"Don't try to resist, Potter, unless you want to be expelled."
Draco Malfoy strode over with Goyle and Crabbe, tapping his wand against his palm as he smugly looked Harry Potter over. Filch had just called Harry out of the library. A pleased smile curled Malfoy's lips. "Your little secret is completely exposed, Potter. You're finished. Don't try to run away like the Weasley twins. You won't get away."
Malfoy gestured for Potter to look around. Members of the Investigation Action Group had mobilized in full force, closing in from every direction to keep Potter from slipping away under their noses.
"What's been exposed?"
Hermione turned to Harry beside her and saw little change in his expression. He merely raised an eyebrow slightly, as though considering Malfoy's words. She then looked back at Malfoy, trying to draw some useful information from him.
"Don't talk to me, Mudblood." Malfoy arrogantly raised his chin.
"Don't!"
Ron had already drawn his wand, but Hermione knocked it aside.
"Very wise." Malfoy pointed his nose at Harry and the others. "Potter, times have changed."
"Who knows?" Harry shot Malfoy a contemptuous glance, then answered Hermione's question. "Maybe the toad just wants an excuse to throw me out. It's not like this is the first time!"
"An excuse? No, no, it's not an excuse. You know perfectly well what you did." Malfoy led the way with Goyle and Crabbe.
Filch held a whip in his hand, his eyes gleaming maliciously as he urged them on. "Move it. Don't keep the Headmistress waiting."
Under the gazes of countless students, the Investigation Action Group members and Filch escorted Harry toward Umbridge's office, leaving only a sea of whispers behind them.
Hermione and Ron exchanged a glance, then hurried after them as well.
In fact, it was not just