"Th-this is impossible!" Umbridge broke out in a cold sweat. "Minister, th-there's a conspiracy here! You have to believe me!"
But Fudge ignored her. Her false information had made a fool of him, and worse, it had cost him another chance to bring Dumbledore down.
He had placed her in Hogwarts more than two months ago, yet she had found nothing she could use against Dumbledore and had failed to get a single Ministry of Magic official into the school.
She had accomplished nothing and dragged him into a colossal blunder.
Just look at the students around him. Moments ago, their eyes had held admiration and trust. Now they were laughing at him!
"Dolores!" Fudge snarled. "Enough of this nonsense!"
"Minister! Minister!" Umbridge grabbed his arm. "There's something wrong with Lupin. This is all a conspiracy."
Fudge wrenched his arm free, sending her stumbling.
That made everything worse. Umbridge seemed to snap. She whipped out her wand, pointed it at Susan, and shouted, "Tell me! Where's your wound? Who put you up to this? Who are you, really?
"You'd better tell me right now, or I can't guarantee your safety—"
Susan went deathly pale and ducked behind Amelia.
"Umbridge!" Scrimgeour could hardly believe a Ministry of Magic official would do such a thing.
"Susan!" Amelia shielded her niece.
"Dolores, put down your wand! What do you think you're doing?!" Fudge's head was buzzing. Had the woman gone mad? Was she really about to attack a student at Hogwarts?
Everyone was stunned. Even Dumbledore had not expected Umbridge to do this. These days, very few wizards dared raise a wand in front of him.
Umbridge's fleshy face twisted as she roared, "Tell me! You—"
She got no further. A spell struck her, and she collapsed unconscious. Everyone looked at Dumbledore. He