After the Ministry of Magic's emergency high-level meeting, Fudge went alone to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
On the surface, he was still the incomparably wise Minister for Magic, but inside, he was filled with frustration at the setback to his plans.
After warmly greeting the Healers, he pushed open the door to Umbridge's private ward.
The room was filled with the mixed scent of potions, along with an unmistakable cloying sweetness of pink.
Umbridge was curled up on the hospital bed, wearing a pink dressing gown, her hair greasy and disheveled.
She was no longer the haughty Special Educational Commissioner, but more like an overweight pink rat frightened out of its wits.
Her wide eyes were bloodshot, fixed on the corner of the room. Her lips trembled constantly as she rasped tearfully, "He's there... He's there again... In the shadows... watching me..."
Fudge frowned and patiently stepped forward.
"Dolores, it's me, Cornelius. Look carefully. There's no one else here."
Hearing Fudge's voice, Umbridge suddenly turned her head. Her vacant eyes burst with the almost crazed light of a drowning person spotting a lifeline.
"Minister! It's you! You came! You finally came! You have to clear my name! That bitch is full of lies! She slandered me!"
With astonishing strength, she sprang from the bed and clung to Fudge like an enormous pink koala, burying her tear- and saliva-streaked face in his expensive suit jacket.
"Y-you'll clear my name, won't you? Just like before. Once I'm better, we'll go back. We'll go back and take complete control of Hogwarts together."
Fudge staggered from her impact, and a clear flash of disgust crossed his face.
He did not placate her as usual. Instead, he tore her off himself with all his strength, as though shaking off a stale,