"Muggle-Born Registration? I can't believe they actually came up with something like this. I'd wager all of Britain is about to explode over it."
On the lawn, Katrina set the newspaper beside the picnic blanket, glanced at Albert as he played with Alice, then turned her gaze toward Isobel, who was stretching and doing yoga nearby. She gave a brief assessment of the explosive news in the latest issue of the Daily Prophet.
"This is probably connected to Umbridge. She really does seem like the sort to pull something like this."
Albert summoned a House-elf and had it push the pram over to Mrs. McDougal. Aside from compiling medical books, Mrs. McDougal had plenty of spare time and was more than happy to spend it bonding with her granddaughter.
No one liked savoring loneliness alone.
Isobel accepted the towel Albert handed her and wiped away the nonexistent sweat from her forehead. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Whoever benefits most is the most suspicious?"
"Umbridge must have done plenty to please Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters to become so valued by the new government."
"You know her well?"
"Yes. I specifically looked into her when she was the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor."
Albert explained to them, "Umbridge has always wanted to tie herself to some Pure-blood wizard family. She also claims publicly that her father was an outstanding member of the Wizengamot before his death. I'd bet she'll alter her records this time and make that claim official, so she can fit in with the Death Eaters."
"She's a Muggle-born wizard?" Katrina asked curiously.
"No, she's a half-blood." Albert shook his head. "Her father, Olford, used to help clean the Ministry of Magic. Her mother, Ellen Clarknell, was a Muggle, and Umbridge herself is a half-blood witch. She