The Ministry of Magic arrived sooner than Hermione had expected.
The next day, Hermione was in Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Snape walked into the classroom, his face expressionless. Completely ignoring Lupin, he went straight to Hermione.
"Granger, step outside."
"Someone from the Ministry of Magic is here to see you," Snape said curtly.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, thinking that Fudge had acted pretty quickly.
She gave Lupin an apologetic look and followed Snape out of the classroom.
In the Reception Room, the three visitors from the Ministry of Magic had already been waiting for quite some time.
When Hermione entered the room and swept her gaze over them, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
All familiar faces.
Lockhart sat to one side in an impeccably tailored coat, looking particularly sharp.
His eyes lit up when he saw Hermione, and he broke into a brilliant smile.
"Hermione! Long time no see!"
Lockhart rose enthusiastically to greet her.
Hermione smiled back. "Long time no see, Professor Lockhart."
Only then did Lockhart notice Snape beside her. He quickly reined in his smile. "Professor Snape."
Snape answered with a cold snort.
Lockhart did not mind. He turned to introduce her to the two people behind him. "This is Hermione Granger, my finest student during my time as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts."
He gestured toward a short, stout woman in a pink suit who looked like a toad.
"This is..."
"Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic."
Umbridge cut Lockhart off before he could finish, a hint of smugness in her voice.
She puffed out her chest, trying to look more imposing.
Hermione had recognized her without any need for introductions.
After all, a middle-aged woman dressed in girlish pink like that was hard