Putting students on trial?
It was utterly absurd.
Since when had Hogwarts professors possessed such authority? Not even the headmaster had the right to do that.
"Only lunatics would do something this insane." Albert said meaningfully. "Dolores Umbridge is destined to leave her mark on Hogwarts history."
Professor McGonagall shot the gloating fellow before her a fierce glare. She suspected Albert was behind all of this!
Perhaps no one else could manage it, but Albert certainly could.
Professor McGonagall had not wronged Albert. Umbridge really was being driven mad by Albert's string of outrageous moves.
Ever since Umbridge learned from Ron that Dumbledore had hidden a "secret weapon" in the Forbidden Forest's secret base, she had been restless. The appearance of that weapon was like a thread connecting every clue together.
That damned prophecy Trelawney had left behind still hung over Umbridge's head like a sharp blade.
Although Umbridge had kept trying to forget the prophecy existed, Ron's mention of the secret weapon made it impossible for her to remain calm.
The Forbidden Forest, being driven from the school, spending the rest of her life in Azkaban—recently, a prophecy that Fudge would soon be removed from office had also been circulating through the Ministry of Magic.
Once Dumbledore's scheme succeeded, Minister for Magic Fudge would inevitably fall, and Umbridge would certainly be driven from Hogwarts. Trelawney's Prophecy would become reality.
Though Umbridge did not believe she would be sent to Azkaban because of it, with most of the prophecy already coming true, she did not dare take the risk. Nor did she want to spend the rest of her life in Azkaban.
Worst of all, June was close, and the Weasleys had said they would use that weapon in June.
Umbridge did not know when in June, but the matter