Harry leaned closer and stared at the diagram in disbelief. He vaguely recognized it; it really did look like the internal workings of that thing in the Dursley family's kitchen.
"And this: an active defense threat assessment algorithm."
Hermione picked up another brochure, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's the sales pitch for a burglar alarm in Muggle neighborhoods."
"As for this, a machine-learning-based hostile target identification and graded response system..."
She paused, every word sounding as though it came through gritted teeth.
"That's the advertising copy for the access control system my dad's company just installed to identify salespeople and tax collectors!"
She gently set down the brochure in her hand, as though putting down a piece of filth-covered rubbish.
"They're playing us for fools!"
Her voice trembled with anger, but her eyes were terrifyingly cold.
"They couldn't even be bothered to make up their own lies! They just copied a Muggle appliance manual I gave your mum from beginning to end and gave us a bloody product launch!"
Ron's face instantly turned a dark, purplish red. He felt he had suffered the greatest humiliation of his life.
Ginny clenched her fists in fury, her nails digging deep into her flesh.
Group A's probe had been fooled by false intelligence. Group B's family appeal had failed even more miserably, and they had been played for fools into the bargain.
Hermione paced back and forth across the room, radiating danger.
Anyone could see that this was a top student who had been challenged in her own area of expertise and had completely lost her temper.
At last, she stopped, her eyes seeming ready to spit fire.
"Fine. The family appeal was a complete failure. They defended perfectly against both our probes."
She swept her gaze over everyone. Unwillingness to accept