Many of the Aurors also stared at their minister in shock.
Fudge's face turned livid, and he roared in fury:
"Shut up, you madwoman! Your plot's been exposed, so now you're trying to drag everyone else down with you!"
"Don't believe a word of her nonsense!"
He turned to Umbridge, his gaze chilling.
"There are reliable witnesses proving you framed Dumbledore. But where's your evidence that I ordered it? Show us!"
Umbridge opened her mouth, but after a long stretch of stammering, she could not get a single word out.
She had always followed Fudge's orders without question. Every scheme had been discussed verbally in the Minister's Office; it had never occurred to her to keep anything as insurance.
Seeing her like this, Fudge immediately felt reassured.
He knew Umbridge was an idiot, far too stupid to think of leaving herself a way out.
That was precisely why he had been willing to cultivate her. No matter how much power an idiot like her gained, she could never threaten him.
"You see?"
Fudge regained some of his composure. "She can't produce any evidence. This is clearly a final, desperate outburst, an attempt to drag me down with her."
On the dais.
Hermione and Dumbledore stood side by side, silently watching the two turn on each other.
They did not even show any particular expression.
Fudge's heart sank.
He forced himself to muster a smile.
"Lady Witch, Albus. Surely you don't actually believe this madwoman's nonsense?"
Hermione ignored him, merely tilting her head slightly to look at Lockhart.
Lockhart immediately took the hint.
"Enough, Cornelius."
Lockhart stepped forward.
"You want evidence, don't you?"
"She certainly doesn't have any... but I do."
With a slight smile, Lockhart took a fist-sized projection orb from his robes.
He poured magical power into it, and