Hermione glanced at the quill and shook her head. "Minister Umbridge, you really do love these little tricks."
"It's enchanted. Whenever someone writes with it, it carves the words into their skin," Hermione said flatly. "Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
She recognized it as the instrument of torture Umbridge had used on Harry in Order of the Phoenix. She hadn't expected her to have started so early.
Then an invisible force crushed the quill.
Umbridge's expression changed, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes. She hadn't expected Hermione to see through her carefully prepared trap so easily.
The two Aurors beside her frowned at those words, looking at Umbridge with a hint of displeasure.
Torturing suspects for confessions wasn't uncommon at the Ministry of Magic, but that was reserved for Dark Wizards. Seeing Umbridge openly use such despicable methods on a student still disgusted them.
With her little scheme exposed, Umbridge's humiliation turned to rage. She whipped out her wand, pointed it at Hermione, and shouted, "Incarcerous!"
A thick Magic Rope appeared out of thin air and shot toward Hermione to bind her.
Umbridge intended to restrain Hermione first, then take her time dealing with her.
But Hermione merely flicked her wand. A searing flame burst from its tip, instantly burning the Magic Rope to ash.
Then Hermione gave her wand a light tap. "Levicorpus!"
Umbridge felt an invisible force abruptly flip her over, lifting her feet off the ground and leaving her dangling upside down in midair.
Before she could react, Hermione waved her wand again. An invisible ripple sliced through the air, heading straight for Umbridge's chest.
"Sectumsempra!"
Umbridge's eyes widened in disbelief. She had never imagined Hermione would dare attack her, the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, right inside the Ministry!
Slash!
Sectumsempra sliced