's Grawp."
The giant lumbered forward, each step nearly as tall as Darren himself.
He beat his chest and roared, "Hagel! Hagel!"
Harry swallowed nervously. "What… what's he saying?"
"Hagrid," Darren replied instantly.
He raised his wand and blocked a centaur's arrow aimed at Grawp.
"That child attacked us again! We cannot let him leave!"
The centaurs roared in unison.
Harry and Hermione tried to speak, but Darren had already lifted his wand.
A massive magical barrier erupted in front of them.
In an instant, it expanded outward, holding back the furious centaurs like a solid wall.
This time, it was the centaurs who stepped back.
Darren seized Harry and Hermione.
"Go!"
And they ran.