"That toad must be mad."
As they read the Educational Decree Filch had pinned to the notice board, the students gathered around it began whispering among themselves.
"The toad has been at Hogwarts for less than half a year, right? She's issued nearly a hundred Educational Decrees already."
"I've never seen anything this outrageous. What is she trying to do? What is the Ministry of Magic trying to do?"
"I heard the toad is an old witch with a massive control obsession. If she really becomes Headmistress, none of us will have an easy life."
"Keep your voice down. Do you want to be invited for tea?"
"The toad isn't even here."
"Who says she isn't? Look over there..."
The boy followed the direction his friend was pointing and saw Dolores Umbridge standing at the entrance to the Entrance Hall not far away, watching them with an utterly fake smile. Everyone immediately shut their mouths, afraid of becoming the next plump, juicy fly in the toad's sights.
From the contents of the new Educational Decree, everyone knew the toad was probably about to make her move.
"Students must submit to questioning concerning suspected illegal activities?"
Hermione, standing amid the crowd, stared at the new decree on the notice board, her lips trembling almost imperceptibly.
Not long ago, Dumbledore's Army had held a meeting over this very matter.
What should they do if Umbridge used Veritaserum on Dumbledore's Army members in an attempt to obtain information about Dumbledore's Army?
Even Hermione had not thought the method provided by the Weasley twins was a good idea at the time. It was nothing more than an emergency measure when there was no other option.
Unless they could brew an antidote to Veritaserum, they could not eliminate the threat it posed. But that would