Ever since Voldemort's Death Eaters had completely taken control of the British Ministry of Magic, quite a few objectionable things had occurred. The Ministry's employees had complained about them plenty in private. If not for the need to put food on the table for themselves and their families, many wizards would not even have wanted to keep working at the Ministry.
No one liked living in constant fear every day.
When Umbridge arrived in the Ministry's lobby in the dead of night, the few wizards on night watch were badly startled. They immediately shut their mouths, not daring to continue criticizing the Ministry in front of Umbridge, afraid that this woman would hear them and make trouble for them.
"Deputy Minister, you're still here at this hour?"
The wizards sprang from their seats and hurried over to greet Umbridge.
"I'll be leaving shortly."
Umbridge frowned tensely, clearly dissatisfied with the guards' lax attitude.
The change in her expression made the middle-aged wizards before her—whose combined ages amounted to several centuries—extremely nervous, like kindergarten children facing a strict teacher.
"Everything's been peaceful. I doubt anyone would have the nerve to invade the Ministry of Magic!" another wizard hurriedly said.
"That Mudblood has done exactly that more than once. We believe he'll come to the Ministry to rescue people." Umbridge's eyes swept back and forth over them. "So don't let down your guard!"
"Yes!"
The middle-aged wizards immediately straightened like soldiers. They seemed terrified of Umbridge, but inwardly they grumbled: If anyone was suspicious, Umbridge showing up here at this hour was the most suspicious of all.
Naturally, they would not say anything so foolish. They only hoped Umbridge would hurry up and get lost.
As Umbridge looked ready to say something else, their faces twitched. Then they suddenly went limp, as