"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 after Filch had summoned him out of the library. His lips curled upward in delight. "Your little affair has been 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. The Inquisitorial Squad had mobilized in full force, closing in from every direction to prevent Potter from slipping away beneath their noses.
"Exposed what?"
Hermione turned to Harry beside her and found that his expression had not changed. He merely raised an eyebrow slightly, as though considering Malfoy's words. She then looked back at Malfoy, trying to pry some useful information from him.
"Mudbloods shouldn't talk to me." Malfoy raised his chin arrogantly.
"Don't!"
Ron had already drawn his wand, but Hermione pushed it aside.
"Very wise." Malfoy sniffed at the three of them. "Potter, times have changed."
"Who knows?" Harry gave Malfoy a contemptuous glance before answering Hermione's question. "Maybe the Toad just wants an excuse to throw me out. It wouldn't be the first time!"
"An excuse? No, no, it's not an excuse. You know exactly what you did." Malfoy led the way, with Goyle and Crabbe following him.
Filch held a whip, malice gleaming in his eyes as he urged them on. "Move it. Don't keep the Headmistress waiting too long."
Under the gaze of countless students, the Inquisitorial Squad and Filch escorted Harry toward Umbridge's office, leaving behind only a sea of whispers.
Hermione and Ron exchanged a look, then hurried after them.
In fact, it was not just Hermione and Ron. Quite a few members of the Anti-Toad